The MetalSucks Podcast

This week on The MetalSucks Podcast, we welcome guitarist Niclas Engelin of The Halo Effect to the show! In our interview, we discuss the overwhelming response to the band's debut record Days of the Lost and how that momentum lead to their latest release March of the Unheard. We also discussed what it's like being bandmates with people he went to high school with and who in the band was the best student back in the day. There's also some talk about how a marching band inspired some material on the new album, the importance of having fun and squashing any negative energy when working in a band, his passion for collecting vinyls and the story of the artwork on the latest album. Petar and Sylvia address the ongoing wildfires in California, the possible musical collaboration of James Hetfield and Jerry Cantrell and the issues the Petar think would arrive if that came to fruition, our thoughts on three members of Jane’s Addiction creating new music, and Dan Lilker not regretting any of the material he created with S.O.D. Song: The Halo Effect “Detonate” Song: The Halo Effect “March of the Unheard” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Josh James of Stick To Your Guns is our guest this week! We are here to discuss the latest album Keep Planting Flowers coming out January 10th! The conversations starts with Josh enjoying no stereo system in his truck, how silence is a commodity in headphone culture, the listening and viewing habits of interacting music and films, the rise of subtitles on for watching movies and television, and what genre you should never have subtitles on when watching. Then we segue into the title of the new album and his view on the artwork created. How the new album was never truly planned and the rest button that helped the band getting into writing mode, the guest vocals that join them this time around, and the reality of branding when it comes to being in a band these days. Petar and Brandon discuss the out of nowhere return of Nevermore, the drama that followed involved Jim Sheppard not being contacted about it, Tommy Lee showering one day a week, Patrick Mameli’s nonsense regarding AI artwork being acceptable for album covers, and Five Finger Death Punch’s Chris Kale taking the microphone to make people laugh. Song: Stick To Your Guns “Keep Planting Flowers” Song: Stick To Your Guns “Severed Forever” Song: Eidola “Prodigy” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After giving you guys the first half of our Top 15 Best Albums of 2024 last week, it's time to round out the list with the best of the best. This week, we discuss our personal picks from number 7 all the way to coveted number 1 spot. Additionally we let you know what our favorite album cover of the year is!  This episode is packed with interviews with four of those artists. We're making this episode just one big celebration with every band getting a shout out! We also get to play some killer music this episode to help close out the year in style. So go listen and see if you agree with our picks, and share yours in the comment section.  We can’t wait to bring you new episodes next year and wish everyone a kind and peaceful conclusion to the year that was 2024! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week features Gabriel Franco from Unto Others, known for their gothic influences, Jerry Cantrell of Alice in Chains, and Aaron Stainthorpe from My Dying Bride, a staple of gothic doom metal, alongside Thomas Erickson from black metal band Mork. They delve into the top metal albums of 2024, discussing the creative processes behind standout records. Highlights include massive shifts in the genre, the emotional weight of new releases, and the significance of album artwork in the community. It’s an insightful celebration of music that blends passion, expertise, and personal anecdotes.

This week, we've got Bartek Krysiuk and Monk Boruta of Patriarkh on The MetalSucks Podcast! Their debut album Prophet Ilia coming out January 3! We begin the conversation with the historical figure that they cover, choosing to use regional instruments while recording, and how the first vision of the album completely changed over the two years it took to create it. We also discuss which modern figure can be seen as Prophet Ilja, if there's a documentary outside Poland on the figure they recommend, and performing the album in its entirety being something they feel it needs. We also discuss potential worldwide touring plans they'd like to do, and why Prophet Ilja was the perfect fresh start for them. Petar and Brandon also tackle Shavo Odadjian’s comments about “cheesy bands” ruining nu metal, Primus looking for a new drummer and how intimidating it would be to even send an audition tape to Les Claypool, Otep calling it quits on her music career and why we feel the timing is right, and King Diamond canceling a fair amount of shows on his current North American tour.  SONG: PATRIARKH “WIERSZALIN III” SONG: PATRIARKH “WIERSZALIN IV” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices