The MetalSucks Podcast

Lamb of God guitarist Mark Morton is our guest this week to discuss his new solo album Anesthetic. Mark tells us about the origins of the project with material that didn’t work for Lamb of God, how close friend and producer Josh Wilbur influenced the album, the opportunity it provided for him to explore songwriting on the rock side of things, how he got Mark Lanegan to guest, the guitarist who added a lead to the album, who his favorite living drummer is and a short update on new Lamb of God material. Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn tackle High on Fire's Grammy victory followed by the heartbreak of Vinnie Paul's snub. We also discuss Slash announcing that Guns N' Roses will head into the studio this year and debate Emmure frontman Frankie Palmeri's claim that the Static-X reunion is a cash grab. Songs: Mark Morton - “Cross Off” (Featuring Chester Bennington) Mark Morton - “Truth Is Dead” (Featuring Randy Blythe and Alissa White-Gluz) Kings Destroy - “Barbarossa” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Queensryche vocalist Todd La Torre of Queensryche joins our show this week. We talk about the band's new album, The Verdict, the role producer Zeuss played in the recording process, Todd's contributions to the drums on the album, how the conflict in Syria become a lyrical inspiration and how the artwork was inspired by laws that create social injustices. Todd also tells us about his passion for documentary films, the importance of becoming informed to stop polarization and how to deliver certain messages in a hyper-sensitive culture. Finally, we get an update on the absence of founding drummer Scott Rockenfield and we learn how the band's live setlist on their upcoming tour with Fates Warning will feature more of their new material. Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn address Maynard’s timeline on the new Tool record, Ozzy's recent hospitalization, Staind's Aaron Lewis saying more stupid shit, Maroon 5’s Super Bowl tattoo extravaganza and much more. Songs: Queensryche - “Man The Machine” Queensryche - “Dark Reverie” Hiss From The Moat - “God Nephasto” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

David Ellefson of Megadeth, Altitudes & Attitude and Metal Allegiance is our guest this week. We discuss the new Altitudes & Attitude album Get It Out, the classic rock n' roll influence behind the the songs and the writing process between he and Frank Bello (also of Anthrax). We also talk about his realization that the rock n' roll lifestyle is an illusion after finding success in the industry, the difficulties he had adjusting to life in Los Angeles after moving from his native Minnesota, the difficulties of creating music during the '90s, the balance of serving the mainstream and thrash communities, which reviled Megadeth record he prefers more, Risk or Super Collider, and how he balances so many different projects at once. Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn discover what incels are and create a divorce attorney for them, chime in on the Gene Simmons vs. Ace Frehley drama, and discuss the rumors of Tool's new record arriving in April. Songs: Altitudes and Attitudes - “Get It Out” Metal Allegiance - “The Accuser” (featuring Trevor Strnad) Brick By Brick - “Hive Mentality” Featuring Jessica Pimentel) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brett Boland of Astronoid is our guest this week. We discuss how the success of the band's debut record Air affected the writing process of their new self-titled album, the major life changes that happened during the creation of the new album, their upcoming tour with Between the Buried and Me and the importance of that band to Astronoid, various genre names that people have attempted to stamp on the band, the joy of buying records blind back in the day, his love for '80s pop music and more.  Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn discuss the passing of Bruce Corbitt and the importance of Rigor Mortis to the metal scene. We also celebrate doing 100 episodes of the podcast together and discuss our journey as hosts, including what we've learned so far and our mistakes along the way. Rigor Mortis - “Poltergeist” Astronoid - “I Dream in Lines” Astronoid - “A New Color” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt Pike of High on Fire and Sleep is our guest this week. We discuss his recent diagnosis as a diabetic, his recently amputated toe, the tour cancelations it caused and having to change his diet to manage the disease. Matt also tells us about the decision to surprise-release Sleep's The Sciences on 4/20 last year, his decision to spurn Coachella in favor of Roadburn, the preparation for doing double duty in both High On Fire and Sleep at festivals and the dream he had after Lemmy died that influenced Electric Messiah. We then dive deep on some non-musical topics, including where he thinks America is headed in 2019, the integrity (or lack thereof) of mainstream media, his thoughts on humans being created by aliens in a petri dish, how he handles being called crazy for his beliefs, and how he researches the strange topical matters for his lyrics. Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn discuss the Chris Cornell tribute concert, Taylor Swift's use of an Every Time I Die lyric in her album artwork, and new information in the bizarre evolving story surrounding the passing of All That Remains' Oil Herbert. Songs High On Fire - “Drowning Dog” Sleep - “Antarcticans Thawed” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Soilwork and The Night Flight Orchestra vocalist Bjorn “Speed” Strid is our guest this week. We discuss reigniting the fans and legacy of the band after 11 albums, how the Swedish bands and American bands of the mid '00s influenced each other, the rediscovery of the Scandinavian sound on The Living Infinite and how that journey has influenced the band's new album Verkligheten, being able to focus on touring the newer records and songs, if the success of The Night Flight Orchestra has affected the long gap between Soilwork albums, the importance of working as a collective on the new album, feeling limited lyrically in the metal genre, the importance of a gimmick with live shows in modern times and what he wish he implemented for Soilwork 20 years ago. Petar and Brandon tackle the announcement of Woodstock's 50th anniversary show, Mike Patton singing the National Anthem at the NFL playoffs (which was later canceled), Mike Pike canceling the High On Fire tour as a result of his diabetes, Jason Bittner stating Shadows Fall wore out their welcome, and if bands can become part time instead of taking a hiatus. Songs: Soilwork - “Arrival” Soilwork - “Full Moon Shoals” Soilwork - “Stålfågel” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we take The Black Dahlia Murder's Trevor Strnad down memory lane with a discussion of important anniversaries that are coming in 2019. Ten years since Disney’s Up and Alice In Chains' comeback album Black Gives Way to Blue, 15 years since the Ozzfest where Hollywood Undead were hired to throw eggs at Iron Maiden, the anniversary of the death of Dimebag and Trevor's memories of the event, 20 years since Trevor graduated high school and the release of Mr. Bungle’s California, and 25 years since his first time watching Oliver Stone’s Natural Born Killers (and how the film's vision of the media has since become true). We also discuss Trevor's love for NOFX and the possibility of a Black Dahlia Murder covers EP of their songs, his favorite death metal record of 2018, the 72 year anniversary of the unsolved murder of Elizabeth Short, and plans for a new Black Dahlia record in 2019. Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn discuss Kerry King’s claim that girls led to the end of his academic career, Maynard James Keenan completing vocals for the new Tool album, and the Arch Enemy photographer controversy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on our final show of 2018 we give you a special double episode as we celebrate some of the great music that left an impression on us in 2018, counting down our top 15 albums of the year. The poetry of sadness, the lovely brutality of our senses and the essence of joy and peace that heavy metal brings people like us daily -- we cover it all and gladly present our list of genuine and beautiful music that defined this year. Special guests Jori Apedaile (Eneferens), Will Walker (Graveshadow), Henry Derek Elis, Isaiah Mitchell (Earthless) and Stavros Giannopoulos (The Atlas Moth) join us for quick chats.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alan Robert, Life of Agony bassist and the creator of The Beauty of Horror - Ghosts of Christmas coloring book, is our guest this week. We discuss the initial idea behind the adult coloring book series as a way of completely dismantling Christmas, his history as a comic book artist and author even prior to joining Life of Agony, how Twitter helped him get his first comic book published, an update on the film version of his graphic novel Crawl to Me, the terrorist threat that recently lead to a Life of Agony’s show cancelation in Las Vegas, his memories of working with the late, great character actor Frank Vincent on Killogy, the importance of Peter Steele’s influence on the Brooklyn metal scene in the late '80s, and an update on the new Life of Agony record coming out in 2019. Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn celebrate Phil Demmel’s text message invite to join Slayer, Dave Mustaine wishing for another Big Four show, and the reunion of Witchrot and resurrection of their dead drummer. Songs: Life of Agony - “Right This Wrong” BillyBio - “Rise and Slay” Incite - “Built To Destroy” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rob Trump, the multi-talented musician behind the political parody grindcore band Anal Trump, shares his journey of blending humor and activism. He details the band’s origins and their influences, like Anal Cunt and Brujeria. The discussion ventures into their charitable missions, highlighting how donations fund causes that counter negative perceptions. Rob also teases future releases and live shows, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and audience connection in their music. Satirical yet impactful, Anal Trump aims to entertain while making a statement.