Interviews

Some bands absolutely deserve attention. I'm getting horny when we start talking about the Finish scene and you can't blame me! Quality bands seem to rise like mushrooms; a Dutch saying would say so. Crystalic newest and also very first album, entitled "Watch Us Deteriorate", is one hell of an album. Since the dead of Death no other band could play technical death metal as Chuck once did. But luckily now there's Crystalic.

I'm actually very pleased about "Watch Us Deteriorate". What do you think about the album?

Erik Grönroos (guitars): Sure we are all pleased as well. It was a long road to this point and it's rewarding we are here now today. The whole band is very satisfied to the album. Sounds are good and the songs are good. Of course there are always some tiny things on some stuff like on solos and on the most technical parts of some songs that could have been played more accurate but that's just how it goes. It's impossible to satisfy yourself completely when it comes to music you've done!

Toni Tieaho (guitars): Yeah, very satisfied and very very relieved!! Finally one of my biggest dreams came true...and it didn't last very long, at least 10 years (HAHAHAH). So I think this album is going to be good start for us and now we should look forward and work hard like promoting and do lots of gigs, so little by little people may know who we are.

In my review I wrote I couldn't believe Crystalic weren't signed on a major label after the release of the latest promo. I'm right saying not much labels got in touch to release Crystalic's material? If so: how come? Why do you think there's not that much label interest? I mean, without any doubt Crsytalic show what quality is all about.

Toni: That's right, seems like that it's even very hard to get contact to these labels and right people who should listen stuff like this, all these emails and promo CD's that we sent to labels, I can tell you we have done that a lot and many years! Maybe we just had a bad luck with this thing. But I think it's also a good thing that we did this album now and not earlier. Now our songs are certainly better and it's right time to strike!

Erik: You're right man. I don't know, I guess we are not playing so mainstream shit, ha ha.

Jarno "Frank" Moberg (vocals): I think there are at least two reasons. Like Erik said we are not the mainstream style. On the other hand we are not something special, something new record companies are always looking for. One “medium” size company showed interest towards us but on the crucial moment they said “no”. In my opinion, in the beginning of band's recording history, it is better to start working with a small company. There are too many sad examples of bands that get first deal with big major company and pretty soon after first release vanish in thin air. Major companies have their major bands and they always take the first place in everything.

But then you got in touch with Thundering Records, a rather small label. Can you tell me a bit more about the deal and label itself? Satisfied? I mean, the album isn't out yet, but do you feel confident about them?

Frank: Ad! Album is right now available in Europe. Buy people buy! We are satisfied and everything is going as agreed. Small label fits us perfectly, because they are concentrating on us and promoting our music. For example they have released three free sampler CD's and on each CD there is one Crystalic song. I think French and Germany are the main marketing areas. Thundering is putting effort on those countries. Time will tell what happens. Hopefully we grow with the company and lot of good things will happen.

Erik: Yeah, the deal is 1+1 albums so after Watch Us Deteriorate we have a chance to release one album yet thru Thundering Records if we agree. Satisfied? So far yes and confident about them as well.

In the same review I refer a lot to Death. I'm almost saying Crystalic is a Death clone. Do you mind comments such as these or do you disagree?

Toni: I think it's not a bad thing when people say that we are ALMOST Death clone, it's more like honor to me. We have our own sound and we don't want or try to be a clone. Of course there's lots of influences, fretless bass etc. What can you do when you think that Chuck Schuldiner is the BEST composer who has ever lived!?

Erik: Death clone? Come on give us a break, hell no! Of course there are a lot of Death references, same style of guitar playing etc. but we wouldn't admit to say Crystalic sounds exactly as Death. You can't hide your influences or actually you can but that would be betraying yourself and there's no point in doing that. People have and surely will be always comparing Crystalic to Death, we don't have any issues with that since playing this sort of music is a conscious choice for us. But in any manner we surely aren't trying to copy Death, which would be blasphemy. But when Death is the biggest idol of the whole band that's pretty obvious it shines thru in our music too.

Frank: There are lots of different influences. Not only Death. When we sit down with Crystalic, take a few cold ones and put our favorite CD's on a player you'll hear: Old Man´s Child, Paradise Lost, Carcass, Entombed, Tony MacAlpine, Dimmu Borgir, Iced Earth, Pantera, Soilwork (old), Sodom, Cannibal Corpse, Black Sabbath, Cynic, Nevermore, Rytmihäiriö, Matti and Teppo...etc.

I actually left out next negative comment: the cover art is but ugly! Come on, couldn't you find something better?

Toni: We don't want to be too refined (HAHAHA!). It's an old school album cover!!! Music is the thing what's decisive.

Erik: The cover art isn't Picasso yeah, but we are satisfied. In the very end yet it's all about the music not about the cover art

Frank: Main point on that cover is our logo. It is important that people get to know Crystalic and that's why it's large and background is blurry. CD is the worst format (after c-cassette) for cover art. Look at Entombed “Left Hand Path” album version and then CD version. It's a whole different cover though it is the same painting! All the details are gone. 

A few years ago Matti Johansson handled the sticks in Crystalic. Nowadays he's active in Korpiklaani. I've seen that band last year and its popularity is enormous. Don't you somehow despite you don't make that commercial music?

Frank: Korpiklaani is a great band and Jonne Järvelä (songwriter, vocalist and guitarist) has been doing for years that kind of music. They surely deserve that popularity after years and years of hard work! Of course I hope that someday Crystalic will be selling a lot of records, because then we have all our time to this band. Then we can fully concentrate on composing songs, writing lyrics and touring.

During the previous interview with Vampire Magazine vocalist Jarno said the lyrics where about nature, society and human behavior. Do you feel it is necessary putting a positive message in the lyrics?

Frank: It is not necessary. On “Watch Us Deteriorate” there is only one song that ends happily ever after. Song is Faith Redefined. I often tell to my buddies that I don’t know how to write happy lyrics. It doesn't fit to our music. Nature is not anymore present in my lyrics. I do care about it, but I am not a fanatic Greenpeace dude. Mostly my lyrics deal with twisted human behavior. You see that every day in our society, all around the world. It is like a bottomless pit.

If I remember correctly a part of your job is to plough snow. Crystalic's lyrics are about nature etcetera. I guess you didn't have much to plough this winter. What do you think about global warming? And what to do about it? Perhaps some things you're doing already?

Toni: That's correct!! By the way, do you know some open employments? (HAHA!). Global warming...hhmmmmm. Sounds really serious thing. Did people wake up too late for his thing...hope not!! If I would be little bit wiser I could do something about it. Now I just have to keep Tampere City clean, repair things and plough that "white shit" away from people's road. So I hope that would help something or at least someone. Okay, I could use less warm water and turn our apartments registers lower on winter. And recycle of course!!!!

And about you Jarno, what the f**k is your nickname "Frank" referring to?

Frank: That comes from my childhood. There is a guy who owned (owns still?) a hockey team and his name is Frank Moberg. He was on tabloids at that time and my buddies started to call me “Frank”. He is not my relative.

Your last promo release, entitled "Carnival In Flesh", was fully downloadable on the band's website. You also offered to buy the CD for 5 euro. Do people actually buy the record when you've put it online integrally?

Erik: Not many but some people did. The ones who collect records I guess.

Frank: Yeah, we wanted to give a chance to get that CD with the best available audio quality. People who bought that promo CD, might get good money on Ebay near future? (whoahahha!).

Crystalic don’t perform much. Only a couple times a year it seem. How come? You're all too busy with the daytime job? Or Finland doesn't have any proper places to play?

Toni: Maybe we are busy and little bit lazy too about getting gigs. But it's hard to get gigs when you are a demo band. Now when we have our first album in our hands and we kick ourselves in the ass I think that thing will be fixed too!!

Many new metallers are probably not that familiar with Death. This is your change, please comment on the fully Death discography and make them know all about one of the greatest bands ever!

Answers by Frank:

- Scream Bloody Gore: This is where all death metal started. Vocals on this record define death metal. Guitar sound is raw. This album shows that you can make very powerful and “emotional” songs with simple riffs. Crystalic played live “Zombie Ritual” from this album.

- Leprosy: Little more “technical” album. Yet raw and Chuck's voice at it's best! Listen to “Pull The Plug” or “Left To Die” you'll get the picture. Crystalic plays first one live.

- Spiritual Healing: This might be the difficult 3rd album. Some really great tunes, but some of them are too long and boring. Don’t get me wrong! If you compare this to other death metal albums of that time, this is quality! Crystalic has performed “Living Monstrosity” from this album.

- Human: When I first put this LP on my vinyl player and heard the intro of “Flattening Of Emotions” I was shocked! Who can play double bass drum that fast? Sean Reinert. This album is a huge step towards technical metal. Paul Masvidal and Steve DiGiorgio complete the line-up. Great songs and atmosphere through the entire album!

- Individual Thought Patterns: The most technical death album. Every time I listen to this, I find something new. Rage, fury and extreme technicality! Something unbelievable! We have played “The Philosopher” live.

- Symbolic: After ITP, this is much simpler but on the other hand catchier album. This is the easiest way to get inside Death's world. Many people say that this is the best Death record. I say that every Death album is great. I don’t want to put them in order. But…This is awesome! Hit after hit!

- The Sound Of Perseverance: At that time, I think Chuck was concentrated on his melodic metal band Control Denied (which was a great one too!). This record has very emotional melodies and extreme technicality. Chuck told in one interview that his voice has changed during the years and you can hear it on the album. This is a bit confusing album… If you are unfamiliar with Death, this is not the first album I would recommend.

One more Death related question. On Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles (famous US board: http://www.bravewords.com) there was a topic about the best Death line up ever. I'm curious which line up has got your preference? And why?

Toni: Definitely line up of Individual Thought Patterns!!!! It's just fuckin' awesome! It's so "fuck the limits and rules" album and all the members put 200% from themselves on it. They really don't conserve their talents on it. I never get enough from that album!!

Thanks for this interview guys, good luck with the band and perhaps, some day… See you in real life!

Toni: You´re very welcome, thank you Filip!! Yeah, maybe we see each others someday in real life ;)