And Now The Band

Tom welcomes Ralph Torres of New York hardcore band Total Meltdown for a conversation covering the band's new EP2, the evolution of modern hardcore, vinyl releases, live performances, and the importance of mental health within the music community. Ralph discusses how Total Meltdown expanded beyond the traditional hardcore formula on EP2, introducing dynamic songwriting, noise textures, and gre...

Tom welcomes Amos Rifkin of Insomniac for a special episode announcing the band's upcoming Fall 2026 tour while discussing independent touring, festival culture, the evolving live music landscape, and what's next for the band. Amos shares details about Insomniac's newly announced fall tour, which follows directly after their summer run and features performances throughout the Midwest,...

Tom welcomes Nick Crider of Dumb Waiter for a conversation about the band's latest album Change , the evolution of their songwriting, the Louisville heavy music community, vinyl collecting, and balancing music with the visual arts. Nick reflects on Dumb Waiter's progression from an intensely technical, genre-bending style influenced by Mr. Bungle toward a more focused and emotionally drive...

Tom welcomes Rick Jimenez of Extinction A.D. for a wide-ranging conversation covering the band's ambitious new release strategy, the realities of touring in today's music industry, songwriting, hardcore culture, and why authentic human connection remains at the heart of heavy music. Rick explains Extinction A.D.'s decision to release one new single every month through the end of 2026,...

Tom sits down with Dave Krusen, the original drummer of Pearl Jam, for an engaging conversation about Loud Love: A Tribute to Soundgarden , Seattle's legendary grunge movement, and the evolution of the modern music industry. Dave discusses joining the Loud Love tribute project, explaining how the opportunity to honor Soundgarden's legacy and support a meaningful cause made the invitation i...

Jordan Nalley of Louisville based Sporelord spent some time chatting with me about the band and his shop. A local TCG shop named Heavy Meta Gaming. Jordan helps explain how Sporelord puts together their unique sound. How they fit on to so many different bills. From playing with some super heavy bands to some not so heavy bands. We also talk about their unique approach to releasing music It really...

While on tour with Death Angel and VIO-Lence, El from Arizona based Incite joined me from behind the merch booth for a quick chat before the show. We discussed everything from The release of Savage New Times last year to the current run with these rad bands and crew. El talked about how everyone was super helpful and there were no egos on this run. I need to say that this bill absolutely rips and...

Pains was out on tour with UK based Conjurer, Sadness and Snooze. While on tour, they made a stop in Louisville, Ky at Portal, this is where I caught them. This was my introduction to them. It was a killer set and a killer night of music. Alex was kind enough to take a few minutes and chat with me in between bands (and part of one of the bands sets, which we ended quickly to get in and watch). Pai...

Tom welcomes Joseph E. Martinez of Junius for an in-depth conversation about the band's upcoming album Sotera, their appearance at Post. Festival, the challenges of songwriting, and maintaining artistic integrity in today's music industry. Joseph discusses how Sotera became the heaviest album in Junius' catalog, explaining how a clearly defined concept shaped the music and pushed the b...

Tom sits down with Zack Simmons of Acid Bath, Goatwhore, and Bringers of Disease for a deep discussion about the long-awaited Acid Bath reunion, preparing to perform iconic material, touring realities, drum influences, and life in extreme music. Zack talks about first discovering Acid Bath as a teenager in the early 2000s and the surreal experience of eventually joining a band he grew up admiring....

In EP359, Tom speaks with Amos Rifkin of Insomniac and Deceased about life in the underground heavy music scene, balancing multiple bands, festival touring, and the realities of working as both a musician and booking agent. Amos discusses the differences between performing with psychedelic doom band Insomniac and death/thrash legends Deceased, along with the physical and mental preparation require...

In EP358, Tom speaks with Paul and Si from Amplifier about their upcoming album The Inevitability of Disillusionment and the deeply emotional themes that shaped the record. The conversation explores grief, remembrance, emotional vulnerability in songwriting, and the band’s commitment to creating immersive albums meant to be experienced from beginning to end. Si discusses the layered production app...

In EP357, Tom speaks with Hamish Glencross of Godthrymm about the band’s upcoming album Projections and the evolution of their crushing doom metal sound. Hamish discusses songwriting, riff construction, layered harmonies, and how Projections completes a thematic trilogy for the band. The conversation also explores Hamish’s history with My Dying Bride and Solstice, the importance of vinyl and physi...

Tom sits down with Steve Austin of Today Is the Day to discuss his new outlaw country-inspired solo album “Marked Cards and Loaded Dice,” songwriting authenticity, life in rural Maine, and the emotional experiences that shaped the record. Steve reflects on growing up listening to classic country artists like George Jones and Willie Nelson before discovering heavier music through AC/DC’s “Back in B...

Tom sits down with Phase Meridian for a wide-ranging conversation covering progressive sludge metal, underground touring culture, physical media, AI-generated music, and the themes behind their upcoming release “Egregore.” The band discusses their songwriting philosophy of pairing complex instrumentation with memorable vocal hooks, drawing inspiration from progressive and sludge metal legends whil...

Abrams join the show to break down their latest album Loon , their evolution as a band, and what it was like recording at God City Studio. Taylor and Graham dive into how the band transitioned from pandemic-era remote writing to fully collaborative studio sessions, shaping the sound of albums like Blue City and Loon . We also get into standout tracks like “Glass House” and “Said and Done,” plus ho...

Dee from St Louis based Xaemora during some down time at the Volcandra album release show a couple weeks ago at Portal Louisville. Check it Out. Subscribe, Follow and pay attention. There will be some giveaways on Instagram of some absolutely banger albums!

On Friday April 24th Volcandra had a release show for their latest album. With a stacked lineup on the bill, it was a show I wasn't going to miss. While we were there, I had the opportunity to chat with some of the bands. Graveripper have been on my radar since their latest album started promo. It is a Ripper of Graves for sure! Check out this short chat!

On 4/24 Volcandras latest album Beyond The Will Of Mortals was released. At their album release show, Dave allowed me some time to have a random chat. Check Out Their Latest Album, out now on Prosthetic Records. Thanks to Portal Louisville for hosting the show and the chat! There are a couple more chats coming from the bands that played that night as well. Keep an eye out for those!

In EP250, KROKA discusses their upcoming album Believe It , produced by Jason Taylor of The Obsessed, and their approach to capturing an authentic live sound in the studio. The band shares insight into their collaborative songwriting process, rehearsal discipline, and decision to record the album in a condensed four-day session to preserve performance energy. Additional topics include: The importa...

In EP349, Jack Owen of Six Feet Under discusses the creation of their latest album, Next to Die, along with his songwriting process and decades of experience in the death metal genre. Jack explains how he approaches writing efficiently, often completing songs in just a few days, and how his lyrical themes have evolved from classic horror influences to true crime and real-world subject matter. Addi...

In EP348, Dead Runes discuss their approach to live performance, merchandise strategy, and their upcoming appearance at the Legalize Lex Festival. The conversation explores how live shows can redefine audience perception, often revealing a band’s full potential beyond recorded material. The band shares insights into their experience performing across a wide range of venues, from traditional clubs...

Hashtronaut’s Robb joins the show to break down the band’s evolution, lineup shakeups, and what it really takes to survive in the underground metal scene. From becoming a 3-piece after internal issues to pushing forward with heavier touring, Robb shares the reality behind keeping a band alive when things go wrong. We also dive into their upcoming Legalize Lex Festival performance , touring stories...

In Episode 346, we sit down with Fred Muench to explore the evolution of his project Slowrole—from its origins during COVID to a fully realized creative endeavor years in the making. Fred shares how Slowrole began as a low-pressure songwriting outlet after his time in Bad Trip, eventually growing into a collaborative studio project with talented musicians he hadn’t previously met. We dive deep int...

Legalize Lex April 16, 17, 18 at Als Bar Lexington Ky