Riding The Wave Of Emotion With ADAM LOMAS From MASS SKY RAID
Interview by Kris PetersGold Coast alternative rock outfit Mass Sky Raid have enjoyed a stellar last couple of years, being awarded Triffid Album of the Year for 2022s Calm In Chaos, making the finals of the Queensland Music Awards for the track Arrows and earning the Queensland Music Awards highly commended 2023 accolade for the single Begin WithThe End. Rather than rest on their laurels and bask in their deserved recognition, Mass Sky Raid have instead thrown themselves straight back into their music, eager to capitalise on the current groundswell of momentum.Mass Sky Raid will today release their latest single Tidal Wave, a rocking tune that also displays elements of alternative rock and experimentation that sees the band pushing themselves further out of their comfort zone.Vocalist Adam Lomas joined HEAVY earlier today to talk about Tidal Wave in greater detail and reveal some of Mass Sky Raid's plans for the near future."It's exciting," he beamed when asked how he is feeling about Tidal Wave being unleashed on the world. "Just releasing any content like this is always exciting, you never know what to expect or how it will be received, but we're just super pumped to get new songs out there."Mass Sky Raid have always been a band who don't feel comfortable with remaining static musically. Once they find and refine a particular sound they set straight to work on improving on that yet again. It is an attitude that has seen the band force their way into the ears of the music loving public and one which Lomas stresses will be a part of their musical DNA for a long time to come."We released the album Calm In Chaos last year and I think we are trying to show a different side of Mass Sky Raid here," he measured. "Probably more of an alternate rock side. We do have our progressive elements to our music but this s pretty much a straight up, solid rock song. I'm excited to see what people think of it."In the full interview Adam goes deeper into Tidal Wave musically and lyrically, how the band has changed musically since Calm In Chaos, the extra weight of expectation that comes with receiving awards, the lyric video for Tidal Wave and manufacturing a quality lyric video, whether Tidal Wave is a stand alone track or part of a bigger picture, how the bands sound has progressed over their three albums, the two single launch shows coming up in May and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.
27 Huhti 20237min
Kiss & Make Up One More Time With JOEL VANDERUIT From KISSCHASY
Interview by Kris PetersAustralia has birthed some iconic bands that will go down in music history amongst critics and fans alike.Bands like AC/DC, The Angels, Screaming Jets. Bands that music lovers have dug into the trenches with and emerged triumphant to share the spoils of war.But while bands such as this are revered amongst the public and fans, seldom does a band stand out as national treasures to be put on a pedestal until the time comes that they feel like coming down.At their own leisure of course.One such Australian band that immediately springs to mind is Kisschasy.After forming in the Mornington Peninsula around the turn of the century, Kisschasy soon established themselves as a musical force to be reckoned with, scoring two gold certified albums (out of three), two gold certified singles, multiple ARIA nominations plus invitations to perform at some of the countries biggest musical festivals.But not only were Kisschasy successful, they were also genuinely nice guys with a casual demeanor that refused to be ruffled despite the bands overwhelming success.After disbanding in 2015, Kisschasy seemed reluctant to offer any morsels of pleasure for expectant and waiting fans, biding their time and making sure the timing was right for them first and foremost before even contemplating another venture into the musical landscape.Late last year the band answered the prayers of a nation by announcing an extensive national reunion tour for this May, with the announcement enough to plunge their debut album United Paper People back into the ARIA Top Ten Album Charts 18 years after its initial release.HEAVY recently sat down with Kisschasy bass player Joel Vanderuit to get the final plans before the tour kicks off in Brisbane on May 4."It sort of kept on creeping up too," he replied when we remark on the lengthy nature of the tour. "Luckily a lot of the shows have been selling out so we've been able to increase venue sizes or ass an extra show. Darren (Cordeah, vocalist) lives in LA now and we've only got him for a set amount of time so we thought we'd flog the absolute hell `out of him on tour and make sure he earns his keep (laughs)."If any vindication for Kisschasy dusting off the touring cobwebs was needed, it was quickly answered by the public response to individual shows with a number selling out within the first few days of going on sale."It's really surreal," he smiled. "We're actually onto our third Melbourne show now which is wild. I think half of being away for so long is why we're able to do this and why we're able to reconnect with everyone in such an engaging way. If we turned up every year I don't think it would be quite the same. It's lucky for us and hopefully everyone's able to come out and enjoy it."In the full interview Joel tells us what to expect from the shows, outlines the steps along the way to announcing this tour, getting mentally and physically ready for such a long tour after 8 years, the early days of Kisschasy and the climate that created them, their early acceptance by music lovers and why he thinks that was, how close the band came to pulling stumps permanently in 2015 and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.
27 Huhti 202310min
Ramming The Point Home With JOHNI HOLIDAY From RUFF MAJIK
Interview by Kris PetersIn a musical world being increasingly defined by labels and genres it is refreshing to come across a band who seems to neither care, nor notice where they fit into the tightening art that is called music.South African rock outfit Ruff Majik are one of those bands.With a sound that can be defined only so far as having its roots in rock, the musical output and disparity produced by the band is as reckless as it is carefree and natural. Sure, they have the bottom end sludge coupled with distorted riffs and fuzzy guitars, but if you think that makes them easy to define then you are easily fooled.By combining these sounds with a sonic landscape that draws inspiration from B Grade Drive In Movies from the annals of time and a sonic palate that would quench even the hardened thirst, Ruff Majik sprinkle enough of their own DNA throughout their music that it quickly becomes difficult to label.Add in some quirky moments of humour that elevate what could potentially be dark and foreboding lyrics and layer it with an undeniable love for what they do and suddenly you have a form of musical expression that far outstrips the conventional normality that society loves to place on progress.With their latest album Elektrik Ram being unleashed on April 28, vocalist/guitarist Johni Holiday spent some time on the casting couch with HEAVY to convey the simple complexities of the bands music."I'm pretty excited," he smiled when asked how he was feeling about the albums imminent release. "There was a little gap there where I wasn't sure how things were gonna go down, just because it's a different kind of album, but so far we've had some reviews come in and they've all been really, really positive so it's given me some renewed vigour. I'm ready for it now."We ask Holiday to run us through the album from a musical perspective."Musically and lyrically it's a very schizophrenic album," he measured. "It's all over the place, jumping in and out of different genre styles. It's always very rooted in rock and roll - it's got to be - but we've taken it from every possible angle, I guess. But that was kind of the point. It had to be like that for the story to be able to flow and then we had them all collected the biggest mission was to just make them fit. Just to have it go through congruently and I think we managed it."In the full interview, Johni talks more about the theme of the album, it's light hearted ambiance despite the serious subject matter, the opening track Hilbillly Fight Song and how it sets up the rest of the album, the meaning behind the songs She's Still A Goth, Cement Brain and A Song About Drugs With A Clever Title, creating a sonic landscape with your music, future plans and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.
27 Huhti 202317min
Musical Expression With JAN NICHOLAS BLOM From THE SILENCIO
Interview by Kris PetersGold Coast rock outfit The Silencio have long been held in high regard amongst the local music community.Their passion and enthusiasm for their craft is infectious, which, coupled with a highly professional attitude and outlook has seen the band recently anointed as a "local emerging act to watch" by Gold Coast's Blank Magazine.That effort was finally rewarded recently when The Silencio beat off stiff competition to with the Rebel FM Band Battle to open for The Smashing Pumpkins and Jane's Addiction at the final show of The World Is A Vampire Festival this Sunday, April 30, at Broadwater Parklands on the Gold Coast.It is fitting that The Silencio have been awarded the opportunity after being judged by a panel of their peers, with one of the only things ever holding the band back being a lack of opportunity in South East Queensland.To celebrate, The Silencio are also releasing the ninth track from their upcoming sophomore album Foreign Frequencies, a rocking number called Taciturn (Over) Talkative which will make up part of the set list for this Sunday's show.Vocalist/guitarist Jan Nicholas Blom joined HEAVY earlier today to discuss what is a busy period for the band, starting with the new single."It's actually one of the songs I wrote towards the back end of the previous album cycle and nearly made it onto that record," he began, "but I hadn't quite fleshed it out. Originally the key line at the beginning of the main riff was actually played on the guitar and I tried to jazz it up and change it up a bit. The title came from a good friend of mine, Scott Mitchell, one of his close friends passed away due to suicide and Scott wrote an article about that whole circumstance and he used the phrase "to be less taciturn and more talkative" and it stuck with me. It's such a great message to try and pass on, to make sure we don't hold things in and we do talk to each other."In the full interview, Nic talks more about the music side of Taciturn (Over) Talkative, the film clip that has each of the band members Fathers play a role, the upcoming album and why The Silencio chose to release it all as singles, special plans for the finished product, winning the Band Battle to play at The World Is A Vampire, what to expect from their show, the addition of so many Australian bands on an international bill and what it means for Australian music and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.
27 Huhti 202316min
Uniting For A Common Cause With DAVID ELLEFSON From DIETH
Interview by Kris PetersMore often than not when a group of musicians get together to form a new band - often termed Supergroup (which still makes me cringe), those musos have either played together before or mixed in the same circles and come across each other in a musical capacity.Not so the three well known musicians that make up death/thrash outfit Dieth.Coming together out of musical connection rather than friendship, David Ellefson (bass, Megadeth), Guilherme Miranda (guitarist/vocalist, ex Entombed A.D.) and drummer Michał Łysejko (ex-Decapitated) recently announced their debut full length album To Hell And Back, which will be out on June 2.Heavier than anything Ellefson has ever done in the past, Dieth also provides a creative outlet for three musicians who have each been major contributors over the past few decades to start fresh with only the sweet smell of creativity in the air.Dieth have already given fans a taste of what to expect with the singles In The Hall Of Hanging Serpents, To Hell And Back and Don't Get Mad...Get Even, each song further exploring the extremities with which Dieth plan to take their music.Ellefson sat down with HEAVY to talk more about the upcoming album."Great!" he exclaimed when asked how he is feeling about the release. "Especially talking to people like yourself and getting some feedback from people around the world. Obviously we had a great journey making the album over the last year. It's nice to know the record company is excited, it's nice to know the fans are excited. It's a process. The album coming out, it's a great anticipation and I'm glad we're doing it."We press him on what to expect musically from To Hell And Back."I think the title says alot, right" he laughed. "It talks about a journey, ironically a journey the three of us were separately on individually. I just find it funny how the three of us were brought together to unify our journey - strength in numbers. It's more fun as a musician to be in a band playing with your friends and I think in this case it's more fun for three strangers to become friends and become brothers to tell a unified story together. I think lyrically that's that part of it. Musically, a theme I keep hearing is that people are excited to hear me do something so heavy, so brutal. It's a step or two beyond probably what I've done in my past, so that's cool. And I like that, because ... I did The Lucid, which was a bit within range but maybe skewed a little more over here, and then I've got Dieth which is way over here. I've got Kings Of Thrash, Ellefson solo and I've got other records that I've done in between. I'm a versatile guy (laughs). I like to play a lot of different music, so to me Dieth represents a really cool cornerstone of a new sound for me."In the full interview, David talks more about what to expect from the album, the singles released and how they represent the rest of the music, the acoustic passage that opens the album and why it is there, the track Walk With Me Forever which is Ellefson's first ever vocal performance, how him singing came about, how Dieth represents a new beginning for all involved, what elements of each former bands the three brought to Dieth, the upcoming Australian Kings Of Thrash Tour with Jeff Young and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.
26 Huhti 202326min
Ripping It Up Down Under With TIM 'RIPPER' OWENS
Interview by Kris PetersTim 'Ripper' Owens name and voice is legendary in the metal scene.Not only has he sung for Judas Priest and KK's Priest among others, but he has also forged a successful solo career and travelled around the world performing songs from bands that have played a large part in his career as a musician.One of those was Metal Gods, a band that paid tribute to Judas Priest, Black Sabbath and Dio in which Owens performed with ex AC/DC and Dio drummer Simon Wright. Metal Gods toured Australia for the first time late last year to rave reviews, leaving everyone who went to one of the shows in awe at the abundance of talent Owens possesses.Now, just six months later, Owens returns Down Under for two shows only - at the Crowbar in Sydney on May 11 and at The Bendigo Hotel in Melbourne on May 12.This time he will team up with members from Frankie's World Famous House Band, Harlott and Bad Moon Born to perform an even greater variety of songs from bands that have shaped metal music in general.He is treating these two shows as a tester of sorts towards booking a national tour next year, with the onus on Sydney and Melbourne proving there is a demand for more of his solo and own material.Owens joined HEAVY this morning from Brazil to tell us more. We start by asking if he has even unpacked after his last visit here not so long ago."I've unpacked and packed and unpacked and packed," he laughed. "It's just been non-stop. I'm doing this now from South America in Brazil. I was in England working on the new videos for KK's Priest, I flew home from England after doing a week there and was home one day then I flew here and then I'm going home for one day and flying there. This was last minute I decided to come there to Australia and we're gonna test the waters and do a couple of shows - it's like a test shows - and see if we can book a full tour in the future."Last time he was out here Owens was touring with Simon Wright, but this time around he is coming out by himself."It's just me playing my songs," he affirmed. "I called Joel to see if he could get some guys together and he was all for it. He got his brother and some friends. It's gonna be a blast. The setlist is great, we're doing some songs I haven't done in a while like Diamonds And Rust and we're doing something from my new solo EP, so it's a nice set list."In the full interview Ripper talks more about what songs to expect, the response to his latest album, finding the time to write new material, how these two shows will be different from what Australian audiences saw last time, assembling a band to play the songs and learning them in a short space of time, how he approaches singing songs from iconic bands, future touring plans and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.
26 Huhti 202312min
Going It Alone With TOBY PETERSON-STEWART From THE OMNIFIC
Interview by Erin EddyWhen you talk about someone being a virtuoso on an instrument the word guitar often springs directly to mind. But, of course, there are plenty more instruments one can be prolific to the point of being a virtuoso, but one which wouldn't immediately spring to mind would be the bass guitar.And not for any reason other than you would have to be pretty damn good to make the bass sing and take on a life of its own.Which is exactly what Melbourne-based producer and bass virtuoso Toby Peterson-Stewart has made a reality.Firstly as part of acclaimed Australian act The Omnific, and now as a solo artist with his latest single 'D.H.D".Peterson-Stewarts musical tale is one of triumph and talent, with Erin Eddy sitting down with him for a one on one to talk about his new material.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.
26 Huhti 202329min
Expelling Your Demons With DEZ FAFARA From DEVILDRIVER
Interview by Kris PetersWhile most of us take music on face value and, although maybe appreciating the lyrical content and life experiences that are invested in the lyrics, the vast majority of people do not - or cannot - fathom the entire depth, meaning and personal anguish behind them.For over three decades Dez Fafara has been writing songs and pouring his heart and soul into each sentence, and even word.It is a labour of love that has seen his band Devildriver embrace a loyal and growing legion of fans and one which has seen them traverse the world playing everything from festivals to their own headlining shows.In and around the time of COVID Fafara was forced to take a more in depth look into his inner self for a multitude of reasons, the main of which being the fact he almost lost his life to the virus.It was a sombre period for Fafara and his family, and one which forced him to take stock of his past, present and future and make the decision to purge his demons the only way he knew how.Through music.The result was Dealing With Demons Vol 1 which was released in 2020 it was an honest, introspective and confronting look at some of the things that Fafara has lived with and faced thoughout his entire career, tackled in a way only someone who had stared down his own demise could approach it.That album was universally hailed as a masterpiece and left the music world eagerly anticipating the second instalment which will be released on May 12 via Napalm Records.A heavier slab of metal than its predecessor, Dealing With Demons Vol II is another scathing indictment on the mechanism that Fafara has fought to subdue and control throughout his career, and as such is a deeply personal and cathartic album to himself.The great man sat down with HEAVY to talk about the concluding chapter of his self help manifesto."Feeling good, man," he smiled when asked how he was feeling about the release. "It's been sitting in the can for a while. We recorded both of these at the same time, they were meant to come out back to back in 2020 and 2021, but of course things got in the way. That being said it's incredible to be releasing this thing. You can probably attest to the fact with me, and probably agree with me that when a band tackles a double record, usually the second record is B sides and leftovers. I mean, usually - and I could name several that you would probably agree with me - we didn't want that to happen so we overwrote for this thing. Not only that but we kept them short - 36 and 38 minutes respectively - they're meant to be listened back to back, an hour and ten or so in full and it's great to get this piece of art out and actually having people hear it. This is the first time we've had feedback outside of the band. We stayed very secretive about this record. And even internally didn't pass it around to our agents and things like this. We didn't want it to get out."In the full interview, Dez talks more about the new album and what to expect, how it is heavier to Vol 1, the singles released and how they represent the album, what specific demons he dealt with over the two albums, what he learnt about himself and his music in doing so, how purging those demons will impact his future writing, what's next for Devildriver, touring plans and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.
26 Huhti 202323min
