The MetalSucks Podcast

Anders Fridén is back on the show! We're celebrating their upcoming North American tour with Gatecreeper and Creeping Death, so naturally we discuss Fridén's involvement in selecting the opening acts for the tour, how playing live means so much more after the pandemic, the importance of a scene for heavy music to rise, and how In Flames rehearses with members living in different countries. We also discuss the importance of artwork for heavy metal, what he considers the 30th anniversary of In Flames, and if they have anything planned for that milestone. Petar and Brandon discuss Rex Brown’s comments on possibly recording new Pantera music, Charlie Benante on the possibility of a new Pantera live album, and Maynard James Keenan assisting Mike Tyson during a strange time in boxing. Song: In Flames “Foregone, Pt. 1” Song: In Flames “State of Slow Decay” Song: Melvins “Addicted to Food” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, we've got Steve Moore of Zombi joining us on The MetalSucks Podcast. In our chat, we discuss the band's latest album Direct Inject out this Friday, March 22. We discuss 2024 being the 20th anniversary of Zombi, if he thought that milestone would have happened when the band started as a side project, and how important their label Relapse has been in keeping the band alive. We also discuss some of the approaches Zombi take to make new fans, his experience as a touring musician during the pandemic, the tour with The Sword that brought momentum back to the Zombi camp, what it was like touring with Goblin as a keyboard player, and the future of Zombi and friends releases. Petar and Jozalyn discuss the tragic passing of Blake Harrison, share an email from a fan who went to see Jozalyn do stand up comedy, Mastodon’s Troy Sanders being a fantastic Little League Baseball Coach, and Fear Factory wanting a fill in bassist that can drink a bottle of tequila with no negative results. Song: Pig Destroyer “Loathsome” Song: Zombi “The Post Atomic Horror” Song: Zombi “Bodies In The Flotsam” Song: CNTS “I Won’t Work For You” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dragonforce’s Herman Li is joining us for this week's MetalSucks Podcast! The band’s latest album Warp Speed Warriors is coming out this Friday, March 15, so Li tells us how Dragonforce landed the Despicable Me 4 trailer, how we have noticed metal is getting its due in the advertising world, his physical music collection being across the pond, and how his London home is a bit of a time machine. Naturally, we also discuss the last video game he remembers beating in the arcade, the album artwork from concept to completion, the extra goodies Dragonforce gives out when the band does  meet and greets, and  why it’s important to be able to compromise on co-headlining tours. Petar and Sylvia discuss the momentous release of the new Judas Priest record Invincible Shield and how they're the first heavy metal band to release two albums 50 years apart. Petar also shares a personal 'Proud Papa' moment involving the record. As for the news, they discussed Phil Demmel being surprised about the Slayer reunion announcement, Burton C. Bell releasing his first solo track, and a bill being introduced to Congress that would increase streaming payments for musicians. Song: Dragonforce “Astro Warrior Anthem” Song: Dragonforce “Doomsday Featuring Elize Ryd of Amanrathe” Song: Judas Priest “Panic Attack” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Don't look now, but Kittie's very own Morgan Lander is back on the show! We are here to discuss Kittiepig, the only non-alcoholic beverage with the Canadian band's name and stamp of approval. In our chat, we talk about the idea and origin story behind the collaboration, some of the notes she gave after doing a taste testing, what a Saskatoon berry tastes like, and if there will be any available at the merch both when the band tours your city. We also celebrate their first single in 13 years “Eyes Wide Open,” the music video that  accompanied the song, and the plans for Kittie in 2024. Petar and Jozalyn tackle the tale of a vocalist getting fired for his creative attempts to steal a bandmates girlfriend, our thoughts on if the new Judas Priest record is their final one, and Avenged Sevenfold releasing a VR concert to the fans. Song: Kittie “Eyes Wide Open” Song: Coffin Storm “Over Frozen Moors” Song: Boundaries ”A Pale Light Lingers” (featuring Alpha Wolf’s Lochie Keogh) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Øystein Brun of Borknagar is on the show this week! During our chat, we discuss the latest album from the Norwegian black metal legends Fall. We also chat about we discuss Øystein's childhood in Norway, the concept of nature’s connection with man on the new record, music truly being something created from nothing, touring Borknagar more the last 10 years and the perspective that has given him.  Petar and Brandon discuss all the thoughts and emotions that surround Slayer's return, how this affects the excitement of Kerry King’s solo project, how we feel they are part of the future festival headliners, and if it hurts the legacy of the band in anyway. Song: Borknagar “The Wild Lingers” Song: Borknagar “Moon” Song: Illumishade “Riptide” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week's guest is none other than John Henry of Darkest Hour! He's here to celebrate the band's first full length record in six years, Perpetual/Terminal coming out February 23. Additionally, we discuss the challenges of following up on Godless Prophets and The Migrant Flora, how Ozzfest shaped the band's professionalism, the brotherhood that bands had when doing traveling festival packages, and at what point in his career that he was comfortable doing stage banter. In a bit of fun sports talk, Henry also talks about Darkest Hour creating a fight song for the Washington Capitals and how the terming “selling out” has changed since the inception of the band. Later on in the show, Brandon and Petar discuss the laughably bad Motley Crue action figures, Kittie releasing their first song in 13 years, High on Fire announcing their first new album since winning a Grammy, our thoughts with the AI generated video they released, and how artists are now secondary to the event for mainstream audiences. Song: Darkest Hour “Perpetual/Terminal Song: Darkest Hour “Societal Bile” Song: Hiraes “Dormant” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ihsahn is joining the podcast this week to celebrate his new self-titled album coming out Feb. 16. In this episode, we discuss his passion for film composition, some of the names that he's followed over the years, his drive to always have an orchestral element to his music, the rock artists that transition into doing full time film work, and how he created a world based on the orchestral release of the self titled album. In addition to all that, we chat about what perimeters would need to be met for the orchestral version of the new album to get a proper live presentation, how it's been working on the documentary of Fascination Street Studios with Jens Bogren, and the importance and magic of capturing the inexplicable moment in art that can’t be replicated. Petar and Sylvia discuss the reveal of Kerry King’s new band, our thoughts on the first track released to fans, his upcoming tour with Lamb of God and Mastodon, the update on his relationship with his old Slayer bandmates, and Bon Jovi stating that he won’t use backing tracks live to perform to his legion of fans. Song: Ihsahn “Pilgrimage to Oblivion” Song: Ihsahn “The Distance Between Us” Song: Persefone “One Word” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ross Jennings and Peter Jones of Haken join the podcast! We are here to discuss their upcoming North American tour starting February 10, the anticipation of playing the latest album Fauna will be played in its entirety, Peter Jones releasing a keyboard guide of his work on the album, playing Japan for the first time in the band’s history after the North American tour, the positive experience when albums make year end lists, saving a cat’s life last time they toured America, the team building the band does when on tour in America, the desire to start writing new material, and the open discussion of how singles being released instead of full lengths can have a positive impact. Petar and Sylvia discuss the passing of legendary MC5 guitarist Wayne Kramer, Ihsahn’s comments on creating a new Emperor album, how difficult it is for a band to capture the essence of their youth, Marilyn Manson paying the price of a new home in legal fees to Evan Rachel Wood, and we share a story of co-host Brandon jumping out of a plane with the late Jesse Jane. Song: MC5 “Kick Out the Jams” Song: Haken “Nightingale” Song: Haken “The Alphabet of Me” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The ever-talented Lena Scissorhands of Infected Rain is our guest on this week's episode of The MetalSucks Podcast! During our time together, we discuss the band's latest album Time out February 9. Other, totally not super heady topics also get discussed, such as the journey we all take to ensure we're not wasting time, the realization of how a toxic element in your life can affect you, and how singing the new songs live will take an emotional toll on her. We also chat about the music videos and how they were created, capturing a vulnerable moment that was genuine and sharing it with her fans, and her love for movies. Petar and Brandon discuss MetalSucks reader’s poll on who the fans think is metal’s favorite asshole, Kanye West doubling down on his antisemitism by wearing a Burzum shirt, and Martyrdom throwing a pig’s head out at the audience during a live show. Song: Infected Rain “Because I Let You” Song: Infected Rain “Dying Light” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Don't look now, but Gabe Mangold of Enterprise Earth is on this week's episode of The MetalSucks Podcast! Naturally during our chat we discuss the latest album Death: An Anthology and how parts of it were written in a parking lot. We also learn all about the story behind  the featured guests that helped out, the process of completing five music videos at the same time being less stressful then past music videos, and the changes that occurred in the Enterprise Earth camp since the previous album.  On a more personal note, we also learn more about Mangold's former nomad lifestyle that he lived for the last seven years and the joy he gets from doing the mixing, mastering, and producing on all the albums since 2020. Petar and Sylvia discuss the upcoming 30th anniversary of the best E.P. of all times, Chad Gray’s comments on all new music sounding the same, and discuss our thoughts on keeping up with newer bands in modern times. Song: Enterprise Earth “Casket of Rust” Song: Enterprise Earth “The Reaper’s Servant” Featuring Darius Tehrani of Spite Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices