Breaking Out Through Music With SIDHARTH KAKADI From ZYGNEMA

Musical evolution is a beautiful thing when allowed to flourish, cast free of modern constraints and expectations to let the metaphorical wings rise and sweep the band and their music into unchartered, exciting territory.So it is for Swiss/German metal outfit AD Infinitum as they prepare to unveil their new album, Abyss, on October 11.Since setting the tone with their debut album Chapter I: Monarchy in 2020, AD Infinitum have allowed their creativity to dictate terms, following that album up with Chapter I: Revisited, which was an acoustic take on their debut.While favouring symphonic undertones throughout their career, AD Infinitum have maintained a steady attraction towards the harder side of the spectrum, culminating in Abyss which reveals a whole new side to AD Infinitum's sonic arsenal, refining their sound and expectations to create what is said to be their most dynamic, modern and progressive record to date.HEAVY caught up with drummer Niklas Muller to find out more."First of all, I think the most important part about this album is we stepped away from the symphonic side of things," he measured. "That was a huge part of our music for the first three albums. It was not an initial choice where we said no, we don't want to do it any more, and we will do it with an entire other production, it was more we said we don't wanna have it just for the sake of having it. We just want to see where the music leads us, and it just so happened when we wrote the first songs in our song camp we realised there was not really the need for orchestral elements. We managed to create soundscapes and nice atmospheres without those instruments. We thought it would be too much and over the top to now add the orchestral elements. It was not an initial choice that we step away from symphonic metal, it just happened in the writing process. This is the biggest musical part that changed. On the other hand, I have a feeling that we grew up a little bit (laughs). It's like, when you continue to write music, you change. It feels like we think way, way more about every little part of a song than we did on previous albums. I'm not saying that we didn't think at all about the early music (laughs). It's like we are questioning more on this album. We already did that with Chapter III when we had the songwriting camp… I think this is also the biggest part why we are questioning that much, because we were all in the same room together writing songs, which wasn't the case with Chapter I and Chapter II because we were living so far apart. I think this just led to the next steps."In the full interview, Niklas expressed excitement about sharing the album with their fans and playing it live in Europe and the US, with hopes of eventually performing in Australia. Niklas also discussed the evolution of AD Infinitum's music, particularly the shift away from symphonic elements.We discussed the concept behind the next album trilogy, with Abyss representing a dark state of mind as opposed to the next two, Surface and Elysium, which symbolise healing and happiness. He also discussed the band's creative process, future direction, and the shift away from symphonic metal, but he remained non-committal as to whether the band would travel that path again in the future.Niklas talked about their upcoming tour with Kamelot, Blackbriar and Frozen Crown as well as next year's tour with Eluveitie and Infected Rain, plus more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

7 Okt 202416min

Interview by Angela CroudaceGather your Viking drinking horns and war paint! Finnish folk-metal melodeath band Ensiferum is set to release their new album, Winter Storm, on October 18. Guitarist and vocalist Petri Lindroos spoke with HEAVY about the creative journey behind Winter Storm and even shared a Finnish saying with us.Having joined Ensiferum in 2004, Petri still thrives on the electrifying energy of their live audiences. He doesn’t need any warm-up before hitting the stage, as harsh vocals come naturally to him. The band aimed for Winter Storm to truly resonate with listeners, claiming it to be their most serious work to date.“If it’s not ready, we weren’t going to go into the studio, so Markus really wanted to make sure this one hit the spot," he told us. "I think there’s something in it (the band) that pulls me into it. You can hear the impact of the music from different situations in life. That gives a good feeling.”Petri describes Winter Storm as a notably serious album, with Ensiferum achieving this depth through heavier instrumentals and a harmonious blend of melodic vocals, complemented by a few growls for added intensity.Visually, Winter Storm embraces a Game of Thrones aesthetic in the latest music videos for Long Cold Winter of Sorrow and Winter Storm Vigilantes. Petri elaborates on the lyrical process that his bandmate Sami Hinkka employs, detailing how Sami's concepts evolve into the rich, narrative-driven folk metal songs that characterize their sound. This fusion of striking visuals and evocative lyrics creates an immersive experience that transports listeners to a world of epic tales and emotional depth.We get through heaps more, so check out the full interview to get the whole picture.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

7 Okt 202424min

As fans expectations for live performances grow, so do the elaborate stages and set pieces that bands are increasingly using in order to gain even the slightest of edges. While LED screens are the general go-to for bands, some - those with spare cash in the kitty - have been stepping out of that comfort zone, creating specific set designs and themes to go with the musical side of the performance.When Parkway Drive started planning their recent 20th Anniversary Tour, the band came to the table with some wildly extravagant ideas. Ideas that if brought to life would be spectacular, but also ideas which would require more than the range of stage and lighting supplied by venues.Put simply, Parkway Drive wanted to create - every night - an apocalyptic world inspired by dystopian and retro-futuristic themes. Of course, there was much more involved, but that was as good a starting point as any.The band approached UK-based company Vision Factory, armed with a wish list that would require a great deal of planning and expertise, but one which Vision Factory quickly embraced, and thus the stage was set - quite literally.By taking a bold new direction, Vision Factory transformed Parkway Drive's live shows into a dynamic, theatrical experience. Under the direction of show designer and founder of Vision Factory, Sam Tozer, the tour marked a shift from the traditional metal concert setup, instead focussing on an immersive physical performance that combined the band's music with powerful stage design theatrics.The tour’s set design was deeply rooted in natural forces, incorporating the four elements - fire, wind, water, and earth - to create a dynamic storytelling arc throughout the show. At different points during the performance, the mammoth bridge catches fire, and rain hails onto the band. This elemental-driven approach transforms the performance into a visceral experience, enhancing the energy that Parkway Drive is known for whilst pushing the boundaries of what a live metal show can be.In a rare look behind the curtain, HEAVY caught up with Tozer to find out just how the concept grew from an idea to reality.We discussed the creative process behind Parkway Drive's unique live show concept, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and the desire to create something different from the usual big screen backdrop. The show, which took six months to develop from initial ideas to completion, features a metal-framed scenic set piece designed to resemble a bridge. Sam also shared his reluctance to include screens in live shows, preferring to focus on lighting and the depth of the stage to create a dynamic performance. The band was heavily involved in the creative process, contributing ideas and ensuring alignment with Sam's aesthetic.Sam also discussed the success of the recent tour, expressing his enjoyment and the positive feedback received. He highlighted the use of natural elements, such as fire, water, wind, and earth, to accentuate the music, and the challenges of incorporating these elements into a touring environment.We discussed the complexities of producing a live show, particularly the lighting and stage setup for Parkway Drive. Sam explained that the show was a collaborative effort, with adjustments made daily based on feedback from the band. HEAVY asked about any last-minute adjustments, to which Sam responded that they had rehearsed extensively in a warehouse before the actual show, and plenty more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

5 Okt 202414min

With the world, and, more importantly, their attention spans, getting smaller almost by the day, it has become increasingly important for bands to maintain a high standard of productivity.Gone are the days where a band would put out an album, tour on the back of it for the next two years, spend 12 to 18 months writing and recording the next one before repeating the cycle. Most people - even hardcore fans - would have like;y moved on to another band or another fad long before the first half of the touring cycle was completed.In the modern age it's pretty basic in the sense that if you aren't offering the musical landscape something fresh and new every six months or so, then you may as well become a DJ.Knowing this, Melbourne-based rock outfit Sordid Ordeal have wasted little time following up on last year's debut album When I Left Town, releasing the first single from the next album just eight months later.Tigress is the first sonic introduction to Sordid Ordeal's second album Nothing Was The Same Again - which is the companion piece to When I Left Town and will be unleashed early next year.So diverse with their sound, the term Stout Rock has been coined just to try to simplify things for the fans, but there is little need to simplify things for Sordid Ordeal any more than they already are.What you see is what you get. And hear.A refreshing breath of flippant fresh air in an increasingly sanitised music industry, Sordid Ordeal refuse to yield, playing music for the enjoyment rather than potential adulation. Their sound is an amalgamation of folkish story-telling and ballads with blistering, mangy rock and epic anthems. They weld together the abrasive and heavy with the gentle & intimate, creating an incendiary mix of subversion and hedonism.See. Stout Rock.With several live appearances in the bands near future, including a headline spot at Metal In The Mountains in Beechworth on November 30 alongside DarkHorse, Mammon's Throne, Munitions and more, frontman Laurence, guitarist Jake and bass player Joe sat down with HEAVY for an entertaining chat about anything and everything.We start things off in the relatively safe place of talking about the new single Tigress."The song is about a woman who breaks out of the expectations of conservative rule in Australia and decides to move to the city and live her own life," Laurence explained. "She left Wagga in the 80s - it is a woman I know, but I can't elaborate too much more on the details - but it was a direct inspiration. I drew a lot of comparison to what my journey was like. Although it wasn't that of a woman growing up in a country with quite a problem with misogyny and chauvinism, my personal journey was breaking out of a militantly religious family and going to the city to find myself. Although there's different versions of the message, the result is very much the same. That song falling out of me was quite an easy one to write. As for the video… not everybody gets a band full of so many good-looking roosters, so I think I just wanted to feature everyone in our video clip. The last two video clips with the previous line-up I wanted the next clip I was gonna record - although there's gonna be a narrative aspect to it which is where the burlesque dancer comes into it - first and foremost just putting the current line-up of the band in there. I just wanted people to see this is what it is now. This is how much better it is. Look at the beard on that man over there and how good it is (laughs). There was actually a bit of a conundrum in deciding how to portray the narrative of the character that I created for this, Alistrina, because you wanna portray that liberation, that breaking out of the mould in an exciting way but if you did it in a business corporate sense, there's not a lot to that. I think it was a matter of trying to find something that represented it in a dignified way."Listen/watch the full interview to get a full rundown on what Sordid Ordeal have been doing, what they should be doing, and what they plan to be doing.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

5 Okt 202446min

Few people in music command as much respect as Jerry Cantrell.Initially courtesy of his work with Alice In Chains through to his solo material, Cantrell has inspired generations of musicians and guitarists, being massively influential in shaping the very fabric of modern rock music. Over his career, he has released six studio albums with Alice in Chains, three solo full-lengths, had his music featured in films from Cameron Crowe, Judd Apatow and Ben Stiller and made cameos in Deadwood and Jerry Maguire.Like I say, the full package.Cantrell returns with his new album I Want Blood, out on October 18, featuring contributions from bass heavyweights Duff McKagan (Guns N’Roses) and Robert Trujillo (Metallica), drummers Gil Sharone (Team Sleep, Stolen Babies) and Mike Bordin (Faith No More), and backing vocals from Lola Colette and Greg Puciato (Better Lovers, ex-Dillinger Escape Plan).Not that he needs big names as guest artists to entice people to his music, it's more a case of because he can.Cantrell spared some time for a chat with HEAVY a couple of weeks out from the release date to talk more about I Want Blood. We start by asking how he is feeling about the new release."Yeah, you know, it's the last couple of days of it being kind of semi-secret," he replied. "We've got a couple of songs that have been out already. Vilified, the first single and also Afterglow, so we've got a couple out there that have been living in the world and people have been responding to, and we've been playing them in the sets too. We did a couple of months on the road with Bush a couple of weeks ago, and it's that last little bit where it hasn't quite left the nest, you know what I mean? So it's still got that kind of special feel to it. And when it gets launched, then it's not just mine anymore. It's anybody's who wants to make a relationship with it."We press on the musical nature of I Want Blood."I never really sit down and start a record with some sort of intent in mind of like what kind of record I'm going to make," he replied. "Luckily, I've made a lot of different rock and acoustic stuff in my career, so there's a lot of places you can go. You just want to follow where the music takes you naturally. And on this one, it seemed like I wanted to go heavy."In the full interview, we spoke more about the album's musical direction and Cantrell's confidence in the project. We discussed the significance of the album cover, the notable guest musicians involved, and the unique spoken word version available on vinyl. Cantrell provided insights into the creative process and the collaborative nature of the album, emphasizing a special approach to presenting the lyrics to fans, plus more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

5 Okt 202419min

Living in regional areas puts you behind the eight-ball somewhat when it comes to promoting your music. For a start, the population is drastically less than the capital areas, which presents a plethora of associated problems starting with a target audience.It takes a combination of talent, persistence, planning and vision to just get your toes wet, which is exactly what Mackay metal outfit Same Pains possess plenty of.Despite being a band for a short amount of time, their collective experience has seen the members share the stage with noted Australian acts such as Northlane, Polaris, Alpha Wolf and Ocean Grove. Earlier this year the band played two showcase gigs at BigSound and this weekend perform at Rhythm & Reef Festival in their hometown, which will be headlined by Bliss N Eso - not exactly from the metal realm but still one of the big fish when it comes to Australian music.But all of that will be superseded today when Same Pains release their first collection of music in the form Closure: An Aggregate, with guitarist Ben Burrows joining HEAVY to outline things in greater detail.We outlined their promotional strategies and release schedule, with Ben reflecting on the band's unique approach of releasing singles prior to the full collection. The title Closure was explored, with Ben explaining it signifies the end of a chapter and the start of a new journey, while also touching on the band's musical evolution and diverse influences.The conversation also addressed the challenges and opportunities within regional music scenes, drawing from their experiences in Mackay and Cairns. Ben shared his efforts to organize local shows and the importance of community engagement, as well as their upcoming performance at the Rhythm & Reef Festival. He expressed hopes for greater exposure for heavy acts in regional areas and discussed future plans for shows in Brisbane and Sydney, as well as the potential release of another EP next June, plus more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

4 Okt 202417min

English punk/metal hybrid Rolo Tomassi have arrived in Australia for their smash and run of shows as part of sleepmakeswaves' Love Of Cartography Tour, which also features Japanese math rock outfit Lite who make their debut Australian performances.Rolo Tomassi return after an absence of eight years, with the pandemic repeatedly putting paid to the band's efforts to make it back sooner.With the first show of the tour completed in Perth last night, HEAVY thought it pertinent to spend some time with keys player/vocalist James Spence to get a feel for what to expect and their relationship with sleepmakeswaves."So we were supposed to tour with them in 2020, and that didn't happen because of the global pandemic," he explained. "I think since then, there's been a willingness to make something happen again. I met them earlier this year at a festival in Europe and got to hang out, and we got on immediately. You could tell they would be nice people to spend time with and a good band to play shows with. There's definitely something in our sounds that compliment each other, and it fits together in a cohesive way without being the same thing."Listen/watch the full interview for more, including what it's like having a sibling in the same band and about what has changed sonically and technologically for Rolo Tomassi since they were in Australia last.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

3 Okt 202416min

Volume Dealer is a new venture started by Dan McDougall and his brother Ando - better known for their roles in Frankenbok and Dreadnaught respectively - which is an online show featuring live music and interviews with the best live bands Melbourne has to offer.While on the surface not an entirely new idea, it is the approach behind Volume Dealer, and, more importantly, the people behind Volume Dealer that makes it quite possibly one of the most exciting and rewarding musical ventures to hit the market for a considerable time.The basic premise is this: Dan records a live set in his studio, asks the band some questions interview style, edits the music and narrative together and publishes the finished product. But that is only scratching the surface of what Volume Dealer offers. Participating bands walk away with high-quality, live footage of them playing in a live setting, footage that can be used for invaluable exposure and promotion.Many bands in the modern age can't afford to outlay money on classy production or studio time, and inevitably lack the polish to keep up with the multitude of bands racing in similar directions. Not through lack of vision or dearth of talent, but because they simply don't have the tools or means at their disposal to guide them on their musical journey.The final footage is kept by the bands but also uploaded to social media and the Volume Dealer website, in effect offering instant high quality promotional tools that could - and quite often are - the difference between success and failure.Dan has also worked in optional extras to each package, with one idea to do up an exclusive, limited, one time only line of merchandise for each band that performs, lasting only for the duration of their three to four-week rotation before the next band's performance and interviews are completed ready for publication.Dan also offers a competitive, high quality range of merchandise for sale to the general public, adding to the complete musical flavour of the whole project.With the first episode being released earlier today with Melbourne three-piece Scarnon, Volume Dealer have struck their first blow at revitalising the local music industry, with much broader plans and vision moving forward.HEAVY sat down with Dan McDougall to find out more."Volume Dealer is a new online show that we've just started with live music and interviews," he began. "With, at this stage anyway, Melbourne's finest live bands. We're hoping to take it Australia-wide and have international bands at some stage, but for the time being we'll just focus on Melbourne bands."Although an in depth project with many moving parts, we ask Dan to simplify what Volume Dealer offers."We're going to get bands in to the studio, film them and record them live," he explained, "for anywhere between five and seven songs and then after the live sets done I'll then sit down with one of the members and interview them for a little bit. Then we just take all that footage and compile it into an episode and at this stage the format is we do a song and then a little bit of interview and then a song and a little bit of interview and so on. We had our first episode come out today, and I'm really happy with how it's all turned out. The point of the show is to be a promotional vehicle not only for the bands but for us as well, to showcase what we all do and hopefully make a bit of money in the process."In the full interview, Dan elaborated on the show's format, which includes filming live performances and conducting interviews with band members, and expressed his excitement about the positive reception it has garnered. This project has been a long-standing aspiration for Dan, reflecting his deep passion for capturing the essence of live music and providing a platform for local talent.The conversation highlighted the technical challenges Dan faces in achieving high-quality audio while maintaining the authenticity of live performances. He emphasized the importance of minimizing bleed and preserving spontaneity in the studio environment. As the project progresses, Dan said he is pleased with the advancements made in addressing these technical issues, which are crucial for delivering a polished yet genuine representation of the bands' performances. The involvement of Dan's brother, Ando, in filming and communication was also discussed, with plans for his role to expand as the project evolves.We explored the promotional aspects of Volume Dealer, including the intention to offer high-quality audio and visual recordings to bands at no cost, with the option for bands to purchase the recordings and also discussed leveraging social media for cross-promotion and creating a dedicated website and YouTube channel to showcase the content. Additionally, Dan shared plans for limited edition merchandise tied to each episode, drawing on his experience in merchandising to enhance the bands' revenue opportunities plus more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

2 Okt 202435min