Los Angeles-based Damnation describes their sound as “gnarly and insane” and this quartet doesn’t hesitate to unleash a furious thunderstorm of shockingly raw speed-punk upon their fans. The band is tight and really knows how to deliver a real show, something artists often seem to be lacking these days. Their songs are fast, cleverly crafted and just a bit twisted, albeit with an appropriate sense of humor so that you know they doesn’t take themselves too seriously.

Vocalist Shaun Kama is strikingly tall and thin, and has a fiercely magnetic stage presence. He prowls like a caged tiger: sneering, spitting and riling up crowds. Off-stage he’s easy-going and talkative. He is also an accomplished tattoo artist who works on his own in L.A. and out of Las Vegas’ PussyKat Tattoo Parlor on a regular basis.

Drummer Robert Shawn looks a bit sinister, but he’s quite charmingly candid and quick to argue if he doesn’t agree with something that’s been said. He played soccer with Kama in elementary school, and they’ve been friends ever since. He also works as a tattoo artist and painter, and is a self-described “jerk of all-trades.”

You probably wouldn’t expect to find a museum curator playing bass in a punk band, but that’s Al G’s dream job. Right now he’s working on his Masters Degree in Anthropology and his band mates are very proud of his academic pursuits. “But not excited enough to help with tuition or books,” he jokes.

The only member of Damnation that doesn’t reside in L.A. is Tod Surridge. The guitarist was born in Hawaii and moved to Las Vegas in 1994 when he was in the band Shovel, who changed their name to Victim 5-0. He doesn’t like to be interviewed, but did share that he’s employed by a gaming company.

The core of Damnation (Kama, Shawn and G) has been together since 1992 when, along with a fellow named Mark, they formed The Living End (not to be confused with the Australian punkabilly band of the same name). “We really struggled as that band and grew. That’s the band we did all the grunt work with, trying to make it as much of a real project as possible, and make some sort of a lasting impression,” Kama says. “I think we achieved that. We booked our own tours, and got the music out.” G adds, “That whole four years just helped us play together well, and when Damnation started playing it was just that much easier.” The Living End broke up in 1996 when, as Shawn delicately puts it, “It turned into something else that none of us were really getting into, and then it stopped completely.”

From the ashes sprang Damnation. Kama explains, “We wanted to have a band that was really intense. Always. We all agreed that we were going to have a band that was everything we wanted in a punk band.” At that point the only thing missing was the perfect guitarist, who was discovered a year later. “I was tattooing Tod,” he recalls, “and told him, ‘You should join our band because you’re cool.’” He may be the newcomer but Kama is quick to sing his praises. “Tod is the best person to be on the road with. We all have our super-manic, trippy personalities. Tod is like a rock; all he needs is coffee and cigarettes and he can hold it together under any circumstances.”

Over the years Damnation has released three albums and toured extensively with the likes of The Dwarves, Fear and The Misfits, but yet something was missing. Songs had been written that just didn’t mesh with Damnation’s limiting, full-bore style and Kama was feeling frustrated. It was time to start another band. “With BloodJunkies we are about the craft, it’s about the songs,” he says. “We’ve played long enough that we can show some skills and it’s OK.”

There is an amount of crossover (both bands have recorded versions of “Getting Evil,” “Deer Rifle” and “R.I.P.”) but BloodJunkies boasts a lush and layered sound due to a six-piece lineup. Kama sings and plays acoustic guitar, while additional percussionist Leo Cabral, keyboardist Omar Cabral and guitarist Nick Gerow join Shawn and G. Don’t think for a minute that they’ve gone soft, this is still rock ‘n’ roll; it just makes you want to dance instead of smash things up, which has a much broader appeal. “It’s cool to do something different and play this style which is a little more laid-back and shows our talents,” states G. “It did take a little while to get used to playing something mellower, where we’re not just going balls-out on stage.”

This evolution has made all the musicians very happy. “With this BloodJunkies thing we’ve got all bases covered. We can constantly tour and put albums out and we’re not locked into anything. We’re free, more free than ever,” exclaims Kama. “It’s taken a little more effort to get this new thing off the ground because Damnation is already rolling. Now we can try to balance it out. It’s one big group of friends and hopefully we’ll all be able to benefit from everybody’s hard work and all the years everyone’s put into it.” Damnation will be heading to Europe in March 2004 and a new album should also be released sometime next year. “The next Damnation album will be rad; it’ll be a little bit longer [than The Unholy Sounds of…], like maybe a 30 minute album,” he says.