THE QUARANTINED: Overriding The Algorithms Of Life And Music

Interview by Angela CroudaceAfter 33 relentless days tearing through Europe and the UK with metal titans Pantera and Power Trip, most bands would hit pause. But not King Parrot. For frontman Matt 'Youngy' Young, the chaos of tour life was just the spark needed to kick the band’s creative machine into overdrive.“By the end of it, we were knackered,” Young admits with a laugh. “The jet lag, the exhaustion—it was intense. But it was also one of those pinch-yourself moments. Just being there, on those stages, it was unreal.”Now, the Aussie thrash-grind juggernaut is channelling that whirlwind experience into their latest album. On June 6, 2025, King Parrot will release A Young Person’s Guide to King Parrot—a ferocious, career-spanning collection that marks both a celebration and a reintroduction.“It’s kind of a nod to the journey we’ve been on, but it’s also for anyone new jumping into our world,” Young explains. “We wanted to package something that really captures the essence of what King Parrot is about.”While this upcoming release serves as a brutal sampler of their sonic legacy, the band isn't resting on their back catalogue. They're already deep into writing brand new material for a future album.“We’ve had a month or so off after that tour, and now we’re back in the groove,” says Young. “There’s definitely another record on the horizon. We’re writing, experimenting, seeing where this next chapter takes us.”That work ethic and raw honesty have long been King Parrot’s signature—onstage and off. Known for blistering live sets, DIY approach, and a no-bullshit attitude, the band has earned a cult following far beyond their Melbourne roots.“You do it because you love it,” Young smiles. “But it takes a toll. Still, when you're on stage, and you feel that energy coming back at you, it’s magic. That’s why we keep pushing.”With A Young Person’s Guide to King Parrot set to drop and fresh tracks in the works, the band shows no signs of slowing. If anything, they're more fired up than ever. “The tour lit a fire under us,” says Young. “We’re more focused, more driven. And the new stuff? It’s gonna hit hard.”For King Parrot, the grind never stops—and that’s exactly how they like it.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

6 Kesä 35min

Interview by Kris PetersWhat started out as a bit of fun on a Monday night at Sydney's Frankie's Pizza back in 2012 has quickly developed into a global sensation.Initially formed to beat Monday night boredom at the home of live music in Sydney, Frankie's World Famous House Band has grown from such humble beginnings to being a mainstay on the Australian music scene for both punters and international touring musicians.For ten years until its sad closing in 2022, the band rocked the stage at Frankie's Pizza, along the way collecting a healthy dose of international scalps under their belt who frequented the venue just to catch a glimpse of the house band. Members of bands such as Megadeth, Steel Panther, White Snake, White Zombie and Cheap Trick have all at one time shared the stage with the house band, while they are now also an in demand gun for hire as touring bands for stars such as Tim 'Ripper' Owens who enlists their help each time he comes over.They are a band made up of accomplished musicians, but, more importantly, people who love music, and that infectious energy night after night is one of the major reasons they survived when Frankie's fell.This weekend sees Frankie's World Famous House Band venture outside of their home base of Sydney for a rare visit North, where they will be playing at Lefty's in Brisbane on Saturday, June 7, and Mo's Desert Clubhouse in Burleigh Heads the following night. HEAVY jumped at the chance to chat with drummer and the legend behind Frankie's Pizza, Jordan McDonald to find out more."Yeah, we never do this," he replied when we mentioned the fact that the band doesn't play outside of Sydney often. "We get out of town if we're the house band for a touring artist, that happens every now and then. That's kind of, I guess, the niche of the Frankie's World Famous House Band. If there's an act of cult appeal who's coming to Australia but leaving the band behind, we'll fill in and play, so we'll take that around the country. But just as us doing it our way, it's kind of a matter of policy that we never leave Sydney, so this is something different."We question what policy could ever confine any band to one city before Jordan smiles."It was bred in Sydney, and it's kind of where it makes sense," he laughed. "It's part of the fabric of the zone, so we try and kind of keep it that way. But if an opportunity like this comes up - and it doesn't happen all that often - we say yes to most things. So here we are!"In the full interview, Jordan focused on the upcoming performances of Frankie's World Famous House Band in Queensland, scheduled for June 7 and 8. He provided background on the band, emphasizing their unique position as a house band that typically does not tour outside Sydney. He highlighted their speciality in high-energy covers of classic rock songs and their collaborations with well-known artists, which have bolstered their reputation.Jordan introduced us to the rest of the band, saying that they don't have a permanent set vocalist in preference of using a range of singers to complement each performance. He ran us through the birth of the band and how he came to be involved, the band name, some of the people they have shared a stage with, his other music and business ventures and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

5 Kesä 22min

Interview by Kris PetersIt's been 15 years since Bay Area thrash legends Testament last did a headline tour of this country. Fifteen long years for fans of the band, of which there are many.Since emerging from the San Francisco Bay Area in the early 1980s TESTAMENT have delivered some of the greatest metal anthems of all time. Over The Wall, Practice What You Preach, Rise Up, Into The Pit, Brotherhood Of The Snake, Low, The New Order, First Strike Is Deadly… the list of absolute classics seems endless as they unleashed one crushing album after another.With no shortage of critical acclaim, Testament remain one of the select few bands with two albums, (both The Legacy and The New Order) inducted into Decibel Magazine’s prestigious Hall Of Fame, alongside Metallica, Black Sabbath, and Motörhead. TESTAMENT have remained steadfast over the course of literal decades; always managing to present the genuine aspects of thrash metal that defines their existence while spreading into unique horizons through new crisp and fascinating sounds.The worldwide Testament legions only continue to grow with renewed fervour and intensity as one of the most influential acts in heavy metal marches forward, never wavering and always crushing.With the tour less than two weeks away, HEAVY spent some time with founding member and guitarist Eric Peterson to find out what we can expect."It's been 12 plus years since we've been there," he enthused. "Some of the shows have sold out, and it looks like the whole thing might just be sold out, so we're excited."We ask Peterson what delights Testament have in store for us to make up for lost time."We're playing a lot of stuff that we haven't played in a long time," he offered. "We're revisiting a lot of stuff that we kind of just didn't do, but now we're doing it. And it was stuff that people wanted us to do, like more of the deep cuts and some of the slower stuff that we've got."In the full interview, Eric highlighted the addition of new drummer Chris Dovas and the release of three new records since their last tour, while also addressing the challenges of scheduling due to the pandemic.He shared insights into their recent performances, focusing on deep cuts and slower songs that resonate emotionally with fans, and discussed the complexities of creating set lists from their extensive discography. Additionally, he offered a preview of their upcoming album, which aims to blend various musical elements and reflect the band's evolution while retaining their signature sound and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

4 Kesä 12min

Interview by Angela CroudaceAmerican heavyweights Baroness are headed to Tasmania this month for the famously atmospheric and provocative Dark Mofo festival — and for the band, it was precisely that mystique that made them say yes."It was a pretty interesting offer to fly 20 to 30 hours around the globe to play one show," they laughed. "But the vibe of the festival fits us."It won't be their first time in Australia, but it will mark their long-awaited return to the island state. Reflecting on a previous visit to Tasmania in 2012, vocalist John Dyer Baizley recalled a surreal show where the audience had reportedly been dosed with LSD — "It was weird. But fun."Their set promises to be just as memorable this time around, featuring new material and even some deep cuts that haven't been played in over a decade. "We're excited. It's very likely we'll play some songs we've never played in Tasmania — or anywhere in a long time."Known for their evolving sound and richly illustrated album art, Baroness have always pushed sonic and visual boundaries. "We've given ourselves not just the right, but the obligation to push forward," they explained. "We build on what we've done, but we don't stand still."The band's iconic colour-themed albums were a deliberate early concept, though they've since moved on from it. As for the relationship between their music and artwork? "Typically, the artwork is a reflection of the music — and sometimes the lyrics. Though for newer albums like Stone, the music came first."Baroness are also mindful of the personal cost and discipline it takes to endure as musicians. Staying grounded and creatively fuelled comes down to "frustration" — and exercise. "To perform the way we want to, we have to align mind, body and spirit," they said. "We work out a lot more than people think. "On stage, they thrive on energy exchange. "We're not just playing songs — we're playing the audience. The show depends on them."Despite their openness, the band values maintaining some mystery. "In the era of oversharing, we think it's important for artists to preserve something for the listener to discover on their own." Don't expect them to give too much away in the way of behind-the-scenes tour vlogs, as seems to be the trend with artists these days; the band believes in leaving a little mystery to their fans.Be sure to catch Baroness as they bring their signature intensity and introspective edge to Dark Mofo this June — a performance perfectly at home in the festival's dark and immersive atmosphere.For more information on Dark Mofo follow this link: https://darkmofo.net.au/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

4 Kesä 16min

Interview by Kris PetersIn some quarters better known as the former clean vocalist and rhythm guitarist of Attack Attack!, Bilmuri (Johnny Franck) has been busily rebranding himself since starting the project in 2016. Over the course of 14 albums in that eight-year period, Bilmuri has developed his own unique and effective sound, blending country, metalcore, pop punk, indie, and electronic influences into one.His latest album AMERICAN MOTOR SPORTS dropped in 2024, and the resulting success of that release has seen him traverse the globe, before finally visiting Australia for the first time this month.With only one show left on the Australian Motor Tour - at The Roundhouse in Sydney (upgraded from The Metro) - Bilmuri found time to chat with HEAVY about the tour so far and what he thinks of our country."We put the tour up on sale, and I was like, I don't know if anyone's going to come out to this," he laughed, "and it sold out in one day! So it's honestly been wildly beyond my expectations, and the shows have been incredible. I just love the country as well, so it's just been great, man. Definitely one for the history books, at least for me."We ask about him starting Bilmuri in 2016 and why he decided to start his own project from scratch rather than join an existing band."Because I'm a selfish, egotistic, narcissist," he laughed. "But no, to be honest with you, I like having control over everything. So that was a big thing. I felt like a lot of times I would always be fighting someone to have something, where it was like I think this idea is good, and I don't want to have to fight a bunch of people to do it. I just want to do it. So I think that was like a lot of the beginning of Bilmuri is just kind of making exactly what I want to do, how I want to do it."In the full interview, we discussed the success of Bilmuri's Australian tour, which featured sold-out shows and enthusiastic audiences, particularly in Melbourne. Bilmuri expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support from fans and the welcome he has been given. He elaborated on his motivations for creating Bilmuri, emphasizing his desire for artistic control and emotional expression, while acknowledging the challenges of blending various musical genres authentically.He also revealed his creative process, driven by a response to wanting to keep on the move, and mentioned upcoming plans for new music and participation in major festivals such as Lollapalooza and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

4 Kesä 7min

Interview by Kris PetersWhen it comes to good old-fashioned hard rock music, there are not too many bands on the global scene that can compare with UK rockers Inglorious. Despite a rotating roster of bandmates, founding member and vocalist Nathan James has resolutely pushed forward, releasing a high-quality collection of albums leading up to 2022 when he announced the band was going on hiatus.After seven years of non-stop touring with bands such as The Winery Dogs, Steel Panther, The Dead Daisies, Last In Line, as well as their own international tours and festival appearances, recording four original albums, a live album and a covers album, everyone felt it was the right time to take a break. The announcement came as a surprise to fans, who deep down knew Inglorious would return, and more than likely be stronger than ever.Those dreams were realized earlier this year with the release of a new single, Testify, and announcement of a new album - V - set for release June 6. Using his time to reflect on the band and their musical journey, James has returned with original Inglorious bass player and main co-writer Colin Parkinson, who co-wrote and released the first three albums: Inglorious, II and Ride To Nowhere.Joining them is renowned guitarist Richard Shaw, best known for his work with English extreme metal band Cradle Of Filth, and drummer Henry Rogers, two powerful additions to the band to complement the original engine room. The result is more than a continuation of Inglorious. It is a statement of intent and an emphatic tale of triumph over adversity and the magic that can create.HEAVY sat down with James to talk about Inglorious 2025. We asked about the return of Parkinson and how it impacted V."I think anyone that knows us will know when they hear this album that he is back by the sound of his bass, but also the songwriting," James replied. "He's so crucial to the early songwriting in this band, and he's done such a great job. He also produced this record as well."To HEAVY's ears, V is tougher and harder edged than anything Inglorious have ever released before, but we ask James just what he was going for musically."We wanted to do something a bit heavier," he agreed. "I think it's good to constantly be pushing yourselves, and also just the subject matter that we had to write about now in a kind of post-COVID world, it's just heavier, everything's a bit heavier. So it made total sense to write riffs and stuff that were more in that vein, and also bringing someone in like Richard on the guitar, it made sense to have a heavy guitar player play this stuff. And I think that's why it sounds a bit different, maybe, to previous albums."In the full interview, the discussion centred on the development and themes of Inglorious's fifth album V, with Nathan detailing the band's return after a hiatus influenced by the post-COVID landscape. He introduced new members Richard Shaw and Henry Rogers, emphasizing their contributions to the band's heavier sound and classic rock influences.Nathan highlighted the significance of impactful songwriting and the unique vocal styles present in the new album, particularly in the song Believe, which he described as a ballad with emotional depth. He also shared insights into the development of vocal melodies and the personal significance of tracks like Silent and Power of Truth.We also went through V track by track and discussed the meaning behind the songs and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

3 Kesä 28min

Interview by Kris PetersSydney metal outfit Battlesnake have become a mainstay on the Australian music scene.Since bursting out of the blocks with their EP Myths and Legends from Gorbag's Domain in 2020, many have wondered if Battlesnake were just a flash in the pan or a one-trick gimmick, but time and time again the band have proven any and all doubters wrong. Their energetic and fun live show has become the stuff of legends already, with the band's uncompromising approach to their music and their seemingly carefree off-stage persona combining to provide a band and brand of music unlike any seen or heard before in this country.By harking back 20 years, Battlesnake have also brought their brand of music into the modern age, crunching riffs that would make Black Sabbath take notice while providing enough in the way of modernisation to keep the impossible to p[please youth of today engaged.This Friday, June 6, Battlesnake continue their path to world domination with the release of their third album, The Dawn of the Exaltants and the Hunt for the Shepherd, which actually acts as a prequel to their previous offering The Rise and Demise of the Motorsteeple.With the band counting down the days before boarding a flight to the UK for nearly three months worth of shows, HEAVY caught up with vocalist Sam Frank and keytarist Elliott Hitchcock to shoot the breeze."No, I'm never nervous, but this will be the first time that we've played all of these new songs live," Hitchcock answered when we asked how they are feeling about the album release. "Actually, the first time that we will be playing these songs live is on stage supporting Eagles of Death Metal."In the full interview, Sam and Elliott expressed excitement about performing new songs live for the first time. The band shared that their songwriting was influenced by 90s video game music and clarified that the album's narrative, a prequel to their previous work, developed organically. We discussed the musicality of Battlesnake's craft and how this new album represents another chapter in the band's ongoing saga.They highlighted the challenges of maintaining a consistent release schedule as their artistic scope expands. Preparations for the tour were discussed, including rehearsals and the significance of performing at major festivals, which are seen as bucket list items for many metal bands and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

3 Kesä 19min

Interview by Kris PetersFusing death metal's raw brutality with melodic depth not generally associated with the genre, Bay Area metal outfit Ominous Ruin blend technicality and brutality with catchy, melodic hooks; think mind-melting riffs, groovy drums, mesmerising bass, and chaotic, unique vocals, and you are on the right path.After parting ways with original vocalist Adam Rosado following their debut album Amidst Voices That Echo In Stone, Ominous Ruin drafted newcomer Crystal Rose into the family and set about refining their sound even more with their dynamic new focal point.The result is out in the world now for people to enjoy, with Requiem unleashed on May 9 and offering a fresh take on an age-old genre of music. Requiem marks a shift from the band's early straightforward aggression, weaving in melodic and atmospheric chaos influenced by Necrophagist, Behemoth, and more. Now crafting their next release, the band hints at symphonic twists atop their signature heaviness and with Crystal Rose now leading the charge, Ominous Ruin are a band pushing extreme music’s limits.HEAVY caught up with guitarist Alex Bacey earlier today to find out more."I think one of the things that I tried to avoid was the 'you sound like another hundred other bands' comment," he replied when we asked what Ominous Ruin were going for musically on Requiem. "And a lot of people so far have said that it sounds unique; it sounds different. It's got a plethora of genres mixed into one, and obviously, at its core, it's a technical death metal album. At the time, a lot of the songs were actually written, we had a lot of chaos going on between all of us individually and as a band. We had a vocalist change in between our last album and this album, so now we have Crystal, who it's her first project; first album she's ever recorded. And I think she did a great job, which plays into trying to sound unique."In the full interview, Alex detailed the band's creative process and the emotional depth of their music. He explained how the singles Seeds of Entropy and Staring into the Abysm represent different facets of the album, with the former linking to their previous work and the latter evolving from an instrumental piece to include lyrics.He emphasized the importance of musical variety for engaging live performances and the transition from a male to a female vocalist, and the challenges that presented. Alex mentioned plans for upcoming shows, aiming for performances by September or October, and encouraged fans to connect via social media platforms like Instagram, while expressing gratitude for their support and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

3 Kesä 13min