Living In Sin With MATT And Luke From KODEM
Being a band from Newcastle has meant massive expectations ever since the Screaming Jets exploded onto the scene in 1989. What was already an uphill battle establishing yourselves from outside the capital cities overnight became even more daunting with little brother always fighting to escape the shadow of one of Australia's finest ever musical exports.While admittedly difficult, it is not impossible. A fact proven by the emergence of progressive rock outfit KODEM.After two years spent honing their craft on the touring circuit, KODEM have unleashed their debut single Tattooed Sin, celebrating their signing to rising Australian music label XMusic with an atmospheric and intense track that highlights the struggle between vulnerability and shame. Tattooed Sin is also the lead single taken from KODEM's upcoming debut EP of the same name, and showcases the raw emotion from which KODEM have launched their assault.HEAVY caught up with vocalist Luke Jones and guitarist Matt Semmens to find out more."We're super pumped," Matt enthused when we bring up the release of the first single. "Super pumped. This was our first track that I sent to Luke in his truck many years ago, just reaching out to him and saying, hey, would you like to write some tunes? This is the very first one that we worked on, so we're pretty pumped to get it out there finally."In the full interview, Matt and Luke spoke more about Tattooed Sin, which delves into themes of acceptance and life's challenges, highlighting the synergy between the lyrics and the abstract visuals of the accompanying music video. They also shared insights from their live performance experiences and their excitement for future projects, including another single and an EP, showcasing their dedication to their musical journey and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.
29 Aug 15min
Going The Distance With STEVE LORECK From LATE 90'S
It is more than a myth that forging a career from the Western side of Australia poses many more challenges than other music hubs around Australia. The isolation, costs of travel, reduced market, and subsequent lessening of opportunities faced are definitely quite difficult to overcome. Difficult? Yes. Impossible? No. Perth alt-rockers Late 90s are living proof.Drawing influence from the likes of alt-metal icons Deftones, alt-pop and rock legends Paramore, and emo kings Basement, LATE 90s have shaped their own sound into something reminiscent of past greats, all the while tying together elements of something so fresh and distinct. With over 2.1 million Spotify streams and having spent recent years touring with the likes of Neck Deep, Taking Back Sunday, State Champs, Hot Mulligan, Free Throw, Short Stack, Slowly Slowly, and more, the band have recently announced their inclusion on the 2025 BIGSOUND line-up, which will see them bringing the heat to Brisbane this September.It is an opportunity well deserved for the rapidly emerging band, who hit the opposite side of the country to their home base from September 2 to 5, armed with their explosive new single Low and an appetite for success. HEAVY caught up with vocalist Steve Loreck to find out more. With over 120 bands performing over the three days of BigSound, HEAVY questions Loreck on why punters should mark the name of Late 90s on their to-see-list."I think we're the only heavy band playing out of Perth, so that's a definite reason," he replied. "There isn't that many bands that have got those heavier influences, so I think we do a good job of representing that more alternative scene. I think our music is not too heavy where people might be put off by it, but they might still enjoy it if they're not necessarily into the heavier stuff. So yeah, we're kind of the middle ground, I guess, for the punter. The music we make is a little different, so I think people will like it."In the full interview, Steve tells us what BigSound means to emerging local artists and the Australian music scene, the networking side of the event and how best to handle it, a brief history of the band and their sound, their new single Low and how it represents Late 90s moving forward, future music and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.
28 Aug 16min
Dealing With Hurt, A Musical Connection With ENVY MARSHALL
Melbourne-based musician Envy Marshall is an artist who doesn't care for trends or fashions or being the 'next big thing'. Her musical journey is more selfish, in a way, in that she creates music that means something to her first and foremost. But when that music is rooted in life experiences and self-worth, it suddenly becomes accessible to the masses. Or at least those who believe that you are the master of your own destiny and, as such, deserve to be happy. Deserve to be free. Deserve to be confident in yourself.After announcing her intentions earlier this year with the explosive and confronting track Like A Man, Marshall returns via the path least expected with Hurt, a song dripping with emotional vulnerability amid haunting piano, laced with searing guitar riffs and a vocal delivery with the unmistakable swagger of an artist for whom boundaries are a source of inspiration rather than fear. Following the viral success of Like A Man, Envy Marshall is proving herself to be one of the most vital independent voices in today’s rock scene. With Hurt, she doesn’t just raise the bar - she rips it off the wall.With her debut album in the can and nearing release date, Marshall joined HEAVY for an open and honest discussion about her life and music, starting with Hurt and how it has been received."I think people are sick of hearing positive music," she measured, "and I think this song has really touched a lot of people. We've had some great success with it in Australia, but it's been number one in a couple of countries over in Europe, which has been amazing. I was a bit worried about putting out a ballad because you never know how it's going to land, but it's landed really well. People are just sick of candy pop, and they want to actually listen to something that means something to them."We ask if the song is more about hurting yourself or inflicting hurt on others."I think when we get hurt, we like to hurt. It's a reaction," she mused. "So I think this song is about taking power back after being really badly hurt. And I think we've all been really hurt. I think we live in a lot of hurt, especially these days. The world is crazy. I don't think we need lots of lipstick, positive songs. I think it's a real thing that a lot of us are in a lot of pain, so this song, for me, was about being hurt; being let down and finding a way to move that through my body - not through revenge - because that's where you start. When you get hurt, first you get angry, then you get sad, and you get angry again. Then you get jealous, then you get some envy, and you go through all those emotions, and then finally you get to revenge, which is a better feeling. And that sort of gets you out of that feeling of hurt. So it's really about moving through those emotions and coming out the other end of it, the hero of your own story."In the full interview, Envy discussed her recent professional developments, emphasizing Hurt's exploration of complex emotions and the importance of processing pain rather than seeking revenge. She elaborated on her creative process, highlighting her collaboration with Mike Young at Armory Studios, where the haunting piano intro for Hurt was developed. Envy cited musical influences such as Portishead and In This Moment, and emphasised her commitment to artistic freedom in her songwriting. She shared plans for her forthcoming album, which will showcase a gritty rock sound, and teased her new single Looking Good and Feeling Famous, set for release in September, plus more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.
28 Aug 22min
Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder With NATHAN & NICK From ATLVS
After building momentum and a solid, loyal fan base following the release of two EPs - The Wound, The Blade (2022) and Shadow Dancer (2023) - Melbourne metal outfit ATLVS went strangely quiet, going over two years with an eerie radio silence. While such a period of inactivity, especially in the modern age of music, would be an almost certain death knell for emerging bands, the absence seemed to do little to quell the thirst of their loyal army.Their return in June of this year with the instantly irresistible single Soulsucker saw ATLVS pick up almost precisely where they left off, proving that quality music will still be rewarded despite the shortening attention spans of the world and the wealth of bands and music released every day. The track hinted at something bigger from ATLVS but just what that is remains as mysterious as their absence, so to try and get to the bottom of things ahead of the band's trip to Brisbane as part of BigSound, HEAVY sat down for some quality time with Nathan Coff (vocalist) and Nick Clavarino (drummer) for a chat that ultimately left just as many questions as it did answers.We ask what ATLVS hope to get out of the BigSound experience."As a band, I am very interested to see other acts playing," Clavarino answered. "Also, meeting like-minded people. Very interested to see… just from all sorts of bases. You've got your promoters, agents, sync agents, even roles I've never heard of before (laughs), so I'm just interested to meet every single person I can possibly meet and make some good connections."Further to that, we ask what BigSound means to Australian bands and the Australian music scene." I think it's awesome that we have this sort of thing in Australia," Clavarino began, "that is so focused on the future of music. It's the biggest thing like this in the Southern Hemisphere, obviously, so we're pretty lucky to be able to have that. BigSound gives a stage where artists can showcase themselves to people from all around the world and meet people in the industry and industry professionals."In the full interview, Nathan and Nick highlighted the importance of networking with other artists and industry professionals at BigSound, viewing it as a unique opportunity to showcase their talent on a global stage. The band promised to deliver a high-energy performance that stands out among numerous acts, drawing on their experience and professionalism.They also discussed their recent single Soulsucker, which has been well-received after a two-year hiatus, and mentioned that it is part of a larger project, though details were not provided. Nathan acknowledged the challenges of re-establishing the band's presence but expressed confidence in their loyal fan base and plans to engage with fans through social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook to maintain that connection and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.
27 Aug 13min
Lighting The Fires With MANGO From ABLAZE
With the world becoming increasingly sanitised and regulated, it is refreshing to see and hear a band that still adheres to the old school ethos where fun was the order of the day and everything said and played is meant to be taken with a grain of salt. Which is exactly what you get from Melbourne hard rock outfit Ablaze, who wear their hearts proudly on their sleeves and their sleeves proudly on their hearts.Known for their love of a good time, but even more so for their particular brand of hard rock - especially live - Ablaze set the world on fire even further with the release of their second album Sink Ya Teeth In.Packed full of hard-rocking, toe-tapping, boot stomping tunes, Sink Ya Teeth In showcases the abundance of riches within Ablaze, all neatly wrapped under the banner of Aussie hard rock. With the band set to board a flight to Belgium for an upcoming European/UK run of shows, drummer Mango stopped packing for ten minutes while he brought HEAVY up to speed."It's been amazing," he beamed when we asked how the reception has been for Sink Ya Teeth In. "We've been dropping singles off it for about two and a half years because that's the world that we live in now. Everybody wants singles. But with how much time and effort, and money goes into recording something professionally, we didn't want to just record everything, drop a single and release the rest. We wanted to really wring this thing out for everything we could. We've released five singles and a bonus track was a single as well off an eight to nine-song album, depending on how you look at it."We ask Mango to dive deeper into the musical nature of the album."One of the things that Ablaze has always been really proud of, and I've been really proud of with us, is that we can write in a whole bunch of different styles and genres," he replied, "and it always comes out sounding like Ablaze. Our first one was a rock album, but we had a hoe down, we had an Irish drinking song, we had an acoustic song that I sang and played acoustic on. We could do a whole bunch of different stuff. And so on this album, we've done the same thing. It's an eight-song album, or nine song with the bonus, but we've got the heaviest song we've ever written. We've got some real Aussie rock style stuff. We've got a big six-minute gospel epic that finishes the thing. We've got a big glammy song, and we've got a Southern rock song as well. And a Christmas song, again. So we really kind of wanted to show that we're still doing what we do, but after our first album, our writing has really taken a step forward."In the full interview, Mango shared further insights about Sink Your Teeth In, highlighting the album's positive reception and the strategic release of five singles. He emphasized the importance of the album's cohesive flow and the thoughtful track listing, which he believes enhances the depth of the songs. He also addressed the challenges of releasing a second album, aiming to avoid being perceived as a "one-trick pony" while ensuring that each song is crafted to be single-worthy, reflecting the band's commitment to quality and creativity.The conversation also covered the logistics of their upcoming European and UK tour, starting in Belgium and ending in Germany. Mango noted the differences in touring dynamics between Australia and Europe, particularly the shorter travel distances in the UK, which allow for a more manageable schedule. He expressed excitement about upcoming performances, including festivals and album launch events and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.
27 Aug 25min
A Musical Supernova With ADALITA From BLEAK SQUAD
The term supergroup is bandied around too often these days when a group of talented musicians from established bands try something together. It creates almost unrealistic expectations among fans of the respective members' bands, who are more often than not left disappointed due to the logical fact that this 'supergroup' is only one quarter or less of the band they are widely known for.Which is why HEAVY won't be labelling Bleak Squad a supergroup - although many will.Featuring the unlikely quartet of Mick Turner (Dirty Three, Mess Esque), Mick Harvey (Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, PJ Harvey, The Birthday Party), Adalita (Magic Dirt) and Marty Brown (Art of Fighting), Bleak Squad unite for the first time on their brooding, noir-rock debut LP, Strange Love, out now on Poison City Records.The album is a combined output of four seasoned musicians who have come together to express themselves musically in ways other than, as well as a continuation of, the music they are known and loved for. Prepare to put expectations aside and appreciate the music for what it is, rather than what you think it should be, as Adalita sits down with HEAVY to talk about the album and how Bleak Squad became a musical family.We start by asking how she feels about Strange Love."Great," she enthused. "It's great to finally have it out there (because) it's been in the making for quite a few years. We've been working on it since, I think, 2019, maybe? We got together and just jammed some stuff and recorded back then, and we've been working on it for a few years on and off because everyone's so busy with other things. So it's great to finally have it out in the world."We follow that by asking Adalita to dive deeper into the musical side of the album."Well, we really didn't know what we were doing," she laughed. "We just got together. Marty called us up and said, 'do you want to get together and maybe collaborate and see what comes out of it?' We all said yes and got together and brought in our own songs, or we brought in riffs and things that were half done and just to see if we could collaborate on it. And it was really great because straight away we clicked and there was real chemistry. The songs just flowed, and we decided to record it, and it was really low pressure. We didn't know what was going to come out of it, but we ended up having a record and then suddenly we're a band, and we're going to tour it."In the full chat, Adalita highlighted the collaborative nature of Bleak Squad, where each member contributed their own songs, resulting in a diverse sound. She praised her bandmates for their musical talents and emphasized the enjoyable, low-pressure environment that allowed for creative exploration.She also shared insights into her collaboration with Mick Harvey and Mick Turner, the instinctual approach to determining vocal parts, and the different challenges of writing and recording outside of her long-time band Magic Dirt. We talked about the formation of Bleak Squad and how it came about, what each member brought from their other musical projects to the project, their first live gig and how the nerves were, establishing a bond with her new musical partners, upcoming shows and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.
25 Aug 14min
Necessity Over Doubt With TIM FLUCKEY From ADEMA
When it comes to cursed vocalists, US rock outfit Adema must have stood at the head of the queue.Since their inception in 2000, the band have seen four vocalists come and go - most at times where the band was starting to gain traction, which upset flow and momentum and ultimately held the band back from the musical heights they should have reached. After yet another forced vocalist change when Ryan Shuck departed in February last year, the band members decided to stay in-house with their next singer, promoting guitarist and regular back-up vocalist Tim Fluckey to the head role. This enabled Adema to stick with the core group of four members and maintain the chemistry they had built without having to usher in and train another band member.The international music industry must have been happy with the band's choice, with ILL NIÑO deciding to bring Adema to Australia as their national support for three select shows, starting in Sydney on September 12, before hitting Melbourne and Brisbane over consecutive nights.Fluckey joined HEAVY recently to talk shop, with one of our first questions being why have Adema neglected us here in Australia for so long?"Well, it's not on you guys," Fluckey laughed. "We had a tour that we were going to do in Australia maybe 23 years ago, and then something else came up that we had to do. I can't remember what it was, but we always thought we'll just reschedule, or we'll find a way to get back to Australia in the next couple of months, and it just never happened. So we've always wanted to go and couldn't be more excited about finally getting over there."Talk turns to Fluckey falling into the role of lead singer, and we ask if being a frontman is something he has always wanted to do."No, I did not always want to do that," he shook his head. "I didn't mind doing back-up vocals, that was cool. I liked just being over in my guitar world, and doing that, and being able to jump around and move around and interact with the crowd that way. And then it just came by necessity. One tour, our singer had… we couldn't find him for days. We had already missed a couple of shows, and we thought, are we going to get sued? So they're like, can you do it? And I said I'll try. So literally on the way out to the first show, we never rehearsed with me singing. I was just sitting there playing my guitar and trying to sing along to this stuff. We went out there, and said let's play three songs without saying a word and see what happens. We'll see how the crowd reacts."In the full interview, Tim revealed that Adema are finalizing their new record, expressing enthusiasm for connecting with Australian audiences on the tour. He discussed the band's live performance strategy, which prioritizes high energy and fan interaction, and shared his journey from guitarist to lead singer, noting his increased confidence in engaging with the crowd.He confirmed that the new music retains the classic Adema sound with contributions from all original members, and he feels assured in their musical direction. Tim explained their songwriting process, which typically starts with music creation followed by vocal melodies, and mentioned that they plan to focus on familiar older songs during the Australian shows while refining new material for future performances and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.
25 Aug 14min
SABATON’s JOAKIM BRODEN On Legends, History, And Returning Down Under
Interview by Angela CroudaceWith more than two decades of epic storytelling through metal, Sabaton are preparing to unleash their 11th studio album, Legends. Frontman Joakim Brodén spoke with us about the excitement of recording, the historical depths behind the songs, and what fans in Australia and New Zealand can expect when the band finally headlines shows there.Despite years in the studio, Brodén insists the process never loses its spark. “There’s always something exciting – the drummer trying something new, a solo that takes shape in the moment. Even after writing, hearing it all come together is magical.” He admits experience brings both clarity and fewer surprises: “Eighty-five percent of the song is already in my head before recording begins.”Legends marks the first time every band member contributed to songwriting, though Brodén says it felt natural. “I’ve worked with them all before, just never at the same time. It wasn’t a big change, but it was great to share the load.” The album explores figures like Joan of Arc, Napoleon, Julius Caesar, and Musashi, but for Brodén, the most eye-opening were stories from ancient Egypt and China’s Three Kingdoms era. “It’s like being a kid in a candy store – discovering new things all the time.”Sabaton’s passion for accuracy extends to their YouTube series, Sabaton History. Brodén laughs at how professional historians still teach him something new every episode: “No matter how deep I dig, they always uncover more.”As for live shows, fans can expect both new material and classics rarely performed in Australia. “We’ve never headlined properly down there, so we want to give a mix – some songs from Legends, but also older tracks fans haven’t heard live.”Brodén admits to the pressure of comparisons, with each release judged against decades of fan favourites. Still, the band thrives on discovery and evolution. “If someone comes in excited for a new Sabaton album and walks away disappointed, that’s our biggest fear. But I’m confident this one delivers."Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.
25 Aug 28min
