Interviewee: Ryan
Year: 2008
Website: cryogen.com
MySpace: myspace.com/cryogen
Label: None
Featured on: Loucifer Speaks Exclusive... So far!
Lou: Hi guys, thanks for agreeing to this interview. How are you all today?
Ryan: Just me, Ryan. I'm good. :)
Lou: How long has the band been together and who is currently in the band?
Ryan: We started Cryogen in early '04 when Brian joined. Before that the band was called Forever Broken. A few of the songs off Premonition were written during the Forever Broken days.
Lou: How would you describe your music?
Ryan: Melodic death metal with some thrash and grind thrown in for flavor.
Lou: Which bands have been your biggest influences?
Ryan: I've been influenced by a lot of the melodic death bands from Europe. In Flames, Hypocrisy, Dark Tranquility, etc.. Also thrash bands like Megadeth and even older Metallica. We all have our favorite bands though, and I think those influences can definitely be heard in the music.
Lou: I've noticed that you currently have two CDs available from your website ("This Nightmare" and "Premonition"). Was there a big change in musical styles between the two, or was it more of a natural progression?
Ryan: They're pretty similar, yet different as well. haha How's that for an answer? I think the songs on This Nightmare have a more mature writing style, but that could just be me. It's really hard to judge anything being so close to it, so I generally think that's a question best left to the listener.
Lou: What is the most popular song from those releases among the members of Cryogen?
Ryan: Probably Man is War. It has been a part of our live set list since we first wrote it.
Lou: Which Cryogen song is most popular with your fans?
Ryan: I don't really know. Everyone I talk to says something different, so it's one of those questions best left to the listener IMO.
Lou: What sort of subjects do you prefer to write about? Who writes the lyrics?
Ryan: I write most all of the lyrics. Some of the other guys help me from time to time too. Their mostly about religious hypocrisy, corrupt politics, or social issues. I have been trying to write stuff other than that, but it's sort of my thing at this point.. Hard to break the pattern.
Lou: How do you come up with your songs? Does one of the band members turn up to the rehearsal with an idea for a riff and then you all build around it, or does a member turn up to a rehearsal with a finished song ready for you to practice?
Ryan: Both. In the past, Brian and myself typically wrote everything. Nowadays we've been writing more with the whole band. Like, bringing riffs into practice and shaping the song from there. It's a pretty fun way to write, but sometimes it can cause the song writing process to go slower. At the end of the day it works pretty well since everyone can feel like they had their part in the process.
Lou: Do you have any plans to release another album/EP in the near future?
Ryan: The first two songs on our Myspace are from "Psalms of Deceit", an EP we just finished recording. We're currently shopping that one to labels and hope to have it released in the near future.
Lou: Do you have any other merchandise available (*hint* girlie shirts *hint* Hehe!)?
Ryan: We had girl size shirts for awhile but sold them all out. Thanks for reminding me, I need to get back on top of that. :)
Lou: What is the best thing that has been said about you in a review?
Ryan: We made #7 out of 10 in the BW&BK (Brave Words and Bloody Knuckles mag) top unsigned metal releases of 2007, for "This Nightmare". That was pretty cool considering they get hundreds of unsigned submissions every year.
Lou: Have you got any gigs coming up?
Ryan: We're doing one more this year in Ft Collins, CO. Which is a small college town with a pretty good metal scene. After that we're taking some time off since our bass player and his wife are expecting a kid in early December.
Lou: Do you have any plans to, or could you ever be persuaded to, play a few shows in England?
Ryan: I'd love to. Hopefully someday we'll get that chance.
Lou: What is a Cryogen show like?
Ryan: I can only really speak for myself, but I always have a good time. Playing music you've written to an audience who appreciates it is like nothing else in life.
Lou: Which bands have you toured with so far?
Ryan: We've done most of our touring on our own at this point.
Lou: What's the funniest thing that's happened to you onstage?
Ryan: One night we played in this small bar with horrible wiring. I was sweating my ass off and every time I got close to the mic I got the shit shocked out of me. It wasn't really funny when it was happening, but I always thought of how it must have looked to the crowd since I probably looked like I was scared of the mic or something. I guess I was though.. haha
Lou: Have you had any label interest yet?
Ryan: We just recently sent press kits out to try and get some sort of deal for our new EP, so keep your fingers crossed.
Lou: Which movie should Cryogen have been asked to create the soundtrack to?
Ryan: Definitely a teen movie, staring Paris Hilton and.. I don't know, Lindsay Lohan. Cuz they're probably the most talented actresses out there nowadays. haha
Lou: Ok, here's a few 'versus' questions...
CD vs Vinyl vs MP3?
Ryan: I grew up with CD's and a few vinyl's, but MP3's are what I listen to now. MP3>CD>Vinyl
Lou: Normal Gig vs Festival?
Ryan: Festival's are usually more fun.
Lou: Beer vs Cider vs Whiskey?
Ryan: Beer for sure.
Lou: Headbanging vs Moshpit?
Ryan: Headbanging
Lou: What can the readers of Loucifer Speaks do to help promote the band?
Ryan: Check us out and buy a cd, then burn it for all your friends.
Lou: What's next for Cryogen?
Ryan: A European tour.. :)