DEMENTOR - was formed in 1988 creating music based upon such greats as Venom, Slayer, Possessed, Kreator. After Rene joined the band, DEMENTOR got much heavier and blasphemous falling deep into unholy death metal... We spoke to Rene, the guitarist and lider of the band:

1. Rene, you came to DEMENTOR in 1991 and through all these years the band went through many line up changes. You're the only one left from those early years, although not a founder of the band, it is more than obvious you are the one who lead the band to were it stands now. Tell us, what were the main causes of the departures of the other band members and what is your actual line up as for today. Have you ever thought of giving up DEMENTOR at some point, going through bad times ?
     Yes, you are right. I joined DEMENTOR 3 years after its foundation. I am not an original member however I am the oldest one that DEMENTOR line up includes. I am afraid the band would split up if I decided to give it up. And there were times when I was considering this possibility. I thought I will not loose time anymore with people who do not give as much dedication to music as I was always giving to! Fortunately I always found a new motivation and kept on looking for a new members. Especially finding drummers is really difficult task! There are not too many of good skilled drummers in our surroundings. Lack of dedication is one of the reasons for departures. Some people joined DEMENTOR thinking they will be a rock stars. They found out very soon it is not only playing concerts and shiny glory but also and mainly hard work and sacrifice. They did not want to sacrifice anything and decided to give it up. Some of them just lost interest in playing death metal and switched to another music styles. Recently we faced another line up change when two members left. Finally we decided to continue like a trio having a new drummer in the line up who is the best on this position in DEMENTOR ever. The current line up is: Rene (guitar + vocals), Rasto Schmogner (bass), Rasto Petrovic (drums).

2. I understand you compose most (if not all) of the music an lyrics, did the other members of the band bring anything new into DEMENTOR's music or is it always the direction you put on it ?
     You are right, I am the main composer of both music and lyrics. However it was not any intention at all. All members were always free to bring their ideas and it reflected little bit on our last album ENSLAVE THE WEAK when Roman contributed with 3 pieces. If he came up with more songs we would use them. As for lyrics I write them if necessary but I feel too lazy for writing lyrics. Therefore I always ask some of my friends to help me out. You can always see various signatures under DEMENTOR lyrics. On the next album there also will be some contributors who are not members of the band. I also expect our bass player Rasto to compose some music for the new album. Now it will be stronger pressure on our song writing as we are only three piece band.

3. You released the Enslave The Weak album in the beginning of 2001 through Osmose Records, giving the world a nice piece of brutal, blasphemous death metal.. How did the fans respond to this album ?
     Thank you for your words. I think people like this album however it could be better. Maybe it is due to the sound that is not enough heavy. We expected it to be even more brutal however we did some mistakes at mixing when we took the direction offered by the Pro Art sound engineer. The guitar sound should be fatter! Next time we will record in a German studio Stage one that provides better conditions for death metal.

4. What do you think about the final effect of the recording ? Are you fully happy with it?
     As I told you previously we are not too satisfied with the final effect of the recording. The guitars could be louder. The cymbals are too much above guitars what is not very good. The sound was little bit improved through the mastering that was additionally done in France. The original mastering did not give enough heaviness to the record. If the sound was better we might collect better responses. However we do not complaint. We will learn from our mistakes and we will shun them at the next recordings.

5. I found the Enslave The Weak album very much in the great American death metal moods, very close to the best of Tampa/Florida's early to mid 90's recordings… What would you say about that and how would you describe DEMENTOR's music to a newcomer to the metal scene?
     Thank again! You are one of many people who compare ENSLAVE THE WEAK to American bands originated in Florida, especially Morbid Angel. I can agree with that statement because these bands have a great influence on us. On the other hand we want to stay as much original as possible original you can be in current death metal. I always describe our music as blasphemous death metal because of the lyrics we use for expressing our moods, thoughts and attitudes! However the best advise is they to take our albums and play it at home.

6. Tell us about the touring, promoting your Enslave The Weak album. What parts did you go to, what bands did you play with, what shows did you like most, and which parts you'd like not to play again..?
     We organized some smaller tours three or four times after ENSLAVE THE WEAK came out. Those were just smaller tours but we visited most of European countries with our blasphemous shows. In April 2001 we toured together with Germans Into Darkness who were a great support for us. Another tour followed in March 2002 when we were supported by a Dutch band Hatred as well as Slovak HC band Eternity. In May and June we attacked Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. Two gigs we played there like a support for death metal gods Vader. We spent quite a long time with them and learned more about them. We totally appreciated this opportunity. You would be surprised how modest Vaders are! No Rock Stars! There are the hugest crowds in Russian countries we have ever played for! In Kiev we played like a headliner in front of 600 crazy fans! You can imagine these concerts we liked most of all. However we like playing live even if there are just 10 heads in the hall. The main point is they like what we perform! Good audience is also in Spain and France. I do not remember a place we would not like to play again.

7. What would you say about your earlier releases with other band members, other label ...
     Wow, it seems to be a long story....... The first releases were our two demo tapes. All those original members were yet the part of the band. Those were really nice years. We were young and full of dreams. Then something turned and these people were loosing their interest in playing death metal. However I never wanted give it up just because some people did not have enough dedication! New line ups were formed and albums recorded. The first official album of DEMENTOR was the tape THE CHURCH DIES that came out in 1994 on I.S.P. Our first CD was recorded with a completely new line up and I first time took the vocals! Then another personal problems delayed our effort until the so far most stable line up was formed. This one recorded two another albums: THE ART OF BLASPHEMY (so far our most brutal and wild release) and ENSLAVE THE WEAK. Man, you never can expect life time of DEMENTOR line up to be long! Now DEMENTOR consists of completely new musicians. You already know their names.

8. What is DEMENTOR up to right now ? Are you preparing to enter the studio again soon for the second album put out through Osmose?
     - First task for the new line up (mainly for the new drummer) was to prepare a concert program to make us able to occupy concert stages! After we managed to mature it we re-started creating new songs despite we do not know the date we will finish that and enter the studio. I assume we will be able to move to the studio in the winter. The best time for editing our newcomer would be spring 2025. I hope our plans will not be broken! Right, that will be our second album recorded for OSMOSE and most likely we will record it in German studio Stage One. We wish so and OSMOSE as well. Lets see.

9. What would be your personal favorites on today's metal scene? Do you listen to other stuff apart of the metal genre? What about the rest of the band members?
     - My personal faves of metal would be definitely Ozzy Osbourne, Iron Maiden, new Saxon sounds also great, Morbid Angel, Deicide, Vader, Houwitser, Krisiun and many more. I love metal! Of course I also listen to another genres too. I like Pink Floyd, Bon Jovi, GnR, Beatles, Steve Vai, Depeche Mode. The rest of band members also absorbs various genres. Our drummer likes drum & bass. The bass player likes almost the same stuff as I do.

10. Through the years there have been many great bands that had their huge ups and painful downs, some bands have died out naturally, others tried coming back with different respond from the fans. When, would you say, a band comes to a point, that it should stay there as it is, in order to be well remembered?
     I do not know man. It is right that some bands do not have anything to offer after several years. Some of them play years still making you surprised like Morbid Angel or Iron Maiden do. Unfortunately I think Vader is stagnating a little. Their new album did not make me amazed too much. On the other hand I was disappointed when Deicide came out with Insineratehymn. Then In Torment In Hell improved my impressions. I think all bands hope their new album will be the best out of their stuff. If they knew in advance it will be a fiasco they would probably give it up beforehand! I think every musician feels he has no ideas inside him. That is the time to quit or take a rest! Doing music just for money is not good.

11. What non existing anymore bands would you recall as great?
     - I do not know if Luciferion exists but I have not heard about them for ages! Pity, it was a great band! Then Pestilence, Cynic, old Entombed I also miss very much.

12. Back in '93 came out an album, which I personally found at that time excellent, also through Osmose Records, entitled "The Jilemnice Occultist" of a Czech band Master's Hammer. The band disappeared shortly after... Do you know anything of what happened?
     Yes, Masters Hammer meant a lot at the metal scene of former Czechoslovakia. They were pioneers of black metal over here however they also did a great impact on the worldwide scene. I think they were another ones loosing interest in playing what made them worshipped and well known. At that time many bands thought there is nothing to attain in metal anymore. I think some of MH musicians gave playing up. One of them established a band called Kaviar Kavalier or something like that. That band played something like Type O negative ....... Musically too far from what they produced before. I do not know if this project still exists.

13. Where does all your hatred towards the christianism come from to keep you inspired all these years ? What do you really think of all this church institution ? How powerful is this shit thing in Slovakia?
     It is not hard to absorb this hate. Just walk around with open eyes. Slovakia is country where christianity means something like a fashion. You are not good when you do not visit church. I hate their hypocrisy. I found a lot of lies in their speeches. They just use bible to blind people and then lead them for enriching the church! They are the richest institution in the world despite they tech people to be modest and not to accumulate property. How we say teaching people drink water while they drink wine! Man, it is a long story, I might speak about their stupidity and lies till the morning. Your magazine would be full of anti-christianity if I continued expressing my thoughts.

14. How do you cope with the censorship in your country ? Your logo, lyrics..?
     Some small problems appeared however we do not take it so hard. One concert in Slovakia was forbidden by the ministry of culture after some christian organization sent a note to them complaining there is going to be a concert that supports brutality and violence. Similar problems we also faced in Russia and Belarus. We did not have any problems with censorship due to our logo and lyrics at all. You know, death metal is not a commercial genre and therefore censorship focuses on another pop bands. Commercial radios and TVs do not support metal at all. No place to hit eyes and ears of censorship maniacs.

15. What would you tell Jesus, if got to meet him?
     I do not believe in existence of Jesus at all. I take him just like a literary person. Christianity created him to show people the ROLE MODEL of morality! Just instrument in their hands! If I faced any priest despite I shun them I would tell him: I despise you!

16. What do you think about the internet's free use of audio files (mp3) that in a way ruin record companies (Repulse for instance). How does it work for bands, that need every way of promotion ?!
     Man, I do not think MP3 ruined Repulse at all! They are liars if they say that! I do not have good experiences with their branch Qabalah that cheats us for a long time! In my opinion Repulse invested all their money in supporting & promoting Avulsed that I find totally boring and invention-less. You know why. Dont you? They had huge advertisements and tours what better bands of this label did not get despite they deserved it more. That is their business however I would like to get what DEMENTOR deserves and what is only promised over all these years! Toni, do you hear me, liar?
     I think MP3 can be useful for bands if they for example publish some samples on their web sites. We also did. People who have never heard DEMENTOR can download them and make an opinion about our music and progress we did as there are samples from all of our releases except of MC THE CHURCH DIES.

17. How is the black/death metal underground scene in Slovakia doing these days ? Are there any other bands that you would like to mention?
     Yeah, Slovak metal scene is quite a huge. Some old names keep doing good work but also new bands are being established. That is really good seeing new faces. I do not treat them like a threat or competition of DEMENTOR. I take them like followers and wish them good luck! I can mention these bands that I like most of all: Depresy, Pathology Stench, Erytrosy, NomenMortis, Surgical Dissection. Their music deservs attention. In generally death metal prevails in Slovak metal scene. You can not find too many blackers over here.

18. Do you guys have any weird hobbies you would like to share a word with us?
     No weird hobbies at all. Music is the main hobby for us all. Otherwise we would not stay alive for so long. Two of us work at regular jobs. Our Drummer is unemployed because he likes that way. He likes nature and spends lots of time in the forests.

19. You, as a musician, tell us what do you think of the metal scene today? Where will it go ? How do you see it in another 15 years?
     Man, I am a musician as you said, not a fortuneteller! :-) I do not know where it will go. What way will it take. I just can assume that new elements will be getting implement into music. More computers however the classical styles should stay alive forever. The music is like a circle. Once you go down and once up. The most important is to keep doing in what you are convinced is the best for you!

20. Is there a way of opening peoples' eyes to what the church really does to our societies?
     People who are under the influence of church do not want to open their eyes. If the priest told them tomorrow it will shit fall from the heaven they would believe and close all windows to protect against polluting their houses. If you tell them your opinion despite it is right and based on a scientist researches they will sign you like a sinner, Satan or Anti-Christ. Hell yes, I am the Anti-Christ. You remember the cases when priests in USA made violence on children. If I name such a man BEAST believers say it is only a man as well. Therefore he can make a sin like another people do. However I think about it and know if any god existed he would never let them to defame the religion this way. Until priests makes a crime they call him a god s servant. Then after committing a crime he is just a man! SHIT! People have to think. Hopefully christian greed and crimes will make people thinking more and more because the more poor they are the richer the church is. Once the truth must be revealed.

21. If you had one thing to change in today world - what would that be?
     I do not know yet. I would have to think to choose the best thing. Most likely it would be something what would lead to the extinction of christianity.

22. Where/how do you see yourself and DEMENTOR in the future?
     I would like to lead DEMENTOR as close to the top as possible. The most important for our future is to record the best album we have ever produced. Only then we will get support of OSMOSE as well as fans. I think the new songs are proving we are on a good way to reach that goal. Music is not sport competition of race however you certainly do it for making the most possible number of people happy and for getting appreciation. That is nothing bad at all.

Ok Rene, thanks a lot for the interview. Would you like to say anything to your fans out there ?
     - Thank you also Darnok for your support! Visit www.dementor.sk! KEEP THE BLASPHEMY!


Dementor
Rene Blahusiak
Vajanskeho 154,
020 01 Puchov,
Slovakia

email [Rene]:
http://www.dementor.sk