Inner-Strength Check Podcast

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Deathcore pioneers Despised Icon occupy an interesting space. Equally as influential in pioneering the deathcore movement as they are distinctly their own sound, few bands just straight-up nail the melding of death-metal brutality with streetwise hardcore as these Canadian crushers.

Whilst the wheels of the touring machine warm up, the band are preparing to drop 7th full-length LP Shadow Work on us in a week's time. Here to talk about all of the above and more is guitarist Eric Jarrin, who had a hand in album production alongside vocalist Alex Erian. Eric has a lot of great thoughts to share about songwriting, production, touring and more!

Accompanying our chat today, you can also pre-order/pre-save the album (due for release October 31st, via Nuclear Blast Records), listen to latest singles and check out more relevant artist info via show notes at:

www.innerstrengthcheckpodcast.com/blog

A big thank-you to Nuclear Blast, Despised Icon and of course my guest Eric.

Can confirm this album's a scorcher - bring your mosh shorts and sunscreen on the 31st!

Peace, Love and Deathcore - Brady.

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Late last week, I was joined on the Inner-Strength Check Podcast by Noah See, drummer of progressive post-metal/doom heavyweights Conjurer (UK).

With the imminent release of third full-length Unself later this month, as well as an upcoming slew of UK/European tour dates, Noah and Co are understandably keen as hell.

Given the album remains true to the core musical dynamic yet also branches out from both Mire (2018) and Pathos (2022), I can personally confirm via advance listens that this is a superbly crafted LP!

We discuss the album, drumming, songwriting, entering the band as a recent addition, touring and much more.

Thanks once again to Noah for a thoughtful and candid chat!.

Show notes for Episode 60 available alongside recent singles/other artist media, additional bio/commentary on the album and more, at:

www.innerstrengthcheckpodcast.com/blog.

Peace, Love and Post-Metal Riffage - Brady.

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Bay Area metal-progenitors Possessed are nothing short of iconic, having been a primary influence in the formation of death and thrash metal.

On Friday, I caught up with vocalist Jeff Becerra to discuss the bands' first ever Australian tour, celebrating 40 years of their landmark album Seven Churches and much more!

For full details on the upcoming tour, ticket links, artist info and more, head on over to:

www.innerstrengthcheckpodcast.com/blog for more.

Peace, Love and Death Metal Possession - Brady.

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Yesterday I was joined by Chuck Billy, the powerful and talented vocalist/frontman for Bay Area thrash metal legends Testament. During our conversation we discussed the interesting dynamics involved in the bands' writing and recording for the hard-hitting 14th LP Para Bellum, which releases on October 10th via Nuclear Blast Records. Naturally there's a whole slew of other topics covered during our chat, so be sure to dive in!

If you'd like to view the video version of this interview, head on over to the InnerStrengthCheck Youtube Channel.

For more details on the album, additional artist statements/links/info, preorder links, clips for latest Para Bellum singles and more, check out the show notes for this episode at:

www.innerstrengthcheckpodcast.com/blog

Peace, Love and Thrash Eternal,

Brady - ISC.

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Far from the stereotypes you might associate with a nickname like, well, Old Nick, our latest vocalist-interviewee was candid, mirthful and excited in our midnight chat (very goth-coded, I know) ahead of Paradise Lost's 17th (!) studio opus Ascension.

Due for release on September 19th via Nuclear Blast Records, we caught up with Nick to discuss said album, but also branch out into directions ranging from the practical (touring, songwriting, etc) all the way through to the existential.

For the video version of this interview + more info on the fantastic upcoming LP, single/music videos, artist info/links and more, check out the show-notes over at:

www.innerstrengthcheckpodcast.com/blog

Once again, massive thanks to Mr. Holmes for a wonderful chat, and to Nuclear Blast Australia for facilitating an opportunity to speak with a metal-groundbreaker!

Peace, Love and Happiness via Doom - Brady.

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Heading towards burning the midnight oil alongside myself on Friday night, I was joined on the podcast by Paula Damzal (vocals/guitar) and Nik (aka Nikronomikon Satanik - lead guitar) of incessantly guttural, HM2-soaked purveyors KÜNTSQUAD.

With a renowned live show and the release of perennially family-friendly-titled LP Satan's Cock dropping on a scene increasingly interested in the old-school, we discussed both the above plus navigating challenging life circumstances to celebrate successes, reception to the latest LP (both live/on disc), the finer points of Melburnian/Aussie death metal and more.

Be sure to check out the blog link for Ep. 56 at the link below for additional show notes, including artist/album links, additional media and other 'Squad info:

www.innerstrengthcheckpodcast.com/blog

Big shoutout to Dan Catania of fast-rising heavy-music media entity Headbangers Australia (whom we've interviewed as well, on Episode 50 of ISC Podcast) for facilitating this laid-back, sincere and fun conversation!

Peace, Love and Occultic Appendages Wrapped In Distortion - Brady.

#interview #kuntsquad #kuntsquadinterview #melbournebands #melbourmemusicscene #newalbum #musicpodcast #deathmetal #australiandeathmetal

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A massive privilege and honour to have frontman Simon Calabrese of influential Australian melodic death metal legends Daysend, ahead of their upcoming national tour revisiting the massively-acclaimed album Severance.

We discuss Simon's thoughts on said tour, stepping back into the band for the first time in 19 years and more! Check out the link below for tour info and links/RSVP for each of the tour dates across Australia.

Massive thanks to Anthony from YourMateBookings for facilitating such a phenomenal opportunity - this is a rare Aussie metal treat you won't cop again, don't be slow on scoring a ticket!

LINK:

www.innerstrengthcheckpodcast.com/blog/podcast-ep-55-interview-w-simon-calabrese-of-daysend-ahead-of-the-revisiting-severance-tour/

Peace, Love and Grindcore - Brady.

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Link to Video Version (via our Youtube Channel).

Yesterday, for Music Monday at ISC I caught up with Ian Ahles (Vocals, Guitar/Lute) & Will Towne (Guitars) from up-and-coming Brisbane-based progressive metal outfit Ahles.

We had a fantastic, fun and insightful chat about the project, merging the worlds of classical music/academia, the songwriting process behind recently released LP Between Dreams And The Waking World and more!

Great chat with two skilled yet humble musicians.

You can check out full details on the artist, additional bio details to those below, music video and album/order links and more, over at:

www.innerstrengthcheckpodcast.com/blog.

Peace, Love and Classic Shred-n-Riff Behaviour - Brady.

About Ahles:

This quartet is the brainchild of Ian, who has had a prolific music career in the Australian heavy metal scene over the past twenty years (Praetorian, Dragonsmead, Born From the Ashes) coupled with an academic background in classical guitar. AHLES’ lineup is completed by drummer Alix Bandiera (Born From the Ashes, Puncture Wound), and classically-trained musicians Monash Lal and Will Towne (Riverside Guitar Ensemble).

Bandcamp - LP Link:

https://ahles.bandcamp.com/album/between-dreams-and-the-waking-world

With thanks to fellow Musolegion community member and up-and-coming media entrepeneur Dan Catania of Headbangers Australia for facilitating this opportunity!

Check the link above and/or the Podcast tab/ ISC Podcast playlists right on the channel for a great chat about all things music industry. Also available via our various podcast platforms in audio-only version.

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!

In our third podcast interview for this week, your host was recently joined by two great dudes in Tomi Kouvisaari (Guitars) & Jan Rechberger of influential metallers Amorphis! We discuss latest album Borderland, touring and much more.

See link for video/audio-only versions plus album preorder/info, artist bio/links, latest music videos ‘Bones’/’Light & Shadow’ and more, over at:

www.innerstrengthcheck.com/blog

Many thanks to Tomi, Jan, Amorphis and Reigning Phoenix Media for facilitating another fantastic interview opportunity on the podcast!

Borderland will be unveiled to the world on Sept 26th, 2025 via Reigning Phoenix Music.

As Always,

Peace, Love and Grindcore - Brady.

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!

Another splendid interview with a chill heavy musician! I was joined this morning by Isaiah Mitchell, guitarist of influential psych/space-rock heavyweight whilst he was on a summer's eve walk to discuss the upcoming tour of Australia/Europe/USA, thoughts on playing an iconic show at Uluru, the Australian music scene, live improvisation, his respect for First Nations peoples and more.

You can find the full press release with details of the upcoming Aussie tour plus additional media, artist links and more info at:

www.innerstrengthcheckpodcast.com/blog.

See here for link to the video interview on the ISC Youtube Channel!

Peace, Love and Heavy-Psych Rockin' - Brady.