Guys, my compliments on "None so live". A damned great album I think... I'm not a fan of yours for a long time, but I joined in the days of "And then you'll beg", which I personally consider one of my favourite Death Metal-albums, especially because of its almost experimental character.

This is the base for my first 2 questions:

What happened to Mike DiSalvo? Why isn't he in the band anymore and do you perhaps know what he is doing these days?

Alex: Mike left the band for personal reasons. There was concern towards the band's schedule for touring. Mike could not and did'nt want to come on tour when it was very important for the band, so eventually he decided to quit. We were surprised at first of his decision. Now Mike is doing fine, he and his wife had a child recently and he is no more doing music.

The 2 albums on which DiSalvo was the voice of Cryptopsy (which are "And then you'll beg" and "Whisper Supremacy", just for reader's who don't know) - in my opinion - do not have a very strong point on "None so live", despite they - again it's just my opinion - show a much more grown up band, which can write songs that are demanding and absolutely heavy and aggressive at the same time.

Alex: The live album is like a greatest hits "live" but done with a singer that has never contributed to any lyrics or music in the past. Martin did a great job on the live album and on tour but its always easier when someone does the work before you. So it's a touchy situation as for critisizing hard the album. The band has grown up definitely over the years but now its even stronger than ever because Lord Worm is back. The band has a lot of time right now to reflect on its position and we are letting Lord Worm take the time to get comfortable with everything.

Why were these songs selected for the live shows and why are there so few of the recent albums?

Alex: When playing live for the last tours we did, we wanted to have a lot of songs from all the albums. That's the only reason.

Losing the fronter is a problematical situation for a band, because - perhaps like no other member - the voice is the most significant part of every song.

Alex: Yes and a lot of people look at the singer when bands play live. Most of all the singer is the image of the band so when you change the front man people act differently to it. Personally i think we haven't been lucky with singers. But now it's a new ball game because the original singer is back and he is eager to go on tour or record, he is motivated and people admire him a lot so let's hope everything goes well.

Were you ever afraid of losing your identity and maybe also some fans by losing your fronters, first Lord Worm and then Mike DiSalvo?

Alex: Of course every time you change something in a band you gain new fans and you loose old fans so that's normal. But Cryptopsy will never loose it's identity. Cryptopsy is mean and mighty powerful machine.

Live albums after all are - to most people I know and according to most opinions I read - almost as welcome as the plague would be...

Alex: A lot of people like the fact that it recreates a live "feel" as if they were at the concert.

Mostly they are just a recording of some mediocre (or worse) played songs put into some piece of worthless plastic and wrapped into some "exclusive live pictures". "None so live" is different - now we know - but what was the reason to release a live album these days, when simply everyone seems to be willing to make some money by doing so?

Alex: The main reason was that a lot of changes were going to occur for the future: a new album, a new singer and we were not sure of the time it would take for the band to be ready to record. Plus the fact that ''And then you'll beg'' had two years of touring with two different singers. So it stretched the space between the last album and the future one. So we decided to give the fans something to listen to in the meantime.

You'll be in Australia on the 22nd of August, headlining the "Destruction of Oz"-festival and playing together with Doro, Sodom and Marduk. [Editor's note: The interview was on the road for quite a while as you can see] How do you feel about that?

Alex: That's too bad it did not happen.

Have you ever played with one of them before, maybe Sodom or Marduk?

Alex: We played with Sodom at the Dynamo fest in 1999.

Have you ever heard music from Doro? I think she is somehow wrong in that festival line-up, or are you guys hoping to gain a new audience? *g*

Alex: That festival did not happen, but to tell you the truth she has no place there.

You have been making music for about 11 years as far as I know. You have released four regular studio albums, one demo and a live album. Are you still hungry? What are your aims for the future?

Alex: We are and will remain hungry because that's our nature. Let's hope everything goes well and long live Cryptopsy. We want to do videos, dvd's and a lot more.

That gig in Australia is your only gig in 2003 so far. What are you guys doing when you're not in studio or on the road?

Alex: Right now focusing on the next album with Lord Worm.

Will you be coming to Europe (esp. Germany) at the end of 2003, maybe as part of the X-MASS-Festivals?

Alex: Cryptopsy has decided to do nothing until the next studio album is released.

For me, there is just one other musical act from Canada besides of you (no, it's not Bryan Adams of course): Kataklysm. Have you ever met these guys personally?

Alex: We know each other very well because we practiced in the same building in Montreal. There is a huge complex in Montreal where 200 bands practice. You should check those Canadian bands - MARTYR, QUO VADIS, DESPISED ICON, NEURAXIS, BLINDED BY FAITH, MOONLYGHT, OBLIVEON, UNEXPECT etc... I don't know what the fuck is wrong with record companies but there like afraid to sign with some Canadian bands. People are very pissed off here because there are a lot of good bands that should be 100 times more popular.

How do you feel about them?

Alex: There just friends. Now they practice elsewhere so we don't see each other anymore.

The last 11 years - in your own words. What is different, better, worse etc.?

Alex: Everything as far as i am concerned is getting way better. A lot of maturity, new approach for songwriting, good tours, beautiful merchandise, better recording sound.

Anything else you'd like to tell our readers?

Alex: We can't wait to go record this new album and go back on tour. We miss the people, the friends everywhere, the shows, the ambiance, traveling.

Guys, I thank you for your time and for answering my questions. I wish you all the best all would surely hope to see you packaged for X-MASS-Festivals...

Alex: Thank you very much.