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Crimson Thorn - interview March 2006


Distarnish Priest: It's an honour to have this interview with you, Luke from Crimson Thorn. You guys have a demotape and 3 album career, plus a double disc release, and I can tell the world without regret, that you are probably one of the most popular bands in Christian metal today. What are your opinions of your success?
Luke: Wow! Like I say on stage "All praise and glory to JESUS CHRIST!!!!" I feel very humbled and blessed to have been put in this ministry. And by far the greatest accomplishment that we've had as a band is when people tell us that our music helped lead them to the Lord or back to the Lord or blessed them in any way.

Distarnish Priest: Did you believe after finishing the album Purification and releasing the double disc release that you would ever get this far?
Luke: Actually, yes. This is the mission that God has given me and the other guys. I knew God would take us places and I know He has a lot more in store for us. Actually, I remember back in high school we had to write a paper on where we think we'd be and what we'd be doing in ten years, and I pretty much hit the nail on the head and it ended up being pretty much exactly as I written.

Distarnish Priest: Is there a possibilty that Crimson Thorn is going on with their music for several more years, when we think about other bands like Tourniquet and Mortification?
Luke: Definitely. Miles and I have been in the band together since the beginning and we were talking a few months ago about how neither of us planned to ever quit. When I think of the rest of my life, I know Crimson Thorn will be a part of it. We were very blessed to have Kevin on the drums for so long and we'll miss Him in the band, but God really blessed us with Steve. He's young and fresh and absolutely loves playing death metal. Miles and I talked about how both of us kind of view the last fifteen years as Crimson Thorn's childhood and now we feel like we're starting fresh. Crimson Thorn will never end.

Distarnish Priest: Has the band ever been critizied for comparing your faith with death metal, which is concidered to be "evil"?
Luke: Here and there we have. We've played at Christian festivals that had everything from metal to contemporary acts like Rebbeca St.James and Michael W Smith and some of those people who walk by our set, just don't understand it. And some people just simply don't understand but they talk to us and ask questions and gain an understanding of it, but others just point the finger and go "You are of the Devil!" And have no interest in talking with us at or learning anything about it. And I figure why even try to get through to those people who cover their ears when you try to explain yourself. Really it has nothing to do with them. There is no real reason why they have to understand it, though it would be nice. I just do what's right in the eyes of God and not man. The pharisees and sadducees were all "religious" and told Jesus He wasn't doing ministry the correct way, so why should I let it upset me when "religious" people say the same thing to me.

Distarnish Priest: What is the greatest achivement that the band has been through?
Luke: The love we have for eachother and the Love we have for God and the fact that we've been chosen, though we are not worthy, to do the work of the Lord. It's been a great honor and we are humbled. We've also met so many awesome brothers and sisters through this band.

Distarnish Priest: Is there a certain festival, concert or any other gig, that you remember specially?
Luke: NORDICFEST!!!!! That was so incredible! As well as Revolution fest in Mexico, all the years of playing Cornerstone, Sonshine, and Michigan Mosh.

Distarnish Priest: Are there still any dreams or promises (from God) that hasn't been fulfilled yet?
Luke: I wouldn't say promises, but we do have dreams of making more of Crimson Thorn. Two of us are married, three of us own homes, and one has two children, so at this point quitting our jobs and going on the road isn't much of an option unless it was something bigtime where we'd make enough money to support ourselves. So that's up to God if that happens or not. With our schedules it's hard for us to get together to practice as much as we'd like which is why we don't have twice as many cd's as we do So we are just hoping and praying that God's will will be done with us.

Distarnish Priest: There are probably many fans out there waiting for the next release. Is there a fourth album coming soon?
Luke: We are writing songs right now, but it will be a while before we have everything recorded. We don't want to do what we did in the past where our recordings were extremely rushed and we didn't have time or money to spend more time on them. So now we want to do things right and be happy with what we hear. All I can say is that I think right now our musicianship is the best that we've ever been. I can't wait to record our new cd. Steve's drumming style is different than Kevin's, so it's allowed us to move into some new areas as well.

Distarnish Priest: Are you planning any tours? There are certainly many fans here in Europe that would like to hear you play here (I know that I do).
Luke: Nordic fest was such an awesome experience and we would definitely LOVE to play some more. Right now if I could plan short tour to anywhere I'd definitely want to go back to Norway, then go to Sweden, and then to Finland. The Finnish people at Nordic Fest made a huge impact on us. So we'd really love to go to Finland some time. So if anyone reading this has any connections to any festivals or booking shows in Europe. Please keep us in mind. We'd REALLY love to play shows in Europe. Besides Norway, Sweden, and Finland, there's so many other countries we'd love to play too. We're keeping it in prayer.

Distarnish Priest: Well that's just about it. God bless you all. May He pour His unlimited love and blessings over you and your families...
Luke: Thank you. God bless you and everone reading this as well.