Kiss & Make Up One More Time With JOEL VANDERUIT From KISSCHASY

Interview by Kris PetersCalifornia based party starters Drain have had a love affair with Australia ever since making their debut visit as support to Comeback Kid in early 2023. So much so that the band has been here once a year since then, and is set to continue that trend when they hit our shores as part of New Bloom Festival with Balance & Composure from March 8.Not only that, the good time hardcore outfit have also announced a string of sideshows with One Step Closer, kicking off a couple of days earlier on the Sunshine Coast on March 6.Drain have quickly built a reputation based around their fun-tinged live performances, throwing the world of hardcore on its head by treating the music as an outlet for good times and frivolity rather than the pure state of aggression for which it has become known. With a recent album Living Proof to promote, plus a yearly obligation to fulfil, frontman Sammy Ciaramitaro joined HEAVY to fill in the blanks."It wasn't at first, it was just for fun," Sammy replied when we ask if Drain first started having fun with the crowds to combat the seriousness and aggression of hardcore music. "We lived by the beach and I said hey, I'll bring a boogie board to the show, it will be kinda sick. Eventually, at a certain point, we stopped, but other people would bring them in (laughs). It's still fun. But at a certain point with the pool noodles people actually hit the guitar strings so we can't play. I still have fun with it but now we just turn up. We're gonna bring the energy. We bring what we bring, you bring what you bring, and we're gonna collectively rock it out. Whatever that looks like. It might be a little different every day. It was just to have a good time. We did it for fun, but now what we like more than anything is stage dives and when people sing along. That's my favourite part."In the full interview Sammy talks more about what fans can expect from their shows, the importance of enjoying your music, One Step Closer and why they were chosen as supports, what he loves most about Australia, the early days of Drain, new music and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

10 Feb 12min

Interview by Kris PetersThe D4 are storming the East Coast — louder, wilder, and more combustible than ever! With the FIRST EVER VINYL pressing of sophomore album Out Of My Head dropping February 7, 2025, NZ’s finest punk n’ rollers will be hitting Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne in the company of some of Australia’s most beloved rockin’ outfits early 2025.The D4 are running hot from a riotous, untamed tour across their spiritual stomping ground of Japan, and are now primed to explode back onto the Australian stage.Rock'n'roll fans will be treated to their notorious and incendiary live show, replete with a reputation for amplifiers catching on fire and sweat dripping from the ceiling. Expect the powerhouse show to include the classics Rock'n'Roll Motherfucker, Sake Bomb, What I Want, Party, Come On!, Get Loose and Ladies Man amongst a high-octane set that will also include a slew of NEVER BEFORE HEARD MATERIAL!HEAVY caught up with vocalist/guitarist Jimmy Christmas to find out more."There's a lot of memory and effort and energy that went into that record," he recalled of Out Of My Head, "so it's nice to be able to revisit it. I think… we had a lot of people clamouring for it to be on vinyl over the years and there just hadn't been a time when the stars aligned, but now it seems to make a lot of sense. I was pleased to pick up the records just today."In the full interview, Jimmy expressed the band's excitement to come back to Australia for the first time in 20 years, what to expect from the shows, what has changed with The D4 in that period, the 20th anniversary of the album Out Of My Head, memories of making the album, if the songs have stood the test of time and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

10 Feb 8min

Interview by Kris PetersMany artists have written about their struggles with mental health, but how many have written songs that actually sound like a mental crisis? That notion was exactly what Martin Jackson from Confyde set out to do when writing the songs for his latest three-track EP A Cowards Stitches, which was released today.Written in the aftermath of a relationship break-up, Jackson found himself in unchartered waters, facing reality head-on after professional advice forced him to confront his inner demons and quantify them by bringing them screaming out of the shadows of his mind and into the harsh reality of light. It was a process which had the potential to be crippling, but given his love for and aptitude of music, Jackson elected to relay his thoughts and feelings through verse in an attempt to best deal with them.The result is a schizophrenic trio of songs, ranging from the twisted and sonically challenging title track to the brutally honest Once Broken and the reflective Hxppy Nxw Yxxr, three songs that delve into the mindset of a person whose personal struggles are slowly manifesting into a tangible entity that can be defeated.Jackson sat down with HEAVY to take us deeper."The writing process was about the same," he measured when asked if it was easier or harder to write songs that are deeply personal as opposed to general views. "At the end of the day, it still comes from a place of emotion, and things that I feel very strongly about. It's just this time it happens to affect me and my personal life. I think the process of recording and writing was easier. I was certainly a lot more freeform this time, even though Confyde's music is a bit more all over the place anyway, I always like to think there's strong hooks and it's still quite accessible when it needs to be. This time I kind of threw the rule book out a little bit."In the full interview, Martin takes us behind the reasons he decided to take a more personal route on this release, dealing with his struggles, writing them into songs and music and how that process has helped, whether it was easier or harder to write such personal songs and release them for public consumption, offers an in-depth analysis into each of the three songs individually, what he hopes others might take out of the EP and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

7 Feb 23min

Interview by Kris PetersSydney stoner, sludge, doom outfit Bifter have done their time playing the traps live and have set 2025 as the year to showcase their music to the world. April will see their conceptually based album First Impressions Of Hell unleashed on the world, and to kick start the album cycle the band have elected to share the band's lead single March Of The Imp as an appetiser before the main course.With soul crushing dual vocals atop a violent wall of guitar, bass and drums, Bifter's music isn't for the faint-hearted - nor is it meant to be. Instead, the band offers a sonic blast of sludge fuelled goodness with enough chops and changes to keep you guessing until the very end of each track.Drummer Gus Hart sat down with HEAVY to go into more detail."We're really happy with it," Gus enthused of March Of The Imp, "and we think it accentuates the album in general and the vibe we're going for. We've sort of come out hitting with one of our heavier tracks to start for the first single because we wanted to hit the ground running."We ask if the single is a good sonic representation of what to expect from First Impressions Of Hell."It is…," he measured, "but I also think the best thing about the album and about Bifter's sound in general is that we're pretty unique in that we weave a bit of a tapestry in between different genres. Especially within one song, we pride ourselves on doing some cool change ups. Whether it be old-school traditional doom riff breakdowns or utilizing our two vocals to give a sludgy edge to some of our breakdowns, whereas we've still got some fast stoner riffs in there as well. We pride ourselves on blending all that together and that's what you're gonna get in the album."In the full interview, Gus talks more about March Of The Imp, why it was chosen to represent the new album, the conceptual theme around the song and album, why the band has a four-day gap between releasing the single and the accompanying music video, upcoming shows and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

6 Feb 17min

Interview by Kris PetersForming in Melbourne, Florida, BODYSNATCHER deal in all things dark, furious and sonically threatening extreme music. Combining crushing breakdowns with eerie ambience, scathing riffs and grisly grooves, the band have become synonymous with “heavy,” invoking violence in every city they happen to visit, spawning mosh pits that leave nothing but craters in their wake. Proudly and loudly putting the "core" back in deathcore, BODYSNATCHER have graced stages supporting the likes of Chelsea Grin and Slaughter To Prevail, with the band also in command of multiple albums and EPs, including 2017's Death of Me, 2020's This Heavy Void, 2022's Bleed-Abide and Vile Conduct released in September 2024.And now, for the first time, Bodysnatcher are making their way to Australia, supporting good mates Lorna Shore on a run of shows that has already sold out. Which would be catastrophic for Bodysnatcher fans except for the fact the band has just announced three select headlining sideshows which will undoubtedly follow suit and sell out in quick time.HEAVY sat down for a chat with drummer Christopher Whiten to chat more."Very excited to see the sun," he laughed when we bring up the tour. "We've been in Europe for the last three weeks and it's been cloudy. Except for Spain. Spain was nice and sunny."Being their first time to Australia, we ask Chris if the band have done their homework on what to expect."I heard the crowds are awesome," he smiled. "I haven't heard any negative things, I guess, so we're stoked." HEAVY brings up the fact that the one thing we do know about Bodysnatcher is the propensity for action and insanity in their mosh pit, and ask if it's true."Yeah," he said quickly and decisively. "We definitely instigate it. We like that high energy. We like the aggressiveness in fans. We definitely ask for it quite a bit. The shows are just very, very intense with high energy. Constant telling people to get on stage and get off stage. At some of the Lorna dates, I'm sure there's gonna be barricaded venues so no-ones getting on stage (laughs)."In the full interview, Chris talks more about his expectations of Australia and what we should expect from them, their history with Lorna Shore, the excitement of already selling out every show, their headline shows and what different to expect, the early days of the band and where they fit in, recent album Vile Conduct and how it was received, future plans and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

4 Feb 10min

Interview by Kris PetersAfter over a decade of devotion, intensity and passion, Melbourne's VOID OF VISION have announced that it is time to bid farewell to fans and announce the What I'll Leave Behind Australian Tour for 2025; a huge headline run where they will celebrate the end of an era one final time to close out their chapter. VOID OF VISION will be joined for their swan song tour in February by special guests GIDEON (USA), UNITYTX (USA) and KNOSIS (Japan).The What I'll Leave Behind Australian tour will commence on Friday 14 February in Brisbane, before heading to Newcastle, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and Adelaide, and bringing the VOID OF VISION story to a close on Saturday 22 February in Perth, offering fans across the country one last chance to witness the ferocity and stunning dexterity a VOID OF VISION live show always brings, and offering the band and fans an opportunity to bid farewell in unforgettable fashion.The brainchild of Japanese multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Ryo Kinoshita, KNOSIS grips with hard-hitting lyricism and razor-sharp delivery, channelling Kinoshita's internal battles into magnetic sonic creations. With songs written to reflect the pure emotional essence of pain and loneliness, KNOSIS collides everything from metal riffs through to hardcore breakdowns, simultaneously sparking listeners to smash their PBs in the gym while also offering an emotional journey to uplift and inspire against the odds.HEAVY caught up with RYO to talk more about the tour and Knosis.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

3 Feb 9min

Interview by Kris PetersSince forming in 2007, Counterparts have gone from the Hamilton, Ontario, underground to touring the world as one of Canada's most important and impactful musical exports. They've released seven full-lengths, with A Eulogy for Those Still Here landing in 2022. They've also released four EPs and a live album. Late last year they delighted fans with the surprise EP, Heaven Will Let Them Die, out via Pure Noise. The band has sold 250,000 albums through the course of its career, and their most recent headliner in support of AEFTSS was almost entirely sold out.And now, in great news for Australian fans, Counterparts are coming Down Under with Dying Wish for four dates as part of the Heaven Let Them Die tour. HEAVY caught up with frontman Brendan Murphy to talk music and touring. One of our questions centred around the 'surprise' release of Heaven Will Let Them Die and if he considered it a risk in the modern music world."For sure," he nodded. "I wasn't terribly concerned that there was a possibility of it backfiring. I don't think anybody who likes the band is gonna be, like, 'what? They didn't even tell us, this sucks'. You know what I mean? I think everybody was kind of stoked that there was something new. I think there is always a chance that it just gets lost if you don't dangle the keys in front of people's face. When you just drop it there's a chance that people can forget about it and I think maybe people have a little bit… but I think it's amazing because we put the EP out and said right, we're gonna tour in three months, see ya. I think, if anything, it was that that did it. Not the surprise. I think when you do something that plays into how short everyone's attention span is at the moment, I think it's just a move. That's the easiest way to get people, and so what if you're the hot topic and everyone's talking about it for a month or a week, and then they move on to something else. They were gonna move onto something else anyway, regardless of how long you teased it. I think it definitely worked for sure."In the full interview, Brendan talks more about the reasons behind jumping off the publicity train for their recent EP, the pros and cons of doing that, how it is the band's most authentic representation sonically, and where it stands in terms of future direction.We also take the time to run through the EP track by track, plus talk about what we can expect from Counterparts when they hit Australia in June.Tickets and more information at livenation.com.au.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

3 Feb 26min

Interview by Angela CroudacePolaris is heading to Knotfest, and if you’re not already pumped, you should be. The Aussie metal juggernauts are ready to tear it up alongside some of the biggest names in heavy music. HEAVY had the chance to chat with guitarist Rick Schneider about what it’s like to be part of the iconic line up, what’s in store for fans, and what’s next for the band.When asked about joining Knotfest, Rick’s reaction was simple and pure: “To be part of Knotfest, Slipknot’s playing, that’s kind of the pinnacle thing. Everyone is stoked on that. As soon as we got the offer, it was like, all right, well, we'll make that work.” For a band like Polaris, joining such a legendary festival line up feels like both a milestone and a natural step in their meteoric rise.Rick revealed that, while they didn’t throw a huge party when they got the news, there was an undeniable sense of excitement among the band. “It's always nice to play at home, especially after a long time away. Every time we come back, it feels like a homecoming,” he said, speaking to the deep connection they have with their Australian fans.As for what fans can expect at the festival, Rick promised a balanced set that’ll appeal to both new listeners and die-hard supporters alike. “We’re definitely playing the new singles, but we’re also making sure to keep it heavy and include some classics, like Lucid,” he shared, adding, “We have ample time, so it should be a good one.”When asked about his favourite song to perform live, Rick didn’t hesitate: “Probably Hypermania. It's got heaps of energy, and it’s one of those songs where everything fits into shape—less stress, big payoff.”And while it might surprise some, Rick admitted he’s not the band’s biggest Slipknot fan: "I'm the least Slipknot fan out of the guys," he laughed, but he still recognizes the sheer energy of playing such a huge festival.As for advice to aspiring Aussie bands? Rick keeps it real: “Social media is everything these days. You never know what platform might take off. Just get your music out there in every way you can.”Catch Polaris and more at Knotfest Australia 2025. It's going to be a metal lover’s dream, and with Rick's focus on delivering a killer performance, this year’s festival is shaping up to be one for the books!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

2 Feb 12min