Raw, Real & Gritty With LUKE GRUNTS From CLEOPATRICK

Interview by Kris PetersMudvayne are one of the most influential bands when it comes to the genre of music they helped to pioneer.When they dropped their debut album L.D 50 in the year 2000 it is fair to say the entire sonic landscape of heavy metal shifted irreversibly and the nu-metal movement that had until then just been threatening to take flight now had a tough-as-nails pilot who was unafraid to break convention and expectation without fear of retribution.Quite simply, Mudvayne took a collective musical vision and rebirthed that vision in their own image.And, more importantly, made it work.After continuing their steep upward trajectory for another decade after that debut release, Mudvayne disbanded without a declaration of resolve and just like that it was feared the four menacing nu-metal warriors would be lost to a world with still so much left to give.Frontman Chad Grey went on to form Hellyeah and the success of that band all but extinguished any rumblings of a Mudvayne reunion before tragedy struck when Hellyeah drummer Vinnie Paul succumbed to illness and passed this world, leaving Grey with an empty musical chasm that was still far from being satiated.In 2021 the news the metal world had been sweating on broke that Mudvayne would be getting back together for select festival shows which planted the seeds of revival that grew and flourished rapidly to the stage that Mudvayne could now be recognised as a fully-fledged touring outfit once more.Having always held a soft spot for their Australian fans, Mudvayne have declared February 2024 as payback time for their patient followers on this side of the world, bringing with them another reunion success story in the once more Dez Fafara led Coal Chamber.Shortly after news of the tour broke HEAVY sat down for some quality time with Chad Grey who was more than happy to open up about the past, present and future of Mudvayne.We start by extending a warm display of gratitude on behalf of all Australian metal lovers."It's been almost two decades, so…" he laughed. "I guess it's about time."Such is the global hype generated by Mudvayne being back together the band could have pretty much asked any other international outfit to join them for this tour, so why settle on Coal Chamber?"I go way back with Miguel and Mikey," he explained. "We go back a long way. It's just gonna be rad. I mean, we just did it here in this past Summer with them - a couple of weeks ago actually, we just got home - but we had a blast with those guys, so it was kind of a no-brainer to bring them down with us. We figured that you guys would enjoy them too. Everybody is just playing really well. They did phenomenal over the Summer, so we had to bring them with us."It's been a large number of years between visits, so we press Grey on - aside from the obvious - has changed with the band since they were last here."Man, not much," he measured. "We weren't a band for ten years, and then we started out the conversation and everybody started being genuinely excited about it again. We surrounded ourselves with some new people that we're working with and doing business with, and they're exciting and fun and really helping us embrace Mudvayne and what we've done. We're just so excited to be coming to Australia. We had those three comeback festivals and then wedid the tour last year with Zombie, and we've just been sitting around. We did this most recent tour, and we heard mutterings of Australia and was so excited about it because I love Australia. There's a lot of history down there. When we heard it was solidified we were on a conference call and everyone was so excited and so jived and so pumped about coming back. We all absolutely love Australia. We love as much as how beautiful the country is, it's the people. The metal community in Australia is so dope. We're just really excited to get back down there and play for you guys again. You guys are very, very special to us. I always say if you're going to release an album somewhere, you better be going some place warm. We've released albums in Australia, so we've gotta go down and play there for you. That's the way it goes."Aside from camera footage that has emerged from their US shows, little has surfaced surrounding Mudvayne's live performances. Despite already knowing the answer to an extent we ask Grey what fans can expect from Mudvayne 2024."Intensity," he deadpanned. "It's there, and solid man. We're really feeding off each other; we're feeding off the crowd. There's an awesome energy that goes back and forth between us and our crowd, and it just builds and builds and builds and builds through the whole set. It's just amazing. It's intense, it's helpless, it's frenetic, it's crazy, it's angsty and angry and almost violent, but on the other sense it's sad, and it's helpless. But there's a lot of good feelings in there too. Metal runs the gamut of human emotion and that's always been something that we've tried to tap into. It's important to us to bring that to our live performance. That level of emotion that is very true and very real and very honest and very vulnerable."In the full interview, Chad talks about the 2010 breakup of Mudvayne and what changed ten years later to make them try again, how the first couple of shows went after being apart for so long, the progression from festival shows to touring with Rob Zombie to doing headline shows and if that was a planned progression, if Mudvayne will be touring in full makeup, the early days of the band and their formation, how far nu metal has come since Mudvayne started and if it has evolved the way he thought, what he considers Mudvayne's role in heavy metal, new music or an album and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

26 Okt 202319min

Interview by Kris PetersAfter blind-siding the whole country last week with the announcement of Machine Head and Fear Factory heading Down Under early next year for a dream double header, Nuclear Blast Records have done it again, this time throwing In Flames and Kreator into the ring as a touring duo.Dubbed Klash Of The Titans, these two heavyweights will unite for a co-headlining tour in February 2024, marking Kreator's first trip to this country since 2017.It is a match forged from the fiery depths of the Metal God's own battleaxe and promises to leave a sonic trail of mayhem and destruction across the land.HEAVY caught up with Kreator singer/guitarist Mille Petrozza on the eve of the tour announcement to get his thoughts."Thanks for having us," he quipped when we thanked him and the band for booking the run of shows. "For us Australia is always special. It's on the other side of the world and for bands like us, we have been coming to Australia since 1993, and it's always a blast. We always have an amazing time. The fans are amazing, and we are really looking forward to this tour."Not that they need a reason, but we asked Petrozza why In Flames were chosen as touring partners."We have this Klash Of The Titans here with Sepultura and Testament in South America and North America in the past, and we were thinking about doing an additional tour for Australia," he offered. "So we asked In Flames because they are friends of ours, and they were like 'yeah, let's do this! It's gonna be two full headlining shows as a co-headlining bill. Both bands are gonna play 100% of headlining shows, and it's gonna be good. You get the full double treatment."This will be Kreator's first trek to this side of the world in six years, so we ask Petrozza what has changed with the band in that time."We had the pandemic," he sighed, "and that kept us from coming back and kept us from releasing our album a year earlier. It was written already in 2020, and we waited until 2022 to release the album… So it was basically the pandemic that kept us from coming to Australia earlier. Since nobody was able to tour, but now this horrible pandemic is in the past, and we are able to come back."We ask Petrozza what fans can expect from the shows."(laughs) It's gonna be a nice mix between the 2000s material of Kreator and ancient stuff from the 80s," he revealed. "We have a nice set list. We're gonna play some of our new album and I think there's gonna be something for everyone. Of course, we'll bring some production, and it's gonna be a good show. I think people will definitely be able to enjoy a great night of metal."In the full interview, Mille runs through the touring schedule in more detail, takes us back to the start of Kreator and the musical landscape that gave birth to the band, their early vision and how it has changed, how their sound has changed over the course of their career, his view on modern metal, his top three commandments of metal and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

26 Okt 202312min

Interview by Kris PetersThe annual Lagerfest traveling musical sideshow is legendary in this country for its combination of music and mayhem, with Lagerfest 2023 promising to continue that tradition.Joining hosts Lagerstein will be The Halo Effect, Beyond The Black and Devilskin, making this year's run a truly international affair.With Devilskin having been away from our shores for a couple of years, the hard-rocking Kiwi outfit is keen to return, with bass player Paul Martin joining HEAVY to chat about life and music and the bonus show at Froth & Fury Festival."Shit's getting real," he laughed. "To be sharing the bill with The Halo Effect for a start… holy crap. There's some legacy in that band. So it's just gonna be unreal to be a part of that bill and get to watch them every night. Beyond The Black are very exciting as well, and man, they've got huge numbers in Germany and around Europe. It's gonna be great, and of course Lagerstein. It looks intense and it looks like a hell of a lot of fun."We point out the name of the tour - Lagerfest - and the insinuation that the whole tour should be one big party."That looks exactly what's gonna be going on," Martin smiled. "Plenty of drinking out of boots and that sort of carry on from what I can see. It looks like a hoot. It just looks like fun, and it's a diverse lineup of very cool bands. The crowds are in for a big treat."In the full interview, Paul talks more about Lagerfest, their show at Froth & Fury, what to expect from Devilskin's shows, what has changed with the band since they were last out here, guitarist Nails being invited to be a Gibson Artist, next year's 10th anniversary of their debut album We Rise, their special plans for it, how Devilskin has grown musically since that album and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

26 Okt 20238min

Interview by Kris PetersIt's not like they have ever needed an excuse for a party, but you can be rest assured when a legitimate reason rears its festive head that the Cosmic Psychos won't fall over themselves complaining.After four decades of delivering their own brand of brutally honest punk rock humour, Cosmic Psychos have dared to allow themselves time for reflection with three massive shows over three ever more massive nights at the Theatre Royal in Castlemaine over December 1, 2 and 3.In true Psychos fashion there will be much fun and merriment to commemorate the occasion, with a Cosmic Psychos branded beer being released to ensure everyone is in the right mood for a party.Each night will see a different selection of bands hand-picked by the Cosmic Psychos themselves, with The Chats, Amyl & The Sniffers and Dune Rats each taking their opportunity to close their chosen night of entertainment while the Cosmic Psychos savour their own beer after giving themselves the second last slot on the nightly run sheet.Pretty clever for a bunch of old fellas.But the party doesn't stop there.Before the fat bloke in a red suit gets stuck in your chimney this December the trio would have also hit South Australia and Western Australia before regrouping for a massive run of East Coast shows in January with Zeke.Must be something in the beer…To find out more details HEAVY tracked down guitarist Macka in a barn somewhere in the US of A where the band are currently on tour with The Chats. It was an entertaining but almost doomed chat when Macka nearly died of thirst after not being able to locate his trusty bottle opener."I think you would probably say both, Kris," he replied when I asked if 40 years was cause for commiserations or congratulations. "I don't think there's either side to it. It's good. We've seen a few things, good and bad, but overall we're still going, and it's good fun."While the sound and thought of a three-day bender to celebrate entering the Naughty 40s might sound like a heap of fun, it's not exactly something that becomes easier to do the more the years pass. We point out that the boys have set the bar possibly unrealistically high."It depends on what the record is," he quipped. "It might be low, we'll see (laughs). We're looking forward to it. There's some great bands playing and all that sort of stuff. We've got people coming from overseas to do it, like Pat Todd. He's nearly 70, and he hasn't even been to Australia yet so this is his first trip. Blowers, Dead Clampetts, etc."In the full interview, Macka talks more about the bands playing over the three nights and why they were asked, whether the band had to taste test the Psychos beer for approval, the after-show festivities, what range of songs they will play over three shows, who he thinks will stay the distance, the possibility of new material and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

22 Okt 20238min

Interview by Kris PetersIn just over a week's time Australia will fall victim to musical mayhem seldom witnessed in the modern sanitised age.With the wonders of technology taking much of the mystery and mystique out of the rock and roll lifestyle, fans are becoming increasingly receptive to fleeting brushes with fame and adulation and finally the music is taking credence over the image.But that is about to come crashing down when two global heavyweights unite for a tour of this country that will send fans back to the hysterics of the Beatles fan era.All Time Low and Mayday Parade are joining forces to sweep our little corner of paradise, promising a rollicking cavalcade of music and excess to possibly reinvigorate the dying thrill of music's bad boys of metal.Having recently released the single More Like A Crash - the band's first new music since 2021s What It Means To Fall Apart, Mayday Parade are re-entering the peak phase of their musical cycle and according to bass player Jeremy Lenzo the boys are just itching to make their way Down Under."I have not packed yet," he laughed. "I'm having someone watch my kid tomorrow, so I can pack and get all the laundry done I need for the shows."Rounding out the three-prongued extravaganza with All Time Low and Mayday Parade is Lauren Hibberd, with Lenzo admitting he will be approaching the run of shows with a fresh slate when it comes to expectations."I'm not quite familiar with Lauren because we haven't toured with her or met them," he almost apologised, "but with All Time Low we go back a long time. We've toured with them probably starting back in 2007, so on and off since then throughout the years we became friends with them. They brought us out this year in the US and then offered us the Australia shows as well, and we said yes to that. We're excited to be there, it's going to be a good time."We ask what Aussie fans can expect from the Mayday Parade live show."Expect a lot of energy," he promised. "Expect a good time. Expect that we're gonna be considerate and make it a safe space for people to come and enjoy themselves and have fun."In the full interview, Jeremy talks more about the tour, revisits the early days of Mayday Parade and their musical birth, the early vision and how it has changed since, why he thinks their debut album A Lesson In Romantics touched a nerve with music lovers, how the band's approach to music has changed over their time together, More Like A Crash and if it is the start of the next album cycle, going independent and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

21 Okt 202311min

Interview by Kris PetersMelbourne punk upstarts Clowns have epitomised the fun and frivolous side of Australian music since their inception in 2009.Their attitude towards music, coupled with almost legendary live performances, has seen Clowns rise quickly to prominence and notoriety, with their honest and raw appraisal of life through music connecting on a global scale.After receiving an ARIA nomination for their previous album Nature/Nurture in 2019, Clowns have just unleashed their latest slab of goodness in the form of Endless, a middle finger salute to the pandemic during which it was conceived and a snub to the face of those who thought that period of time would spell the death knell for a plethora of bands and musicians.HEAVY sat down with vocalist Stevie Williams and drummer Jake Laderman to talk through what to expect."It feels like I'm about to…," Williams measured, "… I don't have any kids, but this is what I imagine preparing for a child would feel like (laughs). Years and years of creative energy and the world going upside down from when we started writing it to when we finished recording and releasing it, but now it's here. It's satisfying and maybe a little bit emotional. I can't wait for it to be out in the world and not be our record anymore. It's gonna be whoever listens to its record."Endless is the fifth album release from Clowns, so we ask the question of whether the process gets any easier the more albums you put out."It definitely gets harder," Williams answered without thought. "I feel like when we started the band we were so inspired to get our music career off the ground and there was so much… I guess you would call it creative, low-hanging fruit when we were starting a punk band. We wanted to write a song that had screaming in it, we wanted a song that sounded like The Ramones, we wanted a song that sounded like the Offspring and then once we did an EP and four seven inches and now five albums, now we're reaching super high up to the top of the tree to get that sweet fruit, and we're doing Spaghetti Western eight-minute jams at the end of our record. We're fucking around with thrash metal and dual guitar solos, all in an effort to keep it interesting for ourselves and the people who listen as well. In that essence, it gets harder. It gets way harder (laughs)."In the full interview, the boys talk more about what to expect from Endless, how the singles released represent the album as a whole, the opening piano intro and why it was used, the central theme of immortality, the closing track A Widow's Song and the inspiration behind it, how Endless differs musically to Nature/Nature, upcoming shows and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

20 Okt 202319min

Interview by Kris PetersInstrumental Brisbane progressive metal band Dr. Parallax certainly can't ever be accused of rushing things when it comes to releasing music.I remember seeing the band in Cairns more than 20 years ago, so imagine my surprise when their debut EP Stick and String came across my desk last week.It is a release more than two decades in the making, and one which Dr. Parallax feels best showcases their extremely eclectic and ridiculously world-class tunes. With a blending of genres punctuated by wildly fluctuating timing and tempo changes, Stick and String features four full songs for your sonic palate plus a wickedly devilish intro and outro that may or may not tie things in together.Sound confusing? Well it is, so HEAVY tracked down band members Elliott, Rashid and John to attempt to make sense of things."So far it's been pretty positive," Rashid smiled when asked about the early reception for the EP. "We've had some very nice things said to us about it. Who knows, they all could be lying to us, but I want to believe they are telling the truth (laughs)."We ask the boys to talk through what to expect musically."Yeah, it's weird," Rashid shrugged. "We wanted it to be weird, and it is.""Not so much weird, I just think these songs were the ones we were most familiar with," Elliott picked up. "They were the most solid songs we had at the time, and it was time for us to finally record something. It was good to get them down and properly recorded, instead of doing mud tracks and things that we've done in the past."In the full interview we discuss why Dr. Parallax has stayed as an instrumental band, how the tracks on Stick and String best showcase their sound, the 'bookends' on the EP, how the band brings songs together in the creative process, how they draw the line when it comes to musical experimentation, coming up with song titles with no lyrics to use as a guide, why it has taken so long to release a body of work, upcoming shows and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

20 Okt 202312min

Interview by Kris PetersFew punk bands around the world have had the same impact as legendary California outfit Lagwagon.Since 1989 the brash upstarts have released nine studio albums through Fat Wreck Chords and toured relentlessly all over the globe, each time stepping further out from the underground band status they have been tagged with.Such is the success afforded Lagwagon they had one of their songs - May 16 - featured in Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2 alongside Rancid, Green Day and Offspring. While not enjoying the breakout success afforded those bands, Lagwagon have remained content with their role in a musical revolution, shunning the mainstream in favour of the working class groundswell and cementing their music in the hearts of many purists.Next week Lagwagon return to Australia and New Zealand for their special fan By Request Tour, with vocalist Joey Cape joining HEAVY to discuss the shows."We've been doing this for so long that I often forget," Cape laughed during the intro. "I love coming out there," he continued. "It wasn't that long ago that I was there. I did some solo shows and I did a tour with Me First And The Gimme Gimmes so two times in a year… that's pretty great."We ask him what non-essential items he always travels with on tour."Ooof, fuck, that's tough," he stalled. "I'm a light packer. It's a hassle to carry too much stuff (laughs). I guess I could say Nicorette gum. You can get it anywhere, but I always bring a boatload of that shit with me because I'm such a nicotine addict. That's all I can think of… Maybe reading glasses. I'll often bring ten pairs of glasses in case I lose them, it's totally dumb. But I guess those are kind of essential. You can't see without them (laughs). And me without nicotine… not fun for anybody."As the name of the tour suggests, fans were invited to vote for what songs they wanted to hear Lagwagon play, so we ask Cape if the band had much interest in that idea."We did," he offered. "It's funny, because it's always a risk when you do these kinds of things. I don't know that Lagwagon's ever done this before, but I've done it quite a few times with solo shows, especially the streaming ones. And it's risky. Because you never know, there might be a whole bunch of people that just want that one song that you just can't do, you know what I mean? And the reality is, that never happens. Bands that don't have hits, still have hits. There's just popular songs, and there's about four of them that 90% of the requests are always for. It's like, 'oh, man, alright, we'll do that for you guys' (laughs). We don't do that in every single show we play (laughs). I haven't actually looked at the submissions yet, so in theory, what you do is you do a different set for each town. Now, we've run into a little bit of trouble with that. Our great big giant guitar player is not able to join us because he has had some health issues, and we just found out that he cannot come. I may not be doing the right thing saying this - you're the first to hear of it - but because of that we're going to have to use a fill-in guy, so he's gonna have his work cut out."In the full interview, Joey tells us if there are any songs he is hoping aren't on the request list, playing on a cruise ship in Sydney, what we can expect from Lagwagon live, the early days of the band, resisting the lure of mainstream, his three commandments of punk and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

20 Okt 202324min