The MetalSucks Podcast

Badass shredder Michael Amott of Arch Enemy is the final guest on The MetalSucks Podcast. We are so excited to get to chat about the band's 12th studio album Blood Dynasty, due out March 28t We start the conversation with how creating music is still the most exciting part of being in a band for him, some of his practices if he runs into writer’s block, the full collaboration with Jens Bogren on the new album, and which Arch Enemy album he would love to put a concert medley together for the fans. We also discuss how adding Joey Concepcion to the band gives them a little fire in the studio, the positive outlook that not being an overnight success brings to him as an artist, his input in the cover artwork for the new album, touring the states for the first time in three years and some of those challenges, and the most intimidating factor for him when he decided to follow his dream of being a musician. Finally, the MetalSucks podcast team sends all our gratitude for all the wonderful years of being able to participate as the official podcast for Metalsucks.net. Being a heavy metal fan that somehow had transitioned into heavy metal media, the great team and family that welcomed us, believed in us, trusted us, and gave us an opportunity that changed our lives. Lastly we send out a huge thank you to the fans as we close this magical and meaningful chapter to our lives and say goodbye. Song: Arch Enemy “Dream Stealer” Song: Arch Enemy “Blood Dynasty” Song: Allegation “Driftwood” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Zachary Ezrin is our guests this week! We are here to discuss the latest album GOLDSTAR coming out March 21st! We start the show be discussing being the last band to record in Colin Marston studio in NYC, getting the album recorded in 5 days this time around, how they got involvement from Dave Lombardo and Tomas Haake on the album, the influence of early cigarette advertisement on the albums artwork, his thought on the modern day protocols when people “bum a cigarette”, traveling really being important to knowledge of people and there lives, the touring memories that stick after doing for over a decade, and the creative impact that the bands choices of “cover songs” as singles the last few years had. Petar and Brandon discuss Mastodon finally moving on with Brent Hinds after 25 years, us both being shocked that it didn’t happen sooner, our hopes that no mud slinging will occur in the future. We also discuss Courtney LaPlante pinpoint the perfect production that does affect current metal core records, Ghost unveiling a billboard in front of a church on the Vegas strip, and him letting fans know that there cell phones won’t be allowed at their upcoming world tour. Song: Imperial Triumphant “Pleasuredome” featuring Dave Lombardo and Tomas Hawke Song: Imperial Triumphant “Lexington Delirium” feat Tomas Haake Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dani Filth of the iconic Cradle of Filth is back on the podcast! We are here to celebrate the new album The Screaming of the Valkyries coming out March 21st! We begin our conversation on writing music post pandemic and Dani’s lets us know they are already writing for a new album before this one drops, we continue to discuss all the new social media platforms and how that is to navigate for established bands, the sad realization that going to a record store has zero magic for him in modern times, the years of him skateboarding in an English village, his disdain for any kind of graffiti that is not art, the marriage of two members of Cradle of Filth and having newlyweds in the band, and he tells us his favorite 80’s action hero. Petar and Brandon discuss Dave Murray’s comments on Iron Maiden knowing when its time to hang it up, if Iron Maiden would announce a final tour, Triple B Records having to tell fans not to trust an AI Mindforce merch website, and Jinjer’s bassist letting us all know again that musicians are on the bottom of a pyramid scheme. Song: Cradle of Filth “To Love Deliciously” Song: Cradle of Filth “Malignant Perfection” Song: Nite “Crow (Fear The Night) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on The MetalSucks Podcast, Lacuna Coil vocalist Cristina Scabbia joins the show! She's here to discuss the band's latest album Sleepless Empire coming out this Friday, Feb. 14! We discuss if there was any plans for releasing the album on Valentine’s Day, the challenge of creating after the experience they had with previous album Black Anima, and making sure to celebrate the past in a way that looks to the band's creative future. We also chat about the single Lacuna Coil recorded with members each band from their upcoming North American tour, her favorite visual filmmakers that leave an impression on her, and why its so hard to pick a setlist for a show after 10 albums. Petar and Sylvia discuss the final performance of Black Sabbath being booked July 5, the revelations of his health being in a bad place, the dream lineup playing the final show, the concerns that we have despite it being all for charity and all the bands sharing the stage, Gojira taking home the Grammy for the Best Metal Performance, Courtney LaPlante of Spiritbox doing a brilliant Poppy impersonation, and the major missed opportunity for System of a Down by not making a new album for our scene. Song: Lacuna Coil “Gravity” Song: Lacuna Coil “Oxygen” Song: Mantar “Rex Perverso” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bjorn “Speed” Strid is our guest this week on the podcast! He joins us to help shine a spotlight on the latest album by The Night Flight Orchestra, Give Us The Moon! The discussion starts with if he thinks he would fair well if he chose a career as a steward for an airline, what job he wanted when he was a child, if there's a customer service element in being in a traveling band, the journey of creating music again after the passing of his bandmate and one of his best friends David Andersson, the dream stage show for The Night Flight Orchestra if there was no budget restraints, the plans to bring the project to North America after seven albums, and which power ballad he would love to tackle one day. Petar and Sylvia discuss songs with ridiculous sexual innuendos in rock that we weren’t aware of in our youth, the current status of Faith No More being a mystery, our thoughts on the only way Mike Patton would want to do another Faith No More tour, Orange Goblin calling it quits after 30 years of kicking ass, and Rob Rivera of Nonpoint having a medically emergency due to coffee. Song: The Night Flight Orchestra “Way To Spend The Night” Song: The Night Flight Orchestra “Give Us The Moon” Song: The Hellacopters “Leave A Mark” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on The MetalSucks Podcast, we welcome guitarist Niclas Engelin of The Halo Effect to the show! In our interview, we discuss the overwhelming response to the band's debut record Days of the Lost and how that momentum lead to their latest release March of the Unheard. We also discussed what it's like being bandmates with people he went to high school with and who in the band was the best student back in the day. There's also some talk about how a marching band inspired some material on the new album, the importance of having fun and squashing any negative energy when working in a band, his passion for collecting vinyls and the story of the artwork on the latest album. Petar and Sylvia address the ongoing wildfires in California, the possible musical collaboration of James Hetfield and Jerry Cantrell and the issues the Petar think would arrive if that came to fruition, our thoughts on three members of Jane’s Addiction creating new music, and Dan Lilker not regretting any of the material he created with S.O.D. Song: The Halo Effect “Detonate” Song: The Halo Effect “March of the Unheard” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After giving you guys the first half of our Top 15 Best Albums of 2024 last week, it's time to round out the list with the best of the best. This week, we discuss our personal picks from number 7 all the way to coveted number 1 spot. Additionally we let you know what our favorite album cover of the year is! This episode is packed with interviews with four of those artists. We're making this episode just one big celebration with every band getting a shout out! We also get to play some killer music this episode to help close out the year in style. So go listen and see if you agree with our picks, and share yours in the comment section. We can’t wait to bring you new episodes next year and wish everyone a kind and peaceful conclusion to the year that was 2024! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, we've got Bartek Krysiuk and Monk Boruta of Patriarkh on The MetalSucks Podcast! Their debut album Prophet Ilia coming out January 3! We begin the conversation with the historical figure that they cover, choosing to use regional instruments while recording, and how the first vision of the album completely changed over the two years it took to create it. We also discuss which modern figure can be seen as Prophet Ilja, if there's a documentary outside Poland on the figure they recommend, and performing the album in its entirety being something they feel it needs. We also discuss potential worldwide touring plans they'd like to do, and why Prophet Ilja was the perfect fresh start for them. Petar and Brandon also tackle Shavo Odadjian’s comments about “cheesy bands” ruining nu metal, Primus looking for a new drummer and how intimidating it would be to even send an audition tape to Les Claypool, Otep calling it quits on her music career and why we feel the timing is right, and King Diamond canceling a fair amount of shows on his current North American tour. SONG: PATRIARKH “WIERSZALIN III” SONG: PATRIARKH “WIERSZALIN IV” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, Neon Nightmare mastermind Nate Garrett joins the MetalSucks Podcast! He's here to discuss the release of Faded Dreams! In our chat, we discuss the excellent music videos created for the project and what inspired them. Other points of conversation include how 90’s goth culture had a ridiculous aura associated with it, the negative experience of touring post-pandemic that he's not willing to partake in, and the genetic gift that some people have in conning people. We also discuss the Big Riff Podcast he's been doing the last year, and the model of news sites in modern times relying on the headline or quote. Petar and Sylvia discuss the exciting nominees this year for the Best Heavy Metal Performance Grammy Award, our picks for the winner we want to see and why, Geoff Tate deciding to create an Operation: Mindcrime III as a solo artist, Dino Cazares airing out more of Fear Factory’s dirty laundry to its fans, Mötley Crüe helping out lives with a massive donation to the Covenant House, and the open invitation to the Cavalera Brothers to jam at the final Sepultura gig. Song: Neon Nightmare “They Look Like Shadows” Song: Neon Nightmare “Lost Silver” Song: Counterparts “A Martyr Left Alive” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week's episode features Biohazard and Powerflo axeman Billy Graziadei! He joins the show to talk about Powerflo’s second album Gorilla Warfare coming out on the Day of the Dead (November 1)! We start our conversation discussing what it's like to juggle so many projects at once and his duties in the process, what sporting event gets the songwriting process flowing for Powerflo, his role as a producer in the songs and how that works for Powerflo, touring the project this time around with Biohazard backing full swing. We also chat about how it's hard to be anything but humble thanks to his opportunity to keep hitting stages in 2024, being a huge Cypress Hill fan and ending up in a band with Sen Dog, and what it was originally like to release Biohazard's Uncilivization on one of saddest days we experienced in our country Petar and Brandon discuss the passing of original Iron Maiden vocalist Paul Di’anno, Erik Rutan from Cannibal Corpse losing 90% of his belongings, Jon Schaffer addressing his role in the insurrection after getting sentenced, Biohazard and Life of Agony bringing the noise to Europe, and Kamala Harris getting the ICP endorsement! Song: Iron Maiden “Wrathchild” Song: Powerflo “Gorilla Warfare” Song: Powerflo “War Machine” Song: League of Distortion “Galvanize” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oh man, Sabaton's Joakim Brodén is back on the show! He joins us this week to promote the theatrical release of Sabaton’s “The Tour To End All Tours” flick showing exclusively in North American theaters on October 30 and 31! Our discussion begins with the pre-planning that went into the concert film, if the plan will ever release worldwide, and the chances of a band member surprising fans at a screening. We also chat about their current North American with Judas Priest and if he feels Sabaton can keep it going into their 70’s. Naturally, there's also discussion on the most iconic war film and documentary in Brodén's opinion, and a soft timeline on new music. Petar and Jozalyn discuss Mexican Coke leaving Fentanyl because they didn’t mix well on tour, Forbes magazine listing the 38 top metal bands and our thoughts on the fact that no bands that are less than 20 years old made that list and why, James Hetfield not thinking that Metallica are a legacy band, and Gene Simmons hurting people's feelings by being Gene Simmons on network TV. Song: Sabaton “Soldier of Heaven” Song: Sabaton “Stormtroopers” Song; Ad Infinitum “Outer Space” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Swallow The Sun founder Juha Raina is our guest on this week's episode of The MetalSucks Podcast! We start our conversation by discussing what went into following up to the acclaimed Moonflowers album, the intense personal lyrical content on Shining, his need to constantly be move to stay sane, and why living in a reclusive environment is like paradise when he's not on the road. We also talked about how the band connected with Muse and Bring Me The Horizon producer Dan Lancaster for the new album, how Queen influenced some of the songs, and the surprising negativity still's in heavy metal when it comes to same sex representation. Petar and Sylvia discuss Scotti Hill’s comment of Skid Row reuniting with Sebastian Bach possibly leading to a Jane’s Addiction onstage meltdown, the price tag for Tool’s 30th anniversary of “Undertow” on compact disc, Avenged Sevenfold getting cooler in their old age by sabotaging Journey at Rock In Rio, and Foo Fighters canceling their upcoming performance on short notice. Song: Swallow The Sun “Innocence Was Long Forgotten” Song: Swallow The Sun “What I Have Become” Song: Wind Rose “To Be A Dwarf” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dream Theater keyboard wizard Jordan Rudess is back on the MetalSucks Podcast! In this episode, we discuss Rudess' new solo album Permission To Fly, which is available right now! Throughout our chat, we also learn more the contest that lead to his music videos for the album, his daughter's involvement in the album, and the artists that joined the project this time around. We'd be remiss if we didn't chat about the massive Dream Theater tour that's coming up and the future of his solo song on the live stage. Petar and Sylvia tackle the Jane’s Addiction onstage meltdown, Dave Growl letting the world know he now has a second family, and Bon Jovi saving someone from a tragic decision. Song: Jordan Rudess “The Alchemist” Song: Charlotte Wessels “Dopamine” Featuring Simone Simons of Epica Song: Unto Others “Momma Likes The Door Closed” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices