AURI Discusses New Album: III - Candles & Beginnings In a recent conversation, Auri members Johanna Kurkela, Tuomas, and Troy shared insights about their upcoming album, III - Candles & Beginnings, set for release via Nuclear Blast on August 15, 2025. They discussed the album’s themes, touring plans, their connection to Australian listeners, and more. Album Details Title: III - Candles & Beginnings Release Date: August 15, 2025 Label: Nuclear Blast Media & Pre-Order Watch the Vid...
Jul 02, 2025•22 min•Ep. 135
Throughout this discussion, Okoi and Fabian explored the upcoming Australian and New Zealand shows, the possibility of a new release, the challenges and obstacles faced, tour highlights, and navigating the issue of cancel culture. Tour Dates & Venues PORTAL with BØLZER August 15, 2025 – Sydney, NSW – Crowbar August 16, 2025 – Melbourne, VIC – Max Watts August 17, 2025 – Hobart, TAS – Altar August 23, 2025 – Brisbane, QLD – Necrosonic Festival, Mansfield Tavern BØLZER August 20, 2025 – Wellin...
Jul 02, 2025•34 min•Ep. 134
New Messiahs is the name of the new album from Ashes of Ares. Matt discusses the lyrical themes of the album, working with mixer Byron Filson, amongst other topics related to the album. Matt also discusses the issues surrounding the January 6 United States Capitol event and the role of musicians in political discourse. New Messiahs will be released on CD, Vinyl and Digital in Europe on July 18 and in North America on August 8, 2025, via ROAR. Pre-order your favourite choice of format now on: htt...
Jul 02, 2025•42 min•Ep. 133
Forever High is the name of the album and also the single in-market from Adelaide's Dirty Pagans. Bassist James Russo will discuss the album, the single, social media strategy, and a bunch of other topics. Check out Dirty Pagans here: www.facebook.com/dirtypagans Instagram: @dirtypagans https://linktr.ee/dirtypagans...
Jul 01, 2025•38 min•Ep. 132
This episode presents an opportunity to discuss the new album from Trivax, The Great Satan, and to gauge Shayan's perspective on the Iran-Israel conflict. As a Persian, Shayan is well-positioned to offer a more nuanced and informed perspective on the conflict that is engulfing his homeland, so be prepared for a comprehensive assessment of the topic. Shayan also discusses the new album as we tussle with the idea that he has single-handedly made many of the tropes in black metal redundant. Iblis M...
Jun 30, 2025•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 131
Johnny Hedlund discusses Unleashed's new album, legacy, the state of heavy metal media and journalism, and provides fascinating insights into his and the band's relationship with World Entertainment Inc. heavyweight and Morbid Angel manager, Gunter Ford. Pre-Order Your Copy of Fire Upon Your Lands https://lnk.to/UNLEASHED-FireUponYourLands/napalmrecords
Jun 27, 2025•40 min•Ep. 130
This chat with Steve DiGiorgio takes place backstage at the Tivoli in Brisbane on the evening of Wednesday, June 18, 2025, before Testaments' performance as part of their Australian shows. Steve talks about Chuck and Death, his studio session with Megadeth on The Sick, the Dying... and the Dead! He also discusses conflict resolution on the road and in bands, as well as other topics.
Jun 19, 2025•30 min•Ep. 129
Buckcherry's new album, Roar Like Thunder, is out now, and Stevie joins the show for a short and sharp conversation about it, his guitar playing and if he has any goss on Aerosmith. For all things Buckcherry, head to: https://www.buckcherry.com/
Jun 12, 2025•14 min•Ep. 128
Simon Croft is a musician based in Melbourne who has been part of the We Will Rock You musical, performing over 2,500 shows. He has just joined Stonetrip and features on their new single, Fame, which is out now. Throughout this conversation, Simon discusses musicianship, his relationship with Queen's Brian May, Stonetrip, social issues, the decline in popularity of rock 'n' roll, and much more. Stream Fame: https://orcd.co/stonetrip-fame?mc_cid=b06bcde246&mc_eid=882f5fe2fc Follw Stonetrip: h...
Jun 09, 2025•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 127
Folklore Discipline is the name of the new album from Melbourne black metal outfit Dusk Cult. Set for release in August 2025, it explores themes of modernity's rejection of spiritual dedication and the dusk cult mythos. Throughout this conversation, Ben shares his thoughts on these themes and other related topics. We also discuss the Chronicles of Filth. For all things Dusk Cult, including the album, head to https://duskcult.bandcamp.com/album/spirit...
Jun 09, 2025•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 126
Slatts from King Parrot discusses touring life and the new album, 'A Young Person’s Guide To King Parrot'. He shares his thoughts on the business of band life and the enormous shows with Pantera. A short, sharp jab of Slatts! “A Young Person’s Guide To King Parrot” will be released on June 6, 2025: https://linktr.ee/kingparrot A YOUNG PERSON’S GUIDE TO KING PARROT AUSTRALIAN ALBUM LAUNCH TOUR Friday 6 June - Republic Bar, Hobart Saturday 7 June - Royal Oak, Launceston Friday 20 June - Brunswick ...
Jun 05, 2025•19 min•Ep. 125
Tim Charles of Ne Obliviscaris joins the show as the group prepares for a massive Australian tour alongside Psycroptic. Tim reflects on the band’s 20-year journey since forming in 2003, sharing insights on their ambitious two-hour performances of albums Citadel and Exul, the impact of new frontman James Dorton, and the technical inspiration drawn from Psycroptic’s legendary live shows. He also revisits the 10th anniversary remaster of Citadel, recounts memorable fan interactions, and opens up ab...
Jun 03, 2025•50 min•Ep. 124
Matt Wong is the host of Discernable, Australia's leading social and political media outlet, without comparison. It's an absolute privilege to have Matt join the show for a discussion exploring topics such as authoritarianism, cultural narratives, and the role of artists in dissent. We also discuss the state of the church and the future of Western systems, asking whether capitalism, democracy, and liberty can endure in an era of division and control. Matt is one of the most insightful and articu...
Jun 03, 2025•3 hr 2 min•Ep. 123
Throughout this episode, Eric discusses the band's Australian tour, whether he plans to write an autobiography, his thoughts on the band's foundational 1980s albums, and the group's 1990s albums that helped reinvigorate the band. He shares his thoughts on Dave Loamabardo and Steve DiGiorgio, the time he and Chuck did quit the band, and much more. Special mention for listeners who are invested in the show's Chronicles of Filth, as Eric talks about working with John (Gian) Pyras in DragonLord. Tes...
Jun 02, 2025•57 min•Ep. 122
Sam from Fallujah joins the show ahead of the new album from Fallujah, Xenotaph, out June 13, 2025. In this far-reaching conversation, he discusses AI, heavy metal fandom, the band's move to Nashville and much more. More about Xentaoph: https://www.nuclearblast.com/pages/fallujah
May 29, 2025•55 min•Ep. 121
The opportunity to chat with Jeff from Onslaught is twofold. The group have a new album in market from may 25, 2025, titled Origins Of Aggression, which is steeped in tradition as it is full of rerecordings of the band's seminal material from 1985 to 1989 and also covers songs of legendary tracks from Dead Kennedys, Black Sabbath, Motörhead, Judas Priest, Discharge and many more. Throughout the conversation, Jeff discusses adventures aboard the 70,000 Tons of Metal cruise, the bizarre tour featu...
May 19, 2025•49 min•Ep. 120
In this episode, Jeff Wagner, Metal Maniacs editor from 1997–2001, explores shaping the magazine’s identity during metal’s subgenre diversification, maintaining underground authenticity, and tackling editorial hurdles like band selection and industry dynamics. He reflects on stories told, collaborating with writers like S. Craig Zahler, and notable moments, including studio sessions with Cradle of Filth, touring with Bruce Dickinson, and working with Mike Greenblatt and Blabbermouth’s Borivoj Kr...
May 05, 2025•1 hr 51 min•Ep. 119
Ahead of the group’s Australian shows, Jacob Binzer of D.A.D. discusses the band’s iconic Spaghetti Western sound and blending punk and rock roots for a potential film score. He explores the possibility of inventing a new genre for D.A.D., reflects on a hypothetical jam with icons Django Reinhardt and Jimi Hendrix, balancing humour and sincerity in songwriting. D-A-D Greatest Hits Tour May 2025 Australian Dates Tuesday 20th May - Perth, Rosemount Hotel Thursday 22nd May - Brisbane, The Triffid F...
May 02, 2025•24 min•Ep. 118
Sean discusses vocalist Jay Evans's recent departure from the band, his on-stage monitoring setup for the Australian shows, how Ingested’s music confronts or reflects digital distraction and transient trends, political and social themes, and more. INGESTED with ALGOR MORTIS performing at: July 24th - Melbourne, Max Watts w/ Algor Mortis, Gutless, Growth July 25th – Sydney, Crowbar, w/ Algor Mortis, Slaughtercult, Gosika July 26th - Brisbane, Cold Day Festival, The Triffid TICKETS ON SALE NOW: ME...
May 01, 2025•27 min•Ep. 117
This conversation with Helena Kotina takes place during Nervosa's Australian tour. They are playing in Sydney on April 18 (tonight!), so head over if you are in town. Other dates are below. Consider this chat a 'coffee table' introduction to Helena, one of the most exciting emerging guitarists in metal today. Topics covered include Helena's experience joining Nervosa and navigating cultural and musical differences to shape the band’s sound on the new album, Jailbreak. We also cover the influence...
Apr 18, 2025•23 min•Ep. 116
The internet’s only no-bullshit metal music show covers tunes under the banners of black metal, death metal, grind, grinding punk, grinding sludge metal, hardcore/sludge, industrial punk, instrumental, melodic death metal, melodic metal, metalcore, modern metal, nu metal, post blackened metal, power metal, punk, rock, stoner doom, symphonic doom, symphonic metal, tech death, and thrash. On the label and PR side, the tracks are bought for you by Black Lion Records, Earsplit PR, Nuclear Blast, ROA...
Apr 15, 2025•4 hr 29 min•Ep. 115
This discussion with Kelly offers a unique chance to explore lesser-known or under-researched facets of Randy Rhoads, including Kelly's insights on the relationship between the Osbournes and Randy, and much more. A TRIBUTE TO RANDY RHOADS - in Australia Kelly is joined by musicians from Van Hagar, and Snake Bite Whisky, this event brings Randy Rhoads’ iconic classics from his Quiet Riot and Ozzy Osbourne eras to life. Alongside performances, intimate Q&A sessions will explore his remarkable ...
Apr 15, 2025•34 min•Ep. 114
Antoinette Anstis is the wife of the late Stuart Anstis, and she joins the show to discuss his career, legacy and much more. Stuart shaped Cradle of Filth’s most pivotal era, and throughout the chat, Antoinette recounts his early days with the band, offering her perspective on its dynamics during his tenure. Antoinette shares her thoughts on Stuart’s relationships with bandmates Nick, Dan, and Les and provides a nuanced account of his departure. She also covers his later projects, including work...
Apr 12, 2025•1 hr 28 min•Ep. 110
Throughout this discussion with Dennis Mikula of Ghost Bath, we focused on their album Rose Thorn Necklace and topics such as the shift from previous work, lyrical themes of mourning and death, collaborations, the album's title duality, the impact of early anonymity, the transition to a collaborative band, artwork choices, navigating criticism and trolling assumptive commentators. Watch 'Well, I Tried Drowning' music video: https://youtu.be/GkB8vC8kbEU Pre-order & pre-save Rose Thorn Necklac...
Apr 11, 2025•32 min•Ep. 113
GhostSeeker vocalist Celeste Bojczuk discusses the creative process behind their album Divergence. She addresses the album’s title, collaboration with new label ROAR, the shift in sound from “Initium Novum, and recording techniques. Celeste also talks about the partnership with Daniel Breen, the challenges of performing specific tracks, the influence of external producers, lyrical inspirations, the impact of Australian and international bands, and strategies for navigating creative differences. ...
Apr 10, 2025•27 min•Ep. 112
The great Steve Hughes discusses a range of social, political, and cultural topics ahead of his shows in Queensland. He addresses the long-term impacts of economic inequality on working-class communities, the influence of censorship and free speech debates on public discourse, and the emergence of leftist populist movements as indicators of systemic issues. Steve also shares his views on how technology, including AI, and his observations on handling mental health challenges in contemporary socie...
Apr 08, 2025•59 min•Ep. 111
Adrian Smith talks about Black Light / White Noise, the second album from Smith/Kotzen. This release broadens their sound, drawing from hard rock, blues, and classic R&B. Adrian shares the ideas that shaped the album, the writing process, and the impact of Jay Ruston’s mixing on the final production. With a long history in heavy metal, he discusses what makes this collaboration with Richie Kotzen unique. He also reflects on his approach to melody and phrasing on the guitar, the habits he wor...
Apr 04, 2025•34 min•Ep. 98
In this conversation, Burton C. Bell discusses his upcoming Australian shows, featuring a career-spanning setlist with rare tracks from Fear Factory, Ascension Of The Watchers, and GZR. He talks about new songs, "Technical Exorcism" and "Anti-DRoid", offering insight into their place in his evolving sound. Burton reflects on his Metal Hall of Fame induction, Soul of a New Machine nearing 35 years, and key moments like recording Plastic Planet with Geezer Butler and Deen Castronovo, opening for B...
Apr 03, 2025•30 min•Ep. 109
This chat with Daz took place on the eve of the European tour and the day of the release of Benediction's 2025 album, Ravage of Empires. The discussion covers the album, collaboration with Dave Ingram, production details, producer Scott Atkins's approach to enhancing the band's performance in the studio, the 2020 album Scriptures, the 1998 tour with Covenant, Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath's last Birmingham performances, and many other topics. PRE-ORDER/PRE-SAVE RAVAGE OF EMPIRES: https://bened...
Apr 03, 2025•34 min•Ep. 108
Niilo discusses Insomnium's May tour (2025) in Australia, unexpected inspirations behind their music, and the creative process for selecting lyrical concepts. Niilo shares insights on unexplored musical styles, intriguing fan interpretations, and a dream collaboration with a historical figure. We revisit the bold decision to release Winter’s Gate as a single 40-minute track in 2016 and its reception nearly a decade later, plus the epic Anno 1696 album from 2023. Topics also include tackling dark...
Mar 26, 2025•32 min•Ep. 107
