Ahead Of The Chase With JONO HAWKEY And JACK VAN VILET From BLOOM

Interview by Kris PetersMelbourne rock outfit Shotgun Mistress have been riding the wave of their most recent album, Kings Of The Revolution ever since it was released last June.It was a strong, powerful and infectious collection of hard rock tunes that came as close as you could probably get to the exhilarating live experience of catching Shotgun Mistress on stage, opening the door for shows with Dirty Honey, Slaughter, The Poor, Mammal and The Midnight Devils as well as taking the band to Japan.After such an exhausting 8 month period you could forgive Shotgun Mistress for putting their feet up for a spell, but that's not the case. Instead, they are hitting the road again through April in support of legendary US rockers Winger - touring Australia for the first and last time with the full original line up.HEAVY tracked down enigmatic frontman Glenn Patrick to find out more."It is going to be absolutely amazing," he enthused. "We're absolutely honoured to be a part of it. We've taken a bit of hiatus for a couple of months since our album launch back end of last year and building up to this tour."We point out that supporting Winger is a pretty fair reason for breaking the hiatus."It was quite short-lived," Patrick laughed. "We had another tour that we were going to be doing with Mike Tramp in January which fell through, but instead of that, we got Winger, so we're super happy, because Winger, I think, is more where we sit musically as well."In the full interview, we discuss Shotgun Mistress' tour with Winger, focusing on the excitement of the original line up's return. They expressed gratitude for local support and discussed the dual responsibilities of a support act, including warming up the crowd and ensuring a smooth performance. Glenn emphasized the importance of showmanship and audience engagement, while also reflecting on the challenges of performing for new audiences.We shared insights into their music, with Glenn noting key tracks like Shot Down and Mary Jane for fans to listen to ahead of the tour. He also mentioned the positive reception of their second album, Kings of the Revolution, and the band's intention to explore new musical directions while maintaining their unique sound and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

31 Maalis 17min

Interview by Kris PetersSydney metal outfit Inertia announced themselves on the scene last year with the release of their debut album, Second Shadow.Blending the boundaries of the genre by bringing elements of dark pop and soul to the surface of a melting pot that traverses the darkest reaches of hard rock and metal, Second Shadow opened Inertia up to a generation of music lovers yearning for acceptance through music.It helped secure the quintet a host of shows, touring the nation extensively supporting Polaris, Dayseeker (US), Bury Tomorrow (US), Northlane, Holding Absence, Caskets (UK), Thy Art Is Murder, Thornhill and more. They played Good Things Festival Sydney last December, and recently travelled their way across regional Australia with In Hearts Wake.It has been true reward for effort, culminating in their own headline Australia tour, starting April 19 in Sydney and hitting Brisbane and Adelaide before finishing in Melbourne on April 27.HEAVY caught up with guitarist Mark, bass player Oliver and vocalist Julian to find out the details. We mention the compact nature of the tour, focusing on the capital cities."We just wanted to hit the capital cities, and hopefully we can get to some of the regional spots later on in the year," Mark explained. "But yeah, just for our first headliner tour for the album, we'll keep it short and sweet."Which leads to HEAVY asking how Inertia thinks the public reacted to Second Shadow."The reception's been really good," Oliver smiled. "It has exceeded expectations for us. Streams are going really well and live, people seem to receive the songs really well as well. So, yeah, it's blown expectations out of the water."In the modern age of music where streaming is king and figures are readily available, we ask how deeply a band looks into the rabbit hole and how they measure expectations when it comes to a debut album."I think it's just do better," Julian measured. "Each record needs to be bigger and better. I don't think we go into an album thinking we're going to get a specific result. We just write the best music that we can at that given time and push ourselves to be better. The result in terms of how fans latch onto the record and the streamings… everything's secondary to making good music."In the full interview, discussion centred on Inertia's upcoming headline tour. The band shared their excitement about promoting their debut album, Second Shadow, emphasizing their dedication to quality music and the evolution of their sound, which blends various influences and defies strict genre classification.The band reflected on their recent tour experiences with In Heart's Wake, Reliqa, and Ocean Sleeper, highlighting both the challenges and memorable moments, such as a humorous birthday celebration. Looking ahead, they plan to focus on writing new music and organizing future tours, encouraging fans to follow their social media for ticket updates.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

30 Maalis 10min

Interview by Kris PetersRising from the fog with outstretched arms and haunting melodies are The Witching Hour, ready to embrace the uninitiated into the cult of the damned with their latest single Dead Inside.With their breakout single Sleep With The Stars reaching 1.4 million Spotify streams and being played on radio internationally, The Witching Hour has already made one hell of an impact, even catching the ears of Alice Cooper on his radio program Nights With Alice Cooper on Triple M.Dead Inside is the most recent intoxicating specimen of the band's transcendent, modern gothic rock style. Beginning with haunting, atmospheric guitar melodies and Taime Marsh’s rock vocals, the song starts with the peace that can be found in a graveyard before dawn. Then, the overdrive guitar kicks in, disrupting the narrative and turning into a monster within sight as the intensity of the song picks up. Clear, emotive vocals and heavy drums make this power ballad carry a loaded punch, laying bare the feelings of anguish, melancholy, and despair, that takes on a note of destruction with the refrain, ‘you will bleed, just to know you’re still alive’.HEAVY caught up with Marsh to find out more."For this one, it's a bit of a gothic power ballad," Marsh shared. "Almost like a heavy Tim Burton kind of vibe. So yeah, pretty much that's the kind of vibe we're going for with that one. It's like a tragic romance, kind of like depression with dark, sombre feelings and aesthetic."In the full interview, Taime discussed the release of The Witching Hour's new single, Dead Inside. He acknowledged the pressure of following up the successful debut single, Sleep With The Stars, and emphasized the importance of balancing fan expectations with the exploration of new sounds. The conversation also touched on touring plans and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

30 Maalis 10min

Interview by Kris PetersMichigan rock outfit Pop Evil - as their name suggests - have managed to find that elusive sweet point between hard rock and pop that many, including myself, thought was never possible.While the band's first two albums Lipstick On The Mirror and War Of Angels laid the platform for future success, it wasn't until 2013's Onyx that the rest of the world started to fully catch on, with lead single Trenches becoming the first of Pop Evil's nine number one tracks.Fast-forward five more albums, and Pop Evil are the flag bearers for crossover rock/metal. Their music contains all of the things considered blasphemous in the metal realms with melodies, hooks and an abundance of pop sensibilities dominating the sonic landscape, but it also contains chunky guitar riffs, aggressive vocals and enough venomous intent to scare a rattlesnake.The result is the recently released What Remains, a thundering collection of arena-ready modern rock and metal hits in which frontman Leigh Kakaty opens heart, mind and soul – pulling no punches and taking no prisoners in doing so.What Remains is the culmination of everything Leigh Kakaty has fought for his entire life. It’s the dismantling of the armour he has adorned to survive the journey along the way. It’s the reckoning with the man he was yesterday, the man he has become today, and the man he strives to be tomorrow. It is at once the complete Pop Evil story writ large, and its definitive release.HEAVY sat down for an in-depth chat with Kakaty and started by asking if, after eight albums, it still matters to him how new music is received by the public or if he is more at a stage now where pleasing himself musically bears more significance."Honest answer," he stated, looking HEAVY square in the eye. "It's a bit of both, you know what I mean? Obviously, when you make music for a living, you want people to like it. But at the same point with this album, there was a lot of just me being me. It was a therapeutic album for me with a lot of mental health issues that I've dealt with for my whole career that I buried, and I didn't even realize I had buried for as long as I have. They just came out.And the band - being as close as we have probably ever been - really put me in a position with support to be able to even do this in the first place. Once the band gave me their blessing, it was just important for me to get this off my chest and just see where it went. And whether it was going to be Pop Evil music or not, I got to a point where I wasn't even really thinking about that. It was just let's just see what comes out, shut my eyes, see what my soul has to say, and then I'll worry about the album after that.And I think coming in at the time we did it, rock radio here in the US, heavy music, it was just a different place. It didn't get played the same way. There wasn't a place for it the way that there is now in the streaming world. You can have songs stream and go further than even radio singles do nowadays. There's so many different options. And with these younger bands too on the come up, everyone's been a little bit… everything and everyone seems to be heavier, and we're definitely not afraid now to pick up our guitars. It just feels like it's the right time for Pop Evil to really dive in and focus on our guitars and our tones, and just making sure these songs are upbeat and hitting."In the full interview, Leigh further discussed What Remains, which has received positive feedback for its personal themes, particularly regarding mental health. Leigh shared that the album served as a therapeutic outlet, reflecting his struggles with anger and frustration, especially in the aftermath of COVID. He emphasized the importance of authenticity in Pop Evil's music and the collaborative environment within the band that allowed for the expression of deeply personal experiences. The conversation highlighted the significance of self-improvement and personal responsibility, encouraging listeners to engage with the album's themes, as well as the heavier nature of What Remains overall.The discussion also covered Pop Evil's creative process and their upcoming tour schedule, which begins on the West Coast and includes a stop in New York. Leigh expressed the importance of expanding their international fan base while being mindful of the financial risks associated with touring in new countries. He fondly recalled their previous visit to Australia and the unexpected support they received here, and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

30 Maalis 34min

Interview by Kris PetersMusic is a funny beast, especially when it comes to genre classification. It can make you listen to bands expecting a particular sound but getting something vastly different, or it could also put people off listening to bands based on personal taste.Take Santa Cruz outfit Scowl, who are readily labelled as a hardcore band, but in reality offer so much more. Sure, Scowl have hardcore elements in abundance but their music also traverses the realms of - but is not limited to - rock, hard rock, alternative rock and punk as evidenced in their upcoming album Are We All Angels, which is out via Dead Oceans on April 4.Are We All Angels finds the venomous and antagonistic band funnelling their aggression through a more expansive version of themselves. It is an album marked by alienation, grief, and the loss of control. Much of it grapples with their newfound place in the hardcore scene, a community that has both embraced the band and made them something of a lightning rod over the past few years.The band — Malachi Greene (guitar), Bailey Lupo (bass), Cole Gilbert (drums), Mikey Bifolco (guitar), and Kat Moss (vocals) — formed in 2019 and broke out in 2021 with their debut album How Flowers Grow, and have been on a non-stop rise ever since. With 2023’s Psychic Dance Routine, Scowl pushed the boundaries of punk, blending aggressive hardcore with lush alternative melodies. But now Are We All Angels pushes those boundaries even more. Vocalist Kat Moss joined HEAVY to tell us more."It's not a hardcore record from a band that is a hardcore band," Moss began when asked to describe the sound on Are We All Angels. "We're a band that has hardcore, or perhaps hardcore people, in the band. And that kind of creates this really beautiful thing where we're just kind of feeling it out as we go in the dark. And that is the reality of songwriting as a whole. It doesn't really matter if it's hardcore or indie music whatever. But it was very freeing."We ask Moss about the title and if the fact there is no question mark at the end means it is more of a statement than a question."It's up to interpretation," she smiled cheekily. "It's something we talked about, and we were intending. It was a complicated conversation because to some degree it was like, let's figure this out. Let's make a decision on a question mark or period or whatever or put the punctuation in, make it something. And we kind of were like, no, we're not going to make it obvious. You get to figure it out for yourself. There isn't really any right or wrong answer there, because it's supposed to be introspective, you know?In the full interview, Kat discussed the creative evolution of Are We All Angels, highlighting a shift from hardcore influences to a broader sound achieved through collaborative songwriting among all band members. HEAVY raised questions about the album's title and its representation in the singles, while Kat emphasized the importance of exploring new ideas to create a distinct and introspective musical experience. Additionally, Kat reflected on Scowl's debut album with new label Bad Ocean, expressing excitement about being part of an indie alternative label while preserving their raw sound.She shared insights into the band's origins as a local hardcore group formed in 2019, underscoring the joy of performing in various venues and her commitment to musical growth, avoiding repetition of past works and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

29 Maalis 18min

Interview by Kris PetersSeason to Risk are a noise rock band that debuted surprisingly on Columbia Records after the early 90s indie-signing frenzy. Known as relentless road dogs, constantly on tour for years. With roots in the 80s hardcore scene, Season to Risk were hailed as “the next Soundgarden” after their almost radio-friendly first album was released. But they took their major label money and went in a new direction of screeching noise, distorted bass and screaming vocals on subsequent albums. They built a recording studio and became increasingly experimental over the years, developing a rabid fan base in the process.After a decade of live shows and four album releases, band members went off to explore other types of music in the bands Shiner, Roman Numerals, Violenteer, and many other recording projects. But Season To Risk never disbanded, and continue to play live shows when their schedules align, sometimes touring when an appealing offer comes along. Singer Steve Tulipana has a captivating stage presence in the lineage of Iggy, Nick Cave and David Yow. He stays excessively busy running several venues in Kansas City, Missouri.For Record Store Day 2025 (April 12), Season to Risk will release 1-800-MELTDOWN on Init Records. The glow-in-the-dark album art invokes 80s horror VHS, and the record includes new songs engineered by guitarist Duane Trower at his Weights and Measures Soundlab, compiled with unreleased songs, including Undone, the music in their industrial punk scene in the film Strange Days.HEAVY spoke with frontman Steve Tulipana to get the full story, starting by asking if 1-800-MELTDOWN is a retrospective Best Of for Season To Risk."It's actually a lot of material that was either was non-released or was released on seven inch," he corrected. "So that's the bulk of the album. Things that are pretty obscure and hard to find in our collection. And then there's two songs that have been… one that's brand new and one that was recorded in this century. That's a good start."We mention that it is a bold move for the band having not released new music in 25 years."I think we always wanted to…," he measured. "We never really cared too much about being mainstream. We always wanted to be a little more experimental and really wanted to show people that side of what we're doing because it's informing the stuff that we're currently working on. So I think that's what we were wanting to get out. We have been reissuing our old records on vinyl and remastered here in the States over the last few years so that's kind of it's kind of a lead up to that."In the full interview, Steve discussed 1-800-MELTDOWN in greater detail, expressing excitement about the album which includes a mix of unreleased tracks and a new song, emphasizing its focus on artistic expression rather than mainstream appeal. He shared insights into the challenges of cohesively arranging diverse songs and recounted a story about the track Undone, which was initially considered too noisy for a film soundtrack.The conversation highlighted the inclusion of past and present band members in the album, the new song Echo Chamber addressing social media's negative impact, and the band's ongoing creative journey, including plans for reissuing previous records.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

29 Maalis 19min

Interview by Angela CroudaceCelebrating two decades of making music, Mayday Parade frontman Derek Sanders recently opened up about the band’s journey, the impact of their classic album A Lesson in Romantics, and the excitement surrounding their 20th-anniversary celebrations.“It’s wild,” Sanders says of the milestone. Reflecting on how the band, formed in Tallahassee, Florida, had no idea where their musical path would take them, he describes the rollercoaster ride of watching the band's growth from young dreamers to global musicians. “It feels like it’s both gone really fast, but also does kind of feel like 20 years,” he admits. Despite the speed of it all, Sanders is deeply grateful for the experiences that have come with Mayday Parade’s success.The band’s debut album has become a staple of pop-punk, still resonating with fans worldwide. Sanders speaks proudly of the record, remembering the raw energy they poured into it and the overwhelming joy of still playing tracks from it today. “I’m so proud of what it’s become,” he says. “The fact that we can still play songs from that record and get the reactions we do is insane.”Having toured with bands like All Time Low and Simple Plan, Mayday Parade has built a rich history of unforgettable experiences. One of Sanders' earliest and most meaningful memories comes from a show in their hometown, where they opened for Further Seems Forever. “I got to sing with them on stage,” Sanders recalls, describing the experience as a full-circle moment in their career.When asked about his current musical inspirations, Sanders points to artists like Dashboard Confessional and Ben Folds. Though these influences have remained staples throughout his life, his recent obsession with Dashboard Confessional has reignited a deep appreciation for Chris Carrabba’s songwriting and vocal prowess.In celebration of their 20 years, Mayday Parade are releasing a three-part album project, with the first instalment out soon. Sanders teases that the album balances their classic sound with fresh, new elements. “It feels like a good step forward for our band,” he says, hinting at exciting new musical directions.As for their upcoming tour, including their return to Australia, Sanders shares the excitement of playing bigger shows with a full production. “These will be the biggest shows we’ve had in Australia,” he says, reminiscing about their past tours with All Time Low and the fun times spent at Melbourne’s Heartbreaker bar.Looking back at the past 20 years, Sanders reflects on the importance of staying creatively in control. The band’s journey has been full of lessons, including navigating major label pressures, but he’s proud of how they’ve found their footing. And with a legacy spanning two decades, Mayday Parade is still just as dedicated to their music and fans as ever.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

29 Maalis 14min

Interview by Kris PetersIn the little over a decade since Neck Deep formed in the Barlow brothers’ spare room in Wrexham, Wales, a lot has changed. From the scrappy, naively hopeful beginnings that define the starting of so many teenage bands, the pop-punks have gone on to be one of British Rock music’s most successful global exports in recent memory: top 5 records in both the US and UK, global touring, viral hits and over a billion streams just some of the fruits of ten years spent mastering their craft.For the new self-titled record, the band, completed by Ben’s older brother and bassist Seb, guitarists Matt West and Sam Bowden and drummer Matt Powles, took ‘doing their own thing’ – and only their own thing – to the next level. Eschewing a keen list of collaborators and producers eager to work with one of rock’s hottest properties and choosing, instead, to write and record in their own warehouse space, mere miles from where they grew up. Old school, just like it used to be.This April Australian fans get to taste the excitement, when Neck Deep return for The Dumbstruck Dumbf!*k Tour with special guests Albany New York pop punk act State Champs.HEAVY caught up with Neck Deep vocalist Ben Barlow for an entertaining chat ahead of the tour. It's been a couple of years since their last visit, so we start off by asking what has changed with Neck Deep since then."Not much, I don't think," he measured. "But we're very settled into this record, very settled into playing these songs live now. We're approaching the - or I think we're in the 10-year anniversary year of our seminal breakout record, Life's Not Out To Get You. And so, yeah, doing little bits and bobs with that and just planning ahead for the future still, you know, thinking forward even to the next record. Getting the ball moving with that."Then Barlow was struck with a sudden realization he may have forgotten something important."Oh, actually, what's changed?" he asked me in return. "Bloody hell, I got married this year, which is very nice (laughs)!"In the full interview, we discussed Neck Deep's upcoming tour in Australia, set to begin on April 21, while reflecting on their experiences since their last visit. Ben shared insights into the celebration of the 10-year anniversary of their breakout album Life's Not Out To Get You. He highlighted the band's positive dynamics and their excitement for new music, acknowledging the need to promote their self-titled album while also focusing on future projects. The conversation touched on their writing process, with Ben noting that they prefer to create music at home but are open to inspiration while on the road.We also delved into the song Dumbstruck Dumbfuck, which Ben described as a humorous take on modern masculinity and relationships. They emphasized the high-energy yet sentimental nature of Neck Deep's live performances, expressing enthusiasm about touring with State Champs due to their close friendship and compatible musical styles, and more.Full interview www.youtube.com/@HEAVYmagazineBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

29 Maalis 17min