Challenging The Gods With RYAN KIRBY From FIT FOR A KING

Interview by Kris PetersThey’ve been called Deathrock, Gothcore, and, from one creative soul, “kinda goth punk glam Manson-y metal?” They’ve also been called “a best kept secret”. Although that really began to change since the debut LP was released… Which begs the question: Who the fuck are these guys, then?Well. Department of Gloom is made up of four, Sydney, Australia based musicians, including ex-members of Florida-based industrial fetish freaks Genitorturers, Sydney heavy industrialists Jerk, and ‘90s glam metal punks Candy Harlots.And the sound is a potent mix of all these things.On the live front, Department of Gloom have opened for everybody from Skid Row to Wednesday 13, while also sharing stages with local heavyweights Witchgrinder and Our Last Enemy, and doing their own shows around Australia, picking up quite a following of devotees in the process.They recently released their eponymously titled 10 track debut on vinyl, LTD edition CD and across streaming services. The CD run sold out quickly, while the LP is in its second pressing. The album was accompanied by two videos, I Dare You and Psycho.January 24 saw the band's most ambitious and exciting video being released for the track Kill Someone, which also points to the direction Department of Gloom’s sound and style is developing.The video will be launched with a show at Sydney’s The Duke Hotel, Friday February 7. Of course with everyone being brought up on a diet of early KISS and Alice Cooper, 70’s British glam rock, the gothic punk sounds of The Damned, Cure, and Christian Death, along with a background of industrial metal and so much more, Department Of Gloom are what you end up with when that beautiful mess comes at you in stereo. They may not sound exactly like any of those influences…but there’s a little bit of all of that in there.And…most importantly. Department Of Gloom are having a whole lot of hellish fun doing what they do. So, Indulge. Enjoy. Never repent…HEAVY caught up with Leeno Dee to find out more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

27 Tammi 12min

Sisters Doll is a group of brothers bonded by blood and rock ‘n’ roll. With a signature melodic rock sound and an electrifying stage presence, Sisters Doll has captivated audiences across the globe, including an unforgettable performance in New York City.Since their formation in 2010, the band has shared the stage with renowned artists such as KISS, Peter Criss, Ace Frehley, Bruce Kulick, LA Guns, Buckcherry, The Angels, and more, solidifying their position in the rock music industry.Their dedication to their craft has earned them a devoted fan base, known as the ‘doll army,’ and critical acclaim from reviewers. Sisters Doll exceptional live performances have left audiences in awe, with their energy and passion shining through in every show.As they continue to make their mark in the music world, Sisters Doll is set to perform on the Monsters of Rock Cruise out of Miami Florida in March, and they have just been chosen to perform at the Call Of The Wild Festival in May which marks the bands first appearance on UK shores. Make sure to keep an eye out for these rock sensations as they continue to rock stages worldwide.With the release of their third album Scars recently, HEAVY caught up with Bryce and Austin Mileto to find out more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

25 Tammi 25min

MAJESTICA, the symphonic and power metal band from Sweden, is set to embark on an exciting new journey with their upcoming album Power Train, scheduled for release on February 7, 2025. This spellbinding experience awakens sleeping dreams with powerful riffs and epic choruses in singles such as Power Train, Battle Cry, and A Story in the Night. Back in 2019, MAJESTICA made a significant impact in the metal community with their debut album, Above The Sky. This album showcased their signature blend of soaring melodies and powerful instrumentation, quickly gaining acclaim and amassing over 17 million streams. It established them as prominent players in the power metal scene, setting high expectations for their future work.In 2020 then, the band delighted fans with a unique release: a Christmas musical power metal album titled A Christmas Carol. This project beautifully intertwines the classic tale of Ebenezer Scrooge with their symphonic power metal style, drawing inspiration from artists like RHAPSODY and film composers such as Alan Silvestri and Danny Elfman. The album not only highlighted their musical versatility but also offered listeners a captivating retelling of the beloved story, complete with orchestral elements and theatrical storytelling.Combining the contrasting styles of those last two releases, Power Train sees Majestica at their explosive best, a swirling cavalcade of guitars laying a sonic landscape filled with grandeur and strength.HEAVY sat down with guitarist/vocals Tommy Johansson to dissect Power Train more."The album goes up and down," he explained. "We have a couple of fast songs like you would expect from a power metal band inspired by Helloween, but it also has a couple of heavier songs inspired by Hammerfall, and then we have some 80's songs - there's very much an 80's style to it - and then we have more mid-tempo songs… There's at least one song that anyone could like, depending on what kind of song you're into."In the full interview, Tommy discussed the single selection process, the themes coursing through Power Train's DNA, the vivid cover and how it represents the album, handling production duties in-house and the benefits and disadvantages of doing so, how Majestica have grown musically over their career, stamping their authority in the power metal scene and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

21 Tammi 12min

Interview by Kris PetersFor the better part of three decades New Zealand rock outfit Shihad have ruled the proverbial roost, with albums like The General Electric, Pacifier, and even their most recent offering Old Gods showcasing an unflinching course of rock DNA to satisfy even the harshest of critics.Songs like My Minds Sedate, Pacifier, Home Again and Tear Down Those Names became the go-to-songs on pub jukeboxes everywhere, but it was in the live domain where Shihad excelled. Frontman Jon Toogood's energy and vibrancy each time the band hit the stage has always been infectious, enabling Shihad to thrive on a variety of levels to a mixed bag of audiences.Put simply, they deservedly command respect in the same league of bands like AC/DC, Rose Tattoo and Grinspoon in the annals of Australian/New Zealand rock history.But, as inevitably happens to everything, Shihad's time is drawing to an end, choosing to go out on their own merits instead of waiting for the axe of public expectation to fall. With a series of farewell shows planned between Australia and New Zealand before the band's official changing of the guard in their hometown of Wellington on March 15, Toogood sat down with HEAVY to say goodbye.The Shihad way."At the moment people are saying 'these shows must be emotional'," he smiled, "but it's more like, no, these shows are wicked because we've rehearsed hard, and we're playing a lot of stuff that's quite challenging and quite different to what we've played in the past. Obviously we're going to have to play the bangers - which is totally cool because we love those songs and there's reasons why they are bangers - but we're doing deep dives into records that we've never done before. It keeps you on your toes. We're not gonna be phoning these shows in. We have to work, which is great, and I like that."In the full interview, Jon talks more about the shows and what to expect, the reasons behind calling it a day, the New Zealand shows late last year and how the fans reacted, maintaining energy and enthusiasm for performing as he gets older, playing The General Electric and Pacifier in full at select shows, what he will miss most about being in Shihad and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

20 Tammi 15min

Interview by Kris PetersDespite four decades of servitude to their craft, Italian metal legends Lacuna Coil are still invested in their music.The band could easily rest on their laurels and slowly ease into oblivion after their servitude to the industry, but instead they continue on their quest for personal musical fulfilment to satiate their own hunger.Many considered their 2022 reimagining of Comalies as a swansong of sorts for Lacuna Coil, some even thinking it to be a fittingly triumphant and grandiose way to go out by coming full circle with their music.But they were wrong. Serving to actually align the past, present and future of Lacuna Coil, Comalies XX provided them with the musical freedom to embark on another chapter of their musical journey that begins with the release of Sleepless Empire on February 14. It is not that Lacuna Coil have reinvented themselves or their music, it's more that the band have found new ways of expressing themselves that promises to be the start of something special. HEAVY sat down with vocalist Andrea Ferro for a chat to talk about the new album and the process of bringing it to life. "We can't wait for people to hear it," he smiled. "It's a good compilation of mixing of the old school sound of Lacuna Coil with some newer influences. It's quite a heavy, dark record altogether."Sleepless Empire will be the tenth studio album put out by Lacuna Coil, but according to Ferro the band members still get that familiar twang of excitement with every release."We're very excited because we love touring a new album," he affirmed. "We love the reaction of the people when they hear the new songs, so it's still a challenging process. It takes a long time for us to work a record. We don't release albums just to release it. Actually, after all these years we want to release when we have something new to offer, something new to say. If we wouldn't like any more what we do, then we would quit. There's too much energy and effort to be put in with what we do in front of a new album cycle to not be loving it."In the full interview, Andrea dives deeper into the musicality on Sleepless Empire, starting a new chapter of Lacuna Coil's music and what it means moving forward, the singles released and how they represent the album as a whole, the two guest artists and what they each brought to the table, if writing music becomes easier or harder the more you put out, being labelled as genre-specific and how it can affect a bands career, touring plans and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

20 Tammi 18min

You Me At Six are set to kick off their Australian tour this week, starting in Brisbane on January 24. The run of shows - that extends through Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth - will feature very special guests Holding Absence, the band British rock bible Kerrang! labelled as British rock’s “new leading light”.YOU ME AT SIX are one of the most beloved British rock bands of all time, having delivered multiple number 1 albums, dominating charts, racking up hundreds of millions of streams, selling out arenas and headlining festivals; and along the way crafting some of the catchiest pop-rock anthems of their generation. Bite My Tongue, Take on the World, Underdog, Beautiful Way, Room to Breathe… the list of classics seems almost endless. The band’s revival of infectious and spirited pop-rock earned them a mass of fans worldwide, seeing them sell out show after show across the globe.Choosing to bring such a storied 20-year career to an end cannot be easy. Doing so with your original line-up, on your own terms, and with the band members remaining best of friends is unheard of. But as the saying goes, go out at the top of your game and You Me At Six are certainly doing that.Having shocked the rock world recently by announcing their imminent demise, the band are setting out on their greatest tour, delivering a career-spanning 2-hour set and determined to leave the fans with a truly special performance to remember them by. “We’ve got a plan to play songs from every single album and make it a real victory lap. And everyone feels like that. We’ve looked at the setlists and gone, ‘Cool – those five can stay, the rest is going to be stuff we haven’t done for years. We want to have 50 songs ready to go so that each night we can constantly mix it up and make it special.”“When we started YMAS we were kids. We only ever wanted to travel and to experience life as a group of friends. We feel like on the eve of our 20th anniversary as a band, now is a good time to call time. “We’re in a fortunate position where our fans still want to see us live and come celebrate the life of this band. So that is what we will do for 2024 and 2025. We can’t wait to see our fans on the road.” explains frontman Josh Franceschi.Dave Griffiths caught up with Josh to find out a little more about what to expect and how much fun the band plans to have on their final tour to this country.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

20 Tammi 15min

Interview by Angela CroudaceMike Tramp, the iconic frontman of White Lion, is gearing up for his highly anticipated return to Australia. After a long absence since 2008, Tramp is excited to reconnect with fans down under and perform with a new lineup, including seasoned musicians Marcus Nand, Jerry Best, and Brent Arcement. Reflecting on his journey, Tramp shared with us how he embraced Australia as his home back in 1999, moving to Tasmania and later Melbourne. Despite the changes in the music industry, Tramp's dedication to music never wavered, and his passion for performing has led him to revisit the classic White Lion catalogue.In an interview with HEAVY, Tramp spoke candidly about reinterpreting White Lion's songs for today's audience. “Now it's really a matter of going out there and performing the songs… 100% about the music and the songs,” he explained. His approach to re-imagining the band's hits stems from years of personal and musical growth, including an evolution of his vocal style and musical vision. Tramp emphasised that the new renditions of White Lion's songs would reflect a more mature and refined approach, with a fresh yet faithful interpretation.Fans can expect a memorable experience that blends nostalgia with maturity, as Tramp and his band focus on the music rather than the theatrics. “It’s almost like they (the songs) became fatter and fuller and not so gung-ho,” Tramp said, explaining how his band has evolved into a more relaxed, confident unit on stage.While the tour will showcase classic hits, Tramp's upcoming set list will also feature deeper cuts like Lady of the Valley and Cry for Freedom, with a few surprises for long-time fans. His passion for delivering authentic performances, paired with his rich history of collaboration, ensures that this tour will be a celebration of both past and present.Mike Tramp’s return to Australia is not only a tour of White Lion's music but a homecoming, bringing full circle the journey of a man who’s lived and thrived through many musical chapters. Fans can look forward to seeing a band that plays not just for the applause, but for the love of the music itself.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

20 Tammi 19min

The Koala Tavern in Capalaba will host the inaugural Rock Is Not Dead Festival on February 1, 2025.Self-funded and put together by a group of Australian music lovers who aim to help nurture and promote the wealth of talent in our own backyard, Rock Is Not Dead will feature 8 of the hottest bands from around the country, each with their own unique flair and passion for music.Headliners Avalanche (the next big thing), Tailor Made Rejects (the unapologetic alt. rockers), Snake Bite Whisky (the kings of sleaze), Black Whiskey (pure Aussie rock), Stone Rising (underrated icons), Whiskey On The Rox (a crowd-pleasing 80s cover band), Goatzilla (legends of the live show), and Slythr (the up-and-coming rock prodigies) will assemble over one afternoon/night of live music unlike anything seen in the Bayside of Brisbane, over one stage with no clashes or scheduling conflicts.Today we catch up with one of the bands, Tailor Made Rejects, who returned late last year with a triumphant new single Hurt People and promise more of the same on February 1.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

19 Tammi 15min