Heavy Metal Tones

From the groundbreaking concert recordings of the 1970s through to today's digital-era releases, I take you on a condensed journey through the evolution of the live album, exploring how they've captured legendary performances, defined careers, and become essential listening for generations of metal fans. I'll also count down  five of my favourite live metal albums released in the last 10 year...

This week on Heavy Metal Tones – Episode 282, we dive headfirst into Killing Joke’s towering 1994 epic Pandemonium. After years of experimentation and reinvention, Jaz Coleman and company returned with an album that fused crushing industrial grooves, tribal rhythms, apocalyptic atmosphere, and some of the heaviest riffs of the decade. From the seismic title track to the hypnotic pow...

The journey through 50 years of punk continues as we arrive at one of the movement's most fascinating crossroads – where punk attitude collided with art school experimentation. This week, we're diving into the debut album from Adam and the Ants,  Dirk Wears White Sox , a record that helped push punk beyond three chords and rebellion into bold new creative territory. Released in 1979,  Di...

This week on Heavy Metal Tones we dive into one of the most important and groundbreaking albums of the late '80s –  Vivid , the stunning debut from Living Colour. Released in 1988,  Vivid  smashed through musical boundaries, blending hard rock, metal, funk, soul and social commentary into a sound that was completely its own. The album launched the band into the spotlight, reach...

This week on  Heavy Metal Tones , I sit down with two of the most captivating voices in modern Nordic music,  Sylvaine and  Eivør , as they prepare to bring their unique sounds to Australian audiences. (Note that this tour was March 2026) We discuss their upcoming Australian tour, the creative forces behind their music, and how they blend elements of folk, atmospheric soundscapes, m...

Heavy Metal Tones Episode 278 takes a trip back to 1974 as we explore  Phenomenon , the third album from legendary British hard rockers UFO. Widely regarded as the record that launched the band's classic era,  Phenomenon  introduced the incredible guitar talents of Michael Schenker and marked UFO's transition from space rock adventurers to hard rock heavyweights. Featuring timeless...

This week on Heavy Metal Tones things take an unexpected turn. The planned review of Sepultura had to be postponed due to personal reasons, but the metal gods delivered something just as crushing in its place. Episode 277 becomes a Cavalera family affair as I dive into two exclusive interviews. First up is metal legend Max Cavalera talking all things Soulfly, the spirit of...

The  50 Years of Punk (1976–2026)  series rolls into Part 4, and in this month's special we hit one of the true bridge records of the era. Before punk fully kicked the doors off the hinges,  Eddie and the Hot Rods  were already flooring the accelerator — and their debut album  Teenage Depression  became the missing link between the grit of Pub Rock and the explosion o...

This week on  Heavy Metal Tones – Episode 275 , we unleash the ferocity of  Destruction Of The Healer  and their brand-new album  A Universe Bereaved This isn’t doom — this is  full-throttle extreme metal . Savage riffs, relentless drums, and a dark, apocalyptic atmosphere that hits like a meteor strike. This record is intense, aggressive, and absolutely uncompromising, an...

This week on  Heavy Metal Tones Episode 274 , we go fully subterranean with Aussie riff burrowers  Gopher  and their debut album  Tunnel Buddies . Legend has it the band was founded by two historically questionable heroes,  Ned Smelly  and  Ernie Bingo , after a  very long  boat trip with the First Fleet. While the rest of the passengers were busy...

This week on  Heavy Metal Tones , we descend into the crushing, riff-soaked depths of doom with Episode 273, shining the spotlight on the debut album from doom supergroup  With The Dead . Formed from some of the heaviest minds in the genre, this record is a relentless slab of distortion, groove and apocalyptic atmosphere that hits with the weight only true doom can deliver. We dig into w...

This week on  Heavy Metal Tones , we dive headfirst into the unmistakable roar of  Zakk Wylde  and the enduring legacy of  Black Label Society . Episode 272 puts the band’s latest album under the microscope, exploring how its tone, attitude, and riff power stack up against the crushing foundation laid by the first four records:  Sonic Brew ,  Stronger Than Death ,&nbs...

Episode 273 of Heavy Metal Tones is a full-on  Crypt Crawl  into the underground, where the cold is creeping in and the riffs are burning hot. Wynter is coming… and Evillean have brought the fuel. This week I dive into the brand-new EPs from both bands, digging into the sound, the atmosphere and why these releases deserve a place on your radar if you live for the darker corners of heavy...

This week on  Heavy Metal Tones  we dive back into our  50 Years of Punk (1976–2026)  series with  Part 3 , shining the spotlight on Northern Ireland’s fiery punk rebels  Stiff Little Fingers  and their powerful second album  Nobody’s Heroes . Following the raw impact of their debut, this record captures a band sharpening their sound while refusing to lose t...

This week’s Heavy Metal Tones is a very special and heartfelt episode. Following the sad passing of Ross The Boss on March 26, we’re revisiting one of our favourite conversations — the full interview with Ross alongside Stu Marshall, originally released as Episode 218 in April 2025. In this powerful chat, Ross reflects on his incredible career, from his early days with The Dictators to the glory a...

This week on  Heavy Metal Tones , we dive deep into one of the boldest and most divisive albums in heavy metal history— Nostradamus . Judas Priest’s 2008 double concept album saw the Metal Gods push boundaries with a grand, symphonic vision, telling the story of the legendary prophet in epic fashion. Was it a stroke of genius or a step too far? I break down the music, the ambition, and where...

Hi guys it is with sadness that I put this shorter episode this week, Its not been long since I put this interview up EP 251 to be exact. It feels right that on my birthday I air this again as it is one year ago today that on a sunny morning in March I interviewed the closest I will ever get to Lemmy. So take this time to revisit it and for Phil and all the rest of that whisky soaked good old rock...

This week on  Heavy Metal Tones – Episode 266 , we explore the  light and dark within extreme metal  through a fascinating contrast of sound, atmosphere and intent. In this episode I review two very different yet equally compelling releases:  Self Portraits in Black  and the wild, ritualistic chaos of Witch Club Satan. One dives deep into the introspective and shadowy...

This week on  Heavy Metal Tones – Episode 265 , we descend once more into the shadows with Canada’s rising doom force  Sundecay . I’m joined by founding members  Richard Pauptit  and  Brian Scott  for an in-depth conversation about their brand-new and absolutely brilliant third album. We talk about the evolution of their sound, the weight and atmosphere that defines m...

This month, I dive deep into their explosive and era-defining debut album  Germfree Adolescents  — a record that didn’t just ride the first wave of punk, it twisted it into something sharper, smarter and far more confrontational. Fronted by the unforgettable  Poly Styrene , X-Ray Spex injected punk with biting social commentary, anti-consumerist rage, and a fearless feminist voice t...

This week on  Heavy Metal Tones  it’s an all-out  Extreme Metal Triple Episode  – three voices, three visions, and three crushing perspectives from the darker side of heavy music. First up, I dive into the mind of  Nergal , the creative force behind  Behemoth . We talk conviction, controversy, creativity, and what it truly means to stand defiantly in your art no matte...

Heavy Metal Tones Episode 262 – Rush:  Snakes & Arrows This week on  Heavy Metal Tones , I dive deep into Rush’s 2007 album  Snakes & Arrows  — a record that sees the progressive rock legends embracing heavier riffs, darker themes, and a fiercely modern edge. From its political bite and philosophical weight to Alex Lifeson’s crushing guitar tone, Geddy Lee’s sharp bass...

This week on  Heavy Metal Tones , I dive deep into the crushing, immersive world of Canadian Progressive Doom outfit  Sundecay  and their haunting new album  The Blood Lives Again . From towering riffs to eerie atmosphere and slow-burning heaviness, we break down what makes this record such a powerful and cinematic listen for fans of doom that dares to evolve. To close out the...

Heavy Metal Tones – 50 Years of Punk: Part 1 – 999 and the Edge of the Underground Kick off our brand-new monthly series  50 Years of Punk  with a deep dive into a band you may never know—but should. In Part 1, we crank up the volume on 999 and unpack their second album Separates, exploring its overlooked impact and rightful place in punk history. From raw riffs to rebelli...

This week on Heavy Metal Tones , we go beyond the three-minute single and dive headfirst into the world of epic music . What actually makes a song or album epic ? Is it length, atmosphere, storytelling, or the emotional payoff? We talk about epic’s place across music and metal, how artists approach writing and structuring longer, more ambitious pieces, and—most importantly— how to enjoy epic track...