German power metal force SCULFORGE returns with Cosmic Crusade Chronicles, an intergalactic sonic assault packed with speed, adventure, and epic storytelling. We spoke with the band about their latest cosmic journey.
1. Your
new album, Cosmic Crusade Chronicles, was released on March
20, 2025. How would you describe the evolution of your sound compared to Intergalactic
Battle Tunes?
Fabz:
With Cosmic Crusade Chronicles, we’ve cranked the hyperdrive up
even further. While Intergalactic Battle Tunes was our wild
first leap into the metal multiverse, this album refines and expands our
sound—more speed, more power, and just the right amount of thrash to keep
things punchy. The riffs are faster, the choruses are even bigger, and we’ve
taken our storytelling to the next level. If Intergalactic Battle Tunes was
a high-speed chase through asteroid fields, Cosmic Crusade Chronicles is
a full-scale intergalactic invasion!
2. This
album continues the story from your debut. Can you give us a glimpse into the
narrative of Cosmic Crusade Chronicles? What new themes or
characters are introduced?
Polly: As
you might know, the first album was set in a Warhammer 40k kind of setting. It
was about a group, led by an inquisitor, that somehow rallied and is now trying
to save mankind from the constant, neverending war. But of course, such things
often don't go as planned. The first track of Cosmic Crusade Chronicles is
about a soldier that has been snatched from the Sculforge Inn (title of the
bonus track of our first album) and has been dropped on yet another
battlefield. He's hungover, and could really use a break, but it doesn't matter
- it's a good day to kill. The overall theme is that our merry band of
scoundrels and misfits tries to find a tech artifact that supposedly can save
the universe. It turns out that this artifact is, in fact, a robot, who finds
that he has developed feelings over the course of millenia of fighting. He
is also incapable of saving the universe, but he joins the group since
a robot with feelings needs to have friends. Since you asked, I took the
liberty to include a short description of each song:
Great day
to kill
A soldier
has been snatched from the Sculforge Inn and finds himself on a battlefield as
the last man standing - an ode to the blaster, pure battlefield romance.
Make space great again
Our heroes
set out for a new adventure with a lot of slaughter, aliens, Whisky and Gin.
Their job: Make space great again. They are heading for a jungle planet to find
an artifact that can save the universe. Which turns out to be a robot who has
feelings. He’s called Harald.
The journey
A soldier
that has been pulled through a portal on the first record lands on an unknown
planet. He realizes that he is finally free and starts out his journey to do
whatever he wants. This is a nod to the subgenre of LitRPG.
Edge of the Universe
The can
opener of battle hymns. An 80s ballad with plenty of kitsch, shredding, and
beer.
We are the darkness
The
skeletron overlord has survived. And he is veeery pissed. He is coming to get
his revenge.
Dark Alliance
The
Archmagos falls out of a portal on the very jungle planet that our heroes are
heading for. He shows his true face and decides to throw every moral principle
overboard - he wants power, and he will grab it at all costs. He calls himself
PUTOS.
Powerheart
Harald has
an epiphany after speaking with the sages: Although his heart is not organic,
that doesn't mean he doesn't have feelings. In the end, feelings are not tied
to an organ but are caused by empathy. He chooses a name that symbolizes this
and will henceforth be known as Harald Powerheart.
Conquer the wild
The Machine
Men mean business and, under the leadership of PUTOS, try to clear the jungle,
but: The Forest strikes back! A modern version of Saruman's orcs versus the
ents.
order of the scul
The
Sculforce is on the hunt for a secret order dedicated to the search for the
Sculforge. The 4 sages are supposed to ally with them and save the universe.
Unfortunately, the A Team is unavailable. The B Team is not available either.
The four sages are a bit overwhelmed in their new role, because, in reality,
they are best at listening to metal music and drinking beer. Still, they
somehow manage to accidentally get things done since the universe tends to
smile on people with positive energy.
We stand together
The battle
between the Wilds and the Machine Heads is well underway when the Skeletrons
arrive and crush everything in their path. Suddenly, all forces that were just
fighting unite against them, and in the end, of course, the good guys win.
Towers
Even a
fearless leader needs to chill sometimes. And what’s he playing? Of course, a
tower defense game. Since the inquisitor rarely gets any peace, it’s a
short-lived pleasure.
3. Power
metal thrives on epic storytelling. What were your biggest inspirations—musical
or otherwise—when crafting this album’s concept?
Fabz:
Besides the obvious power metal legends we drew inspiration from everything
that is epic, nerdy, and delightfully over-the-top—classic sci-fi movies, ‘90s
RPGs, early 2000s trash TV, and, of course, our own ability to get carried away
with ridiculous story ideas.
Polly: Polly: Storywise, for sure the concept albums by Blind Guardian,
Queensryche and Avantasia! Aside from the classics like Tolkien or Stephen
King’s „Dark tower“, I also read a lot of contemporary fantasy and sci-fi
literature. For example, I am a big fan of Dan Abnett’s „Gaunt’s Ghosts“ series
and Jim Butcher’s „the Dresden Files“, but also the Legend of Drizzt novels
(D&D) and of course, the Witcher. When it comes to music, I'm pretty old
school, my major influences are Blind Guardian, Iced Earth, Gamma Ray,
Avantasia & Edguy, Children of Bodom, Testament. Basically all the
stuff that was big in the late 90s and early 2000s.
4. The album features 11 tracks
packed with speed and intensity. Were there any particular songs that proved
especially challenging or rewarding during the recording process?
Polly: I
think recording the vocals for „the journey“ were a formative point for me. I
put a lot of practice into my vocals and somehow got to a point where I
realized I could finally do things that I couldn’t on the first record - for
example the way I sing the end of the second verse „with fire in my
eyes“.
5. You
went through a line-up change and a relocation before recording Cosmic
Crusade Chronicles. How did these changes impact the band’s dynamic and the
album’s creation?
Fabz:
Change is always a challenge, but it also brings new energy. The lineup change
brought fresh ideas and perspectives, which helped push our sound forward.
Felix is a awesome bass player and -even more important- a wonderful human
being. And relocating? Well, let’s just say we learned a lot about recording in
less-than-ideal conditions. But in true SCULFORGE fashion, we turned chaos into
fuel for creativity.
Polly:
100%! The changes didn’t strictly impact the way we write. But they made the
process quite a bit easier.
6. Blistering
guitar solos and soaring vocals are trademarks of SCULFORGE. Did you experiment
with any new techniques or influences on this record?
Fabz:
Absolutely! We pushed our lead guitars even further, adding some
unexpected noisy - shred elements. Vocally, we explored a wider range,
incorporating more layered harmonies and some aggressive mid-range sections for
extra punch.
Polly: I think the old stereotype is also true: The sweet parts are sweeter,
the few harsh parts are harsher and the high screams finally sound like they
are supposed to sound (at least with my voice, heh).
But I think we also have to mention that we dropped a few elements like a lot
of harsh vocals that were important for the narrative on the first album. And
we also dropped the interludes, since we really wanted to focus on the songs
this time.
7. Sci-fi
and intergalactic themes are at the heart of your music. If you could have your
album soundtrack a sci-fi movie or video game, what would be the perfect fit?
Fabz: It
would have to be something gloriously over-the-top. Imagine Doom meets Guardians
of the Galaxy, but with even more explosions and ridiculous dialogue. Or an
open-world RPG where you accidentally become the chosen one and have to fix the
mess you created—sounds familiar, doesn’t it?
Polly:
Sounds a bit like the German RPG Gem Gothic to me. Which is getting a remake -
I can’t wait!
Other than that, I am playing „Space Marine 2“ and „rogue trader“ right now. I
think that’s a pretty good fit.
8. Power
metal fans love a good live show. How do you plan to bring the energy of Cosmic
Crusade Chronicles to the stage? Any upcoming tour plans?
Fabz: Oh,
we’re going all in—expect a high-energy show with epic visuals, interactive
storytelling, and enough lights to be seen from space. We’re hitting the road
in April 2025 for a Germany tour, and we’re even bringing along at least one
support act in every city. Brace yourselves, metal warriors—it’s gonna be wild!
Polly: I have heard rumors of giant inflatable penguins on stage. But those are
just rumors.
9. What was the most memorable
moment from the recording or writing process of this album? Any
behind-the-scenes stories to share?
Polly:
There were a couple. We got a bunch of new gear, and learning how to dial that
stuff in was a good lesson for us. But we also had some heated discussions
about a couple of songs. Fabz and I tend to write stuff from the hip, and then
change it around later. But sometimes Chris would go „this part absolutely has
to stay“. And he’s usually right, it’s just that we sometimes stray too far
from the original idea of the song, so a control instance is very much
needed.
Order of the scul is definitely the song we worked on the hardest. We changed
an awful lot: The whole music in the verses was entirely different - but we
kept the vocals. In the chorus, we did the opposite: We changed the words and
vocal melody and kept the music. Somehow, it all fell into place in the end.
That was quite an experience.
10. Finally, what message do you
want fans—both old and new—to take away from Cosmic Crusade Chronicles?
Fabz: At
its core, this album is about embracing adventure, even when you have no idea
what the hell is going on. Life, like an intergalactic quest, is unpredictable,
chaotic, and sometimes absolutely ridiculous—but if you charge forward with
courage ( a good battle anthem), you’ll make it through. Also, never trust
mysterious glowing portals.
Polly: That
sums it up nicely. Never lose hope, and try to stay positive. You never know
when a robot with a heart might come around the corner and save the
universe.
Thank you for the interview! Horns up and keep it metal!
Post a Comment