The Metalsucks Podcast

This week we talk with Lamb of God guitarist Mark Morton about the band's new covers album Legion: XX, released under the band's original moniker Burn the Priest. We discuss how the band selected which songs to cover, which ones were the most difficult to learn, his favorite covers by other bands, the honor of being on the bill for Slayer’s farewell tour and his passion for hip hop.  This week we have a new segment of "Vince Nielstein’s Metal Mysteries" in which the MetalSucks co-founder addresses the age-old conspiracy: is there more than one Andrew W.K.? Petar, Brandon and Jozalyn discuss the news about Bill and Ted 3 finally getting the green light, the disappearance of Yuimetal from Babymetal's ranks, the absence of "One in a Million" from the Guns N’ Roses reissue of Appetite for Destruction, and the dangers of ignoring and rewriting history. Songs: Burn The Priest - “Inherit The Earth” Dead Cross - “My Perfect Prisoner” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mike Scheidt from Yob joins us this week. We talk about the trials and tribulations caused by his near-fatal diagnosis of diverticulitis, his near-death experience prior to surgery, the power of being mentally strong when dealing with health issues, the process he took to rebuild his singing voice and the precautions he'll be taking on Yob's upcoming tour with Bell Witch, how our emotions are tied into how we feel physically, learning how to say thank you when you are shown an overwhelming amount of support, and how he got a guest spot on the latest record by Will Haven. Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn give you a glimpse into the exciting week Guns ’N’ Roses fans had, try to understand what bankruptcy means for Gibson guitars, talk about Babymetal's decision to start a record label, and discuss the recent slew of surprise releases from Sleep, Cancer Bats and Dead Cross. Songs: Yob - “The Screen” Witch Mountain - “Burn You Down” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

TesseracT guitarist James Monteith is our guest this week. We talk about the meaning behind the title of the band's new album Sonder, the dark storytelling process for their music video “King," how shorter records make more sense these days, the importance of trends and timing in modern music, his day job as a music publicist, the correlation between Brexit in Monteith's native U.K. and Trump's America, how technology is a part of the identity of today's youth, the psychology of the modern music fan, how big retailers are to blame for the mainstream fashion trend of metal shirts and more. Petar, Brandon, and Joz tackle John Travolta praising Fred Durst, our excitement level for the new Daron Malakian and Scars on Broadway record, Burn the Priest's voicemail advertisement, and the food that best represents America (according to Jozalyn). Songs: Tesseract - “King” Octopus - “Supernatural Alliance” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dimmu Borgir guitarist and founder Silenoz is our guest this week. We discuss the writing process of the band's new record Eonian and the motivations behind it, how after eight years a new record becomes an event for fans, Dimmu Borgir's 20-plus year relationship with Nuclear Blast Records, the 15th anniversary of Death Cult Armageddon, his thoughts on eventual retirement after 25 years of doing this, and the experience of playing live with a 100-piece orchestra. Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn tackle Apple's plans to discontinue digital downloads on iTunes, being forced into streaming as a consumer, how that could be good for physical product sales, and value versus convenience when it comes to art. Following Vince and Axl's recent video, we have our own debate about whether a new Guns N' Roses record will be any good, and Brandon gives his take on ageism in meaningful rock and metal lyrics. Songs: Dimmu Borgir - “Interdimensional Summit” Melvins - “Stop Moving To Florida” Learn more about your ad choices. Vi

Legendary frontman John Bush (Armored Saint, ex-Anthrax) joins us this week to discuss the early days of Armored Saint, their goal of getting signed prior to playing 50 shows, Mike Piazza’s favorite track by the band, the writing process for classic album Symbol of Salvation, the stories behind the Anthrax records he performed on, his approach to writing lyrics with a broad appeal while remaining honest, and how he would love to play Win Hands Down in its entirety in 2025. Meanwhile, we create an ad for the new Twilight EP, discuss System of a Down touring without a new record, how System have managed to become both critics' darlings and fan favorites, and what it's like to watch bands perform when you think they hate each other on stage. Songs: Armored Saint - “Dropping Like Flies" Armored Saint - “An Exercise in Debauchery” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We talk to Benji Webbe of Skindred about their new record Big Tings, the change in sound on this record, surviving getting stabbed in the neck and how close he came to dying, how gun control works in the UK, the importance of listening to the children, and the Babymetal controversy he was part of during the Kerrang awards. Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn have a field day with Frankie from Emmure's diss track, prove that a two-year old can write a better one, make a formal challenge to both Emmure and Attila, and discuss the special edition of the Podcast on which MS co-founder Vince Neilstein and Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante debate whether technology has affected the music industry for better or worse.  Songs: Skindred - “That’s My Jam” Aura Noir - “Dark Lung of the Storm” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante and MS co-founder Vince Neilstein go one-on-one in a debate about how technology has affected the music industry. We discuss Benante's assertion that "Apple had a big hand in destroying music," his preference for listening to music on physical formats, the income artists and labels earn from streaming platforms like Spotify and YouTube, "pay what you want" pricing models and how all those things fit into the overall economic picture of the modern artist.  Song: Anthrax - "Breathing Lightning" (Live) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Underoath vocalist Spencer Chamberlain is our guest. We discuss the band's new record Erase Me (out April 6th), the decision to make a new record after reuniting to tour, the reason the band decided to call it quits in 2013, the importance of the break-up in hindsight, his past struggles with addiction and the way he beat it, the most irritating thing about the current state of our country and much more. MetalSucks co-founder Vince Neilstein joins Petar, Brandon and Jozalyn to discuss the controversy surrounding Watain: the image that surfaced of their guitarist giving the Nazi salute, frontman Erik Danielsson's response and the people who defend the band. We also talk about the discovery of Inquisition vocalist Dagon's past child pornography charges and the pass that certain artists get despite their heinous past behavior, and we talk about the tragic passing of Caleb Scofield of Cave In and how fans of the band have stepped up to show his family that they aren’t alone. Songs: Underoath - “Rapture” Fail

Emperor guitarist Ihsahn returns to the podcast this week to discuss his latest solo record Amr. He also tells us why a new Emperor album doesn’t make sense, how money and fame dictated peoples' views in the early days of black metal, his views on the crimes associated with the early black metal movement, the way Americans view those same crimes, his feelings on sharing the stage with Faust and Samoth in 2014, and how holding extreme viewpoints in your youth makes you grow up fast. Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn follow the interview this week with a discussing of some of Ihsahn’s comments including his relationship with Faust, the difficulty of truly understanding perspective, and much more. Songs: Ihsahn - “Arcana Imperii” The Absence - “Misery Trophies” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week our guest is Thomas Youngblood of Kamelot. We discuss their new album The Shadow Theory, how Lauren Hart of Once Human (who guests on the new record) performed her first show with the band opening for Iron Maiden, how Kamelot made it into the Olympics, recent lineup changes, the reason he choose to film in the Netherlands for their upcoming live DVD and more. Petar, Brandon, and Joz get super excited about the recently-announced sequel to The Devil’s Rejects, talk about Crematory’s drummer bullying his fans into buying their record and speculate what a solo show by Clown of Slipknot might look like. Songs: Kamelot - “Raven Light Kobra and the Lotus - “Losing My Humanity” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we get to chat with BTBAM vocalist Tommy Rogers about latest the band's latest record, Automata 1, the reason behind the decision to release this record in two parts (Automata 2 is out in June), the process of making music with his bandmates, why concept records work so well for BTBAM, which of his albums is his most personal, the importance of North Carolina to the bands sound, the way he found his voice through the records, covering Chris Cornell early on in his career, and how lucky they are to be a band that truly gets along with one another. Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn also tackle the sad news of Tommy Lee getting knocked out by his son and the social media fight that followed, Fred Durst directing a film with John Travolta, Slash making a new solo record instead of a new Guns N' Roses record, and their feelings regarding Tool's choice of producer for their new album.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Will Haven guitarist Jeff Irwin is our guest this week. We discuss the band's new record Muerte (out March 23rd), how the band functions and makes decisions these days, their evolution and three distinct chapters of their career, their debut album El Diablo turning 21 years old, the crucial role dark and angry art plays in his life, the possibility of a live album in the near future and growing up in the '90s. Meanwhile Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn talk about Izzy Stradlin's new book and his decision to walk away from Guns N' Roses reunion money, the Taake tour cancellation due to pressure from antifa, antifa’s effect on the metal scene as a whole and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we chat with Rivers of Nihil guitarist Brody Uttley. We talk about the band's third record Where Owls Know My Name, out March 16th via Metal Blade (order here), the depression millennials suffer due to technology, creating art in the form of heavy metal, the difference between artists and craftsman, his love of post-rock, the struggle he has with communication through text messages, his thoughts on bands that use backing tracks and how important first week sales still are in the music industry. Meanwhile Petar, Brandon and Jozalyn tackle the gun control debate that has rolled into the metal world; we discuss Randy Blythe’s thoughts, Phil Labonte's comments, Chris Barnes' “crisis actor” statement and much more. Songs: Rivers Of Nihil - “A Home” Zao - “The Host Has Bared Its Teeth” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Howard Jones is our guest this week. We discuss his latest project Light The Torch (formerly known as Devil You Know) and their new album Revival, the project he has been working on with Peter Wichers (ex-Soilwork), his bucket list moment with Dee Snider, his take on Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s rumored fight in the MMA, his thoughts on touring as a solo artist and much more. Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn introduce the world to Van Damme’s debut hardcore album, discuss the news of Glenn Tipton stepping away from touring with Judas Priest due to Parkinson’s Disease, Clown saying Slipknot don't want to perform with the Foo Fighters, the strength of having a gimmick in the music industry, and the financial troubles of Gibson Guitars. Songs:  Light The Torch - “Die Alone” Vexes - “Hellion” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dave Wyndorf of the legendary Monster Magnet is our guest this week. We discuss the band's latest record Mindfucker, how Dave's approach this time differed from the last few records, the perfect live set list and how he tried to sequence the new record to mimic it, why “stupid is the new smart," writing lyrics during Trump’s inauguration, and his take on the current generation gap and all things rock n' roll. Pete, Brandon, and Jozalyn discuss the end of the CD era at Best Buy, how important Bill Burr's praise for Meshuggah is for the band and for metal in general, the revelation of Michael Keene’s drug addiction and how we feel about AC/DC continuing on with Axl Rose. Jozalyn writes and records her first bit for the show. Songs:  Monster Magnet - "Mindfucker" Earthless - "Gifted By the Wind" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we chat with legendary guitarist Zakk Wylde. We talk about Black Label Society's newest record Grimmest Hits, his recent debilitating sickness while on tour, the humor he brings to his Twitter account, his thoughts on retirement, his coffee endeavor with the Death Wish Coffee brand, his involvement on a possible new Ozzy record, the final tour with Ozzy, and how he reacted when he heard the recent news about former guitarist Nick “Evil Twin” Catanese. Meanwhile Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn discuss the recent tweet by Maynard about Tool lyrics, our reaction to ex-Machine Head bassist Adam Duce's negativity towards his former band, and the “top notch” performance and “commanding presence” of new STP singer Jeff Gutt, according to Brandon. Songs:  Black Label Society - “Trampled Down Below” Black label Society - “Room of Nightmares” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we talked to Stavros Giannopoulos of The Atlas Moth. We discuss Coma Noir, their first first record in four years, which comes out February 9th via Prosthetic (pre-order). We also talk about how Joe Duplantier from Gojira almost produced the record, Stavros's love for the lyrics on Metallica’s Load album, the future of the Twilight project, he current relationship with Blake Judd, the decision to sign with Prosthetic Records and how Chris Jericho turned real-life heel on Stavros. Petar and Brandon discuss the end of Slayer, the final tour not having Dave Lombardo, if we feel these will truly be Slayer's final shows and the next band that we think will retire from the Big 4. Songs:  The Atlas Moth - “Galactic Brain” The Atlas Moth - “Coma Noir” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

John tells us about his new live record It’s Alive (out January 25th; pre-order here), how he and his bandmates challenge each other during live shows, how much improvisation happens when recording, how he names instrumental tracks, the obstacles he faced when arriving in L.A. to follow his dream, the 20th anniversary of Mechanical Animals and an update on the latest album from Rob Zombie. The post John 5 on The MetalSucks Podcast #222 appeared first on MetalSucks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We discuss the band's new album World Down, his passion for classic horror films, going on tour for three weeks after breaking his ribs on stage, his solo project and how some of those songs become Tribulation songs, the expectations he has for every record, his goals in life and more. The post Tribulation Guitarist Jonathan Hultén on The MetalSucks Podcast #221 appeared first on MetalSucks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We discuss what fans can expect from the band's new album, the absence of Mario and David from this recording cycle, finding the groove with new musicians in the studio, his thoughts on clean singing, what makes a guitar solo truly special, his favorite unsung guitarists in modern thrash and his passion for the road and being a metal lifer. The post Exmortus Guitarist Conan Gonzalez on The MetalSucks Podcast #220 appeared first on MetalSucks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices