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

Interview by Kris PetersMoldovian metal hybrid Infected Rain are currently riding the wave of global acceptance that has been 16 years in the making.Since debuting in 2008, Infected Rain have often been undervalued in an industry that too often rewards mediocrity, finding themselves caught in musical purgatory on many levels simply because they are a band almost impossible to pigeonhole or genre classify.In a world that is becoming increasingly sanitised and regulated, Infected Rain have always dared to be different.To do things their way.With a sonic intensity harnessing genres from progressive rock to electronica to nu-metal to out-and-out aggression, Infected Rain have steadfastly refused to conform but more or less forced the world to take notice with their acclaimed 2022 album Ecdysis. It was an album that broke down barriers for the band, opening them up to a new audience that were pounded into submission.With the recently released successor Time expanding on the creativity and musicianship of its predecessor, Infected Rain are finally earning the respect they so richly deserve, with festival opportunities and high-profile support slots continuing the band's upward trajectory.HEAVY caught up with vocalist Lena Scissorhands to discuss the new album."We have just released our sixth album," she smiled. "After all these years, it is quite a milestone for us. We started in 2008 in a very small country in Eastern Europe."Time was released just last Friday, so we start by asking Lena how the early reception has been."Very good so far," she nodded. "More than we could expect. Great comments, great feedback. People are loving it."We ask her to take us deeper into the musical side of Time."From the musical point of view, I think you want to talk to my musicians more," she handpassed, "because they are more the composers of the instrumental parts. When they are ready, and they have a raw version of a song or a good chunk of an idea of a song, they often send it over so I can start thinking in that direction and see what inspires me and what I could adapt to that melody. To me, it's just when I have the songs my task is to compose melody and upline lyrics I go based on how the instruments make me feel, and that's how I choose what is the direction of the song and what lyrics I'm going to apply. We have something that we introduced for the first time on this album, which is an eight-string guitar. Some of the songs are recorded for eight-string guitar, and we've never had that before. Also, we have a new bass player. Even though she joined the band after the composing stage of the album, she recorded a big part of the songs. We've already been on tour together, and it feels really great."In the full interview, Lena talks more about the songs on Time, the eclectic nature of the music and making it cohesive, her transition from harsh to clean vocals and how much work is put into her vocals, the underlying theme of the album, pressures associated with following the success of Ecdysis, Infected Rain's upcoming tour with Dragonforce and Amaranthe and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

14 Feb 202413min

Interview by Kris PetersIn the modern age of music, it is important - almost vital - to maintain a steady output of music and engagement with your fans. People's increasingly shorter attention spans, coupled with the sheer volume of new bands and music being released daily, combine to ensure bands that aren't active, don't survive.Pure and simple.But try telling that to experimental death metal outfit Job For A Cowboy, who have let a staggering ten years elapse between records. The band have taken their time in following up the critically acclaimed 2014 release Sun Eater, preferring to patiently harness their creative impulses and allow them to ferment until the band was happy.The result is Moon Healer, set for release on February 23, an album that maintains the rage and aggression associated with Job For A Cowboy's music, but also expands on their conventional sound. It is an album that has already garnered immense interest and positive reaction from critics who have heard it, and marks but one more step on Job For A Cowboy's path to musical enlightenment.Vocalist Jonny Davy sat down for a chat with HEAVY to tell us more."This band has been around, shockingly - although it doesn't feel like it - for a good 20 years," he began. "After about a ten-year hiatus, we're about to come out with our new album called Moon Healer. I am pumped."We ask what the period is like after finishing an album and having to sit by and wait for it to be unleashed on the public."At this point, it's in the past," he replied. "We've taken a break from it, and in hindsight we're looking back already and seeing what we would have done differently, or talking about what we want to do for the next record. It's been a long, long, arduous process, but we're finally here."We ask Davy about the musical side of Moon Healer and what the band was going for sonically."The band has evolved quite a bit since its origins," he measured. "We kinda started off pretty much as a cookie cutter deathcore band, and then we progressed into more modern death metal and after the release of Genesis we started sprinkling in the genres like technical death metal and now even some progressive elements. I think a lot of people recognise the band is kind of a cauldron of an evolution of sound, and that's our motto right now. We like to challenge, and we're the type of band who don't wanna put out the same record twice."In the full interview, Jonny talks more about Moon Healer, the singles released and how they represent the album, the opening track The Chemical Doorway and its Middle Eastern flavour, the temptation of repeating the formula that made Sun Eater successful, what has changed with Job For A Cowboy since that album, the conceptual elements of Moon Healer, the cover art and how it ties in with the concept, how Job For A Cowboy have changed musically over each album, future plans and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

14 Feb 202418min

Interview by Kris PetersHailing from the deserts of Arizona, US death metal outfit Gatecreeper has set the heavy music world alight in their ten years as a band, combining old-school Swedish sounds with American hardcore sensibilities to create a fusion easily identifiable as their own.With a new album set for release this year, Gatecreeper have also signified their intent to colonise Australia, with a run of ten dates starting on the Gold Coast on April 4.HEAVY caught up with vocalist Chase Mason to find out more."We came over for the first time last year and played a couple of shows," Mason began, "and this year we're coming back for ten shows with Kruelty from Japan and World Of Joy, who is from Brisbane I believe."We point out the band will be playing ten shows in eleven days, which sounds like a lot of work."Yeah, packing it all in," he smiled.HEAVY poses the question of what sorts of things the band does to physically and mentally prepare for a run of shows like that so far from home."We've been touring now for several years," he replied. "I think everybody develops their own personal plan or their own personal way of dealing with being on the road for weeks at a time. For me personally, an important part is getting your alone time when you can. Sneaking off and getting food by yourself, or something as simple as having headphones in and zoning out. For me, being around people all the time drives me crazy."In the full interview, Chase talks more about preparing for a tour like this, what has changed with Gatecreeper since they were last year 12 months ago, what we can expect from the shows, what the band expects from their audience, signing with Nuclear Blast Records and what that means to the band, their upcoming album and what to expect, how their music has changed over the course of each album and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

14 Feb 20249min

Interview by Kris PetersJanet Gardner is a name most hard rockers and metallers have etched into their black hearts.Since fronting legendary outfit Vixen, Gardner has epitomised the spirit of metal with her distinctive vocals, influencing generation after generation of music listeners and performers while always maintaining an approachable and down to Earth attitude.Since going solo in more recent years - with guitarist and husband Justin James - Gardner has revitalised both her music and her brand, touring constantly and continuing to churn out high-quality albums.Gardner is just one of a host of international acts such as Slaughter, Lynch Mob, The Cruel Intentions, H.E.A.T and Jetboy who are descending on Melbourne and Sydney this weekend as part of Glamfest 2024.HEAVY caught up with Janet and Justin to find out more, and we start by pointing out there is well over 100 years of experience in just the headliners alone."Wow," James exclaimed. "That's crazy when you look at it that way. But what's so cool is, it's bands from the day that we all loved - and still love - and then there's some new acts that are part of this bill that are great, and I'm excited to see. Like H.E.A.T and The Cruel Intentions that we don't get to see here in the States.""This is a good opportunity to see them," Gardner added.We ask what it is both of them like most about playing festivals such as Glamfest. Is it the music or catching up with old friends or the atmosphere?"All of the above," Gardner and James replied in unison."You just nailed it," Gardner said."A lot of these bands are friends, so it's great to see them," James continued. "Obviously playing on stage and playing music and seeing the fans and friends and crowd… the whole thing is almost overwhelming. We are so excited about this.""And there is a sense of community with our genre of music now," Gardner took over, "that didn't exist back when we were all at the height of our popularity. Other than the bands you're touring with at the moment… like, I didn't get a chance to see a lot of those bands because we were always touring. This is such great opportunities to see other bands and share a stage with them. It's an honour and it's amazing."In the full interview Janet and James talk more about Glamfest and what to expect, what bands playing they may not have played with before, how the band has changed since their last visit in 2020, the other members of the band, the Australian bands and which ones they are familiar with, their recent album No Strings and how it was received, if they are still getting new fans or if their core base is existing listeners, future plans and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

13 Feb 202415min

Interview by Kris PetersIt's hard to imagine that a band in its 35th year have never toured Australia. Especially when that band is in the ilk of legendary rockers Slaughter!But that's precisely the case, with forces conspiring against the band over three and a half decades to keep them out of earshot.But all that changes this weekend when Slaughter touch down in this country as part of Glamfest 2024, which also features Janet Gardner, H.E.A.T, Lynch Mob, Jetboy and more for two showcase events in Melbourne and Sydney (Brisbane was omitted from the schedule due to reasons explained on Silverback Touring's Facebook page).HEAVY recently had the pleasure of catching up with guitarist Jeff Blando to find out, among other things, why Slaughter have never made it to this part of the world."For myself, my wife has always been 'where do you wanna go on vacation' and I have always wanted to go to Australia," he smiled. "So I, myself, am super stoked about coming, and I know the rest of the guys are stoked as well. The band is playing all the hits from the first two records. We are doing one cover song, which is a Led Zeppelin tune that we put in the set, and we're just looking forward to coming over there. The band, considering our age, we still are moving pretty well and functioning pretty well. There's still a lot of energy there and everyone's gonna dig it - hopefully. It could be 'look at those bunch of old farts up there jumping around like morons' (laughs)."In the full interview, Jeff talks more about coming out for the first time, whether the band will ask other musicians what to expect, what we can expect from the shows, what Slaughter expect from their crowds, the family vibe back stage at festivals like this, the Australian bands on the bill and if he researches them to know what to expect, the legacy of Slaughter, upcoming new music and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

13 Feb 202415min

Interview by Kris PetersAustralian metal outfit Sienna Skies are set to finally shake the lingering shadows of COVID once and for all when they hit the road in the next two weeks for a run of four dates with US heavyweight act Of Mice & Men and their long-time mates and touring companions Dream On Dreamer.After a prolonged absence from the stage, Sienna Skies are setting themselves for an all-out sonic assault when they open the highly anticipated tour in Adelaide on February 23, desperate to blow off the cobwebs and even more excited to be performing a collection of new songs live for the very first time.Despite the setbacks Sienna Skies suffered as a direct result of the pandemic, they elected to take their time in getting back into the daily grind of the music industry, choosing instead to put the finishing touches on an EP that was created in the midst of adversity. They have released a steady succession of singles taken from that EP, which will be out on March 8, each of which showcases a more vulnerable side of the band while still retaining the dynamic foundations upon which their sound has always been built.HEAVY caught up with bass player Joshua Wade to find out more."We're really excited to be a part of it and the opportunity," he smiled when I mentioned the tour. "I can't wait to get back out there on the road."We ask Wade if the nerves have set in yet."The nerves are catching up with us at the moment because it's been so long since we've played live due to COVID and everything," he replied. "We had an extra long break over COVID writing material so to actually be coming back and playing some shows in some big rooms with some friends… yeah it is starting to catch up on us a bit. But we are looking forward to it. It's been a long time, and we can't wait to do what we do."In terms of time on the road this isn't a massive tour with only four dates, but the pressures of returning to the stage coupled with the expectations that come with supporting a major international band would still be difficult to suppress."Every show is different," Wade measured. "Every market's different and every tour is different. We have known Dream On Dreamer ever since they started being a band, and we were bands coming up together in the same scene. When it comes to Of Mice & Men, we have both known of them in passing before, but never played with them, although we have seen them at other shows and festivals abroad. Vibe wise I think it's going to be stellar. Everyone is going to be stoked and have a great time. Everyone online looks like they are super keen for the shows so that helps with the nerves, knowing it's going to be a super comfortable environment. But to answer your question, there's not really much else to do except just get up there and do what we've always done (laughs). As I said before it's been a while so we are just super excited and can't wait to get our hands on our instruments in front of people and do it again."In the full interview, Joshua talks more about the feelings Sienna Skies will be going through before hitting the stage, being chosen - along with Dream On Dreamer - by the band themselves to support the tour, the fact two Australian bands have been chosen as national supports and the benefits of that to the local music scene, their mindset going into each show and how they approach their set, writing set lists that play to the band's strengths while also hopefully appealing to Of Mice & Men's crowd, the new songs they will be playing live as well as the upcoming EP, what to expect sonically from the release, their EP launch shows later this year and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

8 Feb 202415min

Interview by Kris PetersIf there's one thing that shits me more than the constant need for music to be labeled and/or categorised, it's when people feel a weird and unnecessary compulsion to try and classify music even further by bringing religion into it.I can almost hear you screaming 'that's what you just did' back at me, but I have a reason. To stop anyone else from getting in first, so let's clear the monkey in the room straight up.Exodus Rising are a Christian Metal band. And I only tell you this because during our interview, many references - both musically and spiritually - were made to their faith, which has little to no bearing on the actual musical output of this gifted US metal outfit.Yes, they believe in God. No, you don't have to, and no, they aren't trying to make you.True story.So let's appreciate Exodus Rising for what they are. A great new progressive rock/metal band who have released their awesome and eclectic debut album, The Book Of Life, which is available from the band's website.As part of the release cycle, Exodus Rising are premiering the second album single, Blazing Love, via HEAVY at 10 am on February 9 and what a masterful slab of music it is.To find out more about their music and just where Exodus Rising sprung from, HEAVY sat down with the whole band (minus the drummer) for an enlightening and uplifting chat about life, music, and…. religion."I love the song," offered bass player NY Charlie, talking about Blazing Love. "When Chris (Zapa, keyboards) and I had the idea of making this song, it was a whole adventure. It was a last-minute thing. Actually, this song was the last song that we recorded on the album. The last song from the 16 tracks that we have on the album. Chris and I were having a conversation and said 'hey, how about doing Songs Of Solomen and let's make a progressive, cool ballad' and that was the last, spur-of-the-moment thing and I think it took us three days to put together. That song is special to our hearts. I love the way that JSlate sings it. It has a special meaning about this incredible love between a man and a woman, as powerful as God's love for us."In the full interview, the band talks more about Blazing Love and what it's about, why they wanted to release it to celebrate Valentine's Day, how the song challenges convention for the band, writing about what you know and love, a history of Exodus Rising, the stigma attached to Christian Metal bands and why and how it is nonsensical to think in those terms, the full album and what to expect, following your own path musically and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

8 Feb 202423min

Interview by Kyra-Jade Coombs**Apologies in advance, the audio gets a little scratchy going in and out of reception**Atreyu, where do I start here? I assume everyone loves them as much as I do, but for those of you who aren’t familiar with these legends they’ve been around fast approaching 30 years and have well and truly carved their spot in the metalcore space. In 2023 alone, they released two Eps and a full-length album, which is where vocalist Brandon Saller and I started the chat. Releasing that much music in a short amount of time appeases the modern consumer who is waiting for the next best thing to grab their attention.I wanted to find out what their album The Beautiful Dark of Life meant to Brandon, and it turned out to be a career-changing album. Not only did it change the way the band writes together, but it changed the way they communicate and share what’s going on in their lives. You need to remember that it’s only just becoming socially acceptable for men to express their feelings on any level, and I’m grateful to see a band on Atreyu’s level leading the way. “We are just people. You guys can do this shit too”. When talking about turning 30 as a band, I wondered what advice Brandon had received or wished he had received. Funnily enough, he replied by saying no one really took them under their wing and had more of a “Na, na fuck you guys” attitude about them. The most important takeaway was to love what you do. When you stop loving what you do, the magic stops.There are so many killer albums from these guys and I needed to know what era Brandon would travel back to experience and all over again. #1 - The Curse (2004). The reason being he wanted to go back to the start to experience that ‘first time feeling’ all over again… have a bird’s eye view of that era.#2 - Lead Sails Paper Anchor (2007), my personal favourite! This album was polarising in how it was received, “Half of our fans wanted to murder us and half were on board”. It was also a major turning point in Saller’s career, feeling he was put on a pedestal for this album and had a big creative reach.In 2008 Atreyu/Avenged Sevenfold/Bullet for My Valentine had a massive Australian tour and by all accounts it was an absolute madhouse. I needed to hear the scoop from the horse’s mouth, and all the carnage and mayhem you would imagine going down did exactly that. From Jimmy ‘The Rev’ Sullivan singing opera at 7am in the morning to the ‘Terrible Twins’ Johnny Christ and Jimmy (Avenged Sevenfold) redecorating hotel rooms, there are some hilarious stories. You will just have to listen for all the details.There is a lot we cover in this interview that any Atreyu fan will enjoy. He was an absolute trooper to talk to. Words from Brandon himself, Australia is their favourite place to tour, so get your asses to one of their shows and make sure they continue to come back for years to come!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

8 Feb 202424min