It’s a well-known fact that music is at its most powerful when it arouses our curiosity
instead of simply providing us with prefabricated answers. When it caresses our soul rather
than just rousing our intellect. When it boldly embraces revelations unapologetically and is
not afraid to dig deep instead of anxiously scratching the surface. CRYPTEX combines all
these qualities on Once Upon A Time. The third album of the band from North Germany is
their most emotional, most profound and uncompromising piece of work yet, arresting in
its propensity for darkness. An album with songs stylistically ranging from (progressive)
rock to metal, from calm to violent, from catchy to virtuous tunes. And a slogan as
emotionally unsurpassable as the band’s music: “Love is the answer!”
It is this well-balanced mixture of strong hooks, catchy melodies and a plethora of artful
facets that have kept CRYPTEX so unusual and unique since their formation in 2008.
“During our debut we were wild, impetuous and reckless, full of euphoria. Our second
album sounded bulkier, a bit constipated and withdrawn”, their founder, vocalist and
keyboardist Simon Moskon reminisces, looking back on a history of over 250 concerts in
23 European countries and supporting tours for bands like Pain Of Salvation, Threshold or
Alice Cooper, not to mention their US shows and their own headliner tours. “Once Upon A
Time builds on our first album but with a lot more experience under our belts - as human
beings but also as musicians and composers. You can hear that the new songs are created in
a much more organic and liberal way, made of an endless number of colourful dots. That’s
what makes this record so exciting.”
No doubt about it: Once Upon A Time shows CRYPTEX in such a uniform way and at the
same time with a diversity and enthusiasm as rarely heard before. It’s obvious what caused
this creative explosion: Along with Simon Moskon, guitarist André Jean Henri Mertens
joins in as one of the leading song writers. Add bassist and co-lyricist Marc Andrejkovits
(and drummer Simon Schröder, who drummed his way through their new record) into the
mix and you end up with a group of like-minded people who do not only share their taste
in music but also a burning need on voicing similar topics. According to the band, the
songs are “unrestrained, autobiographic psychograms full of ambivalent feelings and
approaches in self-reflection” which is perfectly in line with their programmatic album title
since “Once Upon A Time is like the story of a fairy tale that was never fully told.”
credits
released February 16, 2021
All Music Produced and Arranged by André Jean Henri Mertens, Marc Andrejkovits & Simon Moskon.
Co-Produced by Fabian Großberg.
Lyrics for Track 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10 & 11 by Simon Moskon.
Lyrics for Track 1 & 12 by Marc Andrejkovits & Simon Moskon.
Lyrics for Track 6 & 7 by André Jean Henri Mertens & Simon Moskon.
Music for Track 2, 5, 8, 10, 11 & 12 by Simon Moskon.
Music for Track 1, 3, 4, 6, 7 & 9 by André Jean Henri Mertens & Simon Moskon.
Edited and Mixed by Fabian Großberg at Tastenkollektiv (Big House Studio) Hannover.
Recorded at Tastenkollektiv (Big House Studio), Musikzentrum Studio & Rain Shelter Studios Hannover.
Engineered by Fabian Großberg.
Leadvocals (except for "Leaving", "Reptiles" & "Once Upon A Time") recorded at Musikvollzugsanstalt Salzgitter.
Engineered by André Fedorow.
Mastered by Tom Porcell Woznik at HP Mastering Hamburg.
Additional Leadvocals on "Reptiles" by André Jean Henri Mertens.
Backgroundvocals & Gangshouts by André Jean Henri Mertens, David Silesu, Marc Andrejkovits, Simon Moskon & Simon Schröder.
Guest Vocal Performances on "Bloodmoon" by Erika Emerson & Greta Leona Hasenbalg.
Guest Vocal Performance on "Haunted" by Greta Leona Hasenbalg.
Saxophone on "Two Horned Crown" played by Niklas Fischer.
Cello on "I Don't Know Why", "I See It in Your Eyes" & "Leaving" played by Rabea Bollmann.
Drums & Percussions played by Simon Schröder.
CRYPTORIAN Children's Choir on "Reptiles" recorded at Marktkirche Hannover.
Conducted by CRYPTEX.
Lyrics proofread by Lucy Barker-Semroch & Simon Middleton.
Artwork & Design by Jonathan Noor.
Photos by Cora Werner, David Silesu & Jonathan Noor (Promo/Booklet/Artwork), Merlin Schönfisch (Cover) & Roman Serebryanyy (Vinyl Edition Only/Iris Pics).
CRYPTEX ARE
Simon Moskon: Leadvocals & Piano/Keys
André Jean Henri Mertens: Guitars & Background Vocals
THE CRYPTEX –
A sound that is smiling and swearing, paired with grandiose melodies and anthemic songs!
An impressive and highly explosive mixture of rock, alternative with slight folk attitude and prog-art of the old kind.
supported by 4 fans who also own “ONCE UPON A TIME (24bit/FLAC)”
There are many concept albums I like, but most of the time the concept at best serves as a gimmick that motivates me to listen to the album in one go. The Oubliette's take on dementia, by contrast, I find truly moving. On top of it, this is stellar progressive metal. c_c_chaos
The Long Island metal band's third album etches arena-sized hooks into their jagged compositions, deftly balancing experimental and poppy inclinations. Bandcamp Album of the Day May 12, 2022