Guitars, Riffs, And A Little Bit Of Aussie Heat: RICK SCHNEIDER On Polaris And Knotfest

Coheed & Cambria are possibly one of the most important bands to emerge in this generation.Essentially a progressive metal outfit, Coheed & Cambria are also a fully immersive sonic beacon of hope in a world that is too often void of such feelings.While musically the New York based prog rock icons sing about lands and situations that are bathed in darkness, it is their approach to music and life in general that has seen Coheed & Cambria intertwine themselves into the ears and lives of anyone close enough to be touched by their energy.Over the course of ten albums since the turn of the century, Coheed & Cambria have brought new light to an increasingly stale genre, and, more importantly, done so of their own volition.Now, after an eight-year absence, Coheed & Cambria are readying to make their way back to Australia as part of the massive Monolith Festival, starting in Brisbane on November 2. Monolith features a truly international assortment of bands from differing backgrounds, with fellow American outfit Periphery joining Norwegian prog rockers Leprous, Canadian instrumentalists Intervals, French metalcore dynamos Novelists and Melbourne music machine Silver Fang rounding out the bill.As a special treat, Coheed & Cambria will be playing their third album Good Apollo, I’m Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through Madness in full to celebrate last year's 25th anniversary of their most successful release to date. Frontman Claudio Sanchez will also be hosting a special question and answer panel called Celebrating 20 Years Of The Amory Wars: The Past, Present And Future where he will be discussing the band's long-running series of comics and graphic novels.HEAVY caught up Sanchez earlier today, fresh off stage from a show with Incubus.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

30 Aug 202418min

Sydney punk reprobates FANGZ are in the thick of things of late. They just recently finished a massive national run as support to Cancer Bats, and have been busying themselves with releasing new music and generally making life a party wherever they go.True Aussie legends in their own right, FANGZ are a fresh band with an old-school mentality. They play hard and party harder without pause for reflection or decision.That hypothesis will be put to the test this weekend when FANGZ set out to do the almost impossible.A 24-hour East Coast tour.Let that sink in. FANGZ are planning a WHOLE East Coast tour in the same amount of time it allegedly takes the sun to do a lap of the Earth. Starting at the Cherry Bar in Melbourne as Friday night rolls into Saturday morning - so August 31 - the boys then travel to Sydney for a show at Bootleggers precisely 12 hours later and finish up at Greaser in Brisbane before the clock strikes midnight, thus completing an East Coast tour in 24 hours.It sounds too much of an effort to even think about, let alone attempt to pull off, so HEAVY tracked down frontman Joshua Cottreau to see how serious this whole thing is."What do you think?" Cottreau fires back at me when I ask if it is even possible. "It doesn't make sense to NOT try and do that," he laughed. "You know us by now. I'd put more in if I could. I don't think it's that unreasonable. The only thing, obviously, is flights because we're on a tight schedule. As long as everything goes according to plan, it should be sweet. We're really stoked. I think it's a pretty insane idea, but I don't really know anyone else who's done it (laughs). You've gotta go for it, right?"In the full interview, Joshua talks more about the 24 hour East Coast tour, the new track Same Old Story and its nostalgic video, their style of music and why it is so infectious, gives us the scoop on a new - debut - album, their musical growth over the course of three EP's, the upcoming Froth & Fury festival and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

28 Aug 202418min

Interview by Kris PetersBrisbane, it's that time of year again!The annual celebration of music that is BigSound is just around the corner, with the music event that stops the nation set down for the Fortitude Valley from September 3 to 6.It is difficult to comprehend the vast array of benefits BigSound has for artists, music lovers and music industry people, but with a selection of live music, workshops, speakers, showcases and a range of other activities, one thing you can be sure of is getting your absolute fill of music.While recognising the achievements and status of established performers, BigSound also invites up and comers to join festivities, giving many young and hopeful bands an opportunity to not only showcase their music, but also make connections that could ultimately prove valuable for their future career in music.One of those bands is Central Coast trio Muzzle, who will be making their first visit to Brisbane and playing their songs to an established audience with a common love of music.HEAVY caught up with Isaac Wasiliev from the band to find out more.We spoke about their two showcase performances at Tomcat on September 3 and Ric's Backyard on September 5, what people can expect from their show, what they hope to come out of the BigSound experience with, where Muzzle came from and how they have been shaped into the band they are today, adding your own DNA to original music, three songs to listen to in order to know what to expect, their upcoming EP and more.BIGSOUND MUSIC FESTIVAL tix and delegate passes on sale now: www.bigsound.org.auBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

28 Aug 20246min

Interview by Kris PetersGood Things Festival is back for another year, and that can only mean one thing.More world class live acts!Featuring the likes of KORN, Kerry King, SUM 41, Billy Corgan, Electric Callboy, Mastodon, Jet, The Gaslight Anthem and more, GT24 is already shaping up as an absolute cracker. But, of course, one of the best things about large music festivals is the opportunity to discover new bands. Because if they weren't good, they wouldn't have made the cut, right?For Good Things 2024 one of those bands who will definitely be on people's radar is Swedish metal outfit Imminence who, despite being around for more than a decade, have never made it to our side of the world.Imminence have made a huge impact on the music world pretty much everywhere else, with their latest album The Black cementing their status as one of the bands to watch anywhere and everywhere they play. HEAVY caught up with vocalist/violin player Eddie Berg to find out more."It's always about getting the formal invitation you have been waiting for," he laughed when asked why Imminence have neglected Australia for so long.We bring up the fact that organisers must have extreme faith in the band to bring them out without an established market, to which Eddie nods in agreement."Absolutely," he affirmed. "I think we'll come in cold," he added when asked how much preparation the band will do on what to expect when they get here. "We already have some people there that we're friends with through the internet, so it's gonna be great to finally see them. I think that we should just go in there with an open mind and see what it's like."In the full interview we talk about some of the other bands playing, what Imminence are expecting from Australian audiences, what we should expect from them, three songs for people to listen to in order to know the band better, the early days of Imminence while he was still in high school, his early attitude towards making a career out of music, how he focussed on a career from a young age, the blending of Swedish metal with violin that forms the nucleus of Imminence's sound, how difficult it is in the creative process to infuse the opposing styles together and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

27 Aug 20249min

Interview by Kris PetersAfter dropping two EP's in quick succession towards the end of the last decade, Melbourne indie-punk outfit Dental Plan decided to take their time with their next release, putting into effect not only their music interests and pedigrees, but also their growing knowledge of their craft.2021 saw Dental Plan return with the brutal single Hole In Me, which emphatically announced their re-emergence as a more polished unit. Landslide followed, and anticipation turned into expectation as Dental Plan announced their debut album Raw Nerve was incoming.That album landed on July 19, affirming Dental Plan's growing status, opening the band up for a new range of opportunities that are finally coming to fruition.HEAVY sat down with vocals/guitarist Niam Hegarty to find out more."It's been really good," he enthused of the reception Raw Nerve has received so far. "We've kind of got more streams than I expected and people seem to have been digging it. It's done what it needed to do, which I think is get the word about the band out there. We've been a band for a while, and this is our first record. A long time coming, but I'm looking forward to getting out to play some shows to support it."In the full interview Niam discussed Raw Nerve more in terms of musical direction, how it represents Dental Plan's trajectory to date, what sorts of things are discussed going into a debut album, finding their sound and the balance between genres, how Raw Nerve differs to their self-titled EP, finding your musical identity, future plans and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

26 Aug 202410min

Interview by Kris PetersWith the countdown to Necrosonic Festival at The Mansfield Tavern in Brisbane on August 31 now on, HEAVY thought it appropriate to introduce you to some of the bands playing on the day.Conjured by one of the dark architects behind the legendary Overcranked, Inferno and Dead of Winter Festivals, Necrosonic heralds a day filled with unrelenting brutality and the heaviest, most sinister sounds that the underworld has to offer, some even returning from the dead for the ritual.Hosting 30 bands across three stages over 12 hours, Necrosonic Festival promises to satiate even the heaviest of hungers. One of the band's planning to destroy everything before them is Melbourne old school death metal outfit Algor Mortis, with vocalist CC joining HEAVY recently to talk about what to expect.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

26 Aug 202413min

Interview by Kris PetersTo steal a line from their bio, "ZEAL & ARDOR isn’t just a band; it’s a living and breathing entity."Since announcing their arrival with 2017's album Devil Is Fine, Zeal & Ardor have transgressed almost every musical parameter known to man, exploring sonic realms through their music that have no right being disturbed, yet somehow always combine through a submissive force of nature that is both compelling and irresistible.Founding member and main man Manuel Gagneux has long been the heart, soul and public face of this musical enigma, writing and recording everything himself in pursuit of total creative freedom and balance. It is a process which has worked beautifully over three previous albums, but for the band's fourth, Grief, which was released last Friday, Gagneux elected to change things up considerably by inviting his band - for seven years only used as touring musicians - into the studio to help start and complete the project.It was a brave move, but one which has yielded impressive dividends, with added vocal layers and differing thought patterns contributing to yet another musical evolution within Zeal & Ardor.HEAVY sat down with Gagneux earlier today to talk about Grief. We start by asking how the early reception has been for album number four."It's been pretty much what I expected," he smiled, "because it's not as… I wanna say heavy as the other records. So some people are butt hurt and other people are really into it (laughs). It's a good mix."With so much going on from so many different levels on Grief, we ask Gagneux how he would describe the album musically."Oh damn," he pondered. "I think it's just a collection of songs that I was really into. It's kind of like tapas where you have different small dishes; you can have a little bit of that and a little bit of this. It's the opposite of a concept album, I guess. There's a concept to it, but you're not gonna get Tool hours of nerding over it because there's a meaning between every single song. They're just songs, and I like them (laughs)."In the full interview Manuel discusses the musical side of Grief in more detail, how he has expanded on previous music, the continual musical evolution of Zeal & Ardor and how much growth is left in the band, the track Clawing Out and the story behind it, having his band in the studio with him and why now is the right time, relinquishing total creative control and if that was an issue, his creative side and where it comes from, having three different vocal layers on the album, self-producing your music and more.In a new interview segment, we also show Manuel some photos we dug up and asked him to explain them.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

26 Aug 202415min

Interview by Simon Russell-WhiteIt's appropriate to skip the fluff on this one, for goodness’ sake it's Steve Harris (Bass/ Keyboards) we're talking to here and the importance of his "other band" (insert laughter here) Iron Maiden needs no explanation and/or justification.The focus tonight? The band he helped put back together piece by piece... Yes, I'm talking about the one and only British Lion.After the band imploded in the 90s, the man himself couldn't bear the sight of knowing that British Lion would not be again, the reasoning he explained was simple. "The songs were just too good for it to stop". And the rest, as they say, is history.For his bandmates - Richard Taylor (vocals), David Hawkins (guitar), Grahame Leslie (guitar), and Simon Dawson (drums) - this Australian tour is the first time the boys have ever even stood on Australian soil, let alone played here. Of course, Steve has been here a billion times, and assured me that he'd point the fellas in the right direction for any site seeing!Now, we all know what sized arenas/stadiums "Maiden" has played, but as our conversation leaned into discussing British Lion playing more intimate venues, a sense of stepping back in time took hold. But not in the usual way, as Maiden skipped playing a lot of smaller venues due to their sudden rise to fame so in many respects for Steve he is playing venues for the first time all over the world!!Now, if that doesn't grab you, then I don't know what will.Enjoy listening to one of the Godfathers of the heavy metal game, ohh and go check out the almighty British Lion this August/September supported by Tony Moore’s Awake - a man that needs no introduction. A man that Steve has had a musical bond with since 1977.All Hail!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

24 Aug 202416min