Bringing The Revolution To Australia With RYAN McCOMBS From DROWNING POOL

Interview by Kris PetersUS metal machine Darkest Hour are set to launch their first Australian tour in over a decade when they touch down for a series of shows starting in Adelaide on February 8.In a career spanning over a quarter of a century Darkest Hour have steadfastly refused to allow labels or trends dictate their music, instead cross-pollinating the metal genres to create a bastardised sound that is unmistakably their own.The band are also putting the finishing touches to their new album, the first since Godless Prophets & the Migrant Flora back in 2017.Guitarist Mike Schleibaum joined HEAVY earlier today to discuss the tour and the history of Darkest Hour. We start by pointing out the fact the band will be doing five shows in five days while here."The thing is, that's kind of how we do it in America," he shrugged. "We just run it out. We're not really good... days off are more dangerous than days on (laughs). Because we just get in a groove and get going. But as soon as we get a day off, and someone wants to climb a mountain or swim all day or get hammered the next day it's impossible. We're gonna be ready to go from day one because we've been trapped up in the studio for a whole month here together - everybody's having a good time - but it's not the same as when you're out there having an adventure. We are looking forward to getting back to the usual what it's like to be in a band rather than being trapped in a room arguing about notes, you know what I mean?"In the full interview Mike discusses the changes in Darkest Hour since they last toured Australia, balancing the setlist to please as many people as possible, what we can expect, the early days of the band and what inspired them, playing a cross section of metal and where it comes from, engineering that sound, the musical changes over the journey, finding your musical identity, work on the new album, their Patreon page, and how to secure your limited meet & greet package.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

30 Tammi 202323min

Interview by Kris PetersAustralian guitar extraordinaire Plini has traversed the globe in the last 12 to 18 months, playing headline shows in India and Scandinavia as well as playing festivals in Germany, Portugal and the U.K.But, as the saying goes, there's no place like home and the accentuate that point Plini is about to set off on a seven date tour through Newcastle, Canberra, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth which kicks off on January 28 in Sydney.Dubbed Plini's Summer Tour, Plini will be bringing over Canada's Protest The Hero plus taking Melbourne outfit I Built The Sky for the biggest tour Plini has been personally vested in to date.Plini joined HEAVY this morning for a chat about the run of shows and the enjoyment of playing in front of your home crowds."It's always fun," he smiled. "This time we're doing more than ever in terms of crew and production, and there's been so many different moving bits and pieces in the last few weeks. It's been exciting to do something that I've never done before and put on a big tour. It should be fun. Almost everything's sorted now so all we have to do is not ruin the songs (laughs)."In the full interview, Plini talks more about what to expect from the shows, the differences between playing in front of home fans and international, focussing on performing rather than what people think of you, the two support bands and why they were chosen, upcoming new music, plans for the rest of the year and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

26 Tammi 202310min

Interview by Kris PetersAfter a particularly turbulent period of their musical life, metal outfit Delain are set to release their latest album, the appropriately titled Dark Waters, on February 10.While remaining Delain at its core due to the long standing influence of original member and keyboardist and main songwriter Martijn Westerholt, Dark Waters is also a coming of age for Delain, ushering in new members Diana Leah (vocals) and Ludovico Cioffi (bass) who have imparted their own magic from the outset.Featuring a wide array of musical influences from pop to film score to blistering heavy metal, Dark Waters is both a statement and a coming of age which will set Delain further on the path to global acceptance.Westerholt sat down with HEAVY to discuss the new music."I'm really looking forward to it," he enthused of the release. "Of course, I haven't been playing for quite some time. We did a few songs end of last year, but not real tours. So I am extremely looking forward to that. We're gonna do a European tour in April and May, and we're gonna do an American tour in September, and of course festivals. There's a lot of cool stuff coming."We press Westerholt on the musical composition of Dark Waters."We had a really big split in the band a couple of years ago," he began, "so the question was there if Delain would continue. Fortunately some original band members returned and for me it was really important to capture the DNA of Delain with this record and I think that worked out well. We also had a guest musician returning who was present on three or four Delain albums already - that's Marko Hietala, the old singer of Nightwish and we had a guitar player who is in Within Temptation so we always have guests on our albums and this was the same. To me it was kind of going back to the roots a little bit with this album." In the full interview, Martjin talks more about the overall sound of Dark Waters, the contributions of the new members and what they brought to the music, the seperation of the band and the challenges in continuing, the early days of Delain as a solo project and how it transformed into a full band, giving away complete creative control when welcoming in more members, the diversity in Delain's music and keeping it sounding balanced and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

24 Tammi 202310min

Interview by Kris PetersThe Stranglers are part of the final frontier of the true genesis of the punk era.Not that the band can be called punk in the purest public sense of the word, but when it comes to attitude, swagger, and defiance there is no compromise.Since forming in 1974 The Stranglers have epitomised the working class ethos and fuck you persona that many mimic or attempt to harness. But there's is the real deal. No posing. No pretensions. No faking.From the beginning if you didn't like them or their music then The Stranglers quite simply couldn't care less.With a career that has spawned such hits as Golden Brown, Always The Sun, No More Heroes, Strange Little Girl and Peaches, The Stranglers still carry the torch for punk and roll in all of its magnificent glory, and are set to bring those songs and more to Australia with a five date run of shows this April.Guitarist Baz Warne sat down with HEAVY recently to discuss the tour and what life in the inner circle of The Stranglers is really like."The main thing that people are gonna notice immediately is that we've got a new keyboard player," he began. "Unfortunately. we lost the original keyboard player Dave Greenfield - who was in the band from 1975 to COVID in May 2020, which was a huge blow. But we managed to unbelievably find someone who was a student of Dave's - not literally - but somebody who loved The Stranglers and loved Dave's keyboard playing. We were lucky enough to find a guy called Toby Hounsham who plays with us now. He's been with us for two years, so we're looking forward to coming down and showing him off to everyone. We'll just be firing and rocking like we always are. It's such a blast to come to Australia. It always is and always has been."In the full interview baz talks more about the tour and what to expect, coming up with a set list to please everybody, the effects age can have on touring and playing live, his early days in the band, bringing his own swagger to The Stranglers, the longevity of the band, his three commandments of punk and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

24 Tammi 202320min

Gold Coast based noise merchants Snake Mountain have been a little quiet for the last couple of years.Or to be more precise, since the band's last single The Hunted back in 2019.While there are many (valid) excuses for the time elapsed between releases, all that people need to know is Snake Mountain are back, and, if possible, even more brutal than they were when they left us.Touting a new, heavier direction, Snake Mountain unleash the proof of that claim at 7pm AEST January 25 via HEAVY with their latest offering Veins. True to form, Veins is an absolute beast of a track that channels the darkness inherent in The Black Knight with enough ferocity and venomous intent to ward evil-doers off for good.Vocalist Neville Pearce sat down with HEAVY recently to run us through the new track and other happenings with Snake Mountain."It is definitely heavier," he affirmed. "It's heavier than what we have done before and that's due to the members that joined during the... Apocolypse that happened. We had a bit of a change in lineup where Kristian (Rousell, drums) and Jaymes (Jackson, guitar) joined us, and they just brought a new energy and a new style that I guess we have been chasing for a long time. Jaymes, in particular, is an incredible song writer. He loves his tech-death, as you can probably hear in the song, and he's just really brought some new energy and life to Snake Mountain that we've needed for a while. Jackson Price, as well, who has recently joined us has a tonne of ideas he is bringing to the band as well and it's been amazing working with him and of course Jared (Day, bass) who has been with the band for a long time. I feel like we're a really good unit and friends."The press release calls Veins a demonstration of the new, heavier direction of Snake Mountain, a claim I pose to Pearce as being a little ambitious given their music is already heavier than a blow to the temple with a sledge hammer."The band started off many, many years ago with a totally different vibe," he measured. "When we started it had more of a Mastodon type vibe to it and it just got heavier over time, depending on the guitarists that jumped on board (laughs). But I'm into that sort of heavier tech stuff, so it's kind of more up my alley as well. I don't know. I don't know if there is heavier... I guess we could, and it's a challenge. I saw Werewolves the other night and they melted my face off, so maybe I will have to write a song called We Stole This From Werewolves (laughs)."In the full interview, Neville dives deeper into Veins, the heavier direction, the subject matter and inspiration for the song, tying it in to the Batman franchise, upcoming shows, future new music plans and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

24 Tammi 202315min

Interview by Erin EddyThey don’t come much more legendary than the likes of Geoff Tate.Frontman for the revered Queensryche, he will be back in Australia playing a small selection ofshows between February 8 th – 10 th .Playing two albums in their entirety, Rage For Order and Empire, this is an experience fans won’twant to miss.With the Covid years behind him, and feeling fitter than ever after open heart surgery, Geoff says hehas missed travelling and touring. With 2023 almost completely filled with touring, he’s eager to getback to what he loves and told HEAVY “This year I think I might have four days at home, if I’m lucky!”Have a listen to our interview with Geoff, discussing his Aussie tour and his thoughts on AItechnology, amongst other things!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

24 Tammi 202324min

Interview by Kris PetersBrisbane funk metallers Osaka Punch have been strangely quiet of late.Not quiet in the sense they have done nothing, but more so quiet in terms of their usual prolific output and touring schedule.Towards the back end of last year the band made their first trek outside of their home state since 2019 with a run of shows supporting Sunk Loto on their reunion tour, but aside from that fans were left lamenting the lack of fresh material from a band who promised so much with the release of Drones and Hall Of Shame that same year.With The Other Festival returning next weekend at its new home at The Tivoli in Brisbane, Osaka Punch once more reunite with headliners COG and a string of rising local stars for a one day celebration of everything that is musically good in this country.Guitarist Chrispy sat down with HEAVY recently to face the music on what has been happening with the band and their appearance at The Other Festival."First and foremost we're all massive fans of COG and have been for years and years," he offered. "We're always humbled when we get invited to play. I think we did a tour with them in 2019 which was great and that was our first experience being able to support them and it went really well. Obviously they were happy to have us along for the first Other Festival."Osaka Punch have always prided themselves on their relationship with their fans, especially in the live arena, which must have made the last couple of years where they have been stuck in QLD that much harder to bear."It definitely...," he measured. "Prior to everything leading up to 2019 we did quite a few interstate shows and we always tried to make it a priority. We're really trying to build a fan base outside of Queensland and it was starting to take shape, which was nice. Luckily quite a few fans from other states have connected with us still and we are always getting requests to make our way back down to Adelaide and Melbourne and Sydney again. We're planning to do that this year very soon."In the full interview, Chrispy talks more about The Other Festival and what fans can expect from their set, the tour with Sunk Loto, new music and when we can expect, what to expect from the new tracks, what has changed in the band since their last appearance at The Other Festival in 2021, his stint as a DJ at the festival and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

22 Tammi 202313min

Interview by Kris PetersMost bands tend to slow down as they near two decades of service to the music industry. Some by design and others due to the inevitable reach of Father time pulling tighter on the reins, but not so Sydney hard rock/metal outfit Temtris who plan to ring in that milestone with possibly their biggest and most ambitious album yet.The conceptually based Khaos Divine will be released on March 17, with the band only drip feeding morsels of information about the genesis of the story.What we do know is the first single from the album, also titled Khaos Divine, will be premiered via HEAVY at 9 am AEST on January 25 and is an absolute cracker of a track that accentuates the vocal talents of vocalist Genevieve Rodda and explores a more modern approach to music that promises to further highlight Temtris' sonic capabilities.Rodda and guitarist Anthony Fox sat down with HEAVY to discuss the new song and impending release."The track is the second song off the album Khaos Divine," Fox explained. "The first track is an instrumental opening because the entire album is a concept album. We chose Khaos Divine as the first single because that's when the lyrics kick in and the story starts to be told. Being a concept album, musically Khaos Divine introduces a lot of the musical motifs that crop up throughout the rest of the album and some of the signature lines that represent the different characteristics and different characters within the concept story. It's a very busy track and introduces Khaos Divine the city and the other components of the city, which is also Khaos Divine which is the A.I that controls the entire city scope."In the full interview, Genevieve and Fox discuss Khaos Divine in greater detail, delve more into the musical nature of the song, the concept story line that drives the album, bringing a modern approach to their new music, how the sound has changed since the band's last album Ritual Warfare in 2021, the album launch tour which covers most of the country, this weekends Melbourne show, celebrating 20 years as a band and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

22 Tammi 202321min