A Triumphant Return With SHANNON And TENAYE From HZED

Interview by Kris PetersRight before the turn of the century, casual jam sessions between a group of friends unassumingly lit the fuse for an insane 25-year ride to follow…Hailing from Western Massachusetts (where the only thing icier than the freeway in winter is the blunt sense of humour shared by the locals), Killswitch Engage — Adam Dutkiewicz [guitar], Joel Stroetzel [guitar], Mike D’Antonio [bass], Justin Foley [drums], and Jesse Leach [vocals] — always stood apart. For as deadly serious as their airtight technical riffing is, they also knew how to have a good time, riling up crowds with uncontainable energy and unpredictable performances. They could bludgeon with the best of them, or serve up the kind of sing-along banger you could blast with the windows down.From day one, they naturally appealed to the headbangers, hardcore kids, and heartbroken alike.With eight successful albums under their belt, Killswitch Engage haveharnessed all of their strengths on their ninth full-length LP, This Consequence. They’ve distilled the hallmarks of their signature sound into a bruising, often brutal, and at times brilliantly bright body of work. This time around, the group emphasized working together face-to-face in a Massachusetts rehearsal spot. The process enabled them to apply the pressure on every element. At the collective urging of his bandmates, Jesse poured over his words like never before.Now, This Consequence might just set the stage for another 25 years of Killswitch Engage.HEAVY caught up with frontman Jesse Leach to find out more."Excited," he smiled when we ask how he is feeling about the impending release of This Consequence. "It's been a long time coming for many reasons. There's a bit of excited anxiety, like let's just get it out there. Let's just get it out there and start playing for the people."We ask if, after eight previous albums, the excitement levels during the lead into an album release are still the same."It's a little different now," he measured. "It's still very exciting, but there's a certain amount of… I don't wanna use the word ease, but just comfort in the fact that we've done this enough. I think with this record, especially, we all feel like this feels like taking it to the next level. Even the decision to change the logo up… it just feels like a shift into a different era of the band. So there's an added excitement, but also a calm feeling that this feels right."In the full interview, Jesse outlines the musical side of This Consequence, the first single Forever Aligned and why it was chosen to represent the album, the title and its significance, how this album is more of a collaboration than recent efforts, the bands blending of harmonies with brutality and how it works in the creative process, the early days of Killswitch Engage and where they fit in, how their music has changed over the years and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

17 Helmi 18min

Interview by Angela CroudacePhoto Credit: Erik Ohlsson, Magnus LarnhedTwo of the all-time punk greats will be returning to Australia with pioneering California dynamos PENNYWISE and beloved Swedish trailblazers MILLENCOLIN set to co-headline a huge run down under.For over 30 years, Swedish icons MILLENCOLIN have vividly put punk on the map. With their original line up still intact since forming back in 1992, MILLENCOLIN's debut album, 1994's Tiny Tunes, opened the floodgates that would shape the quartet's staggering career to come. Skyrocketing their popularity courtesy of the 2000 full-length Pennybridge Pioneers, the rock-infused dive beyond the band's earlier skate punk and ska leanings would ultimately spawn iconic tracks like No Cigar and Penguins & Polarbears, achieving infamy with No Cigar's addition to the soundtrack for Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2, and ultimately finding the overall album scoring an ARIA Platinum certification.One of punk rock's most famed and favourite acts to emerge out of Europe, MILLENCOLIN have played thousands of shows around the world, including as part of Warped Tour, Soundwave Festival and Big Day Out, multiple sold-out headline performances, tours with the likes of Bad Religion and The Offspring, and, most recently for Australians, at Good Things Festival in 2022. And never ones to rest on their laurels, MILLENCOLIN also continue to finesse their sonic creations, seen vividly via their 2019 album SOS, exploring political and darker themes without sacrificing their explosive energy and gripping melodic.HEAVY caught up with Millencolin guitarist Mathias Färm to find out more.MILLENCOLIN & PENNYWISE tix from destroyalllines.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

17 Helmi 10min

Interview by Angela CroudaceAfter spending years as a fan, Chris Cresswell now finds himself on stage with Hot Water Music. "Being able to join one of your favourite bands is not something that happens every day," he says. The vocalist and guitarist of both Hot Water Music and The Flatliners knows what it's like to respect the music and the artists behind it. His journey into Hot Water Music, a band with a 30-year legacy, is a reminder of how passion and perseverance go hand in hand.As the band celebrates its milestone, Cresswell reflects on how its longevity is rooted in trust and communication. "The line up has always been the same… the nucleus of the bands… it's all about trusting each other," he explains. That trust is key to their success both on stage and in their personal lives, especially when life throws curveballs.A significant highlight of their 30th anniversary is the release of VOWS, which Cresswell believes resonates with old and new fans alike. "We worked our asses off on those songs… and I think we're just fired up because the band still plays for the people that love our music." One track, Menace, has already been a hit on the road, with Cresswell describing it as a "set turning point."When asked about transitioning into Hot Water Music, Cresswell shared that while there may have been some scepticism from the original fans, the reception has been overwhelmingly positive. "I was just coming from a place of such respect for this band," he notes. "I had to do it justice."For Cresswell, the journey is about more than just performing; it's about connecting with the people who made the band what it is. With VOWS marking a new chapter in Hot Water Music's history, Cresswell's story proves that music is a bridge between fans and musicians, old and new.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

17 Helmi 21min

Interview by Kris PetersWith their new album A Sonication, Germany-based metal band OBSCURA launch the second of their trilogy concept. The group’s second (seventh overall) album for Nuclear Blast pivots on many fronts. Advanced, elegant yet refreshing, A Sonication sums up past endeavors effortlessly as it gazes with purpose and conviction into the future. OBSCURA are fan-renowned and critically acclaimed for challenging and then expanding upon norms.From Retribution (2004) through A Valediction (2021), the band flourished and made significant progress in a musical genre unprepared for a creative shot of German invention. A Sonication spearheads OBSCURA into a new era of extreme metal.Guitarist/vocalist Steffen Kummerer founded Obscura in 2002. Early on, he set out to improve, redefine, and push forward. Under his self-label creation, the Bavarian released debut album Retribution (2004), followed by heavy touring throughout Europe. Word quickly spread that a brand-new band from the south of Germany was on the rise. Buzz lead to a deal with U.S.-based Relapse Records. The first record out was Cosmogenesis. In Europe, Metal Hammer Germany awarded the album 6/7 while in the U.S. Cosmogenesis hit the Billboard charts at #71. The cross-continental praise and fevered momentum landed OBSCURA on high-profile tours in Europe, North America, and Japan.When follow-up Omnivium arrived in 2011, they upped their chart success, received more accolades from publications like Terrorizer, Rock Hard, and Decibel and had another massive round-world tour cycle, while enhancing and making progress on their clever brutality. OBSCURA further developed their sound on Akróasis (2016). Moored by jaw-dropping tracks like Sermon of the Seven Suns, Ode to the Sun, and the title track, Akróasis elevated OBSCURA to the highest levels of international renown.OBSCURA’s most significant accomplishment was, however, just around the corner. The final part of a tetralogy, Diluvium (2018), fiercely pursued OBSCURA’s multi-album transformation into musical innovators and metal powerhouses. Music videos for the title track, Emergent Evolution and Mortification of the Vulgar Sun, in concert with a substantial interest in virtuosic, forward-thinking metal, posited OBSCURA in the good graces (yet again) of the worldwide press in addition to rocketing up, for the very first time, the official album charts in Germany. The Germans also topped out at #3 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart with Diluvium.A turning point in the career of the Germans manifested with the first release for the biggest independent metal label on the planet, Nuclear Blast Records. A Valediction granted the band worldwide success, topping their previous albums in a heartbeat, and saw the band climbing higher chart positions worldwide. With epic opening track Forsaken, technical-through the roof Solaris and the catchy, melodic and yet accessible title track, A Valediction established the group as an outstanding and energetic live act, to be proved by their first tour to cover South- and Central America, aside from touring relentlessly throughout Europe, North America and Asia.With the February 7 release date of A Sonication looming, HEAVY sat down with Steffen Kummerer to find out more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

17 Helmi 10min

Interview by Kris PetersBlack Rheno seem to be on a bit of a tear at the moment. Last year, they toured the country with their own headline shows, packing out venues and even supported the mighty Pantera. Then, in November, they dropped their first single in a couple of years, Snake Will Rattle. Now, just a few months on, the guys are back with a stack of fresh tour dates, more new music, and video clips—and you know they’ll be raising hell on the road.Chopping Heads Wearing Fancy Threads is yet another slab of musical adrenaline from the Sydney trio, mixing sludge, punk and metal with enough attitude to appease even the harshest critic. Put basically, it's what Black Rheno do best, given voice by music.After a couple of years away from the daily grind that accompanies any new music, Black Rheno returned with force late last year with Snake Will Rattle. The track proved Black Rheno had lost none of their edge or quirkiness, returning them to the hearts and ears of an anxious fan base who were starting to count down the days.Now, with the release of Chopping Heads Wearing Fancy Threads, Black Rheno are about to head back out on the road to do what they do best, kicking off on March 2 in Perth and winding its way back to their hometown of Sydney. But if there's one thing surer than the Bombers losing a final, it's that once they start, Black Rheno find it hard to stop.HEAVY caught up with frontman Ryan Miller for all the goss."We've just been really busy and getting busier," he replied when we asked how things have been in the Black Rheno camp, "and loving it. We've got an album we recorded over in the States about a year ago, which we're sort of sitting on at the moment and waiting for the right time to release it. We just wanted to keep putting out music in the meantime and building the band and playing shows and giving ourselves excuses to go do stuff. I've got a studio, so we do a bunch of recordings ourselves. This single and the next couple and the last one we put out are all self produced by us, so we're just getting out and playing shows. Doing what we love."In the full interview, Ryan talks more about the new track Chopping Heads Wearing Fancy Threads which is being premiered via HEAVY on February 17, the musical side of the song and what to expect, keeping a sense of humour and respect within music, the album already recorded in the US and what is happening with it, new music coming out down the track, their upcoming single launch tour, getting back out on the road and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

13 Helmi 20min

Interview by Kris PetersRising Brisbane metal outfit Engraved have awoken from their slumber and come out snarling with the release of their new single The Fallen. Described as a song that "amplifies everything Engraved fans love", The Fallen takes aim at toxic people in the music industry and their questionable motives.With a stable line-up finally in place, Engraved are looking to cement their place amongst the next generation of Australian metal acts, a goal started with last year's signing to XMusic and subsequent single NCB. The track emphatically announced Engraved as a band with a mission, ushering in new vocalist Panda with a devastating show of brutality that hinted at a fresh direction for the five-piece band.Now, Engraved further those claims with The Fallen, the second track lifted from the band's as yet untitled debut album which is slated for release in the back half of this year. And to celebrate, Engraved hit the road for an East Coast tour, starting at Ric's in Brisbane on February 14.Bass player Phillip Capewell sat down with HEAVY to tell us more."It's basically about toxicity within different scenes, especially the music scene," he explained. "You'll have something good going, but then you get a rat, basically, eating away at the scene and making it toxic."Musically, The Fallen is a step further into heavier territory for Engraved, with Capewell acknowledging the shift in momentum."The song was actually sitting in our demo folder," he began, "and just before Panda and Thiago joined the band, Dan said we need to go through the demo folder and get rid of… just archive it basically. That song came on and the start of it, I was just like, oh, 30/30/150 by Stone Sour straight up. I said let's do this one."In the full interview, Phil talks more about The Fallen and its musical direction, the soon-to-be-released music video, how The Fallen differs to previous single NCB, what part the songs play in a future album, how the sound of that will differ to their debut EP Unleashed, the benefits of finally having a stable line-up, upcoming shows and more.Pre-save/ check out The Fallen here: https://lnk.to/G8M6LQBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

13 Helmi 17min

Interview by Kris PetersWowsers! Behold human pirates of the southern lands, ALESTORM have set their compass this way for their next expedition to the other side of the world to regale us all with their super infectious blend of modern folk and power metal. With their well-renowned A game PARTY prepped and packed, they’ll be stuffing the galley full of inflatable ducks, kilts, a hurdy-gurdy player, maybe even a shark, but most importantly, drums upon drums of beer and rum! Bring your mateys, bring your best drinking hat, bring your lungs and let’s fire up the biggest shindigs of 2025!!Joining them will be Nekrogoblikon, the self-proclaimed Goblin Metal warlords who are also getting their first taste of Australia. On paper, it seems a mismatch of epic proportions, but when the curtains draw open and the lights go down the only true victor will be music lovers in the crowd.HEAVY spent some time with Alestorm vocalist Chris Bowes to get more of a gauge on what to expect."It's absolute chaos," he smiled when asked what we can expect from Alestorm live. "It's a party. Everyone's gonna be drunk. Watch your head, there's gonna be a lot of crowd surfers - there always is. Oh my God, last night we were playing in France and there was a dude crowd-surfing with just a kilt. And I mean, just a kilt. He was otherwise totally naked. So of course he started crowd-surfing and the kilt was riding up, and he's got ass and balls tea bagging the entire audience as he goes (laughs). You would be sitting there watching the show then all of a sudden you feel these wet balls on your head, and you look up, and you get a face full of ass… And that was the whole show. I just kept watching these people get tea bagged. Hopefully that sort of behaviour won't happen, but anything's possible."In the full interview, Chris runs us through what has changed with Alestorm since they were last out here, explains the stage production and scale of the live set and what delights we will be getting, their reputation as a party band and living up to expectation, the response to last year's EP Voyage Of The Dead Mariner and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

12 Helmi 11min

Interview by Kris PetersCalifornia based party starters Drain have had a love affair with Australia ever since making their debut visit as support to Comeback Kid in early 2023. So much so that the band has been here once a year since then, and is set to continue that trend when they hit our shores as part of New Bloom Festival with Balance & Composure from March 8.Not only that, the good time hardcore outfit have also announced a string of sideshows with One Step Closer, kicking off a couple of days earlier on the Sunshine Coast on March 6.Drain have quickly built a reputation based around their fun-tinged live performances, throwing the world of hardcore on its head by treating the music as an outlet for good times and frivolity rather than the pure state of aggression for which it has become known. With a recent album Living Proof to promote, plus a yearly obligation to fulfil, frontman Sammy Ciaramitaro joined HEAVY to fill in the blanks."It wasn't at first, it was just for fun," Sammy replied when we ask if Drain first started having fun with the crowds to combat the seriousness and aggression of hardcore music. "We lived by the beach and I said hey, I'll bring a boogie board to the show, it will be kinda sick. Eventually, at a certain point, we stopped, but other people would bring them in (laughs). It's still fun. But at a certain point with the pool noodles people actually hit the guitar strings so we can't play. I still have fun with it but now we just turn up. We're gonna bring the energy. We bring what we bring, you bring what you bring, and we're gonna collectively rock it out. Whatever that looks like. It might be a little different every day. It was just to have a good time. We did it for fun, but now what we like more than anything is stage dives and when people sing along. That's my favourite part."In the full interview Sammy talks more about what fans can expect from their shows, the importance of enjoying your music, One Step Closer and why they were chosen as supports, what he loves most about Australia, the early days of Drain, new music and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

10 Helmi 12min