The Art Of BAD MANNERS With BUSTER BLOODVESSEL

Texan metalcore outfit Memphis May Fire decimated Australian fans almost a decade ago when they toured through the country as special guests to Parkway Drive in 2015. Known for their unassailable live shows, MMF have an uncanny ability to connect with their audience on an otherworldly plane, turning band and audience into one living, breathing, circle pit dancing organism that refuses to yield.The band return in July 2025 as co-headliners with Atreyu, who are celebrating the 20th anniversary of The Curse with a series of never to be repeated shows that will see them play the songs from the album as well as other fan favourites. Individually, each band is an ominous live machine, but together they promise to deliver night after night of sonic carnage to remind us what we have been missing out on.HEAVY caught up with frontman Matty Mullins to find out what to expect."The excitement definitely sinks in nice and early," he smiled when asked if he had cast an eye towards the Australian tour with some six months before it kicks off. "The reality of it all will hit a little closer to that timeframe."We mention the double punch of Atreyu and Memphis May Fire on the same bill, with Matty admitting the union is pretty special to not just the fans, but the bands as well."We've done a co-headliner tour here in the States as well, so bringing that to Australia seems like the right fit," he noted.In the full interview, Matty highlighted plans to perform a mix of new songs from their forthcoming album Shapeshifter, scheduled for release on March 28, alongside classic hits to engage long-time fans. Matt reflected on the band's evolution and how their experiences have improved their live performances, while also addressing the challenges of creating diverse music while preserving their distinct sound. He concluded by expressing excitement about reconnecting with Australian fans and delivering a memorable show, covering heaps more territory over the course of the interview.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

28 Dec 202410min

Interview by Angela CroudaceProject Ultimate Satan, the brutal death metal band from Canberra, has been shaking up the metal scene with their unique blend of symphonic elements and raw aggression. The band's latest album, The Opus Satanas, released under their label, StudioDecay, is a testament to the band's resilience and innovation, as it has undergone a tumultuous yet creative journey. We sat down with the guitarist, backup vocalist, and the founder of the band, JDecay, to talk about the band's origins, the making of the album, and their bold vision."Project Ultimate Satan was born from a few different musical journeys," Decay explains. "It all started in 2019 when I was working with the band Inhuman Remnants. I was trying out guitarists and eventually brought in Darryl as a pianist. We hit it off, but the other members weren't keen on shifting from Deathgrind to a more symphonic sound. That's when the seed for Project Ultimate Satan was planted."The band's evolution wasn't easy. After a line-up change and the disruptive impact of COVID-19, The Opus Satanas was delayed multiple times, but the result is worth the wait. "We started recording in 2019 and finished in 2021," JDecay reflects. "Lockdowns and other personal challenges made it tough, but in the end, we were able to refine it. Now, we're ready to push it out and tour."The album is divided into two movements: Malefus Malefacaram and Lex Talionis. The first movement is a deep dive into themes of persecution, inspired by the Hammer of Witches (a 15th-century guide to witch-hunting). The second movement (the Latin phrase referencing the legal principle of exact retaliation) explores the concept of "an eye for an eye," drawing on the story of duality. JDecay elaborates, "The first movement is about persecution, while the second is about retribution. We really wanted to split the album into two halves that represent a journey. It's a raw, brutal exploration of human struggle."A standout feature of The Opus Satanas is its unique sound, blending symphonic elements with death metal intensity. "I wanted to bring in more melody to death metal, adding piano and orchestration. We were experimenting with these larger ideas that, for me, just felt right."As for the band name, Decay said that Project Ultimate Satan came about after an episode of Futurama and thought that it was the perfect name for a band that wasn't already taken."It's all about pushing boundaries," says JDecay with a chuckle. "We wanted something provocative and strong—something that would make people stop and think."With a dedicated fanbase and a fresh sound, Project Ultimate Satan is ready to make their mark. "We've learned a lot through trial and error," JDecay says. "But now, we're tighter than ever, and we're ready to bring The Opus Satanas to life."JDecay is deeply committed to supporting smaller bands and musicians in the metal community. Through his work with StudioDecay, he focuses on artist development, helping emerging acts build their identity, sound, and presence. "We try to give back by focusing on artist development," he says, emphasizing the importance of assisting bands with the business side of music—something many new musicians are unaware of. From helping craft professional PR packages to guiding bands on networking with PR reps, JDecay ensures these smaller acts are equipped with the tools they need to succeed. His approach goes beyond just music; it's about empowering artists to navigate the complexities of the music industry, helping them understand how to get on shows, work with labels, and build a sustainable career. Despite being a smaller label with limited funds, JDecay's dedication to nurturing talent and creating a supportive community reflects his commitment to helping others succeed in a challenging industry. Not bad at all for a few guys from the ACT!Watch for their upcoming Australian tour, and prepare for a death metal experience like no other.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

27 Dec 202441min

Interview by Angela CroudaceHEAVY caught up with Gabriel Blake from The Murder Capital to chat about their latest album, Blindness, their exciting upcoming Australian and New Zealand tour, and the band's incredible journey so far.When asked about the themes of Blindness, Gabriel explained, "The album is about love, being Irish, and dealing with the blindsiding aspects of life. It touches on things like distance, both physical and emotional, and the feeling of not being able to see someone you love."The conversation then turned to their history, with Gabriel reflecting on their previous albums. "Our first record dealt with grief, and the second was more of a celebration of life. Blindness is a departure—it's more about loss, and not just in terms of death, but also the emotional distance between people."The Murder Capital's touring journey has been nothing short of intense. Earlier this year, the band had the incredible opportunity to support two legends: Pearl Jam on their UK tour and Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, one of Gabriel's biggest idols. Reflecting on their time with Nick Cave, he described the experience as surreal. "It was truly amazing," he said. "Nick Cave is one of the greatest, and we were lucky that he really connected with our music. He even invited us to dinner with him and The Bad Seeds—just the chance to share a real human connection with someone we've admired for so long was unforgettable."The conversation then moved to their debut single, More or Less, which took off online, and Gabriel admitted it was a lot to handle. "It was fun but also intense. We didn't expect it to blow up like that, but we worked hard for it, and it was what we wanted."As for Blindness' artwork, Gabriel explained that the band worked with Victor H, a renowned album cover artist. "The album cover represents potential and the inner emotional struggle of looking out into the world while feeling lost inside."Reflecting on their journey, Gabriel shared a personal insight: "If The Murder Capital never started, I'd probably be working as an undertaker. It's a family business, and I've always had an appreciation for both the highs and lows of life." Gabriel came to an interesting realisation; he sees people at their best, enjoying his music at shows and witnessing people at their lowest, grieving for loved ones through his undertaking job. Gabriel also believes that working as an undertaker has made him more empathetic, emphasising that it's not about the individual but about supporting the family in their time of need. He shared that his philosophy is to set aside one's emotions and ego to be a steady presence for those grieving. The role involves being calm, offering physical help, or providing comfort when needed. He reflected on how this perspective has shaped his appreciation for life, highlighting the importance of putting others first and maintaining emotional composure during challenging moments. Gabriel believes this ability to reserve one's emotions in such situations is key to offering genuine empathy.Gabriel's confidence in the band's growth and future was evident as the interview concluded. "This third album feels like we've truly earned our place. We're not an overnight success—we've put in the work."Catch The Murder Capital live on their Australian and New Zealand tour in April 2025, and experience the raw emotion and depth of Blindness firsthand.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

27 Dec 202430min

Interview by Angela CroudaceNo matter how much everything changes in culture and the world at large, heavy metal endures. It empowers. It engages. It engenders strength. It outlasts fads. Since forming in Gothenburg, Sweden and releasing their debut album Glory To The Brave in 1997, Swedish power metal titans HammerFall have stormed the gates of heavy music’s pantheon and waved the genre’s flag higher and higher with every subsequent release. With multiple international number ones, gold certifications, sold out tours, and over 100 million+ streams and 100 million+ YouTube views, the group upholds a venerable legacy.But it is in a live setting where they outshine their peers and imitators. In true HammerFall fashion, every element becomes dangerously and dramatically amplified. The riffs hit harder. The rhythms thunder louder. The choruses soar closer to the clouds.The GODS have listened, and they have heeded your call. HammerFall will set sail for Australia in January 2025 for their first ever Australian tour. HEAVY caught up with frontman Joacim Cans to dive in further."This tour is part of the tour of the latest album, Avenge the Fallen," he offered. "And since this is the 13th album - but still an album that will make a difference in the history of Hammerfall - we need to play the songs that the fans want to hear.We also need to play the songs that we want to play. That really makes me go and on stage. I love playing this song because it's so personal to me. We need to put that song in as well. And then maybe you add one or two, like, underdogs, so to speak, like, surprise songs. I think this is the equation for the perfect set list."Check out the full interview to hear the full story.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

27 Dec 202419min

Wheatus have been here that many times they would almost be classed as Australians.After a whirlwind 2024 that saw the band Down Under twice, once in February for acoustic shows with Art from Everclear and again with Wheatus in April for the Pandemonium Festival, frontman Brendan B Brown has become a beloved fixture in the Aussie music scene. The Wheatus sets at Pandemonium were one of the standout moments of the day, finding that perfect balance between stoking the fires of nostalgia and putting on a killer rock 'n' roll show.The Wheatus Acoustic Tour next January and February is shaping up to be the most fun you can have indoors this summer. Featuring Wheatus frontman and incredibly nice guy, Brendan B. Brown along with his better half, fellow Wheatus member Gabrielle Sterbenz, the epic 14 date run also features founding member and former lead guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist of The Chats, Josh ‘Pricey’ Price.HEAVY spent some time with Brendan recently, where we spoke about just about everything.Brendan shared that Australia was the first place to embrace Wheatus' music, especially the song Teenage Dirtbag, and that they were grateful for the support they received there. We discussed his approach to music and live performances, emphasizing the importance of connecting with the audience and not taking himself too seriously. He explained his method of tailoring each show to the audience's mood and requests, which he finds more engaging than a set list. Brendan also shared his experiences with touring and maintaining a positive band dynamic, highlighting the importance of respect and camaraderie among band members. He expressed his excitement for an upcoming acoustic show, where he and his partner Gabrielle will share stories and play songs from their catalogue and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

22 Dec 202419min

From little things, big things grow. At least in fairytales.But sometimes life imitates those storylines, as is the case with Gold Coast metal outfit Righteous Death.Conceived in Lismore in 2020 as the brainchild of local musician Jackson Marshall, Righteous Death started life as a one man project with Marshall writing and playing all instruments. A debut album, Rituals, followed, featuring vocals from a host of guest musicians, but a combination of life choices and the COVID struck to halt momentum and give Marshall renewed focus.Using his spare time to write new material and fine-tune his metal prowess, Jackson began working on album number two, enlisting the talents of vocalist Johnny Crypt to double the band's size and maximise its output.The result is the aptly titled follow-up, 2, which is released on December 23. A continuation and expansion on earlier material, 2 sees Righteous Death further develop their musical identity. HEAVY caught up with Marshall to discuss things in greater detail."I've been working with my singer Johnny Crypt from Melbourne, and after six months of him coming into the fold it's been really awesome to actually get these tunes that I've worked on for the last four years out to the world," Marshall enthused. "I'm pretty damned excited about it. It's been way too long between releases in my head. I've had the whole album pretty much completed for three months now, so it's cool to get it out there with a few singles first. With this album… the first album took a bit of a black metal turn because I was into Mayhem at the time, especially after watching the movie Lords Of Chaos. Originally, the concept of the second album came because I wanted to stray more away from black metal but still keep some elements from the first record."In the full interview we talked more about the sonic direction of the new album, the process of getting the second album in the can, finding the right vocalist, lessons learnt between albums, Marshall's own personal growth, future plans for the band, the potential for taking Righteous Death out of the studio and onto the stage and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

22 Dec 202412min

The metal Gods work in mysterious ways.In early 2021, fate brought Chloe Trujillo and Mark Dalbeth together at the Global Green Charity Event in LA's Troubadour. Bonding over their shared passion for music, they decided to collaborate after connecting online.Their brainchild, Lightning Strikes Twice, garnered strong feedback, fuelling their excitement for future projects .The pairs debut EP, HEAVY PEACE, dropped in 2022, amplifying their presence in the music scene. Eager to keep the momentum going, they returned to the studio, enlisting Ray Luzier (Korn) on drums for their second record.Transitioning from studio to stage, they assembled a formidable live band, featuring local guitarist Kevin Hicklin and Chloe's daughter, Lullah Trujillo, on drums, wasting no time in hitting the stage in early 2024 and captivating audiences, steadily building momentum with each electrifying performance.Last month, under the new monicker Blvd Of Eyes, the band released their second EP, Buying Lies For The Truth Seeker, expanding their existing sound into a swirling maelstrom of metal-infused rock that traverses the usual boundaries of acceptance into a sound definitively their own.Mark, Chloe and Kevin joined HEAVY recently to talk more about the EP."It's been really good," Mark enthused at the early response. "It just came out last month, so the response has been good. We have just released one single so far, so we will probably release a couple more videos. It's a great record. We were lucky to have Ray Luzier (Korn) drum on it, which was badass. Everything so far has been good. We're just setting up for some shows next year, and we will really push it more then."We ask about the musical side of Buying Lies For The Truth Seeker."It's got a hard rock sound," he measured, "with heavy guitars and big melodies and hooks. It's similar to the first EP, but probably a little bit more developed songwriting from us because we have been working together a bit more. It's another step up from the EP but still that hard rock with a little bit of metal, some melodic stuff and some really nice harmonies."In the full interview, the band talk more about Buying Lies For The Truth Seeker, including the musical direction of the songs and the meaning behind the ambiguous title. They discuss how it differs from their 2022 debut Heavy Peace, and how the band have grown in the period between EPs.We talk about the different genres that make up their music and finding the balance between genres in the creative process, and run through each of the five songs individually to get to the core of their content. The band talk about their formative years and creating a sustainable project, as well as future touring plans and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

21 Dec 202422min

As the saying goes, one person's loss is another person's gain.So while there were many disappointed when CKY pulled out of their Australian tour with Alien Ant Farm, there was also plenty more elated when their replacement was named in quick succession.It's not often a tour is strengthened by late adjustments, but from the moment Drowning Pool were named to fill the void, what was previously stifled enthusiasm quickly became cries of joy.After a prolonged absence from these shores, hard rock/metal monsters Drowning Pool will be returning next February, at the peak of their musical power and looking to decimate fans on this side of the world. Since reuniting with vocal powerhouse Ryan McCombs, Drowning Pool have gone from strength to strength, blowing away audiences at some of the world's premier festivals - Aftershock, Nu Metal Revolution, Louder Than Life, Sonic Temple, Blue Ridge Rock many others.They are a band who has seen as many downs as they have ups, but throughout all have remained committed to their craft and each other, powering through each obstacle and emerging triumphant. And now it looks like another prominent chapter is about to be written.HEAVY sat down recently with guitarist CJ Pierce to fill in the blanks."For us, it's been all cool," he replied when I commended the band for stepping in at short notice. "There's no drama here with Drowning Pool. I'm not sure about the situation, but we've been friends with Alien Ant Farm since day one - 20 plus years- and we're just coming to rock out. We were already working on some shows in Australia anyway, which were gonna be later in the year, so we couldn't wait to get there. Right place, right time. We appreciate them for having us on. No disrespect to CKY fans. We probably could do a cover song of theirs but out of respect to them Drowning Pool's bringing a lot of metal to the show."In the full interview, CJ spoke more about what fans can expect from Drowning Pool live, their latest single Revolution (The Final Amen), welcoming Ryan back to the fold, any difficulties in another transition of vocalists, the importance of having the right band's together as part of a tour, new music including an album, the decision to go Independent and what it means for the band, keeping motivated and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

14 Dec 202415min