CRYPTOPSY – Interview with Lord Worm

First off, how was being back on tour in Canada with they guys in the band? Is it your experience that you perform to larger crowds in Canada compared to here in the states?

It took some getting used to, and not because it had been so long since the last time, but because the whole dynamic has changed: none of us were “celebrities”, so to speak, and “None So Vile” was not then a “classic”.

There really isn't that big a difference between the crowds in our 2 countries, size-wise. Bigger crowds are found in bigger cities, be that New York or Montreal, Los Angeles or Toronto, or wherever. We like smaller, more intimate shows too, though.

During your hiatus with Cryptopsy were there any other metal projects you worked with?

Not a one, although I'd wanted to start up a rotten, hate-filled, lunatic fascist Black Metal project for the sheer viciousness of it. Nope, no go: I couldn't really gather a full stable line-up.

Here in the southeastern U.S. there has been allot of anticipation regarding your return to the vocal helm and the U.S. tour. What can Cryptopsy fans here in the U.S. expect live? Will the set list include allot of the classic “Blasphemy Made Flesh” and “None So Vile” material?

The last tour was basically a “None So Vile” tour, with some other stuff thrown in. This time around, we're going to balance things out a lot more, so expect every album, including the new one, to be represented more fairly. Besides which, touring alongside the gods that are Suffocation will be like a return home: those guys rule all.

As an old-school metal head I was ecstatic to hear of your return to Cryptopsy and have read an interview or two with other band members regarding events surrounding your return.. I understand that it all began with a call from Flo requesting your assistance with lyrics for the upcoming CD.. Would you like to elaborate on your return to the band in own words?

I honestly hadn't expected it. I was returning home from work one Thursday evening when my cell rang just outside my front door, and it was Flo asking me: “So,umm…what are you doing Saturday night?”. At Flo's house, Eric and Jon were there to “help”. We drank. Eventually, I said: “Okay”, and that was that.

What can you tell us about the band not allowed through the U.S. border to do the Rhode Island Drum Benefit performance? Was it some kind of free trade or homeland security issue?

It was neither of the above: it had something to do with the fact that, benefit or not, the border guards were unable to believe that we'd be so altruistic as to PAY to play. When an event is well and truly a “benefit”, the appearing artists are not supposed to accept any payment, yet we would have had to have been paid something to compensate for the vehicle rental, the gas, the food expenses, the working permits, and all like that there. So, the authorities encouraged us to turn around and sod off.

The fifth studio release “Once Was Not” is slated for released October 18. Can give Cryptopsy fans an idea what to expect from this release? Were their any significant differences in writing and/or overall approach compared to 2002's “And Then You'll Beg?”

The album flows nicely from track to track, often with the aid of appropriate samples. It's a concept album wherein every song has a different “feel”, ranging from spacey to primitive. For the most part, the material had been written and arranged before I was even called back, so my contribution was all done in one shot, more or less, well after the fact. Still, it's worked out nicely. You'll probably like it.

One of my former drummers resides in Canada and told me that you guys had a pretty massive turn-out for the Sept. 11 show in Winnipeg..

For Winnipeg, where in 1994 we'd gotten 7 people and in 1996 we'd had 13 people (including the opening act and their girlfriends), it was a large turn-out. Several Americans showed up for that one, as I recall.

Your website states that Cyrptopsy are still in search of a 2nd guitarist for touring purposes. Is there a potential guitarist being considered and will this 5th member be for touring purposes only or become an actual member of the band.

There is a fellow now, and his training is going pretty well. He should join us on this upcoming tour, but we'll have to see whether or not that's a permanent position.

The closing comments are yours. Thank you for the interview. Looking forward to the release of Once Was Not!

Should you choose to come visit us on the road, I'll thank you to buy me a shot of good-good Kentucky bourbon. It's not that I can't afford it, it's simply that I like it when other people purchase my booze for me. Call it a quirk.