The MetalSucks Podcast

#565 - Vaughn Stoffey (Defeated Sanity) Nov 18, 2024

This week, Vaughn Stoffey of Defeated Sanity joins us on The MetalSucks Podcast! We are all in on the new album Chronicles of Lunacy, out this Friday, November 22! We start the conversation on the Taxi Driver sample used on the latest single “Accelerating The Rot”, embracing cult horror, and what determines the line of tasteful to tasteless in gore. We also discuss the passing of the iconic Tony Todd and some of his amazing performances, overcoming fear being something artists can get addicted to when creating, the band's touring plans for next year, and the inner workings of the album artwork.

Petar and Sylvia discuss CKY getting kicked of a tour with Alien Ant Farm because of a physical altercation, Download announcing the headliners for the festival next year, Down and Scour reportedly releasing new music in 2025, and Sebastian Bach embarrassing his family on the internet because he is “not perfect”.

Song: Defeated Sanity “Accelerating The Rot”

Song: Defeated Sanity “Temporal Disintegration”

Song: 1349 “The God Devourer”

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#564 - Nate Garrett (Neon Nightmare) Nov 11, 2024

This week, Neon Nightmare mastermind Nate Garrett joins the MetalSucks Podcast! He's here to discuss the release of Faded Dreams! In our chat, we discuss the excellent music videos created for the project and what inspired them. Other points of conversation include how 90’s goth culture had a ridiculous aura associated with it, the negative experience of touring post-pandemic that he's not willing to partake in, and the genetic gift that some people have in conning people. We also discuss the Big Riff Podcast he's been doing the last year, and the model of news sites in modern times relying on the headline or quote.

Petar and Sylvia discuss the exciting nominees this year for the Best Heavy Metal Performance Grammy Award, our picks for the winner we want to see and why, Geoff Tate deciding to create an Operation: Mindcrime III as a solo artist, Dino Cazares airing out more of Fear Factory’s dirty laundry to its fans, Mötley Crüe helping out lives with a massive donation to the Covenant House, and the open invitation to the Cavalera Brothers to jam at the final Sepultura gig.

Song: Neon Nightmare “They Look Like Shadows”

Song: Neon Nightmare “Lost Silver”

Song: Counterparts “A Martyr Left Alive”

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#563 - Sean Harmanis (Make Them Suffer) Nov 04, 2024

Make Them Suffer's Sean Harmanis joins the podcast this week! The band's self-titled album is coming out this Friday, so we got together to chat about their success with releasing singles over the last two years. We also discuss how it's been touring almost non-stop and why he says the new record feels like a greatest hits album. Interestingly enough, he also shares the concept of the latest music videos being a rebranding of the band in many ways, as well as the visual influences ranging from Akira to Magic The Gathering. Other topics include whose caffeine intake in the band has him a little concerned and why deadlines are so important for Make Them Suffer's creative process.

Petar and Jozalyn also discuss Shadows Fall's plan to release a new single on December 6 and our expectations for the single, Headbanger’s Boat announcing next year's line up, the worst metal subgenre to be on a cruise ship with, the hierarchy of rock and metal fanbases that have the most money to throw away, and Ice T’s opinion about Donald Trump.

Song: Make Them Suffer “Doomswitch”

Song: Make Them Suffer “Mana God”

Song: Frozen Crown “Steel And Crown”

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#562 - Billy Graziadei (Powerflo, Biohazard) Oct 28, 2024

This week's episode features Biohazard and Powerflo axeman Billy Graziadei! He joins the show to talk about Powerflo’s second album Gorilla Warfare coming out on the Day of the Dead (November 1)! We start our conversation discussing what it's like to juggle so many projects at once and his duties in the process, what sporting event gets the songwriting process flowing for Powerflo, his role as a producer in the songs and how that works for Powerflo, touring the project this time around with Biohazard backing full swing. We also chat about how it's hard to be anything but humble thanks to his opportunity to keep hitting stages in 2024, being a huge Cypress Hill fan and ending up in a band with Sen Dog, and what it was originally like to release Biohazard's Uncilivization on one of saddest days we experienced in our country

Petar and Brandon discuss the passing of original Iron Maiden vocalist Paul Di’anno, Erik Rutan from Cannibal Corpse losing 90% of his belongings, Jon Schaffer addressing his role in the insurrection after getting sentenced, Biohazard and Life of Agony bringing the noise to Europe, and Kamala Harris getting the ICP endorsement!

Song: Iron Maiden “Wrathchild”

Song: Powerflo “Gorilla Warfare”

Song: Powerflo “War Machine”

Song: League of Distortion “Galvanize”

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#561 - Dale Crover, AAL, EHA (Low Flying Hawks, Melvins) Oct 21, 2024

Legendary Melvins drummer Dale Crover is back on the show and this time he's bringing some friends! AAL and EHA of Low Flying Hawks are making their podcast debut to celebrate two new albums: Low Flying Hawks' Makebelieve coming out October 25 and Dale Crover’s awesome new solo album Glossolalia, out now! In our chat, we talk about the writing process for the latest LFH album, the residual affects of the pandemic that still linger for artists, taking two years to create the album this time around, and the idea that mystique brought something tangible to music and artists. Then we sequel over to Dale Crover’s awesome guests that he got on his latest solo record, the story of how he got Tom Waits to say “yes” to being a part of the title track, him opening as a DJ on the upcoming Red Kross European run, and the pros of modern music recording compared to the time crunch the Melvins had early on.

Petar and Sylvia discuss Kerry King’s answer in who he thinks can portray him in a Slayer biopic film, Sick New World coming back to Vegas and bringing an Acid Bath reunion with it, just accepting their would never be an Acid Bath reunion years ago to our surprise, Jake E. Lee getting shot while walking his dog, and Deftones setting a record with there demo tape on Discogs.

Song: Low Flying Hawks “Suspension of Disbelief”

Song: Low Flying Hawks “Out for Blood”

Song: Dale Crover “I Quit” Featuring Kim Thayil of Soundgarden

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#560 - Joakim Brodén (Sabaton) Oct 14, 2024

Oh man, Sabaton's Joakim Brodén is back on the show! He joins us this week to promote the theatrical release of Sabaton’s “The Tour To End All Tours” flick showing exclusively in North American theaters on October 30 and 31! Our discussion begins with the pre-planning that went into the concert film, if the plan will ever release worldwide, and the chances of a band member surprising fans at a screening. We also chat about their current North American with Judas Priest and if he feels Sabaton can keep it going into their 70’s. Naturally, there's also discussion on the most iconic war film and documentary in Brodén's opinion, and a soft timeline on new music.

Petar and Jozalyn discuss Mexican Coke leaving Fentanyl because they didn’t mix well on tour, Forbes magazine listing the 38 top metal bands and our thoughts on the fact that no bands that are less than 20 years old made that list and why, James Hetfield not thinking that Metallica are a legacy band, and Gene Simmons hurting people's feelings by being Gene Simmons on network TV.

Song: Sabaton “Soldier of Heaven”

Song: Sabaton “Stormtroopers”

Song; Ad Infinitum “Outer Space”

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#559 - Jordan Buckley (Better Lovers) Oct 07, 2024

Don't look now, but Better Lovers guitarist’s Jordan Buckley is back on the MetalSucks Podcast! We are all in on their debut full-length album Highly Irresponsible, out Friday, October 25. We begin the conversation with his beloved Buffalo Bills and how he's feeling about this season before moving on to Better Lovers spending Thanksgiving this year on the road. We also discuss what venues we're seeing the mosh pit disappear from, the art of music video magic. and neck pain from head banging. We also chat about whether there are any plans for the “frog” to become a mascot, the confidence Buckley gained for the reaction of the EP, and he goes on the record suggesting that in the future we will discover that “energy drinks” may not be as healthy as we think.

Petar and Brandon are promoting the new Converge live album to help bonfire the victims of Hurricane Helene, Crowbar/Type O Negative supergroup Eye Am changed their name, Mötley Crüe announced a residence in Las Vegas, a bunch of bands pulled out of the Shell Shock Festival because of Kyle Rittenhouse’s involvement while the promoters of the festival think its a win by replacing them with a cover band, and why Judas Priest’s Nostradamus is a great album in Petar’s opinion.

Song: Better Lovers “A White Horse Covered In Blood”

Song: Better Lovers “At All Times”

Song: Dead Icarus “Bearing Burdens and Saving Skin”

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#558 - Juha Raivio (Swallow The Sun) Sep 30, 2024

Swallow The Sun founder Juha Raina is our guest on this week's episode of The MetalSucks Podcast! We start our conversation by discussing what went into following up to the acclaimed Moonflowers album, the intense personal lyrical content on Shining, his need to constantly be move to stay sane, and why living in a reclusive environment is like paradise when he's not on the road. We also talked about how the band connected with Muse and Bring Me The Horizon producer Dan Lancaster for the new album, how Queen influenced some of the songs, and the surprising negativity still's in heavy metal when it comes to same sex representation.

Petar and Sylvia discuss Scotti Hill’s comment of Skid Row reuniting with Sebastian Bach possibly leading to a Jane’s Addiction onstage meltdown, the price tag for Tool’s 30th anniversary of “Undertow” on compact disc, Avenged Sevenfold getting cooler in their old age by sabotaging Journey at Rock In Rio, and Foo Fighters canceling their upcoming performance on short notice.

Song: Swallow The Sun “Innocence Was Long Forgotten”

Song: Swallow The Sun “What I Have Become”

Song: Wind Rose “To Be A Dwarf”

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#557 - Stin and Luther Manhole (Chat Pile) Sep 23, 2024

This week's episode of The MetalSucks Podcast features Chat Pile's Stan and Luther Manhole! In our interview, we discuss what went into following up the impressive God's Country and how the reception to that album was a game changing experience, We also went deep into Uniform’s Ben Greenberg involvement in mixing the new album, how improvisation is a key part in creating music for them, and the reason they never have a set list when they perform live. Stin also shares the anxiety that creeps up when his photography becomes the cover art of the band’s albums.

Petar and Brandon discuss the departure of Mike Dean from C.O.C., Veil of Maya going on hiatus and canceling all touring after this year’s Summer Slaughter tour, Jane’s Addiction calling it quits again and releasing a single after the announcement, Sammy Hagar getting a key to the Las Vegas strip for some reason, Iron Maiden celebrating 50 years of heavy metal next year, and more nonsense from “fans” as they give Power Trip heat for opening for Pantera.

Song: Chat Pile “I Am Dog Now”

Song: Chat Pile “Masc”

Song: Dilemma “Sanctuary”

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#556 - Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater) Sep 16, 2024

Dream Theater keyboard wizard Jordan Rudess is back on the MetalSucks Podcast! In this episode, we discuss Rudess' new solo album Permission To Fly, which is available right now! Throughout our chat, we also learn more the contest that lead to his music videos for the album, his daughter's involvement in the album, and the artists that joined the project this time around. We'd be remiss if we didn't chat about the massive Dream Theater tour that's coming up and the future of his solo song on the live stage.

Petar and Sylvia tackle the Jane’s Addiction onstage meltdown, Dave Growl letting the world know he now has a second family, and Bon Jovi saving someone from a tragic decision.

Song: Jordan Rudess “The Alchemist”

Song: Charlotte Wessels “Dopamine” Featuring Simone Simons of Epica

Song: Unto Others “Momma Likes The Door Closed”

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#555 - Elizabeth Zharoff (The Charismatic Voice) Sep 09, 2024

The Charismatic Voice’s Elizabeth Zharoff is our special guest for this week's edition of the MetalSucks Podcast! Here to promote her Kickstarter campaign for the first ever harsh vocal research study featuring some of our genres biggest names. Elizabeth tells us about the journey that started with Will Ramos of Lorna Shore two years ago. She also outlines some of the real stage consideration that will be taken into account, if there is a possibility to find some real damage on any of the participants, which vocal cords are the easiest to damage for a vocalist, and how this science will help doctors with vocal therapy in many cases. We also discuss her opinion on vocalists that use backing tracks in music and if she'll declare a favorite band from all the artists the participate in the research.

Petar and Jozalyn discuss the whirlwind announcement of Linkin Park reuniting, how the single and new vocalist where initially received, followed by a questionable decision made to support a convicted predator, if this will derail the momentum of Linkin Park reuniting. Additionally, we celebrate James Hetfield working in a film version of the excellent Joe R. Lansdale novel The Thicket, and Nita Strauss crossing nine years of sobriety.

Song: Cattle Decapitation “Scourge Of The Offspring”

Song: Whitechapel “I Will Find You”

Song: Human Impact “Destroy To Rebuild”

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#554 - Doc Coyle (Bad Omens/God Forbid) Sep 02, 2024

Doc Coyle is back on the podcast! He's one of our favorite personalities in the game and he's here to celebrate his first solo song release “Livin’ On The Edge.” The song came out last week, along with its Falling Down inspired music video. We breakdown his take on a classic film and approach and the joy of creating a music video that references such a great movie. The conversation also heads into our love for film and filmmakers discussing Joel Schumacher, sequels having to always go camp with intense topics in masculinity, how masculinity has changed through the years and how classics films will be seen, and his preference of Tony Scott over Ridley Scott as a filmmaker. We also discuss metal fans being negative towards him being in Bad Wolves because of the elitist mentality in our scene, why he feels jealousy doesn’t play a part in negativity towards legendary bands success, and his upcoming co-headlining tour with Pop Evil in North America.

Petar and Brandon breakdown the week of countdowns that lead us to Linkin Park’s delayed announcement and who the fans would embrace as the new singer of Linkin Park, Michael Sweet’s comment about not knowing any Metallica songs, and the Cancer Christ frontman deciding to spend a decade or more behind bars for some craziness.

Song: Doc Coyle “Livin’ On The Edge” (Aerosmith Cover)

Song: Bad Wolves “ Legends Never Die”

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#553 - Francesco Paoli (Fleshgod Apocalypse) Aug 26, 2024

Fleshgod Apocalypse mastermind Francesco Paoli is on this week's podcast! Today's show focuses heavily on the band's first new album in five years, Opera! The album dropped this past Friday and we gave it a pretty strong score, so naturally we wanted to talk about what went into the release. During our chat, we discuss the mountain climbing accident that put Paoli's life on pause, the recovery process, and the tour that helped him feel normalcy again on stage after the accident. We also chat about the personal approach he took on the new album, his experiences with the opera growing up, and we discuss the upcoming North American tour.

Petar and Sylvia discuss Mötley Crüe dropping a Beastie Boys cover and why that choice is a head scratcher in our opinion, Slipknot's Sid Wilson getting burned in an explosion, Korn launching a fan art contest for their 30th anniversary, and all the fall tour cancellations happening in North America.

Song: Fleshgod Apocalypse “Bloodclock”

Song: Fleshgod Apocalypse “Pendulum”

Song: Undeath “Brandish The Blade”

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#552 - Karl Sanders (Nile) Aug 19, 2024

This week, we've got Karl Sanders of Nile back on the show. This time, however, we're here to discuss The Underworld Awaits Us All, the band's 10th studio album. During our chat, Karl gives us insights on the album's pre-production, including its timeline, how it was a unique experience compared to previous albums, and how Mark Lewis has earned the vital importance of earning the band's trust when mixing an album. He also chats about having a song that is needed in sequence to take a breathe from the sheer brutality of the new album, the process to get the artwork and vinyl pressing just right, and touring in 2024 with realities that dictate how to make it a successful run.

Petar and Jozalyn tackle Tommy Lee’s wisdom of being an escort has a down side when it gets to the escorting part of it, Deicide’s drummer defending the use of AI artwork, John 5 getting everyone hyped up for another new Motley Crue song, and Randy Blythe reminding us once again of the power of being in the moment of a live performance.

Song: Nile “Chapter for Not Being Hung Upside Down on a Stake in the Underworld and Made to Eat Feces by the Four Apes”

Song: Nile “To Strike With Secret Fang”

Song: Oceano “The Price of Pain”

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#551 - Manuel Gagneux (Zeal & Ardor) Aug 12, 2024

Zeal & Ardor leader Manuel Gagneux joined the MetalSucks Podcast this week, We are in for an awesome treat on August 23 when Zeal & Ardor's latest album GREIF is released, so we decided to start our chat with Manuel by discussing the ceremony that influenced the album, if everyone is making the mistake of calling the album "Grief", and if this is the most vulnerable record he's written. We also talk about the different approach taken on the cover art, why he's not been hit with writer’s block throughout his career, and the true story of how Zeal & Ardor were honored with the coveted national Swiss Music Award.

Petar and Brandon discuss the return of Blake Judd and Nacthmystium, his statement that he is making with the release of the new single Predator Phoenix, leaning into a controversial album title and press release statement, and if fans will accept his firebrand approach considering the apology tour most feel the are owed for supporting him in the past.

Song: Zeal & Ardor “Fend You Off”

Song: Zeal & Ardor “Hide In Shade”

Song: The Jesus Lizard “ Hide & Seek”

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#550 - Mikael Stanne (Dark Tranquillity) Aug 05, 2024

This week's episode features Mikael Stanne, of Dark Tranquillity! Yes, he's back on the podcast, only this time to celebrate the impending release of Endgame Signals, out August 16. During our chat, we discuss the Moment album cycle and how coming back to normalcy was a breathe of fresh air as a creator, why coming across as an honest creator is a high priority for his band, and how being aware of his vulnerability in his art and the journey to get there. We also discuss whether there will ever be another metal scene like the one he experienced in Gothenburg, how festivals have been a part of every tour cycle for him at this stage in his career, and navigating all the new projects he's a part of.

Sylvia and Petar discuss the news of a new Opeth album and the expectations that are brought after the first single is released, Better Lovers and Many Eyes news seeming always happening in unison, Marilyn Manson returns with a new song and video, our feelings about what the future holds for him, and the truth of polarizing artists in our scene having loyalty from their fanbase no matter the documented issues of their past.

Song: Dark Tranquillity “Unforgivable”

Song: Dark Tranquillity “ Not Nothing”

Song: Lamb of God “Another Nail For Your Coffin (Feat. Kublai Khan TX and Malevolence)

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#549 - Steve “Skinny” Felton (Mushroomhead) Jul 29, 2024

Mushroomhead lifer Steve “Skinny” Felton joined the podcast this week! We are all in on the latest album from Mushroomhead titled Call The Devil, due out August 9! In this episode, we discuss the many meanings fans can take from the album title and artwork, what he was going for when that was created, deciding on the vocal approach in songs when you have multiple vocalists in a project, and the improvisation and file sharing approach that was a part of creating Call The Devil, among a litany of other things.

Petar and Brandon discuss the one of a kind moment metalheads the world over experienced with Gojira’s performance at the 2024 Summer Olympics opening ceremony, how this spark can change the genre for future audiences, and seeing something we never thought possible for heavy metal.

Song: Mushroomhead Fall In Line

Song: Mushroomhead Prepackaged

Song: High Parasite “Grave Intentions”

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#548 - Matthew Greywolf (Powerwolf) Jul 22, 2024

We've got returning podcast guest Matthew Greywolf of Powerwolf on the show this week! With the new album Wake Up The Wicked set to release on July 26, Powerwolf is poised to get your attention in the coming days. As such, we discuss with Greywolf the cinematic music videos that accompany each new album track, the band's decision to use practical effects instead of CGI, and when he first discovered the story of Peter Stump would have an influence on the storytelling of the album. We also chat about what it feels like to be featured on a billboard in Times Square, the return of Powerwolf to North America after the successful run in 2023, the importance of bringing justice to your past catalog every time you write a new chapter of songs for fans, as well as a whole lot more.

Petar, Sylvia, and Jozalyn tackle on the hectic week that lead to the hiatus of Tenacious D, we breakdown the off color improvised joke Kyle Gass said, the immediate reaction from the fans in Australia and bandmate Jack Black, the apology the Kyle Gass put on his Instagram, and then us reacting to him removing the apology days later.

Song: Powerwolf “Sinners Of The Seven Seas”

Song: Powerwolf “1589”

Song: AFI “Malleus Maleficarum”

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#547 - Gaerea Jul 15, 2024

Gaerea are gearing up to make a major announcement and we are excited to be a part of it! On this week's episode of The MetalSucks Podcast, we have an interview with Gaerea to discuss the band's next chapter, the release of their latest single “World Ablaze,” and how it was liberating to put that song out into the world. We also chat about the process that went into finding an identity in the heavy metal world and fighting to make sure it's not a toxic environment. Gaerea is nearing its 10th anniversary as a band, so the conversation took a bit of an introspective turn as we discuss how they want to continue making art, how they wish they can have the artistic talent of drawing, and how they're being more comfortable with the idea of letting some of the mystique of Gaerea slide so they can connect with fans at live shows.

Petar and Sylvia discuss Serj Tankian’s indifference if System Of A Down continues without him, Armored Saint vocalist John Bush giving Metallica praise for taking chances in their career, Nikki Sixx responding to criticism over Motlëy Crüe’s single “Dogs of War”, and Oxbow breaking up in a way that just plain sucks.

Song: Gaerea “World Ablaze”

Song: Wretched Blessing “Spurious Ovation”

Song: Sugar Horse “Office Job Simulator”

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#546 - Marcus Vik (Invent Animate) Jul 08, 2024

This week we have Marcus Vik of Invent Animate joining the show! We are discussing the definite edition of last year excellent album Heavener which is out now! The conversation goes into his personal collection of Invent Animate material getting lost in the mail, the “acoustic” rendition of many of his peers having a lot of interest to fans, how making an effort to hike on tour is a must for team building, his new method of connecting with bands he is going to tour with, being mistaken as a band that came from Australia, the challenges of reading books on a bus, Castlevania being near and dear to his heart despite the video game being outdated, living in the moment as the current album Heavener reaches new successes for the band, and why he would be okay watching a month straight of only “tearjerker” films.

Petar celebrates six months gone in 2024 with the albums that he thinks are the best so far, and plays a track of each one to keep them on your spotlight as we go into the next part of 2024.

Song: Dvne “Plērōma”

Song: Persefone “One Word”

Song: Crypt Sermon “Heavy Is The Crown of Bone”

Song: Caligula’s Horse “The Stormchaser”

Song: Invent Animate “Without A Whisper”

Song: ERRA “Cure”

Song: Full Of Hell “Coagulated Bliss”

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#545 - Clémentine Delauney (Visions Of Atlantis) Jul 01, 2024

Clémentine Delauney of Visions Of Atlantis is our guest this week! She's here to put a major spotlight on the band's latest album Pirates II: Armada, which comes out on July 5! We begin our discussion on the writing process for this record and how it was tied in the the previous album, the transition internally in the songwriting team for those records, her passion for storytelling, and the opportunity she got for the music video scripts. She also goes into the in-depth research and designs she did to complete the look for the universe, touring North America during the last cycle, and the immediate impact it made with fans out here.

Brandon and Petar are here to urge the fantastic idea of and Ozzy and Lemmy cartoon to drop the “superhero” concept before going into production, Rick Rubin once again not having fans after his work and our thoughts on that, and Andreas Kisser of Sepultura putting out a invite to the Cavalera brothers giving us all a little bit of hope for the original Sepultura reuniting for a moment.

Song: Visions of Atlantis “Monsters”

Song: Visions of Atlantis “Armada”

Song: Gasket “Syndicate”

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#544.5 - Ken Candelas (Homerik) Jun 28, 2024

This week on a very special .5 episode of the podcast we have Ken Candelas of Homerik to discuss the project ten years in the making “The Circle Of Dead Children” with release dates for the album and art book on September 20th and novel October 31st. We delve into the collaboration with artist David “Max” Millgate in the imagery of the project, the narration of master storyteller Jonathan Kruk’s, how the classic tune “Laid To Rest” by Lamb of God fit the storytelling process and so much more. Go to homerik.com for all the information and we also discuss all his work including his podcast on his metal mastermind.com brand!

Song: Homerik “Godless: A Song of the Night, Part II

Song: Homerik “Laid To Rest”

Song: The Barbarians of California “Far Out, Bro” Featuring Daryl Taberski of Snapcase

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#544 - Jack Kosto (Seven Spires) Jun 24, 2024

Seven Spires axeman Jack Kosto is joining the show this week to discuss the band's newly released album A Fortress Called Home. We begin the discussions with Jack on his role on the mixing, mastering, and producing of the album, as well as how he gained the trust of the band to take on those responsibilities. We also discuss the album's visual aspect, Adrienne’s lyrical content having a distinct vulnerability this time around, the approach Seven Spires have when creating music on tour, and the steps it will take to get a headlining tour in the states for the band.

Petar and Brandon discuss our recollections of the 25th anniversary of Limp Bizkit’s multi platinum selling Significant Other, James Hetfield possibly writing more “Unforgiven” tracks, bands needing to do more full album “medleys” in concert, and getting food poisoned at a major festival sounding like a hellish experience.

Song: Seven Spires “The Old Hurt of Being Left Behind””

Song: Seven Spires “Architect of Creation”

Song: In Hearts Wake “Orphan (lᴉʌǝp ǝɥʇ)”

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#543 - Lzzy Hale (Halestorm) Jun 17, 2024

Powerhouse personality and vocalist Lzzy Hale is back on the podcast! We are here to celebrate Halestorms’s co-headlining North American Tour with I Prevail running from July 9th all the way to August 17th. We also discuss Halestorm keeping the same members for 21 years, some of the secrets of maintaining positive relationships with bandmates, her love for animals of all kinds since because of her upbringing, the story of some diehard fans delivering letters to her on tour and the impact it brought her, being brave in the world not negating being terrified to put yourself out there, having to explain her music when she was 13 years old to a principal, and paying it forward in a recent tour with The Warning.

Petar and Sylvia discuss the release of the first new song for The Black Dahlia Murder following the tragic passing of Trevor Strand, how proud we are of the metal community showering the track with positivity, also we talk about Serj Tankian’s comments on what it would take to make a new System of A Down Record, and Dennis Lyxzén of Refused giving us a huge health scare this week.

Song: Halestorm “Wicked Ways” (Live)

Song: Halestorm & I Prevail “can u see me in the dark?” - Single

Song: Ulcerate “To Flow Through Ashen Hearts”

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#542 - Ben Ward (Orange Goblin) Jun 10, 2024

Orange Goblin’s Ben Ward is joining the MetalSucks Podcast this week! Their first new studio album in six years Science, Not Fiction is dropping on July 19 and we're here to discuss that and more! We talk about Ward's one and only chance meeting with the late Ronnie James Dio, which is a story in itself. We also get to talking about recording the metal lifer anthem and second single “Cemetery Rats”, how fitness infiltrating the scene has made a much more positive situation for many metalheads, playing shows sober and how it had a little bit of a learning curve. Naturally, we also talked about the mainstream media, the lies they present, and trying to discover the truth about events. Among other things, we also discuss how the band has its 30th anniversary approaching and some of his thoughts on that milestone.

Petar and Brandon tackle Sebastian Bach’s attack on fans' T-shirts at a recent concert, then his decision to double down on social media to explain why he was being a dick, Bon Jovi stating the obvious about Lzzy Hale performing with Skid Row, and this goddamn overpriced Slayer cooler that Petar’s going to end up buying.

Song: Orange Goblin “Cemetery Rats”

Song: Kissin’ Dynamite “The Devil Is A Woman”

Song: X-Cops “Light Em Up”

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#541 - Tom S. Englund (Evergrey) Jun 03, 2024

This week on The MetalSucks Podcast, Evergrey's Tom S. Englund returns to discuss the band's 14th studio album Theories of Emptiness, due out this Friday, June 7. During our chat, discuess what went into the promotional picture where the band is covered in mud and the experience cleaning all that off after the shoot. We also discuss the music video for “Falling From The Sun” and some of the artistic decisions that went into its creation, Looking to the band's future plans, Englund lists the countries Evergrey will be visiting for the first time on their upcoming South American tour. He also shares how he got Adam “Nolly” Getgood involved in the mixing process early on for the new album, how the constellation on the cover artwork has a direct tie-in to the album title, and some of the projects he's currently working on in the world of video games.

Petar goes solo this week as he answers a fan’s email about the recently released docuseries Lolla: The Story of Lollapalooza, how the series missed a major change in the industry, my theory on what changed the festival, and how modern music has been formatted since to audiences.

Song: Evergrey “Falling From The Sun”

Song: Evergrey “Say”

Song: Vision of Atlantis “Armada”

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#540 - Brooks Wilson and Steve Jansson (Crypt Sermon) May 27, 2024

This week we are putting a spotlight on one of the more interesting releases so far this year, Crypt Sermon's latest The Stygian Rose, which will release on June 14. To that end, we got Brooks Wilson and Steve Jansson on the show to talk about everything from getting into the studio in 2022 to finally being done with it and ready for release. We'll chat about the pros and cons of going into the studio prepared, how doing that helped capture their sound, and how Brooks created the cover art. They also name the video game they feel would be displayed on a video wall before their shows, how vintage 80’s and 90’s action movies have a language of their own. Brooks also does a deep dive into an interesting regional character to inspire lyrical themes on the record and why you can’t miss these guys on tour when shows are announced in North America.

Petar and Sylvia discuss a little WWE and the passing of the the torch for the Women’s Title, Bring Me The Horizon surprise releasing their latest album, our thoughts on bands that choose to do surprise releases, Live Nation’s response to the DOJ’s investigation in their business practices, and how we as fans have to navigate the current monopoly they have on shows.

Song: Crypt Sermon “Glimmers In The Underworld”

Song: Crypt Sermon “Heavy is the Crown of Bone”

Song: Insect Ark “Youth Body Swayed”

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#539 - Aaron Marshall (Intervals) May 20, 2024

Guitar wizard and Intervals mastermind Aaron Marshall is our guest on this week's MetalSucks Podcast! We discuss their new album Memory Palace out right now! During out chat, we also tackle the guest performances on the new record, how improvising works in the band when it comes to studio and live performances, and he attempts to breakdown what makes a prog metal instrumental ballad work. Marshall also shares some of the team building exercises he and his crew use on the road and the surreal moment on their recent tour with Mammoth WVH involving a recipe for bread.

Petar and Brandon discuss Sebastian Bach’s statement that reason Skid Row hasn’t reunited is because of a “miscommunication," we attempt to write the email that'll get Mr. Bach back in the lineup's good graces, and we revisit how how Killswitch Engage’s The End of Heartache changed the game when it came to heavy music in the 2000s.

Song: intervals “Galaxy Brian” Featuring J3PO

Song: intervals “Mnemonic”

Song: Four Stroke Baron “The Witch”

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#538 - Joseph Rowland (Pallbearer) May 13, 2024

This week's show features an awesome interview with Joseph Rowland of the mighty Pallbearer! During our chat, we hear all about the new album Mind Burns Alive out this Friday, May 17. We also discuss the band's approach of embracing the “quiet” on many of the songs, the comfort he feels in creating in music in an isolated space, and the approach they take on artwork for album covers. Things also take a turn for the philosophical, as the concept of “fate” comes up, how these days the truth requires compromise to communicate, the power of communication through music, longevity of creating art versus popular content, and the battle with being addicted the our phones.

Petar and Sylvia discuss the passing of Steve Albini, the lesson he leaves behind with his approach as a engineer for heavy music, the return of Kittie with their first full length album in 13 years, Serj Tankian’s comments on only wanting to do short tours for the fans, and Kerry King just needing to be a little less upfront of his conversation with Tom Araya.

Song: Zao “A Last Time For Everything”

Song: Pallbearer “Where The Light Fades”

Song: Pallbearer “Endless Place”

Song: Fu Manchu “Hands of The Zodiac”

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#537 - Brittney Slayes (Unleash The Archers) May 06, 2024

This week on The MetalSucks Podcast, we welcome Brittney Slayes, vocalist of the mighty Unleash The Archers! During our chat, we discuss the band's forthcoming album Phantoma due this Friday, May 10. Some of the topics covered during our conversation includes what went into the creation of the album's concept and overarching storyline, how the protagonist in the story is thrust into horrible situations but that hope is always right around the corner, and how this relates to us having to slow life down in modern times to truly be appreciative. On a more philosophical level, we also tackle how new challenges in life can be scary but necessary, why being happy is a conscious choice that isn’t always easy, the negativity that we have to take daily in so many avenues on the internet, the positive messaging Brittney's tried, and how the positive interactions the band has with fans are a blessing for them.

Petar and Brandon discuss the rapper OsamaSon completely ripping off Iron Maiden’s artwork, Deicide’s Glen Benton statement on the modern look of metalhead, and the disturbing allegations made against Knocked Loose’s drummer Kevin Kaine (and his response to those accusations).

Song: Unleash The Archers “Green & Glass”

Song: Unleash The Archers “Ghost In The Mist”

Song: Teramaze “Standing Ovation”

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#536 - Marty Friedman Apr 29, 2024

Iconic guitarist Marty Friedman is back on The MetalSucks Podcast! We're celebrating his new solo album Drama, which is coming out on May 17. In our chat, we discuss his return to touring North America after the pandemic, look back on the visually arresting livestream he participated in during the Tokyo Jukebox album cycle, and a breakdown on the song structure of the centerpiece track “Mirage." We also discuss how having access to a collection of vintage and rare guitars is beneficial to recording the album, writing his autobiography with the intent of sharing things nobody knows about him, and a ballpark release date for when his autobiography will be available to the world.

Before that though, Petar and Sylvia discuss the announcement of the bands on this years Summer Slaughter tour, our thoughts on the reactions that spread all over the metal media, Slipknot’s new look leaning towards the iconic first album, and Motley Crue’s releases a brand new song.

Song: Marty Friedman “Illumination”
Song: Marty Friedman “Dead of Winter (English Version) Featuring Chris Brooks of Like A Storm
Song: Inter Arma “Desolation’s Harp”

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#535 - Eyal Levi (Dååth) Apr 22, 2024

Eyal Levi of Dååth is our guest on The MetalSucks Podcast this week! He's here to chat about the band's first album in over a decade, The Deceivers, out May 3. In our chat, Eyal describes how his exercise regimen during the pandemic was a direct impact on returning to playing guitar and how he felt about his guitar playing after not playing for eight years. He also reflected on making the decision to create new music and revive the dormant Dååth, the team that was assembled around the project, what it's like having band members spread out across the world, and the production team that was involved in the creation of the record. There's a whole lot more in the conversation as well that you have to hear for yourself!

Sylvia and Petar tackle James Hetfield’s new tattoo with Lemmy’s ashes, Kirk Windstein’s comments about new Down music, Maynard James Keenan’s new music commitments with all his bands, and what order we feel we will see new music from each project.

Song: Leeway “The Simple Life?”

Song: Dååth “Hex Unending”

Song: Dååth “No Rest No End”

Song: Dvne “Abode of the Perfect”

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#534 - Wolf Hoffman (Accept) Apr 15, 2024

This week, we've got Wolf Hoffman of Accept back on The MetalSucks Podcast! During our discussion, we take a walk down memory lane to learn how he initially felt about the band's name, the trend of modern bands having hard to pronounce names, if he feels every new record is a discovery record for new fans or if adding to the legacy of Accept is the focus, and why releasing singles has very little merit in our genre. We also talk about Andy Sneap’s opinion and important direction on modern Accept music, the necessary human contact when creating music for him, and why doing written interviews don’t feel like much of a connection for artists.

Brandon and Petar discuss how much we would consider a fair price for Chuck Schuldiner’s Green B.C. Rich guitar, a ticket stub for arguably one of the worst days in heavy metal history, Jerry Cantrell’s guitar going missing and then found, and our thoughts on if Marilyn Manson being sober makes a difference to fans at this point.

Song: Accept “The Reckoning”

Song: Accept “Humanoid”

Song: My Dying Bride “The 2nd Of Three Bells”

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#533 - J.T. Cavey (ERRA) Apr 08, 2024

J.T. Cavey of ERRA is joining us this week to celebrate the new album Cure and the headlining North American tour the band's going to embark on starting April 23. We also discuss our current daily caffeine intake, why mixing it with water is a must, and what he feels is the energy drink of choice for metalcore bands these days. We also chat about the positive vibe he's noticed from making the bed everyday, releasing songs in a calculated way in modern times, the addition of guitarist Clint Tustin, and the band art that he gets most excited to see completed.

Petar and Brandon discuss the 30 year anniversary of Kurt Cobain passing, how we remember the tragic event unfolded, how it changed mainstream music and popular culture, and the ripple effects it had in music and society.

Song: ERRA “ Cure”

Song: ERRA “Blue Reverie”

Song: Alpha Wolf “Haunter”

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#532 - Buck Dharma (Blue Öyster Cult) Apr 01, 2024

We have heavy metal legend Buck Dharma of Blue Öyster Cult on the show! We discuss the latest studio album Ghost Stories coming out April 12, as well as how many of the songs have a long history with the band, if having so many demoes of the tracks through the years changed the new recordings, and how they play legacy songs differently throughout the years for the fans to keep things interesting. He also discusses what it's like to perform newer material at this stage in the band's career, the powerhouse that was MC5 and doing a rendition of their classic “Kick Out The Jams”, and why you don’t want to sleep on any upcoming tours with Blue Öyster Cult.

Petar and Sylvia discuss the week's news, including Skid Row announcing a major line up change and the all-star vocalist who will be filling in, Mudvayne’s Chad Gray talking about what's been obvious for years regarding Motley Crüe, and AC/DC selling a boat load of tickets in 24 hours for their upcoming European Tour.

Song: Blue Öyster Cult “So Supernatural”

Song: Blue Öyster Cult “Don’t Come Running”

Pallbearer “Where The Light Fades”

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#531 - Anders Fridén (In Flames) Mar 25, 2024

Anders Fridén is back on the show! We're celebrating their upcoming North American tour with Gatecreeper and Creeping Death, so naturally we discuss Fridén's involvement in selecting the opening acts for the tour, how playing live means so much more after the pandemic, the importance of a scene for heavy music to rise, and how In Flames rehearses with members living in different countries. We also discuss the importance of artwork for heavy metal, what he considers the 30th anniversary of In Flames, and if they have anything planned for that milestone.

Petar and Brandon discuss Rex Brown’s comments on possibly recording new Pantera music, Charlie Benante on the possibility of a new Pantera live album, and Maynard James Keenan assisting Mike Tyson during a strange time in boxing.

Song: In Flames “Foregone, Pt. 1”

Song: In Flames “State of Slow Decay”

Song: Melvins “Addicted to Food”

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#530 - Steve Moore (Zombi) Mar 18, 2024

This week, we've got Steve Moore of Zombi joining us on The MetalSucks Podcast. In our chat, we discuss the band's latest album Direct Inject out this Friday, March 22. We discuss 2024 being the 20th anniversary of Zombi, if he thought that milestone would have happened when the band started as a side project, and how important their label Relapse has been in keeping the band alive. We also discuss some of the approaches Zombi take to make new fans, his experience as a touring musician during the pandemic, the tour with The Sword that brought momentum back to the Zombi camp, what it was like touring with Goblin as a keyboard player, and the future of Zombi and friends releases.

Petar and Jozalyn discuss the tragic passing of Blake Harrison, share an email from a fan who went to see Jozalyn do stand up comedy, Mastodon’s Troy Sanders being a fantastic Little League Baseball Coach, and Fear Factory wanting a fill in bassist that can drink a bottle of tequila with no negative results.

Song: Pig Destroyer “Loathsome”

Song: Zombi “The Post Atomic Horror”

Song: Zombi “Bodies In The Flotsam”

Song: CNTS “I Won’t Work For You”

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#529 - Herman Li (Dragonforce) Mar 11, 2024

Dragonforce’s Herman Li is joining us for this week's MetalSucks Podcast! The band’s latest album Warp Speed Warriors is coming out this Friday, March 15, so Li tells us how Dragonforce landed the Despicable Me 4 trailer, how we have noticed metal is getting its due in the advertising world, his physical music collection being across the pond, and how his London home is a bit of a time machine. Naturally, we also discuss the last video game he remembers beating in the arcade, the album artwork from concept to completion, the extra goodies Dragonforce gives out when the band does meet and greets, and why it’s important to be able to compromise on co-headlining tours.

Petar and Sylvia discuss the momentous release of the new Judas Priest record Invincible Shield and how they're the first heavy metal band to release two albums 50 years apart. Petar also shares a personal 'Proud Papa' moment involving the record. As for the news, they discussed Phil Demmel being surprised about the Slayer reunion announcement, Burton C. Bell releasing his first solo track, and a bill being introduced to Congress that would increase streaming payments for musicians.

Song: Dragonforce “Astro Warrior Anthem”

Song: Dragonforce “Doomsday Featuring Elize Ryd of Amanrathe”

Song: Judas Priest “Panic Attack”

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#528 - Morgan Lander (Kittie) Mar 04, 2024

Don't look now, but Kittie's very own Morgan Lander is back on the show! We are here to discuss Kittiepig, the only non-alcoholic beverage with the Canadian band's name and stamp of approval. In our chat, we talk about the idea and origin story behind the collaboration, some of the notes she gave after doing a taste testing, what a Saskatoon berry tastes like, and if there will be any available at the merch both when the band tours your city. We also celebrate their first single in 13 years “Eyes Wide Open,” the music video that accompanied the song, and the plans for Kittie in 2024.

Petar and Jozalyn tackle the tale of a vocalist getting fired for his creative attempts to steal a bandmates girlfriend, our thoughts on if the new Judas Priest record is their final one, and Avenged Sevenfold releasing a VR concert to the fans.

Song: Kittie “Eyes Wide Open”

Song: Coffin Storm “Over Frozen Moors”

Song: Boundaries ”A Pale Light Lingers” (featuring Alpha Wolf’s Lochie Keogh)

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#527 - Øystein Brun (Borknagar) Feb 26, 2024

Øystein Brun of Borknagar is on the show this week! During our chat, we discuss the latest album from the Norwegian black metal legends Fall. We also chat about we discuss Øystein's childhood in Norway, the concept of nature’s connection with man on the new record, music truly being something created from nothing, touring Borknagar more the last 10 years and the perspective that has given him.

Petar and Brandon discuss all the thoughts and emotions that surround Slayer's return, how this affects the excitement of Kerry King’s solo project, how we feel they are part of the future festival headliners, and if it hurts the legacy of the band in anyway.

Song: Borknagar “The Wild Lingers”

Song: Borknagar “Moon”

Song: Illumishade “Riptide”

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#526 - John Henry (Darkest Hour) Feb 19, 2024

This week's guest is none other than John Henry of Darkest Hour! He's here to celebrate the band's first full length record in six years, Perpetual/Terminal coming out February 23. Additionally, we discuss the challenges of following up on Godless Prophets and The Migrant Flora, how Ozzfest shaped the band's professionalism, the brotherhood that bands had when doing traveling festival packages, and at what point in his career that he was comfortable doing stage banter. In a bit of fun sports talk, Henry also talks about Darkest Hour creating a fight song for the Washington Capitals and how the terming “selling out” has changed since the inception of the band.

Later on in the show, Brandon and Petar discuss the laughably bad Motley Crue action figures, Kittie releasing their first song in 13 years, High on Fire announcing their first new album since winning a Grammy, our thoughts with the AI generated video they released, and how artists are now secondary to the event for mainstream audiences.

Song: Darkest Hour “Perpetual/Terminal

Song: Darkest Hour “Societal Bile”

Song: Hiraes “Dormant”

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#525 - Ihsahn (Emperor) Feb 12, 2024

Ihsahn is joining the podcast this week to celebrate his new self-titled album coming out Feb. 16. In this episode, we discuss his passion for film composition, some of the names that he's followed over the years, his drive to always have an orchestral element to his music, the rock artists that transition into doing full time film work, and how he created a world based on the orchestral release of the self titled album. In addition to all that, we chat about what perimeters would need to be met for the orchestral version of the new album to get a proper live presentation, how it's been working on the documentary of Fascination Street Studios with Jens Bogren, and the importance and magic of capturing the inexplicable moment in art that can’t be replicated.

Petar and Sylvia discuss the reveal of Kerry King’s new band, our thoughts on the first track released to fans, his upcoming tour with Lamb of God and Mastodon, the update on his relationship with his old Slayer bandmates, and Bon Jovi stating that he won’t use backing tracks live to perform to his legion of fans.

Song: Ihsahn “Pilgrimage to Oblivion”

Song: Ihsahn “The Distance Between Us”

Song: Persefone “One Word”

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#524 - Ross Jennings and Peter Jones (Haken) Feb 05, 2024

Ross Jennings and Peter Jones of Haken join the podcast! We are here to discuss their upcoming North American tour starting February 10, the anticipation of playing the latest album Fauna will be played in its entirety, Peter Jones releasing a keyboard guide of his work on the album, playing Japan for the first time in the band’s history after the North American tour, the positive experience when albums make year end lists, saving a cat’s life last time they toured America, the team building the band does when on tour in America, the desire to start writing new material, and the open discussion of how singles being released instead of full lengths can have a positive impact.

Petar and Sylvia discuss the passing of legendary MC5 guitarist Wayne Kramer, Ihsahn’s comments on creating a new Emperor album, how difficult it is for a band to capture the essence of their youth, Marilyn Manson paying the price of a new home in legal fees to Evan Rachel Wood, and we share a story of co-host Brandon jumping out of a plane with the late Jesse Jane.

Song: MC5 “Kick Out the Jams”

Song: Haken “Nightingale”

Song: Haken “The Alphabet of Me”

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#523 - Lena Scissorhands (Infected Rain) Jan 29, 2024

The ever-talented Lena Scissorhands of Infected Rain is our guest on this week's episode of The MetalSucks Podcast! During our time together, we discuss the band's latest album Time out February 9. Other, totally not super heady topics also get discussed, such as the journey we all take to ensure we're not wasting time, the realization of how a toxic element in your life can affect you, and how singing the new songs live will take an emotional toll on her. We also chat about the music videos and how they were created, capturing a vulnerable moment that was genuine and sharing it with her fans, and her love for movies.

Petar and Brandon discuss MetalSucks reader’s poll on who the fans think is metal’s favorite asshole, Kanye West doubling down on his antisemitism by wearing a Burzum shirt, and Martyrdom throwing a pig’s head out at the audience during a live show.

Song: Infected Rain “Because I Let You”

Song: Infected Rain “Dying Light”

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#522 - Gabe Mangold (Enterprise Earth) Jan 22, 2024

Don't look now, but Gabe Mangold of Enterprise Earth is on this week's episode of The MetalSucks Podcast! Naturally during our chat we discuss the latest album Death: An Anthology and how parts of it were written in a parking lot. We also learn all about the story behind the featured guests that helped out, the process of completing five music videos at the same time being less stressful then past music videos, and the changes that occurred in the Enterprise Earth camp since the previous album.

On a more personal note, we also learn more about Mangold's former nomad lifestyle that he lived for the last seven years and the joy he gets from doing the mixing, mastering, and producing on all the albums since 2020.

Petar and Sylvia discuss the upcoming 30th anniversary of the best E.P. of all times, Chad Gray’s comments on all new music sounding the same, and discuss our thoughts on keeping up with newer bands in modern times.

Song: Enterprise Earth “Casket of Rust”

Song: Enterprise Earth “The Reaper’s Servant” Featuring Darius Tehrani of Spite

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#521 - Sam Vallen (Caligula’s Horse) Jan 15, 2024

Sam Vallen of Caligula’s Horse joins the podcast this week! We discuss the latest album Charcoal Grace coming out January 26 and how this is the end of the band's longest gap between albums. We also chatted about how they worked through writer’s block, how they stayed genuine to the thematic presence in the new album, and the excitement behind their upcoming North American tour. Well, that and a whole lot more.

Petar and Brandon discuss Cannibal Corpse going into the dog collar business, Kerry King stating his new band is an extension of Slayer in many ways, Mike Portnoy almost sharing the stage with Nickelback, and Code Orange canceling their upcoming North American tour.

Song: Caligula’s Horse “Golem”

Song: Caligula’s Horse “The Stormchaser”

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#520 - Johanna Platow Andersson (Lucifer) Jan 08, 2024

It's the first MetalSucks Podcast episode of 2024 and we've got the voice of the mighty Lucifer, Johanna Platow Andersson, back on the show! In this episode, we discuss the band's recent tour in the United States with Coven, the cost associated with touring internationally in the current world, and how things may change for US bands touring Europe. We also get down to talking about the writing formula that's worked for Lucifer, how it's been working together with the same lineup over the last few records, the attention to detail that has always been vital for Lucifer. We even learn which regional animal puts the fear of God in her.

Petar and Sylvia discuss a recent study showing fans of heavy music lie to their physicians, Corey Taylor choosing to take a mental health break and canceling his upcoming solo tour, and Rage Against The Machine calling it before completing the reunion tour commitments.

Song: Lucifer “At The Mortuary”

Song: Lucifer “Slow Dance In A Crypt”

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#519 - Best of 2023 (Part 2) Featuring Him (Sermon) Dec 18, 2023

It's finally here. The final episode of 2023. As such, we share our top five albums of the year and chat with some of the artists that made them. Misha Manor of Periphery, James McBain of Hellripper, and Him from Sermon all join the podcast.

So come on and join us as we countdown what we feel are the five best albums of the year and play some of 2023's most memorable songs in heavy music.

Song: Periphery “Atropos”

Song: Periphery “Wildfire”

Song: Green Lung “Mountain Throne”

Song: Green Lung “One For Sorrow”

Song: Hellripper “Warlocks Grims and Withered Hags”

Song: Hellripper “The Nuckelavee”

Song: Dying Fetus “Unbridled Fury”

Song: Dying Fetus “Compulsion For Cruelty”

Song: Sermon “Royal”

Song: Sermon “Golden”

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#518 - Best of 2023 (Part 1) Featuring John Dyer Baizley (Baroness) Dec 11, 2023

This week we start our two part episode on our favorite 15 albums of 2023, a year that truly delivered the goods when it comes to our favorite genres of music. The episode features in depth interviews with the artists on the albums that moved us like no other, six artists join the podcast this week, and tracks off every record as we count down from number 15 all the way to our number one. Listen and find out what made the cut and maybe even find something amazing you may have missed this year!

Fuming Mouth - “I’ll Find You”

Rancid - “New American”

Domkraft - “SlowBurner”

Uada - Crepuscule Natura

Insominum - "Godforsaken" Featuring Johanna Kurkela

Enslaved - "Forest Dweller"

WillHaven - "Diablito"

Horrendous - “Cult of Shaad’oah”

Bell Witch - "The Clandestine Gate"

Baroness - "Last Word"

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#517 - Fans of the Podcast on The MetalSucks Podcast Dec 04, 2023

Before we unleash our 15 favorite albums of the year in a two-part episode featuring interviews and music galore, we decided to reach out to the most important part of this show — its fans! Handpicked from email correspondence throughout 2023, our guests this week have a unique and great passion for the music of the year and the scene.

First we have the reason that I decided to get the fan’s involved in the show and his name is Chad Pabianek. His email was asking me how I select my favorite albums of the year and I answered but also gave him the tall task this year to weave through the great albums to pick just one. Next we have J. Clark, a listener that's been with the show since its inception and a true lifer of the power of this music and scene. After him, James Murray gives us a truly intelligent breakdown of the year in heavy music and region he holds close to his heart by putting a focus and spotlight on the heavy music world in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Lastly, Amit Elisha, I am so sorry for mispronouncing your name again on the lead before the interview, co-owner of blastbeatvinyl.com joins us to discuss his favorite album of the year but also his favorite cover art of the year. As a small business owner that specializes in selling vinyl to our community. he gives passionate insight in what he feels is the subgenre of the year.

Don’t miss this episode of listeners just like yourself, the community that we all live for and discover some of the bands that deserve the coverage just like the voices of these four fans.

Song: Dream Unending “So Many Chances”

Song: Queens of the Stone Age “Time and Place”

Song: Runemagick “Endless Night and Eternal End”

Song: Thantifaxath “Solar Witch”

Song: Exsang “Crown of The Dead”

Song: Moonlight Sorcery “In Coldness Embrace”

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#516 - Justin Chancellor and Peter Mohamed (MTVoid) Nov 27, 2023

Tool bassist Justin Chancellor and Peter Mohamed of Sweet Noise join our show this week to discuss the second album from their project MTVoid, we discuss returning to the project, the joy of creating music through file sharing, the conceptual team that create the music video for “MaBeLu,” all the collaborators that mad contributions to the songs on the album, the lyrical technique that was used on the record, and why a project like MTVoid is helps Chancellor grow as a bass player.

Petar and Jozalyn discuss The Black Dahlia Murder entering the studio to record their first record after the passing of Trevor Strand, Madi Watkins of Year Of The Knife back to creating music six months after the brutal van crash, and if there is any real interest in David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar sharing a stage to celebrate Van Halen.

Song: MTVoid “Drop-Out” Featuring. Isabel Munoz-Newsome (Pumarosa)

Song: MTVoid “Propagtor” Featuring Aric Improta (Night Verses, Ex- Fever 333)

Song: Tortuga “Lilith”

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#515 - Emma Boster (Dying Wish) Nov 20, 2023

Dying Wish vocalist Emma Foster is our guest this week on The MetalSucks Podcast. In our chat, we discuss her band’s current North American tour and their second album Symptoms of Survival. Emma also lets us know how the new songs are going over in a live setting, the importance of booking the tour to land at home for Thanksgiving, the challenge of staying healthy while traveling through extreme weather, and some of the challenges of keeping healthy routines on the road. Aside from our music discussion, we also chat about her being a life long NBA fan, which players she's supporting, and Nikola Jokic’s reaction of winning the NBA title being relatable for a touring band.

Petar and Brandon discuss all the amazing new music the dropped this week, Bring Me The Horizon cancelling a performance mid show for the right reasons, Laura Jane Grace’s social media post on Jay Weinberg getting let go from Slipknot, the comic book created for the 30th anniversary of Type O Negative’s Bloody Kisses, and the musician who felt the need to attack that celebration.

Song: Dying Wish “Lost In The Fall”

Song: Dying Wish “Path To Your Grave”

Song: Hinayana “Triptych Visions”

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#514 - Devin Townsend Nov 13, 2023

The great Devin Townsend returns to The MetalSucks Podcast this week, as he celebrates the 25th anniversary re-release of Infinity. In this episode, we discuss topics like how he feels looking back on his music catalog, the science behind releasing singles to the masses, how he defines compromise when it comes to his art, and the conversation he would have with himself 25 years ago. Naturally, the conversation also covers his thoughts and defense of the limits of AI, and some thoughts about how he may present his latest creation The Moth to the world.

Petar and Sylvia discuss her recently getting married, Jay Weinberg parting ways with Slipknot, if we feel there will be a lot more music from Slipknot in the future or they are going to be more like SOAD, Kerry King announcing his solo project, and our thoughts on if he should play Slayer songs live anymore.

Song: Devin Townsend “Christeen”

Song: Devin Townsend “Noisy Pink Bubbles”

Song: Unprocessed “Blackbone”

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#513 - Sharon den Adel (Within Temptation) Nov 06, 2023

Our guest for The MetalSucks Podcast is none other than Sharon den Adel of Within Temptation! During our chat, we discuss the band’s latest album Bleed Out, as well as their decision to release a majority of it in a single format, starting their own label, and some of the roles they’re taking on by releasing the album independently.

Sharon also shares details about the time she met Peter Steele of Type O Negative, what it was like releasing the NSFW video for the track “Ritual,” Iron Maiden legend Steve Harris watching the band nightly, why they release instrumental versions of their tracks, and the importance of investing culture in our society.

During the news section, Petar and Jozalyn discuss Sharon Osbourne blaming the end of Ozzfest on ‘greedy managers,’ Rage Against The Machine officially getting inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Metallica taking on bootleg merch vendors, and the tragedy that occurred during this year’s Headbangers Boat Cruise.

Song: Within Temptation “Shed my Skin” Featuring Annisokay

Song: Within Temptation “The Purge”

Song: Earthside “Pattern Of Rebirth Feat. AJ Channer (Fire From The Gods)

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#512 - Doc Coyle (Bad Wolves, God Forbid, Ex-Man Podcast) Oct 30, 2023

This week, Doc Coyle is back on the show! During our chat, we discuss all his projects, including the latest opus from Bad Wolves Die About It. We also chat about the vinyl reissue of the classic God Forbid album IV: Constitution of Treason and his voice in the scene with The Ex-Man Podcast. Other topics of discussion include escapism through entertainment and how that can be detrimental if not checked on occasion, our thoughts on having to be more than human as an entertainer to get noticed, and where Constitution of Treason stands in his opinion regarding God Forbes’s catalog. Naturally, we also talk about Bad Wolves and the challenges thatband encountered during the Dear Monsters record cycle, and why Die About It is a very important record to the future of Bad Wolves.

Petar goes solo this week and answers a fan’s question on what is the best year of music in the 1990’s according to him, what tragic event changed everything for popular heavy music in that decade, and why that year will always stand above the rest.

Song: Bad Wolves “Bad Friend”

Song: Bad Wolves “Legends Never Die”

Song: God Forbid “Chains Of Humanity

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#511 - John Gallagher (Dying Fetus) Oct 23, 2023

This week's episode of The MetalSucks Podcast is a special one, as we've got John Gallagher of modern death metal icons Dying Fetus as our guest! In our discussion, we chat about the first week sales success of the band’s latest offering Make Them Beg For Death and the upcoming North American tour. We also discuss how he had to be forced to take guitar lessons by his mother in his youth, the need to keep Dying Fetus' integrity intact with fans, his favorite shirt design through all the years of creating merch, as well as the one shirt design that may have been a “stinker.” the one topic he thinks is TOO MUCH for a Dying Fetus song, and their recent experience renting a bus from a new vendor during the summer European Tour.

Petar and Brandon discuss the grossness of Aaron Lewis playing with dead things for political purposes, Dave Lombardo’s comments on Slayer being the best band on the Big Four thrash bands, Ozzy’s revelations that he peed on himself while performing live, and Korn teaming up with Adidas for a clothing brand.

Song: Dying Fetus — “Compulsion of Cruelty”

Song: Dying Fetus — “Unbridled Fury”

Song: Plaguemace — “Rhythmic Demise”

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#510 - Michael C. Hall, Matt Katz-Bohen, Peter Yanowitz (Princess Goes) Oct 16, 2023

Film, television, stage actor Michael C. Hall (Dexter, Six Feet Under) joins us this week with his bandmates Matt Katz-Bohen and Peter Yanowitz to celebrate their project Princess Goes and the release of their debut album Come Of Age. During our chat, we discussed the band's use of additional instruments that had an impact on the album, the importance of keeping the lyric and chorus writing process mysterious, and what they learn when performing songs live. The conversation also explored what it was like participating in meet and greets on the latest tour, giving creative control to the visual artist that created the album artwork and music videos, and what it was like working with equipment including a 100 year old piano and a discarded synthesizer.

Petar and Jozalyn discuss the importance of art in modern times, what our definition of modern art is, how it has changed throughout our lifetime, and why consuming it is vital to us all.

Song: Princess Goes “Take Me Home”

Song: Princess Goes “Shimmer”

Song: Tomorrow’s Outlook “Wait For The Sun”

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#509 - Tommy Victor (Prong) Oct 09, 2023

Get them snapping fingers ready, because we got Tommy Victor of Prong on the podcast this week to celebrate the release of State of Emergency. During our chat, we discuss the band's recent push in releasing five albums in five years after taking a creative break. Tommy also riffs on his preference to write everything himself, how his values in life have changed after becoming a father, and his excitement level of playing classic Prong albums in their entirety. We also enter a bit of a philosophical conversation about feeling a bit disconnected to people who need instant gratification in life, what tools of modern live performances he prefers to avoid, and how important it was to be respectful to older musicians when he was coming up in the scene.

Petar and Sylvia discuss Doc Coyle of Bad Wolves calling out the online attack and boycott efforts on Thy Art Is Murder after they replaced vocalist CJ McMahon, and how we are in love with the idea of Primus, Puscifer, and A Perfect Circle concept behind the Sessanta Tour.

Song: Prong “Breaking Point”

Song: Prong “Non-Existent”

Song: Green Lung “Maxine (Witch Queen)”

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#508 - Josh Scogin (’68) Oct 02, 2023

’68 frontman Josh Scogin is our guest this week on The MetalSucks Podcast! We discuss the new album Yes And… that is out right now, including how its title is based on the improv technique and how improv plays a part in the band’s music and live performance. Apart from the new music, we also discuss his preferred method to address confrontation in modern times, how to adapt to conversations where people that you disagree with see you as an enemy, and the problem with presenting facts from unreliable sources to win arguments. There's also some chat about frustrating moments during the pandemic and touring with Thrice as they celebrate the 20th anniversary of The Artist and The Ambulance.

Petar and Sylvia discuss the “On The Road Again” program by Live Nation, the response by NIVA on what this will do to independent music venues, Greg Puciato’s claims on the money on the table for a Dillinger Escape Plan reunion, Ben Weinman shooting this claims down as false and hinting at some possible tension between its ex-members.

Song: ’68 “End This War”

Song: ’68 “Removed Their Hats”

Song: Harm’s Way “Undertow” featuring King Woman

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#507 - Scott Ian Lewis (Carnifex) Sep 25, 2023

Carnifex vocalist Scott Ian Lewis is our guest this week! We discuss their latest album Necromanteum, if he revisits the back catalog on a regular basis, the album fan’s love that he isn’t sold on, the therapy of heavy music for the band and fans, the importance of looking for a deeper meaning in all art, if he feels fan’s are loyal to any streaming services, his thoughts on if film has lost the battle of being art, the honor code bands and fans have in the music industry not reflecting those that run it, companies with the most power continually running at a loss, and why unionizing the music industry may not be possible in modern times.

Petar and Brandon discuss the whirlwind of Chris McMahon getting let go by Thy Art Is Murder, how he found out he was no longer in the band, certain peers like Ronnie Radke taking sides with him, and our thoughts on how the split was handled.

Song: Carnifex “Necromanteum”

Song: Carnifex “Death’s Forgotten Children” feat. Tom Barber of Chelsea Grin

Song: Nervosa “Jailbreak”

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#506 - Vidar Landa (Kvelertak) Sep 18, 2023

Vidar Landa of the mighty Kvelertak is our guest for this week’s episode of The MetalSucks Podcast! During our chat, we discuss the band’s journey to create their fifth album Endling and go over some of the folklore and stories that inspired the songs — some of which include the celebration that would follow funerals in older times. We also discuss why gathering together is very important for the entire human race, how consuming the same popular media is having a positive effect on society, and why it’s so important to stick to what you know in a live setting for rock and metal bands.

Petar and Sylvia discuss Flotsam and Jetsam being honest about why they are canceling their North American run in September, Corey Taylor stating he’s in constant pain while traveling on the road, how difficult it is to continue in aggressive music after a certain age, and Steve Harris’s comments of Iron Maiden’s focus on quality touring over quantity.

Song: Kvelertak “Krøtervag Te Helvete”

Song: Kvelertak “Endling”

Song: The Hirsch Effekt “Granica”

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#505.5 - Gina Gleason (Baroness) Sep 16, 2023

Gina Gleason of Baroness is our guest on this special half episode! We're here to celebrate yesterday's release of the new Baroness album Stone. During our chat, we also discuss her experience in Philly during last years Super Bowl, the DIY approach they took to create music videos for Stone, and how the creative process can’t benefit from extra time.

Our conversation also shifted to her experience changing between creating Gold & Grey compared to Stone, the importance of evolving the sound of a heavy music act, their upcoming tour across North America, and plans of touring for the next year.

Song: Baroness “Shine”

Song: Graveyard “Twice”

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#505 - Corey Taylor (Slipknot) Sep 11, 2023

We know you want to know everything he's thinking, so we got the man himself — Corey Taylor is our guest on The MetalSucks Podcast! He's got a new solo album CMF2 coming out this Friday, September 15 and he's gonna tell us all about his growth as a solo artist. During our chat, we discuss his experience writing about his wife and the request she gave him. The conversation also turns to the reason he abandoned social media five years ago and how he's handled it since, and why he feels modern society and AI are a destructive relationship.

We also talk about his son's musical career in the band Vended and how proud he is. Naturally, Slipknot came up so we discussed the tentative release date for the iconic band's long lost album and what fans should expect musically. And how he looks back on some of the strangest and sometimes dangerous situations his younger self was in.

Petar and Sylvia discuss Sharon and Kelly Osbourne’s reveal of Ozzy being heartbroken over canceling the Power Trip Concert, Chris Fronzak of Attila announcing his bid for president, and Tommy Vext wanting to fix things with his former bandmates.

Song: Corey Taylor “Beyond”

Song: Corey Taylor “Talk Sick”

Song: KK Priest’s “Reap The Whirlwind”

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#504 - Josh Middleton (Sylosis) Sep 04, 2023

Josh Middleton from Sylosis is our guest this week! In this episode, we discuss their new album The Sign Of Things To Come, how important album reviews were for him finding albums in his youth, reading album booklets from cover to cover as a fan, how he has grown as a lyricist through the years, and social media being a part of the job for modern artists. We also find out what profession Josh would have chosen if it wasn’t music, the upcoming tour being the first tour Sylosis has done since 2016, and the new platform that will help them know where to tour in the current climate.

Petar and Jozalyn discuss Nick Oliveri’s top 10 punk rock songs for the apocalypse, what our apocalypse playlist would consist of, and Metallica’s “Nothing Else Matters” reaching one billion streams on Spotify.

Song: Sylosis “Deadwood"

Song: Sylosis “A Sign Of Things To Come”

Song: Empire State Bastard “Harvest”

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#503 - Jadran “Conan” Gonzalez (Exmortus) Aug 28, 2023

“Conan” Gonzalez of Exmortus is back on the show! We discuss the five year break between records for Exmortus, fighting the depression of being unable to perform shows during the pandemic, finding the new inspiration through that break, being a guitar teacher and the age that he thinks is best to learn the craft, the time needed to be able to play video games, and our thoughts on potential shoe deals for heavy metal bands.

Petar and Jozalyn discuss Tim “Ripper” Owens being surprised he wasn’t asked to be at the Rock ’N’ Roll Hall of fame induction of Judas Priest and David Draiman wanting to collaborate with Taylor Swift.

Song: Exmortus “Beyond The Grave”

Song: Exmortus “Mind of Metal”

Song: Marc Hudson “Starboard Stories”

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#502 - Brendon Small (Dethklok, Metalocalypse) Aug 21, 2023

This week on The MetalSucks Podcast, we welcome Metalocalypse creator Brendon Small to the show! And if you've been following his work lately, you know we have so much to discuss, including Dethklok’s Dethalbum IV and the new feature film Metalocalypse: Army of the Doomstar. Also we discuss the upcoming tour with Babymetal and if he has any jitters taking the stage. We also chat about his passion for physical media, how DVD audio commentaries taught him to be a filmmaker, the secret legendary screenwriter he collaborated with on the new film, what getting into character feels like for him, and the importance of the very first two episodes of the series to the overall world of Metalocaypse.

Petar, Jozalyn, and Sylvia discuss our thoughts about the new Guns N’ Roses single “Perhaps”, and celebrating the 30th anniversary of Type O Negatives “Bloody Kisses”.

Song: Dethklok “Aortic Desecration”

Song: Capra “Tied Up”

Song: Knife “Heaven Into Dust”

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#501.5 - Maurizio Iacono (Kataklysm) Aug 18, 2023

Maurizio Iacono of Kataklysm is back on the show for a bonus episode! We're here to discuss all things Goliath, the band's latest album, which is out right now via Nuclear Blast Records. During our chat, we also discuss what it was like releasing their previous album Unconquered in the middle of the pandemic, being one of the first bands to tour the United States coast to coast after the pandemic, and the band's goal of getting the new album done and out to fans.

We also chat about his experience in the last year with managing bands and the rising tour cost, the breakdown and reality of what venues are doing with merch cut percentages in modern times, the importance of championing a young band and navigating them through the current climate, and why it is a human right to question authority and have a clear open discussion in these times.

Song: Kataklysm “Dark Wings of Deception

Song: Kataklysm “Die As A King”

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#501 - Jordan Buckley (Better Lovers, EX-ETID) Aug 14, 2023

Better Lovers axeman Jordan Buckley is joining us this week on The MetalSucks Podcast! In this week's episode, we discuss the ritual of sleeping and listening to episodes of Forensic Files, his thoughts on the upcoming football season and the potential of his team the Buffalo Bills, and his thoughts on a possibly questionable move by QB Josh Allen in a golfing event. Since this isn't a sports podcast, we also talk about what it's like watching vocalist Greg Puciato jump off a balcony during recent live performances, the pros of recording on the road when your producer is in the band, who is the greatest vocalist of the 90’s in his opinion, and the plans for Better Lovers in 2024.

Petar and Brandon tackle Chad Gray’s comment on Mudvayne being nu metal, our feelings on metal sub-genres representing scene movements instead of the music of the band, Andreas Kisser’s comments on a Sepultura reunion, and Scott Ian’s comments about backing tracks at love concerts.

Song: Better Lovers “30 Under 13”

Song: Better Lovers “Sacrificial Participant”

Song: Final Gasp “Climax Infinity”

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#500 - Jesse Shreibman and Dylan Desmond (Bell Witch) Aug 07, 2023

For the 500th episode of The MetalSucks Podcast, we got Jesse Shreibman and Dylan Desmond of Bell Witch on the show! With their 83 minute epic Future’s Shadow Part 1: The Clandestine Gate released earlier this year, we discuss what it takes to write a song at this length, what instrument doesn’t stand out to open the composition, letting the notes and instrumentation breathe for effect, and the three album conceptual plan that's tied to Future's Shadow. We also chat about touring with a visual artist on the upcoming tour cycle, some of the modern day touring challenges that bands are facing, and how the extreme metal scene has grown so vibrantly in the last decade.

And of course, we couldn't go through this special episode without Petar and Jozalyn celebrating the milestone 500 episodes. As such, we discuss the journey, the players, and give gratitude to all the people at MetalSucks past and present for allowing us the opportunity to be able to add and promote the music we love for close to a decade.

Song: Bell Witch “The Clandestine Gate”

Song: Mutoid Man “Broken Glass Ceiling”

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#499 - Fernanda Lira (Crypta) Jul 31, 2023

Fernanda Lira of Crypto is back on the show and she's here to celebrate Crypta's second album Shades of Sorrow. coming out August 4. During our chat, we discuss why writing the debut album proved to be more challenging than its follow up, how important it was to find the right identity for the project, and some of the major issues bands are facing with high costs and how it effects touring. Speaking of money matters, we chat about Patreon and why it's becoming an important tool for bands, making music videos that are awesome on a small budget, and the importance of album artwork for death metal.

Elsewhere in the show, Petar and Sylvia discuss Phil Bozeman’s comments on wanting metal to intimidate him, Deafheaven’s 10 year mark of Sunbather, and Fear Factory celebrating the 25th anniversary of Obsolete.

Song: Crypta “Lords of Ruin”

Song: Crypta “Trial of Traitors”

Song: Voyager “Ultraviolet” featuring Sean Harmanis of Make The Suffer

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#498 - Lajon Witherspoon (Sevendust) Jul 24, 2023

Lajon Witherspoon of Sevendust is our guest this week! We are here to celebrate their 14th studio album Truth Killer coming out July 28. We also perspective that came after the pandemic, the Huntridge Theater in Las Vegas being a hub for heavy music in the late 90’s, how Sevendust feels about releasing new music to the fans, which songs he feel are the most difficult to revisit for him, touring to celebrate the anniversary of Animosity, and how revisiting past records are for him. We also cover which crooner he feels he would love to cover, what it was like releasing a new album during a pandemic, the livestream experience, and some advice on keeping a band together throughout all these years.

Petar and Brandon discuss Gary Holt’s comments on Slayer reuniting, the passing of Tony Bennett, and Jacob Shaddix’s comments on what bands will be replacing Metallica after they retire.

Song: Sevendust “Everything”

Song: Skindred “Gimme That Boom”

Song: Ringworm “No Solace, No Quarter, No Mercy”

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#497 - Austin Haines (Outer Heaven) Jul 17, 2023

This week on The MetalSucks Podcast, we’ve got none other than Austin Haines from Outer Heaven on the show this week! During our chat, we discuss his love for the Alien film franchise, how it may have the best sequel of any series, and how the world create on their new album Infinite Psychic Depths is a prequel to their previous one. We also chat about the album’s artwork, how the band’s two full lengths tie together, the guest vocalist he secretly hoped would commit, and how important it is to stay true to Outer Heaven’s sound.

Petar and Jozalyn discuss Ozzy Osbourne dropping off the Power Trip festival and the band announced as his replacement, our thoughts on the impact of a Creed reunion, and Puddle of Mudd releasing a new song that doesn’t really live up to their past.

Song: Outer Heaven “Pillars of Dust” Feat. J.R. Hayes of Pig Destroyer
Song: Outer Heaven “Liquified Mind"
Song: Evile “Reap What You Sow”

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#496 - Eugene S. Robinson (Oxbow) Jul 10, 2023

Oxbow frontman Eugene S. Robinson is our guest this week! We discuss the new record Love’s Holiday coming out July 21, how his lyrical approach changed on the new album, approaching his vocals in an almost live format while in studio, and why he's always been fascinated with artists that have proven to be troublesome humans. We also talk about becoming a father and how he this has made him view his relationship with his father, writing his memoir “A Walk Across Dirty Water And Straight Into Murder’s Row,” his experience of missing out on interviewing Prince, and the importance of not missing band’s you love perform love these in modern times.

Petar and Brandon discuss the passing of Drive Like Jehu frontman Rick Froberg, Better Lovers dropping a surprise E.P. to its fans, Frank Bello giving an update on a new Anthrax record, and Mick Mars' latest statement about his former bandmates in Motley Crüe.

Song: Drive Like Jehu Yank Crime Song: “Here Come the Rome Plows”

Song: Oxbow “Dead Ahead”

Song: Oxbow “Icy White & Crystalline”

Song: Cadaver “The Age Of The Offended”

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#495 - Nita Strauss (Alice Cooper) Jul 05, 2023

Nita Strauss is back on the show! We are here to celebrate her second solo album “The Call of the Void” coming out this Friday, July 7 and as such, we discuss the patience she had to show prior to getting the album released, how the pieces came together to get David Draiman of Disturbed to guest on the album, returning to the road with her solo project last year supporting Black Label Society, and some of the new challenges on road life. She also touched upon having to challenge herself constantly in the ever-changing music industry, receiving a Super Bowl ring when the LA Rams became champions, and why the universe needs to remake the classic Walter Hill film “Crossroads” with Nita replacing Steve Vai.

Petar and Sylvia discuss Corey Taylor’s comments on possibly hanging it up in five years with touring Slipknot, Shavo Odadjian once again commenting on the musical hiatus of SOAD, a new study suggesting listening to metal doesn’t help with your college GPA, the tragic passing of Ryan Siew of Polaris, and coming together to help Year of The Knife after a horrible van crash while touring.

Song: Nita Strauss “The Golden Trail” featuring Anders Fried of In Flames

Song: Nita Strauss “The Wolf You Need” featuring Alissa White-Gluz

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#494 - Madeleine Liljestam And Rikard Ekberg (Eleine) Jun 26, 2023

Madeleine Liljestam and Rikard Ekberg of Eleine joined us on this week's episode of The MetalSucks Podcast! We discuss their new album We Shall Remain coming out July 14, the mindset that they were in during the recording of their previous album Dancing In Hell, the surprise diagnosis Madeleine received during the pandemic, how important the fans on their Patreon were during that time and now. We also discussed the current touring situation regarding the rising costs of touring for European bands coming the North America, why they feel merch cuts by venues is an evil practice, and winning over those fans that initially look miserable at the beginning of their set.

Petar and Brandon debate Trent Reznor’s comments on releasing new NIN music, celebrating the 30th anniversary of both Morbid Angel’s Covenant and Death’s Individual Thought Patterns.

Song: Eleine “We Are Legion”

Song: Eleine “Never Forget”

Song: Enforcer “Nostalgia”

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#492 - Jens Bogren (Record Producer, Mixer, Recording Engineer) Jun 19, 2023

On this week's MetalSucks Podcast, we've got Fascination Street Studio Founder Jens Bogren on the show!

During our discussion, we chat about his and Ihsahn’s course at URM Academy “How It’s Done” available until July 12th, why he decided to put together a step by step course, and how much of the actually course was scripted. Of course, we had to have a deeper discussion about his experience in the studio, so we asked him about things like: when spending a lot of time on pre-production makes sense, what it's like when bands enter the studio with “demo disease," and what he feels are the most overused elements in demos. We also talked about studio tech and the considerations that go along with it, like what it takes to adapt modern technology in his studio, if he has ever lost an entire song when a hard drive crashed, what he feels can be the most tedious step in recording, and why capturing clean singing in a metal band is vital to the song when needed.

Petar and Brandon discuss Dani Filth calling “Spotify the biggest criminals in the world,” Avenged Sevenfold’s Johnny Christ stating they may make the move to single only releases, Dave Mustaine's thoughts about the one thing that would end Megadeth, and Rammstein drummer Christoph Schneider's statement on Till Lindemann’s sexual assault allegations.

Song: Ihsahn “The Observer”

Song: Ihsahn “Contorted Monuments”

Song: Vexed “Anti-Fetish”

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#492 - Mlny Parsonz (Royal Thunder) Jun 12, 2023

This week's edition of The MetalSucks Podcast features Mlny Parsonz of Royal Thunder! In our discussion, we discuss the band's first album in over five years Rebuilding The Mountain, the ability to shake off negativity before a performance, having extra time to write and record being good and bad at times, and how the album artworks colors and texture go through the approval process. On a more personal level, we talked about her transition to sobriety and her taking steps to stop the negative cycles in life and focusing on having hope.

Petar, Jozalyn, and Sylvia discuss all the news stories surrounding Slipknot this week Craig Jones leaving the band, his replacement, a throwaway surprise E.P., and Corey Taylor planning on taking all of 2024 for his solo project.

Song: Royal Thunder “The Knife”

Song: Royal Thunder “Fade”

Song: Black Spiders “Alright, Alright, Alright”

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#491 - Ray Alder (Fates Warning) Jun 05, 2023

Fates Warning frontman Ray Alder is our guest for this week's edition of The MetalSucks Podcast! He's here to discuss his latest solo album II, coming out June 9. As such, we discussed when he had time to focus on following up What The Water Wants, why it’s more difficult for him to write music for his solo project as opposed to Fates Warning, and why he decided on calling the record II. We also get to chatting about the long break from touring he's currently experiencing, how he adapts to change in modern times compared to his youth, if there are any plans for Fates Warning’s 40th anniversary next year, and an update on all his other current projects including Fates Warning and A-Z.

This week is a music episode and we present our mid-year best of list, and play a track off of every album we feel you need to listen to before moving into the summer!

Song: Insomnium “White Christ” Featuring Sakis Tolis

Song: Enslaved “Congelia”

Song: Venemous Concept “Fractured”

Song: Sermon “Golden”

Song: Ray Alder “This Hollow Shell”

Song: Ray Alder “My Oblivion”

Song: Hellripper “I, The Deceiver”

Song: Entheos “I Am The Void”

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#490 - Einar Solberg (Leprous) May 29, 2023

On this, the Memorial Day episode of The MetalSucks Podcast, we've got Leprous frontman Einar Solberg on the horn! In our interview with him, we discuss his debut solo album 16, out June 2. Our conversation also takes us along what the writing process was like for the single “Over The Top” and revisit many memories from his formative years, and if he can remember emotions or moments more when looking back. We also talk a bit of shop, asking him when he started working for songs on what became his solo project, what it was like collaborating with Ihsahn through the years, his plans on touring for his solo project, and an update on a new album from Leprous.

Petar and Sylvia discuss the passing of original Saint Vitus bassist Mark Adams, Foo Fighters announcing the drummer who will be replacing the late Taylor Hawkins, Corey Taylor’s comments on AI music, and Burton C. Bell’s upcoming solo tour featuring a lot of Fear Factory songs.

Song: Saint Vitus “Born Too Late”

Song: Einar Solberg “Over The Top”

Song: Einar Solberg “Home” (Featuring Ben Levin)

Song: Ignea “Nomads Luck”

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#489 - David Ellefson (Dieth, Ex-Megadeth) May 22, 2023

Legendary thrash metal bassist David Ellefson is our guest this week on The MetalSucks Podcast! In our chat, we discussed how his new project Dieth came to be, if there ever was a competitive nature between thrash and death metal bands in the late 80’s, and why Dieth will not be playing on songs from the members previous bands. He also elaborated on how when starting a new project each member's role is defined, how he grew out of his role in Megadeth, and his thoughts on laptops and backing tracks in modern live metal and rock shows.

Petar and Sylvia discuss seeing Avenged Sevenfold's first performance in five years, watching Danzig Sings Elvis in a Vegas lounge, the Sick New World festival experiencing sound issues during performances, and how to manage the Vegas heat at all day music festivals. We then read our fan email’s, answering questions, and promoting some of bands and business ventures.

Song: Dieth “To Hell And Back”

Song: Dieth “Don’t Get Mad…Get Even”

Song: Sleep Token “The Summoning”

Song: Skölldvägg “Heart Of A Viking”

Song: Kamikaze Zombie “Cable 54”

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Avenged Sevenfold's M. Shadows and Synyster Gates on The MetalSucks Podcast #488.5 May 19, 2023

In this special half episode of The MetalSucks Podcast, we get a quick chat with M. Shadows and Synyster Gates of Avenged Sevenfold! Co-host Sylvia Alvarado got them to sit in on her show at KOMP 92.3 to discuss their latest album Life is But A Dream… coming out on June 2.

During their chat, they discuss how the album is an existential crisis in audio form, why they want to take every possible left turn when creating music at this stage, how Avenged Sevenfold can be viewed and a legacy band to many fans, and their influences behind the new single “We Love You.”

Song: Avenged Sevenfold “ We Love You”

Song: Avenged Sevenfold “Nobody”

Song: Gozu “Tom Cruise Control”

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#488 - Milton Mendonca (ProgPower USA) May 15, 2023

This week on The MetalSucks Podcast, we’ve got ProgPower USA promoter Milton Mendonca on the show! During our chat, we discuss how he started out as a fan before becoming a promoter, the process of booking bands for a festival, what a possible VISA hike from the United States government would do to bands, and the financial challenges of doing exclusive North American shows.

Like most interviews these days, we also discuss the impact of having to take a two year break due to the pandemic, what he thinks is the secret to maintaining a festival to keep making money after 20 years, shutting his phone off to watch certain bands, and the hardest lesson he learned promoting a festival every year.

Petar and Brandon discuss the impact Anthrax’s “Sound of White Noise” on its 30th anniversary, Vince Neil judging anyone in anything in life on National TV, Vulvodynia drummer almost getting “murdered” by his singer, and the singer releasing an apology before explaining why he almost killed his drummer.

Song: Beast in Black “Moonlight Rendezvous”

Song: The Halo Effect “In Broken Trust”

Song: Cynic “Veil of Maya”

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#487 - Dez Fafara (DevilDriver/Coal Chamber) May 08, 2023

Dez Fafara of Devildriver is our guest this week on The MetalSucks Podcast! In this episode, we celebrate their new album Dealing With Demons Vol. 2, emoji’s making their way in business communication, the income a band would get for plays 20 years ago compared to today, and younger audiences embracing late 90’s bands. We also talk about what it was like touring with Type O Negative in the early 2000’s, the lesson Peter Steele gave him one night while drinking wine, how he gravitates to people in music without ego, his take on the feature of releasing new music for the heavy scene, and how the Devildriver fanbase has accepted any direction he feels his art should go through the years.

Petar also tackles Paul Stanley’s comments on gender identity as being a fad, Dee Snider getting remove from the San Francisco Gay Pride Parade because of his support of Paul Stanley, Dustie Waring of BTBAM addressing rape allegations, and Rage Against The Machine getting into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Song: Devildriver “Through The Depths”

Song: Currents “The Death We Seek”

Song: High Priest “Divinity”

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#486 - Laura Guldemond (Burning Witches) May 01, 2023

Burning Witches vocalist Laura Guldemond is our guest this week on The MetalSucks Podcast! We discuss the writing process for their latest record The Dark Tower, the lyrical inspiration that Countess Bathory played, the importance of the comic book style cover art the band strives for with each release, touring on a cruise, getting sea sick and still performing, the importance of social media for bands in modern times, the craziest time she had at a metal show as a fan, and if she gets more energy from the audience singing or moshing during live shows.

Petar and Brandon breakdown the video of Crazy Town singers getting into an ugly fight, Hed(P.E.) kicking them off the tour because of the video, and Bam Margera threatening to kill his family before turning himself into the police.

Song: Burning Witches “The Dark Tower”

Song: Blood Ceremony “Ipsissimus”

Song: Dave Lombardo “Inner Sanctum”

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#485 - Josh Elmore (Cattle Decapitation) Apr 24, 2023

This week, we've got Cattle Decapitation axeman Josh Elmore as our guest on The MetalSucks Podcast! We discuss what it's like having to answer the same questions in interviews, the process of getting a Cattle Decapitation song passed by all of the band members, and which member sends memes in the group texts. We also talk shop, as he shares his experience touring the European festival circuit last Summer, if he thinks taking an opening slot on a tour to grow the band is a good idea at this stage, merch cuts being a reality of touring for the past 10 plus years, and what he feels is the best way to support a band.

Petar and Jozalyn also talk about last week's headlines, including the new band featuring ETID and Ex-Dillinger Escape Plan members, our reaction to their first single and name of the new band. They also discuss Foo Fighters announcing a new album and Mötley Crüe gong back in the studio to work on new music.

Song: Cattle Decapitation “We Eat Our Young”

Song: Cattle Decapitation “Scourge Of The Offspring”

Song: Zozobra “Born In A Blaze”

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#484 - Dani Filth (Cradle of Filth) Apr 17, 2023

This week on the MetalSucks Podcast, we've got the one and only Dani Filth, frontman of the irreplaceable Cradle of Filth as our guest this week! During our chat, we discuss their new live album Trouble and Their Double Lives,what it was like going through hours of tape to put together the tracklist, and how the album was not pre-planned before starting the project. Filth also shared details about the challenges of doing a livestream right after the pandemic, the cost of Visas going up and how that will deter European bands from touring the states, his timeframe for the next Cradle of Filth album, and his future collaboration with Ed Sheeran.

Petar and Jozalyn also discuss how her recent comedy tour went and promoting the her new album. They also share their thoughts on the new Metallica album, wonder if it will connect with younger audiences, and debate where in ranks in their output of the last 20 years.

Song: Cradle of Filth “She Is A Fire”

Song: Magnus Karlsson’s Free Fall “Holy Ground” (Feat. Girish Pradhan)

Song: Valensorow “Bird And The Bear”

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#483 - Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth (Overkill) Apr 10, 2023

Legendary thrash metal lifer Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth is our guest this week on The MetalSucks Podcast! In this episode, we discuss Overkill's 20th album Scorched, coming out this Friday, as well as the positive changes he's witnessed in the last 40 years of being in the music business. And in that vein, we also try to find out what his secret is to longevity in the heavy metal scene, the difficulty of separating the business with the love of making music, how the demo of Scorched kept him sane through the pandemic, and how third time was the charm for completing the new album.

Along with his chat with Ellsworth, Petar is joined by Brandon to tackle the sheer fraudulent embarrassing that is Kid Rock, him catering to hate and transphobia to sell tickets to his show, what makes an artists clearly disingenuous to their fanbase, and Mötley Crüe setting off their latest drama for all of us to see.

Song: Overkill “The Surgeon”

Song: Netherlands “Omisha”

Song: The Hellfreaks “Weeping Willow”

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#482 - Brann Dailor (Mastodon) Apr 03, 2023

This week on The MetalSucks Podcast, we've got the one and only Brann Dailor, of Mastodon! Since the band's upcoming tour with Gojira and Lorna Shore is coming up soon, we get down to business and discuss topics like why they have two legs booked of their upcoming tour. We also chat about the time they had two weeks' notice for their first post-pandemic show, what went into the decision of performing a majority of songs of their latest album while on tour, and how that setlist conversation occurs with the Mastodon camp.

Dailor also chats about the art of playing the right deep cut for the fans, what he feels is the sweet spot for the length of a concert, what food he wishes he did not see backstage after a show, and how his diet has changed through the years as a touring musician.

Aside from the interview, Petar and Sylvia discuss the tragic events that occurred at the Morbid Angel show in Illinois over the weekend, as well as our thoughts about yet another mass shooting at an American elementary school. They also find the time to talk about the six arena headliners performing at the inaugural Power Trip Festival.

Song: Mastodon “Pain With An Anchor”

Song: Mastodon “Teardrinker”

Song: Ad Infinitum “From The Ashes”

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#481 - Ben Weinman (The Dillinger Escape Plan) Mar 27, 2023

You better strap yourself in for one hell of a conversation, as we managed to get Ben Weinman (founder and guitarist of The Dillinger Escape Plan) as our guest for this week's episode of The MetalSucks Podcast! During our chat, we discuss his new course on SoundFly called “The Business of Uncompromising Art.” In that discussion, we learn about how The Dillinger Escape Plan took unconventional avenues towards success.

The rest of our conversation also focused on finding the point that one’s art is genuine, how happy accidents can help an artist find their identity, the ever-present debate of artist versus craftsmanship, if there is an actual blueprint for success as a musician, how having the desire to be polarizing is motivation enough, and why some of the most technically proficient musicians sometimes don’t reach success.

Petar and Sylvia discuss Ronnie Radke’s response after Spiritbox decided to not to tour with Falling In Reverse, Carmine Appice silencing Nikki Sixx’s “washed up” comments, and Russian Circles' decision not to sell merch in Paris due to venue merch cuts.

Song: The Dillinger Escape Plan “Farewell, Mona Lisa”

Song: The Dillinger Escape Plan “Disassociation”

Song: Giraffe Tongue Orchestra “No-One Is Innocent”

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#480 - Dustin Davidson (August Burns Red) Mar 20, 2023

Dustin Davidson of August Burns Red is our guest on the latest episode of The MetalSucks Podcast! While chatting with our host Petar, Dustin talks about starting work on the band's new album Death Below right after finishing Guardians and what went into recruiting Jesse Leach, Spencer Chamberlain, and many other guests for the record. He also explains why the band has never felt the need to write a more accessible record, what it's like having the same production team for the last decade, how bandmates and their family lives dictates the touring schedule, and why bands should go through touring boot camp before making it a career.

Aside from the interview, Petar and Sylvia discuss Sylvia's recent recovery from COVID, Avenged Sevenfold announcing their hew album, Lars Ulrich’s statement that Metallica’s collaboration with Lou Reed aged extremely well, and Carmen Appice’s comments about Mick Mars being unhappy with Motley Crue’s stadium tour.

Song: August Burns Red “Ancestry” Featuring Jesse Leach of Killswitch Engage

Song: August Burns Red “Reckoning” Featuring Spencer Chamberlain of Underoath

Song: Judiciary “Engulfed”

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#479 - Thomas Youngblood (Kamelot) Mar 13, 2023

Kamelot guitarist and founder Thomas Youngblood is our guest this week! We discuss the large gap between studio albums, the large scale production and planning that went into their most recent live album, and his preferences in not writing music while touring with Kamelot.

We also chat about his personal battle with COVID during the pandemic, the track on new album he worked on first when getting back from quarantine, the timetable of the new songs and music being extended on new album The Awakening, and how playing tracks for the latest album keeps Kamelot relevant to the fans.

Petar discusses the passing of Dark Angels’ Jim Durkin, answers a fan’s email about the concert that got away in his life, and celebrate the songs he wish he would have heard live at those shows

Song: Kamelot “Opus of The Night”

Song: Kamelot “One More Flag in The Ground”

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#478 - Johannes Eckerström (Avatar) Mar 06, 2023

Avatar frontman Johannes Eckerström joins The MetalSucks Podcast this week! During his chat with our host, Petar, he opens up to us about starting a potential solo album during the pandemic, how metal bands would be nothing without the audience's energy, and their experience recently touring Europe and being one of the first European bands to tour America after the pandemic. They also chat about what it's like to release their latest album Dance Devil Dance on their own label, what went into getting Halestorm's Lzzy Hale to guest on the closing track, and why he stands by the best length for an album is 45 minutes in our genre.

The rest of the show features Petar and Brandon discussing the latest MetalSucks news, including Marty Friedman reuniting onstage with Megadeth and how that might not be a one-night thing after all, Mikkey Dee saying Motörhead will never do a reunion tour without Lemmy, Ozzy Osbourne saying his touring status is still up in thew air, and Kiss making the announcement of their final two shows before retiring. Oh and Brandon makes the case that the Scorpions is a safe rock band opposed to their counterparts in the 80’s.

Song: Avatar “The Dirt I’m Buried In”

Song: Avatar “ Violence No Matter What” Feat. Lazy Hale

Song: Tribulation “Vengeance (The Pact)”

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#477 - Kevin Sharp (Venomous Concept, Ex-Brutal Truth) Feb 27, 2023

Legendary extreme metal vocalist Kevin Sharp in our guest this week! In this episode we discuss Venomous Concept’s “The Good Ship Lollipop,” why it is important that the writing for his projects are loose, the personal impact that he had during the pause in a life of motion, why he hates the term “supergroup,” and why creating music with his long standing friendships is vital to his existence.

Petar and Brandon discuss the announcement of the new Fear Factory vocalist, if we feel their will be two touring Fear Factories in the future, our thoughts on the first original track by Kings of Thrash possibly dissing Dave Mustaine, Jeff Young calling Dave Mustaine a pathological liar 30 years after working with him, Ice-T getting his name on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and Crowbar and Type O Negative members creating a new project called Eye AM.

Song: Venemous Concept “Fractured”

Song: Venemous Concept “Timeline”

Song: Acid King “Destination Psych/Beyond Vision”

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#476 - Spencer Sotelo (Periphery) Feb 20, 2023

This week The MetalSucks Podcast welcomes Periphery vocalist Spencer Sotelo onto the show! During our chat, we discuss what it's like to create music after starting their own label, how Periphery V was originally a sequel to Juggernaut: Alpha, and how seeing a band live it can easily make them your new favorite band. Spencer also shares his experience going to EDC every year in Las Vegas, how he feels Slipknot’s Iowa is the most visceral metal record, the video game that was the most influential for him as a writer on the new album, and why planning to make a record less than 70 minutes long never works out for Periphery.

During the rest of the show, Petar and Brandon discuss the passing of Tim Aymar, Fear Factory finally deciding to let everyone know who is replacing Burton C. Bell after a two year wait, Marty Friedman jumping onstage again with Megadeth, and Slash’s feeling on Guns N’Roses being canceled today.

Song: Control Denied” Breaking The Broken”

Song: Periphery “Wildfire”

Song: Periphery “Atropos”

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#475 - Charlie Benante (Anthrax) Feb 13, 2023

Legendary drummer and metal lifer Charlie Benante is our guest on this week's episode of The MetalSucks Podcast! During our chat, we discuss Anthrax’s current North American tour with Black Label Society and Exodus. The conversation also moved on to other topics, like what he considers which Anthrax's live album is their best, how the album art for the last three Anthrax studio albums tie into a potential comic book idea.

Speaking of comics and fandom, Charlie also explains why he's not a fan of the MCU, what classic horror film icon he was never a fan of, how The Joker has evolved through the years, and what film series he feels has the least flawed sequels.

As always, Petar and Jozalyn discuss the latest news, including Ozzy Osbourne taking home this year’s metal Grammy, Homeland Security wanting the jack up visas for international artists, and Limp Bizkit using deep fake technology for their latest music video.

Song: Anthrax “Blood Eagle Wings”(Live)

Song: Anthrax “Breathing Lightning” (Live)

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#474 - Markus Vanhala (Insomnium) Feb 06, 2023

On this week's MetalSucks Podcast, we've got Insomnium guitarist Markus Vanhala as our guest. During our chat, we discuss how the band's latest single, “The Witch Hunter,” almost didn’t make it on the new album Anno 1696. We also learn more about the short story that inspired the concept album, as well as how he felt releasing singles to the fanbase instead of a complete EP.

Speaking of EPs, we got Markus to share his favorite EP’s of the 90’s, how the special edition of Anno 1696 comes with an exclusive EP of bonus songs, what ideas people feel would be “commercial suicide” working for the band, and his optimistic outlook on the future of the music industry.

Also in the episode is a discussion between Petar and Sylvia, where they tackle the sad news that Ozzy Osbourne is retiring from touring due to his health issues, Steve-O pleading with Bam Margera in hopes of choosing recovery over death, their excitement over Jason Newsted working on new heavy music, and Dee Snider’s comments on reunion tours being “lame.”

Song: Insomnium - “The Witch Hunter”

Song: Insomnium - “White Christ” Feat. Sakis Tolis of Rotting Christ

Song: Lord of the Lost - "Leave Your Hate In The Comments”

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#473 - Devin Swank (Sanguisugabogg) Jan 30, 2023

Hope you're ready for some death metal destruction, because Sanguissugabogg frontman Devin Swank is the guest for this week's edition of The MetalSucks Podcast. As an Ohio native, we couldnt' help but ask him how he became a die hard Minnesota Vikings fan and the sports chat continued a bit as we asked him what his least favorite sporting event to watch live is. But don't worry — this isn't going to be a strictly jock episode, since we also chat about the last video game he finished and the last book he read. You can rest easy, nerds.

We also chat about what it's like to star in a music video where he had to portray heavy violence on band members, as well as the importance of getting to take enough time as a band to complete Homicidal Ecstasy.

Aside from our chat with Devin, Petar and Brandon discuss Pantera getting removed from festivals in Germany and Austria due to his past racist actions, Biohazard reuniting and possibly doing new music, the return of Job For A Cowboy, and Marilyn Manson’s latest legal update.

Song: Sanguissugabogg “Face Ripped Off (Feat. Aaron Heard of Jesus Piece)

Song: Sanguissugabogg “Pissed”

Song: Hellripper “The Nuckelavee”

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#472 - Grutle Kjellson (Enslaved) Jan 23, 2023

Grutle Kjellson of Enslaved joins us this week! We discuss the Cinematic Universe Boxset that was released celebrating their livestreams in 2020, performing social distanced concert in large venues, how new album Heimdal has a very introverted feel to the songwriting, taken live music for granted prior to the pandemic, the difficult on touring that bands are currently experiencing, why its crucial for the fans to support live music now more than ever before, and on returning to North America after a long absence with Insomnium.

Petar, Jozalyn, and Sylvia also discuss the latest Metallica single “Screaming Suicide”, Danzig Sings Elvis playing a one of show and why we feel this is an event to see, and our expectations on what Danzig will wear and how he will sound.

Song: Enslaved “Congelia”

Song: Enslaved “Caravans of The Outer Worlds”

Song: Ahab “Mobilis in Mobili”

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#471 - Jonas Renske (Katatonia) Jan 16, 2023

This week on The MetalSucks Podcast, we've got Katatonia frontman Jonas Renkse behind the mic as our guest! In this jam-packed episode, we discuss the creation of the band's album Sky Void of Stars coming this Friday. We also chat about his habit of trying to read as much news as possible and how he had to change that habit during the pandemic, having selective memory in most things not including all the music he created, the music industry still healing after the pandemic, and more.

Speaking of the pandemic, Renske also explains some of the hardships that cropped up from coming back to performing live, including the difficulty of finding crew for tours and his thought on performing livestreams concerts and albums in their entirety.

Petar and Brandon discuss the passing of legendary guitar Jeff Beck, our excitement for a John Bush Anthrax tour with guitarist Paul Crook, and Brandon became a first time father with the birth of his son Atlas.

Song: Jeff Beck “Goodbye Pork Pie Hat”

Song: Katatonia “Birds”

Song: Katatonia “Atrium”

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#470 - Donald Tardy (Obituary) Jan 09, 2023

appy New Year, everyone! We're back with a bang and starting off 2023 with none other than Obituary’s Donald Tardy! He joins us at the perfect time, as the band is set to release its first record in six years, The Dying of Everything. With that in mind, we discussed how having their own studio since 2007 has changed how the create music, what sport always gets in the way of progress in the studio, as well as the emotions he felt after playing his first show post-pandemic.

We also get around to chatting abOut his experience recently touring North America with Amon Amarth, why the album's release window is perfect for the band, and why the new album's lead single, “The Wrong Time,” was a perfect track in so many ways.

Petar, Jozalyn, and Sylvia discuss Dee Snider’s debate about great frontman versus great performers, Rolling Stones misguided attempt at naming the 200 greatest singers, and John Dolmayan’s comments about SOAD in hindsight should have considered getting rid of Serj Tankian in 2006.

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#469 - Best Of Episode 2022 (Part 2 of 2) Dec 19, 2022

It’s finally here. The very last MetalSucks Podcast for 2022 and the end of the line for one hell of a year. To celebrate, we’re unveiling this year’s Top 5 Albums and explain they made such an impact on us.

We’ve also got interviews with four of the five artists behind those records, where we chat about the making of, the impact, and what it’s like to play those songs around the world. There’s also a quick look to 2023 and the plans for what comes next.

So come join us and see our picks, agree or disagree, and hopefully check out a great album from 2022.

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#468 - Best Of Episode 2022 (Part 1 of 2) Dec 12, 2022

One of our favorite times of the year is finally here! Yes, it's time for us at The MetalSucks Podcast to share the collection of bands and music that's been the soundtrack for 2022.

Though you're gonna have to listen to the episode to find out what we've chosen, we're willing to give you these hints: there will be one non-metal arena-filling act on the list (it's not Ghost, by the way). There's also a veteran punk rock band from the 90s and for the first time ever, ZERO BLACK METAL. Believe us when we say that shit was completely unexpected, but hey — our list is just what we listened to the most this year.

So join us as we celebrate our number 15 to 6 albums on this episode, get interviews with seven of those artists, and play tracks from each in celebration of this wonderful year of heavy music! And make sure to check out all the MetalSucks Best Of contributions this year right here.

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#467 - Tarja Turunen (Ex-Nightwish) Dec 05, 2022

This week, we’re joined by the one and only Tarja Turunen on The MetalSucks podcast! In our discussion, we chat about her getting to handpick the songs on her “Best Of” compilation album, why she included video of a recent live performance with that album, and the timeframe for her next solo release.

We also discuss what it was like doing her annual Christmas Together shows last year as a livestream, how she’s handling having dates to perform in the currently embattled Ukraine, and how fans come up with the strangest questions for her.

The show also features Petar and Jozalyn sharing their impressions of the new Metallica song and how the it, the new album, and two years of tour dates were announced seemingly out of nowhere. They also chat about Pantera’s first show back with Zakk Wylde and Charlie Benante, GG Allin possibly getting the biopic treatment, and Nickleback wanting to cover Meshuggah.

Song: Tarja Turunen “Dead Promises” Featuring Bjorn “Speed” Strid

Song: Tarja Turunen “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”

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#466 - Johan Längqvist (Candlemass) Nov 28, 2022

This week, we've got Candlemass' inexorable frontman Johan Längqvist on The MetalSucks Podcast! During our chat, we discuss following up his successful return album The Door To Doom, the songs he heard on a jukebox that made him want to be a musician, and the how the recent tour in the States went for the band. Johan also shared the story of getting Tony Iommi to solo on a Candlemass song, he shares which era of Black Sabbath is his personal favorite, and what vocalist he would love to duet with.

Petar and Jozalyn discuss the fact that lawmakers are planning to hold a hearing on Ticketmaster's business practices, M. Shadows of Avenged Sevenfold putting some blame on the artists for the Ticketmaster issues, and The Misfits cancelling their Vegas New Year’s Eve Show.

Song: Candlemass “When Death Sighs”

Song: Candlemass “Sweet Evil Sun”

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#465 - Travis Stever (L.S. Dunes, Coheed and Cambria) Nov 21, 2022

Travis Stever of Coheed and Cambria joins us this week to talk about his latest project L.S. Dunes. Thoughout the rest of the episode we discuss the origin of the project that eventually would become a supergroup, the energy and excitement of all the songs and how important that is to any project, and the story about establishing a link between his son’s name and a famous English musician. We also discuss his excitement for The Damned going back to there original formation and playing shows, L.S. Dunes first performance ever at Riot Fest, and how Anthony Green was recruited into the project.

During other parts of the show, Petar and Jozalyn discuss Ozzfest going to the Metaverse, how we felt watching the video clips, and Maynard James Keenan’s comments about how TikTok “turns to desperation to very quickly.”

Song: L.S. Dunes “Permanent Rebellion”

Song: L.S Dunes “2022”

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#464 - Mike Dean (Corrosion of Conformity) Nov 14, 2022

This week, we have Corrosion of Conformity bassist Mike Dean on the show! During our chat, we discuss their North American tour running all the way until November 27th, performing on Thanksgiving Day this year, celebrating the band's 40th year, and why frequent collaborator and producer John Custer is vital to their sound. We also learn about that time he was left a Texas Circle K barefoot, how Gene Ween helped with long distant phone calls in the pre-cell phone days, what happened if you performed with the SWANS and smiled on stage in the 90’s, and the tours that he feels were his all time favorites.

The show also has Petar and Sylvia discussing the passing of stand-up comedian Gallagher, my opportunity to go onstage and use the famous Sledge-O-Matic, our thoughts on any kind of Type O Negative reunion, and Nergal’s comments about “kids getting a proper job” instead of starting a band.

Song: Corrosion of Conformity “Vote With A Bullet”
Song: Corrosion of Conformity “Paranoid Opioid”
Song: Spirit Adrift “Sorcerers Fate”

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#463 - Devin Townsend Nov 07, 2022

This week on The MetalSucks Podcast, we've got the one and only Devin Townsend back on the show! This time around, we sat down to discuss his recent effort to use social media to reach out to fans to check in on them, the reality of the modern economy for a mid-level touring band, and how sometimes his creative compulsions go against his fanbase. Our discussion also veers into other directions like what his thoughts are on embracing a section of his audience that desires brutal music, the need in our genre to categorize artists and albums, and recognizing that there is a fracture that needs to be healed for us as a collective.

In the show, Petar and Brandon also discuss Darkthrone’s comments that they'd rather never play live than be rich, Metallica being the worst band of all time according to a pop singer, and Rob Halford watching the Glam metal movement as a closeted gay man.

Song: Devin Townsend “Lightworker”

Song: Devin Townsend “Moonpeople”

Song: Warkings “To The King”

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#462 - Dave Lombardo (Testament, Dead Cross) Oct 31, 2022

On this special Halloween edition of The MetalSucks Podcast, we've scared up one Hell of an interview, as we've got the legendary Slayer/Testament/Dead Cross drummer Dave Lombardo back behind the mic! In this week's episode, we chat with the legendary drummer as we discuss his role in helping complete the second Dead Cross album, why it's important to be a glass half full person, and some of Mike Patton's live antics on the first Dead Cross North American tour.

We also get down to talking about how important it is for artists to sometimes navigate through issues that everyone can relate to, the power of listening to the right album at the right time in life, watching bandmate Mike Crain defeat cancer while recording II, and his gratitude to the fan base for gravitating to any of the albums he's performed on throughout his career.

This show also features Petar and Sylvia discussing the week's biggest news, including Bruce Dickinson’s on stage meltdown over some weed smoke at an Iron Maiden show, Dez Fafara's take on Dickinson’s comments, Serj Tankian’s disinterest in doing a System of a Down tour, and John 5 is now a member of Motley Crue.

Song: Dead Cross “Heart Reformer”

Song: Dead Cross “Christian Missile Crisis”

Song: Sodom “After The Deluge”

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#461 - Cristina Scabbia and Andrea Ferro (Lacuna Coil) Oct 24, 2022

On this week's edition of The MetalSucks Podcast, we sit down with Lacuna Coil's Cristina Scabbia and Andrea Ferro to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Comalies. In this special episode, we discuss how important that record was for the band when they were starting to reach a larger audience, how an identity of a band comes to fruition, the breakout tour that changed everything, and their decision to reimagine and record new versions of classic songs. We also go over the lessons they learned over the pandemic, the future of live-streaming for them as a band, and the reimagined track they are most excited for us to hear on Comaliex XX.

Later on in the show, Petar and Jozalyn also discuss the story that Zakk Wylde hasn't learned Pantera material yet, Ivan Moody’s rant on retiring from heavy metal, and Paul Stanley calling out Kanye West about him spewing hate speech.

Song: Lacuna Coil “Swamped XX”

Song: Lacuna Coil “Tight Rope XX”

Song: Wednesday 13 “Good Day To Be A Bad Guy”

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#460.5 - Will Ramos (Lorna Shore) Oct 21, 2022

With the weekend ahead of us, we've managed to wrangle Will Ramos, of Lorna Shore, to join us for a very special end of the week episode! In today's episode, we discuss if he remembers when he was taught to ride a bike, the first video game he ever defeated, and his opinion on if he has a good memory.

Oh and we also talk about important things too, like the process that Lorna Shore implemented when writing Pain Remains, what artist was most influential for his music, and how sometimes it is helpful to write something passionately and true then deciding not to hit send and deleting it.

Song: Lorna Shore “Pain Remains II: After All I’ve Done, I’ll Disappear”

Song: Lorna Shore “Pain Remains III: In A Sea Of Fire”

Song: Ingested “ From Hollow Words” featuring Sven De Clauwé (Aborted)

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#460 - Mark Tremonti (Alter Bridge) Oct 17, 2022

This week on The MetalSucks Podcast, Alter Bridge guitarist Mark Tremonti joins the show! While chatting with our host Petar, the two discuss whether the band's new album Pawns & Kings is influenced by recent world events, the importance of passing down knowledge from each generation, and how the pandemic was a creativity killer for the first six months for him.

They also discuss how Tremonti's passion project would be covering Frank Sinatra songs, the excitement of finally doing a tour with Alter Bridge since the world paused, the side projects that all members have and the positive energy those bring the Alter Bridge, his love for Halloween decorations, and his last great costume that he got to wear.

Later in the episode, Petar and Sylvia discuss the Dave Mustaine and Dave Ellefson media back and forth, and why we feel Avenged Sevenfold’s “Hail To The King” has captured so many streams despite its the obvious criticism about that album.

Song: Alter Bridge - "This Is War”

Song: Alter Bridge - “Pawns and Kings”

Song: Poly-Math - “Zenith”

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#459 - John Campbell (Lamb of God) Oct 10, 2022

Fresh off the release of Lamb of God's Omens, bassist John Campbell sits down with us for another edition of The MetalSucks Podcast! In this week's episode, Campbell and show host Petar discuss the unique things that can happen during store signings, the various moments of uncertainty whenever change happens within the band, and the difference between putting out the self-titled record compared to Omens. Healso explains when a song warrants a guest vocal appearance on it, what it was like to participate in Slayer's final world tour for two years, if he'd ever been kicked out of a show as a fan.

The pair also discuss what two VHS tapes Campbell still owns, the adrenaline rush that comes with playing new songs live, what he would do with a Grammy award when he finally gets one, the need to talk to "Weird Al" Yankovic at the Grammy Awards, and the importance of the first week sales for a band in the music industry.

Petar and Brandon discuss their thoughts on the possible exit of John 5 from Rob Zombie and Iced Earth’s Jon Schaffer hiding from the FEDS.

Song: Lamb Of God “Ditch”

Song: Lamb Of God “Grayscale”

Song: Rattlesnake Venom Trip “Dead Empire”

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#458 - Chris Reifert (Autopsy) Oct 03, 2022

Death metal legend Chris Reifert is our guest this week on The MetalSucks Podcast! In this week's episode, Reifert joined host Petar and discussed the unicorn that was GG Allin, what it was like performing right after pandemic restrictions were lifted, how he can over tinker with songs if he allows them to linger without being released, and the new album having a real feeling and sense of urgency.

They also get down to Reifert's criteria of blindly buying an album in the '80’s, how he never wanted to re-record a classic Autopsy album, his thoughts on commemorating Scream Bloody Gore as it reaches its 35th anniversary, and the biggest difference between death metal fans from the early days compared to now.

Later on in the show, Petar and Jozalyn discuss Jim Root’s comments on being “unsure” about the new Slipknot album, how we as fans have had trouble connecting to mainstream metal albums in 2022, celebrating the 30th anniversary of Alice In Chains' Dirt and our thoughts on the potential Dio museum.

Song: Autopsy - “Skin By Skin”

Song: Autopsy - “Knife Slice, Axe Chop”

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#457 - Anders Fridén (In Flames) Sep 26, 2022

In Flames vocalist Anders Fridén is our guest this week on The MetalSucks Podcast! In this episode, we discuss he indulges in American Football when touring the States, how to put together a setlist that won’t disappoint fans after 14 albums, and how the world we entered post-pandemic is somehow more hostile.

We also chat with Fridén about the importance of Alice In Chains to heavy music and to him as a lyricist, the direction he gave on the cover artwork for new album Foregone, the reaction and new feeling he's experienced touring the States post-pandemic, and the one time his eight year old son was needed to help In Flames in a video game competition.

Petar and Brandon celebrate Ozzy Osbourne’s first number one album on the Billboard Charts, Gene Simmons’s statement declaring “I Don’t Have Friends,” and we breakdown MetalSucks' 10 people we can’t stand at metal shows.

Song: In Flames “Foregone Pt. 1”

Song: Defacing God “Rise Of The Trinity”

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#456 - Matteo Di Giola (Destrage) Sep 19, 2022

Guitarist Matteo Di Giola from Destrage is our guest this week on The MetalSucks Podcast! In this exciting episode, we discuss the title of the first single and how he feels he is a part of things that currently suck, how trying to communicate in modern times is too much effort for many people, the decision behind signing to Periphery’s 3DOT record label. We also chat about the band's Stone Temple Pilots cover on the new album, the story behind Devin Townsend’s guest spot, a analogy that he was told about the difference between cultures in America and Italy, and why he questions the phrase cultural appropriation.

This week's episode also features a discussion between Petar, Jozalyn, and Sylvia about some of the week's big headlines, including the tragic passing of Soilwork guitarist David Andersson, our thoughts on The Black Dahlia Murder continuing on without Trevor Strnad, and Tommy Lee overcharging his fans to join his Only Fans page.

Song: Soilwork “Tongue”

Song: Destrage “ Everything Sucks and I Think I’m A Big Part Of It”

Song: Irist “Heal”

Song: Holy Fawn “Void of Light”

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#455 Neil Fallon (Clutch) Sep 12, 2022

Iconic lyricist and frontman Neil Fallon is our guest this week! We discuss the livestream sessions known as the Doom Saloon that was done to celebrate 30 years of the band, why he felt the need not to do streaming performance pre recorded, on how the latest album was a study centric scenario for the band, on focusing more on storytelling when he wants to present lyrical content, how music videos have been a huge part of their creative process the last decade, the lessons that he learned through the years opening for audiences that seemed not being receptive, if he is open to writing a Clutch autobiography, the importance of traveling to help you empathize with people, and what he wanted to write about when he started writing the new album Sunrise on Slaughter Beach.

Petar, Jozalyn, and Sylvia discuss Jozalyn recording her first comedy special in Colorado, missing the Motley Crüe Stadium tour, Trent Reznor’s comments on watching the Taylor Hawkins tribute show, and our thoughts on Ozzy Osbourne’s comments on his future.

Song: Clutch “Red Alert (Boss Metal Zone)”
Song: Clutch “We Strive For Excellence”
Song: Reformist “Hivemind”

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#454.5 David Davidson (Revocation) Sep 09, 2022

With Netherheaven crushing skulls everywhere today, Revocation's David Davidson took some time to sit down and have a fun little chat on this bonus episode of The MetalSucks Podcast.

In this episode, we discuss the last movie David saw in theaters, the negative reaction he gets about the types of art he loves and how it affects his perception, and a warning to not watch a certain film while under the influence of drugs.

Oh, and as the band gears up for its tour in support of the new record, we also discussed Davidson's journey of finding his true identity as a musician, what it was like learning new software to produce his own music, and knowing when a song is done.

Song: Revocation - “Re-Crucified” (ft. Trevor Strand and George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher)
Song: Brymir - “Voices In The Sky”
Song: A thru Z - “Stranded”

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#454 Nico Sallach and Kevin Ratajczk (Electric Callboy) Sep 05, 2022

Electric Callboy vocalists Nico Sallach and Kevin Ratajczak are our guests this week! We discuss the importance of music being a part of culture, their experience of mashing up different styles of music with heavy metal, how YouTube has helped people be more open minded during the pandemic, and how the empathy the youth should get for making it through the pandemic years.

We also chat about their new album Tekkno having the ultimate goal of making people feel good, the difficult time away from performing live, the fans that kept them afloat, and the upcoming U.S. tour with Attack! Attack!

After the interview, Petar and Sylvia discuss Scott Ian’s comments about Mike Patton being asked to join Anthrax, Corey Taylor’s comments on Stone Sour’s hiatus, and researchers finding lyrics that are misheard the most.

Song: Electric Callboy “Pump It”

Song: Devil Wears Prada “Watchtower”

Song: Space of Variations “Someone Else”

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#453 Nick Holmes (Bloodbath, Paradise Lost) Aug 29, 2022

Nick Holmes of Bloodbath and Paradise Lost is our guest this week! We discuss the concept behind the bloody music video for lead single "Zombie Inferno," the album artwork bringing him back to being in the record store in 1988, the zombie films that infected him when he was 9 years old, and the element of the mystery being lost in modern horror films. We also chat about getting Barney from Napalm Death and Luc Lemay from Gorguts to guest on the new album, how the Florida sound influenced Survival of the Sickest, the visa issues that caused Bloodbath to miss shows in North America, the pandemic hindering the last Paradise Lost album Obsidian, what it was like to perform to a digital audience during that time with Paradise Lost, and his thoughts on doing a livestream with Bloodbath.

Petar and Brandon discuss Avatar thinking its their duty to save heavy metal, and Ozzy tripping on acid and talking to a horse for an hour.

Song: Bloodbath “Zombie Inferno”

Song: Bloodbath “Carved” Featuring Luc Lemay of Gorguts

Song: Conan “Righteous Alliance”

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#452 Morgan Lander (Kittie) Aug 22, 2022

Morgan Lander of Kittie is our guest this week! We discuss how the When We Were Young Festival started the ball rolling for them to reunite, creating the documentary on the history of the band, the importance of being able to tell their story on there own terms and how the reunion has sparked a renewed interest in the band. Over the course of our discussion, we also talk about the positive of keeping some distance with fans and going on a hiatus, the Kittie album Lander would prefer to play in its entirety, her new project Karkaos and its current status, what her current deadline is for new music from Kittie, and her thoughts on rerecording their classic debut album for its 25th anniversary.

Petar and Brandon report on going to Psycho Vegas this weekend, Jimmy Page not collaborating with Ozzy Osbourne on his new album, and Charlie Benante telling haters to stay at him when Pantera reunites.

Song: Kittie “Cutthroat”

Song: Telekinetic Yeti “Ancient Nug”

Song: Fallujah “Radiant Ascension”

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#451 Tyler Bates (Film Composer, Jerry Cantrell, Ex-Marilyn Manson) Aug 15, 2022

Film composer Tyler Bates is back on the show! We discuss his involvement in producing new music and touring with Jerry Cantrell, how performing again after the pandemic was a almost spiritual connection with the fanbase, recruiting the band that would perform on Jerry’s new album Brighten, producing the major label debut for Starcrawler, all the details in composing the music for the Guardians of the Galaxy roller coasters, on collaborating with Chelsea Wolfe on the soundtrack to the film X, and his latest soundtrack works including Dayshift starring Jamie Foxx.

Petar and Jozalyn we discuss our plans for the Psycho Las Vegas Festival this upcoming weekend, how we navigate so many bands playing on six stages, Satyr from Satyricon unwilling to apologize for Black Metal, and Max Cavalera possibly plotting an original Soulfully reunion to celebrate the debut album.

Song: Tyler Bates and Chelsea Wolfe “Dolls” X Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Song: Tyler Bates “Big John’s Sacrifice” Dayshift Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Song: Jerry Cantrell “Brighten”

Song: Starcrawler “Stranded”

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#450 DANNY ELFMAN Aug 09, 2022

Film Composer and Musical Icon Danny Elfman is our guest this week! We discuss the remix and reimagined album Bigger. Messier coming out August 12th, the importance of being curious when creating a remix album with other artists, the sequencing of the remix album being lead be music opposed to Big Mess, why he felt he needed to create his own deadline to complete his latest solo record, the pandemic being a perfect combination of having to create to keep sane, on how he know when a song is complete in his creative process, album artwork being such an important piece to him creating an album, getting Iggy Pop as a dream collaborator on the new project, and the difference between his soundtrack work being a character in the film or capturing a specific moment.

Petar, and Jozalyn discuss Korn Guitarist Head’s statement about the metal community being inclusive, Def Leppard’s guitarist Phil Collen waiting for the next Metallica, and Phil Anselmo making a statement about Vinnie Paul and Dimebag on his recently announced Pantera reunion.

Song: Danny Elfman & Trent Reznor “ True”

Song: Danny Elfman & Iggy Pop “ Kick Me

Song: Mirror Queen “Inviolate”

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Mikael Stanne (The Halo Effect, Dark Tranquility) on The MetalSucks Podcast #449 Aug 01, 2022

The Halo Effect vocalist Mikael Stanne is our guest this week! We discussed the origins of his new band The Halo Effect, how the pandemic helped the project in crafting the debut album, the decades he has known his other bandmates in the project, the secretive nature of the project and the excitement to rollout the announcement to fans, if he felt the expectations that the project would bring to the fanbase when writing the songs, the story behind naming the project, the approach on writing lyrics based on his history with his band members, focusing on negativity, injustice and destructive thoughts being part of the writing process, and the experience of performing 4 songs in the freezing cold on a roof top in Sweden.

Petar, Jozalyn, and Sylvia discuss the fan that rushed the stage at a Rage Against The Machine show that lead to Tom Morello getting tackled, Ivan Moody disowning Five Finger Death Punch’s Music Video, and Michael Keene’s latest moment before a performance of The Faceless.

Song: The Halo Effect “Shadowminds”

Song: The Halo Effect “Feel What I Believe”

Song: Stick To Your Guns “Hush”

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

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#448: Imperial Triumphant's Steve Blanco Jul 25, 2022

This week, Imperial Triumphant’s Steve Blanco is our guest! We discuss how he got Kenny G as a guest performer on the band's new album Spirit of Ecstasy, recently touring the border countries of the Russia/Ukraine conflict, and the film composer that is the biggest inspiration on his band. We also discuss Stanley Kubrick being a perfect example of cinema, his thoughts on modern-day art versus entertainment, how everything they do is somehow tied to New York City, and looking forward to their upcoming tour with Zeal & Ardor.

Petar, Sylvia, and Brandon tackle Scott Ian’s comments about S.O.D. being canceled in modern times, Corey Taylor giving up on changing people’s views, and Mike Patton’s need to step away from lives shows due to his mental health.

Song: Imperial Triumphant, “Merkurius Gilded”

Song: Imperial Triumphant, “Maximalist Scream”

Song: Psycroptic, “A Fool’s Errand”

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

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#447: Nile's Karl Sanders Jul 18, 2022

Nile mastermind Karl Sanders is our guest this week! We discuss his third solo effort Saurian Apocalypse, the journey to complete the trilogy he started back in 2004, how guitarist Rusty Cooley gave him guitar lessons during the pandemic, and the number of guest performers that he included on the record. Karl also breaks down the era of music in which he feels that creativity was more encouraged, the importance of the album covers to all his solo projects, and the upcoming book that the wrote for this project.

Petar, Jozalyn, and Sylvia discuss the recently-announced Pantera reunion, the band members that were chosen to replace the Abbot Brothers, and Nita Strauss leaving the Alice Cooper band to join up with Demi Lovato.

Song: Karl Sanders “The Sun Has Set On The Age of Man”

Song: Karl Sanders “Skull Fuck Ritual (Skull Breach Edition)"

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

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#446: Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller Jul 11, 2022

Diehard metal fan and Mayor of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Tim Keller is our guest this week! Tim discusses how he looks to metal for inspiration when he is writing speeches, which bands help us focus when we need to create a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, and how many of his peers in public service are also hardcore metalheads. He also discusses the show that he attended the day after he became mayor, the last time that he went into the mosh pit, at what heavy metal show he decided to run for mayor in the first place, how he got the parks department to livestream a Metallica show at a drive-in during the pandemic, the one metal musician he would want to give the keys to the city of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and the band that he never got to see see because he was kicked out of a concert.

Petar, Jozalyn, and Sylvia discuss the programmer who wore a Tool shirt to a job interview and got the job, and Vince Neil using a teleprompter.

Song: Anthrax “Among The Living”

Song: Wake “Swallow The Light”

Song: My Sleeping Karma “Perma”

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

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#445: Mudvayne's Chad Gray Jul 05, 2022

This week, Mudvayne and Hellyeah frontman Chad Gray is our guest! We discuss his early touring days with Slipknot before Mudvayne broke out, the trek the ended a 26-month touring cycle, Mudvayne’s motivation for wearing make-up in their early days, and the importance of mystique to the success of the band.

Chad also talks about connecting with the fans with his live performance, protecting openers when the Mudvayne fanbase is disrespectful to them, which album was more difficult to follow up -- L.D. 50 or Lost and Found -- Vinnie Paul seeing every show he could in Vegas, how Dime and Vinnie Paul celebrated Dime’s birthday every year in Vegas, and Vinnie Paul transitioning from Dallas mainstay to Las Vegas legend.

Petar and Sylvia discuss the 24 hour-straight Rage Against The Machine protest at a Canadian radio station, the backsplash we recently received for our negative comments about Mötley Crüe stadium tour kick off, and our thoughts on Dave Mustaine’s recent comments about ex-Megadeth bassist Dave Ellefson.

Song: Mudvayne, “Death Blooms”

Song: Hellyeah, “Black Flag Army”

Song: Grey Daze, “Starting To Fly”

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

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#444: Municipal Waste's Tony Foresta Jun 28, 2022

This week, Municipal Waste frontman Tony Foresta is back on the show! We discuss the concept of Municipal High that the band has been working on for a decade, an update on the screenplay that may feature a Paranormal Janitor, our thoughts on the Hollywood remake of The Toxic Avenger, how difficult it is to commit to watching great TV shows, and our gripe with the new trend of three-hour-long comic book films. Tony also tells us a great story about when he was checking out a live Panic At The Disco Show, regales us with his worst onstage spill moment, and explains how all of us are losing years of photos because of the digital age.

Petar and Brandon tackle the debut of the new tracks by Megadeth and Ozzy Osbourne, which song met our expectations and which music video left us concerned, and the heartbreaking ruling made by the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade in the United States.

Song: Municipal Waste “Electrified Brain”

Song: Municipal Waste “High Speed Steel”

Song: Greg Puciato “Lowered Featuring Reba Meyers of Code Orange”

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

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#443: Kreator's Mille Petrozza Jun 21, 2022

This week, Mille Petrozza of thrash legends Kreator is our guest! We discuss his love of coffee and how Kreator got into the coffee game, what metal-branded coffee he would vouch for, what he always wants to achieve when writing a new album, the pandemic not being good for him creatively the way it was for many other bands, and why now was the time to write a song about the metal community. He also talks about how filmmaker Ari Aster influenced the music video for “Midnight Sun,” missing Nirvana at small clubs when they played in Germany years ago, how the European festival circuit killed a lot of competition, and the difficulties of living and maintaining a healthy lifestyle on tour.

Petar and Sylvia discuss Motley Crüe’s return to the stage, all the build up by the band prior to the show, the drama that happened immediately after the first show, and Herman Li from Dragonforce exalting the guitar virtuoso known as Kurt Cobain.

Song: Kreator “Hate Über Alles”

Song: Kreator “Become Immortal”

Song: Lord of The Lost “The Heartbeat of The Devil”

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

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#442: Dream Theater's Jordan Rudess Jun 13, 2022

This week, Jordan Rudess of Dream Theater is back on the show! We discuss his upcoming North American solo tour that kicks off June 25th, the medley that he has created for the tour (which includes Liquid Tension Experiment and Dream Theater tracks), how his solo shows can be viewed as a musical autobiography, what goes into good ambient music, and how that genre brings him peace. He also talks about practicing meditation while playing the piano, his thoughts on competition when he attended Julliard, enjoying social media, what drove him to start a Patreon, and why he prefers to write music with other artists in the same room.

Petar, Jozalyn, and Sylvia discuss Larrisa Stupar’s decision to pause Venom Prison live shows as she takes on motherhood, Johnny Rotten’s statement on anarchy being a terrible idea, and Kirk Hammett telling us all that Metallica “warned everyone” of the negative effects of streaming.

Song: Jordan Rudess “Weightless”

Song: Liquid Tension Experiment “ Hypersonic”

Song: Dream Theater “The Alien”

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

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#441: Max Cavalera Jun 07, 2022

The legendary Max Cavalera is our guest this week! We discuss his current tour celebrating the 30th anniversary of the classic Sepultura albums Beneath The Remains and Arise, the lyrical content on those records having a better meaning now than it did 30 years ago, how society in general considered the material ridiculous back then, and the younger generation discovering his classic records. We also talk about what it will take to get Killer Be Killed to do a full tour, why he had doubts that the project would work at all, the journey of two years that went into the latest Soulflyalbum Totem, and the reason the closing song is over ten minutes long.

Petar, Jozalyn, and Sylvia discuss the inconveniences of going to concerts win your 60’s, the first trailer for Beavis and Butt-Head Do The Universe, and Wolfgang Van Halen’s response to Reelz doing an ‘Autopsy’ program on his father

Song: Sepultura “Beneath The Remains”

Song: Sepultura “Desperate Cry”

Song: Temple Of Void “Hex, Curse, & Conjuration”

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

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#440: GWAR's Blothar the Berserker May 31, 2022

This week, Blöthar the Berserker of GWAR is back on the show! We discuss how there is nothing more boring than Ken Burns’ Baseball, GWAR possibly doing a country EP inspired by Miranda Lambert, the GWAR comic book coming out the same day as their new record, if GWAR is more art- than music-based, and how the pandemic allowed the band to focus on many different aspects of GWAR. The intergalactic sexlord also talks about catching COVID on their last North American tour, performing one show with only two members during that trek, why GWAR wrestling shows occur before a major production show, his favorite GWAR “scripted” tour, why the lyrics of their new single “Mother Fucking Liar” were easy to write, GWAR being the hardest band to be in, and how GWAR ruined a Goo Goo Dolls album.

Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia discuss the mass shooting that occurred in Texas, our thoughts and reactions to gun violence in America, and Mike Shinoda’s comments on artist feeling forced to be social media stars.

Song: GWAR “Mother Fucking Liar”

Song: GWAR “Berserker Mode”

Song: Alestrom “P.A.R.T.Y”

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

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#439: Astronoid's Brett Boland May 23, 2022

Brett Boland of Astronoid is our guest this week! We discuss why lyrics are the part of creating music that he finds the most difficult, how current events affected the words that he placed on the record, and what recent film that he felt was an influence on him sonically. We also discuss the A24 film universe, why the PBS streaming service is all he needs for television, having his daughter and the transition that comes to your life with having kids, the stride that the band hit before the pandemic and how that pause affected their momentum, and of course, his thoughts on the final Rambo film.

Petar, Jozalyn, and Sylvia blast Vince Neil for being the face of a pay day loan commercial, Bon Jovi’s current vocal issues, and Emperor Rhombus’ piece on Dio always being the coolest metal singer.

On this week’s episode, Petar mentions that a GoFundMe has been launched for the family of his late friend Ben Black. You can donate to Ben’s campaign here.

Song: Astronoid “Human”

Song: Astronoid “Sleep Whisper”

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

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#438: God Forbid's Byron Davis May 16, 2022

Editor's note: On this week's episode of The MetalSucks Podcast, our hosts discuss the death of Trevor Strnad, and in doing so talk at length about suicide and mental health. I want to take this moment to thank them for sharing their stories so bravely, and hope that their experiences can offer our listeners an insight into their own. If you or anyone you know are having thoughts of suicide, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255. Don't hesitate, just call. Please know: you are not alone.

This week, God Forbid vocalist Byron Davis joins the show! We discuss the vinyl reissue of the band’s classic album Gone Forever, how vital the fanbase was in getting God Forbid to reunite, seeing the world of music differently ten years later, and if he found maturing in a band a difficult process. Byron also discusses the first show he went to completely by himself, modern music becoming background noise from many consumers, the limitations that creatives have in modern times, the industry having fewer gatekeepers because of the decline of physical media, the world losing the ability to reach common ground, ways in which society can possibly change for the future, and all the opportunities that we can bring to the next generation.

Petar, Jozalyn, and Sylvia tackle the tragic news of the passing of Trevor Strnad of The Black Dahlia Murder, the weight of his passing on all of us, our friends and families’ personal experiences with Trevor, and our personal mental struggles in modern times.

Song: The Black Dahlia Murder, “I Will Return”

Song: God Forbid, “The End Of The World”

Song: Cage Fight, “Respect Ends”

Song: Dälek, “A Heretic’s Inheritance” featuring Adam Jones

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

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#437: Evergrey's Tom Englund May 09, 2022

This week, Evergrey guitarist/vocalist Tom Englund is our guest! We discuss the huge number of songs he wrote and recorded during the pandemic, working on video game soundtracks (including the new Evil Dead game), how a musical director dictates their vision when creating music for any game, and making music on a day job schedule every week. We also discuss how he got fans to participate vocally on the band’s upcoming album A Heartless Portrait (The Orphan Testament), how Evergrey are planning to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the band, and updates on new albums from his other projects including Redemption and Silent Skies.

Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia also discuss Judas Priest getting inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Danzig stating that his current tour may be his last, at what age heavy music artists should call it a day, and Rob Zombie’s The Munsters being nearly 3 hours long.

Song: Evergrey “Save Us”

Song: Evergrey “Midwinter Calls”

Song: Jani Liimatanien “Breathing Divinity Featuring Bjorn “Speed” Strid

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

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#436: Dream Theater's James LaBrie and Paul Logue May 02, 2022

This week, Dream Theater frontman James LaBrie and songwriting partner Paul Logue join us! We celebrate James’ new solo album Beautiful Shades of Grey and discuss how they got James’s son Chance to work on drums for the album, and why they decided to cover Led Zeppelin’s “Ramble On." We also talk about how the album was originally just acoustic guitars and vocals, life advice from our fathers that has stuck with us, and the powerful tribute James wrote for his late brother.

Petar and Sylvia also discuss Kid Rock and Prince not being nice to Steve-O, Metallica playing its album to a barrel of whiskey, what record we can listen for 24 hours straight and still enjoy, and the most expensive rock song to use in feature films.

Song: James LaBrie “Devil in Drag”

Song: James LaBrie “Give and Take”

Thank you to our sponsor Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

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#435: Devil Master's Darkest Prince Apr 26, 2022

This week, Darkest Prince of All Rebellion from Philly’s Devil Master is our guest! We discuss him losing band members during the pandemic, regrouping to create the band’s new album Ecstasies of Never Ending Night, the difficult transition of balancing “adventure time” to “business time” on tour, landing stadium gigs opening for My Chemical Romance, and Gerard Way buying all their merch at an L.A. performance. We also discuss whether or not the band’s setlist will cater to the MCR crowd, recording the new album on analog tape, and the book that he gives to people as a challenge to complete.

Meanwhile, former MetalSucks podcast hosts Chuck and Godless return to the show! They join Petar to discuss Trevor Strand of The Black Dahlia Murder teasing a Couples Video on his lady’s OnlyFans, Dino Cazares withholding who the new singer for Fear Factory is until 2023, and our take on Emperor Rhombus opinion piece on “Gatekeepers” and “Elitists” in our genre.

Song: Devil Master “The Vigour of Evil”

Song: Devil Master “Acid Black Mass”

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

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#434: Maylene and the Sons of Disaster's Dallas Taylor Apr 18, 2022

Maylene and the Sons of the Disaster frontman Dallas Taylor is our guest this week! We discuss the long road to recovery following his life-changing accident, the mental state he was in prior to it, how getting off medication allowed him to truly focus on his return to music, and being haunted by the ‘what if’ that motivated his creative life. Dallas also talks about noticing that people are embracing the real less and escaping more, learning that the majority of the things we worry about don’t really matter, how easy it is to hurt people emotionally when we are hurting, and how his new vampire film The Virginia Bitches came to fruition.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn also discuss Jim Carrey’s first time hearing Pantera, their own experiences when first hearing the band, and Jason Newsted not partaking in a Van Halen tribute band.

Song: Maylene and the Sons of Disasters “Step Up (I’m On It)”

Song: Maylene and the Sons of Disasters “Open Your Eyes”

Song: Moon Tooth “Alpha Howl”

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

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#433: Destruction's Schmier Apr 11, 2022

Destruction frontman Schmier is our guest this week! We discuss the 40th anniversary of the band, how writing music for their new album Diabolical was his personal savior, how influential GBH was during the the early days of Destruction, if the punks vs. metalheads feud of the ‘80s was a positive for thrash's image, and how Destruction got hate from their South American fanbase for canceling shows in Russia. He also discusses his thoughts on how social media became nothing more than a propaganda tool, his surprise at how easy it was to divide the world between vaxxers and anti-vaxxers during the pandemic, the story behind the Chef Schmier’s Cooking Studio videos on YouTube, what the first stop always is when Destruction tour America, and why he feels he is the best guy to man the grill when the band is on the road.

Petar and Brandon also discuss Dragonforce not getting paid a ton for Guitar Hero, the impact of video games and music in their youths, and Chris Jericho admitting to using backing tracks at live shows

Song: Destruction “No Faith In Humanity”

Song: Destruction “State of Apathy”

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

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#432: Dark Funeral's Lord Ahriman Apr 04, 2022

Lord Ahriman of satanic black metallers Dark Funeral is our guest this week! We discuss his thoughts on Shakespeare and memorable theatrical performances, why the rhythms on the band’s new album We Are The Apocalypse were a primary focus, and being unable to leave Cancun, Mexico, when the pandemic hit the world. We also talk about how someone stole Dark Funeral’s stage armor the last time they toured America, how the philosophy and vision of the band has changed in the last 30 years, and how finally having a proper budget has allowed him to make the music videos he always wanted to do.

Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia also discuss Alex Skolnick’s comment on the Chris Rock/Will Smith Oscars slap and the ramifications of the slap on modern culture.

Song: Dark Funeral “Nightfall”

Song: Dark Funeral “Let The Devil In”

Song: The Spirit “Celestial Fire”

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

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#431: Michael Romeo (Symphony X) Mar 28, 2022

Our guest this week is Symphony X guitarist Michael Romeo! In celebration of his new solo album War of The Worlds Part II, he tells us about his first memories of the H.G. Wells classic that inspired the work, if the record is a part of a trilogy that he has planned, changing vocalists between Parts I and II, the CGI-inspired videos that he has released to promote the new album, and keeping the lyrics in the science fiction realm. He also discusses his favorite kaiju character of all time, the reason he feels a vocalist is important for his solo projects, how he writes music for his solo albums as opposed to how he does it for his main project Symphony X, and why he feels he needs to get back on tour before recording a new Symphony X album.

Petar, Brandon and Jozalyn also discuss the heartbreaking news of the passing of Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins and the legacy he left behind.

Song: Foo Fighters “I Am A River”

Song: Michael Romeo “Divide & Conquer”

Song: Michael Romeo “Metamorphosis”

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

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#430: Sen Dog of Cypress Hill Mar 21, 2022

Sen Dog of the legendary Cypress Hill is our guest this week! We discuss the positive effects of the pandemic in regards to creating new music, how the legalization of marijuana turned out differently than the public thought it would, his crew’s upcoming tour with Slipknot, and how a heavy metal audience changes their setlist. He also talks about the upcoming Showtime documentary on Cypress Hill celebrating hip hop at 50, some of the difficulties of looking back on his career for the documentary, the challenges of success and adapting to nonstop touring, an update on his metal band Powerflo with Billy from Biohazard, and why he chose to pursue a career in hip hop over heavy metal in his youth.

Meanwhile, Petar and Brandon discuss Dolly Parton removing herself from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Ballot, the public responses from Dee Snider and Richie Faulkner of Judas Priest, how the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame shrugged her statement off, and whether or not there will be another Tool record in the next 13 years.

Song: Cypress Hill “Open Ya Mind”

Song: Cypress Hill “Certified” Featuring Demrick

Song: Undeath “Rise From The Grave”

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

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#429: Haunted Shores' Mark Holcomb Mar 14, 2022

This week, Periphery guitarist Mark Holcomb joins the show! We discuss the debut full-length album from his project Haunted Shores, how the band’s formation led to him join Periphery, the riff graveyard that he uses to create songs, and on treating music for Haunted Shores like a 9-to-5 job. We also talk about how to deal with writer’s block to meet deadlines, how ‘Mario Party’ was a big part of writing ‘Periphery 4’ (not to mention who his Mario Party character was and how it caused anger within the group), how their own record label 3DOT Recordings has benefited the band in so many ways, and how intense the process has been to get ‘Periphery 5’ to sound just right.

Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia discuss the two-year anniversary of the pandemic, how we have changed as people from the COVID lockdown, our initial reaction on the show two years ago, and where we go from here.

Song: Haunted Shores “Hellfire”

Song: Haunted Shores “When In Oslo”

Song: Nekrogoblikon “Right Now”

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

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#428: Sabaton's Joakim Brodén Mar 08, 2022

Sabaton vocalist Joakim Brodén is our guest this week! On this episode, we discuss the stories behind three of the tracks on the band’s new album The War to End All Wars, the history and research behind those songs, and why he decided not to watch recent hit films on WWI. We also discuss almost coming to the states for the Judas Priest tour that was eventually postponed, developing the storytelling process with each album before recording, his favorite source of research, creating the Sabaton History Channel on Youtube, and the song he is most excited about performing off of the new album.

Petar and Brandon also discuss Jinjer’s unfortunate cancellation of their upcoming tour dates due to the invasion of the Ukraine, Slaughter to Prevail frontman Alex Terrible addressing the conflict in the Ukraine, Matt Pike not buying into the flat-earth conspiracy theory, the return of Pete Sandoval to the world of David Vincent, and Dave Lombardo rejoining Testament.

Song: Sabaton “The Unkillable Soldier”

Song: Sabaton “Christmas Truce”

Song: Konvent “Pipe Dreams”

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

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#427: Crowbar's Kirk Windstein Mar 01, 2022

The mighty Kirk Windstein is back on the show! This week, we discuss Zero and Below, the new album by Kirk’s band Crowbar. We also talk about writing the record back in 2019 prior to the pandemic, the rehearsal process and livestream reunion he has planned with southern metal act Down, the 20-year anniversary of the second Down album, the making of the record as a follow-up to NOLA, and his current tour package with Sepultura and Sacred Reich being rescheduled three times. Other topics include how difficult it was for Crowbar to cancel tours during the pandemic, why it’s difficult to tour the European festival circuit in the current climate, the importance of defeating one’s fears in his life, and if there is a new Down album in the works.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn also discuss our feelings on Cannibal Corpse fans chanting “Fuck Chris Barnes” at a recent show, Tool selling an expensive box set of Fear Inoculum, and the tragic passing of grunge and desert rock pioneer Mark Lanegan.

Song: Crowbar “Chemical Godz”

Song: Crowbar “ Bleeding From Every Hole”

Song: Friends of Hell “Friends of Hell”

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

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#426: The Devil Wears Prada’s Mike Hranica Feb 21, 2022

Mike Hranica of The Devil Wears Prada is on the show this week! We discuss releasing the standout alone singles “Watchtower” and “Sacrifice, what they’re looking forward to on their upcoming tour with Silverstein and Beartooth, his being a passionate hockey lifelong hockey fan, and the mental health aspect of playing hockey as part of his routine. He also discusses doing a podcast with the band when the pandemic hit and its importance to him, how important therapy has been in helping him understand himself, being a avid reader but struggling to embrace that during the pandemic, and the expectations of playing thier standalone single on tour.

Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia also discuss Ghost mastermind Tobias Forge’s statement about being “a dictator and control freak,” Mötley Crüe adding five new dates to their stadium tour, and Dave Grohl putting out an entire death thrash album.

Song: The Devil Wears Prada “Watchtower”

Song: The Devil Wears Prada “Sacrifice”

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

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#425: Amorphis' Olli-Pekka Laine Feb 14, 2022

Olli-Pekka Laine of Amorphis is our guest this week! On this episode, we discuss the band's new album Halo and completing the trilogy they started with Under The Red Cloud. Also covered on this episode: using a separate lyricist to write all the lyrics for the band, the complex process of getting Finnish lyrics translated into English, their upcoming North American tour and the visa process post-pandemic, creating an Amorphis wristwatch for the fans, playing in the snow for eight straight hours for their latest music video, the possibility of putting out a live release on VHS, and the current status of Olli's other project Barren Earth.

Meanwhile, Petar and Brandon discuss Steve Albini’s comments on “Juggalos being less annoying than deadheads” and David Draiman missing the boat big time on Spotify “saving music”.

Song: Amorphis ”On The Dark Waters”

Song: Amorphis “The Moon”

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!!

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#424: Napalm Death's Barney Greenway Feb 07, 2022

Mark “Barney” Greenway of Napalm Death is back on the show! This time around, we discuss getting visas post-pandemic on tour in the states, getting COVID aboard during their tour with GWAR and Eyehategod, how we need to focus on the venerable at this time before getting back to a new normal, and how he feels he's not influenced by marketing or misinformation in modern times.

Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia discuss Eddie Vedder’s comments about Mötley Crüe, Rob Halford admitting that four-piece Judas Priest idea was his, and our thoughts on the direction Machine Head will take on their new album following 2018's Catharsis.

Song: Napalm Death “Narcissus”

Song: Author and Punisher “Drone Carrying Dread”

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

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#423: Cannibal Corpse's George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher Jan 31, 2022

Cannibal Corpse frontman George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher is back on the show! We discuss his new solo album, titled simply Corpsegrinder, why he finally decided the time was right for a solo album after all these years, working with Jamey Jasta on the effort, his work with Dee Snider on the Twisted Sister frontman's own solo album, and how his artwork requirements for his solo material differ from those for his main band. We also talk a whole lot of NFL football -- including his take on the current playoff picture -- as well as his love of comics.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn discuss the upcoming Pam & Tommy mini-series, Jason Newstead being smart with his Metallica jackpot, the Neil Young vs. Joe Rogan Spotify drama, and a deep dive into the lyrics of Kid Rock's latest conservative anthem.

Songs: Corpsegrinder - “On Wings Of Carnage," “Acid Vat” Featuring Erik Rutan

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

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#422: Voivod's Michel “Away” Langevin Jan 24, 2022

This week our guest is Michel “Away” Langevin of the legendary Voivod! We discuss how the band wanted their new album Synchro Anarchy to be more thrash metal than their previous record The Wake, how the band barely rehearsed and wrote the album as they recorded, the band's recent live record Lost Machine, the upcoming Voivod documentary that was funded on Kickstarter, and the 40th anniversary Voivod book they're putting together for fans. Michel also tells us about his Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor approach as a heavy metal drummer, his favorite and least favorite Voivod artwork, and the art book he is compiling from all his years of drawing.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn discuss the break up of Every Time I Die, their personal memories as fans of the band, and the passing of Meat Loaf.

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

Songs: Voivod - “Paranormalium” and “Planet Eaters”

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#421: Will Putney (Fit For an Autopsy, Producer) Jan 19, 2022

Will Putney joins us again this week! We discuss Fit For an Autopsy's latest album, Oh What The Future Holds, producing the latest Every Time I Die record, Radical, the importance of having a message in his lyrical output, how he finds it difficult to support artists whose messages misalign with his own, why he is happy to be “a little dumber” so modern issues don’t consume him, his upcoming tour cycle with END, and what his home stereo system is like as a music producer.

Petar and Brandon discuss what Judas Priest would sound like as a four-piece, Bruce Dickinson recording a new solo album, and Metallica and Tool employing Covid-sniffing dogs for tour safety.

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

Songs: Fit For An Autopsy - "Two Towers" and “Far From Heaven," END - “Hesitation Wounds”

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#420: Shadow of Intent's Chris Wiseman Jan 11, 2022

Shadow of Intent guitarist Chris Wiseman is our guest this week! We discuss their brand new album, Elegy, his lyrical approach to the record, and how he got Chuck Billy and Phil Bozeman as guests. We also talk about postponing their European tour due to rising Covid cases, what they learned on their recent U.S. tour with Born Of Osiris, the big spectrum of how headlining bands set rules for modern touring, the pros and cons of self-releasing the band's music, why signing to a label feels like “giving up," and his plans to release different versions of Elegy.

Petar and Brandon tackle Avenged Sevenfold singer M. Shadows' comments that the band's new album was “very influenced by Kanye West”, their thoughts on the latest reboot of Beavis and Butt-Head, and the viral video featuring children who don't know any songs by the bands on the shirts they're wearing.

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

Songs: Shadow Of Intent - “Where Millions have Come to Die” (featuring Phil Bozeman of Whitechapel) and “From Ruin… We Rise”

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#419: Venom Prison's Larissa Stupar Jan 03, 2022

Venom Prison vocalist Larissa Stupar is our guest this week! We discuss the challenge of making their new album, Erebos, as the world continued to change around them, recording vocals at her home studio, why the artwork is such an important piece of Venom Prison's presentation, the healing effect of writing “Pain of Oizys” about past trauma, returning to the stage at the Bloodstock festival after over a year off, and how Brexit has affected bands from the U.K. touring in Europe. We also talk about how society needs to offer support to the lower class with more compassion, the message and marketing that promotes addiction to social drugs, and harmful immigration policies across the world.

Petar and Brandon discuss Sammy Hagar's claim that he was asked to replace Phil Anselmo in Pantera, Corey Taylor's prediction of a new Slipknot album in 2022, and Avenged Sevenfold working on completing their own new record in January.

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

Songs: Venom Prison - “Judges Of The Underworld" and “Pain of Oizys”

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#418: Best of 2021 (Part 2), feat. Chevelle's Pete Loeffler, Zao's Scott Mellinger, and Green Lung Dec 20, 2021

On our final episode of the year, we continue our Best of 2021 recap (stream part 1 here), revealing our top 5 albums of the year and chatting with some of the artist that made our list, including Chevelle's Pete Loeffler, Zao's Scott Mellinger and members of Green Lung. Don’t miss out on celebrating the music that left the biggest impression on us and broke through all the noise of 2021. Until next year, friends... thank you for every minute you gave us, and we are excited to jump back into it in 2022!

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

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#417: Best of 2021 (Part 1) feat. Every Time I Die's Keith Buckley, Lucifer's Johanna Sadonis and Nicke Andersson, and Seven Spires' Adrienne Cowan and Jack Kosto Dec 13, 2021

2021 is almost behind us, so this week on The MetalSucks Podcast we celebrate all the hope and despair that our favorite artists gave us in a year of comebacks and the new normal we collectively felt. We play one track from every record we loved and praise those artists for giving us music that has been unforgettable. Please join us in celebrating the first half of our top 15 albums of the year and gain some insight into those releases through featured interviews with some of the artists that brightened and enlightened, connected to us from a distance, and channeled all the emotions that remind us we are human.

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

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#416: Code Orange's Jami Morgan Dec 07, 2021

Jami Morgan from Code Orange is back on the show! We discuss the recent standalone single "Out For Blood," his perspective on the growing importance of singles in rock and metal, the reality of having to create new music faster in the current landscape, how being a frontman is more exhausting than being a drummer, Max Portnoy becoming a full time member of the band, why he feels Code Orange are in it for the long game and how they are intentionally polarizing.

Petar and Brandon tackle the police raid of Marilyn Manson’s home and seizure of his hard drives, The Word Alive befriending the thieves who stole their gear, and John Cooper of Skillet calling Rage Against The Machine “government rock.”

Songs: Code Orange - “Out For Blood," Daxma - “The Clouds Parted”

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#415: Imperial Triumphant's Zachary Ilya Ezrin Nov 29, 2021

Imperial Triumphant guitarist Zachary Ilya Ezrin is our guest this week. We discuss the band's latest album, Alphaville, his thoughts on NFTs in music, embracing all the changes that come into the industry, making the band's new live album available only on vinyl, the band's relationship with New York City, and completing their first headlining tour since the pandemic began.

Petar and Brandon tackle the jaw-dropping Lars Ulrich toilet, Kid Rock’s latest misfire, and Danko Jones calling out fellow Canadian artists Monster Truck.

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

Songs: Imperial Triumphant - "Transmission to Mercury (Live at Slipper Room)," Darkwoods My Betrothed - “In Evil, Sickness, and in Grief”

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#414: Death Angel's Rob Cavestany Nov 22, 2021

Death Angel riff master Rob Cavestany is our guest this week! We discuss the Grammy nomination of their last record, Humanicide, performing acoustic songs on the band's latest live album, The Bastard Tracks, and what it was like revisiting deep cuts for it, fan backlash for having to reschedule the Bay Strike Backs tour with Testament and Exodus again, the precautions he and Death Angel will take once they're back on the road, and how he wants to get out there just as badly as the fans want him to.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn tackle Rammstein guitarist Richard Kruspe's comments about Ghost not being a stadium band, why today's artists can’t make the same impact as previous generations, and Marilyn Manson’s lawyer's recent comments that he's open to a "global" settlement with the shock rocker's alleged victims.

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

Songs: Death Angel - ”Where They Lay," Exodus - “The Years of Death and Dying”

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#413: Converge's Jacob Bannon Nov 15, 2021

Converge frontman Jacob Bannon is our guest this week! We discussed the band's forthcoming 10th studio album, Bloodmoon: I, and the story of how he finally got to collaborate on it with Chelsea Wolfe, Cave In's Stephen Brodsky and multi-instrumentalist Ben Chisholm, how the songs evolved with everyone’s contributions throughout the process, how each participant pushed one another's creative boundaries for the better, the music he's been listening to lately, the negativity of making music a competition within scenes, and reaching your goals in life with a positive path.

Petar and Brandon discuss Trivium frontman Matt Heafy’s comment that Metallica are the greatest band on Earth, Avenged Sevenfold waiting to release their next album, Limp Bizkit’s new record, and the Foo Fighters upcoming horror-comedy film.

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

Songs: Converge and Chelsea Wolfe - “Blood Moon” and “Coil," Thulcandra - “Funeral Pyre”

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#412: Khemmis Guitarist/Vocalist Phil Pendergast Nov 08, 2021

Khemmis co-guitarist and co-vocalist Phil Pendergast is our guest this week! We discuss the band's new album, Deceiver, the long and difficult process of writing lyrics for it, fighting through a lack of motivation and depression during the pandemic, how Deceiver connects to the band's breakthrough album, Hunted, the exit of bassist Dan Beiers during the record's creation, and why they are planning their touring schedule for the next year especially carefully.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn discuss Marilyn Manson joining a prayer circle with Kanye West and Justin Bieber, the possibility of Manson turning to Christianity, Mastodon's Brent Hinds use of a homophobic slur and the band's subsequent apology, and Slipknot fans starting a fire in the pit at a show in Arizona.

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

Songs: Khemmis - “Living Pyre” and “House of Cadmus," Dream Unending - “In Cipher I Weep”

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#411: Whitechapel's Phil Bozeman Nov 02, 2021

Whitechapel vocalist Phil Bozeman is our guest this week! We discuss the band's new record, Kin, the challenge of revisiting his childhood for its lyrical themes, the necessity of tackling your past and forcing yourself to face it regardless, the music videos that accompany the storytelling on the album, and how his perception of reality has changed dramatically as he grows into his 30s. We also talk about how he doesn’t get TikTok, how social media has become our main news source and how that affects us culturally, adapting to the generational gap and how quickly it changes, and his thoughts on touring after the pandemic.

Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia discuss Nikki Sixx's comment about performing “tired and with a beer belly," Ivan Moody choosing a side in the Bad Wolves / Tommy Vext beef, and Gene Simmons selling his Las Vegas mansion for a very large profit after less than a year.

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

Songs: Whitechapel - “A Bloodsoaked Symphony" and “Orphan," Be’lakor - “Hidden Window”

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#410: Twelve Foot Ninja's Steve "Stevic" MacKay Oct 25, 2021

Steve "Stevic" MacKay of Twelve Foot Ninja is our guest this week to discuss the band's new album, Vengeance, sitting on it for over a year while the pandemic raged on, the new novel and graphic novel connected to the album, teaching himself how to code to build a Twelve Foot Ninja video game, working with Huey Lewis and Jinjer's Tatiana Shmayluk on music videos, and a session gig he took working on a season of the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, among other topics.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn discuss Dani Filth blowing off Faust’s murder confession in 1993, and Chino Moreno blaming weed for Stephen Carpenter’s flat-earth and anti-vaccine viewpoints.

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

Songs: Twelve Foot Ninja - “Start the Fire" and “Over and Out" (Featuring Tatiana Shmayluk of Jinjer), Wolftooth - “The Voyage”

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#409: Melvins Drummer Dale Crover Oct 18, 2021

Melvins drummer Dale Crover is our guest this week! We discuss the band's new album of acoustic re-imaginings, Five Legged Dog, how the band narrowed down the song list for it, which songs the band attempted to rework but failed, and his thoughts on doing an acoustic tour. We also talk about the recent passing of Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts, how he found out fellow Melvins drummer Coady Willis got the job with High On Fire, his new pandemic hobby of golfing, and an update on his solo material.

Petar and Brandon discuss two members of Mötley Crüe making the news for falling and hurting themselves this week -- Tommy Lee’s pool slip and Vince Neil’s stage fall -- which legendary artist gets the funnier news treatment, Danzig or Vince Neil, and Kerry King’s statement that Slayer called it quits too early.

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

Songs: Melvins - “Night Goat” (Acoustic) and “Sway” (The Rolling Stones Cover), Monolord - “I’ll Be Damned”

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#408: Alien Weaponry's Lewis and Henry de Jong Oct 12, 2021

Lewis and Henry de Jong, the brothers behind Alien Weaponry, join us this week! We discuss the the band's new album, Tangaroa, the record's themes of environmental awareness and how everyone needs to do more, why they felt writing about their Maori heritage was extremely important, how touring has changed their perspective on major issues affecting the world, how to fix mistakes made by previous generation by being vocal, and their recent performance with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.

Petar, Brandon and Jozalyn turn in another music episode inspired by a listener email asking about the best nu metal bands people may not have heard of, and we discuss how the movement holds up 20 years later.

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

Songs: Alien Weaponry - “Buried Underground” and “Tangaroa”

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#407.5: Jeremy Spencer (Psycho Sinner, ex-Five Finger Death Punch) Oct 07, 2021

Jeremy Spencer, aka Grim Synner from Psycho Synner (the band formerly known as Psychosexual) -- and former drummer for Five Finger Death Punch -- is our guest on this special half-episode of the podcast! We discuss why the band rebranded from Psychosexual to Psycho Sinner, his plan to release nine albums on the same day (and when that will happen) and the visual aesthetic of the band changing along with its name. We also talk about the horror film script he is currently working on, creating three feature-length films he wrote and directed with adult stars, how he believes people are extremely sensitive these days, how he hopes to push the envelope of the current culture with the band, and the massive influence of Gwar on the project.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn discuss Jozalyn going on tour during the pandemic, the audiences she has been encountering, accidentally bullying people in attendance and much more.

Songs: Psycho Synner - “On Your Grave” and "Devil From Hell”

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#407: Local H's Scott Lucas Oct 04, 2021

Our guest this week is Local H mastermind Scott Lucas! We discuss the band's latest album, Lifers, and his activity on social media to promote it during the pandemic, working on the record with legendary producer Steve Albini, his tribute song to George Floyd, and how artists are often unaware of how many people their music reaches. We also talk about performing all of his albums in full throughout the years, allowing the audience to pick what tracks the band performs, how he has been in his own head during recent performances because of the extended time away from touring, and his passion for film scores.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn discuss David Lee Roth announcing his retirement from music, and whether Ozzy Osbourne will ever tour again in light of the slew of legendary guests on his next album.

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

Songs: Local H - “Hold That Thought," “(We Are) The Road Crew" (Motörhead cover) and “Hackensack" (Fountains of Wayne cover)

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#406.5: Insomnium's Jani Liimatainen Sep 30, 2021

Guitarist Jani Liimatainen of Insomnium (ex-Sonata Arctica) is our guest on this special half-episode of the podcast! We discuss the band's new EP, Argent Moon, releasing the songs as singles throughout the pandemic, how the tour for their last album, Heart Like A Grave, was completely cut short but they decided to forge ahead with new music anyway, the upcoming 25th anniversary of the band, the emotions of seeing his first live concert (as a fan) in a year and a half, why he likes to play obscure tracks live for fans, and the timeframe for a new full-length Insomnium record.

Songs: Insomnium “The Conjurer” and “The Antagonist," 1914 - “…And A Cross Now Marks His Place” (Featuring Nick Holmes of Paradise Lost)

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#406: Rivers of Nihil's Jake Dieffenbach Sep 27, 2021

Rivers of Nihil vocalist Jake Dieffenbach is our guest this week to discuss the band's new album, The Work! We talk about how the band fearlessly continues to pursue their own musical direction with no boundaries, the meaning of and story behind the Dan Seagrave cover artwork, the pressure of following up their critically acclaimed 2018 album Where Owls Know My Name, why he felt he needed 18 months off after touring non-stop in support of that record, feeling a little rusty after entering the new normal of pandemic road life, the challenge of being hard of hearing and pursuing a career as a musician, the reality that his hearing could continue to degrade as a result of performing, and how Rivers are Nihil are going to convert podcast host Petar's stepson into a metal lifer.

Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia discuss the disgruntled fan who drove his car into the front of the venue at a P.O.D. show, Petar talking his stepson to his very first heavy metal concert, and Metallica’s Black Album returning to the top ten on the Billboard charts.

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

Songs: Rivers of Nihil - “Clean” and "Focus," Livløs - “And Then There Were None”

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#405.5: Aborted's Sven de Caluwé Sep 23, 2021

Sven de Caluwé of Aborted is back for a special half-episode of the podcast! We discuss how he needed the band's new album Maniacult to keep him connected to music, how the horror movies he binge-watched during the pandemic inspired the album, why he feels the first two Friday the 13th films didn’t age well, how the 25th anniversary of the band passed by during Covid, creating an action figure to sell to fans for the new album, and his favorite action figure toys from his youth.

Petar and Brandon get ready for October by celebrating the horror films that made them fall in love with the genre, the series they need to revisit, and the first film that scared them into loving the feeling of fear from cinema.

Songs: Aborted - “Dementophobia” and “Drag Me To Hell”

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#405: Spiritbox Guitarist Mike Stringer Sep 20, 2021

Mike Stringer of Spiritbox is our guest this week! We discuss their new album, Eternal Blue, the strategy of releasing standalone singles to introduce the project to fans, spending three years promoting music while unable to tour, the cancelation of their recent run with Limp Bizkit, how the FACTOR program from the Canadian government helped them start Spiritbox, and his hopes to tour nonstop in 2022.

Petar and Brandon dissect the onstage meltdown of Ronnie Radke, Tommy Lee being “stoked” that a film about his leaked sex tape is being made, and Dave Mustaine's recent "medical tyranny" comments.

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

Songs: Spiritbox - “Circle With Me” and “Hurt You," Wage War - "High Horse"

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#404: Björn "Speed" Strid (The Night Flight Orchestra, Soilwork) Sep 13, 2021

Björn “Speed” Strid of The Night Flight Orchestra and Soilwork is back on the show! We start out by discussing the brand new album from The Night Flight Orchestra, Aeromantic II; why they released standalone singles that are not on the record, the entire band catching Covid-19 after their last tour in March of 2020, why there would not have been a new album if not for Covid-19, the band's plans on investing in a tour at this stage of the pandemic, his view on how Sweden handled the pandemic with only restrictions and no lockdowns, why he feels sometimes Sweden is a very spoiled country, and how The Night Flight Orchestra started as a side project but has since become so much more.

Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia discuss Corey Taylor’s son's thoughts on Joey Jordison’s passing, the rumor of John Corabi replacing Vince Neil on the Motley Crüe stadium tour, and the drama between Bad Wolves and former lead singer Tommy Vext.

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

Songs: The Night Flight Orchestra - “Burn For Me” and “Chardonnay Nights”

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#403: Jinjer's Tatiana Shmayluk Sep 07, 2021

Jinjer vocalist Tatiana Shmayluk is back on the show! We discuss the band's new album, Wallflowers, the preparations the band is currently undergoing to get ready for a heavy touring schedule, what last year's socially distanced shows were like as performers, filming music videos and putting out a live album during the pandemic to stay engaged with their fans, and her desire to tour as much as possible despite the current climate. Tati also updates us on her family, who are currently living in a war zone.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn discuss someone pooping in the pit at a Turnstile show, the Dio hologram turning into a screen, and David Lee Roth’s refusal to open for Motley Crüe.

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

Songs: Jinjer - “Mediator” and “Wallflowers”

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#402: Sepultura Vocalist Derrick Green Aug 30, 2021

Derrick Green of Sepultura is back on the show! We discuss the band's upcoming touring schedule, his thoughts on fans having to show vaccination cards to attend shows, how Sepultura decided to stay connected with each other through Zoom during the pandemic, why he feels the conflict currently happening in the Amazon needs more media attention, and which Sepultura deep cut was most interesting to revisit on the band's new live album, SepulQuarta.

Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia discuss the passing of The Skull / ex-Trouble vocalist Eric Wagner and his refusal to get the Covid-19 vaccine, the Nirvana Nevermind baby suing the band, Insane Clown Posse retiring from touring, and the passing of The Rolling Stones' drummer Charlie Watts.

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

Songs: Trouble - “Pray For The Dead," Sepultura - “Mask (Featuring Devin Townsend)” and “Slave New World (Featuring Matt Heafy), White Stones - “New Age of Dark," The Rolling Stones - “Street Fighting Man”

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#401: Between the Buried and Me's Paul Waggoner Aug 23, 2021

Between the Buried and Me guitarist Paul Waggoner is our guest this week! We discuss why he feels the time was right to make a sequel to their classic album, Colors, the difficulty of being in the right mental state to write music during the pandemic, all the work that went into the animated video for “Fix The Error," the emotional experience of returning to live music, his thoughts on the experiment of releasing the Automata album series in two parts, how he feels about performing The Great Misdirect in its entirety on tour right now, and his thoughts on the role of livestreams in the future of heavy music.

Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia discuss Randy Blythe's Covid-19-related plea to fans, and our own return to live music at the Psycho Las Vegas festival, the good, the bad, and all the other feelings that have come with it.

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

Songs: Between the Buried and Me - “Revolution In Limbo” and “Fix The Error”

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#400: Spirit Adrift's Nate Garrett Aug 16, 2021

Spirit Adrift mastermind Nate Garrett guests this week! We discuss the band's new EP, Forge Your Future, how his move to a new environment impacted the music, on being open to his influences when writing songs, the compliment that he got from Fenriz of Darkthrone, and the timeframe on a new Spirit Adrift full length. Nate also tells us how he's become an MMA fan while leaving boxing behind, his go-to music during his own fitness routine, and how he turned a Donald Trump phrase into a line on the track “Invisible Enemy."

Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia discuss the podcast's 400th episode milestone, Til Lindemann's $117,000 price tag for a meal out with the Rammstein frontman, who we would pay to have dinner with, and the split between Max Cavalera and Marc Rizzo.

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

Songs: Spirit Adrift - “Forge Your Future" and “Wake Up," The Ugly Kings - “Technodrone”

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#399: Gost's Baalberith Aug 09, 2021

Gost mastermind Baalberith is back on the show! We discuss the inspiration behind the new album, Rites of Love and Reverence, his mindset on following up Valediction after getting some harsh feedback from long-time fans, the need to be adventurous as a musician as he grows as a person, and the positive side of not touring during the last year.

Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia discuss Live Nation's decision allowing their venues to require proof of vaccination or negative Covid-19 tests for admission to concerts, Madball’s decision not to perform any shows where vaccinations are required, and our reaction to the New Guns N’ Roses song.

Songs: Gost - “Coven” and “Bound By The Horror," Wizardthrone - “Black Hole Quantum Thermodynamics”

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

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#398: Make Them Suffer's Booka Nile Aug 02, 2021

Booka Nile from Make Them Suffer is our guest this week! We discuss their latest single, "Contraband," how the collaboration with Spiritbox's Courtney LaPlante came together; the current state of COVID in her native Australia, and the mental health issues that come with the pandemic; our strong sense of community across the heavy metal scene; not being able to perform any of the songs off their latest album live yet; her participation in the reality TV show Married at First Sight, and the difficulty of having a relationship as a touring musician; and the current plans for the next album from Make Them Suffer.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn also tackle the tragic news that Slipknot's Joey Jordison, ZZ Top's Dusty Hill, and Metal Church's Mike Howe have all passed away.

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

Songs: Make Them Suffer - "Contraband" (featuring Courtney LaPlante), Make Them Suffer - "Erase Me," Ex Deo - “Boudicca (Queen of The Icieni)" (featuring Brittney Slayes), Slipknot - “The Blister Exists,” ZZ Top - “Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers,” and Metal Church - “Sky Fall In.”

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#397: Dee Snider Jul 26, 2021

The legendary Dee Snider returns to the podcast this week! We discuss his new solo album, Leave a Scar, writing and recording it with Jamey Jasta and his team, if he feels the "sophomore effort" label applies to this record given his history, and how this was the first time he has written lyrics since the Widowmaker days in the '90s.

Dee also offers his take on the recent David Ellefson scandal, explains why he has stayed sober throughout his entire career, his thoughts on separating the art from the artist, his story about listening to Lzzy Hale’s live monitor mix to make sure she was really singing live, his gripe with young bands honoring the past by replication, and his timeline for retiring as a live vocalist.

Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia discuss the retirement of the Dio hologram for now, the Dave Grohl vs. John Joseph Covid-19 battle, and, in honor of Aaron Lewis’s recent double performance, we go down memory lane of artists we saw play live while hammered.

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

Songs: Dee Snider - “Time To Choose” (Featuring George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher) and “I Gotta Rock (Again)," King Woman - “Psychic Wound”

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#396: Periphery's Misha Mansoor Jul 19, 2021

Periphery mastermind Misha Mansoor is back on the podcast this week! Our conversation centers around his new solo album, Moderately Fast, Adequately Furious, releasing ten albums worth of Bulb archives last year, whether he ever plans to perform the Bulb material live, collaborating with his brother, and the trouble with getting honest feedback from friends. Misha also talks about Periphery, including all the work that goes into running the band's own label, 3Dot, how his previous management team put too much pressure on the band, looking back at Periphery IV, and an update on the eventual Periphery V.

Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia discuss Stormy Daniels running the merch booth at an upcoming Eyehategod show, our take on the new Iron Maiden track, Ed Sheeran being open to death metal, and Oli Sykes getting some vampire fangs with his wife.

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support.

Song: Bulb - “Upload Apathy” and “Far Too High” (Featuring Axel Mansoor)

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#395: Mayhem's Attila Csihar Jul 13, 2021

Mayhem vocalist Attila Csihar guests this week to discuss the band's new EP, Atavistic Black Disorder/Kommando, which consists of three new originals and four classic punk covers. Attila shares the punk rock albums that shaped him in his youth, how he had to smuggle music into communist Hungary while growing up there in the early '80s, his first time meeting Dead Kennedys frontman Jello Biafra, Discharge reacting to the Mayhem cover of their track, and why he prefers today's audiences to the violent shows of the '80s. Attila also relays how the pandemic has affected Mayhem, how they plan to tour with ever-shifting rules in every country, and the horror movie soundtrack he's working on with Greg Anderson of Sunn O))).

Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia discuss the mother that named her children Metallica, Pantera and Slayer, Dave Mustaine running up his Cameo price in under a week, and our thoughts on the upcoming Woodstock '99 documentary.

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

Songs: Mayhem - “Voces Ab Alta," “Everlasting Dying Flame," Mordred - “Demonic #7”

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#394: Adam D. (Killswitch Engage, Times of Grace) Jul 06, 2021

Adam Dutkiewicz of Killswitch Engage and Times of Grace is our guest this week! We talk about the new Times of Grace album, Songs of Loss and Separation, their first in 10 years, and reflect on its predecessor, The Hymn of a Broken Man. Adam shares his thoughts on the importance of keeping his mind busy during dark times, working on music videos with Nick Hipa (ex-As I Lay Dying, ex-Wovenwar), his attempt at the Big 4 of the New Wave of American Heavy Metal, how he gets grumpier as he gets older, and the silver linings that are happening now after a rough year mentally.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn discuss “old country” methods of healing things and cultural differences between consumers in America and other parts of the world. Apologies for the audio issue during our banter.

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

Songs: Times of Grace - “The Burden of Belief” and “Medusa”

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#393: Hannes Grossmann (Alkaloid, ex-Obscura) Jun 29, 2021

Prolific death metal drummer and multi-instrumentalist Hannes Grossmann is our guest! We discuss the recruitment process for his latest solo album, To Where The Light Retreats, the role he takes on as composer for his own material, how Tori Amos inspired a song on the new record, the story behind the hand-drawn cover artwork, how the songs on his first solo album were originally intended for Obscura, the less experimental nature of his solo project compared to Alkaloid, and the elitist mentality he takes towards his own music. Hannes also says he hopes there will never be another Necrophagist record and explains why.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn discuss Wes Borland’s statement on Fred Durst’s high standards for the next Limp Bizkit record, the official reunion of Shadows Fall, and our thoughts on the next NWOAHM bands to reunite.

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

Songs: Hannes Grossmann - “The Great Designer" and “In The Glacier’s Eye”

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#392: Howard Jones (Light the Torch, ex-Killswitch Engage) Jun 21, 2021

Howard Jones is back on the podcast! We discuss H.A.I.T.(How Awesome Is That), his movie watching podcast with Jamey Jasta and Charlie Bellmore; the imprint '80s action movies left on us growing up' the work environment that surrounded him during the making of the new Light the Torch album; his lyrical approach on the new record; being open to change; the decision to cover the Terrence Trent D’Arby; preparation for his upcoming livestream on June 25th; going back out on tour after the pandemic; an update on rescheduling the North American tour with Killswitch Engage the was cut short; and his love of seeing live stand up comedy.

Petar and Brandon discuss Pete’s first foray back into concertgoing, how show attendees' behavior has changed, the reason we think Vince Neil cancelled his second show of 2021, whether or not Robb Flynn is the dictator of Machine Head, and Atreyu's disappointing first-week record sales.

Songs: Light The Torch - “More Than Dreaming,” Light The Torch - “Let Me Fall Apart,” Vexed - “Epiphany”

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#391: Red Fang's Aaron Beam Jun 14, 2021

Aaron Beam of Red Fang is our guest this week! We discuss the band's new album, 'Arrows,' the dark turn in the playful music video for their single “Why?”, reuniting with producer Chris Funk, the album's title, the benefits of meditation, how that process makes him more productive in all of his avenues of creativity, and more.

Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia also discuss their BEST OF 2021 SO FAR!

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

Songs: Zao - “Transitions,” Tomahawk - “Business Casual,” Epica - “Freedom - The Wolves Within,” Soen - “Deceiver,” Red Fang - “Why” and “Funeral Coach,” Gojira - “Born For One Thing,” Harakiri for the Sky - “I, Pallbearer," Erra - “Divisionary,” The Crown - “We Drift On”

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#390: Perturbator, aka James Kent Jun 07, 2021

Perturbator mastermind James Kent is back on the show! We discuss his first new album in five years, Lustful Sacraments, why it took him so long to complete the record, the heavy influence of goth music this time around, why he feels it's important to tour less than he did in the past, and the 10 year anniversary of Perturbator. He also tells us about opening for John Carpenter, his plans for his own newly launched record label, his favorite French metal band, and how he feels about French cinema in comparison to the rest of the world's art.

Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia discuss Vince Neil's awful performance at his first post-pandemic show, their joy that Jason Newsted is not joining Megadeth, whether Ozzy Osbourne should have accepted Weezer’s song “Hash Pipe” when it was offered to him, and our thoughts on Bad Wolves' new singer Daniel “DL” Laskiewicz (ex-The Acacia Strain).

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

Songs: Perturbator - “Death of the Soul" and "Dethroned Under a Funeral Haze," Stormruler - “Reign of The Winged Duke”

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#389: At the Gates' Tomas Lindberg Jun 01, 2021

At The Gates frontman Tomas Lindberg is our guest this week! We discuss the band's new album, The Nightmare of Being, the emotions that informed its songwriting process, the difficulty of choosing a single from an album designed to listen to from start to finish, recognizing art as a defensive mechanism for himself, and his feeling about At War With Reality’s legacy. Tomas also talks about rejoining Lock Up and gives an update on their new album, tells us who he considers to be the inventor of death metal, and reveals the career he would have chosen instead of metal in hindsight.

Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia discuss Megadeth's firing of David Ellefson, the whirlwind story of child supergroup Suspect208, and Bruce Dickinson’s decision to finally use a smart phone at 62 years old.

Songs: At The Gates - “Spectre of Extinction” and “The Paradox," Scar of The Sun - "Quantum Leap Zero II: Transition To Turbulence”

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#388: Crypta's Fernanda Lira (ex-Nervosa) May 24, 2021

Crypta bassist and singer Fernanda Lira (ex-Nervosa) is our guest this week! We discuss the journey of creating Crypta's debut album, Echoes of The Soul, why leaving Nervosa was both the best and most difficult decision she ever made, the recruitment process for finding the right members in the new band, why the old-school cover painting by Wes Benscoter was vital to the album's presentation, how the pandemic is still raging in her native Brazil thanks to government mismanagement, her past experience as a metal journalist, and a quick update on the progress of Crypta's next album.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn discuss the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame snubbing Iron Maiden, Les Claypool auditioning for Metallica, and Whitesnake topping the charts after the passing of Tawny Kitaen.

Songs: Crypta - “Starvation” and “From The Ashes”

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#387: Fear Factory's Dino Cazares May 17, 2021

Fear Factory guitarist Dino Cazares is our guest this week! Front and center is the band's new album, Aggression Continuum, and the public spat between Cazares and former singer Burton Seabell, whose vocals appear on the album. Dino discusses the communication breakdown between he and Burton after recording the album in 2017, how he is handling all the negative attention from the fanbase, his response to reports of a physical altercation between he and Burton, the reason he left Burton’s vocals on the record in spite of everything, and why the future of Fear Factory with a new vocalist is exciting for him. Dino also talks about his feelings on Digimortal 20 years later (revealing that Bob Rock almost produced it!), the difficulty of replicating a groundbreaking record, how angry fans were that the band used programmed drums on The Industrialist, how every classic Fear Factory album had chaos behind the scenes, the upcoming Divine Heresy vinyl reissues, and his version of the altercation between he and former Divine Heresy vocalist Tommy Vext (also ex-Bad Wolves).

Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia discuss the news that Metalocalypse is getting a movie, the tabloid headline that states listening to metal makes you fat, and the controversy involving Megadeth bassist David Ellefson.

Songs: Fear Factory - “Disruptor” and “Fuel Injected Suicide Machine”

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#386.5: Caliban's Marc Görtz May 13, 2021

Caliban guitarist Marc Görtz is our guest on this special half-episode of The MetalSucks Podcast! We discuss the band's decision to re-record some classic songs in their native German tongue for the Zeitgeister EP, the reason they choose the track "Intoleranz" for a video, advice on how to keep a band together for 25 years, the difficulty of touring America at this point in their career, why they feel meet and greets aren’t something they are willing to do, an update on their completed new full-length album, and the upcoming "Part 3" in their split series with Heaven Shall Burn.

Petar and Brandon break down the Marilyn Manson allegations after even more women have come forward, and share their thoughts on what the eventual outcome will be for him.

Songs: Caliban - “Nichts” and “Intoleranz, Tooth and Claw - “Your Crucifixion”

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#386: Royal Blood's Ben Thatcher May 10, 2021

Ben Thatcher of power duo Royal Blood is our guest this week! We discuss the band's new album, Typhoons, the emotional clash of the lyrics and music, the importance of dedicating the record to Ben's mother who recently passed away, using his DJ mind when it comes to sequencing an album, and the lasting mental effects the pandemic has had on him. Ben also dissects the "rock is dead" statements many older musicians have made recently, the lessons he learned from going on tour with Queens of the Stone Age, and the changes that may have to made on the road now that frontman Mike Kerr is sober.

Petar and Brandon discuss Willow Smith’s Mother’s Day gift to her famous mom, James Hetfield being “skeptical” about the COVID-19 vaccine, and if rebooting The Osbournes makes any sense at this point.

Thank you to our weekly sponsor Metal Blade Records for their continued support!

Songs: Royal Blood - “Typhoons" and "Boilermaker," Sumo Cyco - “Bystander”

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#385: Scott Ian, Dave Lombardo, Fil Eisler ('Thunder Force' Soundtrack) May 04, 2021

This week we bring Hollywood and thrash metal icons together on one episode to celebrate the soundtrack of the new film Thunder Force! Composer Fil Eisler tells us why he felt he needed to pitch adding Scott Ian and Dave Lombardo to the Melissa McCarthy-led Netflix film, how avant garde techniques can be brought to scoring film that wouldn’t work in traditional songwriting, how they got Corey Taylor and Lzzy Hale involved to write a theme song, which film soundtrack he would like to do a heavy metal remake of with Scott and Dave, and updates on both the new Motor Sister and Dead Cross records.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn have their yearly debate about the new petition for Metallica to play the Super Bowl Halftime Show, and they discuss Lucas Mann and Rings of Saturn being dropped by their label for alleged threats.

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

Songs: Corey Taylor, Lzzy Hale, Scott Ian, Dave Lombardo, Fil Eisler, and Tina Guo - “Thunder Force Theme Song," Mr. Bungle - “Bungle Grind” (Live), and Tommy’s Rock Trip - “Got To Play Some Rock N Roll”

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#385: Neurosis' Steve Von Till Apr 26, 2021

Steve Von Till of Neurosis is our guest this week! Steve tells us how the door first opened to him as a solo artist, the path of his solo records throughout his career, and wrestling with negative thoughts as he worked on his latest album, No Wilderness Deep Enough, and his first book of poetry in 2020. He also discusses his alter ego, Harvestman, how music has saved him many times throughout his life, the courage that punk rock gave him, and an update on new music from Neurosis.

Petar, Sylvia, and Brandon discuss the Mudvayne reunion -- are they bigger than ever before because of their long hiatus? -- Weezer marketing their new record as metal, the '90s icons we feel can put out a great metal album, the NWOAHM band that we think can put out a great Weezer album, and Dee Snider calling out Iced Earth's Jon Schaffer.

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their support!

Songs: Steve Von Till - “The Spiraling Away” and “Indifferent Eyes”

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#384: Gojira's Joe Duplantier Apr 19, 2021

Gojira frontman and guitarist Joe Duplantier joins us this week! We discuss the band's new album, Fortitude, the lessons they learned while making their previous album, Magma, that directly affected the new record, getting legendary engineer Andy Wallace to mix it, why he feels Gojira have been able to maintain the same line up for 20 years, and achieving success in a progressive way that has benefited them. Joe also explains his passion for the band's charitable effort in conjunction with the song "Amazonia," the importance of artists using their platforms for positive change in the world, and his excitement for the band's North American tour with Deftones scheduled for later this year.

Petar, Jozalyn, and Brandon debate Dave Lombardo’s comment that Slayer wouldn't have survived if they debuted in the internet era, our thoughts on Van Halen's record label asking them to change their name when Sammy Hager joined, and the cringe-worthy press for Fear Factory this past week.

Songs: Gojira - “Into The Storm" and “Amazonia," Evile - “Hell Unleashed”

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#383: Daniel Freyberg (Ex-Children of Bodom, Bodom After Midnight) Apr 12, 2021

Daniel Freyberg, former guitarist of both Children of Bodom and Bodom After Midnight, joins us this week. Our focus is Bodom After Midnight's forthcoming EP, Paint the Sky with Blood, as well as the late Alexi Laiho, as we dive into working with Laiho on those new songs and the decision to move forward with their release after his death. Freyberg also details what it was like as a fan of Children of Bodom before he was invited into the band, his experience writing and recording on the band's final record, Hexed, the possibility of a future concert celebrating Alexi’s life and music, the next project for him now that Bodom After Midnight are finished, and if there is any leftover Bodom After Midnight material, including a live release.

Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia discuss Mike Patton’s statement that every player in the many band's he's been in are better musicians than him, former Fear Factory vocalist Burton Seabell saying Linkin Park’s Hybrid Theory is just "Demanufacture for kids," Lordi's plans to release seven albums at once, and our thoughts on artificial intelligence writing a Nirvana song.

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

Songs: Bodom After Midnight - “Paint The Sky With Blood," Endseeker - “Unholy Rites," Devil Sold His Soul - “Burdened”

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#382: Zao Guitarist Scott Mellinger Apr 05, 2021

Zao guitarist Scott Mellinger is our guest this week! We discuss the band's the new album, The Crimson Corridor, the feeling of being a bit more introspective this time around, the importance of the physical product to the record's overall experience, and how the band collaborates with artists to interpret their visions. Scott also looks back at the band's 2006 classic, The Fear is What Keeps Us Here, what it was like working with legendary producer Steve Albini, the difficulty of getting the masters back from Ferret Records, and how they learned from past labels before launching their own.

Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia hash out their fears of Metallica working with Elton John, the recent peak behind the scenes of Some Kind of Monster, and Corey Taylor's adventure into filmmaking with Ninjas vs. Zombies.

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support!

Songs: Zao - "The Final Ghost" and "Ship of Theseus"

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#381: Cannibal Corpse's George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher Mar 30, 2021

Corpsegrinder is back on the show! We talk about Cannibal Corpse's upcoming new album, Violence Unimagined, the experience of recording it during the pandemic and welcoming longtime producer Erik Rutan into the band as a guitarist and writer, how Cannibal Corpse pick singles for their albums, and his desire to learn new technology despite his admittedly old school ways. We also discuss Corpsegrinder's passion for the NFL, including his thoughts on Tom Brady bringing a Super Bowl to his hometown of Tampa Bay, him being a Denver Broncos fan despite being born in Baltimore, how his father worked for the company that moved the Baltimore Colts to Indianapolis, and him refusing to perform during the Eagles Super Bowl game on the 70,000 Tons of Metal cruise.

Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia discuss various metal musicians' comments on the tragic mass shootings last week in Atlanta and Colorado, including Dee Snider, Sebastian Bach and System of a Down's Daron Malakian. We also chit chat about Lemmy’s ashes being put into bullets and sent to his close friends, and Rob Zombie nabbing the #1 album on the Billboard charts.

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support.

Please help out Petar's personal friend and his family during a difficult time by following this link. If you can donate it would mean the world to the podcast team. Thank you.

Songs: Cannibal Corpse - “Murderous Rampage," and “Inhumane Harvest”

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#380: Josh Scogin ('68, The Chariot, ex-Norma Jean) Mar 22, 2021

Our guest this week is Josh Scogin of ’68, The Chariot and ex-Norma Jean. We discuss the danceable quality of '68's new record, Give One Take One, the year-long journey of making their animated, hand-drawn video for "Bad Bite," missing out on a tour opening for Faith No More because of the pandemic, the pros of being in a duo as opposed to a band with four or five members, his preference to forego set lists to keep live shows spontaneous and natural, and creating guitar solos on the spot instead of prepping them before recording.

Brandon, Jozalyn, and Sylvia discuss Flaw's frontman dropping a racist epithet on stage, Spotify's new initiative to ostensibly provide payout transparency for artists, and Deftones' Stephen Carpenter doubling down on flat earth and 9/11 conspiracies.

Songs: ’68 “Bad Bite," “The Knife, The Knife, The Knife" and Mythic Sunship - “Going Up”

Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records!

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#379: Lamb of God's Mark Morton Mar 15, 2021

Mark Morton of Lamb of God is our guest this week! We discuss a number of topics including his memories of Children of Bodom's Alexi Laiho, his picks for the Big 4 New Wave of American Heavy Metal bands, his thoughts on the Black Crowes reunion as a huge fan, how he's never seen any classic action movies from the '80s, and his choice for the de facto heavy metal TV sitcom. Mark also gives us a quick update on the new material he's been working on this year.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn discuss the tragic passing of Entombed's LG Petrov, Jeremy Spencer starting over with Psychosexual, Geezer Butler talking credit for the iconic devil horns, and Serj Tankian's love for his brother in law, System drummer John Dolmayan, despite their vastly different political views.

Songs: Lamb of God - “Ghost Shaped People," Gizmachi - “Look What I’ve Become” (featuring Björn “Speed” Strid), Entombed - “Full of Hell”

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#378: Duane Denison (Tomahawk, The Jesus Lizard) Mar 08, 2021

Tomahawk and The Jesus Lizard guitarist Duane Denison is our guest this week! We discuss Tomahawk's new album, Tonic Immobility, the 20-year anniversary of their self-titled debut, how he first presented the idea for the band to Mike Patton, and what it's been like working with him over the years. Duane also shares his thoughts on what touring will be like when it returns, his day job working at a library during the pandemic, the importance of practicing and improvising to generate new ideas as a songwriter, his thoughts on people who continue to go to extremes when it comes to their opinions, and historical patterns that help him understand the world today.

Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia hash out the financial killing The Mars Volta made on their new 18-LP box set, how streaming accounted for 83% of recorded music revenue in 2020, and Michael Sweet of Stryper’s comments that the Bible is in danger of being canceled.

Thanks to this episode’s sponsors, The Punk Rock MBA Podcast and Metal Blade Records!

Songs: Tomahawk - “Business Casual” and “Dog Eat Dog”

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#377: Demon Hunter's Ryan Clark Mar 01, 2021

Demon Hunter frontman Ryan Clark is our guest this week! We talk about the journey of creating acoustic versions of classic Demon Hunter tracks for their new album, Songs of Death and Resurrection, which track was hardest for him to convert from heavy to acoustic, how an acoustic livestream concert went from an afterthought to a very successful event, which song they'll play acoustically going forward even at regular shows, and his thoughts on the silly tradition of encores. We also talk about Ryan's career as a visual artist: his recently published book of the cover artwork he's done for bands over the last 20 years, whether he needs to hear a band's music before creating artwork for them, why self-titled album covers have always been the most difficult, and being tasked with the album art for the 30th anniversary edition of the Alice in Chains' classic, Facelift.

Petar and Brandon discuss Mike Portnoy’s opinion that Neil Peart was a better drummer than John Bonham, Rob Zombie’s comments on his latest album title's meaning, and us loving that August Burns Red’s music was used as a torture device on NCIS: Los Angeles.

Thanks to this episode's sponsor, The Punk Rock MBA Podcast!

Songs: Demon Hunter - “Loneliness (Resurrected)," Conan - “Satsumo” (Live), Greenleaf - “Tides”

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#376: The Crown's Marko Tervonen Feb 22, 2021

The Crown guitarist Marko Tervonen is our guest this week. We discuss the band's upcoming album, Royal Destroyer, and how their previous one, Cobra Speed Venom, was a comeback album of sorts, why having an outside producer this time around was helpful, writing a tribute song to late Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman, and how the band's new lineup has given them a new dynamic and added momentum. Marko also tells us how his son finds younger bands that still inspire him, shares some memories of the Swedish metal scene in the '90s when every band seemed to inspire one another, and reveals which concert he regrets missing out on during the explosion of the Swedish metal scene.

Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia talk about the lawsuit brought on Attila’s Chris Fronzak by two security guards he attacked at a show, our thoughts on the comments about encores by Korn's Brian “Head” Welch, and our vote for our favorite Ozzy Osbourne guitar player.

Thanks to this episode's sponsor, The Punk Rock MBA Podcast!

Songs: The Crown - “Motordeath," “We Drift On," and Baest - “Abbatoir”

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#375: Brand of Sacrifice's Michael Leo Valeri Feb 15, 2021

Brand of Sacrifice guitarist Michael Leo Valeri is our guest this week! We discuss the band's new album, Lifeblood, the various guest spots on the album (members of I Prevail, Emmure, Shadow of Intent, Traitors and Viscera), the chemistry of writing the record with so much distance between band members, their plans to tour endlessly when live shows return, and the importance of having a digital-first mindset and leaning into social media to keep momentum going during this time. Michael also shares how the band originated as a fun side-project, shares his thoughts on how he thinks younger bands have a certain responsibility to be positive to the scene, why the band will wait it out to tour instead of doing a livestream concert, and the positive beauty of music to modern times and culture.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn try to break down the innovator who made a guitar out of a human skeleton, the recent study showing heavy metal can help with anxiety, Marilyn Manson’s music getting a boost after abuse allegations, and Brandon hates on the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame again despite Iron Maiden getting nominated this year.

Songs: Brand of Sacrifice - “Animal" and "Lifeblood," and Enforced, “Hemorrhage"

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#374: Epica's Simone Simons Feb 10, 2021

Epica vocalist Simone Simons is back on the show! We discuss the band's new album, Omega, why the addition of a children's choir on the record was a bucket list item for them, the alternative ways they are looking to promote and present the album during the pandemic, the decision to record the album acoustically in addition to its standard version, how the downtime last year flew by despite the fact they couldn’t tour, and how she is really antsy to get back on the road to play songs from Omega live. We also talk about writing the Essence of Epica book during the pandemic and the importance of getting many different sides of each story from each band member, as well as the story of a family member giving Simone negative feedback on her singing when she was 16.

Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia talk about the allegations against Marilyn Manson from exes and peers alike and the massive blowback that has occurred, and we share our thoughts on all the details we saw last week via social media.

Songs: Epica - “Freedom - The Wolves Within," “Abyss of Time - Countdown to Singularity," Sirenia - “We Come To Ruins”

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#373: Cult of Luna's Johannes Persson Feb 02, 2021

Johannes Persson of the mighty Cult of Luna is back on the show! We discuss the band's new EP, The Raging River -- which Johannes describes as an artistic continuation of their previous album, A Dawn To Fear -- writing songs based on instincts instead of the clear start-to-finish approach they utilized in the past, how coming up with new ideas has become more difficult over the years, and the band's collaboration with Mark Lanegan. Johannes also talks about the decision to release The Raging River independently and the amount of work that went into creating the band's own record label, Red Creek, as well as his passion for directing film and the energy he'd like to put into completing a screenplay.

Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia discuss the sad catfish story of a woman who thought she was engaged to Bret Michaels, Machine Head's Robb Flynn defending their last album, Catharsis, Maynard James Keenan's thoughts on social media, and Ozzy’s daughter Aimée’s decision to opt out of the family's infamous reality TV show.

Songs: Cult of Luna - “Three Bridges," Soen - “Illusion”

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#372: Tribulation Guitarist Adam Zaars Jan 25, 2021

Tribulation guitarist Adam Zaars is our guest this week. We discuss the band's new album, Where The Gloom Becomes Sound, and the departure of guitarist Jonathan Hultén, who wrote most of the material on it. Adam tells us that the band discussed breaking up after Jonathan's departure, mulls over how the writing dynamic will change in the future without his presence, and reveals that new guitar player Joseph Tholl was key in the band's decision to continue. Zaars also tells us about his ongoing study of religion at university, why he feels Sweden is the most secular country, how religion is a form of oppression, and how convenience has driven many peoples' moral codes in modern times.

Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia theorize on how a random bullet ended up in Dino Cazares's car windshield, and we take the guess on when summer festivals will return now that 2021 cancellations have begun.

Songs: Tribulation - “Funeral Pyre" and “Hour Of The Wolf," Korpiklaani - “Niemi”

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#371: Accept's Wolf Hoffmann Jan 19, 2021

Accept guitarist Wolf Hoffmann is our guest this week. He discusses the band's new album, Too Mean To Die, working with producer Andy Sneap virtually due to the pandemic, his complete lack of interest in doing any kind of livestream concerts, and why he feels the music he's written in the past decade is the best of his career. He also tells us which sub-genre of metal he likes the least, how today's music fans are more relaxed and open-minded than in the past, and which Accept record he feels is the most underrated.

Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia tackle Tommy Vext's split with Bad Wolves, Marko Hietala walking away from Nightwish, and Suspect208's firing of Scott Weiland's son, Noah, due to alleged drug issues.

Songs: Accept - “Zombie Apocalypse," The Dead Daises - “Holy Ground (Shake The Memory)," Demon Head - “The Feline Smile”

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#370 Harakiri for the Sky Vocalist JJ Jan 12, 2021

This week our guest is JJ of the post-black metal duo Harakiri for the Sky. We discuss his dual life in two different parts of the world, how the second lockdown in Austria hasn’t been taken seriously by most people, his thoughts on the current restrictions for shows in Europe and what it would be like to perform for 50 sitting people, his thoughts on anti-vaxxers holding the world back from moving forward, how his lyrics have grown sadder the older he gets, the challenges of building friendships after you turn 30, and whether he wants to beef up or scale back the band's touring schedule when things go back to normal.

Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia tackle the two biggest stories in metal from the past week: the passing Children of Bodom's Alexi Laiho and Iced Earth leader Jon Schaffer’s involvement in storming the Capitol.

Songs: Children of Bodom - “The Nail," Harakiri for the Sky - “Sing For The Damage We’ve Done," “And Oceans Between Us”

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#369: Ice-T (Body Count) Jan 04, 2021

The one and only Ice-T is back on the program to celebrate Body Count’s second Grammy nomination, this time for "Bum-Rush" in the Best Metal Performance category. Ice tells us that if Body Count win he'll dedicate the award to late Power Trip frontman Riley Gale and recalls the intense experience of attending the Grammys in person in 2018 (nominated for "Black Hoodie" in the same category) and why he is glad it's being done remotely this year. He also shares his thoughts on Donald Trump leaving office, the demonstrations that inspired "Bum-Rush," an update on his new book, Split Decisions, and whether there is any new Body Count music on the horizon, and the recent passing of many of his colleagues from Covid-19.

Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia discuss Kiss breaking a Guinness record for pyrotechnics on New Year’s Eve, the hater assault on Lamb of God guitarist Mark Morton’s Instagram account, Rob Halford showing off his ass to ring in 2021, and Glenn Danzig’s feelings being hurt by all the memes about him.

Songs: Body Count - “Bum-Rush” and “Point The Finger" (Featuring Riley Gale), Faith No More and Boo-Ya T.R.I.B.E - “Another Body Murdered”

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#368: Marty Friedman Dec 22, 2020

Guitar virtuoso Marty Friedman is our guest this week. We discuss how 2020 went for him creatively, missing out on performing at the Olympics due to the pandemic, the collaboration with visual artist Nobuyuki Hanabusa for his upcoming livestream concert on New Year’s Day, and the importance of pursuing musical endeavors he has never tried before. Marty also tells us how he misses American cereal while living in Japan, how the Beach Boys have been the “room cleaning” band for him this year, and the importance of finding things that distract from reality to stay positive.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn talk about New Year’s Eve shows as stand-up comics, seeing arena-level bands in small venues at huge ticket prices, our personal takes on New Year's Resolutions, and much more.

Songs: Marty Friedman - “The Perfect World” (Featuring Alfakyun), Nervosa - “Perpetual Chaos”

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#367.5: Halestorm's Lzzy Hale Dec 17, 2020

Halestorm frontwoman Lzzy Hale is our guest this week! We discuss her progress on Christmas shopping this year and how it feels like drunk shopping, the story behind her Christmas song with Dee Snider, “The Magic of Christmas Day," and how a gift Celine Dion gave Dee's wife inspired it. Lzzy also speaks about how revisiting past years' music brings back distinct personal memories of those years, the upcoming David Bowie tribute concerts that she will be participating in, her upcoming role hosting the She Rocks Awards, and an update on the progress of the next Halestorm record.

Songs: Dee Snider & Lzzy Hale - “The Magic of Christmas Day," Halestorm - “Break In” (Featuring Amy Lee of Evanescence)

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#367: The Best of 2020, Featuring Napalm Death's Barney Greenway, Unleash The Archers' Brittney Slayes and More Dec 14, 2020

MetalSucks Podcast hosts Petar, Brandon, Jozalyn and Sylvia go all out to celebrate the art we loved in this trying year of 2020. We let the music do most of the talking as we play a track from each one of our collective 15 favorite albums of the year, and we share in the celebration by chatting with the artists that made that music: Barney Greenway of Napalm Death, Brittney Slayes of Unleash The Archers, Madeleine and Rickard of Eleine, Jamie Graham of Viscera, Johanna Sadonis and Nicke Andersen of Lucifer, and JP and JD of Loviatar.

Enjoy and celebrate some of the songs, bands, and artists that made this year unforgettable for the right reasons as we count down from 15 to our number 1 album of the year.

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#366: Tarja Turunen (ex-Nightwish) Dec 08, 2020

Tarja Turunen is our guest for our first-ever holiday episode of The Metalsucks Podcast. We discuss some of her favorite memories of Christmas while growing up in Finland, how a personal tragedy ruined the holidays for many years, her decision to make her first solo record in 2006 a Christmas album, her upcoming Christmas livestream performance, and her favorite Christmas album as a child. She also speaks to the difficulty of not being able to work during the pandemic, the struggle of finding inspiration during this time, her desire to do a full tour for the In The Raw album before releasing a new rock album, and how livestreams will endure as a platform for bands for years to come.

Petar, Brandon, Jozalyn, and Sylvia tackle the four metal bands that get the vast majority of streams, our first hard rock/metal albums we got for the holidays, and much more.

Songs: Tarja - “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” (Live) and “Dead Promises”

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#365: David Andersson (Soilwork, The Night Flight Orchestra) Nov 30, 2020

Soilwork and The Night Flight Orchestra guitarist David Andersson is our guest this week. We discuss Soilwork's latest EP, A Whisp of The Atlantic, the "Feverish" trilogy of videos accompanying the EP's singles, the dream that lead to the epic 16-minute title track, becoming a major songwriter for Soilwork since he joined the band, and why it's important to adapt and change in music to ensure survival. David also tells us about his day job as a doctor, the frustration of people rejecting the basics of science concerning the pandemic, how he deals with the doubters and deniers, his personal experience with contracting Covid-19 and how long it took him to recover, and Sweden’s unconventional mitigation strategy.

Petar, Brandon, Sylvia, and Jozalyn answer listener emails, discuss what their personal definition of a "supergroup" is, and our thoughts on Revolver naming the new Run The Jewels record as one of the best metal albums of the year.

Songs: Soilwork - “Death Diviner” and “Desperado," The Night Flight Orchestra - “Impossible”

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#364: Underoath's Chris Dudley Nov 23, 2020

Underoath electronics wizard Chris Dudley is our guest this week. In celebration of the interview taking place on Friday the 13th, we discuss that film series in its entirety, apologists for Jason X and Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2, how to introduce R-rated movies to your kids without taking it too far, and the last horror movie that actually scared us. Chris also tells us how much time Underoath spent practicing to make their recent observatory livestream performances as special as possible for fans, an update on the band's next album, his thoughts on releasing standalone singles during this bizarre time, and how artists tend to thrive when they have limitations like those in place right now.

Petar, Jozalyn, and Sylvia discuss the movies, music videos, and comedies that scared them as kids, the babysitters they had that uttered the phrase “Don’t tell your parents,” and how that makes us feel today.

Songs: Underoath - "Desperate Times, Desperate Measures” (Live) and "Too Bright To See, Too Loud to Hear” (Live)

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#363: TesseracT's James Monteith Nov 16, 2020

This week our guest is TesseracT guitarist James Monteith! We discuss the current climate of the UK as they go into their second shutdown due to COVID-19, how promoting records has been a booming business during this time, the band's plans for their next record and how they feel about releasing new material without being able to tour behind it, the luxury of having no deadlines when creating music, relearning songs from his past, trying to figure out how perform live for the fans via streaming, and his personal frustration during the pandemic.

Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia also tackle the revelation that Deftones guitarist Stephen Carpenter is a flat-earther, how we handle conversations with people that share Carpenter's beliefs, and Brandon’s relationship with comics that have similar beliefs as Carpenter.

Songs:

TesseracT, “Of Mind - Nocturne” and “Of Energy - Singularity” Fates Warning, "Scars"

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#362: Troy Sanders (Mastodon, Killer Be Killed, Gone is Gone) Nov 10, 2020

Troy Sanders of Mastodon, Gone is Gone, and Killer Be Killed is our guest this week! Celebrating the second release by Killer Be Killed, Reluctant Hero, we discuss Troy's desire to do a full tour with the band despite it being seen as a side project, having a total of 12 active bands between Killer Be Killed's four members, and how the writing process is different with all the vocalists he works with in each project. We also talk about how he prefers to write with the energy of people in the same room instead of file sharing, an update on new music from Gone is Gone and Mastodon, and the positive aspect of creating and releasing new music during the pandemic.

Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia discuss metal musicians' reactions to Joe Biden becoming the 46th president of the United States, System of a Down releasing new music for a great cause after 15 years, and a German study saying Covid-19 has a "very low" risk of spreading at indoor concerts if certain precautions are taken.

Songs: Killer Be Killed - "Dream Gone Bad" and "Deconstructing Self- Deconstruction"

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#361: Dark Tranquillity's Mikael Stanne Nov 02, 2020

This week Mikael Stanne of Dark Tranquility is our guest! We discuss bringing in two new guitarists for the band's forthcoming album, Moment, their plans to eventually celebrate Moment live, and an update on the scheduled fall 2021 North American tour after letting go of booking agent John Finberg following allegations of sexual harassment. Mikael also tells us which of the band's albums is his favorite from a lyrical perspective, which artists passing away hit him the hardest in recent years, and how he's been burning through all of his live DVDs during the pandemic.

Petar, Brandon,Jozalyn, and Sylvia discuss the rumors of a Van Halen reunion without Eddie, if we get more excited when Rob Zombie announces a new album or movie, and our muted Halloween celebrations during a pandemic.

Songs: Dark Tranquility - "Identical to None" and "The Dark Unbroken," Soulburn - "From Archaeon to Oblivion"

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#361: Mikkey Dee (Motörhead, Scorpions) Oct 26, 2020

Legendary drummer Mikkey Dee is on the show this week! Mikkey talks about the upcoming 40th anniversary of Ace of Spades, his first time seeing Motörhead as a teenager before joining the band, Lemmy's reluctance to play songs from the Ace of Spades live, and why Hammered is his least favorite record he performed on. Mikkey also talked about a whole lot about Lemmy: which part of Lemmy that always fascinated him, why having a sense of humor was such a key component to the joy of being around Lemmy, and Lemmy despising being put on a pedestal. We also get an update on the latest Scorpions record.

Brandon, Jozalyn, and Sylvia tackle Sebastian Bach’s walking out of an interview because of a gay joke involving Rob Halford, Rob's reaction on a later episode of the same show, and why gay jokes by straight dudes are extremely dated.

Songs: Motörhead - "The Chase Is Better Than The Catch," and Warfect - Left To Rot"

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#360: Cradle of Filth's Dani Filth Oct 20, 2020

Cradle of Filth leader Dani Filth is back on the show! We discuss the band's upcoming streaming concert set for October 30, how some fans have angrily demanded the livestream be free, recording a new album during a pandemic with all the band members living in different parts of the world, how Covid-19 is crippling the entertainment industry beyond just music, and the creative drive that will follow the pandemic for music and art. Dani also talks about the over-population problem the world is facing that we don’t discuss openly, how Mötley Crüe frontman Vince Neil's behavior is an insult to fans when he doesn’t make an effort, and memories of one of his favorite Cradle Halloween shows.

Petar, Brandon, Jozalyn and Sylvia tackle the controversial new Five Finger Death Punch video, "Living The Dream," Zoltan’s comments after the backlash, and Tommy Lee threatening to move to Greece if a certain election doesn’t go his way.

Songs: Cradle Of Filth - “Heartbreak and Seance," and Draconian - “Sorrow of Sophia”

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#359: Mr. Bungle's Trevor Dunn Oct 13, 2020

Mr. Bungle bassist Trevor Dunn is our guest this week! We discuss the origins of Mr. Bungle while the guys were still in high school, why he felt that he and his friends gravitated towards metal in those years, and his ongoing drive to write music that sounds new and original to him. In light of the band's plans to release a re-recording of their early demo, The Raging Wrath Of The Easter Bunny, Trevor discusses how that project came together, if he would want to revisit any of the other three demos Mr. Bungle put out, and the chances of releasing all the B-side songs from the band's Warner Brothers catalog. He also talks about his collaborations with avant garde icon John Zorn through the years, being surrounded by musicians that are workaholics, and the chances of fans hearing all new material from Mr. Bungle or two of his other projects, Fantomas and Tomahawk.

Petar, Brandon, Jozalyn, and Sylvia discuss the death of Eddie Van Halen and how his music impacted our lives, and Mastodon guitarist Bill Kelliher's stark disclosures of the financial realities for musicians in our genre, even "successful" ones.

Songs: Van Halen - "Judgement Day" and "Eracist," Mr. Bungle - "Raping Your Mind"

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#358: John Bush (Armored Saint, ex-Anthrax) Oct 05, 2020

Legendary vocalist John Bush of Armored Saint (and formerly of Anthrax) is our guest this week. We discuss the band's new album, Punching the Sky, trying to keep his lyrics positive in light of all the terrible things happening in the world, why he doesn't have personal social media accounts despite the assets they'd be to the band, the importance of surrounding himself with the people who helped him rise up, and the band's virtual record release show at the Whiskey A Go Go scheduled for October 10. We also talk about the wildfires currently raging all throughout California, growing up in Los Angeles and the current homeless situation there, feeling like we live in denial by looking the other way instead of acknowledging problems, and the split lives we lead because of technology,

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn tackle the news of Burton Seabell exiting Fear Factory, how that affects the release of the band's new record, and if we think fans will accept Fear Factory with another singer.

Songs: Armored Saint - “Standing On The Shoulders of Giants” and “End of the Attention Span”

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#357: Pallbearer's Brett Campbell Sep 29, 2020

Brett Campbell of Pallbearer is our guest this week! We discuss how the songwriting process on the band's new album, Forgotten Days, differed from that on past albums, how the band formulated the new songs to resonate live, how the lyrics have a direct tie to the band's debut, Sorrow and Extinction, and why they worked with an outside producer this time. Brett also tells us how the extended break brought on by the pandemic allowed the band members time to reflect on their lives, and shares a sad personal experience that has influenced him creatively.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn discuss Chino Moreno’s recent comment that folks shouldn't be ashamed of liking nu-metal, Brandon's drunk trip to Knott’s Berry Farm, and how Pete got away from a guard dog when he broke into a boat yard as a kid.

Songs: Pallbearer - “The Quicksand of Existing" and “Rite of Passage," Devildriver - “Nest of Vipers”

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#356: Brutus Bassist Peter Mulders Sep 21, 2020

Our guest this week is Brutus bassist Peter Mulders. We discuss the band's first live album, Live In Ghent (out October 23), how the recording wasn't initially meant for fans to hear, the organic process of how songs evolve after playing them live, the energy of getting to record a show in his hometown, and the painstaking process of obtaining visas for the North American tour in March that was eventually cancelled and the financial repercussions of the pandemic. Peter also tells us the band's thoughts on making a new album right now.

Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia discuss Rob Halford attempting to seduce Paul Di'Anno, the sadness it brings us that Lamb of God's Willie Adler isn't currently speaking to his brother and the band's former drummer, Chris, and if we agree with Kataklysm frontman Maurizio Iacono's stance that bands who delay new album releases until after the pandemic are “un-metal”.

Songs: Brutus “Cemetary” (Live), Boundaries - “Carve," Uniform - “Life in Remission”

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#355: Amaranthe's Elize Ryd Sep 14, 2020

Elize Ryd of Amaranthe is our guest this week! We discuss the band's upcoming album, Manifest (October 2), how the mental reality of the pandemic affected the recording of the record, the importance of making a fun and positive record during this time, and the story behind the guest artists on the album. Elize also tells us about why creating music videos is still one of her favorite parts of being a musician, her desire to put out a live DVD/Blu-ray, how she feels that fan-filmed YouTube videos of bands performing live don't portray a fair representation of the artists, and the love her metal friends around the world share on a daily basis through these times.

Petar, Brandon and Sylvia once again talk about the negative nonsense going on in the Fear Factory camp, our thoughts on whether the GoFundMe campaign is a scam, and Richard Patrick getting the snub for Nine Inch Nail's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction despite his membership during a very important time for the band.

Songs: Amaranthe - “Strong” (Featuring Noora Louhimo from Battle Beast) and “Viral," Ihsahn - “Spectre At The Feast”

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#354: Enslaved's Ivar Bjørnson Sep 08, 2020

Enslaved's Ivar Bjørnson is our guest this week. We discuss the band's new album, Utgard, and the concept behind it, the shorter songs therein compared to their previous three albums, the experience of the band's recently completed virtual tour, and what new drummer Iver Sandøy brings to the band both behind the kit and vocally. We also talk about the influence Deep Purple have had on Enslaved, their decision to cover Faith No More’s "Jizzlobber," the Enslaved record he thinks those new to the band should start with, and the challenges for working musicians that most people aren’t aware of right now.

Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia discuss Pete’s birthday weekend, the perpetual journey of trying to find a safe place to smoke a joint, and the age at which consuming new art should maybe stop for people.

Songs: Enslaved - “Homebound” and “Jettegryta”

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#353: The Ocean's Robin Staps Sep 01, 2020

The Ocean mastermind Robin Staps is back on the show to discuss the band's new album, Phanerozoic II: Mesozoic|Cenozoic. Robin discusses how the two Phanerozoic albums sound completely different despite being recorded at the same time, Jonas from Katatonia's guest appearance, the difficultly in finding fossils for the box set version of the album, and how he predicted the future with regards to Covid-19 in The Ocean's Collective Oblivion DVD, released in 2013. Robin also shares his thoughts on Pelagial making some best-of-decade lists, the delayed recognition that record got from his fanbase, and the importance of his father being a jazz musician in his musical path.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn discuss recording the podcast on Petar’s 40th birthday, and the untimely death of Power Trip's Riley Gale.

Songs: The Ocean - “Jurassic/Cretaceous" (featuring. Jonas Renske of Katatonia), Varg - “Zeichen” and Power Trip - “Executioner’s Tax (Swing of The Axe)”

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#352: Kataklysm's Maurizio Iacono Aug 25, 2020

Kataklysm frontman Maurizio Iacono is our guest this week. We discuss the band's latest album, Unconquered, how anxiety has driven his career and having to readjust during this time, how delaying releasing a record right now is not “metal," and whether he plans to start writing a new album right away because the band can't tour. Iacono also discusses how his job as a booking agent has been reinvented because of Covid-19, living in the middle of the road politically and the backlash that occurs because of it, why cancel culture might be necessary for us to understand each other, and how we can’t educate each other anymore because of misinformation from the media.

Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia break down how the Chris Cornell statue and the entire year of 2020 are like oil and water in light of the recent vandalization, Fred Durst stating that he and the boys of Limp Bizkit were never friends, and Corey Taylor almost joining Anthrax.

Songs: Kataklysm - “The Killshot," Hinayana - “Cold Conception" (Featuring the late Nature Ganganbaigal of Tengger Cavalry)

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#351: Napalm Death's Barney Greenway Aug 18, 2020

Barney Greenway of Napalm Death is our guest this week. We discuss the band's first new album in five years, Throes of Joy in the Jaws of Defeatism, how he and bassist Shane Embury always argue about the sequence of songs on their records, and the non-metal bands that heavily influence Napalm Death. Barney also talks about how the world has changed since the last time the band released new music, his views on the dehumanization of people across the world, and the insanity of countries having gay-free zones and the ideology of scapegoating people due to their sexual preference.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn discuss Jozalyn doing stand up comedy with the audience wearing noise-cancelling headphones, Corey Taylor putting his minor league band Stone Sour on indefinite hiatus, and Five Finger Death Punch making a film.

Songs: Napalm Death - “Backlash Just Because," Unleash The Archers - “Abyss” and Be Well - “Morning Light”

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#350: Kamelot Vocalist Tommy Karevik Aug 10, 2020

Our guest this week is Kamelot and Seventh Wonder vocalist Tommy Karevik. We discuss all the preparation that went into creating the new Kamelot live album/DVD, I Am The Empire - Live From The 013, getting every special guest that they went after, his childhood love of Michael Jackson, transitioning from being a fan of pop to heavy metal, how the touring cycle for Kamelot was affected by COVID-19, how having a second career is necessary for every metal musician, on his recent marriage to Kobra Paige, the concept behind Seventh Wonder’s latest album Tiara, if there will be another Seventh Wonder record in the future, and an update on the next Kamelot album.

Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia discuss Scott Ian’s comments about backing tracks being used at concerts, Mike Portnoy yelling about the evil empire of Spotify, and why complaining about streaming is utterly useless because there is no going back.

Songs: Kamelot - “Phantom Divine (Shadow Empire)" (Live, Featuring Lauren Hart of Once Human), and Seventh Wonder - “The Everones"

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#349: Black Crown Initiate's Andy Thomas Aug 03, 2020

Black Crown Initiate guitarist Andy Thomas is our guest this week! We discuss the recording the band's new album during modern times, the return of guitarist Ethan McKenna, finding motivation, channeling the lowest points in his life into the record, avoiding the hatred of daily contemporary culture, trends in social media, the hard compromise of the upcoming election, and more.

Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia also tackle the new Corey Taylor rap-rock tune "CMFT," conservative fans getting into online feuds with Rage Against the Machine's Tom Morello, and System of a Down drummer John Dolmayan's opinions about the BLM movement.

Songs: Black Crown Initiate - “Death Comes In Reverse” and “Holy Silence,” Orbit Culture - “Open Eye”

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#348: Avatar's Johannes Eckerström Jul 28, 2020

Avatar vocalist Johannes Eckerström is our guest this week. We discuss how being controversial in metal is extremely hard work because of how far the genre has already pushed the edge, his band’s relationship with one visual director for over a decade, the realization that we have arrived in the dystopian world art has envisioned for ages, his journey to becoming vegan, being a huge fan of the writing of Trey Parker and Matt Stone, having to think outside the box to create music videos during quarantine, and how the book Sapiens influenced the band's new album, Hunter Gatherer.

Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia tackle the feud between Sebastian Bach and Chris Jericho -- how unhinged it makes Sebastian Bach look, our thoughts on how Jericho should play this going forward -- and we theorize on why In Flames would decide to re-record songs on Clayman for a reissue.

Songs: Avatar - “Silence In The Age of Apes" and "Colossus," Onslaught - “Religiousuicide”

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#347: Dee Snider (Twisted Sister) Jul 21, 2020

Dee Snider is back on the show! This time we discuss his new live Blu Ray/DVD, For The Love of Metal Live, how the album's sole new track, "Prove me Wrong," is a statement to his fans, why a live DVD is what every music fan should embrace these days, and the immediate connection the songs from his latest solo album had with fans. We also tackle plenty of pandemic-related issues: if Twisted Sister would have been able to make it through what we are currently dealing with, how a lot of us have gained perspective during this time to focus on real problems, and whose job is truly important and how artists have to realize their roles in society have changed. Finally, we talk about the next film project that he is currently set to direct.

Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia discuss Trapt’s first week album sales, Insane Clown Posse trying to catch a predator with Chris Hansen, Tripp Eisen's feud with Static-X and Edsel Dope, and Static-X making the poor decision to play a show during COVID while thinking asking fans to wear masks is the answer.

Songs: Dee Snider - “Prove Me Wrong” and “I Am The Hurricane" (Live)

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#346: The Acacia Strain's Devin Shidaker Jul 13, 2020

The Acacia Strain guitarist Devin Shidaker is our guest this week. We discuss releasing two albums in one year and the choice to surprise-release It Comes In Waves, why they need to take chances to keep their sound fresh instead of repeating past formats that worked, how streams are more important to the band than actual album sales, and the honor system with fans who buy physical copies. We also talk about current events exhaustion, the backlash against peers in hardcore and metal when they say something ignorant on social media, the current unfriend me atmosphere of people with different opinions, how his girlfriend testing positive for Covid-19 changed his view of current news programming, all the recent headlines involving System of a Down drummer John Dolmayan, and how difficult it will be to change the culture of police in America.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn discuss the recent episode of The MetalSucks Quarantinecast with Iced Earth's Jon Schaffer, the need for people to be "right" without facts, how speculation can become facts to people these days, and why everyone needs to see White Men Can’t Jump.

Songs: The Acacia Strain - "Solace and Serenity," "Seeing God (Featuring Aaron Heard from Jesus Piece)," Imperial Triumphant - “Rotted Futures”

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#345: Witch Taint's Lance the King of Black Metal and Matthias Backwards Jul 06, 2020

Witch Taint's Lance the King of Black Metal and Matthias Backwards, aka Dave Hill and Phil Costello, join the show this week. We discuss the origin of the band’s name, how they constantly have to prove how metal they are, how the slang words for "taint" differ by region, their ongoing beef with death metal, why worshipping Satan in your sleep is vital for being a true black metal artist, why you can’t do pilates on camera and be in an extreme metal band, why they play first instead of last when they headline shows, and why they aren’t concerned with promoting anything despite being on social media and YouTube.

Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia discuss the new venue that is being built with social distancing guidelines in mind, Corey Taylor's choice for his favorite Slipknot song, and Tommy Lee's new face tattoos.

Songs: Witch Taint - "Sons of Satan" and "Death to Death Metal"

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#344: Voivod's Daniel "Chewy" Mongrain Jun 29, 2020

Voivod guitarist Daniel “Chewy” Mongrain is our guest this week. We discuss the Canadian perspective on the recent protests inspired by the murder of George Floyd and his country's response to the pandemic, he looks back on Voivod's most recent studio album, The Wake, tells us about how Voivod got invited to play the Montreal International Jazz Festival, why spontaneous composition is difficult for a metal band, Voivod’s experience doing the live-streamed Isolation Festival, and an update on the band's next album.

Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia discuss the guy that got Pete into heavy metal at the age of nine years old, how he knocked out a guy by sucker punching him, and the antics of Pete as a high school basketball player who would pull pranks on his coach.

Songs: Voivod - “The End of Dormancy (Metal Section)," Valkyrie - “Feeling So Low”

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#343: Volumes Vocalist Michael Barr Jun 22, 2020

Volumes vocalist Michael Barr is our guest this week. We talk about his journey from exiting Volumes to eventually returning to the band, and we get an update on the band's next album. Michaels tells us about their recently-released standalone single, "Pixelate," its message about the dangers of growing up staring at a computer screen, the digital imprint being more important to your legacy than human interaction, getting bullied for staying silent and refusing to add to the daily noise, if caring too much about your own brand can make you disconnected from other people, and the importance of being able to fuck up so you can grow as a person. Michael also shares a memory of Diego Farias, his former bandmate that tragically passed away earlier this year.

Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia tackle the video footage of Doro's drive-in concert, our experience with visiting Las Vegas casinos during the pandemic, the power of regulating the media intake in your life, and Protest the Hero’s statement about fans that have a different political agenda.

Songs: Volumes - “Pixelate," Descend - “Lily”

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#342: The Sword's Kyle Shutt Jun 15, 2020

The Sword axeman Kyle Shutt is our guest this week. We discuss the recent release of two rarity, b-side and live compilations, Chronology 2006-2018 and Conquest of Kingdoms, the difference between the two, and the effects of taking a hiatus as a band after 15 years. We also discuss how Primus brought the band back together, how the death of Neil Peart put a pause on their reunion shows, his hobby of drawing self-portraits during the quarantine, what having kids has taught him, and the next thing fans can look forward to from The Sword.

Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia discuss the possibility of an Oderus Urungus statue in Virginia, Tommy Vext's comments on the Black Lives Matter movement, and his Bad Wolves bandmate Doc Coyle’s response.

Songs: The Sword - “Daughter of Dawn," Mushroomhead - “The Heresy," Aversions Crown - “Paradigm”

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#341: Overkill's Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth Jun 10, 2020

Legendary thrash metal vocalist Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth (Overkill) is our guest this week. We discuss his supergroup cover band, BPMD (featuring Mike Portnoy, Phill Demmel, and Mark Menghi), we break down their album track by track as he shares his memories of seeing the songs performed live in the 1970s, learn how Saturday Night Special and busting balls was the catalyst for the creation of the band, the specific reason why the BPMD record was done by all the guys, the origin of Overkill starting off as a cover band, and how they sent their version of the covers to the original artists and got feedback. We also get an update on the latest Overkill record.

This week we are doing another music episode and compiling our Best of 2020 So Far lists and playing a song off each record we think you need to check out before the summer hits.

Songs: BPMD - “Toys In The Attic” (originally by Aerosmith) and “Evil” (originally by Cactus)

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#340: Within Temptation's Sharon den Adel Jun 01, 2020

Within Temptation vocalist Sharon del Adel is our guest this week. We discuss the band's latest standalone single, "Entertain You," the song's lyrical exploration of why people film altercations instead of helping humans in distress and the debate of filming being used as evidence versus getting involved. We also talk about how the majority of silent voices aren't represented on social media, the media's contributions to modern day bully culture, and an update on the band's rescheduled tour with Evanescence.

Petar, Brandon and Sylvia discuss the metal and rock community’s reaction to the murder of George Floyd, and discuss the feeling of helplessness we all experience when we see what's going on in the world around us.

Songs: Within Temptation "Entertain You" and "Raise Your Banner," Alestorm - "Treasure Chest Party Quest"

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#339: Nita Strauss May 26, 2020

Nita Strauss is back on the show! This time we discuss Nita's new guitar tutorial website, iwanttoplayguitar.com, the story behind the programs she's created for guitar players of all levels, how learning from instructional videos was very important to her as a developing musician, and the teacher-student relationship that she has experienced across the world. We also talk about the motivation behind her solo record and how that will change on her sophomore release, her thoughts on how meet-and-greets will be impacted by the pandemic, the challenges of creating value for fans during the quarantine, performers having to give it their all the keep fans from scrolling through their phones, and when fans can expect her second solo record to come out.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn tackle a subject suggested by a listener: which metal vocalists don’t get the credit they deserve? We choose six and play a track by each artist.

Song: Nita Strauss - “Our Most Desperate Hour”

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#338: Nightwish Vocalist Floor Jansen May 18, 2020

Nightwish vocalist Floor Jansen is our guest this week. We discuss the band's new album, Human. :II: Nature., whether there were any concerns about releasing it during the quarantine, working with a real choir and orchestra instead of using samples, and finding her vocal timing in the studio, as well as how COVID-19 has taught people to slow down in life and why not doing concerts is the safest way to take care of fans. Floor also shares a story about the time Vinnie Paul showed up at a Nightwish concert, her experience performing at a venue with a bowling alley next to the stage, what it was like to become the first band to ever film a video at London's National History Museum, and having a new species of beetle named after her.

Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia discuss the new concert safety guidelines that don't permit moshing or crowdsurfing, MS co-founder Vince Neilstein's article on age defining your taste in heavy metal, and Serj Tankian’s comments about how his new EP will consist of songs he wrote for System of A Down.

Songs: Nightwish - “Noise," “Tribal," Killswitch Engage - “To The Great Beyond”

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#337: Khemmis Bassist Daniel Beiers May 11, 2020

Khemmis bassist Daniel Beiers is our guest this week. We discuss the band's new release, Doomed Heavy Metal, why he calls it a mini-album instead of an EP, how they chose which live tracks made it onto the album, and the band's plans for an eventual full-length album. Beiers also talks about how his job as an engineer has kept him extremely busy during the pandemic, trusting his kids to homeschool themselves during work hours, how fans are relying on bands to cancel shows with an uncertain future, his thoughts on the possibility of Khemmis doing a live stream concert, and how the band's general plans have changed due to the pandemic.

Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia tackle the backlash against Phil Labonte for comparing Nickelback to Metallica, Stryper's Michael Sweet and L.A. Guns' Tracii Guns making a “black metal record," and the recent spike in musical instrument sales during the lockdown.

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#336: Maria Brink (In This Moment) May 04, 2020

In This Moment vocalist Maria Brink is our guest this week. We discuss the theme behind the band's new album, Mother, how the death of family members influenced the writing and recording of the record, the visual aspect of In This Moment's live presentation and the difficulty of making that work on a budget, how collaborating with different singers is always exciting for her, the possibility of doing a video for the band's cover of Queen's "We Will Rock You" with Lzzy Hale and Taylor Momsen, how the coronavirus is inspiring her to use technology to reach her fanbase, and the possibility of the band doing a live streaming performance.

Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia discuss the recent drive-in concert in Denmark and whether that could work for metal bands, Randy Blythe’s statement that social distancing efforts would never be successful at a metal show, Bad Religion's decision to cancel instead of postpone their touring plans so fans can get ticket refunds, Lars Ulrich's statement that Metallica could write a new album during this time, and The Black Dahlia Murder charting on Billboard.

Songs: In This Moment - “The In-Between," “As Above, So Below," Paradise Lost - "Ghosts"

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#335: Jamey Jasta (Hatebreed) Apr 28, 2020

Jamey Jasta of Hatebreed is our guest this week. We celebrate 500 episodes of his own podcast, The Jasta Show, the importance of his show's sponsors for its survival, how he gets in trouble for speaking his mind and the lessons he has learned from his peers in podcasting. Turning to his band, he reveals how he thought The Rise of Brutality would never be released, feeling competitive with other bands when Hatebreed were coming up, and the role the Melvins played in him falling in love with live music. We also discuss heavy metal's reputation as an angry old guy on the lawn and his suspicions that he was named after James Taylor.

Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia tackle some fan mail on when we think metalheads will be able to attend live shows again and we discuss the coronavirus battle rap between Pete’s offspring.

Songs: Hatebreed - “When The Blade Drops," Jasta - “When The Contagion Is You” (featuring Matthew K. Heafy), Local H - “Turn The Bow”

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#334: Warbringer's John Kevill Apr 20, 2020

John Kevill from Warbringer joins the show this week. We discuss the band's new album, Weapons of Tomorrow, how his lyrics can be misinterpreted in light of recent events, the importance of the success of Woe To The Vanquished for Warbringer to survive as a band, how having a near-death experience as a band sharpened them musically, and breaking out of the neo-thrash mold. John also tells us about his studies of military history, the dangers of voluntarily putting your information on the internet, if the media deserve credit for less destructive behavior by humans, how he recently got into the stock market before the pandemic, how the past and present tend to rhyme and how we are in an obvious time of change in our culture.

Petar and Brandon take on Danny Carey's statement about a possible new Tool EP, and we finally have no choice but to tackle the nonsense from that one guy in Trapt.

Songs: Warbringer - “The Black Hand Reaches Out" and “Glorious End”

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#333: The Black Dahlia Murder's Trevor Strnad Apr 13, 2020

Trevor Strnad is back on the show to discuss the new Black Dahlia Murder album, Verminous. We tackle the vampire-related lyrical themes of the record, how it's easy to trace the new elements on each of the band's albums that helped them evolve to the next era, the myriad easter eggs on Verminous, and Ritual landing on many best-of-the-decade lists. We also discuss the power Bram Stoker’s Dracula has on women in particular, the greatness of actor Bill Paxton, Trevor's love of Symphony X and power metal, the danger of revisiting movies that you loved as a kid, and how today's films don't have the same cult impact they once did.

Petar and Brandon dish on Tommy Lee thinking the Mötley Crüe summer tour will still happen, our thoughts on what has to occur in order for that to be the case, and what the risks of doing a tour that soon would be.

Songs: The Black Dahlia Murder - “Verminous" and “Child of Night," and Allegaeon - “Roundabout” (Yes cover)

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#332: Testament's Chuck Billy Apr 07, 2020

Testament vocalist Chuck Billy is our guest this week. We discuss the band's new album, Titans of Creation, how it's the biggest risk the band has taken in their career, what it was like touring with Slayer on their farewell run, and the reason he prefers being on the road over being in the studio. We also talk about his recent bout with COVID-19, his fear of assimilating back into the public now that he's recovered, how dealing with it at the same time as other members of the touring party helped (and update on all of those people), and his thoughts on how the coronavirus could impact the future. On a lighter note, Chuck tells us about how he finds golf and boating as peaceful ways to get away from the world right now, and his desire to get a new dog.

Petar and Brandon discuss how the Testament record Dark Roots of Earth had a factor in Petar spending eight hours in jail back in 2013, and they jaw about the latest metal news as usual.

Songs: Testament - “Children of The Next Level," “Night of The Witch,” Wolfheart - “Hail of Steel”

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#331: August Burns Red Guitarist JB Brubaker Mar 31, 2020

August Burns Red guitarist JB Brubaker is our guest this week. We discuss the band's new record, Guardians, its loose lyrical theme, how the music he's written has changed since becoming a dad, and knowing when to call a demo a finished piece. We also talk about celebrating the 10th anniversary of Constellations with fans, the band's plans for rescheduling their scrapped tour with Killswitch Engage, the positive aspect of having extra time at home as a result of that unfortunate situation, his passion for collecting baseball cards, and the importance of keeping your hobbies alive for personal fulfillment.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn discuss the rumors surrounding a new band featuring Phil Anselmo and the three non-Tom Araya members of Slayer, Hatebreed’s decision to postpone their new album, and our thoughts on the spiking sales of Disturbed “Down With The Sickness."

Songs: August Burns Red - “Paramount” and "Defender," Heaven Shall Burn - “Eradicate”

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#330.5: Lucifer's Johanna Sadonis and Nicke Andersson Mar 27, 2020

Johanna and Nicke from Lucifer join us on a special in-between episode of The MetalSucks Podcast. We discuss the band's new record, Lucifer III, leaning more towards horror themes, the importance of using older equipment to their band's sound, how Johanna has always drawn inspiration from cemeteries, how mediocrity has contributed to quickly-changing trends, the look and style that is still very important to the rock scene, and why it’s so much easier to tour Europe than the U.S.

Songs: Lucifer - “Ghosts" and "Midnight Phantom," Candlemass - "The Pendulum," Têtêma - “Haunted On The Uptake”

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#330: Ice-T (Body Count) Mar 24, 2020

Our guest this week is the one and only Ice-T of Body Count. We discuss the state of emergency in our respective states, the reality of our country not being prepared for an outbreak and how he compares the current situation to other states of emergency he has experienced. We also talk about Body Count's new album, Carnivore, getting a Grammy nomination for Bloodlust and the importance of adding Will Putney as a producer. The conversation then turned back to current events: his experience with police while growing up in L.A. and how it echoes through today, information by itself being dangerous without a biased opinion to filter it, his collaboration with Jamey Jasta and how he thought Hatebreed were a racist band when he first heard about them, how you have to check your friends when they display hatred towards other people, and the true story behind Ice's greatest line in a film.

Petar, Brandon and Sylvia apologize for being annoyed last week by the coronavirus outbreak canceling concerts en masse, discuss Ice-T's New Jack City line that's been part of our 20-year friendship, Brandon pictured in a mullet as a child in a karate training facility, and much more.

Songs: Body Count - “Carnivore" and “Bum Rush,” Aether Realm - “Slave To The Riff”

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#329: Daniel DeFonce (Unique Leader Records, Continental Concerts) Mar 20, 2020

Continental Concerts booking agent and Unique Leader Records marketing guru Daniel DeFonce joins the show this week. Dan has a whole lot of advice for bands, including his strategy on how to book a tour for a band that has a lot of buzz behind them, the importance of a band being self-sufficient in promoting, emerging trends in social media (and some nostalgia on the switch from MySpace to Facebook), and the importance of a band's visual aesthetic and merchandising. He also shares his thoughts on a band having a “uniform” on stage and how fans need to push themselves harder to get out of their house and go to live events.

Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia discuss Insane Clown Posse's dirty snow-eating tactic for defeating the coronavirus, Michael Bolton auditioning for Black Sabbath, and Alice in Chains guitarist Jerry Cantrell returning to the studio for a solo record.

Songs: Brand of Sacrifice - “Charlotte," Signs of The Swarm - “Malformed Dissonance," Viscera - “Immersed in Ire”

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#328: Jami Morgan (Code Orange) Mar 09, 2020

Jami Morgan of Code Orange is back on the show following his appearance on episode #243 back in 2018! We discuss the band's forthcoming album, Underneath, the hundreds of hours the band spends working on their visual aesthetic, shaking up fans with something new every album, working with Chris Vrenna from Nine Inch Nails this time around and upgrading the stage show for this new album cycle. Jami also tells us what it's like to have grown up in a band he's been in since the age of 17, hardcore music being so important to their work ethic, playing The Dillinger Escape Plan's final show, taking constructive criticism from online commenters, and the importance of several of the metal scene's leading younger bands playing together on this summer's Slipknot tour.

Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia discuss the coronavirus taking out SXSW, Randy Blythe's non-comment on the split with Chris Adler, Robb Flynn doubling down on rap metal, and our thoughts on being honest as an artist.

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#327: Andy Williams (Every Time I Die, All Elite Wrestling) Mar 02, 2020

Every Time I Die guitarist and All Elite Wrestling newcomer Andy Williams is our guest this week. We discuss all things Every Time I Die, wrestling and the intersection between those two worlds, including Andy's road from metal icon to wrestling star, the anxiety of recording the new ETID album and having to leave to get in the ring, his fandom of the WCW as a kid and more. We also talk about other topics related to his work in both music and wrestling: the best hair metal ballads of all time and how becoming a professional wrestler has allowed him to appreciate garbage music more, his memory of the Mass Transit incident, how the backstage experience at wrestling has changed over the years, if the tag team breakup storyline is inevitable for The Butcher, The Blade, and The Bunny, and an update on the progress of the new Every Time I Die record.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn tackle listener emails regarding our argument about the term “relevance” in music (an outgrowth of last week's conversation about System a Down), our fear of discussing politics because we really don’t know anything besides headlines, and our stories of attending live wrestling events as kids.

Songs: Every Time I Die - “Map Change," Orthodox - “Cut”

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#326: Sacha Dunable (Intronaut) Feb 25, 2020

Intronaut guitarist and vocalist Sacha Dunable is our guest this week. We discuss if the band's long break between albums benefited the music on their new record, Fluid Existential Inversions, the decision to let go of founding drummer Danny Walker following abuse allegations leveled against him, how the band dynamic has changed after that decision was made and how close Sacha himself was to quitting Intronaut in recent years. We also chatted about his excitement for Intronaut’s upcoming North American tour with Cult of Luna, his custom guitar company, Dunable Guitars, how he got credited as a guitar tech on Tool's latest album, his creation of the world’s first “smokeable” six-string guitar, and which guitar player he'd like to make a custom guitar for.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn discuss Ozzy Osbourne's cancelation of his No More Tours 2 tour (again), John Dolmayan's comment that System of A Down never reached their potential, and ex-Fear Factory bassist Christian Olde Wolbers' political finger-pointing post.

Songs: Intronaut - “Cubensis” and “Pangloss”

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#325: Devin Townsend Feb 17, 2020

Devin Townsend is back on the show for his record-setting fourth appearance! We discuss his upcoming North American tour with Haken and The Contortionist, how his latest album, Empath, has ties to his journey into middle age, his realization that he is not a great band member and how that affects the creative process, how being a working musician is 80% logistics, all of his tours becoming special, one-of-a-kind events, and his plans on playing Strapping Young Lad songs this summer. Devin also shares his evolutionary theory on why kids are mean to their parents and talks accountability in music getting misconstrued as having a stance on morality.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn, tackle the drunken Cameo video that Vince Neil made for a fan, Lamb of God’s entire new record being political in nature, and the joy of knowing Danny DeVito is a Mr. Bungle fan.

Songs: Devin Townsend - “Genesis," Loathe - “Screaming," Irist - “Burning Sage”

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#324: Chris Garza (Suicide Silence) Feb 10, 2020

Our guest this week is Suicide Silence guitarist Chris Garza. We discuss the band's new album, Become The Hunter, the accompanying trilogy of music videos, if he considers Become The Hunter a return to form after the band's controversial self-titled album, how the door has been opened for more experimentation after that record, his gratitude for being able to continue with Suicide Silence after the death of Mitch Lucker, and the importance of being grateful after something real happens in your life. Chris also tells us about his love of true crime documentaries, the story behind the band's signature burger known as The Meltdown, why his favorite place in the world is Bangkok, and his love/hate relationship with traveling and his fear of flying.

Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia discuss how wrong we were about the Mötley Crüe, Def Leppard, Poison arena tour selling well, our thoughts on the new Lamb of God song and coming to terms with the fact that metal is following the evolution of jazz by becoming a niche genre.

Songs: Suicide Silence “Feel Alive” and “Love Me To Death”

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#323: Delain's Charlotte Wessels and Martijn Westerholt Feb 03, 2020

Delain vocalist Charlotte Wessels and keyboardist Martijn Westerholt join us on the podcast this week. We discuss the band's new record, Apocalypse and Chill, their ideas for the best possible apocalypse experience, the hopeful vibe that the lyrical approach on the record conveys despite the dark subject matter, the use of technology in the making of the album, the importance of never planning a direction when creating music, Charlotte’s desire to sing the album’s ballad live on stage, and the heavier presence of electronics this time around. We also discuss Martijn's trip to Las Vegas to get married and the romantic milestones we endure to celebrate our partners.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn tackle yet another sad death in the metal family with the death of Corrosion of Conformity drummer Reed Mullin, as well as Kobe Bryant's passing and the metal community's reaction to it.

Songs: Corrosion of Conformity - “13 Angels," Delain - “One Second” and “Burning Bridges”

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#322: Kirk Windstein (Crowbar) Jan 27, 2020

This week riff-master Kirk Windstein of Crowbar comes on the podcast to discuss his first solo album, Dream in Motion. Kirk tells us about the challenge of covering Jethro Tull, which solo artist he thinks successfully broke away from their main band to flourish on their own, the major influence of Carnivore on the Crowbar sound, his favorite Type O Negative record, which festival would be perfect for all the bands whose members comprise Down to play, his favorite Down release and why, an update on the completion of the four Down EPs that were supposed to make up Down IV, and when we can expect a new Crowbar album (hint: very soon).

Petar and Brandon talk about the sudden passing of Cynic and Death drummer Sean Reinert, the influence that he had on modern heavy metal drumming, what Death's Human and Cynic’s Focus did for us as young metal fans, and the importance of those records in the history of the genre.

Song: Cynic - “How Could I," Kirk Windstein - “Dream In Motion” and “Aqualung”

Stream this week’s episode below. Remember to subscribe to the MetalSucks Podcast on iTunes, subscribe to our direct feed or download this episode directly. The MetalSucks Podcast is a member of the Jabberjaw podcast network.

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#321.5: Poppy Jan 24, 2020

In this special half-episode of The MetalSucks Podcast we get a quick chat with Poppy to discuss her new album, I Disagree. Poppy tells us about the lyrical growth from her YouTube persona to this record, the importance of having a following on multiple platforms for success in today's music climate, the dark imagery that motivated her to change her persona into something more realistic, and the concept behind the music video for “Anything Like Me." She also discusses growing up on the internet and how it can make you or destroy you if it isn't used the right way, the feeling that she wouldn’t exist without the internet, the honesty in burying certain elements that she felt weren’t genuine, and her peace with knowing that the right people will find her music.

Songs: Poppy - “Anything Like Me" and "I Disagree," Bohren & Der Club of Gore - “Tief Gesunken”

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#321: Sepultura Vocalist Derrick Green Jan 21, 2020

Sepultura frontman Derrick Green joins us this week. We discuss the band's new album, Quadra, how the numerology concept throughout it relates to social issues, the importance of branching out in different musical directions with each record for both the longevity of Sepultura and for reaching Derrick's personal goals, the fear of being in a band that traps themselves into one particular musical sound, and the importance of just having fun when creating music. Derrick also talks about the importance of family life and its deteriorating quality today, questions if modern day propaganda is geared to a selfish individual outlook, and speaks to the power of art in today's culture.

Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia discuss their experience watching Tool live on the Fear Inoculum tour, Brandon’s altercation with someone sitting in his seat, and the importance of younger rock and metal bands bringing the same excitement into our genre that Tool do.

Songs: Sepultura - “Isolation" and “Last Time," Konvent - "Ropes Pt. II"

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#320: Midnight Mastermind Athenar Jan 13, 2020

Midnight mastermind Athenar is our guest this week. We discuss the band's new album, Rebirth by Blasphemy, and how it fits into Midnight's history starting with the band's early seven-inches, as well as the difficulty of writing lyrics in the bizarre realm of metal, if he would ever create a record with other musicians or if he always plans to maintain full creative control, and the importance of the visual aspect behind Midnight. Athenar also tells us a bit about his personal life, explaining how a Cleveland native became a fan of his hometowns rival Pittsburgh Steelers, the charm of Cleveland's negative attitude, his lifelong passion for record collecting, the possibility of a four-year-old being a tour manager for Midnight, what instruments he learned to play as a child himself, and the joy that comes with temporarily losing his cell phone.

Petar, Brandon and Jozalyn discuss the passing of legendary Rush drummer Neil Peart, the legacy of what he did for drummers everywhere, and the art that Rush left behind for the world. We also mourn the passing of Black Breath’s Elijah Nelson, and we talk about Lorna Shore's decision to release their album with the vocals of fired and disgraced frontman CJ McCreery.

Songs: Rush - “Ceiling Unlimited," Midnight - “Fucking Speed and Darkness” and “Rising Scum”

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#319: The Best of 2019 (Part 2), feat. Lars Frederiksen (Rancid, The Old Firm Casuals) Dec 16, 2019

This week we resume our annual best-of-the-year episode with part two (part one right here), featuring our five favorite albums of 2019. We play a couple of tracks from each record that we found to be special, and feature an interview with Lars Frederiksen of The Old Firm Casuals and Rancid. This is our last episode of 2019, so come and celebrate the highlights that made this year important as we celebrate our love of heavy music!

Songs: Whitechapel - “When A Demon Defiles A Witch" and "Hickory Creek," Possessed - “No Room In Hell" and "Shadowcult," Periphery - “Blood Eagle” and "Garden In The Bones," The Old Firm Casuals - “Traitor” and “Motherland” and Tool - “7empest."

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#318: Best of 2019 (Part 1) feat. Vicky Psarakis (The Agonist), Ray Alder (Fates Warning) and Chelsea Wolfe Dec 09, 2019

This week we bring you part one of our annual two-part Top 15 albums of the year episode. We count down our favorite albums from #15 to #6 (our top five will come next week) and we play a track from each record. Vicky Psarakis of The Agonist, Ray Alder of Fates Warning and Chelsea Wolfe, three of our picks, also join us for quick interviews. Come celebrate another great year with us and the music we love on The Metalsucks Podcast.

Songs: Jinjer - “On The Top," The Agonist - “As One We Survive," Opeth - “Universal Truth," Cult of Luna - “Lay Your Head To Rest," Ray Alder - “Lost," Torche - “Admission," Brutus - “War," Ardours - “Last Moment," Refused - “Turn The Cross," Chelsea Wolfe - “Deranged For Rock N Roll”

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#317: Clint Lowery (Sevendust) Dec 02, 2019

This week our guest is Sevendust guitarist Clint Lowery, also formerly of Dark New Day, Korn, Seether and Call Me No One. We talk about his debut solo album, God Bless The Renegades, the weight of putting his name on a record as opposed to a project with a band, Wolfgang Van Halen’s role in the project and the special songs he plans on performing live while touring the record. We also discuss the draw of decadence in rock and roll for young people, his thoughts on a healthy approach to social media, his relationship with God and the struggle to find trust, and an update on the next record from Sevendust.

Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia discuss all the Mötley Crüe news, from the initial reunion announcement to the financials surrounding the tour to how much we would pay to see the touring package (with Def Leppard and Poison), our thoughts on if Slayer came back after a few years, and Zakk Sabbath making an announcement to commemorate Black Sabbath’s 50th anniversary.

Songs: Clint Lowery, “God Bless The Renegades” and “Kings," Avatarium, “The Fire I Long For”

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#316: Stone Sour Guitarist Josh Rand Nov 25, 2019

Nile mastermind Karl Sanders is our guest this week. We discuss the writing process for Nile's new album, Vile Nilotic Rites, the extensive touring prior to recording it, keeping up that momentum in the studio, the anxiety that comes with releasing new music and what made this album cycle different, how producer Mark Lewis helped strengthen its production, why he isn't interested in playing a classic album in its entirety and more. Sanders also shares the lessons that he brings to life from training in martial arts, his current gripe with modern day reviewers of music, and if there are any secret personal lyrics behind Nile songs.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn tackle the news of Sleep's planned indefinite hiatus, which Matt Pike band we prefer, The Black Crowes reuniting with only Chris and Rich Robinson from the classic band lineup, and Corey Taylor’s thought on writing great music sober.

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#315: Nile Founder Karl Sanders Nov 18, 2019

Nile mastermind Karl Sanders is our guest this week. We discuss the writing process for Nile's new album, Vile Nilotic Rites, the extensive touring prior to recording it, keeping up that momentum in the studio, the anxiety that comes with releasing new music and what made this album cycle different, how producer Mark Lewis helped strengthen its production, why he isn't interested in playing a classic album in its entirety and more. Sanders also shares the lessons that he brings to life from training in martial arts, his current gripe with modern day reviewers of music, and if there are any secret personal lyrics behind Nile songs.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn tackle the news of Sleep's planned indefinite hiatus, which Matt Pike band we prefer, The Black Crowes reuniting with only Chris and Rich Robinson from the classic band lineup, and Corey Taylor’s thought on writing great music sober.

Songs: Nile “Long Shadows of Dread" and “Vile Nilotic Rites”

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#314: Tyler Bates (Film Score Composer, Marilyn Manson Collaborator) on The MetalSucks Podcast #314 Nov 11, 2019

This week we chat with film composer and Marilyn Manson producer Tyler Bates. Tyler worked with Manson on The Pale Emperor and Heaven Upside Down and has composed musical scores for the entire Guardians of the Galaxy and John Wick franchises, in addition to films such as Deadpool 2, Watchmen, 300, Halloween (2007), Atomic Blonde and numerous others. We discuss his involvement with the first live action Cirque Du Soleil show, R.U.N., how that process compares to composing films, the multiple TV series he has worked on recently, and the important role The Shield played in inspiring him to compose for television. We also talk about our favorite soundtracks (including Matt Dillion’s City of Ghosts, a personal favorite of Petar's which Tyler composed), his take on Martin Scorsese's comments about the Marvel world not being cinema, if working with Rob Zombie on a film was a different challenge because he is a musician, and the story behind ending The Devil’s Rejects with “Free Bird."

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn discuss the passing of Mercyful Fate bassist Timi Hansen, the reunion of Rage Against The Machine, and why James and Lars of Metallica should not consider using riffs written by Kirk Hammett.

Songs: Tyler Bates - “Texas Motel” (Killer Joe score), “Run Baby Girl” (The Devil’s Rejects score) and “Fever Dream” (300 score), Marilyn Manson - “We Know Where You Fucking Live”

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#313: Jinjer Vocalist Tatiana Shmayluk Nov 06, 2019

This week we have vocalist Tatiana Shmayluk of Jinjer on the show. We discuss the short gap between the Micro EP and new full-length album Macro, the difficulty of writing lyrics quickly as opposed to taking your time, how deadlines help motivate her, and the lyrics behind the track “Retrospection” and how it is connected with her childhood. Tati also tells us about growing up in the Ukraine as the U.S.S.R. was falling apart in the '90s, how her childhood was creative and happy despite the circumstances, her appreciation for the human element of art in the digital era, the next homecoming show that she will be performing and her idea for a massive stage show she hopes to accomplish.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn have another music episode in store for you guys in response to not one but two listener emails about the MetalSucks 25 Best Metal Albums of 2010 - 2019 list.

Songs: “On The Top” and “Pit of Consciousness” by Jinjer

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#312: Will Putney (Fit for an Autopsy) Oct 28, 2019

Fit For an Autopsy songwriter/guitarist and metal producer Will Putney returns to the show this week to discuss Fit For an Autopsy's new album The Sea of Tragic Beasts. He tells us the dream that motivated the title of the album, how the traumatic issues children in broken homes face influenced it, the positive message that the band tries to put forward, and how he utilizes his artistic output to influence the next generation. Will also recounts the process of producing Body Count’s No Lives Matter, his story of Body Count performing at the Grammys pre-taping, and the story of getting dragged off the stage as fast as possible at the Grammys.

Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia break down the statement released by Chris Adler in regards to his departure from Lamb of God, Zakk Wylde not being involved in the new Ozzy solo record, and Danny Carey’s statement about Tool not being a metal band.

Songs: “Mirrors" and “Shepherd” by Fit For an Autopsy, “The Last Gasp of Street Rock N’ Roll” by Ramallah.

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#311: Norma Jean Vocalist Cory Brandan Oct 21, 2019

This week we chat with Cory Brandan of Norma Jean! We discuss his return to Norma Jean after releasing the Hundred Suns project, having the lifer mentality when it comes to the art form of metal, the difficult writing process for Norma Jean's new album, All Hail, how the loss of a fan inspired the creation of many songs, going through the stages of grief while creating songs, comparing the lessons learned from art to those learned to history, the essence of a “fictional reality,” and much more.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn also go through and breakdown the completion of The MetalSucks 25 Best Metal Albums of 2010 - 2019 poll, talk about the album we feel should never have made the list, and share our overall thoughts on each selection.

Songs: Norma Jean “Safety Last” and “Landslide Defeater,” “Black Gold” by Infected Rain

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#310: Refused Drummer David Sandström Oct 14, 2019

This week we chat with Refused drummer David Sandström. We discuss the band's new album, War Music, the emotional energy needed to write the record, the years of Refused’s inactivity and if he had any clue the band could ever experience a second life, being very obscure in the States during their original run, the legacy and lasting power of The Shape of Punk to Come, and how War Music is his proudest moment as a musician. David also talks about what it's like to be in a band that is a voice on the far left, the shrinking of the middle class in our current economy, and how he's able to ignore artists' personal beliefs and focus on the art itself.

Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia attempt to make a Halloween bit, discuss the reveal that Edsel Dope is Xer0 from the reunited Static- X and Dope's subsequent denial, and we speculate on why people are so curious to find out who the masked tribute singer is.

Songs: Refused “Blood Red” and “Economy of Death”

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#308: GosT Mastermind Baalberith Oct 07, 2019

GosT mastermind Baalberith is our guest on the podcast this week. We discuss GosT's new album Valediction, having the record start heavier than all his previous one, the limitless possibilities working in the electronic music medium allows, his choice to include vocals on a majority of the album, the recent tour with 3Teeth, and his expectations for heading out with Mayhem and Gaahl’s Wyrd in Europe. We also have some fun creating our own horror film from scratch: we decide the genre that we want to tackle, create the hero we want to see on screen, force ourselves through the difficulty of creating a truly iconic villain, try to find an original weapon for our slasher, the plot that is going to scare the world, and our struggle to find a cool ending.

Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia tackle the reality of Chris Fehn hoping he will play again with Slipknot, the reveal of a lawsuit that has completely shut down Fear Factory, our thoughts on how Fear Factory could continue, and how lawsuits affect a band's fans.

Songs: GoST - “Wrapped in Wax” and “The Call of The Faithful," Jinjer - “Judgement (& Punishment)”

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#308: Gatecreeper Vocalist Chase Mason Sep 30, 2019

This week's guest is Gatecreeper frontman Chase Mason. We discuss the band's upcoming new album, Deserted, the insane hand-drawn cover art by Brad Moore and the story behind it, his favorite tour memory with Power Trip, the bromance between Gatecreeper and Iron Reagan, and his take on pornogrind. We also talk about his love for Pauly Shore despite (or perhaps because of) not being much of a film buff, how having a short attention span is responsible for his love of music above other art forms, and his struggle to pack properly for winter touring after growing up in Arizona.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn discuss Jozalyn's recent tour of the midwest and her run-in with a stranger from the past, the death of horror actor Sid Haig, Rob Zombie’s statement about horror and metal being a step above pornography, and James Hetfield checking himself back into rehab.

Songs: Gatecreeper - “Everlasting," Gatecreeper - “From The Ashes," and Dawn of Disease - “Procession of Ghosts."

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#307: Opeth's Mikael Åkerfeldt Sep 23, 2019

Opeth mastermind Mikael Åkerfeldt is our guest this week! We delve into his search for the perfect Latin phrase to name an album, his choice to sing in two languages, King Diamond's influence on the new album, how the term “heavy” has changed throughout his career and his opinion of the phrase, writing the new record in secret without anyone knowing, his refusal to modernize his studio and using old equipment to record, using more samples on this record than all the previous Opeth records combined, the story behind bringing a lute to record on Morningrise, and an update on his possible collaboration with Mike Portnoy.

Also: Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia discuss the money pit that was Newsted and the difficulty established artists have when starting over with a new band. They also address a listener's concerns about the lack of comedy bits on the show over the last month, and Dio and Brisco throw down a new rap attacking Uncle Brandon bestowing the "C" word upon their generation.

Songs: “Heart In Hand” by Opeth, “Transcendence” by Imperimum Decadenz, and “Valediction” by Insomnium.

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#306.5: Ilan Rubin (Nine Inch Nails, Angels & Airwaves, The New Regime) Sep 19, 2019

In this special half-episode episode we catch up with Nine Inch Nails and Angels & Airwaves drummer Ilan Rubin about his solo project, The New Regime. Ilan tells us about his choice to release the album as four EPs -- titled Heart, Mind, Body, and Soul -- how much touring he would like to do with The New Regime despite his commitments with NIN and Angels & Airwaves, the difficulty of juggling all of his projects, pulling double-duty on tours with multiple bands, and the importance of time-managing and efficiency in modern times.

Meanwhile Petar plays a few tracks he's stoked on from records coming out this fall.

Songs: The New Regime - “A Way To Feel Again," Kadaver - “The Devil’s Master," Life of Agony - “Lay Down," The Agonist - “As One We Survive”

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#306: Cult of Luna Guitarist/Vocalist Johannes Persson Sep 16, 2019

Johannes Persson of the mighty Cult of Luna is our guest this week. We discuss the band's much lauded collaboration with Julie Christmas, Mariner -- which recently landed on our list of the 25 Best Metal Albums of 2010-2019 -- and its impact on Cult of Luna's new full-length, A Dawn to Fear, what it was like performing that album live due to popular demand, getting everybody back together and on the same page for A Dawn to Fear, the companion videos that became a nightmare project and how they ended up turning into a short film, his distaste for extensive touring, and a number of other subjects.

Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia Alvarado (filling in for Jozalyn) tackle the comments Brandon made last week about the modern generation, the drama between The Agonist vocalist Vicky Psarakis and former singer Alissa White-Gluz, and former Anthrax vocalist Dan Nelson beating up the elderly.

Songs: Cult of Luna, "The Silent Man" and "Lay Your Head To Rest"

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#305: Monolord Bassist Mika Häkki Sep 09, 2019

Monolord bassist Mika Häkki is our guest this week. We talk about his musical upbringing in Finland, the gateway bands that led him into underground metal, watching the Swedish metal scene explode, the impact of bands like At the Gates and Refused had on both him and the world, the trial and error process that saw the discovery of Monolord's sound, the influence country music has on him, the journey towards signing with Relapse Records for the release of No Comfort, and the importance of artists developing naturally.

Petar and Brandon tackle the John Travolta and Fred Durst box office failure, Tool dethroning Taylor Swift for the #1 charting album, her fans' reactions to the horrible injustice, and Maynard’s lengthy clarification on the phrase #bummer with regards to Justin Bieber liking his band's music.

Songs: Monolord “The Last Leaf” and “The Bastard Son”

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#304: Korn/KXM Drummer Ray Luzier Sep 03, 2019

This week we're joined by drummer Ray Luzier, from Korn and KXM! We discuss the origin of the supergroup KXM, the chemistry between band members, the group's creative freedom, and why they've never played a live show. We also chat about Korn's new album, The Nothing, the personal tragedy vocalist Jonathan Davis suffered during the creation of the album, and why this is Ray's favorite record he has done with Korn. Finally, we get Ray's thoughts on Army of Anyone’s first and only album, learn whether or not the band completed any material for a sophomore effort, and explore the possibility of that band reforming to give fans new music.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn also discuss and give their reviews of the new Tool album, Fear Inoculum. How does the album compare to Tool's other work? What does the record mean to the rock and metal world? And will this be the final Tool album???

Songs

KXM - “Lightning”
Korn - “Cold”
Army of Anyone - “It Doesn’t Seem to Matter”

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#303: Betraying the Martyrs Vocalist Aaron Matts Aug 26, 2019

Betraying the Martyrs vocalist Aaron Matts is our guest this week. We discuss the recent fire that struck the band's trailer and forced them to cancel their North American tour, the results of the investigation into the cause of the blaze, the sad news that the drum kit Chris Adler used with Megadeth burned up, how Adler became the band's manager, how skate culture was Aaron's gateway into music, the importance of using cannabis at a responsible age, and how crucial it is to wake up far away from the cell phone to start your morning right.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn tackle the news that physical pre-orders of the new Tool record are sold out and the homophobic reaction sparked by Attila’s "gay" kiss on stage.

Songs: Betraying The Martyr - "Eternal Machine," "Parasite"

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#302: Lacuna Coil's Cristina Scabbia and Andrea Ferro Aug 20, 2019

Cristina Scabbia and Andrea Ferro from Lacuna Coil guest on the show this week. We discuss their recent live DVD commemorating the band's 20th anniversary, everything that went into the production and special guests of that two-day performance (and what went wrong that viewers would never know), how revisiting songs they haven’t played in years influenced the new album, Black Anima. We also look back at the standout tours that broke Lacuna Coil into a different league, the tour that they did that they cherish the most, and a touching moment where Cristina felt a sense of peace after a personal loss.

Petar and Brandon deliver another music episode inspired by a fan calling them out on being old men by praising '90s hard rock over modern day mainstream rock.

Songs: Lacuna Coil - “Layers of Time," and “The House of Shame (Live)”

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#301: The Contortionist Vocalist Michael Lessard Aug 12, 2019

The Contortionist vocalist Michael Lessard returns to the show. We discuss the band's new EP, Our Bones: how the creative seeds for the record came out of soundchecks while on tour, enjoying the hyper-focused lens that a shorter release grants the songwriting process, producing the music video for “Early Grave” and his passion for editing music videos, and choosing to cover the Smashing Pumpkins “1979." Lessard also tells us how the band has embraced meet and greets with fans, how James Taylor was hugely influential to his singing style, the best gift he has ever received from a fan, and his thoughts on seeing the band's growth in Europe as they head into a headlining tour there.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn tackle and review the big release this week with Slipknot’s We Are Not Your Kind and the first new Tool song in over 13 years, and address the link between a mass shooter and heavy metal in the latest tragedy from gun violence.

Song: The Contortionist - “Early Grave," Infinity Shred - “Long May You Run," Strung Out - “Daggers”

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#300: Carnifex Vocalist Scott Lewis Aug 05, 2019

Carnifex vocalist Scott Lewis is the guest on our 300th episode. We discuss the band's new album World War X, the concept behind the record, the importance of the atmospherics and layers to the album's sound, the importance of the visual aesthetic in this album's videos, and how this year’s Summer Slaughter tour has been going and why it's working so well. We also discuss Scott's passion for action films, the importance of Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy, why Tim Burton’s vision is not on that same level, modern day feature film directors choosing to go to television instead of doing more features, and the most important contribution to society we have power over as individuals.

Petar, Brandon and Jozalyn tackle the Tool cycle of news that came out last week including their music's debut on streaming platforms, Jamey Jasta’s comments about Chvrches, argue about the value of legacy bands versus those that draw more on festival slots.

Songs: Carnifex - “World War X" and “No Light Shall Save Us” (Featuring Alissa White- Gluz)

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#299: Killswitch Engage Bassist and Visual Artist Mike D'Antonio Jul 30, 2019

This week we talk to Mike D’Antonio of Killswitch Engage. We discuss the journey of making the band's new record Atonement, Jesse Leach's vocal cord surgery during the recording of the album, signing to Metal Blade Records and the pride they have in completing their record contract with Roadrunner, ranking all the cover artwork he's created for Killswitch from best to worst, and his thoughts on reaching new fans after 20 years as a band. We also talk all things Cro-Mags, from the band's massive influence on Mike to his thoughts on the existence of two current versions and his excitement about touring with Cro-Mags JM (featuring vocalist John Joseph and drummer Mackie Jayson), and we discuss his lifelong passion for comic books.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn cover the latest metal headlines and discuss the life-changing week preceding this episode with the birth of Dio Patton Spajic, Petar's newest little one.

Songs: Killswitch Engage - “Unleashed," Damn Your Eyes - “Ascension," Sacred Reich - “Manifest Reality”

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#298: Hank Von Hell (ex-Turbonegro) Jul 22, 2019

Ex-Turbnegro frontman Hank Von Hell is our guest this week. We discuss his first North American solo tour later this summer, the circumstances that led to the original tour's postponement earlier this year and the difficulty of rescheduling all the dates, how his past addictions still haunt him and the myth of rock n' roll's tie to mental illness, why he had to step away from the rock scene for many years, why the need for rock n' roll is back in a big way, his current relationship with all the guys from Jackass, the symbolism of his comeback video "Bum to Bum" featuring Steve O, and an update on the solo EP that he had planned to release in time for the North American tour.

Petar and Brandon talk about their love for the 20 worst modern metal videos, the Mudvayne reunion rumors, Justin Bieber’s wife defending him from Maynard James Keenan, Metallica performing to 1% of the population of Finland, and Brandon not being excited about Rob Zombie's 3 from Hell.

Songs: Hank Von Hell - “Bum To Bum” and John 5 - "Zoinks"

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#297: Sabaton Bassist Pär Sundström Jul 15, 2019

Sabaton bassist Pär Sundström is our guest this week. We discuss the band's new album The Great War and the World War I anniversary that inspired it, the concept of war history and heavy metal working so well together, the draw metalheads feel towards towards such topics, the band's recent tour across Europe with a full choir, filling in last minute when Manowar canceled at Hellfest, having to cut all pyrotechnics when playing shows in the States, and how art forms of all kinds have changed over time.

Petar and Brandon unleash another music episode thanks to a fan submitted email, taking on the challenge of naming our top ten albums from bands that we think ended too quickly. Make sure to comment or send in your picks after you check out ours.

Songs: Sabaton - “The Red Baron” and “Fields of Verdun”

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#296: Torche's Jonathan Nuñez Jul 08, 2019

This week our guest is Torche guitarist Jonathan Nuñez. We discuss his switch from bass to guitar on the new album Admission, the benefits of writing an album with members living in different locations, how to make sure a 7” record is profitable for a band, why he feels the David Lee Roth-era Van Halen is a musical enigma, growing up in Miami, being exposed to a variety of music and how his musical journey ended up in left field from his background and culture, the journey of music before the internet, and the excitement of still having friends that regularly expose each other to new music.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn tackle the events of Tau Cross: Relapse Records dropping the band, the other members' claim that they were blindsided by frontman Rob Miller, and Miller’s own response showing his true colors.

Songs: Torche - “Admission" and “Times Missing”

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#295: 3Teeth Vocalist Alexic Mincolla Jul 01, 2019

3Teeth frontman Alexis Mincolla is our guest this week. We discuss the band's upcoming album Metawar, the intensity of watching a performer do a 24-hook body suspension for the band's "Exxxit" music video and the inherent value of self destruction and how it can be empowering. Mincolla also tells us about his education and background in political science, his stance on the Bush Administration in comparison to our current President, how political theater in this era is similar to that of the WWE, the dystopian Hollywood visions that are currently coming to fruition, how we've gotten away from the world Mr. Rogers presented to us, how power generates corruption and human nature's inability to overcome it, and what our culture can learn from superheroes and supervillains.

Petar and Brandon tackle the anniversary of Slipknot’s debut record, the metal scene and concerts of that time and era, and the one year anniversary of the passing of metal legend Vinnie Paul Abbott.

Songs: 3Teeth - “Exxxit” and 3Teeth - “Affluenza”

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#294: Darkthrone's Nocturno Culto Jun 24, 2019

This week we we welcome Darkthrone's Nocturno Culto as our guest! We discuss the Darkthrone's new album, Old Star, the way the songs on the album are sequenced between ones authored by him and ones authored by Fenriz, his increasingly diplomatic view of music, the possibility of a sequel to his documentary The Misanthrope, the importance of being extreme during the rise of black metal, the Darkthrone album he feels is most under-appreciated, the process of getting the Old Star mix right with Sanford Parker, and the art of doing interviews after not doing them for many years.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn also discuss the sad news that Dave Mustaine has been diagnosed with throat cancer, Spotify's claim that they overpaid artist royalties in 2018, and Tom Morello's response to backlash over throwing a fan's phone into the crowd.

Songs: Darkthrone' “The Hardships of the Scots” and “Duke of Gloat”

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#293: He Is Legend Frontman Schuylar Croom Jun 18, 2019

He is Legend frontman Schuylar Croom is our guest this week. We discuss the band's new record White Bat, their recent misfortune of being robbed while on tour, the price that comes with performing while on substances, how the road can bring a dangerous loneliness to the vices that bind you, and the recently discovered way that He is Legend spend days off while on the road. Croom also talks about the importance of rejecting everything modern times have to offer in rock music, the vanishing mystique of bands due to constant updates on social media and what album he feels is one of the most underrated of all time.

Petar, Brandon and Jozalyn tackle the hate that Corey Taylor has been receiving for his new Slipknot mask, the one fan that defended it and his heartwarming reason why, and Danzig’s film debut getting lampooned by critics.

Songs: He Is Legend - “Burn All Your Rock Records," He Is Legend -“Boogiewoman," Blind Melon - “Toes Across The Floor”

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#292: Cynic's Paul Masvidal Jun 10, 2019

Paul Masvidal is our guest this week. We discuss his journey to the solo project simply titled Masvidal, how he needed to rediscover his identify for presenting music to the world after the recent chaos in the Cynic camp, the visual collaborations that are part of the new project, and his obligation to bring something true to the table when creating art. We also talk about the status of the next Cynic record, how the business side can affect the art of making music, his experience doing the Death to All tours, and how the songs he created with Death and Cynic eventually come to belong to the fans to keep the music alive.

Petar and Brandon tackle some of the more political stories of the week including YouTube’s decision to shut down Varg Vikernes's hate-filled channel and David Draiman’s opinions on bands refusing to perform in Israel.

Songs: Masvidal - “Into The War," Masvidal - “Parasite," Cynic - “Humanoid”

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#291: Baroness Mastermind John Dyer Baizley Jun 03, 2019

John Baizley from Baroness is our guest this week. We discuss the artwork for the band's new album Gold & Grey and the end of the color concept he started 12 years ago, the original title of the record and why it changed, which of the many album covers he's created is his favorite, his philosophy on making records and how the music for this one came together, the importance of being the leader in a collaborative vision for his creative endeavors and the adventurous approach that producer Dave Fridmann brought to the project.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn wax nostalgic about Rage Against The Machine and Brandon shares an experience he had with the The Mars Volta after news surfaced of their reunion. We also talk about Iron Maiden suing the makers of the video game Ion Maiden, the study which found you should not listen to metal while driving and much more.

Songs:
Baroness - “Borderlines”
Combichrist - “Understand”

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#290: Jonny Davy (Serpent of Gnosis, Job for a Cowboy) May 29, 2019

This week we talk with Jonny Davy, frontman for Serpent of Gnosis and Job for a Cowboy! We discuss the origin of his new project, the five-year delay in his ability to release new music, the possibility of doing a band like Job for a Cowboy part-time, the true difficulty of the financial inconsistencies that come with being in a band, the importance of the hustle to being successful in music, how a lot of things he and his bandmates pitch to one another are intended as jokes prior to becoming a reality, the possibility of touring with this new project, the story behind the photo of the JFAC van burning down, the demand and desire to still tour despite the difficulty of making the stars align to do so, the big question mark of the some future projects, and how 2014's 'Sun Eater' has become such a big fan favorite.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn also discuss the tragic news of the passing of Clown from Slipknot’s daughter, the quote written on Vinnie Paul’s new gravestone, Sanctuary deciding to continue after Warrel Dane’s death, Ozzy Osbourne using CBD to manage pain, Gojira guitarist Christian Andreu eating fire, and the scientist who discovered how to boil water with sound.

Songs:

Serpent of Gnosis “Paroxysmal Dance”

Serpent of Gnosis “The Colorless Capsule”

Cult of Luna “The Silent Man”

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#289: James Kent (aka Perturbator) May 21, 2019

Dark synthwave artist James Kent, aka Perturbator, is our guest this week. We discuss the crossover appeal of the synthwave genre to metal fans, his history in black metal and how a solo project is different from working with a band, how his music tells a narrative story similar to movie soundtracks, how he brings that feeling to his live performances, and the new direction he plans to take his music in the future. We also talk about how making music for video games differs from his own work, recent film soundtracks that have motivated him, and the importance of the 2011 film Drive to the dark synthwave movement.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn bring you our half-year "Best of" lists and the five records you need to hear before the summer starts when some major releases from Slipknot and Tool will take over our ears.

Songs:

Bad Religion - “Chaos From Within”

Periphery - “Garden In The Bones”

Possessed - “Shadowcult”

Perturbator - “Excess”

The Old Firm Casuals - “Holger Danske”

Whitechapel - “When A Demon Deflies A Witch”

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#288: Possessed Vocalist Jeff Becerra May 13, 2019

This week we talk with Jeff Becerra of Possessed. We discuss the long journey leading to Revelations of Oblivion, the first Possessed record in 33 years, the memory of how Possessed's classic lineup disbanded in late '80s and how the current lineup is the one he always wanted, the experience of recording using Willie Nelson’s microphone, and the openness and change he has witnessed in the metal scene through the decades. We also dive into Jeff's personal life: the punishment he endured as a kid compared to how he handles his own offspring, his decision to go to college and his desire to pursue a law degree, and the difficulties of withdrawing from medication.

Petar and Brandon tackle the news that the new Tool album has an official release date and discuss our expectation for the album, we talk about the latest lawsuit brought by Guns N’ Roses against a brewery, and we take some listener input about our Canadian music episode a few weeks back.

Songs:
Possessed - “No Room In Hell”
Ringworm - “Death Becomes My Voice”

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#287: Cryptopsy Vocalist Matt McGachy May 06, 2019

This week we have Cryptopsy frontman Matt McGachy on the show. We discuss the band's current tour with Aborted, how he became a death metal singer despite growing up a nu-metal kid, the motivation to get on stage and how it has changed for him through the years, and the importance of articulation during his vocal performances. We also talk about his passion for craft beers and how he feels he has become a beer snob, his death metal and craft beer podcast Vox & Hops, and we get an update on The Book of Suffering Tome 3.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn discuss Brandon removing his "Gooch" moniker form his stage name, Soilwork’s decision not to perform records in their entirety, the release of a Fear Factory greatest hits album without the band's knowledge and much more.

Songs:
Cryptopsy - “Sire of Sin”
Cryptopsy - “Fear His Displeasure”

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#286: Amy Sciarretto (Atom Splitter PR, ex-Roadrunner Records) Apr 30, 2019

This week we talk to Amy Sciarretto of Atom Spiltter PR. Amy tells us about how she got into the music industry and her time at Roadrunner Records, if click bait media helps or hurts her artists, the difficulty of doing damage control, the importance of bands having a mystique, if gimmicks are necessary for modern bands to reach a certain stage, how working in the industry has affected her love for music, the difficulty of working an eight hour day, and what her dog Higgins taught her that no human ever has.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn discuss ex-Slipknot percussionist Chris Fehn's claim that he was a hired hand. Next we address a Canadian listener's concern that The MetalSucks Podcast doesn't give his country any love, and we shine a spotlight on some of our favorite Canadian bands.

Songs:
Neil Merryweather- “Star Rider”
Woods of Ypres - “Everything I Touch Turns to Gold (And Then To Coal)”
Dead Quiet - “Spiritual Abuse”
Beyond Creation - “Algorythm”

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#285: Vince Edwards of Metal Blade Records Apr 22, 2019

Metal Blade Records videographer and content creator Vince Edwards is our guest this week. We talk about a number of different topics related to his work at one of metal's most venerated and longest running labels, including the recent signing of Killswitch Engage, some of his favorite underrated albums that came out on the label over the years, what it was like shooting Between the Buried and Me live, which band he's most excited to be able to work with in the future, how to market metal bands in modern times and the pressure to perform despite having a metalhead's dream job.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn discuss Misha Mansoor's comments on Periphery hitting their popularity ceiling, Kirk Hammett gearing up for a new Metallica record, Brain Johnson’s possible return to AC/DC, Hellyeah replacing Vinnie Paul, and who's most excited for Crazy Town’s The Gift of Game 20th anniversary tour.

Songs:
Fractal Universe - “Masterpiece’s Parallelism”
Abnormality - “Curb Stomp”
Destrage - “The Chosen One”

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#284: Dream Theater Keyboardist Jordan Rudess Apr 15, 2019

Dream Theater keyboardist and solo artist Jordan Rudess is our guest this week. We discuss his new solo album Wired for Madness and how he finds time for his own material within Dream Theater’s busy schedule, how blues influenced the album, the importance of using musical elements that make people smile in contrast to the heavy stuff and the importance of the visual aspect of the album's title track. We also talk Dream Theater: if the polarizing response to The Astonishing played a part in the direction of their new album Distance Over Time, celebrating the 20th anniversary of Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From a Memory, the difficulty of finding all the sounds he used on the original recording to replicate live, and at what stage in his life he discovered he needed to be a creative person.

Petar and Jozalyn tackle the church burnings in Louisiana, David Hasselhoff making metal songs, how Knight Rider would make a great concept for a metal album, Hot Topic somehow still thriving in the modern climate, the release of Oli Herbert’s cover of a Eurythmics song, his widow's strange behavior after that release, and the ongoing campaign to name the recently-photographed black hole after Chris Cornell.

Songs:
Jordan Rudess - “Why I Dream”
Dream Theater - “Fall Into The Light”
Dream Theater - “Paralyzed”

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#283: Born of Osiris Guitarist Lee McKinney Apr 08, 2019

Born of Osiris guitarist Lee McKinney is our guest this week. We talk about his debut solo record Infinite Mind, how the writing process compares to that of Born of Osiris, having Adrián Terrazas-González (formerly of The Mars Volta) contributing saxophone on the record, and why Born of Osiris chose to split their latest record into two releases. Lee also tells us about his love/hate relationship with playing guitar, how every instrument has become programmable, who his current favorite working guitarist is, the challenges of keeping up with social media as a musician and the recent break-in at his home.

Petar and Brandon comment on the New Zealand church burnings, Ozzy Osbourne postponing all of his 2019 shows, the mystery of Doyle’s name disappearing from the Misfits reunion show poster, and James Hetfield’s debut film being another Ted Bundy story we really don’t need.

Song:
Lee McKinney - “A Never-ending Explosion”
Born of Osiris - “Analogs In A Cell”
Druids - “The Whip”

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#282: After the Burial Vocalist Anthony Notarmaso Apr 01, 2019

After the Burial vocalist Anthony Notarmaso is our guest this week. We discuss the band's new album Evergreen, the lessons learned from previous album Dig Deep, the 10th anniversary of their breakout record Rareform and the band's upcoming tour with Killswitch Engage and Parkway Drive. Anthony also tells us about his successful business outside the band, how finding the perfect partner has helped him grow as a person, the importance of having realistic expectations in the music industry, how the identity of being a frontman in a band has presented challenges as time goes on, and how important it is to be sincere and honest on stage and on record.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn discuss why Ozzy Osbourne should be knighted (and admit we don’t know what being knighted means), discuss Vince's analysis of the Chris Fehn vs. Slipknot lawsuit, and revel at the insane amount of money Devin Townsend spent on his new album Empath.

Songs:
After The Burial - “Behold The Crown” New Album
Sworn Enemy - “Prepare for Payback”

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#281: Allegaeon Guitarist Greg Burgess and Vocalist Riley McShane Mar 26, 2019

Greg Burgess and Riley McShane of Allegaeon are our guests this week. We discuss the making of the band's new album Apoptosis, how the addition of bass player BooBoo Money (Brandon Michael) changed the dynamic of the record, how Greg almost went the classical guitar route before becoming a metal lifer, the lyrical topic Riley wishes he could tackle for the band, which band member put the kibosh on covering Armored Saint, the curse of Applebee’s that has long haunted Allegaeon, and Riley's hot take on season three of True Detective.

Petar and Brandon hash through our listeners' reactions to last week's discussion about EPs, Chris Fehn's lawsuit against Slipknot, and Slayer and Primus potentially making magic happen together on tour.

Songs:
Allegaeon - “Stellar Tidal Disruption”
Allegaeon - “Extremophiles (B)”

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#280: Big Business Drummer Coady Willis Mar 18, 2019

Big Business drummer Coady Willis is our guest this week. We discuss the band's new record The Beast You Are, the process of songwriting as a two piece throughout the years, the importance of current tour-mates Clutch in Big Business's career trajectory, how pulling double duty with the Melvins a few years back heavily influenced Mind The Drift and the important legacy of that band, and growing up in Seattle during the rise of grunge in the '90s.

Also this week, Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn tackle the three greatest rock and metal EPs ever released and parlay that into a discussion on EPs in general: why they are released? what can make them special? what makes the majority of them uninteresting to fans?

Songs:
Bloodbath - “Weak Aside”
The Dillinger Escape Plan featuring Mike Patton - “Hollywood Squares”
Alice In Chains - “Rotten Apple”
Big Business - “Let Them Grind”

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#279: Whitechapel Guitarist Zach Householder Mar 11, 2019

Whitechapel guitarist Zach Householder is our guest this week. We discuss the band's new album The Valley and the Tennessee location that inspired it, how Mark of the Blade played a role in inspiring the new one, the importance of putting on a great live show at this stage of their career and the upcoming Chaos and Carnage tour with Dying Fetus." We also rap about the band's collective favorite movies and TV shows, how video gaming got Zach into metal and the games the guys play together while on tour, the band's signature Possession beer, and, as a huge Evil Dead fan, his least favorite thing about the franchise.

Brandon and Petar talk about the death of Keith Flint of The Prodigy and share a story about seeing them live, new Tool album updates, and out thoughts on the new Deftones record reminding Chino Moreno of White Pony.

Songs:
Whitechapel - “When A Demon Defiles A Witch”
Whitechapel - “Third Depth”

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#278: Periphery Drummer Matt Halpern Mar 04, 2019

Periphery drummer Matt Halpern joins us this week. We talk about the band's new album Periphery IV: Hail Stan, which stan he'd be hailing if he had a choice, the importance of taking a full year to write the record, releasing it on the band's own label 3DOT Recordings, having Adam “Nolly” Getgood produce and play bass despite exiting the band a few years ago, how he continues to teach drum lessons, being part owner of the software company Getgood Drums and his feelings on drum software in general, and why he and Spencer choose to record the song “Shadow of the Day” by Linkin Park as a tribute to Chester Bennington.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn tackle Sammy Hagar’s comments on Michael Anthony returning to Van Halen, the internet mom who attacked the wrong Mastodon on behalf of her son, and Duff McKagan referencing the “magnificent” material Axl has for a new Guns N’ Roses album.

Songs:
Periphery - “Blood Eagle”
Fallujah - “Ultraviolet”

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#277: Dani Filth of Cradle of Filth Feb 25, 2019

This week our guest is Cradle of Filth mastermind Dani Filth. We discuss the band's upcoming North American tour, performing Cruelty and the Beast in full on select shows this year to celebrate its 20th anniversary, the challenge of fitting in a new album with the band's current touring schedule, how he got involved with Bring Me The Horizon on the single “Wonderful Life," running errands in full makeup and uniform, signing with Dez from DevilDriver’s management company The Oracle, his reaction to Iggy Azalea wearing a Cradle of Filth t-shirt and his lifelong love of Bad Religion.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn comment on Kiss's alleged thievery of Motley Crue's stage show, Phil Labonte describing fallen guitarist Old Herbert’s widow as a garbage human being, Paul Stanley’s 98-year-old father attending his son's show, and the great comeback story of The Ghost Inside.

Songs:
Cradle of Filth - “Heartbreak and Seance”
Wednesday 13 - “What The Night Brings”

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#276: Mark Morton (Lamb of God) Feb 18, 2019

Lamb of God guitarist Mark Morton is our guest this week to discuss his new solo album Anesthetic. Mark tells us about the origins of the project with material that didn’t work for Lamb of God, how close friend and producer Josh Wilbur influenced the album, the opportunity it provided for him to explore songwriting on the rock side of things, how he got Mark Lanegan to guest, the guitarist who added a lead to the album, who his favorite living drummer is and a short update on new Lamb of God material.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn tackle High on Fire's Grammy victory followed by the heartbreak of Vinnie Paul's snub. We also discuss Slash announcing that Guns N' Roses will head into the studio this year and debate Emmure frontman Frankie Palmeri's claim that the Static-X reunion is a cash grab.

Songs:
Mark Morton - “Cross Off” (Featuring Chester Bennington)
Mark Morton - “Truth Is Dead” (Featuring Randy Blythe and Alissa White-Gluz)
Kings Destroy - “Barbarossa”

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#275: Queensryche Vocalist Todd La Torre Feb 11, 2019

Queensryche vocalist Todd La Torre of Queensryche joins our show this week. We talk about the band's new album, The Verdict, the role producer Zeuss played in the recording process, Todd's contributions to the drums on the album, how the conflict in Syria become a lyrical inspiration and how the artwork was inspired by laws that create social injustices. Todd also tells us about his passion for documentary films, the importance of becoming informed to stop polarization and how to deliver certain messages in a hyper-sensitive culture. Finally, we get an update on the absence of founding drummer Scott Rockenfield and we learn how the band's live setlist on their upcoming tour with Fates Warning will feature more of their new material.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn address Maynard’s timeline on the new Tool record, Ozzy's recent hospitalization, Staind's Aaron Lewis saying more stupid shit, Maroon 5’s Super Bowl tattoo extravaganza and much more.

Songs:
Queensryche - “Man The Machine”
Queensryche - “Dark Reverie”
Hiss From The Moat - “God Nephasto”

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#274: David Ellefson (Megadeth, Altitudes & Attitude, Metal Allegiance) Feb 04, 2019

David Ellefson of Megadeth, Altitudes & Attitude and Metal Allegiance is our guest this week. We discuss the new Altitudes & Attitude album Get It Out, the classic rock n' roll influence behind the the songs and the writing process between he and Frank Bello (also of Anthrax). We also talk about his realization that the rock n' roll lifestyle is an illusion after finding success in the industry, the difficulties he had adjusting to life in Los Angeles after moving from his native Minnesota, the difficulties of creating music during the '90s, the balance of serving the mainstream and thrash communities, which reviled Megadeth record he prefers more, Risk or Super Collider, and how he balances so many different projects at once.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn discover what incels are and create a divorce attorney for them, chime in on the Gene Simmons vs. Ace Frehley drama, and discuss the rumors of Tool's new record arriving in April.

Songs:
Altitudes and Attitudes - “Get It Out”
Metal Allegiance - “The Accuser” (featuring Trevor Strnad)
Brick By Brick - “Hive Mentality” Featuring Jessica Pimentel)

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#273: Astronoid's Brett Boland Jan 28, 2019

Brett Boland of Astronoid is our guest this week. We discuss how the success of the band's debut record Air affected the writing process of their new self-titled album, the major life changes that happened during the creation of the new album, their upcoming tour with Between the Buried and Me and the importance of that band to Astronoid, various genre names that people have attempted to stamp on the band, the joy of buying records blind back in the day, his love for '80s pop music and more.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn discuss the passing of Bruce Corbitt and the importance of Rigor Mortis to the metal scene. We also celebrate doing 100 episodes of the podcast together and discuss our journey as hosts, including what we've learned so far and our mistakes along the way.

Rigor Mortis - “Poltergeist”
Astronoid - “I Dream in Lines”
Astronoid - “A New Color”

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#272: Matt Pike (High on Fire, Sleep) Jan 21, 2019

Matt Pike of High on Fire and Sleep is our guest this week. We discuss his recent diagnosis as a diabetic, his recently amputated toe, the tour cancelations it caused and having to change his diet to manage the disease. Matt also tells us about the decision to surprise-release Sleep's The Sciences on 4/20 last year, his decision to spurn Coachella in favor of Roadburn, the preparation for doing double duty in both High On Fire and Sleep at festivals and the dream he had after Lemmy died that influenced Electric Messiah. We then dive deep on some non-musical topics, including where he thinks America is headed in 2019, the integrity (or lack thereof) of mainstream media, his thoughts on humans being created by aliens in a petri dish, how he handles being called crazy for his beliefs, and how he researches the strange topical matters for his lyrics.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn discuss the Chris Cornell tribute concert, Taylor Swift's use of an Every Time I Die lyric in her album artwork, and new information in the bizarre evolving story surrounding the passing of All That Remains' Oil Herbert.

Songs
High On Fire - “Drowning Dog”
Sleep - “Antarcticans Thawed”

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#271: Soilwork's Bjorn "Speed" Strid Jan 14, 2019

Soilwork and The Night Flight Orchestra vocalist Bjorn “Speed” Strid is our guest this week. We discuss reigniting the fans and legacy of the band after 11 albums, how the Swedish bands and American bands of the mid '00s influenced each other, the rediscovery of the Scandinavian sound on The Living Infinite and how that journey has influenced the band's new album Verkligheten, being able to focus on touring the newer records and songs, if the success of The Night Flight Orchestra has affected the long gap between Soilwork albums, the importance of working as a collective on the new album, feeling limited lyrically in the metal genre, the importance of a gimmick with live shows in modern times and what he wish he implemented for Soilwork 20 years ago.

Petar and Brandon tackle the announcement of Woodstock's 50th anniversary show, Mike Patton singing the National Anthem at the NFL playoffs (which was later canceled), Mike Pike canceling the High On Fire tour as a result of his diabetes, Jason Bittner stating Shadows Fall wore out their welcome, and if bands can become part time instead of taking a hiatus.

Songs:
Soilwork - “Arrival”
Soilwork - “Full Moon Shoals”
Soilwork - “Stålfågel”

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#270: The Black Dahlia Murder's Trevor Strnad Jan 07, 2019

This week we take The Black Dahlia Murder's Trevor Strnad down memory lane with a discussion of important anniversaries that are coming in 2019. Ten years since Disney’s Up and Alice In Chains' comeback album Black Gives Way to Blue, 15 years since the Ozzfest where Hollywood Undead were hired to throw eggs at Iron Maiden, the anniversary of the death of Dimebag and Trevor's memories of the event, 20 years since Trevor graduated high school and the release of Mr. Bungle’s California, and 25 years since his first time watching Oliver Stone’s Natural Born Killers (and how the film's vision of the media has since become true). We also discuss Trevor's love for NOFX and the possibility of a Black Dahlia Murder covers EP of their songs, his favorite death metal record of 2018, the 72 year anniversary of the unsolved murder of Elizabeth Short, and plans for a new Black Dahlia record in 2019.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn discuss Kerry King’s claim that girls led to the end of his academic career, Maynard James Keenan completing vocals for the new Tool album, and the Arch Enemy photographer controversy.

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#269: The Best Metal Albums of 2018! Dec 17, 2018

This week on our final show of 2018 we give you a special double episode as we celebrate some of the great music that left an impression on us in 2018, counting down our top 15 albums of the year. The poetry of sadness, the lovely brutality of our senses and the essence of joy and peace that heavy metal brings people like us daily -- we cover it all and gladly present our list of genuine and beautiful music that defined this year. Special guests Jori Apedaile (Eneferens), Will Walker (Graveshadow), Henry Derek Elis, Isaiah Mitchell (Earthless) and Stavros Giannopoulos (The Atlas Moth) join us for quick chats.

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#268: Life of Agony Bassist Alan Robert Dec 11, 2018

Alan Robert, Life of Agony bassist and the creator of The Beauty of Horror - Ghosts of Christmas coloring book, is our guest this week. We discuss the initial idea behind the adult coloring book series as a way of completely dismantling Christmas, his history as a comic book artist and author even prior to joining Life of Agony, how Twitter helped him get his first comic book published, an update on the film version of his graphic novel Crawl to Me, the terrorist threat that recently lead to a Life of Agony’s show cancelation in Las Vegas, his memories of working with the late, great character actor Frank Vincent on Killogy, the importance of Peter Steele’s influence on the Brooklyn metal scene in the late '80s, and an update on the new Life of Agony record coming out in 2019.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn celebrate Phil Demmel’s text message invite to join Slayer, Dave Mustaine wishing for another Big Four show, and the reunion of Witchrot and resurrection of their dead drummer.

Songs:
Life of Agony - “Right This Wrong”
BillyBio - “Rise and Slay”
Incite - “Built To Destroy”

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#267.5: Rob Trump (Anal Trump) Dec 07, 2018

Rob Trump of the political parody grindcore act Anal Trump joins us for a special in-between episode of The MetalSucks Podcast. The guitarist/bassist/drummer shares with us the origins of Anal Trump, his love for Anal Cunt as a catalyst, the inspiration Brujeria provided, how the charity angle became an important part of the project, his future vision for the band, if they will disband when Trump is out of office and the possibility of live shows on the horizon.

Songs:
Anal Trump - “That Makes Me Smart”
Anal Trump - “All The Broads I’ve Nailed Before”
Anal Trump - “Thoughts”

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#267: Sigh's Mirai Kawashima Dec 03, 2018

Sigh Mastermind Mirai Kawashima is our guest this week. We discuss why he felt listeners would dislike the band's new album Heir to Despair, what the critical reception has been like in reality, how his dislike for previous album Graveward influenced the new one, Phil Anselmo’s guest appearance on the new record and working with Necrophagia frontman Killjoy, why he choose to sing in his native tongue on Heir to Despair, his love for horror soundtrack composers and why a lot of touring doesn’t interesting him anymore.

Petar and Brandon discuss Per “Dead” Ohlin’s skull fragment being placed up for sale, the best band break up of all time, Metallica releasing an acoustic record for charity, and our own experience watching Metallica perform this past week in Las Vegas.

Songs:
Sigh - “Homo Homini Lupus”
Sigh - “Aletheia”

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#266: Johan Hegg (Amon Amarth) Nov 26, 2018

Johan Hegg of Amon Amarth is our guest this week. We discuss Amon Amarth's new live retrospective and documentary The Pursuit of Vikings: 25 years in the Eye of the Storm, his feelings on live albums in general, whether it's possible to capture a band's connection with the audience on video, the importance of Europe’s “The Final Countdown" to the origins of Amon Amarth, the 8-bit video game the band released and his favorite video games when he was growing up, the influence of the recently deceased Stan Lee on his life, and the weapon he would choose to fight with in a Viking battle.

Petar and Brandon discover the fetish-finding company everybody needs, the couple that decided to make a baby at the front row of a Machine Head concert, Ihsahn making us all fans of Kanye West by explaining his appreciation for the rapper, and what we think is the most artistic stage of a band's career.

Songs:
Amon Amarth - “Raise Your Horns” (Live)
Amon Amarth - “Twilight of The Thunder Gods” (Live)
Eneferens - “This Onward Reach”

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#265: Nita Strauss (Alice Cooper) Nov 19, 2018

Our guest this week is Nita Strauss. We discuss her recently-released debut solo record Controlled Chaos, her work with Alice Cooper and her appearance on Wrestlemania earlier this year. We also talk about the first time she picked up a guitar at age 13, the lesson and power of showing vulnerability as a public figure, knowing when to abandon a song and walk away, the passing of Jill Janus (Huntress) and some experiences Nita had with her both as a friend and in their band The Starbreakers.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn discuss the whirlwind of Threatin that occurred last week on MetalSucks, the news that All That Remains guitarist Oli Herbert's death is being investigated as suspicious, Bruce Dickinson's thoughts on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the death off comic book icon Stan Lee.

Songs:
Nita Strauss - "Our Most Desperate”
Nita Strauss - “Pandemonium 2.0”

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#264: Psycroptic Bassist Todd Stern Nov 12, 2018

Todd Stern of Psycroptic is our guest this week. We discuss his role in the latest record As The Kingdom Drowns, the addition of female vocals over choruses, if there was a hazing process when he joined the band, the logistics of him living in the States and the rest of the band living in Australia, switching from guitar to bass to be in Psycroptic, acclimating to the Australian lingo of his bandmates and which of their records he would love to perform in its entirety. We also talks about the best way to introduce young fans to your band, how backing tracks for live shows can be a slippery slope for metal bands and the importance of writing songs with replay value.

Petar, Brandon, and Joz can't get enough of the story about Threatin’s European tour, and we read aloud the statement made about Oli Herbert in regards to his toxicology report and how the delivery makes us feel about the situation.

Song:
Psycroptic - “Directive”
Psycroptic - “Frozen Gaze”
Blind Sight - “Empathy Astray”

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#263: Unearth Frontman Trevor Phipps Nov 05, 2018

Trevor Phipps of Unearth is our guest. We discuss the message behind the band's new album Extinction(s), how the American political puts a strain on relationships with friends and family these days, his tips on how to best consume the news, the modern presentation of opinions as facts, which band from the New Wave of American Heavy Metal he was surprised called it quits, his thoughts climate change, and his favorite beer bong memory with Oderus Urungus of Gwar.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn have a field day explaining David Gunn’s statement on the new King 810 record, Tom Araya’s conservative-leaning post, Axl Rose telling people how to vote, and Pitchfork’s brutal review of the new Greta Van Fleet album.

Songs:
Unearth - “Incinerate”
Unearth - “Survivalist”
Stellar Circuits - “Nocturnal Visitor”

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#262: Erik Rutan of Hate Eternal Oct 30, 2018

Highly regarded producer and Hate Eternal mainman Erik Rutan is our guest this week. We discuss Hate Eternal's new album Upon Desolate Sands, his goals for the record production and guitar-wise, whether he would ever have someone else produce a Hate Eternal record, the importance of preserving the performances during the recording process, what his approach would be if he were hired to record a new album by Tool, and the career turning point for him as a producer. We also talk about the victory of his Philadelphia Eagles last year at the Super Bowl.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn write our advertisement for a Marilyn Manson dildo, we break down Kat Katz leaving Agoraphobic Nosebleed and all the words going back and forth between parties that followed, and we wonder whether those relationships can possibly be salvaged.

Songs:
Hate Eternal - “All Hope Destroyed”
Bloodbath - “Chainsaw Lullaby”

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#261: The Ocean Mastermind Robin Staps Oct 22, 2018

This week we host The Ocean mastermind Robin Staps. We discuss recording parts of the band's new album Phanerozoic 1: Paleozoic in Iceland, what it was like laying down tracks in a studio that used to be a swimming pool, why The Ocean always release double albums, the reason he gives listeners the option to listen to an instrumental version of his songs, how Phanerozoic is the end of an era for band, the amount of time he would like for Part 2 prior to release, why it’s so difficult for bands from Europe to tour the states, how physical album sales are still strong in Germany and much of Europe, his enjoyment of the business side of music as much as the artistic side, and what brings him a true sense of peace in 2018.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn tackle the tragic news of the passing of Old Herbert from All That Remains and how important he was to his peers, and Scott Kelly’s decision to cancel his tour with Mirrors for Psychic Warfare due to his struggles with mental illness.

Songs:
All That Remains - “Chiron
The Ocean - “Devonian: Nascent”
Korpiklanni - “Kotikonnut”

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#260: Tony Foresta (Iron Raegan / Municipal Waste) Oct 15, 2018

This week Tony Foresta vocalist of Iron Reagan/Municipal Waste is our guest. We talk about Iron Reagan’s new EP Dark Days Ahead, working at a t-shirt printing factory in the early days of Municipal Waste, his affinity for playing shows with pop punk bands, the never ending meme thread that he has on his phone, a prank he pulled on Earache Records when Municipal Waste first signed to the label, and the mystery of The (International) Noise Conspiracy banner in Iron Reagan’s rehearsal space.

Petar and Brandon discuss the amazing story of Shaggy 2 Dope’s drop-kick attempt on Fred Durst, DJ Lethal's poetic and profound response on Instagram, and the finale we all wanted when The Iron Sheik brokered a truce. We also discuss the return of a little thing called Woodstock.

Songs:
Iron Reagan - “Patronizer”
Iron Reagan - “The Devastation”

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#259: Behemoth's Nergal Oct 08, 2018

This week our guest is Adam “Nergal” Darski of Behemoth. Nergal tells us about the pressure of following up The Satanist, why he is proudest of the modern era of Behemoth, the amount of energy he puts into the visual aspect of the band, how his music belongs to the fans after it's been released, and why he still spends thousands of dollars on records. We also chat about how he was recently banned from Facebook, coming under fire for racially charged remarks he made on Instagram following Poland's loss to Senegal in the World Cup, the difficulties of communicating with people who have different views, the difference between being anti-religious and spiritual, and why he is against nationalistic movements.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn speculate on the “horrible thing” that occurred to ex-Ghost guitarist, share our thoughts on Phil Demmel’s Instagram post about his exit from Machine Head, discuss Axl's article about the next big trend in metal, and wax ecstatic about Filter reuniting the team from Short Bus.

Songs:
Behemoth - “Bartzabel”
Behemoth - “Wolves of Siberia"
Gorod - “The Sentry”

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#258: Terror's Scott Vogel Oct 01, 2018

Scott Vogel of Terror is our guest this week. We discuss the rage behind the band's new album Total Retaliation, working with Producer Will Putney, why Terror shows are one of a kind, his least favorite Terror record, when reviewers don’t give records a fair shake, the importance of lyrics in hardcore, the difference between a fashion statement and the mentality of going against the grain, his passion for hip hop and the beauty of maintaining Terror for so long.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn give their thoughts on the recent departure of Phil Demmel and Dave McClain from Machine Head, Harm’s Way's gear getting stolen from a notorious parking lot in Las Vegas, Dave Grohl’s drinking habits and Brandon’s rage when the Cleveland Browns play.

Songs:
Terror - “Mental Demolition”
Terror - “Spirit of Sacrifice”
Daughters - “The Reason They Hate Me”

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#257: Xasthur's Scott Conner Sep 24, 2018

This week our guest is Xasthur mastermind Scott Conner. We talk about what led him to alter his sound from black metal to "doomgrass," how he felt about his final black metal release Portal of Sorrow, how the doomgrass style fits into the metal world at large, his thoughts on separating the art from the artist, the importance of writing songs in an isolated setting, the different kinds of fans his live shows attract and his upcoming record (coming in 2019).

Petar and Brandon discuss Kiss's final tour, the sharp decrease in physical album sales and the rise of streaming revenue, why we think Metallica still sell so many copies of The Black Album, our feelings on Metallica someday playing the Super Bowl halftime show and the Mudvayne reunion conversation.

Songs:
Xasthur - “You Lose”
Xasthur - “Against Your Will”
Xasthur - “Slaughtered Useless Beings in a Nihilstic Dream

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#256: Aborted vocalist Sven de Caluwé Sep 17, 2018

This week we speak with Aborted vocalist Sven de Caluwé about the band's new album TerrorVision, including how the decision came about to name it after the '80s thriller, how awful that film was, how the title isn’t a direct reference to the movie but to the state of the world today and the cheap scare tactics modern-day horror films utilize. We also discuss how people often forget that metal is supposed to be fun, how modern technology can cover up mistakes and the negatives that brings, how Sven has always been a big sucker for artwork, which recent band Aborted toured with whose audience did not receive them well, his feelings about returning to perform at the Bataclan in Paris after the tragedy at the Eagles of Death Metal concert, and which children’s film would make a great concept for a death metal album.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn introduce a new school for air musicians, discuss Glen Benton vs. Mormons, the "bad vibes" Ozzy Osbourne got from Black Sabbath, how we would like to see Ozzy go out, and the Rebel Wizard shirt Jozalyn must own.

Songs:
Aborted - “Terrorvision”
Aborted - “Squalor Opera”

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#255: Pig Destroyer's Blake Harrison Sep 10, 2018

Blake Harrison of Pig Destroyer guests this week. We discuss the lengthy break between the band's new album Head Cage and Book Burner (2012), if the title of the record contains any messages about modern society, how a Pig Destroyer show has become an event for our genre, how they got on the Showtime promo for the new Twin Peaks series (while we fanboy hard on David Lynch’s career), playing “Natasha” in its entirety and if there is a demand for that song, his thoughts on doing a Pig Destroyer live record, and turning down an offer to do Prowler in the Yard in it’s entirety (and his take on that general phenomenon).

Also this week MetalSucks co-founder Axl Rosenberg calls in to discuss his perfect score for Head Cage, the comments and reviews he's been reading about it and his thoughts on the rest of Pig Destroyer's discography, which Petar unfairly makes him rank on the spot.

Petar and Brandon create an ad for the splendid new Atreyu song, discuss Brent Hinds' comments about metal being "the most brutal job" he's ever had (and Devin Townsend’s response), the Sword’s recently-announced hiatus, and our thoughts on the cruel realities of being a non-stop touring musician in 2018.

Songs:
Pig Destroyer - “Army of Cops”
Pig Destroyer - “The Torture Fields”
Pig Destroyer - “Mt. Skull”

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#254: Mike Muir of Suicidal Tendencies Sep 04, 2018

Mike Muir of Suicidal Tendencies is our guest this week. We discuss the band's new record STill Cyco Punk After All These Years, a reimagining of his 1996 solo album, and how the lyrical content is still relevant today. Mike also talks at length on a number of topics including how being a victim is a choice in some peoples' lives, how a surefire way to be miserable is to make other people happy, how most people just want to be right and refuse to communicate, how journalism is more focused on getting a point across instead of reporting news, how extreme people can manipulate others because of human nature, the current dry spell of genre-defining bands, music becoming just background noise instead of the soundtrack to our lives, and how proud he is to get inducted into the skateboarding hall of fame.

Petar, Jozalyn, and Brandon discuss Metallica’s new brand of whiskey, the eleven-year-old who was left home alone so his parents could go see a Godflesh concert, Slayer continuing their final tour into 2019, and if new Motley Crue music is something we want to hear.

Songs:
Suicidal Tendencies - “F.U.B.A.R.”
LiveKill - “Demons”

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#253: Revocation's Dave Davidson Aug 27, 2018

Our guest this week is Revocation mastermind David Davidson. We discuss the band's new record The Outer Ones (which Dave describes as the band's "most death metal album" to date), how the world of H.P. Lovecraft influenced the album, studying the language of jazz and its effects on Revocation, which jazz artist he is most impressed with and the importance of knowing the history of the genre you love.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn discuss Marilyn Manson cutting another show short and the fear of his career continuing in this manner, Chris Fronzak of Attila punching a security guard and claiming he'll never play Vegas again, and the sad news that Fronzak may have to come back to Vegas anyway to face charges pressed against him from the incident.

Songs:
Revocation - “Of Unwordly Origin”
Revocation - “The Outer Ones”

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#252: Mike Portnoy Aug 20, 2018

Our guest this week is legendary drummer Mike Portnoy. We discuss Metal Allegiance and the massive amount of input that goes into a supergroup collaboration, getting Andreas Kisser and Max Cavalera on the same record again, the various vocalists on the band's new album Volume II: Power Drunk Majesty and the process for writing lyrics, the metal drummers who influenced him, an update on Sons of Apollo’s recent festival cancellations, the Winery Dogs hiatus, the album his son Max recommended that's one of his favorites of the year, and his son's band Tallah.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn tackle this week of tragedy with the deaths of Jill Janus (Huntress) and Jonathan Davis's wife Deven. They also discuss the soundproof glass at Heavy Montreal, the church of Satan protesting the ten commandments in Arkansas, Cattle Decapitation vs. true Christians, and what we envision for the future of Killswitch Engage.

Songs:
Metal Allegiance - “Voodoo of the Godsend” (featuring Max Cavalera)
Tallah - “Cottonmouth”

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#251.5: Jill Janus (Huntress) Aug 17, 2018

On this special "half" episode of The MetalSucks Podcast we share a never-before-heard interview with Huntress frontwoman Jill Janus, who tragically took her own life earlier this week. The interview was conducted by MetalSucks Podcast host Petar Spajic a few years back at a Huntress headlining show in Las Vegas and has not been published anywhere until now.

Explains Petar:

"When I got the opportunity to interview Jill I was just a guy without an audience who just wanted to learn how to talk to bands and spread my love of heavy metal. Jill knew this and knew this interview would not be heard by many, or any, but was all about giving me the opportunity. I learned that if you are a part of this community and love the music people will always give you a chance if you are willing to try, and Jill did that for me.

"I have a small list of bands that allowed me to use them as practice for me to try to do this on any scale in the future, and Huntress was the only band I never got to pay it forward to when Vince and Axl allowed asked us to do The MetalSucks Podcast. I looked for press releases every week in hopes of getting a new Huntress album so I could attack the publicist to get them on and help them, because that’s what they did for me.

"This interview holds a special place to me because unlike all the other wonderful bands and people who helped me along the way this is the only one I've aired posthumously. Thank you, Jill, for allowing me to learn on your time and making me feel like I knew what I was doing when I clearly had no clue. Thank you Blake for taking my camera and taking pictures of Jill I when I was too shy to even consider asking, and I hope this can somehow get your music to more ears.

"Rest in peace, Jill; you helped out many and will continue to do so with your songs more than you will ever know."

Songs:

Huntress - "Blood Brothers"
Huntress - "Harsh Time on Planet Stoked"
Huntress - "Eight of Swords"

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#251: Roy Mayorga (Stone Sour) Aug 13, 2018

Roy Mayorga is our guest this week! Join us as we discuss the special edition of Stone Sour's Hyrdograd (out August 31), their new single “Burn One Turn One” not making the cut on the original release, the challenge of covering Rage Against the Machine's “Bombtrack,” winning Loudwire’s Best Hard Rock Album of 2017, getting to spend six weeks playing support for Ozzy on his final tour, the first record he recorded with Nausea, how he keeps the legacy of a band like Nausea alive today, guitarist Josh Rand coming back to touring with Stone Sour, how they've help him with his recovery from addiction, his punk rock roots, the shows he was lucky enough to witness, and how the punk rock scene is still alive and thriving.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn also introduce you to the God = Dog sitcom and discuss the changing story of the elderly break out at Wacken Open Air, Phil Demmel not doing any press for Machine Head, the impending release of Warrel Dane’s final record being released, and the difference between Keith Buckley’s From Every Time I Die Cory Brandan from Norma Jean's views on accepting fans of different political backgrounds at shows.

Songs:
Stone Sour - “Burn One Turn One”
Nausea - "Cyber God”
Parasite Inc. - “Once And For All”

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#250: Rob "Blasko" Nicholson (Ozzy Osbourne, A New Level Podcast) Aug 06, 2018

Rob "Blasko" Nicholson -- Ozzy's longtime bassist, successful artist manager and founder/host of the A New Level podcast -- is our guest this week. We start out by talking about his latest endeavor and the preparation his guests go through prior to recording the episodes. We transition into a broader music industry conversation: how people consume music these days as opposed to the past, how the new model levels the playing field, why he only trusts music industry people who have been in bands, the reason he likes to stay busy with so many different projects, one young band that he feels has headlining potential, the validation a record contract can bring a young band, the visible record collection vs. the hidden record collection in the '80s, and he tells us about his favorite supergroup.

Petar, Brandon and Jozalyn introduce everyone to The Proper Spin Institute and discuss their elderly heroes in Germany, Angus Young needing an escort to pee, and the horribly titled new Behemoth song that we love.

Songs:
The Agony Scene - “The Ascent and Decline”
Islander - “My Friends”

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#249: Dee Snider Jul 30, 2018

The legendary Dee Snider is our guest this week. We discuss his new solo record For the Love of Metal (which was written and produced by Jamey Jasta), his fears he wouldn't be able to deliver on a contemporary metal record, the inspiration Game of Thrones had on the effort, why he feels no need to make a new Twisted Sister album and how he landed a spot on Chappelle’s Show. He also updates us on the sequel to his film Strangeland, shares his thoughts on censorship coming from the liberal side of America and how artists have to change the truth sometimes to stay politically correct.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn introduce Jimmy Craig to the world and talk about the study showing that frequent concert attendance can extend your life, Every Time I Die's Jordan Buckley saving a life by spitting beer in a fan's eye, Mark Heylmun of Suicide Silence's break from touring with the band, Rob Zombie’s take on Slayer retiring and Behemoth’s tease for their new record.

Songs:
Dee Snider - “Tomorrow’s No Concern”
Dee Snider - “Become the Storm”

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#248: Jake Bowen (Periphery, Four Seconds Ago) Jul 23, 2018

Jake Bowen is our guest this week. The guitarist and multi-instrumental tells us all about Four Seconds Ago, his new electronic project with Periphery bandmate Misha Mansoor, from its formation to the differences in the creative process from his day job band to the need he felt to pursue that musical direction. We also spoke about Periphery's decision to start their own label (3 Dot Recordings), the large amount of demos and songs Periphery already have for their next album, the power of Pantera and Jake's MetalSucks article describing Dimebag’s solo on “Throes of Rejection,” his feelings on the band's recent Grammy nomination, and his thoughts on an attorney's use of a Periphery song in a trial of a woman who attacked three people with an axe.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn talk about the 96-year old Holocaust survivor singing death metal, David Gunn’s statement on changes to the King 810 lineup, the DC universe putting out metal songs and why that works better than it would for Marvel, and the passing of Metalocalypse director Jon Schnepp.

Songs:
Four Seconds Ago - “Fadeaway”
Mantar - “Age of the Absurd”

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#247: Otep Shamaya Jul 16, 2018

Otep Shamaya returns to the podcast this week. We discuss her upcoming record Kult 45, the intent behind its lead single “To The Gallows" and a whole lot of politics: how important it is not to accept lies from our leaders, how to argue politics with people who have a different viewpoint, when name calling is acceptable and when it's not, how important it is to stand up and fight against injustice, the good in humanity and coming together, and the political landscape of the future.

Petar, Brandon and Jozalyn tackle the update from everybody in the System of a Down camp, how we feel about each member's statements, the strange controversy Steel Panther recently ran into and the mighty GayC/DC.

Songs:
Otep - “Shelter in Place”
Ultra-Violence - “Cadaver Decomposition Island”

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#246: Obscura's Steffen Kummerer Jul 09, 2018

This week we talk to Obscura mastermind Steffen Kummerer about the band's new record, Dilvium, why it took four chapters to tell the narrative behind it, the meaning of the title, his approach to making the record sound three dimensional, the importance of a good chorus, his study of German philosophy, which philosopher he feels best represents him today, the difficulty of misinformation, and the misunderstanding about the band breaking up when promoting the new record.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn also tackle the latest drama surrounding The Faceless, Rex Brown’s kind tribute to the late Vinnie Paul, how death brings closure to petty beefs, and whether or not Rex and Phil Anselmo should perform Pantera songs again.

Songs:
Obscura - “Ethereal Skies”
Obscura - “Dilvium”

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#245: Devin Townsend Jul 02, 2018

This week we talk with Devin Townsend about his latest release Ocean Machine - Live at the Ancient Roman Theater Plovdiv. We discuss Devin's decision to disband the "Devin Townsend Project" moniker, the various albums he's writing now and the 100 songs that are currently in the works, the trial and error process he goes through prior to committing to a project, the autobiography he released in 2016 and what the future may hold for him at this point. As is always the case with Devin, it's quite the interesting chat and a pointed look into the brain of one of metal's most eccentric characters.

Pete, Brandon, and Joz share their favorite metal albums of 2018 so far, discussing why these records should all be heard and how established artists sometimes don’t get the credit they should because of nostalgia.

Songs:
C.O.C - “Cast The First Stone”
Harakiri for the Sky - “Manifesto”
The Atlas Moth - “Coma Noir”
Devin Townsend Project - “Truth (Live)”
Devin Townsend Project - “Regulator (Live)”
Will Haven - “Winds of Change”
At The Gates - “To Drink From The Night Itself”
Light the Torch - “The Safety of Disbelief”

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#244: Dez Fafara of DevilDriver Jun 25, 2018

Dez Fafara from DevilDriver is our guest this week. We discuss his new country covers album Outlaws Til The End Vol. 1, how he handled people who told him it was a bad idea to mix metal and country, why this is a "Volume 1," his trip to Johnny Cash’s cabin, singing on stage with Lee Ving of Fear, masculinity and its representation in country songs and an update on the future of DevilDriver.

Pete, Brandon, and Jozalyn talk about the passing of legend Vinnie Paul, our personal experiences with him in Vegas, how important he was to the the younger bands in the scene and the legacy he leaves behind.

Songs:
Pantera - “I’ll Cast a Shadow”
Devildriver - “ Ghost Riders in the Sky”
Violent Life, Violent Death - “Backbiter”

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#243: Code Orange's Jami Morgan Jun 18, 2018

Jami Morgan of Code Orange is our guest this week. We discuss the band's latest standalone single “Only One Way," the ways he sees the band releasing songs, albums and other content in the future, his fondness for MMA and wrestling, the importance of validation from established artists, touring Europe with System of a Down, which era of hardcore most inspired him and the youthful energy that is irreplaceable in music.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn discuss the latest drama involving The Faceless (and Michael Keene's bogus comment on the ordeal) and our joy about Ghost's recent achievements for our genre.

Songs:
Code Orange - “Only One Way”
Code Orange - “The New Reality”

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#242: Orange Goblin's Ben Ward Jun 11, 2018

Ben Ward of Orange Goblin is our guest this week. We discuss the immediacy and sound of the band's latest record The Wolf Bites Back, the reason Ward believes no rock band has captured a generation like in the past, how popular artists rest on their laurels after achieving success, the English metal scene and the unity that used to make it special, why retirement doesn’t make sense for musicians, and the successful crowdfunding campaign he launched to help out Metal Hammer.

Petar and Brandon present Kiss toilet paper in ad form and discuss the importance of taking a stand, the dangers of staying neutral in certain situations, and how setting a bad precedent hurts the scene and fans.

Songs:
Orange Goblin - "The Wolf Bites Back"
Iced Earth - "Declaration Day"

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#241: Every Time I Die's Keith Buckley Jun 04, 2018

This week we talk to Every Time I Die vocalist Keith Buckley about his new novel Watch. We also discuss his first novel Scale, the authors that influenced him, the importance of writing what you know, the risks he took on the new book, the difference between turning in finished records to labels and books to an editor, the magic behind the song “Map Change," the importance of producer Will Putney on the lyrics of Every Time I Die's latest album Low Teens, an update on new music and much more.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn break down the preview clip released by the reactivated As I Lay Dying. Who is in the band? Will their comeback be successful? We also discuss the Slayer fan who swam back into a a concert after getting kicked out.

Songs:
Every Time I Die - “Just As Real But Not As Brightly Lit”
Every Time I Die - “Map Change”

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#240: Doc Coyle (Bad Wolves, ex-God Forbid) May 29, 2018

Doc Coyle of Bad Wolves (ex-God Forbid, Vagus Nerve) joins the podcast this week. We talk about Bad Wolves' recent rise to success, the difference between metal and hard rock, the disparity between fans of those genres, how quickly change occurs in life and the anxiety that brings, how the president has become pop culture and the importance of mobilizing young voters. We also talk a whole lot of NBA: why Lebron James is or isn’t the greatest basketball player of all time, if the argument between him and Michael Jordan is fair, which team Lebron should get traded to, how the Golden State Warriors have affected the competition in the game, and much more.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn introduce the world to the Pedro and Pedro Law firm, talk about Marilyn Manson’s claim of pissing on Korn’s catering, Ghost's Tobias Forge stating that the lawsuit brought against him by former members needed to happen, Between the Buried and Me's decision to release their latest record in two parts, and much more.

Songs:
Bad Wolves - “Better The Devil”
Bad Wolves - “Zombie”

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#239: Nick Holmes of Bloodbath and Paradise Lost May 21, 2018

Bloodbath vocalist Nick Holmes (also of Paradise Lost) is our guest this week. We discuss the North American tour Bloodbath are about the embark on, his passion for Florida death metal and horror films, his fear of checking Twitter after a night of drinking, the challenge of writing “gore” lyrics and an update on the new Bloodbath record.

Meanwhile Petar, Brandon, and Joz discuss MS co-founder Vince Neilstein's claim that Ghost will be the next arena rock band, the newly announced Pig Destroyer record, Maynard’s plea on stage for his bandmates to finish the Tool record, and much more.

Songs:
Bloodbath - “Grand Morbid Funeral”
Witch Casket - “Hatred Index”

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#238: Lamb of God Guitarist Mark Morton May 14, 2018

This week we talk with Lamb of God guitarist Mark Morton about the band's new covers album Legion: XX, released under the band's original moniker Burn the Priest. We discuss how the band selected which songs to cover, which ones were the most difficult to learn, his favorite covers by other bands, the honor of being on the bill for Slayer’s farewell tour and his passion for hip hop.

This week we have a new segment of "Vince Nielstein’s Metal Mysteries" in which the MetalSucks co-founder addresses the age-old conspiracy: is there more than one Andrew W.K.? Petar, Brandon and Jozalyn discuss the news about Bill and Ted 3 finally getting the green light, the disappearance of Yuimetal from Babymetal's ranks, the absence of "One in a Million" from the Guns N’ Roses reissue of Appetite for Destruction, and the dangers of ignoring and rewriting history.

Songs:
Burn The Priest - “Inherit The Earth”
Dead Cross - “My Perfect Prisoner”

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#237: Mike Scheidt of Yob May 07, 2018

Mike Scheidt from Yob joins us this week. We talk about the trials and tribulations caused by his near-fatal diagnosis of diverticulitis, his near-death experience prior to surgery, the power of being mentally strong when dealing with health issues, the process he took to rebuild his singing voice and the precautions he'll be taking on Yob's upcoming tour with Bell Witch, how our emotions are tied into how we feel physically, learning how to say thank you when you are shown an overwhelming amount of support, and how he got a guest spot on the latest record by Will Haven.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn give you a glimpse into the exciting week Guns ’N’ Roses fans had, try to understand what bankruptcy means for Gibson guitars, talk about Babymetal's decision to start a record label, and discuss the recent slew of surprise releases from Sleep, Cancer Bats and Dead Cross.

Songs:
Yob - “The Screen”
Witch Mountain - “Burn You Down”

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#236: TesseracT Guitarist James Monteith Apr 30, 2018

TesseracT guitarist James Monteith is our guest this week. We talk about the meaning behind the title of the band's new album Sonder, the dark storytelling process for their music video “King," how shorter records make more sense these days, the importance of trends and timing in modern music, his day job as a music publicist, the correlation between Brexit in Monteith's native U.K. and Trump's America, how technology is a part of the identity of today's youth, the psychology of the modern music fan, how big retailers are to blame for the mainstream fashion trend of metal shirts and more.

Petar, Brandon, and Joz tackle John Travolta praising Fred Durst, our excitement level for the new Daron Malakian and Scars on Broadway record, Burn the Priest's voicemail advertisement, and the food that best represents America (according to Jozalyn).

Songs:
Tesseract - “King”
Octopus - “Supernatural Alliance”

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#235: Dimmu Borgir Guitarist Silenoz Apr 23, 2018

Dimmu Borgir guitarist and founder Silenoz is our guest this week. We discuss the writing process of the band's new record Eonian and the motivations behind it, how after eight years a new record becomes an event for fans, Dimmu Borgir's 20-plus year relationship with Nuclear Blast Records, the 15th anniversary of Death Cult Armageddon, his thoughts on eventual retirement after 25 years of doing this, and the experience of playing live with a 100-piece orchestra.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn tackle Apple's plans to discontinue digital downloads on iTunes, being forced into streaming as a consumer, how that could be good for physical product sales, and value versus convenience when it comes to art. Following Vince and Axl's recent video, we have our own debate about whether a new Guns N' Roses record will be any good, and Brandon gives his take on ageism in meaningful rock and metal lyrics.

Songs:
Dimmu Borgir - “Interdimensional Summit”
Melvins - “Stop Moving To Florida”

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#234: John Bush (Armored Saint, ex-Anthrax) Apr 17, 2018

Legendary frontman John Bush (Armored Saint, ex-Anthrax) joins us this week to discuss the early days of Armored Saint, their goal of getting signed prior to playing 50 shows, Mike Piazza’s favorite track by the band, the writing process for classic album Symbol of Salvation, the stories behind the Anthrax records he performed on, his approach to writing lyrics with a broad appeal while remaining honest, and how he would love to play Win Hands Down in its entirety in 2025.

Meanwhile, we create an ad for the new Twilight EP, discuss System of a Down touring without a new record, how System have managed to become both critics' darlings and fan favorites, and what it's like to watch bands perform when you think they hate each other on stage.

Songs:
Armored Saint - “Dropping Like Flies"
Armored Saint - “An Exercise in Debauchery”

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#233: Skindred Frontman Benji Webbe Apr 09, 2018

We talk to Benji Webbe of Skindred about their new record Big Tings, the change in sound on this record, surviving getting stabbed in the neck and how close he came to dying, how gun control works in the UK, the importance of listening to the children, and the Babymetal controversy he was part of during the Kerrang awards.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn have a field day with Frankie from Emmure's diss track, prove that a two-year old can write a better one, make a formal challenge to both Emmure and Attila, and discuss the special edition of the Podcast on which MS co-founder Vince Neilstein and Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante debate whether technology has affected the music industry for better or worse.

Songs:
Skindred - “That’s My Jam”
Aura Noir - “Dark Lung of the Storm”

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#232.5: Anthrax Drummer Charlie Benante Apr 06, 2018

Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante and MS co-founder Vince Neilstein go one-on-one in a debate about how technology has affected the music industry. We discuss Benante's assertion that "Apple had a big hand in destroying music," his preference for listening to music on physical formats, the income artists and labels earn from streaming platforms like Spotify and YouTube, "pay what you want" pricing models and how all those things fit into the overall economic picture of the modern artist.

Song: Anthrax - "Breathing Lightning" (Live)

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#232: Underoath's Spencer Chamberlain Apr 02, 2018

Underoath vocalist Spencer Chamberlain is our guest. We discuss the band's new record Erase Me (out April 6th), the decision to make a new record after reuniting to tour, the reason the band decided to call it quits in 2013, the importance of the break-up in hindsight, his past struggles with addiction and the way he beat it, the most irritating thing about the current state of our country and much more.

MetalSucks co-founder Vince Neilstein joins Petar, Brandon and Jozalyn to discuss the controversy surrounding Watain: the image that surfaced of their guitarist giving the Nazi salute, frontman Erik Danielsson's response and the people who defend the band. We also talk about the discovery of Inquisition vocalist Dagon's past child pornography charges and the pass that certain artists get despite their heinous past behavior, and we talk about the tragic passing of Caleb Scofield of Cave In and how fans of the band have stepped up to show his family that they aren’t alone.

Songs:
Underoath - “Rapture”
Failure - “Dark Speed”
Cave In - “Luminance”

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#231 Ihsahn (Emperor) Mar 26, 2018

Emperor guitarist Ihsahn returns to the podcast this week to discuss his latest solo record Amr. He also tells us why a new Emperor album doesn’t make sense, how money and fame dictated peoples' views in the early days of black metal, his views on the crimes associated with the early black metal movement, the way Americans view those same crimes, his feelings on sharing the stage with Faust and Samoth in 2014, and how holding extreme viewpoints in your youth makes you grow up fast.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn follow the interview this week with a discussing of some of Ihsahn’s comments including his relationship with Faust, the difficulty of truly understanding perspective, and much more.

Songs:
Ihsahn - “Arcana Imperii”
The Absence - “Misery Trophies”

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#230: Kamelot Guitarist Thomas Youngblood Mar 19, 2018

This week our guest is Thomas Youngblood of Kamelot. We discuss their new album The Shadow Theory, how Lauren Hart of Once Human (who guests on the new record) performed her first show with the band opening for Iron Maiden, how Kamelot made it into the Olympics, recent lineup changes, the reason he choose to film in the Netherlands for their upcoming live DVD and more.

Petar, Brandon, and Joz get super excited about the recently-announced sequel to The Devil’s Rejects, talk about Crematory’s drummer bullying his fans into buying their record and speculate what a solo show by Clown of Slipknot might look like.

Songs:
Kamelot - “Raven Light
Kobra and the Lotus - “Losing My Humanity”

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#229: Between the Buried and Me's Tommy Rogers Mar 12, 2018

This week we get to chat with BTBAM vocalist Tommy Rogers about latest the band's latest record, Automata 1, the reason behind the decision to release this record in two parts (Automata 2 is out in June), the process of making music with his bandmates, why concept records work so well for BTBAM, which of his albums is his most personal, the importance of North Carolina to the bands sound, the way he found his voice through the records, covering Chris Cornell early on in his career, and how lucky they are to be a band that truly gets along with one another.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn also tackle the sad news of Tommy Lee getting knocked out by his son and the social media fight that followed, Fred Durst directing a film with John Travolta, Slash making a new solo record instead of a new Guns N' Roses record, and their feelings regarding Tool's choice of producer for their new album.

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#228: Will Haven Guitarist Jeff Irwin Mar 05, 2018

Will Haven guitarist Jeff Irwin is our guest this week. We discuss the band's new record Muerte (out March 23rd), how the band functions and makes decisions these days, their evolution and three distinct chapters of their career, their debut album El Diablo turning 21 years old, the crucial role dark and angry art plays in his life, the possibility of a live album in the near future and growing up in the '90s.

Meanwhile Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn talk about Izzy Stradlin's new book and his decision to walk away from Guns N' Roses reunion money, the Taake tour cancellation due to pressure from antifa, antifa’s effect on the metal scene as a whole and much more.

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#227: Rivers of Nihil Guitarist Brody Uttley Feb 26, 2018

This week we chat with Rivers of Nihil guitarist Brody Uttley. We talk about the band's third record Where Owls Know My Name, out March 16th via Metal Blade (order here), the depression millennials suffer due to technology, creating art in the form of heavy metal, the difference between artists and craftsman, his love of post-rock, the struggle he has with communication through text messages, his thoughts on bands that use backing tracks and how important first week sales still are in the music industry.

Meanwhile Petar, Brandon and Jozalyn tackle the gun control debate that has rolled into the metal world; we discuss Randy Blythe’s thoughts, Phil Labonte's comments, Chris Barnes' “crisis actor” statement and much more.

Songs:
Rivers Of Nihil - “A Home”
Zao - “The Host Has Bared Its Teeth”

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#226: Howard Jones (Light the Torch, ex-Killswitch Engage) Feb 19, 2018

Howard Jones is our guest this week. We discuss his latest project Light The Torch (formerly known as Devil You Know) and their new album Revival, the project he has been working on with Peter Wichers (ex-Soilwork), his bucket list moment with Dee Snider, his take on Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s rumored fight in the MMA, his thoughts on touring as a solo artist and much more.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn introduce the world to Van Damme’s debut hardcore album, discuss the news of Glenn Tipton stepping away from touring with Judas Priest due to Parkinson’s Disease, Clown saying Slipknot don't want to perform with the Foo Fighters, the strength of having a gimmick in the music industry, and the financial troubles of Gibson Guitars.

Songs:
Light The Torch - “Die Alone”
Vexes - “Hellion”

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Monster Magnet's Dave Wyndorf on The MetalSucks Podcast #225 Feb 12, 2018

Dave Wyndorf of the legendary Monster Magnet is our guest this week. We discuss the band's latest record Mindfucker, how Dave's approach this time differed from the last few records, the perfect live set list and how he tried to sequence the new record to mimic it, why “stupid is the new smart," writing lyrics during Trump’s inauguration, and his take on the current generation gap and all things rock n' roll.

Pete, Brandon, and Jozalyn discuss the end of the CD era at Best Buy, how important Bill Burr's praise for Meshuggah is for the band and for metal in general, the revelation of Michael Keene’s drug addiction and how we feel about AC/DC continuing on with Axl Rose. Jozalyn writes and records her first bit for the show.

Songs:
Monster Magnet - "Mindfucker"
Earthless - "Gifted By the Wind"

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Zakk Wylde on The MetalSucks Podcast #224 Feb 06, 2018

This week we chat with legendary guitarist Zakk Wylde. We talk about Black Label Society's newest record Grimmest Hits, his recent debilitating sickness while on tour, the humor he brings to his Twitter account, his thoughts on retirement, his coffee endeavor with the Death Wish Coffee brand, his involvement on a possible new Ozzy record, the final tour with Ozzy, and how he reacted when he heard the recent news about former guitarist Nick “Evil Twin” Catanese.

Meanwhile Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn discuss the recent tweet by Maynard about Tool lyrics, our reaction to ex-Machine Head bassist Adam Duce's negativity towards his former band, and the “top notch” performance and “commanding presence” of new STP singer Jeff Gutt, according to Brandon.

Songs:
Black Label Society - “Trampled Down Below”
Black label Society - “Room of Nightmares”

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The Atlas Moth's Stavros Giannopoulos on The MetalSucks Podcast #223 Jan 29, 2018

This week we talked to Stavros Giannopoulos of The Atlas Moth. We discuss Coma Noir, their first first record in four years, which comes out February 9th via Prosthetic (pre-order). We also talk about how Joe Duplantier from Gojira almost produced the record, Stavros's love for the lyrics on Metallica’s Load album, the future of the Twilight project, he current relationship with Blake Judd, the decision to sign with Prosthetic Records and how Chris Jericho turned real-life heel on Stavros.

Petar and Brandon discuss the end of Slayer, the final tour not having Dave Lombardo, if we feel these will truly be Slayer's final shows and the next band that we think will retire from the Big 4.

Songs:
The Atlas Moth - “Galactic Brain”
The Atlas Moth - “Coma Noir”

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John 5 on The MetalSucks Podcast #222 Jan 22, 2018

John tells us about his new live record It’s Alive (out January 25th; pre-order here), how he and his bandmates challenge each other during live shows, how much improvisation happens when recording, how he names instrumental tracks, the obstacles he faced when arriving in L.A. to follow his dream, the 20th anniversary of Mechanical Animals and an update on the latest album from Rob Zombie.

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Tribulation Guitarist Jonathan Hultén on The MetalSucks Podcast #221 Jan 15, 2018

We discuss the band's new album World Down, his passion for classic horror films, going on tour for three weeks after breaking his ribs on stage, his solo project and how some of those songs become Tribulation songs, the expectations he has for every record, his goals in life and more.

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Exmortus Guitarist Conan Gonzalez on The MetalSucks Podcast #220 Jan 08, 2018

We discuss what fans can expect from the band's new album, the absence of Mario and David from this recording cycle, finding the groove with new musicians in the studio, his thoughts on clean singing, what makes a guitar solo truly special, his favorite unsung guitarists in modern thrash and his passion for the road and being a metal lifer.

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Morbid Angel’s Steve Tucker on The MetalSucks Podcast #219 Dec 18, 2017

We discuss how he came to return to the band, the creativity of Trey’s riffs, the importance of his era with the band in the grand scheme of their legacy, the message of the lyrics on Kingdoms Disdained, why the band separated during the Heretic era, the importance of Erik Rutan as producer, and his memories of the late, great Dimebag Darrell when he toured with Pantera.

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The Best of 2017 on The MetalSucks Podcast #218 with Special Guests David Sanchez (Havok), John Kevill (Warbringer) and Jordan Gaw (Final Drive) Dec 12, 2017

This week is our special best of 2017 episode! We break down our top fifteen metal albums of the year and why we feel these albums were the best released in 2017, counting them down all the way to our number one. We also grab interviews with three of the musicians who made our favorite records -- David Sanchez (Havok), John Kevill (Warbringer) and Jordan Gaw (Final Drive) -- find out THEIR favorite albums of the year, congratulate them on the great music they made and much more!

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Legend of the Seagullmen’s Jimmy Hayward and Danny Carey (Tool) on The MetalSucks Podcast #217.5 Dec 08, 2017

We talk about the inspiration that led to the band's formation, the costumes and themes of each band member, their upcoming New Year's Eve gig opening for Primus, and yes, of course, we had to ask Danny about a new Tool album (and he gave us a juicy quote!).

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Entheos Drummer Navene Koperweis on The MetalSucks Podcast #217 Dec 05, 2017

We discuss why bassist Evan Brewer is not on their current tour with Whitechapel, playing as a three piece, the change in direction and sound on new album Dark Future, the appeal of living in a small town as opposed to city life, the draw of major sports in major cities, and we chat about some of his work in prior bands.

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Woody Weatherman of Corrosion of Conformity on The MetalSucks Podcast #216 Nov 27, 2017

We discuss how their new record No Cross, No Crown is their first as a four piece in 12 years, the difference between the writing process with Pepper Keenan as opposed to as a three piece, the loyal fa base that allows them to write the material they want and consistently land spots on amazing package tours, the importance of producer John Custer, the re-release of Eye for an Eye to honor the late vocalist Eric Eycke, their upcoming 60-day tour with Black Label Society and much more.

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Rita Haney on The MetalSucks Podcast #215 Nov 22, 2017

We speak about the latest entry in the Dimevision series, her feelings on a potential Dimebag hologram tour, how much she is involved in the Ride for Dime and Dimebash organizations after the negative press from the last few outings, her favorite scene in Dimevision Vol. 2, her desire for the surviving members of Pantera to be on good terms and the legacy of a true metal icon.

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Robb Flynn of Machine Head Sits Down with Axl Rosenberg and Vince Neilstein on The MetalSucks Podcast Special Episode #214.5 Nov 20, 2017

We talk about Trump's America, Charlottesville, race relations in America, NFL players taking a knee, Flynn's stand against Phil Anselmo's racist outburst, how Dimebag Darrell's death affected him, the rape allegations against Decapitated, Machine Head's new album "Catharsis," its more melodic direction and how fans may react to it, how it's similar to The Burning Red, his decision to rap on the album, how current political and social events inspired the lyrics... and that's just the beginning.

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Max Cavalera on The MetalSucks Podcast #214 Nov 13, 2017

We discuss the current Soulfly tour on which the band is performing Nailbomb’s Point Blank in its entirety, the influence younger bands had on Cavalera Conspiracy's new album Psychosis, his favorite underground metal bands, Max's top four records he's ever made, his hopes for the future of Killer Be Killed, the 20th anniversary of Soulfly (and a new record coming out in 2018), and his favorite records that were created by one of his kin.

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Wes Borland (Big Dumb Face, Limp Bizkit) on The MetalSucks Podcast #213 Nov 06, 2017

We talk about the origins of Big Dumb Face, how he keeps his different projects from crossing lines, his stint with Marilyn Manson, being isolated in Detroit, the lessons he learned from the Black Light Burns records, the importance of writing full albums, the extinction of music as an art form and the future of all of his projects.

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Cannibal Corpse’s George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher on The MetalSucks Podcast #212 Oct 30, 2017

We talk about riding out Hurricane Irma in an elementary school shelter, his take on NFL players taking a knee during the anthem and the impact the discovery of CTE will have on the game, how the band's new record Red Before Black compares to the last four Corpse records, the magic that producer Erik Rutan brings to the studio, who he thinks invented death metal vocals and much more.

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Gwar’s Blothar on The MetalSucks Podcast #211 Oct 24, 2017

We discuss the band's new album The Blood of Gods, the benefit they saw from doing the Warped Tour this year, the current climate and culture and how Gwar fits in, the public’s response to the negative Linkin Park comment following Chester Bennington’s suicide, Kathy Griffin's publicist calling them out, their upcoming tour and much more!

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Ben Weinman of The Dillinger Escape Plan on The MetalSucks Podcast #210 Oct 16, 2017

We discuss the band's final shows ever this coming December, his memory of being on Soundgarden's last tour, his label Party Smasher Inc, meeting fans' expectations for Dillinger's unhinged live shows, the meet and greet debate for a band that stays private, how to make our kids like good music and some dad talk, including how he felt when his first daughter was born.

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Matt Heafy of Trivium on The MetalSucks Podcast #209 Oct 09, 2017

We discuss the creation of Trivium's new record The Sin and The Sentence, Matt ranks his favorite Trivium records in order, shares his experience riding out Hurricane Irma, talks about writing the foreword for the new book Hellraisers, names his picks for the Big Four of the New Wave of American Heavy Metal and looks ahead to the band's upcoming tour with Arch Enemy.

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Simone Simons of Epica on The MetalSucks Podcast #208, with Special Guests Axl Rosenberg and Emperor Rhombus! Oct 02, 2017

We discuss the band's new EP The Solace System, how they amassed so much material in such a short amount of time, the jobs she had prior to joining Epica, the choice of not bringing her children on the road, the seven-year anniversary of her blog and her passion for photography.

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Nick Holmes of Paradise Lost on The MetalSucks Podcast #207, with Special Guests Axl Rosenberg and Emperor Rhombus! Sep 25, 2017

We talk about the band's new record "Medusa," the challenge of assembling a live set list after 15 records, the addition of a 23-year-old drummer to such an established act and more. Axl Rosenberg and Emperor Rhombus talk about their new book "Hellraisers."

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Satyricon’s Satyr on The MetalSucks Podcast #206 Sep 18, 2017

We chat about how he's maintained a 25 year friendship with his bandmate Frost, an update on his brain tumor and how it's affected his life and music, the band's new album Deep Calleth Upon Deep, the expectations of following a #1 record in Norway, which black metal performers may own mansions and more.

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The Contortionist Vocalist Michael Lessard on The MetalSucks Podcast #205 Sep 14, 2017

We discuss the band's new record Clairvoyant and the pressure of following up their critically acclaimed previous album Language, the role producer Jamie King plays in helping to craft the band's music, negativity from the band's fans on Facebook, his passions for video work and MMA, and much more.

The post The Contortionist Vocalist Michael Lessard on The MetalSucks Podcast #205 appeared first on MetalSucks.

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Dave Lombardo (Dead Cross, Suicidal Tendencies, ex-Slayer) on The MetalSucks Podcast #204 Sep 05, 2017

Legendary drummer Dave Lombardo returns to the MetalSucks Podcast this week to discuss Dead Cross, his new collaboration with Mike Patton. Lombardo waxes ecstatic about Bill Ward’s inclusion of Dead Cross's debut as one of the best albums of all time, talks about performing and recording with Fantomas, which recordings throughout his career he is the most and least happy with, his opinion of the reunited Misfits, how the timing for Suicidal Tendencies worked out and more.

Petar and Brandon tackle Devin Townsend’s proposed 10 million dollar symphony about dicks and vaginas, tackle their feelings about the reactivated Carnivore A.D., and much more!

Songs:
Dead Cross - "Shillelagh"
Dead Cross - "Seizure and Desist"
Spotlights - "Learn to Breathe"

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Slipknot's Clown (Shawn Crahan) on The MetalSucks Podcast #203 Aug 28, 2017

We catch up with Slipknot founder Clown to discuss the theatrical release of Day of the Gusano, an upcoming documentary about Slipknot fans in Mexico. We also talk about the importance of the visual artistry behind Slipknot, the difficulty of editing a live show with nine guys in the band, the roar a foreign crowd brings and how American audiences compare, the way he would like to present a double concept album with Slipknot, his experiences as a director with Officer Down, and a little trip down memory lane with One Minute Silence.

Brandon and Pete dissects the last four months of metal and give you their five choices for albums you need to hear before the summer is over. With only four months to go and the top 15 albums of 2017 on the horizon, the boys help you out with some gold you may have overlooked.

Songs:
Loviatar - "Discordant (Stygian Wyrm Part 2)"
Goatwhore - "Mankind Will Have No Mercy"
Beastmaker - "Of God’s Creation"
Dead Cross - "Obedience School"
Decapitated - "Kill The Cult"
Byzantine - "Vile Maxim"

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Brendon Small (Metalocalypse/Dethklok/Galaktikon) on The MetalSucks Podcast #202 Aug 21, 2017

This week we talk with Metalocalypse/Dethklok/Galaktikon creator Brendon Small. He tells us about the process of creating entire conceptual worlds to go along with albums, trademarking your own character's voices, his youth and how it influenced his art, the accidental origin of Galaktikon and the importance of South Park.

Meanwhile Petar and Brandon get into a discussion about race in the metal scene, discuss the confluence of a Juggalo march and pro-Trump rally in September, Mike Patton going bowling during a Dead Cross performance and much more.

Songs:
Galaktikon - “My Name is Murder”
Loviator - “Nascent (Stygian Wyrm Part 1)

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Myrkur's Amalie Bruun on The MetalSucks Podcast #201 Aug 14, 2017

Myrkur mastermind Amalie Bruun is our guest this week. We discuss her new album Mareridt, her collaboration with Chelsea Wolfe, how she feels more connected with nature than most humans, balancing style and substance as an artist, some of her favorite books and her passion for knitting.

Brandon and Petar tackle the issue of groping when people stage dive and crowd surf, try to make sense of the guy who peed on a child at a Metallica concert, discuss the disappointment of Jeff Loomis not writing on the new Arch Enemy album and the wizardry of Yngwie Malmsteen.

Songs
Myrkur - “Ulvinde”
Myrkur - “Maneblot”

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Valient Himself (Valient Thorr), MS Co-Founder Vince Neilstein and Former Hosts Chuck and Godless on The MetalSucks Podcast 200th Episode! Aug 07, 2017

This week we hit a milestone with Episode #200! We catch up with the first guest that ever graced the podcast, Valient Himself of Valient Thorr, to talk to us about being on Warped Tour, the band's efforts to create new fans on a festival geared towards youth, his unhappiness with the way the band's latest album Old Salt was handled by Napalm Records and more.

We also connect with the forefathers of The MetalSucks Podcast, Chuck and Godless to discuss the genesis of the podcast, their favorite and least favorite interviews, and the “white whale” guest we'd love to have.

Finally we talk to Vince Neilstein over at the MetalSucks Mansion about the past four years of podcasting, ten years of MetalSucks, his most memorable podcast moment, and if we ever made a bit that embarrassed him.

Don’t miss the celebration and the THANKS to all that helped us reach this milestone!

Songs:
Valient Thorr - “No Count Blues”
Valient Thorr - “Mirakuru”

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Julie Christmas (Cult of Luna, Made out of Babies, Spylacopa) on The MetalSucks Podcast #199 Jul 31, 2017

The mercurial, supremely talented Julie Christmas calls in this week. We discuss the upcoming North American tour for Mariner (her collaboration with Cult of Luna), her career as an educator, her past musical endeavors with Made Out of Babies and Spylacopa, her love of novelist Cormac McCarthy, the possibility of future work with Cult Of Luna, and which record in her catalogue would make a great starting point for new fans.

Brandon and Pete talk about the Dio hologram tour and discuss whether the name change from Devil You Know to Light this Torch will hurt their brand.

Songs:
Cult of Luna/Julie Christmas - “Cygnus”
Julie Christmas - “July 31st”

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Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree) on The MetalSucks Podcast #198 Jul 25, 2017

Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree -- whose fifth solo album To the Bone comes out on August 18th -- is our guest this week. We discuss how social media is anti-social, the abuse and criticism people give artists' work without even listening to it, the loss of ambitious music and the fear of change in the mainstream, how the underground maintains the arts and much more.

Brandon and Pete discuss the tragedy of Chester Bennington, the disrespectful comments that followed, how being a fan shouldn't give you license to be disrespectful, and the unanswerable questions we're left with following a successful artist's suicide.

Songs:
Steven Wilson - "Pariah"
Steven Wilson - "The Same Asylum As Before"

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Buzz Osborne of The Melvins on The MetalSucks Podcast #197 Jul 17, 2017

Legendary Melvins frontman Buzz Osborne is our guest this week. We discuss the last time he had a regular job, his philosophy on how to be truly successful in life, his take on getting a college education in America, how important it is to find the right person to share your life with, plenty about his various musical projects and much more.

Meanwhile, Brandon and Petar find a truly great politician to oppose Kid Rock’s Senate run, discuss why the recently-announced grunge musical hurts our feelings, and ask a timeless question: are there any good Juggalo stories out there that don't involve someone brandishing an axe, like this week’s debacle?

Songs:

Melvins - “Christ Hammer”
Crystal Fairy - “Chiseler”
Dale Crover - “Little Brother”

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Goatwhore Vocalist Ben Falgoust on The MetalSucks Podcast #196 Jul 10, 2017

Ben Falgoust of Goatwhore is our guest the week. We discuss the band's latest album, Vengeful Ascension, his hobbies of cave exploration and deep sea diving, the current state of the world, calling black metal “catchy" and a few words about Soilent Green.

Brandon and Petar discover a new version of the bible by Blameless Dave Mustaine, and Pete shares a tale of when he first saw Goatwhore and the hijinks that followed.

Songs:
Goatwhore - “Mankind Will Have No Mercy”
Goatwhore - “Chaos Arcane”

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Byzantine's Chris "OJ" Ojeda on The MetalSucks Podcast #195 Jul 05, 2017

Byzantine vocalist/guitarist Chris “OJ” Ojeda is our guest this week. We discuss the band's recent move to Metal Blade Records, their upcoming album The Cicada Tree, OJ's personal experience with the opioid epidemic in the band's native West Virginia, how he balances touring and family life... and, of course, no interview with Byzantine would be complete without a discussion of the catchphrase “Nobody Beats The Byz."

Brandon and Pete shine light on a “Real Hero of Metal” and talk about the latest Rammstein show, the amazing poop-throwing story Every Time I Die's Andy Williams shared, the Jenner sisters' mind-boggling shirt design and much more.

Songs
Byzantine - “New Ways to Bear Witness”
Byzantine - “Trapjaw”

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Origin Vocalist Jason Keyser on The MetalSucks Podcast #194 Jun 29, 2017

Jason Keyser of technical death metal masters Origin guests this week. We talk about the band's new album Unparalleled Universe, their 20th anniversary, his lyric-writing process, his thoughts on bands that wear their own merch, and the decision to cover a Brujeria song despite not being fluent in Spanish.

Brandon and Pete discuss the recent spate of "Best Of" metal lists provided by Rolling Stone, Lars Ulrich and Rob Halford and the difficulty that goes into creating such lists. Pete shines a light on Brandon’s “problem," we talk about the beef between Corey Taylor and Chad Kroeger, and much more.

Songs:
Origin - “Cascading Failures, Diminishing Returns”
Origin - “Accident and Error”

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Tool Bassist Justin Chancellor on The MetalSucks Podcast Special Episode #193.5 Jun 26, 2017

Boy oh boy, we do have a special episode for you this week! It's a short one -- we'll return to our regularly scheduled full episode this Thursday -- but it's such a rare treat that we had to release it right away.

In our chat with Tool bassist Justin Chancellor we discuss the band's recently wrapped up tour, jumping back into the studio following the run, the record being 90% complete (!), how the band members are getting along with one another, seeing Youtube videos of Tool cover bands, and much more.

Meanwhile Brandon and Pete introduce the world to a new seminar, discuss Gene Simmons giving up on the devil horns trademark, and Maynard James Keenan getting “Stockton slapped” by Nate Diaz.

Songs:
Tool - “Right in Two”
The Melvins - “What’s Wrong With You”

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Trey Williams of Dying Fetus on The MetalSucks Podcast #193 Jun 19, 2017

This week we interview Trey Williams from Dying Fetus. We discuss how the title of the new record, Wrong One to Fuck With, came about and the writing process for the album, their extremely intense and NSFW new music video, the way they approach set lists on tour and all of our day jobs.

Brandon and Pete tackle the saga of Five Finger Death Punch's disastrous show in the Netherlands: the show itself, the confusing statements that followed and the band's decision to ultimately do the right thing by scheduling a free show. We also ask the obvious question of when it's time to fire a member of a band and the difficulties that come along with that.

Songs:
Dying Fetus - “Die With Integrity”
Dying Fetus - “Fixation on Devastation"

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Brann Dailor of Mastodon and Arcadea on The MetalSucks Podcast #192 Jun 12, 2017

Brann Dailor talks to us about his new project Arcadea. He tells us about the origins of the band, finding time to create music outside of Mastodon, the angle he would pursue if he did a solo project with other members of Mastodon, his ongoing desire to create art and much more.

Pete and Brandon introduce the world to a new feminine product for men, discuss Suicidal Tendencies' L.A. show being shut down by police, the young metal fan who received a guitar from his recently deceased farther for his 16th birthday, and how great being a part of the metal community really is.

Songs:
Arcadea - “Magnificent Façade”
Arcadea - “Army of Electrons

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Suffocation's Terrence Hobbs on The MetalSucks Podcast #191 Jun 05, 2017

This week death metal icon Terrence Hobbs of Suffocation is our guest. We discuss their new record ….Of The Dark Light, the latest line-up changes, the old days of fliers and long distance phone calls vs. today's mass emails and social media, what it's like to play a classic record in its entirety and the band's approach of "no small talk" death metal.

Brandon and Pete introduce the world to a new wonder drug, discuss how Kathy Griffin stole a heavy metal idea, Oceano's surprising first-week sales numbers, Linkin Park topping the charts after becoming a pop act, Tom Araya getting a statue at a Ukrainian Zoo and much more.

Songs:
Suffocation - “Return to the Abyss”
Suffocation - “Your Last Breaths”

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Mastodon's Bill Kelliher on The MetalSucks Podcast #190 May 30, 2017

Bill Kelliher of Mastodon calls in this week. We discuss the band's new album Emperor of Sand, being old and the hassle of playing music from a cloud, what his solo record would sound like, his bandmates' various side projects, how Mastodon decide on their setlist and much more.

Meanwhile Brandon takes the opportunity to ambush Pete’s interview skills, finding an awful bit Pete threw away and bringing it back from the dead. Then they check out the latest Linkin Park song and discuss Chester Bennington’s comments about wanting to punch people in the face.

Songs:
Mastodon - “Andromeda”
Mastodon - “Show Yourself”

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Local H Frontman Scott Lucas on The MetalSucks Podcast #189 May 22, 2017

Local H recently won Metallica's "Hit the Stage" contest to become local openers on their tour, so we talk to frontman/guitarist Scott Lucas about their victory, the criticism they've received about not being a true local band, their recently completed "Two Balls and a Dick" tour and the ups and downs of being a music lifer.

Brandon and Petar tackle the weight of the Chris Cornell tragedy, discussing the complete surprise of his suicide and personal memories of his career. It’s a very emotional and personal episode as we honor a true irreplaceable icon.

Songs:
Temple of the Dog - “Say Hello 2 Heaven”
Local H - “The One With Kid”
Local H - “City of Knives”

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Eighteen Visions Vocalist James Hart on The MetalSucks Podcast #188 May 15, 2017

In our interview with James Hart from Eighteen Visions, we discuss how the reunion of the band came to be, the writing of their new record XVIII, the Orange County music scene from which they came, the loss of bassist Mick Morris and the band's future plans.

In light of the allegations that Pentagram's Bobby Liebling physically harmed his mother, Brandon and Petar discuss when it's time to finally give up on a band due to its members' actions. They also share their opinions on the drama with The Faceless, Tool and A Perfect Circle giving up on 2017 for album releases, and contemplate if Pete is a “metal hipster."

Song:
18 Visions - “Crucified”
18 Visions - “Oath”

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Aaron Turner of Isis on The MetalSucks Podcast #187 May 09, 2017

This week we interview Aaron Turner of Isis, Sumac, Mamiffer and Old Man Gloom. We discuss the end of Isis, his memories from the new live record, Live VII (out now on Ipecac), his journey with Hydra Head Records and his decision to release new music on the label after shutting it down in 2012, the recording process for the new Sumac record, and the art vs. business side of technology in music.

Brandon and Petar introduce the world to a new company called Jump into the Fired, tackle the comments made by Chino Moreno about not touring with Korn again, talk about the guy who was so angry at Suicide Silence he burned their album, and discuss pros and cons of retiring Nazi lyrics in the metal scene.

Songs:
Isis “Ghost Key” (Live)
With Our Arms To The Sun “Memory: The Drift”

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Eyehategod's Mike IX Williams on The MetalSucks Podcast #186 May 01, 2017

This week we talk to Mike IX Williams from Eyehategod. He discusses his recent liver transplant, the person that kept him together through the whole ordeal, the New Orleans heavy metal scene, surviving Katrina, the status of new music from Eyehategod, and all the times in his life he's cheated death.

Brandon and Petar introduce the world to a new dispensary, discuss Local H winning Metallica's local band contest, Guns N' Roses' massive earnings on their current world tour, The Agonist versus former vocalist Alissa White-Gluz, Ozzy's reunion with Zakk Wylde and much more.

Songs
Eyehategod - “Flags and CitiesBound”
Iced Earth - “Raven Wing”

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Mix Master Mike on The MetalSucks Podcast #185 Apr 24, 2017

This week we talk to Mix Master Mike of The Beastie Boys. We discuss his upcoming tour with Metallica, his stint touring with the Axl Rose-led version of Guns N' Roses (before Slash and Duff rejoined) and the terrible reception he received, his love of metal throughout his career, the difference between scratching records and modern day DJs, the story behind how he got involved with the Beastie Boys, and some tales of their legendary live shows.

Brandon and Petar have short attention spans, so we tackle the first four months of metal in 2017 and name five albums you need to listen to before the summer starts. We delve into why each records mean so much to us, the reason they are all potentially albums of the year, and why you should check these out before the summer storm of album releases.

Songs:
Havok - “Intention to Deceive”
The Obsessed - “Punk Crusher”
Pallbearer - “I Saw The End”
Final Drive - “Six Feet Down”
Darkest Hour - “In the Name of Us All”

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Dan Briggs of Between the Buried and Me and Nova Collective on The MetalSucks Podcast #184 Apr 17, 2017

This week we talk to Dan Briggs from Between the Buried and Me and Nova Collective. We discuss the importance of side projects, how the Nova Collective came about and the band's latest album “The Further Side." We also talk about the tenth anniversary of BTBAM's classic record Colors, the new live Blu-Ray for Coma Ecliptic, modern bass players he respects and the new BTBAM record coming out this year!

Brandon and Petar promote the new tour of the greatest band of the '90s. We talk about David Wu’s experiment of playing metal on the streets, Mastodon’s strong first week record sales, Korn touring with a 12-year old, and Sleep’s Morse code message. Brandon loses his mind when he finds out about Babymetal pedophile day at the Five Fox festival.

Songs
Nova Collective - “Dancing Machines”
Between the Buried and Me - “The Ectopic Stroll” (Live)

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Royal Thunder Guitarist Josh Weaver on The MetalSucks Podcast #183 Apr 10, 2017

This week we speak to Josh Weaver from Royal Thunder. We discuss the band's new album Wick, the black metal band he was in with singer Mlny Parsonz prior to Royal Thunder, his passion for hot tubs on the road, the importance of listening to albums as opposed to individual songs, and how they maintain a metal fan base with their mostly un-metal sound.

Brandon and Petar advertise a new book, discuss the damage the Ghost lawsuit situation could do to the band, the not-so-surprising record sales from Northlane’s surprise album release, Max Cavalera performing the Nailbomb album in its entirety and Brandon’s jokes going from G-rated to XXX.

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Metal Blade Records 35th Anniversary Special feat. Trevor Strnad, Joey Vera and Greg Burgess on The MetalSucks Podcast #182 Apr 03, 2017

This week we celebrate the 35th anniversary of the legendary Metal Blade Records by talking to three generations of musicians on the label.

Our show starts with Joey Vera of Armored Saint and Fates Warning. He talks about the Los Angeles scene from which the label was born, the evolution of the formats on which music is consumed, and the label's importance to Armored Saint.

Next we talk to Greg Burgess of Allegaeon; we discuss his favorite Metal Blade release of all time, the 35th anniversary tour he's been on with Whitechapel, Cattle Decapitation and Goatwhore, Bush vs. Belladonna Anthrax and the future of Allegaeon.

Finally we chat with Trevor Strnad of The Black Dahlia Murder about how his band got signed, when to expect new music from Black Dahlia, horror movies, and more.

Songs:
Armored Saint - “Last Train Home” (live)
Allegaeon - “1.618”
The Black Dahlia Murder - “Receipt”

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Warbringer's John Kevill on The MetalSucks Podcast #181 Mar 27, 2017

This week we talk with John Kevill of Warbringer. He discusses the long delay between records, the starting-over process that occurred between album cycles and the direction of the latest record Woe to the Vanquished. We also get into his knowledge of history and his take on the current era -- the best time to be alive, according to him -- and he throws down an epic Arnold monologue per our request.

Brandon and Petar introduce you to Brent Hinds' new fast food restaurant, tackle the Harlott vs. Slayer similarities and break down the argument of plagiarism vs. homage, and discuss why Tool joining streaming services so late may work in their favor.

Songs:
Warbringer - “Silhouettes”
Warbringer - “Remain Violent”

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Karl Willets of Memoriam [ex-Bolt Thrower] on The MetalSucks Podcast #180 Mar 20, 2017

This week we have legendary Bolt Thrower vocalist Karl Willetts on the show to discuss his new project Memoriam. We talk about his approach to lyrics on Memoriam's new album For the Fallen, which Bolt Thrower songs they plan on playing live, what he envisioned when he decided to create a new band, the decision to end Bolt Thrower after Kiddie’s passing, and what newer bands he's digging.

Brandon and Petar find a company that helps out the unappreciated bass player, discuss James Hetfield’s recent comments about “Escape," talk about Marduk and their statement on the Oakland concert cancellation, Judas Priest not being metal according to Brent Hinds, Steve Tucker's promises that new Morbid Angel will be death metal, and the new Baroness/Neurosis punk cover tribute band.

Songs:
Memoriam - "Reduced to Zero"
Memoriam - "Surrounded (By Death)"

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Darkest Hour's Mike Schleibaum on The MetalSucks Podcast #179 Mar 13, 2017

This week we interview Mike Schleibaum from the mighty Darkest Hour. We talk about the new record Godless Prophets & The Migrant Flora, what producer Kurt Ballou brought to the table, the crowdfunding campaign behind the record (and how scary it was to make the decision to try it), the tenth anniversary of Deliver Us and how to mobilize the youth with music in this day and age.

Brandon and Petar talk way too much about Overdose of AIDS, Wes Scantlin’s latest rant, if Juggalos can became a prison gang, the next move for Suicide Silence after the crash in album sales, At The Gates losing Anders Björler, and we take our guesses about what's coming up in the current 25 Most Important Metal Bands of the '90s countdown on MetalSucks.

Songs
Darkest Hour - “Timeless Numbers”
Darkest Hour - “Those Who Survived”

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Fit For an Autopsy Guitarist / Producer Will Putney on The MetalSucks Podcast #178 Mar 06, 2017

We talk to producer and Fit For An Autopsy guitarist Will Putney about his band's new record The Great Collapse, his non-traditional role in the band, the writing process for the record and how being a third guitarist makes it less stressful to tour. We discuss which type of bands he prefers producing, his views on remixing and remastering older material, and his biggest success as a producer/musician.

Brandon and Petar tackle Otep's feud with the Butcher Babies, how metal cover albums usually don't end up being good (although DevilDriver’s "outlaw country" covers concept intrigues us), and the rumors of Ghost's frontman pulling an Axl Rose by firing all his bandmates and the possible effects it may have on the band's fans.

Songs:
Fit For An Autopsy - “Heads Will Hang”
Fit For An Autopsy - “Iron Moon”

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Phil "Landphil" Hall of Municipal Waste / Iron Reagan on The MetalSucks Podcast #177 Mar 01, 2017

This week we talk to Phil “Landphil” Hall from Iron Reagan. In addition to updates on all things Iron Reagen, Cannabis Corpse and Municipal Waste (including Iron Reagan's brand new album Crossover Ministry), he discusses what it’s like to see his likeness in a claymation video, his true “Fuck The Neighbor” tales, his favorite Troma movie and touring with Six Feet Under.

Meanwhile Brandon and Pete talk about James Hetfield's recent statement regarding the lack of bass on …And Justice For All, the beef between Of Mice and Men's Austin Carlisle and Trivium's Paolo Gregetto about vaccinations, Corey Taylor thinking he is qualified to write a book about politics, and the heinous black metal fan that upset Whitney Moore last week (with his version of the incident).

Songs:

Iron Reagan - “Fuck The Neighbors
Cannabis Corpse - “Mummified in Bongwater”
Municipal Waste - “The Art of Partying”

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Mina Caputo of Life of Agony on The MetalSucks Podcast #176 Feb 20, 2017

This week we interview Mina Caputo from Life of Agony. She discusses the last 12 years of LOA, what it's like to be transgender in the hard rock/heavy metal scene and how she believes the band's upcoming release A Place Where There’s No More Pain is the most passionate and honest album she has ever made.

We also discuss the Tim Lambesis situation, introduce a new product he is selling and contemplate whether or not we would support an As I lay Dying reunion. We talk about Attila and the protection of their fans from security guards, the Nickelback vs. Arnold Twitter feud and the ultimate fear of giving your kid a great heavy metal name like Iron Maiden only to have him rebel against the scene.

Songs:
Life of Agony - “A Place Where’s There’s No More Pain”
Body Count - “No Lives Matter”

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Pallbearer's Brett Campbell and Joseph Rowland on The MetalSucks Podcast #175 Feb 13, 2017

This week the boys discuss the need for a Heavy Metal President, and what choices we are stuck with on both sides. We play the mudslinging ads from both parties and we discuss the major platforms for each candidate, their surprise choices for running mates, and we ask fans to vote on who they would want to represent all the tough decisions to be made in metal in 2017.

We also chat with Pallbearer guitarist/vocalist Brett Campbell and bassist Joseph Rowland about the band's upcoming new record Heartless. We discuss how Brandon got us in trouble with our bosses via email, they tell us the downside of constantly receiving great reviews, they share a story about the time Phil Anselmo threatened to poke their eyes out, and they choose their picks for Heavy Metal President in 2017.

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Eddie Hermida of Suicide Silence on The MetalSucks Podcast #174 Feb 06, 2017

The MetalSucks Podcast returns after a two-month hiatus!

Your new hosts Brandon Hahn and Petar Spajic speak with Suicide Silence vocalist Eddie Hermida, who has a lot to say about all the negative trolls their new material has brought out, working with Ross Robinson, the live headline tour they're about to embark upon and the record release parties each night after their headline set is complete.

We also tackle the hardcore scene in light of the tragedy that occurred at a recent Code Orange show in Salt Lake City, when a young woman's jaw was broken in the mosh pit from a spin-kick to the face. We discuss our past hardcore show experiences, and how the scene has been an important gateway despite its constant negative press. We also offer some potential solutions, and new dance moves that may help the scene move in a more positive direction.

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The Best of 2016 on The MetalSucks Podcast #173 Dec 05, 2016

This week we jump on the bandwagon and present to you our picks for the top metal albums of 2016. Instead of trying to write witty asides for every album -- we’ll leave that to the experts -- we chose to give you an audio rundown of the list and share our thoughts on each one. Some of Chuck and Godless's picks match -- not many, but some -- and we cover a lot of ground between the two of us. We did agree on the number one album of the year, and we brought that artist on as a special guest to be presented with the MetalSucks Podcast Trophy (which may or may not exist [it doesn’t exist]) and talked about the release that stood head and shoulders above anything else that came out this year.

Also in this episode, a must listen segment: a big announcement about the podcast in 2017!

We play a few extra songs this week, and we even pulled out our favorite song from the year (which was not from our number one pick).

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Dave Stephens of We Came As Romans on The MetalSucks Podcast #172 Nov 24, 2016

Dave Stephens, vocalist for We Came As Romans, guests this week on your favorite metal podcast with an interview outside of their album cycle. We catch Dave and the band right in the middle of working on the follow up to their eponymous latest album. Dave talks candidly with us about the recent departure of their drummer and longtime member Eric Choi, how aesthetic and the "look" of a new member will be important, their struggle with being an up and coming band and keeping their feet on the ground, and the idea that they might not be the best musicians but how their hard work and dedication have paid off.

We also unpack a recent interview with Kirk Hammett (did you know Metallica have a new album out?) where he talks about most of his creative ideas for the new record being shut out of the process and how Hardwired is a "Lars album." It's funny to think that even at the level Metallica are, that any members' ideas could be sidelined or not incorporated, although Kirk never appeared to be outspoken. Did he get steamrolled? Again? How is it that the seemingly most creative and sensitive member of the band isn't getting to contribute? After all... these... years? Metallica? Metallica? Did you see the videos from Metallica? Metallica… sorry, we think we glitched a bit there…

Songs:
Metallica
We Came As Romans – "Wasted Age"
Coliseum – "Am I Demon"

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Candiria Guitarist John LaMacchia on The MetalSucks Podcast #171 Nov 14, 2016

John LaMacchia, guitarist of the reactivated Candiria, guests this week on your favorite metal podcast and we dive deep into the band's new record While They Were Sleeping. In our interview we talk about the many projects he's spearheaded, how 9/11 took its toll on him and led to addiction, the dark nature of the music he creates, going back out on tour and what that means for his lifestyle, and what the future might bring.

We also talk about the disappointing sales figures for Avenged Sevenfold's new album, The Stage, which sold less than half the number of first week copies as their last record did. The stunt of announcing the record one day before its release may have backfired. Do stunts and tricks work in a band's favor? Or is it counterintuitive to fake out their hardcore audience by not telling them that you're working on new material? Will this benefit or hurt the band's upcoming lawsuit with their old label? Was the label change a good idea after all? Does anyone really care?

Songs:
Candiria – "While They Were Sleeping"
Dark Tranquillity – "Encircled"

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Adam D. of Killswitch Engage and Serpentine Dominion on The MetalSucks Podcast #170 Nov 07, 2016

Adam Dutkiewicz of Killswitch Engage guests this week on your favorite metal podcast. Of course you know him from KsE, but Adam's latest project takes his immense talents in a completely different direction. Serpentine Dominion is a death metal project also featuring Shannon Lucas (ex-The Black Dahlia Murder) and George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher of Cannibal Corpse, so it's a bit heavier than what you might expect from Adam. In our interview, on the eve of the U.S. Presidential election, we decided that Adam needed to be our man on the street and let us in on all his political views, his plans to solve the Middle East crisis and legalizing various consumables. Then we let him off the hook for a bit to talk about music, his career, how KsE keeps Jesse Leach under control, and of course his appearance on the Price is Right.

We delve into some politics, because... politics. But we can't resist talking about the latest Internet fued between two grown men: Dee Snider called Cannibal Corpse’s first album "terrible," Chris Barnes reacted on twitter, Dee apologized, then they complimented one another. That's how you do it nowadays, right? Or would it have been better for Dee to stick to his guns? Either way it’s entertaining to see a champion of free speech in music get called out for talking smack about someone else’s art.

Songs:
Serpentine Dominion – "On the Brink of Devastation"
Crowbar – "Plasmic and Pure"

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Dance Gavin Dance's Jon Mess and Will Swan on The MetalSucks Podcast #169 Oct 31, 2016

Jon Mess and Will Swan of Dance Gavin Dance guest this week on your favorite metal podcast. We talk about how the band is shunned by metal fans and where they believe that comes from, how they have succeeded while so many others have failed, and their latest release, Mothership. We also talk about their perspective on the rotating door at their lead singer position, and how that changes the way they write music and what they are able to do as a band.

We talk more about the lead singer problem in light of the big news this week that Asking Alexandria dumped their new singer to take back their old one. Who has that worked for in the past and how might it feel for the people involved? Is it a “grass is always greener” issue, or the thrill of the chase? It worked for Anthrax, TesseracT and several other bands; fans certainly seem to want the old guy back. Well, except in Iron Maiden…

Songs:
Dance Gaving Dance – "Chucky Vs. The Giant Tortoise"
Whores – "Participation Trophy"

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Jessica Pimentel of Orange is the New Black / Alekhine's Gun on The MetalSucks Podcast #168 Oct 24, 2016

This week our guest on your favorite metal podcast is Jessica Pimentel, both a metal musician and star of the hit Netflix series Orange is the New Black. Her career has been taking off with the portrayal of Maria Ruiz on the jailhouse drama, but her ties to metal run deep, whether with her band Alekhine’s Gun, her main squeeze (Meshuggah drummer Tomas Haake), or just the circles she runs with in her native Brooklyn. In our interview we talk about her recent excursion to see Metallica at Webster Hall, her relationship with heavy music, her background in classical, the similarities and differences between being an actress and musician, how close she was to ending her career as an actor, and what "terrible" album she won’t admit to loving.

We also talk about Lords of Chaos being made into a Hollywood film. What does it mean for an underground genre of metal to get the dramatization treatment? We ponder what other stories in metal might be worth telling in the same format; there have been plenty of compelling narratives involving metal music and musicians over the years, but which one would you choose to put on the silver screen? What kind of disaster show will Hollywood make of the soundtrack for this movie? What SHOULD the soundtrack include?

Songs:
Alekhine’s Gun – "Atlas"
Opeth – "Chrysalis"

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Jordan Mancino of Wovenwar on The MetalSucks Podcast #167 Oct 17, 2016

Jordan Mancino, drummer for Wovenwar (and ex-As I Lay Dying) guests this week on your favorite metal podcast to talk about the band's new record, Honor is Dead, which is out now. We talked with Jordan about the recent departure of bandmate Phil Sgrosso (he'd been a part of AILD and/or Wovenwar since he was a teenager), how they were able to reconstruct themselves after Tim Lambesis decided to "go rogue" and what that looked like from the inside, how that time in their history informs who they are today, and their experience as a Christian band evolving into a secular group in such a visible way.

We also talk about bands who come to represent entire genres of music. Some bands that barely have a connection to a type of music adopt a new aesthetic and sound, then rise to the top of a genre by writing middle of the road tunes that play on the popular pieces of the genre's past and capitalize on the lowest common denominator of fans. Are such bands legit? It's happened with many different genres over the years: Green Day with punk, Limp Bizkit with nu-metal, Avenged Sevenfold with metal and many more.

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Vicky Psarakis of The Agonist on The MetalSucks Podcast #166 Oct 10, 2016

Vicky Psarakis, vocalist of The Agonist, guests on your favorite metal podcast this week, and in our interview we discover a genuine and enthusiastically nice person behind the voice of one of the most exciting bands in metal today. We talk about how she finds and fleshes out great hooks and writes songs, her rise from a YouTube singer to taking over for Alyssa White-Gluz as the frontwoman of an up-and-coming metal band, transitioning from never being in a band before to touring around the world, why being a singer shouldn’t affect your ego, and what it was like living in Greece during the financial crisis and how that spurred her to innovate with her music career.

We also talk about how bands need to be more proactive on all platforms and social media. We’ve all seen the tour updates, behind-the-scenes studio videos and the like, but there aren't many bands who can get past the clichés and turn their online presence into something more relatable for their audience. Some of the best are using different outlets to round out the ‘who’ more than the ‘what’ of their music careers. Should it even matter? No matter the answer, due to the ever-changing ways of consuming music and art bands need to be ready to open the doors and let the audience in.

Songs:
The Agonist – "The Moment"
CarBomb – "From the Dust of This Planet"

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Monte Pittman (Madonna / Prong) on The MetalSucks Podcast #165 Oct 03, 2016

This week on your favorite metal podcast we talk to virtuoso guitarist Monte Pittman, who has played with plenty of non-metal acts like Madonna and Adam Lambert, but also alongside Tommy Victor in Prong. He ha an extensive solo catalogue as well, including his latest metal installment Inverted Grasp of Balance. In our interview we talk about his whole career, from starting out in East Texas to becoming the King of LA (crowned by us), his ability to work with all walks of life, what it's like to play both stadiums and small clubs, teaching as an outlet for expression (as well as an income stream), and we try to find out more about his personal life.

We also talk to DX Ferris, author of the definitive biography on Slayer's Reign in Blood, to commemorate the 30th birthday of the album. On October 7th, 1986, metal changed forever, and DX enlightens us on some of the huge misconceptions about the record, what really spurred the change from longer songs to a shorter, more polished attack, how this album may not be their best-selling, and more (you’ll get the rest in a detailed post later this week on MS). DX dispels myths about producer Rick Rubin's influence on Reign in Blood's songs as well as late guitarist Jeff Hanneman's contributions. Mind = blown.

Songs:
Monte Pittman – "Arisen in Broad Daylight"
Slayer – "Necrophobic"

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Metallica Bassist Cliff Burton Tribute on The MetalSucks Podcast #164 Sep 26, 2016

The latest episode of your favorite metal podcast is absolutely crucial for every Metallica fan. This week marks the 30th anniversary of one of the greatest losses in metal history, the untimely death of Cliff Burton. We wouldn’t normally commemorate an artist on their death date, but it really is stunning that three decades after the tragic bus accident on September 27, 1986, we still compare metal bass players to Cliff. We took the opportunity to talk to Joel McIver, author and biographer, who has released several books on Metallica including To Live Is To Die: The Life And Death Of Metallica's Cliff Burton, which has been recently updated. We talk about Cliff’s influence on metal, we discuss how fans to this day are affected by his influence even without knowing it, and Joel gives us more details about the events surrounding the fatal bus crash in Sweden.

We also are very honored to interview Cliff’s father Ray Burton. We talk about who Cliff was as a child, how he saw himself in the world of metal, the loss of his brother at the age of 13, the decision to start playing bass, his experience with Metallica and how his loss affected the family.

Take the opportunity to listen to Cliff's music and realize how advanced his songwriting and playing really was.

Songs
Metallica – "Anesthesia (Pulling Teeth)" / "Whiplash"

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Greg Burgess of Allegaeon on The MetalSucks Podcast #163 Sep 19, 2016

Our guest this week on your favorite metal podcast was suggested to us by none other than Chris Adler of Lamb of God back when he was on the podcast last year, although we have been fans of Allegaeon for quite a while outside of that endorsement. In our interview with guitarist Greg Burgess we talk about trying to top what you think is your best work, the shuffling of the staff around the band, manager and booking agent and why they needed to make a change, what surrounded the shift in singers for their new record Proponent for Sentience, and we find out how much it costs to get Bill Nye in your music video.

We also discuss the non-beef beef that came up this week between Born of Osiris guitarist Born of Osiris and The Acacia Strain's Vincent Bennett. What appeared to be drunk Tweets got serious when the metal media paid it some attention. Are we taking ourselves too seriously? Drunk Tweets are just drunk Tweets, right? Even if you are picking a fight with someone who doesn’t even know why you are fighting with them in the first place. When a band feels they have to diffuse a situation as the first reaction to something that can be attributed to an over-the-limit BAC level, maybe we need to adopt a sense of humor. Let’s just apologize now for our discussion too while we’re at it.

Songs:
Allegaeon – "All Hail Science"
Steve N Seagulls – "Symphony of Destruction"

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#162: Richard Christy of Charred Walls of the Damned / The Howard Stern Show Sep 12, 2016

You might know Richard Christy as a cast member of The Howard Stern show, but metalheads know him as being a badass drummer with Death, Control Denied, Iced Earth, and now Charred Walls of the Damned. In our in-depth interview we spend a lot of time talking about that history, his relationship with Chuck Schuldiner, the story of Death and the end of the band, how he approaches the drums, and what Charred Walls of the Damned means to him in his very busy schedule. Christy has been a vital part of not one but two crucially important and disparate cultural icons, Death and The Howard Stern Show; how did he do it? We dig in.

Also this week we praise ICP followers for being the most dedicated fans of all time. Cutting one's finger off to pay tribute in a ritual salute to a fallen Juggalo is the most metal thing we have heard a fan of any genre of music doing in twenty years. Boredom and Faygo can be a dangerous mix.

Songs:
Charred Walls of the Damned – "The Soulless"
Alcest - "Oiseaux de proie"

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Ben Weinman of The Dillinger Escape Plan on The MetalSucks Podcast #161 Sep 06, 2016

The Dillinger Escape Plan guitarist Ben Weinman guests this week on your favorite metal podcast, and we decided to make this the definitive interview about the impending split of the band. He and drummer Billy Rymer were willing to discuss the decision in depth with us, what it means to them to make a choice to quit at the top of their game, who ultimately raised the idea of breaking up, whether there's a chance it might be a fluke or snap decision, where they plan to go from here, ... we asked every question about the breakup of the band from every angle we could think of. We also dive a little deeper into Ben’s personal life, and ruin him for any other podcasters out there. Sorry, guys.

We also play the new song from In Flames figure out where we've heard the chorus before (hint: it was a big hit in 2001). Once you hear it, you won't be able to un-hear it! The "original" is not just an obscure track, it comes from an album that is listed as one of the top Nu-Metal albums you must own. Coincidence? Are In Flames surrounded by sycophants? Or has the overprotection of new material by an artist fearing the leaking of a new track... backfired?

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Black Metal Author Dayal Patterson on The MetalSucks Podcast #160 Aug 22, 2016

Author Dayal Patterson guests this week on your favorite metal podcast to give us a lesson in underground black metal; his book Black Metal: The Cult Never Dies Vol I will come out via Decibel press this month (order here). We wanted to find out more about the significant evolutions in black metal that came from its controversial origins. We all know black metal can be a very secretive genre of music, sometimes by design, other times by accident, and what Dayal has done to get artists to expose themselves to the world is unrivaled in this underground scene. Beyond the mythos and the big stories of burning churches and murders, who are the people involved and what is the story of the music they made that created a movement that's lasted over 30 years?

We also explore Havok's woes on getting booted from their tour with Megadeth, either by Dave Mustaine or his son Justis Mustaine -- the story isn’t crystal clear -- after they refused to sign a management contract with Mustaine Management. We try to make sense of the controversy for you, or at least tell you what the right opinion should be. (Hint: Ours.) Of course, we disagree about how it was handled and who was at fault. And someone gets a round of applause that you would never expect.

Songs:
Solefald – "Jernlov"
Metallica – "Hardwired"

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Devin Townsend on The MetalSucks Podcast #159 Aug 16, 2016

We have wanted to talk to Devin Townsend for quite some time now, and we finally got our chance! He has been a guest on your favorite metal podcast before, but Axl and Vince had the opportunity to do the interview and now we run him through our own ringer. You gotta love this guy! To call him a singer or a guitarist would be selling his talents short, and although he hates to be complimented, Devin is one of the most prolific and inspiring musician of the last two decades. Whether you loved Strapping Young Lad, Ziltoid, the Devin Townsend Project or any of his guest appearances or records he produced, his talent is undeniable. We consider ourselves lucky to have such a candid chat about psychosis, the different ways he sees music as opposed to just hearing it, the progression from one style or influence to the next, how his wife deals with his eccentric nature and the debut of Fun Sponge (you’ll get it when you listen).

We also discuss the Dio hologram that took Wacken 2016 by storm. You thought Dio had died, but his visage has been resurrected via technology to adore and shock fans at this year’s festival. Hell, he even took the time to wave a Wacken banner on stage before leading a chant of "We Rock." But is it the right thing to do? Obviously those in control of his estate, and the Dio Disciples, think a hologram does justice to the metal legend. But, more importantly, do we? His music should always live on, but are we setting ourselves up for something more perverted and disappointing by not letting our passed heroes lie? Or are we introducing a new generation to the greatness of the legends that only old metal dudes and dudettes got the chance to experience?

Songs:
Devin Townsend Project – "Failure"
Dio – "Evil Eyes"

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Karl Sanders of Nile on the Metalsucks Podcast #158 Aug 08, 2016

Karl Sanders of the mighty Nile is our guest on your favorite metal podcast this week. We caught up with him midway through the Summer Slaughter Tour for our interview and he had quite a bit to say about the tour package, playing with old friends Cannibal Corpse and Krisiun and the young bands on the bill like Carnifex and After the Burial. We also chat about the transition from touring to home life, his experience and what kind of person he becomes while at home, his routines and training in martial arts, and his favorite video game. Karl shares some insight into why the relationship with the band's former record label ended so badly and his reactions to expectations from fans, and we also get a few details about the recent flap they encountered in Russia with the singer of Belphegor.

We also talk about getting left behind in a band. Angus Young may be the last man standing in AC/DC and now it appears that Kerry King may be left on his own at some point in Slayer. When a band member does decide to hang it up, what happens to those who still have the strength to carry on? Should a band continue without certain members? If the band is all you have done for decades, what other choices does one have if not carrying on with the band name?

Songs:
Nile - "Evil To Cast Out Evil"
Urobilinemia - "完全感覚おち○ぽこ"

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Neil Fallon of Clutch on The Metalsucks Podcast #157 Aug 01, 2016

Neil Fallon of the mighty Clutch guests this week on your favorite metal podcast! In our interview with the singer, we talk in-depth about the 25 years of the band's history, how it might have just been a nice accident that they have lasted this long, the progression of their music through their career, his side projects Dunsmuir, The Bakerton Group, and The Company Band, dealing with the ever changing landscape of the music business as a band and, more recently, as the owner of the label Weathermaker Music, what the plan looks like for the next 25 years, and what you do when Lemmy gives you advice. Neil also tells us about the Clutch song they played every night for several years but now don't... and gives us details about his house!

We also discuss when musicians need to stop. Is there an age limit to the metal? Should bands who cannot do it anymore just finally give up and go home, or is there still a place in metal for the old guard? Vince’s editorial about Jason Newstead sparked the discussion about a musician's ability to make good music, be it with a distortion pedal or an acoustic guitar, after his or her prime. Once you are on the treadmill of the industry, do you have to keep running? Can you get off gracefully? How should a musician gauge when their time has passed? And who are we to judge???

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#156: Ash Avildsen of Sumerian Records Jul 25, 2016

Sumerian Records proprietor Ash Avildsen is our guest this week. You might know him from an array of different projects, whether you are a fan of his music, the bands on his label, his pioneering touring packages like Summer Slaughter or the recent movie What Now and soon-to-come American Satan. We started our chat by celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Summer Slaughter Tour with Cannibal Corpse, Nile, Suffocation, After the Burial and plenty more, but as is our tendency, we stray from the path into his interesting history with women, his family and the dynamics it take to be successful in today’s business.

We also attempt to unpack the unprecedented divisiveness we are seeing in the metal community. It’s not just cvlt vs. posers -- or any of those age-old separations that seem to be creeping into the world of metal the past couple years -- but a much more scary form of racism and misogyny that's fighting back in a way we haven't seen before. Is this indicative of the anti-PC movement we are seeing play out on the political stage? Or is it simply the playing field of today’s industry which we need to accept and move on?

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#155: Brian Slagel of Metal Blade Records Jul 18, 2016

This week on your favorite metal podcast we feature our first interview with a member of the Mt. Rushmore of the metal industry, Brian Slagel, founder and owner of Metal Blade Records.

Brian and Metal Blade have been in the metal business for nearly 35 years, developing some of the biggest acts in the history of metal such as Slayer, Gwar, Amon Amarth, Behemoth, Between the Buried and Me, and so many more. Brian's early career found him side by side with some of the most well-known musicians in the genre; his first release included a track from a little-known band called Metallica. We're a bit star struck, as his ability to choose acts and stand tall with and against trends over the years is the stuff of legend, but Slagel is still one of the most down to Earth people in the industry and maintains day to day operation of his label. We talk about the past and future of Metal Blade and the industry as a whole, his finest achievements and biggest mistakes, how streaming is effecting the current revenue models in the metal world and whether or not he is still speaking with one of his most controversial artists.

Songs:
Abnormality – "Synthetic Pathogenesis"
Norma Jean – "1,000,000 Watts"

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#154: Carnifex Vocalist Scott Ian Lewis Jul 11, 2016

Scott Ian Lewis, lead singer for deathcore mainstays Carnifex, guests this week. In our in-depth exclusive interview we talk about their new record, Slow Death (out next month on Nuclear Blast), what it takes to make it in the music business, leaving a label that wasn’t a good fit for the band, taking a hiatus to try and regroup, and being able to survive the pitfalls of constant touring. Plus, Lewis talks about his songwriting strategies, the financial burden of touring musicians, and much more.

We talk about the new Thy Art Is Murder EP and we try and make sense of why a band would continue with a singer or a member who already left the band. When a member decides that it's time to move on to different things, why would a band even bother to put out music featuring that member? It’s one thing if a member dies, but if they just want to do something else does it make sense to release new material with them on it? Or is that just longing for times that have already passed and teasing fans about something they can never have?

We also talk about the tragedies last week related to cops killing black civilians and the deaths of five police officers in Dallas. Perhaps this wasn't the most appropriate time for Godless to introduce his son to Body Count.

Songs:
Carnifex – "Six Feet Closer to Hell"
Thy Art Is Murder – "They Will Know Another"

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#153: Dave Davidson of Revocation Jul 05, 2016

Dave Davidson, acclaimed guitarist and vocalist of Revocation, makes his return to the podcast this week, and we debut "Profanum Vulgus" from their upcoming album Great Is Our Sin. We talk about the new album and we talk Dave's views on politics and religion and how that all influences his songwriting and perspective on making music. Revocation enjoy nearly universal acclaim for their genre-clashing songs and Davidson's virtuosic guitar playing, so hear from the brains and fingers behind the music and listen to a brand new song for the first time anywhere!

We also talk about waiting for new albums form your favorite bands. So many people are obsessed with when the new Tool album will drop, or when Metallica are going into the studio, or if *insert band name here* is working on something that might be cool sometime in the future. Why are fans so focused on what is coming from their ancient favorites and not paying more attention to the great new music coming out now?

Songs:
Revocation - "Profanum Vulgus"
D.R.I. - "Anonymity"

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#152: Despised Icon Vocalist Alex Erian Jun 27, 2016

Alex Erian, vocalist for recently reactivated deathcore pioneers Despised Icon, guests on the podcast this week. In our exclusive interview we delve into the reasoning behind the band breaking up and moving on and then, after a short time, making the decision to come back together. We talk about their new record Beast and how recording with two bands at one time creates headaches for him. We find out there might actually be a hip hop beat behind one of the songs on the new record and about how they've been able to retain their fanbase despite what looked like the end for the band. Maybe all bands -- and couples -- need to break up and get back together.

We also talk about the recent editorial on Decibel about "SJWs" in metal that turned the metal internets into a firestorm. With opinions ranging from "SJWs are tearing our scene apart" to "nazi metalheads must die," is there a real discussion going on right now, or are we all just picking sides while trying to reinforce whatever we believe already and refusing to hear anything that might challenge those opinions? Is there a real problem, a perceived problem, or are we missing the target altogether?

Songs:

Despised Icon – "The Aftermath"
Be’lakor – "Roots to Sever"

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#151 Aaron Turner (Sumac, ex-Isis) Jun 20, 2016

Aaron Turner of Sumac, ex-Isis, Mammifer, Old Man Gloom and Hydra Head Records is our guest this week. We discuss the new Sumac album What One Becomes, how he has changed emotionally since his early days with Isis, the role his wife played in turning him into a more well-adjusted person, his introverted nature, whether Isis will return someday, how a different view of his life shapes his reaction to his past art and what he is currently working to express with new musicians.

We also discuss Benji Webbe, frontman for Skindred, who mocked the young women of Babymetal at the Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards, It's pretty obvious that his attempt at humor fell flat and appeared racist, but did his "apology" via Twitter pacify Babymetal's fans? Or did he actually make it worse by giving a halfhearted statement? If you screw up what makes for a good apology, is it more important to be truthful? If not, it can really look worse than the faux pas you committed in the first place.

Songs:
Sumac – "Rigid Man" (Partial)
Make Them Suffer – "Ether"

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Hatebreed's Jamey Jasta Guests on The MetalSucks Podcast #150 Jun 13, 2016

Jamey Jasta, lead singer of Hatebreed, joins us this week. In our in-depth interview with the revered frontman, we talk how politics inform Hatebreed's new album, The Concrete Confessional, as well ashis songwriting process, how small utterances on social media can provoke big reactions, his thoughts on the state of the music industry, why a separate metal streaming service would be a bad idea (at least for him), and how music is only one facet of his life alongside podcasting and branding. Plus: we offer you the worst segue in our podcast history. That’s right, if there were a podcast awards show, we'd have this category locked down!

We also speak to Noisey writer Cat Jones about her recent story she penned detailing the reasons Wax Idols and King Woman dropped off their tour with Pentagram. Cat discusses the importance of taking on a story like this, and how it matters to not just the women who were potentially wronged by Bobby Leibling and the Pentagram staff, but to the entire metal community.

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#149: The Best Metal Albums of 2016... So Far Jun 06, 2016

This week we take a look at the best metal albums of 2016 so far. Of course we see it differently from one another but we lay out what this year has offered and what it really means in the scope of metal history and the rest of the year to come.

We also invite Rob Pasbani of Metal Injection and the Metal Injection Livecast to offer a different perspective on this year’s releases. He fills us in on his new-car jams and takes a look ahead at which albums might be on the slate for the top of the year overall. We talk about Gojira's new album Magma as well as other highly anticipated albums of 2016 and how they have measured up to expectations, as well as some albums that've surprised us.

Rob also tells us about the coolest listening party in history: a small gathering of journalists and friends at Gojira's new Silver Cord Studios to hear Magma in its entirety. What does he think of one of the most anticipated metal albums of 2016? We spin four of the year's best tracks on this episode instead of the normal two.

Songs:
Primitive Weapons - "Ashes or Paradise"
Zeal and Ardor - "Devil Is Fine"
Mantar – "Era Borealis"
Fallujah – "The Void Alone"

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#148: Lacuna Coil's Cristina Scabbia May 23, 2016

Cristina Scabbia, lead singer for Lacuna Coil, guests this week to talk about the band's new album Delirium, their eighth studio album over a 20-plus year career and the first to be totally self-produced. Cristina talks about relationships between band members, experiences with past producers and the pressures the band has been under leading up the album's release. She talks about where the lyrical themes on this album stem from, some metaphorical and others from her personal relationship with mental illness.

Chuck and Godless discuss a very common word that we may or may not need to take out of our vocabulary (especially as Chuck is 'blank' for Nails). We examine how the botched launch of Prophets of Rage turned our internet feeds into a frenzy of activity, but for the wrong reasons. Did Rage Against the Machine control their message in the wrong way, or did they simply underestimate the appetite for a reunion? Zach de la Rocha may be having the last laugh, until he hears our idea for the one dude on earth who would be more interesting and would draw bigger crowds.

Songs:
Lacuna Coil – "The House of Shame"
Nails – "Savage Intolerance"

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#147: Satyricon Drummer Frost May 16, 2016

The legendary black metal drummer Frost of Satyricon is our guest this week. In our interview we talk about the re-release of their classic album Nemesis Divina on its 20th anniversary, what that means for the band, if the classic albums he grew up with would be different if they were remastered, and whether or not there is space in black metal for change and openness in songwriting. Forgive us for the poor quality of the recording, but in trve black metal style we chose to distress the audibility of his phone connection for full effect.

We also discuss the announcement of Ozzfest Meets Knotfest. We try to figure out if it actually means anything for the genre, or if it's just another cash grab for the Osbourne family. Why would Slipknot give up half of their successful (or seemingly successful) festival? To get hold of the brand? To extend their legacy? Or is this just an example of the lovely spirit of cooperation in the metal community?

Songs:
Satyricon – "Forhekset"
Black Crown Initiate – "For Red Cloud"

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#146: Gojira's Joe Duplantier May 09, 2016

This week Joe Duplantier of the mighty Gojira returns to the podcast for another interview ahead of the release of their new album Magma. We find out how the emotional impact on the Duplantier brothers of losing their mother effected the production of this album, whether having kids makes Joe think about the business differently, what the changing direction of their music means for the future of the band, how they feel about peoples' responses to the new record, and how building a studio in New York City changes the way he looks at making music.

We also talk about "fake" bands, whether it's a band that has a front, as in Dethklok or new Season of Mist signees Sons of Balaur, or as in the case of Ghost Bath, where a band propagates misinformation to make themselves seem more interesting. Is it right to try and fool people into thinking you are something you are not? Is having a "story" worth the effort it takes to create something larger than your original band, like Gwar?

We also give you a first hand account of the David Vincent country show last weekend in Austin.

Songs:
Gojira – "Stranded"
Beartooth – "Aggressive"

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#145: Gorguts' Mastermind Luc Lemay May 02, 2016

Luc Lemay, legendary guitarist and vocalist for Gorguts, guests this week, and in our revealing interview we discover how he became and maintains the status of being the nicest guy in death metal. We even try to get him to hate on people but he holds his ground, refusing to say one bad word about anyone we mentioned. We also talk about his return to composing after such a long hiatus, how he was sure to be very careful around all the sharp objects in his woodshop, and the process of writing a single 33-minute song that turned into the band's new EP Pleiades' Dust.

We discuss our disappointment in Iron Maiden's decision to bow to the Chinese government by changing the way they perform their set. Should a band stick to their principles and not censor lyrics, or is it OK to cater to a government so the fans of the band actually get a chance to see them play? We know where Maiden came down on the subject, but were they right in doing so?

Songs:
Gorguts – "Wandering Times" (Exerpt from Pleiadies Dust)
Polar – "Blood for Blood"

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#144: Entheos / ex-The Faceless Bassist Evan Brewer Apr 25, 2016

Evan Brewer guests this week on the podcast, fresh on the heels of releasing the debut full length album with his new band Entheos. In our interview we spend more time talking about bass than ever before, but we also learn about his decision to leave The Faceless, what that meant for his career, why going solo for a few albums was a good idea and whether or not he likes watching movies with all the other nerdy prog metal guys that are getting popular these days.

Later in the episode we talk about Monuments' financial woes, which led them to drop off a tour, and how dumb mistakes can ruin your band's future, or at least create hurdles that may or may not be overcome. We examine the dynamics of finances and planning on a band's well-being and what should be expected at certain levels of the game... and let’s just say Monuments should be way ahead of where they are now.

Songs:

Entheos – "Terminal Stages of Nostalgia"
ETHS - "Nihil Sine Causa"

Follow us on Twitter: @BeardedApe and @GodlessSpeaks
Follow us on Instagram: @ChuckandGodless
Support us on Patreon: www.chuckandgodless.com

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#143: Al Jourgensen of Ministry / Surgical Meth Machine Apr 18, 2016

This week the always intense and enigmatic Ministry mastermind Al Jourgensen guests on the podcast. His new project, Surgical Meth Machine, just released their debut self-titled album, and we find out where this next level of music came from and how it turned into something bigger than expected, how the grind of the industry drives him crazy and how he inadvertently became what he most despised by creating his own label to combat the things he hated.

We also discuss the boundaries an audience needs to obey when going to shows. A young woman gets literally kicked off the stage at a pop-punk show; is that reaction justified? Does this coincide with the David Draiman discussion from last week? Where should we draw the line between audience and performer? The rules of the game are changing every day, but no one seems to know what best practices are for audience behavior... except us... we obviously know the right answer.

Songs:
Surgical Meth Machine - "I Want More"
Death Angel - "Cause For Alarm"

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#142: Filter's Richard Patrick Apr 11, 2016

Filter's Richard Patrick takes over the podcast this week -- and when we say "takes over the podcast," we mean it! Filter's new record, Crazy Eyes, is out... but we talk about the new music for maybe two seconds before the conversation shifts to the nature of art, Patrick's belief that music and art should be subversive, how the radio hit "Take a Picture" exemplifies this belief, and the U.S. Presidential election (spoiler: Richard does not like Mr. Trump very much).

We also discuss Metal GF's recent MetalSucks editorial, "Is Metal Still Counterculture? Is Anything?", and how it seems that metal has been not just accepted by, but adopted into, the mainstream (see: Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, Paris Jackson, etc.)

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#141: DevilDriver's Dez Fafara Apr 04, 2016

Dez Fafara puts in his second appearance on the podcast. DevilDriver's new record Trust No One will be the first in a decade with new personnel playing and writing music for the band. We talk in depth about Dez's work ethic, his view of the lineup changes, what that means for this album and the band going forward and how his attitude changes without negative influences working against him.

We also get to hear David Draiman go after a fan in the audience who he claimed was texting the entire show. Although the woman says she was texting her scared daughter, and Draiman apologized, was he in the right for calling out someone for not paying attention to the show? Or is he in the dark about how audiences operate in the new world order? The time may be here to put away the phones, stop texting at shows and experience the reality of... reality.

Songs:
DevilDriver - "Daybreak"
Architects UK - "A Match Made In Heaven"

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#140: Ihsahn Mar 28, 2016

The legendary Ihsahn guests on the podcast this week. We talk about his new album Arktis being a departure from his last experimental album, working with Trivium’s Matt Heafy and his love for black metal, the differences between writing music in a band setting versus the creative process as a solo artist, and if he would ever entertain returning to a "band" or he's too comfortable working independently. Also: find out why he isn't really interested in the business side of the music industry.

We couldn’t let the flap with Gloria Cavalera go unnoticed either: in a recent post to Facebook, she called out some other band that may or may not be Sepultura (she never named a name). Godless seems to think she is just doing her job telling it like it is in a time where too many people sit back and get walked over, in stark contradiction with others in the MS family.

Songs:
Ihsahn – "Mass Darkness"
Walls of Jericho – "Reign Supreme"

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#139: Otep Shamaya Mar 14, 2016

Otep Shamaya, known for her outspoken and honest nature, brings it to the podcast this week. We talk about her new record Generation Doom and how it almost didn't happen, how her history informs her present, how the music industry almost ruined her passion for music, her work as a voiceover artist and what it feels like to have regained the passion for her art. We could only fit in part of our lengthy interview, but we talked at length about politics and the state of the union. The full interview, including her take on the current U.S. Presidential race, is available to members of our Patreon family at chuckandgodless.com.

Chuck and Godless talk about crowd funding fatigue; are you tired of being the go-to source for funds for your favorite bands? With more and more artists attempting to monetize their work individually -- to record, tour, buy a new van or pay for their medical bills -- have we reached a tipping point, or are those things what we should be spending our money on in the first place? Perhaps that money you've been saving on music the last two decades by downloading it for free needs to be put to better use than picking up a grande latte if you really want your favorite band to make a new album.

Songs:
Otep - "Zero"
Killswitch Engage - "Quiet Distress"

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#138 After the Burial Vocalist Anthony Notarmaso Mar 07, 2016

Anthony Notarmaso, vocalist for the embattled After the Burial, guests this week with one of our most heart-wrenching interviews to date. It's unfortunate that the band can't do interviews without talking about their late guitarist Justin Lowe, who tragically passed away last year, but that enabled the band to reach into spaces not many can comprehend. We talk about Justin, how the band decided to carry on in spite his absence, how the loss continues to effect them every day, what it meant to try and move on so quickly and how they struggled with this new album Dig Deep and ultimately released their highest debuting release to date.

We also talk about how a bunch of teenagers could possibly be suffering through their sophomore slump. The new Babymetal song is out and isn’t as aggressive as their last record; does this signal a shift in their approach? are they trying to go more mainstream? does anyone even care? It would appear that a softer image might play better in the US as they are poised to start doing more shows in the States, or perhaps this is where the rubber meets the road for a band whose debut everyone praised.

Songs:
After the Burial – "Laurentian Ghosts"
Babymetal – "Karate"

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#137: Amon Amarth's Johan Hegg Feb 29, 2016

This week's guest on the podcast is Johan Hegg of the mighty Amon Amarth! Listen in as we discuss why he the band's new album, Jomsviking, may quite possibly be the band's finest work to date, the story behind the band's first concept record, the cause of their first line-up change in twenty years, and their decision not to hire a new permanent drummer.

Plus: Eyal Levi is back again for another installment of One Minute to Midnight! Two unsigned bands have their material examined by one of the finest producers in metal today, who offers up tips to help them continue to grow their careers. On this episode, Sweet Little Machine and Plagued by Humanity face the chopping block, and... well, let's just say they have some work ahead of them.

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#136 Steve Austin of UXO / Today is the Day Feb 22, 2016

Steve Austin, vocalist and guitarist for Today is the Day, recently formed a new band called UXO with his longtime friend Chris Spencer of Unsane. We invited Steve to chat with us and wound up having one of the longest, most interesting discussions we've had in a long time. We talk about how the UXO project came together, where his drive to create introspective, destructive music comes from, how his relationship with his family molded the person he is today and how his children changed his outlook on life and music.

We also try and figure out whether or not Bring Me the Horizon's Oli Sykes really has beef with Chris Martin and Coldplay or if he's just trying to get more people to pay attention to him. He claims he did not know that his stunt at the NME Awards was directed at the band, but we're not necessarily buying it. Also, just to warn you, there will be graphic depictions of a surgical procedure one of us had in this episode... let's just say the results were unexpected.

Songs:
UXO - "Trauma"
Toothgrinder - "The House (That Fear Built)"

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#135: Alexi Laiho and Herman Li [70K Tons of Metal Episode] Feb 15, 2016

This week we were recovering from our trip to the Caribbean on the 70000 Tons of Metal cruise. The floating festival is in its sixth year, offering 60 bands over the course of four days, and somehow we survived our third trip. Whether you love to see the crowd, the destinations or the bands you will have a spectacular time. As part of the press corps, we got the opportunity to talk to some of the bands on board in an "official" capacity, and this can present some challenges for your hosts who tend to talk without end.

The guitar shredder Herman Li of the mighty Dragonforce took some time to speak with us. They had a tough go of it -- their first performance was cut due to tech problems, then rescheduled, and their final show was booted from the main stage by the weather -- but he was in good spirits the whole trip and we were able to have an in-depth chat with the man behind the guitar.

We had been working to get Alexi Laiho of Children of Bodom to guest on the show when their latest album dropped and couldn't make it work, but he had nowhere to run on the cruise ship. You may forget how long Children of Bodom have been bringing the metal, and his history with the band is obviously interesting, so we pick his brain to find out what drives him to keep moving forward, both personally and musically.

Songs:
Dragonforce - "The Game"
Rotting Christ - "Tou Thanatou"
Children of Bodom - "I Worship Chaos"

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#134: Twelve Foot Ninja's Steve "Stevic" MacKay Feb 08, 2016

This week we invited Steve "Stevic" MacKay of the genre-bending Twelve Foot Ninja to the podcast for one of our favorite interviews to date. Shamelessly outspoken about music, the business side of things and the media, Stevic tells us all the things that are haunting him as a person, and the obstacles the band has encountered from the other side of the globe in Australia. His unique perspective is quite a bit different than what we had expected, and we were impressed with how candid and concerned the person behind the music really is.

We spent a lot of time with Stevic in this interview, and we are currently sailing the seas on the 70,000 Tons of Metal Cruise, so we left our weekly topic at the door. Don’t worry, there really isn’t anything to talk about in metal right now anyway, right?

Songs:
Twelve Foot Ninja – "One Hand Killing"
Amon Amarth – "First Kill"

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#133: Obscura Guitarist/Vocalist Steffen Kummerer Feb 01, 2016

Steffen Kummerer, guitarist and vocalist of Obscura, guests this week. With their first new album in five years, Akroasis, coming out this week, we talked to Steffen in depth about his approach to writing the new album, his experience and education, how the shifting membership in the band shaped where they are today and whether having a master's degree or being a metal vocalist gets more traction with the ladies.

We also invited Mike Schleibaum of Darkest Hour back for another edition of our political segment "Sadist Nation" to talk before today's Iowa Primaries. We also couldn't ignore the controversy involving Phil Anselmo and his Nazi salute and "white power" scream at Dimebash; you may have read the statement about the incident from Darkest Hour last week, but Mike elaborates further about what it means for the metal community. (Note: we recorded this episode before Anselmo's apology video, but we got a feeling his sentiment did not change much).

Songs:
Obscura - "The Monist"
Darkest Hour - "Painkiller"

Follow us on Twitter: @BeardedApe and @GodlessSpeaks
Follow us on Instagram: @chuckandgodless
Support us on Patreon: chuckandgodless.com

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#132: Dream Theater Vocalist James LaBrie Jan 25, 2016

James LaBrie of the legendary Dream Theater guests this week. We talk about their new album The Astonishing, the process surrounding making their most ambitious concept record to date, putting together an extensive live production for it, his relationship with fans, how he is able to adjust to touring vs. home life and whether the changing tide in the music industry effects the way he leads his life.

We also talk about VH1 Classic canceling That Metal Show and whether or not it signifies a turn away from metal music in the mainstream. If a major media company does not see the value in keeping metal and hard rock as part of their arsenal what could that mean for the genre as a whole? We also look at declining live ticket sales across the board as another possible indicator of where the last bastion of income for our artists may be headed; are we looking at the beginning of the end, or just a major shift in methodology?

Songs:
Dream Theater - "The Gift of Music"
Holy Grail - "Crystal King"

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#131: Protest the Hero's Tim Millar Jan 18, 2016

Tim Millar, guitarist for Protest the Hero, guests this week. Protest the Hero have reinvented the way to make music so many different times we had to talk to Tim about the crowdfunding for Volition, their new subscriber campaign through Bandcamp, whether they realize that they are turning the industry on its head, what the consequences may be for touring and releasing records, and how this new strategy might effect the rest of the bands in the industry who may want to try new things with their music.

We also talk about bands who fall victim to and are stuck in the old model, with all the legal flap around Metallica suing a Canadian cover band and Warner Brothers Records working hard to keep Avenged Sevenfold on their roster. The struggles in the industry are real even for the top metal bands in the world. We talk about the tragic events of the first part of the year -- Lemmy, Bowie, Rickman, Tera Wray -- all turn to dust, and how that kinda sucks.

Songs:
Protest the Hero - "Cataract" (Sample)
Protest the Hero - "Yellow Teeth"
Fleshgod Apocalypse - "The Fool"

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#130: Unsigned Band Review and Thy Art is Murder Finances Jan 11, 2016

Back by popular demand, "One Minute to Midnight," in which veteran musician and producer Eyal Levi lends his ear and expertise to two unsigned bands who submitted music for us to pick apart. We give Hasta La Muerte and With Silent Eyes some creative direction and tips and tricks that could make their music better.

Last week Derek Brewer of Outerloop Management wrote an Op-Ed piece for MetalSucks on Thy Art is Murder vocalist CJ McMahon's claim that he wasn't making enough money to live on. We invited Derek on the show to talk a little more in depth about the budgeting numbers he listed, why they' don't apply to everyone and what you can really expect as a growing band out there on the road.

In light of Myrkur mastermind Amalie Bruun's decision to cut her social media presence due to death threats from, as she puts it, "mainly American men," we discuss why these men might have problems with women, or at least women who somehow threaten their sexuality and dominance over the music industry. Are our collective penises so small we need to assault all that we don't like with violence? Why are some of us so obsessed and feel the need to take it to that level?

Songs:
Agoraphobic Nosebleed - "Deathbed"
The Anchor - "The Ghost Inside Makes Sheppard's Pie"

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#129: Lamb of God's Randy Blythe Jan 04, 2016

We're back from the holiday break with a guest we have wanted to talk to for quite a while: Randy Blythe of the mighty Lamb of God guests this week on the podcast ahead of their U.S. tour. We only had a short time with him, but we chat about his immense workload, struggles with addiction, his retirement plan, plans for 2016 (including a couple of books) and what he will look like on stage in 20 years.

We also talk about the passing of Lemmy Kilmister, reflecting on his contributions and how there may never be another icon with his gravity in our scene ever again. We talk about whether Motorhead should continue, much like other bands of late who have lost members (we're looking at you, Emmure). How many band members does it take to break a band's brand? Just one? All?

Songs:
Lamb of God - "Embers"
Motorhead - "Killed By Death"
Motorhead - "When the Sky Comes Looking For You"

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#128: The Best Metal of 2015 Dec 14, 2015

We wrap up 2015 before the holiday break with our take on the Best Albums of 2015. We posted our lists a while back but we wanted to dedicate a full episode to the albums that turned us on all year. Initially it looked like there weren't going to be enough to cover fifteen records, but a slew of good albums came out in the final month. Hell, the number one album on our lists hasn't even been released yet!

We go a little more in depth on the albums that got under our skin and the ones that you might have missed, but really we just wanted to recognize the stellar achievements and great work so many people in the metal community have done all year. It's been a great year for metal and a great year for us. So thank you for listening and supporting us in so many ways; we appreciate you all sticking with the podcast and all of us at MetalSucks.

Songs:
Cattle Decapitation - "Clandestine Ways"
Amiensus - "One In Spirit"
Deafheaven - "Brought to the Water"
Baroness - "Chlorine and Wine"

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#127: Between the Buried and Me Vocalist/Keyboardist Tommy Rogers Dec 07, 2015

Tommy Rogers, lead singer and multi instrumentalist for Between the Buried and Me, guests on the podcast this week. We talk about the challenges and fears of the road, being the father of a young son, bringing his family on tour, how family has changed his writing process, working with the same guys for so long and where BTBAM's latest album Coma Ecliptic fits into the band's legacy (and how it might dictate their future output).

We also try and figure out where Jeremy Wagner of Broken Hope got the cash to buy so many of Jeff Hanneman's guitars. Did he have thousands of dollars just laying around? Or is he looking at this as an investment into his future? We also look ahead to next week's "Best of 2015" episode and start the chatter about our favorite records of the year.

Songs:
BTBAM - "The Coma Machine/Dim Ignition"
Pyramids - "I Have Four Sons, All Named for Men We Lost to War"

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#126: John Baizley of Baroness Nov 30, 2015

John Baizley of Baroness guests this week. We've been looking forward to talking with John for a while, and with the release of Purple we talk about the new members of the band, how that affected the writing process, getting back on the road after the horrific bus crash that nearly ended their lives, the impact the crash had on John's everyday life, his struggle with pain and his response to the recent terrorist attacks in Paris.

We also talk about whether or not guys that are in bands should be managers of others bands. In a recent interview, Rob Dukes (former singer for Exodus) criticized Chuck Billy for having a conflict of interest by managing Exodus and being the singer of Testament. Could that lead to mismanagement by favoring his own band? Or is it beneficial to have someone with that kind of experience doing your bidding? Do you have to trust your management no matter what?

Songs:
Baroness - "Shock Me"
Vision of Disorder - "Heart of Darkness"

Follow us on Twitter: @BeardedApe and @GodlessSpeaks
Follow us on Instagram: ChuckandGodless
Support us on Patreon: www.chuckandgodless.com

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#125: Metallica's Kirk Hammett Nov 23, 2015

Our guest this week rounds out the Big Four of metal interviews for the podcast! Kirk Hammett of the mighty Metallica gives us some time to talk about his life, how he keeps his work and life in balance, how he keeps his schedule in line, how he views happiness and success -- both personally and within the band -- and why he decided to start a company to make boutique guitar pedals.

We also argue about the best Metallica songs while trying to figure out which of their song to play this episode, and we discuss the Florida police officer who was fired for his singalong at a Vital Remains concert. In an effort to embrace his community the Chief of Police for Sanford County in Florida got rid of an officer who embraced part of their community. Was he correct? We talk, you decide!

Songs:
Metallica - "Orion (Live)"
Devin Townsend Project - "March of the Poozers (Live)"

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#124: Doc Coyle (ex-God Forbid, Vagus Nerve) Nov 16, 2015

This week Doc Coyle jumps in to talk to us, not about Rejecting Our Sickness, but about his new project Vagus Nerve. We have never really "interviewed" Doc on the podcast, so we take the time to talk to him about leaving God Forbid, his relationship with his brother, the experience of being in a band outside of God Forbid for the first time, how moving from one coast to the other has affected his life and, more importantly, his dating life.

We also talk about the situation in Paris; this kind of tragedy can change the entire world, and we speculate about what it might mean to the music industry and live music. We are all vulnerable when we are out seeing live shows, and we never really think twice about it; but should we? If we change our practices at venues are the terrorists winning? Or have we been naive all along?

Songs:
Vagus Nerve - "Do You Know Who I AM"
Hegemon - "Interpreting Signs for War:Aruspicine"

Follow us on Twitter: @BeardedApe and @GodlessSpeaks and Support us on Patreon (www.chuckandgodless.com)

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#123: Chris Jericho Nov 09, 2015

Professional wrestler and Fozzy frontman Chris Jericho guests this week. We unlock the secrets to his success, his philosophy for keeping all his projects in check, what it takes to be a rock and roll guy but keep his feet on the ground and, of course, what kind of hair care and skin products keep him looking so dapper. Plus we hear a song from his pet project Blood Divisions which also features members of Nasty Savage.

We also discuss a recent study which claims that folk metal is more misogynistic and racist than any other type of metal. Is the sub-genre really so exclusionary or is it just painting a picture of history and the time before time?

Songs:
Blood Divisions - "Top of the Bill"
Good Tiger - "Where Are the Birds"

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#122: Max Cavalera (Soulfly, Killer be Killed, Cavalera Conspiracy) Nov 02, 2015

This week the legendary Max Cavalera joins us for our first ever live podcast interview. We took some time before his show in Austin to talk about his philosophy on metal, working with guests on his albums, the formation of a path for himself after Sepultura, coming back together with his brother after such a bad split, and how his children use their coping skills versus what he had to do as a young child growing up when his father died.

We also cover Jill Janus and the strange circumstances surrounding her split -- and subsequent return -- to Huntress, what mental illness looks like and why the metal world is accusing us of talking about her only because she is a woman. Can metal commentators help themselves from name-calling and shaming? Not so much, but the double standard may not be quite what some people say when compared to other people with similar problems.

Songs:
Soulfly - "Live Life Hard!"
Abigail Williams - "Will, Wish and Desire"

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#121: TesseracT Vocalist Daniel Tompkins Oct 26, 2015

Daniel Tompkins lead singer of TesseracT guests this week, bringing us insight into his decision to return to the band, what it was like to reclaim his spot in a band that's taking off, what the changing sound of the band means for fans, how they react to those changes and how he copes with the shrinking opportunities for bands in the industry today.

Chuck and Godless discuss the ballsy decision of Ne Obliviscaris' drummer Daniel Presland to quit a six-figure job to continue with the band and go on a world tour. Is this dude insane? Is he sacrificing stability and security for what is probably a futile pipe dream, or is he the gutsiest guy playing in a metal band today? Many bands we talk to have to be able to bridge music and day jobs to survive, but are they just selling their music short by telling us they they're not really good enough to quit their day job?

Songs:
Tesseract - "Messenger"
Windhand - "Crypt Key"

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#120: Born of Osiris Guitarist Lee McKinney Oct 19, 2015

Born of Osiris guitarist Lee McKinney guests this week just as their new album Soul Sphere drops. We talk about the new album, growing up on the road, his relationship with the other band members and how that's changed over the years, how touring effects his private life and whether his skills as a guitarist enhance certain parts of his alone time.

We also listen to a bit of the new Protest the Hero song and discuss their decision to turn the industry on its head yet again with a subscription-based EP release. Is it a smart move to offer their fans something no one ever has, or will there be backlash for releasing just six songs in as many months?

Songs:
Born of Osiris - "Resilience"
Zombi - "Pillars of the Dawn"

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#119: Stryper's Michael Sweet Oct 12, 2015

This week Michael Sweet of the legendary Christian metal band Stryper joins us to talk about his new album and the history of the band. Whenever anything remotely Christian comes up, Godless gets to flex his Atheist muscles. They discuss Sweet’s relationship with God after suffering through so much tragedy in his life, his departure from God and his ultimate return, and how that effects the band to this day. We learn about his time with Boston, his relationships with his children and so much more.

We also invited Doc Coyle back to "Reject the Sickness" of Vince Neilstein himself on the treatment of certain mainstream metal bands like Five Finger Death Punch on the website. Is it acceptable to trash bands when they are allegedly doing good things for metal? Is it justified to keep pushing negative opinions of bands who are just trying to do their thing?

Songs:
Stryper – "Big Screen Lies"
Megadeth – "Fatal Illusion"

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#118.5: Dethklok/Metalocalypse Creator Brendon Small Oct 08, 2015

The timer at MetalocalypseNow.com has run out, and we were able to get the show's creator Brendon Small on the line to talk about the big announcement. He wouldn’t tell us what happens to Murderface, but he gives us all the details on what happened with Adult Swim and their decision not to renew the show for the fifth and final season, the thought process behind the social media campaign to bring the show back, his progress with its production, the latest on Dethklok and what we will need to do to help get Metalocalypse back on the air to finish its epic story arc.

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#118: Testament / Metal Allegiance Guitarist Alex Skolnick Oct 05, 2015

This week the legendary Alex Skolnick of Testament joins us to talk shop about Metal Allegiance, his place in metal history, how his work ethic differs from his counterparts, the differences between the jazz world and the metal world, and what it meant to work with such a variety of musicians on a project like Metal Allegiance. We also find out when a new Testament record is coming!

Chuck and Godless talk about the variety of beefs between musicians that seemed to pop up this week. Many were between metal-ish bands like Motley Crue and Metallica, but we wonder whether or not it is healthy for ANY scene for this kind of dishing to be happening... or maybe it needs to be happening more? Who can we find to get angry with Dave Grohl? That guy is way too nice to everybody and someone must have a problem with him, right?!

Songs:
Metal Allegiance - "We Rock"
Fit for an Autopsy - "Wither"

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#117: Deafheaven Vocalist George Clarke Sep 28, 2015

George Clarke from Deafheaven guests this week. We find out what he thinks about the band's meteoric trajectory since their inception just a few years ago, what it means to be critically accepted, shaping the band while members are leaving (and what that means to the bands sound), his relationship with the other bandmates and whether he might need therapy soon.

We also discuss the recent "takeover" of the Billboard Top 200 by four metal bands in the top 20. It may not seem like that many but when you see 20% of album sales and streaming going to metal new and old, that's encouraging. The bright spots in metal album sales have been few and far between, so could this signal a bit of a trend? Either way Metallica's black album still sold 2000+ copies last week, so at least there's that.

Follow us on twitter: @beardedApe and @GodlessSpeaks, and support us on Patreon.

Songs:
Deafheaven - "Come Back"
Bring Me The Horizon - "Throne"

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#116: The Black Dahlia Murder Guitarist Brian Eschbach Sep 21, 2015

We invited guitarist Brian Eschbach of The Black Dahlia Murder to guest on the podcast this week following the release of the band's latest ripper Abysmal. We talk about the new record, using a different producer to give their music a more organic sound, what life is like off the road, how the business of TBDM works, what their relationships with former members of the band are like and the keys to success of one of the top extreme metal bands going today.

The Atlas Moth's Stavros Gianopolis joins us for another edition of "Storytime With Stavros." This time he has a little help from another member of the band and explains why weed can be very bad for you, or at least lead to some intteresting predicaments on the road. We also talk about what happens to bands after they lose core members, inspired by Tom Araya's admission that Repentless was only "half of Slayer."

Songs:
The Black Dahlia Murder - "The Fog"
Iron Maiden - "When the River Runs Deep"

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#115: Sevendust Vocalist Lajon Witherspoon Sep 14, 2015

Sevendust frontman Lajon Withersppon guests this week! We chat about the new album Kill the Flaw, the differences between touring at the age of 21 and touring today with a family back home, how his family is growing and what that will mean for the bands future plans, how the band's history with bad decisions and unfortunate circumstances weighs on their current processes and what surprising item of clothing he was wearing when he met his wife for the first time. We almost went down a car talk wormhole, too.

We also discuss the GoFundMe campaign for a member of a band who faked her fight with cervical cancer. What does it mean that in this time where bands are struggling to make any kind of living you have a person trying to take advantage of a music scene's generosity? Could their be wider consequences than just the people affected directly by this incident? We salute Lemmy for getting back on tour and announce our own crowd funding campaign, too.

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#114.75: ex-Cynic Drummer Sean Reinert Sep 11, 2015

We had the chance to talk to Sean Reinert right on the heels of the announcement that his seminal band, Cynic, would be calling it quits before their next tour -- which was not only a surprise to fans, but, according to Facebook, a surprise to other members of the band, too. We asked him about the recent Facebook posts he wrote about their break up, what issues lead to the current situation, the back and forth between he and Paul Masvidal, and why two people who have worked together for so long can no longer bear to be around each other.

Follow us on Twitter: @BeardedApe and @GodlessSpeaks

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#114.5: Listen to the New Slayer Album Repentless with The MetalSucks Podcast! Sep 11, 2015

The new album from SLAYER drops today (9/11/15), and we've decided to give you all a special podcast to listen along with Repentless! This is something that's never been tried before in the history of the planet, so who knows if it will work or not -- but as you explore the new record you can listen to commentary about the new songs, a discussion of Slayer's place in history and more. We don't give you the music -- you use your own disc, LP, cassette or stream -- and listen alongside the podcast.

But this is not just the two of us hosting! We thought you might need some expert opinions to carry you through why this record may (or may not) be the best thing since sliced wrists. So we invited some of the foremost Slayer experts, musicians, comedians and more to chat along with the album and put things in perspective:

Ian Christe (Host of "Bloody Roots" on Sirius XM, author of Sound of the Beast: Complete History of Heavy Metal, www.bazillionpoints.com)
Joel McIver (author of The Bloody Reign of Slayer, www.joelmciver.co.uk)
DX Ferris (author of Slayer: The Jeff & Dave Years, www.slayerbio.com)
Albert Mudrian (author of Choosing Death: The Improbably History of Death Metal, editor of Decibel Magazine, www.decibelmagazine.com)
Eli Santana (guitarist of Holy Grail, www.holygrailofficial.com)
John Tole (comedian, singer of Pitboss 2000, www.johntole.com)
Emperor Rhombus (writer at Metalsucks.net)

So check out our first ever attempt at an online listening party and celebrate SLAYER along with! Purchase Repentless here on physical formats and here digitally if you haven't yet. And when we tell you, push play on Repentless and hold on!

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#114: Monster Magnet's Dave Wyndorf Sep 08, 2015

Dave Wyndorf of Monster Magnet guests this week. We talk about the rise and fall of Monster Magnet, from having a super radio hit to hardly selling any albums, the way the industry monetizes artists and thereby lessens the value of art, getting older and realizing what it means to have longevity, and the pitfalls of rock and roll in general. His candid perspective is unique and Dave does not mince words for those in power.

We also discuss last week's Motorhead show in Austin, where Chuck witnessed first-hand the illness that caused Lemmy's shortened performance. We discuss the crowd reaction while giving him the respect he deserves. Is this the beginning of the end for one of rock's most important icons? No matter what we hope to have him around for many more years, but it might be time to set up a residency or something.

Songs:
Monster Magnet - Watch Me Fade
Motorhead - Till the End

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#113: Shawn Drover of Act of Defiance (ex-Megadeth) Aug 31, 2015

Shawn Drover, ex-drummer of Megadeth and Eidolon, joins us to talk about his new band Act of Defiance, whose debut album The Birth and the Burial is out now. We discuss his departure from one of metal's biggest bands, his pairing with former Megadeth guitarist Chris Broderick and why they stuck together, what they were thinking when putting this new group together and why they are most definitely not a supergroup.

We discuss the video advertisement Disturbed had to pull after its incendiary imagery came frighteningly true this week with two journalists being murdered in Virginia. Should we be more careful with the way we express our art?

Darkest Hour's Mike Schleibaum joins us again to discuss the latest happenings in the political world with another edition of "The Sadist Nation." We cover a lot of ground about the 2016 Presidential candidates and some other political topics that are trending.

Songs:
Act of Defiance - "The Lord Belial"
Stray From the Path - "Badge & a Bullet Part II"

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#112: Hate Eternal Mastermind and Producer Erik Rutan Aug 24, 2015

Legendary producer, guitarist and vocalist Erik Rutan guests this week. Hate Eternal just unleashed their new album Infernus and it plays like a death metal guidebook, so we pick his brain about a wide range of topics: producing bands, the changing metal scene, whether he would ever rejoin Morbid Angel, how he hurt his hand on the Metal Alliance Tour and what the hell happened to that tour when it shit the bed mid-run.

Doc Coyle comes back to "Reject the Sickness." This week's topic: Godless' Tweet about loving Meshuggah being the hipster way to say people love Fear Factory. What kind of influence did FF have and why do people love to hate on them so much while giving Meshuggah so much credit for their influence? Doc does his best to set us straight.

Songs:
Hate Eternal - "The Stygian Deep"
Clutch - "X-Ray Visions"

Follow us on twitter: @BeardedApe and @GodlessSpeaks

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#111: Myrkur's Amalie Bruun Aug 17, 2015

This week we talk to Amalie Bruun, the mysterious woman behind the eclectic black metal project Myrkur. Her perspective on metal is unique, and we talk to her about the haters, her philosophy on making music and art, what working with her heroes has meant to her, the public reception of Myrkur (both positive and negative) and how playing pop music influences her musical output.

Godless recaps his time at Bloodstock, his first European style festival, and how it differs from the one-day touring festivals here in the States. We chat about the recent comments by The Browning that compare the incident in Ferguson a year ago to a band getting their van broken into, and we talk about Trapt using their Facebook page to vent their political opinions. Do bands need to be more careful with what they put out for public consumption?

Songs:
Myrkur – "Mordet"
Teenage Time Killers – "Egobomb"

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#110: Soilwork's Bjorn "Speed" Strid Aug 10, 2015

Soilwork frontman Bjorn “Speed” Strid guests on the podcast this week. We talk about the band's ongoing lineup changes and their effect on the sound, what it means to lose someone who has been playing with them for so long, if he's ever thought about leaving, his recent decision to quit drinking and, of course, the band's new album The Ride Majestic.

We also discuss the recent Spotify report listing the top 25 top sub-genres of metal on the service; you won’t believe what landed at number 6! What does it all mean for bands and their music on the streaming service, and who the hell is still listening to nu-metal?

Songs:
Soilwork – "The Ride Majestic"
InAeona – "Sun/Moon"

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#109: Dino Cazares of Fear Factory Jul 27, 2015

Dino Cazares took a break from consuming young children to be our guest on the podcast one week ahead of the release of Fear Factory’s new album Genexus. While Godless goes a little gaga, we talked about the storied history of the band, the troubles with labels and producers and their struggles with the limelight and keeping band members happy. We also find out the fate of Divine Heresy and some of Dino's other projects.

We take another listener call about festivals, since that topic seems to be on the top of everyone's mind as they watch the downfall of the Mayhem Festival. We discuss whether any changes need to be made to some static festivals such as Maryland Deathfest, and whether changing the formula would give the appearance that they're "selling out."

Songs:
Fear Factory – "Dielectric"
Amorphis – "Death of a King"

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#108: The Legendary Philip H. Anselmo (Pantera, Down, Superjoint Ritual) Jul 20, 2015

Philip H. Anselmo makes another appearance on this episode (he first joined us way back on episode sixteen!), right after his 47th birthday, and on the verge of taking Superjoint Ritual on a full tour for the first time in a decade. We talk about getting older and how it changes your perspective on conflicts with people, such as Tom G. Warrior and former band members. We also find out the status of his autobiography in the wake of the passing of his co-author and co-founder of the Housecore Horror Film Festival, Corey Mitchell.

Eyal Levi drops in for another segment of 'One Minute to Midnight,' in which unsigned bands get to be critiqued by a professional engineer, producer and all around talented dude. Event Horizon and Dissident Regressor are on the chopping block this month -- you can judge, or just listen to us tear them to shreds (actually, we attempt to help them make their music better)!

We also take another listener call and discuss who could make a good concept record (should Slipknot even contemplate trying to pull something like that off?), why Mayhem Fest founder Kevin Lyman had to apologize for calling metal "fat, old and bald," and more.

Songs:

Superjoint Ritual - "Death Threat"
Miss May I - "I.H.E."

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#107: Hatebeak's Blake Harrison and Mark Sloan Jul 13, 2015

Blake Harrison and Mark Sloan, the human portion of the parrot-fronted extreme metal band Hatebeak, guest this week on the podcast. We find out if they really think metal vocalists are obsolete, why this project should be taken seriously and why it probably shouldn't be at the same time. We learn about the collaboration's history and grill Blake about whether we'll have to wait another couple decades before the new Pig Destroyer album comes out (and if it will be a D00M album).

We take a listener question about streaming services and how bands make money via Spotify, Google Play and Apple Music. Where does the money go? Why do those royalty checks for metal bands barely buy a happy meal let alone pay a mortgage?

Songs:
Hatebeak - "God of Empty Nest"
Kataklysm - "Thy Serpents Tongue"

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#106: Cradle of Filth Frontman Dani Filth Jul 06, 2015

The enigmatic Dani Filth makes us work hard for our money on this week's episode: we talk about the upcoming Cradle of Filth record, how imagery can shape the outcome of an album, creating good artwork, how he keeps the Cradle sound intact with a rotating cast of band members, and why you shouldn't illegally download music.

Senior MS Editor Anso DF stops by to bring some of the latest news stories into perspective. How do the stories of Cobalt's new lead singer, Morbid Angel's embarrassing public split and Inquisition getting picked for Knotfest all tie together? Anso helps us sort it out!

Songs:
Cradle of Filth - "Deflowering The Maidenhead, Displeasing The Goddess"
Ramming Speed - "Don't Let This Stay Here"

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#105: Refused Frontman Dennix Lyxzén Jun 29, 2015

Dennis Lyxzén of the legendary Refused guests on the podcast this week. We pick his brain about the demise of the band in the late '90s, what it took to get them to reunite, his philosophy on life, religion and what it means to be a working artist, the new Refused record Freedom and more.

Now that 2015 is halfway over Chuck and Godless discuss their picks for best album of the year (so far). How will the rest of the year shape up with so many big names dropping records in the next few months?

Songs:
Paradise Lost – "No Hope In Sight"
Sigh – "The Casketburner"
Refused - "Thought Is Blood"

Follow us on Twitter: @BeardedApe and @GodlessSpeaks

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#104: Battlecross Guitarist Hiran Deraniyagala Jun 22, 2015

Hiran Deraniyagala of Battlecross is our guest this week as the band makes their way across Canada on tour with Crowbar. We talk about their new record Rise to Power, the band's recent success and how they've managed and struggled with it so far, what that means to who they are as people, and the real reason they've had such a problem filling the drum slot.

We also invited Sergeant D, Gear Gods Senior Editor Max Frank, and MS contributor Emperor Rhombus to the podcast after the recent back and forth on the site about the emphasis on musicianship in today's metal scene. Do fans put too much emphasis on ability and not enough on songwriting? Does it matter? And how does that impact metal's place in the music scene at large?

Follow us on twitter: @BeardedApe and @GodlessSpeaks

Songs:
Battlecross - "Not Your Slave"
Jungle Rot - "Paralyzed Prey"

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#103: Lamb of God Drummer Chris Adler Jun 15, 2015

On this week's podcast we go in depth with Lamb of God drummer Chris Adler. We talked about the new Lamb of God album, how the relationships inside the band have changed over time, the differences between working with Megadeth and his own band, who the best of their many fill-in guitarists has been, what a rock and roll retirement plan should look like and his thoughts on clean singing in metal. We also get the scoop on an offer he may not be able to refuse from Dave Mustaine.

Songs:
Lamb of God - "512"
Rivers of Nihil - "Perpetual Growth Machine"

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#102: Eyal Levi Critiques More Unsigned Bands + MS Contributor Crash Thompson Guests Jun 08, 2015

This week we have another installment of One Minute to Midnight, our chance for unsigned bands to have their music listened to and critiqued by one of our prolific metal producer Eyal Levi. Two bands get 60 seconds each to impress or completely disappoint; you be the judge.

We invite MetalSucks contributor Crash Thompson to help us try and figure out if there is still an underground left. IMNs will of course tell you that there is, and you just can't see it because you aren't looking, but with all of the constant internet coverage of metal the word "underground" may just be a term from the days of old we use to describe crappy music.

We also discuss Ronnie Radke's recent alleged indiscretion. Should the court of public opinion be what determines a person's guilt or innocence? Finding the truth can be almost impossible, and in the recent case of the Warped Tour flap over some of their talent, a measured response to accusations might be in order.

Follow us on Twitter: @BeardedApe @GodlessSpeaks

Songs:
Cattle Decapitation - "Manufactured Extinct"
Ghost - "Cirice"

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#101: I.C.S. Vortex (Arcturus, Borknagar, ex-Dimmu Borgir) Jun 01, 2015

I.C.S. Vortex takes a break from his many projects and family to guest this week on the MetalSucks Podcast. His new release with Arcturus is a departure from much of what he's done in the past, and we talk about that progression, his experience with an evangelical mother, how he fits his many projects into being a father and husband and his experiences with the volatile situations in Dimmu Borgir (and his subsequent departure from the band).

We also give you the first true installment of our new politics segment, "Sadist Nation" with Darkest Hour's Mike Schleibaum. We talk about the separation between church and state and whether or not metalheads can unite under one set of causes, and what it would take to make us all come together and realize the political power we have in the world after so many years of being sidelined.

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#100: Napalm Death's Barney Greenway May 26, 2015

This week marks the 100th episode of the MetalSucks Podcast! For this special occasion we pulled in one of our favorite people in metal today, if not the entire planet, Mark "Barney" Greenway, frontman for the legendary Napalm Death! We couldn't just have a normal interview, but one of our longest to date, covering a wide array of topics from his lengthy time with the band, his brief split, the politics of poverty and what the future of metal looks like. It really goes all over the place for almost a full 100 minutes.

Thank you to you all who have supported us, listened, subscribed and told us how terrible we are; we take it all to heart, and hopefully if we don't piss off Vince and Axl we might be around for 200.

Follow Us on Twitter: @BeardedApe @GodlessSpeaks

Songs:
Napalm Death - "Suffer the Children"
Napalm Death - "How the Years Condemn"

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#99: Veil of Maya Guitarist Marc Okubo May 18, 2015

Marc Okubo of Veil of Maya guests this week. We cover the departure of their former lead singer Brandon Butler and new BMOC Lukas Magyar: the moment everything came to a head, adding melodic clean singing, which vocalist has dreamier eyes and what actually happened to Revocation drummer Phil Dubois-Coyne when he injured his arm last year.

Chuck and Godless discuss their expectations when a favorite artist is releasing a new album: getting your hopes up for new music can be devastating when it falls short.

We also chat about what makes metal news, news? Is the fact that a band is thinking about heading to the studio sometime in the future news? What kind of landscaping does Don Dokken prefer in his yard? What actually matters when it comes to your consumption of headlines?

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#98: Carley Coma from Candiria May 11, 2015

This week, Carley Coma, lead singer of the revitalized Candiria, guests on the podcast! We find out about how faith shaped his path in life, his passion for MMA, and risking his life for music. Also: when will we hear some new material for the band?

Plus: Eyal Levi jumps back in for another session of One Minute to Midnight featuring unsigned bands looking for some expert advice on their music. Deconsecrate and The Residence get their music listened to and picked over by one of the best in the business! And Chuck and Godless discuss the flap last week between former GWAR vocalist Kim Dylla (aka Vulvatron) and current GWAR guitarist Brent Purgason (aka Pustulus Maximus), and whether the band should have handled the situation differently or not.

Songs:

Candiria – "Faction"
We Butter the Bread With Butter – "Berlin, Berlin!"

Follow Us on Twitter: @BeardedApe @GodlessSpeaks

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#97: Mike Schleibaum from Darkest Hour & Keith Fay from Cruachan May 04, 2015

This week we welcome back a guest who has been on the podcast before, albeit in a different capacity: Mike Schleibaum, who is not only the guitarist for Darkest Hour, but is a DC resident with some great insights into the world of politics. With elections coming up and issues at hand that will effect the entire glob, Chuck, Godless, and Mike tackles political topics of interest to metal fans.Is Marijuana legalization your thing? Second amendment rights? Free speech? Or are you just worried about your tickets to MDF while Baltimore still smolders?

We also talk to Keith Fay from the band Cruachan about the craziness surrounding their latest album title and allegations of copyright infringement brought against them by the German metal band Debauchery.

Follow us on twitter: @BeardedApe and @GodlessSpeaks

Songs:

Darkest Hour - The World Engulfed In Flames

Refused - Elektra

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#96: "Dixie" Dave Collins from Weedeater Apr 27, 2015

Our guest this week is "Dixie" Dave Collins, frontman and bassist for Weedeater. We talk about their latest album, Eurpopean jail, why seagulls suck, and how he got his driver's license revoked. Plus: check out a new song from their upcoming album, Goliathan, which comes out May 18 on Season of Mist.

We also take another call from one our listeners, and discuss the new trend of pop culture absorbing the "metal look" with some of the latest fashion. Finally, we break down Pat Robertson's riff on evil music and why it's okay to beat your kids if they listen to things you don't like.

Songs:

Weedeater - "Joseph...(All Talk)"

Slayer - "When the Stillness Comes"

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#95: Matt Harvey of Exhumed and Gruesome Apr 20, 2015

Matt Harvey, mastermind behind the twenty-five-year history of Exhumed, guests this week. We talk about the re-recording of the classic album Gore Metal, how bands survive with so many lineup changes, and what his personal role was in shaping the band's history. We talk about growing up without much a metal scene, keeping death metal alive in the '90s and how his new project Gruesome is really a love letter to Chuck Schuldiner and old school Death.

Chuck and Godless also talk about the recent flap between ex-Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward and SharOz Osbourne. Is the responsibility on Ward to be in the best physical condition possible to remain with the band, or do Sabbath have an obligation to bring an original member along for the the ride despite the needs of an aging member?

Songs:
Gruesome - "Trapped In Hell"
Gallows - "Leather Crown"

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#94: 36 Crazyfists Vocalist Brock Lindow Apr 14, 2015

36 Crazyfists vocalist Brock Lindow guests on the podcast this week to talk about the band's new album Time and Trauma and their upcoming tour with Nonpoint. Brock is not only the frontman of 36 Crazyfists, but he is also the father to a five-year-old, he's started his own hockey-themed sports bar, he co-hosts a podcast about craft beer and he's an all-around hard working dude.

Chuck and Godless speculate whether Marty Freidman's alleged re-addition to Megadeth would have really been a "step back" for him or if he's missing a big opportunity. The mighty Gwar's legal woes became very complicated this week when a lawsuit brought by the father of late lead singer Dave Brockie came to light, but the band vehemently denied the accusations and have handled it all perfectly.

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#93: Testament's Chuck Billy and Exodus' Steve "Zetro" Souza Apr 06, 2015

This week Testament's Chuck Billy and Exodus vocalist Steve "Zetro" Souza guest on the podcast to kick off the Dark Roots of Thrash Tour II. We talk about the early days of thrash metal, the differences between their experiences touring in the '80s and today, the benefit show that possibly made the revival of their generation of bands possible, and we find out how these seemingly popular musicians really made their living for the last couple of decades.

Eyal Levi steps in once again for another edition of "One Minute to Midnight" by giving his advice to a couple more unsigned bands, and Chuck and Godless speculate about the situation with Skeletonwitch and their departed vocalist Chance Garnette. When a lead singer departs in such a public way, and has a family member in the band, how is it possible to move past it?

Songs:
Various (Chuck Billy) - Mr. Crowley
Ufomammut - Temple

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#92: New England Metal and Hardcore Fest Founder Scott Lee Mar 30, 2015

The New England Metal and Hardcore Fest kicks off its seventeenth year in just a few weeks, so Chuck and Godless had some questions about the prolific festival for founder Scott Lee. Scott talks about how he picks bands for the festival, the challenges of a changing audience over the past decade, finding the right combination of sponsors and lifestyle groups to make it financially viable without being a giant advertisement, what the landscape of regional festivals looks like, and how that competition shapes his festival and vice versa.

Chuck and Godless also recap their coverage of the story that broke last week about Otep and the alleged sexual assault against her while on tour. Our exclusive interview with her shed quite a bit of light on the controversy, but we reserved our commentary for this week's episode.

Songs:
The Red Chord - "Blue Line Cretin"
Mantar - "Cult Witness"

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#91.5: Otep Shamaya Shares Her Side of the Terror Universal Controversy in Exclusive Interview Mar 25, 2015

Otep Shamaya found herself at the center of controversy this week when her band pulled out of the upcoming Civil Unrest Tour -- also set to feature Ill Nino, 36 Crazyfists and Terror Universal -- because the singer of Terror Universal allegedly "violently grabbed my crotch on our last tour."

Since then, accusations have been flying every which way. Ill Nino and the tour's organizers both issued statements on the matter, as did the wife of Terror Universal's singer (although, interestingly, no one in the band has yet commented publicly), and Otep herself shared additional details via Twitter.

In this special edition of the MetalSucks Podcast, host Chuck Loesch speaks with Otep directly to clear up all the details surrounding the incident: what happened, when it happened, and what the future holds. Otep shares all sorts of new details about the incident, including the revelation that Dave Chavarri, a longtime personal friend of Otep's and the drummer for Ill Nino, is also the drummer AND manager of Terror Universal, creating a stark conflict of interest.

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#91: Hannes Grossmann of Alkaloid (Ex-Obscura, ex-Necrophagist) Mar 23, 2015

Drummer Hannes Grossmann of Alkaloid (Ex-Obscura, ex-Necrophagist) guests this week. We talk about the differences between being a session drummer and a band member, how to admit you wrote something that sucks, how playing fast is no excuse for bad songwriting, why he left Obscura and when the Necrophagist record will be coming out.

Chuck and Godless were consumed by SXSW this week but they still found the time to get some discussion topics together. Can Slipknot live forever? They discuss if bands should keep going without original members of the band or if the personnel are too critical to a band's identity. They also declare a winner for SXSW and it was not a headliner of any showcase, but rather something more special.

Songs:
Alkaloid - "Cthulhu"
Fallujah - "Allure"

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#90: Mlny Parsonz of Royal Thunder Mar 16, 2015

Mlny Parsonz from Royal Thunder guests on the podcast with Chuck and Godless this week. We discover her surprising history with religion and spirituality, her theory on songwriting and life, her Jesus tattoos, how she's learned to look forward instead of linger on bad situations and what frightens her most about the world.

Doc Coyle joins for another segment of Rejecting the Sickness to talk about some of his latest musings in his new VH1 column. We hash out whether being a metal puritan is a real thing and if it's a liability to the genre as a whole.

Chuck can't seem to understand how neither Vince or Godless know that much about porn, or at least Mia Khalifa, one of the biggest female stars on PornHub right now. This of course after she popped up wearing a death metal t-shirt and gave us all a rise.

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#89: Decibel Magazine Editor-in-Chief Albert Mudrian Mar 09, 2015

Chuck and Godless invite Editor-in-Chief of Decibel Magazine Albert Mudrian onto the podcast to talk about the new version of his book Choosing Death, with updated chapters on the past decade of death and grind. Albert also speculates on the future of metal; where are we headed? what might be the next hot trend? is there even any room for that nonsense anymore?

Eyal Levi drops in again for another installment of One Minute to Midnight, the segment designed to let you hear new and unsigned bands try and make an impression on one of the best producers/engineers in the industry.

Chuck and Godless will be hosting a panel at SXSW called "The Art of the Interview" in which they'll discuss the process of, the work that goes into and how to conduct a decent interview. You'll get a brief preview of the panel's subject matter here after That Metal Show apparently gave Ted Nugent a pass on the tough questions.

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#88: Don Jamieson of That Metal Show Mar 02, 2015

That Metal Show co-host Don Jamieson is our guest this week. We talk about season fourteen of the show, how and why VH1 decided to put some metal into their programming line-up, who the best and worst guests have been and why they don't seem to offer much in the way of newer metal on the program.

Chuck and Godless talk about the weekend controversy with Dimebag Darrell's grave site desecration, the band or band member responsible for the act and why his apology probably won't fly in Texas.

MetalSucks Co-Founder Vince Neilstein jumps in to talk about his recent post on the major label acquisition of Century Media. What does it mean to metal in general, for other labels and for the bands on CM's roster? Could it be a good thing to dissolve yet another metal major, or does it signal a decline in metal overall?

Songs:
Pantera - "5 Minutes Alone"
Melechesh - "Multiple Truths"

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#87: Enslaved's Ivar Bjørnson Feb 23, 2015

Enslaved founding member Ivar Bjørnson is our guest this week. The legendary progressive black metal band's new record In Times hits shelves in a few weeks, and Chuck and Godless had a chance to talk to him about his young children, how close the band has been to splitting up, bouncing back and solidifying a new line-up, the keys to a good relationship in a band and his "marriage" to Enslaved bassist Grutle Kjellson for the last 25 years.

We also discuss the metal events coming to SXSW -- including the MetalSucks South By South Death showcase -- and we go in depth on a recent post by Sergeant D about Papa Roach going Djent. Does this signify the coming end of djent? Will the pop-metal titans close the door on another kind of metal just like they did for Nu Metal? Or should we be happy the mainstream finally discovered something new to incorporate?

Songs:
Enslaved - "One Thousand Years of Rain"
Lee McKinney - "Skylasher"

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#85: Psycroptic Drummer Dave Haley Feb 16, 2015

Dave Haley, drummer for Australian tech-death band Psycroptic, guests this week, Chuck and Godless grill him about the difficulties of being an Aussie band and touring the world, the benefits of retaining the rights to their music, their involvement with Tasmanian Devil extinction awareness and which member is the true hippie of the band.

Chuck and Godless also discuss the divisions between metal fans and how those rifts reflect racial tendencies in the U.S. It can be difficult for any band to become "legitimate," but in the modern metal scene more and more bands get criticized based on their style rather than their ability to write and play songs. Is this the new normal? Why do some people just hate clean singing and only listen to death metal? Should Chuck start a new battle vest? We discuss, you decide.

Songs:
Psycroptic - "Cold"
Veil of Maya - "Phoenix"

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#85: Reviewing Unsigned Band Demos with Eyal Levi Feb 09, 2015

An action packed episode this week! Chuck and Godless take a bunch of your calls, talk about love and relationships for Valentine's Day, and debut the inaugural installment of "One Minute to Midnight," where unsigned bands get to have their music featured on the podcast and heard and critiqued by veteran producer, musician, teacher and resident badass Eyal Levi. Two bands get the full treatment this week; winners? losers? You be the judge!

Doc Coyle takes us to school on Steel Panther in his ongoing "Rejecting the Sickness" segment, telling us why SP are totally legit and not as derogatory as you might think based on song titles, album titles, videos, pictures, telegraphs and smoke signals.

Songs:
Cognizance - "The Succession of Flesh"
Byzantine - "A Curious Lot"

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#84: Corrosion of Conformity + Max and Gloria Cavalera Feb 03, 2015

70,000 Tons of Podcast! Chuck and Godless set sail for the Caribbean with 4,000 metalheads to experience 60+ bands and some amazing times: a bigger ship, 20 more bands and even more fans on board than ever before, all headed to Jamaica with one thing in common... metal!

Corrosion of Conformity make their first appearance on the Podcast with their Blind-era lineup. They tell us all about how this group came back together of late, the big difference with the recent return to the three piece, Reed Mullin's experience with Dave Grohl and a new project called Teenage Time Killers that features some amazing guest stars.

Later Chuck and Godless sit down with Max and Gloria Cavalera and talk about their storied history with the metal business: what it's like to have so much of their family involved, what it means to have that time together and how tragedy has shaped their destiny.

Songs:
Soulfly - "Eye For An Eye"
Blind Guardian - "Ashes of Eternity"

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#83: Periphery Guitarist Mark Holcomb Jan 26, 2015

Periphery guitarist Mark Holcomb guests this week on the eve of the release of their new album Juggernaut. We talk about the recording process, guitar nerds asking too many questions, and how producing the record themselves was a liberating experience.

We take a listener call about Slayer entering into the Bonnaroo mix; what does that mean for the band and for metal in general? Does it signal metal's acceptance into the mainstream? Is the festival seeing the writing on the wall that metal fans will buy tickets? Will this expand Slayer’s fanbase, or is it just a nice, fat check? All this and a new Storytime With Stavros brings you Metallica in a continuation of his infamous New Orleans stories.

Songs:
Periphery – "Rainbow Gravity"
Venom – "The Death or Rock and Roll"

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#82: Clutch Drummer Jean Paul Gaster Jan 19, 2015

Jean Paul Gaster, drummer for the mighty Clutch, joins the podcast as the band heads into the studio to record their new album. He discusses how Clutch have been able to retain the same lineup for over two decades, keeping family and band separate, the band's experience with records labels (and launching their own) and the two things every band needs to know to be successful.

Chuck and Godless also ponder why bands would make an entire record of cover songs, inspired by Prong's announcement of their own covers album. Do bands not have any new ideas? Is it to fulfill contractual obligations? Or something more simple like getting back the inspiration that may have been lost from years of touring and writing?

Songs:
Clutch - "The Face"
Psycroptic - "The World Discarded"

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#81: Sylosis Guitarist/Vocalist Josh Middleton Jan 12, 2015

Josh Middleton, guitarist and vocalist for British metal band Sylosis, guests this week on the podcast. Chuck and Godless chat with him about the local metal scene in England, their bad luck with touring and vehicle wrecks, and they grill him on why he hasn't asked his girlfriend to marry him yet. New album Dormant Heart comes out on the 13th of January, so we play a song from that as well.

Chuck and Godless dissect a recent announcement that Nuclear Blast made with the label's 2015 release slate, and they use that a springboard to try to figure out where labels are going nowadays. Is it better for labels to stick with bands who are well-known and will sell lots of albums? Have the days of big labels taking chances on bands gone by the wayside? What does it take to make it on a label these days? They also get suckered in by an unsigned band's Tweet, and are pleasantly surprised by their music.

Songs:
Sylosis - "Mercy"
Napalm Death - "Cesspits"

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#80: Alex Rudinger (ex-The Faceless, Conquering Dystopia, Monuments) Jan 05, 2015

Chuck and Godless enlist drummer Alex "Rudy" Rudinger (ex-The Faceless, ex-The Haarp Machine, Conquering Dystopia, Monuments) to ring in the New Year with the first MS Podcast of 2015. They chat about his work with Jeff Loomis and Alex Webster in Conquering Dystopia, his take on drum-programming software, and his reasons for leaving The Faceless. Rudy also announces another band he will be subbing for in February after getting off the road with Monuments back in December.

Songs:
Conquering Dystopia - "Ashes of Lesser Men"
Call of the Void - "Cold Hands"

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#79: Recapping the Biggest Stories of 2014, feat. Anso DF and Doc Coyle Dec 15, 2014

This week Chuck and Godless bring in MS Senior Editor Anso DF to discuss 2014's biggest news stories. Some things you might remember, others you might not; who the newsmakers were and who they should have been; and remembering several of our fallen comrades. There might be a couple of predictions for the new year packed in there too.

Doc Coyle stops in to "Reject The Sickness" and tell us why Christmas Metal is total bullshit and needs to stop before it even gets into your playlist.

Songs:
Babymetal - "Doki Doki ☆ Morning"
Dio - "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"

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#78: Debating the Best Metal Albums of 2014 Dec 09, 2014

They wrote them out for you, and now they spend this episode of The MetalSucks Podcast discussing the Best Metal Albums of 2014!

Chuck and Godless received your Tweets and comments, and break down their picks versus yours as well as those of other MS staff members and critics. They also talk about what kind of year it's been for metal against what a stellar year it was in 2013, and they look at some of the releases they missed, plus jam a few extra tunes.

Songs:
Black Crown Initiate - "Great Mistake"
Fallujah - "Carved From Stone"
Wovenwar - "Matter of Time"
The Hell - "Everybody Dies"

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#77: Mike Muir of Suicidal Tendencies Nov 24, 2014

Mike Muir, legendary vocalist for Suicidal Tendencies, is our guest this week. Instead of talking about their album and touring, we wind up hearing about his philosophy on life, how his passion for music pisses people off and how he relates to his kids differently than the way his father related to him; really, we just turned on the mics and let him roll.

Godless and Chuck also talk about their experience at the recent Slayer show, whether or not people are too cool for Slayer now, and how most people are posers when it comes to liking obscure bands and hating the mainstream. Stop pretending you don't like anything that sold more that five records; you aren't fooling anyone!

Songs:
Suicidal Tendencies - "I Saw Your Mommy"
Periphery - "The Scourge"

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#76: The Bad Christian Podcast Nov 17, 2014

This week, the hosts of one of Godless' favorite podcasts to troll -- the Bad Christian Podcast -- are our guests. Podcast hosts Matt and Toby also play in a Christian Rock band called Emery. They stopped by the studio to get grilled about all things Christianity, the topic of Christian Metal and whether or not it's legit, if the guys making it are believers, or if it's just another cash cow people use to further their influence. Half of our discussion appears in our episide this week, then we'll dive into the fallacy of religion on the newest episode of their show later this week.

Chuck and Godless also talk about the latest news: the passing of our friend Athon from Black Tusk, why Black Sabbath shouldn't have been named the #1 Best Metal band of All Time in the MetalSucks countdown, and why that awesome metalhead scientist wore that stupid shirt to a press conference. We also take a reader call-in and discuss some small but beloved bands people may not know about.

Songs:
Toothgrinder - "Relic of My Youth"
Psycroptic - "Echoes to Come"

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#75: The Contortionist's Michael Lessard Nov 10, 2014

Michael Lessard, vocalist of The Contortionist, is our guest this week. We go in depth about his home planet of Maine, his transition from his role in Last Chance to Reason as the new vocalist for this band and whether backing tracks are acceptable in a live show, among other topics.

Chuck and Godless also pontificate about the final five bands in the 25 Best Metal Bands of All Time countdown and, spurred by your calls, speculate if there were any misses, forgotten bands or glaring absences. They also gush just a bit over the cheesy but awesome new Scar Symmetry song.

Songs:
The Contortionist - "Language I: Intuition"
Scar Symmetry - "Limits to Infinity"

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#74: Judas Priest's Richie Faulkner Nov 03, 2014

Richie Faulkner, guitarist for the almighty Judas Priest, is our guest this week. We talk to him about his relatively new gig with JP (seeing as their history dates back to before he was even born), which band member's daughter he might be dating, what it's like filling the shoes of the great K.K. Downing and breaking the news to Glenn Tipton that he's playing a song incorrectly.

Chuck and Godless offer some words about our friend Corey Mitchell's passing last week, they discuss Miss Fortune's dismall from the Sumerian roster due to the lead singer's run-in with the law, and they take a listener-suggested topic on whether a band's live performance is any better than watching a recorded performance of theirs online (after all, over five million people streamed Knotfest last week).

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#73: Housecore Horror Film Festival Special Edition Oct 27, 2014

The Housecore Horror Film Festival took place this weekend in Austin, TX, and Chuck and Godless were on hand to take in as much as they could over the festival's four days. They run down their experiences at the fest, including Gwar's new lineup, the Rigor Mortis documentary, and just hanging around with the artists and movie makers.

They also sat down to talk with several guests, including:

Rafał "Rasta" Piotrowski, lead vocalist for Decapitated, fresh from the side of the road outside of New Orleans where their tour van crashed once again.

Gwar's new co-vocalist Vulvatron transported from the future to tell us about her terrible experience with the men in the band, and how her lady bits keep them in line.

Michel "Away" Langevin, drummer for the legendary Voivod, gets an earful from uber-fan Godless. Away talks about the band's parting with Blacky, the loss of Piggy and keeping their 30-year history into perspective.

Songs:
Decapitated - "Veins"
Gwar - "The Road Behind"
Voivod - "Psychic Vacuum"

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#72: Job For a Cowboy's Nick Schendzielos, Special Guests Vince Neilstein and Stavros Giannopolous Oct 20, 2014

Our guest this week is Nick Schendzielos, bass player for deathcore heavyweights Job For a Cowboy. We talk about his new found work-out regimen, the songwriting process as a newer member of a band, how JFAC operates internally, his music listening styles and Ancient Aliens.

MetalSucks co-head-honcho Vince Neilstein drops in to add his two cents about the recent report from Billboard which found that no album released in 2014 has gone platinum, as well as other interesting data about record sales this year. He'll be writing on the topic more extensively later this week, so he gives us a preview and things to think about as you steal the latest albums off the internet.

Stavros Giannopoulos also adds his latest installment of "Storytime" with a harrowing tale of "eagle-man" and debauchery in the fine southern front of NOLA.

Songs:

Job For A Cowboy - "Sun of Nihility"
At the Gates - "Death and the Labyrinth"

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#71: Revocation's David Davidson Oct 13, 2014

David Davidson of Revocation is our guest on episode #71, with their killer new album Deathless coming out this week. We discuss the new sounds they play with on the record, touring with assholes, whether or not it is important to go to music school and the best things he learned while listening to jazz.

Chuck and Godless also discuss another listener-suggested topic: whether we need to stop worshiping the metal gods of the past and focus on the new gods of modern metal instead. We also discuss Pig Destroyer's ambitious new album, and whether they should keep doing the doom metal experiment permanently.

Songs:
Revocation - "Labyrinth of Eyes"
Pig Destroyer - "Red Tar"

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#70: At the Gates' Tomas Lindberg Oct 06, 2014

Tomas Lindberg, frontman for the reactivated At The Gates, guests this week on the podcast. He tells us about the new album At War with Reality, why the band dissolved after such a seminal album, growing up in Sweden and his other career as... well, you'll have to listen to find that one out.

We take another listener call about why Slipknot smells like shit, or at least wants you to smell burning camel dung as part of your musical experience.

Doc Coyle returns for his monthly segment "Rejecting the Sickness" with the original band that sparked the idea, Avenged Sevenfold. Did they jump the shark with Hail to the King? Do they rip too much from the Metallica and GnR tab books, or are they the only thing keeping metal alive?

Songs:
At The Gates - "At War With Reality"
Rigor Mortis - "Rain of Ruin"

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#69: We Talk PornHub and Devin Townsend Sep 29, 2014

For episode #69 we thought it would be appropriate to talk about porn. Pornhub started a record label so Chuck and Godless discuss what that might mean in the New World Order of the music industry. Will it change the game? Has the game already been changed by Apple and U2? How, if at all, could this effect a niche genre like metal?

Chuck and Godless gush over the new Devin Townsend record and take another question from a listener about whether or not it is appropriate for fans of a band to criticize them to their face and be surprised if their reaction is not nuanced and measured.

Songs:
Machine Head - "Now We Die"
Devin Townsend Project - "Universal Flame"

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#68: Dave Lombardo Sep 22, 2014

Dave Lombardo guests this week on the podcast, and we discuss everything... almost: the new Philm record, his disdain for managers, his departure from Slayer, his relationship with Jeff Hanneman, and working for Disney. There just isn’t enough time in in one episode to cover it all, but Chuck and Godless tried.

Chuck and Godless also answer a question from a listener about Joey Jordison: was he fired from Slipknot for using drugs, and if that is the case, why did the band not fire Paul Gray before his death? They also ponder why Texas in July acquired a pretty good-sized set of cajones on their latest song.

Songs:
Philm – We Sale at Dawn
Texas In July - Nooses

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#67: King Diamond Sep 15, 2014

The legendary King Diamond is our guest this week, and we don't use the word "legend" lightly. His three decade history in music with Mercyful Fate and his solo band have influenced countless bands, and we consider it an honor to be able to pick his brain. We talk about his recent heart surgery, the upcoming tour and promoters' hesitation to book him, and his public split with Hal Patino. We even get to chat with his lovely wife Livia for a bit.

Chuck and Godless also talk about the demise of the New Wave of American Heavy Metal bands of the early '00s, inspired by Doc Coyle's piece that discussed why so many of his contemporaries are falling by the wayside. We premiere a new segment called "Storytime With Stavros" in which Chuck and Godless ask Stavros Giannopoulos of The Atlas Moth to dig up a "good" story from his memory about Blake Judd. Really, there has to be at least one good story about Blake... right?

Songs:
King Diamond - "The Family Ghost"
Unearth - "The Swarm"

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#66: Cannibal Corpse's Paul Mazurkiewicz Sep 08, 2014

Paul Mazurkiewicz, drummer of the legendary Cannibal Corpse, is our featured guest this week. We chat about how they stay active to remain on their game, the difficulties of changing things up when you are set in your ways, and how shifting lineups has effected the band. Godless almost asks him to reunite with Chris Barnes... almost.

Chuck and Godless also discuss the arrest of a man for posting lyrics of an Exodus song on his Facebook page. Was he jailed for eight days for committing no crime, or did he make a veiled terroristic threat?

Our new voice message system lends us a few topics to talk about: Century Media vs. Blake Judd, and why old bands who go out to pasture don't stay there.

Songs:
Cannibal Corpse - "Sadistic Embodiment"
Black Crown Initiate - "Great Mistake"

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#65: Roadrunner Records A&R Man Dave Rath Sep 02, 2014

Senior VP of A&R for Roadrunner Records Dave Rath guests this week as Chuck and Godless try and expand the knowledgebase for bands of all levels. We discuss what it takes to get signed, the state of the industry and metal in general, and whether your band isn't doing enough work or just plain sucks. We also talk about the trajectory of one of their latest signings, King 810, and how their rise has happened seemingly out of nowhere.

Doc Coyle rejoins the podcast this week for another edition of Rejecting the Sickness, this time defending Phil Labonte of All That Remains even though he seemingly called out God Forbid by name last week for not being "musicians." Chuck and Godless discuss Vinnie Paul's recent revelation that he doesn't make any money on music; could he live a decent lifestyle on Pantera money, or are strippers simply more fun to look at than royalty checks?

Songs:
Slipknot - "The Devil and I"
Anaal Nathrakh - "Idol"

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The MetalSucks Podcast #64: Darkest Hour's Mike Schleibaum and MetalSucks Co-Head-Honcho Vince Neilstein Aug 25, 2014

Mike Schleibaum of Darkest Hour is our guest this week; Axl and Vince try to figure out who got in trouble with the law on the Mayhem tour, how the transition to a new label came to pass and whether or not using electronic gear to change their tuning is cheating or totally legit. Vince also stuck around to give us his two cents about the band no one can seem to ignore, Babymetal, citing his recent trip to Japan to try to put them in perspective that many may not entirely grasp.

Chuck and Godless also rehash the topic of merch and how your band needs to do it better, with prime examples from a recent tour stop with Scale the Summit.

Songs:
Darkest Hour - "Infinite Eyes"
The Haunted - "Time (Will Not Heal)"

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The MetalSucks Podcast #63: Jason McMaster (ex-Watchtower, ex-Dangerous Toys, Evil United) Aug 18, 2014

Jason McMaster -- formerly of Watchtower and Dangerous Toys, and current lead screamer for Evil United -- is our guest this week. We talk about about Watchtower's status as possibly the first-ever prog metal band, his experience with major labels as a hit-maker in the '80s with Dangerous Toys, and working with Gene Hoglan on the new Evil United album.

Fresh from his trip to Heavy Montreal, Chuck and Godless invited MS Senior Editor Anso DF to fill us in on his experience. We talk about what Babymetal are doing step up the metal game, what one of the biggest metal festivals in North America looks like and whether Canadian metal fans have a different way of treating the festival environment.

Songs:

Evil United - "Ghostcrushed"
Origin - "Retribution of Filth"

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The MetalSucks Podcast #62: Gwar's Brad Roberts and Mike Derks Aug 11, 2014

Brad Roberts and Mike Derks of the mighty Gwar guest this week to talk about the upcoming Dave Brockie Memorial, the Gwar-B-Q and plans for the Gwar Bar in Richmnd, VA. We talk about carrying on in the absence of their fearless leader, what it took to make the decisions about going forward and whether it's "too soon" for Godless to joke about the death of a legend.

Chuck and Godless also discuss the "controversy" of racist and homophobic lyrics by Demoniac, an early incarnation of Dragonforce. Should bands have to own the things they've said in the past? Should bands be apologetic about insensitivity that may not be part of their present day ethos?

Songs:

Gwar - "Sexicutioner"
Slipknot - "The Negative One"

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The MetalSucks Podcast #61: Municipal Waste / Cannabis Corpse's Phil "Landphil" Hall Aug 04, 2014

Phil "Landphil" Hall (Cannabis Corpse, Iron Reagan, Municipal Waste) is our guest this week. The new Cannabis Corpse album is out now and features some great guest appearances from Chris Barnes and Trevor Strnad. We talk about the record, how he is able to keep three touring bands organized, and Godless tries to figure out how pot works all at the same time.

Chuck and Godless also talk about the Wintersun vs. Nuclear Blast controversy and how we've all become trained to have thicker skins thanks to anonymous trash-talking on the Internet. Ex-God Forbid guitarist Doc Coyle debuts in a new segment we call "Rejecting the Sickness" in which he defends some of the bands we take issue with; in this episode he tackles Godless' disdain for the band Ghost.

Songs:
Cannabis Corpse - "Individual Pot Patterns"
Fallujah - "Carved In Stone"

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The MetalSucks Podcast #60: Misery Index's Mark Kloeppel Jul 21, 2014

Mark Kloeppel, guitarist and vocalist for Misery Index, guests this week. We discuss how a metal band can make a living these days, whether or not low level bands are touring too much (and if that's ruining things for everyone else), and their new record The Killing Gods, the record Kloeppel claims they really wanted to make all along.

Chuck makes the claim that Motley Crue need to retire after seeing Vince Neil butcher their set last week (even with his teleprompter), and we hear a new song from In Flames that has some really... different... production choices.

Songs:
Misery Index - "Gallows Humor"
In Flames - "Through Oblivion"

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The MetalSucks Podcast #59: BTBAM's Dan Briggs Jul 14, 2014

Bass wunderkind Dan Briggs of Between the Buried and Me, Trioscapes and Orbs guests this week on the podcast. We discuss the foundations of his writing techniques, playing with two bands on the same tour, and why the members of BTBAM choose not to interact with their fans at shows.

Chuck and Godless discuss the recent fascination with Babymetal, Unlocking the Truth and metal "youngsters" in general. Do we not have enough young blood making music, or are we setting the bar too high for these up-and-comers? We also discuss whether $25K is a good salary for a touring musician in light of the revealing statement released by ex-Testament bass player Greg Christian.

Songs:
Trioscapes - "Stab Wounds"
Monuments - "Origin of Excape"

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The MetalSucks Podcast #58: Josh Scogin of '68 (ex-The Chariot, ex-Norma Jean) Jul 07, 2014

Josh Scogin, ex-lead singer for The Chariot and current frontman for '68, is our guest this week. We talk about the demise of The Chariot, leaving Norma Jean, Christianity, labeling metal as "Christian," and Godless takes him to task about curing a woman's cancer with prayer and believing the Earth is only 6,000 years old.

Chuck and Godless also discuss the biggest news story of last week, Upon A Burning Body's publicity stunt. In the most real genre of music is it right for a band to pull a hoax on their fans and those of us who try to keep up with real information?

Songs:
'68 - "Track One"
Cannibal Corpse - "Sadistic Embodiment"

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The MetalSucks Podcast #57: Special Guest Keith Buckley from Every Time I Die Jun 30, 2014

Every Time I Die screamer Keith Buckley guests this week on the podcast! We find out about his favorite karaoke song, his cover band, the gauntlet of summer tours, and why ETID's new album, From Parts Unknown, is their best yet. Chuck and Godless also discuss the recent onslaught of ex-singers returning to bands, and whether or not TesseracT and Exodus can benefit from these reunions the way Iron Maiden and Judas Priest have. Plus, if you are in a band and your record gets a bad review, do you a) be a dick to the guy who wrote the review b) STFU about it and just be satisfied that people are talking about your record at all, or c) find a happy medium?

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The MetalSucks Podcast #56: Special Guest Nick Hipa (Wovenwar, Ex-As I Lay Dying) Jun 23, 2014

This week, guitarist Nick Hipa goes on the record about Tim Lambesis, the demise of As I Lay Dying, and the rise of Wovenwar, his new band with the other former members of AILD. The chat went so long, this episode is pretty much dedicated solely to the interview!

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The MetalSucks Podcast #55: Special Guest Michael Amott from Arch Enemy Jun 16, 2014

This week, guest Michael Amott discusses the new Arch Enemy record War Eternal, the transition from vocalist Angela Gossow to Alissa White-Gluz, and his decision not to continue with Carcass after their reunion tour a few years back.

Chuck and Godless also discuss the arrest of Roadrunner Records signees King 810 and BTBAM's statement that they'll never play their pre-Colors material again.

Songs:

Arch Enemy - "Never Forgive, Never Forget"

Septicflesh - "Order of Dracul"

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The MetalSucks Podcast #54: Featuring Ice T and MS Senior Editor Anso DF Jun 09, 2014

Ice T is our special guest this week: Axl gets to chat with the actor, rapper and frontman for Bodycount, the latter of whom has their first album in eight years coming out soon. Ice and Axl talk about making the new record, the state of race in metal, working with Jamey Jasta and more.

Chuck and Godless invite MetalSucks Senior Editor Anso DF to talk about upcoming changes to the site including a new feature called "Friday Five" that will debut on June 20th. We also discuss the toxicology report on Dave Brockie's death and how it made us all disappointed and sad.

Songs:
Body Count - "Talk Shit, Get Shot"
Opeth - "Cusp of Eternity"

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The MetalSucks Podcast #53: Eddie Hermida of Suicide Silence, ex-All Shall Perish Jun 02, 2014

Herman "Eddie" Hermida, the new lead singer of Suicide Silence, guests this week on the podcast. He talks about the difficulties of coming into the band after the death of Mitch Lucker, his role in taking over the helm, why leaving All Shall Perish was not as easy as just saying goodbye, and his experiences with both bands.

Chuck and Godless ponder what the GwarBar will look like, if they're going far enough with the idea (how about a Gwar Theme Park??), whether or not you can have a restaurant with broad appeal when considering some of the extreme imagery of the band, and what other bands might be able to pull off a similar thing. Chuck also remixes the new Judas Priest song into something more Priest-y.

Songs:
Suicide Silence - "Cease to Exist"
Judas Priest - "Redeemer of Souls"

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The MetalSucks Podcast #52: featuring Axl and Vince, Trivium's Matt Heafy, and Tim Lambesis Interviewer Ryan J. Downey May 27, 2014

We mark a year of podcasting with a double episode! Vince and Axl jump in to tell Chuck and Godless if they get to keep their jobs and discuss a recent post Vince made about bands taking risks. Should a band who has a signature sound experiment? Everyone's got a different opinion on the issue, and there's nothing like a bunch of metal snobs to tell dudes how to make music.

We also interview Matt Heafy of Trivium, right on the heels of canceling some tour dates and exchanging personnel. We get the scoop about the news, talk about the metal scene and why the brotherhood between metalheads has changed over the last few years.

Journalist Ryan Downey guests to talk about his recent, incredibly in-depth interview with Tim Lambesis. Ryan and Tim have been friends for years, and Ryan spent quite a bit of time putting together the piece prior to Lambesis' sentencing.

Stream this week’s episode below. Remember to subscribe to the MetalSucks Podcast on iTunes, subscribe to our direct feed or download this episode directly.

Songs:
Trivium - "No Way to Heal"
Austrian Death Machine - "Get Your Story Straight"

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The MetalSucks Podcast #51: Filmmaker Sam Dunn May 19, 2014

Sam Dunn, director, producer, anthropologist and co-owner of Banger Films is our guest this week. He has become the de facto record-keeper for heavy metal, having produced Metal: A Headbanger's Journey, Metal Evolution, Global Metal and more focused documentaries about Iron Maiden, Rush and now Super Duper Alice Cooper. Sam tells us the history of a legend who so many of us know little to nothing about, and we pick his brain to find out who might be next, how he became a metal filmmaker and more.

We discuss the fascinating story of Vik Guitars founder Vik Kuletski, hating on gay people and headless guitars, whether a niche businessman can come out against an idea and lifestyle that is now in the mainstream, and whether those consequences are just. Everyone has a right to their opinion, but when you're selling $5,000 guitars can you afford to lose even one customer? We also hear the new Wovenwar and avoid talking about the sentencing of Lambesis, instead focusing on the damn catchy song the other members made without him.

Songs:
Gwar - "School's Out"
Wovenwar - "Rise Up"

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The MetalSucks Podcast #50: Stavros Giannopoulos of The Atlas Moth May 12, 2014

Stavros Giannopoulos of The Atlas Moth guests on this week's episode... and so does his girlfriend, at least for a little bit. Stavros points out the flaws with dating ladies who are into metal, explains how measuring his metal dick is a pain, what it means to be a true Cubs fan, and yeah, he talks about the new record a little bit too.

Chuck and Godless weigh in on the chart success of Whitechapel's latest album; is this one of the heaviest releases to ever make the Top 10 in its first week? They aren't sure, but they definitely have an opinion about it.

Songs:
The Atlas Moth - "Collider"
Black Anvil - "Still Reborn"

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The MetalSucks Podcast #49: Ben Falgoust of Goatwhore May 05, 2014

Ben Falgoust, front-man for the almighty Goatwhore, guests this week after the band's appearance on the Metal Alliance Tour stop in Austin. We talk about the NOLA metal scene, his experience after his debilitating van wreck, Goatwhore's new album and his new favorite band Vallenfyre; we even get to see the new album artwork before anyone else does.

Chuck and Godless also discuss the announcement of a crowdfunded metal festival to be hosted in South Texas and why it may be a terrible idea, and how a promoter could help to ensure a successful fest in Texas (and the world, for that matter). Godless also reminds you to put your cell phone away at live shows after he smashed a few in the Dillinger Escape Plan pit on Saturday night.

Songs:
Vallenfyre - "Scabs"
Agalloch - "Celestial Effigy"

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The MetalSucks Podcast #48: Nergal of Behemoth Apr 28, 2014

Nergal of the mighty Behemoth is our guest this week. Chuck and Godless had the opportunity to have a conversation with the man about his personal life philosophy, where he stands in the world of metal, his role in the band and their success and how his battle with disease has shaped his worldview. Kinda heavy.

The Revolver Golden Gods Awards took place this week, and although it's great that there is some form of award for metal music, does it really represent what is happening out there in the world of metal, or is it just glad-handing the most popular bands they can find at the time? We also listen to and dicuss the new Slayer song: is it even necessary, or does their legacy supersede the music?

Songs:
Behemoth - "Oro Pro Nobis Lucifer"
Slayer - "Implode"

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The MetalSucks Podcast #47: Special Guest Amos Williams of TesseracT Apr 21, 2014

Amos Williams, just one of the masterminds behind Tesseract sits down with us before their show in Austin, we talk about how a band can go through four vocalists when they only have two albums, whether or not Ashe O'Hara is the right fit for the band now, and how the past effects the future of this ground breaking band; also he just has a sexy accent, that goes a long way.

After Shane Blay said he can't quit Oh, Sleeper because he has it "tattooed on his chest," Chuck and Godless want to see your shittiest tattoos of a band, you know you have them so be ready to tweet them, or add them to the comments, and they try to figure out why you would even think about getting a band tattoo, if there is a circumstance where it makes sense to get your favorite act permanently added to your skin, probably not.

Songs:

Tesseract - "Nocturne"

Conquering Dystopia - "Ashes of Lesser Men"

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The MetalSucks Podcast #46: Mikael Akerfeldt of Opeth Apr 14, 2014

Opeth mastermind Mikael Akerfeldt guests on this week's podcast to talk about their new album that drops in June, his life, how his kids take to metal and whether or not he is done with "death metal" altogether.

Chuck and Godless also discuss the week's news about As I Lay Dying and the new project without Tim Lambesis, and they try to figure out why the band members keep having unfortunate missteps with their soon-to-be incarcerated lead singer.

Plus, with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction of KISS this week, Chuck and Godless argue about who the first ten inductees into the Metal Hall of Fame would be. Not bands, individuals. Not hard rock, not R & B, not heavy metal, but METAL! It's harder than you think!

Songs:
Opeth - "Slither"
Trap Them - "Salted Crypts"

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The MetalSucks Podcast #45: Steel Panther Apr 07, 2014

Vince and Axl sit down with the spandex-wrapped vessel of hair metal, Steel Panther. They don't get to talk for long, but they don't need much time to make you laugh, and, for that matter, cry. They talk about the new Steel Panther album, inspiration for their hit songs, and their talents for flatulence.

Chuck and Godless talk about the rash of performers getting caught on video completely blotto on stage and discuss whether it cheats the fans or makes for 'special' moments you will never see again. We also invited MS contributor Grim Kim to offer a serious discussion about women in the metal scene and metal journalism, we talk about how musicians treat young women, but also how young women metal fans are viewed in general and ways to address the stereotypes every female metal fan must confront. Changing lives one podcast at a time!

Songs:
Steel Panther - "Gangbang at the Old Folks Home"
Misery Index - "The Calling"

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The MetalSucks Podcast #44: Howard Jones of Devil You Know / Ex-Killswitch Engage Mar 31, 2014

Howard Jones, ex-Killswitch Engage and current Devil You Know vocalist, is our guest this week. We talk about his bout with depression, his reasons for leaving KSE and his new project, and we generally atempt to psychoanalyze a way too humble man.

Chuck and Godless also talk about the cuttlefish in the room, the death of Dave Brockie; what his death means to them and what it might mean for the band -- Godless already thinking about their future and Chuck stuck in the past. They also let you hear the new supergroup Killer Be Killed which they can't help but like, and they discuss the reasons why bands try to make something new when they already have a good thing going (or if that is even the point of the exercise?).

Songs:
Devil You Know - "Seven Years Alone"
Killer Be Killed - "Wings of Feather and Wax"
GWAR - "Maggots"

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The MetalSucks Podcast #43: Trevor Strnad of The Black Dahlia Murder Mar 24, 2014

Trevor Strnad, lead screamer of the Black Dahlia Murder, is our guest this week. We talk about death metal bands versus scene metal bands, his run-ins with fans about buying albums, what he has tattooed on his ass and what his mom would have named the band.

Chuck and Godless also talk about the big news of the week: Angela Gossow's departure from Arch Enemy and how the band handled the transition. Did they do it the best way possible? If you have a female vocalist, should you replace her with another female vocalist? They also try and figure out if Down losing Kirk "Riff Lord" Windstein has harmed their sound forever.

Songs:
The Black Dahlia Murder - "Raped In Hatred by Vines of Thorns"
Down - "We Knew Him Well"

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The MetalSucks Podcast #42: Special Guest Wendy Dio Mar 17, 2014

Wendy Dio is our guest this week. We talk about Ronnie James Dio's final days and his legacy, their relationship, her mission with the Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund and the new tribute album coming out in April featuring Motorhead, Metallica, Anthrax, Rob Halford and many more.

Chuck and Godless had to make a few adjustments to their recording this week with the wicked SXSW festival in their fine city of Austin, but Chuck tries to defend his other passion -- terrestrial radio -- and make the case for its relevance, although Godless doesn't buy it (ane we're not sure if anyone else will either).

Songs:
Motorhead (Feat: Biff from Saxon) - "Starstruck"
Indian - "Directional"

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The MetalSucks Podcast #41: Whitechapel's Phil Bozeman Mar 10, 2014

Phil Bozeman of Whitechapel guests on the podcast this week. We talk about Phil's incredibly troubled childhood, from both of his parents dying at a young age to the severe anxiety problems he experiences to this day. Of course we talk about the new Whitechapel album as well.

Chuck and Godless also talk about how Emmure caved to pressure by changing the title of one of the songs on the new record and whether that is a tell-tale sign of metal losing its balls; should we (the royal ‘metal’ we) be afraid of offending people? We also talk about SXSW and whether it's relevant for you or your band in general, musically, professionally or otherwise, and the most important thing to consider during the conference: tacos and beer.

Songs:

Whitechapel – "The Saw is the Law"
Destrage – "My Green Neighbour"

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The MetalSucks Podcast #40: Torche's Jon Nuñez Mar 03, 2014

Jonathan Nuñez of Torche joins our podcast this week; we talk about the ease of recording in his own home, having Kurt Ballou as the go-to guy for their albums, plans for their next record and which bands reached him at an early age.

Chuck and Godless also tear down the Revolver Golden Gods Awards nominees, and they try to be kind to all of you A7X lovers out there -- but really just try -- and cover a few other big headlines of the week like the Lambesis guilty plea and Malevolent Creation's "gay" drummer controversy.

Songs:
Torche - "Without a Sound"
Whitechapel - "The Saw is the Law"

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The MetalSucks Podcast #39: Special Guests KEN Mode Feb 24, 2014

KEN mode brothers Jesse and Shane Matthewson sit in on this episode. We talk about their recent Converse video; the realization that they're both accountants as are their parents, what it's like to put everything on tour in terms of dollars of merch sold, and whether or not their extremely high frequency of touring is worth while or not.

Chuck and Godless also revisit the topic of the mosh pit and audience safety in light of the $1.4 Million judgement against Fishbone, the fan arrested at a Bring Me the Horizon show and the security collapse during the Thy Art is Murder set at Soundwave festival. Who is to blame?

Songs:
KEN mode - "Your Heart Warming Story Makes Me Sick"
Hark - "Black Hole South West"

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The MetalSucks Podcast #38: Special Guest Scott Ian of Anthrax Feb 17, 2014

Scott Ian drops in for this week's episode to talk about his upcoming Speaking Words tour, crowd funding his new DVD, Anthrax reclaiming their spot on the big four, getting made up as Jack the Ripper for Kirk Hammett's FestEvil and most importantly where his child was conceived. SO many news items to cover, Chuck and Godless focus on the band changes going on, The Faceless, Dave Lombardo and Slayer and what the hell happened to Newsted and Mustaine with the Soundwave Festival?

Songs:

Anthrax - Got the Time

Junius - Battle In the Sky

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The MetalSucks Podcast #37: 70,000 Tons of Metal Special Edition Feb 10, 2014

Chuck and Godless spent a week floating around the Caribbean with 40 bands and 2000 metalheads on the 70,000 Tons of Metal cruise, and they've got a couple stories to tell... at least what they can remember.

Soilwork, The Haunted and 70,000 Tons of Metal organizer Andy Pillar are the special guests on this week's podcast: Chuck and Godless get into how Soilwork deal with equipment issues, how the members of The Haunted handle the At the Gates reunion taking up so much of their band, and how a festival on the open seas can happen without as much as a hiccup.

Songs:
The Haunted - "Eye of the Storm"
Soilwork - "Spectrum of Eternity"

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The MetalSucks Podcast #36: Special Guest Zakk Wylde Feb 03, 2014

Zakk Wylde of Black Label Society brings his wisdom to this episode. We talk about his run-ins with health issues, his recent birthday, how his dad's service in WWII affected him and whether he could be the man who could bring Pantera together.

Chuck and Godless also talk about some of their experiences from the 70K Tons of Metal cruise and coming back to the non-metal real world. They also discuss whether there are more women coming to metal shows in light of the recent MTV article, and if that matters other than growing the fanbase.

Songs:
Black Label Society - "My Dying Time"
Within Temptation - "Dangerous (feat. Howard Jones)"

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The MetalSucks Podcast #35: Cynic's Paul Masvidal Jan 27, 2014

Paul Masvidal of Cynic is our guest this week. We have a long chat about his childhood, anger issues, his career as a writer for television and movies, the new Cynic album and why Focus broke up the band nearly 20 years ago.

Chuck and Godless also talk about the importance of bands getting an accountant and deciding up front how to divide up the workload in light of the current situation Machine Head find themselves in, with former bassist Adam Duce suing the band. We also get stoked for the upcoming 70K Tons of Metal cruise this week.

Song:
Cynic – "Kindly Bent to Free Us"

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The MetalSucks Podcast #34: Pelican's Trevor de Brauw Jan 20, 2014

We grill this week's guest Trevor de Brauw of the mighty Pelican about taking a break from his job to do an interview, if he's learned anything from his time in the music industry to help his band's career, how cloth diapers effect his neighbors and if not having a singer means less band drama.

Chuck and Godless try and figure out why Metal, with a capital M, is getting less flak in the media lately when violent acts happen. We're not getting blamed for mass shootings, but we still have crazy dudes stabbing people and threatening politicians on Facebook. We also ponder a return to the kinder, gentler age of Fred Durst and Nu Metal; has Metal Hammer accidentally conjured that terrible time in metal just by shining a light on it? You hope so... for reals, yo!

Songs:
Pelican - "The Tundra"
Cannabis Corpse - "The Inhalation Plague"

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The MetalSucks Podcast #33: Red Fang's Aaron Beam Jan 13, 2014

You may have just seen them perform on Letterman on Friday night, and now Aaron Beam from Red Fang is our guest on the podcast. We talk about turning 40 years old in an up-and-coming band, knowing that you just wrote a hit song, and his wishlist for a no-nonsense and mixed bag tour lineup.

We cover the latest revelation from Jason Newsted about his ouster from Metallica and the main reason no one remembers Echobrain (hint: not because of James Hetfield). We also talk about musicians deciding to retire in light of Dan Lilker's recent announcement that his time in music is done, and we wonder why anyone would quit, or mostly why they would bother to announce it.

Songs:
Red Fang - "Blood Like Cream"
De La Tierra - "Maldita Historia"

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The MetalSucks Podcast #32: Dave Mustaine of Megadeth Jan 06, 2014

The always controversial Dave Mustaine is our guest this week. We chat about his kids, learning to be a better person, his relationship with Roadrunner Records and we try to get an answer out of him about that whole "big four not happening again" thing from last year.

Chuck and Godless talk about metal drumming and whether or not drummers are even necessary anymore, Godless predicts what will happen in the metal world during 2014 and Chuck tries to hammer out the details of his birthday party coming up in a few weeks.

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The MetalSucks Podcast #31: Kirk Windstein of Crowbar Dec 16, 2013

Our guest Kirk Windstein of the mighty Crowbar discusses his 25 years with the band, how he needed to change his focus away from Down towards his family and Crowbar, and the influence Exhorder had on Crowbar's sound in the early days.

Chuck and Godless also talk about their favorite albums of 2013 -- as much as they could in this "extended" episode -- and they discuss KEN Mode's threat to fans who text at their shows and how that relates to a terrible Fear Factory performance Chuck saw last week.

This is the final episode of the year, so thank you for listening. We have a lot of good stuff lined up for 2014!

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The MetalSucks Podcast #30: Mastodon's Troy Sanders Dec 09, 2013

Troy Sanders of Mastodon guests on the podcast this week. We talk about Mastodon's new DVD Live at the Brixton, why the band looks prettier in this one than on Live at the Aragon, Troy's kids and family growing with the band, and also how it feels to be the second sexiest hunk in metal.

Chuck and Godless also discuss whether bands should evolve away from where they originally started, if those moves should be accepted or shunned, or even if such a change calls for a band to start over. The 50 Hunkiest Dudes in Metal list gets a once over, and we try and decide if it is too sexist toward the beastly gender or exactly the right amount of what we deserve.

Songs:
Mastodon - "All the Heavy Lifting"
Disfiguring the Goddess - "Industrial Quarter"

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The MetalSucks Podcast #29: High on Fire's Matt Pike Dec 02, 2013

Our guest this week: the legendary Matt Pike of High on Fire! Not only did he play a show with his shirt on, but he allowed us a glimpse into his mind post-rehab, how his life is shaping up without drugs and booze, and how he handles some serious situations that come up on the road.

We also try and shake off the Thanksgiving hangover by talking about the sickness that is Ian Watkins and the Lostprophets mess, and we discuss whether an album that came out two months ago should even be considered as the best metal album of all time.

Songs:
High on Fire - "Slave the Hive"
Wax Audio - "South of the Grapevine"

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The MetalSucks Podcast #28: Billy Milano of S.O.D. and M.O.D. Nov 25, 2013

Our guest this week is the always-controversial Billy Milano, former lead singer for S.O.D. and current frontman for M.O.D. We hit record in mid-sentence and find out about his dog, Buster, who just passed away, his history with animals, his family, food, and how he gets mis-represented as the character he portrays in his stage life.

Chuck and Godless talk about the stagedive heard round the world by some dude named Watsky. He lived, but he hurt a few people in the audience and apparently has no idea about the "miracle" of gravity and physics. We also try and figure out why we needed a metal tribute to Michael Jackson, or, for that matter, any tributes at all.

Songs:
S.O.D. - "Kill Yourself"
Chuck Billy/Various - "Thriller"

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The MetalSucks Podcast #27: Death Angel's Mark Osegueda Nov 18, 2013

This week Mark Osegueda of Death Angel fends off Godless' advances as we talk to him at a stop of Death Angel's latest tour. We chat about their rise to to the forefront of thrash metal, the bus accident that led to their break-up in 1991, Mark's time managing a vintage clothing store and more.

Chuck and Godless also discuss how lesser known bands can get attention from blogs, zines and critics and they completely disagree about the best methods. Good music and recording vs. drama and boobs? We argue, you decide!

Songs:
Death Angel - "Fallen"
Weekend Nachos - "No Idols and No Heroes"

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The MetalSucks Podcast #26: Gojira's Joe Duplantier Nov 11, 2013

This week we get to know the day to day operation of Gojira with our special guest, Joe Duplantier. Joe gives us insight into how they structure their tour runs, which brother is Mom's favorite and gives us a sneak peak at a song they were working on before we rudely interrupted.

We also share some adventures from FunFunFun Fest, give a salute to our retired military for Veterans Day and somehow relate advances in the technology of war to the technological advances of music -- creating it, recording it and playing it live.

Songs:
Gojira - "Liquid Fire'
Dethklok - "Blazing Star"

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The MetalSucks Podcast #25: Slayer's Tom Araya Nov 04, 2013

Tom Araya of the legendary Slayer is our guest this week; we speak about life in small town Texas where he lives, his family and experience with loss surrounding Jeff Hanneman and how it has affected his songwriting, and why bands need to get over themselves and lose the egos.

We talk about Broken Hope's apology to Glen Benton of Deicide (and take a little credit for working through the drama), we examine Brandan Schieppati of Bleeding Through's letter of disappointment to himself and his fans and hope he isn't trying to slit his wrists because of a facebook comment, and we discuss whether bands should stick to the hits on tour, play full albums, or just perform the new stuff.

Songs:
Slayer - "Evil Has No Boundaries"
Suicide Silence - "No Pity for A Coward"

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The MetalSucks Podcast #24: Special Guest Rody Walker of Protest the Hero Oct 28, 2013

This week Chuck and Godless talk to Rody Walker from Protest the Hero about his obsession with Star Trek (chosen poorly, in Chuck's opinion), their uber-successful crowdfunding campaign, the new album Volition and how he doesn't know anything about writing music.

We also talk about the Broken Hope stabbing incident in El Paso and whether or not we need to stop circle pits altogether, we cover our experience at the Housecore Horror Film Fest and we discuss why Orgy should have never expected to make more than ten bucks with their effort to regain former glory.

Songs:
Protest the Hero - "A Life Embossed"
Disfiguring the Goddess - "The Pathway to Everlasting Nothingness"

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The MetalSucks Podcast #23.5, Special Edition: Exclusive Interview with Deicide's Glen Benton Oct 25, 2013

Controversy erupted this week when Deicide's Glen Benton kicked Broken Hope off their current tour. Broken Hope shared their side of the story on the Interhole, so we decided to talk with Benton to get his side of the story. After covering the controversy, Benton shared all sorts of other info with us about his life, Deicide, and more.

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The MetalSucks Podcast #23: Special Guest Chance Garnette of Skeletonwitch Oct 21, 2013

Chance Garnette calls in to talk about the new Skeletownitch album that drops next week, what it's like touring with the band ten years in, and who his Mom actually comes to see when he and his brother are playing live.

We also discuss Metallica's ongoing willingness to take risks in the context of the flop of Through the Never; whether a music festival, movie or a terrible record with Lou Reed, you can't deny that they're pushing the envelope... or can you? Godless explains why "doom" or "occult" rock sucks -- or at least isn't trying very hard -- and Chuck just wants to listen to yacht rock.

Songs:
Skeletonwitch - "Serpents Unleashed"
Noctum - "Liberty In Death"

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The MetalSucks Podcast #22: Special Guests Joseph Michael (ex-White Wizzard) and Adam D. (Killswitch Engage) Oct 14, 2013

This week we try and make sense of the White Wizzard controversy with one of our guests Joeseph Michael, the ousted singer of the band who has been the focus of most his former band mate Jon Leon's misery. We also have Adam D from Killswitch Engage on to talk about the upcoming tour with Lamb of God, their album with returning singer Jesse Leech, and whether or not metalcore is dead. We also try to figure out why Danzig is a douchebag (we could do a whole show and not find the answer) after he tells his audience to go after another fan filming his performance, and whether or not you need to put your damn phone away during a live show.

Songs:
Killswitch Engage - "Beyond the Flames"
Protest the Hero - "Without Prejudice"

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The MetalSucks Podcast #21: Special Guest Gene Hoglan Oct 07, 2013

Our guest is the legendary Gene Hoglan. Not only is he the nicest guy in metal, but he has the longest list of active projects of anyone ever (including Testament and Dethklok). Gene gives us his thoughts about Jeff Hanneman's funeral, why he isn't drumming for Slayer, his struggle with weight and how his latest round of clinics, The Gene Hoglan Experience, is not just for drummers.

We also discuss Metallica's new concert flick Through the Never; unbelievably it kinda lives up to some of the hype the band has been building around it. We also try to figure out which band could be the next band to do something on this scale... never say never.

SONGS:
Fear Factory - "Powershifter"
Toxic Holocaust - "Out of the Fire"

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The MetalSucks Podcast #20: Special Guests Devin Townsend and D.R.I.'s Kurt Brecht Sep 30, 2013

This week Vince ventures into the mind of the mad genius Devin Townsend; they talk about his latest work, Casualties of Cool, the Retinal Circus live DVD, and his uncanny ability to multitask so many different projects at once while staying somewhat sane.

We invite Kurt Brecht, lead singer of D.R.I. and Pasadena Napalm Division, into the studio to help us figure out why metal singers and lyric writers have stopped using their pulpit for politics, or at least have shifted away from calling out Regan and Pol Pot by name in favor of a more introspective attitude. Have bands gotten heavier and lyrics gotten softer?

Songs:
Pasadena Napalm Division - "Terror Cell"
Devin Townsend Project - "Lucky Animals (Live)"

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The MetalSucks Podcast #19, with Axl and Vince: Featuring Special Guest Oderus Urungus of Gwar Sep 23, 2013

This week our guest Oderus Urungus of Gwar explains why the Cyrus family actually have bred the anti-christ, Tim Lambesis and his legal troubles and how we shouldn't judge him (yet), and gives us the skinny on the new record Battle Maximus, their first without Flattus Maximus (Cory Smoot) on guitar.

Inspired by Deafheaven's recent appearance in an iPhone commercial, Vince and Axl chime in on metal becoming more mainstream and whether we should be scared of our way of life being co-opted by big business and society in general. Some new music from Gwar and Pig Destroyer.

Songs:
Gwar - "Madness at the Core of Time"
Pig Destroyer - "The Octagonal Stairway"

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The MetalSucks Podcast #18: Special Guest Eyal Levi Sep 16, 2013

We couldn't be any more excited about this week's guest: Bill Steer of the legendary Carcass. Just back from a one-off show in South America, Bill talks about how the metal industry has changed since Carcass's last go-round, how the songs on Surgical Steel were written, how Swansong is not their best record, the rise of nu-metal that led to the band's demise and more, all while we gaze lovingly into his pretty eyes.

We also discuss why metal bands have no message control during public controversies, focusing on the recent Necrophobic domestic abuse and As I Lay Dying Facebook scandals. Should bands learn better PR techniques? Should they stop beating the crap out of their women (allegedly)? Should they cut off their Facebook accounts before one of their members makes them look stupid?

Songs:
Protest the Hero - "Clarity"
Carcass - "Unfit For Human Consumption"

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The MetalSucks Podcast #17: Special Guest Bill Steer of Carcass Sep 09, 2013

We couldn't be any more excited about this week's guest: Bill Steer of the legendary Carcass. Just back from a one-off show in South America, Bill talks about how the metal industry has changed since Carcass's last go-round, how the songs on Surgical Steel were written, how Swansong is not their best record, the rise of nu-metal that led to the band's demise and more, all while we gaze lovingly into his pretty eyes.

We also discuss why metal bands have no message control during public controversies, focusing on the recent Necrophobic domestic abuse and As I Lay Dying Facebook scandals. Should bands learn better PR techniques? Should they stop beating the crap out of their women (allegedly)? Should they cut off their Facebook accounts before one of their members makes them look stupid?

Songs:

Protest the Hero - "Clarity"
Carcass - "Unfit For Human Consumption"

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The MetalSucks Podcast #16: Special Guest Philip H. Anselmo Sep 03, 2013

This week Chuck sits down with Philip H. Anselmo to chat about football, the use of his full name, the brand new solo record, the legendary Bruce Corbitt, Housecore Records and of course the possibilities of a reconciliation with Vinnie Paul Abbott.

We also discuss the merits of the upcoming Stryper fan weekend, what others bands should and could do such a weekend the right way and whether Red Fang and their label are insane for the price point of the vinyl edition of their new record.

Playlist:

Red Fang - "Blood Like Cream"
Philip H. Anselmo and the Illegals - "Bedridden"

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The MetalSucks Podcast #15: Special Guest Doc Coyle of God Forbid Aug 26, 2013

This week Vince and Axl get to the bottom of the God Forbid breakup by chatting with the man at the center, Doc Coyle, and they discuss what God Forbid's legacy ultimately may look like. Chuck and Godless invite comedian Mike Bobbitt in to help try and figure out why anyone in their right mind might think Avenged Sevenfold did anything other than copy and paste their new record. Gravy checks in with a Black Sabbath concert review, and we pay our respects to Eyehategod Drummer Joey LaCaze, who passed away Friday night.

Playlist:

Avenged Sevenfold - This Means War (or Sad But War - Mashups are fun)
Eyehategod - Metaphetamine

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The MetalSucks Podcast #14: Special Guest Dez Fafara from DevilDriver Aug 19, 2013

This week's guest is Dez Fafara of DevilDriver; we talk about the upcoming album Winter Kills, the departure from the band's longtime label home at Roadrunner, his return to off-tour regular life, how to maintain an ego-less lifestyle, passing on music to his kids, and whether or not there is a future for Coal Chamber.

We also explore the breakup of God Forbid, whether God demanded The Chariot to stop, another blog reading from The Varg, and the recent Facebook spat between The Ocean Collective and Ash Avildsen over restrictive policies at shows.

Playlist:
God Forbid - The End of the World
Devildriver - Sail

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The MetalSucks Podcast #13: Special Guest Greg Puciato of The Dillinger Escape Plan Aug 12, 2013

Greg tells us about how he first got into metal, his early love for Guns N' Roses, Metallica and Bad Brains, what the term "DIY" means today, the band's recent decision to finally hire a manager, staying in creative control, the band's best performances and almost burning down the Mohawk last time they were in Austin.

Also: Chuck and Godless discuss the winner of the Shat Bracket, Varg Vikernes' latest rant and Phil LaBonte's recent non-nonsensical Tweetings.

Playlist: Pantera - Primal Concrete Sledge
Dillinger Escape Plan - Hero of the Soviet Union

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The MetalSucks Podcast, #12: Special Guest Norma Jean's Corey Brandan Aug 05, 2013

This week Chuck sits down with Corey Brandan of Norma Jean sits down and talks Christian Metal, kids, and the Beastie Boys during the Summer Slaughter tour. Chuck shares his miserable, sweltering experience from the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival and wonders whether that festival's low ticket sales (as well as the poor sales of Gigantour) signal the end of the era of the American touring metal festival. David Drainman screamed at the rain much like our old buddy Dave Mustaine and backpedals from calling out Lemmy but doesn't shy away from criticizing Roger Waters and Dallas Coyle. The Lemmy deathwatch goes on high alert with Motorhead cutting the Wacken Open Air performance short due to his health problems, plus we make jokes about Slayer, which is always fun.

Tunes:
Motorhead - I Know How To Die
Norma Jean - If You Have It at Five, You Have It at Fifty

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The MetalSucks Podcast, Episode #11: Special Guest Mark Hunter of Chimaira Jul 29, 2013

This week Axl spends some time with Mark Hunter as the new Chimaira album is ready to drop, discussing Hunter's country music upbringing, the metamorphosis of the old lineup of Chimaira into the new lineup, the writing of the new album and more, and we also listen to another new Chimaira song. Chuck covers his Summer Slaughter and Black Sabbath experience in all of their glory, and Godless found "The Varg" to read you some of his poetic blog entries. We also get you a new tune from All Pigs Must Die because it should be on your short list or you'll really be missing out.

Tunes:

Chimaira - Transmigration/Crown of Phantoms

All Pigs Must Die - Silencer

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The MetalSucks Podcast, #10: Vince Neilstein Interviews Special Guest Misha Mansoor of Periphery Jul 22, 2013

This week Vince has a chat with Misha from Periphery, in which, after discussing the band's early days and how the lineup came together, Vince and Misha rap about the current state of the metal industry, crowd-funding, what record labels are doing wrong what they're doing right. Misha even put pants on for this one. We also discuss (and defend) Varg Vikernes after his release from jail, how Altar of Plagues is ruining it for everyone and how Carcass rule all things metal. We run long, so only a couple of songs this week:

Playlist:

Periphery - Scarlet

Carcass - Captive Bolt Pistol

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The MetalSucks Podcast, #9: Featuring Special Guest Luc Lemay of Gorguts (Part 2) Jul 15, 2013

This week Axl finishes off his Luc Lemay interview with details about the new album Colored Sands, we examine the first rounds of the "Most Needlessly Shat Upon Bands" bracket, we talk about our missed interview with Chris Barnes, Ben Weiman's superhuman return to Dillinger just in time for the Summer Slaughter tour and whether Banjo should be a metal instrument. Of course we couldn't skip the empty amp cabinet controversy either.

Playlist:

Revocation - Invidious

MachineHead - Beautiful Mourning

Gorguts - Le Toit du monde

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The MetalSucks Podcast, #8: Special Guest Luc Lemay from Gorguts (Part 1) Jul 08, 2013

This week Axl interviews Luc Lemay from Gorguts, we discuss the need for a memoir from someone other than Randy Blythe, Iron Maiden Beer sells one million pints (we are still waiting on our keg), and the MetalSucks Most Needlessly Shat Upon Band Bracket gets examined.

Playlist:

Gorguts - "Forgotten Arrows"
Autopsy - "Mangled From Below"
Hellyeah - "Alcohaulin' Ass"

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The MetalSucks Podcast, #7: Special Guest Valient Thorr's Valient Himself Jul 01, 2013

This week's guest comes straight from planet Venus: Valient Thorr's Valient Himself. We chat over tea, about growing up nerdy, metal concerts, the new record and how he is a sexy bitch. We also discuss the importance -- or lack there of -- of album covers in the modern age, the best albums of 2013 so far, and jam new tracks by DevilDriver and Norma Jean!

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The MetalSucks Podcast #6: Lamb of God are Broke, Lemmy's Got Heart Problems Jun 24, 2013

On this week's editions of The MetalSucks Podcast, Chuck and Godless cover the past week's headlines including Lemmy's heart troubles, Lamb of God's financial problems resulting from the Blythe manslaughter trial, ex-Killswitch Engage vocalist Howard Jones' new band and more. The latter inspires a discussion about moving on from your old band gracefully (Jones) vs. hanging on to the past for way too long, i.e. Geoff Tate.

Playlist:

Battlecross - "Flesh and Bone"
Mammoth Grinder - "Paragon Pusher"
James LaBrie - "Agony"
Revolution Harmony - "We Are"
Mouth of the Architect - "Sharpen Your Axes"

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The MetalSucks Podcast, #5: Austrian Death Machine Finishing New Album, Dave Lombardo Guesting on New Sepultura Record, and ICP Need to Die Jun 17, 2013

Should Austrian Death Machine keep working on -- and eventually release -- their new album in light of all of Tim Lambesis' recent troubles? 'Roid rage be damned, Chuck and Godless bravely wrestle with this issue on the latest edition of The MetalSucks Podcast! They also tackle the latest headlines, including Dave Lombardo guesting on the new Sepultura album, Dillinger Escape Plan guitarist Ben Weinman’s broken hand, signed versus unsigned bands utilizing crowdfunding, the best and worst live albums of all time, and how Insane Clown Posse need to take a dirt nap.

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The MetalSucks Podcast Episode 0004 Jun 10, 2013

Did the three Japanese teenage girls in Babymetal just one-up every current metalcore and deathcore band with their infectious blend of J-pop and metal? Chuck and Godless debate that very topic in this week's podcast. Gravy the Stuttering Insult Comic makes a guest appearance with a dead-on review of Megadeth's new album.

Chuck and Godless also cover the latest headlines, including the lineup for the Housecore Horror Film Festival, Protest the Hero hiring Lamb of God's Chris Adler as a fill-in drummer, Dillinger Escape Plan guitarist Ben Weinman's broken hand and Dave Mustaine's latest profane stage-rant against a fan.

Playlist:

Megadeth - "Built For War"
Chthonic – "Supreme Pain for the Tyrant"
Babymetal - "Megitsune"
Chelsea Grin – "Right Now" (Korn cover)
Fuck the Facts – "Vent Du Nord"

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The MetalSucks Podcast, Episode 3: Tim Lambesis Out on Bail, Paul Bostaph Re-Joins Slayer and more Jun 03, 2013

On this week's edition of the MetalSucks Podcast Chuck and Godless cover the latest headlines, including Tim Lambesis' release on $2 million bail, Paul Bostaph's return to Slayer for a third run (and the hilarious Facebook comments from Slayer fans that followed the announcement) and Huntress' crazy crowd-funding attempt for a tour bus. They also debate the merits or lack thereof of the re-thrash movement, "hipster black metal," albums that you play so much you wear out, and more.

Playlist:

Amon Amarth - Shape Shifter
Autopsy - Arch Cadaver
Havok - Give Me Liberty or Death
Altar of Plagues - God Alone
ASG - Castlestorm

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MetalSucks Podcast Episode 0002 May 28, 2013

On this week's episode Chuck and Godless discuss the public drama between System of a Down and their bassist Shavo Odadjian, Nuclear Blast's signing of the legendary Carcass, the Jeff Hanneman memorial service, how ethnicity plays a role in the sound of a band's music, and what a metal songs needs to have to get you to play it over and over again obsessively.

Playlist:

Children of Bodom – "Bodom Blue Moon"
Kylesa – "Unspoken"
Orphaned Land – "Let the Truce Be known "
Darkane – "Sinister Supremacy"
Power Trip -- "Conditioned to Death"

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MetalSucks Podcast Episode 0001 May 20, 2013

The very first episode of the MetalSucks Podcast! Chuck and Godless cover the week's headlines, including the latest on the Tim Lambesis trial, and interview MetalSucks co-founders Axl Rosenberg and Vince Neilstein about MetalSucks trolls, the MetalSucks Mansion, the future of the podcast and more. Playlist:

The Dillinger Escape Plan - "One Of Us is the Killer"
The Black Dahlia Murder - "Raped in Hatred by Vines of Thorn"
Five Finger Death Punch with Rob Halford - "Lift Me Up"
Phil Anselmo - "Usurper's Bastard Rant"
Valient Thorr - "No Strings Attached"

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