Interview
FAITH FACTOR



A talk With
NORMAN "SKI" KIERSNOWSKI (Vocals)
(Questionnaire by Stefan)

METAL TO INFINITY

Whereas I clear up my memory, I still knows very well that I was walking the streets of Belgium's capitol named Brussels...it was somewhere in the late 80s and I was on the hunt for some real Metal stuff. There was a second hand record store, on regular basis I came here in hope to find something interesting 'vinyl' that could oblige my ears. While diving into many boxes filled with both recent and rare items, I saw an album I wasn't familiar with...name of the band was Deadly Blessing - title ''Ascend From The Cauldron''.

But I was very familiar with the record label who released the album, New Renaissance Records, well known for some other great releases such as Anvil Bitch, Dream Death, Indestroy, Blood Feast, Post Mortem, Soothsayer,...I took my chances, grabbed Deadly Blessing's LP out of those boxes and paid for it. Back home I followed my way to a place a called 'my Metal domain', immediately after, I gave Deadly Blessing a spin...'Search and Destroy' played on and I was so damn satisfied with what I heard - I was completely out of control. Name of the game was US Power / Speed Metal with Thrash influences...

The music was outstanding to me, even better was their singer SKI. With his legendary high pitched vocals, he conquered my heart and Deadly Blessing became one of my all time US Metal faves. The band's still active, unfortunately their frontman Ski left the ranks and teamed up with another band called Faith Factor. I'm very grateful to him because he was able to answer some of my questions... here we go:  

Hi Ski, I've been very delighted with your presence here on MTI  - how are you brother?

Hey brother in Metal! Wow man, things have been really blessed for me and Faith Factor and my brothers in Deadly Blessing as well. It's been a blessing in disguise, for both bands, god is really moving things along for faith factor at a real nice pace, and we cant wait to finish the new CD ''Against A Darkened Sky'', and get out into the concrete jungle.


 

Before you've entered the Deadly Blessing camp, you were a navy seaman reservist, right? Can you first tell me some more about that. What about the training schedules those days?

Well I'm not to proud about that time in my life, but I'll answer that question honestly. 1981 after graduating high school, I joined the navy reserves September 16Th. off to boot camp in Chicago. Man does it get cold there, we were marching at 5:AM with towels wrapped around our faces. It was so cold, anyway after boot camp, off to aviation hydrylic school.

In Memphis Tennessee while I was there learning I had heard AC/DC was in town on the ''For Those About To Rock Tour''. Man I wanted to go so bad, but if I left base I had to leave in my uniform, crackerjacks they were called, and there was no way I wear my uniform to an AC/DC concert - so I put some civilian clothes in a bag, and sneaked of base. It was a great concert...when I got back, they caught me, made me do extra watch duty. No biggie was well worth it - after a few weeks, I said to myself this isn't for me, but to late - I signed the contract.

I was stuck, so at that time I said, I'm done with this and left. Now during wartimes if you did this they would shoot you on the spot. But today they throw in you in the brig (jail) but they had to catch me first so I went home for a couple weeks. I knew they were gonna come and get me, so I turned myself in...they flew me back to Memphis Tennessee, threw me in the brig, then sent me home. Since I joined as a reservist, that's all they could really do, so now all I had to do is show up on to the base 1 time every month and 2 weeks a year. Go out to sea in a ship, I was really good for a while, did what I was told, show up on time all the time, and then I got itch.

I wanna sing in a band again, well one off the good things about this whole navy thing is 'Search And Destroy' was written at sea. It was a warm summer nite and I was standing watch at the bow of the ship, a fighting fregat...it was around 12 midnite I think. Then all these lyrics started popping in my head....Hear I am, looking out at sea, hear I stand watching out patiently..., so that's where that song came from, way before Deadly Blessing did. As far as the training it was easy, not physical, more mental then anything.


 

So, you said goodbye to that form of life and wanted be a singer in a Metal band. Your first band ever was Tormentor if I  got that right. What kinda style of music did they play those days Ski?

Actually my first band was a Rock band called Zygo. We were a A to Z cover band with some of out own originals. I cut my teeth on learning how to sing there, copying Steve Perry from Journey, Steve Walsh from Kansas, Dennis Deyoung from Styx...then later on Halford, Dickinson, and Tate. So now our set was a mixture of Hard Rock and Metal.

Later on, the name has been changed to Deadly Blessing. Why?

Tony was a big horror buff, and he saw this movie with a young Sharon Stone and Ernest Borgnine, it was called ''Deadly Blessing''. He said, hey guys we should call our selves Deadly Blessing and write out own stuff, screw playing other peoples songs...let's do our own -  we agreed, the rest is history.


 

Point was, you guys were a Christian Metal band. How important is being a Christian for you Ski. Are you a faithful visitor of the church on regular basis?

Deadly Blessing, was never a Christian band, and back then I was not a Christian. But the song 'Deliver Us From Evil', I was inspired to write that after I learned about a band called Stryper. I was like wow these guys kick but and there singing about god, I can do this. Never knowing back then that God has his thump on me looking at the world, full of sin and hate. Time to save your soul, it's never to late, see who that came about. On April 1st - 2000, heard the knock at the door and it was Jesus.

                                                                             DEADLY BLESSING

That's the day I became a born again Christian, it is now my way of life...bible, church, fellowship, it's very important to  me. It's not about religion, it's about relationship with the one who created me, every Sunday in church, every day reading the bible and praying to the father, for strength and direction.


 

Can you describe in a few lines what God really means to you?

The beginning and the end, the alpha and omega, the author and the finisher of my life, my father in heaven, and my brother Jesus who died for my sins, the God of second chances, no matter how many times I screw up, or backslide, and sin again...he will always forgive me, and get me back on the right way to live this life that I have been given, and what my purpose for this life really is.


 

Do you see yourself as a ''messenger of The Almighty''?

We see ourselves as ''Gods Metal ministry''... he gives us the desires of our hearts, which is Heavy Metal music, and  the love for him, which are the lyrics in the songs. We honour and praise him with, he's given us a tool to preach his word to help save souls, and give fans a choice,  to believe in something. If they so choose to, we are prayer warriors and defenders of our faith, and the faith of Heavy Metal - see it's a 2 edge sword, we   are disciples of decibels and yes, we are metal messengers, but we don't beat you down with a bible and say all you sinners  repent or you will burn in hell.

We let the Metal do the talking, and the holy spirit, do the preaching - now don't get me wrong, if after a show someone comes up to us and says, I'm tired of living this way, so how do  get to know god and his son, we will pray on the spot with you, to become  a new creature in Christ, and be born again.


 

We're living in a cruel world full of war, hate, pain, misery and many other things that doesn't make any sense to me. Through your eyes Ski, what to change to make this world more comfortable?

Well just think about this...if everyone in this whole world, were to turn there lives over to God, there would be no war, hate, pain or misery. Religion separates gods people, Christianity brings them together, do you really think that when people get to heaven, there's the catholics, baptism, muslim. Do you really think God separates his children? No, he simply says: here are my sons and daughters, evil is here to cause confusion, a spiritual warfare is all around us, but it's all of a matter of faith and if you believe it, so if every accepted God there would be heaven on earth.


 

When you're not on the road to play Metal music, what keeps you busy - do you have a daily job to do?

Yes I have a day job, I drive for DHL, see how much I love Europe. I make a living at supporting it, I have a wife Michele and 2 kids - Ski 3rd (or Norman 3rd) 13 YRS and a daughter Kaitlyn - 12 yrs old I have a dog named Bandit, a Jack Russell, 2 cats named Angel and Spooky and 2 fish.

Practice with Faith Factor 2 nites a week, and a praise and worship band Koininea, answering fan mail, shopping for festivals to play, workout stay in shape, keep my endurance up, health and stage presence, go to a lot of ball games for the kids sports team and coach a flag football team.


 

Is it only Metal music that you play when you're home. What about your CD collection...which copies in it?

No not all the time 75% of the time, but I like a lot of other Christian bands. Metal is the first flavor, but to me a good song is a good song, no matter what style it is. In the Christian world a lot of people are comparing us to bands like Recon and Sacred Warrior...in the secular world it's we're a Judas Priest and Iron Maiden kinda like Metal band.

In my CD player right now is Rob Rock's ''Garden Of Chaos'', Demon Hunter - Storming The Gates Of Hell and the all instrumental workings of ''Against A Darkened Sky'' with no vocals - for me to practice with.


 

I've mentioned it before, my heart explodes from pleasure and joy when I heard you for the first time playing with Deadly Blessing...''Ascend From The Cauldron'' ruled the world for me back then and it still does these days. Which memories you have from that era Ski?

I would have to say, when we first ink the record deal with New Renaissance, and we started recording ''Ascend From The Cauldron'' then Ann flew me and Tony to California. I remember the day we left flying out of Philadelphia, right over the top of the Monsters Of Rock Tour. We went there to do interviews and raid the warehouse. Oh and we smoke a joint with Carmine Appice, and meet Weird All Yankovic at Universal Studios. Had dinner at the Rainbow, while Poison was playing at The Whiskey next store. When we opened for Lizzy Borden and Savatage twice, that was cool.


 

What's the most unforgettable moment you've experienced while you were in Deadly Blessing?

Without a doubt coming to Keep It True 4 and meeting all the fans of an album almost 20 yrs old, and seeing a homemade Deadly Blessing patch sewed into denim and leather...fan right next to Maiden and Priest. What an honour that was all the help that Juergen Hegewald from Hellion records and Oli and Tarik gave to us. We felt like rock stars, and the overwhelming beauty of Germany, the hospitality of towns people...I was a bit shocked on how many people spoke English.

You left the ranks unfortunately after a while - can I ask why?

Here's the truth about that!
 
CD came out in 1988, I was getting married in '89, no problem right... Well I leave my union paying job to go on tour with Queensryche so we thought, the tour never happened. I had to go back to my future father in law to get my job back. I got back a job (not the job I once had) so here I am this long haired blond working in a steel mill. It was so boiling hot, I had decided to shave my head to stay cool.

Well 2 weeks after I did this, I was getting the cold shoulder from everybody in the band. The manager says if it were up to me you would be outta this band cause now you look like a hardcore singer, not a heavy Metal one. The tension was so bad between me and Deadly Blessing, I decided it was time to leave. I thought 15 yrs later I find  out the real reason, from the horses mouth - I run into Tony one day, he says:
 
Hey Ski can you give me some lesson on how to sing, I want to be a frontman. I said okay Tony I'll help you out bro. I go over to his place, looked him dead in the eye and I say to him Tony, what was the real reason you guys asked me to leave blessing, he looks at me and says, you really wanna know why Ski? I said yes I need to know the truth, OK then the real reason we got rid of you was not because of the hair, we could of lived with that, it would grow back. I couldn't stand you getting all the attention for Blessing, Ski this - Ski that...I was jealous of you, and you had to go. I

It was like someone had punched me in the stomach, I felt like throwing up, I just said Tony I forgive you, it's in the past, let's get on with your singing lessons now.


 

Deadly Blessing goes on with another front man and released an EP after all entitled ''Psycho Drama''. Great US Metal songs on it - to me ''AFTC'' was better. What is your opinion about that?

I helped write most of the songs on that EP, they wanted to go into a thrasher style of Speed Metal at that time. We had a good amount of songs for the second Deadly Blessing album ''Strange Twist Of Fate'' - I think like 7 songs were fully written and arranged, but never recorded...what a shame. Not even rehearsals tapes laying around, that was gonna be a killer album, it would of gave ''Ascend From The Cauldron'' a run for its money songs like 'immortal', 'Strange Twist Of Fate', 'Warrior Unknown', - Eye Of The Beholder' was a killer song Nick and I wrote together. I can't remember them all but they were killer, at the time of that EP, Wayne was gone and so was Nick, it really wasn't Deadly Blessing and same goes for the 4 new songs recently wrote together to.

We played all 4 new songs live at Swordbrothers festival, 'Bullets', 'Cascade In Pain', 'Shadow In You' and 'Redemption'...to me never like the old Blessing music. But I did what I could to them the best - I could 4 more songs never to heard either, the way I sang them but the music will be heard on the new Blessing CD, with the new singer Steve Childs, who is by the way a born again Christian too, a great guy and a good singer. Reminds of Ray Alder/ Dickinson and definitely ''Ascend From The Cauldron'' blows away ''Psycho Drama'', even ''Strange Twist Of Fate'' would of done that. 


 

Years passed by, a deadly silence descends over the name Ski...what kept you busy during these years of absence actually?

2 Yrs after Deadly Blessing, I got over the hurt and came back with a vengeance. I wanted to prove to myself I still had the gift, and would put together a band to blow away Deadly Blessing. I found these guys called Altered State, they were all DB fans. When they heard I wanna sing for them, I got the part right away, I always thought that if Blessing would of stayed together that long, we would of progressed to an altered state level.

Now these guys could really play, this should of been the talent level Deadly Blessing evolved to grew all the hair back, more leather and studs...I was in the best physical shape of my carreer, vocals were in tiptop shape - ready to take on the world with the new band - yeah, Ski was back, better then ever. 6 song demo in the pocket, shopping for labels, opening up for Trouble, Lizzy Borden, everything was on the right track, then reality set in, me and the drummer Todd, had a fight, I said me or him, and since they were childhood friends and I was the new guy.

I lost again, I wasn't a Christian then, I didn't know how to forgive, nor did my heart want to, a great 6 song demo, with songs like 'Mindsrealm', 'Leading Me Blindly', 'Judge For Yourself', 'Winter Warlock', 'Off With His Head' and 'Mental Rage'. It was funny when i was at kit 4 this dude comes up to and says, ski you gotta put altered state back together and come back p lay for us, that was awesome to hear

It seemed you were living on another planet, wrong thought - you appeared and took us all by surprise when the news went around the world of Metal...Ski is back with his new band called Faith Factor. A short briefing history concerning band's early days should be good to know.

It all started 7 yrs ago with a band called Factor Five, and things went bad and we broke up. 7 yrs later we all got back together, but this time we were all born again Christians - it was amazing, how god put this band together, so in 2005 we started writing songs. By 2007 we released our EP ''777'' on 7/7/07. We name this EP ''777'' because it is the number of completetion,  and a holy number. Since the release of ''777'', we have gotten nothing but good reviews from you guys and BWBK...

We sent out 100 CDS for promo, and have sold about 700 copies so far. We only printed 1,000 EP's and there almost all gone. We have also been invited to play KIT 11, I was so honoured to be ask to play again, Oliver  really liked our EP. Even though we sing about God and spiritual things, it's the music that is accepted first. I don't really think most fans care about what you sing about, they just want something to bang there head to, an forget about the problems, and have fun.


 

Can you spread some words about the rest of the Faith Factor camp?

On drums is Dan, we call him DJ - this is amazing how God healed him from 2 broken knee caps in 4 months. We were getting ready to record the EP and he was playing hockey, and got checked into the boards, broke both knee caps...we were devastated, so we prayed about it. What should we do, get a replacement, or wait for god to heal him? We waited, and kept on writing while he was down. He's a quiet and a microbiologist, he's also the jokester in the band.

On 1st guitar is Chris, he' the professor, he writes the main bulk of the music, plays keyboard, and back up vocals - kind of keeps to himself, and a very good family man.

On 2 second guitar is Blaine...I called him pastor Blaine, he's very spiritual, walking God fearing , Jesus loving man, a very pivitol point man...shoot ball to him , and he will score for you.

On bass we have Joe, big man with a heart  of gold...he is  the slayer of darkness, a mean pounding thunder comes from him.


 

All brothers ready to deliver some decent US Power Metal by the grace of God, right?

Oh man we are armed and ready to take on the concrete jungle, were shopping for any festival we can find. We really feel God is directing us towards Europe, but we will go where ever we are called to go secular or Christian. See we have both markets covered with a band like ours. One of my hearts desires is to play Poland, because of my family heritage, and I have family I never met yet in Poland. So that would be cool to me, to meet up with my blood relatives the Kiersznowski.


 

Is being a Christian a requirement to play in a band like Faith Factor?

You don't have to be a Christian to play in this band, but you have to believe in God. You have to be a good musician, and you have to be dedicated to the mission, not everyone in this band is saved yet, but gods working on it, and that's good enough for us. We're not here to judge, or condemn...were simply here to bring light to the darkness.

We would like to add a fulltime keyboardist, to add a symphonic element to the music, but our lord has not brought that person to us. Who knows maybe he just want us to be as loud as we can with what we have.


 

By the way, how's the current Christian Metal scene these days through your eyes Ski?  Totally different than it was way back in the eighties to me. What are your own faves actually?

Right now Christian music as a whole is really big today, there are over 200 festivalls in USA alone, as a matter of fact were playing one called cornerstone festival 2008, in Bushnell Ill. This is the first year outta of 25 yrs of this festival that secular Metal band Cage, and Seventh Calling are playing to - I hope to get there in time. I love Cage, Sean and his bass player claim to be Christian to see them. There's another one in Norway called Nordic Fest - we gotta get on that one to someday, but i don't think there are as many Christian Metal bands like ours, were old school Heavy Metal, with a lot of power and might...the bands today are of all makes and models, all styles of music from A to Z with Christ centered lyrics.

 

Last year, Faith Factor showed up with a very first 3 track EP called ''777''. All works that take my breath away. You're still in very good condition brother. Those 'legendary' high pitched vocals still pleases my heart and soul - you're still stay on top of my all time vocalists for sure. How can somebody hold on this way of singing for decades. What's the secret behind? 

Thank you for the kind words. As far as me doing what I able to do for so long. First -  you have to take care of the temple, which is gods body, eat right exercise, no smoking or drinking. Second - work out everyday, sit ups, push ups, weight training, jogging, Third -  practice , practice, pray, pray, pray... I'm not in control of my life, God is... I've been blessed with this gift, of vocals and song writing not bad for a guy who never took a singing lesson in his life. I've been singing  since I was 15 and now I'm humble to say I'm 45...I'll be 46 on August 14 Th. 2008. Well, after all the bibles says Noah lived until 950 yrs old -could you imagine me screaming that long haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa amen.

Did the EP scored very well both in the US and Europe? What's the different between both countries?

We sold a lot more in Europe, then in the US and that's because America follows fads, not there heart - True Metal lives throughout all of Europe. The EP was mainly to shop for a record deal and management deal, we weren't really gonna sell it to fans, but the demand was there, so we had used the ''777'' EP for two purposes. We have gotten very little response in the UAS form the secular market, but the Christian market went bonkers over it - were so old school, that it's new and different to them. Like I said, we're the Judas Priest of the Christian Metal Realm.

You have a lot of European followers especially Holland, Germany and of course we Belgians like the sound of Faith Factor, right?

Oh yea and there's Greece, Norway, Italy, UK, Poland and many more parts were not aware of yet.


 

Hey Ski, there is a new album in the works, right? Do you guys have signed a major record deal meanwhile?

Yeah, the new album is called ''Against A Darkened Sky''. We're still with Metallic Archangel records, we're always looking for a better deal but I have talked to some people in the industry. It just seems better to not look for a record deal and look for a licensing deal instead. This way we keep control of what goes out and what gets paid for, plus with the internet - CD Baby sells all over the world now, and you get to keep 91% of the profit.

So money wise, we all invest in the recording, pressing and distribution - we have full control. It would be nice if we found a label who really got behind in what were doing - we don't wanna be rock stars - we wanna be Godstars...our treasures are not on this earth, they are stored up in heaven - our jobs is to bring souls to Jesus, and if we are blessed buy the fruits of our labour, let thy will be done. 


 

Do you guys have any idea by now when the album will see daylight?

Well were shooting for 11/1/08 2 weeks before kit 11, throw it up on www.cdbaby.com  and let it go from there, most likely bring them to kit 11...we had a deal going on with Pure Steel Records, but we felt they wanted to much up front, for no money, so we are trusting in God again to pull through for us - so you know we have no preference on secular or Christian label, we just want a fair and good deal, I never saw a dime from ''Ascend From The Cauldron'' and I wont allow that to ever happen again!!!


 

Be sure we at Metal To Infinity look forward to give extra attention to that release. By the way, what is your own opinion about a webzine like us? It's not that professional but I give a damn about that. We like what we doe and give support to those who are very important for us...US Metal is our main mission to complete.

I honestly love your webzine, it's cool looking, and very informational, and most of all Metal!!!!!!!!!

Great reviews and interviews, and I like how you go back to the dayz of denim and leather, flashbacks. Man, that keeps me young, and yes your support is much need to those who grace your pages. Without you and the fans, there would not be us. And as the bands must never take that for granted, no matter how big we get - always take time to talk and sign, take pictures with all of the fans of Metal music.
 
you will be the first webzine to get a copy of the new CD as well as the Lizzy Borden tribute CD...you my Metal brothers keep it true!!!!!!!!


 

November the 15^th Faith Factor will blow the stage apart with a stunning US Metal performance I think. What are the expectations by now and any news about the song list? I know it's quite early to ask that but I'll take my chances Ski.

Wow I like your bold ness to this question...I can let some of the info out but not at all, gotta keep you hanging for something.

Well all the songs on the EP a few of the new one and some ''Blast From The Past'', everyone is very excited. And has planned the family vacations around this festival...I think Dan and his girl will be in Germany 1 week before we come, see the sights and enjoy the beauty of Germany - the rest of us will how ever be leaving the States on Thursday, arriving Friday.

Play Saturday, leave sun be home by Monday to get back to our day jobs, it's gonna be rough and fast, but it'll be worth it. Wish we could stay longer and do another show in Poland, but we have to get back to our jobs. 

Sharing the stage with Flotsam and Jetsam, Artillery, Tokyo Blade, Girlschool, Forte,...WOW what a bill!!

Yeah, it's gonna be fun...I love Flotsam and Jetsam and never seen them live - It's an honour to be on the same stage as all those bands, with us its not competition cause we all are flying the flag for Metal, and that is our calling. Just some of us use different kind bait, were fishers of men, Metal men and women !!!!!!!!


 

Deadly Blessing will play at the next edition of Headbangers Open Air which is also one of the best European Metal fests, this year's edition means a real invasion of US Metal bands. Will you be there too Ski?

No, unforgently we were told since we are playing kit 11, we were not allowed to play HOA 2008 but that would of been great. Maybe DB would of let me get up and sing 'Search And Destroy' with Steve Childs, that would have been. Maybe they will have us next year, you do know when band like ours do come to play. No one pays for flights, just hotel and a performance fee, so were always putting money out to come play these festivals and hopefully we make it back or break even with merchandise. sales, but the opportunity to play and get the message out means more then the money.

How did you get involved to the next edition of KIT XI fest in Germany?

Oli is a big Deadly Blessing fan and if Oli likes you , you get to play his festival. I asked him is Faith Factor Metal music worthy enough to play for you and he said yes, are you available to play on Nov. 15th 2008, and the rest is history yet to be made.

Will you play some Deadly Blessing songs too that day?

I asked Martin Brandt, writer for Heavy Order was if we played any songs from Deadly Blessing what do you think the fans would wanna here, he said I'll put a song poll up on metal forum, and he gave the statistics so we will put something together. To honour my past achievements, let's just say it's called the Deadly Medley. You will have to wait to see what the fans voted for, I'll take the 3 highest rated songs and play them live, you wont be disappointed.


 

Hey man, this is it. We're longing to Faith Factor's new album...meanwhile I wish you all the very best, also I'd like to thank you for your precious time. Spread some final words before leaving please. Thx again!!

Onward and upward my Metal brothers and sisters in Metal and in Christ - Metal blessings, not deadly - Ski

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