CRYSTAL LAKE
Release of the New Single「THE CIRCLE」

CRYSTAL LAKE, whose the previous work「APOLLO」was released in October last year, are reaching new heights and rising in popularity worldwide, is about to release a New Single. Composed of 3 songs,「THE CIRCLE」includes a Featuring with Masato of COLDRAIN on the lead track, the second track「Lost In Forever」results from 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. On 2018, 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.

FLJ : What’s the new song「THE CIRCLE」about?

Yudai: There is always a mood of renewal, but how should I care about the roots we have always believed until now, rather than a renewal, or what’s going to happen if you play with this kind of things? I made something like this theme this time. Crystal Lake hasn’t always had a worldview like this but, even if the process is conducted on this same unique basis, we fit in with the backbone of our culture, the 90’s Metal and New Metal from our roots. There are assets that, while enjoying such things, allow me to keep my current view of the world and make it in such a way that I can give a new taste to everyone.

FLJ: Is there a connection between the celebration of the 15th Anniversary of the band’s formation last year and the release of「APOLLO」?

Yudai: It could very well be linked. I didn’t think people would say that「APOLLO」is a good song. I also received a lot of messages and responses from other countries than Japan. I felt something like « Wow, did you really tell me such good things? ». However, I intend to continue that support working with a freedom-loving feeling, so it gave me a foretaste of what is ahead and thought it will be nice if people are pleased with it and linked all together.

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

Yudai: Thank you very much. Now, music can be spread easily by YouTube and the internet, right? And I felt it deep inside myself the last time we toured in Europe for the first time. I was conscious that it will be nice if I could make something like a conductive-paste like « Amazing, Japan! » or « Now, there are such things ».

Ryo: When I went to Europe last year, the reaction was completely different from Japan, and I felt a more direct feeling of the audience. I felt like a culture shock I had never experienced before. Maybe it was natural and direct to the feelings of the songs. I’m conscious of my vocal style that appeals to emotions more directly.

FLJ : Did you change the vocal approach ?

Ryo: Until now, I was making it with the consciousness of the technique used, but this time I made it in bearing in mind the need to be able to captive directly the listener with the words.

Yudai: As Ryo said, I think that the captivation in the words was different abroad. On the other hand, I felt that the culture shock didn’t change so much. It’s the same thing both in Japan and abroad that you get excited about doing Live. This is what I feel. The US and European stuff that we were listening to are the core of what we’re doing now. I felt that the reality of this link was real cause the blood that runs through what I was listening to was also flowing inside of my veins.

FLJ: Do you think that’s the unique way for overseas people to see CRYSTAL LAKE as an « original band »?

Ryo: We were told that it was energetic. Why can you do it so seriously every time? Many guys told me it seemed like that (Laughs). But that has always been our way of doing things.

FLJ: This experience is reflected in the vocal this time, right ?

Ryo: That’s right. Especially the first song called「THE CIRCLE」has new metal and metal from the ’90s, 2000’s, especially from the intro to the chorus melody, and the way I sing is conscious of that time, updating to my own style and successfully dropping it into CRYSTAL LAKE‘s style. I believe that the core is firmly metalcore, but I think that adding new elements has succeeded to expand ourselves.

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

Ryo: « Let’s do it someday », came out of a conversation before. By chance, it was the good timing.

Yudai: Masato also has a similar backbone such as New Metal and Heavy Rock, so this is the part we played with. I thought that it will be interesting to explore Masato‘s vocal capacities where COLDRAIN usually doesn’t do.

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

Ryo: At first the key was higher, but Masato could easily reach the highest keys. It became that key through trial and error. He told me that’s the highest key he has ever done (Laughs). I think there is a feeling that isn’t in a conventional COLDRAIN.

FLJ: By the way, do you think about making a loud rock scene together with COLDRAIN ?

Yudai: No, we don’t (Laughs). The hardcore and metal scene was made by Senpai, and COLDRAIN has an approach that reaches out to the general public and I think that they are people who really convey the metal and rock music. We also want to become a tunnel there, and more than anything else, it will be more enjoyable by increasing the total population, in order to get the most out of people. After all, there are a lot of crazy guys around us, right? (Laughs).There is an overwhelming cultural difference from that, but I want to convey a sense of how fun that type of thing can be. Of course, the number of people may not increase easily, but if there is an entrance like « There is such a thing », some people will come in for sure. Even when I was a teenager and I was culture-shocked, the entrance was probably a more catchy and popular band, but the door to go deep into it was open. I always feel that making this opportunity is tremendously important. So today’s event is also an interesting event.

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

Yudai: Players and artists have great links, but I’m faced with the feeling that our intended purpose still hasn’t been delivered to the people who are listening to us. Isn’t there a random variable when music is mixed? It feels like « Amazing day, today ». It is not an issue, but I feel that it would be better to convey this fun more. Gender is different, but the impact is the same. But if you get into it, it’s the same for hip hop and classic, pursuing and investigating thoroughly as a geek that we could feel together with the deep meaning of it. Even when I do OZROSAURUS, it’s amazing if I can get hooked. That’s why I don’t really like « walls ». I’m gonna do it in such a way that people can move and have fun. Even today’s REDLINE, I didn’t say anything else, but I came here with the feeling that « This is a super hybrid day ».

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

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

Ryo: That’s right. We got along well with them. We called each other « Family forever ». At that time, they told us « Let me feature in the next song ». So we decided to do it. It’s a song that fits with Gideon, and it’s a song that seems to be quite unique, so I thought it would be great.

FLJ: What’s this song about ?

Ryo: This song is about the time we live in, thinking about eternity as if we could live forever, through this period of time, we are making meetings and partings, but in spite of that, life ends. This is the theme of this song. For example, I look back and regret, saying « I should have done it at that time », or I’m worried like « What should I do now? ». The theme of time is abstract, but I made it in such a way that I could feel more familiar with it.

Yudai: Like for「Lost In Forever」, I’ve always thought that it would be amazing and fun to feature songs with friends. I thought that a single approach would be more interesting in terms of work and timing. Then, I wanted to introduce my friends and I thought that it would be better to do it by playing songs together. So I made two patterns. The third song is a Remix of the title song of the album「True North」and my friend remixed it.

FLJ : Is EUPHORIC WAVISM your friend ?

Yudai: Yes, it is. It’s a friend who has always helped us with our work. Even for ourselves, the works we put out last year were tremendously important, so I think that people who make musical arrangement and get into what they are listening to is always an opportunity. A long time ago, I listened to a remixed work by a DJ related to one of my favorite bands, I listened to a remix of a favorite song with another arrangement, and a heavy thing became mellow. I enjoyed it very much, and I felt like I wanted to try it with the same degree.

FLJ: I’d like to ask the meaning of the title「THE CIRCLE」.

Ryo:「APOLLO」was a song about going to a new field, but this time the theme is how to open up when you get to a new place. I think a band is like a cult. There are believers, Guru and dividers. Guru, and dividers are bands, and believers are likened to listeners. It’s a message like « We’ll show you the new world, so follow us ». In that context, I express God’s presence in this cult like our music or CRYSTAL LAKE itself. Masato comes out on the way, but in fact, he is a back boss or a character setting like a boss (Laughs). We made it with an image that will appear later.

Yudai: We arrange words that are written in real occult books and put them in lyrics. I’m playing and linking in such places.

Ryo: It’s a prayer phrase very interesting like « I’ll introduce you to the devil ».

Yudai: You can say something like « What you’re doing is at the top-level ». That’s what rappers and rock stars say. Somewhere in Japan, there may be a culture that captures such things negatively. But if you like and make the best music, you can say « That’s the best » like an occult, but it’s not like « prostrating oneself before its own imperialism » (Laughs). I don’t think I’m wrong by saying that I’m fine with it.

Ryo: Actually, when I wrote a lot, I looked at the stories of Charles Manson, Aleister Crowley, and a real cult organization. What they do is not right, but I feel anew that they had their own justice and they had the belief they were looking for. I thought it could be compared to a band. I tried to incorporate it. It’s a difficult theme to touch (Laughs).

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

FLJ: From 2018, June 30th, you will Tour in UK and Europe, but what kind of Tour is it this time?

Ryo: How many people can we touch this time? There are many big festivals. I think it will be different from the previous time.

Yudai: The last time, I felt the scale-up deep inside my body. For the time being, it led to the promotion of the single and we will go there again in November, but now I feel like I’m making a groundwork where we can make our own One-Man or Headline Tour next year.

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

Yudai: We have an agent called Loud Noise in the UK and Europe. They do it with great love. Next, we are aiming for the Download Festival. We also had an offer for Belgium’s Graspop Metal Meeting Festival, but the Live show was covered with another one, so we couldn’t do it. I also want to go to Hellfest.

FLJ: You will head the「TRUE NORTH FESTIVAL」this year again, right? What kind of content will be this year?

Yudai: Basically, I want to bring bands with the same feelings around us and bands we’ve ever toured with or met overseas with the same attitude. Moreover, we auditioned the same way this year, and about 120 bands came out from it. I hope we can do it together with those who have the desire to meet people and to get new opportunities.

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

Interview by FLJ MAGAZINE

English Translation by Gaëlle GEDDA

INSTAGRAM : gaelle_gedda
TWITTER : gaelle_gedda
FACEBOOK : geddagaelle

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