Metal Matters

This week’s guest is the great Walter Schreifels, a NYC mainstay and legend with bands like Quicksand, Youth of Today, Gorilla Biscuits, Warzone and so many more under his belt since venturing into music in this pre-teens. Quicksand is currently out on tour in the US playing in support of their new LP Distant Populations. As a result we talked to Schreifels about touring, the addition of Steven Brodsky on guitar, and the perks and downsides of being a music lifer. Stick around! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today on Metal Matters we are joined by Kowloon Walled City frontman and studio engineer extraordinaire, Scott Evans. Since their inception in 2007, Kowloon Walled City have continually redefined what it means to be a "metal" band. They have expertly harnessed a sound and aesthetic that is equally at home among doom, post metal, and noise rock circles, while not succumbing to a stylistic allegiance to any one genre. The long awaited follow up to 2015's now legendary Grievances will finally see the light of day on October 8th via Neurot Recordings and Gilead Media. We were fortunate to recently have an in-depth conversation with Scott about the advantages and perils of recording your own band, his personal experiences in overcoming the psychic blocks that sometimes prevent one from playing music, and everything in between.This episode is dedicated to Tony Jacome of Shallow North Dakota who lost his battle with pancreatic cancer on October 2nd. He will live on eternally through his music and the joy he brought through those songs and performances. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we’re excited to welcome guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Nate Garrett, mastermind behind Spirit Adrift and former guitarist of Gatecreeper. Originally formed as a solo project in Phoenix, Garrett began the classic heavy metal project in the wake of his new found sobriety, channelling his energy into a succession of four LPs and 3 EPs released in the span of six years. The latest is 2021’s Forge Your Future, released in late summer via Century Media. We spoke with Garrett about his latest listening habits, the difference between home and tour personas and the true definition of the term punisher.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're honored to have multi-instrumentalist, musician and long time favorite Brian Cook on the podcast! Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, Cook first became widely known via his involvement in the highly influential Botch, who released two beloved LPs before calling it quits in 2002. From there, Cook participated in both indie rockers Roy as well as post-hardcore favorites These Arms Are Snakes, both of which called it quits in the late 00s. Cook is currently with the much beloved Russian Circles, the massive power trio Sumac and his lates project Torment and Glory, which sees Cook tackling the songs as a solo musician. We sat with Cook to discuss the early days with Botch, the current state of touring and music journalism in 2021. Stick around! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we are again joined by Kerry McCoy and George Clarke from the band Deafheaven, in the conclusion of our two part chat with the band. Over the last decade or so, Deafheaven have become an institution of sorts that transcends well beyond their underground metal roots. Constant touring have earned them a dedicated fan base and their propensity for sonic exploration leaves them nearly impossible to shoehorn into any sort of conventional genre trappings. Their upcoming album, Infinite Granite, finds Deafheaven in new territory yet again, fully embracing their love of shoegaze and dream pop in ways the band had only hinted at before. We caught up with Kerry and George to talk about the writing process, coping with anxiety, how external influences outside of music can shape a song, and the importance of an evolving approach to their craft. Stick around! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we are joined by Kerry McCoy and George Clarke from the band Deafheaven, in the first of a two part chat with the band. Over the last decade or so, Deafheaven have become an institution of sorts that transcends well beyond their underground metal roots. Constant touring have earned them a dedicated fan base and their propensity for sonic exploration leaves them nearly impossible to shoehorn into any sort of conventional genre trappings. Their upcoming album, Infinite Granite, finds Deafheaven in new territory yet again, fully embracing their love of shoegaze and dream pop in ways the band had only hinted at before. We caught up with Kerry and George to discuss their native Los Angeles, the weird world of touring in 2021, and the advantages of Muppet sleep ASMRs. Stick around! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we are excited to welcome a true legend in extreme music, Iggor Cavalera. From his early ascension to the top of the music world with the infinitely influential Sepultura, to his work with Mixhell and latest projects Petbrick and Cavalera Conspiracy, Cavalera has blazed new trails and constantly pushed the boundaries of heavy music. In this episode we talk about inserting disparate influence into his music, the pandemic and his love for finding new bands. Stick around!  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we are joined by musician, visual artist, and living legend Dwid Hellion. For many of our listeners, Dwid doesn’t require much of an introduction, as the man behind metallic hardcore pioneers Integrity and harsh noise mainstay Psywarfare, Dwid has been instrumental in shaping the sound and much of the aesthetic within a large corner of extreme music today. He’s a figure often shrouded in myth and mystery, so it might come as a surprise to some how genuinely personable and downright joyful he really is. We were fortunate enough to have a series of long talks with Dwid spanning many topics, so this is gonna be the first of a two part installment. Today we talk about everything from his roots, his admiration for contemporary music, and the perils of skateboarding in your 50s. So sit back, relax, and enjoy our conversation with Dwid Hellion Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we are joined by friend of the show and one of our favorite human beings, Max Bowman of death doom titans Mortiferum and death-grinders Caustic Wound. Max is one of those rare individuals whose approach to extreme music is all but fully subverted by his warmth. As the frontman/guitarist of Mortiferum, he has released their much lauded demo, an LP and a split with the vicious Hyperdontia (available on Carbonized Records... don't miss our interview!). And though Caustuc Wound is relatively less active, their Death Posture LP was one of the most lauded of 2020. Oddly enough, we here at Metal Matters befriended Max while he was playing guitar with the Tony Molina Band, a pop band whose extreme metal pedigree rivals many of the deepest heads in the world. We caught up with Max to talk about his roots, what it was like to make a record during the pandemic, and to rip on Molina a bunch. Stay right here! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

So nice we had to do it twice… well, not really but you get the idea. This week on Metal Matters, we bring you the second installment of our conversation with Dylan Walker of Full Of Hell. We touched on a lot of shit on last week’s episode and today’s is no exception. We get into the nitty gritty about the lifestyle of underground artists, the impact of music criticism, and the scariest things they’ve ever seen at shows. So kick back, settle in, and enjoy the wild ride that is Dylan Walker: Part 2 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The first of a two part episode with our dear friend and one of contemporary metal's most endearing people, Dylan Walker. As many of you know, Dylan is the frontman for the herculean death/grind/noise masters Full of Hell. His glass gargling, ferocious vocals and dominating presence on stage and record have helped cement the band into one of today's preeminent extreme music fixtures. Through keeping up an incessant touring schedule and maintaining a prolific output of music, Full of Hell have developed one of the most loyal and ravenous fanbases the world over. We touched on so many subjects with Dylan that we had to break it up into two installments, which is a first for us here on this humble podcast. This week is focused on some of the fundamentals of touring, the thankless job of booking shows, and the invisible lines between punk and metal. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For over a decade, Chad Gailey has been continually cementing himself as one of modern death metal’s hardest working and most respected figures. He’s the man at the drums of the almighty Necrot, whose bombastic sensibilities have helped catapult the band to a leading position among today’s death metal greats. If that wasn’t already enough, Chad is the force behind the much revered Carbonized Records; easily one of the most esteemed contemporary extreme metal labels. We caught up with Chad to discuss his curation of Carbonized, his crust punk roots, and his complete love and devotion to metal. Stick around! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guests are TJ and Mike from Virginian metal mainstays Inter Arma. For well over a decade, Inter Arma have been a towering fixture in the worldwide metal scene. The band's ever uncompromising brand of doom & death combine glacially paced riffs with the intensity of a cornered pack of wolverines, monolithic and ferocious. A relentless touring force, their dedication to life on the road have earned them respect and admiration the world over. During 2020 they released Garbers Day Revisited, a hyper diverse collection of covers highlighting influences as Venom, Tom Petty, Cro-Mags, Neil Young, and Prince. During our conversation we touch on the built-in existential crisis inherent in being touring musicians sidelined by a pandemic, the importance of progressivism both at home and within metal at large, and why you may or may not want to smoke salvia. Stay right where you are! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're honored to be joined today by death metal juggernaut Karl Willetts. For many of our listeners out there, Karl doesn't require much of an introduction.He is the legendary voice behind many of Bolt Thrower's most celebrated albums and currently fronts the brilliantly devastating Memoriam. We spoke at length about tributes and cover songs, the importance of storytelling, and the often overlooked life-affirming powers inherent in death metal. As you'll see, Karl is a real class act and a total joy to speak with! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're thrilled to speak with the inimitable KW from Canadian doom juggernauts Vile Creature. From humble beginnings in the DIY community of Hamilton, Ontario, Vile Creature have steadily developed to become one of contemporary extreme music's most acclaimed and influential bands; even earning a Juno award nomination for their 2020 album Glory, Glory! Apathy Took Helm! Those already familiar with Vile Creature will surely know that apocalyptic riffs and rhythms are only a part of what KW and their partner and bandmate, Vic, contribute to the world at large. They are business owners, community activists, and important stalwarts of queer visibility inside and outside of extreme music at large. We caught up with KW to talk about the healing powers of heavy music, growing up queer and endeavoring to create a more positive, safe environment, and what it's like to balance a business, a romantic partnership, and a successful band. In wonderful KW fashion, they completely managed to flip the script on us a number of times and turned your ever serious journalistic hosts into completely disarmed subjects. The whole conversation was a lovely, emotive, and thought provoking experience. We hope you enjoy our conversation as much as we did. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's episode of Metal Matters features special guest Lee Buford. Lee has an exceedingly deep resume as a musician and visual artist, but he's probably best known as one half of heavy avant garde heroes The Body. Through constant experimentation and a willingness to explore their natural sonic curiosities, The Body has spent over two decades continually redefining themselves while shattering conventional metal paradigms wherever they tread. We spent several hours speaking with Lee about The Body's new record, the origins of the band, and his experiences growing up as a punk in the south. This one is a total trip. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest is a fixture of heavy music, the one and only Aaron Turner. Since the late 1990s, Aaron has been an integral mainstay of the extreme music underground; with a resume that boasts such notable and influential acts as Sumac, Old Man Gloom, Isis, and Mammifer. Through his musical endeavors and artistic endeavors, as well as his curatorial activities in Hydra Head and SIGE records, he has been instrumental in shaping the cultural landscape of metal and beyond. We got into a long conversation that touches on the transcendental qualities of pure volume, artistic intention and responsibility, and embracing influences from outside of your immediate sphere without falling into cultural appropriation. Aaron brings a kindness and thoughtful introspection to these subjects that is as refreshing as it is necessary. = Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For more than three decades, Jacob Bannon has served as the the frontman of Boston's Converge, one of the most influential bands in hardcore and heavy music. In addition to causing major ripples in the water with classics like Jane Doe, You Fail Me, Axe to Fall and more, Bannon has helped shape the hardcore landscape with his mega influential Deathwish Inc label. We spoke to Bannon about the pandemic, being an artist and got super philosophical along the way. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We recently had the opportunity to hang out with the incomparable Greg Anderson. In the world of heavy music, Greg is an individual who requires little introduction. He's the man behind the legendary Southern Lord Records as well as a key player in bands that have become nothing short of institutions such as Sunn O))), Burning Witch, Goatsnake, Thorr's Hammer, and countless other projects. As a curatorial and sonic force, Greg Anderson stands among the most important of our time. We talked with him about the joys of discovering new music and unearthing forgotten classics, the bridge between hardcore, jazz, and metal, and what it means to be a lifer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're honored to have Walter Hoeijmakers as our guest on today's show. Walter is the key creative force behind what is debatably the most important annual event in extreme music: the legendary Roadburn Festival. Every April since its inception in 1999 until the global pandemic shifted the landscape, Roadburn has hosted everything from the best contemporary heavy artists to once in a lifetime performances from living legends such as Hawkwind, Goblin and GISM. Over the years, the fest has become an integral communal event and pollination site for thousands of metalheads, punks, and heavy music lovers the world over. After the necessary cancellation of Roadburn's 2020 installment, they are back this year with Roadburn Redux; a weekend of special livestream events curated with the love and attention to detail the festival is known for. We caught up with Walter to talk about Roadburn Redux as well as his beginnings, some of the wild and unique Roadburn moments throughout the years, and the ever increasing importance of community. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.