After more than a decade between major releases, what motivated Violent Omen's return?

- Aloha! Most likely, the motivation for getting back together was a sense of unfinished business from the past, and it was hard for us to live with that unresolved issue. Although I never thought it would ever happen, because we’d had a very serious falling-out, after which I’d written the band off in my mind. But time heals all wounds, and here we are – perhaps it’s fate?

How has your sound evolved since L.U.N.A.C.Y. was released in 2013?

- Yes, our sound and music have changed a little, because there are many other factors that have contributed to this. We now have more opportunities to achieve a more professional sound, and we’ve also grown as musicians and composers over these 13 years, but our main asset is our new guitarist – Evgeny Maestro. It’s down to him that we’ve become so much better, because he’s simply a monster of a guitarist, as well as a very good arranger, which has enabled us to become a more professional band. On ‘L.U.N.A.C.Y.’, we had a budget of just $100 to record the album and we weren’t very experienced yet, but we still managed to produce a good album – though the new one will be even better)

 What challenges has creating metal in Ukraine presented over the years? How has the scene changed?

- The biggest challenge is probably the finances, because without them it’s hard to create something of high quality, but we’ve always managed to make do on small budgets because we were so keen to produce something worthwhile and of high quality. You’ll understand that with an average salary in the country of $400, it’s hard to spend $2,000–$4,000 on a high-quality album recording. We’ve always had plenty of motivation and ideas, but finances have always held us back. There’s also a major problem in the country when it comes to suitable venues for gigs and conditions for musicians. How has our scene changed? It’s changed for the better, because a whole host of new black metal bands have emerged that have reached a good European standard.

Looking back, what does Infernal Express mean to the band today?

- It’s been over 16 years since Infernal Express came out, and I still think it’s not bad, although by today’s standards it sounds more like a demo; but for that time and given the resources available, it was a good result by local standards. It’s important to realise that this album had a budget of zero; we did everything ourselves because we were very keen to release it and carve out our place on the Ukrainian metal scene. Nowadays, I’d change quite a few things about it, because I understand music better now than I did back then, but on the other hand, it was our first serious experience and it’s really interesting now to hear how we used to play and think. Some of the tracks from this album were our live favourites and many fans love them, even though they’re in a different style.

Technical thrash remains central to your music. What keeps you inspired by the genre?

- Yes, that’s the main style we settled on when Yuri Sinitsky joined the band. Because you can’t really play this style without a top-class drummer. We also wanted to be unique and unlike anyone else on the thrash scene at the time, and I think we managed to pull it off. We’ve always been inspired by Coroner, Atheist, Watchtower, Toxik, Realm and Destruction. Complex and frenzied music has always been our passion. It also gives us boundless opportunities to play whatever we want, without any constraints.

 How did reconnecting with drummer Yuriy Sinitsky influence the band's revival?

- It’s been a very positive experience, as you can see for yourselves from our finished new album. Without Yuri, this wouldn’t have been possible, because he’s a vital and irreplaceable part of the band, just as I am, and time has already proven that. It was easier to replace our former vocalist and guitarist, Floods, with Yevgeny Maestro, because they’re at different levels when it comes to playing the guitar. I believe that the current line-up is the strongest the band has ever had, and the new album will prove it.

What can fans expect from the new era of Violent Omen and recent releases like Path of Illumination?

- Yes, the fans have really taken to our new singles, because it was a real surprise. Many of them can’t wait for the album to come out so they can hear all the tracks. Musically, the new album is a blend of Lunatic’s Revenge and L.U.N.A.C.Y., but with a more professional sound and a new, more mature approach. As usual, it’ll be chaotic and crazy music, but it’ll be very easy on the ear. There’ll be a couple of moments on the album that will really surprise you – in a good way – and that’s the whole point of our music.