Heavy Metal News & Interviews: The Loaded Radio Podcast

DEVILDRIVER and COAL CHAMBER frontman Dez Fafara joins us on this week's Loaded Radio Podcast

Dez Fafara is a renowned American vocalist and frontman, best known for his work with the California groove-metal band DEVILDRIVER and Nu-Metal stalwarts COAL CHAMBER. Born on May 12, 1966, in Santa Barbara, California, Fafara developed a passion for music from an early age. He grew up listening to various genres of music, including punk, rock, and metal, which greatly influenced his musical style.

Fafara co-founded the band COAL CHAMBER in 1994, along with guitarist Miguel "Meegs" Rascón. Known for their distinct fusion of nu-metal, gothic, and alternative rock elements, COAL CHAMBER gained significant attention in the late '90s. Fafara's aggressive yet melodic vocals and captivating stage presence contributed to the band's success. They released three studio albums: "Coal Chamber" (1997), "Chamber Music" (1999), and "Dark Days" (2002) before taking an extended hiatus and returning with the 2015 LP "Rivals".

In 2002, Fafara formed DEVILDRIVER, a heavy metal band with a more aggressive and intense sound. Leading the group as the vocalist and primary songwriter, Fafara steered DEVILDRIVER towards a more straightforward and brutal approach to metal. The band's debut album, "Devildriver," was released in 2003 and received critical acclaim for its ferocity and uncompromising style. DEVILDRIVER has since released several successful albums, including "The Fury of Our Maker's Hand" (2005), "Pray for Villains" (2009), and "Trust No One" (2016), solidifying their place in the metal scene.

Throughout his career, Fafara has collaborated with various artists and participated in numerous side projects, including collaborations with Ozzy Osbourne, Nikki Sixx, and SOULFLY. He has also been involved in other creative ventures outside of music, such as launching his own clothing line and promoting his tattoo-inspired artwork.

Dez Fafara's contributions to the metal and rock genres, both as the frontman of COAL CHAMBER and DEVILDRIVER, have made him an influential figure in the music industry. His powerful and emotive vocal style, combined with his ability to connect with audiences through raw and honest lyrics, have garnered him a dedicated fan base worldwide. Fafara's relentless passion for music and his unwavering commitment to his craft continue to drive his artistic journey, cementing his status as a prominent figure in the metal community.

On this week's edition of The Loaded Radio Podcast, Fafara discusses his upcoming autobiography, DEVILDRIVER's latest album "Dealing With Demons Vol. 2", the upcoming tour with CRADLE OF FILTH and the reuniting of COAL CHAMBER. You can tune in via the player below or wherever you get your podcasts.

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TYPE O NEGATIVE guitarist Kenny Hickey talks his new band EYE AM while PUPIL SLICER drummer Josh Andrews discusses his group's new album "Blossom" on The Loaded Radio Podcast

EYE AM, the new band featuring former TYPE O NEGATIVE members Kenny Hickey (guitar/vocals) and Johnny Kelly (drums),along with Kirk Windstein (guitar, vocals; CROWBAR, DOWN, KINGDOM OF SORROW) and Todd Strange (CROWBAR, DOWN),has released its debut single, "Dreams Always Die With The Sun", via Corpse Paint Records.

A music video for the track was recently filmed by Mike Holderbeast at Joy Theater in New Orleans, Louisiana and can be seen below.

"Dreams Always Die With The Sun" was written by Hickey and Windstein and was recorded in February by bassist Roger Lima of LESS THAN JAKE at his studio called The Moathouse in Gainesville, Florida. The track was mixed and mastered by Jay Ruston.

In addition to their work with TYPE O NEGATIVE, Hickey and Kelly had previously collaborated in a band called SEVENTH VOID, which released one full-length album, "Heaven Is Gone", in 2009, and SILVERTOMB, which issued "Edge Of Existence" in 2019.

Kenny discusses the formation of EYE AM, upcoming releases from TYPE O NEGATIVE, the possibility of a Peter Steele tribute concert and much more in this week's show.

The second portion of the podcast this week features PUPIL SLICER drummer Josh Andrews.

"Mirrors", the debut album from London-based trio PUPIL SLICER, stood out as one of the most exceptional and chaotic metal releases of 2021. With a fearless approach, the band effortlessly embraced a multitude of styles, traversing frenetic mathcore, ominous grind, impassioned hardcore, crushing death metal, and ethereal post-metal. The album housed intense bursts of terror like the 47-second onslaught of "Stabbing Spiders," as well as sprawling, shoegazing epics like "Collective Unconscious." PUPIL SLICER exhibited equal prowess in both realms, leaving listeners captivated.

Now, with their sci-fi concept album "Blossom", the band's sophomore effort trudges even further into their creative abilities and delivers a pulverizing audio experience of incredible proportions.

In the podcast, Josh discusses the creation of "Blossom", how the London based trio came together and preparing to take one of the biggest stages in metal.

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DAVID ELLEFSON joins us on this week's edition of THE LOADED RADIO PODCAST

David Ellefson is a renowned bassist known for his groundbreaking contributions to the heavy metal genre. Rising to prominence as a founding member and bassist of the iconic band MEGADETH, Ellefson's thunderous bass lines have influenced countless musicians. While his time with MEGADETH solidified his place in metal history, Ellefson continues to make waves in the industry through various musical endeavors.

Megadeth and Rise to Fame:

David Ellefson played an integral role in MEGADETH's success, establishing the band as one of the "Big Four" of thrash metal alongside METALLICA, SLAYER and ANTHRAX. As a founding member, Ellefson's thunderous bass riffs provided the backbone for the band's aggressive sound, while his songwriting abilities contributed to MEGADETH's signature tracks. His collaboration with Dave Mustaine led to the creation of timeless albums like "Peace Sells… but Who's Buying?" and "Rust In Peace," which cemented MEGADETH's status as one of the most influential metal bands of all time.

Current Projects:

Following his departure from MEGADETH in 2021, David Ellefson ventured into various musical projects. One of his notable ventures is THE LUCID, a hard rock band formed in 2019. With Ellefson's virtuosic bass skills at the forefront, THE LUCID delivers a potent blend of heavy riffs and melodic hooks, captivating audiences worldwide.

Ellefson also joined forces with fellow MEGADETH alumnus Jeff Young to form KINGS OF THRASH. Together, they honor their thrash metal roots and deliver high-octane performances that remind fans why they fell in love with the genre.

Additionally, Ellefson is a member of extreme metal act DIETH, an exciting project that showcases his versatility and collaborative spirit. DIETH's music combines elements of death metal and thrash metal, pushing boundaries and creating a unique sonic experience.

David Ellefson's legacy extends far beyond his time in MEGADETH. His immense talent and dedication to his craft have allowed him to explore new musical horizons, captivating audiences with his distinctive bass playing. From his contributions to the legendary MEGADETH to his involvement with THE LUCID, KINGS OF THRASH and DIETH, Ellefson continues to leave an indelible mark on the world of heavy metal. With each new project, he reaffirms his position as an influential figure in the genre, ensuring his enduring presence in the annals of metal history.

In the latest edition of THE LOADED RADIO PODCAST, Ellefson discusses the formation of DIETH, his involvement in the upcoming documentary on late MEGADETH drummer Nick Menza, his admiration for ex-MEGADETH guitarist Marty Friedman and much more.

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Former IRON MAIDEN vocalist Paul Di'Anno and VOMITORY drummer Tobias Gustafsson are our guests on this week's LOADED RADIO PODCAST

Paul Di'Anno is known as being the vocalist for the two classic IRON MAIDEN albums — the self-titled debut effort in 1980 and "Killers" in 1981 — before being fired and replaced by current frontman Bruce Dickinson. Paul would however go on to front a number of other bands, including KILLERS and BATTLEZONE, and released several solo records.

Di'Anno, who underwent an extensive knee surgery in September 2022, played his first show since the operation on October 1 at the Keep It True Rising II festival in Würzburg, Germany. He has since completed a Latin American tour and has a number of live dates scheduled for the rest of this year.

Although he is still confined to a wheelchair, the iconic singer absolutely loves still being able to perform for fans worldwide.

In the interview, Paul discusses his current health, how he feels about other bands covering his classic IRON MAIDEN songs, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame snub and much more.

Also, the second portion of the show features a conversation with Tobias Gustafsson from Swedish death metal band VOMITORY, who have the new album "All Heads Are Gonna Roll" out and available now via Metal Blade.

Those who love their extreme metal should definitely tune in to that talk where Tobias discusses the band's break-up and reformation, the sound of the new album and VOMITORY's tour plans.

Tune in via the player below or wherever you get your podcasts!

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Legendary NWOBHM disc-jockey Neal Kay, who was an important factor in the rise of the new wave of British heavy metal (NWOBHM), along with Tommy Vance, in the late 1970s and early 1980s, joins us on The Loaded Radio Podcast

Between 1975 and 1980, Neal managed the rock club known as "The Bandwagon Heavy Metal Soundhouse", which catered to the burgeoning genre that we know today as heavy metal. With help from the music papers of the day, "Sounds" and "Melody Maker", Neal established the venue as the location for new upcoming bands and like minded fans of the heavy metal genre. Band demo tapes started to arrive in droves after a two-page article in "Sounds", penned by journalist Geoff Barton. Kay had one of the biggest club sound systems ever seen at the time, being an 8000 watt PA, comprising mainly JBL/Martin speakers and coach built JPS associates amps. The PA was so loud that the mixing desk was "flown" on chains, suspended from the roof to help avoid feedback from the record decks.

Kay would often be found at massive heavy metal gigs at venues like the Rainbow Theatre and Hammersmith Odeon, and would eventually hit the road with such iconic acts as BLACK SABBATH, RUSH, AC/DC, JUDAS PRIEST and countless others.

Neal was he first high level touring rock DJ of his time.

Kay would also assist in arranging and producing demos of new heavy metal bands, recorded at Spaceward Studios in Cambridge. Amongst these acts were SAXON, PRAYING MANTIS and IRON MAIDEN. He championed these and other acts, and went on to tour with those bands on full UK treks. The resulting popularity of IRON MAIDEN's recording led to a record contract for them with EMI. Several other NWOBHM bands also got contracts due to their Soundhouse demos. Kay worked with EMI Records compiling many of these demos onto an album called "Metal for Muthas", of which several volumes were released.

In 1980, he was the MC for the very first Monsters of Rock Festival, at Castle Donnington, headlined by RAINBOW, SCORPIONS and JUDAS PRIEST. Kay was also a band manager in the 1980s and early 1990s. During that same period, Neal also managed a large studio complex in South London called Samurai Studios, where he also learned the art of live sound engineering.

Neal, who is retired now, talks with us about the beginnings of heavy metal, his absolute dislike of punk, his relationship with the bands of the era and much more in part 1 of our talk with him on this week's edition of THE LOADED RADIO PODCAST.

Tune in via the player below or wherever you get your podcasts.

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OV SULFUR have unleashed their debut full-length album, "The Burden Ov Faith", via Century Media Records.

Wilson comments: "Having Howard (Jones - LIGHT THE TORCH, ex-KILLSWITCH ENGAGE) hop on the album version of 'Wide Open' was the best thing that could have happened. We knew we wanted the song on the album, but we also knew it needed new life to live alongside the rest of the songs and not just be tossed on there. It's crazy to us he wanted to work with us - less surprising is the fact he absolutely killed it. We just gave him the song and lyrics, and we let him do his thing. He really pushes the song to another level with both his screaming and singing. What a legend!"

Of the album, OV SULFUR vocalist Ricky Hoover comments: "I'm beyond proud of what we've created on 'The Burden Ov Faith'. Who would have thought I would be screaming on new music over a decade after leaving Suffokate - let alone singing?! I legitimately didn't think I was ever coming back to music period when I left back in 2012, so to have an album out on one of the most respected labels in metal is mindblowing. Huge shout out to all my band mates and everyone who worked to create this with us - and everyone who takes time out of their life to listen!"

Crafted by the band alongside producer Morgoth Beatz (WINDS OF PLAGUE, SCARLXRD), then mixed/mastered by maestro Josh Schroeder (LORNA SHORE, TALLAH), "The Burden Ov Faith" sees the two split engineering of vocals and drums, respectively, with former MACHINE HEAD guitarist Logan Mader stepping in to capture the guitars and bass. The resulting album spans the stygian planets of deathcore, black metal, and metalcore, creating something as majestic as it is hook-laden. It also finds vocalist Ricky Hoover exploring the singing side of his voice, which he'd developed over years in choir as a child and only now added to his impressive growls and screams on a metal album.

The second half of the podcast will see Loaded Radio's Scott Penfold and Jules discuss the "Top 13 Nu-Metal Bands Who Defined The Era".

Tune in via the player or wherever you get your podcasts.

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In addition TESLA will be celebrating 36 years of entertaining audiences around the world with a 5 night residency at the House of Blues in Las Vegas, Nevada. The residency will begin on Friday, March 17, 2023.

Due to overwhelming demand and following a sold-out opening weekend, legendary rockers TESLA have added five additional shows to their highly-anticipated TESLA: The Las Vegas Residency at House of Blues Las Vegas at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.

Celebrating their 36 years of entertaining rock audiences around the world, TESLA: The Las Vegas Residency will add five additional dates, beginning with Friday, Sept. 29, 2023 at 8:30 p.m. Tickets start at $59.50 plus applicable fees and go on sale Friday, March 24, 2023 at 10 a.m. PT.

TESLA: The Las Vegas Residency at House of Blues Las Vegas performance dates (Doors at 7:30 p.m.): • Friday, March 17, 2023 • Saturday, March 18, 2023 • Wednesday, March 22, 2023 • Friday, March 24, 2023 • Saturday, March 25, 2023

Additional shows include: • Friday, Sept. 29, 2023 • Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023 • Monday, Oct. 4, 2023 • Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2023 • Thursday, Oct. 7, 2023

During their exclusive residency, TESLA will touch all sides of their unique discography including the heavier edge of electric songs like "Modern Day Cowboy," "Hang Tough," and "Edison's Medicine," as well as their acoustic driven songs such as "Signs" and "Love Song" (two Top 10 Billboard charting hits).

"We are very excited to be able to perform consecutive nights residing at the same venue because we plan to dig into our catalog and change up our set lists for each show," says TESLA lead guitarist Frank Hannon. "This will make it interesting for our loyal fans who will attend in the spectacular city of Las Vegas!"

"We, in TESLA are very excited to be doing our very first ever residency in Las Vegas, of all places, where Elvis did his residency," said Brian Wheat, TESLA bassist. "We look forward to bringing the legacy of TESLA's music to you all!"

In the discussion, Frank talks about the band's new live album "Time To Rock", arriving this year, memories of late LYNYRD SKYNYRD guitarist Gary Rossington, the current Las Vegas residency and much more.

In the second half of the show, Loaded Radio's Scott Penfold is joined by Jules to discuss Rolling Stone's recent list of "100 Greatest Metal Songs Of All Time".

Listen via the player below or wherever you get your podcasts.

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SUICIDE SILENCE lead guitarist Mark Heylmun goes in-depth with the California deathcore band's latest album "Remember... You Must Die" on THE LOADED RADIO PODCAST

"Remember… You Must Die", which will be released on March 10 via Century Media, was produced and mixed by Taylor Young at The Pit Recording Studio. The record will be SUICIDE SILENCE's fourth full-length effort with vocalist Hernan "Eddie" Hermida (ex-ALL SHALL PERISH), who joined SUICIDE SILENCE following the passing of frontman Mitch Lucker.

SUICIDE SILENCE said about the album in a statement: "It's safe to assume that [our new album] will CRUSH your expectations. We'll have more info and music very soon."

For the artwork, the band enlisted renowned necrosurrealist artist David Van Gough to visualize the concept.

During the podcast, Mark discusses the creation of "Remember... You Must Die" as well as subjects like late SUICIDE SILENCE vocalist Mitch Lucker, the continued process of creating the band's dual guitar attack with fellow six-stringer Chris Garza, working with current vocalist Hernan "Eddie" Hermida and that notorious self-titled fifth studio album.

And in the second portion of the podcast, host Scott Penfold discusses ex-CANNIBAL CORPSE/current SIX FEET UNDER vocalist Chris Barnes' choices for his "Top 3 Death Metal Albums Of All Time".

Tune in via the player or wherever you get your podcasts!

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This week's edition of THE LOADED RADIO PODCAST features FROM ASHES TO NEW singer Danny Case.

FROM ASHES TO NEW hail from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, with musician Matt Brandyberry being the founding and sole constant member of the group. The band has released three studio albums, being Day One (2016), The Future (2018), and Panic (2020).

FROM ASHES TO NEW recently delivered an intense and captivating new single "Nightmare," taken from their upcoming as-yet-titled fourth studio album which is due this summer via Better Noise Music. "Nightmare" masterfully showcases the dual vocal abilities of Brandyberry and singer Danny Case in contrasting heavy rock anthemic choruses with nu-metal/rap rock verses.

"Betrayal by someone we trust happens to the best of us," says Case. "We befriend someone, let them in, build a connection and then all of a sudden they turn into someone unrecognizable. Someone you once trusted and cared for so deeply is now a backstabbing enemy. In a heartbeat, the person you once thought you knew is now gone. There aren't many things in life that cut quite as deep as betrayal. Erasing that person from your life and moving forward is the only way to wake up from the nightmare."

In the interview, Danny talks about the upcoming album, how he was brought into the band, appearing in a horror movie and more.

Also, host Scott Penfold discusses the recent reunion between MEGADETH and former guitarist Marty Friedman which recently took place in Tokyo, Japan. Fans of the "Rust In Peace" era of the band were definitely looking forward to Marty's appearance and Dave Mustaine and comany definitely delivered at the legendary Budokan.

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STEEL PANTHER guitarist Satchel joins us on this week's edition of The Loaded Radio Podcast

The hilarious California glam-metal band will release their sixth studio album, "On The Prowl", on February 24, 2023. The record was produced by STEEL PANTHER and is now available for pre-order in multiple formats, including CD, cassette, and two different color variant vinyl records.

From the opening synth intro of "Never Too Late (To Get Some Pussy Tonight)" to the thunderous outro of "Sleeping On The Rollaway", STEEL PANTHER is back with the infectious riffs, pounding drums, unforgettable vocals alongside the witty humor that has earned them a global audience. Songs like "On Your Instagram", "Magical Vagina" and "One Pump Chump" are sure to fit in on the biggest live stages next to the band's most memorable songs. "1987" is an incredible retro look at that unforgettable year and the band even slows things down on the reflective "Ain't Dead Yet". The first single from "On The Prowl" is the memorable "Never Too Late (To Get Some Pussy Tonight)".

During the podcast, Satchel discusses the new album, his feelings toward former members of the band, how many pairs of t**s he's seen and much more.

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