HEAVY Music Interviews

Interview by Kris PetersFollowing two previous albums - their self titled in 2012 and The Answer in 2018 - New York City rock outfit Killcode found themselves in the unenviable position of being one of the many bands in the massive potential category but still lacking that knockout blow to elevate them further.That opportunity came knocking when Killcode released their third album Life, Death Rock N' Roll in January of this year, cementing their growing reputation and, if anything, enhancing it even further.Written before and during COVID, Life, Death, Rock N' Roll is an album made up of songs about life's ups and downs and is bursting at the seams with hard rock classics coupled with deeply personal numbers that show the more human side of the band.Frontman Tom Morrissey joined HEAVY recently to talk about the new album and the rise of Killcode."With this album we weren't really going for anything specifically, as we never really do" he explained. "We just write naturally and whatever comes naturally we go with. We definitely explored more sonically on this album. It's a little more mature. We used some different instrumentation - some piano - but overall in general I think the songwriting is a touch more mature, but it's still straight ahead rock and roll. High energy. You have your rockers, your ballads, some introspective songs, some personal songs and some drinking songs (laughs)." In the full interview, Tom talks more about the sonic direction of the album, how Killcode has grown musically with each release, the early reception to the album, coming up with inspiration during COVID, doing live-stream concerts and other promotional tools during that period, their cover of You Can't Stop Rock & Roll by Twisted Sister and why they chose that song, the formation of Killcode, their early vision and how it has changed since, touring plans and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

8 Mar 20239min

Interview by Kris PetersSince 2003 Italian comedic heavy metal outfit Nanowar Of Steel have been spreading the joys of metal with their infectious, over-the-top and often hilarious musical workings.Over six previous studio albums, Nanowar Of Steel have delivered an endless stream of musical magic, combining their laconic sense of humour with heavy music to devestating effect.Now, as the band prepares to unleash Dislike To False Metal on the world from March 10, Nanowar Of Steel have brought in the heavy hitters to hopefully allow their music to reach an even wider audience.Sabaton's Joakim Broden joins Nanowar on the parody track Pasadena 1994, about the year Italy lost the World cup Football final, plus Elaine's Madeleine Liljestam lends her vocals on the track Winterstorm In The Night.More than just a parody band, Nanowar Of Steel see themselves as more of a serious musical project that adds a touch of humour to their artform meticulously.Bass player Gattopanceri666 joined HEAVY to discuss things in more detail."For those of you who haven't heard about Nanowar Of Steel, we are a very serious band based in Italy," he introduced, "and we are doing this kind of serious music since 20 years already. We've got a new album coming out called Dislike To False Metal which really means we should dislike false metal, whatever that means, but at least don't kill it. We are against... let's replace the death to false metal part with dislike and make it more tolerant. That's the message."We press Gattopanceri666 on how he is feeling about the imminent release of Dislike To False Metal."I've been listening to this album for the last nine months," he sighed, "so I'm kind of bored of listening to it. I just hope the listeners won't get bored so quickly so we can get some revenues from streaming even in years to come. That's my hope; that's my wish for the album."In the full interview, Gattopanceri666 talks more about the songs on the album, maintaining humour in music, getting the balance right, using guest artists and what they brought to the sound, the writing process, the cover artwork and the myriad of things to be found, touring plans and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

6 Mar 202321min

Interview by Kris PetersSouthern Californian post-hardcore outfit Movements are on the verge of their Australian tour with British rock outfit Boston Manor, kicking off in Brisbane on March 9.It will be Movements first visit Down Under since 2018, and, armed with 2020's successful album No Good Left To give the shows are already selling in record time.HEAVY sat down with vocalist Patrick Miranda just before the band boarded a plane for their long flight to see us.One of the features of Movements music is the heavy emotional content within their lyrics, with issues such as relationships, loss and mental health a prominent feature of the bands music. Because of this we ask Miranda if it can be difficult delivering an upbeat live performance of some of these songs despite the heavy emotional content which doesn't necessarily lend itself to happiness."It absolutely can be," he nodded. "I'd say that is an experience that we've kind of... tried to pinpoint and shift with our new music because, yeah, a lot of our songs and a lot of our content is very heavy and very dark. And it's not always the most fun thing to talk about every single day. But I think that it's good because it's always a great way to share a cathartic experience with the people who are listening and being able to share these negative emotions with somebody and maybe it helps them feel better or get through whatever it is that they might be dealing with. With that being said that's definitely something that we wanted to... kind of shy away from in the new music and have it be less emotionally draining and a little bit more fun and energetic in the live setting so we could have a little bit more fun with the songs and not have it be such a depressing, sad, down moment. I think that there's something positive to be said about either side of that argument."In the full interview, Pat talks more about what to expect from the shows, what has changed with the band since their last visit in 2018, touring with Boston Manor and why they chose them to co-headline with, some fun times on the road with Boston Manor, their blending of musical styles and where it comes from, album number three and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

6 Mar 202315min

Interview by Kris PetersWhen the genesis of a band consists of musicians paying homage to one of the greats, then you just know from the outset something special is brewing.But when that band comprises members from that same band they are paying musical respect to the end result is infinitely more grandiose and exciting.Starting life to finish recording and releasing music originally penned by Dio - by none other than drummer Vinny Appice, bassist Jimmy Bain, guitarist Vivian Campbell, and keyboardist Claude Schnell - Last In Line reunited along with vocalist Andrew Freeman to perform the Dio songs they originally recorded. The band released a studio album of original material without Schnell titled Heavy Crown in February 2016.From there Last In Line grew more into a band of their own volition, still performing music from that great era of rock, but adding a touch of their own spice to the mix to give it their own unique flavour.The band are preparing to release their third studio album, Jericho, on March 31 and on the back of lead single Ghost Town have promised more of the rock fuelled greatness for which Last In Line have continued to stage their name and reputation.Current bass player Phil Soussan joined HEAVY earlier in the week to talk about the new album and the enduring legacy of Dio."Very happy with the album," he nodded. "It's been a very long time coming because we had to put this together during a trying and difficult time - as I'm sure everybody can appreciate - and I think we came out with something that we're proud of. Actually, better than I thought it was going to be because we had no idea how it was going to be with all of the hurdles and restrictions that had been placed in front of us during the process of coming up with this record." "I think people who have listened to the second album noticed a definite progression from the first album," he continued. "Obviously, sadly, Jimmy Bain is no longer with us and he was very much part of that first album. I originally was asked to come in to finish some shows for which there had been some obligations from the first record and during that time we realised there was a great chemistry going on with this band. Then the second album came up and when that was written, obviously I brought in some different influences and so people would hear the progression from that first to the second album and I'd like to say that we continue that trajectory to where Jericho now is. So it's different from the second album and it's definitely an evolution from what we did on that record. I think it's really nailed certain things that make this band unique and different from others."In the full interview, Phil talks more about the new album, writing to a formula, continuing the legacy of one of the biggest rock outfits in history, recording the album live and what that means, the early days of Last In Line, his joining the band, his relationship with Jimmy Bain and how that influenced his decision to join Last In Line, touring plans and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

6 Mar 202320min

Interview by Kris PetersMelbourne metal outfit Munt could easily lay claim to being one of the most brutal acts this country has produced. Their music is frenetic, dangerous, aggressive and strangely beautiful - to the point that despite the visceral carnage going on around you, you can't help but be swept up in the sonic musical landscape as it materialises and then disintegrates right before your ears.They are a formidable live machine - as anyone who has been in the same room as them with a stage anywhere near the vicinity can attest - but seldom does a band capture the feel and essence of the live arena as meticulously as these guys.As if to prove the point, Munt today drop their third EP Pain Ouroboros, five carefully crafted slabs of musical mayhem that obliterate the lines of traditional metal, in the process morphing into something much more sinister.HEAVY caught up with frontman Mothlord earlier this week to talk about the EP, starting with the last single released Apostate Sermon."An apostate, by the dictionary definition, is someone who defies or rejects religion in a political way of thinking," he measured. "And obviously a sermon is... I guess it's like a paradox. A sermon would be something you think of in a religious context , but instead it's a sermon for people who've shed that skin so to speak. The opening line is "my brethren I sing a song of joyful wrath", so it's kind of a call to arms and a message for like minded people."Apostate Sermon follows on from the first single The Vengeful March, so we press Mothlord on if those two tracks are a good sonic representation of the EP as a whole."Oh, yeah," he replied without thought. "I think we very intentionally chose those two songs to do music videos for. Like I said, Apostate's a bit more of the blackened epic sound, whereas The Vengeful March is a little bit more in the class of hard hitting, grindy sound of things. It's a very good representation of what we're about at the moment."In the full interview. Mothlord goes through each track individually and explains what they were going for with that particular song and what it's about, the title Pain Ouroborus and what it means, their sound and where it comes from, upcoming shows and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

2 Mar 202319min

Interview by Kris PetersAustralian heavy outfit Villa Morta have pulled no punches with their recent single The Abstract.The track highlights the maturing side to Villa Morta's music, helped in part by a professional production team that enabled the band to pull from parts of their musical psyche that hadn't been tested before.The Abstract comes with a thoughtful video clip which sees the band exploring their own unique personal experiences and the notion that each person has a different perception to the world around them.Vocalist Mosh and guitarist Masa joined HEAVY earlier this week to talk about the new single and more."I'm personally a big Northlane fan," Masa replied when asked to describe The Abstract musically, "so there's definitely a lot of influence for me in the type of riffs I like to write. But I also do the metalcore riffs, so I was definitely trying to blend all of the different elements that I like from a bunch of different areas of metal into a track. There's a lot of new things we're writing but it's all part of the process for me and figuring out the ways that work for me in writing the songs and putting it all together."In the full interview the boys talk more about the structure of The Abstract, making the music video, the benefits of using a professional production team, if The Abstract is part of a bigger musical picture, changing with the times, their upcoming single launch party at Stay Gold in Melbourne and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

1 Mar 202315min

Interview by Kris PetersUS rock outfit Soil are credited by many as being the pioneers of a genre that has birthed bands of the calibre of Godsmack, Spineshank and Mudvayne.Regardless whether you subscribe to that theory or not, one thing that is undeniable is the impact Soil have had on the music landscape since bursting onto the scene in 1997. The seeds for rock revolution were sewn, but it wasn't until Soil's major label debut album Scars in 2001 that the world stood to full attention.One song in particular from that album - Halo - is still on high rotation around the world to this day and is instantly recognisable as Soil and their trademark style.The album was that well universally received that Soil are returning to Australia in May for a run of shows with Static X where they will be performing that groundbreaking album in full - but with a unique twist.HEAVY caught up with bass player Tim King to find out more."We've toured many, many times over the years with Static X," he mentioned, "and they are great people and a great band so we're really looking forward to this one."With both bands in the upper echelon of their respective genres, HEAVY poses the question of whether Soil still had to actively seek the support slot."The first time we ever toured with Static X Wayne Static personally invited us," he smiled. "It was in 2002 and our album Scars was out and Wayne really liked that album a lot. The tour was with Static X, Soulfly and Soil and he personally requested that we be on that tour and we became really good friends with him and Tony and the rest of the band. From there on out we've toured with Static X many, many times. That one was never a management or agency thing. It was two bands that had mutual respect and were fans of each others music taking each other out on the road, and when Static X got back with this new incarnation we actually went to the UK and Europe with them in 2019 and that was awesome. Now we're going back to Australia with them so it's great to be able to continue to have all of our bands still out there doing it and going on tour with friends. It makes it more of a what we call "heavy metal Summer camp (laughs)."In the full interview, Tim talks more about what to expect from the shows, the new look Static X and how they sound without Wayne out the front, playing Scars in full and how difficult something like that is, his view on why Scars was and is such a popular album, the term "timeless" used in respect to Soil's music, their last covers album Play It Forward and how it gave the band a new lease on life, his side project Embryonic Autopsy, new music from Soil and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

1 Mar 202320min

Interview by Kris PetersThirty years is a long time in the music industry, and as such these milestones should always be celebrated. And what better way to do that than by bringing the band over to Australia, which is exactly what Irish rockers Ash plan to do this March.Not only that, New Zealand has also been included in the party, with Ash playing a run of shows across both countries dubbed the Teenage Wildlife Tour.Bass player Mark Hamilton joined HEAVY earlier this week to talk about the tour and 30 years of rocking out."It's kind of flown by," he laughed. "When you think it's 30 years... it seems so long. We did a big anniversary show in Belfast just before Christmas where we had a bunch of guests up and it was a wild milestone to hit. I guess when you're in a band and doing it all the time you really don't think about how long you've been doing it, because you're always looking forward. You're always looking at the next tour or the next album or whatever's on the horizon. You don't spend a lot of time looking back. It was kind of nice to do that almost greaest hits album (Teenage Wildlife) and go out and tour it. And coming to New Zealand, Australia and Japan, we had always intended for that to be part of the tour a couple of years ago but then there was the pandemic, so we're almost playing catch up to do it now."In the full interview, Mark talks more about what to expect from the tour, keeping things fresh after three decades, keeping your mind and body fit, the early days of Ash and where they fit in, the changing faces of music over the years, future plans and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

1 Mar 202312min