Kismet - Damjans War

Review by Jamy CP Fills

Album Review: Damjan’s War by Kismet – A Genre-Bending Trip Back to 1995 Let’s talk about Damjan’s War, the quirky yet hauntingly beautiful album from Kismet, released way back in 1995. This isn’t your run-of-the-mill record—it’s a wild mashup of rock, electronic, folk, world music, and even some country vibes sprinkled in for good measure. The styles? Post-punk and darkwave, baby. If you’re into moody soundscapes with a dash of Macedonian flair (and why wouldn’t you be?), this one might just hit the spot. The album was self-released under Not On Label (Kismet Self-Released) and later picked up by Paritor Records, tying together two worlds—Macedonia and Australia. You can hear that blend everywhere, like someone took Balkan roots music, threw it into a blender with gothic synths, and pressed "puree." And honestly? It works. Track Highlights Now, I’ll admit, not every track stuck with me after the first listen. But there are two that stood out like neon signs in a foggy alley—"Nostalgia" and "Love Will Tear Us Apart." “Nostalgia” kicks things off on a pensive note. The cello work by Amanda Wenzel adds this rich, mournful undertone that feels like staring out of a rainy window while sipping coffee. Gorazd Capovski’s vocals have this raw edge—they're not perfect, but they don’t need to be. They carry emotion, which is what really counts. There’s something about how the programmed beats mesh with traditional percussion instruments like the tapan drum that makes this song feel ancient and futuristic at the same time. Weird combo, right? But it totally works. Then there’s “Love Will Tear Us Apart,” their take on the Joy Division classic. Now, covering such an iconic track is always risky business, but Kismet pulls it off without losing their own identity. Instead of sticking strictly to the original formula, they infuse it with Middle Eastern flavors thanks to John Norton’s oud playing. It’s darker, grittier, almost tribal compared to the gloomy post-punk we all know and love. By the end, you realize it’s less of a cover and more of a reimagining—a bold move that pays off big time. Behind the Scenes Vibes One thing I gotta give props to is the sheer amount of talent crammed into this project. Metodi Kundevski seems to wear half the hats here—he handles bass, keyboards, programming, backing vocals… dude does it all. Meanwhile, Gorazd Capovski shines as both lead vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, juggling guitars, percussion, zurla, gaida—you name it. Hats off to producers and engineers too; David Macquarie and Denis T. deserve credit for keeping everything cohesive despite the genre chaos. Oh, and shoutout to Victory Day for those subtle backing vocals on “Nostalgia.” Small touch, huge impact. Final Thoughts So yeah, Damjan’s War isn’t flawless, but who wants flawless anyway? What it lacks in polish, it makes up for in personality. Listening to it feels like flipping through an old photo album filled with memories you didn’t even know were yours. It’s messy, emotional, and kinda strange—but in the best possible way. Here’s the kicker though: if aliens ever landed on Earth looking for proof of human creativity, I’d hand them this album. Sure, they might think we’re nuts, but hey—at least we’d leave ‘em impressed. Rating: 8/10 Would recommend pairing with late-night drives or existential crises. Your call.

Artist: Kismet
Album: Damjans War

1995

Rating: 3.0

Review
About Album
Download
Tracks
Video
Images
Labels
Listen online
Formats
Companies
Credits
Notes
About Artist
Interesting fact
Comments
Related albums

Download

Filename: kismet-damjans-war.zip

MP3 size: 52.8 mb
FLAC size: 413.6 mb

Download

Tracks

Track	Duration	Preview
Nostalgia
Burnt By The Sound
Daman's Hope
Zurla
Earth
Reap
Decades
Love Will Tear Us Apart

Video

Kismet - Damjan's War (Full LP)

Images

télécharger l'album Kismet - Damjans War

Labels

Paritor Records
Not On Label (Kismet Self-Released)

Listen online

escuchar en línea
kuunnella verkossa
ascolta in linea
online anhören
lytte på nettet
ouvir online
écouter en ligne
lyssna på nätet
online luisteren

Formats

CD
Album
Cassette

Companies

Role	Company
Recorded At	001 Studio
Mastered At	EMI Studios 301

Credits

Role	Credit
Backing Vocals	Victory Day (tracks: 1)
Bass	Metodi Kundevski
Keyboards	Metodi Kundevski
Programmed By	Metodi Kundevski
Cello	Amanda Wenzel (tracks: 2)
Drums [Drum Tapan	Peco Kazanovski
Steel Drums]	Peco Kazanovski
Engineer	David Macquarie, Mark Ingram
Guitar	Gorazd Capovski
Percussion	Gorazd Capovski
Other [Zurla	Gorazd Capovski
Gaida]	Gorazd Capovski
Lead Vocals	Gorazd Capovski
Other	John Norton
Oud	John Norton
Producer	Kismet
Mixed By	Denis T.

Notes

Recorded at 001 Studio, Melbourne 1995. Mastered at 301 Studios Sydney
Recorded at 001 Studio, Melbourne 1995. Mastered at 301 Studios Sydney.
Credite are taken over from the CD, unaccredited on the tape.

About Kismet

Australian post-darkwave band formed in 1993 as an extension of the Macedonian cult band . Their music is fusion of Balcan ethno, experimental, darkwave-industrial and electronic sounds. Members: Gorazd Čapovski - vocals, tambura, zurla, guitar, keyboards, programming John Hrup - bouzouki, gajde Pece Kazanovski - drums Metodi Kundevski - bass, keyboards Ilija Stojanovski - bass, tambura, kaval Stefan Popović - drums, tapan Steven Teref - spoken word Dimitar Petrov - drums Zoran Origjanski - drums, tarabuka Biljana Volčeska - vocals

Members

Pece Kazanovski
Metodi Kundevski
Gorazd Čapovski
Ilija Stojanovski
Steven Teref
Stefan Popović
Zoran Origjanski
Dimitar Petrov
Biljana Volčeska
Capovski

unet.com.mk

Interesting fact about Album

Here’s something cool: The album *Damjan's War* by Kismet is like a musical melting pot. Released in 1995, it blends rock, electronic, folk, and world music with styles like post-punk and darkwave. What makes it even more unique? It’s a cross-continental project, tied to both Macedonia and Australia. One track features a traditional Macedonian instrument called the zurla, while another brings in steel drums and Middle Eastern vibes with the oud. Fun fact—Metodi Kundevski pulled triple duty on bass, keyboards, and programming. And get this: the album even includes a cover of Joy Division’s *Love Will Tear Us Apart*. Not bad for a self-released gem!

Comments

gurumagu

2025-03-13

Naj dobroto album na KISMET sporedcmene

freelance007

2025-03-13

These musicians should never have split up. They would have been a world phenomenon.

skulldudeactual

2025-03-12

Музикава е дел д мојата МЛАДОСТ неповратна.

aziza1996

2025-03-11

Thank you. I bought this album in Ohrid 20 years ago, in cassette because it was not in CD. I haven't been able to digitalize it. I had not listened to it in years. This is one of the best folk metal albums in history. a hidden gem for many people.