'Feel The Burn!'

Back in 1996 CREMATORY established themselves as genre pioneers, as the release of "Crematory - das deutsche Album" was not only praised but criticized. Nevertheless the band consequently proceeded its way onwards and a German song has been presented on nearly every album since.

It was clear that after 15 years of CREMATORY there has to be a special present for the fans and so the band decided to give the fans what they've been yelling for the last 10 years: A new German album!

"Klagebilder" is an album with the expected amount of smashers with ear-drilling refrains and club hits to dance to, demonstrating that the hit factory CREMATORY is without doubt powered by high voltage.

Taking it from the top and what were your musical influences growing up and how many still factor into your music today? Markus - "What we reached till today was a big dream when we started with CREMATORY an our heart burns like the beginning. Our influence was 1991 to play Melodic Death Metal with Keyboards."

For the Average Joe who may not have heard of you and was thinking of buying your new CD, how would you yourself describe your sound? "Melodic Gothic Metal with keyboards and an whole album with hits."

Your album title 'Klagebilder' is an interesting choice (what does it mean?!), but perhaps it originates from a more personal standpoint for you? Is there a theme to it, perhaps? "It´s no deep meaning behind that, it´s a game between German words."

Please tell us more about why the time was now right to 'give the fans what they wanted' in the form of this new all-German album? "We thought it was a good time to do this, because it was 10 years after the first German album and for the 15 anniversary for CREMATORY. It was a big challenge to do a German album again and to top the big success from the first one."

Also, please reveal to us just where the bands name originates from? "When we founded the band in 1991 Felix had different names with different logos and we all were fine with the name and the logo of CREMATORY."

How easy (or hard) is it to constantly create a new, vibrant, wanted-by-the-public sound that both builds on and surpasses the musical wonderment's/accomplishments that preceded it within the industry? "Every job is hard and you have to find your own way to the best that you can do at this moment."

Has work begun yet on a game plan to bring your live music to America ... and if so, when will it be put into action? "At this time we are working on a new album which will be released in January 2008. We can´t play any shows this year because Katrin will have a new baby in October this year. It´ll be a big dream of every bandmember to play in America and we hope to do this next year."

If asked for charity, what '80s (and possibly cheesy!) pop/rock song would you love to cover today if asked ... and why?! "I´m a big fan of the '80s and there will be many good songs for covering. We did one song on our "AWAKE" album from the Sisters of Mercy with "Temple of Love". When we do this in the future again I think it´ll be a Depeche Mode song, because this band is cult anD I love them."

Lastly, and throwing in a comedic curve ball, Exclusive Magazine love Penguins ... do you?! "Not really love, but I like all kind of nice animals. Save them!"

Interviewed by Russell A. Trunk

STREAMING AUDIO: Crematory - "Hoffnungen"