Metal Shop's Backstage Pass

Swedish metal legends IN FLAMES are set to release their 14th studio album "Foregone" on February 10th via Nuclear Blast. I chatted with vocalist Anders Fridén about the new album, being back on the road, early inspirations, Swedish metal and much more

I spoke with Toronto-based musician Derrick Vella from Dream Unending and Tomb Mold about a variety of topics including scars, Toronto hardcore, the new album and much more  

Misery Index released "Complete Control" this past summer and it CRUSHES. I spoke with guitarist Mark Kloeppel right around the release of the album while they were out on tour. We discuss unique scars/injuries, Maryland Death Fest, metal t shirts, touring post-Covid lockdown and much more

VOMIT FORTH released one of my favorite albums of 2022 - "Seething Malevolence" this past summer on Century Media. I spoke with vocalist Kane Gelaznik right before they released the album and we chatted about quitting your secure job to follow your dream, Corpsegrinder influence, scars, mental health and much more

High Command is a killer crossover thrash band that released "Eclipse of the Dual Moons" on Southern Lord last month. I chatted with vocalist Kevin Fitzgerald about metal influences, scars, being out on the road, prior hardcore bands he was in and much more 

Oceans of Slumber is an incredible progressive metal band that will be playing here in Seattle on Tuesday December 13th at the Crocodile. I caught up with vocalist Cammie Gilbert to chat about vocal inspirations, films she loves, scars and much more 

UNDEATH is coming back to Seattle on Thursday December 8th. They are playing at El Corazon with 200 Stab Wounds, Enforced and Phobophilic. I chatted with vocalist Alexander Jones about doing their first headlining tour, the influence of Trevor Strnad (R.I.P), some of his new favorite bands and much more 

Max Kohane is a record store owner based in Melbourne, Australia who plays in two killer extreme metal bands - Faceless Burial and Internal Rot. I chatted with Max about his journey into underground music, owning a record store, the lockdown in Australia and much more Jam the new Faceless Burial album "At the Foothills of Deliration" !

The fellas in Gatecreeper joined me live in studio before their show with Hatebreed. We chatted about touring the Europe festival circuit, leaving jobs to be full time musicians, product endorsements and much more

Exhumed is playing the Substation in Seattle on Friday November 11th, so I hopped on the phone with vocalist/guitarist Matt Harvey to chat about being back on the road, the new album and much more.

I sat down with Jami and Reba a few months back when they played a headlining set at the Crocodile. We chat about moshing, influences, Philly and much more

Deron Miller is the mastermind behind so many iconic riffs and songs - and he's back with a brand new album by 96 Bitter Beings. I spoke with Deron about his early musical influences, his massive record collection, his love of unique guitars and more 

 Amenra is an incredible band from Belgium that has been playing music for more than two decades now. I spoke with vocalist Colin H. Van Eeckhout about the evolution of the band, playing Psycho Las Vegas, doing things their own way, creating the theme song for AEW wrestler Malakai Black, removing his own nipples for an art project and more

Metal Blade Records is celebrating it's 40th Anniversary! I chatted with founder / CEO Brian Slagel about the early days of the label, the importance of staying independent, some of his holy grail albums, the Metal Blade museum and much more

Autopsy just dropped their new album "Morbidity Triumphant", so I chatted with him about life during the pandemic, the new album, his love of cats, being a radio show host, hernias and much more

Legendary metal band RAVEN is returning to the Northwest next week at Tony V's in Everett (Monday October 3rd) and then at Alma in Tacoma (Thursday October 6th), so I chatted with vocalist / bassist John Gallagher about being back on the road, their upcoming gig with Metallica in Florida, history of the band and much more 

"Dio: Dreamers Never Die" will be showing in select theaters starting Wednesday September 28th. I spoke with Wendy Dio alongside filmmakers Don Argott and Demian Fenton about the making of the documentary, memories of Dio, their favorite Dio songs and much more For more info on the documentary and to look up showtimes near you visit this website

The Dead Daisies are playing The Crocodile on Saturday September 24th and they will be dropping a brand new album on Friday September 30th. I chatted with guitarist Doug Aldrich about their new material, playing with legends like Ronnie James Dio + much more

Creeping Death is a killer death metal band from Texas that you gotta check out (if you haven't already). I spoke with guitarist Trey Pemberton about how he got through the pandemic, going back to touring, the unity of Texas underground music and much more

Restless Spirit is an awesome up and coming heavy metal band that blends a little classic metal with stoner rock and blends it into a really unique sound that kicks all kinds of ass. I fell in love with their newest album “Blood of the Old Gods” and caught up with vocalist / guitarist Paul Aloisio to chat about early influences, knife wounds, touring, the pandemic and much more

Stick To Your Guns is headlining a show on Saturday (August 3rd) with Kublai Khan, so I chatted with vocalist Jesse Barnett about his love for Seattle and the hardcore scene up here, growing up in the Orange County hardcore scene, opening up a book store / collective down in Los Angeles, the new album and much more

I chatted with the RIFF LORD himself Kirk Windstein from the road as he makes his way across America playing the heaviest riffs in the world. We chatted about breaking his nose on tour with Metallica, new solo material, the heaviest Crowbar riffs and much more. All hail the RIFF LORD

I spoke with Psycroptic vocalist Jason Peppiatt from his hometown of Tasmania in Australia. We chatted about their new album "Divine Council", his favorite bands growing up, his "big four" of tech death and much more

Municipal Waste recently released their killer new album “Electrified Brain”, so I chatted with guitarist Ryan Waste about the album along with his favorite records and VHS from his collection, writing a heavy metal horror movie, scars and much more

I spoke with hardcore/ metal band CANDY about their Relapse records debut album "Heaven is Here," musical influences, their first band t-shirts, Richmond Virginia and much more