Challenging The Gods With RYAN KIRBY From FIT FOR A KING

Interview by Kris PetersIn just ten short years Melbourne musical powerhouse Valhalore have entrenched themselves as a vital cog in the growing Australian music industry, their unique blending of melodic death metal with power and symphonic elements - infused with folk influences - has resonated with audiences both domestically and abroad.Over the years they have toured with the likes of Alestorm, Arch Enemy, Blind Guardian and HammerFall, winning over legions of fans along the way with their attitude and work ethic. With the release of their sophomore album Beyond The Stars on April 11, Valhalore look set to expand their presence even more with a sound capable of transcending genres and sweeping all in its path.HEAVY spoke with frontman Lachlan Neate and guitarist Anthony Willis to get more details. We start by asking how they are feeling about the album release."Absolutely thrilled," Neate beamed. "After waiting four years to release this music, it's pretty surreal that we're finally near the finish line."We ask the guys to dive deeper into Beyond The Stars musically."In terms of the themes of the album, it describes a person's journey from the beginning of their life to the end," Willis explained. "Each song deals with the different highs and lows, ups and downs, different emotions that one would experience throughout their life. And each song represents those different moments. Then at the end of the album, the final song really deals with what happens to you after we die, and can we become something greater than ourselves?So in that regard, the album is a bit of a concept album, and it's cyclic. Each of the songs that we have written pertains to this journey of someone's life experiences."In the full interview, Lachlan and Anthony further explained that Beyond The Stars is a concept piece that reflects the emotional journey of a person's life, shaped significantly by the band's experiences during the pandemic. Anthony emphasized the importance of the album's track listing for creating a cohesive listening experience, while Lachlan noted that the writing process involved contributions from all six band members and the producer, marking a shift from their previous solo work. This collaborative effort has allowed the band to develop a unique sound that integrates diverse influences, enhancing their musical identity.Valhalore plan to promote the album with a series of four theatrical shows in May, starting in Sydney and Melbourne, where they will perform most of the new material alongside older songs. Lachlan expressed excitement about the production-heavy nature of the performances, aiming to provide an engaging experience for fans and more.Get Beyond The Stars here: https://valhalore.rpm.link/beyondprBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

11 Huhti 19min

Interview by Kris PetersA band relentlessly poised on the cutting edge of heavy music, THE PLOT IN YOU have cultivated ongoing critical acclaim and fan adoration since first forming 15 years ago. Hailing from Ohio, the group announced themselves to the scene via their 2011 debut album, First Born, paving the way for their soon-to-be-signature balanced and innovative take on metalcore tropes. Whether weaving elements of alternative, electronica, pop, R&B and beyond into their raw yet thunderous sound, one thing is always certain when it comes to THE PLOT IN YOU: expect the unexpected and hang on for an exhilarating ride.No strangers to Australian audiences, THE PLOT IN YOU previously ticked off an entirely sold-out headline run down under in 2023, before once again wowing Aussie crowds at Good Things Festival in 2023 off the back of their crushing single Forgotten. And as anyone who has previously experienced THE PLOT IN YOU in a live setting will attest, this is an act not to be slept on.In 2026, prepare for the return of THE PLOT IN YOU to Australian shores, with the band announcing a national headline run next January, joined by special guests FIT FOR A KING (USA), BOUNDARIES (USA) and BANKS ARCADE. Kicking off on Wednesday 21 January in Fremantle, THE PLOT IN YOU will visit Adelaide, Chelsea Heights, Melbourne and Sydney, before closing out this mammoth visit on Friday 30 January in Brisbane.HEAVY caught up with vocalist Landon Tewers not long after the tour announcement. Last time they were out here The Plot In You had to put up full house signs everywhere they played, and we remind Landon of this and point out that the band must be dearly loved on this side of the world."Honestly, I think it's collectively all our favourite market to play," he replied. "Even from back when we were way, way smaller coming over, it was always an amazing experience. People seem to really appreciate heavy music in a different way over there. It's always a privilege and an absolute blast coming over there."We ask what has changed with the band since their last visit."Oh man, so much," he returned. "The EPs that we put out seemed to really transcend and connect with a lot of people, which is cool. It will be fun to come over there and play a lot more new stuff. In that time I feel like we have toured so much, and we've gone to so many new places too. We did Japan for the first time. We did South America for the first time. It's cool seeing how things are translating all over the world. It's a pretty unique and bizarre thing to experience, and we're really grateful."In the full interview, Landon spoke more about The Plot In You's live show and why it is warmly regarded as one of the best going around, tailoring set lists depending on what country they are playing in, where Aussie crowds sit on a global scale of rowdiness, bringing Fit For A King and Boundaries along for the tour and why. Banks Arcade who are representing Australia on the run of shows, the three all-ages shows and the joys of influencing the ears of the next generation of music lovers, finding the balance of sounds and genres in a live setting and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

9 Huhti 12min

Interview by Kris PetersIt's that time of the year again where Australia's finest musical talents assemble to reward their achievements over the last 12 months and beyond.The APRA Music Awards celebrate excellence in contemporary music, honouring songwriters and publishers who have achieved artistic excellence and outstanding success in their fields. To be held in Melbourne on April 30 this year, the APRA Music Awards have, for the second year in a row, acknowledged the growing presence of harder edged and heavy music by presenting the Most Performed Hard Rock/Heavy Metal category - won in its inaugural year by Parkway Drive.More than just a token nod in the direction of change, APRA has fully embraced music of these genres, recognizing and paying due respect to a style of music that has grown to such levels it is now impossible to ignore.The nominees for Most Performed Hard Rock/Heavy Metal in 2025 are Make Them Suffer, Polaris, Windwaker, Speed and Northlane, with HEAVY jumping at the chance to speak with Northlane frontman Marcus Bridge to find out how confident the band is going into the awards."It's exciting stuff, and it's with a bunch of other great bands," he smiled. "It's cool to be with so many bands that we've all grown up with and built our careers with at the same time and see the new generation taking that spot."We ask Marcus how important recognition such as this is for the future of Australian hard rock/heavy music."I think it just shows over the last five to ten years how heavy music has grown worldwide," he mused, "and especially the Australian bands. Whenever we're touring overseas, I feel like Australian heavy bands are the talk of the town, especially in the US and Europe. Just because there are so many awesome bands working so hard to get over there. And I think in the end, it's kind of putting Australian music on the map in a different way around the world. So it's really, really cool to see that it's being recognized in that way. I'm just hoping that it keeps on growing and keeps on getting bigger."In the full interview, Marcus discussed Northlane's nomination for the 2025 APRA Awards, expressing excitement about the recognition alongside other Australian bands and the support from APRA. Marcus reflected on the growing international attention for Australian heavy music and the importance of regional tours, emphasizing the unique energy of smaller venue audiences compared to city crowds. He also addressed the band's musical evolution, with Marcus outlining their approach for the next album, which will build on the last EP's while allowing for experimentation with various styles.We took a look at the lighter side of the APRA Awards, including the potentially crippling effect Frenzal Rhomb had on such bands being invited to perform live and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

9 Huhti 17min

Interview by Kris PetersAt the turn of the last century - around the same time the world was supposed to succumb to the flash in the pan that was the Y2K bug - a group of four Sydney punk reprobates called Frenzal Rhomb were plotting their own assault on the world.But instead of technology, this was a stealth attack by music.After previously making their name as carefree, wreckless, uncompromising punk rockers through albums Coughing Up A Storm, Not So Tough Now and Meet The Family, Frenzal Rhomb elected to go a little more mainstream on their fourth album, A Man's Not A Camel. So much so that the album contained a bona fide ballad - I Miss My Lung, and another on the cusp of being a ballad with You Are Not My Friend.Granted, A Man's Not A Camel provided some staple Frenzal moments with songs like It's Up To You, Do You Wanna Fight Me and the irresistible I Know Why Dinosaurs Became Extinct, and it also contained more than enough lashings of Frenzal humour, but it was also far enough on the right side of the musical ledger to have the song Never Had So Much Fun nominated for an ARIA Award in the Best Pop Release category.I shit you not. Thankfully a singing budgie by the name of Kylie Minogue pipped them at the post, otherwise who knows how far down the rabbit hole Frenzal Rhomb would have gone?And now, 26 years after it first came out, Frenzal Rhomb are celebrating the 25th (ish) Birthday of A Man's Not A Camel with an extensive Australian tour that will see the band travelling to places some of you might not even know exist.HEAVY tracked down Frenzal frontman Jason Whalley to take a trip down memory lane."That record seemed to resonate with people," Whalley nodded, stroking his chin. "It had all those songs on it like Never Had So Much Fun and You Are Not My Friend and I Miss My Lung and all that jazz. There's a lot of songs on there that, let's be honest, weren't very good. But it had a few songs on there that seemed to resonate with people. We are doing this tour where we're celebrating this record, but to be honest, we play all the good songs off that record every time we play anyway. We are pulling out some deep cuts too. I've had to relearn a lot of lyrics. I actually looked up the lyrics on the internet to try and figure out what they were, to try and relearn them."We ask if that means the whole of A Man's Not A Camel album will be played in full on tour."100% not," he countered. "We wouldn't do that to our audience. There's a few songs on there that just have not stood the test of time. I mean, even a week after it was released, we weren't playing them. When you see bands doing their whole album, I'm always like, come on, mate, they weren't all bangers."In the full interview, Jay discussed Frenzal Rhomb's upcoming shows in more detail, revealing the tour will include 25 shows in various locations that were missed during their last tour, allowing the band to reconnect with fans. He expressed enthusiasm for the tour and reflected on the band's evolution in songwriting on A Man's Not A Camel, noting a shift towards a more pop-oriented sound while emphasizing the importance of song quality over tempo.The conversation also covered Frenzal's experiences with the album's reception and their nomination at the ARIA's, where he recalled a memorable performance in hospital attire due to his broken arm. We discussed the album's release in the US under Fat Mike's Fat Wreck Chords, highlighting changes made to the tracklist and the unnecessary suggestion of a name change for the American market, plus more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

7 Huhti 17min

Interview by Angela CroudaceFor fans of death metal, Benediction needs no introduction. With a history that spans decades, the band has continually pushed boundaries, proving that their music is not only timeless but still relevant today. As the band gears up for the release of their highly anticipated album Ravage of Empires, we sat down with Daz Brookes, one of the founding members, to chat about their enduring success, the return of Dave Ingram, and what’s next for the legendary group.It’s been over 30 years since Benediction first made its mark on the death metal scene, but for Daz, it still feels like the dream is alive. "I’m living the dream, man. That’s what I wanted to do when I was a kid, and I’m still doing it at 56 years old," he says. "I still get the same buzz I did when I was younger. I’m still excited about gigs and new releases. I’ve got no intention of giving up yet."Perhaps one of the most significant moments in Benediction's recent history was the return of Dave Ingram to the fold for Scriptures. After a 21-year hiatus, the reunion marked a new chapter for the band. Daz recalls, "It was almost like he'd never left. It felt natural, like nothing had changed, despite all the time apart. We’d had some awkward years after he left, but time heals all, right?"Their reunion was not just about the past, but about reinvigorating the band for the future. "When it came down to writing the album, Dave put his vocals exactly where we’d expect him to," Daz explains. "It felt like he’d never been gone."On the new album, Benediction continues to evolve musically. "We don’t do album fillers," Daz insists. "We want every track to be strong, and that’s what we’ve been doing for years now." Despite the challenges of distance - Daz and guitarist Peter Rewinsky live in the UK, while Ingram resides in Denmark and Gio in Italy - the band’s writing process remains a collaborative one. "We send riffs back and forth, and when we all come together, it’s like a well-oiled machine."When asked about the current state of death metal, Daz doesn’t mince words. "It’s become a competition for speed and extremity," he says. "Everybody’s trying to outdo the last band, and it’s kind of losing its essence. When we perform, whether it’s in front of 70,000 people or 500, it’s the same feeling. People are singing our songs, and that’s what it’s all about."Benediction’s music remains grounded in simplicity. "We don’t need to reinvent the wheel," Daz adds. "We just do what we do, and people respond to that. Simple is good."As the band heads into their EuropBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

6 Huhti 17min

Interview by Kris PetersIn an age where people and their personalities are becoming increasingly sanitized it is refreshing to come across an artist still unafraid to say things as they are without self-censorship or undue thought to repercussions. A singer/songwriter who adheres to the old school ethos of respect and honesty rather than rainbows and butterflies, and who isn't afraid to get her hands - or her music - dirty.Melbourne based rock dynamo Envy Marshall is all of that and more. A fiercely independent artist with an unapologetic attitude, Marshall openly confronts her own independence and themes of equality and the smashing of gender stereotypes. And all of that within just one song.Marshall recently released the track Like A Man, showcasing her powerhouse vocals, razor-sharp lyrics, and undeniable charisma. With its infectious chorus, gritty guitars, and a hypnotic mid-tempo groove, Like A Man is a rallying cry for authenticity and empowerment. Envy’s lyrics cut through the noise with glaring honesty, blending cheeky wit with raw honesty, as she chastises at one point 'stop telling me to act like a woman when you know that I f**k like a man.'But one look through her resume, and it's obvious Marshall isn't just here to make up the numbers. She is here to make a difference, and that's one thing few people can claim to truly aspire to. HEAVY caught up with Marshall between L.A showcase gigs, where she is aiming to strike next."The words and the lyrics have a bit of shock value to it," Envy began when asked about the positive reception afforded Like A Man, "but I also think it's because people are really wanting music like this now. I didn't write it to be popular. I didn't write it because I wanted anyone to react to it. I wrote it because I just really freaking needed to say it. And the response has been really good."HEAVY mentions the confronting nature of the song but also emphasizes the point that if you get through that initial moment of being taken aback, there is a much deeper underlying message."You can see some women who first of all go, ooh, and then come up to you later and go, I love you," Envy smiled. "You know what I mean? It's nice because I really care about women. I love men and I love women and whatever you want to be called, I love you. But to have a woman come up to me and give me a hug and say, thanks, that was awesome. That means a lot. Especially when there's not a lot of female fronted rock bands writing songs for women."In the full interview, the discussion focused on Envy Marshall's experiences and upcoming projects in the music industry. Envy shared her journey from Adelaide to Melbourne in 2017, highlighting her collaboration with Paul Woseen from The Screaming Jets, who played a significant role in her artistic development. She emphasized the importance of rebellion in rock music and her recent promotional tour in Los Angeles, which has opened up new opportunities for her career. Envy also discussed her song Like a Man, which has garnered significant attention and aims to challenge societal norms while empowering individuals. Envy also provided insights into her upcoming video release for Like A Man and her current album project, which promises a blend of rock with influences from other genres plus more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

6 Huhti 16min

Interview by Kris PetersGrinding Eyes craft a uniquely dark sonic landscape, fusing psychedelic shoegaze, drone rock, and ambient garage punk. The Sydney band released their third studio album, Out of Focus, last Friday, further capitalizing on the momentum built through their 2018 self-titled album and 2021’s Taste the Monochrome.Known for their relentless touring, Grinding Eyes have shared stages with The Jesus and Mary Chain, Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats, Swervedriver, Graveyard, Moon Duo, Dinosaur Jr., Monkey Wrench, Superchunk, New Candys and Mudhoney, as well as Australian bands, Amyl and the Sniffers, Cosmic Psychos, Spiderbait, The Drones, Straight Arrows, DMA’s, Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, POND, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, and Tropical Fuck Storm.The band’s line up also boasts members from past and present bands The Mess Hall, Treatment, The Laurels, Bliss and Kimono Drag Queens, further cementing their deep roots in Australia’s underground music scene. But Grinding Eyes are more than just the sum of their past bands. They are a sonic extension into another realm of musical experimentation held back without boundaries or expectations.Vocalist Matt Wicks joined HEAVY to tell us more."With this album, I suppose we sort of concentrated a little bit more on the sounds where previously we've pretty much done everything live," he measured. "We would dive straight in, start recording, do a lot of long sessions and sort of see what comes out. On this one we tried to refine it a little bit more, do most of the songwriting and we actually played most of these songs live for a couple of months. So they became a life of their own. We wanted to really harness more of a tighter sound where we could mess with it more in the studio than just having the sort of raw organic rock and roll feel of it."In the full interview, HEAVY spoke with Matt about the release of Out Of Focus following a year of delays. Matt expressed his relief regarding the album's completion and highlighted the band's creative evolution, mentioning that they have already started writing new material. The album features a mix of musical styles, reflecting their organic songwriting process.During their forthcoming Australian tour, the band intends to perform a substantial portion of the new album alongside some older tracks. Furthermore, they will support Pig's Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs on their European tour later this year.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

6 Huhti 9min

Interview by Kris PetersTwo decades into any career and you would be forgiven for starting to grow stale or formulaic. Be it an office job, labouring, or even in the music industry, the old saying familiarity breeds contempt holds firm. But try telling that to Scottish metal outfit Bleed From Within who, after 20 years in the music scene, have reached their peak - their Zenith, if you will.The Glasgow firebrands are one of the hardest working acts in metal: playing shows globally with everyone from Megadeth to Slipknot, all while writing and regularly releasing monstrous, exhilarating songs. The upward journey reaches new heights on their seventh album, Zenith, which contains the band’s heaviest, catchiest and most intrepid music to date.The band's first two albums, Humanity (2009) and Empire (2010), made Bleed From Within cult figureheads in the deathcore scene, before Uprising (2013) broadened their palate with groove metal adrenaline and melodic death metal prowess. It also marked their major-label debut, catapulting them onto tours with heavy royalty.In 2018, the band returned with the ferocious Era. Then, follow-ups Fracture (2020) and Shrine (2022) proved their greatest triumphs to date, intertwining vocalist Scott Kennedy's snarls with Steven Jones' majestic singing. The millions of streams gathered by such singles as The End of All We Know, Into Nothing and Levitate proved Bleed had become the next big thing. Now, on Zenith – announced ahead of career-affirming tours with Slipknot, Trivium and Bullet for My Valentine – the quintet are primed to leap into superstardom.HEAVY spoke with frontman Scott Kennedy to go deeper into Zenith."It feels like we've been waiting so long to drop this album," he sighed. "So, I'm buzzing for it to finally get out. I think it's the best collection of songs we've ever done and I'm desperate for people to hear it."We ask Kennedy to talk us through what Bleed From Within were going for musically with Zenith."To be honest, with Bleed From Within there's never really any concepts or anything like that," he replied. "It's more just about - for me personally - the songs are always about what I'm going through at that point in my life. I always try to write from the heart and write songs that are really meaningful because I don't want to go on stage and sing a song that doesn't really mean anything to me. I don't just want to go on and sing any old shit to the crowd. With Bleeding From Within it's just always about writing the best collection of metal songs that we possibly can, and I truthfully believe that this is the best collection of metal songs we've ever written."In the full interview, Scott discussed Zenith further, expressing his excitement about what he considers their best work to date. He highlighted the opening track Violent Nature for its heavy and fast nature, and elaborated on the collaborative songwriting process among band members, emphasizing a natural evolution in their music.Scott also mentioned Bleed From Within's experimentation with various musical elements, including strings and guest vocalists, to achieve a distinctive sound. The discussion wrapped up with a mention of upcoming tour plans and festivals following the album's release.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

5 Huhti 9min