Signals From Mars Podcast

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Signals From Mars - Episode 423 - King Witch Aug 29, 2025

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In this episode of Signals From Mars, I’m joined by Laura Donnelly, vocalist of the incredible Scottish doom metal band Kingwitch. We dive deep into the making of their latest album, III — their most powerful and emotionally resonant release yet.

Laura opens up about the five-year gap between albums, much of which was shaped by family life, creative resets, and the band’s commitment to authenticity. We explore how having a child and taking time away from the road gave them the space to refine their sound and make a record that truly represents where Kingwitch is today.

We also get into the DIY nature of the band — with Laura contributing graphic design and Jamie (guitarist/partner) handling production and mixing duties. You’ll hear stories about recording in their home studio, experimenting with fretless bass, and even using their child’s xylophone on the record!

💬 Topics discussed include:

Why III took five years to release
Recording at home and staying true to the band’s vision
Laura’s growth as a vocalist after becoming a mother
Using unconventional sounds in the studio (baby toys and cold-induced effects!)
How Scottish landscapes, folklore, and mythology influence Kingwitch's music
The role of artwork and symbolism (yin/yang, wolves, light/dark)
Their return to the stage after a multi-year break
Reflections on the recent Ozzy/Black Sabbath tribute show
The power of doom metal to remain diverse, emotional, and expansive

Laura also shares thoughts on the challenges of being a parent and musician, why Kingwitch doesn’t chase trends, and how they're still proudly flying the flag for variety and dynamics in modern heavy music.

🎧 If you’re a fan of bands like Candlemass, Black Sabbath, or Dio, or just love passionate, honest conversations about metal and creativity, this episode is for you.

🛒 Support Kingwitch 🎵 Buy or stream Three:

Listenable Records Bandcamp (digital, CD, vinyl)
Kingwitch Bandcamp (CD, vinyl only)

📲 Follow Kingwitch

Instagram: @kingwitchmetal
Facebook: facebook.com/kingwitchmetal

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Signals From Mars - Episode 422 - Joshua Toomey Aug 22, 2025

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In episode 422 of Signals From Mars, Victor welcomes back longtime friend and podcasting peer Joshua Toomey for a deep and candid conversation about the state of podcasting, legacy rock bands, and Toomey’s latest creative projects.

Toomey—co-host of The David Ellefson Podcast, host of Talk Toomey, and member of the reunited Primer 55—opens up about his podcasting evolution, lessons learned from past co-hosts and platforms (including Knotfest), and why his new partnership with Ellefson has been both rejuvenating and surreal.

The episode dives into:

🎧 The golden age of rock and metal podcasting 🎤 Blabbermouth clickbait, misunderstood interviews, and viral clip strategies 🤘 Toomey’s take on recent concerts by Ace Frehley, Quiet Riot, and Slaughter 🧠 Honest discussion on aging rock stars and what it’s like to watch your heroes struggle 🎸 The return of Primer 55 — how it happened, the lineup, and what fans can expect 💬 Memories of getting starstruck, being backstage, and finding lifelong friendships through music

Victor and Joshua reflect on 16+ years in the podcasting trenches, staying motivated through burnout, and how nostalgia and authenticity drive the hard rock and metal community forward.

Whether you’re a fan of KISS, Metallica, Faith No More, or underground legends like Primer 55, this episode is packed with insights, laughs, and hard truths from two lifers who live and breathe music media.

📺 Watch or listen to the full episode: https://www.signalsfrommars.com/signals-from-mars-episode-422-joshua-toomey/

🎧 Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform. 🌐 Visit signalsfrommars.com for more episodes, show archives, and extras. 📲 Follow us everywhere: Linktree

#JoshuaToomey #Primer55 #SignalsFromMars #DavidEllefson #HardRockPodcast #MetalPodcast #AceFrehley #QuietRiot #Slaughter #Metallica #KISStalk #PodcastingLife #MusicMedia #RockPodcast #Megadeth #BackToTheBeginning

Signals From Mars - Episode 421 - Vinyl Confessions Aug 15, 2025

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🎙️ In this episode of Signals From Mars, Victor and Jeremy return with the second installment of “Vinyl Confessions,” diving deep into the records that mean the most to them. Whether it’s about musicianship, emotional connection, or unforgettable stories tied to each LP, this is more than just a show-and-tell — it’s a tribute to why vinyl still matters.

From iconic classics to unexpected favorites, each album comes with personal insights and memories that reflect decades of passionate music fandom. You’ll hear about record store finds, emotional connections to songs, and the joy of passing music down through generations.

💬 Expect laughs, stories, opinions, and a lot of heart as Victor and Jeremy crack open their shelves and invite you into their collections.

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Signals From Mars - Episode 420 - Back To The Beginning Aug 08, 2025

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This episode centers on a full fan and panelist breakdown of the Back to the Beginning tribute concert — the final show for Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne. The panel (Victor, Brad, and Jeremy) reviews performances, band lineups, vocal quality, setlists, and surprises from the event.

Major topics covered:

🎤 Commentary on Ozzy's set and vocal performance
🥁 The original Black Sabbath reunion with Bill Ward on drums
🤘 Highlights and lowlights of participating bands like:
- Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Slayer, Pantera, Tool
- Halestorm, Rival Sons, Anthrax, Alice in Chains
- Guest performers: Nuno Bettencourt, David Draiman, Jack Black, Steven Tyler, etc.
🎸 Strong praise for Nuno Bettencourt, Zakk Wylde, and Jay Buchanan
👎 Harsh critiques of Axl Rose, Papa Emeritus (Ghost), and Billy Corgan
❓ Speculation on which band was "kicked off" the bill
💭 Discussion about whether other bands could pull off a farewell like Sabbath’s: (KISS, Rush, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Queen, ACDC)
🧠 Talk of potential future projects (Sabbath avatars, Ozzy recordings, etc.)

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Signals From Mars - Episode 419 - June 2025 Albums Review Aug 01, 2025

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We’re back with a fresh batch of riffs, reviews, and recommendations as we dive into the hard rock and metal album releases from June 2025! In this episode, Jeremy Weltman joins me once again to break down four solid weeks of new music. From well-known acts to rising names and left-field surprises, we take a critical listen and give our unfiltered opinions on what hit hard—and what missed the mark.

Every week brought something unique, and this episode includes a full track-by-track run through the month’s most talked-about (and some overlooked) releases. As always, we each selected our “Album of the Week” for each Friday drop, and there’s no shortage of debate, surprises, and contrasts in what caught our ears.

💡 But that’s not all… We also look back at the first six months of 2025, revisiting all the albums we've highlighted since January. If you've missed any episodes or need a reminder of standout releases, this mid-year check-in is a great way to catch up. There's no clear-cut “Album of the Year” just yet—but some strong contenders are already in rotation.

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