More than three decades into their career, Montreal’s CRYPTOPSY remain one of extreme metal’s most devastating live forces. Precision, speed and sheer physical intensity define their performances, where technical chaos is executed with almost surgical control. With An Insatiable Violence written largely on the road and the 30th anniversary of None So Vile now at hand, the band are preparing a tour that bridges past and present in the most brutal way possible. We caught up with vocalist Matt McGachy to talk about the upcoming run, the legacy of None So Vile, and what fans can expect when CRYPTOPSY hit the stage this time around.
Your upcoming tour centers on An Insatiable Violence and None So Vile. What can fans expect from these shows?
When you are working with a record like None So Vile, you cannot approach it casually. That album carries a lot of weight, and we take that responsibility seriously. These shows are being treated as a complete experience rather than just a set of songs.
We are building the set around both None So Vile and An Insatiable Violence in a way that feels deliberate, with attention to pacing and how the energy develops over time. It needs to feel cohesive.
For the first time, we are also incorporating LED screens with custom visuals. That has allowed us to expand the atmosphere in a way we have never done before. The goal is not just to perform the material, but to place the audience inside it.
Looking back at CRYPTOPSY’s catalog, which album remains your best-seller?
It is still None So Vile by a significant margin. It was released in 1996 and continues to reach new listeners. Each year, more people discover it, and it continues to circulate through the underground.
For a record that extreme to have that kind of longevity is unusual. It has become something that is passed from one generation of listeners to the next.
An Insatiable Violence has been nominated for a 2026 Juno Award. What does that recognition mean to you?
It is meaningful, not only for us but for extreme metal in Canada more broadly. This is a genre that exists outside of the mainstream, so recognition at that level reflects the strength and persistence of the scene.
For the band, it is an honor. At the same time, it feels representative of a larger community that has been developing for decades. We are also excited to see our friends in DESPISED ICON nominated alongside us.
Do you remember the first time you heard CRYPTOPSY?
I do. The first track I heard was “Phobophile,” and I was on a train heading home from Montreal to Deux-Montagnes.
What caught me off guard immediately were the vocals. They were vicious and strange in a way I had never heard before. It felt chaotic, but there was still a level of control behind it that made it compelling.
It was one of those moments that forces you to reassess what extreme music can be.
Did you ever get to know Lord Worm personally—and was eating worms part of the audition?
I have met Lord Worm a bunch of times. He is a distinctive individual and an important part of the band’s history. And yes, I have eaten some worms with him.
But there was no expectation to replicate that aspect of his performance. That was specific to him.
In terms of preparation, our approach is relatively minimal. There is some physical and vocal preparation, but the primary focus is on mental alignment before going on stage.
How important are lyrics in a band like CRYPTOPSY?
They are very important, even if they are not always fully intelligible in a live setting.
Lyrics provide intent. Understanding the perspective behind a line affects how it is delivered—its phrasing, its intensity, and how it fits within the structure of the song.
It would be possible to approach it more abstractly, but there is a noticeable difference when the performance is grounded in something deliberate. That translates, even in a very extreme context.
Are there any strict “don’ts” on the CRYPTOPSY tour bus?
There are a few consistent rules.
First: respect sleep. If someone is resting, noise should be kept to a minimum.
Second: do not drink my craft beers. That tends to create problems very quickly hahahah.
With a set built around None So Vile and An Insatiable Violence, expanded production, and a lineup that continues to push itself onstage, CRYPTOPSY’s upcoming run promises to be as intense as it is celebratory. If you want to experience one of death metal’s most influential records performed the way it was meant to be heard — alongside the band’s latest material — this is not a tour to miss.
The Decibel Magazine Tour 2026 brings CRYPTOPSY across North America with support from NECROT, FULCI and BLOOD MONOLITH:
April 30: Worcester, MA • Palladium Upstairs
May 1: Brooklyn, NY • Brooklyn Monarch
May 2: Baltimore, MD • Baltimore Soundstage
May 3: Philadelphia, PA • Decibel Magazine Metal & Beer Fest: Philly 2026
May 5: Atlanta, GA • Masquerade (Hell)
May 7: Houston, TX • White Oak Music Hall
May 8: Dallas, TX • The Studio
May 9: Austin, TX • Come and Take It Live
May 12: Los Angeles, CA • The Regent
May 13: San Diego, CA • Brick By Brick
May 14: Berkeley, CA • Cornerstone
May 16: Portland, OR • Hawthorne Theater
May 17: Seattle, WA • El Corazon
May 20: Denver, CO • Oriental Theater
May 22: Minneapolis, MN • Fine Line Music Cafe
May 23: Chicago, IL • Bottom Lounge
May 24: Detroit, MI • Crofoot Ballroom
May 25: Cleveland, OH • The Grog Shop
May 26: Pittsburgh, PA • Preserving Underground
May 27: Toronto, ON • Lee’s
May 28: Montreal, QC • Fairmount Theatre
Do not miss it.
