HEAVY Music Interviews

Interview by Kris PetersLegendary US rockers Winger have been relatively quiet since their last album Better Day's Comin in 2014.When it came out it had fans the world over salivating in anticipation, heralding a new era of rock as only a band of the ilk of Winger can provide.While proving the band were still a musical force to be reckoned with, that album also marked a period of relative inactivity that seemed to drag ever so closer to potentially being the closing chapter of a stellar career. But although fans bemoaned the lack of new material frontman Kip Winger and the rest of the band held firm in their convictions, working towards the day when the time was right to step back into the fold on a more permanent basis.That time is thankfully now, with Winger announcing their seventh studio album - the appropriately named Seven - will be released on May 5.And to top it all off the band then released the chunky as hell lead single Proud Desperado hinting at possibly a slightly heavier direction while still retaining the lifeblood that has served the band for over 35 years.Not only that, Winger have also announced an extensive run of tours in support of the album, one of which could possibly lead them back to Australia later this year.HEAVY caught up with the incredibly talented and affable Kip Winger earlier today to get more information."The album is very definitely aimed at a combination of the first album and the third album Pull, with a little bit of what came after that," he offered. "We went for the inspiration of the first album and the depth of songwriting on the third album and tried to find a happy balance in that. The album features all of the original members including Paul Taylor and each member is playing on every single song, so it's the ultimate recipe of all things Winger. There's 12 songs on it, all of which we're happy with. I was insistent on there being no filler. There's a lot of really good playing... I'm not really a player myself any more. I worked on the singing very hard, but there's a lot of great guitar playing, a lot of great drumming, a lot of things that you might expect from our band and like I say, it encapsulates the full what you might expect from a Winger album but trying to set a higher bar."In the full interview Kip talks us through Seven on a deeper musical level, the opening track and single Proud Desperado and why it was chosen to kick off the album, the beefy guitars, producing the album himself and seperating himself musically, how much the landscape of rock has changed since the band started, their upcoming shows with Steel Panther and why it is an ideal touring partnership, Australian tour plans and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

21 Mar 20238min

Interview by Kris PetersMelbourne metal outfit Void Of Vision earlier this year released the closing chapter to their Chronicles EP trilogy, Chronicles III: Underworld.It was a series of releases that exposed the band like never before, traversing genres from heavy to industrial to something more ambient, showcasing a newer side to the band that was a perfect reflection of the continued growth undertaken by Void Of Vision.After a recent run of shows with Polaris for their tenth anniversary, Void Of Vision fans thought this weekends appearance at Knotfest Australia was going to be the pinnacle of the bands performing year, but plans have changed yet again with the announcement of Unify Off The Record 2023, a travelling, revolving musical showcase that takes in areas away from the usual capital cities.Featuring Northlane, Thy Art Is Murder, Thornhill, Make Them Suffer, Teenage Joans, In Hearts Wake, Alpha Wolf, Ocean Grove, Yours Truly, Redhook and more, Unify Off The Record is a majestic celebration of Australian music, with Void Of Vision making two appearances at Mackay and Hobart.Vocalist Jack Bergin joined HEAVY earlier this week to talk about what has already been a stellar year for the band."I think it's cool how they've given every state something special too," he enthused of Unify Off The Record. "You get bragging rights being in a certain city all of a sudden (laughs), which is... it's nice that they have split it up and it's something very different to Unify in general. It's a bit irreplaceable, just the whole general Unify Gathering Festival but this is a nice little gap filler for them. We're stoked to be a part of it, because there's some awesome places. We've never even been to Mackay before! And we have only recently set off a great rapport with Tasmania so we're excited to be going back to Hobart. The Odeon is a beautiful venue. We're all excited."In the full interview, Jack talks more about Unify Off The Record, the importance of having a festival made up of predominantly Australian bands, what it means for the future of Aussie music, Knotfest and what fans can expect, their new live show and how it is shaping up, other developments in the Void Of Vision camp and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

20 Mar 202310min

Interview by Kris PetersIn a short amount of time Melbourne rock outfit Coolabah Kings have managed to use the power of music to entrench themselves musically in the hearts and ears of an Australian public yearning for more fun in their music.Since announcing their arrival with the 2021 single Spineless, Coolabah Kings have sprinkled their infectious DNA through their debut EP Killing Time, highlighting a plethora of influences over a musical package that generates more hype with each passing release.Now the trio are at it again, this time with the impending release of their infectious new single Stay Dangerous which is out on March 23.Guitarist Harry Anderson sat down with HEAVY to draw us deeper into the world occupied by Coolabah Kings."It's just a scrappy little number," he shrugged of the track. "We're a no frills rock band (laughs). It's about growing older and losing touch with mates who are a little bit too wild, and even though you love them you can't really stick around them too long. You can't see them sticking around in your life so you push away from them and they stay dangerous and you stay safe."In the full interview, Harry talks more about Stay Dangerous and what to expect, filming the video at Taste Police HQ, the guest appearance by Tommy Dynamite and what he brings to the track, if the single is stand alone or part of a bigger album picture, how Coolabah Kings have changed musically since Spineless to now, the single launch at Bar Open on March 31, future plans and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

20 Mar 20238min

Words and interview by Erin EddyThe Go Set are veterans of the Aussie music scene with a career spanning 20 years and the infusion of traditional Celtic folk music weaved into their sound not only sets them apart but helps them reach a wider audience than the average punk rock band.Their high-energy live performances can be enjoyed at pubs and clubs, but they have also been known to inject a healthy dose of rock and roll into the line-up of a folk festival or two during their time, too.It's only fitting that a band which features mandolin, bagpipes and tin whistle releases its new album on Saint Patrick’s Day.The Warriors Beneath Us is the eighth studio album by the band. Writing and recording an album through the pandemic was a blessing in disguise for The Go Set.“The one advantage that we had is the massive luxury of time,” Justin Keenan (vocals, guitar) explains. "The breathing space that was created by having to tackle songwriting remotely gave them the ability to really refine the songs, and showed them what they were capable of doing themselves, rather than spending time on the clock in a recording studio."“What we realised is that we got really, really good at making recordings without ever being in the same spot,” he continued, “as frustrating as it was at the time, our pre-production process was significantly more thorough. Now I know moving forward that we’ll certainly get through the writing phase and pre-production phase without actually even bothering to get together.”While distance played a part in a productive way for songwriting, being unable to play live was something Justin said he really missed.“We took it for granted. We were playing so much,” he says, “We were sitting on a bus in Europe for over a month, every day we were playing; You kind of just take it for granted that you’re going to be able to do this forever or until you’re sick of it and don’t want to do it anymore. But when someone takes it away and says not only can you not play music, but you can’t hang out together anymore either, no wonder a lot of artists’ mental health went through the floor.”The Go Set are celebrating the release of their new record with a spate of tour dates all over the country beginning from March 31.Justin spent time talking with HEAVY about writing music during lockdowns, the changes he’s seen in the music industry over the last 20 years and his eagerness to get back out doing what he loves most – performing. Listen to the interview in full here and be sure to check out thegoset.com for a list of the band’s tour dates.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

20 Mar 202333min

Interview by Kris PetersBrisbane punk Gods Fake News have done the hard yards, supporting legends of the scene such as Good Riddance, No Fun At All, Bodyjar, 28 Days and Guttermouth - and that was all within one year of starting the band in 2017!Since then Fake News have capitalsed on that early success with their 2021 debut album Everyday Warrior and have now followed that up with their latest four track slab of goodness, Take Me Away.Traversing the boundaries of traditional punk, Take Me Away sees Fake News explore their musical psyche even more, dipping their toes into other genres while still fully embracing the punk ethos from which they were born.Vocalist Tim Russ and bass Nick joined HEAVY to chat more about the EP."This has been a massive work in progress," Tim explained, "and it's so good to see it's not far away from getting to show the world. There's definitely been so much hard work go into it. Darren and Nick and Matt, they all put in so much effort to get this one over the line. We got Matt in the studio and he belted things hard, so you can really hear the hard hits in this one. It's been nothing but a hard slog, so it's good to see it finally coming to light."In the full interview, the boys talk more about the musical nature of the EP, shifting away slightly from the punk sound on which they built their name, the heavier edge and where it comes from, the early days of the band and how it has evolved into what you hear today, their early influences and how they have changed since, finding your niche in the musical market, their upcoming show at Mo's Desert Clubhouse, what to expect from a Fake News show and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

19 Mar 202314min

Interview by Kris PetersNorwegian hard rock/punk/metal outfit Blood Command are better known for their hard-hitting, punchier numbers that provide a sense of palpitation and venom when played in the live arena.Since the addition of former Pagan vocalist Nikki Brumen from Australia, the band have taken on a more ferocious edge on the back of Brumen's take-no-prisoners approach to music that has seen Blood Command spread their wings as far as this country for the first time at last year's Good Things Festival.After completing her first album as vocalist, Praise Armageddonism in 2022, Brumen has now fully claimed the role as Blood Command frontwoman as her own, allowing founding member and guitarist Yngve Andersen greater freedom to express his own musical personality, in turn elevating the band into another stratosphere altogether.That newfound expression has translated to Blood Command's upcoming track Losing Faith, a song which will come as a shock to some people into the band, but will be seen more as a natural extension by others.Venturing into acoustic territory, Losing Faith features just Brumen and Andersen, with both providing vocals in a country-style hoedown of a tune that focuses on the fallout of unrequited love.HEAVY caught up with both of them on the eve of Friday's premiere of the song."I think that fans will maybe not be too shocked," Brumen began. "Yngve and I have spoken about this quite at length and I think the real diehard Blood Command fans might be pleasantly surprised. I think they might not even be surprised because it is still thematically very Blood Command. But perhaps for people that don't really know the band and maybe pigeonhole us as a heavy band with screaming vocals and guitars they are the people who might be quite shocked. It's a bit of a country western cowboy tune (laughs), so I think that there will be some surprised people which is what we really want. We like to keep people on their toes."With the subject matter of Losing Faith centering on love failed and lost, we ask Brumen and Andersen which one of them got dumped for inspiration."It's not about a particular event," Andersen replied when he finished laughing. "It's about tapping into those feelings. Everyone has experienced heartache once in their lifetime at least, so I think it's very relatable.""It's a typical Blood Command thing to write about," Brumen added. "A lot of the themes for many songs that Yngve has written in the past have had that feeling or that meaning behind it. Before we wrote this song Yngve sent me this really beautiful country and western song, sort of… it wasn't a similar message, but it kind of had a similar idea in that it was about someone pretending not to love someone and putting on a mask and acting that they didn't love someone, and we said wouldn't it be cool to write a song like that. That's where the idea might have stemmed from."In the full interview, Nikki and Yngve discuss Losing Faith in greater detail, why they elected to do the track acoustically, the added vocals of Yngve and what they bring to the song, their recent tour of Australia and coming back, future plans and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

16 Mar 202311min

Interview by Kris PetersIf, like me, you haven't heard of a US band called Aftermath go and lock yourself in a cupboard for five hours and have a good think about what you have done with your life to this point.It seems these guys have been around since 1985 and despite going through a long period of inactivity still managed to impart a unique and completely music-driven mark on the musical landscape.They were thrashing before it was cool, and just when they started to get popular because of it they changed tact and decided rock was more their thing.Or plain heavy metal.Or death metal.Or basically whatever the fuck they felt like expressing at the time, because there lies the very core of Aftermath's existence.Musical expression.You get the sense from talking to vocalist "Charlie" Tsiolis that - and this will be one of the rare occasions I will ever put my neck on the line with such a bold statement - he genuinely does not give half a fuck about the trappings of fame and fortune the music industry can generate. As long as he retains a voice to be heard and a will to breathe then music is his salvation and a vehicle from which to lay forth his opinions and grievances on the world.The most recent - and perhaps most vital - chapter in Aftermath's existence began when they started writing the first album of a conceptual trilogy in 2017. The album was called There Is Something Wrong and revitalised the whole of Aftermath and reinstalled their belief that there was still purity in music and their voice was still relevant.That trilogy closes on March 17 with the release of No Time To Waste, an absolute beast of an album that incorporates elements of thrash metal, rock, rap, blues and whatever else Aftermath were feeling at the time.It is a culmination of almost 40 years worth of oppression, frustration and disbelief that packs a message just as powerful as the music through which the story is told.When HEAVY caught up with Charlie earlier today he was in a particularly chatty mood and as such, for one of the first times ever, we shall present the interview to you in its entirety. It may be a little different to the normal structure of a HEAVY interview, but I think you will agree is much more impactful because of it.Charlie opens up about the new album, the perils of society, the history of the band, how came they came to finishing things forever and a multitude of other topics that make for engaging listening.So kick back with a cold drink and strap yourself in.Shits about to get real.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

16 Mar 20231h 13min

Interview by Kris PetersNewcastle metalcore outfit Vilify are one of the new "covid babies" when it comes to music.Formed in around the global pandemic, Vilify have endured the same trials and tribulations as the rest of the world, except unlike many, the constant setbacks provided an impetus which has given the band more drive and focus.Unable to play live for almost two years after their formation, Vilify instead channeled their energies into making music, the fruits of which can be heard in their latest track Take The Pill which is out now.HEAVY had the pleasure of sitting down with the whole band to find out more about these promising upstarts.We start by asking how the feedback has been for Take The Pill."Everyone has been really nice so far," vocalist Amy McIntosh smiled. "So far the feedback has said it is probably our best song to date. I keep using the word polarising... it's got some of our hookiest bits, some of our heaviest bits so I wouldn't disagree. I think it's the most true version of us so far.""We're probably gonna use that as a basis for future things that we release too," guitarist Deni Hourihan added. "Not to say certain parts won't be a bit more techy or heavy or whatever but we all really liked how the song came out and felt that it's our vibe, or our sound."In the full interview the band tells us more about Take The Pill musically, the massive guitar riff that introduces the song, the lyrical content, more new music, forming during lockdown and the challenges that posed, their upcoming show with Gravemind at Stay Gold, other shows coming up and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

15 Mar 202318min