Interviews

Again a very good demo CD was put in my hands. This time from the Finnish band Crystalic. I was totally blown away after hearing their technical death metal with outstanding vocals. Three guys from the band are doing the shift right now, being rather short in their answers? The Finnish way I guess, hehehe? The story goes ever on. Here are Jarno, Toni and Arto.

Crystalic started out in 1998 and had a lot of line up problems. Tell me briefly the current background of today's band members.

J&T: Toni (guitar) is the founder of Crystalic. His former band is The Prophecy. Jarno (vocals) former bands are: Hidden (bass), Kill Me Gently (bass) and Steep (vocals). Arto (fretless bass) also plays in Masterstroke and Korpiklaani. Matti (drums) plays in Korpiklaani and Psychotic Terror and has been drummer in numerous metal bands for example in Depravity.

Two years ago you've released your first demo "Revitalized" and this year it's all "Redemption" that passes by. Compare the music difference between both demo's.

T: The difference between these two demos is quite a huge. Janne Juutilainen (drums) and Niko Rauhala (guitar) were in the band at that time and that?s why music was much more melodic and ?easy ? listening? ? stuff.

J: Yeah, it was really fun to play with those guys, but when you put death metal and power metal guys in the same room and try to write music, it doesn?t work!

You guys had several label offers after your first demo, but didn't sign any. What labels were interested and why did you decline the contracts? You better come up with a good reason, haha?

T: Some tiny labels proposed bullshit offers. We don't want to mention any names.

From then on it was even worse? In 2002 the band split up. What happened?

T: The whole band was frustrated when nothing happened regarding to labels.

J: It was good decision to stop playing for a while. Now everything works out fine!

I'm glad you guys are back together. Crystalic is one of the best kept secrets until now. "Redemption" is a very good demo release, leaving a lot of full releases FAR behind. Don't tell me you aren't satisfied?

J: We are very satisfied!

T: Thank you for your comments! Satisfied and maybe a little astonished, haha!

I hear clearly the Death influences?

T: Chuck Schuldiner is kind a role model for me. Other guys in the Crystalic respect Death as a band.

J: I started to listen Death when Scream Bloody Gore came out and I love every Death album. Chuck was a genius.

I cannot place Frank's vocals, they remind me of somebody, but I really can't figure out who? Help me out, would you?

J: What I've heard other people say to me are: Tom G. Warrior, John Tardy and Rainer Nygård!!! (Fiep-No, I don?t think so.)

The bass guitar output is very audible? Yet not disturbing. Arto's fretless loops and also Toni's leads sound top of the bill and highly skilled. Did they go to the academy of music?

T: No academy at all. I have taken a few guitar lessons for theory. Vivid imagination is all I need.

A: Yeah, only few lessons from different teachers. I'm self  educated and I have took a lot of influences from: Geezer Butler, Cliff Burton and Steve DiGiorgio.

How old are you all actually? And how long have you been raping your instruments?Arto 23, played 7 years, Matti 30, played 15 years, Toni 26, played 10 years and Jarno 33, singing 10 years.

I'm damn sure a lot of labels already contacted the band. Am I wrong? If you had all choice, what label would you choose?

J: We are now promoting Redemption and getting out good reviews from the media (like Vampire Magazine). After that promotion round we?ll send a full promo package to the labels. Some big label would be nice but it's all up to what kind of deal label offer..

I would say: Listenable Records. Then you could go on tour with the other Finnish band Mors Principium Est. Hehe? Any major gigs upcoming?
J: It would be cool !!! No major gigs, maybe next year things are different.

What was the most interesting gig you ever played?J: Helsinki, Stella Star last summer. At least we had fun at stage. Moshing and pure energy!

T: Yeah, that was fun. More interesting gigs are ahead, I think.


What are the lyrics about?

J: About society, world, human mind and behaviour with philosophic aspect.

How do you see Crystalic?s future? Sex, drugs and rock and roll?

J: The main goal is to get a record deal. No, no?..sports, vegetables and metal!! Hahahahah!

T: No, Pizza, soft drink and metal!!!! Hahahaha!

I always loved the Finnish scene. Sentenced - "North from here" is one of my all time favourites. And bands like Children of Bodom, Finntroll or Amorphis set a totally new style on the globe. How come Finnish acts have so much potential?

J: I don't know. Maybe it's because in every basement of every town are tons of metal bands. When we got 5000 bands few of them are good.

Are there more unknown acts metalheads should check out?

J: Yeah, lots of them. Codeon is good unsigned band.

A long time ago, somewhere in 1993, I bought a demo from the Finnish band Godfall. Some years later they released a mini CD. Since then I haven?t heard anything from them anymore? Do you know this band? Ever heard of?
J: Name sounds familiar, but I can't remember what they sound like. I guess Godfall doesn't exist no more.

If my girlfriend should ask me to leave my country for Finland, I would go immediately. Without any doubt. Somehow I feel very positive about your country though the language seems like hell? Teach me some essential vocabulary!

- Hello, how are you doing? =  Moro, mitä kuuluu?
- My name is Fiep = Nimeni on Fiep.
- One beer please = Iso olut, kiitos. / Iso iskender, kiitos.
- Say, do you want to stay the night over? = Lähetäänkö paneen?/ Miten ois pillutuohut?
- ManOwar is gay I tell you! =  Manowar on mun mielestä perseestä.

And what about life in general in Finland, are you satisfied with it? Here in Belgium we have the highest suicide rates of Europe, the highest cancer rates of Europe and every day a shiltload of rain. It can't be worse? No?

J: Whooah! It is the same story in here. Government claims we have the highest suicide rates and cancer rates as well. Fuck. We don't have so much rain, but too much snow and long cold weather season.

I'm through! Anything else to add to this interview? J: Thank you for this interview ! Just let the metal flow in Belgium!