The MetalSucks Podcast

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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