Still Packing A Punch With BEN ELY From REGURGITATOR

Interview by Kyra-Jade CoombsOnly recently I celebrated my five-year anniversary with HEAVY Mag and over the years I’ve had the privilege of meeting and interviewing some of the world’s biggest music stars, living out my wildest music nerd dreams. Nerves come and go depending on who it is that I’m interviewing, and ‘normally’ I hold my shit together. Today? Oh boy… Don’t get me wrong, I jumped at the opportunity to have a chat with Wolfgang Van Halen, although it wasn’t until I somehow blasted through THREE, yes three, whole pages of questions I wanted to ask that I sat back and reflected on the gravity of the occasion. I thought about what his music means to me, what his family’s music means to me, and how insane it was that I would be casually chatting to Wolf from my little office in Australia.Wolf’s newest album from his band project Mammoth, The End, is due for its release on October 24, and this was a major topic interview. I wanted to know how this recording experience at the legendary 5150 Studios varied from his other Mammoth albums and what it was like to work with Robert Rodriguez on his self-titled film clip that honours the 1996 Quentin Tarantino horror film From Dusk Till Dawn as it celebrates turning 30 next year. If you haven’t already, do yourself a favour and watch it. Many Easter eggs await to be spotted… I’ll wait, hurry back...Being a man of many hats, or instruments rather, I felt I already knew what his stance would be about this particular question, although trying to be a good journalist, I wanted to ask about AI/technology and see how he felt about its place in the music industry. His answer was pretty much F$%K AI. "There's no soul or heart behind it. It makes hot dogs - it’s all gross stuff and none of it is real". Great answer, and honestly, if I’m going to trust anyone’s opinion on the matter, it’s going to be the guy who’s taught himself instruments without asking a computer to ‘fill in the gaps’. AI has its place in mundane tasks, not in our creative community.This was such a fun interview. We covered a lot of ground mapping out his music journey this far, dropping cool stories and treasured memories from over the years that only a Van Halen fan could subtly sprinkle in. Look, I could carry on all day - this is only meant to be a quick summary, go ahead and check out the video below and have Wolf tell you all about it himself!Get ready to have your f*#$king socks blown clean off. The End is near, and for once, everyone is running towards it. Be prepared to turn it up LOUD with your air guitar and drum sticks ready on stand by.Bye, legends!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

22 Okt 16min

Sean Martin from The Quarantined took some time out recently to catch up with HEAVY Mag's Ali Williams to chat about their new release Nemesis (Friend of Mine), overcoming toxic relationships and algorithms and what the next chapter for the band entails. Discussing the creative process of songwriting and their musical influences and intentions, Sean explains the origin of their song Nemesis (Friend of Mine), which started as a poem inspired by a sudden burst of creativity. The transformation from poem to song presented challenges, especially in conveying the depth of the lyrics in a musical format. He goes on to talk about blending different musical genres, such as rock and pop rhythms, saying their goal was to capture the emotional energy of the lyrics while drawing inspiration from various music styles, including Aaliyah’s Tell Me You're That Somebody. Martin details the meaning and influences behind the lyrics of their new track, noting the song addresses themes of paranoia, confrontation, and understanding narcissistic behaviours. It reflects on overcoming manipulation and the personal growth that comes from understanding difficult personalities. These guys had the incredible opportunity to be recorded at Blackbird Studios in Nashville, which contributed a warm sonic quality to the music due to the use of historic equipment. Martin recalls the recording sessions were a calm experience, leading to a sound that improved upon previous versions. The production process involved collaboration with studio musicians who were given creative freedom within the framework of Sean’s original composition. This approach ultimately led to a more refined and satisfying final product. The Quarantined’s music often addresses political and social issues, aiming to promote free thinking and cautioning against fascism. He touches on the current state of societal discourse in the U.S., emphasizing the importance of diverse perspectives, acknowledging that he feels that artists and musicians, particularly from the US are in a position where the ability to express political and social commentary through music has been reduced to virtually impossible unless you want to be cancelled. Drawing heavily on a blend of punk, metal, and hip-hop influences, Martin describes it as a watering down of the essence of what those genres stand for, highlighting the similarities between these genres in terms of their energy and message. The goal is to create music that resonates across different audience segments. Ideally, without enraging the public or facing adversary reaction. The Quarantined’s new release Nemesis (Friend of Mine) is out now and available on all platforms.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

22 Okt 38min

Few bands in history have left such a lasting impression in music as Santa Barbara funk metal outfit Snot.Forming in 1995, Snot released just one album before having their career cut short by the tragic death of frontman Lynn Strait. Despite their short time as a band, such was the impression left by Lynn and Snot that after his death, a tribute album called Strait Up was recorded in his honour, featuring everyone from Slipknot to System Of A Down to Sevendust paying tribute to the man and his music.Snot's fusion of genres - before it was common to do so - stood them out from other bands of the era, with their blending of hardcore, punk, nu metal and funk combining for the masterpiece that was their debut album Get Some.The band have flirted with the idea of reigniting the flame with a new frontman several times since Lynn's passing, but until recently, and buoyed by the resurgence of nu metal, have failed to find that elusive spark that ignited three decades ago to create pure musical magic.Next January, for the first time in over a decade, Snot return to Australia for a run of shows with Soulfly and Nailbomb - including Froth & Fury Festival - with vocalist Andy Knapp (Stronger Than Machines) to introduce a new generation to the power of music. HEAVY spoke with bass player John Fahnestock to find out what to expect. We start by running over the three touring bands - Soulfly, Nailbomb and Snot - and reiterate the quality of music in one package."Soulfly and Nailbomb, right," John laughed. "They are good friends of ours. We have known each other for, God, going on 25 years or more. Mikey (Doling, founding member and guitarist) also played in Soulfly after Snot, after Lynn had passed. So, we're out on the road with family again. We played with Soulfly in Mexico City back in May and rekindled our friendship, and here we are coming to Australia now."We ask John about their new vocalist, Andy Knapp, and what they were looking for in a frontman after trialling two previous vocalists in Tommy Vext and Carl Bensley."I think the whole thing is a lot different now," he measured. "We are pretty much saying Snot is back at this point. We finally found in Andy what we basically were dreaming of having, and I'm not saying anything negative on the past singers that we had. Before, when we put Snot back together, it wasn't like 'we're reforming, we're back', anything like that. We were just more doing it for fun, for the love of music, the love of Jamie and Mikey and myself playing together.And we were like, let's go out and play the songs, you know? But it wasn't seriously saying we're back and coming back here to stay, like we are now. It's a blessing to have found Andy and what he's doing, and obviously, the response from the fans has been nothing but positive."In the full interview, John spoke more about the upcoming Australian shows, what has changed with the band in the decade since they were last here and what we can expect. He spoke more about welcoming Andy Knapp as frontman and what sorts of things Snot were looking for in their new vocalist.He told us about the first show with Knapp and how old time fans reacted, how Snot's music relates with modern audiences, and how their sound shaped a generation of bands. We talked about the early days of Snot and the musical climate that gave birth to the band, their initial sound and how they found the balance between genres, including how to know when or if they had gone too far in one direction or not far enough in another.We spoke about the impact of Snot's debut album, Get Some, and the band's initial feelings on the album, including Lynn Strait's early vision for Snot and his musical passion. John delved deeper into the tribute album Strait Up and the contributions of the many bands, new music the band have written and if that will translate into a full album and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

21 Okt 19min

In the more than two decades since the band's launch, Sabaton has headlined major festivals, sold-out arena concerts worldwide, and gained a legion of loyal fans by carving out a reputation as one of the hardest-working bands in the business. Since their 2005 debut album, they’ve earned Gold, Platinum, and multi-Platinum certifications in territories around the world with their 10 studio albums. Eight of their albums scored Top 10 international chart status, and six claimed the Top 5. SABATON has earned eight Metal Hammer/Golden Gods Awards nominations, taking home the award for Breakthrough Artist in 2011 and Best Live Band in three different years, and a Grammis nomination (Swedish equivalent to the U.S. Grammy Award) as Best Heavy Metal band.Now, Sabaton return with their newest album and perhaps greatest triumph, Legends. LEGENDS marks the very first time that every band member has come together to contribute to the songwriting process. This is SABATON as you’ve never heard them before—relentless and unbound. LEGENDS is a global journey through the annals of warfare, leadership and unbreakable will.Throughout the album, SABATON—Joakim Brodén (vocals), Pär Sundström (bass), Chris Rörland (guitar), Thobbe Englund (guitar), Hannes Van Dahl (drums)—delve into some of history’s greatest and most loved characters such as Jeanne D’arc (also known as Joan of Arc), Hannibal, Genghis Khan, Vlad the Impaler, Julius Caesar, the Knights Templar, and the legendary swordmaster Miyamoto Musashi.HEAVY caught up with frontman Joakim Brodén to find out more."We're an evolutionary band, not a revolutionary band," he began, "so every album is a little bit of an evolution. It's never going to change completely between albums. If you listen to our first album and our last album, with this one, there's a huge difference. But between the albums, it's usually a smaller step or a slightly bigger step. And I think this is a slightly bigger step, actually, maybe because the previous two albums were about World War One, and now we're jumping in history. We are covering everything from Ancient Egypt - that's 1800 before Christ - to Napoleon 1800 after Christ, and jumping both in time and geographically, quite a bit in between there. So I think that has sort of influenced the music and the sound to a certain extent."In the full interview, Joakim discussed Sabaton's latest album Legends, detailing the lengthy process of its completion and the band's evolutionary approach to music. Joakim explained the criteria for selecting historical figures honoured in their songs, emphasizing a literal interpretation of legends and sharing personal connections to figures. He expressed surprise at the philosophical insights of Miyamoto Musashi discovered during songwriting and discussed his creative process, which includes managing writer's block.The conversation also touched on the limited edition vinyl of Legends, the band's commitment to diverse music formats, and upcoming tours in Europe, the US, and Canada, highlighting the excitement of live performances and audience engagement and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

17 Okt 17min

Interview by Kyra-Jade CoombsOctober with all its spooky Halloween charm is the perfect setting to catch up with Wednesday 13. Our very own Kim Dracula has summoned Wednesday 13 to join him in his Australian tour starting in Sydney on the 21st of November. These shows are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth for all things macabre with each band having their unique style and stage presence that will have you hooked.Throughout his career Wednesday 13 has had such an interesting journey and we couldn’t wait to hear his story. Maintaining success in this industry doesn’t come easy. Among many other things, Wednesday has managed to reinvent himself after riding the wave of success with The Murderdolls, proving his music, tenacity and brand is something special.We delve into the origins of Wednesday 13 - the stage name, the band and the influence horror has had on Wednesday's career. He went on to share a story about working on set in full costume when a wildfire in LA breaks out and the band jumped in to help save the day which got his blood pumping and concreted his dislike of fires. Over the interview we started to reveal the many layers that make up the Wednesday 13 that we know and love today and we hope you enjoy peaking into his weird and wonderful world.The Horror Down Under Tour is going to be one hell of a show that you don’t want to miss out on. TOUR DATESFriday, Nov 21: Princess Theatre, BrisbaneSaturday, Nov 22: The Metro, SydneySunday, Nov 23: Northcote Theatre, MelbourneWednesday, Nov 26: UC Hub, CanberraFriday, Nov 28: The Gov, AdelaideSaturday, Nov 29: Magnet House, Perthhttps://thephoenix.au/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

13 Okt 18min

The Delta Riggs will be hitting home soil again this weekend, ready to headline the main day celebrations for Mo's Desert Clubhouse’s 6th birthday celebrations on the Gold Coast. In the lead up to the show, founding member and bass player Michael ‘Monte’ Tremonte took some time out to chat with HEAVY. Arguably Australia’s most underrated band, The Delta Riggs, have been together since 2010, and are about to release a new track before the end of the year, with the hope it will set the pace for what’s to come their way in 2026. The Riggs frontman Elliot Hammond has had a full roster with his focus recently being with his other band Dope Lemon, which he is a member of alongside his other bestie Angus Stone. Now that is completed, his focus is back with The Delta Riggs, with Monte stating they are excited for what may evolve out of their new releases and plans for the band, as he jokes with Ali calling 2026 The Year of Rigg. Following on from last year's highlights that saw Smashing Pumpkins’ frontman and founder, Billy Corgan, joining The Delta Riggs for the full tour of Good Things Festival.  Prior to Corgan’s accompaniment, The Riggs had made a lasting impression when they played a show in Los Angeles that got the attention of a member of the Foo Fighters crew. So much so that this led to Foo Fighters requesting to have The Delta Riggs support them on their 2015 Sonic Highway stadium tour of Australia. A pivotal moment for the band and a lifelong friendship was formed with Foo's guitarist Chris Shiflett. Looking forward to getting loose and playing together again, Monte is pumped to be heading back to the GC and to Mo’s, which is set to be a big weekend of celebrations all around.  If you’re in the neighbourhood, head on out to the Clubhouse. Kicking it off on Thursday night are the epic legends Testeagles, with The Delta Riggs on Saturday and wrapping it up before they send it will be King Parrot on Sunday. Event details and tickets are available at www.mosdesertclubhouse.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

13 Okt 18min

It's nothing new to see a fighter make the transition from the ring to the cinema, with people as far back as Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Chuck Norris pioneering the way before a procession of fighters followed. From Van Damme to Ronda Rousey to Michael Jai White to Gina Carano, the list goes on, but while some of the attempts at acting have not been quite as impressive as the actual fighting career itself, there is always one thing in common. The fight scenes in their movies are always much more realistic and believable.Naturally, someone who has fought professionally would have a better idea of the practicalities of fighting, and, let's face it, there are numerous movies out there that depict fighting with no degree of accuracy whatsoever. But just the mere presence of a trained fighter in an action movie should instil more confidence in the final product. At least, it does for me.Which is why the upcoming action extravaganza The Workout - which premieres on Amazon on October 28 - was ahead of the game before the cameras even started rolling, when Ashlee Evans-Smith was cast in the role of Tank. Evans-Smith has previously fought in the UFC's bantamweight and flyweight divisions, giving her added advantage and knowledge when it comes to effectively knowing how to injure an opponent.The Workout is an intense found-footage action thriller about an army ranger whose plans to launch a workout video empire are shattered when a mob attack leaves his pregnant wife dead. The film stars Peter Jae (Darkness of Man), Josh Kelly (S.W.A.T.), UFC fighter Ashlee Evans-Smith, and Augie Duke (Yellowjackets), with co-writer David Lawrence bringing a sharp narrative edge. Director James Cullen Bressack has directed over twenty feature films known for bold storytelling and explosive action, including collaborations with Bruce Willis, Mel Gibson, and Steven Seagal, all of which sounds like a damn good start!HEAVY recently sat down with Ashlee Evans-Smith to talk through the worlds of filmmaking and martial arts. We start by asking Ashlee about her role in the movie."Oh, I love the storyline," she replied. "It's basically two army rangers - former army rangers - and they have a gym together. Unfortunately, somebody gets caught up in some bad stuff, and the pregnant wife gets killed. Then you basically go on a revenge journey with these badass former Army Rangers who are now doing crazy stunts. I'm also a former Army Ranger, so I'm basically who I am in real life - a big old tomboy without the military training - and I come in and want to help these guys seek revenge, and we spend the whole movie kicking butt and taking names."We ask Ashlee if making the transition from the UFC cage to acting is a difficult process."You think it's either going to transfer really easily or be scary for a stunt partner, but a fun fact is it's both," she laughed. "There are times where it feels seamless and effortless, and then there are times where… to pull a punch is so taboo in my sport. You step all the way into the punch; you don't pull it. And to train something like that for years and years, it's now a natural reaction to go full on. So that was a little scary, because I want to be safe and professional first and foremost. I don't want to hurt anyone, and I don't want to hurt myself, obviously."In the full interview, Ashlee discussed her transition from UFC fighter to actress in The Workout in greater detail. She described her character, Tank, a former Army Ranger seeking revenge after a tragic event, and expressed excitement about the project despite her nerves regarding audience reactions and mixed reviews. Ashlee reflected on the challenges of adapting her fighting techniques for film stunts, sharing a humorous incident where she accidentally landed real punches during a fight scene. She also emphasised the importance of collaboration with the stunt coordinator, who helps balance choreography with the actors' input, and noted the difference between real martial arts and cinematic portrayals.Ashlee described The Workout as a blend of action and patriotism, drawing comparisons to John Wick, and highlighted the authenticity of the fight scenes due to her martial arts background. Additionally, Ashlee shared her feelings on this, her debut major acting role, the differences with filming a 'found footage' movie, the importance of not paying too much attention to reviews and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

12 Okt 23min