Cryptopsy Interview (Flo Mounier)

Cryptopsy is one of the bands that changed my perspective of listening to brutal music in the 90s, since “Blasphemy Made Flesh” (1994) I was impressed by the technical capacity of all the musicians and obviously the first ultra-fast drummer of those years, because Its execution took Death Metal or Technical Death Metal to another level. Since no one played like Flo Mounier in these years and after he placed gravity blast beats in his music that debut, we were talking about a legendary band for many, and for others, it was just a more extreme band, but time played its part. favor of them and now he is one of the fathers of Brutal Death Metal, Technical Death Metal, or whatever they want to label today. So, since 1994 I was always attentive to all their productions, lineup changes, and even adjacent productions that the members had independently. Thus we arrive at their eighth studio album called “As Gomorrah Burns”, where the band goes big, having a cover under the hands of Paolo Girardi and under the German monster of Nuclear Blast Records. For this reason, Metallerium interviewed the last original member of the band, Flo Mounier.

Para leer la entrevista en español: Entrevista a Cryptopsy

Metallerium: Welcome Flo to Metallerium pages, it's a huge pleasure for me to talk with you about the band, this new album “As Gomorrah Burns”, and more related things within the world of metal. We will start by asking a common question in all interviews: How has the band been during these 11 years since their "Cryptopsy" (2012)? And what were the reasons for changing the idea of making EPs that you had since "The Book of Suffering - Tome I" (2015) and now making this “As Gomorrah Burns”? Because I remember in a past interview you said that you were going to focus more on EPs.

Cryptopsy:  Hello Metallerium and thank you for doing this. The band has been doing well since the self-titled release. Despite the 2/3 years of wasted time due to Covid. We decided to do a full-length on a label this time but we also plan on making the 3rd and final Tome. No particular reason, just to change things up a bit.  

Metallerium: I was listening to "As Gomorrah Burns" many nights, because Cryptopsy is one of my biggest influences when listening to extreme and brutal music in the 90s, and I feel that the album drinks influence from "The Unspoken King" (2008) and some things from the personal sound that appeared in "Once Was Not" (2005). So how would you describe the sound of the band on this new album? Do you think this album is the band's best work to date? Because many musicians say that their latest work is the best.

Cryptopsy: Hard to describe exactly what this sounds like but it does have a lot of new elements mixed with old aspects of the band. I feel that this is a very clever album, with lots to enjoy for every era fan.

Metallerium: The details that this new "As Gomorrah Burns" presents, is that they are now under the banner of Nuclear Blast and you made the cover of it with Paolo Girardi. Tell me, how was the band's entry into Nuclear Blast? And whose decision was it to make the cover with Paolo? From you, from the label? How do you feel about this new image of the band?

Cryptopsy: We decided to work with NuclearBlast a few years ago. Again, to change things up, Happy we did. We decided to go with Paolo, I believe through a connection Matt had with him. Very good artist that we felt could represent our idea/vision of the album. We think it looks very good.  

Metallerium: One detail that I find curious about this new album is that it appears in the world as an album with new retro ways of listening to music through singles. Therefore, what would be for you the song that represents the whole musical concept of “As Gomorrah Burns”? And what are the personal reasons to continue creating albums in a world that prefers singles?

Cryptopsy: Well in my opinion I think that Flayed the Swine represents it best. Lots of details, and new and old elements to this song. I think that making a full-length album is okay, but not making it too long. Concentrate on a bit fewer songs and make them all count!  

Metallerium: 25 years have passed since "Whisper Supremacy" (1998) appeared in the world, and I say this because the dragon that is now the official mascot of the band appeared for the first time on that album, and in this "As Gomorrah Burns" he appears again with Paolo's style. So, after more than 20 years, how did the idea of having a mascot in the band come about? And what is his name? Because I remember that until "Once Was Not" (2005) your way of arranging the drums had the shape of this dragon. And why did you stop doing it?

Cryptopsy: There is no name for this image. There are also different versions of it that show up on our artwork and on merchandise. Still using them all.  

Metallerium: A few months ago, at Metallerium we did an article about the history, bands, and albums that changed the history of current Brutal Death Metal. Where Cryptopsy and you are part of history as the heads of the style for many modern bands. So, how do you take the fact that Cryptopsy and you have been elemental pieces within the development of Brutal Death Metal, Technical Death Metal, etc? Because in the 90s along with Mike Smith (ex-Suffocation) and Steve Asheim (Deicide) you were the only people who took the sound of the drums to levels that now everyone copies. What was going through your head those years?

Cryptopsy: It feels good to still be doing it of course and to introduce new elements to the playing. Not too sure what I was thinking all these years ago but I know that I’ve always wanted to push the boundaries of my playing. And it’s also very important that dynamics are used. I’m very happy if this has been a good influence on people.  

Metallerium: Speaking of the band's discography and with more than 30 years of existence since you were first called Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, then Necrosis, and now Cryptopsy. What are the first ideas or sensations that come to your mind since you made your first song? And how do you see Cryptopsy now? Do you think that this monster can still continue breaking its limits after having changed the world with "None So Vile" (1996)?

Cryptopsy: Very difficult to remember how I felt writing our first song, lol I just know that we have always approached things the same way. We try to make things brutal and fast but at the same time, we want to hear a song. It’s gotta move you somehow. We try to keep things musical. Hopefully with more to come in the future.  

Metallerium: Being the last active and original member since 1988 in Cryptopsy, how did you see all the stages of the band and its musicians? Do you communicate with past musicians in the band? Maybe some special reunion with musicians from the past?

Cryptopsy: I don’t think that there will be any special reunions. I do still talk to many of the past members. The way I see it though is that if they are not in the band anymore it’s for a reason. Life is such that some things are not meant for everyone, and some people change as they get older. So, it’s just part of the game. During all the eras it’s been fun and I’ve usually enjoyed my time with ex-members.  

Metallerium: We are very close to finishing this interview, Flo, so what are the future plans that the band has for this new album? Tours, concerts, videos, etc. Or maybe a first coming to this part of the world.

Cryptopsy: Yes, there are 2 videos out already and as I am writing to you, we are on a North American tour. We will be doing Asia in December and hopefully Europe early next year. We too of course like to come to your part of the world and will be working on that as well.  

Metallerium: Speaking of tours in this part of the world or Latin America. One of the things that was always strange to me is that Cryptopsy never did a full tour in this part of the world and when you were going to do it a few years ago with Origin, this changed completely and they put The Faceless instead of you. So, what are the reasons why Cryptopsy didn't do a long tour in this part of the world? And what happened on that date to be changed for The Faceless? I was very anxious to see you in my country due to the tremendous influence that your music has had on me.

Cryptopsy: Well, we have done one in the past with Suffocation. We enjoy coming to South America, it’s great fun with great people!! Not sure what the reason was for the Origin tour cancellation, but it had to be a good one because we had no problems going there. And like I said in 2024 we will be coming.  

Metallerium: One day I read an article about how free will in entertainment is controlled or directed by big capital and algorithms. And it's not like in the 80s and 90s anymore that you liked something because of the cover or because you just found it attractive. Within that article, it was said that free will is lost, especially for the new generations who are looking for whatever they are on YouTube and Google asking for answers. So, do you think that free will within the area of entertainment is lost? And how does this issue of algorithms affect your vision of making music?

Cryptopsy: Yes, I believe that things have changed pretty drastically over the past 20 years. I think it affects popular music more than Death Metal though. We haven’t changed how or what we write, but social media has changed the game a lot and instead of having the element of surprise now it’s just having to be present constantly. Strange times lol  

Metallerium: You are one of the extreme pioneering drummers in the 90s who did things very different from the common denominator at that time because I think you are the first one who put Gravity Blast Beat on Death Metal when nobody else did it and you even explained the concept in your Extreme Metal Drumming 101 double DVD. So, having created or laid out an idea like no one else did in the 90s. What are your opinions of the new drummers on YouTube, Google, etc who try to do things much faster than you but often seem soulless? Do you think the soul of the brutal 90s was lost and now they are more focused on being machines?

Cryptopsy: I think that yes feel and soul are super important to any musician! There have always been musicians with more or less of this of course, but with the internet now everyone can be showcased. Is it good or bad? That’s for the fans to decide.  

Metallerium: Well Flo, the sad moment for this interview has arrived, I hope you enjoyed it as I did. Congratulations on this new album and thank you very much for your time. Maybe you have something to add to your Latin fans and Metallerium readers.

Cryptopsy: Thank you very much for the support!! And hopefully, we will see you all in 2024!!!