HEAVY Music Interviews

Interview by Angela CroudaceFinnish powerhouse Battle Beast is set to unleash their seventh studio album, Steelbound, on October 17, and frontwoman Noora Louhimo says the record is their most empowering yet.Known for fusing classic heavy metal with symphonic flourishes, 80s-inspired rock, and soaring synths, the band continues to evolve while staying true to their mission of uplifting fans through music.“This album deals with serious issues—life, death, and human rights,” Louhimo explains. “But at its core, Steelbound is about empowerment. We want to encourage people to fight through challenges, whether big or small, and to feel strong enough to go on.” Songs like Last Goodbye reflect this ethos, drawing inspiration from bassist Eero’s encounter with a fellow patient battling cancer. “It’s about that relentless hunger for life and never giving up,” she adds.Louhimo’s own transformation into her stage persona, “Mother Beast,” embodies this spirit. With her striking horns; symbols she describes as “horns of courage” and elaborate stage outfits, she seeks to inspire fans to embrace individuality. “I want people to show their horns, to be their true selves. You are enough just the way you are,” she says.For Louhimo, music is more than performance: it’s a lifeline. “Culture is vital for mental health. If we don’t have something to escape to, we don’t have the strength to carry on. Music brings people together and helps us heal.”Vocally, she pushed her limits on tracks like Twilight Cabaret, which she calls a showcase of her full range. Yet, her focus remains on the bigger picture: uniting fans and advocating for equality. “Success doesn’t come from fame or money—it comes from expressing yourself freely. That’s my rebellion, and I hope to encourage others to do the same.”With Steelbound, Battle Beast delivers not just metal anthems but a rallying cry for resilience, individuality, and joy.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

1 Sep 28min

It's been 8 long years, but ILL NIÑO, the trailblazing Latin-influenced metal band that redefined heavy music, is set to return for a blistering run of shows across Australia.Known primarily for their explosive live shows and genre-defining fusion of Latin-infused metal, Ill Nino have been in the headlines more recently following the departure of vocalist Marcos Leal and who would replace him. While fans around the world demanded a quick resolution, founding member and drummer Dave Chavarri held firm, refusing to throw just anyone into the cauldron.Instead, he waited patiently, shutting out the external noise, finally settling on Tommy Roulette (Jynx) to assume frontman duties. The decision came only weeks before Ill Nino set out for a recent tour of America, with all reports coming from reviewers and fans overwhelmingly positive.HEAVY sat down with both Chavarri and Roulette to get more information about the tour and transition of singers."We're fucking ready to go, man," Chavarri said excitedly. "We're going to fucking destroy for sure. We're psyched. We just came off a month-long tour in the United States with a Power Man 5000/Ill Nino co-headline that was fucking packed every night. And, you know, we're ready to go, man. We're well-oiled and ready to fucking rock right now."We ask Roulette how he is settling in."I've been with the guys for a couple of months now," he replied, "and everyone's super great. I couldn't ask to be with a greater group of guys right now. It truly is an honour. I'm very grateful and thankful to be here. I'm not taking this for granted, and I'm very excited for what the future holds."In the full interview, the discussion centred on Ill Nino's upcoming Australian tour, set to begin on September 12. Dave highlighted the successful recent performances in the U.S. and introduced Tommy as the new vocalist, who expressed his excitement about joining the band and experiencing Australia's music scene. Tommy shared his background in drumming and the positive atmosphere of Ill Nino's shows, contrasting it with his previous experiences in hardcore music.Dave recounted the careful selection process for a new singer, emphasizing the importance of quality over haste. He announced plans for re-recording old material and working on a new album, alongside a covers album, with a busy schedule confirmed through October 2027. The band is eager to debut their new song Born to Suffer during the tour and encouraged fans to actively participate in their performances. The conversation concluded with a shout-out to Australian fans, showcasing the band's enthusiasm for their upcoming shows and the music scene in Australia.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

1 Sep 15min

For the past four years, Adelaide blackened death groove outfit Sons Of Erebus have noisily gone about their business, smoothing off the edges of a rough exterior to uncover the gemstone beneath.Despite the inevitable teething problems faced by most bands, Sons Of Erebus have racked up the miles, playing a string of festivals across Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales while fine-tuning their material and road testing it on the people who matter most.The fans.Now, with a settled line up comprising guitarist Ethan (Asmodeus/ex-Thorngate) bassist Bedlam, eccentric frontman Paulie (PAUL13/A Murder of Crows/ex-Age of Horror), lead guitarist Rus (ex-Scapegoat/ex-Horrific Penetration/ex-Age of Horror) and young drummer and local legend Kyle (Broken Loose), Sons Of Erebus are ready to pounce, unleashing their debut 4 track EP Drenched In Plague last week to an overwhelmingly positive response that has so far justified the extra hours put in before committing anything to disk.Frontman Paulie sat down with HEAVY recently to discuss Drenched In Plague and everything around it."Yeah, pretty good so far," he smiled when we asked what the reaction has been so far to the EP. "We've had good feedback and a lot of good compliments. A lot of messages that are all positive so far (laughs). And the songs are familiar with the fans because we've been playing them for a while and trying to bust out finishing the CD. So yeah, it's had a good reception."We ask Paulie to dive deeper into the musical side of Drenched In Plague."It started off as more of a black metal thing," he measured, "and then it's evolved with me dipping my style into it. I come from a bit more of a groove background, and we've tried to make that kind of sound - that bit darker sound - a bit more accessible by taking some of the intensity out of it."In the full interview, we discussed Drenched In Plague in greater detail, running through each of the four tracks one at a time with Paulie explaining how the songs came together and what they are about.We talked about the pressures of a debut release and the length of time it has taken for Sons Of Erebus to release their first recorded material. Talk turned to their live show and upcoming support with international thrash metal outfit Vektor plus advanced plans on new material, including what it will sound like and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

29 Aug 11min

Being a band from Newcastle has meant massive expectations ever since the Screaming Jets exploded onto the scene in 1989. What was already an uphill battle establishing yourselves from outside the capital cities overnight became even more daunting with little brother always fighting to escape the shadow of one of Australia's finest ever musical exports.While admittedly difficult, it is not impossible. A fact proven by the emergence of progressive rock outfit KODEM.After two years spent honing their craft on the touring circuit, KODEM have unleashed their debut single Tattooed Sin, celebrating their signing to rising Australian music label XMusic with an atmospheric and intense track that highlights the struggle between vulnerability and shame. Tattooed Sin is also the lead single taken from KODEM's upcoming debut EP of the same name, and showcases the raw emotion from which KODEM have launched their assault.HEAVY caught up with vocalist Luke Jones and guitarist Matt Semmens to find out more."We're super pumped," Matt enthused when we bring up the release of the first single. "Super pumped. This was our first track that I sent to Luke in his truck many years ago, just reaching out to him and saying, hey, would you like to write some tunes? This is the very first one that we worked on, so we're pretty pumped to get it out there finally."In the full interview, Matt and Luke spoke more about Tattooed Sin, which delves into themes of acceptance and life's challenges, highlighting the synergy between the lyrics and the abstract visuals of the accompanying music video. They also shared insights from their live performance experiences and their excitement for future projects, including another single and an EP, showcasing their dedication to their musical journey and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

29 Aug 15min

It is more than a myth that forging a career from the Western side of Australia poses many more challenges than other music hubs around Australia. The isolation, costs of travel, reduced market, and subsequent lessening of opportunities faced are definitely quite difficult to overcome. Difficult? Yes. Impossible? No. Perth alt-rockers Late 90s are living proof.Drawing influence from the likes of alt-metal icons Deftones, alt-pop and rock legends Paramore, and emo kings Basement, LATE 90s have shaped their own sound into something reminiscent of past greats, all the while tying together elements of something so fresh and distinct. With over 2.1 million Spotify streams and having spent recent years touring with the likes of Neck Deep, Taking Back Sunday, State Champs, Hot Mulligan, Free Throw, Short Stack, Slowly Slowly, and more, the band have recently announced their inclusion on the 2025 BIGSOUND line-up, which will see them bringing the heat to Brisbane this September.It is an opportunity well deserved for the rapidly emerging band, who hit the opposite side of the country to their home base from September 2 to 5, armed with their explosive new single Low and an appetite for success. HEAVY caught up with vocalist Steve Loreck to find out more. With over 120 bands performing over the three days of BigSound, HEAVY questions Loreck on why punters should mark the name of Late 90s on their to-see-list."I think we're the only heavy band playing out of Perth, so that's a definite reason," he replied. "There isn't that many bands that have got those heavier influences, so I think we do a good job of representing that more alternative scene. I think our music is not too heavy where people might be put off by it, but they might still enjoy it if they're not necessarily into the heavier stuff. So yeah, we're kind of the middle ground, I guess, for the punter. The music we make is a little different, so I think people will like it."In the full interview, Steve tells us what BigSound means to emerging local artists and the Australian music scene, the networking side of the event and how best to handle it, a brief history of the band and their sound, their new single Low and how it represents Late 90s moving forward, future music and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

28 Aug 16min

Melbourne-based musician Envy Marshall is an artist who doesn't care for trends or fashions or being the 'next big thing'. Her musical journey is more selfish, in a way, in that she creates music that means something to her first and foremost. But when that music is rooted in life experiences and self-worth, it suddenly becomes accessible to the masses. Or at least those who believe that you are the master of your own destiny and, as such, deserve to be happy. Deserve to be free. Deserve to be confident in yourself.After announcing her intentions earlier this year with the explosive and confronting track Like A Man, Marshall returns via the path least expected with Hurt, a song dripping with emotional vulnerability amid haunting piano, laced with searing guitar riffs and a vocal delivery with the unmistakable swagger of an artist for whom boundaries are a source of inspiration rather than fear. Following the viral success of Like A Man, Envy Marshall is proving herself to be one of the most vital independent voices in today’s rock scene. With Hurt, she doesn’t just raise the bar - she rips it off the wall.With her debut album in the can and nearing release date, Marshall joined HEAVY for an open and honest discussion about her life and music, starting with Hurt and how it has been received."I think people are sick of hearing positive music," she measured, "and I think this song has really touched a lot of people. We've had some great success with it in Australia, but it's been number one in a couple of countries over in Europe, which has been amazing. I was a bit worried about putting out a ballad because you never know how it's going to land, but it's landed really well. People are just sick of candy pop, and they want to actually listen to something that means something to them."We ask if the song is more about hurting yourself or inflicting hurt on others."I think when we get hurt, we like to hurt. It's a reaction," she mused. "So I think this song is about taking power back after being really badly hurt. And I think we've all been really hurt. I think we live in a lot of hurt, especially these days. The world is crazy. I don't think we need lots of lipstick, positive songs. I think it's a real thing that a lot of us are in a lot of pain, so this song, for me, was about being hurt; being let down and finding a way to move that through my body - not through revenge - because that's where you start. When you get hurt, first you get angry, then you get sad, and you get angry again. Then you get jealous, then you get some envy, and you go through all those emotions, and then finally you get to revenge, which is a better feeling. And that sort of gets you out of that feeling of hurt. So it's really about moving through those emotions and coming out the other end of it, the hero of your own story."In the full interview, Envy discussed her recent professional developments, emphasizing Hurt's exploration of complex emotions and the importance of processing pain rather than seeking revenge. She elaborated on her creative process, highlighting her collaboration with Mike Young at Armory Studios, where the haunting piano intro for Hurt was developed. Envy cited musical influences such as Portishead and In This Moment, and emphasised her commitment to artistic freedom in her songwriting. She shared plans for her forthcoming album, which will showcase a gritty rock sound, and teased her new single Looking Good and Feeling Famous, set for release in September, plus more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

28 Aug 22min

After building momentum and a solid, loyal fan base following the release of two EPs - The Wound, The Blade (2022) and Shadow Dancer (2023) - Melbourne metal outfit ATLVS went strangely quiet, going over two years with an eerie radio silence. While such a period of inactivity, especially in the modern age of music, would be an almost certain death knell for emerging bands, the absence seemed to do little to quell the thirst of their loyal army.Their return in June of this year with the instantly irresistible single Soulsucker saw ATLVS pick up almost precisely where they left off, proving that quality music will still be rewarded despite the shortening attention spans of the world and the wealth of bands and music released every day. The track hinted at something bigger from ATLVS but just what that is remains as mysterious as their absence, so to try and get to the bottom of things ahead of the band's trip to Brisbane as part of BigSound, HEAVY sat down for some quality time with Nathan Coff (vocalist) and Nick Clavarino (drummer) for a chat that ultimately left just as many questions as it did answers.We ask what ATLVS hope to get out of the BigSound experience."As a band, I am very interested to see other acts playing," Clavarino answered. "Also, meeting like-minded people. Very interested to see… just from all sorts of bases. You've got your promoters, agents, sync agents, even roles I've never heard of before (laughs), so I'm just interested to meet every single person I can possibly meet and make some good connections."Further to that, we ask what BigSound means to Australian bands and the Australian music scene." I think it's awesome that we have this sort of thing in Australia," Clavarino began, "that is so focused on the future of music. It's the biggest thing like this in the Southern Hemisphere, obviously, so we're pretty lucky to be able to have that. BigSound gives a stage where artists can showcase themselves to people from all around the world and meet people in the industry and industry professionals."In the full interview, Nathan and Nick highlighted the importance of networking with other artists and industry professionals at BigSound, viewing it as a unique opportunity to showcase their talent on a global stage. The band promised to deliver a high-energy performance that stands out among numerous acts, drawing on their experience and professionalism.They also discussed their recent single Soulsucker, which has been well-received after a two-year hiatus, and mentioned that it is part of a larger project, though details were not provided. Nathan acknowledged the challenges of re-establishing the band's presence but expressed confidence in their loyal fan base and plans to engage with fans through social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook to maintain that connection and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

27 Aug 13min

With the world becoming increasingly sanitised and regulated, it is refreshing to see and hear a band that still adheres to the old school ethos where fun was the order of the day and everything said and played is meant to be taken with a grain of salt. Which is exactly what you get from Melbourne hard rock outfit Ablaze, who wear their hearts proudly on their sleeves and their sleeves proudly on their hearts.Known for their love of a good time, but even more so for their particular brand of hard rock - especially live - Ablaze set the world on fire even further with the release of their second album Sink Ya Teeth In.Packed full of hard-rocking, toe-tapping, boot stomping tunes, Sink Ya Teeth In showcases the abundance of riches within Ablaze, all neatly wrapped under the banner of Aussie hard rock. With the band set to board a flight to Belgium for an upcoming European/UK run of shows, drummer Mango stopped packing for ten minutes while he brought HEAVY up to speed."It's been amazing," he beamed when we asked how the reception has been for Sink Ya Teeth In. "We've been dropping singles off it for about two and a half years because that's the world that we live in now. Everybody wants singles. But with how much time and effort, and money goes into recording something professionally, we didn't want to just record everything, drop a single and release the rest. We wanted to really wring this thing out for everything we could. We've released five singles and a bonus track was a single as well off an eight to nine-song album, depending on how you look at it."We ask Mango to dive deeper into the musical nature of the album."One of the things that Ablaze has always been really proud of, and I've been really proud of with us, is that we can write in a whole bunch of different styles and genres," he replied, "and it always comes out sounding like Ablaze. Our first one was a rock album, but we had a hoe down, we had an Irish drinking song, we had an acoustic song that I sang and played acoustic on. We could do a whole bunch of different stuff. And so on this album, we've done the same thing. It's an eight-song album, or nine song with the bonus, but we've got the heaviest song we've ever written. We've got some real Aussie rock style stuff. We've got a big six-minute gospel epic that finishes the thing. We've got a big glammy song, and we've got a Southern rock song as well. And a Christmas song, again. So we really kind of wanted to show that we're still doing what we do, but after our first album, our writing has really taken a step forward."In the full interview, Mango shared further insights about Sink Your Teeth In, highlighting the album's positive reception and the strategic release of five singles. He emphasized the importance of the album's cohesive flow and the thoughtful track listing, which he believes enhances the depth of the songs. He also addressed the challenges of releasing a second album, aiming to avoid being perceived as a "one-trick pony" while ensuring that each song is crafted to be single-worthy, reflecting the band's commitment to quality and creativity.The conversation also covered the logistics of their upcoming European and UK tour, starting in Belgium and ending in Germany. Mango noted the differences in touring dynamics between Australia and Europe, particularly the shorter travel distances in the UK, which allow for a more manageable schedule. He expressed excitement about upcoming performances, including festivals and album launch events and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

27 Aug 25min