Exorcising The Demons With XEN From NE OBLIVISCARIS

US rock outfit Classless Act have had a meteric rise in 2022. Firstly, they landed themselves the opening slot on The Stadium Tour with Motley Crue and Def Leopard, before dropping their massively successful debut album Welcome To The Show which led to frontman Derek Day being invited to perform as part of the Taylor Hawkins farewell concert in September.Now, currently part way through their own headlining tour, the band are readying to drop the Welcome To The Acoustic Show EP on December 16, which features a selection of cuts from their debut album performed stripped back and acoustically.HEAVY sat down with Day recently to discuss the EP and more, starting with the reception for the singles dropped from the EP in the lead up to its release."Pretty good, actually," he beamed in his usual charismatic nature. "So much so that we've decided to play them on tour acoustically. People dig it, they're sharing it, and really most of all we're quite happy with it too. It's very raw. It's just one take and we released it and that was it, just like experimenting."We ask Day what he gets out of performing the songs acoustically that he may not when playing them in their original form."So many things," he smiled. "My favourite thing is the dynamic shift. Everything gets a little quieter, so I'm forced to sing a little differently. I get to really hone in on the feeling, or the meaning of the song. I really get off on those dynamics."In the full interview we ask Derek for his favourite track to play acoustically, if this EP is more for existing fans or new ones, The Stadium Tour and how it went, what sorts of things Classless Act as a band took out of that tour, their current tour, plans over the festive season, how the next album might sound, plans to come to Australia and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

15 Des 202212min

Swiss metal outfit Chaoseum are a band that should be on your radar.Or maybe they already are.They only recently put themselves in my crosshairs when I received their latest album The Third Eye which was so good I felt compelled to reach out for a chat.Forming in 2018, Chaoseum put out their debut album First Step To Hell that same year which led to a quick succession of tours with Soulfly, Eluveitie and Tarja. Along the way the band parted ways with their original vocalist and enlisted guitarist C.K. Smile who made his debut on 2020s album Second Life. Despite never having fronted a band before, Smile soon stamped his authority on Chaoseum's music before they slowed momentarily with the acoustic album Second Skin during lockdown.It was a brave, but confident release from Chaoseum, which endeared their music to a new legion of fans who are now carrying Chaoseum further up the ladder to global domination. With The Third Eye having been out for just over a month, HEAVY sat down with Smile for a look inside Chaoseum."We have had a lot of great comments," he smiled when asked how the new album has been received. "We are very happy and have had many good reviews. All the ratings are good, the comments are good. That means for the next album we have to kick your ass more hard (laughs)."We press Smile to explain the musical components of The Third Eye."We tried to be a little more dark," he measured, "something a little more dark, or mystic. That's why the album is called The Third Eye because it talks a lot about death in many different ways and many different points of view. On one song I'm talking about killing somebody and on another song I'm talking about being a ghost. In another I am talking about my funeral - that's Dance On My Grave - I'm talking about my funeral how I want mine in the future (laughs). Everyone dancing on my fucken grave and having a big party. That was the subject of the album. I know it's very cliche because death is so metal, but it easier to talk about it for this album."In the full interview Smile talks about the musical influences on The Third Eye, finding your own sound within Nu-Metal, the beautifully produced title track, the early days of Chaoseum, his coming in to the band as vocalist, learning how to best use his voice, their acoustic album and why they did it, the genesis of the band name, coming to Australia and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

12 Des 202217min

HEAVY had the honour of conducting backstage interviews with a selection of bands for the final Good Things Festival show in Brisbane recently, which we are going to drip-feed you just because we can!Good Things provided highlights for so many reasons, but perhaps the best feel-good story of them all is the homecoming of ex-Pagan vocalist Nikki Brumen who took the gamble of a lifetime some 18 months ago when she packed up everything and moved to Norway to join 'deathpop' outfit Blood Command.Of course, she nailed it and now fronts one of the hottest bands on the planet, with their set at Good Things my pick of the day!HEAVY caught up with Nikki and guitarist Yngve Andersen before they hit the stage.The sound quality may be affected in patches due to the interviews being recorded live with a full festival raging behind us, but sit back and enjoy the fully immersive experience of each band as they navigate the day. They are also sparsely edited for maximum effect.Full video interviews will be published in the near future.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

12 Des 202212min

Interview by Simon Russell-WhiteHEAVY had the honour of conducting backstage interviews with a selection of bands for the final Good Things Festival show in Brisbane recently, which we are going to drip-feed you just because we can!One of the days many highlights was getting some time with Tatiana and Vlad from Ukraine metal powerhouse Jinjer who surprisingly played extremely early in the day.Despite that, the band delivered a sensational performance, with Tatiana and Vlad kind enough to stop by the HEAVY tent not long after they came off-stage.The sound quality may be affected in patches due to the interviews being recorded live with a full festival raging behind us, but sit back and enjoy the fully immersive experience of each band as they navigate the day. They are also sparsely edited for maximum effect.Full video interviews will be published in the near future.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

12 Des 202214min

Interview by Kyra-Jade CoombsWhat can I say? Sarah McLeod from The Superjesus is nothing but pure delight! Her excitement and joy for music rings through so loudly it’s hard to not fall in love with what she’s doing. If you are an Aussie and have ever listened to the radio, you will know who The Superjesus are. If you don’t, then get out from under the rock you’ve been living under!Seeing as though this legendary Aussie rock band has been around longer than my very existence, I felt like I was way out of my league having the opportunity to talk to Sarah. Although I must say, any and all nerves were quickly swept away as soon as we started talking.We covered a lot in this interview; welcoming Murray Sheridan and Cam Blokland to The Superjesus family, recording new material in an organic and natural fashion, hitting the road with Dallas Crane and some downright wholesome chat on being true to yourself – no matter what. I took away some really cool and unexpected life lessons from our chat and I genuinely enjoyed every second of this interview, in all my awkward glory.Starting in January 2023, The Superjesus are hitting the road on their Money Tour starting on January 27 in Sydney and finishing up March 3 in Richmond, Victoria. If you are a fan of The Superjesus you really don’t want to miss this one. I can’t wait to see all this hard work come to life.Keep an eye out next month for the release of their new single Money (We’re Only In It For Love) and check out the full audio interview above.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

11 Des 202220min

Interview by Erin EddyAnyone who is a fan of the SoCal skater punk scene of the 90’s will know the name Joey Cape and if you don’t know his name then you definitely know his voice; a distinct vocal style that makes Lagwagon instantly recognisable. Or you may be more of a Bad Astronaut fan. Either way, Joey is a veteran of the punk scene, and his bands have earnt their place as staples of the genre.It’s been a long time between visits to Australia for the punk rock legend, so in early 2023 he’s making up for lost time. Not only will Joey be touring with another of his projects, Me First And The Gimme Gimmes, he’s slotting in a bunch of solo shows around the country while he’s here, also.Joey takes care of guitar duties for Me First And The Gimme Gimmes, a long standing favourite amongst the skater punk community for their fun, fast and ferocious covers that put a punk spin on popular songs. The Gimmes are a band comprised of notable musicians synonymous with the genre (just don’t use the term ‘super group’ if you don’t want to cause an eye roll response in Mr Cape, as HEAVY learned!), including but never limited to Fat Mike of NOFX, Spike Slawson of Swingin’ Utters and Dave Raun, of Lagwagon.The Australian leg of the 2023 tour for Me First And The Gimme Gimmes is one of thoserescheduled-from-forever-ago post-Covid jobs. What this means for us is the added bonus of now having Joey Cape solo shows at our disposal. Joey told HEAVY that he spent a “dangerous amount of time” in lockdown on his own, which he maintains was actually beneficial to him once he got past the confusion of it all. It allowed him time to pursue a bunch of things he otherwise wouldn’t have turned his hand to, but ultimately when he needed healing, it was music that he turned to.Joey’s solo record A Good Year To Forget is aptly titled for a record cataloguing one’s experience of 2020, yet also something of a juxtaposition in that the healing power of music incites you to reflect back on it with some fondness, for it sure did teach us all a bunch of things about ourselves.HEAVY spoke with Joey about getting through the trying times of the pandemic, his various musical projects and what he plans on getting up to in Australia.For Joey, not only was 2020 a year of illness (Joey himself contracted Covid and spent a gruelling period of time hospitalised), lockdowns and mandates, but a year in which he lost a parent and experienced the end of a 20 year marriage. A Good Year To Forget is his diary of catharsis and he will be taking these songs to stages for intimate shows across Australia in between shows with the Gimmes from January 31 st , 2023.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

11 Des 202230min

Interview by Kyra-Jade CoombsSydney rock outfit RedHook capped off a stellar 12 months last weekend by headlining Stage 5 at this year's Good Things Festival which traveled through Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.With two of the shows sold out and the third not far off, Good Things 2022 was an emphatic return for music festivals in Australia, showcasing the cream of Australian talent alongside some of rock and metals global heavyweights.HEAVY had the honour of conducting backstage interviews with a selection of bands in Brisbane, which we will share with you starting today.The sound quality may be affected in patches due to the interviews being recorded live with a full festival raging behind us, but sit back and enjoy the fully immersive experience of each band as they navigate the day. They are also sparsely edited for maximum effect.Full video interviews will be published later this week.But first, enjoy RedHook as they count down the hours before Sunday's spectacular headlining Good Things 2022 finale.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

11 Des 202213min

Frankenbok have been a mainstay on the Australian metal scene for 25 years now.From the outset Frankenbok were a band who went well and truly against the grain - or, for that matter, against EVERY musical convention put in place up to that point - ensuring they never quite fit in with the cool kids or current trends.Not that they would have it any other way.Since bursting onto the scene with Greetings And Salutations in 1999, Frankenbok have very much been a band for the underdog. Musically, socially and geographically.Their refusal to bow down and conform to musical hierarchy has seen them become more of an underground institution despite supporting heavyweights such as Slayer and System Of A Down. They have always done things their way and in their own time, along the way gathering a loyal army of supporters who have stayed with them through thick and thin.This weekend, to fully celebrate their quarter of a century in Australian metal, Frankenbok will host a party unlike any ever seen in this country.On Saturday, December 10, every major incarnation of Frankenbok - totalling five in all - will assemble to play songs from their part of Frankenbok history in one night at The Tote in Melbourne.It is an ambitious and brave venture that has already proved a success, with friendships mended, past ailments buried, and music the overall winner, despite not one live note being played in anger.Yet.It is a night made possible by the collective efforts of every past and present member of Frankenbok, with guitarist Aaron 'Azza' Butler the only member to have played in every line-up.Azza sat down with HEAVY for a frank and open discussion about the life of Frankenbok in a must listen for every fan of the band, or lover of music in general.We start with the very early days of Frankenbok, when Azza returned from the US in 1997 with a renewed musical vision."I basically moved over to Florida chasing the death metal dream," he began, "and I was lucky enough to land in the right circles where I was hearing people talking about Morbid Angel -which were my heroes at the time - and talking about them unlike we talk about them, as in blokes. One guy was talking about Pete Sandoval, the drummer from those days and he said "yeah, he still owes me fifty bucks" and I was blown away because these guys were heroes of mine. So I was very lucky to be taken in by the inner circle of all these people that were - before I moved over to America - they only existed in CD's and posters on my wall and next thing you know I'm having breakfast with some of these people and getting to know them personally. It's kind of a strange thing when once you get to know someone more personally you start to forget who they were to you once upon a time. You have to remind yourself. You start to get comfortable and give them a bit of shit (laughs) and then you go wait a minute... I was lucky enough to get taken in to the inner circle where I learnt a lot from all these guys in bands like Malevolent Creation and the Morbid Angel dudes and another band over there called Pain God, but these are all serious hard hitters in the death metal scene. All of these guys had done time with the big bands, and I got to know these dudes really well and I would often see them in between shows when they came down to Tampa Bay and they would be staying the night and rather than drink the night away and get fucked up one guy would say to the other guitarist 'let's do that thing' and they had all these side projects. Just with eight track recording gear and while they were in town they would work on these things with a drum machine and some primitive recording gear, and at the time I started playing in a band called Shrill, and they were a punk band, which I really enjoyed but I really, really wanted to play death metal stuff. Then I realised that if I got myself a drum machine and a basic four track the Hell with waiting around to find the right musicians, I could just start writing music straight away and not have to wait to find somebody who is a competent musician and part athlete to be able to play some of the drumming I wanted to do. So I did a couple of demos like that, which is what evolved into Frankenbok eventually."In the full interview, Azza goes through the early days in more detail, the formation of Frankenbok, their early sound and where it came from, the sonic leap between Greetings And Salutations and the EP Loopholes And Greatest Excuses, their cover of Don't Call Me Baby, playing that song live with Ladybeard in Japan, Hutchy's involvement with Frankenbok, the decision to go with Adam B Metal when Hutchy left, Dan McDougall's addition as frontman and what he brought to the band, the inherent sense of family within Frankenbok, Dan White taking over as frontman, the decision to bring McDougall back, Frankenbok's legacy and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

9 Des 20221h 2min