The Metalsucks Podcast

Myrkur mastermind Amalie Bruun is our guest this week. We discuss her new album Mareridt, her collaboration with Chelsea Wolfe, how she feels more connected with nature than most humans, balancing style and substance as an artist, some of her favorite books and her passion for knitting. Brandon and Petar tackle the issue of groping when people stage dive and crowd surf, try to make sense of the guy who peed on a child at a Metallica concert, discuss the disappointment of Jeff Loomis not writing on the new Arch Enemy album and the wizardry of Yngwie Malmsteen. Songs Myrkur - “Ulvinde” Myrkur - “Maneblot” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we hit a milestone with Episode #200! We catch up with the first guest that ever graced the podcast, Valient Himself of Valient Thorr, to talk to us about being on Warped Tour, the band's efforts to create new fans on a festival geared towards youth, his unhappiness with the way the band's latest album Old Salt was handled by Napalm Records and more. We also connect with the forefathers of The MetalSucks Podcast, Chuck and Godless to discuss the genesis of the podcast, their favorite and least favorite interviews, and the “white whale” guest we'd love to have. Finally we talk to Vince Neilstein over at the MetalSucks Mansion about the past four years of podcasting, ten years of MetalSucks, his most memorable podcast moment, and if we ever made a bit that embarrassed him. Don’t miss the celebration and the THANKS to all that helped us reach this milestone! Songs: Valient Thorr - “No Count Blues” Valient Thorr - “Mirakuru” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The mercurial, supremely talented Julie Christmas calls in this week. We discuss the upcoming North American tour for Mariner (her collaboration with Cult of Luna), her career as an educator, her past musical endeavors with Made Out of Babies and Spylacopa, her love of novelist Cormac McCarthy, the possibility of future work with Cult Of Luna, and which record in her catalogue would make a great starting point for new fans. Brandon and Pete talk about the Dio hologram tour and discuss whether the name change from Devil You Know to Light this Torch will hurt their brand.  Songs:  Cult of Luna/Julie Christmas - “Cygnus” Julie Christmas - “July 31st” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree -- whose fifth solo album To the Bone comes out on August 18th -- is our guest this week. We discuss how social media is anti-social, the abuse and criticism people give artists' work without even listening to it, the loss of ambitious music and the fear of change in the mainstream, how the underground maintains the arts and much more. Brandon and Pete discuss the tragedy of Chester Bennington, the disrespectful comments that followed, how being a fan shouldn't give you license to be disrespectful, and the unanswerable questions we're left with following a successful artist's suicide. Songs:  Steven Wilson - "Pariah" Steven Wilson - "The Same Asylum As Before" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Legendary Melvins frontman Buzz Osborne is our guest this week. We discuss the last time he had a regular job, his philosophy on how to be truly successful in life, his take on getting a college education in America, how important it is to find the right person to share your life with, plenty about his various musical projects and much more. Meanwhile, Brandon and Petar find a truly great politician to oppose Kid Rock’s Senate run, discuss why the recently-announced grunge musical hurts our feelings, and ask a timeless question: are there any good Juggalo stories out there that don't involve someone brandishing an axe, like this week’s debacle? Songs: Melvins - “Christ Hammer” Crystal Fairy - “Chiseler” Dale Crover - “Little Brother” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben Falgoust of Goatwhore is our guest the week. We discuss the band's latest album, Vengeful Ascension, his hobbies of cave exploration and deep sea diving, the current state of the world, calling black metal “catchy" and a few words about Soilent Green. Brandon and Petar discover a new version of the bible by Blameless Dave Mustaine, and Pete shares a tale of when he first saw Goatwhore and the hijinks that followed.  Songs: Goatwhore - “Mankind Will Have No Mercy” Goatwhore - “Chaos Arcane” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Byzantine vocalist/guitarist Chris “OJ” Ojeda is our guest this week. We discuss the band's recent move to Metal Blade Records, their upcoming album The Cicada Tree, OJ's personal experience with the opioid epidemic in the band's native West Virginia, how he balances touring and family life... and, of course, no interview with Byzantine would be complete without a discussion of the catchphrase “Nobody Beats The Byz." Brandon and Pete shine light on a “Real Hero of Metal” and talk about the latest Rammstein show, the amazing poop-throwing story Every Time I Die's Andy Williams shared, the Jenner sisters' mind-boggling shirt design and much more. Songs Byzantine - “New Ways to Bear Witness” Byzantine - “Trapjaw” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jason Keyser of technical death metal masters Origin guests this week. We talk about the band's new album Unparalleled Universe, their 20th anniversary, his lyric-writing process, his thoughts on bands that wear their own merch, and the decision to cover a Brujeria song despite not being fluent in Spanish. Brandon and Pete discuss the recent spate of "Best Of" metal lists provided by Rolling Stone, Lars Ulrich and Rob Halford and the difficulty that goes into creating such lists. Pete shines a light on Brandon’s “problem," we talk about the beef between Corey Taylor and Chad Kroeger, and much more. Songs: Origin - “Cascading Failures, Diminishing Returns” Origin - “Accident and Error” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Boy oh boy, we do have a special episode for you this week! It's a short one -- we'll return to our regularly scheduled full episode this Thursday -- but it's such a rare treat that we had to release it right away.  In our chat with Tool bassist Justin Chancellor we discuss the band's recently wrapped up tour, jumping back into the studio following the run, the record being 90% complete (!), how the band members are getting along with one another, seeing Youtube videos of Tool cover bands, and much more. Meanwhile Brandon and Pete introduce the world to a new seminar, discuss Gene Simmons giving up on the devil horns trademark, and Maynard James Keenan getting “Stockton slapped” by Nate Diaz. Songs: Tool - “Right in Two” The Melvins - “What’s Wrong With You” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we interview Trey Williams from Dying Fetus. We discuss how the title of the new record, Wrong One to Fuck With, came about and the writing process for the album, their extremely intense and NSFW new music video, the way they approach set lists on tour and all of our day jobs. Brandon and Pete tackle the saga of Five Finger Death Punch's disastrous show in the Netherlands: the show itself, the confusing statements that followed and the band's decision to ultimately do the right thing by scheduling a free show. We also ask the obvious question of when it's time to fire a member of a band and the difficulties that come along with that. Songs: Dying Fetus - “Die With Integrity” Dying Fetus - “Fixation on Devastation" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brann Dailor talks to us about his new project Arcadea. He tells us about the origins of the band, finding time to create music outside of Mastodon, the angle he would pursue if he did a solo project with other members of Mastodon, his ongoing desire to create art and much more. Pete and Brandon introduce the world to a new feminine product for men, discuss Suicidal Tendencies' L.A. show being shut down by police, the young metal fan who received a guitar from his recently deceased farther for his 16th birthday, and how great being a part of the metal community really is. Songs: Arcadea - “Magnificent Façade” Arcadea - “Army of Electrons Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week death metal icon Terrence Hobbs of Suffocation is our guest. We discuss their new record ….Of The Dark Light, the latest line-up changes, the old days of fliers and long distance phone calls vs. today's mass emails and social media, what it's like to play a classic record in its entirety and the band's approach of "no small talk" death metal. Brandon and Pete introduce the world to a new wonder drug, discuss how Kathy Griffin stole a heavy metal idea, Oceano's surprising first-week sales numbers, Linkin Park topping the charts after becoming a pop act, Tom Araya getting a statue at a Ukrainian Zoo and much more. Songs: Suffocation - “Return to the Abyss” Suffocation - “Your Last Breaths” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bill Kelliher of Mastodon calls in this week. We discuss the band's new album Emperor of Sand, being old and the hassle of playing music from a cloud, what his solo record would sound like, his bandmates' various side projects, how Mastodon decide on their setlist and much more. Meanwhile Brandon takes the opportunity to ambush Pete’s interview skills, finding an awful bit Pete threw away and bringing it back from the dead. Then they check out the latest Linkin Park song and discuss Chester Bennington’s comments about wanting to punch people in the face.  Songs: Mastodon - “Andromeda” Mastodon - “Show Yourself” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Local H recently won Metallica's "Hit the Stage" contest to become local openers on their tour, so we talk to frontman/guitarist Scott Lucas about their victory, the criticism they've received about not being a true local band, their recently completed "Two Balls and a Dick" tour and the ups and downs of being a music lifer. Brandon and Petar tackle the weight of the Chris Cornell tragedy, discussing the complete surprise of his suicide and personal memories of his career. It’s a very emotional and personal episode as we honor a true irreplaceable icon. Songs: Temple of the Dog - “Say Hello 2 Heaven” Local H - “The One With Kid” Local H - “City of Knives” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In our interview with James Hart from Eighteen Visions, we discuss how the reunion of the band came to be, the writing of their new record XVIII, the Orange County music scene from which they came, the loss of bassist Mick Morris and the band's future plans. In light of the allegations that Pentagram's Bobby Liebling physically harmed his mother, Brandon and Petar discuss when it's time to finally give up on a band due to its members' actions. They also share their opinions on the drama with The Faceless, Tool and A Perfect Circle giving up on 2017 for album releases, and contemplate if Pete is a “metal hipster."  Song: 18 Visions - “Crucified”  18 Visions - “Oath” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we interview Aaron Turner of Isis, Sumac, Mamiffer and Old Man Gloom. We discuss the end of Isis, his memories from the new live record, Live VII (out now on Ipecac), his journey with Hydra Head Records and his decision to release new music on the label after shutting it down in 2012, the recording process for the new Sumac record, and the art vs. business side of technology in music. Brandon and Petar introduce the world to a new company called Jump into the Fired, tackle the comments made by Chino Moreno about not touring with Korn again, talk about the guy who was so angry at Suicide Silence he burned their album, and discuss pros and cons of retiring Nazi lyrics in the metal scene.  Songs: Isis “Ghost Key” (Live) With Our Arms To The Sun “Memory: The Drift” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we talk to Mike IX Williams from Eyehategod. He discusses his recent liver transplant, the person that kept him together through the whole ordeal, the New Orleans heavy metal scene, surviving Katrina, the status of new music from Eyehategod, and all the times in his life he's cheated death. Brandon and Petar introduce the world to a new dispensary, discuss Local H winning Metallica's local band contest, Guns N' Roses' massive earnings on their current world tour, The Agonist versus former vocalist Alissa White-Gluz, Ozzy's reunion with Zakk Wylde and much more. Songs Eyehategod - “Flags and CitiesBound” Iced Earth - “Raven Wing” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we talk to Mix Master Mike of The Beastie Boys. We discuss his upcoming tour with Metallica, his stint touring with the Axl Rose-led version of Guns N' Roses (before Slash and Duff rejoined) and the terrible reception he received, his love of metal throughout his career, the difference between scratching records and modern day DJs, the story behind how he got involved with the Beastie Boys, and some tales of their legendary live shows. Brandon and Petar have short attention spans, so we tackle the first four months of metal in 2017 and name five albums you need to listen to before the summer starts. We delve into why each records mean so much to us, the reason they are all potentially albums of the year, and why you should check these out before the summer storm of album releases. Songs: Havok - “Intention to Deceive” The Obsessed - “Punk Crusher” Pallbearer - “I Saw The End” Final Drive - “Six Feet Down” Darkest Hour - “In the Name of Us All” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices

This week we talk to Dan Briggs from Between the Buried and Me and Nova Collective. We discuss the importance of side projects, how the Nova Collective came about and the band's latest album “The Further Side." We also talk about the tenth anniversary of BTBAM's classic record Colors, the new live Blu-Ray for Coma Ecliptic, modern bass players he respects and the new BTBAM record coming out this year! Brandon and Petar promote the new tour of the greatest band of the '90s. We talk about David Wu’s experiment of playing metal on the streets, Mastodon’s strong first week record sales, Korn touring with a 12-year old, and Sleep’s Morse code message. Brandon loses his mind when he finds out about Babymetal pedophile day at the Five Fox festival. Songs Nova Collective - “Dancing Machines” Between the Buried and Me - “The Ectopic Stroll” (Live)   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we speak to Josh Weaver from Royal Thunder. We discuss the band's new album Wick, the black metal band he was in with singer Mlny Parsonz prior to Royal Thunder, his passion for hot tubs on the road, the importance of listening to albums as opposed to individual songs, and how they maintain a metal fan base with their mostly un-metal sound. Brandon and Petar advertise a new book, discuss the damage the Ghost lawsuit situation could do to the band, the not-so-surprising record sales from Northlane’s surprise album release, Max Cavalera performing the Nailbomb album in its entirety and Brandon’s jokes going from G-rated to XXX.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices