Laughing Monkey with Shawn Ratches

In this interview, I spoke with HansFyrste (vocals) and Erik “HaaN” Sæther (guitars) of Svarttjern , the Oslo black metal band they founded in 2003. The conversation digs into the band’s history, their evolution from early demos into full-length releases like Misanthropic Path of Madness , Dødsskrik , and Shame Is Just a Word , and the path that has kept Svarttjern a respected name in Norwegian bl...

For heavy music fans, Kenny Hickey needs little introduction. Best known as the guitarist and vocalist from Type O Negative , Hickey helped shape one of the most distinctive sounds in gothic and doom metal. Now, he has returned with a new project, SUN DONT SHINE , a band that brings together veteran musicians from Type O Negative , Crowbar , and Down . Alongside Hickey are Johnny Kelly , Kirk Wind...

Finnish extreme metal innovators  …And Oceans  join the show for a conversation about one of the most distinctive and unpredictable careers in underground metal. Rising in the mid-1990s out of the ashes of death metal outfit  Festerday , the band built its name by fusing symphonic black metal with industrial, electronic, and experimental elements, refusing to stay in one lane for very long. Their...

Andy Brings joins the show to talk about the new deluxe reissue of Sodom’s 1994 album  Get What You Deserve , which was reissued on February 27, 2026 through BMG. The expanded edition was remastered and newly mixed by Brings himself, and it also includes the remastered/remixed  Aber Bitte Mit Sahne  EP, bonus live material, and additional archival content from that era. Sodom’s official channels h...

In this episode, I sat down with Ross Dolan of Immolation to talk about the band’s latest chapter and the upcoming release of their new album, Descent , due out April 10, 2026 through Nuclear Blast . We got into the creative process behind the record, the mindset of the band going into this release, and what fans can expect from a record already previewed by the singles “Adversary” and “Attrition....

Kyle Thomas of Exhorder joins the show for a great conversation about his voice, life touring on the road, and the reality of what goes on behind the scenes when a band is out performing night after night. He also talks about new music currently being worked on, first for Trouble and then for Exhorder, giving fans a look at what may be coming next from both camp

Ron Rinehart of Dark Angel joins the show for a conversation about the band’s history, the intensity and legacy of their music, his approach to songwriting and singing, and what may be ahead for the band in the future. Ron reflects on Dark Angel’s place in thrash metal, the creative process behind the songs, and the passion that continues to drive the band forward. It’s a strong look at one of thr...

Tommy Victor of Prong joins the show to talk about the band’s new live album, the energy of bringing Prong’s music to the stage, and what fans can expect next. Tommy also shares that new music is on the way, with a possible release coming around November. It’s a great conversation covering the current state of Prong, the live experience, and what’s ahead for one of heavy music’s most distinctive b...

John Corabi joins the show to discuss his new solo album, New Day , due out April 24, 2026 via Frontiers Music Srl . The album is being described as Corabi’s first full-length solo album of original material , and it was recorded in Nashville during the summer of 2025 and produced by Marti Frederiksen . The title track was released first, followed by the single “That Memory.”   Corabi is widely kn...

Corrosion of Conformity returns with Good God / Baad Man, a new double album born out of major change, loss, and a fresh creative surge. In this interview, Woody Weatherman talks about the making of the record, the writing sessions with Pepper Keenan in Mississippi, the album’s split personality between the heavier Good God side and the more rock-driven Baad Man side, and the band’s path forward a...

Today on the show I’m talking with Tonino Baliardo of Gipsy Kings as the band celebrates the new album Historia. Across a career that has included 25 million albums sold, a GRAMMY Award, global touring, and enduring classics like “Bamboléo” and “Djobi, Djoba,” the Gipsy Kings have built one of the most recognizable sounds in modern flamenco and rumba. Their recent run also included a widely praise...

David Davidson is best known as the founder, lead guitarist, and vocalist of Revocation, the Boston extreme metal band whose sound blends technical death metal, thrash, and progressive elements. On his official biography page, he is described as a musician recognized for combining metal with fusion, rock, and jazz, and it also notes that he graduated cum laude from Berklee College of Music in 2008...

Dino Jelusick (born June 4, 1992, Požega, Croatia) is a Croatian singer, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter known for powerhouse rock vocals and serious musicianship (he also plays keyboards, guitar, and more). He first gained international attention as the winner of the inaugural Junior Eurovision Song Contest (2003), then grew into one of the most in-demand modern voices in hard rock and meta...

Episode 647 features a conversation with Blaze Bayley discussing the 25th anniversary of his debut solo album Silicon Messiah. Released in 2000 after his tenure with Iron Maiden, the record marked a major turning point in Bayley’s career and established the direction of his solo work. In this interview, Bayley reflects on the creation of the album, the lineup behind it, and why the record remains...

Evermore is a Swedish power metal trio known for blending melodic precision with a darker, more aggressive tonal palette than many of their genre peers. Formed in the late 2010s, the band quickly established itself with tightly structured songwriting, soaring vocal lines, and a dual focus on speed-driven passages and mid-tempo, groove-heavy weight. Their sound draws from classic European power met...

Norman L Skinner III is an American heavy metal vocalist best known for his powerful range, clean high-register delivery, and disciplined traditional metal technique. He built his reputation in the U.S. underground metal scene through years of consistent studio and live work, developing a style rooted in classic 1980s heavy metal rather than extreme vocal approaches. His singing emphasizes pitch c...

The best of Eric Martin compilation from 6 years of interviews and live music!

Frayle is a Cleveland, Ohio–based doom/occult rock band known for blending crushing low-tuned riffs with ethereal, haunting vocals. Their sound sits at the intersection of doom metal, post-metal, and dark alternative rock—often described as hypnotic, cinematic, and emotionally immersive. Core Members • Gwyn Strang – Vocals • Sean Bilovecky – Guitar The band operates as a tight creative partnership...

In this episode, Eric Martin speaks directly about hearing loss and tinnitus — issues that have become part of life after decades in loud environments. He does not dramatize it. He explains it plainly. He acknowledges that years of touring, stage volume, and studio work have taken a toll. The tinnitus is persistent. Some hearing loss is measurable. It is not reversible. What has changed is how he...

Don McLean is an American singer-songwriter best known for his 1971 epic “American Pie,” a composition that has become one of the most analyzed and culturally referenced songs in popular music history. Born in 1945 in New Rochelle, New York, McLean emerged from the late-1960s folk revival scene, drawing influence from artists such as Pete Seeger and the broader Greenwich Village movement. His song...

John Kevill  is best known as the frontman and primary lyricist for  Warbringer , a key band in the modern thrash metal movement. Since co-founding Warbringer in 2004, Kevill has been central to shaping the band’s aggressive sound and uncompromising attitude, channeling the spirit of classic 1980s thrash while keeping it firmly grounded in contemporary relevance. His vocal delivery is raw and comm...

Jason Bittner is one of modern metal’s most respected drummers, known for his precision, power, and deep understanding of groove within extreme music. Best recognized for his long tenure with Shadows Fall, Bittner helped define the band’s sound during their most influential years, contributing to albums that bridged aggressive thrash roots with melodic metalcore sensibility. His playing style bala...

Jimmi Bleacher is back, and he’s got plenty to say. Best known as the frontman of the late-’80s Hollywood glam metal band Salty Dog, Jimmi joins the show to reconnect with fans and reflect on a career that’s taken some unexpected turns. From Sunset Strip buzz to major-label releases, his early run with Salty Dog captured a raw, blues-soaked edge that helped set them apart from the pack during a cr...

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