Reflecting On Music And Life With ELLA and JESSE HOOPER From KILLING HEIDI

Interview by Kyra-Jade CoombsWhile She Sleeps are absolutely killing it lately. They’ve just gone on a huge run of summer festivals in the UK & EU to some of the biggest crowds they’ve ever played in front of. If you check out the videos on their socials or YouTube, they are HUGE. HEAVY had the chance to have a chat with their lead singer Loz about how it’s been to experience something like that and exactly how you prepare yourself mentally to talk out on stage. The answer is of course, you guys! Feeling the energy from the crowd before going out on stage being almost intoxicating and carries you out.It’s Australia’s turn to host these legends this September on their Self Hell tour alongside Stick To Your Guns, Ocean Sleeper & Boundaries. They are playing all major cities, so be sure to check out Ticketmaster and get your tickets or visit www.destroyalllines.comWhen asked about what he is most looking to while visiting Australia Loz of course said “DROP BEARS!!”, our lil’ terrifying Aussie icons. All jokes aside, he explained that Australia bears many similarities to where he is from and feels like a second home. We show lots of appreciation for bands who decide to fly across the world just to come play for us. And it shows.Self Hell is the newest album released by While She Sleeps, and this particular album was set out to ‘ruffle some feathers’, going against the grain of what the band would traditionally sound like. The film clip that accompanies the self-titled song Self Hell is excellent. It makes you feel like you have a look into their world and who they are outside of music. Loz explained the video’s purpose beautifully, although you’ll have to have a listen to hear all about that.We went on to talk about having some amazing friends in the music industry like Oli Sykes of Bring Me The Horizon and Alex Taylor of Malevolence to feature on songs and what’s in stall for their live shows. Lastly, we touched on what it takes to successfully nurture being in a band for so long… with the same line-up all these years I might add. This is virtually unheard of these days. The short answer was being able to compromise, share the world load, and work to each other’s strengths. Advice that you could apply to most things in life.It was super refreshing to have someone (Loz) who is genuinely a lovely guy, so passionate and willing to have a good yarn about all thing’s music. I have even more respect for While She Sleeps and can’t wait to watch their show next month. Watch/listen to the full interview to venture inside the world of While She Sleeps.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

9 Aug 202413min

Interview by Kris PetersTwentieth-anniversary milestones are generally accepted as being more a celebration of the past leading into a future of unknowns than a stepping stone on the path to greater success.The old adage that you have paid your dues after two decades, coupled with the sense of personal achievement in staving off Father Time - albeit temporarily - can be enough to subconsciously force an artist into premature retirement, content with past achievements and notoriety gained.But not so German metal leaders Powerwolf who have plunged into their twentieth year with one thought on their mind.Continued worldwide domination.That drops soon in the form of the band's latest album Wake Up The Wicked (July 26), the highly anticipated successor to the extremely successful previous studio album, Call Of The Wild (2021). Not content to rest on their laurels, Powerwolf have looked to elevate their music to yet another plane, showcasing a different facet of their deft musical and technical skills on album number ten.HEAVY had the honour of spending some time with guitarist Matthew Greywolf to find out more."Absolutely," he affirmed without hesitation when we asked if he was excited about the impending release. "This is an album we wrote when we came back from the US tour, and we tried to deliver this atmosphere, this energy, this power to the album. When we started with the songwriting, the first song we wrote was Bless 'em With the Blade, and for us, it was a little bit like what are we doing here? Do we creating a monster or something like that (laughs). We had this feeling of this is an album full of madness, and this existed for the whole songwriting process and into the recording process. I dunno… I never had that feeling before. I mean, we had this pandemic situation where we wrote Call Of The Wild, and this situation was more feeling like now or never. We can only write new songs because we weren't able to play live. In this case, we had the power from the live appearances."In the full interview, Greywolf discusses the music side of Wake Up The Wicked, how it showcases different facets of Powerwolf's sound, how it differs musically from Call Of The Wild, the temptation to rehash an albums winning formula for the next release, the single 1589 and its amazing music video, using Joost Van Den Brock as producer and what he brings to the band's sound, if fresh sounding music gets easier or harder to come up with the more you write, their upcoming tour and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

25 Jul 202420min

Interview by Kris PetersAustralian melodic death outfit Immorium have laid the groundwork and put in the hard yards since forming in 2011.The very fact they are from one of this country's most isolated music playgrounds almost puts them behind the eightball from the start, but as the saying goes, build it and they will come.And come they have.Over two previous albums and one EP, Immorium have established themselves as one of the leading lights of progressive and melodic death metal this country has to offer. Not afraid to wear their hearts on their sleeves, the band emanates an emotional rawness via skyscraper harmonies and enormous musical roller coasters that are further encapsulated in their lyrics.But now, with album number three, shit gets real and Immorium have stepped up to the plate with Rose Water Black, which wil be unleashed on July 21. Cited as the band's 'most adventurous and intimate release to date', Rose Water Black promises to finally break the shackles and cast Immorium further into the great unknown.HEAVY sat down with vocalist Dave Smith to find out more.Dave discussed the upcoming release of Rose Water Black, expressing both excitement and nervousness about its reception. He delved into the personal and emotional inspirations behind each song on the album, revealing that the tracks are deeply rooted in his own experiences, including his battle with a lung disease during COVID and the loss of his brother. The discussion also touched on the band's musical evolution, highlighting influences from other bands and the fusion of progressive and melodic death metal in their music. Additionally, Dave spoke about Immorium's upcoming Australian tour, where he shared details about the tour dates and locations and promised a mix of new and old songs in their live performances.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

21 Jul 202417min

Interview by Kris PetersUK metal outfit Orange Goblin are a band who has had to work hard for everything they have. Bloody hard.Formed in 1995 and born into a musical landscape already dominated by bands such as Black Sabbath, Trouble, Saint Vitus, The Obsessed, Pentagram, Cathedral, Danzig, Monster Magnet and Kyuss, Orange Goblin spent many of their formative years deflecting criticism of their sound, defiant in the knowledge that while a sum of their many influences, they were also a force unto themselves.Combining elements of hard rock, stoner rock, doom metal and more, comparisons to the legendary bands listed above were bound to be prominent, but over the course of nine previous albums Orange Goblin have left their indelible mark across the music world, in the process gaining the respect and level of acceptance they so rightfully deserve.That growth and progression promises to continue on Orange Goblin's upcoming album Science, Not Fiction, which will be unleashed on July 19. Blending the aforementioned genres with some outside of the box, Science, Not Fiction is an aggressive, adrenaline-fuelled sonic journey of a band with one eye on the past but the focus firmly on the future.HEAVY caught up with founding member and vocalist Ben Ward to find out more."This one's different," he measured. "Obviously, it's our first album for Peaceville Records and the whole campaign has been far more hands on than we've ever had before. In the past we might have just delivered the record to the label and said right, you get on with that, but with this record the label have been really proactive and enthusiastic in getting us to be involved in the marketing. It's been a really strong campaign. There's been three singles released so far and all had videos for them. We've got another video and single coming just prior to the release. We're doing some album launch shows here in London and Leeds in the UK and we've got a summer of festivals lined up to promote it. It's all go at the moment. We're definitely not sitting back and letting it happen. We're all very proactive."In the full interview, Ben discussed Orange Goblin's upcoming album release more, including the musical influences, proactive marketing campaign, and impact of a new band member. He provided insights into the album concept, highlighting the significance of science, spirituality, and religion. The discussion also touched on the balance between imitation and inspiration in creating an album, with Ben emphasizing the band's commitment to creating music that is interesting to them and their belief in the importance of honesty in their music.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

19 Jul 202417min

Interview by Kris PetersThree songs into their career, and Melbourne post-hardcore outfit This Point Forward are already making an impression. Generally newer bands aim to stick to one market and/or specification in the early stages, wanting to serve up enough quality - yet safe - material to establish a fan base then build from there.Following their more catchy, pop driven debut single Unstill, This Point Forward chose to go down a darker passage on song number two Famine, which dealt with the battles of addiction, and now, on their third single release, the band have ramped things in another direction by going far heavier while still leaning towards the catchiness of universal appeal with Corrosion.With a self-confessed ethos to strive to create a different tone, feel and sound with each release, This Point Forward are throwing caution to the wind early in their career, but in doing so have also announced they won't be tied down by conformity, nor will they bend to musical rules and expectations.Drummer Tomye and vocalist Ash sat down with HEAVY recently to discuss Corrosion - which premieres via HEAVY at 5pm, July 16 - and their intent and vision for the future.The interview involved the pair discussing various topics related to their music and upcoming projects. The band members also talked about their recent travels and upcoming tour plans, as well as the challenges of coordinating band members.They shared their passion for post-hardcore music and their goal of reviving its old-school sound while incorporating new elements. The band discussed their release strategy, opting to release singles initially to attract attention and cultivate an audience before presenting the songs as part of an EP and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

15 Jul 202413min

Interview by Kris PetersWhile the term family is often bandied about in the world of music, it is generally used as more of an affectionate term when used to describe the bond that develops between band members.Not often is it used in the literal term. But when it is, you can be sure that you are in for something special.Think Angus and Malcolm Young from AC/DC, Andrew Farriss, Jon Farriss, and Tim Farriss (INXS), Eddie and Alex Van Halen to name but a few, but while the natural chemistry of siblings is a powerful force when harnessed by verse, it is an all too rare occurrence.Looking through that list, there are a few bands with three family members spread here and there, but I have yet to come across a band from the rock persuasion that is made up of four members of the same family. Until now.Australia's own Sisters Doll, (Brennan, Austin and Bryce Mileto) have expanded their numbers by one to include younger brother Sage as part of their line-up moving forward, with the newest devotee to rock and roll showcasing his wares on the new track Don't Give Up On Us, with the music video announcing his addition to the band's legions of fans.Brennan and Austin both sat down with HEAVY to talk about the new song and… well, family."It's done really well so far," Brennan enthused of the new track. "We did a bit of a livestream before the video dropped to build the suspense and build the hype, because we really believe in this song. It's kind of been one of our favourites from the album. It is more of the ballad from the album, but so far we've got a great response. A lot of good responses on the video too, which is exciting. Obviously, it unveils our new bass player, which is kind of the talking point at the moment. Having Sage in there has sparked a few more people to jump on and have a look - especially people back home. Compared to the last one Change, which we did last year, it's probably doing a little bit better."In the full interview, the boys discussed a range of personal and professional topics. They talked about the positive response to their new album's ballad and the unveiling of their new bass player, Sage. They also discussed the strategic decision to release the audio before the video to boost streaming numbers and create anticipation for the music video.Additionally, they highlighted the need to strategically unveil Sage to maintain the surprise for the show. They also delved into the meaning behind their new song Don't Give Up on Us, highlighting its dual significance related to relationships and the band's perseverance.Furthermore, they provided insights into their plans for the album launch show at Max Watts on January 25 next year, indicating that it will feature a mix of new and existing songs, with a focus on gauging audience reception for future performances. They also discussed the evolution of their performances, emphasizing their dedication to delivering high energy shows and their commitment to creating a memorable experience for the audience. The conversation also covered the band's upcoming plans, including the release of their new single, pre-orders for the new album, and their upcoming shows and tours, showcasing the band's excitement for the future.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

15 Jul 202422min

After selling out their own headlining tour of Australia just last year, British metalcore giants Bury Tomorrow have wasted little time in delivering on their promise to return.They will arrive back to these shores in August and September, playing alongside Spite, Bloom and Make Them Suffer as part of the Suffer Forever Australian Tour. Their last tour was to promote then new album The Seventh Sun, but, according to rhythm guitarist Ed Hartwell, this time Bury Tomorrow are coming just for the fun of it."It's funny, because I think we got offered this tour when we were in Australia last year," he smiled. "So we were out there doing that tour when the offer came through - of course it didn't get announced until much later - but we're just happy to be back. It's a really good time. I'm not a huge fan of flying, so it's quite a big thing for me to go so far away from home. Last year was the first time I have been to Australia, and it was such a good time. It's definitely worth any anxiety I get from flying over there (laughs)."Given the fear of flying is a major detraction, we press Ed on what it is about Australia that makes it so appealing."It's just the people; the environment… there's just so much novelty about it that's really beautiful," he offered. "Driving through… we had some very, very long drives on that tour - like 10, 12 hour drives - but because you are just driving through, at no point does it really feel like England. It has that novelty of this is really cool. We're in Australia! When you see a kangaroo on the side of the road, you're just, like, wow (laughs)."In the full interview, Ed talks more about the tour and what to expect, the strength of The Seventh Sun to allow two tours on one album cycle, the new sound for Bury Tomorrow on that album and if it will continue over future releases, how he is settling into the band after joining in 2021, how much he knows about the other bands on the line-up and where Bury Tomorrow fit in, what to expect from their live show, writing set lists for different countries and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

15 Jul 20249min

Whiteford deliver raw, passionate rock songs with a narrative of the ups and downs of love, celebration, loss and life, weaving elements of modern and classic rock with blues, layered with energy, emotion and delivered with soul. Having many years of on stage and in studio experience, they are ready to break out of the local scene and onto the festival circuit and larger stages. Their energetic and emotional driven live show is something not to be missed. Emerging in 2016 with their debut EP, Whiteford quickly earned a reputation as one Sydney’s most exciting up and coming rock acts. In 2018 the band released their self titled album which featured live favourites “She Joins Love” and “Words Like Bullets” both of which scored airplay on radio stations across the country and received high praise from global rock media. In late 2022 the band released The Acoustic EP featuring the single, She’s Amazing, which is their first release through their new home at Australian rock label, XMusic. 2023 saw more local shows & headline spots for Whiteford such as, the Convoy For Kids truck convoy and fair day to a crowd in excess of 2000 people & the sell out show for the launch of their latest video for the single, “ I'm Alright (Speedball mix)" which is also the theme song to Savage Speedball, a new cue sport game & upcoming TV show. Recently Whiteford played sold out shows with Reece Mastin, Electric Mary & the legendary Spy v Spy along with their own headline performances.The band are currently in studio recording their second studio album.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

13 Jul 202424min