Sentimental Illness

You can see and hear RXPTRS coming a mile away. What's most amazing is how they've figured out, in this day and age, to bring something new and fresh when it should be an utterly impossible thing to accomplish. How exactly does one invent a new sound? Just what is it about these guys? And what the heck were they thinking with that name? Well, if you even remotely enjoy rock, pop, or metal, chances...

The 4th time is the charm. Jimmy Boman and I spent the last few months working feverishly to coordinate our schedules and it took a lot of tries, but I'm glad we worked it out because Jimmy is a great musician and a wonderful guest. His band, Outshine, hails from Sweden, and his music reflects the culture and sound of a dark brooding winter better than most. Interestingly, Jimmy's music belies the...

My guests today, Brandon and Caleb from sci-fi mathmetal pioneers Serling have developed a new type of progressive deathcore and created a sound so terrifying and new that closet metal lovers everywhere are clamoring for their unique approach to the genre. They've created a strange new sound which is amazingly compelling, especially since it oftentimes sounds as though animals are being dismembere...

From childhood athlete to rising heavy music legend, Josh Smith of Australia's NORTHLANE is keen to put the past behind him. Focused on the moment, Josh's band is readying to release their visionary new work, the stunning OBSIDIAN, and I have to say.... steel yourself, because this new record, hitting the shelves on April 22nd, is a masterpiece and the timing couldn't be better. This is their anth...

What is it about the death metal scene that encapsulates the anger of mankind and the cathartic hope that darkness can be crushed once and for all? It's a weird and oftentimes unexpected dichotomy but one that we 'sort of' talked about today. Josh Davies from the brutal death metal act, Monasteries, joined me today from the United Kingdom and we touched on these themes as well as many others. Josh...

When I say the name Udo Dirkschneider, what do you envision? I would think your brain might automatically take you to the early 1980's, when his iconic West German metal band, ACCEPT, ruled the charts with the classic "Balls to the wall." Like you, I go there too, because well... this was a moment that you don't forget. That said, I've kept an eye on him over the years and watched his legend grow...

Dirty Shirt is a never ending surprise of musical expression and disparate sonic influences. They are a wild ride down a folksy metallic hardcore road and you don't really want out of the vehicle because it has so much horsepower. I was absolutely blessed to connect with chief songwriter, Mihai Tivadar, and have a fantastic discussion about the bonkers music he and his bandmates create. Dirty Shir...

I've been a Seahawks fan since I was a little boy. I admit I'm a fair weather fan, but I still know great football when I see it. My father said that my guest today was the most committed player of his generation, at least on the Seahawks, and I'd have to say that he was probably spot on. Lofa Tatupu is a man of standards, work ethic, and drive. As it goes, life after the NFL can hit all sorts of...

Michael Romeo is a guitar player with an uncommon level of skill. Over the last 25 years, Michael has toured the world, entertaining fans from his legendary progressive metal band, Symphony X, and silently building up to icon status. There just aren't that many guitar gods out there anymore, but Michael wears that gold sash proudly and embraces the music that both he, and the audience, adores. Mic...

Stefano Ferrian lives in a little town near the Italian Alps. On a good day, he can see the Matterhorn and he chooses this life as it allows his artistry to flourish unchecked. With that creative bump, Stefano has partnered with 3 other superhuman musical forces to create SYK, a dark metal mindblow of unseen proportions. The new album, Pyramiden, allows us to see into this seemingly impenetrable w...

I dig Mac Gollehon so much. He's back for a second show in less than a year, simply because he has such interesting stories to tell. Obviously, when you have 3000+ recording credits, chances are you've seen some crazy stuff. When you hear the new album, , you know that crazy stuff burrows deep into your artistic psyche. During our conversation, we did have a few cell phone drop outs, so this inter...

There's only so much I can say about my conversation with thrash legend ,Tim Tymo. I did get quite a bit out of him today, but I wish I could just sit down with him for a day or two and pick his brain. Tim knows so much about music. He's insanely passionate and filled with joy over the silliest things, and he's a genuinely lovable guy. What a mensch. Tim is currently promoting the new album 'The A...

Today's show comes with a word of warning. Sure, I'll be catching up with my old friends from Norway's stellar progressive jazz metal outfit, YAWN but we'll also be discussing immensely technical music terminology pretty much the entire time. In other words, if you like to hear about guitar reamping and production techniques, today's show was made for you. Especially when you toss in the inevitabl...

Mike Reno, the super powered singer of Canada's Loverboy came back to my show, just in time for the one year anniversary of his last appearance. He's my first 2-fer, and of course I had a blast. Mike and the boys will be on tour with Styx and REO Speedwagon, doing the outdoor amphitheater tour and rocking the socks off the old fans while creating new ones. You know it's going to be good. The new s...

Kirk Windstein is a legend in the heavy music business. He founded Crowbar, the monstrous sludge metal factory way back in 1990. I've been a fan since the beginning, so having a chance to connect with Kirk was a dream come true. The new album, Zero and Below, drops on March 4th and it's fully formed. Recorded 2 years ago, the pandemic has kept its power from us, but no more. The music will bring a...

Will Benoit has a voice and style that fits squarely into the uniquely complex post metal, alternative dream/doom band, SOM. SOM will be releasing the new album, The Shape of Everything in a few days, and will be out by the time you hear this interview. It's massive in scope, sound, and vision. It's a singular gargantuan album and it's my great hope that it won't get lost in the myriad of musical...

This is a seriously big deal. Discussing mental health and the stigma surrounding it is quite important, don't you think? How can we overcome? How can we deal? What is it like from the musician's perspective? What have we seen around us? Why are there so many suicides? Why are so many people quitting on life? Light overcomes darkness. Knowledge overcomes ignorance. Let's talk about this and let's...

Esjay Jones came to the United States, and specifically to Los Angeles, in pursuit of a dream. This dream wasn't apparent, but she knew in her gut that a destiny waited for her. Was it fame? Was it some other sort of perceived importance? Who knew? Today, Esjay is not only an influencer in the music business, but a confident connected in all things rock and roll. She has instincts that most of us...

I'll say it out loud right now. Atlas, the darkly melodic Finnish powerhouse, is one of THE best bands in the world. Their new album, UKKO, has an un-mistakeable sound and an intense vision that must be experienced to believe. It's a revelation and one I cannot shake. I had a chance to talk to both Tuomas and Patrik for roughly an hour, and it was a most personal affair. The guys shared the truth...

Man, I think I wanted to talk to Kyle Thomas from the legendary groove metal band, Exhorder more than anyone in a long time. Kyle has been a influence in the music scene for as long as I've been listening to heavy music, and his vocal style has been ripped off for years. Some of the biggest bands ever copped his sound, but we can't complain about that. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery,...

Tom MacLean has breathed some pretty rarified air. As the original bass player for the mega popular progressive rock band, Haken, Tom saw the band rise to heights not often attained. At the very crest, Tom made a change to his life that confused half of the music business and left Haken, seemingly within reach of everything a musician strives for. Today on the show, we not only dig into Tom's back...

Midgar is a mythical city and bustling geometric metropolis found on the planet of Gaia in the Final Fantasy universe. My guest today, Andy Wilson Taylor, was greatly influenced by one particular game in the series, and from which so many musical ideas sprouted. Andy founded Midgar in 2008 on the principles of symphonic expression, grand idealism, melodic compounds, kinetic atmosphere, and sonic s...

The legend of Alcatrazz goes without saying. The band has created some timeless music and sprouted a few of the most famous instrumentalists in the history of rock music. They are a tower of achievement, existing in the space few musical acts dwell. Alcatrazz has existed, in one form or another, for 35 years, and tomorrow, the band will release their 5th album, the appropriately titled 5 or V, if...

When the north meets the south, great things happen. Giant Walker, a killer and original quartet from the cities Guildford and Newcastle, have seemingly figured out the entire music business from top to bottom. They haven't released a song yet and people are talking about them. Write great songs? Check. Connect with a well known management company? Check. Play shows and blow away your contemporari...

My conversation with Nick Hannon from UK legends Sons of Alpha Centauri is a reminder that good things take time. Nick and his songwriting partner of 20 years ,Marlon King, have mastered the slow burn of artistic integrity. Their latest album isn't only a gold rush of melody and charm, but a collaboration with some surprising turns. I'm not giving any of it away here, so you'll have to listen to t...