Back On Your Planet by Crystal Extasy: A Wild Ride Through Finnish Alt-Rock Vibes
Alright, let’s talk about Back On Your Planet, the 2002 alt-rock gem from Finland’s own Crystal Extasy. Released under MDMA Records (yep, that’s a real label), this album feels like it was cooked up in some smoky underground club where everyone’s wearing leather jackets and debating whether Michael Monroe is cooler on sax or harmonica. Spoiler: he’s cool no matter what.
First off, the lineup here is stacked—Mickey Crane doing double duty on vocals and lead guitar? Joska shredding like there’s no tomorrow? And hey, shoutout to Presley for holding down bass AND backing vocals because multitasking is an art form. But honestly, it’s Michael Monroe sprinkling his magic with sax and harmonica that gives this record its edge. Dude’s got range.
Now, onto the tracks. I gotta say, "Good Time To Be Young" sticks out like a neon sign in a dark alley. It’s punchy, raw, and kinda makes you wanna grab your friends, hop in a beat-up car, and drive nowhere fast. The energy hits hard right from the opening riff, and Mickey Crane’s raspy vocals feel like they’re straight out of a late-night bar brawl. You can almost smell the cheap beer and cigarette smoke while listening—it’s messy but in the best way possible.
Then there’s "Black Roses," which goes full-on moody and atmospheric. This one slows things down just enough to let Maya’s keyboard work shine through, adding this eerie vibe that creeps up on you. Like, imagine walking alone at night in Helsinki during winter, snow crunching under your boots, existential dread setting in… yeah, that’s “Black Roses” in audio form. Oh, and when the sax solo kicks in? Forget it. Michael Monroe just owns the damn thing.
The rest of the album keeps the momentum going—“Open Your Head” has these killer hooks that’ll stick in your brain for days, and “Dearly Departed” brings the emotional weight without getting too sappy. Honestly, every track feels intentional, like they weren’t just throwing stuff at the wall to see what sticks.
But here’s the thing: Back On Your Planet isn’t perfect. Some parts feel a little rough around the edges, like maybe they could’ve spent another week tweaking the mix. But honestly? That’s part of its charm. It’s unpolished, unapologetic, and totally authentic—a snapshot of early 2000s Finnish alt-rock before everything got all glossy and overproduced.
So yeah, if you’re into rock music that doesn’t take itself too seriously but still packs a punch, give this album a spin. Just don’t blame me if you end up blasting it on repeat while daydreaming about road trips and rebellion. Oh, and fun fact: apparently Salaud killed it on drums despite having only three fingers on his left hand. True story? Who knows. But it’s a great conversation starter at parties.
