Involuntary Shutdown With LINK From THE MEANIES
Certain things in this world should always be spoken in the same breath. Be it respect, acceptance or merely just because that's the way it has always been, some things you just don't mess with. Like a pie and tomato sauce, a Tim Tam straw, bacon and eggs, and The Meanies and Australian music.It seems The Meanies can't ever put a foot wrong, even when it comes to apathetically releasing a song recorded 25 years ago that just happens to have worked its way to the surface, although, admittedly they did hedge their bets somewhat by inviting another classic Aussie band from that era in Frenzal Rhomb to provide a cover of Play This Song Every Night on the B Side.From the late 1980s and into this century, Melbourne pop punk-meets-hardcore-meets-punk-meets-attitude outfit The Meanies have crawled and fought their way into the halls of Australian music royalty, generally not caring either way about the trappings of success and the money and problems that invariably come with it. Put simply, The Meanies are the band that keeps on giving, and if you have no idea about why or how these guys have etched themselves into the realm of champions, then I suggest you repeat Grade 5. Or maybe listen to this chat HEAVY recently had with frontman Link Meanie. We ask him how a song could just be found after 25 years in captivity, to which he had a strangely semi-serious answer."We initially released an EP and a couple of more EPs from that recording session," he explained. "The more traditional Meanies-type songs. But I was just a bit confused at the time and recorded a whole bunch of ridiculous shit. There was a disco song, there's a fucking country song. I don't know what the fuck I was thinking, but yeah. So we did release those, and we had a whole bunch of other stuff that we've gradually done a bunch of singles with. So we'll have one of those tracks on the A side and a couple of Aussie bands covering our songs on the other side. So we've been lucky enough to have some really good bands do that."In the full interview, Link told us the story behind the suddenly found music and why it has been drip-fed over the years. We discussed the song itself, Shutdown, and the funkier direction it takes, asking if that was a direction The Meanies had contemplated taking 25 years ago. He told us of the fun he had writing and recording that sexier number, and the potential for The Meanies to rebrand themselves as sex symbols.We chatted about having Frenzal Rhomb and Leeches! feature on the B Side, each band covering a different song by The Meanies. We also spoke about the friendship and connection between them and Frenzal, and some fun times they have had together over the years. The topic of grunge music and its global invasion was raised, and how The Meanies started up around the same time, but never conformed to what was a rapidly expanding genre. He told us about the band's single launch tour starting on October 31 and what fans can expect, and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.
29 Loka 17min
Clearing Skies With JODI PHILLIS From THE CLOUDS
At a time when much of the music industry was still finding its feet after the rapid emergence of alternative rock, Sydney up-and-comers The Clouds took a different approach. Rather than grow with the music trend that was sweeping the country, they decided to get ahead of the curve by expanding on what was, in the 1990s, a sound still very much in development.Coming together towards the end of 1989, The Clouds quickly stamped their own class on the Australian music scene, playing by no rules except their own and daring to colour way outside of the lines to create a sonic tapestry of eclectic beauty that saw the band rapidly surpass the growing movement to create one of their own.By blending dreamy pop, angular rock, and hazy shoegaze elements with warm melodies and poetic, insightful lyrics, The Clouds - armed with two part female harmonies which were almost unheard before in a band situation at the time - have stood the test of time and character, reaching their 35th anniversary as a band with little or no signs of conforming to industry expectations despite the obvious benefits of doing so.To celebrate this milestone, The Clouds embark on a select run of three capital city shows through November in what is sure to be a poignant trip down memory lane for anyone who has even only slightly followed the band and their music over the last three and a bit decades. HEAVY sat down recently with guitarist/vocalist Jodi Phillis to find out more, pointing out that 35 years as a band is as good an excuse as any to hit the stage."It's a bit surreal and a bit crazy," she smiled, looking back on the last 35 years, "but yes, it's always good to have an excuse. Something to hang the tour on, as they say."We bring up the obvious fact that The Clouds have to play certain songs that fans almost demand - like Hieronymus, Red Serenade, Say It and Soul Eater - but also raise the point that being a special anniversary run, the band has the right to be self-indulgent to a degree."We're doing a combination," Jodi laughed. "So we're going to do those ones that we know that the audience enjoys, and we still enjoy playing them otherwise we wouldn't do them. But yeah, we're definitely going to put back in some of the ones that we've dropped for a while that were also our favourites. Plus, we're putting in a couple that are really obscure, so it will be fun."In the full interview, Jodi talks more about the shows and the reasons behind doing three select performances instead of a traditional pub run, keeping match fit and being in a position to perform to your best as the hands of Father Time inevitably catch up and who else other than herself and Patricia Young will be part of the tour.We chat about the early days of The Clouds and the emergence of alternative music, with Jodi deliberating on their place in the alternative movement and how the band sonically negotiated that period. She brings up relearning songs that were written nearly forty years ago and how they have stood the test of time, the balance between playing their existing catalogue and writing new music and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.
28 Loka 12min
Defying Expectations With LUCAS, NAV And MERRY From TO OCTAVIA
Melbourne rock/metal outfit To Octavia have shown their hand early in their career, resisting the temptation to follow in the path of easier acceptance in preference for staying true to their art.With the breakout success of their EP Somewhere In A World, Not Of The Dream, it would have been tempting and sensible to rehash the same winning formula for their debut album Melodrama. Their sound had obviously struck a chord with the music-loving public, and more of the same would have likely instantly propelled them into the next level of aspiring artists. But more of the same wasn't on the minds of To Octavia, who instead followed a darker, heavier path more in keeping line with their own musical progression, leaving behind the safety net they had worked so hard for and once again throwing their choices and music at the mercy of the public.It was a decision that has already shown dividends with four singles already making a splash, and with Melodrama coming out this Friday, October 31, it seems like the band's bold decision to defy expectations is not going to backfire on them.HEAVY caught up with guitarist Nav Jay, vocalist Merry Kirk-Holmes and drummer Lucas Keurntjes to chat more and start by asking how they are feeling on the cusp of the album's release."Very excited," enthused Merry. "This album has been in the works for a very long time, so it's really exciting to finally get it out."We ask the boys to dive deeper into Melodrama musically."We were all on the same page when we were writing it and taking it to whatever it was going to be," Merry replied. "We didn't know it was going to be an album at the time. But I guess there's more of a darker tone than the previous EP, Wonderland, which is a bit more upbeat, a bit more poppy and rocky. We decided naturally that we'd go back to our more metal influences, like our roots, really. And that led to experimenting more and more with different kinds of sounds and things."In the full interview, To Octavia tell us more about the musical side of Melodrama and how it is heavier than previous offerings. They detail their thoughts on taking the music in a darker direction and discuss the need to further expand their sound rather than play it safe.They discussed how their music has grown and will continue to grow, how Nav is fitting in to the band, the risk of alienating existing fans with the new direction and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.
28 Loka 14min
A Blending Of Cultures With KALANDRA
Norse folk music has always been a more than handy bedfellow with metal music. Despite the obvious sonic contrasts between the two, they seem to combine well with each other, providing an unsettling ambience that could potentially veer into darker territory at any given moment.While Kalandra - spearheaded by four Norwegian and Swedish musicians - make use of these Nordic elements, they also create a sonic tapestry laced with progressive rock and pop sensibilities that is both intimate and consuming. Led by Katrine Stenbekk’s sublime vocals, the band have spent over a decade refining their sound and building a world which has led to them sharing stages with acts like Wardruna, Leprous and Eivor while earning acclaim at festivals such as France's Hellfest and Norway’s Midgardsblot.And now, it's Australia's turn as Kalandra prepare for their first ever trip to our shores, bringing their haunting, beautiful and immersive live experience to a new world filled with new opportunities for the band. HEAVY sat down with vocalist Katrine Stenbekk, guitarists Jogeir Daae Mæland and Florian Bernhard Döderlein Winter plus drummer Oskar Johnsen Rydh to find out more, starting with the final piece of the touring puzzle just falling into place."I just actually got my final email from the Australian government saying that I'm allowed to bring this little funny instrument in," Jogeir laughed, holding up a goat horn. "It's something about the nature instruments and the endangered species in Australia."We ask the band about touring countries for the first time and if they do their homework, pointing out that the Australian sense of humour is a bit different to the rest of the world, offering the example that our way of showing friendship and respect is to pay out on each other."This is very good to know," Florian smiled. "This is like in Toulouse in France. We were very confused because when they boo, the whole crowd goes boo. Apparently, that means that they love it, which is very confusing for us. So yeah, learning these sorts of things like that is very useful to us."In the full interview, we discuss in greater detail what we can expect from Kalandra's live show, why it has taken so long to get over here and what, if any, research they plan to do. We asked them to elaborate on the atmospherics with their music and how they translate to the live arena, as well as the blending of instruments in their music and how that translates live.We spoke about Kalandra's upcoming EP Morketid and what it represents, as well as the musical growth in the band over their journey. I asked about getting the balance right in the creative process and how they know if they have gone too far or not far enough in any musical direction, future plans and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.
28 Loka 23min
Breaking Into Prison With DANIEL KONRAOSSON From ABORTED
What better way to kick off a new year than a trifecta of brutality? Which is exactly what Australia is getting next February when death metal miscreants Aborted join forces with Archspire and Organectomy for a tour so crushing they have had to name it the Return To Prison Island Australia Tour 2026.For the last three decades, Aborted have pioneered death metal, taking no prisoners in their blending and cross-pollination of extreme metal, death-grind and ferocious extremities neatly wrapped in a ball of technical precision that defies their relentless approach. Their most recent album, Vault Of Horrors, solidified Aborted's supremacy, and now they are headed our way to spread sonic carnage across the land. While these three bands will complete a four-date capital city run themselves, Aborted and Archspire have also been invited to perform at both Froth & Fury Festival shows, rounding out the tour with bookends in Perth and Adelaide.HEAVY sat down with Aborted's Daniel Konráðsson to find out what to expect. We start by asking if Aborted has hit the road with either Archspire or Organectomy before."We've toured with both of those bands before, absolutely," he smiled at the memory. "We did a summer tour with Archspire, which was a great time. We toured the U.S. together, North America, and had a lot of fun. Those guys definitely are very upper alley, both musically and personally. We've known those guys a long time; the two bands go way back. And sonically, I feel like they align as well, so that makes for a very good package. It's kind of broad, but it's also going to be pretty pummelling most of the way through, which is not bad (laughs). Organectomy were with us throughout Europe, and those guys were awesome. Absolutely awesome. So we're very excited to see them all again, definitely."Over the full interview, the discussion focused on the upcoming Australian tour and live performances by Aborted. Dan shared insights on the importance of crowd participation in creating an engaging atmosphere during shows, emphasising that they aim to foster an active environment where the audience's enjoyment is key to a successful performance.He expressed excitement for Froth & Fury Festival, highlighting the unique experience of a metal-only festival and the opportunity to discover new bands. Dan recommended three key songs for new listeners and reflected on his smooth transition into the band, noting his pride in enhancing their sound while maintaining high production quality in their latest album and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.
27 Loka 16min
Respecting The Horrors Of War With DIETMAR KUMARBERG From 1914
While the idea of conceptual records and music is nothing new, more often than not, these concepts are drawn from ideas, visions, or the minds of people who are passionate about the very thing they are writing about. While these musical storylines are more often than not an entertaining escape from the mundane existence of everyday life, they are merely a figment of another person's imagination and can be construed as such.But when it comes to conceptual stories surrounding war and the atrocities associated with it, there are few bands who manage the task well. Subjects that have basis in reality and the suffering of others must have an authentic flavour to them in order to be respectful to those who have lived it and their families, with bands like Sabaton standing out for their continued excellence in this field.But there is also another band who delves into the horrors of war with unnerving detail, except this time the band in question themselves live and/or were raised in a war zone. A real-life battle zone where life and death are a daily balancing act. As such, their music is not only based on fact, it is written in conflict.That band is 1914, formed in Lviv, Ukraine, in 2014. From the outset, 1914 have written and sung about war - primarily WW1 - but the daily threat of war that lives on their doorstep enables the band to write with an eerie authenticity unlike most others. 1914's upcoming fourth album, Viribus Unitis, adheres to the same conceptual storyline as each of the other albums, except this time the story arc follows the personal accounts of a Ukrainian soldier in the K.u.K. army, following real events and tracing a timeline from 1914 to 1919. The album paints a grim journey through the war’s rise, climax, and hollow aftermath, combining a brutal mixture of blackened death metal, slow-burning doom, and ambient war soundscapes.HEAVY spoke with vocalist 2nd Division, 147th Infantry Regiment, Senior Lieutenant Dietmar Kumarberg (Dmytro Ternushchak) to find out more."I don't know how I must feel about it," he laughed, speaking with a thick Ukrainian accent. "At least I'm still alive - because I'm from Ukraine - so it's not bad at all in our circumstances. At least we did this, and we finished this album, and we will release it on Napalm Records. I feel some… let's call it happiness (laughs), because I'm allowed to do this, and it's not bad at all."We ask him to dive into the album deeper musically."With this album - like all of ours - we started based on real historical events, with a lot of research," he replied. "It's a big concept. But with this album, we started in a completely different way. We based the whole album on the life of one soldier. This is a soldier from the Western part of Ukraine - my home town. This is the view from one soldier when he faced war at the very beginning of the First World War, and the Russians invaded my hometown, and his regiment must retreat, and he faces the huge battles."In the full interview, Dietmar tells us more about the conceptual journey of the soldier, including his lonely end. He tells us the story behind the title - which is Latin for With United Forces and how it ties in with Viribus Unitus, including personal tales of battle he has endured living in Ukraine.Dietmar goes further into the concept and explains how 1914 manage to create a sonic landscape and atmospherics that take the listener inside the war zone and the importance of research and factual information in their music. He talks of the personal toll writing about such horrific encounters leaves on him after an album cycle and runs us through what it is like living as a musician in Ukraine throughout the war and devastation, plus much more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.
27 Loka 24min
Ready To Rock Australia With JESS MARGERA From CKY
CKY are the flag bearers for big, raw, authentic, earth-shaking rock liberated from useless pretence. They burned it all down, with a raucous, anarchic rock sound soaked in the skate-punk culture that birthed them; and a hard-partying lifestyle onstage and off that left decimated relationships and reputations in its wake.Boasting a collection of killer rock anthems like 99 Quite Bitter Beings, Flesh Into Gear, Escape From Hellview and Familiar Realm, CKY's music is a huge part of the infamous Jackass TV series as well as just about every skate and surf compilation of the era and covered by the likes of modern superstars Polyphia, leaving a highly influential imprint on the current punk/alternate scene.Following the infamous incident that forced the cancellation of their participation in the co-headline tour with Alien Ant Farm, CKY are finally making their way to Australia in January for three very special shows. HEAVY sat down with drummer Jess Margera to find out what to expect.We can't help but point out it has been well over a decade since CKY were last out here. "I can't believe it's been 14 years, that's crazy." Jess laughed. We follow by asking what has changed with the band since the last tour."We have a new bass player, Mike Leon," he replied, "and man, he's a shredder. He worked with the Cavalera's, and he did some stuff with that new band IIgor. It's really cool. He makes my job easy (laughs)."Talk turns to the early days of CKY and where they fit into the music scene."Same as now, we don't really fit in anywhere," Jess laughed, "which is a blessing and a curse. We've been doing this a long time, and a lot of bands can't really say that. So, it's funny when we play the festivals, because they don't know where to put us. We've played the metal stage, the punk stage, the rock stage… It's funny in that respect, but I think having our own sound has definitely afforded us to have a career. I don't take that for granted at all."In the full interview, Jess talks more about touring, emphasizing the challenges of maintaining their high-energy live performances as the band ages, particularly in hot weather, while also addressing the complexities of curating a set list that appeals to a diverse fan base by analyzing streaming data.Jess shared insights into CKY's unconventional rise to fame, highlighting the influence of skate culture and media appearances, including stunts for Jackass that sometimes led to injuries and tour cancellations. The conversation also touched on the band's eclectic musical style, their instinctual creative process, and the decision to release new music as singles in response to evolving listener habits, alongside reflections on memorable touring experiences, particularly in Japan.TOUR DATESFriday, Jan 23: Max Watts, MelbourneSaturday, Jan 24: Crowbar, SydneySunday, Jan 25: Crowbar, BrisbaneBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.
27 Loka 12min
Confronting The Enemy With CHRIS SORBYE From SMASH INTO PIECES
In a relatively short amount of time as far as the music industry goes, Swedish rock outfit Smash Into Pieces have quickly risen to become one of the leading exponents of rock on the planet. After twice reaching the Swedish Eurovision final and delivering a string of consistently quality albums, the band found themselves on the international stage and touring with bands of the calibre of Evanescence and Within Temptation.But if you think getting somewhere near the top is hard, it's even harder staying there. All of a sudden, the weight of expectation falls heavier on your shoulders, and new music is critiqued on a level never experienced before. Which is why the next album from Smash Into Pieces couldn't just be as good as previous releases. It had to be better.Which is exactly what Smash Into Pieces have achieved with Armaheaven, to be released on October 31. Continuing the battle between humanity and AI where previous album Ghost Code left off, Armaheaven paints an even bleaker picture of humanity's future, set to the backdrop of a cinematic and sonically abundant tapestry of riches throughout its 15 tracks. It is another step forward in the evolution of Smash Into Pieces, and reaffirms their growing status with an almost effortless ambience that hints at even more expansion to come.HEAVY sat down with frontman Chris Sörbye to find out more."We have been working on this album for a long time," he told us. "There's a lot of songs there that have been with us for a long time, which we haven't really had the time to finish. For example, Devil In My Head has been with us for almost five years now. We didn't know what to make of that song in the early stages, but it turned out great."In the full interview, Chris talks more about the musical side of Armaheaven, how it continues from Ghost Code, runs us through the storyline and gives some insightful thoughts into AI.He talks us through the guest artists on the album, including Elize Ryd from Amaranthe and the history between the two bands. The topic of integrating cinematic scores into their music was discussed, as was the art of conveying emotion through atmospherics in the studio. Talk turned to their recent tour of Australia, the ever-evolving sonic palate explored by Smash Into Pieces and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.
27 Loka 29min
