The Heavy Desert Podcast

Why are some incredible underground rock and metal shows packed while others struggle to draw a crowd? In this deep-dive episode of The Heavy Desert Podcast, concert correspondent Chris McGowan joins the show along with John Gist of Vegas Rock Revolution and Planet Desert Rock Weekend to tackle one of the biggest questions facing the heavy underground: what's really happening with the live music s...

King Buffalo's Sean Roa joins The Heavy Desert Podcast for an honest and engaging conversation that traces the band's journey from humble beginnings to becoming one of the most respected names in the heavy underground. Sean reflects on the albums that shaped him as a musician, from Black Sabbath's Paranoid to Pink Floyd's Animals, and shares the story of how King Buffalo emerged from the remnants...

This episode of The Heavy Desert Podcast is all killer riffs, underground passion, and plenty of laughs as Greg, Tommy, and Rocky of Illinois heavy rock trio Erosions join the show. The guys trace their musical roots back to formative discoveries of KISS, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Deep Purple, Melvins, Kyuss, Sleep, and more, sharing the records and artists that shaped their paths as...

Vegas doom metal torchbearers Psalm join The Heavy Desert Podcast to talk about their journey from underground hopefuls to one of the first bands signed to the newly launched Space Goat Records. John, Ian, Juan, and Jeremy dive deep into their musical origins, sharing the bands, albums, and life experiences that shaped their sound, from Venom, Black Sabbath, and Trouble to classic rock legends lik...

The Crooked Skulls return to The Heavy Desert Podcast following the breakout success of Midnight Sun, the album that landed on the Doom Charts and introduced the band's heavy groove-driven sound to listeners around the world. Pete and Dave reflect on the overwhelming response to the record, the opportunities that followed, and the evolution of the band after founding drummer Chuck Snyder's departu...

Today on The Heavy Desert Podcast, Dutch heavy psych powerhouse The Machine joins the show to discuss their brand-new album, Another Sun (Awe Records & Blues Funeral Recordings), and the nearly 20-year journey behind one of underground rock's most enduring bands. Guitarist and vocalist David Eering and drummer Klaas Dijkstra dive into their earliest musical influences, the evolution of The Mac...

Fresh off the release of their crushing debut album, Materializer joins The Heavy Desert Podcast to tell the story behind the band's creation and the brotherhood that drives it. Connor and Chris Poole discuss growing up surrounded by music, learning from their father, discovering bands like Led Zeppelin, The Doors, Nirvana, and Alice In Chains, and how years of playing together shaped their creati...

Today on The Heavy Desert Podcast, I welcome Rob Edwards and Wigg Grant of the band Risperidrone to discuss the journey behind their crushing new, debut full-length album, Black Shuck. The band dives into their influences, songwriting process, surviving the COVID era, building songs from years-old riff ideas, and the thriving Welsh doom and stoner scene. They also reflect on their album release sh...

Today on The Heavy Desert Podcast, Jack Amsler, Etziel Méndez, Fernando Cabrera, and Nicolás Silveira of Weedsnake join the show. Hailing from Mexico City, Weedsnake are gearing up for Ripplefest Mexico, taking place November 14 at Foro 28. The band rolled a fat one for this conversation and dove deep into their influences, songwriting process, the evolution of the band, and what's on the horizon,...

Today on The Heavy Desert Podcast, Jorge Trejo of the band Rostro Del Sol joins the show. Rostro Del Sol released its latest album Universo 25 earlier this year in January, and we dig into it. They’re also set to play the second annual Ripplefest Mexico, being held this year on November 14th, in Mexico City at Foro 28. Jorge gives a glimpse into how their unique brand of music comes to life and wh...

Today on The Heavy Desert Podcast, I welcome Calloway Jones guitarist and vocalist of the band Üga Büga to the show. Out of Virginia, Üga Büga released its sophomore album, Valley of the Wolf on June 5 of 2026, and we dig into it. Along with Calloways influences, the backstory of the band and the current tour they’re on supporting the new album, we cover it all. And Mark Richard of The Jam Yeti Mu...

Today on The Heavy Desert Podcast, Mark Richard of The Jam Yeti Music Blog joins the show as we countdown our Top 10 new releases of the third quarter of 2026. With lists from a few listeners, as well as some honorable mentions, we cover dozens of new albums for you to check out! We also share some of what we’re looking forward to for the final quarter of 2026. If it’s new heavy rock you’re lookin...

Today on The Heavy Desert Podcast, Drew Pelrine, Gabe Haydar and Troy Welling of Earthlore join the show. Out of Boston, Massachusetts, Earthlore released its debut, full-length album Within The Earth on August 28th. It is a killer album and we dig deep into it, their influences, and what they have coming up. We also talk about their recent appearance at RPM Fest on Labor Day Weekend and what it w...

Today on The Heavy Desert Podcast, I'm joined by Jose and David of 3 Wheeler Band! With the band gearing up to hit Ripplefest Mexico on November 14 at Foro 28 in Mexico City, we dive deep into their origins, influences, songwriting, upcoming plans, and plenty more. If 3 Wheeler Band isn't on your radar yet, now's the time to change that. These guys deliver massive riffs, good vibes, and a no-nonse...

Today on The Heavy Desert Podcast, I welcome Brenna Leath of Crystal Spiders & High Priestess Nighthawk of Heavy Temple. At the time of the recording they were set to go on tour together starting October 2nd, but unfortunately, Heavy Temple had to bow out. But I had such an incredible chat with them, I couldn’t just sit on it! We dig into their influences to the backstory of the bands. We even...

Today on The Heavy Desert Podcast, Kenny Charters of the Colorado Springs band Doctor Nez joins the show. Doctor Nez look to release its third EP Nothing Short of Silver on October 1st and we talk all about it! What started out as a solo, bedroom project, morphed into a three-piece band playing shows around the greater Denver, Colorado area. Kenny never saw this coming and he share his story. And...

Today on The Heavy Desert Podcast, I welcome back to the show Pablo Anton, guitarist and vocalist for Demons My Friends and the creator and curator of Ripplefest Mexico. We talk a little about Demons My Friends latest release, Survive/Yourself that was released earlier this year via Ripple Music. But we really dig into the second annual Ripplefest Mexico that is happening November 14th in Mexico C...

Today on The Heavy Desert Podcast, I welcome vocalist Mehdi Beltaïef, drummer Aziz El Ghoul and bassist Walter Vega of the Tunisian band Shade. These guys forge a fierce, high‑energy blend of alternative rock, stoner grit, and heavy metal. Driven by muscular riffs and detailed, shape‑shifting arrangements, they pull listeners into dense, hypnotic landscapes that erupt with sudden bursts of intensi...

Today on The Heavy Desert Podcast, Nick and Jake Blevins of two-piece, fuzzed out, doom metal, noise rock band, Arsis Thesis, join the show. They recently released their debut full-length album, Ustanak, on July 31. An album that was put on the back burner seven years ago, has finally seen the light of day, and we dig into it. We also talk about the dynamic of being brothers and how that affects t...

Today on The Heavy Desert Podcast, I welcome Dalton Kennerly and Schuyler Kotner of the band Creeper Bud to the show. Creeper Bud is a stoner/doom band out of Carbondale, Illinois set to release its self-titled debut album on September 18 via River To River Community Records, and we dig into it, along with their influences and how they got together. We also talk about the scene in Carbondale and t...

Today on The Heavy Desert Podcast, I’m joined by Drew Dupuis of Call of the Beast Radio and Mark Richard of The Jam Yeti Music Blog for a full‑throttle preview of Ripplefest Texas 2026! We tear through the entire lineup: the bands we can’t wait to see, the ones we’re just discovering, and the heavy hitters guaranteed to level Austin. We also break down what to expect at both venues — Sagebrush and...

Today on The Heavy Desert Podcast, I welcome guitarist and founding member of Greenleaf, Tommi Holappa to the show. This legendary band has brought so much great music to the scene and we dig into the influences, the backstory and what’s coming up on the horizon. Not to mention after 25 years, they will be making their first trek to North America for a 13-show tour starting in Austin, Texas at Rip...

Today on The Heavy Desert Podcast, Dusty Donley and Jared Collins of Mississippi Bones join the show to talk about their latest release Maladroit Blues For The Colorblind, that drops the day this show is released, on September 8th. These guys have quite a history together, that started as a duo, morphed into a full-live band and came full circle back to being a duo - now releasing their eighth stu...

Today on The Heavy Desert Podcast, I welcome The Captain - Staale Rodvelt, Azul-Josh, Doffy, Bjørn & Bjudas of the mighty Kal-El. In the span of 10 months, Kal-El has released, arguably, two of the heaviest, earth-shattering albums in the heavy underground. Astral Voyager Vol 1 & 2 dropped on  May 16 of 2025 and March 20 2026, respectfully, and we dig into how they shaped their latest spac...

Today on The Heavy Desert Podcast, James Matheson, Ethan Scott, and Brandon Doucet of Welland’s fuzz‑drenched trio Cannabus roll through the heavy desert. Their debut full‑length Ride the Bus dropped July 3 via Black Throne Productions, and we dig into the band’s roots, influences, and the creative spark behind the record. Mark Richard returns with a fresh Jam Yeti Music Minute review, and we dive...