26/09/2006    

Samir : How are you doing ?

Still rather tired from our second Euro-tour this year...

Samir : First , could we start with a small band presentation ?

Alex Auburn:lead & rhythm guitars and backing vocal; Chris "Kriz" Donaldson: rhythm & lead guitars and backing vocal; Eric Langlois: bass; Flo Mounier: drums and backing vocal; Lord Worm: lead vocal.

Samir : How are things in the Cryptopsy camp?

Busy, busy, busy...We're kept active touring, promoting, writing and keeping our daytime jobs (those of us that have daytime jobs, that is...).

Samir : Do you have any new songs written yet?

We have parts and arrangements for 2 new songs, so far...

Samir : So did you play in any other bands before Cryptopsy?

We all did, though Flo and I were in the band before it was even named Cryptopsy (we were called Necrosis, at that time...).

Samir : Are there any favorite Cryptopsy song of yours?

I guess I'd have to go with some of our newer material, say "Angelskingarden" or "Endless Cemetery".

Samir : Do you see Cryptopsy as something that you'd ever be able to or want to make a living from?

A living from music is something that very few metal musicians (especially extreme metal) can achieve. Let's also remember that age will eventually take its toll on a body, and touring with an extreme band like Cryptopsy will age you even faster. For my part, then, I have to say "no"; I can't see making a lifetime career out of extreme music and retiring at age 60.

Samir : Tell us more about the recording of "Once Was Not".where did you record it ?

Recording and mixing were done at Studio Vortex in Saint-Constant (just south of Montreal).

Samir : I heard that you're an english teacher . that's right ?

Yeah. I give private instruction to bankers, government people, corporate folks...

Samir : What else are you listening to and what are your favourite bands?

We all listen to a large variety of genres, anything from blues to black metal, from classical music to classic rock...no real faves, we just go with the mood at any given time.

Samir: What can you tell us about "And Then You'll Beg" ?

It contains a re-recording of "Back to the Worms", which was on our 1992 demo "Ungentle xhumation". Live, the tracks we usually play from "...Beg" are "We Bleed" and the afore-mentioned "...Worms".

Samir : What "CRYPTOPSY" album do you personally like most?

"Once Was Not", I guess...

Samir : What Was your feeling by playing with a drummer like Flo Mounier?

I've been friends with Flo for over 15 years; my feeling is that my friend and I are playing in a moderately successful band together. Flo hasn't always been the Flo Mounier: to me, he's always been just "Flo"...

Samir : How are fans responding to the new material? Are the fans enjoying the new songs in concerts?

Crowd faves so far appear to be "Carrionshine" and "The Pestilence that Walketh in Darkness", though "Adeste Infidelis" gets good reactions too.

Samir : Cryptopsy is considered one of those highly technical death metal bands, like Origin or Nile, yet it's not so technical as to lose the groove and the feeling. How do you look at the music you play? Is it just extreme music? Do you think about the technicality at all?

Cryptopsy is made up of competent musicians who take their respective "crafts" very seriously, and so it follows quite naturally that composition would also be taken seriously. Technical rrangements and melodies and riffs and fills happen on purpose and for a purpose.

Samir : Cryptopsy havie started in 1992, how do you think the band has evolved musically and personally?
We actually started in 1988. Anyway, what began as a hardcore band turned into a thrash band, then into a grinding death band, and now we've evolved into whatever you want to call us now. Personally, we've evolved inasmuch as our line-up has changed so much throughout the years.

Samir : Do you prefer playing live or recording in the studio, or even writing?

I prefer the writing process; playing live is necessary (but I don't really get off on it) and I loathe being in studio. I generally get things done in one or two takes, but I hate being under pressure and in studio, it's all pressure.

Samir : Where do you see the band in 5 years, 10 even?

If not dead, then in a state of inactivity, in all probability. Extreme bands don't normally have a long shelf-life, and we've already been around for almost 20 years.

Samir : What's your favorite place to tour in the world ?

This might sound hokey, but my heart lies in my homeland of Quebec. You could actually tour Quebec for a couple of weeks and do fairly well every night.

Samir : Do you think that the metal is so popular in Canada?

Metal has always been popular out here, and we've got the bands to prove it. We have (and/or have had) Blasphemy, Voivod, Annihilator, Infernal Majesty, Martyr, Despised Icon, Ion Dissonance, Neuraxis, Kataklysm...

Samir : If you will be invited to play here in moroccoo ,do you accept about this invitation ?

Sure, as long as it's a solid offer, we'll play anywhere.

Samir : Did you have any closing comments?

Thank you very much Samir for this interview and we hope to get out to Morocco to play for you sometime soon .

Samir : Thank you for all your time and keep the metal faith alive

Albums :

Ungentle Exhumation Demo, 1993
Blasphemy Made Flesh Full-length, 1994
None So Vile Full-length, 1996
Whisper Supremacy Full-length, 1998
And Then You'll Beg Full-length, 2000
None So Live Live album, 2003
Once Was Not promo EP, 2005
Trois-Rivieres Metalfest IV DVD, 2005
Once Was Not Full-length, 2005

Members :

 

 

Lord Worm (Dan Greening) - Vocals (ex-Necrosis (Can))
Alex Auburn - Guitars, Backing Vocals (ex-Quo Vadis (Can), ex-R.A.W.W.A.R.)
Eric Langlois - Bass (Aggression)
Flo Mounier - Drums, Backing Vocals (ex-Necrosis (Can))
Christian Donaldson - Live Guitar North Ameri[/center]can Tour (Mythosis)