The Metalsucks Podcast

Accept guitarist Wolf Hoffmann is our guest this week. He discusses the band's new album, Too Mean To Die, working with producer Andy Sneap virtually due to the pandemic, his complete lack of interest in doing any kind of livestream concerts, and why he feels the music he's written in the past decade is the best of his career. He also tells us which sub-genre of metal he likes the least, how today's music fans are more relaxed and open-minded than in the past, and which Accept record he feels is the most underrated. Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia tackle Tommy Vext's split with Bad Wolves, Marko Hietala walking away from Nightwish, and Suspect208's firing of Scott Weiland's son, Noah, due to alleged drug issues. Songs: Accept - “Zombie Apocalypse," The Dead Daises - “Holy Ground (Shake The Memory)," Demon Head - “The Feline Smile” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week our guest is JJ of the post-black metal duo Harakiri for the Sky. We discuss his dual life in two different parts of the world, how the second lockdown in Austria hasn’t been taken seriously by most people, his thoughts on the current restrictions for shows in Europe and what it would be like to perform for 50 sitting people, his thoughts on anti-vaxxers holding the world back from moving forward, how his lyrics have grown sadder the older he gets, the challenges of building friendships after you turn 30, and whether he wants to beef up or scale back the band's touring schedule when things go back to normal. Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia tackle the two biggest stories in metal from the past week: the passing Children of Bodom's Alexi Laiho and Iced Earth leader Jon Schaffer’s involvement in storming the Capitol. Songs: Children of Bodom - “The Nail," Harakiri for the Sky - “Sing For The Damage We’ve Done," “And Oceans Between Us” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adch

The one and only Ice-T is back on the program to celebrate Body Count’s second Grammy nomination, this time for "Bum-Rush" in the Best Metal Performance category. Ice tells us that if Body Count win he'll dedicate the award to late Power Trip frontman Riley Gale and recalls the intense experience of attending the Grammys in person in 2018 (nominated for "Black Hoodie" in the same category) and why he is glad it's being done remotely this year. He also shares his thoughts on Donald Trump leaving office, the demonstrations that inspired "Bum-Rush," an update on his new book, Split Decisions, and whether there is any new Body Count music on the horizon, and the recent passing of many of his colleagues from Covid-19. Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia discuss Kiss breaking a Guinness record for pyrotechnics on New Year’s Eve, the hater assault on Lamb of God guitarist Mark Morton’s Instagram account, Rob Halford showing off his ass to ring in 2021, and Glenn Danzig’s feelings being hurt by all the memes about him

Guitar virtuoso Marty Friedman is our guest this week. We discuss how 2020 went for him creatively, missing out on performing at the Olympics due to the pandemic, the collaboration with visual artist Nobuyuki Hanabusa for his upcoming livestream concert on New Year’s Day, and the importance of pursuing musical endeavors he has never tried before. Marty also tells us how he misses American cereal while living in Japan, how the Beach Boys have been the “room cleaning” band for him this year, and the importance of finding things that distract from reality to stay positive. Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn talk about New Year’s Eve shows as stand-up comics, seeing arena-level bands in small venues at huge ticket prices, our personal takes on New Year's Resolutions, and much more. Songs: Marty Friedman - “The Perfect World” (Featuring Alfakyun), Nervosa - “Perpetual Chaos” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Halestorm frontwoman Lzzy Hale is our guest this week! We discuss her progress on Christmas shopping this year and how it feels like drunk shopping, the story behind her Christmas song with Dee Snider, “The Magic of Christmas Day," and how a gift Celine Dion gave Dee's wife inspired it. Lzzy also speaks about how revisiting past years' music brings back distinct personal memories of those years, the upcoming David Bowie tribute concerts that she will be participating in, her upcoming role hosting the She Rocks Awards, and an update on the progress of the next Halestorm record. Songs: Dee Snider & Lzzy Hale - “The Magic of Christmas Day," Halestorm - “Break In” (Featuring Amy Lee of Evanescence) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

MetalSucks Podcast hosts Petar, Brandon, Jozalyn and Sylvia go all out to celebrate the art we loved in this trying year of 2020. We let the music do most of the talking as we play a track from each one of our collective 15 favorite albums of the year, and we share in the celebration by chatting with the artists that made that music: Barney Greenway of Napalm Death, Brittney Slayes of Unleash The Archers, Madeleine and Rickard of Eleine, Jamie Graham of Viscera, Johanna Sadonis and Nicke Andersen of Lucifer, and JP and JD of Loviatar. Enjoy and celebrate some of the songs, bands, and artists that made this year unforgettable for the right reasons as we count down from 15 to our number 1 album of the year. Stream the episode below. Remember to subscribe to the MetalSucks Podcast on iTunes, subscribe to our direct feed or download this episode directly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tarja Turunen is our guest for our first-ever holiday episode of The Metalsucks Podcast. We discuss some of her favorite memories of Christmas while growing up in Finland, how a personal tragedy ruined the holidays for many years, her decision to make her first solo record in 2006 a Christmas album, her upcoming Christmas livestream performance, and her favorite Christmas album as a child. She also speaks to the difficulty of not being able to work during the pandemic, the struggle of finding inspiration during this time, her desire to do a full tour for the In The Raw album before releasing a new rock album, and how livestreams will endure as a platform for bands for years to come. Petar, Brandon, Jozalyn, and Sylvia tackle the four metal bands that get the vast majority of streams, our first hard rock/metal albums we got for the holidays, and much more. Songs: Tarja - “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” (Live) and “Dead Promises” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Soilwork and The Night Flight Orchestra guitarist David Andersson is our guest this week. We discuss Soilwork's latest EP, A Whisp of The Atlantic, the "Feverish" trilogy of videos accompanying the EP's singles, the dream that lead to the epic 16-minute title track, becoming a major songwriter for Soilwork since he joined the band, and why it's important to adapt and change in music to ensure survival. David also tells us about his day job as a doctor, the frustration of people rejecting the basics of science concerning the pandemic, how he deals with the doubters and deniers, his personal experience with contracting Covid-19 and how long it took him to recover, and Sweden’s unconventional mitigation strategy. Petar, Brandon, Sylvia, and Jozalyn answer listener emails, discuss what their personal definition of a "supergroup" is, and our thoughts on Revolver naming the new Run The Jewels record as one of the best metal albums of the year. Songs: Soilwork - “Death Diviner” and “Desperado," The Night Fli

Underoath electronics wizard Chris Dudley is our guest this week. In celebration of the interview taking place on Friday the 13th, we discuss that film series in its entirety, apologists for Jason X and Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2, how to introduce R-rated movies to your kids without taking it too far, and the last horror movie that actually scared us. Chris also tells us how much time Underoath spent practicing to make their recent observatory livestream performances as special as possible for fans, an update on the band's next album, his thoughts on releasing standalone singles during this bizarre time, and how artists tend to thrive when they have limitations like those in place right now. Petar, Jozalyn, and Sylvia discuss the movies, music videos, and comedies that scared them as kids, the babysitters they had that uttered the phrase “Don’t tell your parents,” and how that makes us feel today. Songs: Underoath - "Desperate Times, Desperate Measures” (Live) and "Too Bright To See, Too Loud to H

This week our guest is TesseracT guitarist James Monteith! We discuss the current climate of the UK as they go into their second shutdown due to COVID-19, how promoting records has been a booming business during this time, the band's plans for their next record and how they feel about releasing new material without being able to tour behind it, the luxury of having no deadlines when creating music, relearning songs from his past, trying to figure out how perform live for the fans via streaming, and his personal frustration during the pandemic. Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia also tackle the revelation that Deftones guitarist Stephen Carpenter is a flat-earther, how we handle conversations with people that share Carpenter's beliefs, and Brandon’s relationship with comics that have similar beliefs as Carpenter.   Songs: TesseracT, “Of Mind - Nocturne” and “Of Energy - Singularity” Fates Warning, "Scars" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Troy Sanders of Mastodon, Gone is Gone, and Killer Be Killed is our guest this week! Celebrating the second release by Killer Be Killed, Reluctant Hero, we discuss Troy's desire to do a full tour with the band despite it being seen as a side project, having a total of 12 active bands between Killer Be Killed's four members, and how the writing process is different with all the vocalists he works with in each project. We also talk about how he prefers to write with the energy of people in the same room instead of file sharing, an update on new music from Gone is Gone and Mastodon, and the positive aspect of creating and releasing new music during the pandemic. Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia discuss metal musicians' reactions to Joe Biden becoming the 46th president of the United States, System of a Down releasing new music for a great cause after 15 years, and a German study saying Covid-19 has a "very low" risk of spreading at indoor concerts if certain precautions are taken. Songs: Killer Be Killed -

This week Mikael Stanne of Dark Tranquility is our guest! We discuss bringing in two new guitarists for the band's forthcoming album, Moment, their plans to eventually celebrate Moment live, and an update on the scheduled fall 2021 North American tour after letting go of booking agent John Finberg following allegations of sexual harassment. Mikael also tells us which of the band's albums is his favorite from a lyrical perspective, which artists passing away hit him the hardest in recent years, and how he's been burning through all of his live DVDs during the pandemic. Petar, Brandon,Jozalyn, and Sylvia discuss the rumors of a Van Halen reunion without Eddie, if we get more excited when Rob Zombie announces a new album or movie, and our muted Halloween celebrations during a pandemic. Songs: Dark Tranquility - "Identical to None" and "The Dark Unbroken," Soulburn - "From Archaeon to Oblivion" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Legendary drummer Mikkey Dee is on the show this week! Mikkey talks about the upcoming 40th anniversary of Ace of Spades, his first time seeing Motörhead as a teenager before joining the band, Lemmy's reluctance to play songs from the Ace of Spades live, and why Hammered is his least favorite record he performed on. Mikkey also talked about a whole lot about Lemmy: which part of Lemmy that always fascinated him, why having a sense of humor was such a key component to the joy of being around Lemmy, and Lemmy despising being put on a pedestal. We also get an update on the latest Scorpions record. Brandon, Jozalyn, and Sylvia tackle Sebastian Bach’s walking out of an interview because of a gay joke involving Rob Halford, Rob's reaction on a later episode of the same show, and why gay jokes by straight dudes are extremely dated. Songs: Motörhead - "The Chase Is Better Than The Catch," and Warfect - Left To Rot" Stream the episode below. Remember to subscribe to the MetalSucks Podcast on iTunes, subsc

Cradle of Filth leader Dani Filth is back on the show! We discuss the band's upcoming streaming concert set for October 30, how some fans have angrily demanded the livestream be free, recording a new album during a pandemic with all the band members living in different parts of the world, how Covid-19 is crippling the entertainment industry beyond just music, and the creative drive that will follow the pandemic for music and art. Dani also talks about the over-population problem the world is facing that we don’t discuss openly, how Mötley Crüe frontman Vince Neil's behavior is an insult to fans when he doesn’t make an effort, and memories of one of his favorite Cradle Halloween shows. Petar, Brandon, Jozalyn and Sylvia tackle the controversial new Five Finger Death Punch video, "Living The Dream," Zoltan’s comments after the backlash, and Tommy Lee threatening to move to Greece if a certain election doesn’t go his way. Songs: Cradle Of Filth - “Heartbreak and Seance," and Draconian - “Sorrow of Sop

Mr. Bungle bassist Trevor Dunn is our guest this week! We discuss the origins of Mr. Bungle while the guys were still in high school, why he felt that he and his friends gravitated towards metal in those years, and his ongoing drive to write music that sounds new and original to him. In light of the band's plans to release a re-recording of their early demo, The Raging Wrath Of The Easter Bunny, Trevor discusses how that project came together, if he would want to revisit any of the other three demos Mr. Bungle put out, and the chances of releasing all the B-side songs from the band's Warner Brothers catalog. He also talks about his collaborations with avant garde icon John Zorn through the years, being surrounded by musicians that are workaholics, and the chances of fans hearing all new material from Mr. Bungle or two of his other projects, Fantomas and Tomahawk. Petar, Brandon, Jozalyn, and Sylvia discuss the death of Eddie Van Halen and how his music impacted our lives, and Mastodon guitarist Bill Kelli

Legendary vocalist John Bush of Armored Saint (and formerly of Anthrax) is our guest this week. We discuss the band's new album, Punching the Sky, trying to keep his lyrics positive in light of all the terrible things happening in the world, why he doesn't have personal social media accounts despite the assets they'd be to the band, the importance of surrounding himself with the people who helped him rise up, and the band's virtual record release show at the Whiskey A Go Go scheduled for October 10. We also talk about the wildfires currently raging all throughout California, growing up in Los Angeles and the current homeless situation there, feeling like we live in denial by looking the other way instead of acknowledging problems, and the split lives we lead because of technology, Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn tackle the news of Burton Seabell exiting Fear Factory, how that affects the release of the band's new record, and if we think fans will accept Fear Factory with another singer. Songs: Armored Sai

Brett Campbell of Pallbearer is our guest this week! We discuss how the songwriting process on the band's new album, Forgotten Days, differed from that on past albums, how the band formulated the new songs to resonate live, how the lyrics have a direct tie to the band's debut, Sorrow and Extinction, and why they worked with an outside producer this time. Brett also tells us how the extended break brought on by the pandemic allowed the band members time to reflect on their lives, and shares a sad personal experience that has influenced him creatively. Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn discuss Chino Moreno’s recent comment that folks shouldn't be ashamed of liking nu-metal, Brandon's drunk trip to Knott’s Berry Farm, and how Pete got away from a guard dog when he broke into a boat yard as a kid. Songs: Pallbearer - “The Quicksand of Existing" and “Rite of Passage," Devildriver - “Nest of Vipers” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our guest this week is Brutus bassist Peter Mulders. We discuss the band's first live album, Live In Ghent (out October 23), how the recording wasn't initially meant for fans to hear, the organic process of how songs evolve after playing them live, the energy of getting to record a show in his hometown, and the painstaking process of obtaining visas for the North American tour in March that was eventually cancelled and the financial repercussions of the pandemic. Peter also tells us the band's thoughts on making a new album right now. Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia discuss Rob Halford attempting to seduce Paul Di'Anno, the sadness it brings us that Lamb of God's Willie Adler isn't currently speaking to his brother and the band's former drummer, Chris, and if we agree with Kataklysm frontman Maurizio Iacono's stance that bands who delay new album releases until after the pandemic are “un-metal”. Songs: Brutus “Cemetary” (Live), Boundaries - “Carve," Uniform - “Life in Remission” Learn more about your

Elize Ryd of Amaranthe is our guest this week! We discuss the band's upcoming album, Manifest (October 2), how the mental reality of the pandemic affected the recording of the record, the importance of making a fun and positive record during this time, and the story behind the guest artists on the album. Elize also tells us about why creating music videos is still one of her favorite parts of being a musician, her desire to put out a live DVD/Blu-ray, how she feels that fan-filmed YouTube videos of bands performing live don't portray a fair representation of the artists, and the love her metal friends around the world share on a daily basis through these times. Petar, Brandon and Sylvia once again talk about the negative nonsense going on in the Fear Factory camp, our thoughts on whether the GoFundMe campaign is a scam, and Richard Patrick getting the snub for Nine Inch Nail's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction despite his membership during a very important time for the band. Songs: Amaranthe - “Strong”

Enslaved's Ivar Bjørnson is our guest this week. We discuss the band's new album, Utgard, and the concept behind it, the shorter songs therein compared to their previous three albums, the experience of the band's recently completed virtual tour, and what new drummer Iver Sandøy brings to the band both behind the kit and vocally. We also talk about the influence Deep Purple have had on Enslaved, their decision to cover Faith No More’s "Jizzlobber," the Enslaved record he thinks those new to the band should start with, and the challenges for working musicians that most people aren’t aware of right now. Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia discuss Pete’s birthday weekend, the perpetual journey of trying to find a safe place to smoke a joint, and the age at which consuming new art should maybe stop for people. Songs: Enslaved - “Homebound” and “Jettegryta” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices