Scars and Guitars

On February 24th, the EP "Lives Of Grace" was released, comprising four tracks, including a fresh take on the timeless classic 'Night Attack,' which is the catalyst for our conversation. As a cover musician, I have incorporated popular tracks such as Long Line, No Secrets, and the classic Australian song "Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again?" in my performances for a significant period. Having a g...

Jason Bonham is touring Australia playing Led Zep classics. In this conversation, Jason talks about his father's legacy, playing the classic material, overcoming alcohol and much more. The Jason Bonham Led Zeppelin Evening 2023 Tour Dates Wed 5 Apr - Astor Theatre (Perth) Fri 7 Apr - Palais Theatre (Melbourne) Sat 8 Apr - Enmore Theatre (Sydney) Sun 9 Apr - The Tivoli (Brisbane) Tue 11 Apr - Hindl...

I logged on to the Zoom session and anticipated a chat with Last In Line vocalist Andrew Freeman; instead, Phil's name appeared in the waiting room, and a conversation I'd been anticipating for decades started. Phil was online to talk about the new Last In Line album called Jericho, so we discussed that; however, this episode is more notable as Phil shares his thoughts on career highlights such as...

The new album from Enslaved is called Heimdal, with a scheduled release for March 3 via Nuclear Blast. In addition to talking about the album, Grutle discusses the 2018 tour with Matt Pike and High on Fire, what he thinks of the festivals in the United States and outside Europe, his recollections of a show with Korn in 2007 and his opinion on the Lords of Chaos film. We have a lot of fun during th...

Stryper is touring Australia through March 2023, which is the catalyst for this chat with Michael Sweet. This is an engaging chat highlighted by some choice commentary from Michael about his interactions with Nergal from Behemoth and King Diamond. I'd frame my question differently if I had my time over again, but as they say, a picture tells a thousand words...! I give more context on this topic i...

Spud is the vocalist and guitarist in Melbourne grind outfit Munt; the band have a new album out for 2023 called Pain Ouroboros, which is the catalyst for the chat. We discuss the album, rehearsal studios, and many other topics. Check out the band's music here: https://muntgrind.bandcamp.com/album/pain-ouroboros

This episode features Paul Ryan; Paul is the founding guitarist of Cradle of Filth. He was there for the band's earliest days throughout the demos and onto the album that started a revolution; Cradle of Filth's first album, The Principle of Evil Made Flesh. It's so good to finally chat with Paul and hear his insights into many aspects of the band's formative epoch. The years of anticipation of our...

Grammy Winning producer and engineer Mike Exeter covers a heap of ground throughout this conversation. Mike talks about his work with Cradle of Filth across groundbreaking albums Dusk and Her Embrace and Cruelty and the Beast, as well as the From the Cradle to Enslave EP. He helps solve the riddle of why Jan Peter Genkel was asked to produce Cruelty and the Beast, and if you've listened to my conv...

The catalyst for the chat with Michael is an Australian tour by Arch Enemy throughout February 2023. The tour gets a mention, but Michael's far-reaching commentary on his tenure in Carcass in the early 90s is the feature of this conversation. He also talks about Gigantour in 2006, his recordings in Candlemass and many more topics the seasoned fan and the unfamiliar will get heaps of new insight fr...

Björn has been the guitarist in In Flames since he switched from percussion on the band's seminal The Jester Race in 1996. Throughout this chat, we discuss the new In Flames album for 2023, Foregone, and dive into topics such as co-guitarist Niclas Engelin's exit from the group, the transition from rhythm section Peter Iwers and Daniel Svensson, who left before Battles (2016), and Bjorn's talks ab...

Nigel Wingrove is an art director, filmmaker and director, writer and publisher whose imagery was used by Cradle of Filth in the 1990s. The Principle of Evil Made Flesh, V Empire and Dusk and her Embrace recordings all feature his artwork, as does most of the era's merchandise. Images of scantly clad women in satanic settings are a feature of Nigel's work, and back in the 90s, one couldn't attend...

Tyler discussed the January 2023 Australian shows, the new album (Dinosaur), blowback from metal fans when the group signed to Roadrunner in the early 00s and a heap of topics relative to current affairs.

Unearth are touring Australia in January 2023, which is the catalyst for a discussion with Trevor. Throughout the chat, we talk about how the recent lineup change has affected the band dynamic, Trevor's impressions of working with Gene Hoglan (Death, Strapping Young Lad, Testament etc.) when he drummed for the group in 2007, and his recollections of Dimebag and Vinne Paul when Unearth toured with...

Chris Bell is the photographer who photographed the iconic images on the cover of The Principle of Evil Made Flesh, V Empire, or Dark Faerytales in Phallustein, sleeve images on Dusk and Her Embrace and merchandise, including the Vestal Masturbation iconography. Chris talks about working with artistic director Nigel Wingrove and Cradle of Filth, his impressions of the band, his career and his lega...

Here we are at the end of another year. The world might be full of nut cases trying to convince you that we are all doomed, yet the wheels keep turning, and there is always plenty of killer new music to share. On this special end-of-year edition of the show, 2022, gets a review. The top 10 albums are revealed in a countdown alongside some honourable mentions, and the best tunes of the year are cur...

Laura Cox is a French blues/ rock guitarist with a fantastic album scheduled for release in late January 2023 called Head Above Water. Throughout this chat, Laura talks about the album, band dynamics, the push for global recognition and why heavy metal fans have taken to her music.

James Hulse is an independent musician from Ipswich with a killer groovin' heavy rock album to share, titled My Own Worst Enemy, under the From The Haze moniker. My Own Worst Enemy is an album that fans of Silverchair, Grinspoon and Kisschasy should get right into. The conversation is essential as James shares his journey of bringing the album to life. For this reason, this is an essential episode...

A new album from Bloodclot, called Souls, will be available on December 16 2022, and the album is the catalyst for a chat with John. This conversation is notable as John talks about the government's policy response to the Covid epidemic, amongst many other topics related to the rise of totalitarianism as it has manifested over the past few years. The rise of Marxist political instruments through i...

On the eve of the December 2022 shows in Australia, Ruyter Suys was available to discuss the shows, the controversy around the album cover to Let Them Eat Pussy, the secret to a lasting relationship, the biggest misconception about the band and plenty of other topics you'll have to tune in to hear.

A week out from The Crystal Method's December 2022 Australian shows, Scott Kirkland talks about the DJ set he's bringing down under and dives into some very engaging topics to do with the many collaborators he's enjoyed working with. Across many album cuts, he's invited Tom Morello, Scott Weiland, John Garcia, actress Milla Jovovich, Wes Borland, Jason Lytle, Peter Hook, and Justin Chancellor to a...

C.J. is touring Australia in February as part of Me First and the Gimme Gimme's, a punk-themed mainstream covers outfit featuring pop-punk luminaries such as Fat Mike and Chris Shiflett from Foo Fighters). In this very compact chat he talks about life on the road, bass playing, singing and much more.

The very classy Tarja is the guest on this episode of the show. The catalyst is the launch of a greatest package called Best Of: Living The Dream. Throughout this chat, Tarja talks about the album, life in the music industry across 25 years, Nightwish and Floor Jansen, the moment that gave her the most significant source of pride throughout her career, and the advice she would give to anybody tale...

The second album from Gaupa is their first for Nuclear Blast, called Myriad. Vocalist Emma Näslund discusses life, lyrical themes, influences, inspirations and her thoughts on the songwriting, production and overall package across Myriad.

Throughout this chat with Andreas, he talks about the band's new album for 2022, Magno Interitus, and shares his view on politics throughout an engaging exchange. He also discusses how the band were able to record with Trivium's Matt Heafy, Jamie Hails of Polaris, and CJ McMahon from Thy Art is Murder.

Bassist Stig Pedersen from the Danish outfit D-A-D is the guest on this episode. He talks about the November 2022 Australian tour, his preference for two-string bass guitars, what kept the band going through the 90s, the inspiration for the western sound the band is known for, and Stig answers a question on why he thinks No Fuel Left For The Pilgrims ('89) struck a chord with Australian listeners.