Swedish traditional heavy metal veterans Crystal Eyes have spent more than three decades keeping the spirit of classic ’80s metal alive. Built on soaring melodies, powerful riffs, and anthemic choruses, the band’s music carries a timeless sense of purpose while continuing to reach new listeners. In this interview, Crystal Eyes look back on their origins, the songwriting and influences that have shaped their journey, and the ideas behind their latest album, “Thunder God.“
TheNwothm: Crystal Eyes has been active since 1992. Looking back, what originally inspired you to form the band, and did you have a clear vision of what you wanted Crystal Eyes to become?
Crystal Eyes: I met Niclas Karlsson at work around 1990, and it turned out that we had the same favorite bands, such as Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Accept, Black Sabbath, Manowar, and so on. We were both songwriters in our respective bands, and we felt that we should be in a band together, making music that would carry on the legacy of our idols. When we started Crystal Eyes in 1992, we felt that the music we loved was starting to lose its melodies. Bands were trying to change their sound and follow the trends that came with grunge and alternative music. We wanted Crystal Eyes to stick to what we loved about ‘80s music and never give in to passing trends. I’ve held on to that vision for 34 years, and that will never change.
TheNwothm: More than three decades later, Crystal Eyes remains committed to traditional heavy metal. What has kept that passion alive throughout the band’s journey?
Crystal Eyes: I still love playing guitar, singing, and writing songs. That’s what I live for, and there’s still nothing better than recording a song of my own and then enjoying listening to it myself. First and foremost, I write music for myself, and I’m always chasing that feeling I got from the songs I first heard in the ‘80s. Of course, I also have to thank all the fans and everyone else who enjoys Crystal Eyes and my songs. They’re also a big part of what makes me want to keep going. I’ll keep doing this for as long as making and playing music is fun. That’s the most important thing if you want to keep a band alive.
TheNwothm: For readers who may be discovering Crystal Eyes through Thunder God, how would you introduce the band and its musical identity?
Crystal Eyes: Classic ‘80s heavy metal, with a strong focus on melody in both the guitars and vocals, combined with powerful, anthemic choruses that make you want to sing along.
TheNwothm: The current lineup has now been together through several releases. How would you describe the band’s chemistry, both creatively and personally?
Crystal Eyes: Claes Wikander has been in Crystal Eyes since 1997 and has played on every official release, so the two of us have managed to keep the band going together while different members have come and gone. Jonatan Hallberg and Henrik Birgersson have now been in the band for around ten years, and the lineup has never felt as good as it does today. We all have the same goals and can always come to an agreement without a lot of complaining. We also have a great time together, and there’s always plenty of laughter. Even though I write all the songs, everyone now contributes ideas and input that help make the songs as good as they can possibly be.
TheNwothm: Thunder God is your ninth studio album. When did work on the album begin, and what were the first ideas that shaped its direction?
Crystal Eyes: The songwriting started after the release of Starbourne Traveler, but it took a while before things really started to take shape. The period during the COVID pandemic was quite gloomy, and it wasn’t easy to find inspiration. Some of the first songs went through a lot of changes, and we eventually scrapped a few of them completely. The first songs that really felt right were “The Battle Will Be Won,” “Shadows Of The Night,” and “Metal Bound.” Once those were finished, I felt we had a good starting point. We also wanted the album to have the feeling of a “Best Of” album, with every song having its own identity and not sounding too much like the others.
TheNwothm: The title Thunder God immediately evokes powerful imagery. What made it the right choice for the album title, and how does it reflect the record as a whole?
Crystal Eyes: The song “Whirlwind Of Doom” is about Thor, the Norse god of thunder, and we felt that Thunder God was the perfect title for a Swedish heavy metal band. We also liked the idea of continuing the tradition of album titles and covers like Killer and Starbourne Traveler, and now Thunder God.
TheNwothm: You’ve said the goal was to raise the bar following Starbourne Traveler. What challenges did that create during the writing and recording process?
Crystal Eyes: After Starbourne Traveler, I felt that I would never be able to write songs that were as good again. I had the same feeling after Vengeance Descending and Dead City Dreaming, so this is nothing new for me. I always put my whole soul into songwriting, but I never try to force myself to write something. I wait for the melodies to come naturally, and the most important thing is that I’m happy with the songs myself. The biggest challenge with Thunder God was probably getting the songwriting going again after the gloomy period during the COVID pandemic. We also wanted every song to be strong enough to stand on its own, which meant scrapping some songs that might have worked on an album but didn’t quite fit what we were aiming for.
TheNwothm: A recurring theme in your comments about Thunder God is the importance of strong melodies, memorable choruses, and powerful hooks. Why were those elements such a key focus for this album?
Crystal Eyes: That’s simply what I love about heavy metal. I grew up listening to bands from the ‘80s, and the melodies and choruses in that music are what made me want to start a band in the first place. I always want strong melodies in both the vocals and guitars, a powerful chorus, and a solo that lifts the song to another level. I want people to feel happy when they listen to Crystal Eyes and experience the same feeling I had when I first heard my favorite bands. That has always been the goal, and it still is.
TheNwothm: Although you write the songs, you’ve mentioned that the entire band was heavily involved in the arrangements and production. How did that collaborative process help shape the final record?
Crystal Eyes: I usually record a demo with vocals, guitar, bass, and drums up to the first chorus or roughly the middle of the song, and then the band gets to hear it and give their opinions. I continue working on the rest of the song while the others contribute ideas about the arrangements. Sometimes that means moving parts around or removing sections completely. I have a tendency to overwork things and put too many parts into a song, so having the others involved is really important. I write the songs, but we all work together to make them as good as possible.
TheNwothm: You have cited bands such as Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Accept, Black Sabbath, Helloween, and Running Wild as key inspirations. What qualities from those legendary acts continue to influence Crystal Eyes today?
Crystal Eyes: Guitar harmonies are very important to us, and a lot of that comes from Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, and Helloween. Accept has influenced the straight, marching tempos in some of our songs, as well as the melodic solos of Wolf Hoffmann. The faster side of Crystal Eyes comes mainly from Helloween, especially the Keeper of the Seven Keys albums. Black Sabbath is a big inspiration when I write epic songs, while Running Wild has had a strong influence on the melodies that come to me when I pick up the guitar. These bands have been part of my musical life since I was young, and their influence is still there today.
TheNwothm: You opted to use vintage amplifiers, cabinets, and pedals to capture an authentic 1980s heavy metal sound. How important was that approach in achieving the atmosphere you wanted for Thunder God?
Crystal Eyes: It was very important. Since I write songs that are meant to capture the feeling of the ‘80s, I also want the sound to come from that era. I have spent many years trying to recreate the guitar sounds on albums like Accept’s Balls to the Wall, Loudness’ Thunder in the East, and U.D.O.’s Faceless World. I miss the warmth and dynamics of those old recordings, and I find a lot of modern guitar sounds too artificial. Over the past ten years, I have gradually collected the old amplifiers, cabinets, and pedals I wanted to use. For Thunder God, I finally had the equipment to get much closer to the sound I had been searching for all these years.
TheNwothm: Crystal Eyes and Fredrik Nordström have worked together for more than two decades. What makes that partnership so successful, and what did he bring to Thunder God specifically?
Crystal Eyes: Fredrik likes the same kind of music as I do, and he also likes Crystal Eyes. He is always happy when we show up and usually jokes that he finally gets to mix some real music. We first worked together on Dead City Dreaming, and that was the first time we felt we had achieved a production we were really happy with. Since then, we have never considered going anywhere else. We know we can trust him to get the sound right, and he is also very easy to work with. That combination makes the whole process much easier.
TheNwothm: “Kids Of Rock ‘N’ Roll” carries a message about chasing dreams and following your own path. What inspired you to explore that theme, and what does the song mean to you personally?
Crystal Eyes: This song takes me back to 1982, when I first heard Iron Maiden’s The Number of the Beast and my whole life changed. Suddenly, music was everything, and all I wanted was to be able to play music myself and be like the bands I was listening to. Somewhere around the middle of the ‘80s, I got my first guitar, and from that moment on, it felt like it was me against the world. I was really on my own with my guitar and my music, and all I ever heard was that I would never make it, that I should get an education and find a proper job. Being a musician wasn’t considered a real career. But I’ve never given up on my dream, and I’ve never cared much about what other people have said. I’ve always followed my own path, and that path has always been music. That’s what “Kids Of Rock ’N’ Roll” means to me.
TheNwothm: With Thunder God set for release soon, what are you most excited for fans to experience when they hear the album for the first time?
Crystal Eyes: I want people to feel joy when they listen to the album, to raise their fists and sing along to every song. I hope they enjoy it so much that they end up feeling it is the best album they have ever heard. That’s always what I want to achieve when I release a new Crystal Eyes album.
Crystal Eyes: Finally, what are Crystal Eyes’ plans for the months ahead, and where can fans buy your music and merchandise and follow the band online for the latest news and updates?
We have just signed with Dragon Productions for worldwide booking, so I really think there will be a lot more shows in the future than there have been in the past. We’re ready to take on the world! As for music, merchandise, and the latest news, fans should keep an eye on our official Crystal Eyes website at crystaleyes.net and social media channels like Facebook and Instagram for updates.
