CRYPTOPSY

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GRABBING AN OPPORTUNITY DURING THE WACKEN-OPEN-AIR 2001 FESTIVAL, CHRIS GALEA INTERVIEWS THE CANADIAN SKINSTER WHOSE BAND HAS LEFT THE HOUNDS OF BRUTALITY (aka Death-Metal fans) SHAKING …AND BEGGING FOR MORE!

Cryptopsy’s latest opus "…And Then You’ll Beg", released through Century Media, has been enthusiastically welcomed by critics and fans alike. And quite rightly so.

In fact, apart for their brutality, Cryptopsy have gained a reputation for the virtuosism of their musicianship. With these thoughts in mind, plus an eagerness to get to know the drummer (Flo Mounier) of the band which a few minutes earlier, in this German village called Wacken, sent thousands berserk, I break the ice with a call for confirmation.

Flo - Yes. As you just said, it was the last show with Mike. We’re continuing with the European tour and Japan tour in the near future.

Chris - The recent album, "…And Then You’ll Beg", received all around praise. I myself think that the production was quite good. What do you think was the factor that made individuals like it so much?

Flo - I think that it attracted a lot of fans because it’s like the rest of our albums in the sense that it’s an evolution of music. ‘Evolution of music’ since it gets more musical and more brutal (than the previous album). Maybe I say this because it’s us who have written it but as far as I’m concerned that’s how it is.

Flo - We wanted to create something that was different from "Whisper Supremacy" and "None So Vile" and others. Something that was musically creative and exciting.

Chris - And with your style of (brutal death-metal) music, it’s difficult to find an album production whereby all instruments are noticed…..

Flo - Yeah, what we tried to do was basically put everything on its own shelf. We still have a long way to go but we’re getting close to achieving this, so that you can eventually hear all instruments. When something goes on, it’s very hard to do this in this kind of music. But we’re trying to do that because it’s very important.

I’m asking this because until a few years ago the term ‘underground’ was paradoxal to available high-tech marketing such as today’s use of D.V.D.s and Internet promotion.

Flo - Well, let’s put it this way – it’s underground music in the way that you perceive it to the ear.

But the underground musician has to make some kind of living doing what he’s doing or else the next album won’t sound as good because you won’t have any money to make it sound better.

The society we live in is all about money and there’s no denying it. So there’s nothing that is more underground than the kind of music that is extreme metal. But we have to keep the ball rolling and we have to keep the media around us so that they can appreciate it and you know what ? The more the media appreciates it, the more public we reach.

‘Underground music’? Good! But we have to reach people and it’s hard to do so today because there’s no radio play, no T.V. play and what have you. A lot of people don’t know what this music is all about and when they do find out, they like it!

Flo - It’s very hard to say. Sometimes our popularity varies from city to city…..

Chris - It is traditionally difficult for Canadian metal bands to breakthrough in the U.S.A.. Do you consider your band as an exception?

Flo - Well, we were lucky! We were accepted (there) a long time ago. It’s very hard to get a record contract when you’re from Canada. When you’re from the States it’s very easy. And it’s unfortunate because there’s a lot of great bands coming out of Canada.

Chris - Are there any bands in particular you are eager to see at W:O:A, this edition?

Flo - Well there are so many! I would really have liked to see Dimmu Borgir yesterday. However, I didn’t see them since we had just arrived at the hotel shortly before, and we were dead tired and had to get some sleep.

Myself and Nick (Barker, drums with Dimmu Borgir) have been constantly talking to each other and expressing our reciprocal desire to meet. We have yet to shake hands but I have a high respect for him and I think that even he has a high respect for me too and I think that festivals such as the Wacken fest. are good opportunities to unite the scene and unite musicians.

Flo - I appreciate the support very much. The scene needs more media coverage. It’s a good thing that you’re doing that, Chris, and I appreciate your support very much.