THE QUARANTINED: Overriding The Algorithms Of Life And Music

Interview by Angela CroudaceOne of the architects of The Gothenburg Sound, Dark Tranquillity are about to storm Australian shores for the first time in over a decade, delivering three exclusive shows in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.The masters of melodic death metal emerged from Sweden’s west coast in the early '90s, alongside titans like In Flames, At The Gates, and Soilwork. Known for their genre-defining mix of razor-sharp riffs, icy keyboards, and Mikael Stanne's haunting vocals, the band melds death metal intensity with gothic and progressive experimentation. Through 13 albums, including iconic releases The Gallery, Character, and their latest, 2024’s Endgame Signals, Dark Tranquillity has forged a sound that is as melancholic and thought provoking as it is ferocious.Joining Dark Tranquillity for their momentous return are Melbourne’s own melodic metal heavyweights, Eye of the Enemy. Renowned for their crushing riffs and soaring melodies, Eye of the Enemy has earned accolades including a Global Metal Apocalypse Award and numerous Album of the Year mentions. With a history of international tours and supporting the who’s who of metal’s elite, they’re the perfect complement to Dark Tranquillity's atmospheric mastery.Dark Tranquillity will dig deep from their rich catalogue to deliver a sonic journey through the past, present, and future of melodic death metal, but just to make sure, HEAVY caught up with vocalist Mikael Stanne just days out from the first show of the tour.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

19 Feb 25min

Interview by Kris PetersBurton C Bell is a name synonymous with metal.Fresh off his induction into the prestigious Metal Hall of Fame, Burton continues to solidify his legacy as a trailblazer of industrial metal. Renowned for his groundbreaking role in Fear Factory, the extreme music pioneer, multimedia talent, and iconoclastic provocateur resurrects his legacy and forward-thinking destiny, remade in a career-spanning incarnation as a singular solo artist. Bell’s discography includes multiple live and recorded collaborations with Black Sabbath icon Geezer Butler and Journey’s Deen Castronovo (as GZR); industrial maverick Al Jourgensen and Ministry; and guest vocal appearances with Pitchshifter, Conflict, Soil, Static-X, Soulfly, and Delain, among others. He’s the vocalist of Ascension Of The Watchers and City Of Fire and, of course, the co-creator of Fear Factory and the only musician to appear on every Fear Factory release from 1992 through 2024.And now Bell has set his sights on Australia for his solo project, which has already spawned two singles in Anti - Droid and Technical Exorcism, with two more promised before June. His Australian shows promise to be an unmissable experience, featuring heavy, groovy, dark, and moody tracks, alongside rare live renditions of deep cuts from his vast discography, but to find out just what to expect, HEAVY spent some time with Bell to get down and dirty."I had a great response," he smiled when we asked about how his first two solo singles were received. "Live, the fans love them. They translate well. The band that I have gathered - or should I say curated, because it took me a couple of years to grab these guys together. I've known them for a few years, but finally I got this band together and the music that we play is really translating… a new groove that is translating in songs in a heavy, groovy, dark and moody way. It's amazing. What you hear is going to be heavier live."In the full interview, Burton talks more about what to expect from the shows, what has changed with him and his music since his last visit in 2021, how the shows will be intimate, what songs he will be drawing from in the set list, future music and if the singles released are an indication of what the album will sound like, how he keeps music fresh and exciting for himself, the songwriting process and if it becomes easier or harder over time, being inducted into the Metal Hall Of Fame and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

18 Feb 12min

Interview by Kris PetersRipper Owens has returned to Australia, but this time he is on his own. Not literally, of course, but for the first time in recent memory, Ripper comes Down Under with a clean slate and no pre-existing musical obligations by way of bands and/or collaborations.As such he is free to pull songs from a vast and varied network spent fronting iconic acts including Judas Priest, Iced Earth, Yngwie Malmsteen, Dio's Disciples, The Three Tremors, KK's PRIEST and the incredibly ferocious RIPPER - a collaborative project spearheaded by Hatebreed's Jamey Jasta.Joined by the Metallic luminary of brothers Joel & Jordan McDonald, Andrew Hudson and Voya Mulitinovic, Ripper’s live assault will be molten as hell… And if you crave anything less - You've Got Another Thing Coming…Ripper's unique skills tore open a fairytale career, across the biggest stages in the world. This run of shows will showcase the absolute, toughest cuts from Ripper's world of Heavy Metal. Expect huge hits, deep dives, virtuosic shred, and a heap of fists in the air, full cavalry style, head-banging glory.HEAVY caught up with Ripper during some rare downtime on the road.We bring up the fact that with so much material to draw from, choosing a set list to appease the masses must seem like an impossible and thankless task. "It is," he nodded. "It is just as it is with anybody. It's the same with KK's Priest, isn't it? We do a lot of KK stuff… probably half and half, but a thing we don't do is a lot of my era of Judas Priest. We do one song, so people complain a lot about that. But it's the same with every band and every artist out there. It's always a pain in the butt and a challenge to make a set list. You will not make everybody happy, and to be honest, in this day and age it's impossible. They're gonna complain. Just by reading comments on posts of mine on social media, people know everything. They know exactly how I should look, sound, what clothes I should wear, what set lists I should have, so you're not gonna make everybody happy. It's really hard to do, and you nailed it. People wanna hear Winters Bane, my first band I released something with, so it is tough, but you've gotta do it. I've toured doing these songs. I know for my South America tour I have coming up I have added Bloodstained in the set list and we might do Jugulator, but it's tough to do it."In the full interview, Ripper tells us what to expect from his shows, his backing band and why he chose them, his recent collaborations with aspiring musicians, musical freedom, what he gets out of playing in so many bands, challenging yourself musically and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

18 Feb 13min

Interview by Kris PetersPhoto credit ALI NASSERIDecember 2023 saw the end of an era of live music that reinvigorated the entire Sydney music scene and spread that love throughout the rest of the country.For 10 years, Frankies Pizza was the cornerstone of the Sydney live music hub, bringing a swag of international bands through its doors as well as giving Australian acts of all genres and career trajectories a home where they could be heard. And, more importantly, understood.While the entire staff of Frankies was involved in bringing the club to life, one man would always be in the thick of things playing, performing, or moshing in the pit. That man - Jordan McDonald - became a legend amongst many, always smiling, always approachable and never judgemental.So, when Frankies closed its doors for the final time, the local music scene lost not only a great venue but also an icon of the industry. While being vocal that he did not want Frankies to continue in any shape or form in another venue - believing the legacy should end where it started - McDonald never turned his back on the music scene, continuing his drumming passion with local and touring acts as well as branching out into other areas of hospitality, but being an active and contributing part of the Australian music scene in a capacity where he could give back to the industry was never far from his mind.Initially launching his own business Nite Rite, aimed at helping businesses and individuals set up and run live music venues amongst other things, McDonald soon found opportunities knocking to start up something more based on his personal choices and experiences. This came in the form of a new live music venue situated in the heart of the Sydney CBD that was screaming out for live music.After getting his head back into the booking and promoting side of music, McDonald is now ready to launch a monthly live music night called Dingbats Party Pit at a venue underneath the Arcade Bar on O'Connell Street on March 7. But of course, as anyone who visited Frankies or knows Jordan McDonald would lovingly point out, the man has more on his mind than a once-monthly event.HEAVY sat down with Jordan for an interesting chat to flesh things out."I'm glad other people remember it, because I don't remember much," he laughed when we first bring up Frankies. "That was ten years of my life, and it was ten years well spent. It was fantastic. And it was one of these classic examples of the whole fake it 'til ya make it thing. I had this brilliant business partner who pulled me into the mix when I was selling him beers - because I used to tour with bands around the United States and I would come back to Australia and the closest thing to a craft beer would be your Little Creatures or Coopers or whatever. But there wasn't too much in the way of funky options out there, so I started distributing all these interesting beers into the country, and there was this dude who had a great little venue called Shady Pines Saloon and I would sell him a bunch of American beers. One night he pulled me aside, and he said, 'hey man, I've got this idea. I wanna do a rock n roll club. I have a space in the Sydney CBD that is a totally untried and untested area for this kind of thing.'"At that point of time everyone would go to the CBD to go to work, finish work, then go home. You just wouldn't hang out there. And he had this concept to throw a gig every night of the week, seven days a week until 4am, and he thought I was the solution to it. I didn't know what the hell I was doing, but I said yes, let's do this thing, and fast forward ten years and Frankies Pizza had built its name as a trusted force in the rock n roll world."In the full interview, Jordan talks more about Frankies and the legacy it left behind, what he has been doing since it closed down, his new company Nite Rite and how it aims to help the music industry, his new venture Dingbats Party Club and what to expect, the venue itself, the launch party of March 7, future plans to open it up for local, national and international acts and more.The March 7 launch event features 5 bands, each overflowing with Party Rock attitude. Drawing heavy inspiration from the Rock Clubs of Hollywood’s Hair Metal heyday, Dingbats thought it best to come out swinging Sunset Strip style. If Big Red Fire Truck, Bloody Legend and The Hush don’t leave you wondering who bought the time machine to 1989, Planet Earth’s #1 Poison tribute act, Poizon’Us, will have you flying in the Flux Capacitor by the first four bars.In case anyone gets too comfortable, Dingbats are dropping a wildcard set from one of the world’s most exciting up and coming alternative acts, MANNEQUIN DEATH SQUAD. A 2 piece DIY tour de force taking the world by storm. DJs NITECALL, AXL BROS & JORDAN ADAM will be reducing a Heavy Metal jús before, between and after all featured acts.And that's not all. Thraxxy Kilmister's Horrendously Bad Tattoo Competition calls upon all cretins present to bare their most regrettable ink for a chance at mega merch packs, tattoo credit and a generous portion of champion's glory.This is a fully accessible event with seamless wheelchair access and disabled facilities. Tickets are on sale now, bit.ly/dingbatsmar25https://www.nite-rite.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

18 Feb 18min

Interview by Kris PetersRight before the turn of the century, casual jam sessions between a group of friends unassumingly lit the fuse for an insane 25-year ride to follow…Hailing from Western Massachusetts (where the only thing icier than the freeway in winter is the blunt sense of humour shared by the locals), Killswitch Engage — Adam Dutkiewicz [guitar], Joel Stroetzel [guitar], Mike D’Antonio [bass], Justin Foley [drums], and Jesse Leach [vocals] — always stood apart. For as deadly serious as their airtight technical riffing is, they also knew how to have a good time, riling up crowds with uncontainable energy and unpredictable performances. They could bludgeon with the best of them, or serve up the kind of sing-along banger you could blast with the windows down.From day one, they naturally appealed to the headbangers, hardcore kids, and heartbroken alike.With eight successful albums under their belt, Killswitch Engage haveharnessed all of their strengths on their ninth full-length LP, This Consequence. They’ve distilled the hallmarks of their signature sound into a bruising, often brutal, and at times brilliantly bright body of work. This time around, the group emphasized working together face-to-face in a Massachusetts rehearsal spot. The process enabled them to apply the pressure on every element. At the collective urging of his bandmates, Jesse poured over his words like never before.Now, This Consequence might just set the stage for another 25 years of Killswitch Engage.HEAVY caught up with frontman Jesse Leach to find out more."Excited," he smiled when we ask how he is feeling about the impending release of This Consequence. "It's been a long time coming for many reasons. There's a bit of excited anxiety, like let's just get it out there. Let's just get it out there and start playing for the people."We ask if, after eight previous albums, the excitement levels during the lead into an album release are still the same."It's a little different now," he measured. "It's still very exciting, but there's a certain amount of… I don't wanna use the word ease, but just comfort in the fact that we've done this enough. I think with this record, especially, we all feel like this feels like taking it to the next level. Even the decision to change the logo up… it just feels like a shift into a different era of the band. So there's an added excitement, but also a calm feeling that this feels right."In the full interview, Jesse outlines the musical side of This Consequence, the first single Forever Aligned and why it was chosen to represent the album, the title and its significance, how this album is more of a collaboration than recent efforts, the bands blending of harmonies with brutality and how it works in the creative process, the early days of Killswitch Engage and where they fit in, how their music has changed over the years and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

17 Feb 18min

Interview by Angela CroudacePhoto Credit: Erik Ohlsson, Magnus LarnhedTwo of the all-time punk greats will be returning to Australia with pioneering California dynamos PENNYWISE and beloved Swedish trailblazers MILLENCOLIN set to co-headline a huge run down under.For over 30 years, Swedish icons MILLENCOLIN have vividly put punk on the map. With their original line up still intact since forming back in 1992, MILLENCOLIN's debut album, 1994's Tiny Tunes, opened the floodgates that would shape the quartet's staggering career to come. Skyrocketing their popularity courtesy of the 2000 full-length Pennybridge Pioneers, the rock-infused dive beyond the band's earlier skate punk and ska leanings would ultimately spawn iconic tracks like No Cigar and Penguins & Polarbears, achieving infamy with No Cigar's addition to the soundtrack for Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2, and ultimately finding the overall album scoring an ARIA Platinum certification.One of punk rock's most famed and favourite acts to emerge out of Europe, MILLENCOLIN have played thousands of shows around the world, including as part of Warped Tour, Soundwave Festival and Big Day Out, multiple sold-out headline performances, tours with the likes of Bad Religion and The Offspring, and, most recently for Australians, at Good Things Festival in 2022. And never ones to rest on their laurels, MILLENCOLIN also continue to finesse their sonic creations, seen vividly via their 2019 album SOS, exploring political and darker themes without sacrificing their explosive energy and gripping melodic.HEAVY caught up with Millencolin guitarist Mathias Färm to find out more.MILLENCOLIN & PENNYWISE tix from destroyalllines.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

17 Feb 10min

Interview by Angela CroudaceAfter spending years as a fan, Chris Cresswell now finds himself on stage with Hot Water Music. "Being able to join one of your favourite bands is not something that happens every day," he says. The vocalist and guitarist of both Hot Water Music and The Flatliners knows what it's like to respect the music and the artists behind it. His journey into Hot Water Music, a band with a 30-year legacy, is a reminder of how passion and perseverance go hand in hand.As the band celebrates its milestone, Cresswell reflects on how its longevity is rooted in trust and communication. "The line up has always been the same… the nucleus of the bands… it's all about trusting each other," he explains. That trust is key to their success both on stage and in their personal lives, especially when life throws curveballs.A significant highlight of their 30th anniversary is the release of VOWS, which Cresswell believes resonates with old and new fans alike. "We worked our asses off on those songs… and I think we're just fired up because the band still plays for the people that love our music." One track, Menace, has already been a hit on the road, with Cresswell describing it as a "set turning point."When asked about transitioning into Hot Water Music, Cresswell shared that while there may have been some scepticism from the original fans, the reception has been overwhelmingly positive. "I was just coming from a place of such respect for this band," he notes. "I had to do it justice."For Cresswell, the journey is about more than just performing; it's about connecting with the people who made the band what it is. With VOWS marking a new chapter in Hot Water Music's history, Cresswell's story proves that music is a bridge between fans and musicians, old and new.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

17 Feb 21min

Interview by Kris PetersWith their new album A Sonication, Germany-based metal band OBSCURA launch the second of their trilogy concept. The group’s second (seventh overall) album for Nuclear Blast pivots on many fronts. Advanced, elegant yet refreshing, A Sonication sums up past endeavors effortlessly as it gazes with purpose and conviction into the future. OBSCURA are fan-renowned and critically acclaimed for challenging and then expanding upon norms.From Retribution (2004) through A Valediction (2021), the band flourished and made significant progress in a musical genre unprepared for a creative shot of German invention. A Sonication spearheads OBSCURA into a new era of extreme metal.Guitarist/vocalist Steffen Kummerer founded Obscura in 2002. Early on, he set out to improve, redefine, and push forward. Under his self-label creation, the Bavarian released debut album Retribution (2004), followed by heavy touring throughout Europe. Word quickly spread that a brand-new band from the south of Germany was on the rise. Buzz lead to a deal with U.S.-based Relapse Records. The first record out was Cosmogenesis. In Europe, Metal Hammer Germany awarded the album 6/7 while in the U.S. Cosmogenesis hit the Billboard charts at #71. The cross-continental praise and fevered momentum landed OBSCURA on high-profile tours in Europe, North America, and Japan.When follow-up Omnivium arrived in 2011, they upped their chart success, received more accolades from publications like Terrorizer, Rock Hard, and Decibel and had another massive round-world tour cycle, while enhancing and making progress on their clever brutality. OBSCURA further developed their sound on Akróasis (2016). Moored by jaw-dropping tracks like Sermon of the Seven Suns, Ode to the Sun, and the title track, Akróasis elevated OBSCURA to the highest levels of international renown.OBSCURA’s most significant accomplishment was, however, just around the corner. The final part of a tetralogy, Diluvium (2018), fiercely pursued OBSCURA’s multi-album transformation into musical innovators and metal powerhouses. Music videos for the title track, Emergent Evolution and Mortification of the Vulgar Sun, in concert with a substantial interest in virtuosic, forward-thinking metal, posited OBSCURA in the good graces (yet again) of the worldwide press in addition to rocketing up, for the very first time, the official album charts in Germany. The Germans also topped out at #3 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart with Diluvium.A turning point in the career of the Germans manifested with the first release for the biggest independent metal label on the planet, Nuclear Blast Records. A Valediction granted the band worldwide success, topping their previous albums in a heartbeat, and saw the band climbing higher chart positions worldwide. With epic opening track Forsaken, technical-through the roof Solaris and the catchy, melodic and yet accessible title track, A Valediction established the group as an outstanding and energetic live act, to be proved by their first tour to cover South- and Central America, aside from touring relentlessly throughout Europe, North America and Asia.With the February 7 release date of A Sonication looming, HEAVY sat down with Steffen Kummerer to find out more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

17 Feb 10min