Dez Fafara of Devildriver is our guest this week on The MetalSucks Podcast! In this episode, we celebrate their new album Dealing With Demons Vol. 2, emoji’s making their way in business communication, the income a band would get for plays 20 years ago compared to today, and younger audiences embracing late 90’s bands. We also talk about what it was like touring with Type O Negative in the early 2000’s, the lesson Peter Steele gave him one night while drinking wine, how he gravitates to people in music without ego, his take on the feature of releasing new music for the heavy scene, and how the Devildriver fanbase has accepted any direction he feels his art should go through the years.



Petar also tackles Paul Stanley’s comments on gender identity as being a fad, Dee Snider getting remove from the San Francisco Gay Pride Parade because of his support of Paul Stanley, Dustie Waring of BTBAM addressing rape allegations, and Rage Against The Machine getting into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.



Song: Devildriver “Through The Depths”

Song: Currents “The Death We Seek”

Song: High Priest “Divinity”
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#487 - Dez Fafara (DevilDriver/Coal Chamber)

The official podcast of MetalSucks, featuring Petar Spajic, Brandon Hahn and Jozalyn Sharp. One featured interview each week with a prominent metal musician, and discussion of the latest headlines in metal news. New episodes every Monday morning.

Music

Music Interviews

Music Commentary

This week we are putting a spotlight on one of the more interesting releases so far this year, Crypt Sermon's latest The Stygian Rose, which will release on June 14. To that end, we got Brooks Wilson and Steve Jansson on the show to talk about everything from getting into the studio in 2022 to finally being done with it and ready for release. We'll chat about the pros and cons of going into the studio prepared, how doing that helped capture their sound, and how Brooks created the cover art. They also name the video game they feel would be displayed on a video wall before their shows, how vintage 80’s and 90’s action movies have a language of their own. Brooks also does a deep dive into an interesting regional character to inspire lyrical themes on the record and why you can’t miss these guys on tour when shows are announced in North America.



Petar and Sylvia discuss a little WWE and the passing of the the torch for the Women’s Title, Bring Me The Horizon surprise releasing their latest album, our thoughts on bands that choose to do surprise releases, Live Nation’s response to the DOJ’s investigation in their business practices, and how we as fans have to navigate the current monopoly they have on shows.



Song: Crypt Sermon “Glimmers In The Underworld”

Song: Crypt Sermon “Heavy is the Crown of Bone”

Song: Insect Ark “Youth Body Swayed”
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#540 - Brooks Wilson and Steve Jansson (Crypt Sermon)

Guitar wizard and Intervals mastermind Aaron Marshall is our guest on this week's MetalSucks Podcast! We discuss their new album Memory Palace out right now! During out chat, we also tackle the guest performances on the new record, how improvising works in the band when it comes to  studio and live performances, and he attempts to breakdown what makes a prog metal instrumental ballad work. Marshall also shares some of the team building exercises he and his crew use on the road and the surreal moment on their recent tour with Mammoth WVH involving a recipe for bread.



Petar and Brandon discuss Sebastian Bach’s statement that reason Skid Row hasn’t reunited is because of a “miscommunication," we attempt to write the email that'll get Mr. Bach back in the lineup's good graces, and we revisit how  how Killswitch Engage’s The End of Heartache changed the game when it came to heavy music in the 2000s.



Song: intervals “Galaxy Brian” Featuring J3PO

Song: intervals “Mnemonic”

Song: Four Stroke Baron “The Witch”
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#539 - Aaron Marshall (Intervals)

This week's show features an awesome interview with Joseph Rowland of the mighty Pallbearer! During our chat, we hear all about the new album Mind Burns Alive out this Friday, May 17. We also discuss the band's approach of embracing the “quiet” on many of the songs, the comfort he feels in creating in music in an isolated space, and the approach they take on artwork for album covers. Things also take a turn for the philosophical, as the concept of “fate” comes up, how these days the truth requires compromise to communicate, the power of communication through music, longevity of creating art versus popular content, and the battle with being addicted the our phones.



Petar and Sylvia discuss the passing of Steve Albini, the lesson he leaves behind with his approach as a engineer for heavy music, the return of Kittie with their first full length album in 13 years, Serj Tankian’s comments on only wanting to do short tours for the fans, and Kerry King just needing to be a little less upfront of his conversation with Tom Araya.



Song: Zao “A Last Time For Everything”

Song: Pallbearer “Where The Light Fades”

Song: Pallbearer “Endless Place”

Song: Fu Manchu “Hands of The Zodiac”
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#538 - Joseph Rowland (Pallbearer)

This week on The MetalSucks Podcast, we welcome Brittney Slayes, vocalist of the mighty Unleash The Archers! During our chat, we discuss the band's forthcoming album Phantoma due this Friday, May 10. Some of the topics covered during our conversation includes what went into the creation of the album's concept and overarching storyline, how the protagonist in the story is thrust into horrible situations but that hope is always right around the corner, and how this relates to us having to slow life down in modern times to truly be appreciative. On a more philosophical level, we also tackle how new challenges in life can be scary but necessary, why being happy is a conscious choice that isn’t always easy, the negativity that we have to take daily in so many avenues on the internet, the positive messaging Brittney's tried, and how the positive interactions the band has with fans are a blessing for them.



Petar and Brandon discuss the rapper OsamaSon completely ripping off Iron Maiden’s artwork, Deicide’s Glen Benton statement on the modern look of metalhead, and the disturbing allegations made against Knocked Loose’s drummer Kevin Kaine (and his response to those accusations).



Song: Unleash The Archers “Green & Glass”

Song: Unleash The Archers “Ghost In The Mist”

Song: Teramaze “Standing Ovation”
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#537 - Brittney Slayes (Unleash The Archers)

Iconic guitarist Marty Friedman is back on The MetalSucks Podcast! We're celebrating his new solo album Drama, which is coming out on May 17. In our chat, we discuss his return to touring North America after the pandemic, look back on the visually arresting livestream he participated in during the Tokyo Jukebox album cycle, and a breakdown on the song structure of the centerpiece track “Mirage." We also discuss how having access to a collection of vintage and rare guitars is beneficial to recording the album, writing his autobiography with the intent of sharing things nobody knows about him, and a ballpark release date for when his autobiography will be available to the world.



Before that though, Petar and Sylvia discuss the announcement of the bands on this years Summer Slaughter tour, our thoughts on the reactions that spread all over the metal media, Slipknot’s new look leaning towards the iconic first album, and Motley Crue’s releases a brand new song.



Song: Marty Friedman  “Illumination”
Song: Marty Friedman “Dead of Winter (English Version) Featuring Chris Brooks of Like A Storm
Song: Inter Arma “Desolation’s Harp”
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#487 - Dez Fafara (DevilDriver/Coal Chamber)

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