rozhovor_2016-04-26_Crematory_en - HELLMAGAZINE
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ROZHOVORY
Crematory currently publishes new album called Monuments. Events that have passed the recordings could be termed as a cut in line up. Guitarist Mathias left the band last year and bassist Harald this year. I made interview with guitarist Rolf about all this thigs. It seemed so interesting that I received answers to questions from fresh blood in band.
Hello Rolf, I hope you’re doing well.
Were you in very rush in the last few months during the recording new album Monuments?
Rolf: All went pretty well with the recordings. Since the band is new and completed all goes great again.We had to rehearse quite a bit since we had to learn the new songs and got to get used to the old ones with the new line up. But all went very smooth and we are well prepared now.
Recordings are usually very stressful how was it in your case? Did you have a time to relax during it and if how?
Rolf: This time it was a longer production than we thought it would be. Cause Mathias left in the beginning of it and the Band had to think and sat together what to do. But as soon as the decision to go on was clear, we continued. Normally it’s not that stressful cause we don’t do it in one run. There is always time between sessions. Our producer Kohle has lots of things to do and we book whenever he is free and so it generally takes a bit longer than it might take with other bands. This gives us time in betweenand we can prepare the next sessions and recordings very well.
You changed guitar player…. and hired the new one last year. But what was the reason for hiring the second one?
Rolf: The band posted on their homepage and on the Facebook site that they were looking for a new guitar player with clean vocals and from more than a thousand players, Tosse and me were the last two guys in the very end.The Band decided todo a rehearsal together with two players and that sounded that good and worked also so great on a personal basis, that they decided to go on with two players. The main idea was not to find an exactly copy of Matze but instead come up with something more unusual but powerful.
What was surprise to me that the Harald left band this year. In both cases guys told it was because of personal reasons. Is it true or is there something behind?
Rolf: As far as I know there is nothing behind it. Harald has become a father and wanted to share time with his newborn baby. So he decided to quit playing live and we all can understand his decision.
You know after all years together it looks like Earthquake in your line up… especially before the release of the new album.
Rolf: We had to deal with it and after a short period of frustration the Band concentrated on their energy and their positive vibes. Sure it’s a cut but the new lineup sounds great and everyone in the Band is looking forward to the future. You have to deal with situations like these. It’s an adventure sometimes but quitting wasn’t an alternative.
Well, new record are coming soon why is the name Monuments? Is it because of your celebration of 25 years anniversary or you are feeling like pylons on the scene?
Rolf: The band is very proud of what they’ve accomplished in the last 25 years. We are really happy that we still exist after 25 years. Also the album name stands for 25 years of making music with all the ups and downs the music business has to offer. We wanted to prove at least for us that we still can make a great album and go out and deliver a killer show.
I’ve seen your title The Album is “hard, fat and horny” What do you mean “horny”?
Rolf: We still want it like on the first day. Music is our passion and what moves us. So that is a bit provoking but short and on the point.
Well, you didn’t change your sound so many years ago and we can hear few songs where is only clean vocal and Felix absent. That was also not so usual in your case…
Rolf: Well, now with Tosse we have a clean singer who has a wide range. He can do lower clean stuff but he can do the high stuff as well. The first time we were in the studio with him we checked out all the possibilities and looked for all parts that might fit with Crematory and work well with Felix too. And his wide range is so great and worked so well that we added those higher registers to our sound. One of the first songs he did was Raven’s Calling and he just nailed it.
How could you describe the Monuments?
Rolf: We all are very happy and pleased with the new album. It’s a very energetic one. It has variety, those electronic elements and in the same time sounds fresh and modern. It features hard guitar riffs and powerful grooves, dark Keyboards lines combined with killer growls and superb clean vocals. I think it combines many Crematory trademarks, reflects on the past as well as is being prepared for the future.
Who had main idea to do this record different to older ones?
Rolf: As the Band now features two guitar players, it was kind of obvious to have that also featured on the new album. It's quite a big difference with two guitar players instead of one. There is so much more pressure coming from the band and we all feel that in the rehearsal room, so it was very natural for us to transform that on to the album. The album features more guitar power and heaviness and a little less electronic elements. But it’s still a pure Crematory album.
The cover art also looks different to old ones. Who is behind?
Rolf: Peter Sallai did that. He worked on the last two albums too. We wanted to create a monument for ourselves and prove that we're still able to record a great album and deliver a modern Crematory album. The cover should express how proud we are and show a kind of elevation. Yes we are really proud of it and love it and we think the fans will love it too.
Is there something what would you like to change on the record? I mean when you can see (hear) it like whole album.
Rolf: If you listen to an album that you have done in the past you might always think of a change here and there. But recordings are a picture of a moment and in the studio you have to make decisions and in the very end you have to say that’s it. And that’s a good thing. Stick with it. You can always do changes but do they make it better? We are really happy with the album, its back to more heaviness and that fits great with our new situation. So, no we wouldn’t change anything.
Are you looking forward for upcoming tour?
Rolf: There is no longer tour planned, but we have already booked a couple of club shows and some festivals for this year. We do WGT, Bang your Head Festival and of course the Metal Fest in Pilsen. It looks very promising. We will play a special release show too, which is called Crematory and Friends Festival in Mannheim on April the 30th with four more Bands which all have a special connection to us. Our Band sounds great now and and we are looking forward to play for the fans and present the new material.
Do you have any message for your fans in Slovakia?
Rolf: It cannot be mentioned enough that fans should buy an album instead of streaming it. There is such a low licensing rate for musicians in the streaming business that it absolutely makes no sense in my opinion for musicians to stream their music. Good culture and good art needs support. Hope to see you somewhere on the Crematory Monument Live dates and we’re looking forward to play Pilsen!!
I wish you a good audience on upcoming tour and I hope we will see in Pilsen on Metalfest.
Thanx a lot for your time
Rolf: Thank you !
Pridal: Henry
Pridané: 26.04.2016