The MetalSucks Podcast

Badass shredder Michael Amott of Arch Enemy is the final guest on The MetalSucks Podcast. We are so excited to get to chat about the band's 12th studio album Blood Dynasty, due out March 28t We start the conversation with how creating music is still the most exciting part of being in a band for him, some of his practices if he runs into writer’s block, the full collaboration with Jens Bogren on the new album, and which Arch Enemy album he would love to put a concert medley together for the fans. We also discuss how adding Joey Concepcion to the band gives them a little fire in the studio, the positive outlook that not being an overnight success brings to him as an artist, his input in the cover artwork for the new album, touring the states for the first time in three years and some of those challenges, and the most intimidating factor for him when he decided to follow his dream of being a musician. Finally, the MetalSucks podcast team sends all our gratitude for all the wonderful years of being able to participate as the official podcast for Metalsucks.net. Being a heavy metal fan that somehow had transitioned into heavy metal media, the great team and family that welcomed us, believed in us, trusted us, and gave us an opportunity that changed our lives. Lastly we send out a huge thank you to the fans as we close this magical and meaningful chapter to our lives and say goodbye. Song: Arch Enemy “Dream Stealer” Song: Arch Enemy “Blood Dynasty” Song: Allegation “Driftwood” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matty Mullins of Memphis May Fire joins the podcast this week! During our chat, we discuss the new album Shapeshifter coming out March 28! We also chat about their year-long release of singles, fans' reaction to releasing a ton of singles and music videos, and how it benefits the songs individually in the live setting. We also face the idea of full length albums going away in heavy music, the negative affects of celebrating the past if the band just does singles, how the process of performing encores in a live setting have changed through the years, having evil right in front of our eyes constantly in modern America having to be addressed, the dangers of a band going fully independent when it comes to the passion of creating, how they team build to keep the core group together through 15 years, and the huge benefit of a band member being a producer for the band Petar and Brandon discuss the expectations they have for the new film Spinal Tap 2, the decades late sequels that have scarred us, if Sleep Token is going to blow up across the world on the latest album, and Disturbed burning the Chicago Bulls championship banners. Song: Memphis May Fire “Hell is Empty” Song: Memphis May Fire “Chaotic” Song: Katerina Nicole “Catch My Breath” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Zachary Ezrin is our guests this week! We are here to discuss the latest album GOLDSTAR coming out March 21st! We start the show be discussing being the last band to record in Colin Marston studio in NYC, getting the album recorded in 5 days this time around, how they got involvement from Dave Lombardo and Tomas Haake on the album, the influence of early cigarette advertisement on the albums artwork, his thought on the modern day protocols when people “bum a cigarette”, traveling really being important to knowledge of people and there lives, the touring memories that stick after doing for over a decade, and the creative impact that the bands choices of “cover songs” as singles the last few years had. Petar and Brandon discuss Mastodon finally moving on with Brent Hinds after 25 years, us both being shocked that it didn’t happen sooner, our hopes that no mud slinging will occur in the future. We also discuss Courtney LaPlante pinpoint the perfect production that does affect current metal core records, Ghost unveiling a billboard in front of a church on the Vegas strip, and him letting fans know that there cell phones won’t be allowed at their upcoming world tour.  Song: Imperial Triumphant “Pleasuredome” featuring Dave Lombardo and Tomas Hawke Song: Imperial Triumphant “Lexington Delirium” feat Tomas Haake Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Warbringer frontman John Kevill is once again back on the show! We open the discussion on his take on the world we currently live in, how his optimism of seeing positive change in his lifetime has waned in recent times, and how that mindset inspired the song “A Better World”. We also talk about how many of the songs on the new album are based on his experiences, how modern art has a low level of mind control that affects our decision making, how important the next year is for Warbringer, and the toxic mix many artists feel when they are successful in music but it doesn’t translate into financial security. Petar and Brandon discuss the “Cat Bath Water” merchandise release by Belushi Speed Ball, MTV Unplugged streaming now on Paramount+ and us remembering those episodes in real time, Buckcherry’s Josh Todd believing in rock n roll, and some Hatebreed drama surrounded the exit of Chris Beattie. Song: Warbringer “The Sword And The Cross” Song: Warbringer “A Better World” Song: Alien Weaponry “1000 Friends” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dani Filth of the iconic Cradle of Filth is back on the podcast! We are here to celebrate the new album The Screaming of the Valkyries coming out March 21st! We begin our conversation on writing music post pandemic and Dani’s lets us know they are already writing for a new album before this one drops, we continue to discuss all the new social media platforms and how that is to navigate for established bands, the sad realization that going to a record store has zero magic for him in modern times, the years of him skateboarding in an English village, his disdain for any kind of graffiti that is not art, the marriage of two members of Cradle of Filth and having newlyweds in the band, and he tells us his favorite 80’s action hero. Petar and Brandon discuss Dave Murray’s comments on Iron Maiden knowing when its time to hang it up, if Iron Maiden would announce a final tour, Triple B Records having to tell fans not to trust an AI Mindforce merch website, and Jinjer’s bassist letting us all know again that musicians are on the bottom of a pyramid scheme. Song: Cradle of Filth “To Love Deliciously” Song: Cradle of Filth “Malignant Perfection” Song: Nite “Crow (Fear The Night) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brandan Schieppati of Bleeding Through is our guest this week! We discuss the latest record Nine that came out this past Friday and if they picked that date on purpose. We also chat about the story behind is signature roll on stage and if he plans on retiring it, why this latest record is his favorite, what he liked about the indie label packages from the band's early days and what he doesn’t miss about it, the sense of freedom that comes from being able to say "no" in the music industry, all the guests on the record, and what he picked up on when revisiting the classic album The Truth. Aside from the interview, Petar and Brandon discuss the past week's news stories on MetalSucks, including: Soundgarden getting a nomination for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Killswitch Engage’s Mike D’Antonio getting upset about people confusing his artwork as AI generated, Danzig making the statement that he may not be recording any new music, and the weekend reader's poll on high ticket prices for major metal concerts. Song: Bleeding Through “Path Of Our Disease” Song: Bleeding Through “Dead But So Alive” Song: Grima “Flight of the Silver” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on The MetalSucks Podcast, Lacuna Coil vocalist Cristina Scabbia joins the show! She's here to discuss the band's latest album Sleepless Empire coming out this Friday, Feb. 14! We discuss if there was any plans for releasing the album on Valentine’s Day, the challenge of creating after the experience they had with previous album Black Anima, and making sure to celebrate the past in a way that looks to the band's creative future. We also chat about the single Lacuna Coil recorded with members each band from their upcoming North American tour, her favorite visual filmmakers that leave an impression on her, and why its so hard to pick a setlist for a show after 10 albums. Petar and Sylvia discuss the final performance of Black Sabbath being booked July 5, the revelations of his health being in a bad place, the dream lineup playing the final show, the concerns that we have despite it being all for charity and all the bands sharing the stage, Gojira taking home the Grammy for the Best Metal Performance, Courtney LaPlante of Spiritbox doing a brilliant Poppy impersonation, and the major missed opportunity for System of a Down by not making a new album for our scene. Song: Lacuna Coil “Gravity” Song: Lacuna Coil “Oxygen” Song: Mantar “Rex Perverso” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jesse Leach of Killswitch Engage is our guest this week and we're here to make sure everyone out there picks up their upcoming album This Consequence, coming out February 21. The conversation starts with the journey from Atonement to the latest album, re-releasing the debut record with new ears and years behind it, growing up in the New England metal and hardcore scene, and how the bands brought vulnerability and positivity to an entire genre that lacked much of both. We also talk about the importance of truth to our lives and how the definition adapts and changes as we grow older, how the coldness of technology can limit a revolution of the heart and being human, and the hardcore and punk bands that influenced him in so many ways, and if Killswitch would ever tackle an unplugged type of performance. Petar and Brandon discuss the smells that come to mind when thinking about nu metal, how James “Munky” Shaffer is changing the narrative of that smell by releasing his new fragrance, the return of Spineshank and Snot, and Shavo Odadjian’s statement on System of a Down "testing the waters" with their 2025 tour plans. Song: Killswitch Engage “Forever Aligned” Song: Killswitch Engage “I Believe” Song: Year of the Cobra “War Drop” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bjorn “Speed” Strid is our guest this week on the podcast! He joins us to help shine a spotlight on the latest album by The Night Flight Orchestra, Give Us The Moon! The discussion starts with if he thinks he would fair well if he chose a career as a steward for an airline, what job he wanted when he was a child, if there's a customer service element in being in a traveling band, the journey of creating music again after the passing of his bandmate and one of his best friends David Andersson, the dream stage show for The Night Flight Orchestra if there was no budget restraints, the plans to bring the project to North America after seven albums, and which power ballad he would love to tackle one day. Petar and Sylvia discuss songs with ridiculous sexual innuendos in rock that we weren’t aware of in our youth, the current status of Faith No More being a mystery, our thoughts on the only way Mike Patton would want to do another Faith No More tour, Orange Goblin calling it quits after 30 years of kicking ass, and Rob Rivera of Nonpoint having a medically emergency due to coffee. Song: The Night Flight Orchestra “Way To Spend The Night” Song: The Night Flight Orchestra “Give Us The Moon” Song: The Hellacopters “Leave A Mark” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Harakiri for the Sky vocalist JJ is back on the podcast celebrating the latest album Scorched Earth out January 24! We open the conversation on the three pillars of life that influence him lyrically, having the reestablished his personal identity after life changing during the pandemic, leaving isolated in a cabin in the woods when creating songs for the album, listening to music in a nostalgic realm assisting positive life memories, the guest vocalist he get on the new album including Serena Cherry of Svalbard, why they choose to cover Radiohead this time around, and combing all of the previous album covers into one for the presentation of Scorched Earth. Petar and Jozalyn discuss the passing of iconic filmmaker David Lynch, the lessons he provided future artists, and how the future film fanatics will permanently cement his works and learn from them as a true generational artist. Song: Fantômas “Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me” Song: Harakiri for the Sky “Keep me Longing” Song: Harakiri for the Sky “With Autumn I’ll Surrender” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices