Here is the 109th installment of the Dreams of Consciousness podcast, featuring an interview with Jon DeRosa of Aarktica.

Jon DeRosa's work with Aarktica has spanned over 20 years, starting with his time at NYU. Since then, the project has encompassed post rock, drone, and ambient music.

I spoke to Jon about how he moved to the ambient drone of Aarktica, his pre-Aarktica musical history, and the creation of the newest Aarktica album Mareación. We also discussed his love of Glenn Danzig and what led Jon to record his version of "Am I Demon".

My thanks again to Jon for speaking with me, and to you for listening.

TRACKLIST:

"Snowstorm Ruins Birthday"

taken from the album Pure Tone Audiometry

"Don Francisco's Blues"

"Golden City (All Is Love)"

"Her Divine Light"

taken from the album Mareación

"Am I Demon?" (Danzig cover)

taken from the album In Sea

Interviews, reviews, and more at www.dreamsofconsciousness.com

Here is the 108th installment of the Dreams of Consciousness podcast, featuring an interview with Johannes Persson of Cult of Luna.

"A mix of Sigur Rós, Black Sabbath and death metal" is how Johannes Persson describes his band Cult of Luna. Like Neurosis and Isis before them, Cult of Luna's music is as indebted to post-rock atmospherics and dynamics as it is to slow, heavy doom metal.

I spoke with Johannes about the writing and recording of latest Cult of Luna album, A Dawn To Fear, and how the band ended up on Metal Blade. We also discussed the "short film" music videos that Johannes directed in conjunction with the album.

My thanks again to Johannes for speaking with me, and to you for listening.

TRACKLIST:

"Lay Your Head to Rest"

"A Dawn to Fear"

taken from the album A Dawn To Fear

"Synchronicity"

taken from the album Vertikal

"Leave Me Here"

taken from the album Salvation

Interviews, reviews, and more at www.dreamsofconsciousness.com

Here is the 107th installment of the Dreams of Consciousness podcast, featuring an interview with Nathan A. Verrill of Fyrhtu.

A collaboration between Leila Abdul-Rauf and Nathan A. Verrill, Fyrhtu is a far cry from the metal bands that the two are known for. Defying categorization, the music combines ambience, drone, noise, and Eastern music in a way that - while still dark - eschews traditional "heavy" instrumentation.

I spoke to Nathan about the project's history, the way they assemble their songs and their use of non-traditional vocals. We also discussed the band's future beyond their debut, No More Days in the Light.

My thanks again to Nathan for speaking with me, and to you for listening.

TRACKLISTING:

"Some They Walked So Softly"

"Men Come Hunting" (excerpt)

"No More Days in the Light"

"Sun Ship Night Sea"

taken from the album No More Days in the Light

Interviews, reviews, and more at www.dreamsofconsciousness.com

In this bonus episode, I spoke to Leila Abdul-Rauf of Vastum about her new experimental/ambient project Fyrhtu, which is about to release its debut No More Days In The Light. A full episode about Fyrhtu (featuring an interview with Leila's partner Nathan A. Verrill) will be online soon.

TRACKLISTING:

"Ritual"

"Far Above, So Below" (excerpt)

taken from the album No More Days In The Light

Interviews, reviews, and more at www.dreamsofconsciousness.com

Here is the 106th installment of the Dreams of Consciousness podcast, featuring an interview with Leila Abdul-Rauf of Vastum.

Vastum emerged from Oakland at a time when old school death metal was regaining popularity, but the band has maintained a sound and identity separate from the jacket-patched revival hordes. If anything, they represent the resurgence in the Bay Area metal scene, which has grown in leaps and bounds since Vastum released their first album almost a decade ago.

I spoke to guitarist/vocalist Leila Abdul-Rauf about the band's latest release Orificial Purge, the album's divisive cover art, and the state of the Bay Area metal scene. It was a good conversation filled with fun tangents.

My thanks to Leila for speaking with me, and to you for listening.

TRACKLISTING:

"Devoid"

taken from the album Carnal Law

"Dispossessed in Rapture (First Wound)

""Orificial Purge"

taken from the album Orificial Purge

"Hole Below (A Dream of Ritual Abuse)"

taken from the album Hole Below

Interviews, reviews, and more at www.dreamsofconsciousness.com

Here is the 105th installment of the Dreams of Consciousness podcast, featuring an interview with Nicklas "Terror" Rudolfsson of Runemagick.

Sweden's Runemagick were ahead of the curve when it came to ultra heavy and slow death metal. Prolific throughout the Nineties and Aughts, the band suddenly went quiet in 2007. That quiet was broken by the release of Evoked from Abysmal Sleep - their first album in a decade.

I spoke to vocalist/guitarist Nicklas Rudolfsson about the band's history, the events leading to their recent reunion, and their latest (and possibly last) album, Into Desolate Realms. I also asked Nicklas about playing the baritone guitar, since he's one of the few metal guitarists to use one that I've gotten a chance to speak with.

My thanks again to Nicklas for speaking with me, and to you for listening.

TRACKLISTING:

"Hail Death"

taken from the album Resurrection In Blood

"Evoked From Abysmal Sleep"

taken from the album Evoked From Abysmal Sleep

"The Opening Of Dead Gates"

"Into Desolate Realms"

taken from the album Into Desolate Realms

Interviews, reviews, and more at www.dreamsofconsciousness.com

Here is the 104th installment of the Dreams of Consciousness podcast, featuring an interview with Dan Burchmore of Alunah.

Birmingham's Alunah are no mark on their city's proud metal history. Despite the preponderance of slow and heavy bands that get sent my way, it was immediately clear that there's something special about the band's psychedelic take on doom.

I spoke with Alunah bassist Dan Burchmore about the band's history, their recent line-up shuffle, and how their latest album Violet Hour came together. I also asked Dan to give me his take on Birmingham - a place that's been mythologized through the years for its role in creating the heaviest of metals.

My thanks to Dan for speaking with me, and to you for listening.

TRACKLISTING:

"Amber & Gold"

"Awn"

taken from the Amber & Gold EP

"Dance Of Deceit"

"Violet Hour"

taken from the album Violet Hour

Interviews, reviews, and more at www.dreamsofconsciousness.com

In this short bonus episode (featuring a segment of my conversation with Cynic's Paul Masvidal that was cut for time), I explain how the Dreams of Consciousness podcast got started, my original goals, and why I keep doing it. [Short answer: What else am I going to do?]

My thanks again to everyone who has supported this show - whether you're a listener, or an artist who took the time to speak with me, I couldn't do this without you.

TRACKLIST:

Cynic - Box Up My Bones

taken from the Carbon-Based Anatomy EP

Cynic - Evolutionary Sleeper

taken from the album Traced In Air

Interviews, reviews, and more at: www.dreamsofconsciousness.com

Here is the 103rd episode of the Dreams of Consciousness podcast, featuring an interview with Paul Masvidal of Cynic, Onward With Love, and Aeon Spoke.

It's hard to overstate Paul Masvidal's influence on metal's development. Alongside Chuck Schuldiner, he planted the seeds of technical and progressive death metal with Death's Human album; seeds he cultivated with his own band Cynic, whose influence can be heard to this day.

I spoke to Paul about his new solo project, its use of isochronic tones, and his work with sound engineer Stéphane Pigeon. And since I couldn't let the conversation go by without discussing Cynic, I asked Paul' to share his thoughts on the band's legacy and influence, its current status, and how he feels about Cynic being referred to as "yoga metal".

My thanks again to Paul for speaking to me, and to you for listening.

TRACKLIST:

Paul Masvidal - Nebula

taken from the album Mythical

Paul Masvidal - The Spaces

Paul Masvidal - Warrior of the Universe

taken from the album Mythical

Cynic - Humanoid

taken from the Humanoid single

Cynic - Earth Is My Witness

taken from the album Kindly Bent To Free Us

Cynic - Carbon-Based Anatomy

taken from the Carbon-Based Anatomy EP

Interviews, reviews, and more at: www.dreamsofconsciousness.com

Here is the 102nd episode of the Dreams of Consciousness podcast, featuring an interview with Lord Gore vocalist Gurge.

Portland's Lord Gore were both behind the times and ahead of it when they emerged 20 years ago with their blend of Impetigo, Autopsy and Carcass. Like old school death metal in general, the band has been experiencing a resurgence: This year saw the re-release of their first two albums, as well as their first album in 15 years, Scalpels For Blind Surgeons.

I spoke to Lord Gore vocalist Gurge about the band's early albums, their return, and how their mentality has changed since their first two releases. We also discussed the metal scene in Portland, and Gurge's vocal contributions to the stop motion short film Tomorrow I Will Be Dirt.

My thanks to Gurge for speaking with me, and to you for listening.

TRACKLIST:

"Lord Gore"

taken from the album The Autophagous Orgy

"Entheogenocide"

taken from the Cronenberg demo

"Daudiskegg"

"The Crawling"

taken from the album Scalpels For Blind Surgeons

"Resickened"

taken from the album Resickened

Interviews, reviews, and more at: www.dreamsofconsciousness.com