Metal Anarchy

Time for the next edition of Metal Anarchy’s “new music showcase,” the feature where I introduce you to artists that readers of this site may find interesting. This time I have an exclusive Q&A with Sweet Crystal.

METAL ANARCHY: Tell me a little about your band:

SWEET CRYSTAL: The three of us that started Sweet Crystal (myself – Marq Andrew Speck on keys and lead vocals, Bill Blatter on guitars and Steve Wieser on drums) met right out of high school and became fast friends for life. The newest member is Marty Kuchar on bass and as of today, has been with us for nearly 5 years – I guess we passed his audition!

To this day we get together every week to rehearse, record and just enjoy each other’s company. Does it get old after 4 decades together? Absolutely not! We just get better with age.

METAL ANARCHY: Who are your main influences?

SWEET CRYSTAL: We started out totally influenced by the progressive rock English music scene of the 60’s and 70’s: bands like Pink Floyd, Yes, Genesis, Atomic Rooster, Uriah Heep all left their musical marks on our writing and playing. We also listened to a lot of American bands like Kansas, Journey, Rush and Spock’s Beard to keep our creative juices flowing.

METAL ANARCHY: What is your latest release and why should readers of this site check it out?

SWEET CRYSTAL: Our new release ‘7TH HEAVEN’ is our 7 song, 7th release (thus the name), and is our most powerful and passionate to date – which is saying a lot. ‘7TH HEAVEN’ starts bold out of the gate. ‘7th HEAVEN’ continues where last year’s ‘GOT YOUR SIX’ left off: songs of hope and inspiration featuring our signature guitar sounds, synth melodies, straight ahead drumming with just a few chanting monks thrown in for good measure.

Not only 5 songs written by the band but we also cover a ‘70s song by Christian alt rockers The Call and even reach back even farther to the glory days of the 60’s Detroit music scene by ‘Crystalizing’ a classic SRC rock tune. How’s that for diversity in music? This release features 4 singles that came out over the last 2 ‘pandemic’ year…even though we couldn’t get out and play live, we streamed a variety of shows from our studio and put out these 4 songs to keep us in the minds and ears of our fans, friends and family.

METAL ANARCHY: What can people expect when they go to your live shows?

SWEET CRYSTAL: Being a 24 time Detroit Music Award winning band here in Detroit, we intend the music, message and words we sing to make a difference in the lives of everyone who hears them. Our music is about us, but it’s also about you. We hope someone who attends a Sweet Crystal show will come away feeling better about themselves, knowing that whatever they are dealing with, chances are we’ve dealt with it as well.

METAL ANARCHY: Where do you see your band heading in 5 years?

SWEET CRYSTAL: Our trademarked slogan – Reaching The World, One Song At A Time™ – pretty much says it all about our music, message, mission and ministry: we are here to reach out to a world with songs of hope and inspiration that rock! Basically we plan to remain exactly who we are for as long as can.