Bleeding Metal Podcast

For this epidsode, Pia and Suzana discuss two metal related movies: Metalhead and Metal Lords. The movies are very different, but they both touch us, even if it's in very different ways.

Discover how these films challenge stereotypes about metal music while celebrating its capacity to build community, process trauma, and empower those who feel like outsiders. Whether it's through raw grief or awkward adolescence, both stories remind us that sometimes the loudest music can heal the deepest wounds.

02:11 Metalhead

14:52 Metal Lords

song recommended: Malmhaus - Svarthamar

Recorded on November 14th, 2024.

Bleeding Metal was created and is produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@kikigege87⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@power_pia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and is now co-hosted by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@suzanavalenca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@martha_wingen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Episode edited by Pia.

In this episode of the Bleeding Metal Podcast, Pia, Suzana, and our guest Simon McMurdo delve into the recent announcement by symphonic metal giants Nightwish about their touring hiatus. With the band’s latest album, Yesterwynde, marking the conclusion of a thematic trilogy, the three speculate on whether this pause might signal the end of Nightwish’s journey or simply a significant transitional phase. They explore the challenges faced by vocalist Floor Jansen during this album cycle, empathizing with her apparent longing to perform live and discussing how her expanding solo career may be influencing fans’ anxieties about the band’s future direction.

They share contrasting views on Yesterwynde, with Pia praising it as Floor’s most compelling work with Nightwish, while Simon feels it lacks the innovation of the band’s earlier releases. They agree on the album’s cohesive quality, noting its lyrical themes of human achievement, timelessness, and reflections on loss.

The discussion also touches on the possibility of former members returning, the band’s evolving lineup, and the potential for a grand celebration in 2026 to mark Nightwish’s 30th anniversary. Throughout, the conversation reflects the bittersweet emotions surrounding the band’s current hiatus and the uncertainties that lie ahead for Nightwish and their fanbase.

Recorded on October 17th, 2024.

Bleeding Metal was created and is produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@kikigege87⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@power_pia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and is now co-hosted by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@suzanavalenca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@martha_wingen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Episode edited by Pia.

In this episode of the Bleeding Metal Podcast, hosts Martha and Kiki discuss their recent concert experiences and favorite bands. We cover highlights from the Reload Festival, Euroblast, as well as the concerts of WITHIN TEMPTATION and BEARTOOTH.

The episode also features an interview with Jamie and Dan from POLARIS, who talk about their tour experiences, songwriting process, and even their personal feminist values.

00:57 Summer Festival Memories
01:49 Reload Festival Highlights
03:38 Euroblast Festival Experience
13:34 Within Temptation Concert Review
18:46 Polaris Interview
22:16 German Crowds and Concert Experiences
24:07 Band Dynamics and Songwriting
27:55 Personal and Emotional Connections
33:12 Tour Highlights and Upcoming Shows
39:06 Upcoming Concerts and Festivals

Show notes:

Bleeding Metal was created and is hosted and produced by ⁠@kikigege87 and ⁠@power_pia⁠ with the support of co-hosts ⁠@martha_horizis⁠ and ⁠@suzanavalenca.

In this enriching episode of the Bleeding Metal podcast, co-hosts Kiki and Suzana engage in a deep conversation with Simon from the modern metalcore band DEFOCUS. The discussion navigates the intricate interplay between politics and music, emphasizing the role of art in spreading human rights messages and fostering political awareness.

Simon shares his personal journey towards political consciousness and his views on current sociopolitical issues. Additionally, they explore the dangerous polarization of topics such as LGBTQ+ rights, advocating for open dialogue and understanding to combat extremism.

01:30 Meet Simon and DEFOCUS
05:17 The Importance of Political Awareness
07:25 Simon’s Personal Relationship with Politics
10:52 Global Conflicts and Media Coverage
16:37 The Role of Privilege in Advocacy
18:10 The Power of Platforms
20:03 Personal Causes
27:17 The Role of Music in Politics
33:32 Advice for Bands
35:29 Defocus Tour and New Music

Show notes:

Bleeding Metal was created and is hosted and produced by ⁠@kikigege87 and ⁠@power_pia⁠ with the support of co-hosts ⁠@martha_horizis⁠ and ⁠@suzanavalenca.

This episode explores the challenges artists face in earning a fair income in the streaming era. Kiki. Pia and Suzana discuss their experiences with various music platforms like Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Music, weighing factors like convenience, cost, and artist compensation. Alternative ways to support artists are explored, such as buying digital albums, donating directly, and using platforms like Patreon.

The conversation also touches on the decline of physical music formats and record store culture, with the speakers reminiscing about their experiences buying CDs and hanging out at record stores in their youth. The rise of digital music and piracy is cited as a factor in this cultural shift.

Suzana shares her experience discovering heavier music genres as a student, frequenting a local record store and finding creative ways to access and share music when buying individual CDs was not feasible. This highlights the struggles bands face in earning a living solely from their music.

The broader issue of compensating artists, athletes, and content creators is discussed, questioning where the line should be drawn in providing financial support for those who contribute to entertainment and culture but may not earn a living from their passion alone. The concept of a basic income is proposed as a potential solution.

Overall, the episode delves into the complex dynamics of valuing art, creativity, and the contributions of artists and athletes in society, while acknowledging the systemic challenges and the need to re-examine how different types of labor and contributions are measured and compensated.

00:03:14 - Paying Artists More, Donating, and the Challenges of Switching Music Platforms

00:09:24 - Transitioning from Physical to Digital Music Storage

00:17:20 - Nostalgia for the Local Music Scene

00:26:49 - The Value of Art and Digital Content Creation

00:43:29 - Supporting Small Bands Beyond Streaming

00:52:35 - Supporting Artists Through Social Media Engagement

Recorded on October 10th, 2024.

Bleeding Metal was created and is produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@kikigege87⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@power_pia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and is now co-hosted by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@suzanavalenca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@martha_wingen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode of the Bleeding Metal podcast, Vanessa Funke, a one-woman DIY metal artist, discusses her self-taught approach to music. She records all instruments and vocals in her bedroom, inspired by Finnish bands. Her music is atmospheric, melancholic, and melody-driven, showcasing her impressive vocal range.

Vanessa describes her flexible songwriting process, starting with guitar melodies and rhythms before adding lyrics, and highlights the creative freedom of working independently.

As an underground artist, Vanessa is touched when her music resonates with listeners, offering advice to aspiring musicians on the accessibility of home recording and distribution platforms. Despite the challenges of working alone, Vanessa values the solitude in her creative process, which helps her fully express her emotions.

00:09:24 - The Advantages of Solo Songwriting

00:18:16 - Connecting with Listeners Through Music

00:23:19 - Music Distribution and Cassette Comeback

00:30:12 - The Joys and Challenges of Solo Music Creation

00:35:17 - The Emotional Connection of Creating Music Alone

Recorded on September 26th, 2024.

Bleeding Metal was created and is produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@kikigege87⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@power_pia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and is now co-hosted by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@suzanavalenca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@martha_wingen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this special episode of the Bleeding Metal podcast, Pia introduces an engaging discussion led by Kiki with co-host Martha and returning guest Jenny (Joko). Together, we delve into our journeys of finding and forming bands.

Kiki shares her experience starting embercoal from scratch, while Joko talks about her new adventure with Invoke. Martha discusses her dual role in Horizis and NeuroTidal, highlighting both the struggles and triumphs of being part of the metal scene. They also touch upon utilizing professional skills within their bands, handling social media, and their upcoming music releases.

03:06 Joko's Journey with Invoke
03:56 Martha's Musical Career
08:19 Kiki's Band Formation Story
22:05 Band Member Roles and Responsibilities
29:12 Social Media and Marketing Strategies
33:39 Upcoming Releases and Final Thoughts

Show notes:

Bleeding Metal was created and is hosted and produced by ⁠@kikigege87 and ⁠@power_pia⁠ with the support of new co-hosts ⁠@martha_horizis⁠ and ⁠@suzanavalenca.

Kiki interviews Charlie, a woman with over 20 years in the gaming industry, about the overlap between gaming and heavy metal communities and the underrepresentation of women in these spaces. Charlie shares her background transitioning from music journalism to roles in gaming localization, art, academia, and business development.

Her passion for music fueled her diverse career path. They discuss the importance of women supporting each other rather than competing, and Charlie's experiences as a young, "cheeky" music journalist trying to access bands she loved.

Charlie's research now focuses on using games to preserve cultural heritage, languages, and traditions in an engaging way. They emphasize the importance of preserving endangered languages and cultures.

00:07:13 - Preserving Cultural Heritage Through Game Design

00:12:04 - Losing Indigenous Languages: A Personal Perspective

00:25:55 - Overcoming Toxicity in Gaming Communities

00:30:13 - Overcoming Sexism in Gaming Through Empathy and Inclusivity

00:38:34 - The Diversity and Agility of the Indie Game Space

00:44:33 - Breaking Down Barriers in the Game Industry

Recorded on September 19th, 2024.

Bleeding Metal was created and is produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@kikigege87⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@power_pia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and is now co-hosted by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@suzanavalenca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@martha_wingen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Pia and Suzana discuss the highly anticipated Linkin Park reunion with new vocalist Emily Armstrong and drummer Colin Britton. While Chester Bennington can never be replaced, the hosts express cautious optimism about the band's new artistic direction. Suzana shares her positive impression of the new single "The Emptiness Machine" and Emily's strong stage presence. Overall, the hosts seem hopeful about Linkin Park's future while respecting Chester Bennington's legacy as the former frontman.

00:08:01 - Touring Brazil: Challenges and Opportunities for Bands

00:10:54 - Linkin Park's Thoughtful Transition with New Female Vocalist

00:17:15 - Nervous Start, Confident Presence

00:22:28 - Exploring the Ambiguity Around a Celebrity's Scientology Ties

00:31:03 - Dealing with Unfair Criticism as a Woman in the Spotlight

00:37:24 - Embracing Change in Linkin Park's Reunion

Recorded on September 10th, 2024.

Bleeding Metal was created and is produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@kikigege87⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@power_pia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and is now co-hosted by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@suzanavalenca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@martha_wingen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Pia and Kiki discuss the historical use of provocative symbols in heavy metal, such as the upside-down cross and pentagram, as a means for bands to rebel against the mainstream. They acknowledge that while this tactic was effective in the past, it has become less shocking in today's desensitized society, where even tragic events like school shootings elicit less shock. The hosts also touch on the rise of right-wing extremism and the use of symbols to express those views, noting that art should aim to support the underprivileged rather than kick those below.

00:00:00 - The Evolving Role of Symbols in Heavy Metal

00:08:59 - Amplifying Marginalized Voices Through Conscious Consumerism

00:12:52 - Reclaiming Pagan Symbolism from Discrimination

00:16:44 - Misuse of Symbols and Holidays

00:18:24 - Balancing Artistic Expression and Social Impact

00:20:35 - Consent and Representation in Music Imagery

00:28:02 - The Impact of Symbols on Survivors of Sexual Abuse

00:31:44 - Reflecting on Festival Experiences and Sensitive Symbolism

Recorded on September 5th, 2024.

Bleeding Metal was created and is produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@kikigege87⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@power_pia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and is now co-hosted by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@suzanavalenca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@martha_wingen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.