Fulfilling The Prophecy With CHRIS ADAMS From SMASH INTO PIECES

Interview by Kris PetersHailing from Northern Ireland, heavy as sin metalcore outfit Archives have emerged into the music scene with a point to prove and an attitude to match.Their 2021 debut album Decay introduced the world to the ferocious sonic onslaught borne out of a lifetime of frustration that simmered within the musical DNA of Archives, promising a bleak yet bright future for the band.Archives will unleash their follow-up album No Bliss In Ignorance on June 7, with the crushingly brutal singles Make No Mistake, No Sweat, Self-Inflicted and Matriarch offering a glimpse into the band's intentions and setting the tone for another slab of brutality.HEAVY spoke with vocalist Adam Holland earlier today to get the inside word on what to expect from No Bliss In Ignorance. We start by asking how he is feeling about the impending release."Pretty excited," he enthused. "It feels like it's been a long time coming, in all honesty, because we've been messing about back and forward and taking our time with this one. Because we kind of rushed the last album a bit I think. We just couldn't wait to get it out (laughs)."We ask him to describe No Bliss In Ignorance musically."Our guitarist Stewart wrote most of the stuff," he replied. "And I think what we were trying to do was throw in a few different elements this time compared to the last album. It was good, but it had a similar thing going on with it, whereas I feel like on this album there's a couple of songs that are a bit different from the last. I guess we were just trying to have a bit of fun with it."In the full interview, Adam discussed the band's upcoming album No Bliss In Ignorance in more detail. He talked about the deliberate experimentation and thoughtful approach taken during the recording process, emphasizing the album's thematic significance in exploring societal issues and personal experiences. Holland also discussed the music scene in Northern Ireland, including pre and post-Covid dynamics, increased local show attendance, and the tight-knit community. The interview concluded with Holland expressing enthusiasm for the band's upcoming tour in England and Ireland, as well as potential future tours in Australia.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

4 Juni 202413min

Interview by Kris PetersFrom humble beginnings in Adelaide, party rock outfit West Thebarton have spread their metaphorical wings far and wide, drawing all who listen deeper into their intricate musical web of enjoyment.Since announcing themselves on the scene with their 2015 debut EP West Thebarton Brothel Party, which catapulted them into the earholes of fans and industry professionals alike, West Thebarton have continued to grow at their own pace and volition.The years between West Thebarton Brothel Party and their 2018 debut studio album, Different Beings Being Different, saw a marked evolution within the band. Line-up and name changes brought the group into a new era, one that West Thebarton have continued to flourish within since.Which brings us to 2024. West Thebarton have experienced the full plethora of trials and tribulations life can throw at you over the last five years with personal life changes: parenthood, love, loss, moves interstate and moves overseas all having the potential to derail this rock train short of their second stop.But fear not, for Adelaide's favourite sons have returned with their second album Mongrel Australia, which finds the band at the crest of a particularly high creative peak; focussing on what lay ahead instead of dwelling in the past.Vocalist/guitarist The Reverend joined HEAVY to bring us up to speed."We've just got a new record out called Mongrel Australia," he began. "It came out a couple of weeks ago, but we're heading out on the road, ready to take on all the East Coast cities."We ask how Mongrel Australia was received after a lengthy break between albums."Number one, it's been awesome just to be out there, to be honest," he replied. "We've been sitting on these songs and playing them live for a couple of years now with everything that's been going on. So just having it out there in the world has been a huge sigh of relief for us. We were super anxious putting them out there and seeing how they would be received, but so many people have been telling us how awesome it is to have a new record out there that they can listen from end to end. Also, there's been a bit of a change of tone on some of the songs on this record. We were in a bit of a different place on the second record compared to the first record, and so some of the content and themes are a little bit different. We've had a bunch of people reach out to say this is awesome to hear some of the slower songs. We've got a song called Slow on there which is very stripped back - it's not very chainsaw to the throat West Thebarton like (laughs)- but people are really loving it, which is awesome to hear. That's one of the things you always worry about as a musician is are your fans going to enjoy the stuff you put out."In the full interview, The Reverend discusses the process of going into an album and internal talks about the possible direction, Mongrel Australia from a musical perspective, which three songs he would advise people listen to from the album to best get to know the band, how it differs musically to their debut album Different Beings Being Different, what has changed in the band between albums, the early days of the band, their upcoming tour, what to expect from West Thebarton live and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

3 Juni 202414min

Interview by Kris PetersMelbourne blackened post-metalcore outfit RUN today dropped a surprise EP, True Heaviness Is Time. The band's second offering, True Heaviness Is Time is a dynamic and powerful tour de force that grips as it slams from peak to peak, tackling the pain of existence with an aural violence powered by positivity.Featuring guest vocals from Joel Birch of The Amity Affliction, John Floreani of Trophy Eyes, and Sophie Jest of R.U.B, there's a multitude of diverse sounds on display within the band's own unique take on heavy music - a classic 2000s metalcore sound infused with modern post-black metal.Vocalist Lochlan Watt sat down with HEAVY to discuss the EP."We put out our debut release in 2020 as a studio project that I was spearheading with a producer and a session drummer," he explained of RUN. "From there it had evolved over a few different line-ups into a full band. Then in 2023 we put out a couple of singles as a bit of a testing ground for that, and now finally we have our second EP, True Heaviness Is Time, which is out now."We ask him about the secret nature of the EP drop."People seemed to be really excited about the surprise Bring Me The Horizon album last week," he replied. "I work in this industry and see bands doing the same thing over and over again in terms of having pre-orders and release rollouts and stuff, and I thought because I'm not beholden to anyone else or any record labels with this, why not do it a little bit differently? We've released three of the singles so far, so people have already got 50% of the EP because it's six tracks. If we were to announce the EP now and then say it's coming out in a couple of months… I feel like that would be a little deflationary. You would lose a bit of the excitement. Maybe we could have announced the EP a long time ago while we were rolling out these singles, but the way that the artwork is set up, it slowly reveals the bigger picture throughout the singles. I think it's a more exciting way to do it. You get a little taste of what the bigger picture is with each single, then now, BOOM, you can see the full picture, and you understand what we were doing."In the full interview, Lochlan discusses the relationship between the seasons and the EP, runs through each of the songs individually and explains more about them including where they fit into the EP, talks about the guest artists and how and why they became involved, the limited vinyl run that has the bands debut EP as the B side, upcoming shows and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

3 Juni 202420min

Interview by Kris PetersMore often than not, the music industry is dictated to more by who and/or what you know, rather than the quality of your musical output. It is something that has been a staple part of the industry for as long as most of us can remember, and is accepted more as a given across the board.So, then, it is refreshing when a band comes along whose members have the pedigree and personal contacts to guarantee success before a note is even committed to recording but instead shun that privilege in favour of earning their stripes on their own terms.It is a unique and refreshing approach and one very rarely taken, but it is a testament to the confidence, ability, and respect of the two members of alternative rock outfit Sym Fera who decided from the outset to let their music dictate their fate.Unlike other bands who have shunned the spotlight in favour of anonymity, Sym Fera are not using it as a gimmick or point of attention. It is purely for creative reasons and one which has so far borne fruit.Their first EP was released under State of The Art Records, helmed by Ian McEvily, Marc Jordan, and Mike Clemenza, who themselves did not know the real names of the band members before they made an offer to sign them. They have since had their music feature on television, including the hit Netflix show Ozark, and they continue to release cryptic, cinematic music videos and shadowy live performances that showcase a unique and dramatic artist project, drawing comparisons to Pink Floyd, James Blake, and Bon Iver.Both members - let's call them V and N for now - sat down with HEAVY to delve deeper into the talented musical enigma that is Sym Fera."We are two guys in LA who have always been jamming with each other," N began. "LA's a - despite the reputation - still a music town, so my partner and I have been jamming in clubs and jam sessions and speak ezy's and all sorts of crap all around town for quite a while. By the time we started to make music and record it and actually put it out, we had already been playing with each other in various things for years. As way of intro to us, it's just two long-time friends who… I guess the pandemic inspired us to actually put the shit out for a change instead of just do it for fun. We wanted to do it the old way where you lead with the stuff and the artwork and finding out what people look like and what they're like in their personal lives was kind of an afterthought. It came way later, if it ever came at all. It only really applied to actual famous people, getting into people's personal lives, otherwise it was check out this band or don't. That appealed to us a lot, so we decided to not tell people and see if we would get some progress made from the stuff itself and that alone. So far it's been small but very gratifying and satisfying."Sym Fera are described as an atmospheric rock outfit, but that tag merely scratches the sonic surface."I guess so," N measured when asked if that is a fair description. "The word rock got expanded quite a bit since the 70s and 60s. I think people forget - even in the 70s - it also applied to artists like Pink Floyd. There's a huge Earth of difference sonically between Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin or AC/DC, so I think if you use rock in that very, very big umbrella term then sure, we're atmospheric. It's funny. Whenever anyone asks us what genre it's like we can't really commit because we love artists like Beck and Pink Floyd's a great example too and Radiohead and all these artists that won't pick a team and stick with it. They just keep adding instruments and changing things and taking risks. I think in terms of those types of rock bands, that makes sense to me."In the full interview, N & V talk about their latest single Beg and how it has been received, the four singles they have released to date and how each represents Sym Fera, future releases and how they will be structured, the main reasons behind keeping their identities under wraps for now and the pride at having your music respected based on merit alone, keeping their anonymity when playing live, how far they plan to take Sym Fera and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

3 Juni 202423min

Interview by Kris PetersWhile the fact that most things can, and invariably do, change with the times, there are certain - but not many - elements that resist.In music, you would be hard-pressed to find a band who has not experimented with or tried to cater to the ever-evolving tastes of music consumers, but there's one above all others who you could unreservedly say has not even tried.Not one iota.That band is US death metal legends Deicide, led by Glen Benton, who have spent their entire 35-year existence beating to the tune of their own drum without thought nor care for what was going on in the world around them.With the recent release of their 13th studio album Banished By Sin, Deicide have further enhanced their status as immortals of the metal realm, producing an album that is a testament to the band's unwavering commitment to their craft, promising a collection of tracks that are both ferocious and unapologetically blasphemous.HEAVY recently sat down with the elusive Benton to find out more."Pretty amazing, man," he offered when asked how fans have responded to the album. "A lot of people are losing their shit over it."We ask him about the album musically."We went through the whole COVID bullshit thing with everybody else, and we had a lot of time on our hands," he shrugged, "so we put together a record. We're not on contract, so we were just writing for the fun of it."In the full interview, Glen talks more about the aggressive nature of Banished By Sin, whether it becomes easier or harder to come up with new material the more you release, recording the album to produce more of a live sound, getting back to their roots, sticking to their style and vision despite changing world trends, the early days of Deicide and where the band fit in, his early vision and how it has changed since, their debut self-titled album and if it was intended to shock the system, tour plans and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

31 Maj 202411min

Interview by Kris PetersTaylor Roberts started Riding With Killers long before joining Taproot as guitarist, but his newer band - for some reason - seems to get all of the attention.For now.While featuring solely as guitarist with Taproot, Roberts (formerly of Cathercist/Wild Fire) also lends his vocal chops to Riding With Killers (RWK), drenching the rock-infused music with a venomous swagger that oozes charisma.Since the release of their debut EP Get In, RWK have followed a steady trajectory through the ranks of emerging bands in search of that next level of success, and, based on the quality alone of last December's debut album Full Circle, should see that rise propelled much quicker.Also featuring ex-taproot drummer Dave Coughlin, RWK are a rock machine cut from the dirtiest cloth and with enough talent and experience within the ranks to satisfy even the most hardened critic. The fact the band are still releasing singles - the most recent being Hostility - nearly six months after the album came out is a testament to the quality of the material in itself.Roberts joined HEAVY from his holiday accommodation to tell us more."Dude, it's been pretty good," he enthused about the reception afforded Full Circle. "I don't feel like we've truly dug in yet, but with the things that we're doing, we are seeing an incredible response. Hostility is at Rock Radio right now, and I'm not a rich guy, I don't have a record label, I don't have rich parents, I don't have rich friends that just throw money at me, but I essentially threw a pebble at Rock Radio with that song and the response we're seeing is letting us know that we definitely have something real here. Funny enough, another song we had talked about doing as a single, Don't Fade Away - and even the company I am working with, they suggested that song too - we've started to see that song rise recently. We went from 6000 plays to 20000 plays within a matter of a couple of days. People are finally starting to hear the music. I feel like it's starting to get out and make the rounds and I think it's turning people's heads. I feel like we're starting to finally get recognised. It's paving a good path for us to start getting on the road and hitting these places that are showing us some love and really digging the material."In the full interview, Taylor discusses how you measure the success of a release in the modern age of music, the musical content of Full Circle, the diversity of the tracks on it, how Full Circle differs musically to Get In, the early days of the band and where they fit in, the transition from guitarist to guitarist and vocalist, future plans for the band, upcoming shows and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

31 Maj 202420min

Interview by Kris PetersAfter showing their potential over two previous albums Chance Collide and Cold Chamber, Melbourne rock outfit Cicadastone are ready to seal the deal with their third long player Future Echoes, which is out now.Taking the best bits and ideas from those first releases and putting them into the cauldron that is Cicadastone 2024, the band has created an album with a modern fresh edge, developing their own unique sound while staying truly authentic to the genre.Vocalist Mat Robins sat down with HEAVY to tell us more."I'm so relieved," he smiled when asked how it feels to get the new album out. "It's been such a journey. As any band will know, from the process of writing through to pre-production through to recording through to mixing and mastering and releasing it takes a long time. To get to the point where we could finally put it out there and put it to bed so to speak, let it go, it's great. We can move on as a band too."Being their third album, we ask Mat if the process gets easier or harder as you get further into your career."You'd think it would get easier, but I think it's getting harder," he measured. "We all have a lot of ties. We're all busy doing things. I'd love to say we're making a living out of music, but we're not. The band is its own entity which we pour our heart and soul into. That said, we all have lives to live. This record was really hard to lock everyone down and find time where we could. It took a bit longer than it probably should have, but that's just how it went."In the full interview, Mat talks more about Future Echoes, the single Take The Fall which Cicadastone released at the same time and why it was chosen to represent the album on release day, the other singles released and how they tie in with the album, the cover art and what it means, how Future Echoes differs musically to their debut album Chance Collide, their love for grunge music and decision to stick with it despite the changing trends of music, upcoming shows and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

31 Maj 202412min

Interview by Kris PetersQueensland melodic punk upstarts Fake News have successfully managed to bring together the attitude of punk, the essence of rock and the harmonious balance of nature into one uniting sonic force of cohesion that is almost impossible to resist.Since forming in the beautiful surroundings of the Gold Coast in 2017, Fake News have steadfastly refused to adhere to societal rules, instead focusing on producing their own brand of infectious grooves that has struck a chord with every lover of music who has crossed their path.Their 2021 debut album Everyday Warrior was widely regarded as amongst the albums of the year, with its unassuming yet edgy sound appealing to a broader fanbase than any one of their number of genres could hope to reach on their own.They followed that with last year's EP, Take Me Away, which furthered the band’s momentum and this week Fake News delivered the knockout blow with the catchy as fuck six-track EP Time & Place.Nick from Fake News joined HEAVY to discuss the EP and the musical revolution that defines them."It's pretty bloody good," he smiled modestly when asked about Time & Place. "If you haven't listened to it, yet you probably should because you will enjoy it. I promise you."With the EP being released a few days ago on May 29 we ask how it feels to finally have it out there and open for the world to judge."It's great," he sighed. "We've been hanging onto it for too long. It's been sitting there waiting and getting all the pieces in place that you've gotta have when it comes to releasing music. We had a few singles come out in the lead-up to it and that was all good, but it's great to get the EP out there and say this is it. This is what we've been working on. Just to see people's reactions to it, and it's been going pretty well - and that's what we expected. We haven't changed our style much. We've stuck with the tried and true formula that we love, and other people love, so you can't go wrong with that."In the full interview, Nick talks more about the EP musically, runs through each track individually and tells us more about them, releasing EP's as opposed to full albums in the modern age of music, the significance of the title, Time & Place, upcoming shows and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

31 Maj 202416min