Black Night Meditations - Underground Metal Radio

I spoke with Blake after Huntress performed their set during the Paganfest tour stop in New England. The cozy confines of a dark, dreary and cold dressing room provided the proper mood to talk about how Huntress got the Paganfest gig, a little band history, and if radio support can make a difference for Huntress. Email/Requests Playlists Black, Death, Speed, Thrash, Doom, Folk, Shred, Power, Prog...

Lullabies, toys, baby clothes, rubber duckies...while Fernando and I talked a lot about Alpha Noir/Omega White, the highlight is definitely hearing Fernando discuss impending fatherhood. The music he will have his son listening to will warm any Metal Heart. After listening to this interview, be sure to listen to my interviews with Fernando from 2006, and Miguel from 2008. http://bnm.podomatic.com/...

BNM's roving/floating Metal reporter Matt Bower called in to report on the second 70000 Tons of Metal Cruise. For several days, Matt sailed the Caribbean seas on a Carnival Cruise Line ship with bands ranging from Dark Funeral to Grave Digger. If you haven't already, listen to Matt's report from the 2011 cruise as well. Email/Requests Playlists Black, Death, Speed, Thrash, Doom, Folk, Shred, Power...

"Metal musician extraordinaire" Dave Reffett called in to Black Night Meditations to report on this year's NAMM Show convention, as well as the NAMM Metal Jam that Dave organized with other Metal & Rock musicians. Dave also spoke of his current and future music projects. Search for Dave Reffett on Facebook, watch Reffett on BNM videos on Youtube and the radio show podcasted (links below), and...

Think of Bob Katsionis as the Vangelis of Metal. Extraordinarily talented, a multi-faceted career, and highly respected in music. So it only made sense for myself and Turn It Up host Jim Alvino to speak with him on a tourbus outside of a bar in Hampton Beach, New Hampshire. While Firewind deserves arena-status, the band tours the U.S. no matter the climate. Therefore their dedication to their craf...

BNM's roving Metal reporter Matt Bower called in for the third year in a row to report on the premier Heavy Metal festival, Wacken Open Air 2011. This year we spent more time talking about the bands, and there were many. Turn It Up host Top Jimmy Alvino joined me in the studio for the discussion with Matt. Afer listening to the 2011 report, be sure to listen to Matt's 2010 report still posted on b...

I've been a fan of Icarus Witch from the moment I heard the Roses On White Lace EP when we got it as a new release at WSCA about 6 years. It's only taken that long for Black Night Meditations to finally have the Witch on the 106.1 airwaves. Since that first EP, the band has released 3 stellar albums and experienced the rise of the scene, growing in size and scope. Yet the band predated it by years...

Should Battlelore stick to Tolkien themes only? What about a covers album? An acoustic album? A U.S. tour? And how much of Tomi's life is dedicated to Battlelore? What about his other projects and daily life outside of the band? I've been listening to Battlelore for many years, so I was excited to speak with Tomi before their latest album Doombound was released. Email/Requests: blacknightmeditatio...

BNM's roving Metal reporter, or in this case...cruising Metal reporter, Matt Bower called in on 2/1 to tell the tales of sailing the treacherous high seas, all in the name of Metal. Hear Matt discuss how the 70000 Tons Of Metal Cruise has redefined the art of the Metal festival by taking a full-sized cruise ship, adding over 40 Metal bands and a couple thousand headbangers from almost 50 countries...

Juan doesn't comes across as a typical Metalhead, and that is a bit refreshing. But listening to Bonded By Blood's 2 albums and seeing the band play live, Juan's progressive background is not quite so obvious. I look forward to hearing more of his prog influence in BBB's music, as it could help keep the band vital and set them apart from their peers. I intended to stay away from discussing the typ...

Steve Smyth has been in quite a few great bands over the years, but perhaps he has found a home with Forbidden. But as you'll hear he has his own projects as well. Given Steve's ability as a musician, being prolific only seems natural for someone who makes it look so easy on-stage. Here's hoping for a Steve Smyth instrumental guitar album, Shrapnel Records style! Email/Requests: blacknightmeditati...

YNGWIE IS GOD. I just don't think I can say anything else. I've said it all already...how much his music has meant to me over the years. -Top 10 songs / albums- Icarus Dream Suite / Fire & Ice Marching Out / Rising Force Eclipse / Marching Out Krakatau / Magnum Opus Pyramid Of Cheops / Trilogy You Don't Remember / Eclipse How Many Miles / Odyssey Evil / Perpetual Flame Brothers / The Seventh S...

Having been a fan of Lizzy Borden since the old days, I was thrilled to finally be speaking with the man himself. Oddly enough, myself and Jim Alvino (host of Turn It Up on Saturdays 6-8pm) spoke with Lizzy in the open doorway of a building the band was using in a dark alleyway behind a club. Not the best of circumstances, given that the Lizzy camp was clearly enjoying themselves rather loudly. Yo...

BNM's roving Metal reporter Matt Bower called in to talk about 2010's Wacken Open Air in Germany. Matt not only offered his thoughts on the dozens of live bands he saw, but he also covered everything from buying a ticket, to dealing with getting to the festival grounds, as well as basic tips to surviving the long weekend and even the post-fest airport mosh! If you've ever wondered what the Wacken...

Don Jamieson, comedian & co-host of "That Metal Show" on VH1 Classic, called in to Black Night Meditations the night that Dave Reffett of Shredding The Envelope was in the studio with Jim Alvino of Turn It Up and myself. Don discussed his appreciation of the STE album The Call Of The Flames, Hard Rock & Metal, his comedy career, all things "That Metal Show" and even Andrew Dice Clay! OH! E...

Dave Reffett of Shredding The Envelope was in WSCA's studio for 5 hours, talking about Metal, soloing on the guitar and spinning tunes (this podcast is edited to feature only the in-studio discussion and Dave's soloing). WSCA's Assistant Metal Director & Turn It Up host Jim Alvino joined us for this special edition of BNM. The 3 of us delved into Dave's background, discussed S.T.E., and ponder...

Sunday, May 16th 2010 was the saddest day in Metal history. Truly a black sabbath. Ronnie James Dio was gone. There will never, ever be a greater loss. I've had many influences, people who've impacted my Metal life. None had more impact than Ronnie James Dio. I could attempt to explain how important Dio was to me, but I don't think I could accurately communicate what Dio has meant to my life over...

Robert Louis Stevenson once wrote, "saints are sinners who kept on going." So would that make King Fowley the patron saint of Metal? To say that he's kept on going is an understatement, with band lineup changes, label issues, and health scares that could frighten anyone into their grave (Fowley is clearly immune to burial). You could also apply the RLS quote as a metaphor for Deceased's music: the...

It's been over 20 years that I've been blasting Overkill's albums. They are one of the few bands that I follow adamantly (releases, tours, interviews, news, side projects, etc.), so you could say I have a vested interest. So when I have a chance to speak with Blitz, I take it. Back in '07 we hung out in the back of the tour bus and talked at length. This time, I only had 20 minutes on the phone wi...

Blackie Lawless is a Metal legend. That cannot be denied. And we're all aware of the quality of his songwriting and album releases. But what should be stated more often is how he is one of Metal's most gifted vocalists. From the harrowing emotive, to the causticly grating, Blackie's vocal range has long been W.A.S.P.'s signature, just as much as the very familiar songs we all know and love. And it...

The man. The myth. The legend. The breakdancer. Richard Christy has made a name for himself in so many ways, calling him a renaissance man isn't enough. While he may be a "radio" personality, actor, filmmaker, he will forever be annointed: Richard Christy - Drum God. Or just Evil Ned. He's proven himself on many albums, and continues to pound out quality Metal with Charred Walls Of The Damned. RC...

I have a very short list of people in music that I must speak with. Ihsahn is on that list. His music has impacted me immensely over the years, from the early days of Emperor, to Peccatum and other projects, to his Ihsahn albums. His third album After is a brilliant work that transcends boundaries, yet does not stray from the Ihsahn aesthetic. An absolute masterpiece. Ihsahn has outdone himself. W...

"Heathen heart. Pagan pride. Faring far. Sword by Side." The opening lines from "Hold The Heathen Hammer High" on Týr's By The Light of the Northern Star album...the band's finest release thus far. According to Heri, wait until we here the next one! While BTLOTNS is Týr at their best, each album is better than the previous release. So what does the future hold for Týr? We can expect more of what w...

The Great Kat must be worshipped. Media outlets who proclaim The Great Kat to be in the top 50, top 10, top whatever, are wrong. The Great Kat is the best, the fastest, the greatest. She is Beethoven reincarnated. This is not open for debate. You either 'get' what this means, or you do not. "Only one who devotes himself to a cause with his whole strength and soul can be a true master. For this rea...

It would be easy, almost cliche, to say that the best way to appreciate art is to immerse yourself in it. But when it comes to the music of Thomas Watkiss, that is precisely the path one must take to fully comprehend and thus appreciate the bleak terrestrial landscape that he unearths. When he explains the motivation, the driving force behind his music, it becomes clear that it is multi-sensory. A...