The MetalSucks Podcast

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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