Projecting Your Mortality With BRUCE DICKINSON

HEAVY was lucky to again be invited backstage at Good Things 2025 to chat with the bands about their shows and other fun stuff. Today, Kyra and Geoffro have their hands full with GWAR... Big thanks to Destroy All Lines and the team at Dallas Does PR for allowing us to share the day with them.Big thanks also to the team - Kyra, Geoffro and Angela as well as our new video team, Grey & Brook.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

10 Dec 9min

Interview by Kris PetersMusic lovers and fans of blackened death metal outfit Sinsaenum had their pain tempered somewhat earlier this year when Joey Jordison's drum tech and personal friend, Andre Joyzi, was announced as the drummer to fill the void left by Jordison in the band.It was a romantic and logical choice to not only continue Jordison's legacy, but also to carry Sinsaenum into the exciting future they have always been destined for. But amid the public scrutiny and acceptance, Joyzi suddenly found himself answering to demons of his own when personal doubts and the weight of public expectation quickly replaced the sense of loss and grief that had dominated both the musical landscape and the waking thoughts of a person who had lost more than a friend. He had also lost a mentor, a muse, and someone who had played a major role in his musical journey.Despite his best efforts to concentrate on the future, Joyzi found himself living in the past, unable to fully embrace the plethora of options and possibilities that had now attached themselves to his life. What should have been a time for celebration, Joyzi's newfound path left him feeling vulnerable, lost, and perhaps a little scared. His grief became a walking time bomb with no thought for rhyme or reason, while the world around him seemed to move on.Now, for the first time, Joyzi is ready to share his story with the world. Share his feelings, but more importantly, purge his grief. A long-time friend of Joyzi's, HEAVY found ourselves in the unique position of being one of the outlets for his pain. A pain that also affected fans as far out as Australia, and one which needed to be discussed openly. Needed to be discussed without judgment. And needed to be voiced out loud. The result was a deeply personal and emotional interview for both parties, and one which Joyzi has granted permission for us to share with you.Like most drummers of the modern generation, Andre Joyzi was heavily influenced by Joey Jordison in his formative years behind the kit. But, as fate would have it, Joyzi would one day get to do the unthinkable for many aspiring musicians when he got to not only meet the man who had helped forge his path in music, but also work with and alongside that same person. It was a journey that quickly transformed into a friendship, but looking back on the day that in many ways changed his future, Joyzi still has that same twinkle in his eye that must have caught the attention and trust of Joey Jordison when they first met back in 2018 after Joyzi accepted the highly sought after position as Jordison's drum tech in Sinsaenum."It was in France on the first pre-production day of rehearsal for Sinsaenum's tour," Joyzi recalled, his eyes smiling almost as brightly as his lips. "I arrived and the band was already in the rehearsal space. When I got there Fred (Leclercq, who Joyzi had worked previously with in Dragonforce) came out and looked at me. We never really talked too much about the factor as in, 'oh my God, you're going to work with Joey' (laughs). It was just like, okay, I'm going to go and do my job. I was the tour manager as well, so I couldn't really let Joey know that I was a huge fan. That was the top priority. I kept telling myself on the whole journey that, as the tour manager, Joey cannot know that you're a huge fanboy. So I got there and I'm outside the room with my bags and Fred comes out and he just looked at me and he said, he's over there.I'm nervous as fuck to meet my hero but thought all right, here I go, and then I just walked in. I started speaking to Joey like I didn't know who he was. 'Hey, man. So how's it going? Let's set up your drums', and he was just really nice and easy to do everything with. So, yeah, I perfectly remember. We started setting up his drums straight away, just him and I, talking like two normal people.This process took two or three hours, and I was already past the, 'okay, I've just met my hero part' so I was in work mode. I said, 'Joey, do you mind sitting there and trying it? Trying your kit?' And he did and I remember I was looking somewhere else and Joey hit the snare and immediately I felt like, holy fuck, this is the guy I've been listening to my whole life. This is Joey Jordison! I can try to hit the snare - anyone in the world, you can hit the snare - but you will not sound like Joey. So at that moment I was like, 'fuck, this is the guy from all the Slipknot albums!' That was a really, really special moment, just unique. I'll never not be grateful for this opportunity."From there the relationship between Jordison and Joyzi became more personal, an inevitable friendship of two kindred spirits forged by time spent on the road together and a common love for music. Which is what made Jordison's passing in 2021 so much harder for Joyzi who had lost more than a collegue. He had also lost a close friend, ally and confidant. Respectfully, we ask Joyzi to describe Jordison as a person and what having him in his life meant."When I met Joey he had already gone through a lot," Joyzi recalled, his gaze distant. "By the time I met him he had had his years in Slipknot and been on top of the world. He had already left Slipknot and done a few other things and he was in a different place than that period. But essentially, he was the most positive person you could you could meet. It was all about love and he was a really friendly person. He knew that a small gesture from him meant the world to me or to any of his fans, and so he did it all the time. I think it was the first thing on his mind, making sure that if he could do something to make someone's day, he would. He was a really, really, really good person and he was incredibly passionate about music.If you wanted to get Joey talking bring up a name of a band - like Morbid Angel - and away you go (laughs). As a person he was a funny guy, with a great sense of humor, and his musical knowledge was incredible. Just a really positive person, really easy to work with. A lovely guy with a great heart and it's a very sad loss."Joyzi found himself in the unique position of having the best seat in the house to witness the spectacle that was Jordison's professionalism night after night. While his drumming will mean many different things to many different people, Joyzi put a large part of Jordison's universal appeal down to one factor."Personality," he replied without hesitation. "I think that is part of what's lacking in modern drummers; everyone sounds the same. (But) Joey sounds like Joey. That's it. He has his style. First of all, he revolutionized the world of metal drumming. Sometimes younger people may not know that, but Joey was the drummer that everyone my age looked up to. He changed the world of drumming.I was a nu metal basic drummer before I first heard Slipknot and immediately the goalposts changed by hearing Joey - and not just for me, but millions of people around the world. On the Sinsaenum tour I got a glimpse of what Joey's life was like. Every day, hundreds of fans wanted to tell him that they started playing drums because of him. You just cannot compare Joey to anyone else. He was a revolutionary drummer that changed metal drumming. But yeah, it was that moment when I heard him hit the snare for the first time… I think what was more special about his drumming is that he still sounded like himself. You know, that's what it is. But at the time he revolutionized metal by incorporating loads of different styles and doing things that hadn't been done until he came out."With Jordison's passing came a time for not only grief, but also reflection. Reflection on the man, his life, his legacy, and his music. Little thought or discussion was initially given to finding a replacement for him in Sinsaenum, with the mere suggestion that life could continue quickly as a band being incomprehensible. Such was the respect shown - and deserved - for Jordison that, for once, the rumour mills and speculations that generally surround the replacing of a fallen comrade in a band were rightfully quiet, with the decision on even if to continue being left to his bandmates without media scrutiny.When the news came in June 2025 that Sinsaenum would continue, it also came with the announcement of a new album - In Devastation - and a renewed commitment to do Jordison's life and memory proud. The man named to fill the void? Andre Joyzi.While the official announcement was welcomed by fans and peers the world over, the process of getting to that point was not easy for Sinsaenum or for Joyzi. It was never a matter of finding a fill in or like for like replacement. It was more about finding someone who could continue the upward trajectory of Sinsaenum while still paying respect to the band's original drummer. While it was not a decision made lightly by either the band nor Joyzi, it was one which Joyzi embraced with both hands, determined to pay homage to Jordison and his drumming in every conceivable way."To me there was no decision to be made," Joyzi shrugged. "The second Fred asked… all he said was, 'I wonder what Sinsaenum would sound like with you on drums'? But it was very complicated for me because the band wasn't auditioning other drummers. It was just either I can do it or I can't. And that was worse. I would rather lose to someone who's a better drummer than have a chance that's all yours and then you fuck it up (laughs).So I think there was a lot more pressure, but for me there was no decision to be made. I got the message from Fred and I said to myself, you either accomplish this, or you give up and you're a piece of shit. You're a useless drummer. So that's the standard I set, you're either a shit drummer or you got this and you put everything into that. So that's what I did and I immediately changed my life around it. I had help from my family, because it was during the pBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

5 Dec 27min

Interview by Ali WilliamsIf you thought punk rockers lived only for chaos, let Joey Cape of Lagwagon shatter that illusion—with a story or two about lawn bowling and beer in the sunshine. In a recent HEAVY podcast sit-down with Ali Williams, Joey offered up vintage Lagwagon charm, plenty of self-deprecating wit, and a clear message: after 34 years on the circuit, he and the crew are still stoked to be heading Down Under for another round of Australian mayhem. Joey barely remembers his first Australian tour in the mid-90s—blame it on time, touring, or maybe just the volume of beers shared with local mates like Melbourne’s One Inch Punch. These days, he jokes, it’s less punk bars and more dinner with friends (and, yes, the occasional barefoot lawn bowl). Apparently, there’s nothing quite like sizing up a crew of retirees on the green and wondering if you’re officially “the young guy” again. Lagwagon is hitting the Australian summer hard in late January, with a run that includes the Froth and Fury Festival and a string of headlining shows, before popping over to New Zealand and—on brand—wrapping up with some R&R in Hawaii. Joey’s bringing his partner along for the ride, so expect extra stories and possibly a few more lawn bowling anecdotes at the merch table. This tour is something of a “31st Anniversary” bash for their classic album Hoss (punk math: book a 30th, play the 31st, still call it a party). But, as Joey laughs, “Old albums are 30 minutes long—so you basically play the album, then two times more music just to make it a set.” Setlists? Lagwagon’s “text thread democracy” means every show gets a different flavour, with Joey confessing that every band’s got “that one guy who refuses to play that song.” Still, you’ll hear the fan-favourite May 16th—immortalized in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater—plus deep cuts for the diehards. Ever wondered about the real story behind May 16th? Joey lays it bare: it’s the date of his best mate’s wedding… that he wasn’t invited to, thanks to an unimpressed bride. Fast-forward: Joey stumbles onto the ceremony from a stranger’s window after a night out and channels heartbreak into punk rock legend. Decades on, the couple is now are divorced, and they’re mates again, and Joey declares, “Stick around long enough, you always win.” If you catch Lagwagon this tour, don’t expect a bunch of solemn, over-rehearsed rock stars. Lagwagon’s vibe is about enjoying the ride, whether it’s smashing out classics or just soaking up the sun. “The shows are always great—the band’s playing better than ever—but honestly, that’s the least interesting part. It’s everything else you look forward to.” Lagwagon hits Australia in late January, headlining Froth and Fury Festival (WA and SA) and shows across the country, then heading to New Zealand. Check local listings for details, pack your sunscreen, and maybe a bowling hat. Confirming that perseverance, a bit of stoic attitude, and a good sense of humour are the secrets to making it this far—both in punk and in life, Lagwagon are guaranteed to not disappoint, fans of old and those of new can expect some top shelf shows from these sublime legends. Tickets and info: sbmpresents.com/tour/lagwagon-2026/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

5 Dec 14min

Eskimo Joe were always a great band, even though it took most people until their third album, Black Fingernails, Red Wine to realise it.After laying the sonic platform over a couple of EP's and albums, the Fremantle rock outfit decided to shake things up a little when it came to album number three, throwing caution to the wind by escaping the comfortable safety net they had built for themselves in favour of a more expansive sound that would translate even better onto the big stage.History will tell us that the decision was the correct one, with Black Fingernails, Red Wine considered by many to be one of the defining moments in Australian rock music. It also earned Eskimo Joe four ARIA Awards, including Single of the Year, and saw them sell out arenas across the country. The album’s brooding tone, ambitious self-production, and emotionally charged songwriting marked a bold evolution from the band’s earlier records Girl and A Song Is a City, and fast tracked Eskimo Joe to national identities who have continued to justify their rapid rise by touring relentlessly and keeping the music alive.But it shall always be Black Fingernails, Red Wine that stands as the defining moment of Eskimo Joe's career, and with the album turning 20 next year the only respectful thing for the band to do is tour the hell out of it, which is exactly what they plan to do! Guitarist and founding member Stu MacLeod joined HEAVY to talk about the tour and the enduring legacy of that still famous album."It's pretty surreal to think it's been two decades," he began, smiling cheekily. "I mean, a lot has obviously happened in that time, but it feels like it's just gone by in a flash, you know?"Eskimo Joe will be playing two sets each show, one stacked with fan favourites, and the other dedicated to the birthday album, so we ask Stu if it will be played in order of track listing or mixed up a little."Oh, no, definitely front to back," he stressed. "I think that's part of the joy of getting to play an album in full on stage. When we write a record, it really is a process where we try and map a journey for the listener. It's not just a bunch of songs, and we pick which ones sound good next to each other after the fact. We actually design the album as we go. If there's a gap somewhere of a particular tempo or style or feeling, then we'll say, all right, we've got to write a song to fill that gap. We're actually writing a song. We're actually writing songs to fit the album, as opposed to just playlisting a bunch of songs afterwards to make it sound good."In the full interview, Stu talks more about what to expect from the shows, the decision to space the dates out to only include weekends and having Alex Lloyd as national support.He reflected on the making of Black Fingernails, Red Wine and how they created a sound and record that has resonated on so many levels. He recalled some of the highlights of making the album, what the band initially thought of it, the exclusive 20th Anniversary Cab Sav range of wine coming out next year and more.Tour tickets www.eskimojoe.net/toursBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

5 Dec 11min

Interview by Ali WilliamsPrepare your necks and your livers, because Cryptopsy are barrelling towards Australia with all the subtlety of a freight train loaded with blast beats. In this HEAVY interview, frontman Matt McGachy drops in for a chat with our Ali Williams that’s equal parts comedy, chaos, and tour-warrior wisdom, as the band prepares to hit Aussie shores for their first tour down under since 2016.McGachy serves up the kind of charmingly blunt honesty only a death metal veteran can muster. He riffs about the pure madness of juggling jet lag, extreme humidity, and trying to deliver guttural vocals without spontaneously combusting on stage. As the band heads for Australia’s to celebrate over three decades of metal with four headline shows McGachy is equal parts fired-up and amused, promising that Cryptopsy’s live show will be an all-out assault, but with just enough Canadian politeness to (probably) avoid getting deported. The conversation is peppered with tales of culture shock (shoutout to Saudi Arabia’s “no moshing” rule), the band’s accidental foray into death metal history, and the awkward logistics of ageing in a genre that’s all about speed. McGachy laughs about getting older, likening band life to a bad marriage with four stubborn partners and swearing that Cryptopsy’s legacy will never involve “Ric Flair-ing” themselves into oblivion. Instead, he promises the band is tighter than ever, running on pure adrenaline, camaraderie, and maybe a few electrolyte tablets. For those craving the inside scoop: yes, the band is stoked for a long overdue return visit, yes, the set will be relentless, and yes, there may be some backstage chaos involving local support acts and sweaty gear changes.  Expect tales of power outages, sonic carnage, and the kind of crowd energy that only Aussie metalheads can conjure. If you want a taste of what’s coming, McGachy hints at the band’s sharpened focus, a “no repeats, no half-measures” attitude, and a set list that’ll leave both new fans and long-timers in a state of delighted ruin. The whole chat is a perfect storm: fun, irreverent, and bursting with that raw energy only Cryptopsy can deliver. By the end, you’re left convinced that this tour will be the kind of glorious mess you’ll brag about surviving for years to come. Craving the gory details, band banter, and the full run of McGachy’s stories? You’ll have to catch the full podcast. This is just the opening riff... Tickets www.hardlinemedia.netBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

4 Dec 16min

Interview by Ali WilliamsHEALTH’s Jake Duzsik jumped on the mic with HEAVY Mags Ali Williams for a chat that somehow managed to zigzag between parenting woes, anime fandom, video-game virality, and a man chugging a can of chilli. Fresh off the release of their new single Ordinary Loss, and gearing up for their next record Conflict DLC, out December 11, Jake admits life is a whirlwind—not just because the band is deep in album mode, but because he’s also navigating the emotional rollercoaster of raising a five-year-old. From wiping his own butt (“a milestone worth celebrating,” laughs Jake) to nightly story time, his kid is in that fleeting golden stage where parents are still gods. Jake is already mourning the day he’s no longer the coolest human in the house. But don’t worry, he hasn’t gone soft. If you thought HEALTH’s promo stunts were wild, Jake confirms they used to be much worse. Their previous antics included: hiding golden tickets in vinyl copies, sending fans bags of their guitarist’s cat hair, signing test pressings in blood, and the ultimate? Flying a fan to the US to hang out and stay at their own home for a weekend and smoke sativa at Magic Mountain. They also had a guy chug a can of chilli like it was a shot of bourbon to announce previous releases. Jake says the band fully intended for Ordinary Loss to emotionally flatten listeners—in the uplifting, cathartic way HEALTH does best. Early reactions suggest it’s hitting fans right in the feels, which is the only metric that really matters in the algorithm-ruled hellscape of modern music discovery. Although HEALTH would love a viral hit (“it’s a lottery nobody understands,” Jake notes), they measure success by whether the die-hard fans feel it. And so far, they do. Their second-most streamed track on Spotify didn’t come from an album at all—it blew up thanks to a massively popular video game, then an anime adaptation on Netflix. The band has fully embraced their anime-gaming-nerd-culture fanbase, which Jake describes fondly as “amazing.” He even admits that this older track is still the most likely candidate for a future viral blow-up simply because it has so many cultural tentacles. While Conflict DLC doesn’t feature major guest vocalists, the band does keep one emergency contact on speed dial: Willie Adler of Lamb of God. When in need of a riff that could level a small city? They pick up the “red rock phone,” Willie answers, and the result becomes songs like the brutally heavy Vibe Cop.HEALTH will be back in Australia in September 2026, leading Jake to reminisce about the band’s last Aussie tour, which was equal parts magical and miserable. Thanks to our famously insulation-optional buildings, he discovered that Australian winter venues can be colder than a Seattle basement. He even booked a fancy Brisbane hotel with a rooftop pool—only to discover the pool was roughly the temperature of a soft-serve freezer. Lesson learned. Culturally though? Jake says Australia feels more like California than anywhere else in the world—laid-back, beachy, outdoorsy, and chaotic in all the right ways. For Jake, making music is still the only job he ever wanted. He’s grateful HEALTH has allowed him to live that life for most of his adulthood, and he hopes their songs continue to give listeners something meaningful—whether that’s emotional release, escape, or just a soundtrack for scrolling weird anime clips on TikTok. Tour info and tickets for their 2026 Australian tour can be found on the bands official website. Their new album release can be downloaded on all available platforms from December 11.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

3 Dec 13min

Interview by Angela CroudaceFrench guitarist and singer Laura Cox is entering a bold new chapter with her latest album Trouble Coming, what she describes as her most personal and creatively liberating yet. In our conversation, Cox explains that for the first time she wrote and composed entirely on her own, stepping away from the familiar team dynamic of her earlier releases. Partnering with French electro-rock duo No Money Kids, she embraced a more modern edge while preserving the blues-rock roots that first put her on the map.The album’s creation was unusually relaxed, unfolding over several months between home recordings and studio sessions, a process Cox says felt “smooth,” “natural,” and free from the pressure of rigid studio deadlines. This freedom seems to have reshaped everything, even her writing approach, with vocal melodies and guitar parts now arriving simultaneously rather than being built around riffs.From YouTube beginnings to major festival stages, Cox remains grounded, grateful for a fan base that continues to evolve, especially as she sees more women and young people discovering her music. With new songs built specifically for the stage and an ambitious touring schedule ahead, Cox is excited for what comes next and hopes Australia might finally be on the horizon!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

28 Nov 24min

HEAVY Mag’s Ali Williams sits down with Jesse and Ben from Stellar Circuits for a wide-open deep dive into the band’s next chapter—one built on evolution, experimentation, and a whole lot of beautifully unhinged studio energy. What unfolds is a refreshingly candid chat that shows a band not just levelling up, but completely reshaping their creative DNA. Band members Jesse (bass) and Ben (vocals) dive into how they’ve pushed themselves into sharper, heavier, more emotionally charged territory—balancing precision with instinct, layering expansive melody over crushing groove, and building songs that feel bigger and bolder than ever. Opening up about refining their workflow, the unexpected twists behind the writing sessions, and the tight chemistry that keeps everything firing even when the studio turns into beautiful bedlam. Phantom Phoenix is the brand-new album that dropped on November 14, a release they describe as their most fully realised statement yet. With fresh material ready to tear the roof off, they tease early-2026 touring plans and promise a live show that brings all that density, detail and wild energy onto the stage.It’s a behind-the-scenes look at a band levelling up—sonically, creatively, and collectively—right as they unleash their biggest release to date. The guys unpack how their sound has shifted into fiercer, bolder territory: thicker riffs, cleaner melodic contrast, and songwriting that feels more intentional without losing the raw edge fans connect with. They describe the ongoing challenge of balancing brute force with emotional vulnerability, and how leaning into that tension has become a defining feature of their new material. From the studio, we get stories of organised chaos, last-minute re-writes, and the kind of hyper-focused intensity that only comes from a band locked in and hungry. They joke about the hair-whipping mania of their live sets, the internal battles over tiny sonic details, and the weird rituals that somehow keep everything on track during the most demanding recording sessions. Phantom Phoenix is described as their “most complete, most deliberate, and most aggressively honest” body of work to date. They touch on its themes, its tonal shifts, and the creative risks that set it apart from anything they’ve done before. It’s a release that marks a clear milestone: the moment Stellar Circuits fully step into who they are as a modern heavy act. Rounding things out, the band tease early-2026 touring plans, promising a live show designed to translate the album’s depth and weight directly into the crowd. Expect bigger dynamics, wilder performances, and the kind of immersive atmosphere that turns a gig into an experience. In short: this is Stellar Circuits at their most ambitious, most dialled-in, and most unapologetic. If the interview is any indication, the next era of the band is set to hit with force.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

28 Nov 8min