As The Story Grows

Chapter 770 - "We Were So Inspired and Excited" ...as read by Marco Pastorino of Temperance Today we welcome Temperance guitarist and founding member Marco Pastorino to the podcast! The new Temperance record, Arcani, is out today on Napalm Records! Marco talks about starting Temperance, keeping the band going through line-up changes, going from Scarlet to Napalm Records, letting Kristen take the l...

Chapter 769 - "It's A Reminder To Everybody" ...as read by Tony Maue of Defects Today we welcome Defects frontman Tony Maue to the podcast! The new Defects record, Artificial Icons, is out this Friday on Mascot Records! Tony talks about his parents influence in his musical upbringing, signing with Mascot and how the label has started to shift, the difficulties of losing over half the band, and the...

Chapter 768 - "Complete The Story" ...as read by Sozos Michael of Gloryhammer Today we welcome Gloryhammer frontman Sozos Michael to the podcast! The new Gloryhammer record, Space 1993: Wrath of Kor-Virliath, is out this Friday on Napalm Records! Sozos talks about getting into Power Metal and the challenges of the metal community in Cyprus, joining Eons Enthroned and Gloryhammer, the writing proce...

Chapter 767 - "Just Give Everything" ...as read by Inherited Today we welcome Dutch hardcore newcomers Inherited to the podcast! Inherited recently released their Mascot Records debut ep, All 4 One. The guys talk about the hardcore scene in the Netherlands, the band’s musical legacy that inspired the name, finding success through their live shows, connecting with Mascot Records, and more. https://...

Chapter 766 - "A Hopeful Ending" ...as read by Niilo Sevänen of Insomnium Today we welcome Niilo Sevänen from Insomnium to the podcast! The new Insomnium record, Netherworlds, is out this Friday on Century Media Records. Niilo talks about the bands that were influences on Insomnium, creating music that is both dark and joyful, the themes on Netherworlds, touring with their musical heroes, and more...

Chapter 765 - "Total World Domination" ...as read by Ethan Kahn of Chained Saint Today we welcome Chained Saint guitarist Ethan Kahn to the podcast! Chained Saint’s new ep, Rise To Fall, is out today! Ethan talks about starting Chained Saint, the band’s quick rise in popularity, taking control over the recording process for this ep, being the youngest band on touring packages, and more. https://ww...

Chapter 764 - "My Younger Self Would Enjoy This Record More" ...as read by Chiaran Verheyden of Hippotraktor Today we welcome Hippotraktor guitarist Chiaran Verheyden to the podcast! Hippotraktor released Annihilist last week on Pelagic Records! Chiaran talks about the influences that led to him starting Hippotractor, the origins of the story Hippotratkor has been telling on each record, taking a...

Chapter 763 - "Songs Are Going To Be Better If Everyone Contributes" ...as read by Kai Zamora and Drew Storcks from Shy, Low Today we welcome Kai Zamora and Drew Storcks from Shy, Low to the podcast. Shy, Low will release Purity Spiral on Friday, October 16th, with Pelagic Records! The guys talk about their musical backgrounds and joining Shy, Low, getting in a room together to write music, the wa...

Chapter 762 - "We Are All Unpeople" ...as read by Em Lodge and Richard Rayner of unpeople Today we welcome Em Lodge and Richard Rayner from unpeople to the podcast! The new unpeople record, We Are Unpeople, is out this Friday on Sharptone Records! Em and Richard talk about their musical backgrounds and joining unpeople, creating music that can be unhinged and free of genre confines, the idea behin...

Chapter 761 - "Let Me Just Finish These" ...as read by Casval Wolfe of Vespera Today we welcome Casval Wolfe from Vespera to the podcast! Vespera recently reunited and is working towards a US tour next year. Casval talks about upending the direction his life was headed to write and play music, the devastating impact Covid had on the band, being burnt out on music, returning to Vespera, and so much...

September 2026 Recap Today we have clips from interviews with Arve Isdal of Audrey Horne, Darkest Prince of Devil Master, Aamir Syed of The Unknown, Alva Sandström and Bjorn Johansson from Arctis, Jake Luhrs of August Burns Red, Christophe Voisin-Boisvient of Skáld, Robin Staps of The Ocean, Joshua O’Donnell of Banks Arcade, and Ann-Sofie Hoyles and John Hoyles of Spiders! September Sponsor - Phil...

Chapter 760 - "We've Never Had This Much Fun Before" ...as read by Ann-Sofie Hoyles and John Hoyles of Spiders Today welcome Ann-Sofie and John Hoyles from Swedish rock band Spiders to the podcast! Spiders released their new album, Crystal Eyes, this past Friday on Sound Pollution Records. Ann and John discuss why Sweden has such a robust music scene, the musical influences that have inspired Spid...

Chapter 759 - "What I've Been Chasing" ...as read by Joshua O’Donnell of Banks Arcade  Today welcome Banks Arcade frontman Joshua O’Donnell to the podcast! The new Banks Arcade record, Second Place Superstar, is out today on Arising Empire Records. Josh talks about Banks Arcade finding their place in the Australian and New Zealand music scenes, how the band’s sound has shifted and evolved int...

Chapter 758 - "My Imagination Could Imagine This Next Chapter" ...as read by Robin Staps of The Ocean  Today we welcome back to the podcast Robin Staps from The Ocean! The Ocean will release Solaris this Friday on Pelagic Records! Robin talks about starting and running Pelagic Records, deciding to keep The Ocean going after the major line-up shake-up, the unique process of working with two vo...

Chapter 757 - "A Large Cohort Of Metal Fans" ... as read by Christophe Voisin-Boisvient of Skáld Today we welcome Skáld founder Christophe Voisin-Boisvient to the podcast! Skáld will release their Napalm Records debut, Ørlǫg , next Friday, September 25th! Christophe talks about his interest in Norse Mythology and poetry, how Skáld has found fans amongst the metal community, his process for working...

Chapter 756 - "What We Create Is A Reflection Of Who We Are" ...as read by Jake Luhrs of August Burns Red Today we welcome August Burns Red frontman Jake Luhrs to the podcast! August Burns Red released their 11th full-length album, Season Of Surrender, early this year with Fearless Records. Jake talks about his headspace when he first joined ABR and being in the band almost 20 years later, revisit...

Chapter 755 - "A Mixed Bag Of Goodies" ...as read by Alva Sandström and Bjorn Johansson from Arctis Today we welcome Alva Sandström and Bjorn Johansson from Arctis to the podcast! We discuss the musical background and formation of the band, the musical shift between the band’s debut and second record, taking time to give each song a chance to bloom and make an impact, finding their fans, and more....

Chapter 754 - "Deep Diving Into Something New" ...as read by Aamir Syed of The Unknown Today we welcome Aamir Syed, guitarist for The Unknown to the podcast! The Unknown released their new record, Graveyard Of Empires, last Friday! Aamir talks about his love of Iron Maiden and deep diving into metal and the music that inspired the genre, finally starting a band with The Unknown, the themes on Grav...

Chapter 753 - "Exactly What You Get From Us" ...as read by Darkest Prince of Devil Master Today we welcome Darkest Prince from Devil Master to the podcast! The new Devil Master album, Bloody Dreams, is out today on Relapse Records! We discuss the love of Japanese Hardcore Punk that led to the formation of Devil Master, the importance of the Relapse Records store, the imagery behind Bloody Dreams,...

Chapter 752 - "Extremely Busy" ...as read by Arve Isdal of Audrey Horne and Enslaved Today we welcome Audrey Horne and Enslaved guitarist Arve, Ice Dale, Isdal to the podcast! Audrey Horne will release their new record, Achilles, this Friday on Napalm Records! Arve talks about the genesis of Audrey Horne, balancing being in two full time bands, the themes on Achilles, finding an audience as a rock...

August Recap Today you'll hear clips from interviews with Marco Heubaum of Xandria, Franz Stefanik of Dead Tired, Ali Tabatabaee and Adrian Estrella from Zebrahead, Sven Polizuk of Rising Insane, Eric Stenmen of The Barbarians Of California, Jon Cattivera from Time Spent Driving, Felipe Mendes Hervoso Martins of AXTY, Ionei Heckenberg of Ocean Sleeper, Eric “AK” Knutson of Flotsam and Jetsam, Angi...

Chapter 751 - "It's Important To Focus On The New Album" ...as read by Thomas Youngblood of Kamelot Today we welcome Thomas Youngblood, guitarist for Kamelot to the podcast! The new Kamelot record, Dark Asylum, is out today on Napalm Records. Thomas talks about his early days playing guitar, his approach to writing new music, choosing artists to collaborate with, touring in the States vs Europe, a...

Chapter 750 - "Something That Makes Us More Unique" ...as read by Black Spikes Today we welcome Angi and Mazvis from Lithuanian metal band Black Spikes to the podcast. The new Black Spikes record, Ydos, is out this Friday on Napalm Records! The bands talk about the metal scene in Lithuania, the inspiration for Black Spikes, creating a visual framework for the band, writing songs in the native tong...

Chapter 749 - "Don't Put Out An Album That's Worse Then The Last One" ...as read by Eric “AK” Knutson of Flotsam and Jetsam Today we welcome Flotsam and Jetsam frontman Eric “AK” Knutson to the podcast. Flotsam and Jetsam will release their 16th full length, and Napalm Records debut, Rats In The Temple, this Friday! Eric talks about his early vocal inspiration, how his approach to lyrics has remai...

Chapter 748 - "Hearing A Breakdown For The First Time" ...as read by Ionei Heckenberg of Ocean Sleeper Today we welcome Ocean Sleeper guitarist Ionei Heckenberg to the podcast! The new Ocean Sleeper album, Peace When I’m Dead, is out today on Rise Records! Ionei talks about choosing music over a more typical lifestyle, the shifting nature of metalcore as a genre and sound, the joy of touring in th...