Conquering The Mountain With ANTON ERICSSON From QUANTUM
Interview by Kris PetersOn the surface, Swedish outfit Quantum can be best categorised as a progressive metal band, but as you start to peel back the layers a deeper, more eclectic personality emerges.Blending elements from various genres, including prog rock, metal, late romantic era classical music, and jazz, Quantum's music output transcends just prog, diving into a more all-encompassing sonic landscape that is as captivating as it is expansive.After the favourable response to debut EP Next Breath Of Air… Quantum are on the cusp of delivering their first full-length offering titled Down The Mountainside which draws from the above genres and more to provide a glimpse into the ever-evolving world that is Quantum.Frontman Anton Ericsson joined HEAVY to take us deeper."It's an album with lots of things happening," he promised. "There's lots of heavy riffs, there's great grooves, longer chords and beautiful melodies."We ask Ericsson to take us further into the musical nature of Down The Mountainside."We wrote… when I was writing the songs - they've been around for a long time some of these songs - you have some of the riffs and some of the songs done," he offered, "and you realise a lot of these songs fit together nicely so you start writing some of the other songs to fit in with those. I think one of the general sounds of this is like rock with a lot of electric elements of metal and a lot of electric elements of prog and a lot of electric elements of some jazz and some classical music as well."In the full interview, Anton discussed their highly anticipated debut album Down The Mountainside in more depth, shared details about the album's musical influences, sonic diversity, and thematic elements as well as the deep and intense lyrical themes that explore the concept of wearing masks and alter egos in dealing with life's challenges. He also explained the rationale behind inviting Richard Henshall and Tom MacLean from Haken to contribute guitar solos to the album, detailing their previous collaboration and the transformative effect of their solos on certain tracks. Anton's eclectic music style was attributed to his diverse musical influences and intuitive writing process, and he explained that the recording process involves starting with the band, adding layers, and sometimes envisioning specific sounds from the beginning, aiming to keep the band's sound at the forefront.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.
17 Apr 202415min
Beyond The Mortal Realm With ANDREW CRAIGHAN From MY DYING BRIDE
Interview by Kris PetersAt thirty-three years young, doom/death metal outfit My Dying Bride still bite with the ferocity of a stallion, with a kick twice as ferocious.While many would be slowing down entering this stage of their careers, My Dying Bride give the impression they are only just getting started.Which is a frightfully sensational prospect.With their 15th album A Mortal Binding set for release on April 19, My Dying Bride are promising fans something fresh and enticing, adding yet another chapter to the band's musical output that has seen them dominate the genre for so many years.Featuring a revamped line-up of now-permanent guitarist Neil Blanchett and the return of drummer Dan Mullins, A Mortal Binding is signature My Dying Bride.Only better.Guitarist Andrew Craighan joined HEAVY to tell us more."To be fair, I'm quite relaxed," he measured. "I'm a little bit apprehensive because we… I don't do a lot of social media. I don't see a lot of the reactions that are happening to it, and we didn't send the album out to our friends and family and that sort of thing. So I don't really know. I'm relatively confident that we've created something that's okay, but there's a little bit of apprehension on that because I don't really know what people are gonna think. Also, I'm relieved… is probably the word, because to get an album right - I don't think you ever get an album right. You finish when you run out of money type thing and hope they're right enough, so it's been hard work. There's been a lot of hard work and a lot of blood, sweat and beards and all that kind of thing. It's kind of like… it's dead space, if you know what I mean, where you're sat with a pregnant pause; the bride is quite literally… (laughs). You've got this strange time where you can't say anything about it because you don't want to oversell it. You can't push it out and you can't send it out - you're certainly not allowed to do that - so you're just sat waiting and thinking what's next? Thankfully April 19 isn't so far away, so we'll soon see."In the full interview, Andrew talks more about A Mortal Binding, if it's what fans would expect from the band, the singles released and how they sonically represent the album, what has changed with My Dying Bride since their last album The Ghost Of Orion, coming up with new material aBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.
15 Apr 202415min
Raw Passion With BILLIE-JADE
Interview by Kris PetersAustralian self-proclaimed metal diva Billie-Jade is counting down the days until the release of her debut EP XI:XI, an album both raw and unapologetically honest full of attitude and spunk while still maintaining an air of vulnerability.After releasing her first single Horror Haus not long after electing to perform as a solo artist back in 2016, Billie-Jade has hardened and refined her sound over recent years with the help of Grammy-winning producer/mixer Mitchell Marlow (New Year’s Day, In This Moment, Stitched Up Heart).Since tasting earlier success with Hatchet Dawn and Diamond Noir before going solo, Billie-Jade knows what it takes to be heard in the music industry and has channelled all of that rage and experience into her first solo outing XI:XI which will be released on April 19.HEAVY caught up with Billie-Jade to find out more."I'm so excited," she enthused. "This has been a long time in the making. I did try to go over (to L.A.) for another writing session during COVID and got sent back (laughs). It's been a long time, and I'm just so excited to put out the ideas. There was one track I wrote in a writing session with Mitch when I first met him, which is Scream. That's the first track on the EP, and the rest I wrote with him later on. I'm just so excited to get all those ideas out together as an EP."In the full interview, Billie-Jade discussed her upcoming debut EP XI:XI in greater detail, providing insights into the creative process behind each song and the personal significance of the title. She emphasized the empowering themes of her music and the importance of working with a producer who understands her vision and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.
15 Apr 202416min
The Struggle Is Real With DAVE MATRISE From JUNGLE ROT
Interview by Kris PetersAfter the disappointment at having to postpone their debut Australian tour in 2023, US death metal outfit Jungle Rot have stuck true to their promise of making it out here as soon as possible with the news they managed to find suitable dates with German black metal pioneers Rotting Christ this May.While Rotting Christ will be celebrating 35 years of servitude to the Metal Gods, Jungle Rot will be savouring the opportunity to showcase their music to a new audience, with a plan to capture the attention and support of as many of their Australian fans as possible.Frontman Dave Matrise joined HEAVY recently to discuss the rescheduled tour and more. With the tour just two weeks away we start by asking if he has already packed and readied himself for the long trip Down Under."I'm gonna start tomorrow, actually," he smiled. "We're running down the list tomorrow, and we're gonna start doing it, and I'm gonna start mentally preparing myself. That's the hardest thing, mentally preparing myself for that flight (laughs)."Once here Jungle Rot have a brutal schedule, playing the whole run without a day off, which beckons the question does someone in their booking team dislike the band for some reason?"No, that's how we like it," he grinned. "We'd rather be playing every night, man. When you're on tour you wanna be playing every night because if you're not, you're going to spend money, so we'd rather try and make some money and work every night (laughs)."In the full interview, Dave discussed the band's upcoming tour in Australia, shared details about the tour schedule and his preparations for the shows and expressed his excitement for the band's first tour in Australia. The conversation also delved into the band's preference for playing shows every night and their determination to make the most of the tour.Matrise provided insights into the band's musical style, emphasizing their old-school death metal roots and the intense, raw energy of their live performances. The chat also revolved around Jungle Rot's music and career evolution, with a focus on their songwriting process and commitment to their sound.Additionally, they talked about their 11th studio album, A Call To Arms, and outlined their plans for future tours and new music, emphasizing their continual dedication to their craft.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.
15 Apr 202410min
Aiming To 'Ratchet' Up With KIEREN HILLS From SCHKEUDITZER KREUZ
Interview by Kris PetersNSW industrial punk project Schkeuditzer Kreuz are premiering their new single Ratchet via HEAVY this Monday, capitalising on the momentum built from previous releases Joy and Second Life.All three tracks are taken from Schkeuditzer Kreuz's album No Life Left, which came out in the last part of 2023, with Ratchet being the most diverse and eclectic representation of an album full of moods and atmospherics.Kieren Hills, the creative force behind Schkeuditzer Kreuz, joined HEAVY this afternoon to chat about the new music."It's probably the most upbeat and poppier kind of songs, which is not really saying much," he smiled when asked about Ratchet. "It's all heavily distorted synth of various different kinds with industrial percussion and drumbeats. Lyrically, it's another song about how fucked in the head I am, basically (laughs).In the full interview, Kieren runs us through Ratchet in greater detail, talks about the creepy but awesome music video, how Ratchet differs to the previous two singles, how they represent No Life Left musically, the term Industrial Synth Crust and what it translates to, upcoming shows and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.
14 Apr 202411min
Musical Magic With BRADY DEEPROSE From CONJURER
Interview by Kris PetersWith a cross pollination of varying metal genres including sludge, death, gloom, black metal and hardcore, UK heavy outfit Conjurer are one of the few modern metal bands to walk that balancing tightrope of styles without imposing too much in any direction.Their willingness to experiment and push themselves outside of their usual comfort zones has seen the band traverse new sonic landscapes with each album, the most recent of which, 2022's Pathos, seeing the band expose their music to a wider global audience and open the musical minds of a whole new legion of fans.After visiting Tasmania as part of Dark Mofo that same year - and absolutely slaying it from all reports - Conjurer return to this side of the world for their debut tour of mainland Australia when they start a run of shows with Lo! and Botch in Brisbane from May 15.HEAVY sat down recently with singer/guitarist Brady Deeprose to find out more."We are coming on tour in Australia - which sounds insane to say out loud - (and) we're playing three headline shows and a couple of shows supporting Botch," Deeprose enthused.We ask if he is already packed and ready to go, still one month out from the tour."I moved house three days ago, so I'm not even unpacked at this point," he laughed. "Last time we were in Australia we were down for Dark Mofo in Tasmania and I spent four out of the five days sick as a dog in bed, so I'm ready to get back out and actually experience some of the country. It's one of those bucket list tours that you see bands go to Australia, and it never feels like it's going to be you. We're just so thankful to have the opportunity and to be getting back out there."We point out that it is a brutal run of five shows in five days and ask if he ever gets the feeling someone in their booking team doesn't like them."It's all of them, for sure," he laughed. "We're playing nine shows in ten days and then flying directly to Australia off the back of that, so we're like… I was saying to the guys I'm obviously really excited about this, but it's going to the most brutal month of touring we've ever done. We're gonna be absolutely shagged by the time we get there (laughs). We're so lucky to be able to do this. You get up, drink a couple of Red Bulls, and you make it happen. The shows are gonna be amazing."In the full interview, Brady talks more about the tour and what to expect, visiting a country on tour for the first time and how he prepares, Conjurer's influences and where they come from, knowing how much of each genre to mix through new music and how to tell if they go too far, their status as a 'non-specific' metal band in terms of genre, new music and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.
13 Apr 202417min
The Rise Of The Fallen With EXODUS RISING
Interview by Kris PetersU.S progressive metal outfit Exodus Rising have been making a stir on the music scene following the release of last year's debut album The Book Of Life.Armed largely with a DYI approach and a firm desire to take their music to a global audience, Exodus Rising first grabbed the attention of HEAVY just prior to the release of The Book Of Life, and we have been listening with a keen interest for more advances from the band ever since.That came recently with the arrival of the third album single The Fallen, accompanied by a visually stunning music video that captures the intense spirit coursing through Exodus Rising's musical veins.HEAVY caught up with the band late last week to discuss The Fallen and other developments with Exodus Rising."Everybody's been receiving the music - and the video especially - very, very well," vocalist JSlate began. "We included two songs from the album initially, and we included our Overture because it added a lot more depth into it, and then we decided to throw in an extra interlude and put an anime-style type of feeling to breathe a lot more life and a lot more modernity."Exodus Rising have previously released the singles Blazing Love and Paradise Lost, so we press the band on how The Fallen showcases another side of their sonic structure."For Paradise Lost, that was a power metal song," JSlate replied. "That was definitely full power metal and included everything within our diverse repertoire within the album. Which showcased symphonics, theatrical elements and then the classic power metal elements. For Blazing Love, that was more of a ballad - a heavier ballad - and one that was showing love in a different side of that; keeping it a bit more in tempo to prepare people to manoeuvre throughout the remainder of the album. For The Fallen, we included two songs with that. It's very theatrical and cinematic. It includes the cinematic aspect of how we want to approach our music… We want it to feel like a movie, and you're in a story and a place of space and time. For The Fallen, as a single itself, it's metal, but it's more leaning towards the hard rock elements of everything."In the full interview Exodus Rising discuss The Fallen in greater detail, the music video and what it took to put together, which of the three singles best represents the band's sound, Christianity and heavy metal, how their faith enhances their music, the general accessibility of music and how it transcends barriers, future plans and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.
9 Apr 202425min
25 Years Of TRIP (TYCH) With JEFF BURROWS From THE TEA PARTY
Interview by Kris PetersIconic Canadian rock outfit The Tea Party have been mesmerizing fans around the world with their innovative music and captivating live shows for over three decades now.While their musical output has always been in a league of its own, it is on the live stage that The Tea Party have excelled, delivering knockout performances every time they grace the stage and transfixing audiences with their almost laconic approach that never fails to entertain.After being absent from these shores since 2019, The Tea Party will make a welcome return this June for the Trip (tych) 25 Tour, celebrating 25 years since the release of one of the band's most recognised and loved albums.HEAVY sat down with drummer Jeff Burrows recently to talk more about the tour and an album that will go down in rock music history.We start by asking how much focus Trip (tych) will have for the shows."With this tour, it's not a top to tail album sequenced show," he explained. "We're gonna play 8 or 9 - including some of the deeper cuts that we've never played before - mixed with some other B sides and deeper cuts, and of course some of the hits."We ask what has changed with The Tea Party since they were here last five years ago."I think… I can honestly say it's an appreciation for where we're at," he measured, "what we've been afforded, the types of shows that we get to do. We've been doing this for over thirty years now and ask me thirty years ago if I thought I'd still be able to travel abroad and play shows in front of people who love our music and sing along with us, I never thought that would be possible. I think more grateful, communicative and the fact that it's easily the best job - if you have to call it that - in the world. There's no complaints here. It doesn't even really get harder. It kind of gets a bit easier, because we don't worry now about… back in the day we would cross Canada in a van - we've crossed Canada 13 times in a van before we were even signed - and we didn't know if we were making it to the next town. Canada's alot like Australia. You're going from Perth to Adelaide in a van, that's essentially Vancouver to Calgary in a van, and it's brutal. There's overnight drives after the show where you're still sweating because there was only one hotel. There's no showers at these tiny little clubs, so things get a little bit easier as you get a little bit older. I dunno, I think we've moved in quite well (laughs)."In the full interview, Jeff talks more about the upcoming tour, playing songs from the album they haven't performed live before, how Trip (tych) has stood the test of time, how significant the album was in The Tea Party's career, how their sound changed from their 1991 debut to Trip (tych) and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.
9 Apr 202421min
