Because "Embrace The Horror" is an excellent album, I wanted to know more
about greek band CRYSTAL TEARS. I hope this band will be here for a long
time with other killer albums to be released, and they will get the recognition
they deserve (and same thought for DREAM WEAVER, RAGING STORM, BATTLEROAR,
MARAUDER, etc... as Greece is a country with great metal bands). Drummer
Chrisafis Tantanozis answered my questions...
As I discovered your band with the 2002 cd, let’s go back in the past.
CRYSTAL TEARS was formed in September ’97, which did give you the desire
to create a band ? What are the goals you have in mind ?
Mmm… music itself gave us the desire to create a
band ! It was so magical to see our heavy metal idols on concerts, magazines
and TV and listen to their music ! So many feelings all together ! Goals
in mind ? The same goals that every little kid has when starting play music
: fun !
Why did you choose CRYSTAL TEARS as a bandname ? Has this name a special
meaning to you ?
Well, actually it has not ! It was too difficult
to choose a band name, we came up with numerous names, however, when we suggested
the name CRYSTAL TEARS, we thought, hey, this is a great name for a heavy/speed/power
metal band. Easy to pronounce and easy to remember !
During the first two years, you were writing songs and playing concerts.
Did you play only your songs or did you play covers too ?
Of course we didn’t play only our songs ! In every
live we would cover two or three tracks. Songs that we have covered all these
years are “Tears Of The Dragon” (BRUCE DICKINSON), “Back To Back” (PRETTY
MAIDS), “The Hell Patrol” (JUDAS PRIEST), “Conquistadores” (RUNNING WILD),
“Ride The Sky” (HELLOWEEN), “Alison Hell” (ANNIHILATOR), “Indians” (ANTHRAX).
There was a first self-financed cd in ’99, called “Skies Of Eternity”.
How does it sound ? And how was the response?
“Skies Of Eternity” is a seven track demo cd, relleased
back in ’99. Its musical style is heavy, power metal with some epic touches
here and there, mainly because of the vocals. Lyrically, it talks about a
man who tries to score high. It is a sort of concept. That man has to overcome
a lot of obstacles to achieve his goal. Only the last song is lyrically out
of the story. It talks about a couple that is in love, but only death can
unite them. The response of people about it was really very encouraging !
We could not be aware of its success, we could not imagine that metalheads
not only from Thessaloniki, but also from entire Hellas and moreover, from
parts of the world would like this work so much ! A great feeling !
In 2000, you recorded “Promoworks”, a two song promo cd. Was it only to
find a deal ? Did you send it to a lot of labels ?
No, “Promoworks” was not only for us to find a deal.
We were giving it to our friends as well ! It was mainly for record labels,
yes, owever, we could not deny giving it to our friends ! Yes, we had sent
it to a lot of labels, worldwide, multinational, underground ones, but nothing
serious happened. At least, we had a response from all of them. Do you know
that big record labels do not sign hellenic bands ? (big record labels’ attitude
sucks –Patrick)
In November 2002, “Embrace The Horror” was unleashed, an album delivering
a high dose of great and powerful heavy/speed. Are you satisfied by this
cd ? Have you got some recognition with this album ?
Yes, we are very satisfied with the result ! It
was the first time we commited a full length work and it was the first time
we commited a full production 100 % by our own ! Of course, some things could
be avoided, however, we will improve on them in the future. “Embrace The
Horror” includes nine songs and musically, influences come from both german
and american heavy/speed metal scene and bands like old HELLOWEEN, old BLIND
GUARDIAN, old RAGE, HELSTAR and SANCTUARY. Moreover, one can find some classic
influences as well like JUDAS PRIEST “Painkiller” era. Lyrically, it covers
different subjects. The songs talk about human relationships, about cars
and adrenaline, about war, about heavy metal and so on. I cannot answer if
there was any recognition with this cd, since after a couple of months of
its release our record label approached us and signed a contract. We had
to withdraw it, since it would be released officially. However, in these
two months of release we have sold 200 copies on our fucking own, with no
distributors or any advertisements !
“Embrace The Horror” is a self-financed cd too. Were there really no labels
interested by your band at this time ?
Well, this is a difficult subject. Actually, the
last couple of years, many underground record labels have popped up in Hellas.
We know all of them and some are personal friends of ours. However, I am
afraid to tell that things are very improvised in this area yet. On the other
hand, “big” record labels, multinational ones do not care about heavy metal
music coming from Hellas. So we have been waiting and waiting and waiting
for something good. I do not know if we will achieve something good in the
future, time will tell, it needs a lot of patience my man…
You signed a deal with Foxy. Who are them ? Is it a good greek label ?
Do you know the reasons why it seems it’s difficult for a greek band to sign
with a label from another european country ?
The whole name of our record label is Foxy B Music
International. It comes from Thessaloniki, Hellas and they came in contact
with us through their management. It does not deal only with heavy metal
music, but with all kinds of music. It is a very new label and it has high
potentials. The contract seems to be a very proper one, but I do not know,
as I said before, time will tell about everything. Not only european record
labels, but labels worldwide are not interested in hellenic bands. I cannot
really tell why, I do not know. The greeks have other habbits, other values,
we are not characterized for example for our responsibility, for being serious
in many ways… So maybe foreign labels cannot understand these things, and
this attitude prevents them from signing a contract with bands from my country…
A re-release of “Embrace The Horror” is planned with Foxy B. Can you tell
about that ?
Yes, if everything goes well, on February 2004 Foxy
B will officially release our latest work “Embrace The Horror” with another
mix and master and with another illustration design as well. Actually, it
is not a re-release, since “Embrace The Horror” has been a demo release of
CRYSTAL TEARS so far, with no distributors or any other official involvement.
Do you play often in Greece ? Have you opened for foreign bands playing
in Greece ?
Yes, we play an average of 2 or 3 concerts per year.
It is not a big number, however, it is not a rare occasion as well. Most
of our concerts occurred in our hometown, nonetheless, we have also played
outside Thessaloniki, in Kozani (once) and Serres (twice), both towns north
of Hellas. Great shows ! People in small cities feel the music a hell of
a lot ! No, we play from 1997 and during these years, there have been so
many heavy power metal concerts in Hellas and only in October 2003 we managed
to be the opening act for JAG PANZER here in Thessaloniki ! I do not want
to mention the reasons why, sometimes it is the band’s fault, and sometimes
it is the organizers’ fault.
Would you be interested by an european tour and/or an appearance at the
german summer metal festivals ?
Ha ha, of course we would be interesting in a live
abroad, but this is something very distant I think. There is a priority on
how we will improve our music first and later on how we can play in distant
places. Responsibility is something really important for a band.
Thank you for answering. If I forgot something, feel free…
Don’t worry man, there is nothing that you forgot
! Thank you very much for this interview, it is an honour for us to be interviewed
from a foreigner webzine and I really wish you al lthe best for you and your
readers ! And something else : we must learn how to judge right from wrong.
They try to manipulate the mass in their way, but we must react. And for
the end : break your TV screens haha ! Thanks a lot my man !
CRYSTAL TEARS Website
interview by Patrick Lefevre
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