The MetalSucks Podcast

On this week's MetalSucks Podcast, we've got Fascination Street Studio Founder Jens Bogren on the show!  During our discussion, we chat about his and Ihsahn’s course at URM Academy “How It’s Done” available until July 12th, why he decided to put together a step by step course, and how much of the actually course was scripted. Of course, we had to have a deeper discussion about his experience in the studio, so we asked him about things like: when spending a lot of time on pre-production makes sense, what it's like when bands enter the studio with “demo disease," and what he feels are the most overused elements in demos. We also talked about studio tech and the considerations that go along with it, like what it takes to adapt modern technology in his studio, if he has ever lost an entire song when a hard drive crashed, what he feels can be the most tedious step in recording, and why capturing clean singing in a metal band is vital to the song when needed. Petar and Brandon discuss Dani Filth calling “Spotify the biggest criminals in the world,” Avenged Sevenfold’s Johnny Christ stating they may make the move to single only releases, Dave Mustaine's thoughts about  the one thing that would end Megadeth, and Rammstein drummer Christoph Schneider's statement on Till Lindemann’s sexual assault allegations. Song: Ihsahn “The Observer” Song: Ihsahn “Contorted Monuments” Song: Vexed “Anti-Fetish” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week's edition of The MetalSucks Podcast features Mlny Parsonz of Royal Thunder! In our discussion, we discuss the band's first album in over five years Rebuilding The Mountain, the ability to shake off negativity before a performance, having extra time to write and record being good and bad at times, and how the album artworks colors and texture go through the approval process. On a more personal level, we talked about her transition to sobriety and her taking steps to stop the negative cycles in life and focusing on having hope. Petar, Jozalyn, and Sylvia discuss all the news stories surrounding Slipknot this week Craig Jones leaving the band, his replacement, a throwaway surprise E.P., and Corey Taylor planning on taking all of 2024 for his solo project. Song: Royal Thunder “The Knife” Song: Royal Thunder “Fade” Song: Black Spiders “Alright, Alright, Alright” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Fates Warning frontman Ray Alder is our guest for this week's edition of The MetalSucks Podcast! He's here to discuss his latest solo album II, coming out June 9. As such, we discussed when he had time to focus on following up What The Water Wants, why it’s more difficult for him to write music for his solo project as opposed to Fates Warning, and why he decided on calling the record II. We also get to chatting about the long break from touring he's currently experiencing, how he adapts to change in modern times compared to his youth, if there are any plans for Fates Warning’s 40th anniversary next year, and an update on all his other current projects including Fates Warning and A-Z. This week is a music episode and we present our mid-year best of list, and play a track off of every album we feel you need to listen to before moving into the summer! Song: Insomnium “White Christ” Featuring Sakis Tolis Song: Enslaved “Congelia” Song: Venemous Concept “Fractured” Song: Sermon “Golden” Song: Ray Alder “This Hollow Shell” Song: Ray Alder “My Oblivion” Song: Hellripper “I, The Deceiver” Song: Entheos “I Am The Void” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this, the Memorial Day episode of The MetalSucks Podcast, we've got Leprous frontman Einar Solberg on the horn! In our interview with him, we discuss his debut solo album 16, out June 2. Our conversation also takes us along what  the writing process was like for the single “Over The Top” and revisit many memories from his formative years, and if he can remember emotions or moments more when looking back. We also talk a bit of shop, asking him when he started working for songs on what became his solo project, what it was like collaborating with Ihsahn through the years, his plans on touring for his solo project, and an update on a new album from Leprous. Petar and Sylvia discuss the passing of original Saint Vitus bassist Mark Adams, Foo Fighters announcing the drummer who will be replacing the late Taylor Hawkins, Corey Taylor’s comments on AI music, and Burton C. Bell’s upcoming solo tour featuring a lot of Fear Factory songs. Song: Saint Vitus “Born Too Late” Song: Einar Solberg “Over The Top” Song: Einar Solberg “Home” (Featuring Ben Levin) Song: Ignea “Nomads Luck” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Legendary thrash metal bassist David Ellefson is our guest this week on The MetalSucks Podcast! In our chat, we discussed how his new project Dieth came to be, if there ever was a competitive nature between thrash and death metal bands in the late 80’s, and why Dieth will not be playing on songs from the members previous bands. He also elaborated on how when starting a new project each member's role is defined, how he grew out of his role in Megadeth, and his thoughts on laptops and backing tracks in modern live metal and rock shows. Petar and Sylvia discuss seeing Avenged Sevenfold's first performance in five years, watching Danzig Sings Elvis in a Vegas lounge, the Sick New World festival experiencing sound issues during performances, and how to manage the Vegas heat at all day music festivals. We then read our fan email’s, answering questions, and promoting some of bands and business ventures. Song: Dieth “To Hell And Back” Song: Dieth “Don’t Get Mad…Get Even” Song: Sleep Token “The Summoning” Song: Skölldvägg “Heart Of A Viking” Song: Kamikaze Zombie “Cable 54” 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 M. Shadows and Synyster Gates of Avenged Sevenfold! Co-host Sylvia Alvarado got them to sit in on her show at KOMP 92.3 to discuss their latest album Life is But A Dream… coming out on June 2.  During their chat, they discuss how the album is an existential crisis in audio form, why they want to take every possible left turn when creating music at this stage, how Avenged Sevenfold can be viewed and a legacy band to many fans, and their influences behind the new single “We Love You.” Song: Avenged Sevenfold “ We Love You” Song: Avenged Sevenfold “Nobody” Song: Gozu “Tom Cruise Control” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on The MetalSucks Podcast, we’ve got ProgPower USA promoter Milton Mendonca on the show! During our chat, we discuss how he started out as a fan before becoming a promoter, the process of booking bands for a festival, what a possible VISA hike from the United States government would do to bands, and the financial challenges of doing exclusive North American shows.  Like most interviews these days, we also discuss the impact of having to take a two year break due to the pandemic, what he thinks is the secret to maintaining a festival to keep making money after 20 years, shutting his phone off to watch certain bands, and the hardest lesson he learned promoting a festival every year. Petar and Brandon discuss the impact Anthrax’s “Sound of White Noise” on its 30th anniversary, Vince Neil judging anyone in anything in life on National TV, Vulvodynia drummer almost getting “murdered” by his singer, and the singer releasing an apology before explaining why he almost killed his drummer. Song: Beast in Black “Moonlight Rendezvous” Song: The Halo Effect “In Broken Trust” Song: Cynic “Veil of Maya” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dez Fafara of Devildriver is our guest this week on The MetalSucks Podcast! In this episode, we celebrate their new album Dealing With Demons Vol. 2, emoji’s making their way in business communication, the income a band would get for plays 20 years ago compared to today, and younger audiences embracing late 90’s bands. We also talk about what it was like touring with Type O Negative in the early 2000’s, the lesson Peter Steele gave him one night while drinking wine, how he gravitates to people in music without ego, his take on the feature of releasing new music for the heavy scene, and how the Devildriver fanbase has accepted any direction he feels his art should go through the years. Petar also tackles Paul Stanley’s comments on gender identity as being a fad, Dee Snider getting remove from the San Francisco Gay Pride Parade because of his support of Paul Stanley, Dustie Waring of BTBAM addressing rape allegations, and Rage Against The Machine getting into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Song: Devildriver “Through The Depths” Song: Currents “The Death We Seek” Song: High Priest “Divinity” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Burning Witches vocalist Laura Guldemond is our guest this week on The MetalSucks Podcast! We discuss the writing process for their latest record The Dark Tower, the lyrical inspiration that Countess Bathory played, the importance of the comic book style cover art the band strives for with each release, touring on a cruise, getting sea sick and still performing, the importance of social media for bands in modern times, the craziest time she had at a metal show as a fan, and if she gets more energy from the audience singing or moshing during live shows. Petar and Brandon breakdown the video of Crazy Town singers getting into an ugly fight, Hed(P.E.) kicking them off the tour because of the video, and Bam Margera threatening to kill his family before turning himself into the police. Song: Burning Witches “The Dark Tower” Song: Blood Ceremony “Ipsissimus” Song: Dave Lombardo “Inner Sanctum” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, we've got Cattle Decapitation axeman Josh Elmore as our guest on The MetalSucks Podcast! We discuss what it's like having to answer the same questions in interviews, the process of getting a Cattle Decapitation song passed by all of the band members, and which member sends memes in the group texts. We also talk shop, as he shares his experience touring the European festival circuit last Summer, if he thinks taking an opening slot on a tour to grow the band is a good idea at this stage, merch cuts being a reality of touring for the past 10 plus years, and what he feels is the best way to support a band. Petar and Jozalyn also talk about last week's headlines, including the new band featuring ETID and Ex-Dillinger Escape Plan members, our reaction to their first single and name of the new band. They also discuss Foo Fighters announcing a new album and Mötley Crüe gong back in the studio to work on new music. Song: Cattle Decapitation “We Eat Our Young” Song: Cattle Decapitation “Scourge Of The Offspring” Song: Zozobra “Born In A Blaze” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices