THE QUARANTINED: Overriding The Algorithms Of Life And Music

Interview by Kris Peters Confidence goes a long way in music.Not just in yourselves and your music, but also in terms of your ideas. In a musical climate becoming increasingly saturated new bands often need something special to get people's attention.Put simply just having good music sometimes isn't enough. Emerging Sydney outfit Shu-Nagua have displayed an ability to think outside the box and follow their instinct from the outset, establishing their own musical conceptual universe from which to launch their sonic assault. It is an idea so grandiose it should actually work, and one which has seen the band added to the upcoming Simo's Maiden Voyage music cruise, which sets sail on September 24. Lead singer Lachlan Boon sat down with HEAVY to tell us more. "It sounds like a good time to me," he enthused. "We were lucky enough to be put on the first line-up. I think they are looking at doing a monthly thing, doing heavy music around Sydney Harbour." We ask Boon to tell us a bit more about the band. "Shu-Nagua musically is very diverse," he explained. "It's kind of… the way it's been written… it bends genres a lot. We'll go from something that's very bluesy and jazzy to something that delves more into prog-rock metal and everything in between. That's kind of where we sit. We have some of those heavier elements, but because of the concept we tend to shift the mood and genre to fit in with that overarching narrative. It gives us lots to explore." In the full interview Lachlan talks more about the concept behind the band and music, how they plan to create a continual series of releases based on this concept, translating the story into the live arena, writing to a concept and how that changes things, their live mascot and how he fits in with things, future plans and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

25 Aug 202315min

Interview by Kris PetersIn a world obsessed with technology and the quick fix band aid mentality it is refreshing to see bands that still adhere primarily to the old school formulas.When an album cycle meant getting out on the road and taking your music far and wide, engaging with old fans and connecting with new.The simplistic approach made possible in the modern age can often lessen the appeal and/or viability of such public displays of affection but I, for one, still love that vibe put off by a band who just wants to get down and dirty with their fans.Brisbane rock machine Gutterfire! have been touring relentlessly since the release of their debut album Chill some two years ago, traversing the East Coast of this great land on countless occasions and often more or less forcing people to give their music a listen.Not that that is such a bad thing because Gutterfire! are damn fine at what they do.With only a handful of shows left before the band settles in to complete their hotly anticipated follow up effort, Gutterfire! guitarist Az Stonely and frontman Photon Jon sat down with HEAVY to discuss their final few shows of the album cycle and what they have planned next.We start off by talking about their upcoming gig as part of Rock Beats Depression at the Mansfield Tavern on September 16."We've done it every year since very early on," Jon offered. "We love Caity, the organiser, and it's for a good cause. Everyone who plays the show really gets behind it for that reason."We ask what Gutterfire! get personally out of playing shows such as this."Personally, I'm autistic and ADHD," Jon revealed. "So it's close to my heart and I work in that field as well. Mental health in general... it's really cool how since I was a kid I've seen the conversation change and become more open. I remember when I was a kid people were questioning whether or not depression even existed, so seeing a nice big festival like that and raising money towards awareness is pretty awesome. Very different from when I was a kid."In the full interview, Az and Jon discuss the importance of festivals supporting depression and mental health issues, the fact these things can affect anyone, any time, the other bands on the line-up and who they are looking forward to playing with, next weekend's shows with Cairns outfit Forest, the High Kicks Forever Cancer Research Fundraiser they are playing on September 30, supporting charities, how it feels to be nearly finished a long and successful tour, new material and what direction it is heading and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

25 Aug 202319min

The Campaign For Musical Destruction tour title could not be more fitting for Napalm Death considering their perfect adaption of visuals and sonic chaos to everything that they create and stanbd for! For forty years Shane, Barney, Danny and John have done little else than ensure that we are willingly and graciously sonically accousted by being in the presence of Napalm Death; whether that be via our stereos or witnessing their entertaining and exhaustive live shows. The imminent return of Napalm with special guests Wormrot is about to hit Australian and New Zealand shors in a few shorts weeks, so frontman Barney thankfully gave us here at the HEAVY offices a few moments of his time to discuss all thing extreme including how aging has affected and changed his approached to writing and performing, plus he graciously spent his time with Metal V talking about somes of his favorite songs in Napalm's extensive back catalogue and why he chose them for us.Make sure you listen to the full podcast for another insight into the mind of one of extreme music's most poignant, prolific and humble legends.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

25 Aug 202337min

Interview by Kris PetersAsking Alexandria have always traversed the sonic tightrope between rock and metal, refusing to be stereotyped or labelled in the process.Over the course of seven previous albums the band has had moments of pure aggression offset by lashings of beauty, creating their own musical boundaries with a contempt for convention rarely sustained by bands with a global fanbase.Frontman Danny Worsnop has been behind many of the sonic disparities released by Asking Alexandria, his voice capable of shredding with the best of them but also becoming a source of emotional and sorrow at will.They are a band who are divisive in some quarters but have only ever proclaimed to be serving themselves as master with others more than welcome to board or alight the train at any time.With Asking Alexandria's eighth album, the ominously titled Where Do We Go From Here? due out on August 25 it seems the band have taken personal stock of their career to date and committed to disk a collection of songs that serve as a culmination of their career to date.HEAVY caught up with Worsnop as he sat in the tattoo chair recently to talk more about the album."It always sounds bad to say, and I don't mean it in a bad way, but I don't care about releases," he answered when asked if nerves were still a factor before an album drop. "This has been our album for the last year and as of three days from now it's not our album any more. It's everyone elses album. A lot of people look at the release date as the start of the album, but for me it's the end. Come Friday, that's when I get to start the next one."Where Do We Go From Here? is being promoted as a culmination of Asking Alexandria's historical body of work, so we ask Worsnop how much of a tightly wrapped package it is."We very much didn't want to try anything new," he offered. "We didn't want to re-invent the wheel. We didn't want it to be anything exploring or adventurous. It was supposed to be a look back on the last 15 years and a snapshot of everything thus far, sonically touching on everything we've done prior to thematically going back to subjects that have resonated with people from those albums. Instead of it being a personal record for us it's definitely for them."The title Where Do We Go From Here? could serve as both a statement or a question, but Worsnop argues the way it was written was slanted more towards the latter."It's a question, and one I ask myself a lot," he answered. "And one I think everyone should be asking themself all the time. I'm very goal motivated and orientated, so in my life that's the question I ask the most because regardless of the success or failure or win or loss that's the first question because you've gotta figure out what the next step is. When things are bad that's the only question we can really ask ourselves."In the full interview, Danny talks more about the subject matter on Where Do We Go From Here?, how it encapsulates the last 15 years of Asking Alexandria's life, closing certain chapters of music, the one minute banger Kill It With Fire and its surprising origin, the title and closing track and how it ties in with the album theme, his personal line of tequila and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

24 Aug 202316min

Interview by Kris PetersAussie rock and metal is currently in good hands.With a healthy swathe of older, established bands still doing the circuit and pumping out albums and an ever growing assortment of new and up and coming bands feeding off their wisdom it is fair to say the future of Australian music has never looked or sounded as good.So much so that few bands stand out and demand attention, many falling victim to the wealth of music saturating the market in ever increasing volumes.But there are a couple of bands that manage to stay elevated in the public spotlight, be it through hard work, touring or quality of material - or, more often, all three.One such band is Melbourne's Triple Kill whose high energy music and live shows have seen them maintain a steady upward trajectory that should peak even further with the impending release of their latest album Blackened Dawn.Another banger full of meaty guitars and driving force, Blackened Dawn gives you a ringside seat at the next phase of Triple Kill's musical journey and peels back yet more layers of their sonic landscape.Drummer Connor O'Keane and bass player Ethan White joined HEAVY to take us inside the album."Excited is an understatement, for sure," O'Keane quipped when asked how they were feeling on the eve of the August 25 release. "Also exhausted and we're not even touring yet (laughs). The amount of work we've put in behind the scenes to get this out is a lot, especially in the last month. I think we've put out three music videos in the last month while also practicing and getting ready for tour."We ask the boys to explain Blackened Dawn from a musical point of view."We wanted to advance our own skills," White measured, "so having that thing that kept us all locked inside for a couple of years really allowed us to take a moment to practice what we've got and develop some new skills. Or try some more challenging things that we hadn't touched on before in the way of writing something. This album is definitely from a musical standpoint something that we have advanced on. It's something new for us and something a bit more challenging in the way of our writing. Then the themes are just things that we love.""I think we've certainly tried to have this album be a step up for us musically in each of our own departments," O'Keane added, "while also looking back at the stuff that we really like about the first album and the stuff that we think has stood the test of time and expand upon those and hone in on the stuff that we feel worked the most in the first album."In the full interview, the boys talk more about what to expect from Blackened Dawn, how the world situation at the time of writing influenced the end result, the surprise opening track and the idea behind it, their upcoming shows with Orpheus Omega and what to expect, what's next for Triple Kill and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

23 Aug 202322min

Interview by Kris PetersNight At The Barracks returns to Manly's picturesque North Head this September for a series of outdoor concert events starting on September 15 and finishing on October 8.The showcase event kicks off with legendary Australian act Hoodoo Gurus, with celebrated artists such as Missy Higgins, Kate Cebrano, James Morrison Motown Experience and Tina Arena among the featured artists.But it is September 29 where we draw our focus today, and the musical extravaganza that is The Rolling Stones Revue.Fronted by Magic Dirt's Adalita, Tex Perkins and Tim Rogers (You Am I, Hard-Ons), The Rolling Stones Revue has been drawing rave reviews around the country with their unique slant on the music that shaped a generating as performed by Australian artists.For this special occasion, The Rolling Stones Revue will also be paying homage to the classic Stones album Sticky Fingers, as well as delivering fan favourites and greatest hits.Adalita joined us earlier this week to chat about Night At The Barracks."I can't wait," she enthused. "I've not played Night At The Barracks before and it sounds like a really great event. I love playing outdoor gigs and it just sounds beautiful. Manly is great, I played there back in the day but it's been a while."We turn our focus to The Rolling Stones Review and what to expect."It's a group of us - Tex Perkins, Tim Rogers and myself in this particular revue," Adalita explained. "We have had Phil Jamieson in the past and Sarah McLeod as well, but for this particular one it will be myself, Tex and Tim. We just get together and bang out some Stones classics. There's a lot of Sticky Fingers songs and alot of classics as well. It's just so much fun to do. I've always loved the Stones and playing besides Tex and Tim is just a joy. They're amazing. We have such a great time and the band is incredible. It's unexpected that I would do something like that, but I like going out of my comfort zone."In the full interview Adalita talks about how they rehearse for the show, how faithfully they keep to the original versions, choosing who performs which songs, who channels their inner Mick Jagger best, playing a classic album front to back and potential difficulties that could pose, the state of the art visual component to the show, future plans and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

22 Aug 202316min

Interview by Kris PetersCertain bands in history are untouchable, with every genre having a stoic pecking order.When it comes to death metal bands such as Morbid Angel, Obituary, Death, Cannibal Corpse and Atheist sit atop the proverbial tree, unflinching in their resolve and unyielding in their unrelenting pursuit of metal supremacy.Certain names stand out above others as well. Names such as John Tardy (Obituary), Cronos (Venom), Chuck Schuldiner (Death) and Glen Benton (Deicide), but perhaps above all others is Kelly Shaefer, pioneering and revered vocalist of Atheist and unofficial revolutionary and spiritual leader of death and extreme metal.After a period of inactivity, Shaefer returns to the metal realm, this time fronting an entirely new outfit Till The Dirt that threatens once more to derail the very fabric of sonic intensity.Despite being a main cog in the death metal machine, Shaefer has allowed himself to further develop musically, harnessing the elements that drove the early parts of his career but combining them with a myriad of outside influences that would once have been considered taboo.By blending elements of grunge, black metal, jazz, rock, dark wave, and even a dash of classic pop to his musical furnace, Shaefer has thrown expectations and convention to the wind in his search for sonic clarity, which has manifested itself into Till The Dirt's debut album Outside The Spiral which will be released via Nuclear Blast Records on August 25. Shaefer sat down with HEAVY earlier this week to tell us more."I think I'm anxious more than nervous," he admitted. "I've been around long enough now to... even as long as I've been around I still feel that anxiousness; that excitement. It's been 13 years since I've done a new record - 2010 I did Jupiter with Atheist - and I feel very fortunate and lucky to have tripped upon this prolific period of song writing that happened, because I never intended on having a new band or new music at all. It just naturally came out of thin air, so here I am back in an album cycle again and it's fun. It's exciting, it's different, but it's a lot like sending your kids to school. You hope all the other kids like your kid, and you hope the teachers nice to them, you know what I mean (laughs). So there's those nervous feelings, but I'm super proud of it and I can't wait for people to hear it. I've been sitting on it for two and a half years (laughs)."We ask Shaefer to take us deeper into the music side of Outside The Spiral."It's fusing all of the things that I love," he smiled. "I've had dual careers. I've had a career with Neurotica and a career with Atheist and both bands did well in terms of making a mark in their own right. Neurotica was much more singing, there was more clean vocals. It was heavy rock/metal with Atheist being obviously crazy, technical metal so I've never had an outlet like this where I was able to combine the two and really pay homage to all my 90s grunge influences, my stoner rock, desert rock Kyuss and Atomic Bitch Wax, all that kind of stuff that I really like. Black Sabbath and 70s thick, groovy shit along with blast beats and chaotic screams and harmony vocals. It's a plethora of shit that really just came out of isolation from COVID and frustration and anger and unknowingness. It came from a really natural place, where art should come from. It should come from a place of not just happiness."In the full interview, Kelly talks more on what to expect from Outside The Spiral, how the album came together, putting yourself in different head spaces to bring out different sides of your musical psyche, the different styles inherent in Till The Dirt and how they come together, personal limitations if any, enticing Scott Burns out of self-imposed exile to produce the album, what effect he had on the finished product, future plans and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

22 Aug 202326min

Interview by Kris PetersPost punk/goth outfit She Wants Revenge hit pay dirt with their first ever single Tear You Apart back in 2005, a song that somehow made it to the ears of Lady Gaga, who in turn insisted producers of a TV show she was working on called American Horror Story: Hotel included the track in its soundtrack.This early leg up introduced She Wants Revenge to an instant global market and served them well over their debut self-titled album and follow ups This Is Forever and Valleyheart before disbanding in 2012.2022 saw the band reunite and start producing music again, with their ensuing success setting She Wants Revenge down a touring path that sees the band finally travel to Australia for the first time this October.HEAVY caught up with guitarist Justin Warfield to delve deeper."Dude, it's like... it is a running joke amongst the band, and I'm sure any Aussie fans by now, that if we were to have announced these shows no-one would believe it anyway," he laughed. "Every time we do it gets cancelled. So, Thomas Froggatt - who is the bass player in She Wants Revenge and started in the original line-up as guitar player - he is from Byron Bay and Melbourne and he grew up between the two, so when I told him the dates we were coming he said 'yeah, yeah right, I'll believe it when I see it (laughs). And, so, it's really exciting. It sucks to dealing stereotypes but I just have to be honest. Whenever I can go to a place where the culture has inspired me or us as a band and as individuals, it's exciting. It's a place where there's so much great history and so much great music and so much culture and for me as a lifelong surfer to get to the Gold Coast is unbelievable. I grew up watching... I'm a bit of a nerd when it comes to surfing and some of my absolute heroes of the sport are from there and I've been looking at photos and videos forever. So the idea that not only do I get to go and play shows for audiences that probably thought we would never come - plus we're a band that has broken up twice before - so for the people that have been with us the whole time and grown old with us and are like 'oh wow, they're really coming', or for the new people who have discovered us from a soundcheck or Pandora or Spotify or a playlist... the fact that they get to experience us and what we do live and we get to share three nights of music with our fans old and new... we get to see the culture and the cities that are so exciting to us and the fact that I just get to surf... It's going to be outrageous."In the full interview, Justin talks more about what to expect from the tour, preparing for a run of shows so far from home, what they are expecting from us, their breakthrough single and being noticed by Lady Gaga, what that meant for the band's career, the chances of a new album and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

22 Aug 202318min