HEAVY Music Interviews

Eskimo Joe were always a great band, even though it took most people until their third album, Black Fingernails, Red Wine to realise it.After laying the sonic platform over a couple of EP's and albums, the Fremantle rock outfit decided to shake things up a little when it came to album number three, throwing caution to the wind by escaping the comfortable safety net they had built for themselves in favour of a more expansive sound that would translate even better onto the big stage.History will tell us that the decision was the correct one, with Black Fingernails, Red Wine considered by many to be one of the defining moments in Australian rock music. It also earned Eskimo Joe four ARIA Awards, including Single of the Year, and saw them sell out arenas across the country. The album’s brooding tone, ambitious self-production, and emotionally charged songwriting marked a bold evolution from the band’s earlier records Girl and A Song Is a City, and fast tracked Eskimo Joe to national identities who have continued to justify their rapid rise by touring relentlessly and keeping the music alive.But it shall always be Black Fingernails, Red Wine that stands as the defining moment of Eskimo Joe's career, and with the album turning 20 next year the only respectful thing for the band to do is tour the hell out of it, which is exactly what they plan to do! Guitarist and founding member Stu MacLeod joined HEAVY to talk about the tour and the enduring legacy of that still famous album."It's pretty surreal to think it's been two decades," he began, smiling cheekily. "I mean, a lot has obviously happened in that time, but it feels like it's just gone by in a flash, you know?"Eskimo Joe will be playing two sets each show, one stacked with fan favourites, and the other dedicated to the birthday album, so we ask Stu if it will be played in order of track listing or mixed up a little."Oh, no, definitely front to back," he stressed. "I think that's part of the joy of getting to play an album in full on stage. When we write a record, it really is a process where we try and map a journey for the listener. It's not just a bunch of songs, and we pick which ones sound good next to each other after the fact. We actually design the album as we go. If there's a gap somewhere of a particular tempo or style or feeling, then we'll say, all right, we've got to write a song to fill that gap. We're actually writing a song. We're actually writing songs to fit the album, as opposed to just playlisting a bunch of songs afterwards to make it sound good."In the full interview, Stu talks more about what to expect from the shows, the decision to space the dates out to only include weekends and having Alex Lloyd as national support.He reflected on the making of Black Fingernails, Red Wine and how they created a sound and record that has resonated on so many levels. He recalled some of the highlights of making the album, what the band initially thought of it, the exclusive 20th Anniversary Cab Sav range of wine coming out next year and more.Tour tickets www.eskimojoe.net/toursBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

5 Joulu 11min

Interview by Ali WilliamsPrepare your necks and your livers, because Cryptopsy are barrelling towards Australia with all the subtlety of a freight train loaded with blast beats. In this HEAVY interview, frontman Matt McGachy drops in for a chat with our Ali Williams that’s equal parts comedy, chaos, and tour-warrior wisdom, as the band prepares to hit Aussie shores for their first tour down under since 2016.McGachy serves up the kind of charmingly blunt honesty only a death metal veteran can muster. He riffs about the pure madness of juggling jet lag, extreme humidity, and trying to deliver guttural vocals without spontaneously combusting on stage. As the band heads for Australia’s to celebrate over three decades of metal with four headline shows McGachy is equal parts fired-up and amused, promising that Cryptopsy’s live show will be an all-out assault, but with just enough Canadian politeness to (probably) avoid getting deported. The conversation is peppered with tales of culture shock (shoutout to Saudi Arabia’s “no moshing” rule), the band’s accidental foray into death metal history, and the awkward logistics of ageing in a genre that’s all about speed. McGachy laughs about getting older, likening band life to a bad marriage with four stubborn partners and swearing that Cryptopsy’s legacy will never involve “Ric Flair-ing” themselves into oblivion. Instead, he promises the band is tighter than ever, running on pure adrenaline, camaraderie, and maybe a few electrolyte tablets. For those craving the inside scoop: yes, the band is stoked for a long overdue return visit, yes, the set will be relentless, and yes, there may be some backstage chaos involving local support acts and sweaty gear changes.  Expect tales of power outages, sonic carnage, and the kind of crowd energy that only Aussie metalheads can conjure. If you want a taste of what’s coming, McGachy hints at the band’s sharpened focus, a “no repeats, no half-measures” attitude, and a set list that’ll leave both new fans and long-timers in a state of delighted ruin. The whole chat is a perfect storm: fun, irreverent, and bursting with that raw energy only Cryptopsy can deliver. By the end, you’re left convinced that this tour will be the kind of glorious mess you’ll brag about surviving for years to come. Craving the gory details, band banter, and the full run of McGachy’s stories? You’ll have to catch the full podcast. This is just the opening riff... Tickets www.hardlinemedia.netBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

4 Joulu 16min

Interview by Ali WilliamsHEALTH’s Jake Duzsik jumped on the mic with HEAVY Mags Ali Williams for a chat that somehow managed to zigzag between parenting woes, anime fandom, video-game virality, and a man chugging a can of chilli. Fresh off the release of their new single Ordinary Loss, and gearing up for their next record Conflict DLC, out December 11, Jake admits life is a whirlwind—not just because the band is deep in album mode, but because he’s also navigating the emotional rollercoaster of raising a five-year-old. From wiping his own butt (“a milestone worth celebrating,” laughs Jake) to nightly story time, his kid is in that fleeting golden stage where parents are still gods. Jake is already mourning the day he’s no longer the coolest human in the house. But don’t worry, he hasn’t gone soft. If you thought HEALTH’s promo stunts were wild, Jake confirms they used to be much worse. Their previous antics included: hiding golden tickets in vinyl copies, sending fans bags of their guitarist’s cat hair, signing test pressings in blood, and the ultimate? Flying a fan to the US to hang out and stay at their own home for a weekend and smoke sativa at Magic Mountain. They also had a guy chug a can of chilli like it was a shot of bourbon to announce previous releases. Jake says the band fully intended for Ordinary Loss to emotionally flatten listeners—in the uplifting, cathartic way HEALTH does best. Early reactions suggest it’s hitting fans right in the feels, which is the only metric that really matters in the algorithm-ruled hellscape of modern music discovery. Although HEALTH would love a viral hit (“it’s a lottery nobody understands,” Jake notes), they measure success by whether the die-hard fans feel it. And so far, they do. Their second-most streamed track on Spotify didn’t come from an album at all—it blew up thanks to a massively popular video game, then an anime adaptation on Netflix. The band has fully embraced their anime-gaming-nerd-culture fanbase, which Jake describes fondly as “amazing.” He even admits that this older track is still the most likely candidate for a future viral blow-up simply because it has so many cultural tentacles. While Conflict DLC doesn’t feature major guest vocalists, the band does keep one emergency contact on speed dial: Willie Adler of Lamb of God. When in need of a riff that could level a small city? They pick up the “red rock phone,” Willie answers, and the result becomes songs like the brutally heavy Vibe Cop.HEALTH will be back in Australia in September 2026, leading Jake to reminisce about the band’s last Aussie tour, which was equal parts magical and miserable. Thanks to our famously insulation-optional buildings, he discovered that Australian winter venues can be colder than a Seattle basement. He even booked a fancy Brisbane hotel with a rooftop pool—only to discover the pool was roughly the temperature of a soft-serve freezer. Lesson learned. Culturally though? Jake says Australia feels more like California than anywhere else in the world—laid-back, beachy, outdoorsy, and chaotic in all the right ways. For Jake, making music is still the only job he ever wanted. He’s grateful HEALTH has allowed him to live that life for most of his adulthood, and he hopes their songs continue to give listeners something meaningful—whether that’s emotional release, escape, or just a soundtrack for scrolling weird anime clips on TikTok. Tour info and tickets for their 2026 Australian tour can be found on the bands official website. Their new album release can be downloaded on all available platforms from December 11.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

3 Joulu 13min

Interview by Angela CroudaceFrench guitarist and singer Laura Cox is entering a bold new chapter with her latest album Trouble Coming, what she describes as her most personal and creatively liberating yet. In our conversation, Cox explains that for the first time she wrote and composed entirely on her own, stepping away from the familiar team dynamic of her earlier releases. Partnering with French electro-rock duo No Money Kids, she embraced a more modern edge while preserving the blues-rock roots that first put her on the map.The album’s creation was unusually relaxed, unfolding over several months between home recordings and studio sessions, a process Cox says felt “smooth,” “natural,” and free from the pressure of rigid studio deadlines. This freedom seems to have reshaped everything, even her writing approach, with vocal melodies and guitar parts now arriving simultaneously rather than being built around riffs.From YouTube beginnings to major festival stages, Cox remains grounded, grateful for a fan base that continues to evolve, especially as she sees more women and young people discovering her music. With new songs built specifically for the stage and an ambitious touring schedule ahead, Cox is excited for what comes next and hopes Australia might finally be on the horizon!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

28 Marras 24min

HEAVY Mag’s Ali Williams sits down with Jesse and Ben from Stellar Circuits for a wide-open deep dive into the band’s next chapter—one built on evolution, experimentation, and a whole lot of beautifully unhinged studio energy. What unfolds is a refreshingly candid chat that shows a band not just levelling up, but completely reshaping their creative DNA. Band members Jesse (bass) and Ben (vocals) dive into how they’ve pushed themselves into sharper, heavier, more emotionally charged territory—balancing precision with instinct, layering expansive melody over crushing groove, and building songs that feel bigger and bolder than ever. Opening up about refining their workflow, the unexpected twists behind the writing sessions, and the tight chemistry that keeps everything firing even when the studio turns into beautiful bedlam. Phantom Phoenix is the brand-new album that dropped on November 14, a release they describe as their most fully realised statement yet. With fresh material ready to tear the roof off, they tease early-2026 touring plans and promise a live show that brings all that density, detail and wild energy onto the stage.It’s a behind-the-scenes look at a band levelling up—sonically, creatively, and collectively—right as they unleash their biggest release to date. The guys unpack how their sound has shifted into fiercer, bolder territory: thicker riffs, cleaner melodic contrast, and songwriting that feels more intentional without losing the raw edge fans connect with. They describe the ongoing challenge of balancing brute force with emotional vulnerability, and how leaning into that tension has become a defining feature of their new material. From the studio, we get stories of organised chaos, last-minute re-writes, and the kind of hyper-focused intensity that only comes from a band locked in and hungry. They joke about the hair-whipping mania of their live sets, the internal battles over tiny sonic details, and the weird rituals that somehow keep everything on track during the most demanding recording sessions. Phantom Phoenix is described as their “most complete, most deliberate, and most aggressively honest” body of work to date. They touch on its themes, its tonal shifts, and the creative risks that set it apart from anything they’ve done before. It’s a release that marks a clear milestone: the moment Stellar Circuits fully step into who they are as a modern heavy act. Rounding things out, the band tease early-2026 touring plans, promising a live show designed to translate the album’s depth and weight directly into the crowd. Expect bigger dynamics, wilder performances, and the kind of immersive atmosphere that turns a gig into an experience. In short: this is Stellar Circuits at their most ambitious, most dialled-in, and most unapologetic. If the interview is any indication, the next era of the band is set to hit with force.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

28 Marras 8min

Interview by Ali WilliamsUK’s powerhouse Architects are gearing up for a massive return to Australian shores and fans are in for something fierce. In a raw, witty and refreshingly honest chat with HEAVY Mag’s Ali Williams, drummer and principal songwriter Dan Searle pulls back the curtain on the emotional and creative engine powering the band’s new era — just as they prepare to bring their latest evolution to stages across Australia.Speaking from a fog-laden UK morning, Searle dives into everything from sonic reinvention to the rediscovery of joy in writing heavy music after years of pressure, burnout and relentless expectations. He explores why the band refuses to stay static, how vulnerability thrives inside heaviness, and why evolution isn’t just an artistic shift — it’s a survival instinct.Its been 6 long years since the bands been here on tour in full, drawing on the eagerness of themselves to return and for fans to see them again, we get insight and introspective, as Searle's rifs on touring life, fan energy, and the tightrope between catharsis and chaos that has become Architects’ trademark.With their Australian tour on the horizon, Searle hints that fans can expect that same creative fire — sharpened, recharged and more explosive than ever. If this interview is any indication, Architects aren’t just returning to Australia. They’re returning transformed: heavier in spirit, freer in intention, in all the best ways.Tickets and full Australian tour details are available now via the band’s official channels and authorised ticketing outlets.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

28 Marras 18min

Sunshine Coast rock outfit Dellacoma are a promotors dream. Brash, skilled, confident and passionate, Dellacoma embody the spirits of rock through the ages, delivering it in a hard rocking package that is fuelled by the silky smooth vocals of frontman Dellacoma Rio.Formed in mid-2014, lead vocalist and namesake, Dellacoma Rio assembled a team of high voltage road warriors to bring his rock n roll vision to the stage. Hitting the road almost immediately the band has now amassed over 500 shows across the USA, United Kingdom, Europe and Australia. With many miles beneath their feet and a wealth of experience in the live arena, it is no surprise that playing live is their strong suit. So far they have played countless clubs, bars and venues as well as sharing larger stages with the likes of Def Leppard, Korn, Linkin Park, Five Finger Death Punch, Noiseworks, Skid Row, Styx, Tesla, Black Label Society, Buckcherry, Winger, Saliva, Drowning Pool and Saving Abel to name a few.And that touring has paid off, driving Dellacoma in a fresh, yet familiar sonic direction that can be heard on the band's third studio album Searching For You In The Darkness which is out today. Having recently returned from yet another successful international assault, Dellacoma have just started a mini run of Australian shows to promote the album, with their enimgmatic frontman joining HEAVY from the road. We start by asking how he is feeling about the release."Yeah, pretty good, man," he enthused. "It feels really good to actually finally have it out. It's definitely been a process and there's been… In hindsight, I probably wish I would have given myself a few more months, but that's always the way. I think you get down to deadline day and there's always bits and pieces that have to be done last minute (laughs)."We ask Dellacoma to dive deeper into the musical side of Searching For You In The Darkness."In writing this album, it was the first time I think that I really approached it from the perspective of, I guess, writing just songs rather than thinking about songs that I necessarily wanted to play live," he measured. "Not saying that I won't play these songs live. I will play as many as I can, but the thought had occurred to me, you know, as I was early in the writing phase, that with this being my third album there's now more material between all three albums plus a few surplus singles than I'm ever going to be able to play in one show.And that kind of unlocked something in my head. It felt like it took off some blinders almost, which was really cool. So we've got a couple of different tracks on here. We've got more of an acoustic-y style ballad in there. We've got probably one of the heavier tracks we've ever done as well."In the full interview, Dellacoma spoke more about the new album, including the different approach to songwriting and how it translated in the music. He talked about the album title and the underlying theme of the music, highlighting the bands musical growth over the three releases.We also talked about life on the road, the current run of dates and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

28 Marras 19min

By Angela CroudaceWith their ninth studio album Another Miracle landing on November 14, Of Mice & Men are stepping boldly into their next era—one defined by emotional depth, creative freedom, and an unshakeable bond with their fans. Drummer Valentino Arteaga speaks about the record with a mix of pride and awe, describing it as a “journey” built on layered soundscapes, soaring melodies, and crushing heaviness. It’s an album meant to be absorbed front to back, not just thrown on a playlist.Self-produced and richly textured, Another Miracle reflects a band continually pushing their own boundaries. Valentino compares its intricate sonic layers to “ten wedding cakes stacked on top of each other,” each one representing experimentation, growth, and the group’s ever-expanding musical vocabulary. Songs were crafted during a period of major life changes, including frontman Aaron Pauley discovering he was about to become a father, which brought a new emotional dimension to the writing.Valentino’s current favourite track, Troubled Water, mirrors the album’s dynamic energy with groove-driven drumming and bold performances. Yet he insists each song offers something different: “With Of Mice & Men, there’s something for everybody.”Despite their evolution, one thing remains firmly intact; their connection to fans. Community is at the heart of their legacy, and it’s something the band is determined to honour. “When you come to an Of Mice & Men show, you’re there with family,” Valentino says. That spirit will follow them to Australia in May 2026, where they’ll tour with genre-blurring heavyweights Crystal Lake for what promises to be an explosive run of shows.With Another Miracle, Of Mice & Men aren’t just reinventing their sound, they’re reaffirming why their music continues to resonate so deeply after 16 years: honesty, passion, and a commitment to constant elevation.OF MICE & MEN + CRYSTAL LAKE May 2026 Australian Tour DatesTuesday 5th May - PERTH, Magnet HouseThursday 7th May - ADELAIDE, Lion Arts FactoryFriday 8th May - MELBOURNE, 170 RussellSaturday 9th May - SYDNEY, Manning BarSunday 10th May - BRISBANE, The TriffidTickets: Pre-Sale: Friday October 31st @ 1:00pm LocalGeneral Public On Sale: Monday November 3rd @ 9:00am LocalFrom: https://thephoenix.au/of-mice-and-men-2026-2/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

27 Marras 32min