The MetalSucks Podcast

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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