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[INTERVIEW] CRYSTAL LAKE ~INTERVIEW~ by「FLJ MAGAZINE」ISSUE #61 Sept. 2018

geddagaelle
13 août 2018
9 min de lecture

CRYSTAL LAKE

Release of the New Single「THE CIRCLE」

CRYSTAL LAKE, whose the previous work「APOLLO」, released on October last year, is reaching new height, while their popularity is also rising worldwide, is going to release a New Single. Containing 3 songs,「THE CIRCLE」includes a Featuring with Masato from COLDRAIN on the lead track, the second track「Lost In Forever」as result of the meeting with the members from the American band GIDEON, and the third track is an ambitious Remix of the famous song「True North」by EUPHORIC WAVISM. June 25th, appearing together with KOHH for the REDLINE TOUR 2018 -Dirt Match-, I met the vocalist Ryo and guitarist Yudai before the Live performance in Tokyo.

From the left, Shinya (G), Gaku (Dr), Ryo (Vo), Bitoku (B), Yudai (G)

FLJ : This time, what is coming out from the new song「THE CIRCLE」?

Yudai : There is always a feeling of novelty, but how is it better to make use of the roots we have walked on until now rather than a revival, or what’s going to happen if you play with what you like? I made something like this theme this time. Crystal Lake hasn't always had the way on a worldview like this but, even thought there is this sole basis this time, I’m putting the backbone of our culture forward with the 90’s Metal and New Metal from our roots. Like an occult or jungle beat. While enjoying such things, I kept my current view of the world and made it in such a way that I could give a new taste to everyone.

FLJ : Is there a link since we celebrated the 15th Anniversary of the band formation last year and the release of「APOLLO」?

Yudai : Indeed it might be. I didn’t think everyone would say that「APOLLO」is good. I got a lot of messages and responses from other countries than Japan too. I felt something like « Wow, did you really tell me those kind of things? ». However, since I intended to do it freely, this time as well, when a small foretaste went into it, I thought that it would be nice if everyone got pleased with it and would be linked next.

FLJ : Although「APOLLO」was the song as attack, this time is the coexistence of brutal and beauty, the balance making a wonderful song.

Yudai : Thank you very much. Music can be spread easily through YouTube and internet, isn’t it? I felt it deep inside myself the last time we toured in Europe for the first time. The good things Japanese provide, after that, sending out interesting things to such places, I was aware that it would be nice to make something like saying « So great, Japan! » or « I don’t think this is right now ».

Ryo : When I went to Europe last year, the response was totally different from Japan, it was a reaction like a direct emotion directly transmitted. Separately, the other side is good and Japan isn’t bad, I felt it was like a culture shock that we had never experienced before. Maybe, it appears directly to the feeling of the song. I’m conscious of the vocal style that appeals more directly to emotions.

FLJ : Did you change the vocal approach ?

Ryo : Until now, I was doing it with such consciousness that I would like to have this technique, but this time I did it with the words to captive directly the listeners.

Yudai : I thought that the stubbornness of the foreign language was different, as Ryo said. On the contrary, I felt that the culture shock didn’t change so much. Doing Live and being awesome in Japan and overseas at the same time, that’s what I feel. There are US and Europe’s hardcore that we listened to. So when I listened to it, I realized that the link emerging from was real. I thought something like I'm happy if I can do it better (Laugh).

FLJ : On the other hand, is it the unique way for overseas people to see CRYSTAL LAKE as original?

Ryo : I was told that it was energetic. Why can I do so seriously with full ten every time? Many guys told me it seemed like that (Laugh). But that has always been our way of doing things.

FLJ : This experience is reflected in the vocal this time, isn't it ?

Ryo : That’s right. Especially the first song called「THE CIRCLE」has New metal and metal from the 90’s, 2000’s, influenced by myself, especially from the intro to the hook’s melody of the song, how to sing that time while consciously updating it to one’s own way, I think I’m able to put it in Crystal Lake style. The heart is firmly metalcore, but I think that to spread by putting in new elements is a good way to success.

FLJ : Why did you feature Masato from COLDRAIN as Vocal on「THE CIRCLE」?

Ryo : "Let's do it someday" has come out before. By chance, it was the good timing.

Yudai : Masato also has a similar backbone like New Metal, Heavy Rock and so on, that's the daringly part we played with. It will be interesting to explore Masato's capacities where usually COLDRAIN doesn't do it. It was like that.

FLJ : It will be good to hear Masato singing in heartrending voice.

Ryo : At the beginning, the key was higher, quite high for Masato also as expected. Finding a solution that worked was a process of trial and error. And then, it became that key. He told me that’s the most higher key he’ve ever done (Laugh). I think that’s a feeling that has never been in COLDRAIN until now.

FLJ : By the way, do you feel like making a Loud Rock scene together with COLDRAIN ?

Yudai : No, we don’t (Laugh). The hardcore and metal scene is made by seniors, COLDRAIN has a more general approach, I think that it is people who convey metal and rock music fairly. We also want to be able to become a tunnel there, it would be fun to see the total population increase more than anything, there is something that wants more crazy guys to increase. There are lots of crazy people around us, isn’t it? (Laugh) There is an overwhelming cultural difference there, but we are enjoying themselves a lot in terms of how to communicate the fun of it. Of course, I don’t think crazy guys can easily increase but, if there is an entrance like « There is such a thing », there will be some people coming from there as well. Even when I got a culture shock as teenager, the access road was maybe a catchy popular band, but from here, the deep door I was heading to was opened. I always feel that making a big deal is important. So today's event is also an interesting event, isn't it?

FLJ : Today will be REDLINE TOUR 2018-Dirt Match- performance in Tokyo, but Osaka and Nagoya is already done. What kind of feeling was it?

Yudai : There are parts where the players and artists link each other, but we’re facing the feeling that we're not yet able to deliver to people the intended aims they are listening to. There is a certain change when music mixes up. It became a feeling like "So great, this day" to be transmitted. It is not an issue, I feel like being able to communicate more with this pleasure. The genre is different, but the impact is the same. If you get into it, both hip hop and classic also, and if you pursue and make it probe into geek that is breaking through, it feels like being together. Even when I'm working for OZROSAURUS, once you get into it, it becomes straight naturally. That’s why I don’t really like having « barrier ». If you can do it, there will be more people moving and enjoying themselves. We're going to do the REDLINE today, I haven't said anything else but, I think this is a definite day like "This is a super hybrid day, right?".

2018, July 13th, RESURRECTION FESTIVAL in Spain. PHOTO : John Gyllhamn

FLJ : In the 2nd track「Lost In Forever」, Daniel McWhorter and Tyler Riley are participating in as guests. Did you be tied together with Gideon during the tour in July last year?

Ryo : That’s right. We get along well with them. We called each other "Family forever". At that time, we said "Please, we want you to feature on our next song". I really wanted to do it, GIDEON was also thrilled to do this feat, we were both excited to work together on a song so, I thought it will fit.

FLJ : What's this song about ?

Ryo : This song is about time we can think about eternity, to live as if we live forever, but through that, life will end, there is also encounter and parting among them, that's the theme of this song. For example, I look back thinking "I wish I had done this at that time", and about regrets "From now, what should I do?", I express such things in the lyrics. The theme is an abstract thing called "time », but I made it more familiar and able to sympathize with.

Yudai : Like for「Lost In Forever」, I thought it will be interesting to use a special approach for this single, about the production and the timing also. So I wanted to introduce my friends here, and thought that it would be better to play songs. So I made two patterns. Another 3rd song is a remix of the title song of the album "True North", and it is also remixed by my friends.

FLJ : Is EUPHORIC WAVISM your friends ?

Yudai : Yes, it is. It's a friend who has always helped in our work until now. Even as we do, the yearly work is tremendously important ; Doing arrangement, and doing what I want people newly coming in to want to listen as a trigger. In the past, listening to the work of DJs related to our favorite bands, remixing the favorite songs, arranging them separately, listening to the heavy things turning into mellow, I enjoyed the entertainment of such music. So we feel like we tried it with a similar temperature.

FLJ : I'd like to ask the meaning of this title「THE CIRCLE」, though.

Ryo : "APOLLO" was a song to go to a new field, so this time the theme is how to open up when I get into a new place. I think that bands are like a cult. There are believers, founders (Guru) and people who divide them. The Guru and the dividers are in a band, the believers are compared to spectators. "We will show you a new world, come and follow us! » I'm making a message like that. The existence of God in this cult is our music, and Crystal Lake itself expresses it. Masato comes out on the way, but in fact, it is called like a hidden boss or a character at the crucial moment setting like a boss (laugh). From his appearance, we made the image like pulling further.

Yudai : Arrange words that are written in real occult books and put them in lyrics. I'm playing and linking in that way.

Ryo : It’s a phrase of prayer, with an interesting feeling like « Let me introduce the devil ».

Yudai : I think that you can tell me something like "what you are doing is on the top". Would you say rapper or rock star without that kind of feeling? There may be a culture where somewhere Japan sees such a thing as negative. But if you like it and make the best music you can, like occult, it’s not the same to say « That’s the best! ». It's not like "prostrate oneself before" (Laugh) I think that to say this is cool isn't wrong.

Ryo : Actually, when I wrote a lot of things, I studied Charles Manson, Aleister Crowley, a story about a real cult organization. What they are doing is not right, but they have their justice, feeling once again that it was the conviction they wanted. I thought it might be good to compare it to a band, to be factored in. But It's hard to allude to this theme (laugh)

CRYSTAL LAKE New Single「THE CIRCLE」Released on 2018, August 8th.

FLJ : From June 30th, you will Tour in UK and Europe, but what kind of Tour is it this time?

Ryo : How many people can be affected this time ? There are many big festivals. I think it will be different from last time.

Yudai : I felt the scale up deep inside myself the last time we went there. First of all, we've planned to go there again in November for the promotion of the Single, but next year we will do things like our own One Man, I have the feeling that I am laying the groundwork in order that a Headline Tour can be done now.

FLJ : Do you have a label and management's support over there now ?

Yudai : UK, Europe are all depending on the agent called Loud Noise. They do it with an awesome love. Next time, I am aiming for Download Festival. We also had an offer for Belgium’s Graspop Metal Meeting Festival, but the Live was covered with another one so, we couldn't do it. I wanna go to the Hellfest also. I wanna be involved in a lot of events.

FLJ : Also, you will do the TRUE NORTH FESTIVAL this year again, right? What kind of content will this year be?

Yudai : Basically, we will bring bands with the same feeling, I thought that I would like to call out to the bands I've met abroad on Tour with the same attitude. Also, we do the audition the same way this year, this time around 120 bands are coming from it. For people having desires, I hope places of encounter and chance will expand.