I borrowed the name from a pc game, Descent III, there was a station with this name in another planet but by searching I found out that according to Tolkien language "dol" means  castle (see Dol Amroth). I don't know what Ammad means in specific but it's a palestenean word. 

This whole thing started several years ago while I was playing metal with keyboards, but not progressive, solos and stuff like that, just metal riffs played with keyboards. 

Not in bands, just by myself. Later on I started adding keyboards with drums and thus occured this weird sound that Dol Ammad have. After all these, the idea of using a choir came to me and always melody and sentiments had the front role in my music. 

All these guys have a big connection with music and they belong to one of the biggest choirs in Thessaloniki with live shows in Greece and abroad. I found them through a friend of mine who was singing for years now in this choir. The idea came to me after listening to "Theli" from Therion. We met one day with all the guys, I asked them if they could help me and they accepted. 

I want to co-operate with these guys. the thing is wheter they want to co-operate with me again. 

I think that there is, but I am not pushing them. Personally, I'd want to have a follow up. 

The songs exist 2 years now. The hardest thing for the preparation was the choir, which started working on Christmas and we prepared the notes, the lyrics, the whole orchestration...things that werr completely new for me and I wasn't aware of before. Luckily, the result was good cause we were working from Christmas till the end of June, almost 8 hours a day. Besides that, it was very difficult to gather and organise so many people. 

The cover artwork has many "space" elements cause this is how the music is. The lyrics are quite abstract, strange and personal. I am the only one able to fully understand what they are talking about. Generally the speak about "hope" and dreams and about things I sensed back then. 

9.NICK: WHERE WAS THE DEMO RECORDED?

This is the most weird part of the story. It was recorded in my room!!! I brought the whole choir in my house with machines that I bought after savings of years and along with the help of a friend who is a sound engineer. The only thing that wasn't recorded in my house were the drums, which were recorded with triggers, thus we have an original combination of live performance and drum machine. 

Hahaha...well the only problem was that...no, ok!...when the choir came and we were recording...well everything was recorded acoustically, so you could only listen to the sopranos and in some parts while they were reaching the higher notes, they sounded like someone was murdering them. It was Sunday morning, but we didn't have any problems. :))) 

I was always interested in the movies, I watch everything from science fiction and fantasy. Musically? I started listening to electronic music when I was a kid like Jean Michele Jar, Vangelis Papathanasiou and Orbital. In 1992-1993 I started listening to metal and my influences are numerous :THERION, ANGRA, RAGE till the most recent like RAMMSTEIN that add new things in the music. My biggest love however are BAL SAGOTH. That's it... 

It will be very difficult and maybe even impossible. Firstly because I have to find a drummer, bring all the choir with me or at least some of them (4 people at least) and the result won't be the same and secondly I definitely need more keyboard players, because if we have to play all these keyboards, (each song has 10 tracks for keyboards only) we can only do it with pre-recorded parts. You could now say that I could pre-record everything and go on stage with a pc, but this won't be a live show. Maybe I can only perform live here in Thessaloniki or around here. 

13.NICK: WHICH ARE YOUR MOST BELOVED BANDS FROM GREECE AND FROM THESSALONIKI IN SPECIFIC?

My most beloved band are SEPTIC FLESH and the first period of ON THORNS I LAY. Now from Thessaloniki HOMO IRATUS are great, though they are not my preferable style, I like WICKED DREAM (2 of their members play in DOl Ammad) who play a mixture of NEVERMORE, ANNIHILATOR and PANTERA and OUT OF THE LAIR, who are my friends and they play good power metal. 

I haven't yet started sending the demos to any labels. After being the "Demo Of The Month" in the Greek Metal Hammer, some interested started appearing. we don't have to mention any names...(note: The interest comes from Hammerheart and Aftermath. Oooopsss!It slipped my mouth! hehe!!!) 

I think that middle way is the best. Both have their goods and bads. With the big label you will surely have distribution almost everywhere. On the other hand it's good to have a label that will be focused on you. I hope that I'll have the space and ability to choose, differently whatever possible cause I have to do something... 

Surely there is prejudice but things are getting better. On the other hand it's our fault too you know. We have lack of professionalism. Things have started changing though. 

Yes, I did one for a friend who is studying music in the university and she presented it as a new form of music in a lesson regarding sociology. Howver, you are the first metal zine that interviews me. 

Basically electronica is because I use some elements from the electronic music. Art because you can listen to some weird structures in my songs, you won't listen to choruses,verses which belong to the classic song structure. And metal because metal is the base of my sound. 

I didn't send it to many people till now. Those who listened to it reacted positively. The only thing I have to say is that those who will listen to it, should be patient and keep an open mind. 

20.NICK: CAN A GREEK METAL BAND RECORD A DECENT DEMO WITH A FEW MONEY?

I think that it depends on the producer, because all the studios have the equipment needed. The matter is if the producer is aware of heavy metal music. Producers here have no epxerience, they mainly involve with other musical genres. Bow, about the financial problem...the more money you invest, the better sound you're gonna get. I am a production maniac! 

(AFTER MANY LAUGHS...) Why did he create universe? What is he up to? Does he want to leave it like that or which is his purpose with all these? 

22.CHRISTINE: IF YOUR MUSIC WAS AN EMOTION, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

Hope! 

Some other form of art, maybe painting...I like painting from time to time. 

I'd like to go in the Dark Ages, in medieval times. 
(NICK INTERFERS AGAIN SAYING THAT DARK AGES WOULD BE LOVELY, CHASING YOU TO KILL YOU OR FEAR OF DAYING FROM THE BLACK DEATH - hahahaha). I'd work in the stables. I'd be a peaceful guy. Not attending in the battles. I'd rather visit the future. 

I'd like people to start thinking and using their brains more. To have a personal opinion and critical thinking. 

Thanks for the interview and good luck with your ezine!