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Signals From Mars – Episode 429: Howling Giant

In this episode of Signals From Mars, Victor welcomes Tom Polzine and Sebastian Baltes from Nashville heavy rockers Howling Giant to discuss their new album Crucible & Ruin, released on Halloween.

The band talks about Nashville’s influence, how their sound has evolved since Glass Future, and how the addition of Adrian on keys expanded their creative scope. They share details about writing and recording Crucible & Ruin, favorite gear, and the band’s unique approach to putting their own spin on classic covers.

The discussion also reflects on the legacy of Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath, and what Ozzy’s passing means to them as musicians and fans.

Whether you’re a longtime listener or new to Howling Giant, this episode offers a deep dive into their creative process, influences, and drive to make timeless, riff-heavy rock that transcends trends.

Topics Discussed:

• Nashville’s impact on Howling Giant’s sound

• The making of Crucible & Ruin

• How Glass Future inspired their next steps

• Gear talk and production choices

• Sebastian’s journey to joining the band

• Their take on cover songs

Connect with Howling Giant:

In this episode of Signals From Mars, Victor is joined by Jeremy and Ed to review the new hard rock and metal album releases from July and August 2025. Together, they dive into standout records, hidden gems, and surprising letdowns across a wide spectrum of styles — from thrash and power metal to gothic and progressive sounds.

This is the first live episode in months, marking the start of Year 16 of the podcast. Expect passionate takes, varied perspectives, and plenty of music discovery.

Key Topics & Timestamps

• Kicking off Year 16 + July 2025 album highlights (00:02:30)
• Debating originality in modern metal vs. retro influences (00:16:10)
• Standout picks from mid-July releases, including supergroups and live albums (00:29:45)
• August 2025 highlights: technical death metal, gothic metal, and groove-heavy releases (01:05:20)
• Final thoughts on August’s closing week and recap of each host’s album of the week (01:55:40)

Actionable Takeaways for Listeners

1. Explore variety: Don’t limit yourself to one subgenre — standout releases this summer ranged from thrash to gothic to progressive metal.
2. Listen critically: Production quality, originality, and songwriting can make or break an album, even from established artists.
3. Check the underdogs: Independent and lesser-known bands like Mods, Caststrator, and Rust n’ Rage delivered fresh, unexpected quality.
4. Revisit legends: Alice Cooper, Halloween, and Deftones proved that veteran acts can still surprise with strong, relevant material.
5. Look for supergroups: Projects like Nefarious and Firstborne highlight how collaborations between seasoned musicians can produce unique results.
6. Stay open-minded: Some albums that didn’t initially appeal still sparked debate and earned respect on second listen.
7. Use album-of-the-week picks as a playlist starter — each host highlighted their top record for every week in July and August.

In this episode of Signals From Mars, I’m joined by Laura Donnelly, vocalist of the incredible Scottish doom metal band Kingwitch. We dive deep into the making of their latest album, III — their most powerful and emotionally resonant release yet.

Laura opens up about the five-year gap between albums, much of which was shaped by family life, creative resets, and the band’s commitment to authenticity. We explore how having a child and taking time away from the road gave them the space to refine their sound and make a record that truly represents where Kingwitch is today.

We also get into the DIY nature of the band — with Laura contributing graphic design and Jamie (guitarist/partner) handling production and mixing duties. You’ll hear stories about recording in their home studio, experimenting with fretless bass, and even using their child’s xylophone on the record!

In episode 422 of Signals From Mars, Victor welcomes back longtime friend and podcasting peer Joshua Toomey for a deep and candid conversation about the state of podcasting, legacy rock bands, and Toomey’s latest creative projects.

Toomey—co-host of The David Ellefson Podcast, host of Talk Toomey, and member of the reunited Primer 55—opens up about his podcasting evolution, lessons learned from past co-hosts and platforms (including Knotfest), and why his new partnership with Ellefson has been both rejuvenating and surreal.

The episode dives into:

This episode centers on a full fan and panelist breakdown of the Back to the Beginning tribute concert — the final show for Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne. The panel (Victor, Brad, and Jeremy) reviews performances, band lineups, vocal quality, setlists, and surprises from the event.

Major topics covered: