Crypt Sermon is one of the best doom metal band I have ever heard in a long time! They released their album last year and I was blown away on how good it was. Just awesome doom. In the age of stoner doom, Crypt Sermon are taking us back to the classic days of listening to Epicus Doomicus Metallicus or Nightfall. I'm looking forward to what they are going to do next. DOOM!!!
1. First thing I would like to say is thank you for answering the questions. You guys have released an awesome Doom metal record. One of the best I have heard in years. How has the reception been and how did Dark Descent get involved to put it
out?
Steve Jansson: Thank you! The response has been great and we honestly didn’t think it would get the attention that it has gotten. As far as getting hooked up with Dark Descent, it happened through Eric at Unspeakable Axe which is a sub-label of Dark Descent. Brooks and I are in a death metal band called Trenchrot which is signed to Unspeabable Axe. We sent the Crypt Sermon demo to Eric just to show him this new project we were working on and he urged us to send it to Matt at Dark Descent immediately. We took his advice and sent it over. Matt got back to us that day and offered to do a tape release and here we are now.
2. In recent years there has been a lot of stoner and drone. But not a lot of just traditional doom metal bands. Was that one of the motivation factors to start your band?
Steve Jansson: It was, actually. I felt like every time I was out at a show there were at least two of those bands on the bill and it started to get old really fast. James and I actually decided to start Crypt Sermon while we were out watching one. I’m not saying that their aren’t bands in that style that aren’t good or anything but there is just so fucking much of that stuff out there right now.
3.You guys are playing Maryland Deathfest next year. Is there any possibility for some touring after that?
Steve Jansson: Our main priority right now is to work on the next album and we just started doing so last week. We definitely won’t be doing any heavy touring unless we get an offer that we absolutely can’t refuse. Brooks just had a baby earlier this year and we all have bills to pay, so we can’t quit our jobs and we certainly aren’t expecting to make a living playing in a heavy metal band in 2016. We are, however, playing something pretty cool, which will be announced in a few days.
4.You can hear your Candlemass and Solitude Aeturnus but what are some other influences that are in the Crypt Sermon sound?
Steve Jansson: We all listen to so much music and have been into metal for so long that we all have our own influences and favorites but all typically agree on the same things. Out of the Garden was us just trying to nail the template laid down by the bands you mentioned but didn’t go out of the box too much. You will be able to hear more influences and surprises on the next record, though.
5. Your singer did the cover art. Was this something you guys come up together as a band? What’s the story behind that?
Steve Jansson: We agreed that we wanted something grandiose and regal looking but didn’t any very specific ideas. We just let Brooks do is thing and trusted that he would do a great job, which he did. He actually did two paintings for us to choose from.
1. First thing I would like to say is thank you for answering the questions. You guys have released an awesome Doom metal record. One of the best I have heard in years. How has the reception been and how did Dark Descent get involved to put it
out?
Steve Jansson: Thank you! The response has been great and we honestly didn’t think it would get the attention that it has gotten. As far as getting hooked up with Dark Descent, it happened through Eric at Unspeakable Axe which is a sub-label of Dark Descent. Brooks and I are in a death metal band called Trenchrot which is signed to Unspeabable Axe. We sent the Crypt Sermon demo to Eric just to show him this new project we were working on and he urged us to send it to Matt at Dark Descent immediately. We took his advice and sent it over. Matt got back to us that day and offered to do a tape release and here we are now.
2. In recent years there has been a lot of stoner and drone. But not a lot of just traditional doom metal bands. Was that one of the motivation factors to start your band?
Steve Jansson: It was, actually. I felt like every time I was out at a show there were at least two of those bands on the bill and it started to get old really fast. James and I actually decided to start Crypt Sermon while we were out watching one. I’m not saying that their aren’t bands in that style that aren’t good or anything but there is just so fucking much of that stuff out there right now.
3.You guys are playing Maryland Deathfest next year. Is there any possibility for some touring after that?
Steve Jansson: Our main priority right now is to work on the next album and we just started doing so last week. We definitely won’t be doing any heavy touring unless we get an offer that we absolutely can’t refuse. Brooks just had a baby earlier this year and we all have bills to pay, so we can’t quit our jobs and we certainly aren’t expecting to make a living playing in a heavy metal band in 2016. We are, however, playing something pretty cool, which will be announced in a few days.
4.You can hear your Candlemass and Solitude Aeturnus but what are some other influences that are in the Crypt Sermon sound?
Steve Jansson: We all listen to so much music and have been into metal for so long that we all have our own influences and favorites but all typically agree on the same things. Out of the Garden was us just trying to nail the template laid down by the bands you mentioned but didn’t go out of the box too much. You will be able to hear more influences and surprises on the next record, though.
5. Your singer did the cover art. Was this something you guys come up together as a band? What’s the story behind that?
Steve Jansson: We agreed that we wanted something grandiose and regal looking but didn’t any very specific ideas. We just let Brooks do is thing and trusted that he would do a great job, which he did. He actually did two paintings for us to choose from.
6. How is the Philadelphia metal scene? Do you guys get a good response?
Steve Jansson: I would say that the Philadelphia metal scene is healthy. There are a lot of bands and people are generally pretty supportive of one another. We have gotten a great response every time we have played here at home.
7.What gear do you use?
Steve Jansson: My main guitar has been my Caparison Horus for the last five years or so. I also use a Jackson soloist. My amp is a Marshall TSL 100 which has had a few modifications. I don’t have many pedals but what I do have is an MXR Phase 90, a Dunlop Crybaby (Joe Bonamassa signature) and of course a Boss tuner and a Tubescreamer. I also run a boss digital delay in my effects loop.
8. How is the writing process for Crypt Sermon? Do you guys kind of all jam or do you individually come in with ideas?
Steve Jansson: We do a little bit of all of that, actually. Temple Doors was the first Crypt Sermon song ever written and it was written by James and myself together just jamming around on guitar. Most of the tracks were written by one person and then brought to practice and rearranged some things accordingly if needed by the rest of the band. There are of course moments where we all just come together as a band and write it all together.
9. Two members are also guys are in the death metal band Trenchrot. Which I thought the debut was pretty sweet. Is there any new material in the works for that band?
Steve Jansson: We just released some songs on a 4 way split with Ectovoid, Cemetary Filth and Sabbatory, which you can get through Unspeakable Axe. As far as Trenchrot, we have no plans to do anything in the near future but who knows, we could get the itch at some point.
10. Any other future plans for 2016 in the foreseeable future for crypt sermon? Any last words? Once again thank you for your time!
Steve Jansson: Working on and completing the next album is our number one priority right now. While I don’t like putting timelines on the writing process too much, I’m hoping we can at least have it written by summer. As far as any last words, nah, I have nothing clever to say. Thanks for the questions and support, man!
https://www.facebook.com/CryptSermon/?fref=ts
Steve Jansson: I would say that the Philadelphia metal scene is healthy. There are a lot of bands and people are generally pretty supportive of one another. We have gotten a great response every time we have played here at home.
7.What gear do you use?
Steve Jansson: My main guitar has been my Caparison Horus for the last five years or so. I also use a Jackson soloist. My amp is a Marshall TSL 100 which has had a few modifications. I don’t have many pedals but what I do have is an MXR Phase 90, a Dunlop Crybaby (Joe Bonamassa signature) and of course a Boss tuner and a Tubescreamer. I also run a boss digital delay in my effects loop.
8. How is the writing process for Crypt Sermon? Do you guys kind of all jam or do you individually come in with ideas?
Steve Jansson: We do a little bit of all of that, actually. Temple Doors was the first Crypt Sermon song ever written and it was written by James and myself together just jamming around on guitar. Most of the tracks were written by one person and then brought to practice and rearranged some things accordingly if needed by the rest of the band. There are of course moments where we all just come together as a band and write it all together.
9. Two members are also guys are in the death metal band Trenchrot. Which I thought the debut was pretty sweet. Is there any new material in the works for that band?
Steve Jansson: We just released some songs on a 4 way split with Ectovoid, Cemetary Filth and Sabbatory, which you can get through Unspeakable Axe. As far as Trenchrot, we have no plans to do anything in the near future but who knows, we could get the itch at some point.
10. Any other future plans for 2016 in the foreseeable future for crypt sermon? Any last words? Once again thank you for your time!
Steve Jansson: Working on and completing the next album is our number one priority right now. While I don’t like putting timelines on the writing process too much, I’m hoping we can at least have it written by summer. As far as any last words, nah, I have nothing clever to say. Thanks for the questions and support, man!
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