Shifting Transmission With JJ McCANN

Interview by Kris PetersExperimental metal outfit Locrian are counting down the days until the release of their new album End Terrain on April 5.Officially endorsed as the proper follow-up to 2015's Infinite Dissolution, End Terrain sees Locrian return to the sounds that defined the earlier part of their music, more experimental and forthright than previous album New Catastrophism while still managing to weave a common thread of musicality that is the band's lifeblood.More complex and layered than ever before, Locrian have struck a powerful balance between metal genres, creating a sonic tapestry of epic proportions that encompasses the band's continued growth.HEAVY recently spoke with André Foisy (electric, 12-string, acoustic guitars), Terence Hannum (synthesizers, vocals, tape loops) and Steven Hess (drums, electronics) recently, reflecting on their evolution as songwriters, their experimentation with different sounds and effects, and their approach to creating new music, emphasizing their experimental and collaborative process. The band members also discussed their influences from genres like death metal and thrash, and how they incorporate these elements into their music to create a cohesive body of work that blends different styles.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

23 Maalis 202421min

Interview by Kris PetersOne of the lesser known wonders of the travelling Knotfest music extravaganza is the Knotfest Museum.An extension of the music program, the Knotfest Museum is more than a distraction tacked on as an afterthought. Much more.Everything on display is 100% genuine Slipknot, with the band members offering up personal items to be showcased as well as perfectly curated extras from Slipknot Museum Global Manager Caelin Meredith.In collaboration with the band, Meredith oversees the entire production and assembling of the museum, from shipping the contents out to Australia to attending at Knotfest to make each experience as personal as possible.This year sees the Slipknot Museum celebrate next year's 25th anniversary of Slipknot, with added features such as a dedicated album display, playable instruments and much more.Meredith joined HEAVY this morning to explore the many wonders of the Slipknot Museum."Basically, for Knotfest I bring the museum, and it's the band's representation at the festival," she began. "This year we're bringing a 25-year retrospective, so we're starting from Iowa in 1999, and you will basically walk the album cycles from their beginning to now. And we've pulled key pieces that represent each of the albums, so whether it's wardrobe, or whether it's musical instruments… the fans will also have the opportunity to play some of the instruments. So Mick's guitar, Jim's guitar, V-Man's bass and all the settings are on the quad quartex to their specifications, so as you're playing you're gonna hear it how V-Man plays it. We're bringing some rad art from Clown and some secret surprises, so it's for the Slipknot fan, but it's also for the Knotfest fan. It's to celebrate their 25-year anniversary, so it's a really big deal, and I'm excited to bring it back to Australia."In the full interview, Caelin talks more about the Knotfest Museum, what to expect, more of the wonders contained within, some of the rarities, the interactive aspects, Slipknot's 25th anniversary and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

16 Maalis 202413min

Interview by Kris PetersOn the eve of their Australian tour, Infectious Grooves pulled one final punch when they announced former Slipknot drummer Jay Weinberg into a band that already includes Mike Muir, Dean Pleasants (Suicidal Tendencies) and Rob Trujillo (Metallica).Not that Infectious Grooves rest their musical output on the pedigree of musicians from popular bands. They never have. But adding one more name to the list definitely doesn't hurt.HEAVY sat down for a chat with Weinberg who expressed his excitement about the upcoming tour with Infectious Grooves in Australia and the unique opportunity to work with his musical heroes. He discussed the challenges of balancing the mission of making rock music with the opportunity to take in the culture and life of Australia. Weinberg also discussed his experience and mindset in joining Infectious Grooves, highlighting the excitement and challenges of transitioning from his previous heavy and fast style with Slipknot to the funk and groove-oriented music of Infectious Grooves.Weinberg also provided a detailed account of his recovery from hip surgery, emphasizing his determination to return to normalcy. He discussed the injury sustained from years of running, the impact on his hip, and the decision to undergo surgery. Weinberg expressed gratitude for the support he received, including the encouragement from the Muir family.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

15 Maalis 202427min

Interview by Kris PetersBrisbane metal outfit Ancient Remains understand the ethos of more is better, consistently churning out new material in an attempt to engage with as many people as possible.Their most recent effort is the crushing four-track EP Burn It All, which came out on March 13.Ancient Remains draw influences from bands such as Metallica, Lamb of God, Pantera, Slipknot, Parkway drive, Megadeth, Turnstile, Linkin Park, Guns n Roses and Black Stone Cherry but do so in a way that ensures enough of their own DNA is sprinkled through the finished product so as to create a sound unmistakably their own.Vocalist Dan sat down with HEAVY late last week to tell us more about Burn It All."We're very excited for it," he began, "because we did a single release for the title track then followed it up with Chill The Fuck Out, dedicated to our neighbours we pissed off for so long. Then we follow it up with the other two, and are in the works on other demos beyond that as well. We're not gonna stop there, and we intend to keep going in the future."In the full interview, Dan talks more about Burn It All and what they were going for overall with the EP, runs us through each track individually and the meaning behind it, the new material they are working on and what it sounds like, being featured on MMM Brisbane,upcoming shows and moreBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

15 Maalis 202427min

Interview by Kris PetersPhoto credit Jeffrey Graham PhotographyKnotfest Australia 2024 is less than a week away, and despite boasting bands of the calibre of Lamb Of God, Disturbed, Halestorm, Skindred and more, the band on everyone’s lips is Pantera.After getting back together last year for some live shows - with Zakk Wylde filling guitarist duties and Charlie Benante on the drums – the new-look version of Pantera has come under fire from certain quarters, with others praising the band for bringing their music to a new generation.It is a debate that has merits on both sides, but at the end of the day it should be accepted for what it is. A celebration of a band and their history.HEAVY caught up with Zakk Wylde for one of Pantera’s few interviews before Knotfest.We discussed the line-up, nerves before the first show, and the personal significance of playing music written by Dimebag Darrell, as well as the possibility of new music, his involvement in the Ride for Dime event, and Zakk’s excitement for the upcoming Berzerkus festival plus his work with Black Label Society, the status of their upcoming album, and his creative process for writing new material. We also addressed criticism of the Pantera reunion and more.“We just got done wrapping up the last run of the headlining shows right around near Madison Square Garden, which was pretty amazing,” Wylde beamed. “It’s been a great time. I mean, every night, you know, celebrating Don, Vinny, and Philip, and Rex, and this amazing thing that they created that just brings everyone together. So it's a beautiful thing every night.”Listen to the full interview for more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

14 Maalis 202415min

Interview by Kris PetersLet's face it, coming up with something fresh and unique when it comes to music and the music world is almost impossible these days. With more music at our disposal than ever before meaning a multitude of new bands and artists all clamouring to find their share of the market, it takes something truly special to give you that edge.And sometimes that edge is the difference between success and failure.Sydney punk rockers The Great Awake struck that elusive gold recently with their promotional idea for new single Shitty Midlife Crisis proving a master stroke. After unleashing their new album QUIT onto the public, vocalist/guitarist Matt O'Keefe and his bandmates had the idea of creating a completely new platform for their next single, one which would engage both their music and people's minds and sense of adventure.Thus, The Great Awake playable video game was born, crafted and put together by O'Keefe with a basic, yet effective premise of skating and avoiding obstacles - but of course, dripping with laconic wit and gnarly graphics to match the band's sense of humour. The two releases could easily survive as stand-alone entities, but when put together offer an outlet for youthful exuberance with a soundtrack that takes you back to the days of Tony Hawk.HEAVY caught up with O'Keefe to find out more.We discussed their new single Shitty Midlife Crisis and the accompanying playable video game, which was a year-long process for Matt to develop. He emphasized the importance of incorporating fun and nostalgia into their approach and injecting humor and lightheartedness into their interactions. We also discussed the positive reception of Quit and the band's efforts to improve their live shows, plus more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

11 Maalis 202412min

Interview by Kris PetersRising from the ashes of the grunge era, Melbourne rock outfit Cicadastone have spent just over ten years refining their sound amid a musical revolution that saw their style of music shunned from mainstream darlings to backseat troublemakers.Following their 2016 debut Chance Collide, Cicadastone found strength in the fact that although grunge-infused rock was generally on the outer, people started gravitating towards their version of it. With more than a passing nod to some of the heavyweights of that musical movement, Cicadastone quickly set about sprinkling their own DNA into the mix and by 2020's Cold Chamber their efforts in bringing together music from all corners of the rock spectrum were beginning to be noticed.For their third, and most decisive album to date, Cicadastone have signed with new label XMusic and are obviously enjoying the freedom to allow their natural creativity to dictate the sonic balance of their music.The result is Future Echoes - out May 31 -, an album that draws from both previous albums, but also shows Cicadastone's musical growth and diversity like never before.The band last week dropped lead single In The Crossfire, a meaty slab of rock goodness that offers a glimpse inside Future Echoes while only scratching at the surface.HEAVY sat down with vocalist Mat Robins to find out more, starting with In The Crossfire."It's just one of these riffs that I had lying around for a long time and I couldn't do anything with it," he began. "And then one day it all happened in half an hour. I bashed the song together and jotted down the lyrics and found my focus. It all came together really fast, and we demoed the song, and it was the last song that we wrote for the record. But it's probably the most radio-friendly rock single we've got, so it worked out pretty good."We ask why the band chose In The Crossfire as the first single."I just think it's the most obvious, forthright song," he shrugged. "It's got the pace - we're predominantly a band that doesn't push pace. We love our sludgy, slow riffs (laughs). The label were eager to push the faster songs, so it was an obvious choice."In the full interview, Mat talks more about In The Crossfire, Future Echoes as a whole, what they were going for musically with it, the press release claims that it is Cicadastone's biggest statement yet, how it is a new chapter in the band's history, signing to XMusic and what it means for the band moving forward, how Cicadastone have grown musically over the three albums, their upcoming Stay Gold gig with The Midnight Devils and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

11 Maalis 202416min

Interview by Kris PetersLA based alternative artist Lil Lotus recently unleashed his second album Nosebleeder via Epitaph Records, building on the promise shown on his debut effort ERRØR BØY.Nosebleeder sees Lotus collaborating across the sphere of alternative music, including Mod Sun, Sophie Powers, Alexis Munroe and kennedyxoxo. Determined not to be restricted by any one genre or subgenre, Lil Lotus has expressed a desire to work with as many different artists as possible, an aim which has led to him being invited by Ocean Sleeper to join them this April and May for their Lonely Love Australian Tour.HEAVY caught up with Lil Lotus earlier this month."I've never been (to Australia)," he revealed excitedly, "so shout out to Ocean Sleeper and Deficit for having us out there. I think it will hit me when I'm on that 20-hour flight (laughs). I've always wanted to go to Australia. We've always talked about it. It's really weird, because Australia was always up there on my top places of people listening, and this opportunity came up, and it was like fuck yeah, let's do it."In the full interview, Lil Lotus expressed excitement and apprehension about his upcoming first tour of Australia, particularly regarding the wildlife. We discussed the comprehensive nature of the tour, covering various cities in Australia, sharing funny stories about Australian wildlife.Lotus discussed the evolution of his music, highlighting the shift towards a more band-heavy sound and the positive reception of his latest album, Nosebleed. He also reflected on his diverse musical career and emphasized the importance of experimenting with music while staying true to his artistic identity.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

11 Maalis 202411min