[REVIEW] CRYSTAL LAKE New Album「HELIX」(Released on 2018, November 28th)

CRYSTAL LAKE

「HELIX」

It's been 2 years since CRYSTAL LAKE released his previous album called「TRUE NORTH」(2016, November 30th). As said in the song "Light Up the Tunnel" (from CRYSTAL LAKE - Album「The Sign」2015, October 7th) "With a purest passion, there is no turning back, with a pen and your blood, take your life back", this is a lesson in life that CRYSTAL LAKE teaches me every time. In other words, a big slap in the face, one more.

In this new opus, CRYSTAL LAKE tackles more complex themes that allow us to reflect. The main topic covered is related to the world view in the continuity of「Apollo」(released on 2017, October 11th) and「The Circle」(released on 2018, August 8th), approaching the faith as prayer to music as a god, but also the machination about machines and computers surpassing humans, related to Science Fiction, reminding the song "Machina" (from the Single「Apollo」).

「HELIX」

« I am the one above all. Every living thing will spiral into dust. Helix. »

This is true. In this album, we can notice that the music and vocal mastery are technically a notch above everything.

HELIX means spiral. A double Helix is the structure of a DNA molecule, with two types of helical ladders, the shape like two curving lines twisted together that is made by two spiral strands (strings) of DNA (the chemical that controls each cell). That DNA, spirally continued, build a human body.

HELIX represents the circle of life. The circle is the most common symbol, and of universal significance. It is one of the first forms traced by humans. It has neither beginning nor end, which makes it a universal symbol of eternity, perfection, divinity, infinity...

If I want to take this logic further, there is also a direct link to the previous release THE CIRCLE. This song is represented by an Ouroboros, snake eating its own tail, symbolizing the cyclic Nature of the Universe, creation out of destruction, life out of death.

Recently, on the intro of「THE CIRCLE」, CRYSTAL LAKE introduced the practice of a Triangle by asking the audience to realise the shape of a triangle with the hands in the air. The triangle represents the psychic soul and the circle represents the spirit. The constitution of the circle in the triangle represents the human being (human body).

Photo by @johngyllhamn

The summit of the Triangle is a fine peak that stretches to infinity and indicates the direction of the sky, in other words, the spiritual worlds.

The Music Video「THE CIRCLE」has also an Egyptian connotation that can also refer to the triangle as a pyramid, symbol of ancient Egypt, which is a symbol of its power in their time period and its strong religious beliefs.

We can also notice the triangle in「AEON」Music Video, representing here the "A" of the name of AJ Rebollo from the band ISSUES for the featuring.

CRYSTAL LAKE - AEON MV

That leads us straight to the second track…

「AEON」

(Feat. AJ Rebollo from ISSUES)

"AEON" means life or an indefinite and very long period of life (lifespan) in the sense of forever, timeless or eternity ; A power existing from eternity, an emanation or phase of the supreme deity. The term aeon can be used in reference to a period of a billion years (especially in geology, cosmology or astronomy) and Earth's history.

As referenced to the title, CRYSTAL LAKE challenges the theory of relativity. As a result, the space and time were interwoven into a single continuum known as space-time. For example, when the time expands, the space contracts. The way of capturing time changes depending to the speed, so CRYSTAL LAKE tried to catch these kind of things with sounds through music, lyrics and images (AEON MV). We can notice that CRYSTAL LAKE is projecting into a digital future.

For me, the main source of inspiration that emerges from the MV is the similarity, or should I say the representation of one of the most famous references in the world of Western art, a fresco painting by Michelangelo called "The Creation of Adam".

God on the right, and Adam on the left

The image represents the near-touching hands of God and Adam (yet it is impossible for Adam to reach far enough to touch the finger of the divine). These scene has become iconic of humanity. It is a depiction of the moment in which god grants a spark of life onto Adam, creating the first man. The symbolism behind the hands is that even though Adam is created in god’s image, they are not of the same realm or level, as would be two humans shaking hands, for instance.

« Install thy kingdom of glory, We are the servants of holy »

In AEON Music Video, the roles are somehow reversed ; Ryo being in the place of God, and the robot (machine) instead of Adam. Everything is fine until you pay attention to their positions. Indeed, on the painting, God is above Adam, God representing the divine power giving life to Adam, but not only him, to all mankind. But in the Music Video, it's the robot (machine) that is superior to Ryo ; God creating humans and humans creating the machine that surpasses and controls humans.

This gesture linking Adam to God has become reused in other works in a derived or parodic form like for example in the film E.T. the alien (1982).

Related to the painting, some people believe the god’s entourage represents a pretty accurate depiction of human brain. It might simply be suggesting that our brain is a piece or extension of God. Or, more provocatively, he might be suggesting that God is the creation and projection of the human brain. We can also notice the brain in AEON’s Music Video which is controlled by computers /machines.

« Coded by prayers of emptied souls,

Controlled by plastic signs and templated hearts »

Others say that it’s in fact a uterus.

« Behold the virgin spawning the filth of the human race,

From her womb prolonged by machines. »

Also, the illusion of being controled by time, thought and emotions maintains a psychotic delirium.

For example, another very human emotion that is linked to creativity is the melancholy. An area of the brain is the emotional counterpart of the human soul which is sometimes activated when a sad thought is experienced.

The message seems to be that consciousness is the true gift that a creator can give its creation.

CRYSTAL LAKE - 「AEON」

Official Music Video

(Feat. AJ Rebollo from ISSUES)

「AGONY」

Agony means mental or physical pain.

Ryo evokes Nemesis, the goddness of retribution and vengeance. In a generic way, a nemesis means the worst enemy of a hero in a work of fiction. There is also a ritual called Nemesia ; Its purpose was to avoid the nemesis of the dead, who were supposed to have the power to punish life if their worship had been neglected in any way.

« I have seen when the nemesis finds out

Only thing ruling love must be fear

So push away

Push away everything you are

Push away every living feeling you got »

The lyrics run into a loop at the start and end of the song, turning into a spiral (Helix).

「+81」

This song takes us in a more persuasive direction.

「+81」 is the Japan country code which allow you to call Japan from another country.

Number 81 is also a combinaison of the vibrations of number 8 and number 1. Number 8 relates to karma (spiritual law of cause and effects), and number 1 promotes creativity and creation, new beginnings, self-leadership and assertiveness , striving forwards and progress.

« I'm self made and I know cause I'm jaded

Now I've taken control

I'm self made and I know cause I made it

Watch your back against the world

Where the city never sleeps for us »

This number holds a powerful divine message that can transform life. It carries positive energies that can influence life in a good way. The meaning of the "+" in front of the number can be interpreted "plus" as "positive".

This number, also called angel number, signifies a period of realizations. The past few months have gone by in a blur, and there were so many things that happened that you wish you can take back. It will encourage you to accept the hard truths of life and be okay with them.

This is an Anti-party song. Although Crystal Lake does not used to talk about political problems, this song seems to oppose 2 ideas rather than 2 political parties (probably the balance between the positive vibes as self-leadership, and the negative one through the anger and desire of revenge).

« Apeshit!

Apeshit! »

"Apeshit" is a state of anger and rage that produces behavior more closely resembling that of an enraged ape than a human. From the habit of enraged apes of flinging their own feces at their object of anger.

« Godzilla every day back in Tokyo, Cause the mark of the beast has been carved right upon me »

The original Japanese name of Godzilla is ゴジラ (Gojira). It is formed from a combination of two other Japanese words : ゴリラ (gorira, gorilla) and 鯨 ( くじら, kujira, whale). This name described Godzilla as a cross between a gorilla and a whale.

Godzilla is the embodiment of violence and hatred for mankind, because he was created by atomic energy. He carries this rage within him because of his origins. He's like a symbol of humanity's complicity in their own destruction. He doesn't have emotion. He is an emotion.

「LOST IN FOREVER」

(Feat. Daniel McWhorter & Tyler Riley from GIDEON)

The theme of this song is about this abstract thing called "time". Ryo made it more familiar and allow us to sympathize with.

It's about time we can think about eternity, to live as if we live forever.

« We're lost in the moment that we've called forever »

We are all facing such moments of life that allow us to project ourselves into this universe. It is about this impermanence of life that we are so deeply afraid of. But every bubble is born to burst, it is just a matter of life. Likewise, happy and sad moments are transient and bound to end, but still living though inside somewhere in a corner of the heart that we call forever. Cause it will not change if there is a change in a long time like you feel forever. To build such strong bond with people in a such amount of time makes the separation difficult. But the feelings that connect people seem to be tied firmly.

For example, to look back thinking « I wish I had done this at that time », and about regrets « From now, what should I do ? ».

« If I finish what I started

What will I have to lose

You're the scar in my heart

Living proof of my youth

When will I ever again or never again

Will our heart beat synchronize again? »

CRYSTAL LAKE -「LOST IN FOREVER」

Official Music Video

(Feat. Daniel McWhorter & Tyler Riley from GIDEON)

「OUTGROW」

There is something mocking or ridiculous in this track through sarcastic expressions. Sometimes it's the tone, facial expression or body language that let you know. Here, Ryo plays with words and twists them around. Also, the "vocal riding" is like a bunch of beats. There is like a game. The gap of the magnificence by the mid-tempo of the music in contradiction with the lyrics seems to be part of the game also.

« Would you understand what makes the world go around

You think you do

You really don't with a mind of a hypocrite

If you can't understand what I'm singing on this track

You'd shut your fucking mouth and get over it »

If you just get rocked by the music, you will probably think that the translucency of this song is beautiful. But if you take a look at the lyrics, you will say "Oh that's really what you are talking about ?" Something like that.

「RITUAL」

Despite the depth of the themes covered and a more sharpened music, CRYSTAL LAKE doesn't forget where they belong, the Live stage. This track is carving out for concerts.

CRYSTAL LAKE describes the band with a metaphor as cult by praying to their music as a god. They spread the words all over the world and lead the crowd gradually infecting them with the music.

This song makes me remember the song "Down With The Sickness" from the American band Disturbed. I found something similar in the "OOH!" and in the intention emerging through the lyrics « Get up, come on get down with the sickness ».

DISTURBED - 「DOWN WITH THE SICKNESS」

Also, this track has something savage (especially through the « OOH!») and makes me think to the "jungle law". In other words, there is no law in the jungle. The social custums and unwritten rules are about to be ignored. From an animal point of view, it is something like the biggest most vicious tiger gets to be the alpha male, eats first after every hunt, and claims the most sexual rights. From human point of view, it is something like an ability to lead other, being a successful speaker that can persuade people with his logic and not being afraid of confrontations. So, it means declaring jungle law is simply declaring anarchy and doing what you want.

「HAIL TO THE FIRE」

So then, we go on logically with this song which is probably the most expected in Live. This song seems to be exciting Live, full of drive feeling. There is something like "Just free your mind and let's dance together in the flames", that's what comes to my mind listening to this song.

« Dance in the pit and hail to the fire! »

CRYSTAL LAKE being themselves big fan of Metal era, it should be note that we can clearly hear the inspiration from Metal bands like Sepultura, Soulfully or Architects ; Thinking about how to express the essence of Metal of the 80’s and 90's vives in the Crystal Lake style.

Here, Ryo chose to use coined words like「Zomba Zomba」which has no meaning actually ; Something easy to say and to remember.

The ancient practice of fire rituals was used for healing and purification in a sacred way. A fire ceremony can be used to release unwanted energies and attachments from the past and make space for new intentions ; To release unhappy memories, fears, negative emotions, and anything that you are holding onto that doesn't serve you.

Fire can heat your food or burn down your house. It is a force of destruction, creation and purification. We can be engulfed in flames or on fire with inspiration. It can be used in positive ways to enrich our connection with the divine.

« Cleans down your soul keep anger in stored

Fools are enslaved by the self involved

Faking smiles for ill desires

They're ignorant beings with no sense of shame »

「DEVILCRY」

One of Crystal Lake's strenghts is to be able to touch on topics arise from imagination, like to deal with current topics, daily living or present moments.

From the first verse, the first words resonate deep in my heart, understanding that the lyrics of this song are addressed to people who suffured heartbreaking loss of loved ones (Shinya Gt. CRYSTAL LAKE).

« We say goodbye like a thousand times

Until it gets to the one that's closest to you

Even the devil cried watching his mother fly away »

In the anime/manga Fullmetal Alchemist, the protagonist Edward Elric rattled off a list to bring humans back to life by proving that science (in the form of Alchemy) can create people by this formula (composition of the average human body).

« If I mix a bit of water carbon salt and sulfur

Add a tad of lime and iron

Trace of phosphorus with the rest of it

Would your spirit come back to the flesh I made? »

Additionally, as understood in the Fullmetal Alchemist universe, humans are comprised alchemically of threee major parts : the body, the mind and the soul. It has been stated that, broken down to its basest components, the average adult human body is comprised of Water (35 L), Carbon (20 kg), Ammonia (4 L), Lime (1.5 kg), Phosphorous (800 g), Salt (250 g), Saltpeter (100 g), Sulfur (80 g), Fluorine (7.5 g), Iron (5 g), Silicon (3 g) and fifteen traces of other elements.

Edward Elric / Fullmetal Alchemist

The soul (but often referred to as the spirit), on the other hand, is a component apparently unique to humans in the Fullmetal Alchemist universe. It is the incorporeal and supposedly eternal part of a human, synonymous with the self or psyche, which contains all non-biological and emotional attributes and is said to separate entirely from the physical body at death. The soul also appears to hold a great deal of energy, as it powers human action and can even be used to fuel certain transmutations. While a human remains alive, however, the body and soul are connected by an entity known as the mind.

「JUST CONFUSING」

"Is it mentally abusing or abusing your mentality ?"

Ryo stages something like a psychotic delirium with madness and a psycho way of singing. Or should I talk about psychedelism (means "mind manifesting"). Before, the desired effect was related to drugs which brings about a hallucinogenic, spiritual trip (such as LSD) and had a strong effect on the mind. More commonly now, the term is used to describe things that seems to recreate or reflect the experience of altered consciousness. That's the reason it is usually applied to art and music that uses a strange or non-standard signature. I think that's what Ryo wants to express things through the lyrics, something like an undulating of extreme and abnormal emotions. The term is somewhat synonymous with "trippy".

「APOLLO」

The addition of Apollo in HELIX was inevitable, this song bringing together all the themes covered by CRYSTAL LAKE in this album. Crystal Lake has linked to the view of the world, this time again trying to express it in various musical ways.

Apollo is the God of prophecy, medicine, music, art, law, beauty, and wisdom. Later he also became the god of the sun and light.

Apollo 11 was also the name of the spaceflight which landed the first man on the moon.

« I want it all space time in sync

Life intertwines my desires in sonic speed

So we lift from the ground

Blasting off much higher and higher we go »

CRYSTAL LAKE still has the feeling to go to the ultra Heavy as they always do, trying this time to add a more sensuous part that fits with an emotional feeling.

In Apollo Music Video, CRYSTAL LAKE stage the galaxy color which is sequenced in three main features : the red sequence (elliptical galaxies), the blue cloud (blue galaxies, spirals), and the green valley (red spirals). The touch of sensuality can be noted in particular by the presence of the pink color.

The big eye at the beggining can mean the purpose of CRYSTAL LAKE about the world view. We can see CRYSTAL LAKE's members walking and exploring the world around. And the last image is Ryo who is like praying alone in front of the vastness of earth and seas.

CRYSTAL LAKE - 「APOLLO」

Official Music Video

「SANCTUARY」

It's on this logic conclusion that this new album ends with this song called "Sanctuary" ; As if we walked together hand in hand listening to it until the end heading to the sacred precinct.

« The crown of thorns »

The crown of thorns (thorny plant) was placed on the head of Jesus during the events leading up to his crucifixion, the red bracts of the flowers representing his blood. It was one of the instruments of the Passion, employed by Jesus' captors both to cause him pain and to mock his claim of authority.

Here the lyrics express the will not to submit, no matter what happens. The meaning is that even if the environment change, CRYSTAL LAKE doesn't feel affected by that. They keep doing what they always wanted to do, and will never change it.

Finally, the album ends on what it started, like a circle.

« This crown of thorns

Wound like a snake

Forever it'll give me a peace of mind»

"This crown of thorns wound like a snake" makes me remind of the snake Ouroborous (see above), symbolizing the cyclic Nature of the Universe : creation out of destruction, life out of death... Like this sentence, this process just go around in cercles again.

To conclude, CRYSTAL LAKE made a further leap in this New album HELIX. They tried to put new elements into their music without forgetting the essence of their Metal roots. Their worldview state and goals are their main assets. CRYSTAL LAKE challenges an abstract subject called time. Metal lover or not, we are all facing such moments of life that allow us to project ourselves into this universe.

I was still living in France when CRYSTAL LAKE released their album TRUE NORTH, dreaming about being in Japan for the next one. 2 years later, my dream came true, I'm living in Japan, so I was here for the release of HELIX while CRYSTAL LAKE was Touring in Europe at that time. This is a fact, all the things we achieve are about time.

I have always believed in CRYSTAL LAKE and to see them keeping growing up in front of my eyes makes me so proud of them. I'm not telling it only because CRYSTAL LAKE is my favorite band, but HELIX is sincerely the best release of the year so far. It's really amazing to hear that a song evolves naturally from the other ; there is a logical follow-up.

This album has such a technical level that it should be hard playing the new songs Live (the amazing changes in tone of voice for Ryo and various change of speed). I really can't wait to see them perform HELIX.

CRYSTAL LAKEThank you so much for sharing your passion, music and emotions with the world. Music has definitively no boundaries. Thank you so much for allowing me to change my life, cause you are a piece of me forever and forever more.

From the bottom of my heart,

THANK YOU!!

I LOVE YOU!!

This is the way we are, This is the way we die.

We're lost in the moment that we've called forever.

_______________________

If you want to know more about CRYSTAL LAKE ~New Album~「HELIX」, check out my articles!!

CRYSTAL LAKE ~INTERVIEW~ by「FLJ MAGAZINE」ISSUE #63 JANUARY 2019

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CRYSTAL LAKE NEW ALBUM「HELIX」(2018, November 28th) &「HELIX ONE MAN JAPAN TOUR 2019」

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CRYSTAL LAKE「HELIX ONE MAN JAPAN TOUR 2019」TICKETS