Raw, Real & Gritty With LUKE GRUNTS From CLEOPATRICK

Interview by Kris PetersPioneers of Electronic Industrial Music, The Crystal Method, return to Australia from March 1 via Auckland on February 29 for a string of showstopping performances.Despite only 14 months elapsing since their last trip out here, such has been the demand for The Crystal Method to bring their music back that these new shows are all close to selling out.Recognised as a pioneering force in the Big Beat genre and Electronica movement alongside The Chemical Brothers, Fatboy Slim, and The Prodigy, The Crystal Method have played a large part in bringing their brand of music out of the warehouses and into the mainstream.Main man Scott Kirkland has worked with a lot of big names across genres, whether it be collaborating or producing, most notably releasing a reworked ‘(Can't You) Trip Like I Do’, with Filter on the soundtrack to the film adaptation of Spawn in 1997. Their album Tweekend featured guests including Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello and Stone Temple Pilots vocalist Scott Weiland, allowing for a metal crossover both sonically and from experience.Promising a night of “nostalgia, rave, and pure ecstasy”, The Crystal Method performs two hours plus every night and to tell us more HEAVY welcomed Kirkland for a chat late last week. We ask what has changed with the show since their last visit in December 2022."I definitely have added a bunch of new tracks," he replied. "We're visiting some classic stuff that I didn't play the first time around, some new mixes. I don't do the same set twice in a row. I like to change things up a bit, even from night to night. I'm aware of what I was playing back then and definitely wanna mix it up a bit and just bring the energy and bring the fun and take care of the people who show up."We mention the short amount of time between tours and the fact fans in Australia must love The Crystal Method."I was delighted to receive the offer to come back," he smiled. "I definitely had a good time when I was down there. It had been way too long. Obviously the delay from COVID… I was meant to come out in June or July of 2020 and things got shifted around, so I think there was a lot of anticipation for my return. Thankfully the shows came off well and the tour was great, and I'm really excited to be able to come back."In the full interview, Scott talks about Australian audiences and how they are different to other places in the world, what countries have the toughest crowds, how he reacts when crowds don't seem to be getting into it, appealing to heavy metal music fans, blending metal and electronic dance music and how easy/hard that is, what first attracted him to this style of music, how he transformed that love into The Crystal Method, how he would describe what he does to people who don't follow the band, future plans and more.Big thanks to our sponsore RODE. Intro music "Brown Snake" by Dreamkillers, premiered in HEAVY on March 14.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

26 Feb 202416min

Interview by Kris PetersKnotfest Australia 2024 is fast approaching, with less than one month before the traveling music extravaganza hits Melbourne for the first show on March 21.Headlined by Pantera, Disturbed and Lamb Of God, it would be easy to overlook some of the other bands on the bill out of pure excitement for the headliners, but do so at your own peril.One of the best things about festivals is the opportunity to hear fresh bands for the first time. Bands that might not have crossed your radar yet. Personally, I have discovered some of my all-time favourite bands this way, and I'm sure I'm not alone in that.One such band to keep an ear out for at Knotfest this year is Canadian deathcore wrecking crew Brand Of Sacrifice, a band rapidly on the rise overseas but making their first visit to this side of the world.With their recent signing to Nuclear Blast Records and release of heavy as fuck single Purge, Brand Of Sacrifice are up for the challenge of winning over a new legion of fans, with vocalist Kyle Anderson joining HEAVY to talk more."I'm very excited and definitely looking forward to seeing Disturbed," he smiled. "I haven't seen them yet."Despite the fact it was just over one month away at the time of this chat, we ask Kyle if he has allowed himself to get excited so far out."Oh, I've been excited ever since we got the offer," he replied. "It's been a dream. I've never been (to Australia before) and the band has never been either."We run through the line-up and ask who he is most looking forward to playing with other than Disturbed."I'm looking forward to them," he affirmed. "Pantera and Lamb Of God are legends too. As far as some of the newer bands, Thy Art Is Murder are great, and they're from Australia, so we've gotta plug them. I haven't seen Wage War yet, from America, so I'm looking forward to seeing them, too."In the full interview we ask Kyle if, as a young band on the scene, it gets daunting being backstage with so many legendary bands, what we can expect from Brand Of Sacrifice live, their sideshows with Lamb Of God, how different those shows will be to the festival appearances, if the band chooses festival set lists to appeal to a broader musical taste, how any songs from their latest EP Between Life And Death will be in the set list, signing to Nuclear Blast Records and what that means to the band, latest single Purge and if that is part of a bigger picture and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

23 Feb 20247min

Interview by Kris PetersDragonforce are undoubtedly one of the biggest bands in the world - or at least the most recognisable.Allowing their track Through The Fire And Flames to be used on Guitar Hero 3 proved a masterstroke for the band after the global success of that game - not to mention the fact how addictive it was - propelled Dragonforce into the lounge rooms and stereos of gamers and budding musicians in every corner of the globe.While many bands would be content with such an achievement in itself, Dragonforce merely used it as a launching platform on which to deliver their brand of power metal, and the result has been devastatingly effective.Their music has been used on other games, been nominated for a Grammy and generally taken on a life of its own, with Dragonforce being considered universally as the fastest band in metal. Which is not surprising given the twin guitar assault delivered by founding members Sam Totman and Herman Li, two guitarists worlds apart to look at, but brothers in arms musically.After not delivering an album of any sort since 2019s Extreme Power Metal, Dragonforce are making an almighty return with their tenth studio album Warp Speed Warriors set for release on March 15.It has already been labelled as their most ambitious and innovative album to date, with Dragonforce exploring a variety of musical styles and textures, expanding their existing sound while still maintaining their roots.Guitarist Sam Totman joined HEAVY recently to chat about Warp Speed Warriors."Great," he enthused when we asked how he was feeling about the upcoming release of Warp Speed Warriors. "It's funny because, like every band always says, 'we're just so happy to finish it because we've been working on it for ages', but it's definitely the case. I started working on that right when lockdown started and because we had so much time I just worked on it very slowly. In the end unfortunately I started getting a bit sick of it because I'd heard it to death and I never got an end to it because it was like 'oh, I could improve this one' or 'I can improve that one' and I carried on, never stopping. Normally it's good to have a deadline where you finish the album and say right, that's that, that's what it is. But I had so much time to keep improving things and whatever - which is nice - but it was also kind of a pain in the ass. Now that it's finished I haven't listened to it for the last few months, but I put it on the other day when the first Astro Warriors song came on, and I saw the video and thought I can finally enjoy this song for what it is instead of thinking there's this little bit here that I want to change and a little bit there I want to change. Actually, the chorus of that song was different - it's a bit of a nerdy musician fact for you (laughs) - but I changed the chorus of that only two months before we finished the album. Before that it was a different chorus which I didn't think was as good. It was annoying me for three years, and I was thinking it's almost amazing but not quite. And I was like, I'm just going to have to bin it and start again because I kept trying to adjust it. But in the end it turned out good. That's a long way to say yes I do like our album, and it's more heavy and more melodic than all the other ones (laughs). I'd like to say one day it's actually lighter and less melodic, but that's not really true (laughs)."In the full interview, Sam talks more about Warp Speed Warriors musically, how it is Dragonforce's most ambitious and innovative release, what kinds of things they did on the album that they haven't tried before, covering Taylor Swift, the bonus tracks featuring guest artists, living up to their reputation as the fastest band in the world, the early days of Dragonforce and where they fit in, when he looked around and realised that he could make a career out of music, how the bands sound has changed over the course of ten albums, touring plans and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

22 Feb 202430min

Interview by Kris PetersUK reggae/metal/funk/rock outfit Skindred have successfully managed to combine a plethora of sounds, influences and genres together to create a completely fresh and vibrant sonic wave of destruction that on paper should not work but somehow does.Over eight albums the band has defied scrutiny, backlash and, at times, disdain for daring to be different, but you get the impression part of the reason they survive and continue to thrive is because of, and in spite of, that adversity.Since Skindred were last in Australia four years ago the band have released a new album, Smile, that saw them surge to number two in the UK album chart, in the process reaching the hearts and ears of a new generation of fans to celebrate in all of Skindred's deserved glory.They return to our corner of the globe in March as part of Knotfest 2024 with exactly the same level of enthusiasm and commitment - just with four more years of experience. And what's more, this time the band will venture over to New Zealand for their first ever show in Auckland on March 28, with Kiwi metal titans Kaosis in support.Last time HEAVY spoke with frontman Benji Webb it was a case of almost anything goes, so when the chance to speak with the great man was presented to us earlier this week, we cleared our schedule immediately.We put him on the spot straight up by asking why the band have neglected our neighbors in New Zealand for so long."I dunno mate, you've gotta book us," he cheekily replied, "that's the way it goes. You call us. We don't put a pin in the map and say we're going there, people book us. If New Zealand aren't booking us, we're not gonna be there, are we? We're very excited about going there, man. We know we've got a few fans over there, and it's a country that we haven't been to yet, so we're itching to get there."We point out the New Zealand show is at a brewery and pose the question of what could go wrong?"A lot of things," he laughed. "But you know what? It doesn't matter about the size. It's about the size of the vibe in the place. We're looking forward to it, we are."In the full interview Benji talks about visiting countries for the first time, support band Kaosis, playing at Knotfest 2024, the backstage vibe, what we can expect from their shows, what Skindred expect in return, the side shows with Halestorm, the reception to latest album Smile, refusing to conform musically and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

22 Feb 202415min

Interview by Kris PetersOne of the most enduring qualities of music - or punk music more specifically - is that as a listener or musician you don't feel the obligation to grow up.Ever.It's actually expected of you that your morals and beliefs will differ from the rest of society, and your outlook on life and sense of humour practically remain the same thing. So why fight it? That would be more difficult than conforming, and we all know that's not going to happen.Just ask the three Jeans that make up Mean Jeans - Billy, Houndy and Junior - a trio of friends/band mates who have stumbled through life since even before starting the band 15 years ago, and they couldn't be happier.With a new album, Blasted, having recently hit the shelves and an almost completed Australian tour with good mates The Chats life couldn't be much better for Mean Jeans.Just don't ask them if they are ever going to grow up.Making a mental note to avoid that question, HEAVY sat down earlier today with Billy Jeans to catch up on things, starting with the reception for Blasted, which came out on February 9."Awesome," he smiled. "I feel good about it. I'm judging primarily from social media and whatnot, but everybody's sending text messages… I saw a bunch of reviews that the label sent that were all in German, so I don't even know what they said (laughs). It's been a good reception and I think while we were making this record I could tell that it had a little more cohesion and was more true to what Mean Jeans is supposed to be about at the core."We ask Billy to go deeper into the album musically."We never have and never will stray from about a four-power chord progression structure," he offered. "We pretty much keep it Ramones simple and then see what we can sprinkle on top of there, but with this one we had… the band wasn't on hiatus per se, but we actually were living in three different cities when COVID struck. We had been touring in the US up until the end of 2020, so it was a week before the pandemic occured, and we had a support tour with The Chats on the books, and we had never met these guys. That got postponed and postponed and postponed and rescheduled, so we spent most of the pandemic anticipating the tour. We kept booking stuff, even though no one knew when it would make sense to be doing so. Ultimately, it took over two years for the tour to happen, during which time Mean Jeans were not really functional. So the stuff I was writing, I had to put out a solo record called Funky Punks In Space, but mostly because I knew there was no chance of the songs seeing the light of day with Mean Jeans. Then we hadn't played a gig in two years, and we did a six-week US tour with The Chats, and they took us to Australia a couple of months later and after that, after about 10 weeks of touring, we hopped off the stage, and we were like, okay, that was really fun. We gotta bang out another album."In the full interview, Billy talks more about the songs on the album, addresses the press releases claim that Blasted is a "weird, wonderful and wacky album", which of the tracks is his personal favourite, the current tour with The Chats and how it has been going, the benefits of having time off between shows to be able to drive to shows, maintaining a sense of humour and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

21 Feb 202413min

Interview by Kris PetersSydney's chameleons of rock, RedHook have been pretty quiet since the release of their debut album Postcards From A Living Hell in April last year. And who could blame them?2023 was the year RedHook broke through from a band on the fringes of success to a bona fide international standard touring band, following high-profile shows with The Smashing Pumpkins and Janes Addiction on home turf and festivals such as Download abroad. Their work ethic as a band has always been the driving force behind their continued rise, but the release of their first album last year solidified their efforts and led to global recognition.So if the quartet took a bit of time off to recharge the batteries over a prolonged festive season, they certainly deserved it.But it was always a matter of when, not if they would return and that moment arrived with a massive bang earlier this month when RedHook released the single Scream 2 - a sequel of sorts to smash hit No Cure For Psycho.Not content to release new music and wait for it to filter through to the ears of their growing fanbase, RedHook this weekend venture North for the first time this year to headline Women In Rock. The night, as the name suggests, is a musical celebration of female artists and their contribution to the music scene, with Krave, Jollee, Veratie, Viper Syndicate, Acid Cherry and Miss LC rounding out the bill.With more live shows coming up and whispers in the air of more new music, HEAVY tracked Emmy, Ned and Alex down at their rehearsal room to chat more about everything."We're so excited to be heading back to the Sunshine Coast this Saturday," Emmy enthused. "We're coming to Caloundra for the very first time to play a groovy little festival called Women In Rock at the Norton Music Factory." We ask how the show came about and what such an occasion means for Australian music."We got hit up by the venue to be a part of it," Emmy began. "Supporting fem talent - especially in the heavy space - has always been very important to me, and the boys.""We're stoked that they invited us along," Alex added. "It looks like it's gonna be a really cool show.""Playing regional shows and grassroots venues and supporting that level of the industry is always important to us," Emmy continued, "and will always be important to us. We're just excited to meet some new people and play a new venue and have a good time."In the full interview, the band talk more about celebrating the achievements and role of women in music, the other bands playing and who they are looking forward to catching, the importance of everybody - not just women - to feel safe in the music industry, whether they feel the message is starting to get through, other things they have planned while they are in Queensland, new single Scream 2 and how it has been received, the reception for Postcards From A Living Hell, their continued rise as a band, how far advanced the new album is, their recent heavier leanings with new music, plans for the rest of 2024 and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

21 Feb 202418min

Interview by Simon Russell-WhiteTo be honest I thought The Vinyl Tour was a play on words, I thought to myself “Surely this isn’t the final tour for the almighty Cog?!’. Such thoughts are not only bad for oneself but more importantly for the reader/listener of this interview!But I can assure you, it’s time to relax and enjoy……Kicking off my conversation with Luke Gower (bass/ backing vocals) it became very clear that my thoughts were simply an irrational panic, and that I/we indeed had absolutely nothing to worry about, thank goodness for that!Byron Bay's (originally from Bondi Beach) Cog will go down as one of the all-time greats that this country has ever produced, though they require an entrée of “if you know you know”, they’re and have always been seen as rock royalty by those who do truly know! And at the end of it all that’s who really matter, the punters, the attendees and those who connected with the almighty band.The three pieces live show is something to behold, with Lucius Borich (drums/ backing vocals) enigmatic playing and emotion tripled with brothers Flynn (vocals/guitar) and Luke Gower's pounding conviction and sheer energy, knowing it’s all happening again this March is simply exciting for punters Australia wide.Now we all know that it’s now possible to gain all of Cog’s releases on vinyl now, with the again joined EPs Just Visiting being laid to wax in 2016. Now both of the band’s full-lengths, 2005s The New Normal and its follow-up 2008s Sharing Space are too part of the nostalgia that only vinyl can bring to a diehard listener.It’s no secret that life for original touring bands has changed, the days of making an income from the actual recorded music is simply a thing of the past, and just like most bands Cog has had to learn to adjust to these changes. Holding down day jobs, on top of all having families, touring isn’t like the old days, especially at the start (in the late nineties) when the band toured relentlessly.There’s two ways of looking at this, the fun is spanned out as Luke explained but with tours being further apart does make for more special times. Knowing how much the band means to people is something that has taken on more as he’s gotten older, and something that was looked over a bit in the past.Cog has stood the test of time, politics, and even major weather events to be where they are today, so it must be yelled from the top of a mountain, “IN COG WE TRUST!"Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

20 Feb 202420min

Interview by Kris PetersDespite their relative youth, New Zealand alternate rock outfit Voodoo Bloo are no amateurs when it comes to music. Don't let their baby faces or innocent looks fool you. When it comes to making the tough decisions that could ultimately make or break your career, these lads will invariably make the right one.Be it youthful exuberance, diligent studying or just plain luck, Voodoo Bloo have always ended up on the right side of the equation since their formation in 2020, constantly releasing new music and content for their growing fan base.After starting out with more than a dash of punk-fueled teenage angst, the former school friends gradually found themselves veering into rock territory, the trappings of youth giving way to a more mature outlook on life that ultimately flowed back into their music.Over two previous albums - Jacobus and The Blessed Ghost - the band has gradually adopted a safer approach to music without shunning their heritage completely.With their recent single Hot Garbage being revealed as the first song of a new album cycle, Voodoo Bloo have tapped back into their punk sensibilities to a degree, with vocalist/guitarist Rory McDonald saying in earlier interviews and press releases that the new EP will definitely be a trip down memory lane in many respects.HEAVY sat down with McDonald to find out more."The reception has been great," he enthused of the new single. "I think one thing that we have gotten pretty often with this single is that it's quite reminiscent of the stuff we were originally doing about four years ago, but it's just a level above what we were doing. From the people I have spoken to they say it shows a bit more maturity in what we're doing, even though I'd like to say the things we're talking about are probably a lot less mature (laughs)."In the full interview, Rory talks more about Hot Garbage and the shift in musical direction, whether the band set out to write a song with old-school leanings or it just happened, producing the track themselves and the pros and cons of keeping it in-house, the release plan for the next two singles and what they will sound like, the EP coming out in June and what it will be called, the musical direction it will take, the decision to revisit the band's old sound, Voodoo Bloo's musical journey over the last four years and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

20 Feb 202413min