Midnight Mysteries With PETE 9 And FERATU From WOLFSKULL

After building momentum and a solid, loyal fan base following the release of two EPs - The Wound, The Blade (2022) and Shadow Dancer (2023) - Melbourne metal outfit ATLVS went strangely quiet, going over two years with an eerie radio silence. While such a period of inactivity, especially in the modern age of music, would be an almost certain death knell for emerging bands, the absence seemed to do little to quell the thirst of their loyal army.Their return in June of this year with the instantly irresistible single Soulsucker saw ATLVS pick up almost precisely where they left off, proving that quality music will still be rewarded despite the shortening attention spans of the world and the wealth of bands and music released every day. The track hinted at something bigger from ATLVS but just what that is remains as mysterious as their absence, so to try and get to the bottom of things ahead of the band's trip to Brisbane as part of BigSound, HEAVY sat down for some quality time with Nathan Coff (vocalist) and Nick Clavarino (drummer) for a chat that ultimately left just as many questions as it did answers.We ask what ATLVS hope to get out of the BigSound experience."As a band, I am very interested to see other acts playing," Clavarino answered. "Also, meeting like-minded people. Very interested to see… just from all sorts of bases. You've got your promoters, agents, sync agents, even roles I've never heard of before (laughs), so I'm just interested to meet every single person I can possibly meet and make some good connections."Further to that, we ask what BigSound means to Australian bands and the Australian music scene." I think it's awesome that we have this sort of thing in Australia," Clavarino began, "that is so focused on the future of music. It's the biggest thing like this in the Southern Hemisphere, obviously, so we're pretty lucky to be able to have that. BigSound gives a stage where artists can showcase themselves to people from all around the world and meet people in the industry and industry professionals."In the full interview, Nathan and Nick highlighted the importance of networking with other artists and industry professionals at BigSound, viewing it as a unique opportunity to showcase their talent on a global stage. The band promised to deliver a high-energy performance that stands out among numerous acts, drawing on their experience and professionalism.They also discussed their recent single Soulsucker, which has been well-received after a two-year hiatus, and mentioned that it is part of a larger project, though details were not provided. Nathan acknowledged the challenges of re-establishing the band's presence but expressed confidence in their loyal fan base and plans to engage with fans through social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook to maintain that connection and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

27 Aug 13min

With the world becoming increasingly sanitised and regulated, it is refreshing to see and hear a band that still adheres to the old school ethos where fun was the order of the day and everything said and played is meant to be taken with a grain of salt. Which is exactly what you get from Melbourne hard rock outfit Ablaze, who wear their hearts proudly on their sleeves and their sleeves proudly on their hearts.Known for their love of a good time, but even more so for their particular brand of hard rock - especially live - Ablaze set the world on fire even further with the release of their second album Sink Ya Teeth In.Packed full of hard-rocking, toe-tapping, boot stomping tunes, Sink Ya Teeth In showcases the abundance of riches within Ablaze, all neatly wrapped under the banner of Aussie hard rock. With the band set to board a flight to Belgium for an upcoming European/UK run of shows, drummer Mango stopped packing for ten minutes while he brought HEAVY up to speed."It's been amazing," he beamed when we asked how the reception has been for Sink Ya Teeth In. "We've been dropping singles off it for about two and a half years because that's the world that we live in now. Everybody wants singles. But with how much time and effort, and money goes into recording something professionally, we didn't want to just record everything, drop a single and release the rest. We wanted to really wring this thing out for everything we could. We've released five singles and a bonus track was a single as well off an eight to nine-song album, depending on how you look at it."We ask Mango to dive deeper into the musical nature of the album."One of the things that Ablaze has always been really proud of, and I've been really proud of with us, is that we can write in a whole bunch of different styles and genres," he replied, "and it always comes out sounding like Ablaze. Our first one was a rock album, but we had a hoe down, we had an Irish drinking song, we had an acoustic song that I sang and played acoustic on. We could do a whole bunch of different stuff. And so on this album, we've done the same thing. It's an eight-song album, or nine song with the bonus, but we've got the heaviest song we've ever written. We've got some real Aussie rock style stuff. We've got a big six-minute gospel epic that finishes the thing. We've got a big glammy song, and we've got a Southern rock song as well. And a Christmas song, again. So we really kind of wanted to show that we're still doing what we do, but after our first album, our writing has really taken a step forward."In the full interview, Mango shared further insights about Sink Your Teeth In, highlighting the album's positive reception and the strategic release of five singles. He emphasized the importance of the album's cohesive flow and the thoughtful track listing, which he believes enhances the depth of the songs. He also addressed the challenges of releasing a second album, aiming to avoid being perceived as a "one-trick pony" while ensuring that each song is crafted to be single-worthy, reflecting the band's commitment to quality and creativity.The conversation also covered the logistics of their upcoming European and UK tour, starting in Belgium and ending in Germany. Mango noted the differences in touring dynamics between Australia and Europe, particularly the shorter travel distances in the UK, which allow for a more manageable schedule. He expressed excitement about upcoming performances, including festivals and album launch events and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

27 Aug 25min

The term supergroup is bandied around too often these days when a group of talented musicians from established bands try something together. It creates almost unrealistic expectations among fans of the respective members' bands, who are more often than not left disappointed due to the logical fact that this 'supergroup' is only one quarter or less of the band they are widely known for.Which is why HEAVY won't be labelling Bleak Squad a supergroup - although many will.Featuring the unlikely quartet of Mick Turner (Dirty Three, Mess Esque), Mick Harvey (Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, PJ Harvey, The Birthday Party), Adalita (Magic Dirt) and Marty Brown (Art of Fighting), Bleak Squad unite for the first time on their brooding, noir-rock debut LP, Strange Love, out now on Poison City Records.The album is a combined output of four seasoned musicians who have come together to express themselves musically in ways other than, as well as a continuation of, the music they are known and loved for. Prepare to put expectations aside and appreciate the music for what it is, rather than what you think it should be, as Adalita sits down with HEAVY to talk about the album and how Bleak Squad became a musical family.We start by asking how she feels about Strange Love."Great," she enthused. "It's great to finally have it out there (because) it's been in the making for quite a few years. We've been working on it since, I think, 2019, maybe? We got together and just jammed some stuff and recorded back then, and we've been working on it for a few years on and off because everyone's so busy with other things. So it's great to finally have it out in the world."We follow that by asking Adalita to dive deeper into the musical side of the album."Well, we really didn't know what we were doing," she laughed. "We just got together. Marty called us up and said, 'do you want to get together and maybe collaborate and see what comes out of it?' We all said yes and got together and brought in our own songs, or we brought in riffs and things that were half done and just to see if we could collaborate on it. And it was really great because straight away we clicked and there was real chemistry. The songs just flowed, and we decided to record it, and it was really low pressure. We didn't know what was going to come out of it, but we ended up having a record and then suddenly we're a band, and we're going to tour it."In the full chat, Adalita highlighted the collaborative nature of Bleak Squad, where each member contributed their own songs, resulting in a diverse sound. She praised her bandmates for their musical talents and emphasized the enjoyable, low-pressure environment that allowed for creative exploration.She also shared insights into her collaboration with Mick Harvey and Mick Turner, the instinctual approach to determining vocal parts, and the different challenges of writing and recording outside of her long-time band Magic Dirt. We talked about the formation of Bleak Squad and how it came about, what each member brought from their other musical projects to the project, their first live gig and how the nerves were, establishing a bond with her new musical partners, upcoming shows and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

25 Aug 14min

When it comes to cursed vocalists, US rock outfit Adema must have stood at the head of the queue.Since their inception in 2000, the band have seen four vocalists come and go - most at times where the band was starting to gain traction, which upset flow and momentum and ultimately held the band back from the musical heights they should have reached. After yet another forced vocalist change when Ryan Shuck departed in February last year, the band members decided to stay in-house with their next singer, promoting guitarist and regular back-up vocalist Tim Fluckey to the head role. This enabled Adema to stick with the core group of four members and maintain the chemistry they had built without having to usher in and train another band member.The international music industry must have been happy with the band's choice, with ILL NIÑO deciding to bring Adema to Australia as their national support for three select shows, starting in Sydney on September 12, before hitting Melbourne and Brisbane over consecutive nights.Fluckey joined HEAVY recently to talk shop, with one of our first questions being why have Adema neglected us here in Australia for so long?"Well, it's not on you guys," Fluckey laughed. "We had a tour that we were going to do in Australia maybe 23 years ago, and then something else came up that we had to do. I can't remember what it was, but we always thought we'll just reschedule, or we'll find a way to get back to Australia in the next couple of months, and it just never happened. So we've always wanted to go and couldn't be more excited about finally getting over there."Talk turns to Fluckey falling into the role of lead singer, and we ask if being a frontman is something he has always wanted to do."No, I did not always want to do that," he shook his head. "I didn't mind doing back-up vocals, that was cool. I liked just being over in my guitar world, and doing that, and being able to jump around and move around and interact with the crowd that way. And then it just came by necessity. One tour, our singer had… we couldn't find him for days. We had already missed a couple of shows, and we thought, are we going to get sued? So they're like, can you do it? And I said I'll try. So literally on the way out to the first show, we never rehearsed with me singing. I was just sitting there playing my guitar and trying to sing along to this stuff. We went out there, and said let's play three songs without saying a word and see what happens. We'll see how the crowd reacts."In the full interview, Tim revealed that Adema are finalizing their new record, expressing enthusiasm for connecting with Australian audiences on the tour. He discussed the band's live performance strategy, which prioritizes high energy and fan interaction, and shared his journey from guitarist to lead singer, noting his increased confidence in engaging with the crowd.He confirmed that the new music retains the classic Adema sound with contributions from all original members, and he feels assured in their musical direction. Tim explained their songwriting process, which typically starts with music creation followed by vocal melodies, and mentioned that they plan to focus on familiar older songs during the Australian shows while refining new material for future performances and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

25 Aug 14min

Interview by Angela CroudaceWith more than two decades of epic storytelling through metal, Sabaton are preparing to unleash their 11th studio album, Legends. Frontman Joakim Brodén spoke with us about the excitement of recording, the historical depths behind the songs, and what fans in Australia and New Zealand can expect when the band finally headlines shows there.Despite years in the studio, Brodén insists the process never loses its spark. “There’s always something exciting – the drummer trying something new, a solo that takes shape in the moment. Even after writing, hearing it all come together is magical.” He admits experience brings both clarity and fewer surprises: “Eighty-five percent of the song is already in my head before recording begins.”Legends marks the first time every band member contributed to songwriting, though Brodén says it felt natural. “I’ve worked with them all before, just never at the same time. It wasn’t a big change, but it was great to share the load.” The album explores figures like Joan of Arc, Napoleon, Julius Caesar, and Musashi, but for Brodén, the most eye-opening were stories from ancient Egypt and China’s Three Kingdoms era. “It’s like being a kid in a candy store – discovering new things all the time.”Sabaton’s passion for accuracy extends to their YouTube series, Sabaton History. Brodén laughs at how professional historians still teach him something new every episode: “No matter how deep I dig, they always uncover more.”As for live shows, fans can expect both new material and classics rarely performed in Australia. “We’ve never headlined properly down there, so we want to give a mix – some songs from Legends, but also older tracks fans haven’t heard live.”Brodén admits to the pressure of comparisons, with each release judged against decades of fan favourites. Still, the band thrives on discovery and evolution. “If someone comes in excited for a new Sabaton album and walks away disappointed, that’s our biggest fear. But I’m confident this one delivers."Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

25 Aug 28min

Swedish metal outfit Ambush realized the secret to success early in their career and have been deferring to that template on a daily basis ever since. Not that you could call the love of a laugh and a good time an actual secret, but it is surprising how often bands forget that on their pathway through the music industry.Founded in 2013, AMBUSH continue to showcase their unyielding energy and intricate musicianship, establishing themselves as a force to be reckoned with within the underground heavy metal scene. The fact that they have gone relatively unnoticed in Australia is largely due to the wealth of quality bands coming out of Sweden, but trust me when I say if you love hard, dirty rock with an armour of metal, then your quest ends here. These guys are the real deal and emphatically prove this statement with a statement of their own.That statement is their new album, Evil In All Dimensions, which arrives on September 5. But don't let us sway your opinion. Just take a listen to vocalist Oskar Jakobsson, who joined HEAVY for a fun-filled chat earlier this week."I'm excited as I've never been before," he replied when asked how he is feeling about the new album. "I think this is a fresh start for Ambush, because we have two new members playing on this record, and they bring a lot of different creativity. That shines through on this album, I think, and it's the best we've done this far."We ask Jakobsson to dive into the musical side of Evil In All Dimensions."We play traditional heavy metal," he shrugged. "We call it heavy metal, and we want to play it simple, but interesting. This is kind of a trade-off. I mean, we want meat and potatoes, but we also want some béarnaise sauce on the side, if you know what I mean (laughs). So we try to fight hard for real music, as we call it. We play real instruments. We try to make this grassroots and organic all the way, and we do it with a smile on our face. We don't take everything so seriously all the time."In the full interview, Oskar spoke more about Evil in All Dimensions, which showcases contributions from new members and aims to blend traditional heavy metal with modern influences. He emphasized the album's emotional range and distinct instrumentation, while also expressing his commitment to preserving heavy metal culture amidst the loss of iconic musicians. Oskar announced the band's upcoming performances, including the Keep It True Rising festival in Germany and a European tour, with aspirations for a future tour in Australia.We talked about the singles and how they represent the album, how this is the beginning of a new chapter for the band, the musical climate that gave birth to the band and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

25 Aug 21min

As with every other year, anticipation surrounding the first lineup announcement for Good Things 2025 was almost at a fever pitch. Social media experts and promoter wannabe’s all shared their projected line-ups – but most were well off the mark.Good Things is possibly one of the hardest festival line-ups armchair critics get to sink their teeth into, with the diversity and seemingly flippant mashing of genres meaning pretty much any band from any genre could make the final cut. And this year was no exception.When TOOL were announced as headliners, a large number of punters were already scrambling for tickets, but a quick scan through the rest of the line-up proves the eclectic tastes of organisers and the variety of live music on show for fans of most persuasions.Rock? Tick. Weezer, Garbage.Pop Punk? Tick. All Time Low, New Found Glory.Punk? Tick. Refused.Metal? Big tick. Machine Head. Knocked Loose, Dayseeker.But one band stands out more than others for their brutality. And of course theirs is the only logo on the poster almost unreadable to the non-metal trained eye. That band is Lorna Shore, and HEAVY was fortunate enough to speak with guitarist Adam Demicco earlier this morning about their Good Things appearance plus their new album.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

22 Aug 10min

In just under three years, Melbourne hard rock outfit ANA have laid themselves a strong platform from which to launch their music. Having already toured through Europe and Japan, ANA are now setting their sights on their home country, starting with a headlining slot at Rockdale Metal Festival in September.Merging the intensity of metal with sweeping orchestral arrangements, ANA have quickly found their niche, exploring the outlying areas of symphonic/power metal and integrating it with a harder edge that gives their music an edge all of its own.HEAVY sat down with the band earlier this week to discuss their rapid rise through the ranks. One of the topics of conversation was the cinematic orchestration prevalent in their music."When we were making the album - before we started going into the studio - Josh (Mak, lead guitar)  pulled me aside and told me that Anna (Khristenko, vocals) likes to have strings in the songs," keyboard player Mark Shi explained. "But if I could have my way, I would love to have a lot of synths. So I took that into mind when we were writing the album and tried to come up with a good balance where we could have cinematic string lines along with synth sounds and synth sound design in the songs. It was a mix of everyone's ideas, and when we went into the studio, honestly, it was quite magical. I've never seen anything like that, writing a full album in two days. I think that the Japan tour helped us a lot because we knew what each other was thinking. Everything just came together in a very short amount of time, and it was perfect. We couldn't have asked for a better experience than this."In the full interview, the conversation touched on the band's excitement for their headline performance at the Rockdale Metal Festival and the positive reception of their recent European tour, particularly in Budapest. The band members noted cultural differences in audience behaviour, with a desire to explore international venues beyond Australia.The group reflected on their debut EP, The Art of Letting Go, and the collaborative writing process for their new album, which incorporates diverse musical influences, discussing the challenges of blending different genres while maintaining a cohesive sound. We discussed their musical direction, future tours and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

21 Aug 16min