CRYPTOPSY announces the reissue of The Book of Suffering: Tome I and Tome II, available for the first time as a combined vinyl release. Set to drop via Season of Mist on December 13, 2024. Today, we bring you an exclusive interview with Cryptopsy vocalist Matt McGachy about this special reissue!
Hi! The re-issue of The Book of Suffering brings both EPs together for the first time on vinyl. How does it feel to have these two projects now available in a combined format?
We are super stoked to finally have these two EPs available together. Even though they were written separately, the concepts tie in with each other perfectly.
Can you walk us through the concept behind The Book of Suffering? What made you decide to explore suffering from two different perspectives across these two EPs?
When we began creating the 1st Tome, I knew that we were planning a total of three, so I wanted to find a concept that could be expanded over the course of them all. I found it interesting to explore true life events from different perspectives. From the eyes of the perpetrators, the victims and the witnesses.
Looking back, how did Tome I and Tome II mark a new chapter in Cryptopsy’s musical direction, especially after your self-titled album in 2012?
It was most definitely, because it was the 1st album that Christian Donaldson was the primary song writer. It marked the beginning of the newest era of Cryptopsy.
The Book of Suffering EPs were initially released independently. How did the re-issue process with Season of Mist come about, and why was now the right time to bring these together?
We were very excited to bring the Tomes back to the world with Season of Mist, so many times while on tour, people would be surprised to learn that we had released material between the Self-Titled record and As Gomorrah Burns. Many fans never had the chance to get their hands on the Tomes or even listen to them. I believe that with the help of SOM, the whole world will now get the chance to explore The Book of Suffering EPs.
How do these two EPs differ in terms of their musical approach and lyrical themes, and how do they complement each other in the context of The Book of Suffering as a whole?
I do look at them as a whole actually, Chris was coming into his own as the primary songwriter, I was exploring my vocal range. These two pieces of material fit very well together.
“Sire of Sin” has become a standout track in your live shows. How did the song evolve from concept to stage, and what makes it resonate so strongly with fans?
We just love the weird twists and turns that this track takes, it really throws the audience off and that is fun to watch. Plus it has that huge slam part at the end, which really creates an amazing experience at a live show.
Can you talk about the production process for The Book of Suffering? Were there any new production techniques or approaches that you used to shape the sound of these EPs?
Chris is always evolving as a producer so he is constantly pushing himself to create the best product possible. For myself on Tome II, I started to explore my false chord screams, which is something that I still primarily use to this day.
The theme of suffering is central to both parts of The Book of Suffering. Is this a theme that is personal to you, or was it more of an abstract, artistic exploration?
It is definitely an abstract theme, I just wanted to find a concept that I could bend and tweak over the three Tomes.
Since the release of the EPs, there’s been a growing demand for the material. Did the fan response to The Book of Suffering surprise you, and how did it influence your decision to reissue the collection?
We are really proud of this material and were bummed that most fans had no idea that it existed, so we are simply stoked that more people will get the chance to discover it.
With the success of The Book of Suffering and your most recent album As Gomorrah Burns, do you feel any pressure to match or surpass these releases with your next work?
We do indeed, we are currently writing now, and we aspire to top our previous material while honouring the legacy of Cryptopsy.
Cryptopsy has always had a unique relationship with its fans. How has the interaction with your audience evolved over the years, particularly with the increasing demand for older material like None So Vile and the Book of Suffering EPs?
We know very well that we must honour the legacy of Cryptopsy, if that means playing some classics that is what we must do. Plus, we love old Cryptopsy, I love watching fans freak out when we start playing Graves of the Fathers live.
How do you keep the creative process fresh after more than three decades in death metal?
We are always uncomfortable, we push each other, nothing can be simple, nothing can be trendy, we must stay true to our sound and remain relevant. It is a difficult task, but I believe that we have done that well over the past years.
That was everything I wanted to know about the reissue. Now, could you please share some of your future plans? Thank you for your time!
We are recording a new album! And we have a bunch of tours scheduled for 2025.
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