Damnation A.D.

ByLets Go Punk
Damnation A.D. are an American band from Washington

Damnation A.D. are an American band from Washington, D.C., that started in 1992. The group, initially known as “Damnation,” was forged by two stalwarts of the D.C. straight edge hardcore punk scene: songwriter/guitarist Ken Olden and vocalist Mike McTernan, the brother of producer Brian McTernan.

Following the dissolution of the band Worlds Collide, featuring Olden on guitar and Hillel Halloway on bass, Damnation started as a studio project.

In the early single releases, Olden showcased his multi-instrumental prowess, handling both drums and guitar. To avoid confusion with another punk group named Damnation, they rebranded themselves as Damnation A.D. upon signing with Jade Tree Records.

Evolution and Recordings

Their debut full-length album hit the shelves in 1995 after the release of a split 7-inch single with Walleye. An EP followed in 1996, accompanied by tours alongside Ignite and Earth Crisis. The year 1998 marked a transition as Damnation A.D. departed from Jade Tree Records and embraced Revelation Records, releasing their second album, Kingdom of Lost Souls.

The aftermath saw the band’s dissolution, with Olden venturing into recording and collaborating with Ray Cappo in Better Than a Thousand. Meanwhile, Mike McTernan relocated to Springfield, MA, lending his vocals to When Tigers Fight.

The hiatus endured until 2007 when the duo, spurred by a creative resurgence, decided to revive Damnation A.D. Supported by Give Up the Ghost, Darkest Hour, Earth Crisis, and Fall Out Boy, they crafted a third album, In This Life or the Next, for Victory Records. In 2017, the band unveiled a cover album of Pornography, originally recorded by The Cure.

Current Lineup

  • Mike McTernan: Vocals
  • Ken Olden: Guitar
  • Hillel Halloway: Guitar (formerly of Black Manta)
  • Alex Merchlinsky: Bass
  • Shannon Lucas: Drums

Former Members

  • Colin Kercz: Drums (of Most Precious Blood)
  • Brian “Smitty” Smith: Drums
  • Dave Ward: Drums
  • Dave Bryson: Drums
  • Nick Rotundo: Drums
  • Daniel Fleming: Guitar
  • Brian Kerley: Guitar
  • David Johnson: Vocals

Discography

Albums

  • 1995: No More Dreams of Happy Endings (Jade Tree Records)
  • 1998: Kingdom of Lost Souls (Revelation Records)
  • 2007: In This Life or the Next (Victory Records)

EPs

  • 1996: Misericordia (Jade Tree)

Cover Album

  • 2017: Pornography (Organized Crime Records)

Music Videos

  • “Knot” (2007)

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