The Metalsucks Podcast

In Flames vocalist Anders Fridén is our guest this week on The MetalSucks Podcast! In this episode, we discuss he indulges in American Football when touring the States, how to put together a setlist that won’t disappoint fans after 14 albums, and how the world we entered post-pandemic is somehow more hostile. We also chat with Fridén about the importance of Alice In Chains to heavy music and to him as a lyricist, the direction he gave on the cover artwork for new album Foregone, the reaction and new feeling he's experienced touring the States post-pandemic, and the one time his eight year old son was needed to help In Flames in a video game competition. Petar and Brandon celebrate Ozzy Osbourne’s first number one album on the Billboard Charts, Gene Simmons’s statement declaring “I Don’t Have Friends,” and we breakdown MetalSucks' 10 people we can’t stand at metal shows. Song: In Flames “Foregone Pt. 1” Song: Defacing God “Rise Of The Trinity” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.co

Guitarist Matteo Di Giola from Destrage is our guest this week on The MetalSucks Podcast! In this exciting episode, we discuss the title of the first single and how he feels he is a part of things that currently suck, how trying to communicate in modern times is too much effort for many people, the decision behind signing to Periphery’s 3DOT record label. We also chat about the band's Stone Temple Pilots cover on the new album, the story behind Devin Townsend’s guest spot, a analogy that he was told about the difference between cultures in America and Italy, and why he questions the phrase cultural appropriation. This week's episode also features a discussion between Petar, Jozalyn, and Sylvia about some of the week's big headlines, including the tragic passing of Soilwork guitarist David Andersson, our thoughts on The Black Dahlia Murder continuing on without Trevor Strnad, and Tommy Lee overcharging his fans to join his Only Fans page. Song: Soilwork “Tongue” Song: Destrage “ Everything Sucks and I T

Iconic lyricist and frontman Neil Fallon is our guest this week! We discuss the livestream sessions known as the Doom Saloon that was done to celebrate 30 years of the band, why he felt the need not to do streaming performance pre recorded, on how the latest album was a study centric scenario for the band, on focusing more on storytelling when he wants to present lyrical content, how music videos have been a huge part of their creative process the last decade, the lessons that he learned through the years opening for audiences that seemed not being receptive, if he is open to writing a Clutch autobiography, the importance of traveling to help you empathize with people, and what he wanted to write about when he started writing the new album Sunrise on Slaughter Beach. Petar, Jozalyn, and Sylvia discuss Jozalyn recording her first comedy special in Colorado, missing the Motley Crüe Stadium tour, Trent Reznor’s comments on watching the Taylor Hawkins tribute show, and our thoughts on Ozzy Osbourne’s comments

With Netherheaven crushing skulls everywhere today, Revocation's David Davidson took some time to sit down and have a fun little chat on this bonus episode of The MetalSucks Podcast.  In this episode, we discuss the last movie David saw in theaters, the negative reaction he gets about the types of art he loves and how it affects his perception, and a warning to not watch a certain film while under the influence of drugs. Oh, and as the band gears up for its tour in support of the new record, we also discussed Davidson's journey of finding his true identity as a musician, what it was like learning new software to produce his own music, and knowing when a song is done. Song: Revocation - “Re-Crucified” (ft. Trevor Strand and George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher) Song: Brymir - “Voices In The Sky” Song: A thru Z - “Stranded” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Electric Callboy vocalists Nico Sallach and Kevin Ratajczak are our guests this week! We discuss the importance of music being a part of culture, their experience of mashing up different styles of music with heavy metal, how YouTube has helped people be more open minded during the pandemic, and how the empathy the youth should get for making it through the pandemic years. We also chat about their new album Tekkno having the ultimate goal of making people feel good, the difficult time away from performing live, the fans that kept them afloat, and the upcoming U.S. tour with Attack! Attack! After the interview, Petar and Sylvia discuss Scott Ian’s comments about Mike Patton being asked to join Anthrax, Corey Taylor’s comments on Stone Sour’s hiatus, and researchers finding lyrics that are misheard the most. Song: Electric Callboy “Pump It” Song: Devil Wears Prada “Watchtower” Song: Space of Variations “Someone Else” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nick Holmes of Bloodbath and Paradise Lost is our guest this week! We discuss the concept behind the bloody music video for lead single "Zombie Inferno," the album artwork bringing him back to being in the record store in 1988, the zombie films that infected him when he was 9 years old, and the element of the mystery being lost in modern horror films. We also chat about getting Barney from Napalm Death and Luc Lemay from Gorguts to guest on the new album, how the Florida sound influenced Survival of the Sickest, the visa issues that caused Bloodbath to miss shows in North America, the pandemic hindering the last Paradise Lost album Obsidian, what it was like to perform to a digital audience during that time with Paradise Lost, and his thoughts on doing a livestream with Bloodbath. Petar and Brandon discuss Avatar thinking its their duty to save heavy metal, and Ozzy tripping on acid and talking to a horse for an hour. Song: Bloodbath “Zombie Inferno” Song: Bloodbath “Carved” Featuring Luc Lemay of Go

Morgan Lander of Kittie is our guest this week! We discuss how the When We Were Young Festival started the ball rolling for them to reunite, creating the documentary on the history of the band, the importance of being able to tell their story on there own terms and how the reunion has sparked a renewed interest in the band. Over the course of our discussion, we also talk about the positive of keeping some distance with fans and going on a hiatus, the Kittie album Lander would prefer to play in its entirety, her new project Karkaos and its current status, what her current deadline is for new music from Kittie, and her thoughts on rerecording their classic debut album for its 25th anniversary. Petar and Brandon report on going to Psycho Vegas this weekend, Jimmy Page not collaborating with Ozzy Osbourne on his new album, and Charlie Benante telling haters to stay at him when Pantera reunites. Song: Kittie “Cutthroat” Song: Telekinetic Yeti “Ancient Nug” Song: Fallujah “Radiant Ascension” Learn more ab

Film composer Tyler Bates is back on the show! We discuss his involvement in producing new music and touring with Jerry Cantrell, how performing again after the pandemic was a almost spiritual connection with the fanbase, recruiting the band that would perform on Jerry’s new album Brighten, producing the major label debut for Starcrawler, all the details in composing the music for the Guardians of the Galaxy roller coasters, on collaborating with Chelsea Wolfe on the soundtrack to the film X, and his latest soundtrack works including Dayshift starring Jamie Foxx. Petar and Jozalyn we discuss our plans for the Psycho Las Vegas Festival this upcoming weekend, how we navigate so many bands playing on six stages, Satyr from Satyricon unwilling to apologize for Black Metal, and Max Cavalera possibly plotting an original Soulfully reunion to celebrate the debut album. Song: Tyler Bates and Chelsea Wolfe “Dolls” X Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Song: Tyler Bates “Big John’s Sacrifice” Dayshift Original Mo

Film Composer and Musical Icon Danny Elfman is our guest this week! We discuss the remix and reimagined album Bigger. Messier coming out August 12th, the importance of being curious when creating a remix album with other artists, the sequencing of the remix album being lead be music opposed to Big Mess, why he felt he needed to create his own deadline to complete his latest solo record, the pandemic being a perfect combination of having to create to keep sane, on how he know when a song is complete in his creative process, album artwork being such an important piece to him creating an album, getting Iggy Pop as a dream collaborator on the new project, and the difference between his soundtrack work being a character in the film or capturing a specific moment. Petar, and Jozalyn discuss Korn Guitarist Head’s statement about the metal community being inclusive, Def Leppard’s guitarist Phil Collen waiting for the next Metallica, and Phil Anselmo making a statement about Vinnie Paul and Dimebag on his recently

The Halo Effect vocalist Mikael Stanne is our guest this week! We discussed the origins of his new band The Halo Effect, how the pandemic helped the project in crafting the debut album, the decades he has known his other bandmates in the project, the secretive nature of the project and the excitement to rollout the announcement to fans, if he felt the expectations that the project would bring to the fanbase when writing the songs, the story behind naming the project, the approach on writing lyrics based on his history with his band members, focusing on negativity, injustice and destructive thoughts being part of the writing process, and the experience of performing 4 songs in the freezing cold on a roof top in Sweden. Petar, Jozalyn, and Sylvia discuss the fan that rushed the stage at a Rage Against The Machine show that lead to Tom Morello getting tackled, Ivan Moody disowning Five Finger Death Punch’s Music Video, and Michael Keene’s latest moment before a performance of The Faceless. Song: The Halo E

This week, Imperial Triumphant’s Steve Blanco is our guest! We discuss how he got Kenny G as a guest performer on the band's new album Spirit of Ecstasy, recently touring the border countries of the Russia/Ukraine conflict, and the film composer that is the biggest inspiration on his band. We also discuss Stanley Kubrick being a perfect example of cinema, his thoughts on modern-day art versus entertainment, how everything they do is somehow tied to New York City, and looking forward to their upcoming tour with Zeal & Ardor. Petar, Sylvia, and Brandon tackle Scott Ian’s comments about S.O.D. being canceled in modern times, Corey Taylor giving up on changing people’s views, and Mike Patton’s need to step away from lives shows due to his mental health. Song: Imperial Triumphant, “Merkurius Gilded” Song: Imperial Triumphant, “Maximalist Scream” Song: Psycroptic, “A Fool’s Errand” Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices

Nile mastermind Karl Sanders is our guest this week! We discuss his third solo effort Saurian Apocalypse, the journey to complete the trilogy he started back in 2004, how guitarist Rusty Cooley gave him guitar lessons during the pandemic, and the number of guest performers that he included on the record. Karl also breaks down the era of music in which he feels that creativity was more encouraged, the importance of the album covers to all his solo projects, and the upcoming book that the wrote for this project. Petar, Jozalyn, and Sylvia discuss the recently-announced Pantera reunion, the band members that were chosen to replace the Abbot Brothers, and Nita Strauss leaving the Alice Cooper band to join up with Demi Lovato. Song: Karl Sanders “The Sun Has Set On The Age of Man” Song: Karl Sanders “Skull Fuck Ritual (Skull Breach Edition)" Thank you to our sponsor, Metal Blade Records, for their continued support! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Diehard metal fan and Mayor of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Tim Keller is our guest this week! Tim discusses how he looks to metal for inspiration when he is writing speeches, which bands help us focus when we need to create a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, and how many of his peers in public service are also hardcore metalheads. He also discusses the show that he attended the day after he became mayor, the last time that he went into the mosh pit, at what heavy metal show he decided to run for mayor in the first place, how he got the parks department to livestream a Metallica show at a drive-in during the pandemic, the one metal musician he would want to give the keys to the city of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and the  band that he never got to see see because he was kicked out of a concert. Petar, Jozalyn, and Sylvia discuss the programmer who wore a Tool shirt to a job interview and got the job, and Vince Neil using a teleprompter. Song: Anthrax “Among The Living” Song: Wake “Swallow The Light” Song: My Sleepin

This week, Mudvayne and Hellyeah frontman Chad Gray is our guest! We discuss his early touring days with Slipknot before Mudvayne broke out, the trek the ended a 26-month touring cycle, Mudvayne’s motivation for wearing make-up in their early days, and the importance of mystique to the success of the band.  Chad also talks about connecting with the fans with his live performance, protecting openers when the Mudvayne fanbase is disrespectful to them, which album was more difficult to follow up -- L.D. 50 or Lost and Found -- Vinnie Paul seeing every show he could in Vegas, how Dime and Vinnie Paul celebrated Dime’s birthday every year in Vegas, and Vinnie Paul transitioning from Dallas mainstay to Las Vegas legend. Petar and Sylvia discuss the 24 hour-straight Rage Against The Machine protest at a Canadian radio station, the backsplash we recently received for our negative comments about Mötley Crüe stadium tour kick off, and our thoughts on Dave Mustaine’s recent comments about ex-Megadeth bassist Dave Elle

This week, Municipal Waste frontman Tony Foresta is back on the show! We discuss the concept of Municipal High that the band has been working on for a decade, an update on the screenplay that may feature a Paranormal Janitor, our thoughts on the Hollywood remake of The Toxic Avenger, how difficult it is to commit to watching great TV shows, and our gripe with the new trend of three-hour-long comic book films. Tony also tells us a great story about when he was checking out a live Panic At The Disco Show, regales us with his worst onstage spill moment, and explains how all of us are losing years of photos because of the digital age. Petar and Brandon tackle the debut of the new tracks by Megadeth and Ozzy Osbourne, which song met our expectations and which music video left us concerned, and the heartbreaking ruling made by the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade in the United States. Song: Municipal Waste “Electrified Brain” Song: Municipal Waste “High Speed Steel” Song: Greg Puciato “Lowered Featuring Re

This week, Mille Petrozza of thrash legends Kreator is our guest! We discuss his love of coffee and how Kreator got into the coffee game, what metal-branded coffee he would vouch for, what he always wants to achieve when writing a new album, the pandemic not being good for him creatively the way it was for many other bands, and why now was the time to write a song about the metal community. He also talks about how filmmaker Ari Aster influenced the music video for “Midnight Sun,” missing Nirvana at small clubs when they played in Germany years ago, how the European festival circuit killed a lot of competition, and the difficulties of living and maintaining a healthy lifestyle on tour. Petar and Sylvia discuss Motley Crüe’s return to the stage, all the build up by the band prior to the show, the drama that happened immediately after the first show, and Herman Li from Dragonforce exalting the guitar virtuoso known as Kurt Cobain. Song: Kreator “Hate Über Alles” Song: Kreator “Become Immortal” Song: Lord of

This week, Jordan Rudess of Dream Theater is back on the show! We discuss his upcoming North American solo tour that kicks off June 25th, the medley that he has created for the tour (which includes Liquid Tension Experiment and Dream Theater tracks), how his solo shows can be viewed as a musical autobiography, what goes into good ambient music, and how that genre brings him peace. He also talks about practicing meditation while playing the piano, his thoughts on competition when he attended Julliard, enjoying social media, what drove him to start a Patreon, and why he prefers to write music with other artists in the same room. Petar, Jozalyn, and Sylvia discuss Larrisa Stupar’s decision to pause Venom Prison live shows as she takes on motherhood, Johnny Rotten’s statement on anarchy being a terrible idea, and Kirk Hammett telling us all that Metallica “warned everyone” of the negative effects of streaming. Song: Jordan Rudess “Weightless” Song: Liquid Tension Experiment “ Hypersonic” Song: Dream Theater “

The legendary Max Cavalera is our guest this week! We discuss his current tour celebrating the 30th anniversary of the classic Sepultura albums Beneath The Remains and Arise, the lyrical content on those records having a better meaning now than it did 30 years ago, how society in general considered the material ridiculous back then, and the younger generation discovering his classic records. We also talk about what it will take to get Killer Be Killed to do a full tour, why he had doubts that the project would work at all, the journey of two years that went into the latest Soulfly album Totem, and the reason the closing song is over ten minutes long. Petar, Jozalyn, and Sylvia discuss the inconveniences of going to concerts win your 60’s, the first trailer for Beavis and Butt-Head Do The Universe, and Wolfgang Van Halen’s response to Reelz doing an ‘Autopsy’ program on his father Song: Sepultura “Beneath The Remains” Song: Sepultura “Desperate Cry” Song: Temple Of Void “Hex, Curse, & Conjuration” Thank y

This week, Blöthar the Berserker of GWAR is back on the show! We discuss how there is nothing more boring than Ken Burns’ Baseball, GWAR possibly doing a country EP inspired by Miranda Lambert, the GWAR comic book coming out the same day as their new record, if GWAR is more art- than music-based, and how the pandemic allowed the band to focus on many different aspects of GWAR. The intergalactic sexlord also talks about catching COVID on their last North American tour, performing one show with only two members during that trek, why GWAR wrestling shows occur before a major production show, his favorite GWAR “scripted” tour, why the lyrics of their new single “Mother Fucking Liar” were easy to write, GWAR being the hardest band to be in, and how GWAR ruined a Goo Goo Dolls album. Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia discuss the mass shooting that occurred in Texas, our thoughts and reactions to gun violence in America, and Mike Shinoda’s comments on artist feeling forced to be social media stars. Song: GWAR “Mother Fuc

Brett Boland of Astronoid is our guest this week! We discuss why lyrics are the part of creating music that he finds the most difficult, how current events affected the words that he placed on the record, and what recent film that he felt was an influence on him sonically. We also discuss the A24 film universe, why the PBS streaming service is all he needs for television, having his daughter and the transition that comes to your life with having kids, the stride that the band hit before the pandemic and how that pause affected their momentum, and of course, his thoughts on the final Rambo film. Petar, Jozalyn, and Sylvia blast Vince Neil for being the face of a pay day loan commercial, Bon Jovi’s current vocal issues, and Emperor Rhombus’ piece on Dio always being the coolest metal singer. On this week’s episode, Petar mentions that a GoFundMe has been launched for the family of his late friend Ben Black. You can donate to Ben’s campaign here. Song: Astronoid “Human” Song: Astronoid “Sleep Whisper” Thank