HEAVY Music Interviews

Interview by Kris PetersIf you like your heavy music served with a side of absolute, unadulterated chaos, then grab a cold beer and brace yourself, because Swiss deathcore juggernauts Paleface Swiss are heading back Down Under. After completely decimating venues across the country on their sold-out 2025 run, the Zurich four-piece have just announced a massive seven-date Australian headline tour for January and February 2027. Trust me when I say this is shaping up to be one of the absolute heaviest and most anticipated tours of the year.Ever since they detonated onto the global metal scene, Paleface Swiss have earned a formidable reputation for unleashing some of the most volatile and relentlessly aggressive live shows on the planet. Led by the maniacal vocal delivery of frontman Marc "Zelli" Zellweger, the band has been steadily conquering the heavy music world, a fact proven by their latest record, Cursed, smashing its way into the top ten of the Spotify Global Charts. Now, armed with a brand new EP, The Wilted, and a hunger to tear our rooms apart, they are ready to level up the aggression for Aussie crowds.But they aren't coming alone. To ensure maximum sonic devastation, they are bringing Canadian metalcore powerhouses Counterparts - fronted by the unfiltered Brendan Murphy - and Colorado's crushing hardcore-groove outfit Fox Lake along for the ride. The tour kicks off at the Astor Theatre in Perth on Wednesday, 27 January, before hitting Adelaide's ferocious Froth & Fury Festival, Melbourne's iconic Forum, Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane, and wrapping up in Townsville. It is a massive, comprehensive lap of honour that proves just how much these Swiss heavyweights love the insane energy of the Australian metal community.I had the absolute pleasure of pulling up a virtual barstool with the main man himself, Marc "Zelli" Zellweger, to find out exactly what the band has in store for us. We chatted all about the chaotic memories from their last Australian visit, the intense sonic evolution behind their latest brutal material, and what it feels like to lead one of the fastest-growing forces in modern extreme music. Zelli is always one of the most passionate, down-to-earth guys to speak to in the business, and his excitement for this upcoming run is completely infectious. So, turn the volume up to eleven, check out our full chat below, and make sure you secure your tickets before they inevitably vanish!Tickets www.thephoenix.auBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

Interview by Kris PetersWhen American metal titans Motionless In White announce a new record, the heavy music community stands up and takes notice. Celebrating two decades of sonic devastation, Chris Motionless and his gothic-metalcore troupe are poised to unleash their highly anticipated seventh studio album, Decades, on July 17. It is a monstrous, career-defining release that effortlessly honours their dark history while forcefully kicking down the doors to the future.  From the industrial venom of the lead singles to the monumental collaborations featuring massive names like Slipknot's Corey Taylor plus Skylar Grey, Decades is a masterclass in survival, raw passion, and artistic evolution.HEAVY sat down with frontman Chris Motionless to find out more."It's an exciting time," he enthused when asked how he is feeling about the new album. "We have been working for what feels like literally forever on the record, (laughs) so it's still very weird for me to think that we even have singles out… It's just a very different shift in life, but it's really cool because finally the music gets to see the light of day."We ask Chris to tell us more about Decades musically."This one was definitely - as every band's gonna tell you (smiles) - trying to go above everything we've ever done," he replied. "Catchier. Heavier, blah blah blah, but it's true. We definitely wanted to make sure that everything that we do, that I think the fans love the most, was considered heavily on this one. We really wanted to try and make sure that their feedback was listened to and that we were integrating what fans love the most and then what we love most about the band, and I think that's maybe the reason why things feel pretty positive so far."We bring up the heavier aspect alluded to on Decades, asking what he means specifically by heavier."I would say it's a mixture of everything," he measured. "I think the music may not be so much heavier all around, but there's definitely much more energy. There's so much more fast-paced, or more… just much more energy in every way. There's only one sad, emotional song, per se. Usually, we have three or four, but this one's only got the main one, and the rest is constant rolling energy that I think really helps the album feel different from any other Motionless record. The lyrical content, yeah. Some of it's heavy, some of it's fun. It's a good mixture of everything. I wouldn't say that there's too much, like, you're gonna hear and go (exhales deeply) I need a break from that. It's more meant to be an exciting and uplifting experience."In the full interview, Chris dives deeper into the musicality of Decades, including the well-documented writer's block he had early in the process, what snapped that and how it impacted the rest of the album. He talked us through the opening track, Decades, and why it was chosen to introduce the album, as well as the momentum shift between songs on the album and how Motionless In White allow for a smooth transition.We talked about the different genres expressed in Motionless In White's music, and how they find the balance in the creative process, the first time he heard one of their songs on the radio and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

The Meanies are absolute legends of Australian punk rock, and they are tearing through 2026 like a runaway train. Formed in Melbourne back in 1988, these sonic maniacs have spent nearly four decades delivering chaotic, high-energy pop-punk packed with hooks and bruises. Fronted by the indestructible Link Meanie, they are a band that leaves everything on the stage - literally - known for chaotic live sets that frequently end with broken gear or broken bones. After surviving decades of rock 'n' roll storms, they are still one of the most vital, loud, and uncompromising underground bands in the country.If you think these veteran punks are slowing down, you are dead wrong. The rest of 2026 is completely packed with heavy riffs, interstate chaos, and killer new wax. The band is currently crisscrossing the country on a huge national run. They are teaming up with their longtime brothers-in-arms, Spiderbait, acting as the main support on the massive Ivy & The Big Apples anniversary tour. This means they are bringing their blistering noise to huge venues like Adelaide's Hindley Street Music Hall on 25 July and Canberra's legendary venue The Baso on 30 July.Right after the arena-sized rock shows, The Meanies are jumping straight back into the sweaty club trenches. They have joined forces with Queensland punk unit Dad Fight for a brutal split 7-inch vinyl release featuring fresh tracks from both bands. Dubbed "the old bull and the young calf, together at last," they are launching the wax with a lethal East Coast tour. HEAVY caught up with Link Meanie to find out more, asking how the body is holding up these days."Oh, pretty shit," he laughed. "Yeah, I was just rueing selling the comfy chair that I had here, and now I'm just sitting on a drum stool. My back's fucking killing me! I've done so much damage over the years that I knew it would come back and bite me at some stage."We follow up by asking Link if he finds the need to do more stretches and warm-ups now before hitting the stage."The only time I was ever fit in my life was probably the turn of the millennium when I was doing Kung Fu, and I was actually quite fit then," he smiled. "God, I'm a couch potato now (laughs)."In the full interview, we chat more about life on the road and the perils of ageing. We discussed still touring with Spiderbait and Link's memories of the very first time they played together, as well as a list of upcoming shows this year.The run of shows with Dad Fight was discussed, including the nurturing role The Meanies play when hitting the road with the next generation of bands. We talked about the 7" split single release between The Meanies and Dad Fight and where to get it, as well as the possibility of a new album in the near future and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

Sydney six-string maestro Plini has just unleashed his monumental third studio album, An Unnameable Desire, and it is a certified masterpiece. For a musician who already operates in the absolute stratosphere of technical guitar playing, this new record pushes his sonic boundaries into completely uncharted territory. It is heavier, prettier, more complex, and utterly brilliant.If you thought his previous masterpieces like Handmade Cities or Impulse Voices were the pinnacle of modern guitar music, prepare to have your mind completely blown. An Unnameable Desire is a cinematic rollercoaster that perfectly balances jaw-dropping polyrhythms with celestial jazz-fusion soundscapes. Plini has reunited with his powerhouse rhythm section—bassist Simon Grove and drummer Chris Allison—to create something truly magical. The album also features mind-melting guest spots from Polish guitar icon Jakub Zytecki and experimental harpist Emily Hopkins. It is an ambitious, beautiful sonic journey that demands your full attention from the very first note.But the masterclass doesn't stop in the studio. Plini is about to take this new material on the road for the massive An Unnameable Desire Australia and New Zealand Tour this August. This isn't just your standard run-of-the-mill club shows. Plini is promising his biggest, most immersive live production to date, complete with an incredible international and local lineup. Joining him on this epic trek are UK math-rock heavyweights Delta Sleep, Melbourne progressive newcomers Nightdive, and the phenomenal solo project Cenobia. It is a dream bill for anyone who loves their riffs complex and their melodies massive.The tour kicks off on August 6 at Brisbane's Princess Theatre, before tearing through Sydney's Liberty Hall, Melbourne's Northcote Theatre, Adelaide's Lion Arts Factory, and Magnet House in Perth. Today, we are diving deep into the creative madness behind the new record, the pressure of evolving his sound, and what fans can expect from this monster live show. Grab a cold one, settle in, and check out our full chat with the man himself, Plini!"I will be playing a lot of the new album and a lot of the older stuff that people seem to love," he revealed. "It's going to be really fun. We just did it in Europe for about four or five weeks, and the new stuff was especially fun to play."We ask Plini how different it is playing to audiences overseas compared to those in Australia."It depends on the place," he measured. "I think in general, everywhere they get into it as much, but their way of showing it can be different. The music I make… some of it is energetic, but it's not always so there will be a lot of people just standing and watching, and they could be having an amazing time, but it's not necessarily the same feedback as seeing a circle pit (laughs) or people moshing."In the full interview, Plini talks more about the tour and what we can expect, overseas crowds and how they relate to his music, connecting with fans on different levels, his new album and what to expect, plus more.Tickets https://www.plini.co/anztourBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

Interview by Ali WilliamsThere are few bands in Australia who can announce they are taking a string quartet on tour and not have the nation immediately clutching its pearls in fear of acoustic violations. You Am I, thankfully, are not most bands. When HEAVY's Ali Williams caught up with bassist Andy Kent, the news was as unexpected as it was oddly perfect: You Am I are heading into theatre territory with a string quartet in tow, giving selected songs from across their catalogue a more considered, cinematic, and potentially spine-tingling treatment. And no, before anyone starts picturing a heritage rock band gently apologising for distortion, Andy was quick to make it clear this is not about turning You Am I into something polite, sleepy, or suspiciously beige.Check out the full interview for more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

Interview by Angela CroudaceGerman power metal veterans StormHammer are embracing a heavier, more aggressive direction on their upcoming album Wrath of the Hammer, due for release on July 17, while still staying true to their melodic foundations.Bassist Horst Tessmann revealed the album marks a deliberate shift back towards the sound of Welcome to the End after the more melodic approach of Seven Seals. Following years of lineup changes and delays, he said the band is finally where they want to be creatively."The title track represents the new album and the style of the band quite well," Horst explained, describing it as the perfect introduction to StormHammer's evolved sound.Rather than drawing from any single influence, Horst credited guitarists Phil and Christos for naturally blending classic heavy metal, thrash, progressive and punk elements into the songwriting. He also praised producer Alexander Krull, whose experience as a vocalist helped push singer Manuel into delivering more emotionally charged performances.Although Australian fans may have to wait for a live appearance due to touring costs, Horst said StormHammer hopes strong support for Wrath of the Hammer could eventually make it happen, but the band are already looking ahead, with work on their next album underway and a planned release targeted for autumn 2027.Check out the full interview for more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

Let's be honest: when you talk about Aussie heavy music, you cannot look past the absolute legends in Psycroptic. For over twenty-five years, these boys from Hobart have been wave-makers. They show the rest of the world that Australia doesn't just do metal; we master it. Led by the unstoppable Haley brothers - Dave laying down machine-gun drum beats and Joe ripping absolute shred-fests on guitar - Psycroptic have built a reputation on sheer, relentless hard work.Now, they are gearing up to unleash their ninth studio weapon, The Pulse of Annihilation, landing July 17, 2026. And it gets better. They have officially signed with the absolute giants at Metal Blade Records, proving that true Australian grit always cuts through on the global stage.The album is heavy, it is experimental, and it is exactly what the scene needs. This isn't a band resting on its laurels. They are pushing boundaries, raising bars, and fixing to hit the road this August with Rivers of Nihil for what will easily be the tour of the year. Get your pre-orders sorted, lock in your tickets, and support local metal.HEAVY sat down with drummer Dave Haley to get the lowdown, asking how he is feeling with the album release imminent."It's pretty good," he smiled. "We're all very excited in the band. We feel like we're in a creative hotspot at the moment, and we're definitely not tired of the band or over it. It feels like… at least over the last couple of years, it's been a new lease on the band's life. We're nervous but happy."We ask Dave to dive deeper into the musical side of The Pulse of Annihilation and what Psycroptic were going for this time around."We never really know how an album's going to turn out until it's finished, to be honest," he measured. "It sounds pretty cliché, but we just let the songs write themselves. So by the end of the process, when we sat and listened to it, I noticed it was a bit more of a mid-tempo, mid-paced album than previous albums. Maybe a lot more catchy on the first listen as well. With anything Psycroptic, we just try to build on what we've done before or try to move into some new territories for us. There are definitely some fun songs to play. It's hard to appreciate the songs until you've had a bit of a minute and sat back from the recording process."In the full interview, we explore the musical side of The Pulse of Annihilation in more detail, including the singles released and how they reflect the album overall. We talked about entering a new sonic chapter with the band, highlighting the growing chemistry between the dual vocalists Jason Peppiatt and Jason Keyser, who are on their second album together now.Dave told us about the album cover art and what it represents, and also spoke about signing with Metal Blade Records and what it means for Psycroptic moving forward. Their upcoming home town shows were discussed, as was the August tour with Rivers Of Nihil, plus more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

Interview by Ali WilliamsSCREAMFEEDER, the beloved Brisbane Indie Rock Trio, formed back in 1991, and in 2026 have proven to be one of this country's influential groups in the industry. They're best known for turning down major-label offers throughout the 90's as a way of maintaining their independence and ultimately having control over where and how their music was created and displayed. Their decision to do this inspired an entire generation of Australian alternative musicians by showing them that they had options and to seriously consider exercising them.Tim Steward has been doing this long enough to know when a band is repeating itself, when a room feels right, and when a stranger in her twenties accidentally delivers the funniest career review imaginable.Speaking with HEAVY's Ali Williams ahead of Screamfeeder's run of July shows, Steward was relaxed, generous and wonderfully unfazed by the fact that his band has now lived through more musical eras than most streaming services have patience for. Screamfeeder are not a band having a comeback, exactly. Comebacks are for acts that disappeared properly. Screamfeeder never really did. They just wandered through the strange machinery of time, vinyl reissues, loyal punters, new songs, old bruises, and the occasional “last ever show” that, naturally, turned out to be no such thing.“We've been around for a million years,” Steward laughed, which is not strictly true but emotionally accurate enough to pass in court.The band are currently working on new material, though Tim is the first to admit it is moving at the sort of pace that suggests creativity has its own union and refuses to be rushed on a Monday. After eight albums, the challenge is not whether Screamfeeder can still write songs. That part is handled. The problem is making sure they do not fall back into old habits simply because those habits know where the kettle is.Check out the full interview for more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

Detroit rock quintet Eva Under Fire are about to unleash their most ambitious, vulnerable, and absolutely crushing record to date with Villainous, dropping on July 10, 2026, via Better Noise Music. If you thought their 2022 debut Love, Drugs & Misery pushed boundaries, then strap yourselves in, because this new 13-track monster completely redraws the map. It is a gritty, cinematic concept album built from the ashes of self-destruction and forged into a massive, heavy anthem of reclaiming power.Led by frontwoman Amanda Lyberg - who masterfully balances her dual life as a licensed therapist and a powerhouse rock vocalist - the band dives straight into the darkest corners of human emotion. They have traded compliance for complete defiance. Nowhere is this more obvious than on the blistering title track, featuring a monumental vocal pairing with Maria Brink of In This Moment. It is laced with late-'90s industrial crunch combined with a fierce, modern punch that proves standing up for your truth sometimes means looking like the bad guy to everyone you left behind.From the explosive opening salvos of Awakening to the unapologetic, venomous delivery of Murder Scene, Villainous is an unflinching look at grief, identity, and hard-won self-acceptance. This isn't just standard radio rock; it's a statement of absolute confidence from a band that has already amassed over 100 million streams and dominated the Billboard charts.HEAVY caught up with the phenomenal Amanda Lyberg to dissect the creative chaos behind the record."It's an exciting time," she enthused. "It feels like a long time coming. We spent two years writing this album, which feels like forever when you're so focused on playing live shows. It feels really great to finally be at a point where we're releasing it and getting back into the swing of things and seeing all our hard work come to fruition."We ask Amanda to tell us what Eva Under Fire were going for musically with Villainous."Album one felt great, but it felt like there were a lot of people telling us what we were supposed to be doing," she sighed. "So this time around, it was way more important for us to say no, we're gonna throw out the rule book and do what we wanna do. We wanna say what we wanna say. We wanna say it how we wanna say it. And I was very excited that my guys were all happy, it was going to be more of an Amanda kind of lyrics on this album. I feel like it was more poetic; I feel like it was darker and grittier and had a lot of honest themes. It felt more like a self-discovery journey and a lot more authentic than the first record. We really felt like we were stepping into our own writing this album."In the full interview, we explored the singles released and how they represent the album, the more personal nature of the lyrics and how Villainous differs from their debut album Love, Drugs And Misery. Amanda talks about her vocation as a professional therapist and how the music world combined with that side of her personality in the creative process.Amanda also spoke about the ambiguity in the album title, as well as the charity that Eva Under Fire donated portions of their takings to for the title track. We talked about the band's transition from being a garage band to now playing stadiums and how that has impacted dynamics along the way, their current massive tour and the chances of it coming to Australia and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

Australia, get ready to have your faces completely melted because some spectacular savagery is heading down under this winter. Floridian metalcore titans Wage War are returning to our shores for their first-ever nationwide headline tour, and if you think they're coming alone to play nice, you are dead wrong. They are bringing one of the most vicious live acts on the planet today to help them tear down venues across the country: Nashville's very own heavy-hitters, Orthodox.Led by the chaotic energy of frontman Adam Easterling, Orthodox are a unique but undeniable powerhouse that absolutely refuses to compromise. These guys have made nu-metal feel genuinely new and dangerous again. They take the absolute best elements of Converge's start-and-stop metallic hardcore, throw it in a blender with the unhinged fury of early Slipknot and Korn, and channel it through their own signature, modern style. It is a molten alloy of sonic violence that hits you like a freight train, reminiscent of Knocked Loose or Harm's Way but with an entirely different breed of aggression.Having just dropped their massive fifth studio album, A Door Left Open, Orthodox are returning to Australia with a massive point to prove. Aussie fans got a small taste of their visceral live show last year when they supported Stray From The Path on their final run down under, but this time around, the gloves are completely off. This isn't just music; it's a therapeutic, audio beatdown.This epic winter tour is shaping up to be an absolute ripper. Melbourne demand has already forced a massive venue upgrade to the iconic Forum, while Brisbane's Tivoli and Sydney's Metro Theatre are selling out faster than a bad decision at 2:00 AM. Alongside local legends Heavensgate, Orthodox are primed to deliver a masterclass in pure, unadulterated hardcore violence. If your neck isn't broken by the end of their set, you simply weren't doing it right. Get your tickets now via Destroy All Lines before you're left with major FOMO. Tickets HEREBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

Interview by Ali WilliamsMost legacy bands eventually announce one final album before quietly discovering that "farewell" is a surprisingly flexible word. MAT SINNER never bothered with any of that. He simply got busy.For decades, the German bassist, songwriter and producer has been balancing more projects than most people have unread emails, with PRIMAL FEAR naturally becoming the priority. SINNER, the band that started it all, quietly slipped into the background. Not because the passion disappeared. Life just had other ideas.Then a handful of songs started stirring the creative pot..Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

Lock up your eldest, dust off your leather, and brace your ear canals, because a metal storm of apocalyptic proportions is officially tracking straight for Australian shores! HEAVY is absolutely stoked to bring you a rare, face-to-face breakdown with two of the most uncompromising, venomous, and legendary frontmen to ever grace a festival stage: Dani Filth of black metal royalty Cradle of Filth and Dez Fafara, the groove-metal mastermind driving DevilDriver. After completely decimating the United States on their co-headlining run, these long-time partners-in-crime are packing up their Double Trouble tour and unleashing it on Aussie fans at massive stops like Sydney's Enmore Theatre and Brisbane's The Tivoli. We sat down with the iconic duo to find out exactly how they plan to tear our concert halls apart, why their brotherhood makes this the must-see ticket of the year, and just how chaotic things are going to get when they finally touch down down under."It worked really well in America," Dez enthused, "and it's two bands that are obviously quite different. But man, it really works. Our fans love Cradle. Cradle's fans love DevilDriver. And I think there's just something special. We've obviously done a lot of interviews, right? And a lot of people have said, you know, it's refreshing. Like this tour is refreshing. You're not getting just four or five of the same bands."Cradle Of Filth and DevilDriver Australian Tour DatesThursday 9th July BRISBANE, The TivoliFriday 10th July SYDNEY, The EnmoreSaturday 11th July MELBOURNE, The ForumTuesday 14th July ADELAIDE, Hindley Street Music HallThursday 16th July PERTH, The AstorTickets on sale: https://thephoenix.au/cradle-of-filth-and-devildriver/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

Melbourne's powerhouse hard rock trio XCalibre are gear-jamming their way back into the spotlight, less than half a year since they delivered their crushing debut album X. Born from the chaos of lockdowns, frontman Dan Marazita, guitarist Vinny Mancuso, and drummer Shane Evans have evolved from regular music warriors into a stadium-levelling force. They have spent years refining a massive sound that hits you right in the gut, and now they are unleashing the ultimate weapon through XMusic: the highly anticipated deluxe edition of that powerhouse debut album.If you thought the standard version of X was a total monster, this deluxe package turns the volume knob way past ten. It is packed with raw emotion, massive, ground-shaking guitar riffs, and anthemic choruses that demand to be heard live. The band has masterfully mixed classic rock intensity with cinematic scale. Highlights like the crushing single House Of Pain still feel entirely unstoppable, capturing the spirit of fighting back and reclaiming your domain.The expansion tracks lift this release into legendary status. The brilliant single DEAD2ME hits hard with pure sonic aggression and relentless energy. Other new additions include the single Calling You Out!, an acoustic rendition of Scars and a live, intimate recording of Gravity.HEAVY sat down with Dan on the eve of the album's release to find out more, asking what the thought process generally is behind releasing deluxe editions of an existing album."It's about having more content as you go," he answered. "It's a different feel. When you go through an album, it's like a roller coaster. It's like you've got a feeling when you're sitting there in the background, and the deluxe album is different from the normal album. Because you have those stripped-back songs, it's a different energy altogether."It's been a whirlwind ride so far for XCalibre, and we ask Dan what lessons the band has taken from the whole debut album cycle into preparation for the follow-up."Every time you're in the studio, you're just listening to your gut," he measured, "Not going with what you think is 'in'. You're going with what you feel that you know the song deserves and not procrastinating too much on it by sitting with it too long. Sometimes your first idea is the best idea, and you're always going to go back to that."In the full interview, Dan ran us through each of the four new songs in greater detail and explained why they were chosen for the deluxe edition. He recalled the recording process at Matt Sorum's studio in LA, as well as the guest collaborations with DJ Lethal from Limp Bizkit and Marcos Curiel from POD.We spoke about how they approached the album process and what they learned from working with and alongside some of the biggest names in music and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

If there is one thing you can always count on in this crazy, beautiful thing we call the rock and roll landscape, it's that Dallas Frasca does not do things by halves. She doesn't just play music; she lives it, breathes it, and commands it like a genuine force of nature. Coming off the back of heavy touring, massive arena supports with legends like ZZ Top, and a highly successful Green Electric Tour, Australia's premier riff-queen is gearing up for her most ambitious sonic adventure yet.Pack your bags and fire up the engines, because Frasca is heading across the Pacific to Canada to record her highly anticipated fifth studio album. Supported by a prestigious grant from the Record in BC Program, this isn't just a simple trip to lay down some vocal tracks. This is an all-out international collaboration designed to push her massive blues-rock sound into entirely new territory.Once she lands in Canada, the magic truly begins. Frasca is teaming up with a world-class production unit, tracking at the legendary Smooth Operator Studios in Vancouver and the serene, isolated Capsule Studios on Bowen Island. Behind the desk is producer and engineer Janey Aurora, alongside multi-instrumentalist Erik Nielsen, known for his stellar work with City and Colour. If that layout wasn't enough to get your heart pumping, iconic Canadian drummer Pat Steward - who has kept time for Bryan Adams - is stepping behind the kit to lock down the rhythm section.This next chapter promises to be an absolute ripper of a record. With Frasca's signature powerhouse vocals, face-melting guitar work, and a legendary international crew in her corner, the rock world needs to brace itself. Canada won't know what hit it.HEAVY sat down with Dallas before she left to dive deeper, asking her the reasons behind relocating to Canada for a month or so."A producer (Janey Aurora) reached out to me late last year and sent me this really amazing email about why she wanted to make the album with me," she began. "And it really resonated quite deeply with me. Plus, I think I'm also ready to do something quite different sonically to extend what I've been working on for the last couple of years and the songs I've been writing."In the full interview, we discussed why Dallas is heading overseas to record in more detail, the musicians she is working with in Canada and what she is expecting. She ran us through recording outside of your comfort zone and the different ways being in that position can impact your songwriting and the way you approach music.Dallas told us more about what we could possibly expect from the new music, including the use of a Gospel choir. She told us about the songs she has already written and her mindset going into recording, including the challenges and advantages of doing so. We talked about the success of her previous album, Force Of Nature and the importance of challenging yourself musically and growing as a person and musician between albums, plus more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

The meteoric rise of New Jersey deathcore titans Lorna Shore stands as one of the most remarkable modern success stories in heavy music. At the centre of this sonic storm is lead guitarist and primary songwriter Adam De Micco. Since co-founding the band in 2009, De Micco has steered the group through seismic lineup changes, genre-defining stylistic evolutions, and the viral explosion that followed their landmark 2021 EP, …And I Return to Nothingness. Today, the band's signature blend of symphonic black metal grandeur and technical deathcore brutality has propelled them from sweaty basement gigs into massive international arenas.This October, Lorna Shore is set to achieve another historic milestone: their largest headlining tour of Australia to date. Teaming up with heavy heavyweights Whitechapel and The Acacia Strain, the band is trading the packed club rooms of their previous visits for iconic, large-scale venues like Sydney's Hordern Pavilion and Melbourne's John Cain Arena. The upcoming run marks a triumphant victory lap for a group that has completely redefined what extreme music can achieve on the global stage.Ahead of the highly anticipated tour, we sat down with Adam De Micco to discuss the logistical and creative realities of bringing their massive orchestral production across the globe. In this insightful conversation, De Micco opens up about the pressure of headlining Australian arenas, his evolving approach to guitar craftsmanship, and how the band maintains their tight-knit chemistry on the road. He also reflects on the enduring loyalty of the Australian heavy music community and teases what fans can expect from their most ambitious live visual production yet.One of the first questions we asked Adam was why he thinks Australian audiences connect so well with Lorna Shore, considering this will be their third tour here in under two years."It seems like we owe them a debt, is what I would say," he laughed. "We probably owe someone some money, which is why we keep returning so much. But honestly, it's been awesome. Every time we have been there, the shows have gotten better, so that's kind of the plan for this tour, to do it bigger than we did the last time. The first time we were here was… for a place that we'd never been to, to go on sale and all the shows sell out… none of us were expecting that. Somewhere we had never been to. It took us a while to sell out those kinds of rooms in Europe in our own backyard. So for that to exist in our first go around, it was like, maybe we should return. People seem to be interested in hearing us. And then we came back for the festivals, and that went over amazingly. Minus the heat (laughs). It's more returning to where people seem to want you, and it seems to be on this long 16-hour flight to Australia is where people want us to return (laughs)."Check out the full interview for much more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

Interview by Kris PetersBodyjar is bringing the machine back in for its 25-year scheduled service this July and August 2026, proving that classic Aussie punk rock never goes out of style. Celebrating a quarter-century of their iconic, gold-selling fourth album How It Works, the Melbourne legends are hitting the highway for the massive How It Still Works national tour.Let's be honest: when an album like How It Works drops in 2000 and completely reshapes the landscape of Australian punk, you don't just let it gather dust. You polish up the riffs, lube up the kit, and drag it back out to blow the roof off venues across the country. The boys have made it very clear that the odometer might be clocked, but the vehicle is fully serviced and ready to put on some serious mileage. Frontman Cam Baines has reportedly undergone a full grease and oil change, Tommy Read has a fresh set of strings, and the whole unit is primed to deliver that signature, hard-hitting sonic assault we've been craving.The 11-date run kicks off on July 9 at the King Street Bandroom in Newcastle, before tearing through a ruthless schedule of metro and regional venues. Fans can look forward to hearing anthems like Not The Same and Feed It exactly how they were meant to be experienced: loud, fast, and surrounded by a sweaty, fist-pumping mosh pit.HEAVY caught up with Cam Baines to dig deeper."We've been around for probably 30 years, 29 years or something, and probably even a bit longer if you go back a little bit further," he began. "We had a different name and everything, but we're doing a tour in July for our album, How It Works, and it's the 25-year scheduled service we're calling it.Just getting this album back on the road and playing all the songs we never play live, and trying to play some of the other tracks that people never hear, is exciting. And because it was a pretty successful album for us, we sort of thought, let's just do this, and we're working on a new album at the same time. We've actually got a new song coming out pretty soon with a video and everything!"In the full interview, Cam explained that the shows will focus on How It Works combined with fan favourites, use an Instagram poll to select additional songs, and randomise song order so performances can be swapped on the night to stay fresh. He told us about the special guests, describing the support act as a punk-rock "supergroup" composed of members from $1 Short, Frenzal Rhomb, and Something With Numbers assembled specifically for the run.We talked about the making of How It Works, including the band's decision to join a major label prior to the release and how that impacted the final result. Cam said the band aimed for a big melodic rock sound on How It Works and felt the record achieved that ambition.Cam recalled the success of How It Works, including being showcased on Tony Hawk's video game, future music and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

Get ready to have your absolute minds melted, Australia. The legendary Maynard James Keenan is pulling a massive double shift this December, bringing his electro-rock side-project Puscifer down under to open for none other than his own alternative rock heavyweights, A Perfect Circle. Talk about an absolute masterclass in sonic insanity!If you've been living under a rock, you'd know it's been more than a decade since A Perfect Circle last graced our shores. But the real kicker here is the inclusion of Puscifer, who are locked and loaded to push the boundaries of reality with their bizarre, post-punk electronics and absurdist storytelling. Adding serious fuel to the fire, the band just dropped their brand-new, ultra-dark studio album Normal Isn't earlier this year. Trust me when I say this record is custom-built to be experienced live, packed with the kind of crushing, experimental tension that gets your blood running.This isn't just a standard rock show; it's a 21st-century freak show where anything goes. Alongside mastermind Mat Mitchell and the mesmerizing vocal powerhouse Carina Round, Maynard treats a Puscifer gig like an immersive, theatrical assault on the senses. Expect alien landscapes, bizarre characters, and a massive wall of sound that seamlessly jumps from fuzzy garage-metal to spaced-out, electronic soundscapes.Mat and Carina sat down with HEAVY to talk more. With the Puscifer live experience relying heavily on production and atmosphere, we ask if the band are in a position to bring their full set-up with them."It'll be full production," Mat affirmed. "I think that it's as important as hearing the songs is the experience of what we do. So we try to bring everything and give everyone the best possible show we can.""There's not really a stripped-down version," Carina added. "It's all one big vehicle for the story, and if something gets taken away, then it takes away from the story. So it's always going to be the full show."In the full interview, Mat and Carina talk more about the stage production and how important it is to the live show. They tell us why it has been so long since their last visit, and what has changed with the band in that time.We talk about their pairing with A Perfect Circle and why it works, conveying the emotive aspects of their music in a live setting, how they get themselves into character before each show and small rituals they have for doing so. Carina talked us through her on-stage chemistry with Maynard, highlighting their vocal roles when performing together.Puscifer's recent album Normal Isn't was also discussed, with Mat and Carina talking us through the creative process and getting the balance right in the early stages plus more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

Interview by Ali WilliamsVINDICTA are heading Down Under this month and are starting a new era by becoming louder, angrier and significantly harder to ignore. Freshly formed by vocalist Grace Pasturini, formally of Dutch band Dogma, Pasturini and other former members are diving headfirst into ensuring VINDICTA hits in all the right spots, following the chaotic demise of their previous band. Chatting with HEAVY's Ali Williams, Grace assures that the band's next chapter is not a polite little adjustment or a cautious shuffle into slightly different shoes. It is a full creative shift, backed by new music, a concept album in progress, a fresh music video, a run of singles and, most importantly for Australian fans, the band's first ever trip to this side of the world. Grace made it clear that VINDICTA are moving into a sharper, more aggressive space. Their previous sound carried more melody and power metal brightness, but the new material has a nastier pulse to it. Not in a forced “look how dangerous we are” way either. More in the sense that this time they aren't going to be singing pretty ot dressing the truth up to look cute. “We're pulling a little bit away from our older sound,” she explains. “It's a bit more aggressive; it's more honest.” That honesty seems to suit her voice as much as the band's direction. While plenty of vocalists treat aggression like something they have to wrestle into place, Pasturini says this heavier delivery actually comes more naturally. The rawer edge is not just better for the songs; it is gentler on her voice. Some singers are out here fighting for their lives, trying to sound melodic, and Grace is finding relief in going harder.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

Melbourne outfit Riff Raiders are a powerhouse hard rock outfit known for their explosive live energy, massive hooks, and crunching guitar riffs. Formed in 2017, the band features core members Jenni Powell on soaring lead vocals and Marty Powell on lead guitar. The band initially built a loyal following across the Australian live rock circuit with their debut album Live Like You Mean It and their critically acclaimed 2020 follow-up Rock and Roll Daydream, with their signature sound blending classic Aussie rock traditions with a sharp, modern alternative edge.On 7 June 2026, the band ended a six-year album hiatus by releasing their highly anticipated third studio record, Welcome to Mars. Released worldwide across streaming platforms like Spotify and YouTube Music, the tightly constructed 11-track project serves as a grand "rock 'n' roll re-entry".  Welcome to Mars is a genre-blurring collection that explores diverse musical flavours while staying rooted in hard rock. The album's roll-out was driven by three standout singles that showcase the band's creative evolution: Nothing to Lose, Broken Halo and Welcome To Mars.To support the release, Riff Raiders are breaking their long absence from the live stage. They will celebrate their official live comeback on August 28 in Melbourne as part of the Rock Is Not Dead festival, bringing their new space-age stadium anthems directly to the fans. HEAVY caught up with Jenni and Marty to chat more, asking them to describe Welcome To Mars from a musical point of view."On the last album, Rock and Roll Daydream, we did a lot more overdubbing and went for a bigger production sort of sound," Marty measured. "So this time we stripped it right back and brought the bass and drums right up into the picture and kept the guitars pretty dry and simple and really showcased the vocals. The idea of the band with Riff Raiders is we do a few different styles of hard rock, which hopefully tie together under the theme of Welcome to Mars this time."In the full interview, Jenni and Marty dive deeper into Welcome To Mars, including the three singles released and how they reflect the album overall. We spoke about the different layers of rock throughout the album and finding the balance and cohesiveness to keep the flow going.We talked about Riff Raiders' prolonged absence from the stage and the reasons behind it, the upcoming Rock Is Not Dead show, future gigs and more.Welcome To Mars is out now: https://tinyurl.com/WelcomeToMarsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

Interview by Kris PetersDead of Winter Festival is officially back, resurrecting its glorious, dark alternative underworld at Brisbane's iconic Mansfield Tavern on Saturday, 27 June 2026. After six long years in the shadows, this absolute staple of the heavy music calendar is rising like a Phoenix. Organisers have curated a massive line-up of 31 bands, performance art, and horror cosplay. Yet, out of all the distortion and chaos set to take over the multiple stages, one band is uniquely poised to completely steal the show: The Neptune Power Federation.Fresh off massive European touring, the Sydney-based rock outfit is making their highly anticipated return to Australian soil. If you have ever witnessed them live, you already know it is an over-the-top, mind-bending experience. If you haven't, prepare your soul. Fronted by the utterly hypnotic and fiercely commanding Imperial Priestess, Screaming Loz Sfire, the band seamlessly blends 1970s heavy psych, punk-driven aggression, and pure, unadulterated stadium rock theatrics. They do not just play a set; they bring a full cosmic ritual that forces your feet to tap and your neck to snap.What makes their inclusion at Dead of Winter so perfect is how seamlessly their occult energy meshes with the festival's community atmosphere. Backed by a razor-sharp rhythm section and an onslaught of massive, screeching guitar riffs, they are an absolute powerhouse of rock 'n' roll. Dead of Winter has always built its legacy on being a super fun, super safe space for sub-genres to collide. The Neptune Power Federation delivers exactly that brand of welcoming, theatrical madness.HEAVY sat down with bass player Jaytanic Ritual (a.k.a Jason Whalley from Frenzal Rhomb) to better prepare ourselves for the show and asked about the genesis of the band."We were formed on a distant planet," he began. "We were summoned by Her Majesty the Imperial Priestess to basically support her in all her endeavours. Those endeavors being traveling through time to destroy the patriarchy. So we've basically been doing her bidding now for about 10 years in our time, but it spans the millennia in other people's time. We also have all these rules. So, none of the men in the band are allowed to speak. She's deemed that it's okay for me to talk today, so I can talk candidly, but for the most part, we're there just to do her bidding. And apparently, her bidding is to play 1970s psychedelic rock."We mention that it must be an exercise in futility expecting Jaytanic Ritual to say nothing from the stage, to which his tone became more sombre."The consequences of speaking are so dire that it's better off just doing what she wants," he replied, fear in his eyes. "The other thing we're not allowed to do is smile, because what we're doing is very serious. Plus, we're not allowed to wear band shirts because we're the only band from our planet, so there are a lot of rules, but I do like the boundaries."In the full interview, we explore the world of The Neptune Power Federation in greater detail, finding out what makes them tick and the driving force behind their music. Jaytanic Ritual runs us through their live performance and what to expect, offering three songs concert goers can listen to in order to get to know the band better if they are only new to the party.We talk about the new album Mondo Tomorrow and its musical psyche, including the move away from recounting the adventures of the High Priestess in favour of technology. Jaytanic Ritual explains how the album sees The Neptune Power Federation return more to their punk roots, the surprise album that was recorded at the same time and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

Interview by Kris PetersPortuguese masked metal maestros Gaerea will embark on their highly anticipated debut tour of Australia next month. Presented by Soundworks Direct, the five-date national run is officially titled the Loss Australian Tour. This run marks the very first time the cathartic extreme metal band will bring their intense live performance down under.Known for their signature black hoods and a sound that blends crushing breakdowns with soaring, emotional melodies, Gaerea has built a formidable reputation in the global heavy music scene. The upcoming shows promise to deliver immense emotional impact and raw live energy.Vocalist Alpha shared that the tour is a massive milestone for the group. While Australian promoters have shown eager interest since Gaerea's early days, the high financial barrier of international travel delayed the trip until the band reached a stable position. Now celebrating a ten-year journey, the band is thrilled to bridge the physical gap with their long-time supporters.The nightly setlists will span Gaerea's entire discography. Audiences can expect to hear definitive tracks from earlier foundational releases like Unsettling Whispers, Limbo, and Mirage. The performance will heavily highlight material from their 2024 album Coma, alongside an immersive exploration of their newest sonic era, Loss. Supporting the band across the East Coast leg of the tour is Melbourne-based progressive tech-metal act Ironstone, adding exceptional local flavour to the brutal bill.HEAVY caught up with Alpha to find out more, asking him to run us through what fans can expect from the shows."Well, I always say that it is the best cocktail mix that we can do to make a very aggressive show," he replied, "together with minimalistic, super melodramatic emotional moments where we go through the motions of anger, but also loss, for example, or sadness. There's a bit of everything in terms of the extremes of emotions in the show. We try to be very visual with that. And yeah, I'm pretty sure it's going to be a good, striking, emotional ride.That's what we set ourselves to do 10 years ago, and we've been doing that. So again, it feels good to be able to do it for the first time in a country. But I heard the fans go completely wild in Australia, so that's always something that gets our blood running for even better shows."Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

There are few stories in Australian rock history as heavy or as real as Nathan Cavaleri's. We all remember the kid—the pint-sized blues prodigy who jammed with B.B. King, signed global deals, and made the guitar sing like a seasoned delta master before he was even a teenager. But as any rock fan knows, the higher the climb, the more brutal the crash. With his upcoming massive national theatre production, the Growing Pains tour, Cavaleri isn't just playing a set of tunes; he's laying his soul bare on stage in a raw, real-time reckoning with stardom, mental health, and survival.This isn't your standard, ego-driven rock retrospective. This is an intimate, solo performance that beautifully blends heavy storytelling with the soulful, blues-infused musical prowess that made him a household name. Cavaleri is taking audiences on an emotional rollercoaster, tracking his journey from busking on the streets of Campbelltown to conquering international stages, battling leukaemia, and surviving a full-blown mental health collapse that once left him terrified to even pick up a guitar.What makes Growing Pains so essential is its unapologetic vulnerability. Cavaleri openly admits to feeling "nervous as hell" about putting his darkest moments under the theatre spotlight. Yet, it's exactly that honesty—paired with his undeniable guitar wizardry—that leaves the crowd uplifted, inspired, and completely in awe. It is a powerful reminder of how music can serve as ultimate therapy.HEAVY sat down with Nathan to chat about the run of shows and the subject matter, asking where the idea came from."When I got back into it, I was actually just starting to share my experiences," he began, "like growing up on tour and playing with all these amazing legends, but also making sense of life along the way and some of the challenges I went through. I was getting a lot of feedback from members of the audience saying that they loved the songs, but they really loved the stories and wanted more of them, and suggested I write a book. I've lived this life, so it's not... it just feels pretty normal to me. And I thought, well, I don't want to write a book. It feels a little bit premature, but they were barking at me for a long time. So I thought, all right, well, why don't I try something different and bring it to the stage and create a live show out of it?"In the full interview, Nathan talks more about the genesis of the idea, including how he decided what subject matter to cover. He detailed the difficulties he faced confronting some of those memories and working them into a narrative, offering up some stories that made the final cut along the way.He talked about some of his best memories, how music ultimately affected his mental health and the steps he has taken to get through it. The format of the shows was discussed, as was the level of crowd interaction, as well as new music and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

Interview by Angela CroudaceFifty years after helping ignite the UK punk movement, Captain Sensible still sounds pleasantly surprised that The Damned are standing strong.Speaking ahead of the band's Australian 50th Anniversary Tour this September, the guitarist reflected on a career that has taken the group from playing tiny pubs to prestigious venues that once wanted nothing to do with them."When we started, I never thought it would last more than three or four weeks," he laughed. "We were playing this uncompromising noise music and upsetting audiences. I never thought anyone would let us make an album, let alone still be doing it 50 years later."For Sensible, The Damned's longevity comes down to authenticity. Despite five decades on the road, the band continues to embrace unpredictability."You never know what's going to happen next, even we don't know," he said. "That's the great thing about proper, organic rock and roll."The celebrations arrive during what Sensible calls a "golden period" for the band. One particularly satisfying milestone has been performing at iconic venues that once rejected them."We're playing places that banned us back in the day," he said. "The Royal Albert Hall didn't want us in the late '70s, and now we're playing places like the Sydney Opera House. For a band that's always been anti-establishment, that's pretty ridiculous."The conversation also unearthed one of punk's more bizarre stories, with Sensible confirming a bit of family lore for me; a tale involving an inflatable dinosaur costume at London's Rainbow Theatre. After being dragged into the crowd by the costume's tail, he emerged without it and finished the show naked."It's why there was never a repeat performance," he joked.Fifty years on, The Damned remain rebellious, unpredictable and, somehow, still surprising themselves.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

American rock titans Shinedown and British alternative legends Bush are uniting for a massive co-headline tour across Australia and New Zealand in September 2026. Promoted by Destroy All Lines, this blockbuster arena run bridges two distinct eras of heavy guitar music. The highly anticipated roadshow represents Shinedown's monumental return down under for the first time in over 15 years. Simultaneously, it marks Bush's first full-scale headline run of the region in nearly three decades.Shinedown brings a precise, high-octane live production to the stage, fueled by a record-breaking 24 number-one rock hits and more than 8.3 billion global streams. Local audiences can expect a dense, anthemic setlist packed with their definitive mainstream radio hits like Second Chance, Sound of Madness, and Monsters. The Florida-based rockers are also using this international trek to showcase brand-new material from their eighth studio album, EI8HT, which launched recently with widespread critical acclaim.Complementing Shinedown's arena-ready energy is the raw post-grunge power of Bush, anchored by the iconic charisma of frontman Gavin Rossdale. With over three decades of global success and a billion streams, the London-born outfit remains an essential fixture of modern alternative rock. Their performance will highlight definitive mid-90s hits from their seminal, multi-platinum debut record Sixteen Stone, treating fans to live renditions of Glycerine, Comedown, and Machinehead. Additionally, Bush will perform tracks from their tenth studio album, I Beat Loneliness, demonstrating their continuing creative evolution.HEAVY sat down with Shinedown frontman Brent Smith to get his thoughts on the tour. It's been 16 years since Shinedown last toured this country, so we ask Brent what has changed with the band over that period."Just the trajectory of the band," he measured. "The albums. Life. Experience… The thing that I never take for granted is that I can look back and say to myself, I feel very, very fortunate that from the moment I could have a conscious thought… what I wanted to do with my life, I'm doing. And to still be 25 years into being in this band… You don't ever want to have this big, meteoric rise. I don't know the way I should say this, but I can only say it in the most authentic way possible. Experience is something that you need in this industry. Sometimes, when you get a big jump, there can be a heavy fall. It's a very difficult industry to navigate, the music business and however you want to look at it. But the reality is it all comes down to the audience and the artist. I've said this before, and I mean it. In Shinedown, we only have one boss. It's just everybody in the audience. And Shinedown is also everyone's band."In the full interview, Brent makes apologies for taking so long to get back to Australia, promising the band will more than make up for lost time. He spoke about the evolution of Shinedown over their musical journey and the importance of staying grounded, no matter what else is happening.He recounted how the initial discussion to pair Shinedown and Bush on tour came about, expressing his respect and love for their touring partners and how their music will compliment the other. Brent talked about Shinedown's recent album Ei8ht and its reception, highlighting the positive reaction by fans and critics alike, plus more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

Interview by Ali WilliamsGerman death metal veterans FLESHCRAWL are entering a major new chapter with Epitome Of Carnage, their 10th studio album and the first to feature Borisz (The Savage) Sarafutgyinov handling all vocals and lyrics. In conversation with HEAVY's Ali Williams, founding drummer Bastian Herzog and Borisz spoke about the refreshed lineup, the record's old-school approach, the pressure of carrying a long-running name forward, and the small matter of trying to get the band to Australia without financially maiming everyone involved.It is a big moment for FLESHCRAWL, although neither Borisz nor Bastian seem interested in dressing it up as some grand reinvention. The feeling is more practical than theatrical. The lineup has changed, the energy has shifted, and the band have used that movement to build something that still sounds unmistakably like FLESHCRAWL. Borisz joined the band in 2021 following the passing of longtime vocalist Sven Gross, and Epitome Of Carnage marks his first album taking full control of the vocals and lyrics. That is no small handover. FLESHCRAWL have been part of the European death metal landscape since 1987, and walking into that kind of history requires more than a decent growl and a reliable calendar. For Borisz, the change in sound comes naturally from the people now in the room. “The lineup is pretty fresh,” he explained, pointing to the two newer guitar players as part of the reason this album feels different. His own voice and lyrics also helped push the material into its current shape, giving the band a new angle while keeping the core intact. Bastian sees it as a new start as well. Coming from a founding member, that carries weight. He has been there since the earliest days, long enough to make most band origin stories look like recent lunch orders. Yet there is no sense of him clinging to the past with both hands and a suspiciously labelled backup hard drive. He sounds ready for this version of FLESHCRAWL to stand on its own. The lyrical direction on Epitome Of Carnage came from a darker place, although Borisz admitted he only fully recognised the pattern once interviews for the album began. War, media doom, social decay and the world's apparent commitment to behaving like a malfunctioning meat grinder all worked their way into the songs. When asked what drove the album, his answer was refreshingly direct. ‘Being pissed off'. Fair. Death metal has never exactly demanded a vision board and has launched entire careers on less.That anger, however, has been channelled with purpose. FLESHCRAWL were clear about wanting the album to feel organic, not manufactured into something overly slick. Borisz spoke about avoiding modern production techniques such as enhanced drums, triggers and excessive studio layering. The aim was to create a record that could connect with older fans while still making sense in 2026. Bastian contributed riffs and also wrote a short instrumental piece for the album, although he was typically understated about his role. Borisz was quicker to point out that everyone contributed across the record, with no strict divisions in the writing process. The band worked as a unit, which also means everyone had the pleasure of annoying everyone else in useful ways. Check out the full interview for much more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

Get ready to snap your necks, Australia, because New Zealand black-thrash titans Bulletbelt are crossing the ditch this June to tear you all a new one.The Wellington metal veterans are locked and loaded for the highly anticipated resurrection of Dead of Winter Festival. Taking place on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at its brand-new stomping ground the Mansfield Tavern, this iconic alternative counter-culture gathering is officially back after a multi-year hiatus. While Aussie heavyweights like DZ Deathrays and Mammal are ready to hold down the home front, Bulletbelt represents the absolute pinnacle of relentless, sonic savagery coming from across the Tasman.If you have ever witnessed Bulletbelt live, you know they do not just play music; they deliver a sonic assault that leaves your ears ringing and your feet bruised. Their signature blend of old-school thrash velocity and cold, uncompromising black metal atmospheric filth creates a hellish wall of sound. It is the kind of measured aggression that instantly gets your head snapping. For years, these guys have carved out a reputation as one of the hardest-working, most road-hardened extreme metal forces in the Southern Hemisphere.Dead of Winter has always been a sanctuary for the outsiders, the riff-lords, and the beautiful weirdos of the heavy music community. Moving the madness to the legendary Mansfield Tavern means 34 acts will split your skull across multiple stages. It offers the perfect, high-intensity indoor environment for Bulletbelt to do what they do best: decimate crowds. Expect sweat-soaked leather, full-throttle blast beats, and a wave of pure, unadulterated energy that hits with the subtle force of a flying brick.HEAVY caught up with drummer Steve Francis to find out more. With Dead Of Winter returning after a number of years, we ask Steve just how important festivals that nurture homegrown talent are to the continued growth of Australian and New Zealand music."They're huge," he replied instantly. "And look at Australia. Look at how many amazing heavy bands there are at the moment, and a little bit of a parallel to back here in Wellington. I think the local scene at the moment here in Wellington and the bigger New Zealand is probably better than it's ever been. There's so many bands that are getting overseas and getting signed to international labels and coming over to play Brisbane with such a really cool, diverse lineup as well.We came two years ago and played Necrosonic Festival, and that was catered a little bit more to the heavier side of the rock genre. But this one is really exciting because we're going to be presenting ourselves in front of a bunch of people who aren't just into heavy music, they're into all sorts of rock-oriented music. So, yeah, really excited."In the full interview, Steve reported that Bulletbelt has been off the road since a November 2024 15th‑anniversary show while recording a new album, which is finished and produced by U.S. producer Damien Reynard to achieve a “world‑class” sound. The record emphasizes more melody, higher tempos (including songs near 200 BPM) and power‑metal influences, and is planned for release around October; release timing is partly delayed by the postponed film Deathgasm 2, for which Bulletbelt wrote the theme.Steve characterized the band's festival approach as high‑energy, crowd‑engaging “party band” sets and said festivals are crucial for reaching broader rock audiences beyond heavy‑music niches. He confirmed the band will perform two new songs during the Australian shows and named local bands he's anticipating at Dead of Winter and more.Dead Of Winter will be held at the Mansfield Tavern in Brisbane on June 27, featuring Mammal, DZ Deathrays, Jay and Lindsay, Beanflipper, Toe to Toe, Slim Krusty and many more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

Denver, Colorado punk collective Dead Pioneers return with their fierce third studio album, Wagon Burner. Set for release on 26 June 2026 via Hassle Records, the project builds upon the momentum of their 2023 self-titled debut and 2025's acclaimed PO$T AMERICAN. Fronted by Indigenous visual performance artist and activist Gregg Deal, Dead Pioneers' continue to blend the raw fury of hardcore punk with biting spoken-word commentary, channelling the contemporary Indigenous experience, historical trauma, and political resistance.While their previous work relied heavily on targeted individual statements, Wagon Burner represents a more unified, collaborative writing effort by the full band. Musically, it is their heaviest and hardest record to date, yet it remains intensely accessible, striking a delicate balance between abrasive noise-punk melee and viciously catchy hooks.HEAVY caught up with Deal to find out more, asking him how he is feeling about the album close to release date."Honestly, there's a lot of emotions," he measured. "I kind of go through peaks and valleys. I'm excited about it, and then I'm not sure. We do these releases, and sometimes they do really well. And sometimes they're not doing as well as I'd like, and so it gets in my head. I'm excited about it, but it's been a bit of a mind F."Spoken word and narrative pieces play a major role in the feel and message of the album, with Deal agreeing that there was much thought put into getting even the smallest of details correct."Yeah, I think so," he nodded. "We actually recorded so much that we have enough for another half a record. We have enough for like an EP, and so we're trying to pick and choose. We want a narrative and a sound that can live in that space. We came into this record trying to be as articulate as possible, but also not pulling any punches from everything that has been happening, everything that is happening in the United States.And so it is meant to be political, social and cultural. We're trying to find a medium in there with that, because it's a lot of heavy stuff. So the humour that has existed in other places is a little bit more subtle on this one, but it's still there. We definitely are trying to curate something that makes sense audibly and in the information that exists lyrically."In the full interview, Gregg talks more about the musical side of Wagon Burner and how it differs to Dead Pioneers' first two albums. We run through the themes that permeate through the album and their connection to Gregg personally.The constant battle against oppression in all forms is discussed, along with the impact bands such as Dead Pioneers have on the global landscape through their music. Gregg ran us through some of the spoken word pieces and elaborated on their meaning, diving deeper into the guest artists and why they were chosen.Gregg also detailed the genesis of the band and how it has evolved over the years, plus more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

Interview by Ali WilliamsSpanish melodic death metal force BLOODHUNTER returns on June 12 with their new album, Sons Of The Abandoned. It has been both a long wait and a very deliberate one for the band. Four years have passed since the band's previous album, and while fans have been understandably circling the release date like metalheads around a merch table with limited sizes, BLOODHUNTER have not spent that time idling around waiting for inspiration to knock. “It's been a long wait until we finally release the album,” vocalist Diva Satanica explained to HEAVY's Ali Williams, adding that the response from fans has already been overwhelming. “We are very thankful for that.”For Diva, Sons Of The Abandoned is not simply another BLOODHUNTER record with the distortion turned up and the emotional damage left to fend for itself. This time, something shifted. The music still carries that death metal edge, but the album and its inspiration step into more exposed territory lyrically. Diva admits that previously she had hidden behind the metaphors in their lyrics, but this time the writing became more direct. “It has been different this time,” she explains. “Usually, I feel like I hide myself behind the metaphors. It's difficult when you play death metal to find this balance between speaking about things that everybody has in common, but without sounding too cheesy.”Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

Interview by Kris PetersThirty years after the tragic loss of frontman Bradley Nowell, California's premier ska-punk icons Sublime have defied the impossible. The band has returned with their new album Until the Sun Explodes (June 15), their first full-length studio album of entirely original material since 1996. Arriving via Atlantic Records, this highly anticipated 21-track LP is a monumental generational handoff. Stepping into the frontman role is Bradley's son, Jakob Nowell, who unites with original founding members Eric Wilson (bass) and Bud Gaugh (drums) to create a record that feels less like a modern reboot and more like a beautifully crafted epilogue.To capture the definitive, sun-soaked identity of the band, Jakob and producer Jon Joseph meticulously catalogued every chord progression, sonic texture, and lyrical boundary of the classic Sublime discography. The result is a vibrant resurrection of their signature formula: an intoxicating blend of reggae-infused punk, dub, hip-hop, and Southern California absurdism. The rollout has already proven historically successful; the explosive lead single Ensenada spent eight weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's Alternative Airplay chart, eclipsing the chart-topping run of their 1996 timeless hit What I Got.While the music captures the nostalgic energy of the 1990s, the thematic core of the album rests heavily on legacy, sobriety, and profound gratitude. On the poignant title track, Until the Sun Explodes, Jakob's vocals eerily mirror his father's chill cadence as he sings directly to Bradley's memory: “Until the sun blows up in the sky/I owe you my life”. Rather than trying to rewrite history, Jakob has explicitly framed this album as a final, heartfelt thank-you letter to his father and the fans who kept the scene alive.HEAVY sat down with Jakob to dive deeper. We ask about the difficulties he faced with making an album that represented the entire career of Sublime, while still making it sound fresh and vibrant, asking if he and the rest of the band sat down and studied past releases to get the sound they were after or if it was more of a natural process."A little bit of both," he replied. "There's a lot of study going into it for me and our producer, John. We wanted to really do our work and take this gig seriously. Every single released piece of Sublime media and all of the interviews and the bootlegs, and then going back and listening to all of their influences and all the bands that really made them excited. We wanted to factor all this in so the sounds we were using had some precedent in the Sublime release catalogue, so we weren't just pushing the sound in some random directions for no reason. Then bringing Bud and Eric in to write these songs and fleshing them out with those two, who obviously already know how to make Sublime records, that part was the most natural part."We ask Jakob if he felt much internal or external pressure to get it right on the album."Yeah, yeah," he nodded. "Pressure abounds, for sure. We all deal with pressure differently, but acknowledging it is a big part of the process. I know how many people love Sublime, and I know how much my Father's legacy and memory mean to me and how much the very idea of even doing this might be ill-advised or fraught with peril. I think I had to go into it with that amount of respect. The way that I deal with all those expectations and fears and imposter syndrome is I try to remember at the end of the day, 'okay, this is important and is deserving of my respect, and I'm gonna take this job seriously as a professional'. But at the end of the day, I always say we're not curing cancer here. We're making rock and roll music (laughs). That is something I believe I know how to do."In the full interview, Jakob talks more about the new and final Sublime album, including the musicality present and what they were going for. He tells us about the pressures of not only filling his Father's shoes as frontman, but also personal fears and expectations around doing his Dad justice.We spoke about Jakob's first time fronting Sublime in the studio and how he feels about it, the fact that this is Sublime's final album and what the future holds. The album collaborations were fleshed out, and we talked about Sublime's recent shows at Red Rock Ampitheatre and plans for the rest of the year, plus more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

Interview by Kris PetersLet's be honest for a second. When you hear that Karnivool is touring, your ears instantly prick up. They are the undisputed kings of Australian progressive rock, a band that makes complexity sound like second nature. But when the tour announcement dropped, the words Car Bomb and TesseracT were slapped on the bill alongside them, things suddenly took an even bigger turn for the better. This isn't just a concert line-up; it's an absolute musical assault on the senses.HEAVY has always loved music that challenges you—the kind of tracks that don't just sit in the background but grab you by the throat and force you to pay attention. That is exactly what this tour is going to do. If Karnivool is the masterclass in sonic atmosphere, deep groove, and sweeping, emotional melodies, then Car Bomb is the chaotic entity sent to tear the room to pieces before the headliners even touch the stage.For the uninitiated, Car Bomb doesn't just play metal; they weaponise time signatures. Their style is a dizzying, frantic, and claustrophobic mathcore that feels like a glitching supercomputer trying to punch its way out of your speakers. Pairing their jagged, laser-guided ferocity with Karnivool's lush, towering soundscapes and the wizardry of TesseracT is a stroke of absolute genius. It's a beautiful contrast between absolute, calculated chaos and pristine, progressive beauty.HEAVY sat down with Car Bomb's guitarist Greg Kubacki to find out more. One of the topics of discussion is how Car Bomb find the balance between styles and genres in the creative process."I do the majority of the writing these days," Greg replied. "Back in the day, it was all of us working together in a room, but now we all have responsibilities, so I do the majority of the stuff. When the song starts, I start with an idea and put it on the shelf for a month or two and come back to it and see if I like it. And if I like something - whether it's technical or it's knuckle-dragging, really simple stuff - I'll just start working on a song from there.When I run out of ideas, that's when I usually know a song's done. Or if I put the song again on the shelf for another month and listen to it, and I don't find anything wrong with it, then I'm like, okay, it's good. But usually we have so many ideas that we're always working on. It's not like the movie Amadeus, where we're just writing it out, and it's written in five minutes (laughs)."In the full interview, Greg explains why it has taken Car Bomb so long to make it to Australia, how he prepares to tour a country for the first time and what they are expecting. He talked about the live show and what to expect, including what three songs people going to the show should listen to in order to get to know the band and music more.Greg ran us through difficulties in transforming the musical complexities into the live arena, as well as finding the balance between styles in the creative process. We spoke about the early days of Car bomb and the musical climate that gave birth to the band, the first time he heard one of his own songs on the radio and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

Interview by Kris PetersAustralia's hardest working rock outfit Airbourne are the official supporting act for Guns N' Roses across the Australia and New Zealand leg of their World Tour. This high-voltage stadium tour pairs two generations of fierce rock icons.Hailing from Warrnambool, Victoria, Airbourne was formed by brothers Joel and Ryan O'Keeffe and are a seamless fit for the legendary Los Angeles band. Airbourne has spent decades carrying the torch for raw, traditional Australian hard rock. Their straight-ahead rock 'n' roll style is heavily reminiscent of pub-rock pioneers like AC/DC, slotting comfortably alongside Guns N' Roses' multi-platinum, stadium-sized catalogue.The stadium series of shows brings out the principal star power of Guns N' Roses, with original members Axl Rose, Slash, and Duff McKagan completely committed to the line-up, promising a blending of classic anthems like Sweet Child O' Mine and Welcome to the Jungle, mixed with fresh, contrasting modern tracks Atlas and Nothin'.Airbourne acts as the perfect match to ignite the stadium environment. Frontman Joel O'Keeffe is legendary for his reckless live antics, which include climbing high stage scaffolding and tearing through blazing guitar solos. Criminally more popular overseas than in their own back yard, this upcoming tour will hopefully help Airbourne gain wider acceptance where it matters.At home.HEAVY caught up with Joel to talk about the tour and the excitement of sharing the stage with Guns 'N Roses."We're coming back to tour Australia!" he enthused, "And we are very excited because one of our favorite bands of all time - Guns N' Roses - has decided to take us with them! So we're going all around Australia and it's gonna be a blast. In the world that we live in today you've got everyone attached to their phones, or you got to go to work tomorrow. We're always thinking about the future; thinking about the past, chained to this; chained to that. This is the opportunity to literally live right in the present and rock and just be purely free. No phone. No job. Nothing but beers and Guns 'N Roses. What gets better than that?"In the full interview, Joel talked more about the upcoming tour and what it means to Airbourne to be playing. He described role as openers and the expectations on the band, as well as the potential for learning by watching one of the worlds best in action.We talked about Airbourne's live show and what to expect, including his own high energy performances. Airbourne's recently released new single was spoken about, as was their upcoming album and what to expect. Joel went deeper into how the album respects the life and legacy of Lemmy Kilmeister and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

Interview by Kris PetersSeattle's favourite bald, bearded, heavy metal comedian, Luke Severeid, is returning Down Under this September for his highly anticipated headline stand-up tour, aptly titled Here To F#@k Spiders. Presented by premier music and entertainment promoter Destroy All Lines, this national run cements Severeid's status as one of the most explosive, must-see comedy acts in the global circuit today. Severeid first won over massive Australian audiences with a breakout run on the KNOTFEST Australia circuit, followed by an appearance on Aussie television's The Project. Known for his self-described "unmedicated ADHD in action" comedic style, he effortlessly fuses the high-octane energy of a heavy metal show with brutally honest, aggressively absurd, and insightfully idiotic storytelling. Severeid's unique ability to connect with heavy music fans and comedy lovers alike has earned him over half a million followers online, as well as the distinction of filming the first-ever stand-up comedy specials released exclusively through the KNOTFEST platform.The Here To F#@k Spiders tour will bring Severeid's chaotic observations, raw punchlines, and famously energetic facial expressions to premier comedy rooms across the country. Fans can expect a loud, unfiltered, and hilariously unpredictable night of storytelling that hits harder than a double bass drum. Reflecting on his return, Severeid shared his immense excitement for Australian crowds, warmly comparing them to a room full of country cousins who get to laugh with complete, gleeful impunity.Of course, one of the topics of conversation was the name of the tour and why spiders are the flavour of the month."You guys have terrifying, terrifying spiders and other small critters," he answered. "I'm going to keep my genitals away from them. But I thought it was a funny name, and I hope you do too."We ask Luke about his last Australian experience in 2025 as part of the travelling Knotfest Festival."Everyone was super cool," he smiled, "but I felt like I was a transfer student to a high school that everyone... I mean, my shows were at a different time than the actual festival. Because to actually compete with that would be just asking to lose (laughs). But I got to hang out backstage and do that in the back area, and everyone was super cool; this is what they do for a living. This was a new experience for me, where I've been a touring comedian before, but not part of a large festival. So I'm talking to the crew way more easily than I am talking to musicians. People would look at me and go, are you the bass player from Hatebreed? I got that so many times. I'm not that guy, but I've written probably at least 20 minutes of jokes that would make that individual man laugh very hard based on just me talking about how I look and how he looks."In the full interview, Luke characterized his stage style as high-energy and noisy, built from short, social-media-friendly bits and improvised material rather than a fixed hour. He said he uses crowd work selectively and adapts his set dynamically to the room and lineup position. Luke also discussed his association with heavy metal branding, explaining it is partly intentional marketing and partly driven by material about the genre, and that he sometimes withholds mentioning metal to surprise audiences.We spoke about his two Knotfest comedy specials, what Australians fans can expect from the shows, the tour name and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

Poison The Well is touring Australia in June 2026, marking their highly anticipated return to the region for the first time since 2009. This massive headlining run celebrates a monumental new era for the Florida metalcore heavyweights following the release of Peace In Place, their first studio album in 16 years. For local fans who have spent nearly two decades missing the band's visceral energy, the tour bridges historical legacy with sharp modern urgency.Promoted by Destroy All Lines, the national tour features a heavily stacked bill of elite hardcore talent. Poison The Well is joined by Boston hardcore disruptors Haywire, making their debut Australian appearances, alongside iconic Melbourne road warriors Iron Mind.HEAVY spoke with guitarist Ryan Primack to find out more about what the band has in store for Australian fans.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

Australian rock legends The Superjesus are celebrating the 25th anniversary of their landmark sophomore album, Jet Age, with a national tour that kicks off in Brisbane tonight, June 5.Released in October 2000 through EastWest Records, Jet Age marked a massive creative and commercial evolution for the Adelaide-formed band. Following the gritty, raw, grunge-fuelled success of their 1998 debut album Sumo, The Superjesus faced heavy industry pressure and unexpected internal turmoil. This included the departure of founding guitarist and co-writer Chris Tennent.Rather than collapsing, frontwoman Sarah McLeod and bassist Stuart Rudd recruited new guitarist Tim Henwood. This lineup change completely transformed their musical direction. Moving away from the heavy distortion of the '90s grunge era, they embraced a more sophisticated, melodic "dark pop" and alternative power-rock aesthetic. The shift paid off brilliantly; Jet Age debuted and peaked at number 5 on the ARIA Albums Chart and officially reached Platinum status.The album delivered some of the most enduring rock anthems of the turn-of-the-millennium era. The soaring lead single Gravity became a definitive radio staple, landing at number 17 on the Triple J Hottest 100. Other massive tracks like Secret Agent Man and Enough To Know solidified their status as titans of the Australian live music circuit, a position where the band has remained to this day.HEAVY sat down with bass player Stuart Rudd to talk about the album and the history of The Superjesus, at one point asking about the emotional side of doing an album anniversary tour."Just going through the songs is kind of reawakening these tunes that have sat dormant for probably since we… some of them we actually haven't played live since we recorded them," he smiled. "So to reawaken some of these songs is fantastic, and it's sounding great. We're always keen on doing this sort of thing and touching back on the history. We think it's a great vibe all around, just connecting with the audiences."We reflect back on the pressures on The Superjesus when making Jet Age, particularly after the universal success of their debut album Sumo."We'd just come off the back of touring worldwide, so we had been on the road for 18 months," he recalled. "Maybe more. It was hard. I know touring sounds like a dream - and it is - however if you're sleep deprivated for 18 months it can be quite an insane experience. We came off the road, and it was time to write because we hadn't been writing on the road. We'd just been touring, touring, touring, so yeah, it was difficult. And it was one of those things where we lost a band member through all the touring and the pressures of the road. It was a real roll up the sleeves effort, and we moved to Melbourne on this one just to get out of the comfort zone and find a new guitarist, then start working the only way we knew how. The only way we knew from the inception of the band was to roll up our sleeves and get the work done, and that's what we did. We listen to the album now through rehearsals and touching back on it, and we're super proud it."In the full interview, Stuart talks more about Jet Age and the process behind it. We run through the album and his personal favourites, focusing on the live component and bringing the music to life. Stuart spoke about the history of The Superjesus and the pressures on the band following the massive success of Sumo, detailing how Jet Age had to be a step forward for the band and more.Tickets for the Jet Age 25th Anniversary Tour can be found here: https://www.thesuperjesus.com/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

Interview by Kris PetersDrowning Pool's multi-platinum debut album, Sinner, celebrates its 25th anniversary with a special reissue via Craft Recordings, marking its release date on June 5. First unleashed in 2001, Sinner remains a towering monument of the nu metal era. It quickly rocketed the Dallas-based heavy metal band into global stardom, debuting at No. 14 on the Billboard 200 and achieving RIAA Platinum status within its first six weeks. At the absolute centre of the album's cultural impact is the explosive hit single, Bodies. Instantly recognizable by its blunt, repetitive, and devastating opening riff, the track became an omnipresent cultural staple. It has soundtracked countless action sports videos, movie trailers, professional wrestling promos, and festival mosh pits and has been a life mantra for countless fans around the world. Alongside Bodies, standout tracks like Tear Away and the aggressive title track Sinner gave the record its thematic weight, exploring internal conflict and religious pressures. Sinner was also the first, and only, Drowning Pool album to feature original vocalist Dave Williams before his tragic passing in 2002 and remains the benchmark for debut albums across all genres.With the Anniversary issue out this Friday, and Drowning Pool preparing to hit the road where they will be playing Sinner in full, guitarist and founding member CJ Pierce has donated some of his time to chat with his Australian family about the album and plenty more. One of the topics of discussion was Williams and the emotions that invariably arise when Sinner is mentioned."Dave Williams was such a great human being, and he was excited to play rock music," CJ reminisced. "And just the stuff you don't think about, man, because life is just going, going, going. So it's been a time of self-reflection. And then us going over all the songs on the entire record. I'm excited to play this live, and I've been re-inspired by it, all three of us. And we just started writing all this new stuff.We walked into the studio with all these ideas we've been working on all year long, and all of a sudden, it's just like, it just started pouring out of us, man. So, I'm super excited about this song because we've been really inspired by the first record, and we're here doing it. The other thing that's exciting is we haven't been able to play the record in its entirety in so long. So the hardcore fans that have been with us get to see that again. And then there's a whole new generation of teenagers to 20-year-olds that are coming out that are finding nu metal again. So, for us to be able to play this record for them, for them to see it after so much time is super exciting. So, I'm all jacked up about it, man. I can't wait."In the full interview, CJ ran through his memories of making Sinner, their hopes for how it would be received and the weight of a massive commercial success. He reluctantly picked his personal favourite song from Sinner, running us through stories on a number of the songs and how they came into being.We discussed the limited edition vinyl release of the album as well as the three bonus tracks on the digital release, including Rob Zombie's The Man Without Fear. Drowning Pool's upcoming tour was mentioned, as was the possibility of an Australian tour early next year. CJ spoke of his fondness for Australia and the relationships he has built here, before moving on to new material and what we can expect and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

Words by Ali WilliamsBen Kweller is excited to be heading back to Australia in July with his Cover The Mirrors tour. It has been a while between visits. Kweller says he has not toured Australia since before the pandemic, making this run something of a proper return after the world decided to collectively lose the plot for a few years. “I'm so excited,” he says. “I love Australia. I haven't been there since the pandemic, so this is my big return since the world shut down.” That excitement is not the polished, copy-and-paste version artists sometimes pull out when talking about every country on an itinerary. Kweller speaks about Australia with real affection. His fans are keen, he is keen, and the timing feels right. Cover The Mirrors has now had time to live out in the world, and Australia gets to be part of the international stretch of the album cycle. Released in 2025, Cover The Mirrors is the latest chapter in a career that started ridiculously early. Kweller began writing songs when he was eight and formed his first band around the age of 12 or 13. By his teens, he was fronting Radish, the Texas band that first put him on the map and gave him one of those music memories that still lights him up. He remembers being 14 when a Radish song, Dear Antarctica, was played on Q102 FM in Dallas by the gloriously named DJ Redbeard. Kweller and his bandmates piled into a car, because only one of them was old enough to drive, and circled the block until the song came on.  It is the kind of story that sounds small until you remember how massive it would have felt at the time. Three young musicians, one working car, a local radio station, and proof that something they made had escaped into the world. That is the sort of thing that keeps people writing songs long after common sense has suggested a more stable hobby.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

Interview by Angela CroudaceFor more than three decades, Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale has weathered the highs and lows of the music industry, but the band's current resurgence feels less like a comeback and more like the reward for years of persistence.Speaking ahead of Bush's Australian tour this September alongside Shinedown, Rossdale reflects on the band's renewed popularity, comparing success to a carousel that eventually brings artists back into the spotlight. "You've got to keep going," he said. "As long as you stay on and do your best, there's a chance it comes back around again."Rossdale credits Bush's longevity to a simple philosophy: focus on your craft, stay likeable, and never stop improving. Despite selling millions of records worldwide, he admitted the uncertainty never disappears, recalling conversations with actor Keanu Reeves that reminded him even the most successful people still wonder what comes next.Away from music, Rossdale has also found success with his cooking and interview series, which he hopes to continue with a second season. He described the show as an opportunity to reveal the human side of well-known figures.As for Bush's upcoming Australian dates, Rossdale is eager to return, promising fans a refreshed setlist featuring deeper cuts alongside the band's biggest hits. Tickets from destroyalllines.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

Interview by Ali WilliamsSpiderbait stands as one of Australia's most enduring alternative rock bands. Formed in 1989 in the small town of Finley, New South Wales, the trio comprises Janet English on bass and vocals, Whitt (Damian Whitty) on guitar, andKram (Mark Maher) on drums and vocals. The childhood friends began playing in a local tractor shed, forging a unique, high-energy sound that blended punk rock, thrash metal, and catchy pop sensibilities. Their tight-knit personal bond and minimal three-piece lineup became the foundation for a career spanning more than three decades.The band rose to national prominence through Australia's independent touring circuit and constant support from youth radio station Triple J. They achieved a historic milestone in 1996 when their frantic track Buy Me a Pony became the first Australian song to top the Triple J Hottest 100. This success catapulted their third studio album, Ivy & the Big Apples, into multi-platinum status. The album showcased their versatility, juxtaposing heavy guitar riffs with sweet, melodic vocals, exemplified by the chart-topping, acoustic-driven single Calypso.Spiderbait solidified their global and commercial legacy in 2004 with a blistering, hard-rock cover of the traditional folk song Black Betty. The track reached number one on the ARIA Singles Chart and gained massive international exposure through video games, television, and film soundtracks. Known for their explosive live performances, the band transitioned seamlessly from sweaty pub rock venues to headlining major festivals like the Big Day Out.Decades after their formation, Spiderbait remains highly relevant to the Australian music landscape. The group continues to tour to sold-out crowds, celebrating milestone anniversaries of their classic albums and introducing their raw, energetic catalog to new generations of fans. Their longevity, commercial triumphs, and fiercely independent spirit have earned them a permanent place among the legends of Australian rock music history.HEAVY'sAli Williams sat down for a nostalgic chat with Kram ahead of Spiderbait'sIvy & the Big Apples 30th anniversary tour.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

Interview by Kris PetersThis August, Tasmania's finest export, extreme metal pioneers, Psycroptic join like-minded-and-saxophone-wielding US progressive death wizards Rivers of Nihil for a co-headline tour that brings together two elite bands operating at the highest tier of modern death metal.For Psycroptic, the timing couldn't be stronger. Off the back of relentless global touring alongside the likes of Dying Fetus, Ne Obliviscaris and Six Feet Under, the recently released singles, Architecture of Extinction and Falling, plus their ninth studio album set for a mid year release via Metal Blade Records, the band continue to prove why they remain Australia's most respected technical metal export more than two decades in.Fellow Metal Blade label mates, Rivers of Nihil arrive riding the momentum of their 2025 self-titled release, a record that tightened their sound without losing the scope that has defined them since Where Owls Know My Name. Now fronted by bassist Adam Biggs, the band's current form is more potent than it ever was.Joining them on all dates are Melbourne's psychologically charged Growth who are on the eve of releasing part two of their highly anticipated album trilogy, Under The Under, and Sydney's uncompromisingly brutal, Slaughtercult, rounding out a bill that is equal parts precision, atmosphere and outright savagery.HEAVY caught up with Biggs to find out more, starting with what has changed with Rivers Of Nihil since they were last out here in 2023."Since then we've put out a new record that we did last year," he measured. "It's our fifth studio album and a self-titled record, and is the first one with yours truly on on vocals alongside our new guitarist, Andy Thomas, also providing his soaring clean vocals and such like that. So it's a mix up in the lineup of the band, but I think we've put together a strong cluster of songs, especially to bring to the stage."With the tour being billed as a co-headline event, we ask Biggs if that means themselves and Psycroptic will alternate playing last each night or whether it means something else."I think we're playing the same length set," he replied, obviously unsure himself. "I can't remember if we are alternating or not, but I'm fairly certain it's Psycroptic closing the show for the most part. I mean, we're on on their home turf and they're the national Australian death metal band so it's hard to argue with that (laughs)."In the full interview, Adam spoke more about the tour and what to expect, including having the final date at Necrosonic Festival in Brisbane. We talked about what fans can expect, as well as his recent transition to frontman and how easy that move was for him.Their latest self titled album was mentioned, including which album song was the most challenging to learn to play live and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

Interview by Ali WilliamsSome bands age quietly into legacy status, then there is The Living End, who appear to have treated the passing of time as a personal dare.After decades of twisting punk, rockabilly, sharp-suited swagger and full-throttle Australian rock into something entirely their own, the band are now being welcomed into the ARIA Hall of Fame. For bass player Scott Owen, speaking with HEAVY Magazine's Ali Williams, the honour is still landing somewhere between pride, disbelief and that very Australian instinct to not make too much of the emotional bit in case someone notices.He admits the induction has made the band stop and reflect, which is no small task when you are part of a group that has spent most of its life moving at the speed of a getaway car with a double bass in the back seat. The Living End's first EP arrived in the mid-'90s, the first record followed in 1998, and Scott and Chris Cheney had already been playing together since around 1990. The mathematics, as Scott cheerfully points out, are “confronting”. Fair. Nobody asked time to come in here with a calculator and start being rude.But that long history is exactly why The Living End still matter. They were never neatly slotted into the machinery around them. In the '90s, when Triple J was a very different beast and Australian alternative music had its own wild ecosystem, The Living End were not simply alternative. They were, in Scott's words, “the alternative to the alternative” - a strange, sharp, highly flammable hybrid of rockabilly and punk that did not fit anywhere and therefore carved out its own corner by force.That identity has not softened. It has become the band's signature. Scott's double bass remains one of Australian rock's great visual and sonic weapons. It is not just an instrument in The Living End; it is part of the architecture. Alongside Chris Cheney's famously elastic guitar work and the locked-in chemistry that only comes from surviving decades of stages, buses, hotels, rehearsals, chaos and suspiciously romantic dinners together, the band still carry a sense of occasion every time they step up. Scott jokes that he and Chris have probably had more romantic dinners together than any couple in the world. Somewhere, a relationship counsellor just threw away their notebook.That chemistry also includes Andy Strachan, affectionately referred to by Scott as “the new guy”, despite having been in the band for around 20 years. Rock and roll timelines are ridiculous. A man can spend two decades behind the kit and still be treated like he has just wandered in with fresh ID and a lunchbox.Swinging back to one of the year's great live surprises: Jimmy Barnes joining The Living End onstage at the Hotel Brunswick. Scott says it was a hard secret to keep after finding out that morning, because the whole point was to blow everyone's minds without warning. Mission accomplished. When Barnesy appears unannounced at a pub gig, that is not a cameo. That is a national incident with vocals.For Ali, who had been in work mode in the media pit before realising she was casually talking to Jimmy Barnes himself, the moment became one of those live music memories that gets filed under: “This is why we leave the house.” It also reinforced something that runs right through the interview: the irreplaceable magic of real bodies, real instruments, sweaty venues and the shared lunacy of a crowd being lifted by noise.That idea sits at the heart of The Living End's current chapter. Their upcoming run carries the spirit of I Only Trust Rock N Roll, a sentiment Scott says came from the same place many of the new songs did: the strange, rattled, post-2020 world where everything suddenly felt unstable and everyone started wondering what, if anything, could still be trusted.For Scott, the answer is simple. Rock and roll still feels real. Still, for all the shifts around them, The Living End's purpose remains gloriously direct. They like to put on a show. They like leaving people wondering what the hell just happened. They like blowing the roof off the joint, whether that joint is a festival stage, a regional venue, or the kind of pub where the walls know more secrets than the patrons.Their latest album bares the same namesake as their upcoming tour - I Only Trust Rock N Roll. The album is available now on all platforms and for tickets and tour information head to www.thelivingend.com.auBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

Interview by Angela CroudaceAfter more than two decades as one of metalcore's most respected bands, August Burns Red are finally heading back to Australia this September, and drummer Matt Greiner says the excitement from fans has been overwhelming. Speaking ahead of the tour, Greiner revealed Australia will be the first country to experience a full headline run celebrating the band's upcoming album Season Of Surrender.Greiner admitted the response to the announcement caught him off guard, comparing it to the excitement the band experienced when first touring internationally in the late 2000s. “It felt like that level of excitement again,” he shared, reflecting on the flood of messages from Australian fans eager to welcome the band back after such a long absence.The veteran drummer also opened up about how surreal it feels to still be connecting with audiences after 23 years. These days, Greiner is not only performing to longtime supporters, but also teaching drum lessons to the children of fans who grew up with August Burns Red. He described it as both humbling and rewarding to see the band's music continuing to inspire a new generation of heavy music fans.Family was another major topic during the conversation, with Greiner speaking warmly about balancing life on the road with being a father. He praised his wife for supporting the demanding touring lifestyle and shared how much it means to have his family behind him while continuing to chase opportunities around the world.Matt also expressed excitement about touring alongside rising Australian acts Bloom and I Promise The World, explaining that helping younger bands grow is something he deeply values. Looking ahead to September, he promised Australian crowds energetic shows, genuine fan interaction and a celebration of the connection that has kept August Burns Red thriving for more than two decades.Check out the full interview for plenty more...Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

Interview by Kris PetersThis week the global rock underground is shifting its focus Down Under as Norwegian stoner rock prodigies Slomosa touch down for their first-ever Australian headline tour. Armed with their critically acclaimed album Tundra Rock, the Bergen-based quartet is prepared to bring a sonic avalanche to local music venues.Dubbed the "New Kings of the Stone Age" by critics, Slomosa has captured global attention by bridging continents with their self-coined genre, Tundra Rock. Their signature sound seamlessly fuses the classic, sun-baked distortion of the California desert rock scene with the icy, atmospheric weight of their Nordic homeland. The result is a monolithic wall of sound packed with Kyuss-style riff worship, grunge-laced hooks, and a relentless punk energy. This devastating live reputation is no mere internet hype; the band has already spent years leveling massive European festival stages and earning public praise from legendary heavy hitters like Helmet, Mastodon, and Alkaline Trio. This lightning-fast, three-night headline run promises to turn local rooms into sweaty, high-octane mosh pits. Joined by Australian heavy-rock mainstays Khan, the tour kicks off on Friday, 22 May at Max Watts in Melbourne, moves to Crowbar Sydney on Saturday, 23 May, and wraps up at Crowbar Brisbane on Sunday, 24 May. With tickets selling fast and Aussie fans eager to witness this sonic collision of desert heat and Arctic frost, this is a landmark debut tour you cannot afford to miss. HEAVY caught up with frontman Benjamin Berdous on his day off to find out more. We spoke about what the band are doing in their down time, their excitement to finally make it to Australia and their determination to leave everything on stage.Benjamin talked about playing smaller, more intimate venues as opposed to larger festival stages, their nightly mission when they hit the stage, mixing songs from the bands two albums into a setlist and more.Tickets www.thephoenix.auBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

Interview by Ali WilliamsMetal legends Andy La Rocque (King Diamond) and Nils K Rue (Pagans Mind) hooked up with HEAVY Mag's Ali Williams to chat about their new project Lex Legion and their new album. Joining La Rocque and Rue are Pete Blakk (King Diamond), Mikkey Dee (King Diamond, Scorpions, Mötorhead) and Hal Patino (King Diamond). Lex Legion's debut album is set for release on June 12, and while the band may be newly announced to the world, the machinery behind it has been grinding away for years. What began as riffs and ideas between Andy and Pete back in 2008 was left sitting in the heavy metal vault for a while, not forgotten so much as waiting for the right moment to come stomping back through the door wearing boots. That moment arrived during the pandemic, when the world had been forcibly unplugged and musicians, like the rest of us, suddenly found themselves staring at time like it was an unfamiliar household appliance. Pete started writing again, played some material for Mikkey Dee, and the wheels began turning. Mikkey heard something worth chasing, Andy was pulled back into the fold, and what had once been a half-shelved idea began growing teeth. From there, the lineup expanded with Hal Patino joining the project, before the search began for the right voice. There were names considered, big ones too, but Andy already had someone in mind. Having worked with Nils K. Rue years earlier, he knew the Pagan's Mind vocalist had the right kind of power, range and character to carry what Lex Legion were building. Mikkey agreed fairly quickly, apparently needing only to hear Nils before deciding that, yes, that was the bloke for the job. Convenient, really, when the singer turns out to be the missing piece instead of another three-month committee discussion.The result is a band that may be fresh on paper but is hardly operating on beginner settings. These are players with serious history behind them, but Lex Legion has no interest in being a nostalgia project or a backdoor continuation of King Diamond. Andy was clear that while the connection between members is obvious, the intention was never to clone the past. King Diamond is its own beast. Lex Legion, he explained, needed to be something separate. That distinction matters. The album carries the spirit of late '70s and early '80s heavy metal, the kind that still had grease under its fingernails and a pulse you could feel through the floor, but it is not trapped in a museum cabinet. Andy described the material as less complex and less progressive than some of the old King Diamond work, with more emphasis on flow, melody and straight-up heavy metal punch. In other words, it knows where it came from, but it is not standing there waving a faded flag and yelling at clouds.Lex Legion does not sound like a file-sharing experiment held together by Wi-Fi and optimism. It sounds like musicians who know each other's instincts, know when to push, and know when not to smother a song under unnecessary cleverness. The first single, Sleep Eternally, has already landed with a response that surpassed Andy's expectations, and with another single due before the album, the early signs are strong. The band is not rushing straight onto the road, though. Mikkey's commitments with Scorpions keep him busy through much of the year, so touring is more likely to become a serious discussion for next year. Importantly, Lex Legion is not being treated as a studio-only side quest. Andy made it clear that live shows are part of the plan when the timing lines up, and there are already ideas forming for a second album. Ambitious, yes. Reckless? Maybe a little. But metal has never exactly thrived on sensible office planning. As for Australia, Andy admitted he has never made it down here with King Diamond, though other members have done the trip with their respective bands. The prospect of Lex Legion eventually making their way Down Under was warmly welcomed, and judging by the appetite here for heavy metal with roots, weight and actual identity, there will be no shortage of people ready to greet them with raised horns and mildly concerning enthusiasm. Lex Legion now stand at the beginning of their own first chapter, albeit with a few veterans at the wheel and absolutely no need for learner plates. The debut album arrives June 12, Sleep Eternally is already out in the wild, and if the early reaction is anything to go by, this is not just a side project shuffling politely into the room. It is old-school heavy metal with fresh intent, built by people who know exactly what they are doing and, mercifully, are not interested in polishing all the bite out of it.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

Interview by Kris PetersGargoyle of the Garden State, the highly anticipated debut solo album from Skid Row co-founder and bassist Rachel Bolan, releases on 12 June 2026 via earMUSIC. Stepping into the spotlight under the moniker BOLAN, this record marks a monumental milestone in the musician's four-decade career. Driven by a desire to craft something entirely his own, Bolan handles the vast majority of the recording duties himself, taking over lead vocals, bass, and most of the guitar tracks.Rooted deeply in the grit, attitude, and storytelling traditions of his New Jersey upbringing, the album is a high-octane sonic journey. Musically, it breaks away from standard hair metal conventions, leaning instead into a raw, hook-driven fusion of punk rock energy and melodic sensibilities. Bolan weaves a lifetime of diverse influences into the tracklist, drawing inspiration from Britpop, glam, new wave, and 1980s John Hughes cinema, even incorporating a sitar on the distinctly pop-punk track Memory.Though it is a solo venture, Bolan shares the experience with an impressive, star-studded lineup of close friends and peers. Listeners can expect guest appearances from legendary artists like Corey Taylor (Slipknot), Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme), Steve Conte, and Damon Johnson. Furthermore, Bolan's Skid Row family - including Scotti Hill, Dave "Snake" Sabo, and drummer Rob Hammersmith - lend their talents to various tracks. Ultimately, Gargoyle of the Garden State serves as an uncompromising, honest reflection of Bolan's true musical identity, balancing serious, reflective songwriting with an undeniable, upbeat rock-and-roll party atmosphere.HEAVY sat down with Bolan to find out more, asking him to describe what he was going for musically with the album."I was just going for a raw feel," he explained. "This record sums up me and what's going on in my head, you know, and it was fun to play guitar. I played all the rhythms and the bass, did most of the singing and then had a whole bunch of friends come in and contribute, which meant the world to me."We ask why now, after more than 40 years in music, is the right time to make a solo album."You know, I didn't find the time. The time kind of found me," he smiled. "We had downtime with Skid Row while we were searching for a vocalist and I had a bunch of songs. I kept writing through the whole process and it was more it's not now or never, but now would be a good time (laughs)."In the full interview, Rachel speaks more about Gargoyle of the Garden State and the songs on it, reflecting on the two singles released to date and if they are a good sonic representation of the album as a whole. We talked about lead track Anything But You and why it was chosen as first introduction to his solo work, plus the influence New Jersey and its way of life had on the album.We talked more about the guest artists and why they were chosen, having his Skid Row bandmates on there and why, the title and where it comes from, playing these songs live and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

Interview by Kris PetersFor over two decades now, Escape The Fate have been one of the most recognisable names in modern hard rock, building an incredible catalogue packed with stadium-wrecking hooks, ferocious riffs and the kind of jackhammer heaviness that has kept fans coming back since their breakthrough record, 2008's This War Is Ours. The bands latest release, 2025's Redefined, once again showcases a band that comfortably moves between crushing heaviness, soaring choruses and anthemic rock moments like true masters of their craft.Australia has always held Escape The Fate close to their hearts with the bands fanbase being one of the most loyal in the world, patiently waiting three long years for their return. That patience will be rewarded with a live show packed with fan favourites, massive singalongs and the kind of explosive energy that has defined Escape The Fate's reputation as one of the greatest live acts of their era.HEAVY sat down with drummer and founding member Robert Ortiz to find out more, asking him what has changed with the band since their last visit three years ago."I can't believe it's been that long," he almost apologised. "That's insane. Mainly it's just the dynamic that has changed. The vision, the devotion, the hard work, the dedication, as Floyd Mayweather always used to like to say. We're very excited about the new album. We spent the majority of the last two years writing, recording and relaxing a little bit. There's been some stuff where, personally, I had to deal with a couple of things with my family and some loss and things like that, but I spent time with my daughters and all that kind of stuff while working on new music, which we're so incredibly excited for."In the full interview, Robert emphasized Escape The Fate's energetic, authentic live presence and praised guitarist Matty's musicianship, contrasting current purpose-driven touring with earlier, less focused periods. He recounted recent touring with Lacuna Coil and audience engagement varying by market. He also summarized the band's origins in the Las Vegas scene and how regional club touring shaped their development.Robert described their most recent single Deja Vu as lyrically focused on vocalist Craig's sobriety and recurring fears and musically introducing a darker digital element. He said the single signals the album's direction but does not represent the whole record. The album is characterized as the band's most cohesive to date while stylistically diverse, containing a full thrash song featuring blast beats and double bass, some pop-leaning tracks that retain dark tones and plenty more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

Interview by Kris PetersAustralia's own Rose Carleo Band returns with a bold, soul-stirring new album, 42 Days, out now. A deeply personal and sonically rich collection, this release captures the very essence of resilience, transformation, and raw human emotion.Fronted by acclaimed vocalist, songwriter, and next Queen of Rock Rose Carleo, the band has carved out a reputation for blending blues, rock, and roots with heartfelt storytelling. Joining Rose is a powerhouse line-up featuring guitarist and co-writer Mick Adkins, bassist Bill Kervin, and drummer Mick O'Shea. 42 Days marks a defining chapter, an album born from a period of intense reflection and creative rebirth.Leading the release is the focus track, 42 Days, a powerful centrepiece that encapsulates the spirit of the record. Driven by Carleo's commanding vocal performance and anchored by gritty instrumentation, the track explores endurance, healing, and the emotional weight of time. It's both deeply personal and universally relatable – a song that lingers long after the final note.HEAVY sat down with Rose Carleo to find out more, starting by asking how she is feeling with the album finally out."Over the moon," she enthused. "It's finally here. Yeah, really, really happy. It's a very personal album, as I guess all albums are, but this is especially. And we had to put it off for about six months due to some commitments I had earlier last year and here it is finally."We ask Rose to describe the album musically."It's an honest album," she replied. "It's an album full of emotion and I guess real life experience. And it's a rock and Bitchin' Blues rock album, I reckon that's sort of how we feel about it. We're not just blues, we're not just rock, we're not just heavy rock, we're a bit of everything, so we like to call it Bitchin' Blues rock."In the full interview, Rose described 42 Days as a personal record blending hard rock and blues she calls Bitchin' Blues rock, with the opening track You Ain't Foolin' Me selected for strong impact. The album was delayed about six months because of earlier commitments. Rose said the record lacks a single defining track due to its eclectic mix and that surplus recorded songs allowed careful sequencing.We spoke about Rose's appearance on The Voice and how it influenced the album, her journey through music, upcoming shows and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

Interview by Kris PetersRising rock force Bailey Spinn is casting a spell with her hypnotic new single, “Voodoo,” out Friday, May 15. Dark, addictive, and laced with attitude, the track leans into a moody rock soundscape built on pulsing production, gritty guitars, and Bailey's signature bite. Co-written and produced by Jon Lundin (FEVER 333, State Champs, Senses Fail), “voodoo” captures the intoxicating push-and-pull of parasocial relationships. With its haunting atmosphere and cathartic chorus, the track feels tailor-made for late-night drives and scream-at-the-top-of-your-lungs moments alike. “Voodoo” follows Bailey's biting anti-Valentine's Day anthem “Homicide,” along with standout singles “Critical” and “Fear Of Going Out,” which earned praise in the press and showed the artist venturing into heavier sonic territory. Artists such as Bailey Spinn are pivotal in bridging the divide many younger listeners find between pop music and the heavier elements, with their deviations into heavier landscapes lessening the blow felt by some growing musical tastebuds when it comes to rock and metal. Bailey is perhaps at the forefront of the current transition, mixing pop, punk, rock and attitude into an easily digestable sonic experience that acts as an ideal stepping stone between a plethora of genres.HEAVY sat down with Bailey to discuss her new single Voodoo and her shift into heavier territory."I definitely like to do a little bit of metalcore," she smiled. "I like to get as close to a metal song as I can, but I also don't know how to scream so I love to teeter on the line of how far can I go without screaming (laughs). There's a really heavier, breakdown bit - as I love to do - and I really wanted to do something dark and a little bit scary. A lot of my imagery for the song was haunted and a bit scary, kind of based around a voodoo doll."Voodoo continues Bailey's recent flirtation with heavier music, leading HEAVY to ask if it is a conscious shift towards such elements, orif it has been more of a natural progression."I think it definitely was a conscious shift," she nodded. "I had tried to put some heavier songs on the past album and they didn't really feel like a good fit at the time. When I was writing the new stuff, I kept trying to do pop rock and it just wasn't sitting with me as much as it used to. I had been really diving into listening to heavier music and going to a lot of heavier festivals myself, and what I was inspired by was very different from what I started out being inspired by. Avril Lavigne and Paramore moved to (bands like) Bring Me the Horizon and Pierce the Veil and Motionless In White and started veering more heavy than poppy. So I decided I wanted to try heavier and I loved it. The first song, I just felt right when I did it. I was like, I think this is the right step for me."In the full interview Bailey discusses Voodoo in greater detail as well as her gradual shift into heavier music. She describes her influences and how they have impacted her music, including the use of breakdowns in her songs.Bailey addresses the potential for younger, existing fans to be confused at her shifting between genres, as well as the importance of staying true to yourself and inviting listeners to experience such changes with you. She discussed her new album and how the three singles released so far reflect the overall sonic structure of the album, as well as the personal nature of her lyrics and how they connect with her fanbase.Her transition from TikTok personality into cover songs and ultimately original music was discussed, including different demands each platform can create and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

Interview by Cecilia Pattison-LeviSince launching her solo career, Tarja has consistently charted internationally and built one of the most loyal fanbases in the genre, willing to follow her in every new adventure.Across more than two decades, Tarja has released a highly successful catalogue, reaching the Top 10 of multiple European album charts and establishing herself as an artist of rare consistency and presence. Her live performances have become a defining element of her career: touring worldwide and appearing as a celebrated guest at major metal festivals, Tarja creates a powerful and emotional connection with audiences, turning every show into a memorable experience.Tarja will release her new album Frisson Noir on June 12, an album which reflects her ongoing dialogue between cinematic orchestration, classical heritage, and the power and intensity of contemporary metal. The album moves between intimate piano passages, dramatic orchestral textures, and powerful guitar-driven moments, creating a sonic tapestry that enriches the experience.At the center of the soundscape is Tarja's distinctive voice, moving effortlessly between fragile emotional expression and operatic power. Around it, orchestral arrangements, choirs, and layered instrumentation create a cinematic world that constantly shifts between darkness and light, exploring deeply human themes such as fear, beauty, nostalgia, resilience, defiance, transformation, identity, disappearance, independence, trust, and perseverance.HEAVY sat down with Tarja to discuss the album in greater detail. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

Interview by Kris PetersKnown for redefining genre boundaries, Prompts have built a reputation for masterfully fusing elements of nü-metal, mathcore, djent and deathcore, crafting a sound that is entirely unique to them that feels both experimental and refined. With members hailing from both Japan and South Korea, the band's dual heritage continues to shape their distinctive sound - a melding of contrasting influences and cultures.Continuing to prove themselves as one of metals most exciting up and coming acts, Japan-based metalcore outfit Prompts tread new ground on silky smooth new single "Death of Me", out now via Greyscale Records in partnership with Papercut Records (US).Leaning into a more subdued and atmospheric direction, "Death of Me" sees the band trade thrashing undercurrents for a slow-burning sense of yearning. The track lingers and aches, built around a deeply human contradiction - the kind of love where wanting the best for someone means convincing yourself to walk away. "One part of you swears letting go is the right thing to do, while the most honest part of you is quietly begging for the exact opposite," says the band. Ultimately, "Death of Me" unfolds as a confession confronting vulnerability and embracing softer truths. "It is about finally facing the softer, weaker parts of yourself you were trying to hide, and admitting that all you really wanted was to stay close to the person who never left your heart.”HEAVY sat down with frontman PK while he was in Australia as guest vocalist for Crystal Lake to find out more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

Interview by Scarlett Myors (12 years old)Music and musical tastes are very much an individual and personal thing, with heavy metal and hard rock being more of an acquired taste for the younger generation rather than a natural progression.Put simply, it's not easy to steer the youth of today down a path to harder edged music, especially when competing with things like K-Pop and the likes. But music can also be a transitional thing, with different gateways and inroads into new genres often coming from within. There are many bands/singers with more pop leanings that dabble in harder music, thus inviting their fans - many of whom are in that younger age demographic - to taste the sonic pleasures inherent in heavier music.One such artist is Bailey Spinn, a singer with a massive global following that also has rock coursing through her veins. Starting with last years track Critical, then Homicide earlier this year, Bailey Spinn has embraced subtle elements of hard rock, progressively showcasing a darker, harder edge to her music without pushing her existing envelope too far.That flirtation continues on Spinn's latest single Voodoo, which is released this Friday, May 15. Another step further into rock territory, Voodoo perfectly encapsulates the growing corrolation between pop and rock music without becoming too dark to alienate her existing fanbase.And what better way to showcase that musical transition than through the thoughts and feelings of one of Bailey Spinn's younger fans? Which is why HEAVY booked some time with Spinn to discuss Voodoo, with one of her fans - 12 year old Scarlett Myors - exploring the new song and more. She started by asking what the inspiration was behind Voodoo."I decided to make Voodoo because I had an old friend who was doing some shady stuff," Bailey smiled, "and I wanted to get my feelings out there. I really like to write songs to get over it and we've all had a bad friend once in a while so I wanted to write it all down and get it off my chest. I love making heavier music, so I wanted it to feel a little spooky and scary with kind of BabyDoll vibes. I made a teddy bear for the visual stuff that's coming out very soon, so I just wanted to talk about my experience with that person and how they were stalking me on lione. It's very easy to stalk people on the internet nowadays (laughs)."In the full interview Bailey talks about what made her want to be a singer, the inspiration for her songs and music, who she would love to collaborate with in the future, words of advice for aspiring musicians, future goals and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

Interview by Ali WilliamsIf there's one thing metal fans adore, it's passion — and talking to Yoth Iria's Nikolas and Jim (the legendary Jim Mutilator, no less) proves the Greeks have it in spades. Despite what might be the most lag-ridden Zoom call in human history, we all the patience of monks and the enthusiasm of headbangers at their first gig. And managed to have a conversation bursting with humour, honesty, and riffs of wisdom about their latest album, the evolution of Hellenic metal, and why live music is the truest form of human connection. Yoth Iria's sound is best described as new wave of Hellenic darkness— unmistakably forged in the fires of the Greek black metal scene — continues its ascent with new album which was unleashed late last week. Jim describes it as “the new wave of Hellenic black metal”, but with experimentation that stretches far beyond borders. The record blends everything from gothic metal and thrash to traditional Greek folk motifs and the odd splash of punk — a sonic gyros with a side of dark melody. Nikolas adds with a grin that the secret to their evolution lies in balance: “You have to keep your identity but explore new worlds. You can't just replicate yourself forever — that's not art, that's photocopying.”There is undeniable chemistry behind the chaos, and artistic chemistry, seems to be their real superpower. Jim and Nikolas compose like siblings who occasionally disagree but always end up laughing about it over beers. “We're different in style,” Jim admits, “but that's our secret to success. It's the difference that makes the music breathe.”Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.