New Jersey Stage 2017: Issue 40 | Page 95

The band’s latest release, The Stronghold, has been receiving rave reviews across the board with many music critics calling it their best work yet. It’s their first release since 2012 and it’s been a long time coming. In fact, the record was recorded and en- tered its final phases in 2014. “Seems like with this album and the last album (The Unbeat- able Cry) the band was always in a changing period,” said lead singer Johnny Ott. “When we started the album we were without a drummer. We started recording it and then mixing it and we didn’t have a set band. So, we began playing with it. Then we found our new drum- mer Brian and we started work- ing on it more and more to try to finish it. I feel like we couldn’t have finished it at a better time because I think we are probably the best band now that we ever were. I think it took a long time because we didn’t have a band that was able to do as much as we’re doing now.” Listen to “Mad Dog 20 / 20 No. 2” by The Cryptkeeper Five NJ STAGE 2017 - Issue 40 INDEX NEXT ARTICLE 95