The Universal Hitchhiker: Recent Episodes
Jeff the Hitchhiker
Prong has been one of the building blocks for modern metal since the mid/ late 80's. Tommy has been the sole heartbeat of the band since it's inception.
Now with his lucky number 13th album coming you can hear why Prong is at the tip of every metalhead's tongue when you ask them who their biggest influence would be.
'State of Emergency' has all of the pure aggressive impact that the band has always projected. But there is something about this album that feels so well put together that is almost what I might consider his best Prong album yet. But, there are so many good ones, it is hard to settle.
Enjoy the interview...I did.
After a long hiatus we are finally back!
I was blessed to get the opportunity to talk to Aki of the screamo metal band Dreamwell. Earlier this year Dreamwell signed with Prosthetic Records. Their second album 'In My Saddest Dreams, I Am Beside You' is nothing short of amazing. Each song has it's own identity yet they are all linked to one idea.
This album is "dark yet smart poetry with a musical backdrop of intense emotion and an eerie calmness".
The album is out October 20th. Enjoy.
Welcome back Gurschach. At the end of 2020 they killed YouTube with their own version of Metallica's "St. Anger". I found it to be exceptional. But the sad reality is just how good this band is. Their songs are well thought out, smart, and each one has a lot of moving parts that fit so well together.
Early this year they released their latest EP 'Hypnotic Disasters'. This is a collection of one song written by each member of the band. If you analyze like I do, you can segregate the different characteristics of each title. This would then break down to the creativity of each member.
I again got to talk to all four member of the outfit which I always love. Just a bunch of gifted hard rockers that are just as smart and fun as they are talented.
I hope you enjoy the conversation, the music, and especially their EP.
Lately it has been somewhat normal for a band to roll through a town more than once in a year. With so many bands playing catch-up from missing so many months of touring, you jump on to what you can to work on getting yourself back out there.
Infected Rain was a part of the Butcher Babies tour at the end of last year. This brought them through my town once already. With the release of the 'Ecdysis' album Lena and the boys were destined to tour more and this, thankfully brought them back around again.
With the stop in my town again, I had to jump at the chance to get to talk to Lena. The band is over a decade old and have turn some heads over and over again with their honest and fully aggressive style. If you have not seen the band live you would truly be missing out on how intense and focused they are to give you a fully engaged experience.
Lena was an extremely engaging interview. She took every question to heart and made it very clear that she is serious about what she does. This artist and her bandmates are very hard working and deserve every opportunity that comes their way. If you haven't listened to 'Ecdysis', or any other Infected Rain album, you are missing out and you need to catch up.
Lately it has been somewhat normal for a band to roll through a town more than once in a year. With so many bands playing catch-up from missing so many months of touring, you jump on to what you can to work on getting yourself back out there.
Infected Rain was a part of the Butcher Babies tour at the end of last year. This brought them through my town once already. With the release of the 'Ecdysis' album Lena and the boys were destined to tour more and this, thankfully brought them back around again.
With the stop in my town again, I had to jump at the chance to get to talk to Lena. The band is over a decade old and have turn some heads over and over again with their honest and fully aggressive style. If you have not seen the band live you would truly be missing out on how intense and focused they are to give you a fully engaged experience.
Lena was an extremely engaging interview. She took every question to heart and made it very clear that she is serious about what she does. This artist and her bandmates are very hard working and deserve every opportunity that comes their way. If you haven't listened to 'Ecdysis', or any other Infected Rain album, you are missing out and you need to catch up.
There's something about this band. I don't know what it is that drives me to them. I have been a fan for a long time. They are just on the edge of the styles of music that I traditionally listen to. There is something about the drive that Mixi has, and her ability to bring back my love for good solid hard rock with a little edge. This interview was a quick chat at the Rebel Lounge in Phoenix. I never miss a chance to get a quick few minutes with Mixi. I was even more excited that Jason sat with us as well. The bonus was that I got to sit through the entire sound check which ended up more like a full rehearsal. I am one of the few who have ever gotten to see the entire show, before seeing the entire show.
Two great albums in just a few years is a great start for a newer band. Mass Worship has already come up with some heart wrenching heavy music for the soul. At this pace I am hopeful to see another album turn around in a short period of time.
Mass Worship is already taking the dark metal world by storm. Their intense sounds and poetic lyrics are a fresh addition to their respected genres. The music is not for the faint of heart. The lyrics are thought provoking and intelligent. In the 'Portal Tombs' album they already have recruited some quite notable guest appearances. That alone tells you how the industry is receiving this band.
We got to talk to Fred about the writing and recording process of the band among other details. Matt and Fred also got into a great conversation on geographical styles.
If you fancy some heavier Swedish darkened metal, this is right up your alley.
Sadly we aren't able to showcase the music. But, you know, with modern technology you should have no trouble finding some songs from this band.
What started out as side project quickly became a main objective after the band heard the voice of Rachel Aspe completely command the lyrics. This intense female fronted hardcore act has been blowing up on You Tube and other platforms where a band can get themselves out to the world. Intense power and sharp precision pack a huge punch in this new self titled album.
We got to talk to Jon in pretty good detail about the formation of the band. The ideals behind the music and subject matter. We also got to find out more about Jon himself. The band is pretty much self produced by Jon and the sound of the album is authentic and natural as opposed to being too clean. Let's face it. this type of music is not meant to be neat and tidy. It's harsh, impactful, and organic.
I hope you like our conversation with Jon. And for the love of all things hardcore, listen to the band's self titled album. It will change your aggressive side severely. What a release!!!
It takes a lot of talent in my eyes to form a sound that contains so many elements. Paddy and the Rats have taken eclectic music to an entirely different level. This Hungarian band of jolly musicians has found a recipe that seems to be working.
Later this month they will release their 6th album. As the recipe keeps changing the taste seems to keep getting better. The band keeps adding and taking away pieces and portions of sounds that make each album significantly different from any others. From Wasteland to Wonderland to me could be the album that catapults them to a new level.
I hope you enjoy our conversation. I hope you enjoy the music. I know I do.
Rest easy Bernie. The music you made continues to play forever.
Wilderun has recently released 'Epigone'. This album follows suit along with the previous albums. The band is musically adventurous and most definitely eclectic. From thrash metal to folk music, they manage to fit every imaginable genre in between, into almost every song.
The adventurous part is that when you are navigating a Wilderun album you will not know what is at the next note or lyric. The song could abruptly move into a symphonic style of sound with harmonic vocals. Or it could slowly morph into an all out ear bleeding onslaught of aggression and thrash metal throat screams. The music will never let you settle down. Once you tap into any album, get ready for the uncertain twists and turns.
"Epigone' is another step in the right direction for Wilderun. They don't hold anything back and they continue to strive for each album to be more than 5 steps ahead of the previous with different techniques and styles mixed in with the consistency that has already been working for them.
Daniel and myself talked a lot about the album, the writing process, and what makes them flow as a band. Hand down one of my favorite conversations.
Temperance is a power metal super group. They have 6 LPs and 2 EPs. They are one of the most creative and groundbreaking bands of their selected genres. They had just released 'Diamanti' when I got to hang out with Michele for a bit.
You can tell that music is every part of what he is. His resume spans through so many different projects and bands. He is widely known in his field and very much respected. With all of the different projects on his plate he was kind enough to give me some of his time.
Check out the album, and the podcast!
Omnium Gatherum is a Finnish death metal band that has been pounding their way through the scene for almost twenty five years. Jukka has been the at the front of the stage for the band for more than half of their existence.
The band has never stopped refining and changing their sound. From the first album to this latest release, 'Origin' there is always something new to their sound. To me 'Origin' is a game changer for the band. The depth and composition of each song on the album is more transparent than any previous album. Jukka's voice is contradicted between a very eerie growl that for some reason still enforces a full sense of trust.
Jukka and I got to talk a lot about the growth of the band, the writing process, and a lot of other subjects.
I hope you get a chance to listen to the podcast. At the very least listen to the band. They deserve the chance to show you how good they are.
Jeff Scott Soto is an icon to a lot of people in the rock and metal side of music. The first catapult was working with Yngwie Malmsteen. He has been a part of several projects such as working with Jerry Only and Doyle Wolfgang Von Frankenstein in Kryst the Conqueror. He had a big hand in Talisman, as well as being a part of supergroup Sons of Apollo. Along with his solo contributions, this man has a musical resume that stretches through almost forty years of rock influence and creativity.
He had recently released an album with quite a few guest vocalists and musicians. 'The Duets Collection, Vol. 1' is a great collection of rock hits with an even great collection of contributors.
Jeff took a little bit of time to talk to me about the album. I definitely found the chance to talk about a couple other subjects.
Look out for more work from this artist. When an album has a "Vol. 1"...this means there is more to come. But you need to hear his previous albums just as well. Rock made by one of the greats. You will thank me later.
During his run with Unleash the Archers and Seven Kingdoms, I was able to catch up with Jake Jones. Jake is the front man for Aether Realm. Aether Realm is a full on heavy metal band from North Carolina. Although the genre claims are all over the board, metal is metal as is the band.
Straight in your face heavy riffs and chords that beat you in the ear drums. What more could you ask for.
I got to hang out with Jake for a few minutes in their green room after the set.
Thanks for hanging with me for a few minutes Jake.
Ad Infinitum have just released 'Chapter II: Legacy'. This is the second installment to what looks to be a growing series of concept albums. The first album, 'Monarchy' was an poetic take on life, love, and hardships during the time of King Louis XIV.
This latest release 'Chapter II: Legacy' surrounds the story of Vlad Dracula. Each song has it's own identity and grasp on certain aspects of the story of Dracula. Melissa has done her research and her passion for both subjects is well reflected in the songs.
I sincerely loved talking to Melissa. She was a lot of fun and welcoming. She is already becoming an icon in the symphonic and power metal communities. In the short time that she has been in the business she has been able to grow exponentially. But honestly, this is only the beginning.
Check out both albums. NOW! Thanks so much again, Melissa.
I caught up with these two metal heads in Phoenix towards the end of their tour with Infected Rain and Stitched Up Heart. This was another version of the 'metal tour of the year' in my opinion. The show itself was high energy and in your face metal. It was up close and personal like a true live show should be. Any Butcher Babies fan couldn't have asked for anything more.
The Butcher Babies have been tearing it up for a while now and are continuing to carve their names in the continuous building block of the metal community. They are fast, aggressive, yet they can delve into a slightly softer side of metal whenever they damn well please. They keep moving forward using their own playbook and there really doesn't seem to be anything that can stop them.
These two are not in the same place as they were ten years ago. Their drive and their maturity that keeps them humble also seems to have them grounded and focused.
We had a few minutes to kill just outside of the venue. With a little background noise I was still able to have a quick chat. Thanks so much ladies for taking the time to talk to me.
Our 50th episode has the perfect guests.
What duo in their right mind would think of getting an album together with every song using a different vocalist? Not only separate vocalists, but from several different genres and stages in their careers. Who could think of such a crazy way to pull off an album?
If you haven't met them already, meet Fynn and Philipp. They go by The Picturebooks. They definitely have the talent and status to get some great voices in the industry together. The latest release 'The Major Minor Collective' is essentially a masterpiece with voices like Lizzy Hale and Neil Fallon on the roster. The musical artistry alone is stellar. The Picturebooks have been carving some gritty rough guitar driven rock for a few albums now. This new installment is just another step into their journey.
I got to talk to them about the new album, getting the artists to join the project, and a few other subjects.
Edge of Paradise released their fourth full length album ' The Unknown', just this past month. Not to take anything away from the band's previous work, but this is definitely the best album yet. This album is definitely more powerful and aggressive.
Very well written and the production is well executed. The full contribution from the band shows through all of the work. Margarita talked to us about the writing and recording process. She also talked to us about working through member changes.
For all you hard rock fans, this album deserves some recognition.
Days before the release of 'Days Before the World Wept' Kalyn and I got to talk to Vicky. This amazing vocalist was a lot of fun to talk to.
This sequential concept EP is just another testament to the song writing power of the band. It also clearly shows the range of Vicky's vocals and lyrical ability. As polite as the piano intro for "Remnants in Time" is, the album is not. It is hard hitting affectionate metal that twists your stomach. Passion for the lyrics and power for the music and voice.
Vicky is clearly moving up the ranks in the list of solid metal voices. Clean to scream she can fit the right emotion into the song.
Enjoy!
Lorna Shore recently released their EP '...And I Return To Nothingness'. This band has pulled out all of the stops for this EP.
If you are able to dissect this type of more aggressive music you can find several layers of influences and styles that help make this album musically more deep than anyone would expect. This mixed with the lyrics and vocals of their latest addition, Will Ramos makes for an exceptional album. I am hopeful that some awards will come around this year for the band. It would be well deserved.
I got to talk to Austin about building the EP, member changes, and several other subjects.
I hope you take some time to listed to Austin and myself. But more importantly, check out the EP.
Saydi and Jake, like a lot of artists were busy last year trying to make some sense from all of the uncertainties and confusion. They also made use of the free time to let their creative juices flow.
The result after the beginning of this year is the EP 'Run. It has a lot of different styles fused into the mix. The album runs it's own coarse in the sequence of the songs. But if you like to play it in your own mix, I don't think they will be offended.
Saydi's smoky yet clear voice travels through a wide range of musical creations. Both compliment each other very well. There is a lot of emotion and thought that goes into the lyrics. Take some time to listen to the words as well as the vocals. You will be forever grateful for that suggestion.
We got to talk to Stela a short time after the release of 'A Whole New Land' the bands long awaited third full length album. With the anticipation for this album from the Metalwings fans came a huge reward. If you are into the style of symphonic metal, this band and this album should be teetering at the top of your list. Beauty and metal always seem to find a way to interact when the artistry is done right. This blend from Metalwings gets better every album. Stela's angelic voice tames the heart as the music gives you an emotional roller coaster from being near tears, to throwing your fist in the air in triumph.
Stela was just as graceful to speak with as she is in her singing. We got to cover quite a few subjects with Stela. Details like early influences and forming the band in Sofia, Bulgaria. There are a lot of struggles when you try to start a band in a country, or city, that really had no current avenue for this style of music. But Stela is tenacious and driven. The end or current result is amazing.
There have been some great albums and singles coming out this year. We here have had the pleasure of talking to a few of those artist. Tarah Who was one of those artists. In conversations to set up our interviews she mentioned her friends Anelise and Fabio who are the dynamic duo Yur Mum.
This fanatically aggressive dirty hard rock couple are just what you need to get the adrenaline going. The band has gone through some significant changes relaxing from 3 members to 2. This would usually end a band. Not these two. Lets hunker down, redirect, and throw some heavy shit at this. With all due respect to the change, they came out cleaner on the other side. The music is messy in a good way. But the rhythms and riffs are clean and distinct. The lyrics are tough and in front you. The drums are fierce and very pronounced.
Their newest offering is 'Tropical Fuzz'. Every inch of this album is harsh, fun, and the lyrics are sobering.
Tarah sat in on this conversation. It was fitting to have her be a part of it as I would not have found this great band if she had not suggested that I check them out.
I hope you enjoy our conversation.
Matt and I got to sit with Frank just as Cryptosis released 'Bionic Swarm'.
This is the first album from this band. However, Cryptosis is the reincarnation of Distillator. So they have come back with a new sound, personnel, and approach. If you want to know why the change, take a listen. If you want to listen to the new album from the 'new band' go get it now. The album is getting rave reviews from almost every website and magazine that has listened to it.
Frank is much more mellow in person than you would perceive from the music. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the conversation. But, when you put the album on...move the furniture. You will thank us later.
Reid Foster is the Director of Rootfire. Rootfire is a non profit record label that focuses specifically on reggae music. They have produced albums for some of the more recent greats such as Hirie, The Movement, Steel Pulse, Satsang, and more.
I won't go into full detail because then you wouldn't need to listen to the episode. But, know that whatever genre is your favorite, you would want a Reid Foster in it. This gentleman is one of the great people that work behind the curtain. He helps newer bands get themselves through so many hurdles that sometimes can end the dream of a band. A lot of people do not know the struggles a band has trying to get their name and music out into the world. Rootfire is the support that can help an artist overcome those obstacles.
Reid is a very laid back individual and a huge music lover. I am so grateful that we got to talk again. There is a written article in our website from our first conversation.
One of my favorite episodes was #009 with Tarah and CoCo of Tarah Who?. These two carve out some of the best music that I have heard. They are a mix of alternative rock, punk, and some 90s grunge with some of their own flavor added in.
Aggressive. Smart. Distorted Rhythms. Intense drum work. These two throw everything at what they do and it works so damned well.
They had released some new songs and videos as we started getting into 2021. As a fan I was so excited for new material. Especially when it is another extension of who they are and what they do. As a guy who likes to talk to artists and get inside their heads, I really wanted to catch up.
This was another great talk with these two. I am so proud to share our 40th conversation with these two artists.
Shortly after the release of 'Inertia' we got the chance to hang out with Terry Nikas of Scar of the Sun. This long awaited album is just what we needed going into the spring.
The intricacy and aggressive emotion in the rhythms match perfectly with the emotional story telling in the lyrics. I can never get the chorus of the title track out of my head.
Terry talked to us about a lot of serious shit. He is very smart and concerned about the state of his home country, Greece. The album actually talks a lot about some of the more recent history and current state of Greece.
We would also like to introduce Kalyn to our small family of interrogators. You have to listen all the way through before you get to hear her. So take a listen and I hope you enjoy. We had a lot of fun with Terry. And the album is outstanding.
We caught up with Record Heat a while back just after the release of '1'.
Record Heat is an extremely innovative out fit that fastens several different genres together. '1' is just a small portion of the portfolio of work that these guys have produced before them.
'1' is also one of the first experiments of being an NFT. This makes them one of the first bands to use cryptoart.
We got to talk to them about a ton of different subjects. They were a lot of fun to talk to and their music is amazing.
Sorry this got out a little late. I hope you enjoy it.
Richmond, Virginia seems to be the breeding ground for all different facets of metal. I won't go through the obvious names that should pop into your head. As Knox puts it a "Festering cesspool of creativity". Enforced is one of those that are emerging as another beacon for the location.
Shortly before the release of 'Kill Grid' we got to talk to Knox about the album and several other subjects. The band had been waiting to release the album since August of 2020. But there are always set backs that can drag releases out.
Now that 'Kill Grid' has been out, you need to get your hands on a copy and tap dance to the fast rhythms and intense melodies and hooks. This album is all you would need for a thrash metal/ crossover album. Aggressive, smart, and fun at the same time.
Enjoy!
A short while back Matt and I got to talk to Sue. The Hellfreaks have creatively been changing up their game as each album comes out. With 'God on the Run' being the latest album, it is also the heaviest. The band is very keen on making sure that they take a giant leap forward every time they put something out. 'God on the Run' has gained them an even broader fan base as well as some very favorable reviews.
We spoke to Sue about the evolution of the music. Sadly the Pandemic is still a major topic as well. We also got to talk about voice lessons for screaming. We can only wonder if that will be the base of the next album.
Thanks so much to Sue for hanging out with us. I wasn't sure if she liked me at first. But then, I always wonder if anyone does.
Just before the release of their 3rd LP 'Necro Sapiens', Matt was able to talk to the band for a little bit.
Baest is a Danish death metal band who has been carving a path with their brutal and aggressive music. Matt was able to cover the inception of the band, song writing, and drinking beers. Among other things, of course.
Fast, aggressive, invigorating thrash metal. Angelus Apatrida recently released their fifth album from the Century Media label. The self titled LP is just as hostile as its predecessors. With age and experience the music and the lyrics get even better.
We got to hang out with Guillermo and talk about the concept and writing process of this album. We also talked about playing live shows, someday. Playing in front of Transformers. The agreement that the world needs live shows! We talked about making videos and live streams.
If you are a fan of thrash metal, really any kind of metal, take a listen. I hope you check out ALL of their music as well.
Welcome to the mysteries of story telling through music. Blitz Union is on a mission to use music as a vessel to slowly unfold a story line. The story can only be told as the music is released. If you ask them, they themselves are not completely certain of the direction the story will go. They are only vessels themselves, so to speak. I will let you stew on that and hope that it will intrigue you to take a listen to our conversation.
Blitz Union melds a solid mix of hard rock, industrial rock, and a splash of EDM. It's very polished in production with a clean and heavy depth in the back drop. Their first EP 'Revolution' was released back in 2019. They have since been strategically releasing singles through out the last year or so. But the LP will be coming out soon.
If there was ever an artist that I wanted you to really listen to...Jax Hollow would be it.
Jax Hollow dances around every side of rock. Blues, southern, and straight rock. "Say My Name" even hints a dash of punk rock.
In December of 2020 'Underdog Anthems' was released. Every song on the album has it's own identity and some form of truth. This is the song writing that only comes around every so often. Unapologetic hard guitar driven anthems that will keep you wanting more. Each song has some form of innocence, growth, or affirmation that there is still a lot of great music to be discovered.
This episode was something really special for me. I love this album from the first song to the last. I appreciate every minute we got to talk. If you only listen to the first five minutes of this episode, I pray that at the very least, the intro makes you buy the album.
Just as we were about to end 2020 Emperors Night released 'Driving at Pace'. 'Driving at Pace' is a five song alt-rock EP from a trio of brothers.
The Chalmers brothers, Anand, Bud, and Dhyan have the family's work ethics down to a "T". Some families can't even sit at the dinner table together without some bickering. These guys write, produce, and record their own music together.
We got to cover a lot of items. We even discussed me managing the band. This was after I tried to convince them to add rapping to their already eclectic ensemble. I even tried to talk one of the brothers into leaving the band and becoming a movie director. I don't really know how these ideas pop up. But if the band breaks up, it will be because of me.
Please enjoy our talk. We truly did like hanging out with these guys and loved the EP. We can't wait to see what they do next.
Gurschach had just released a reimagined cover version of Metallica's "St. Anger". if it was not for that release I might not have stumbled upon this band for some time. The version did exactly what most artists hope for, further recognition. The video for "St. Anger Reimagined" has over 135 thousand views. Their other videos are starting to grow in numbers as well.
As we started to dig into the music, for me, it became more of just research for an interview. I was definitely becoming a fan. The band melds many different layers of well though out compositions. All of their songs are not just 3 minutes of screaming metal. Most songs have different parts and twists that keep you fully engaged throughout the entire song/album.
We got to talk to these guys just before Christmas. They were a lot of fun to get to know. We talked about movies, liquor, other subjects. Of course, we also talked about music.
I hope you enjoy our talk. At the very least, check out Gurschach! if you love hard fast music with an intelligent edge, this is for you.
City of the Weak is an attitude packed, no apology alternative rock band.
They display tough guitar riffs and hooks along with truthful driven lyrics.
Having released 'Pulling Teeth' back in 2018 they were touring hard through 2019. Just like most bands, the pandemic stalled some plans to get out and promote themselves more. They have released a few videos in the past year which has helped where concerts have not.
Jamie and I got to talk to Stef with an F just before the holidays. We loved talking with Stef. We covered a lot. She was nice to us. But then, we didn't piss her off either.
Who goes to the clubs to play in a punk band at the age of 12? This guy!
Who starts one of the most notorious hard-core bands in the world with one of the most influential albums to that said genre? This Guy!
If you don't know the Cro-Mags, you should probably check them out. You missed something in the history of American hard-core.
Who was a sh!t ton of fun and an honor to talk to? This guy!
Ladies and hard-core gentlemen...Harley Flanagan!
Punk, Rock, Pop-punk, power punk. I can't quite put my finger on it. Most can't. Somewhere in between is the fun, energetic, and aggressive sounds of Baby Shakes. For the better part of 15 years they have delivered an unmistakable unique sound. With the core of the band being stable the entire time there is no chance of them slowing down.
The group has four studio albums, an EP, several singles, and their own record label. They are as smart as they are talented.
We caught up with Claudia and Mary for a chance to talk shop with them for a little bit.
I must apologize to Melissa, Napalm, and you, for the tardiness of this. This recording was back in November. We had some download issues with Skype and Matt was struggling with this one for a while. I was hoping we would be able to salvage the entire conversation. Unfortunately, we have about half. The following is what we got out of it.
Melissa Bonny is a exceptional artist in the symphonic world metal. She has offered her voice and songwriting abilities in so many projects. Now with Ad Infinitum it is her creation and dream on the table. 'Chapter 1: Monarchy' was released early in 2020. Later last year they released 'Chapter 1: Revisited'. This is an acoustic version of the entire catalog of the first album.
I hope that we get the opportunity to talk to Melissa again down the road. I am hopeful we can get another chance and get a full conversation to share for you.
Nestled somewhere in the metal subgenres, these guys deliver fragments from every direction. The first occurrence of the band was in the mid to late 90's with one album. The members went back to their respected bands and no one thought they would hear from Soulburn again. To our surprise and excitement, they reformed in 2013 and have been moving forward since. Matt and I got to talk to Eric and Twan shortly after their latest album 'Noa's D'ark' . The well thought out orchestration and the intelligent lyrics set this album apart from a good portion of other releases in their musical wheelhouse this year.
Eric and Twan were a lot of fun and take their art very seriously. Passion comes in every style of music and they truly emulate their passion. Both in their music, and in our conversation.
Chris 51 is the owner of Area 51 Tattoo in Springfield, Oregon. You may have seen him from the A&E reality show Epic Ink. Or, if you are a true metal head you will know him for being the founder and organizer of Headbangers Con! Who the hell would have thought of having a headbangers convention? Chris 51, that's who. This year given the shitty circumstances Chris has still been able to whip up a virtual convention. This will put you face to face with some of your favorite headbanging artists. You can do semi private rooms for VIP experiences. You also will still get signed memorabilia from your favorite artists. This is definitely a great experience that you can't pass up.
Matt and I got to talk to Chris 51 about the convention, body art, then of course, we started talking about music. None of us could really shut up once we started talking about favorite albums and bands.
You need to get access to Headbangers Con! Check it out! Then, hopefully next year, we can do it again face to face.
Thanks so much for talking to us Chris!
Literally one of the most eccentric bands that exist. VoiVod is a staple in so many genre communities. At almost forty years old this eclectic alternative metal/rock/punk, whatever you wish to label them with, has been giving us a different way to look at them from each album. Every project that they have released lives and breathes its own entity.
Throughout the years the band has really only juggled about 8 musicians. This is tremendous when you see so many bands that suffer through astronomical member changes. Snake talks about the blessings of being a part of this small prestigious fraternity of talented artists. We cover some of the history and future of the band.
I release this as the band is about to release 'Lost Machine-Live'. The show was recorded late last year when there was no pandemic and you could still stand, thrash, mosh, slam with your friends. Sad that it is a reminisce.
Snake is truly a great person and advocate for the band. So much history and so much influence to so many other bands. A true humbled ICON!
This one took a while to get going. After several failed attempts , Hakim, Jamie, and myself were finally able to meet.
"We are a Swedish rock band. We shall rock you with our rock." This is literally the entire description for the 'about' page on Facebook. As straight forward and comical as that sounds, it pretty much sums up what Dead Lord is. The band is compared steadily to seventies style hard rock. As much as that might be true, they still manage to carve out their own modern sound with rough and tumble riffs. A clean voice runs over some gritty guitar and bass driven melodies. There are no synthesizers, production tricks, or computers to generate a different sound. This is unapologetically what you get. It works all too well for this ensemble.
Hakim spent some time with us talking about the latest album 'Surrender'. We cover a couple of the songs and the writing process. Hakim gives some true advice to making good videos. We cover a few musical idealisms and opinions.
I hope you enjoy the conversation.
Say hello to Vanilla Sugar. We really weren't what sure what to expect when we got to sit down with Vanilla Sugar this night. She is as elaborate as her music. She fills her LP 'She' with all dimensions of dark pop, electro rock, EDM, rock, and many other forms of music. She is a mass amount of genres mixed into a very open and honest list of songs.
What we got was a really fun time talking about Vanilla Sugar's growth, musical history, struggles, and accomplishments. She was a great sport as Matt and I try to convince her to do a metal version of the album. We still want credit when that happens by the way.
As we have spoken from time to time on our podcasts about how prominent women are becoming in the world of metal and hard rock, we have case in point...G.F.M.
LuLu, Maggie, and CJ English are three extremely talented musicians/artists who happen to be sisters. I have followed the band for a bit. But with the latest release of the EP Operation Take Over, I had to reach out and see if they would give me a little of their time. They were kind enough to talk to me. These three ladies are every bit personable as they are serious about the work that they do. We talked about touring, recording, coming up with their sound. So many other subjects.
I am hoping for a follow up podcast at some point. This will be with Mom and Dad. The title..."How to Build You're Own Diabolical Metal Family Band to Take Over the Music Industry". Too much?
Clem is one of the most prominent voices of the symphonic metal world. Last year they released, in my opinion, one of their best bodies of work called 'Wanderers'. Before the album was even released they performed at the Bang Your Head Festival where they incorporated and collaborated with the Bohemian Symphony Orchestra Prague. On October 30th 'A Symphonic Journey to Remember' with Napalm Records, will be released. This live CD and DVD set is an outstanding view of how good this band is live. With the orchestra it showcases even more how talented this outfit is.
Clem and I got to talk about the upcoming release and it's development. We also talked about playing live, the pandemic, and many other subjects. She is as pleasant as she is talented. Thanks so much Clem for taking some time out for me.
The same day that Tommy Marz released his new EP 'Chasing Light' he found some time to talk to Matt and myself. This musical genius and guru chatted with us about anything from Kiss, the pandemic, and the music business in general. We even started analyzing some of our favorite albums and bands. Tommy hits a lot of genres in his latest solo project. But this little gem is the perfect kick back jam selection with a strong yacht rock presence. P.S. "Lady Magic" is my favorite!
I was lucky enough to talk to Cole, Kevin, and Kyle recently. This eclectic group of guys have been around for a little while. What's amazing about these guys is how much they have been able to accomplish musically. Their ability to work themselves into so many genres is really a lot of fun to watch. We talk about their music writing process, live shows, and the organic development of their sounds.
We ventured down some touring stories such as Kyle running around peg-legged on stage for an entire tour. We talked about the effects on the band during the pandemic. We also touched on what is still to come for the band.
Brittney Slayes possesses one of the most exceptional voices in modern metal. 'Abyss' was released a few weeks ago and is a true testament that solid fist throwing metal will always have a dominant place in music. Unleash the Archers continues to create solid melodies and riffs while emulating the metal gods that paved the way before them. Brittney's voice dominates every note yet she has the control to let the music force the direction which helps highlight the talent in the musicians.
Matt got the chance to have an interview with Brittney. Matt and Brittney dive into the writing and recording of 'Abyss' album. They also talk about making videos and working with Napalm Records. Unleash the Archers are on track to dominate their genre, as if they haven't already.
All three of us got together for this one. This conversation comes one week after Andy's birthday and a couple of weeks after their latest album Violent Portraits of Doomed Escape had released. We learned about how this album came about, the production, and the writing. Learn the background of two of the songs on the album. So you can all rest easy, Jamie and Andy were both squeaky clean for this talk.
I had a chance to talk to Chris recently. With two great new songs and a live Sugarshack EP released this year, the band is really making some waves in the reggae scene. This most recent line-up has proven to be the the right mix to let this group explode! I hope you enjoy our talk as much as I did.
With their Self Titled fourth LP coming up I got the chance to talk to Cammie. Cammie is the vocals and poet lyricist of the band. We talked a lot about the production side of the music. We talked about women being accepted in metal more recently. If you have not heard Oceans of Slumber before they produce an incredible balance between love, hate, fear, strength, and every emotion in between. The album comes out early September. But it IS a must listen.
These two talented musicians make music that sounds like a full band. Pop punk, Disco pink, whatever you want to categorize them as works. They can fit into so many genres. From a cabin somewhere in Norway they have a very alternative and pleasantly effective recording practice that makes their sound extraordinary.
Two days after Valkyrie's release of the LP 'Fear', Jamie and I got the chance to talk to Jake Adams. Jake talks about the benefits of the distance between the albums. He definitely shows that Valkyrie controls their own destiny. This album is fresh and modern. However the production feel emulates every song coming from an old Sony turntable. Fear, to us, is one of the best album releases of the year.
Tarah Who? is carving their own path in music. You better take notice or will be late for the train. Tarah talks about not even wanting to sing. But no one else can tell her stories with conviction. CoCo talks about being the only drummer that takes the front of the stage, well deservedly I might ad. I will admit that men truly are sensitive. And Tarah's comparison to Jimi Hendrix is spot on!
The metal icon Nige Rockett spoke to us for a while. We covered recording and mixing the album during the pandemic. His excitement working with Daniel Bergstrand for the first time. We also spoke a little about the band's relationship with Lemmy. Nige also tells us about the background of the song "Religiousuicide".
Imperial Triumphant is one of the greatest avant-garde, black metal bands in existence. Their unique music style is changing the way we look at this genre. We talk to Steve about influences, writing process and a lot more. You will also hear a couple of their latest songs from their upcoming album Alphaville. He might even tell you a little about the songs.
With all of the terrible things going on. We needed a little music small talk to make us feel better. We called upon Nikki to help us with that.
We learned that a 70's style pinstripe prom suit can get you into a pretty kick ass band with a solid future.
Also, don't be surprised if we become backup singers for Nikki's upcoming country music project!
This week we had a conversation with Rex and James of Tropidelic. Tropidelic is a high energy reggae, funk, hip hop...the list goes on with the genres that are mixed into this bands creations. Find out all you need to know about adopting a highway (who needs kids anyways?). Rex examines the cleanliness of music festivals. Lastly, James explains the responsibility of an artist.
Straight from L.A. area isolation we talk to Mixi, the front woman of Stitched Up heart. We learn a lot about the background of a couple of great songs. She also talks to us about her time working on the album with producer Matt Good. Being on the road with Godsmack. Her love for kittens. Lastly we learn that lasagna for breakfast can be a good thing.
Sasha and Andrey jumped on to talk to us about the history of the band and the stories behind a couple of their songs. We also got to talk about concerts in Russia and how Boston is during the COVID-19 stay at home orders.
We talk to Ryan about his latest EP release "Occam's Razor". We break down a couple of songs and talk about his music. We also talk about team building.
Saydi and Jake are two very talented artist who have come together for a great new project. We get to preview two of their songs and talk about their music background and influences. We also got to talk about being cooped up during the COVID-19 pandemic.