Music

The Downbeat

The Downbeat Podcast is an award-winning heavy music podcast featuring in-depth interviews with the biggest names in metal, hardcore, and alternative music.

Hosted by Craig Reynolds, The Downbeat explores metal, death metal, black metal, hardcore, and metalcore through long-form, unfiltered conversations with legendary musicians and rising artists. Hear behind-the-scenes stories, songwriting insights, touring life, and honest discussions from across the global heavy music scene.

New episodes feature iconic bands, underground favorites, and the voices shaping modern heavy music.

Latest Episodes:

GENE HOGLAN | FROM DEATH TO DETHKLOK VIA STRAPPING YOUNG LAD + MORE Oct 21, 2026

Show notes

My guest on the podcast is legendary drummer GENE HOGLAN. After his career had an unlikely start in doing lights for SLAYER, he has gone on to play drums for Death, Strapping Young Lad, Opeth, Unearth, Dark Angel, Testament, and many more including his most recent gig playing for the cartoon-that-came-alive Dethklok. We met up at this years phenomenal Louder Than Life festival in Kentucky to talk about about all of these things, and more!

ALISSA WHITE-GLUZ | THE CREATION OF BLUE MEDUSA Oct 14, 2026

Show notes

My guest on the podcast this week is Alissa White Gluz.

Alissa is a phenomenal vocalist, Having previously had long term success with Arch Enemy and recently joining Dragonforce, we had a chat at this years LOUDER THAN LIFE about her new project, Blue Medusa.

Massively talented - seriously you probably follow all of them individually on instagram - Blue medusa consists of a mix of brand new and previously work hardened band super musicians, all hand picked by Alissa herself.

BRANN DAILOR | MAKING MASTODON’S MARROW DEEP, GRIEF, DRUMS + CLOWNS Oct 07, 2026

Show notes

My guest on the podcast this week is An absolute powerhouse behind the kit AND the mic, Brann Dailor of Mastodon.

Mastodon are back with their first album since the tragic death of Brent Hinds ‘ Marrow Deep’ We talk all about the meaning of the record and it’s writing and recording process, as well as his backstory with with the drums, what led to him also getting involved on vocals, playing on TV and his obsession with clowns

COLIN YOUNG | HARDLORE, HARD WORK, AND GOD’S HATE Sep 30, 2026

Show notes

My guest on the podcast this week is Colin Young. You might know Colin as the host of the wildly successful heavy music podcast Hardlore but he’s also the vocalist in Twitching Tongues AND the drummer in the hardcore supergroup God’s Hate.

Colin has an incredible work ethic for everything he does and his friendship is something I cherish often in doing what I do. After the loss of his friend, co-host and general legend Bo Leuders, Colin hasn’t slowed down. He’s continued Hardlore in memory of Bo and channeled all those feelings into the new Gods Hate EP ‘Won’t Be Disgraced’.

Colin also recently signed to Zildjian cymbals. This, along with the EP has reignited his passion for drums. That passion is something I personally really needed to feel right now, so I hope you feel it too.

SUPPORT THE POD:

Grab your EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal by going to https://nordvpn.com/downbeat to get a Huge Discount off your NordVPN Plan + 4 additional months on top! It’s completely risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarantee!

the downbeat clothing available at:https://www.thedownbe.atpatreon: http://www.patreon.com/thedownbeat

GET SOME PLUGINS:get 30% off all plugins with code THEDOWNBEAT at https://www.neuraldsp.com

get MY drum sound at https://www.ggd.co

GET MY GEAR:podcast gear i use: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/3kZreA

get 10% off Zildjian ALCHEM-E Headphones USE CODE: REYNLORDhttps://zildjian.sjv.io/enJ1vj

CHECK OUT THE SOCIALS:

twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/reynlord

instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reynlord/

instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedownbeat

JOIN THE DISCORD:

discord: https://www.discord.gg/thedownbeat

DYING WISH | GHOST STORIES + FAN CASTING w/ THE METALCORE NO FLY LIST LEGENDS Sep 23, 2026

Show notes

My guests this week are Emma Boster, Sam Reynolds, and Jon Mackey of Dying Wish. We talked about experiencing the paranormal, almost ending up on the no fly list, and we figure out who would play Dying Wish in their biopic.

156/SILENCE | ALBUM OF THE YEAR? JACK MURRAY ON PEOPLE WATCHING…FROM A DISTANCE. Sep 09, 2026

Show notes

My guest on the podcast this week is Jack Murray, vocalist of metalcore band 156/Silence. Despite being a band for almost 10 years, 156/Silence really got people’s attention on 2024’s ‘People Watching’. We talked about why he thinks that is, and how their new album ‘From A Distance’ is truly its successor in more ways than one. I punished him for a deep dive on the record as well as talks on religion, video games, the story of the bands eerie mascot ‘Phillip’ and much more. Enjoy.

RIP ANDY WILLIAMS. Sep 07, 2026

Show notes

I can't find the episode with Andy and Hana (I think it was on his own podcast that doesn't exist any more) but you can watch Andy's episode on Hardlore here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gl0YeBfZH6s&list=PL3c0R7LR8d2KiJsW6OLQ0z_t9z8XjuVZe

and scroll back on your feed to find audio Downbeat episodes with Andy and Hana. Couple of legends. RIP.

ATREYU | BRANDON SALLER ON METALCORE’S EVOLUTION, THE CURSE + THE END IS NOT THE END. Sep 02, 2026

Show notes

My guest on the podcast this week is Brandon Saller of Atreyu. An OG of the scene, we talked about the early days of metalcore, his switch up from drums to vocals, the impact of their album ‘The Curse’ and of course their new album The End Is Not The End. We also talk about how he wrote kids book, and got a vasectomy (unrelated?).

DYING FETUS | DRUMS, DOUBLE STROKES + DEATH METAL WITH TREY WILLIAMS Aug 26, 2026

Show notes

My guest on the podcast this week is Trey Williams, drummer of Dying Fetus. We met for the first time at this years Sonic Temple to talk about the band, metal, and how he got so fast at the drums.

SUPPORT THE POD:

the downbeat clothing available at:https://www.thedownbe.at

patreon: http://www.patreon.com/thedownbeat

GET SOME PLUGINS:get 30% off all plugins with code THEDOWNBEAT at https://www.neuraldsp.com

get MY drum sound at https://www.ggd.co

GET MY GEAR:https://sweetwater.sjv.io/3kZreA

CHECK OUT THE SOCIALS:

twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/reynlord

instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reynlord/

instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedownbeat

JOIN THE DISCORD https://www.discord.gg/thedownbeat

BLAYTHE STEUER | NO CURE, NIHILISM + (K)NIVES…IT’S GOING TO GET DARK Aug 19, 2026

Show notes

My guest on the podcast this week is Blaythe Steuer of phenomenally heavy Alabama hardcore/metal/whatever band NO CURE. We caught up on the band’s first full headline tour to dig deep on the lyrics and meanings behind the insane new record ‘It’s Going To Get Dark’, getting stabbed at a show, straight edge, getting glazed by Fantano…and we glaze Hatebreed.SUPPORT THE POD:the downbeat clothing available at:https://www.thedownbe.atpatreon: http://www.patreon.com/thedownbeatGET SOME PLUGINS:get 30% off all plugins with code THEDOWNBEAT at https://www.neuraldsp.comget MY drum sound at https://www.ggd.coGET MY GEAR:podcast gear i use: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/3kZreAget 10% off Zildjian ALCHEM-E Headphones USE CODE: REYNLORDhttps://zildjian.sjv.io/enJ1vjCHECK OUT THE SOCIALS:twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/reynlord instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reynlord/instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedownbeatJOIN THE DISCORD:discord: https://www.discord.gg/thedownbeat

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