Two Decades Of Dominance With ZOLTAN BATHORY From FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH
Celebrating twenty years in the music industry is a great achievement in itself, but celebrating 20 years of sustained success is even better. Bursting out of the blocks with their 2007 debut album The Way Of The Fist, Five Finger Death Punch were on a collision course with the rest of the world, laying the foundations for a turbulent yet continual upwards trajectory.By the time War Is The Answer followed two years later, the band were notorious for their rebellious spirit and ruthless approach to music, but love them or hate them, there was no denying Five Finger Death Punch were the real deal. For every one person who hated the band, there was another ten who loved them, and despite the public perception that 5FDP were the bad boys of metal, they maintained their belief and integrity and stayed on course.Now, 20 years later, that trajectory is available for the world to share when Volume 2 of the band's Best Of double header is released on October 24 via Better Noise Music. Both albums feature music entirely re-recorded, with 5FDP tenaciously clinging to the notion that their music was to be celebrated, not recycled. On the eve of the release of Volume 2, HEAVY sat down for a chat with guitarist Zoltan Bathory to relive the journey that has been two decades in the making."It's kind of crazy, because by doing this little exercise of recording these songs, we got to sort of revisit our past, you know?" he began. "Because we are a forward-facing band, like what's next? Where are we going? What's the next thing we're doing? So it's not really that we're looking into the rearview mirror so much, and so this was kind of crazy, looking back… 20 years… if I had to put some money in and bet, I probably would bet against us (laughs). I would have lost, because not many bands make it that long. It's difficult. And from all bands, this was like… it was a fire tornado or whatever for the last 20 years (laughs)."We ask Zoltan which of the two Best Of albums is his personal favourite."Each record has amazing moments, and both records have a song that has a feature," he measured. "The first one had Maria Brink, and that song became a number-one song. And it made a lot of sense. A lot of people don't know this, but In This Moment, and Maria and Five Finger Death Punch, our history is kind of intertwined. Not many people know this, but there was a band in Los Angeles that was a local band that was fairly big locally, but never really made it. And when this band fell apart, half of the band became In This Moment, and the other half went to Five Finger Death Punch. Then they got the record deal, I think, with Century Media. Then we got ours and we sort of grew in the same time. They were heavier, so they kind of went into that direction. We had radio songs, so the band obviously blew up."In the full interview, Zoltan takes us into both albums in greater detail, highlighting the guest artists on each and why they were chosen. He explained the band's decision to re-record everything rather than re-mix it or touch it up with technology, and relayed some fun stories from their studio time.We spoke about the never-before-released live songs on Volume 2 and how the band chose which songs to put on each album and why. Zoltan shared insights into changing certain bits of the songs, and if that was a rehearsed or jammed in the studio decision, what songs he may have fallen back in love with again during the process, plus he also revealed details of planned new music and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.
23 Loka 17min
The End Is Just The Beginning With WOLFGANG VAN HALEN
Interview by Kyra-Jade CoombsOnly recently I celebrated my five-year anniversary with HEAVY Mag and over the years I’ve had the privilege of meeting and interviewing some of the world’s biggest music stars, living out my wildest music nerd dreams. Nerves come and go depending on who it is that I’m interviewing, and ‘normally’ I hold my shit together. Today? Oh boy… Don’t get me wrong, I jumped at the opportunity to have a chat with Wolfgang Van Halen, although it wasn’t until I somehow blasted through THREE, yes three, whole pages of questions I wanted to ask that I sat back and reflected on the gravity of the occasion. I thought about what his music means to me, what his family’s music means to me, and how insane it was that I would be casually chatting to Wolf from my little office in Australia.Wolf’s newest album from his band project Mammoth, The End, is due for its release on October 24, and this was a major topic interview. I wanted to know how this recording experience at the legendary 5150 Studios varied from his other Mammoth albums and what it was like to work with Robert Rodriguez on his self-titled film clip that honours the 1996 Quentin Tarantino horror film From Dusk Till Dawn as it celebrates turning 30 next year. If you haven’t already, do yourself a favour and watch it. Many Easter eggs await to be spotted… I’ll wait, hurry back...Being a man of many hats, or instruments rather, I felt I already knew what his stance would be about this particular question, although trying to be a good journalist, I wanted to ask about AI/technology and see how he felt about its place in the music industry. His answer was pretty much F$%K AI. "There's no soul or heart behind it. It makes hot dogs - it’s all gross stuff and none of it is real". Great answer, and honestly, if I’m going to trust anyone’s opinion on the matter, it’s going to be the guy who’s taught himself instruments without asking a computer to ‘fill in the gaps’. AI has its place in mundane tasks, not in our creative community.This was such a fun interview. We covered a lot of ground mapping out his music journey this far, dropping cool stories and treasured memories from over the years that only a Van Halen fan could subtly sprinkle in. Look, I could carry on all day - this is only meant to be a quick summary, go ahead and check out the video below and have Wolf tell you all about it himself!Get ready to have your f*#$king socks blown clean off. The End is near, and for once, everyone is running towards it. Be prepared to turn it up LOUD with your air guitar and drum sticks ready on stand by.Bye, legends!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.
22 Loka 16min
THE QUARANTINED: Overriding The Algorithms Of Life And Music
Sean Martin from The Quarantined took some time out recently to catch up with HEAVY Mag's Ali Williams to chat about their new release Nemesis (Friend of Mine), overcoming toxic relationships and algorithms and what the next chapter for the band entails. Discussing the creative process of songwriting and their musical influences and intentions, Sean explains the origin of their song Nemesis (Friend of Mine), which started as a poem inspired by a sudden burst of creativity. The transformation from poem to song presented challenges, especially in conveying the depth of the lyrics in a musical format. He goes on to talk about blending different musical genres, such as rock and pop rhythms, saying their goal was to capture the emotional energy of the lyrics while drawing inspiration from various music styles, including Aaliyah’s Tell Me You're That Somebody. Martin details the meaning and influences behind the lyrics of their new track, noting the song addresses themes of paranoia, confrontation, and understanding narcissistic behaviours. It reflects on overcoming manipulation and the personal growth that comes from understanding difficult personalities. These guys had the incredible opportunity to be recorded at Blackbird Studios in Nashville, which contributed a warm sonic quality to the music due to the use of historic equipment. Martin recalls the recording sessions were a calm experience, leading to a sound that improved upon previous versions. The production process involved collaboration with studio musicians who were given creative freedom within the framework of Sean’s original composition. This approach ultimately led to a more refined and satisfying final product. The Quarantined’s music often addresses political and social issues, aiming to promote free thinking and cautioning against fascism. He touches on the current state of societal discourse in the U.S., emphasizing the importance of diverse perspectives, acknowledging that he feels that artists and musicians, particularly from the US are in a position where the ability to express political and social commentary through music has been reduced to virtually impossible unless you want to be cancelled. Drawing heavily on a blend of punk, metal, and hip-hop influences, Martin describes it as a watering down of the essence of what those genres stand for, highlighting the similarities between these genres in terms of their energy and message. The goal is to create music that resonates across different audience segments. Ideally, without enraging the public or facing adversary reaction. The Quarantined’s new release Nemesis (Friend of Mine) is out now and available on all platforms.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.
22 Loka 38min
Coming To Get Some Down Under With JOHN FAHNESTOCK From SNOT
Few bands in history have left such a lasting impression in music as Santa Barbara funk metal outfit Snot.Forming in 1995, Snot released just one album before having their career cut short by the tragic death of frontman Lynn Strait. Despite their short time as a band, such was the impression left by Lynn and Snot that after his death, a tribute album called Strait Up was recorded in his honour, featuring everyone from Slipknot to System Of A Down to Sevendust paying tribute to the man and his music.Snot's fusion of genres - before it was common to do so - stood them out from other bands of the era, with their blending of hardcore, punk, nu metal and funk combining for the masterpiece that was their debut album Get Some.The band have flirted with the idea of reigniting the flame with a new frontman several times since Lynn's passing, but until recently, and buoyed by the resurgence of nu metal, have failed to find that elusive spark that ignited three decades ago to create pure musical magic.Next January, for the first time in over a decade, Snot return to Australia for a run of shows with Soulfly and Nailbomb - including Froth & Fury Festival - with vocalist Andy Knapp (Stronger Than Machines) to introduce a new generation to the power of music. HEAVY spoke with bass player John Fahnestock to find out what to expect. We start by running over the three touring bands - Soulfly, Nailbomb and Snot - and reiterate the quality of music in one package."Soulfly and Nailbomb, right," John laughed. "They are good friends of ours. We have known each other for, God, going on 25 years or more. Mikey (Doling, founding member and guitarist) also played in Soulfly after Snot, after Lynn had passed. So, we're out on the road with family again. We played with Soulfly in Mexico City back in May and rekindled our friendship, and here we are coming to Australia now."We ask John about their new vocalist, Andy Knapp, and what they were looking for in a frontman after trialling two previous vocalists in Tommy Vext and Carl Bensley."I think the whole thing is a lot different now," he measured. "We are pretty much saying Snot is back at this point. We finally found in Andy what we basically were dreaming of having, and I'm not saying anything negative on the past singers that we had. Before, when we put Snot back together, it wasn't like 'we're reforming, we're back', anything like that. We were just more doing it for fun, for the love of music, the love of Jamie and Mikey and myself playing together.And we were like, let's go out and play the songs, you know? But it wasn't seriously saying we're back and coming back here to stay, like we are now. It's a blessing to have found Andy and what he's doing, and obviously, the response from the fans has been nothing but positive."In the full interview, John spoke more about the upcoming Australian shows, what has changed with the band in the decade since they were last here and what we can expect. He spoke more about welcoming Andy Knapp as frontman and what sorts of things Snot were looking for in their new vocalist.He told us about the first show with Knapp and how old time fans reacted, how Snot's music relates with modern audiences, and how their sound shaped a generation of bands. We talked about the early days of Snot and the musical climate that gave birth to the band, their initial sound and how they found the balance between genres, including how to know when or if they had gone too far in one direction or not far enough in another.We spoke about the impact of Snot's debut album, Get Some, and the band's initial feelings on the album, including Lynn Strait's early vision for Snot and his musical passion. John delved deeper into the tribute album Strait Up and the contributions of the many bands, new music the band have written and if that will translate into a full album and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.
21 Loka 19min
Still Packing A Punch With BEN ELY From REGURGITATOR
Interview by Ali KBrisbane’s Community radio station 4ZZZ is celebrating 50 years of being on the airwaves. Known for being the springboard for most of Brisbane’s best-known musicians and bands, the station has been an integral part of their journeys. The day will be market day style, reminiscent of the original market days 4ZZZ held at Roma Street Parklands. Regurgitator have well and truly formed their position as one of Brisbane’s most well-known artists who, like many before and after, had their music on radio hosts' playlists at Zed Headquarters. Joining The Gurg on the line-up for Saturday’s celebrations will be The Saints, Butterfingers, Tropical Fuck Storm, Big Noter, Screamfeeder, Party Dozen, Flangipanis, plus many more. The Gurg's Ben Ely shares with HEAVY some of that nostalgia, noting that their reappearance on the stage at The Parklands will be the first time they’ve played since their initial gig there back in 1994. With a whopping four songs they’d written and an old drum sampler that played sounds of dogs barking and glass shattering, Regurgitator took to the stage and gave it all they had, having to play two songs twice in order to fill the time slot. The Gurg also announced their JUKEBOXXIN Tour, which kicks off in November. These guys have locked in for the long haul, taking their tour literally everywhere through until around August 2026, including New Zealand and Japan. They will be playing all 58 of their singles over an extended show that’ll be in two sets. Joining them as support will be South Australia’s Dem Mob. Tickets and event details for Zed 50 can be found at Oztix or via https://4zzz.org.au. Tickets and event information for Regurgitator’s JUKEBOXXIN Tour can be found at https://www.regurgitator.netBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.
21 Loka 21min
Where Legends Are Born With JOAKIM BRODEN From SABATON
In the more than two decades since the band's launch, Sabaton has headlined major festivals, sold-out arena concerts worldwide, and gained a legion of loyal fans by carving out a reputation as one of the hardest-working bands in the business. Since their 2005 debut album, they’ve earned Gold, Platinum, and multi-Platinum certifications in territories around the world with their 10 studio albums. Eight of their albums scored Top 10 international chart status, and six claimed the Top 5. SABATON has earned eight Metal Hammer/Golden Gods Awards nominations, taking home the award for Breakthrough Artist in 2011 and Best Live Band in three different years, and a Grammis nomination (Swedish equivalent to the U.S. Grammy Award) as Best Heavy Metal band.Now, Sabaton return with their newest album and perhaps greatest triumph, Legends. LEGENDS marks the very first time that every band member has come together to contribute to the songwriting process. This is SABATON as you’ve never heard them before—relentless and unbound. LEGENDS is a global journey through the annals of warfare, leadership and unbreakable will.Throughout the album, SABATON—Joakim Brodén (vocals), Pär Sundström (bass), Chris Rörland (guitar), Thobbe Englund (guitar), Hannes Van Dahl (drums)—delve into some of history’s greatest and most loved characters such as Jeanne D’arc (also known as Joan of Arc), Hannibal, Genghis Khan, Vlad the Impaler, Julius Caesar, the Knights Templar, and the legendary swordmaster Miyamoto Musashi.HEAVY caught up with frontman Joakim Brodén to find out more."We're an evolutionary band, not a revolutionary band," he began, "so every album is a little bit of an evolution. It's never going to change completely between albums. If you listen to our first album and our last album, with this one, there's a huge difference. But between the albums, it's usually a smaller step or a slightly bigger step. And I think this is a slightly bigger step, actually, maybe because the previous two albums were about World War One, and now we're jumping in history. We are covering everything from Ancient Egypt - that's 1800 before Christ - to Napoleon 1800 after Christ, and jumping both in time and geographically, quite a bit in between there. So I think that has sort of influenced the music and the sound to a certain extent."In the full interview, Joakim discussed Sabaton's latest album Legends, detailing the lengthy process of its completion and the band's evolutionary approach to music. Joakim explained the criteria for selecting historical figures honoured in their songs, emphasizing a literal interpretation of legends and sharing personal connections to figures. He expressed surprise at the philosophical insights of Miyamoto Musashi discovered during songwriting and discussed his creative process, which includes managing writer's block.The conversation also touched on the limited edition vinyl of Legends, the band's commitment to diverse music formats, and upcoming tours in Europe, the US, and Canada, highlighting the excitement of live performances and audience engagement and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.
17 Loka 17min
Bringing The Horror Down Under With WEDNESDAY 13
Interview by Kyra-Jade CoombsOctober with all its spooky Halloween charm is the perfect setting to catch up with Wednesday 13. Our very own Kim Dracula has summoned Wednesday 13 to join him in his Australian tour starting in Sydney on the 21st of November. These shows are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth for all things macabre with each band having their unique style and stage presence that will have you hooked.Throughout his career Wednesday 13 has had such an interesting journey and we couldn’t wait to hear his story. Maintaining success in this industry doesn’t come easy. Among many other things, Wednesday has managed to reinvent himself after riding the wave of success with The Murderdolls, proving his music, tenacity and brand is something special.We delve into the origins of Wednesday 13 - the stage name, the band and the influence horror has had on Wednesday's career. He went on to share a story about working on set in full costume when a wildfire in LA breaks out and the band jumped in to help save the day which got his blood pumping and concreted his dislike of fires. Over the interview we started to reveal the many layers that make up the Wednesday 13 that we know and love today and we hope you enjoy peaking into his weird and wonderful world.The Horror Down Under Tour is going to be one hell of a show that you don’t want to miss out on. TOUR DATESFriday, Nov 21: Princess Theatre, BrisbaneSaturday, Nov 22: The Metro, SydneySunday, Nov 23: Northcote Theatre, MelbourneWednesday, Nov 26: UC Hub, CanberraFriday, Nov 28: The Gov, AdelaideSaturday, Nov 29: Magnet House, Perthhttps://thephoenix.au/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.
13 Loka 18min
Future Plans And Favourite Memories: THE DELTA RIGGS Share A Moment
The Delta Riggs will be hitting home soil again this weekend, ready to headline the main day celebrations for Mo's Desert Clubhouse’s 6th birthday celebrations on the Gold Coast. In the lead up to the show, founding member and bass player Michael ‘Monte’ Tremonte took some time out to chat with HEAVY. Arguably Australia’s most underrated band, The Delta Riggs, have been together since 2010, and are about to release a new track before the end of the year, with the hope it will set the pace for what’s to come their way in 2026. The Riggs frontman Elliot Hammond has had a full roster with his focus recently being with his other band Dope Lemon, which he is a member of alongside his other bestie Angus Stone. Now that is completed, his focus is back with The Delta Riggs, with Monte stating they are excited for what may evolve out of their new releases and plans for the band, as he jokes with Ali calling 2026 The Year of Rigg. Following on from last year's highlights that saw Smashing Pumpkins’ frontman and founder, Billy Corgan, joining The Delta Riggs for the full tour of Good Things Festival. Prior to Corgan’s accompaniment, The Riggs had made a lasting impression when they played a show in Los Angeles that got the attention of a member of the Foo Fighters crew. So much so that this led to Foo Fighters requesting to have The Delta Riggs support them on their 2015 Sonic Highway stadium tour of Australia. A pivotal moment for the band and a lifelong friendship was formed with Foo's guitarist Chris Shiflett. Looking forward to getting loose and playing together again, Monte is pumped to be heading back to the GC and to Mo’s, which is set to be a big weekend of celebrations all around. If you’re in the neighbourhood, head on out to the Clubhouse. Kicking it off on Thursday night are the epic legends Testeagles, with The Delta Riggs on Saturday and wrapping it up before they send it will be King Parrot on Sunday. Event details and tickets are available at www.mosdesertclubhouse.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.
13 Loka 18min
