Destroying Everything With SKINNY From DEATHSTARS

Interview by Angela CroudaceJanne "JB" Christoffersson (guitar, lead vocals) from Grand Magus talks Vikings, Beowulf and the benefit of taking a long break before releasing the upcoming album, Sunraven - out October 18.The Swedish metal trio have been delivering metal for 25 years, renowned for their captivating guitar solos and Viking-inspired battle anthems. This three-piece band is truly impressive.On having a break (due to the pandemic) before diving into Sunraven, JB had this to say: “We said if we’re going to do this, we’re going to do it properly. We took a year to record it. We didn’t know that this was going to be possible, but it was.”“Everything we do is based on emotion; if the passion’s not there, we’re not gonna do it.”JB shares his experience of playing festivals like Bloodstock alongside friends in Opeth. He expresses hope to one day perform for the huge metal scene in Australia. (and hand out some Grand Magus temporary tattoos while they’re at it!)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

30 Sep 202423min

Byron Bay music machines COG have never been a band to be dictated to.Whether it be for new material or live shows, the trio have never let external pressures dictate terms, instead adopting a more DIY, casual attitude that has been one of the cornerstones of their success.They don't make albums for the sake of it, nor head out on the road because they feel obligated or pressured to. Which is why when you see or hear that the progressive metal trio have announced a run of shows, you just know there's a reason for it. And that the shows will be to their usual massively high standard.A point that was proven when the band announced The Vinyl Tour earlier this year, as fans filled rooms to capacity, not only to see COG live, but also to get their hands on the very reason the tour was announced in the first place.The long awaited vinyl pressings of two COG albums The New Normal and Sharing Space.It's too long of a story to go into as to why the vinyl albums were not made available to fans a long time ago, but, as they say, good things are worth waiting for. Especially when the mighty COG hit the road to take the new vinyl to the fans.After a small run of shows in March of this year COG retreated to the sanctity of their respective homes away from music, refreshing the batteries for round two of The Vinyl Tour which sees the band starting a fresh run of shows in Victoria on October 4 before hitting Byron Bay and Western Australia and finishing in Sydney on November 29. It is a well-spaced out and comfortable run of shows, but by the time it draws to an end, COG would have covered the vast majority of their fan base with a much-anticipated piece of music to promote.HEAVY caught up with drummer Lucius Borich recently to find out more about leg two of the tour."Yeah, definitely," he nodded when we ask if the band are itching to get back out on the road. "There was definitely a bit of hoo-ha with the DM's from people saying 'why aren't you coming to WA or why aren't you coming here', so it definitely made sense when we had the right timing between the three of us and the crew to launch the next part of it, so it worked out pretty well."COG have already hit South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales and the ACT earlier this year, with Borich smiling when we ask how the shows were received."Really good. It was really great," he enthused. "Between the three of us, obviously it was based more around Sharing Space and The New Normal and it really felt… I guess obviously with the people that came to the shows as well, it felt very… almost like we were re-releasing that music to some degree. Which we were because we were doing it on vinyl. But it just had an air about it where everyone was excited and romantically reminiscing about when those albums came out, and we got together and created a good little vibe in the room together, playing and all the rest of it. And it was very similar. It had that air to it which was really good. And we don't play too much, as much as we'd probably like, but everyone seems happily stoked about what happened and so were we. It was really good fun."In the full interview, Lucius discussed COG's upcoming shows, which will be based around the albums Sharing Space and The New Normal. He mentioned that the shows will have a similar set list to their previous performances, which were well-received. Lucius emphasized that the band's focus is on the music, with minimal emphasis on bells and whistles. He also shared that touring still appeals to him, as it allows them to explore new venues and environments, plus lots more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

30 Sep 202412min

This deep dive podcast into the Godfather’s of death metal that are Abramelin is more than an boring old interview, it is a catch up chat between friends of years past reflecting on all things awesome both new and old in glorifying gore filled Aussie death metal supremacy. Discussing more than just a new album, but the inner workings of extreme artistic audio and visual creation. Matt (Wilcock - Guitars) and Simon's (Dower - Vocals) openness and honesty about the band's existence is a pleasure to listen to and transcribe for the rest of the metal world to hear. Make sure you listen to the full nearly two hour Aramelin special to hear from the two legends to experience the full history of this influential band and all music new about to splatter blood on both new and old grateful fans.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

27 Sep 20241h 47min

Richie Kotzen is a musician who has tried his hand at most things when it comes to his craft, having played in bands like Mr. Big, Poison, The Winery Dogs and Smith/Kotzen over an illustrious career, but it is in the solo realm that he has done perhaps his best and most intimate work.Being a person who knows what he wants and how to achieve it, Kotzen is more suited to the solo side of music where he is more in control of his musical output, down to playing most instruments himself and recording and producing his own work.The last sonic masterpiece to come from Kotzen is his latest solo album, Nomad, which will be unleashed on September 27. A collection of eight songs, Nomad sees Kotzen express his diverse techniques and influences, from hard rock to 70s infused soul and funk, jazz fusion to R&B. If you know the man and his music, you pretty much know what to expect - only better.HEAVY caught up with Kotzen recently to discuss Nomad and the process of making it."I feel good," he smiled when asked about the album. "I'm very happy with it. I'm happy with what I recorded, and I'm looking forward to sharing it. We're actually on tour right now, and we've been playing Cheap Shots and On The Table live, so that's been fun. I'm looking forward to getting it out there. I hope people are feeling it the same way I do."We ask if Kotzen is the type of person who finishes an album and puts it to bed, or if he overthinks the final result and comes up with differing ideas while waiting for it to be released."I put it to bed and move on," he affirmed. "I don't… what happens is I get to the point where I listen to it in the creative process, and it starts to resemble what it was I was hearing in my mind. Once the speakers are reproducing that accurately, I know I'm finished and I move on. Then what happens is typically I fall into a heavy depression, because there was a lot of stuff happening internally during the creative process that's very exciting and very rewarding, and then it's done. It's over. And then it's now what? For me, I've gotta go off and do other things, often times I have to do something outside of music, like just go somewhere on the property and start raking leaves or trimming a tree or something (laughs) and then wait until the next fire starts to get me inspired."In the full interview, Richie talks more about the creative process and other things to factor when completing an album. He outlined how he focuses on individual song compositions before considering the album as a whole and mentioned he was inspired by the vinyl album format and aimed to create a diverse mix of genres, including rock, seventies-infused soul and funk, jazz, and R&B. However, he clarified that he doesn't consciously aim to cover a wide range of genres, but rather allows his influences from childhood, such as Stevie Wonder, George Benson, Iron Maiden, and Black Sabbath, to shape his music.Richie discussed his approach to songwriting, emphasizing that he doesn't intentionally try to emulate other artists' styles. Instead, he waits for inspiration and then brings his ideas to life. He also shared his perspective on writer's block, viewing it as a sign that there's nothing meant to be written at that moment. Richie also revealed that he documents his song ideas in his phone, which currently contains 398 memos of him mumbling, singing, or playing guitar.Kotzen also discussed the process of creating music, explaining his approach to recording and producing his own music. He emphasized the importance of having a clear vision and skill set to execute ideas, and how this approach has worked for him throughout his career. He also highlighted the difference between creating music for personal satisfaction and for external expectations, noting that the latter can lead to complications and disappointment.He discussed his songwriting process, explaining that his ideas often come from different starting points, such as having a chorus or a melody. He shared an instance where a song practically wrote itself as he strummed the chords. We asked about the challenges of being critical of his own work as a producer, to which Richie responded that he is always his harshest critic. He emphasized the importance of knowing his instrument, his singing voice, well, which allows him to gauge the emotional authenticity of his songs plus heaps more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

26 Sep 202425min

In today's modern, sanitised music world, far too many bands are reluctant to state their beliefs and opinions for the sole fact that they could possibly offend someone. It is a fair point in principle, but has been taken too far in most instances, forcing musicians to temper their thoughts somewhat in an attempt to appeal to as wide a potential market as they can.So it is refreshing that some bands out there continue to speak out for their beliefs and use their music as a weapon of choice in bringing such things to the attention of others.Naarm based outfit Chasing Ghosts are one of those bands.Fronted by proud Thungutti Country Indigenous songwriter Jimmy Kyle, Chasing Ghosts have consistently spread their viewpoints and history by verse, in the process providing a voice for many who have not - or could not - speak through their own.After releasing their critically acclaimed EP Homelands in 2021, Chasing Ghosts have remained relatively quiet since, quietly working their way through fresh material and another assault on the Australian music scene. That arrived recently with the single Amnesia Everybody, a song that shines the spotlight on the ignorance of Australia’s historic treatment of its First Peoples.With a three date tour in October and more new music in the works Jimmy sat down with HEAVY to discuss the new single and more."Great," he enthused when asked about the early response to Amnesia Everybody. "I think it's overwhelmingly good and has reinvigorated the fan base after a couple of years since our previous release Homelands which did really well. This ones taken a little bit longer moving between record labels because sometimes that can take a little longer than we'd like. We've been waiting for about 12 months to release this stuff, which has given us an opportunity to write for a future record in the interim, but it's relieving and satisfying to be able to share this with people now."In the full interview, Jimmy discussed their new single Amnesia Everybody and shared that the song has a high energy, polished sound, which is a departure from their previous lo-fi style. He mentioned that they have embraced contemporary recording techniques, which has resulted in a more luxurious sound. He also highlighted the need for awareness and understanding of Australia's history, particularly regarding race relations and the treatment of Aboriginal people.Jimmy also discussed his experiences as an Aboriginal man and how his background influences his songwriting. He emphasized the importance of speaking truth to power and criticized the glorification of historical figures who committed atrocities against Aboriginal people. He also expressed his desire for a more honest and mature approach to Australia's history and its impact on the country's identity.We discussed the upcoming cycle Chasing Ghost's new album, which will be more energetic and a return to their punk rock roots. Jimmy discussed the evolution of the band's music project from acoustic folk to full-on punk rock, with the aim to challenge themselves to write something broader and bigger. Additionally, we talked about Chasing Ghost's upcoming tour, which Jimmy described as a fun, rowdy experience with opportunities for sing-alongs and head banging. The tour is set to start in Brisbane on October 10th, followed by Sydney and MelbourneBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

25 Sep 202430min

Seldom does a band come along that can genuinely lay claim to being groundbreaking in terms of musical disparity. Sure, many are labelled as such, but how many have actually pushed their music to its limits and beyond and still emerged triumphant?Not many.While not claiming to be revolutionary themselves, Melbourne noise merchants Ocean Grove definitely qualify in terms of freedom of expression and mashing of genres that have no right being mentioned in the same breath, let alone side by side on an album release.Ever since unleashing their 2017 debut album The Rhapsody Tapes, Ocean Grove have effortlessly combined nu metal, metalcore, grunge, rock, punk and rap sensibilities in such an orderly fashion that scribes saw fit to label their music in a completely new category that best sums up each influence and musical note that forms the bands sound.That term is Odd World music and has stuck sufficiently for Ocean Grove to embrace the term themselves, to the point of naming their upcoming, November 22 album Oddworld. It is both a reflection of the band's eclectic sound and an ownership of the phrase, emphatically capturing Ocean Grove in all of their experimental glory.In short, ODDWORLD is exactly as its title suggests: beautifully chaotic, sonically kaleidoscopic and wholeheartedly one-of-a-kind.HEAVY sat down recently with frontman Dale Tanner to explore Oddworld on a deeper level."I'm feeling very, very excited," he enthused when asked how he felt about the impending release of album number four. "It's probably… this is the most excited about anything I've put out into the world, alongside my brothers. I sat down last night and gave the album a listen myself to get a refresh on things, and I thought this feels big and (is) a definitive moment in Ocean Grove's career, and I just want to soak that in a little bit after not having listened to it for a bit. I heard it a million times working on it in the studio and gave it that space to now revisit it and think 'holy fuck, this has some power to it'. I really think it's our best work. It's Ocean Grove operating on all cylinders and there's something there for everyone. It's taking all that was great about everything that we've done up to this point and fusing it with this new-found, child like excitement for the future. Just putting that stamp of this is certified Ocean Grove, and you'd better be here for it."In the full interview, Dale dives deeper into Oddworld musically, how they returned to their roots somewhat for the album, maintaining a flow and consistency despite covering so many genres, the creative process for Ocean Grove, choosing singles to represent Oddworld, finding the balance between styles, how their sound has evolved over the years, their upcoming run of shows and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

24 Sep 202423min

When Italian metal outfit Wind Rose swept onto the music world in 2009 it is fair to say that the landscape of metal changed forever.Playing a hybrid of power metal crossed with folk metal, it soon became apparent that Wind Rose weren't just another band looking to make a name for themselves.The wanted to be the one and only name on your lips and would use force if necessary!Their music was quickly dubbed Dwarf Metal - for reasons known only to those who came up with it - but Wind Rose have run with that description, incorporating dwarves and fantasy into their albums and music, taking listeners on a dark and wondrous journey with each passing release.Which is set to continue when their new album Trollslayer is unleashed on October 4.A powerful, epic, and captivating sonic journey through a land brought to life courtesy of Wind Rose's mischievous imaginations, Trollslayer marks yet another chapter in the continuing saga of good versus evil - with a few dwarves thrown in for good measure.HEAVY caught up with vocalist Francesco Cavalieri to find out more."Trollslayer… for the ones that already know our music style is a mix between Wintersaga and Warfront," he explained when describing what to expect from the new album. "Why? Because Warfront - our previous album - didn't have any party songs and also the main characteristic of the album was to be more solid and more epic but no party songs. No light sounding. So it was different from the previous album of Wind Rose. Now we've got back the keys of the dwarf metal, and we made a new dwarf metal album, more in the style of Wintersaga but with a new vision and more experience. We created a more complete album."In the full interview, Francesco talks more about Trollslayer and what to expect, the singles released and how they represent the album as a whole, what things they focussed on with Trollslayer, the instrumental track Of Ice & Blood that opens the album, the term dwarf metal and where it comes from, capturing the live feel and sound on a recording, their high energy live shows, the upcoming tour with Powerwolf and Hammerfall and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

23 Sep 202419min

Metal bands seem to get better with age. There are, of course, exceptions, but as a whole it seems metal grows old disgracefully much better than any other genre of music. Facts are facts…So it is with Swedish progressive titans Opeth who stand on the cusp of releasing their 14th studio album The Last Will And Testament on October 11.Three decades in the masters of metal have - according to those in the know - recorded one of their darkest and heaviest albums ever as well as being the most fearlessly progressive. It is also the first out-and-out concept album of their career, recounting the reading of one recently deceased man’s will to an audience of his surviving family members. Sonically, The Last Will And Testament is an all-inclusive and in depth journey brimming with haunting melodrama, shocking revelations and riveting composition set in the 1920s when the world was engulfed in war and inner turmoil. It is a sonic masterpiece of epic story telling and claustrophobic musical landscapes that takes you deep into the twisted imaginings of songwriter/ frontman Mikael Åkerfeldt and peels back even more layers of what makes Opeth tick as a band.HEAVY caught up with guitarist Fredrik Akesson to find out more."It's exciting times to see how the album's gonna be received," he smiled. "We do a lot of interviews right now and so far it seems like people really dig it. Of course, we have released two tracks, Paragraph 1 and Paragraph 3 and the reception is quite overwhelming, which makes us happy. The first criteria is we do an album that we feel 100% happy with, and in this case we do."We ask him to dive deeper into The Last Will And Testament musically."It kind of resembles the old Opeth and the more proggier Opeth," he measured, "in a more restless, compressed direction and also a step forward. The songs are slightly shorter, but they have more ingredients than ever. A little bit like modern day society, even though the theme of the album takes place in the 1920s, which is apparently quite some time ago (laughs). If you listen to Blackwater Park, certain sections are dwelled upon quite long, and that's different with this album. There's quite a lot of action, it's an action packed album. In a historical way, there is a big pod of the Opeth sound. You have the yin and yang thing, you have the really heavy section, and then you have something more melancholy like a big, beautiful ish type of forresty sounds."In the full interview, Fredrik described the album as a mix of old and newer styles, with shorter songs but more ingredients. He also mentioned that the album is darker and heavier than previous ones, but also beautiful at times. He explained that the album's direction was not pre-planned, but rather developed as they worked on it.Fredrik explained that the concept idea was present from the beginning of the writing process, but the story was crystallized a few weeks before they went into the studio. He emphasized that this album had more depth and thought put into it compared to their previous concept albums. HEAVY praised the use of atmospherics and moods in the album, and asked about the difficulty of creating emotions through music.Fredrik also explained that frontman Mikael Åkerfeldt brought back his death metal growls for the new album, a side of Opeth's music that makes a welcome return plus more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

22 Sep 202413min