The Metalsucks Podcast

This week our guest is Torche guitarist Jonathan Nuñez. We discuss his switch from bass to guitar on the new album Admission, the benefits of writing an album with members living in different locations, how to make sure a 7” record is profitable for a band, why he feels the David Lee Roth-era Van Halen is a musical enigma, growing up in Miami, being exposed to a variety of music and how his musical journey ended up in left field from his background and culture, the journey of music before the internet, and the excitement of still having friends that regularly expose each other to new music. Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn tackle the events of Tau Cross: Relapse Records dropping the band, the other members' claim that they were blindsided by frontman Rob Miller, and Miller’s own response showing his true colors. Songs: Torche - “Admission" and “Times Missing” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

3Teeth frontman Alexis Mincolla is our guest this week. We discuss the band's upcoming album Metawar, the intensity of watching a performer do a 24-hook body suspension for the band's "Exxxit" music video and the inherent value of self destruction and how it can be empowering. Mincolla also tells us about his education and background in political science, his stance on the Bush Administration in comparison to our current President, how political theater in this era is similar to that of the WWE, the dystopian Hollywood visions that are currently coming to fruition, how we've gotten away from the world Mr. Rogers presented to us, how power generates corruption and human nature's inability to overcome it, and what our culture can learn from superheroes and supervillains. Petar and Brandon tackle the anniversary of Slipknot’s debut record, the metal scene and concerts of that time and era, and the one year anniversary of the passing of metal legend Vinnie Paul Abbott. Songs: 3Teeth - “Exxxit” and 3Teeth - “A

This week we we welcome Darkthrone's Nocturno Culto as our guest! We discuss the Darkthrone's new album, Old Star, the way the songs on the album are sequenced between ones authored by him and ones authored by Fenriz, his increasingly diplomatic view of music, the possibility of a sequel to his documentary The Misanthrope, the importance of being extreme during the rise of black metal, the Darkthrone album he feels is most under-appreciated, the process of getting the Old Star mix right with Sanford Parker, and the art of doing interviews after not doing them for many years. Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn also discuss the sad news that Dave Mustaine has been diagnosed with throat cancer, Spotify's claim that they overpaid artist royalties in 2018, and Tom Morello's response to backlash over throwing a fan's phone into the crowd. Songs: Darkthrone' “The Hardships of the Scots” and “Duke of Gloat” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

He is Legend frontman Schuylar Croom is our guest this week. We discuss the band's new record White Bat, their recent misfortune of being robbed while on tour, the price that comes with performing while on substances, how the road can bring a dangerous loneliness to the vices that bind you, and the recently discovered way that He is Legend spend days off while on the road. Croom also talks about the importance of rejecting everything modern times have to offer in rock music, the vanishing mystique of bands due to constant updates on social media and what album he feels is one of the most underrated of all time. Petar, Brandon and Jozalyn tackle the hate that Corey Taylor has been receiving for his new Slipknot mask, the one fan that defended it and his heartwarming reason why, and Danzig’s film debut getting lampooned by critics. Songs: He Is Legend - “Burn All Your Rock Records," He Is Legend -“Boogiewoman," Blind Melon - “Toes Across The Floor” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com

Paul Masvidal is our guest this week. We discuss his journey to the solo project simply titled Masvidal, how he needed to rediscover his identify for presenting music to the world after the recent chaos in the Cynic camp, the visual collaborations that are part of the new project, and his obligation to bring something true to the table when creating art. We also talk about the status of the next Cynic record, how the business side can affect the art of making music, his experience doing the Death to All tours, and how the songs he created with Death and Cynic eventually come to belong to the fans to keep the music alive. Petar and Brandon tackle some of the more political stories of the week including YouTube’s decision to shut down Varg Vikernes's hate-filled channel and David Draiman’s opinions on bands refusing to perform in Israel. Songs: Masvidal - “Into The War," Masvidal - “Parasite," Cynic - “Humanoid” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

John Baizley from Baroness is our guest this week. We discuss the artwork for the band's new album Gold & Grey and the end of the color concept he started 12 years ago, the original title of the record and why it changed, which of the many album covers he's created is his favorite, his philosophy on making records and how the music for this one came together, the importance of being the leader in a collaborative vision for his creative endeavors and the adventurous approach that producer Dave Fridmann brought to the project. Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn wax nostalgic about Rage Against The Machine and Brandon shares an experience he had with the The Mars Volta after news surfaced of their reunion. We also talk about Iron Maiden suing the makers of the video game Ion Maiden, the study which found you should not listen to metal while driving and much more. Songs: Baroness - “Borderlines” Combichrist - “Understand” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we talk with Jonny Davy, frontman for Serpent of Gnosis and Job for a Cowboy! We discuss the origin of his new project, the five-year delay in his ability to release new music, the possibility of doing a band like Job for a Cowboy part-time, the true difficulty of the financial inconsistencies that come with being in a band, the importance of the hustle to being successful in music, how a lot of things he and his bandmates pitch to one another are intended as jokes prior to becoming a reality, the possibility of touring with this new project, the story behind the photo of the JFAC van burning down, the demand and desire to still tour despite the difficulty of making the stars align to do so, the big question mark of the some future projects, and how 2014's 'Sun Eater' has become such a big fan favorite. Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn also discuss the tragic news of the passing of Clown from Slipknot’s daughter, the quote written on Vinnie Paul’s new gravestone, Sanctuary deciding to continue after War

Dark synthwave artist James Kent, aka Perturbator, is our guest this week. We discuss the crossover appeal of the synthwave genre to metal fans, his history in black metal and how a solo project is different from working with a band, how his music tells a narrative story similar to movie soundtracks, how he brings that feeling to his live performances, and the new direction he plans to take his music in the future. We also talk about how making music for video games differs from his own work, recent film soundtracks that have motivated him, and the importance of the 2011 film Drive to the dark synthwave movement. Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn bring you our half-year "Best of" lists and the five records you need to hear before the summer starts when some major releases from Slipknot and Tool will take over our ears. Songs: Bad Religion - “Chaos From Within” Periphery - “Garden In The Bones” Possessed - “Shadowcult” Perturbator - “Excess” The Old Firm Casuals - “Holger Danske” Whitechapel - “When A Demon

This week we talk with Jeff Becerra of Possessed. We discuss the long journey leading to Revelations of Oblivion, the first Possessed record in 33 years, the memory of how Possessed's classic lineup disbanded in late '80s and how the current lineup is the one he always wanted, the experience of recording using Willie Nelson’s microphone, and the openness and change he has witnessed in the metal scene through the decades. We also dive into Jeff's personal life: the punishment he endured as a kid compared to how he handles his own offspring, his decision to go to college and his desire to pursue a law degree, and the difficulties of withdrawing from medication. Petar and Brandon tackle the news that the new Tool album has an official release date and discuss our expectation for the album, we talk about the latest lawsuit brought by Guns N’ Roses against a brewery, and we take some listener input about our Canadian music episode a few weeks back. Songs: Possessed - “No Room In Hell” Ringworm - “Death Become

This week we have Cryptopsy frontman Matt McGachy on the show. We discuss the band's current tour with Aborted, how he became a death metal singer despite growing up a nu-metal kid, the motivation to get on stage and how it has changed for him through the years, and the importance of articulation during his vocal performances. We also talk about his passion for craft beers and how he feels he has become a beer snob, his death metal and craft beer podcast Vox & Hops, and we get an update on The Book of Suffering Tome 3. Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn discuss Brandon removing his "Gooch" moniker form his stage name, Soilwork’s decision not to perform records in their entirety, the release of a Fear Factory greatest hits album without the band's knowledge and much more. Songs: Cryptopsy - “Sire of Sin” Cryptopsy - “Fear His Displeasure” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we talk to Amy Sciarretto of Atom Spiltter PR. Amy tells us about how she got into the music industry and her time at Roadrunner Records, if click bait media helps or hurts her artists, the difficulty of doing damage control, the importance of bands having a mystique, if gimmicks are necessary for modern bands to reach a certain stage, how working in the industry has affected her love for music, the difficulty of working an eight hour day, and what her dog Higgins taught her that no human ever has. Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn discuss ex-Slipknot percussionist Chris Fehn's claim that he was a hired hand. Next we address a Canadian listener's concern that The MetalSucks Podcast doesn't give his country any love, and we shine a spotlight on some of our favorite Canadian bands.  Songs: Neil Merryweather-  “Star Rider” Woods of Ypres - “Everything I Touch Turns to Gold (And Then To Coal)” Dead Quiet - “Spiritual Abuse” Beyond Creation - “Algorythm” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoice

Metal Blade Records videographer and content creator Vince Edwards is our guest this week. We talk about a number of different topics related to his work at one of metal's most venerated and longest running labels, including the recent signing of Killswitch Engage, some of his favorite underrated albums that came out on the label over the years, what it was like shooting Between the Buried and Me live, which band he's most excited to be able to work with in the future, how to market metal bands in modern times and the pressure to perform despite having a metalhead's dream job. Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn discuss Misha Mansoor's comments on Periphery hitting their popularity ceiling, Kirk Hammett gearing up for a new Metallica record, Brain Johnson’s possible return to AC/DC, Hellyeah replacing Vinnie Paul, and who's most excited for Crazy Town’s The Gift of Game 20th anniversary tour. Songs: Fractal Universe - “Masterpiece’s Parallelism” Abnormality - “Curb Stomp” Destrage - “The Chosen One” Learn more

Dream Theater keyboardist and solo artist Jordan Rudess is our guest this week. We discuss his new solo album Wired for Madness and how he finds time for his own material within Dream Theater’s busy schedule, how blues influenced the album, the importance of using musical elements that make people smile in contrast to the heavy stuff and the importance of the visual aspect of the album's title track. We also talk Dream Theater: if the polarizing response to The Astonishing played a part in the direction of their new album Distance Over Time, celebrating the 20th anniversary of Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From a Memory, the difficulty of finding all the sounds he used on the original recording to replicate live, and at what stage in his life he discovered he needed to be a creative person. Petar and Jozalyn tackle the church burnings in Louisiana, David Hasselhoff making metal songs, how Knight Rider would make a great concept for a metal album, Hot Topic somehow still thriving in the modern climate, the rele

Born of Osiris guitarist Lee McKinney is our guest this week. We talk about his debut solo record Infinite Mind, how the writing process compares to that of Born of Osiris, having Adrián Terrazas-González (formerly of The Mars Volta) contributing saxophone on the record, and why Born of Osiris chose to split their latest record into two releases. Lee also tells us about his love/hate relationship with playing guitar, how every instrument has become programmable, who his current favorite working guitarist is, the challenges of keeping up with social media as a musician and the recent break-in at his home. Petar and Brandon comment on the New Zealand church burnings, Ozzy Osbourne postponing all of his 2019 shows, the mystery of Doyle’s name disappearing from the Misfits reunion show poster, and James Hetfield’s debut film being another Ted Bundy story we really don’t need. Song: Lee McKinney - “A Never-ending Explosion” Born of Osiris - “Analogs In A Cell” Druids - “The Whip” Learn more about your ad ch

After the Burial vocalist Anthony Notarmaso is our guest this week. We discuss the band's new album Evergreen, the lessons learned from previous album Dig Deep, the 10th anniversary of their breakout record Rareform and the band's upcoming tour with Killswitch Engage and Parkway Drive. Anthony also tells us about his successful business outside the band, how finding the perfect partner has helped him grow as a person, the importance of having realistic expectations in the music industry, how the identity of being a frontman in a band has presented challenges as time goes on, and how important it is to be sincere and honest on stage and on record. Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn discuss why Ozzy Osbourne should be knighted (and admit we don’t know what being knighted means), discuss Vince's analysis of the Chris Fehn vs. Slipknot lawsuit, and revel at the insane amount of money Devin Townsend spent on his new album Empath. Songs: After The Burial - “Behold The Crown” New Album Sworn Enemy - “Prepare for Payba

Greg Burgess and Riley McShane of Allegaeon are our guests this week. We discuss the making of the band's new album Apoptosis, how the addition of bass player BooBoo Money (Brandon Michael) changed the dynamic of the record, how Greg almost went the classical guitar route before becoming a metal lifer, the lyrical topic Riley wishes he could tackle for the band, which band member put the kibosh on covering Armored Saint, the curse of Applebee’s that has long haunted Allegaeon, and Riley's hot take on season three of True Detective. Petar and Brandon hash through our listeners' reactions to last week's discussion about EPs, Chris Fehn's lawsuit against Slipknot, and Slayer and Primus potentially making magic happen together on tour. Songs: Allegaeon - “Stellar Tidal Disruption” Allegaeon - “Extremophiles (B)” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Big Business drummer Coady Willis is our guest this week. We discuss the band's new record The Beast You Are, the process of songwriting as a two piece throughout the years, the importance of current tour-mates Clutch in Big Business's career trajectory, how pulling double duty with the Melvins a few years back heavily influenced Mind The Drift and the important legacy of that band, and growing up in Seattle during the rise of grunge in the '90s. Also this week, Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn tackle the three greatest rock and metal EPs ever released and parlay that into a discussion on EPs in general: why they are released? what can make them special? what makes the majority of them uninteresting to fans? Songs: Bloodbath - “Weak Aside” The Dillinger Escape Plan featuring Mike Patton - “Hollywood Squares” Alice In Chains - “Rotten Apple” Big Business - “Let Them Grind” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Whitechapel guitarist Zach Householder is our guest this week. We discuss the band's new album The Valley and the Tennessee location that inspired it, how Mark of the Blade played a role in inspiring the new one, the importance of putting on a great live show at this stage of their career and the upcoming Chaos and Carnage tour with Dying Fetus." We also rap about the band's collective favorite movies and TV shows, how video gaming got Zach into metal and the games the guys play together while on tour, the band's signature Possession beer, and, as a huge Evil Dead fan, his least favorite thing about the franchise. Brandon and Petar talk about the death of Keith Flint of The Prodigy and share a story about seeing them live, new Tool album updates, and out thoughts on the new Deftones record reminding Chino Moreno of White Pony. Songs: Whitechapel - “When A Demon Defiles A Witch” Whitechapel - “Third Depth” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Periphery drummer Matt Halpern joins us this week. We talk about the band's new album Periphery IV: Hail Stan, which stan he'd be hailing if he had a choice, the importance of taking a full year to write the record, releasing it on the band's own label 3DOT Recordings, having Adam “Nolly” Getgood produce and play bass despite exiting the band a few years ago, how he continues to teach drum lessons, being part owner of the software company Getgood Drums and his feelings on drum software in general, and why he and Spencer choose to record the song “Shadow of the Day” by Linkin Park as a tribute to Chester Bennington. Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn tackle Sammy Hagar’s comments on Michael Anthony returning to Van Halen, the internet mom who attacked the wrong Mastodon on behalf of her son, and Duff McKagan referencing the “magnificent” material Axl has for a new Guns N’ Roses album. Songs: Periphery - “Blood Eagle” Fallujah - “Ultraviolet” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week our guest is Cradle of Filth mastermind Dani Filth. We discuss the band's upcoming North American tour, performing Cruelty and the Beast in full on select shows this year to celebrate its 20th anniversary, the challenge of fitting in a new album with the band's current touring schedule, how he got involved with Bring Me The Horizon on the single “Wonderful Life," running errands in full makeup and uniform, signing with Dez from DevilDriver’s management company The Oracle, his reaction to Iggy Azalea wearing a Cradle of Filth t-shirt and his lifelong love of Bad Religion. Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn comment on Kiss's alleged thievery of Motley Crue's stage show, Phil Labonte describing fallen guitarist Old Herbert’s widow as a garbage human being, Paul Stanley’s 98-year-old father attending his son's show, and the great comeback story of The Ghost Inside. Songs: Cradle of Filth - “Heartbreak and Seance” Wednesday 13 - “What The Night Brings” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoi