THE QUARANTINED: Overriding The Algorithms Of Life And Music

Interview by Kris PetersNorweigian black metal outfit Immortal are widely regarded as one of the most important black metal bands in the world.Ever.Not a bad feat for a band who are, in essence, more of a driving project for the talents of guitarist come vocalist Demonaz than a fully fledged, functioning band in the truest sense of the world.Immortal's triumphs and tragedies are well documented, with a number of extenuating circumstances conspiring over the years to potentially rob the musical world of one of its most vital exponents of their craft.Thankfully, despite the adversities, Demonaz has remained true to his belief and vision with Immortal on the cusp of releasing their 10th studio album War Against All, which is also Demonaz's second as lead vocalist.Demonaz is selective when it comes to interviews, so when offered a chance to spend 20 minutes alone with the great man HEAVY had pressed the button before the question had even been fully asked."Like every other time," he smiled when asked how he is feeling about the album being set free into the world. "I think it's always special to release something that you've been working on for a long time. This particular album took a long time to wait. It was actually finished being recorded more than a year ago, so I'm looking forward to finally getting it out."To date Immortal have released two singles from the album, the title track and Wargod, with Demonaz shaking his head when asked if they were a good sonic representation of the album as a whole."Every song is different on this album," he measured. "It's the same as with Northern Chaos Gods. Even though it was a fast and intense album the songs are varied. They are different. War Against All is the fastest track, then you have Thunders Of Darkness which is a mid paced track and then you have Wargod which is the heavy one and there is an instrumental and a long song at the end of the album and two more songs like Return To Cold and Immortal which is also different. None of those songs have the same pace, the same tempo and there's a lot of variation in that universe."In the full interview, Demonaz talks more about what to expect from the album, settling into his role as vocalist, the personal nature of creativity, the early days of the band, how he feels about the accolades, what's next for Immortal and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

18 Touko 202310min

Interview by Kris PetersRising Sydney metalcore outfit Broken Earth continue to push sonic boundaries and upping the anti significantly with each release.Following the success of last years single Black Skies, Broken Earth last week delivered the crushingly brutal track Breathe, raising the bar considerably and laying down a bold statement of intent.A tale of discontent and dealing with traumatic experiences, Breathe aims up against the poisonous elements of society in a scathing indictment of unbridled aggression that point the finger directly where it should be directed.Vocalist Raphael Smith joined HEAVY recently to talk us through the new single and how it reflects Broken Earth in 2023."It actually started out life when I had just seen the Christopher Nolan movie Tenet in the movies in 2019," he began. "I got home and wrote this really sick synth line but it never really connected and I think it had the most amount of rewrites out of everything that we're releasing this year. What happened was I kept wanting to put a sing a long chorus into it and it just wasn't connecting for some reason. One of the boys came to me and said vocally you're really aggressive in the verses but whenever we go to the chorus the vibe dips down straight away. I know you love your sing a long choruses, but I don't know if it's gonna work this time. I said, you know what dude, let's go for it so about a week before we were supposed to record we actually rewrote basically the entire chorus and when we got into the studio with Mark he helped us rewrite a bit of it as well to give it that final touch and edge. But it's actually... it's the first song we're putting out and it sounds very organic and balls to the wall but it was the most obsessed over and refined song of the lot."In the full interview, Raph talks more about the musical side of Breathe, dives deeper into the meaning behind the track, how it represents the growth of the band, upcoming music, their recent Tamworth experience and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

18 Touko 202320min

Interview by Kris PetersOften with music festivals containing some form of nostalgia things can become unnecessarily cluttered and almost sentimental, in effect negating the very concept of a musical celebration featuring an assortment of bands who have all played significant roles in the success that is Australian music.But, when a festival gels as it should then the result is nothing short of triumphant.Think festivals like Homebake and Livid that are to this day spoken about with awe and wonderment and the sheer magic of music is instantly compounded.And it now appears there's one more name to add to the list.Spring Loaded.After the universal acclaim from punters and performers alike following last years travelling spectacle, organisers have this year stuck to the same winning formula of signing up some of the best Australian music talent from the past couple of decades and throwing them together on one stage to unleash the inherent beauty of music in its purest and simplest form.This year headlined by Spiderbait, Spring Loaded kicks off on June 3 at the Sandstone Point Hotel with a stacked line-up that also includes Frenzal Rhomb, Shihad, Eskimo Joe, Screamfeeder, Magic Dirt, Ratcat and Bodyjar.With the countdown on for what is already shaping to be another monster day of entertainment, HEAVY sat down with Spiderbait's Kram to talk about the strength of Spring Loaded and Spiderbait's honour of having been named headliner."I think it will be fantastic," he enthused. "We did do this show a few years ago and I didn't really know what to expect and it was such a fantastic gig and fantastic festival. We can't wait to do it again and we're really pumped.""It's such a beautiful ampitheatre," he continued. "Amazing vibe and it reminds me of some of the old festivals that we used to play years ago in Queensland."In the full interview, Kram talks about being asked to headline, the importance of having festivals made up of only Australian bands, some memories of playing with other bands on the bill, their live show and what to expect, perfecting your craft and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

18 Touko 202313min

Interview by Kris PetersAt some stage of a band's career when they have released enough hit songs to justify such a collection, the traditional Greatest Hits package almost becomes a necessity.What should be seen as a celebration of a successful career is too often viewed more as a commercialised assortment of songs that have already generated a substantial amount of money, but, also as is often the case, the bands themselves have little or no say in the process or release.Not that anyone is accusing Canadian rock outfit Finger Eleven of jumping on the gravy train.Far from it.These guys have earned their stripes and the imminent release of their overdue Greatest Hits album on June 17 also serves as a homage to some of the bands personal covers and Finger Eleven's first new music in seven years, Together Right.Featuring a previously unreleased cover of Pink Floyd's Welcome To The Machine (a live fan favourite) as well as their version of wrestler Kane's entrance song Slow Chemical, Finger Eleven seem to have all bases covered with a collection of 12 tracks including Paralyzer, One Thing, Fallin' On and Living In A Dream.Frontman Scott Anderson sat down with HEAVY to run over the idea."I think we've talked about it for long enough," he smiled. "We hit the right moment to say can we agree on these songs, and do we have enough for a Greatest Hits? Can we do this? Alright, let's do it. James got the artwork together and the ball started rolling, and I'm excited to say we finally pulled the trigger on it."In the full interview Scott talks about the song selection process for the album, the new single Together Right and how it reflects Finger Eleven in 2023, the Pink Floyd cover and why it made the cut, the early days of the band and the musical climate that gave them life, their early name Rainbow Butt Monkeys and WTF, how their music has changed over the years, new music plans and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

18 Touko 202314min

Interview by Kris PetersCanberra based noise merchants St Sinner are farewelling one chapter of their musical identity while simultaneously ushering in a new, more important era with the recent release of their song Alone Together.After going through a stagnating period in and around the COVID period with the release of three tracks Mr Prime Minister, Dead For The Weekend and We're All Going To Hell, St Sinner have been busy refining and honing their existing punk, metal, hard rock and dark pop sound into something more sinister and demanding.Rory and Sam sat down with HEAVY to fill in the blanks."Pretty good," Rory replied when asked about the early reception afforded Alone Together. "We haven't released anything in a year and a bit, so all of the traction that we had from the last release is just fucken gone so the reception it has got... anything would have been good. I'm just happy that there's even two people listening to it (laughs)."With the modern musical landscape being driven by low attention spans bands that don't release regular content are generally left floundering, a point which we raise to the boys."It's a weird thing," Rory agreed. "So this song was the last of a cycle - because our band has been through line-up change after line-up change after line-up change. This is the last song of a cycle that we've been going through since 2020, and in a way it was like starting again but at the end of a phase, which is interesting. Everyone's got ADHD now, including me. If a band that I'm listening to isn't putting out music at least once every two to six months I forget who they are."In the full interview, Rory and Sam talk more about Alone Together including the play on words in the title, closing one chapter of the band's existence and opening another, how they plan to transition musically, what direction they are heading, the cocktail of influences in their music and how it came about and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

5 Touko 202311min

Interview by Kris PetersWhen the enigmatic and universally loved frontman of LA industrial/heavy outfit Static X passed away in 2014 many thought that was the end for the band as well.Wayne Static WAS Static X - just by virtue of the name alone - and to try and find anyone to replicate his on stage intensity was thought to be futile.The band who had given the world the groundbreaking album Wisconsin Death Trip and the industrial alt-rock hybrid Evil Disco, shaking metal from its stagnant state and redefining what can be done with heavy music, was rudderless and without the emotional capability to continue. Wayne's passing - after long periods of unrest within the band - seemed to be the final debilitating factor in the future longevity of Static X but behind the scenes the three founding members of Static X, Tony Campos, Koichi Fukuda and Ken Jay were scouring the musical landscape for someone who could not only fill Waynes shoes musically, but would also be accepted by their fanatically loyal fanbase.In 2019 the trio recruited a still unidentified mask wearing enigma as vocalist who went by the name Xer0 and despite initial skepticism and often downright hostility from some members of the public, Static X have been reborn as both a live and recording unit and will arrive in Australia for three shows starting in Melbourne on May 19 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Wisconsin Death Trip.Sensational live footage of their US tour has leaked on social media which justifies the current hype surrounding Static X, with the show as much a visual spectacle as it is aural, complete with a stunning new outfit for Xer0.Bass player Tony Campos joined HEAVY recently to discuss the tour and a host of other things relating to Static X, starting with how much of Wisconsin Death Trip they will be playing as part of the anniversary celebrations."We will be playing... I won't say most of it," he offered, "but we'll be playing a lot of cuts off that album."Campos has been quoted as saying that as well as playing songs from that album and Machine, Static X are also going to throw in "a couple of nice surprises" so, not being ones to like surprises, we asked him if he would share the knowledge."It depends on who the surprise is coming from," he laughed. "If you want a clue check out any of the interviews from the last couple of shows that we've been doing here in the States to get an idea."Static X will also be celebrating the life and legacy - as they do with every show - of Wayne Static, which although gives the fans an inside glimpse into the mechanisms of the band with Wayne out front, would also be emotionally draining on the surviving members night after night."Being together with my friends that were there with me in the beginning and having that comaraderie with those guys keeps the vibe positive," he measured. "It keeps it focussed on all the good things we achieved together."In the full interview Tony talks more about what to expect from the shows, how different it is having Xer0 out the front to when Wayne was there, losing Wayne and the decision to move on without him, initial negative feedback from fans and how it affected the band, the new stage show and what it entails, the early days of Static X and where they fit in, creating their sound and introducing it to a new audience, at what stage of the bands life did he personally feel they were onto something good, how they made their last two albums Project: Regeneration Volumes 1 and 2 after Wayne's passing, future new music with Xer0 at the helm and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

4 Touko 202314min

Interview by Kris PetersEvery now and then we at HEAVY get an album come across our desk that screams at you to listen and take notice.Something out of the blue that not only looks like it could be fresh and daring, but also sounds like it.When the new album from Indya called Leather N Lace came through there was something about it that made it stand apart from the rest. I'm still not sure whether it was the eclectic nature of the bands influences - Madonna, Enigma, Van Halen, Pat Benatar, The Prodigy, Marilyn Manson, Bring Me the Horizon and Def Leppard - or the promise of a wild rock and roll fantasy ride, but whatever it was it has made me more inclined to listen to my gut feeling in the future.With Leather N Lace coming out on May 6, HEAVY caught up with irrespressible vocalist Laudez Rose to find out more."I'm really excited," she gushed when asked about the album. "I'm so excited about the album launch - which is in a music store called HMV. The music shop is quite small, but we fit in (laughs). We've got about 70 people coming to watch and it's on the day of the coronation, so we thought that it would be dead but obviously not (laughs)."We ask for more information about Leather N Lace musically."I started the album a year ago and it's taken me this long because obviously I've had to do the album while working at the same time, and I've had to juggle a lot of things," Rose offered. "Everyone's busy, it's like trying to herd a load of cats trying to fit everything in. Basically, I've been inspired by quite a few artists - Madonna, because I was a massive fan of her when I was growing up, and Lady Gaga, No Doubt, Bring Me The Horizon, Hendrix, Van Halen... and it's funny because every song you hear is totally different on my album, but you can hear all these inspirations coming through. Every song is completely different and nothing is the same."In the full interview, Laudez talks more about the album and it's myriad of influences, musical experimentation and how far to push it, the singles released and how they represent the album, difficulty in choosing singles when everything is so sonically different, her vocal range and how to temper it throughout the recording, attending the Britain School for Performing Arts and Technology and what she carried from there into her music, the pitfalls of being an independent artist and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

4 Touko 202317min

Interview by Kris PetersPerth is a long way from the action when it comes to music, so you can be sure when you hear of an artist making waves from that side of the country that they have something special.Which is precisely the case with alternative singer/songwriter RinRin who delivers a sound and music in the ilk of Paramore, BabyMetal and Avril Lavigne.After being one of the standout performers at Brisbane's BigSound Festival in 2022, RinRin return to the East Coast of Australia in May for three shows with Inferiority Complex and Live Like Animals.Dubbed the Protagonist Tour, the shows take in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane and to find out more about the growing star that is RinRin HEAVY caught up with the vocalist and namesake for the band."We've been having rehearsals every Sunday for six weeks now," she began. "We recently had band coaching as well and I'm excited to show everyone my new moves."We ask RinRin to run us through a typical live show from the band."A lot of headbanging, that's for sure," she smiled. "A lot of fun, boppy songs with breakdowns and cool solos. A little bit of story time and lots of fun."Listen to the full interview to find out more about RinRin and what to expect from the Protagonist Tour.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

3 Touko 20237min