Cutter's RockCast

What can I say about Johannes Eckerstrom that hasn't already been said? This guy is always a treat to talk to, from his introspection to his philosophy, to Avatar's incredible, if not sometimes frightful music, he always has something interesting to say. Avatar just put out a new song called "Captain Goat" from an as-of-yet unannounced new album. They have a headline tour coming to the States this fall, then opening dates booked with Iron Maiden and Metallica! The man is still a fan at heart, even though his band now stands with the greats. The new era of Avatar begins now!

Before the release of their self-titled debut in early 2020, weeks before the pandemic struck, the band BRKN Love had been on the road doing what all new bands do. They were paying their dues and building a fan base, which included me. Since then, they have put out two more albums, each one doing just a bit better than the previous. Justin Benlolo is the lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter for the band. In fact, BRKN Love has been Justin's baby all along. They are a swinging rock and roll band and one that's worth a listen. Just listen to Justin explain it here, how could you not be rooting for this band?BRKN Love's 3rd album, The Program, is available now. 

Over the past decade, it's been the band Badflower to take a torch once carried by bands like My Chemical Romance and carry it into the realms of modern rock. Lead singer Josh Katz wears his heart on his sleeve with lyrics that resonate with anyone, no matter what they might be going through. That has never been more evident than on their latest single, "Paws," all about the possibility of losing his dog and best friend. That song, along with the previous single "Detroit," will be on Badflower's third full-length album, There Is No Place Like Home, due out on June 20th. Josh and I have had some deep conversations in the past, and has their manager reminded me, "you two gab like two old Grandmas," well, this conversation gets into some real-life stuff. 

Losing a band member is one thing, but losing a member to a tragic death is an entirely another thing. We Came As Romans lost their singer, Kyle Pavone, in 2018 to what was ruled an accidental overdose. That's a hard task to overcome, but not for this band. We Came as Romans have overcome everything thrown at them, and not only did they survive, but they've strived. Founding member and singer (the band with Kyle had two singers), Dave Stephen,s joins us while waiting for a flight to go play a giant music festival to talk new music and what it's taken to overcome tragedy. 

20 years is a long time to be in a band, but sometimes it takes that long to truly break through and become more than just underground heroes. The Devil Wears Prada is doing exactly that with a string of recent hits and a new song, "For You," that's poised to take the band to new heights. Plus, you'd be hard pressed to find a better live band than them. Guitarist/singer/songwriter Jeremy DePoyster joins me this week to break it all down and unofficially announce a new album due out in the future. Not breaking news, I know, but you'll have to listen to get the details. 

After 11 studio albums, you might think a band is starting to get meh, but that is definitely not the case with Architects. Their latest offering, The Sky, The Earth & All Between, sees the band exploring their sound in a way that just works. Produced by former Bring Me The Horizon keyboardist and songwriter Jordan Fish, the sounds are all there. From the pummelling to the melodic, this band isn't showing any signs of slowing down. They're headlining festivals, they went on tour with Metallica, and if their latest single "Everything Ends" keeps going, they might have one of their biggest hits in the band's long history on their hands. Lead singer Sam Carter joined me from his home in London the day before the NFL Draft so we even get a little sports talk in on this conversation, and gardening too! Wormhole, activated. See Architects on tour in the U.S. this summer.

The band Dinosaur Pile-Up just announced a new album and released two new songs. After kicking down the door of mainstream rock with the 2019 album Celebrity Mansions, we haven't really heard much from the band. There's a good reason for that, lead singer Matt Bigland was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis, a digestive disease that wrecks your insides. Something I know a lot about as 15 years ago I found out that I had celiac disease, both are autoimmune diseases with similar outcomes, and they both suck. Matt ended up in the hospital for a bit, so his health needed to come first. Now though, he's better than ever, and the band is firing on all cylinders. Two new songs are out called "My Way and 'Bout to Lose It." They come off a new album called I've Felt Better, due out in August of 2025. On a side note, I personally am a huge fan of this band, and I'm stoked to have this conversation. 

Have you ever wondered what bands do during their off time? Like when they aren't on the road or in the middle of a new album. Well, artists do what artists do, and that is creative creation. In this case, that creation is music. While Theory of a Deadman should be on break, Tyler has been hard at work on some new tunes and making amazing fashion choices. Sometimes we just need "hey, what are you doing?" style catch up, and that's exactly what this is. 

Saturday, April 12th is Record Store Day, and Black Stone Cherry are one of many bands and artists taking part and releasing an exclusive Record Store Day album called This Is Black Stone Cherry's RSD Release...And The Band Really Loves it. Lead singer Chris Robertson and I dig into the album, being proud papas, and what's next for the Kentucky Music Hall of Famers.

She truly needs no introduction as she has become one the most well-known voices in the world of rock music. Scratch that. She's become one of the most well-known voices in music. We know her as Halestorm's lead singer, but last year, she was also the fill-in singer with Skid Row. She's put out duets with everyone from Brooks & Dunn to I Prevail. Joining us from somewhere in Georgia as Halestorm puts the final touches on a new album due out later this year, we have a soul-searching conversation about music and what it truly means to be a part of music history. 

Drummer, singer, and songwriter for the legendary metalcore band Underoath is here to discuss their new album, The Place After This One , which is out now! Actually, it came out today, or should I say the same day as this conversation's posting. Underoath is one of the originators of a genre of music that has millions of fans worldwide, and after taking a bit of a hiatus, they came back in 2018 to a ton of fanfare. The Place After This One is their 3rd full album since coming back and after touring for a year in honor of the anniversary of the genre's most influential albums, Their Only Chasing Safety. You can almost hear it yet another metalcore masterpiece. 

Alyse Zavala and Oscar Romero are the co-lead singers in the band LYLVC, that is pronounced Lylac but with a V in place of the A. It's rock and roll man you can do what you want. This band started during the pandemic and a true won't take no attitude has put them on a path to greatness. You may have seen them on tour with Atreyu or Pop Evil, but with new music done, a record contract happening soon, and more touring on the books, the future is now for the band Lylvc. 

Autumn Kings is a Canadian-based (but almost Detroit) rap rock band who are truly bringing the groove back to the mainstream rock world. After grinding for over a decade the song "Sleep When I'm Dead" finds the band hitting a new height of success. Guitarist/singer/songwriter Jake Diab jones me for a conversation about who they are, how trauma can breed success and hit on that midwest nice. This conversation took place right before I left for Costa Rica two weeks ago and right before they left to tour Europe. 

The band Fuel had a ton of success with household-known songs like "Hemorrhage (In My Hands)" "Shimmer" "Bad Day" and "Won't Back Down" just to name a few in the late 90s and early 2000s. Since then they've gone through a ton of changes and challenges, but now they are back and better than ever. Original members Carl and Kevin join me and my morning show co-host Laura Lee, along with their new singer Aaron to go through the band's recent past and dig into the resurgence of the music from the turn of the century. 

Sophie Lloyd is a British guitarist who rose to popularity by posting her amazing playing to digital platforms like YouTube and TikTok. This led to her releasing eps that saw her shredding through renditions of legendary hard rock songs. She then spent the better part of the pandemic putting together her first true solo album featuring a who's who of modern rock singers like Lzzy Hale, Tyler Connolly, Danny Worsnop, Brandon Saller, and more. All former guests of this show. In the process, she also became Machine Gun Kelly's guitar player. As a guitarist, I'm stoked to help introduce the amazingly talented Sophie Lloyd to you.

For over twenty years the band 10 Years has been out there giving us high-quality rock music, the kind that draws you in and never really lets go. But they've kind of been doing it under the radar. A band that can hold their own with the biggest of the big. Lead singer Jesse Hasek has been known to be an entertainer of the highest quality during 10 Years sets and he's still setting the standard.Their new EP is called Inner Darkness and features a song with Conquer Divide that is continuing to rise up the rock radio charts.  

"I knew more songs by Hinder than I thought I did," said one of my co-workers ahead of this conversation. It's true though, they are just one of those bands. Now on the heels of their first bonafide hit song in a decade it's high time to catch up with that "Lips of an Angel" band. Marshal Dutton has been the singer now for 10 years and the music is hitting a peak. Plus more and more touring, and fun with cover songs.

The intensity level that Chris Daughtry has been bringing with Daughtry is on another level, and 2025 looks to be the biggest of his career as a true hard rock artist. Touring with Disturbed and with Creed is already on the books and while Shock to the System Part One came out late last year, he's putting the final touch on Part Two as I type this. Chris even has a new more intense look to go with it, all that and thoughts on Falling in Reverse, Tremonti, Nothing More and even Sleep Token this conversation is as much two rock fans talking tunes as it is me asking questions about his music. Enjoy another in-depth conversation with one of the most talented voices in rock, Chris Daughtry.-Cutter

With a new rhythm section now officially a part of the band, if you haven't heard Joey and Blake from the band Devour the Day are now the bassist and drummer respectively for Pop Evil. Plus they just announced their 8th studio album called What Remains due out March 21st. Which by the way is by far their heaviest record to date. Oh, and the Lions are the best team in football, (which hurts a little) it's time to catch up with my old friend and someone I have a tremendous amount of respect for, Leigh Kakaty, lead singer for one of rock radio's most played bands, Pop Evil. 

Hide your daughters...and your moms Hollywood Undead is here! Charlie Scene, Johnny 3 Tears, and J-Dog join me for episode 400 of Cutter's Rockcast. They do have a fantastic new song out called Hollywood Forever and it's fitting that they join me from a house in L.A. where they are working on new music, and dealing with the L.A. wildfires. This gets weird, it gets flirty and it gets serious. Enjoy a very in-depth conversation with one of the best bands that Rap Metal has ever produced.This conversation is also part of my radio show The Cutting Edge Countdown as heard on many great rock radio stations around the U.S. For more go to the website Cuttingedgecountdown.com 

Cory Marks is a Canadian country-influenced hard rock singer, but he was doing it before the names Hardy and Jelly Roll were mainstays on the rock charts. As his new album Sorry For Nothing hits the streets and the streams, I caught up with the Outlaws and Outsiders singer in between acoustic gigs opening for Theory of A Deadman.His story starts like most Canadians, on the ice, then to the air, and now to rock and roll stardom. 

It's not every day a band releases their first proper radio single and a few months later it's the number one rock song in the country. Yet that is exactly what happened with The Funeral Portrait. Earlier this year the album Greetings From Suffocate City came out and the title track featured a little help from the Ice Nine Kills frontman Spencer Charnas, some people started playing it and the rest is history. Their rise didn't happen overnight though, it's been ten years in the making with all the ups and downs you might expect. Now we get to answer the question Who exactly is The Funeral Portrait? 

You may know Shimone Moore as the lead singer of Sick Puppies during the Sick Puppies incredibly successful run in the early 2010s. After a falling out between him and Sick Puppies bassist Emma Anzai he left the band almost a decade ago and has since decided to go solo under jus the name Shim. After a solo album in 2018 and a couple of singles since, he and his bassist / musical soulmate Jayme Lewis are at again, and have a lot planned for the new year. They both stopped by my studio to crank up some tunes and talk the talk. This episode of Cutter's Rockcast also includes an exclusive song from Shim and Jayme that hasn't been heard outside of their circle before, it's a song that was written on the fly after binging Letterkenny and it's not for the faint of heart, trigger warning if you're a bit sensitive to outlandish comedic subject manners. The rest of the conversation is pretty normal, or at least as normal as it can be for Shim. 

Starset is wrapping up its incredible, mind-bending concert experience called Immersions. Meanwhile, they have been putting out one-off songs that aren't part of a bigger story arc like everything they have done up to this point. Everything in the world of Starset is tied together, from albums to comic books to novels, to music videos. Now while they look to the future to journey into the next era of Starset and all of its stories, they have been putting out one-off songs like the now top 20 hit "Toksik." Joining us from a bridge in Prague on Halloween Dustin, myself, and my morning show co-host Laura Lee discuss the next era of Starset. 

Veterans Day is this coming Monday and I thought what a great time to have Cullen back with us, plus lots of new music coming from the Sleep Theory world. Oh and a December tour with Daughtry. If you don't know Cullen Moore, the lead singer and founder of the band Sleep Theory is also a United States Veteran. Now he's living his dream as a musician.

Remember the Monsters are a new band, but one with all the potential in the world to become your new favorite rock band. Working the From First to Last lead singer Andrew De Neef and the rest of the band have been hard at work crafting quality rock songs, and now Andrew is with us on the Rockcast to dig into how this band came to be and why they are someone to pay attention to. 

Set if Off is currently crisscrossing the United States headlining packed shows with From Ashes to New and New Years Day opening. Earlier this week the band randomly and unexpectedly stopped by the studio to say hi, so of course we sat down for a conversation. After Set It Off's friend and producer Jon Lundin was here last week, we can tie it all together this week with Set It Off. Plus this is one of my daughter's favorite bands so it makes it even cooler to get to know them more on a personal level. Great dudes, great band, here is Set It Off! 

He's written and produced songs for Falling In Reverse and Set it Off, all while fronting and writing songs for his own band Point North. Jon Lundin is a bit of a renaissance, a hard worker who does it all the way he wants. His band is no different. Point North just put out a new song called "World Vs. Peace" and there's plenty of reason to be excited about that song, and the direction that Point North is headed. You could say it's all up from here. (sorry, I had to.)

Lead singer of the band Fame on Fire, Bryan Kuznitz returns to the Rockcast and my radio show The Cutting Edge Countdown this week to dig into their new album The Death Card. Joining us from somewhere backstage on the Wage War tour, we talk about the story behind their new album, how it came to be, why tarot cards, opening for Wage War, our love of Avenged Sevenfold, and much more. For tour dates go to fameonfireband.com

Finger Eleven may have written the biggest hit of the 2000s with the song "Paralyzer" but a one-hit wonder they are not. It's been some time since Finger Eleven has been on the big stage and all it took was a call from Creed to get them back, and now with a budding hit song "Adrenaline" they are ready to reclaim their spot as one of rock's elite bands. Lead singer Scott Anderson joins us on the Rockcast to lay it all down. 

You know Jason Hook as the guitarist of Five Finger Death Punch. A few years ago Jason left Five Finger and instead of joining another band in need of his services he ventured out and did his own thing, that thing is called Flat Black. Their debut album is called Dark Side of the Brain and is available now. The sound is heavy, melodic, and in your face. If you've ever enjoyed his playing than Flat Black is something you need to be checking out. Their touring activities start this weekend with Godsmack and Nothing More. 

Marc LaBelle has been a frequent guest on this podcast and on my radio show The Cutting Edge Countdown over the years, and he's back for more! Dirty Honey is out on the Can't Find the Brakes U.S. headline tour right now and are pushing the album of the same name's third single "Don't Put Out the Fire." From motorcycles to football and all the rock and roll you can handle, it's Dirty Honey lead singer Marc LaBelle on this episode of Cutter's Rockcast. 

Well, look who's back?! Crobot is here to give us all the details on their new album Obsidian which is out today (Friday.) Crobot have basically gone independent and they are doing things their own way with killer riffs and aggressive rock and roll songs in a way that only Crobot could do. Working with former Killswitch Engage singer Howard Jones, Clutch frontman Neil Fallon, and even JD from Black Label Society, Crobot are about to take us on a journey. 

John Corabi is currently the lead singer of the straight-ahead rock and roll band The Dead Daisies. A supergroup of sorts with an incredible lineup of musicians they just released (today) their new album Light 'Em Up. John has also spent a lot of time in other bands like Ratt, Union, The Scream, and of course Motley Crue. He rides, he rocks, he's an Eagles fan (we don't hold that against him,) he is the one and only John Corabi.

John Allen is the lead singer of the indie, straightforward rock and roll band Stone Horses, who on their own have already had a couple of top 40 rock hits including their latest single "Free." However, John's history goes back as he was also the lead singer of the band Charm City Devils and got his start as the drummer for SR-71. As he describes it "I'm the poor man's Dave Grohl." Flash forward and Stone Horses are about to release a new full-length album called Redemption on October 25th. Music conversations and rock and roll stories, it's John Allen's turn this week on Cutter's Rockcast. 

The whole band Shallow Side stopped by the studios and decided to have a little fun in the back room. We went through their entire life cycle as a band and we all agree that Elias from Nonpoint is one of the best dudes on the planet. Shallow Side's new album Reflections is available now, wherever you get music from.

Our friend and sometimes collaborator Decker from The Cutting Edge Countdown affiliate Razor 94.7/104.7 in Green Bay, WI caught up with Miles from the band Ice Nine Kills. They talk opening for Metallica, headline shows, playing giant stadiums, horror movies, and of course what's next for Ice Nine Kills. 

Don't just call Royale Lynn another country-rock hybrid from Nashville. Well yes, some of that is true, this talented woman grew up with metal in her veins and is now spreading her wings to show that side of her songwriting ability. Her latest song "Death Wish" features a collaboration with Asking Alexandria singer Danny Worsnop, who is also no stranger to spreading his wings creatively. This week on Cutter's Rockcast we get an answer to the very important question, who is Royale Lynn? 

Sometimes I feel like I crave the joy and craziness of a Badflower conversation and this one starts with a surprise appearance by my daughter and I almost get kicked off the conversation. Then it's all in on new Badflower music, skateboards, and riding tractors on a farm on the outskirts of Nashville. Badflower is something to behold and with two brand new songs out it's time to have this conversation with lead singer Josh Katz and bassist Alex Espiritu.

Dorothy Martin has become one of the most sought-after female rock vocalists that exist. Her solo career is nothing to scoff at either with now 3 top ten hits and a new song called "Mud" that she says is going to be "the party rock workout song of the summer!" Dorothy is back on the Rockcast to tell us about this new tune, her new album, being on tour with Creed, and all those guest spots she's done over the past few years from Staind, to Slash to Dolly Parton. Ladies and gentlemen, it is my honor to once again welcome Dorthoy to Cutter's Rockcast. 

When Creed is in your hometown rehearsing for their tour kickoff you don't just have a conversation with their lead singer Scott Stapp, you also talk to their incredible guitar player Mark Tremonti. In part two of this episode of Cutter's Rockcast, we get the Creed reunion from Mark's perspective and Creed's touring rhythm guitarist Eric Friedman. Eric also plays in Mark's solo band Tremonti. This time we get to find out more about the production of this Creed show, and the intense schedule. We also get some nuggets about new Tremonti music coming later this year and his Frank Sinatra tribute which will return for the holidays in 2024. 

Scott Stapp joined me on my morning show before the kickoff of the Creed reunion tour. Scott and I have known each other for a long time and I couldn't be happier for the man. We chatted about the reunion, the tour, the music, his solo album, his sports teams, and even the other band that people love to hate, Nickleback. Enjoy a candid conversation with Scott Stapp for part one of our two-part series on the biggest rock band in the world at the turn of the century, Creed.