Raw, Real & Gritty With LUKE GRUNTS From CLEOPATRICK

Interview by Kris PetersCVLTFEST came to Brisbane’s Eaton’s Hill Hotel recently, bringing with it a tornado of hard rock and metal performed by some of this country’s headline bands as well as some that should one day attain that status themselves.But it wasn’t just a celebration of Australian music, with organisers Alpha Wolf assembling a strong volley of international acts from Japan – Crossfaith, Paledusk – New York – Emmure – and France – ten56. It was a coming together of music, cultures and music lovers under one magnificent roof in one afternoon/ evening.Not that HEAVY got to see much of the action unfolding on stage because we were hidden away on the first floor of the hotel, lying in wait for unsuspecting musicians to enter our line of sight so we could strap them to the casting couch and ask a few questions.Today we bring to you our chat with Kynan Groundwater from local band Diamond Construct.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

23 Mar 20247min

Interview by Kris PetersIt's hard to believe any international band could have been around long enough to earn legendary status yet not have toured this country before.Not that Australians feel entitled or big-headed and therefore expect such bands to tour here - quite the opposite. It's more because Australians generally need some form of tangible connection with a band or musician before being able to usher those words of adulation. So basically we need to have some form of sonic ownership, which, I guess, is a little entitled but let's not split hairs shall we?Because the point of this conversation is that legendary US metal/hardcore pioneers Cave In have finally locked in some dates Down Under, coming out with post metal outfit The Ocean and Danish label mates LLRR for a string of shows starting in June.A band considered by many to have been ahead of their time, Cave In were instrumental in introducing metalcore to the masses before exploring a plethora of musical avenues including psychedelic rock infused metal. With the band enjoying renewed success following the addition of Converge bassist Nate Newton to cover the tragic loss of Caleb Schofield in 2018, Cave In released Heavy Pendulum in 2022 which brought together the many and varied musical influences explored over their six previous albums and introduced the band to a fresh legion of fans that continues to grow to this day.HEAVY recently spoke with singer/guitarist Stephen Brodsky about their first ever trip to Australia, starting with why the band has neglected us for so long."That is a great question," he laughed. "It will be my second time over there. Another band that I play in called Old Man Gloom toured there with Converge about 10 years ago, but I do remember in my travels there definitely is some Cave In fans saying when are you gonna bring Cave In over, we've been waiting, and that was ten years ago (laughs). Sometimes it's just… especially with international tours for bands at our level to work out something where we're not just breaking even or eating it is hard. Those offers don't come our way very often, so we were able to work something out for this one, and we're all very stoked on all the logistics and the inner workings of the offer itself. It made sense, so we're finally doing it. The idea just had to marinate a little bit."In the full interview, Stephen talks more about their first tour and what they are expecting, what we can expect from them, coming with The Ocean and LLRR and why the three bands will work well together, the early days of Cave In and where they fit in, how they were ahead of their time, their debut album Until Your Heart Stops and if he is still happy with it, their musical tastes and how each influences the band's music, reforming after the death of Caleb and the difficulties associated with coming back, Heavy Pendulum and the way it covers the back catalogue of Cave In and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

23 Mar 202412min

Interview by Kris PetersExperimental metal outfit Locrian are counting down the days until the release of their new album End Terrain on April 5.Officially endorsed as the proper follow-up to 2015's Infinite Dissolution, End Terrain sees Locrian return to the sounds that defined the earlier part of their music, more experimental and forthright than previous album New Catastrophism while still managing to weave a common thread of musicality that is the band's lifeblood.More complex and layered than ever before, Locrian have struck a powerful balance between metal genres, creating a sonic tapestry of epic proportions that encompasses the band's continued growth.HEAVY recently spoke with André Foisy (electric, 12-string, acoustic guitars), Terence Hannum (synthesizers, vocals, tape loops) and Steven Hess (drums, electronics) recently, reflecting on their evolution as songwriters, their experimentation with different sounds and effects, and their approach to creating new music, emphasizing their experimental and collaborative process. The band members also discussed their influences from genres like death metal and thrash, and how they incorporate these elements into their music to create a cohesive body of work that blends different styles.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

23 Mar 202421min

Interview by Kris PetersOne of the lesser known wonders of the travelling Knotfest music extravaganza is the Knotfest Museum.An extension of the music program, the Knotfest Museum is more than a distraction tacked on as an afterthought. Much more.Everything on display is 100% genuine Slipknot, with the band members offering up personal items to be showcased as well as perfectly curated extras from Slipknot Museum Global Manager Caelin Meredith.In collaboration with the band, Meredith oversees the entire production and assembling of the museum, from shipping the contents out to Australia to attending at Knotfest to make each experience as personal as possible.This year sees the Slipknot Museum celebrate next year's 25th anniversary of Slipknot, with added features such as a dedicated album display, playable instruments and much more.Meredith joined HEAVY this morning to explore the many wonders of the Slipknot Museum."Basically, for Knotfest I bring the museum, and it's the band's representation at the festival," she began. "This year we're bringing a 25-year retrospective, so we're starting from Iowa in 1999, and you will basically walk the album cycles from their beginning to now. And we've pulled key pieces that represent each of the albums, so whether it's wardrobe, or whether it's musical instruments… the fans will also have the opportunity to play some of the instruments. So Mick's guitar, Jim's guitar, V-Man's bass and all the settings are on the quad quartex to their specifications, so as you're playing you're gonna hear it how V-Man plays it. We're bringing some rad art from Clown and some secret surprises, so it's for the Slipknot fan, but it's also for the Knotfest fan. It's to celebrate their 25-year anniversary, so it's a really big deal, and I'm excited to bring it back to Australia."In the full interview, Caelin talks more about the Knotfest Museum, what to expect, more of the wonders contained within, some of the rarities, the interactive aspects, Slipknot's 25th anniversary and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

16 Mar 202413min

Interview by Kris PetersOn the eve of their Australian tour, Infectious Grooves pulled one final punch when they announced former Slipknot drummer Jay Weinberg into a band that already includes Mike Muir, Dean Pleasants (Suicidal Tendencies) and Rob Trujillo (Metallica).Not that Infectious Grooves rest their musical output on the pedigree of musicians from popular bands. They never have. But adding one more name to the list definitely doesn't hurt.HEAVY sat down for a chat with Weinberg who expressed his excitement about the upcoming tour with Infectious Grooves in Australia and the unique opportunity to work with his musical heroes. He discussed the challenges of balancing the mission of making rock music with the opportunity to take in the culture and life of Australia. Weinberg also discussed his experience and mindset in joining Infectious Grooves, highlighting the excitement and challenges of transitioning from his previous heavy and fast style with Slipknot to the funk and groove-oriented music of Infectious Grooves.Weinberg also provided a detailed account of his recovery from hip surgery, emphasizing his determination to return to normalcy. He discussed the injury sustained from years of running, the impact on his hip, and the decision to undergo surgery. Weinberg expressed gratitude for the support he received, including the encouragement from the Muir family.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

15 Mar 202427min

Interview by Kris PetersBrisbane metal outfit Ancient Remains understand the ethos of more is better, consistently churning out new material in an attempt to engage with as many people as possible.Their most recent effort is the crushing four-track EP Burn It All, which came out on March 13.Ancient Remains draw influences from bands such as Metallica, Lamb of God, Pantera, Slipknot, Parkway drive, Megadeth, Turnstile, Linkin Park, Guns n Roses and Black Stone Cherry but do so in a way that ensures enough of their own DNA is sprinkled through the finished product so as to create a sound unmistakably their own.Vocalist Dan sat down with HEAVY late last week to tell us more about Burn It All."We're very excited for it," he began, "because we did a single release for the title track then followed it up with Chill The Fuck Out, dedicated to our neighbours we pissed off for so long. Then we follow it up with the other two, and are in the works on other demos beyond that as well. We're not gonna stop there, and we intend to keep going in the future."In the full interview, Dan talks more about Burn It All and what they were going for overall with the EP, runs us through each track individually and the meaning behind it, the new material they are working on and what it sounds like, being featured on MMM Brisbane,upcoming shows and moreBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

15 Mar 202427min

Interview by Kris PetersPhoto credit Jeffrey Graham PhotographyKnotfest Australia 2024 is less than a week away, and despite boasting bands of the calibre of Lamb Of God, Disturbed, Halestorm, Skindred and more, the band on everyone’s lips is Pantera.After getting back together last year for some live shows - with Zakk Wylde filling guitarist duties and Charlie Benante on the drums – the new-look version of Pantera has come under fire from certain quarters, with others praising the band for bringing their music to a new generation.It is a debate that has merits on both sides, but at the end of the day it should be accepted for what it is. A celebration of a band and their history.HEAVY caught up with Zakk Wylde for one of Pantera’s few interviews before Knotfest.We discussed the line-up, nerves before the first show, and the personal significance of playing music written by Dimebag Darrell, as well as the possibility of new music, his involvement in the Ride for Dime event, and Zakk’s excitement for the upcoming Berzerkus festival plus his work with Black Label Society, the status of their upcoming album, and his creative process for writing new material. We also addressed criticism of the Pantera reunion and more.“We just got done wrapping up the last run of the headlining shows right around near Madison Square Garden, which was pretty amazing,” Wylde beamed. “It’s been a great time. I mean, every night, you know, celebrating Don, Vinny, and Philip, and Rex, and this amazing thing that they created that just brings everyone together. So it's a beautiful thing every night.”Listen to the full interview for more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

14 Mar 202415min

Interview by Kris PetersLet's face it, coming up with something fresh and unique when it comes to music and the music world is almost impossible these days. With more music at our disposal than ever before meaning a multitude of new bands and artists all clamouring to find their share of the market, it takes something truly special to give you that edge.And sometimes that edge is the difference between success and failure.Sydney punk rockers The Great Awake struck that elusive gold recently with their promotional idea for new single Shitty Midlife Crisis proving a master stroke. After unleashing their new album QUIT onto the public, vocalist/guitarist Matt O'Keefe and his bandmates had the idea of creating a completely new platform for their next single, one which would engage both their music and people's minds and sense of adventure.Thus, The Great Awake playable video game was born, crafted and put together by O'Keefe with a basic, yet effective premise of skating and avoiding obstacles - but of course, dripping with laconic wit and gnarly graphics to match the band's sense of humour. The two releases could easily survive as stand-alone entities, but when put together offer an outlet for youthful exuberance with a soundtrack that takes you back to the days of Tony Hawk.HEAVY caught up with O'Keefe to find out more.We discussed their new single Shitty Midlife Crisis and the accompanying playable video game, which was a year-long process for Matt to develop. He emphasized the importance of incorporating fun and nostalgia into their approach and injecting humor and lightheartedness into their interactions. We also discussed the positive reception of Quit and the band's efforts to improve their live shows, plus more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

11 Mar 202412min