CRYSTAL TEARS - CHRISAFIS TANTANOZIS

\r\nWell, welcome to MetalZone.gr, CRYSTAL TEARS, at last we got to talk, hehe… So let’s cut to the chase… The new album is about to be released with Ian Parry on vocals. How did that happen and how do you feel working with an artist like Ian?
\r\nHello Lampros from MetalZone webzine, thanks a lot for the invitation! And I thought that greek Press has forgotten bands from Salonika … Ok, straight to your question, yes Ian Parry on vocals this time and we are pretty much excited about it! When we decided to stop working with our latest vocalist and tried to search for a new member, we saw that what we could only do was rather repeat the mistakes of the past and get caught at the same traps. It was time for the big move and it was then or never! Therefore we started knocking on different doors and… «ο τολμών νικά». The response was unexpectedly positive from professional singers abroad, all of them known for their services in the metal scene during the years. We decided to work with Ian, because he is living in the Netherlands (although british born) and the whole transportation could be relatively convenient. And at the end of the day, it felt really right talking to him from the very start! And hey, maybe this co-operation was meant to be, he built a career in a band with a greek name, while I had my first contact with him when he firstly visited Greece with ELEGY on my birthday, ha, ha!
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\r\nWould you like to give us some info on the upcoming release? Maybe even reveal the title or the music direction? As far as I know the recording session is over, any possible release date you can give me?
\r\nAn album title is always subject to change until the very last minute. As for the music direction, hmm… arghh… well… I don’t know… it’s melodic metal… ok, I guess… ha, ha! Actually it is hard to tell… it is a hybrid, we have heavy detuned guitars, speed double-bassed drums, power hard rock anthems and a vocalist with a huge range and a strong personality differing from all power metal singers we know, all together mixed in an album. Plus a sound of our own. Yes, the recording session is over and the final master is in our hands too, however, we are on the cover artwork and booklet design procedure of the album, which is done by Meran “Darkmouth” Karanitant, who has worked for SIX FEET UNDER, HATEBREED, DIMMU BORGIR, IN FLAMES, SODOM etc. Possible release date could be sometime autumn ’09.
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\r\nCRYSTAL TEARS has been around since 1997 with many line-up changes. I was looking up the band’s bio online I found out that “Skies of Eternity” and “Embrace the Horror” are considered by many metalheads as full-length releases, but in your MySpace site they are referred to as demo releases… So give us the band’s official statement on that.
\r\nOk, if this is stated on the band’s official MySpace profile, then this is the official statement of the band… ha, ha! Well, actually what we have done until 2006’s “Choirs Of Immortal” cannot be considered as official releases, since they were never released or officially distributed through a label, but everything was done by the band itself. While “Choirs Of Immortal” album was released and distributed via german Pure Steel records. And this brings us to our latest work that we fully produced in Germany’s Prophecy & Music Factory studio by R. D. Liapakis of MYSTIC PROPHECY, which is going to be CRYSTAL TEARS’ second official album, if everything works out well, of course !
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\r\nLet me take our readers back to your latest release, “Choirs Of Immortal” released in 2006. It is known that you worked with Natasa on vocals and she did some great work. How easy it is to play classic metal with female vocals that has nothing to do with the new scene of operatic female vocals (NIGHTWISH, for example) and rather stick to the old way of CHASTAIN, ZED YAGO, HELLION etc.?
\r\nWell, it is not an easy thing to play with a female member in general, this is the truth. Back in those days I wouldn’t mind if the singer was female or male, was metal or opera orientated, as long as it fitted in the band and was good enough for CRYSTAL TEARS. Of course, operatic female vocals were not our thing anyway, but again, we have never faced serious trouble because of the female vocals in general. Besides, Natasa fought really hard for her place, she was totally inexperienced and after a lot of effort she successfully managed to record an album with the band. And at the end of the day, she had more balls in her voice than many male guys have… ha, ha!
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\r\nReally, how hard is it for a band that is based outside of Athens to survive in the industry and do what you do? No offence, Thessaloniki, is a place, in which some great metal band grew and evolved, but as far as I know the media and venues are not as supportive.
\r\nYou are totally right! But this is just for us and not for the outside world. Besides, how come the most popular greek metal band nowadays comes from Thessaloniki (FIREWIND)? So, the place you are living plays a significant role, but it’s not the ultimate factor. Dedication is the key. And then compromise. And then dedication again. And then compromise. I can find numerous excuses and difficulties that “prevent” bands from the next big step, but this is only for the unexcused. I’ve been in the greek underground metal scene for many years now and I can honestly tell you this: the only ones that don’t make it are the ones that quit! Do never stop! The Greeks are rebels and this is what takes us back million years, this is where we should focus on and not on the city the band comes from. It would be an easy thing for me to say that yeah, coming from Thessaloniki puts an obstacle to our plans, but I won’t buy it myself and I won’t sell it to you! Oh yes, in Greece we are also the mr.-know-it-all and backstabbers, but that’s another story too… I am sorry to disappoint you, but things in the greek underground are not as pure as you might think and do not forget, the ones that make it (but truly make it), work on their own and do not belong to any kind of “team”…
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\r\nWhat are you expecting from the new album? Surely some recognition I guess, since you are working with some already well-known people (Ian Parry, R. D. Liapakis), right? Anything else you are expecting and want to talk to me about?
\r\nWe expect everything and nothing! We have no disillusions man. The glorious days in music industry are over, if we were out a few years ago, we might have been living by music right now, but nowadays things have gone extremely difficult and it gets harder day-by-day. I am sure you know well how many labels have been falling down… A great production, vocal & band performance and cover artwork & booklet design will not save your ass. You have to convince the labels why should they bother and man, antagonism is in really high standards plus CD sales have fallen dramatically down. Honestly, what I really care for is trying to give more than I can in the band and try to present everything the best way possible, because I am a delicate man myself! And when I say the best way possible, I MEAN THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE! Yes, we’re having one of the best productions out there, one of the best vocalists and one of the best illustrators, plus a fantastic photography and videoclip and then, whatever comes is welcomed! And we know that if we fall, it won’t matter, since we know that we have given not only 100% of ourselves, but we have overcome ourselves…
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\r\nAny upcoming shows scheduled – besides from the one on Friday at the Eightball Club?
\r\nOh… what a show on the 15th May at the Eightball Club! The club was fully packed with 250 people and everyone seemed to really enjoy the night, band and crowd… We worked our asses off for that show and we made it man, yeah! As for any kind of shows, first things first, the new album needs to get a release first and then see, if we can chase shows in different parts of Europe.
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\r\nWell, thanks for your time, close the interview in any way you like, from the whole MetalZone.gr team we wish the band all the best with the new album and I hope to talk to you again, after the release!
\r\nThank you very much for the interview, it was really nice talking to you, I know MetalZone since years now, we have worked together in a metal party you organised in my hometown in the past and now we are working together again, always a pleasure! Pass my greetings to the whole team and my special regards to Helen, she knows… I hope too we talk together again after the CD’s release… Until then, be as die-hard rocker as you can, which has nothing to do with the music itself (style, clothes etc.), but with the fact that you stay true to others and mainly… to yourself…\r\n

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\r\nLampros " Witchfynder" Tennes \r\n

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