I guess, CRYHAVOC appears as a rather young band, therefore, in the beginning, please tell us anything you’d like regarding most important events which took place throughout CRYHAVOC’s years of existence…

- Ok. We started in 1992 under the name PREPROPHECY and we made several studio demos. Drummer Jan Grondahl and basist Juha Korpikallio left the band in '95. New players were found from a band called ABSURDUS and PREPROPHECY changed in to RAVENSFALL. In winter '97 ABSURDUS received a contract from Candlelight Records and they weren’t able to handle both bands at the same time, so we did have to look for new members. Pauli Tolvanen (drummer) and Kari Myohanen (bass) were founded and line up has stayed same since. We received a contract offer from a small label and we went to studio. But because of some money crisis stuff the label didn't have afford to pay our studio, so we went to Spinefarm records headquarters to show our album and they gave us a deal at once… And our name changed in to CRYHAVOC.

What does “cryhavoc” stand for? Besides that, may I wonder what were the reasons for choosing such a name?

- Previously we were RAVENSFALL, but Finland was filled with -raven- bands, so we wanted to change it. We went through something like 200 names and CRYHAVOC sounded great. Original meaning behind ‘Cryhavoc’ is that it is “used in hunting and afterwards in war as signal for slaughter…”

What does the “Sweetbriers” cover symbolize? And also, why “Sweetbriers”? Did you put any special kind of meaning into these words?

- “Sweetbriers” means “wild roses” and those two girls are pretty wild roses. Our singer found this picture from one photo magazine and spinefarm bought rights to it. This picture was taken by Canadian photographer Johan Sorensen and we just changed the color tone to more blue. Our songs deal a lot about drinking and women so it was obvious to us to put those ladies into cover after we had seen the picture.

Whom would you compare your band to? In my view, we can draw some parallels with one more  band who (formerly) used to collaborate with Spinefarm, i.e. SENTENCED… The same doom / heavy metal with that husky voice, gloomy verses, memorable harmonies…; in short – the sort of stuff easy to get into…

- Within CRYHAVOC there are so many elements from different bands that one can pick up some familiar stuff from our songs, but our idea is never to steal anything from anyone. The fact is that there are just so many bands around and it is almost impossible to make 100 % new and original stuff that it is still  good stuff and people wants to listen it.

What about such term as “trend”? Don’t you fear that lots of underground freaks might consider you nothing but a regular “commercial” band?

- If someone thinks us only a trend band so that is their business. We only concentrate to do great music and our label can concentrate to all commercial stuff involving selling records.

Ok, enough with it. Let’s better discuss the lyrics featured on “Sweetbriers”… Actually, I was nearly about considering CRYHAVOC to be a black metal act, and the reason is utmost simple: the song-titles like “Bloodtie”, “Wolfdance”, “Pagan Uprise” or “Misanthropy” would better fit a band like BARATHRUM or MORNINGSTAR…

- Our singer Kaapro has made those lyrics under the infuenses of Lord Calvert (cheapest whiskey of Finnish alcohol stores.. ). Well, “Pagan Uprise” is only song what tells about religion. The main idea is that nature is falling apart and it isn’t fixed with any religion that is going to do nothing about it. Nature is god which we really should respect. “Wolfdance” is old song that tells about howling to the moon. “Bloodtie” tells about love that has ended and this ex-love tries to get his man back, but it’s not working ‘cause bloodtie has been broken. “Misanthropy” tells about how you just want to be alone when you have terrible hangover. These are just feelings putted to the paper and basicaly you can play some blues also and sing lyrics like these… I don't care…

When I’ve sent you a letter requesting for your promo stuff, you re-directed me to (as you said) “our label, Spinefarm Records, or Nuclear Blast”. May I display my interest in the financial aspect of your deal(s)? Why did you mentioned NB? Did you leave Spinefarm and got a deal with that German label or they just distribute your stuff in Europe?

- Germany’s Nuclear Blast licenced our “Sweetbriers” album from Spinefarm, so we have two great labels behind us. NB distribute our stuff in Europe and Spinefarm has its own territorys around. In January and February NB also arranged a tour to us with THE GATHERING. We were playing in Germany, Belgia, France, Italy, England, Austria and Switzerland.

Where will you second CD’s recording session take place? Also at Tico Tico, I suppose? Ahti’s place seems to be one of the best metal studios in Suomi… am I correct saying that?

- Yeah, we went to Tico-Tico at March 1999 to record our second album. In our opinion, and many others opinion is that Ahti’s kingdom surely is the best metal studio in Finland. Ahti Kortelainen is very great and definetly a professional man and he gave us many good advices.

Do you anything in regards to Russia, it’s history and present days? Any Russian bands you’ve heard lately?

- Yeah I know the history quite well and present also, but I must admit that I don't know a shit about present metal scene going on in whole world… Back in '92 I was in the scene quite active, but nowadays I just don't have slightest idea..

What about your future plans? When will be able to listen to the second effort from CRYHAVOC and what will it be alike? Any tour plans? If yes, then what about visiting Russia?

- We’ve been at Tico-Tico in March 1999 recording our second album and it’s going to be released in Finland about in May and in Europe in Summer 1999. We have wrote many new great songs that are going to continue our journey in to the heart of hardest rock. We have no tour plans at the moment but as soon as we know anything about new gigs our webmistress put them to our HomeSlave: http://come.to/cryhavoc
I hope that someday we get a gig from Russia too.

Thanks for answering all this crap… Anything you’d like to add…?

- Hopefully all the people who liked our first album likes this second one also! Cheers to you all and have a great time with your Smirnoff Vodka!
Cheers!!!

CRYHAVOC contact -
Email: havocraven@yahoo.com