CRUCIFIER
(2-26-11) -PHOTOS-BWOA: Greetings Cazz. Dude, before I actually start here just want to say thank you for dealing with all my delays, it's been total chaos here past few month and this interview has taken longer than expected to get delivered! Anyways, I wanted to do a feature on CRUCIFIER for the fact that the band is now currently active (again), though with a new line up (again), which is not anything uncommon for the band. So let's start off here, the current line up for the CRUCIFIER order is actually original members again? I am curious about why this came about, the past two CRUCIFIER rituals "Stronger Than Passing Time" and "Trampled Under Cloven Hooves" obtained the best moments of the band IMO with the line up that existed with these seemed to me the perfect chemistry for CRUCUFUER, aside and without going into details on the Madman as all know of that situation there. Do you see CRUCIFIER at the current heading back towards older times/older styles of the band re-emerging at the primal surface CRUCIFIER once was? I mean with the addition of older members now playing in the band again, or do you see CRUCIFIER continuing on in the style what you were doing with Stronger Than... and Trampling... rituals?
CAZZ: Hail Kevin and thanks for the interview, it feels like 1990 all over again. Well, don't sweat the delay issue, as you know I've delayed my answers by about a month and a half my damned self! Let me set the record straight for those who might not know, hopefully, most care. Crucifier, I've always said, will never die, so for all intents and purposes Crucifier will remain and be active as long as I'm alive, seriously. Okay, I think, and at this time, I will consider this lineup only session. With the exception of me of course. I am on drums and vocals (and writing too). I have asked these old members back, or, they have showed interest over the last few months: Dan Kamp (lead guitar) and Gary Gandy (bass guitar) both were integral parts of Crucifier back in the early 90s. I asked Trephination's Dave Spencer to help out with the other lead guitar (among other studio duties.) They aren't original members, the original Crucifier lineup was Drottin Bane, Jeff Anderson on guitar and Ira Redden on guitar, at that time we had no bassist (didn't really need one either, we were tuned low baby!) Dan came on board after that initial lineup was splitting up. Gary came on board I believe in 1994, or around that time (things get foggy in my old age.) Well over time people change and times get tough, and hence, the split up with the Stronger and Trampled lineup...well there is more shit that went on, but it isn't too important now. I think Crucifier will keep that new feel and may utilize that old nineties style too. I don't think that we'll go totally old school, but will use that inspiration that flows through us already. I definitely will be writing in the newer Stronger/Trampled style, with the DNA of Crucifier already in place we will compose some terrible tracks!
BWOA: Over the years the band has had many many line up changes, it maybe the most for a band in underground black/death metal. But this is not sole reason for the bands come and gone active/not active time periods. In the past your playing with GRAND BELIAL'S KEY held CRUCIFIER to inactive times (and the fact you had no members when with GBK), so on and so forth, so now CRUCIFIER is a much more serious in intention these days with you as this is your only endeavor these days if I'm not mistaken?
CAZZ: In all honesty Crucifier is always on the front burner for me, even in the Key days, I held Crucifier in top regard. Although over those, or these years, Crucifier was in the background or not playing out or whatever, it is in my heart and at the forefront regardless. It is funny how it goes with me and Crucifier...but it always works out for us. Take in account how long it is between releases...it feels like forever but it is like watching a pot boil, forget it and the boil is already underway!
BWOA: It has always been confusion with the band, a sense some people have that the band takes on NS ideologies, yet it is more than anything a Satanic enterprise of expression. This is not anything new to you if I remember correctly, accusations of NS has followed you over the years, especially with your GBK days and your involvements in the past with some other projects like ARYAN WAR or even the early days of DECIEVERION were highly declared as NS nature by medias and whatever.
CAZZ: NS is not a Crucifier standpoint, and never was, and it really wasn't in GBK either. It was more that the persons involved were into the ideology or lifestyle and it gave the whole group the shaft, as it were. Not saying that I didn't toy with or was involved with those ideologies, but over time my own standpoints and/or viewpoints shifted a bit...I still am a hateful fucker but I am less of a nigger hater or jew hater than I am a waste of life hater, do you understand? (editors not: Certainly I understand this Cazz!) Well, regardless, it still isn't a lyrical concept of Crucifier. Shit I played in Aryan War, Infernal Hatred, and much to the chagrin of some of the old members, I am/was an admitted member of Infantry. So, I have grown up a bit, but still was a crazy Nazi maniac back in those times!
BWOA: Let's bring this interrogation into closer times. I think the bands past is really in ways irrelevant in terms of material that manifests for CRUCIFIER since 2003 til present. I want to talk some on "Stronger Than Passing Time" ritual...man, I've said this a thousand times before and I'm saying it again now - WOW! This is such a great album!!! Released in 2003/2004 and still I am not sick of it! It is like all CRUCIFIER releases, some older re-worked tracks and some newer tracks (at that time), so let's speak on this matter first. I will assume the reason that you choose to re-work older songs album to album is the fact of the sound quality on older rituals never met your expectation or goals (an obvious reason), but now the question I have is why you decided to do those particular songs when any older CRUCIFIER track would likely fit, especially for the Stronger Than... release and the line-up you had there!?
CAZZ: Thank you for your kind words on Stronger, which is to say that I love that album too. I still am not sick of it either, which is a good thing for me to say about one of my releases. I think the choosing of the older tracks on that album were just a quick decision that was just warranted because we didn't really have the multitude of songs to choose from. Also, those songs all were ones that were heartfelt and were from an era of Crucifier that were important and very memorable! Those were the good times for me and for the band...we had fun, made friends and made a big impact on the Underground.
BWOA: Actually it's a good point you made there, the last part were you say CRUCIFIER made a big impact on the underground in those times, in fact this is not any understatement, because CRUCIFIER really did make a large impact with the demos that had surfaced and through the multitude of underground propaganda's that took a lot of interest in the band from those demo's. I guess the band has always had this sought interest by media and fans alike and so I'm curious as to how this is today, is the interest towards the band the same these days with media's as it was during the demo periods? Now with 3 releases over the past years coming out from various labels from Elegy, Death To Mankind, and Paragon and the bands material being more available then it ever was before.
CAZZ: I think with the internet you can get anything; so even without the stuff being on a label of popularity you can get all of our music and be privy to the Underground influence that Crucifier actually did have on the worldwide scene
BWOA: Back to Stronger Than... "Spirits"...it remains as obsession for me! What an evil and epically powerful song!!! I consider this track the best on the album and one of CRUCIFIER's all time best songs! But also there are 3 tracks total on Stronger Than... that take a slower more doomish sound/style approach which is rather consistent with the bands early years with the doomish death feeling being attached, but "Spirits" is the one track on the album that is a pure mixture of all the best elements within Doom, Death, and Black Metal...it's just an amazing song!
CAZZ: Ah Spirits, I love that song too. Spirits was a song that gave us the creepy edge that we needed back then. Hell, we were a super-fast death thrash sort of band with doom aspects and a sludgy feeling throughout and we needed something to switch us up a little bit and touch on the inner doom. Spirits is a song that will always have a place in my heart too.
BWOA: Yeah indeed and that sludgy feeling is perfect on tracks like "Spirits"! This is actually a re-worked track on the album, because it was originally recorded and on the third demo "Unparelleled Majesty" 1992, but if one listens to the original and then the re-worked track on Stronger Than... you'll hear almost a completely different song! The Stronger Than... version is immense in sound and effect it has, very powerful and really brings out a doomish feeling not felt in the original recording of the song. All the songs on Stronger Than...are like this!
CAZZ: The production had a big hand in that I think. Back in the day we were very inexperienced so the sound was at the engineers mercy for the most part. I think with the right studio and the right feelings within the band members we can create some nice sounding music.
BWOA: At the time I think the title you choose for the release "Stronger Than Passing Time" was a wise and actual true expression....very suitable seeing people waited years for the debut full length to come and the band more than delivered on expectation! I think it made very strong and re-assured notion that CRUCIFIER wasn't going away no matter how long material would take to surface and that a new era within the band was more than under shape! The time length between releases has not changed since Stronger Than... either spanning 5-6 years till your next EP would surface in 2010 "Trampled Under Cloven Hooves" and once again it exceeded expectation. Something I want to stress upon, because with most bands when they hit what is considered their best album, they generally tend to fall off with their material and never release something as good as that ONE again...but not with CRUCIFIER, "Trampled Under Clooven Hooves" is just as good IMO, though I still like Stronger Than... better it's equally worthy!
CAZZ: Okay, you touch on some interesting topics here. Stronger Than Passing Time comes from the movie Mr. Frost...look it up, it fits Crucifier for one and I loved the theme and that dialogue from the star Jeff Goldblum (oh look a Jew) who played an incarnation of Satan, had the line I am stronger than passing time...talking about himself as the devil. So, it was a cool line, it fit me personally and fit the band as a whole too. And I always use that line when it comes to the longevity of and importance of Crucifier's ideologies too. I love both releases, but, and this is no offense to anyone involved in the releases, I wish that Trampled had the sound quality of Stronger. But the budget we had with Stronger far surpassed the one we had with Trampled...and I was truly happy with both but could have used the money for Trampled to take it over the top! And even though the sound quality wasn't Morrisound with Trampled the power that goes into your soul when listening to it surely puts you on the road to Hell!
BWOA: Well actually I already knew where the title came from, though I just meant it was very suitable other wise looking at time length of how long it took for the album to realize. But now that you mention movies, themes, etc.. a lot of CRUCIFER's music, or themes, titles, lyrics etc... are very influenced by movies if I'm correct? Also, in a recording aspect as you mentioned, it's almost odd to me that the budget for recording on Stronger Than surpassed the budget for Trampled when looking at the labels of the two releases one would expect that Trampled would have the same if not more of a recording budget just by the labels, I mean DTM is a very small and almost non-existent label where as Pargon is larger, more releases and a "popular" distribution they should have a larger budget for their recording bands you would think. So I'm assuming that you have budget from the label and funded some of the recording yourself, at least for Stronger Than...?
CAZZ: I love movies, especially good horror and thrillers, mind opening ones too. So yes I utilize those thoughts from good writers and directors. But as far as budgets go, Paragon only offered us the manufacturing, etc. We actually, theoretically, paid for the Trampled by ourselves. And DTM really came forward and paid for all of our studio needs, at one point during the recording of Stronger, we went over budget and DTM came right out and sent the cash needed. I was surprised, and pleased too.
BWOA: So now I also have to go back into the line-up change again, because Trampled... used the same line-up as Stronger Than... but looking at the ritual here and I noticed something that maybe I'm wrong about but I thought that Chris Infernal has played with CRUCIFIER during at least the writting of this torment but he is not listed on the album? We share multiple friends, so of course I know of Chris' involvement with the band for a time period between Stronger Than... and Trampled... he is a very good guitar player and at one time I remember Madman telling me he was far better guitar player than him so I'm curious on this matter and his time with CRUCIFIER?
CAZZ: First of all Infernal Chris is an asshole and I hate him....just kidding, he is the best! Chris has become a good friend of mine over the years, and I agree that he is a great guitarist, and has some talent over Madman, although I loved Madman's playing too. Chris has a talent and an honesty about him...probably why he doesn't or hasn't played full time with Crucifier ever. His execution is by the book, while I am usually improvisational. And, he and I have talked this over recently, that our two styles are clashing and may prevent us from working together. At least we try to put our ideas together to hope that we do something...but we rarely get the opportunity. I struggled hard while we were in IH together to keep the timing and style of drumming that he wanted...I always work in improve and it is difficult for me to work in a ordered pattern, etc. He is working now with Craig Immolation Smilowski and that should work out fine for him! Chris has asked me to take an interest in his new band Masada and I wanted too, but we are both on silly schedules and can never make time for each other! It sucks but we always manage to put out killer stuff, even on our own! He has sat in with Crucifier a few times, but the above issues really took its toll on him and we just went our separate ways as far as Crucifier went. He may have input on this too, so get a hold of him and ask him this same question.
CAZZ: Actually, haha, I did! His answer is:
Chris Infernal: "Aww, thanks Cazz, you're just the sweetest. You're the best too! Now as for my take on the question... While I was "in" Crucifier, I guess I was never really "in" Crucifier. I did spend some time learning the tunes and we did jam / practice a few times, but for various reasons, it just didn't work out. Why? 1. We all had wierd schedules that prevented regular practice 2. I didn't feel comfortable ruining a band that I haved enjoyed for years 3. I thought Crucifier worked just fine as a 3-piece 4. I find it hard to play with Cazz's sloppy drumming and 5. I didn't like the hip hop direction Cazz wanted to take it. Well, with the exception of point 5, that's the truth. Now, I'd like to clear one thing up - Cazz's sloppy drumming. That's not an insult by any means. Cazz is a phenomenal drummer with his own personal unique style (a rarity these days) that works amazingly for what he's doing! The trouble lies in the fact I perfer spot-on precision which has caused our styles to conflict. No big deal, Cazz and I are good friends and fully support each other in what we do!"
CAZZ: Chris is awesome...the hip-hop beats were totally his idea, don't let his, "I'm so Nazi" attitude fool you....he is so ghetto it isn't funny! But seriously I appreciate everything Chris has done for me over the years, with support and friendship, etc. He is a great guy!
BWOA: Moving onwards... Trampled... as mentioned before had some older tracks re-worked within it. Now that CRUCIFIER is active with original members I am curious as to if the new release will also have a few older re-worked tracks from the demo days of the band or will we see for the first time a full length ritual with completely all new material? I think it's a question on a lot of people’s minds!
CAZZ: I thought about this and I think that the next full length will have all new material. I know that the second album will be called Thy Sulfur Throne On High and I am hoping that it comes out before the end of next year. It kind of falls into the 3 or 4 year lull in releases for us but again that is fine for me, it keeps me young and keeps the tunes interesting.
BWOA: Yeah, you sent me the track listing for the album, but I'm confused a bit, you mean there will be 2 new CRUCIFIER releases, "Thy Sulfur Throne On High" being full length and the second release to come? What is the first release that will surface before this one? Another full length or EP? What labels are releasing these?
CAZZ: I always have plans for releases, some come to fruition and others fizzle...I am trying to put out a live cd with someone in the near future....and Thy Sulfur. But I can't really give actual dates and labels at this point, it's more of "on paper."
BWOA: I'd like to dawn a bit on some of your older projects you were involved in, aside from GRAND BELIAL's KEY which is black/death metal there were multiple projects DECIEVERION (a band I'm releasing in 2011 on DSC) which is black metal, HEARSE which was doom metal, INFERNAL HATRED which disbanded in 2001 or so, and a few other bands that never materialized a release (that I know of). Yet CRUCIFIER has always remained as an existing and main entity of yours and so I'm curious as to not only why you choose to activate yourself in other projects from time to time but also how these other projects may have helped shaped CRUCIFIER's quintessence?
CAZZ: Crucifier is my main band and has been my main thing over the years. Even though it wasn't my first band, or even my second band, it was that entity that put the evil in my soul at the time that I needed it. Although all of the bands and projects that I've been in meant a lot to me, they really didn't have much to do with Crucifier. I think maybe in some respects it was the other way around. I've played in so many bands that it would boggle the mind...let me see, off the top of my head if I can remember them all, and I'll try to do it chronologically: Pyramid (my beginning in 1983), Macabre Forces/Achephalous Vector, Satanic Slaughter (we had that name in 1986 or 87), Rapid Violence (the first incarnation), Caution, Hemorrage (Crucifier's primer name), Crucifier, Ancient (side project with Alex of Goreaphobia and John of Necrotion), Viaticum (project with Bundy of Corpus Rottus and Jack Gannon of Hazarax), Mourning (project with Steve Campbell of Violemosh/Goreaphobia manager for a little while and Mike of Lesch-Nyhan), of course Grand Belial's Key, Infantry, Bludgeon, Hearse, amisegardauQ, Brethren, Infernal Hatred, Decieverion, Aryan War, and maybe some others that I can't remember right now...sorry.
BWOA: Over the years your vocal style has changed with CRUCIFIER as well as the overall music has changed from a Death/Doomish entity to an entity that drills all elements between Death, Black, and Doom into the music. I love this as this is not anything new for bands of course, but there are not many bands that seem to do it well or as good as CRUCIFIER has! Are you planning to keep this element within the band or is the material shaping to be more to style direction with the new line-up?
CAZZ: The vocal style is going to stay the way it has for the last two releases. I have no plans of doing any “return to old school” vocal changes, I mean I don't want to sound like I did on the Crown of Thorns demo...quite frankly, in retrospect you couldn't understand a thing I said! I loved it but nowadays I want the pronunciation to be key, at least a little bit. The lineup won't really have too much to do with style of music or vocals for Crucifier only because I like to keep a little control on many aspects of the band. Shit, in my defense this is my baby and will be even when there is no one else to help me put it out!
BWOA: Dawn upon another tid bit of CRUCIFIER/yourself is that you do all the art for the band, you even did the logo if I'm not mistaken (which happens to be a well liked logo among fans), the stuff you do fits the bands visuals quite well, "Trampled Under Cloven Hooves" cover art is awesome! You do the Cazzuzu Creations, is this something you do/use just for CRUCIFER or is it something you do for other bands/outlets as well?
CAZZ: At this point I just do Cazzuzu Creations stuff as necessary...and just for Crucifier and/or me. I have done tattoo work and logos and such for many friends and fans and will do anything if it is needed. I do it for cash or trades, etc. and if anyone out there needs work done let me know.
BWOA: OK, Cazz I think this sums up all my questions for you at current, in any case I think we covered a lot of ground and the most important aspects of CRUCIFIER anyways! Thank you very much for taking the time to conduct this interrogation with me for bwoa! Me and Rob are both big fans/supporters of CRUCIFER and I hope to hear the new materials once they are out, should be a splendid listening!
CAZZ: Thank you so much and I hope you enjoy the new stuff as it comes out. I am very excited about what's on the horizon for Crucifier and the Underground scene to come....beware!!!!!