An interview with Maurice Swinkels – frontman of the legendary Legion of the Damned.
You’ve been playing together for decades. What is your secret to avoiding "creative burnout" and destructive internal conflicts?
Creativity never really ends, but most important is that the bandmembers get along very very well. I see bands hiring people saying: Thats a great bassplayer, thats a great drummer….but even if someone is the best of the best, if that person has an ego or is no fun to hang around with, it will not work, there should be balance. Ofcourse they should be good in their instrument, but most of the time its traveling with eachother, ands only 45-1 hour on stage together. We are a very well oiled machine and getting along with everybody really well. I have been together with Erik (drummer) for almost 33 years, never had one single argument or fight.
The Legion of the Damned sound is instantly recognizable thanks to its relentless, driving momentum. Are there any limits to experimentation that you, as a band, would never cross so as not to lose your identity?
Hard question because yeah you want to explore but you also don’t want to be another band, which is hard when you get new members, they have different ideas, different approach, different favorite bands and goals. I personally try to maintain the Legion sound and groove as far as I can, but sometimes I have to let lose, changes are good ofcourse here and there.
You are veterans of festivals like Wacken Open Air and Brutal Assault. What is the most absurd thing that has happened to you backstage over the years?
Poeh! Everybody thinks its exotic to be backstage and full of highlights, but its mostly boring, bands come and go because they need to play elsewhere, people are tired of playing, so sitting around drinking a beer, its relaxed, not the type of drugs, sex and rock and roll haha, not much happens, but for me there are some nice highlights like being able to watch Metallica show at Hellfest from the backstage bar that is located high up in the sky with top view of Metallica, that was amazing for instance.
The name "Legion of the Damned" packs a punch. Who, in today’s society, do you consider to be the modern-day "damned"?
Politicians for sure!
You recently announced that you are entering Toneshed Recording Studio to record a new album titled "Defiant Resurrection". What is the story behind this title, and what—or whom—are you rising up against this time?
Its a title that combines all songs/titles together, there is never a really deep meaning behind our album titles though, or atleast with a message or something, music is most important
We already know the working titles of some tracks from the new material, such as "The Lamb Defiled" and "Midnight Hammer." Can you reveal the story or lyrical concept that ties these new songs together?
"Midnight Hammer" is about a large-scale military strike carried out under the cover of darkness. It describes long-range bombers attacking hidden nuclear facilities after diplomacy and negotiations have failed. The song focuses on escalating tensions, overwhelming military power, and the idea that in global conflict, the strongest nations ultimately impose their will through force. "The Lamb Defiled" is a song of religious rebellion and blasphemous rejection of Christianity. It portrays the crucifixion and the figure of Christ not as salvation, but as symbols to be denied, mocked and cast aside. The lyrics embrace individual will, sin, instinct and the "inner beast" over obedience, sacrifice and religious authority.
A new guitarist, Ruud Strijbosch, has joined the band. How have his playing style and "fresh blood" influenced the riffs and dynamics of the songs being composed for Defiant Resurrection?
Ruud is more old school therefor it has more old school riffing. Different than Twan van Geel who was more Black Metal oriented. With the combination of Fabian’s melodic approach the album is more diverse but yet remain the old school vibe.
The studio recording process is being accompanied by the production of a special behind-the-scenes documentary. Why did you decide to pull back the curtain so much this time and give fans an inside look at how the album is made?
We have always wanted to do this, and me as a filmmaker was able to do it, however the last time we recorded Poison Chalice I lived an hour away from the studio and my kids were still young. Now living only like 25 minutes from the studio, kids abit older, I was able to be in studio almost everyday and film the process.
Your repertoire harkens back to the "good old-school." However, we live in times where Artificial Intelligence is starting to write lyrics and generate music. Do you think AI will ever be able to convincingly replicate the aggression and uncompromising nature inherent in pure thrash metal?
AI will definitely become capable of creating music that technically sounds like thrash metal. It can already imitate certain structures, riffs, drum patterns and even vocal styles, and that will only get better. But for me, the aggression and uncompromising character of thrash metal is not just about how the music sounds. It comes from attitude, frustration, energy, personality and from people playing together. Especially with old-school thrash, the imperfections are often part of what makes it feel alive.So yeah AI will probably be able to convincingly imitate the sound of thrash metal, maybe even to the point where many people cannot hear the difference. But whether it can truly replicate the intention behind it is another question.I see AI mainly as another tool. You can use it for ideas, visuals, production or experimentation like I am using it as a filmmaker, but in the end Legion of the Damned still has to sound like five people making aggressive music because they actually mean it.
To wrap things up on a lighter note: classic vinyl, a CD in a digipak, or the convenience of streaming—how do you personally prefer to listen to music at home?
I sold my CD’s and vinyl decades ago already, I had more than 1000’s CD’s but every time moving out of the house they had to go with me, so I decided to sell them. I also cannot listen to one single band for like 10 songs, I like to mix tracks and make playlists, so I use Spotify, I listen alot on my headphones while cleaning, editing, working on stuff, in bed, during sport, in the car etc…so for me streaming is easy and convenient, but ofcourse I still enjoy the look and feel of a cd when I see it or have it in my hands, but for my lifestyle I enjoy Streaming. Also when you travel alot, long hours in a bus to shows or in a Flight, streaming is the best solution.
The best Dutch beer to drink after a grueling live set is…?
Haha, I am not a heavy beer drinker, I love Cava, Prosecco and Champagne, but any beer is good, or special beers I love.
Forgive me, but I have to ask this last one: if you woke up tomorrow in an alternative reality where metal never came into existence and you were a popular boy band—what would your biggest radio hit be called?
(Laugh) probably something horribly catchy like "Midnight Lover", same title structure, completely different kind of hammering sound .I’d like to think the band would still have some darkness to it, though. So maybe we’d be the boy band that smiles in the video while singing suspiciously depressing lyrics. And after two albums we’d probably ruin the whole thing by discovering distorted guitars anyway (laugh).
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