The MetalSucks Podcast

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

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

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" Stream the episode below. Remember to subscribe to the MetalSucks Podcast on iTunes, subscribe to our direct feed or download this episode directly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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

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

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

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

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

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

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