Extreme Music Research: Malcolm Callus on Sceptocrypt’s Reinvention, Return, and Defiance of Boundaries!

In this in-depth conversation, Noel Mifsud speaks with Malcolm Callus, the driving force behind Sceptocrypt, about the band’s remarkable evolution and long-awaited return to Malta. Now operating as a five-piece and embracing the concept of Extreme Music Research, Sceptocrypt are redefining their sound while remaining true to the spirit that first emerged from the underground in the 1990s. Callus reflects on new band chemistry, the experimental direction of the forthcoming full-length album, and the emotional weight of bringing Sceptocrypt back to the Maltese stage at the historic Grim Reaper Festival 2026—nearly 28 years after their last local appearance.

Sceptocrypt is now a 5-piece with Pawel on vocals, Skyler on bass/programming, Mark on drums and Jacek on samples/synths. How has this new mix of musicians influenced your approach to writing and performing compared to previous versions of the band?

Hello Melodija readers, what's up? With Pawel and Skyler having joined a bit more than a year ago, and the others joining later, the current songs are still predominantly works I had written in 2015 when I first started re-writing for Sceptocrypt.

The main difference is that whereas in Malta we used to meet 3 times weekly, allowing all of us more time to pitch in ideas and jam on riffs more on the spot, although this is still so with the current Sceptocrypt, as we rehearse only once weekly due to higher rehearsal rents and the distances between where we live, we tend to pre-produce and share files more, and jam less. But we are gradually reaching a point where each one of us understands where we musically heading faster, which makes new ideas work more seamlessly.

Since Sceptocrypt began writing together in 2022 and later completed the lineup in 2025, in what ways has the band’s sound evolved—especially in terms of structure, experimentation, and chemistry between members?

I would say that the main difference is that whereas before we belonged to the 90s experimentation of underground extreme metal, we now call ourselves as Extreme Music Research.

The word "metal" is missing for a reason, in that although we welcome our past, we do not want to be limited by it. I dislike confines, in whatever art form it is, and I hope the experience of listening to Sceptocrypt is received in this way, whether one listens to us live or on record.

With the full-length in progress and the January 2026 preview “This Odometer Syndrome” capturing some of that direction, can you elaborate on the themes and sonic ideas you’re exploring on this upcoming album?

Without spilling too much beans, and thus saving for a later chat when the album is released, let's just say for now that we have 7 tracks that merge doom metal with obscure folk, death/thrash with industrial, black metal with jazz, angelic music with thrash, and alas, some extreme circus waltz for the demented.

Lyrically, we explore the necessity of a human touch in today's ever technological society, how to overcome anxiety, art as a catharsis, and how inner battles can be overcome, sometimes alone sometimes with the help of others. We might not sing about Satan, nor about gore, but we do have a song about a little boy who killed a clown, and another one about many giants who did not kill anyone! Sorry if this sounds like we are fucking with your readers, but we actually enjoy playing games.

Quoting our closing line from our 2024 single "The Wards Outside" one needs not fear shame to play this game!

Returning to Malta for Grim Reaper Festival 2026 marks the band’s first Malta live show in 28 years. What does it mean personally and artistically to bring Sceptocrypt’s current incarnation back to the scene where it started?

To me it means the world! Sceptocrypt was found in Malta, and Malta has shaped my formative years as an underground music afecionado, so really looking forward, more so as we play the legendary Grim Reaper Festival, at which I had played with my ex-band Dysmenorrhoea but never with Sceptocrypt.

My new bandmates are also looking forward, firstly to meet the ex- bandmembers, but mostly to connect with Sceptocrypt fans past and new.

Sceptocrypt are scheduled to play a late set at Grim Reaper Festival, part of its 25th anniversary celebration with a lineup of Maltese heavy bands. How are you preparing for this more culturally significant gig, and what do you want the audience to take away from your performance? 

We present ourselves as a rollercoaster of emotions, a Ying and Yang of dissonance and consonance that could please and displease in not so equal measures. So I would leave it to each and every single individual of the audience to drown themselves in the Sceptocrypt experience at 10pm, and come out of it as it appeals to them on the day.

On the cultural side, I am so looking forward to listen to Viper Soup Complex (who I happened to miss each time they played London as they were too lazy to advise me ahead haha), Repugnance (a death metal act that were still in their formation when I left Malta), and the legendary Forsaken with whom we shared a stage in 1995 when we both supported Anathema. And of course the other bands too.

Nik from Metal Alliance Malta has been working hard to get a diverse line-up that represents a solid cross-section of Maltese bands, and we can't wait to have a good time with the other bands on the day.

Given your new material plus legacy sound, how are you balancing old influences with new compositions in your live set for Malta? Will you be trying anything unexpected or specific to Grim Reaper?

We are predominantly playing newer stuff from our upcoming album, but we might be having a surprise up our sleeve.

The Maltese heavy scene and global underground have changed immensely since the 1990s. How do you see today’s listeners receiving Sceptocrypt’s avant-garde style, especially in a live festival atmosphere? 

However they may please. It is up to everyone's own experience of life and music how to receive Sceptocrypt, and any other band for the matter.

Adding a sampler/synth player (Jacek) to the band is unusual for many extreme metal lineups. How does this element factor into both the writing process and 

live performance energy?

The fact that we call ourselves as Extreme Music not extreme metal allows us the freedom to experiment with many other sounds.

How it works in the writing process is pretty easy as we generally add samples and synths later, and see what works. In other words, the songs have to work first without the samples so the main energetic core of guitar-drums-bass is solid, and then we start adding.

With this February return to Malta and shows in London lined up, how do you envision Sceptocrypt’s performance schedule expanding in 2026 and beyond? Is Malta a priority for future visits? 

We are currently working on more UK dates, while we remain open for any other offers from overseas. This of course includes Malta, so if any promoter is interested just email us at sceptocryptmusic@gmail.com.

As someone who’s carried Sceptocrypt’s vision from the 90s into its present form, how do you balance honoring the band’s origins with pushing into new experimental territories that reflect who you and the band are now?

I feel there is no need to balance. Music is the representation of who an artist is at a certain point in time, both musically and as a person. Some things have not changed, others have, without forcing anything. As long as it is a genuine representation of one's feelings, the audience will pick up on that.

Any final words?

Yes. To complement our rebirth, we have pressed a limited run of T-shirts themed around our debut "Wild Code of Reverie" debut demo. If anyone wants a shirt, please pre-order at www.sceptocrypt.bandcamp.com/merch as we are flying light and thus aim to bring only the necessary amounts pre-ordered.

One can also listen to our latest single "This Odometer Syndrome" at https://youtu.be/HsfLtCSvlF

And connect with us at www.linktr.ee/sceptocrypt

See you on 9th February!

#youneednotfearshame