Inner-Strength Check Podcast

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With an illustrious return to form with the highly acclaimed and record-selling self-titled release only a few years prior, the triumphant march of Helloween's progress shows no signs of slowing over the fourth decade! Especially not with one of their most bombastic and ambitious studio efforts slated for release within just a few weeks' time.

I was fortunate enough to be joined by one of the bands' three (yes, three!) vocalists, Andi Deris, on our podcast.

Don't let the sunny setting or the man's equally cheery demeanour fool you - Andi has some great thoughts around upcoming LP 'Giants & Monsters', the recording process, music industry, performing and more. Having been fortunate enough to peek an advance copy of Giants & Monsters, I can guarantee this is one that won't disappoint. The album drops on us all Aug 29th, 2025.

Very shortly, we'll have the full press release included in show notes for this episode on our website at: www.innerstrengthcheckpodcast.com.

There, you'll be able to get even more scoop on the upcoming album, bop along to new singles and more!

Peace, Love and Coring Pumpkins With Metal Power - Brady.

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

Note: For those just joining in on RSS.com, we have just migrated over to this site as our new podcast hosting platform!

Link to original blog post, which contains video version of our interview with Dan Catania:

https://www.innerstrengthcheckpodcast.com/blog/50th-ep-interview-wdan-catania-headbangers-australia

50 episodes!

Most statistics show that the vast majority of podcasters (usually 60-80%) never make it past the 3rd to 5th episodes. And what better representation of our slogan 'Hobbies, Riffs, Mental Health' than this extensive chat with an up-and-coming rising star in the Australian heavy metal media landscape, Dan Catania of Headbangers Australia.

This is quite an in-depth chat! We explore Dan's beginnings as a Youtuber, Dan discusses some recent challenges with mental health and other life challenges (which is apples/orange comparison-wise but also not unlike my own mental health trajectory over 2024/2025), culminating in a recent diagnosis and adjusting to this whilst simultaneously scaling up from content-creation to now, implementing a full suite of Australian artist services using a hybridised subscription model.

We cover a heck of a lot more, too - musicianship, video production, social media, the Australian music scene/metal journalism industry, realities of entering into this space as an entrepeneurship/career choice, and so much more.

Peace, Love and Grindcore - Brady.

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

(For those of you viewing this link via our new podcast-host profile page on RSS.com - note that existing episodes are still in the process of being automatically imported from Spotify, and may take some time to populate. Apologies for any confusion!)

Recently, as your host for ISC Podcast, I uploaded a vlog to our Youtube channel + website blog and socials, advising we are leaving Spotify for Podcasters as our host for the past four years.

See here for link to relevant video.

Today's mini-sode is more for existing Spotify listeners, and some news about additional podcast platforms which ISC will be entering for the first time!

Stay tuned for several new episodes which will also be uploaded via the new host directory.

Please note that we are keeping episodes 1-49 intact on Spotify for Creators, ergo Spotify listeners will be able to access existing content.

Episode 50, our interview with Dan Catania of Headbangers Australia, is accessible via the following link & will be up in podcast form very shortly:

https://www.innerstrengthcheckpodcast.com/blog/50th-ep-interview-wdan-catania-headbangers-australia

Link to our new podcast profile page on RSS.com:

Other Links:

• Website: www.innerstrengthcheckpodcast.com
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@innerstrengthcheck
• FB: www.facebook.com/innerstrengthcheck
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/innerstrengthcheck_/
• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/innerstrengthcheck.bsky.social
• Twitch: www.twitch.tv/innerstrengthcheck

Peace, Love and Grindcore - Brady.

What a year it's been for these Sydneysiders! Representing my State of Origin in NSW in a manner that'd make interstate bands nervous, these guys have been rapidly ascending to S-tier within the Australian extreme metal scene.

Not hard to see why, either - from the absolute firestorm of technical, old-school and groove alike that is latest LP 'Revel In Sin', successful recent album launch shows and, most recently, having the opportunity to open up for none other than Floridian death metal legends ATHEIST, Joey (Scott, Vocals) and James (Taylor) have plenty of recent successes to comment on!

We don't just stop at their recent national sojourn with our nation's firste Taste-theist, though. It's a broad interview covering all sorts - touring, musicianship, the Sydney + broader scene, observations and thoughts about the current state of the metal/music scene writ large, some encouraging words for current/would-be death metal musicians, and more.

Interview is also up on our blog @ www.innerstrengthcheckpodcast.com - there you can also check out more Anoxia links, stream some tunes and get the latest around their next success - a tour supporting none other than Brazil's KRISIUN later this year.

Peace, Love and Revelling In Wholesome Death-Metal Sin - Brady.

Ramping up for their first run of Australian shows in 15 years, we were lucky to catch some time in Eric Peterson's stacked schedule to chat about the upcoming tour hitting our shores this month. We also discuss recent touring abroad, staying motivated decades into the thrash-metal gigging and writing game, and more! Many thanks to John from Nuclear Blast Australia for facilitating this great opportunity, and of course to the fine folks at Metropoli Touring for finally getting our beloved thrash veterans over once more! Show notes, including tour details, tickets, artist media/info and more at: www.innerstrengthcheckpodcast.comPeace, Love and Thrash Riffs Eternal - Brady.

This morning, I caught up with Brandon Saller, longstanding vocalist of seminal US metalcore outfit Atreyu ahead of their impending sold-out tour of Australia in July. A tour which will feature both fellow US core-employers Memphis May Fire and a setlist oriented to the 20th anniversary of landmark album 'The Curse' (20 years?! Really...?!).

Brandon and I had a great conversation surrounding not only the upcoming tour but also sharing recent successes, thoughts and reflections on Atreyu as a band, The Curse's 20th anniversary as a watershed album, the state of the metalcore scene and even some words of inspiration for staying a motivated scene-kid forever.

Show notes, including artist info/links, tour information, ticket links, additional media and more available over at www.innerstrengthcheck.com.

As Always,

Peace, Love and Grindcore (And Belting Out Atreyu Choruses Full Volume) xoxo - Brady.

Oh, cuzzie. This was an interview that seemed destined not to happen, but after being unable to review in-vivo at Brutefest 2025 in Melbourne (*cough-werevieweditonthesite-*cough*), then multiple tech SNAFU's - Chris, Daif and myself finally pulled through to get an interview!

One which was, by the way, such an extensive talk (covering everything from Stalker's touring, mental health, the New Zealand scene, some realities and benefits of modern musicianship - and more) that we broke Zoom's time-limit and had to make it a two-parter!

This was a really fun and earnest chat - we spend as much time laughing as anything else, great banter! - and one I truly appreciate.

Accompanying this interview will be additional photography, footage and more from Stalker's recent headliner set at Brutefest 2025 - this will be contained within the same post as the current video, plus audio-only version links and some Stalker goodies!

Find the full blog post with an accompanying additional photo-gallery (which is alongside our Brutefest 2025 gig review, which Stalker headlined!) at:

www.innerstrengthcheckpodcast.com

Peace, Love and ANZAC-Metal-Predator-Handshakes xoxo - Brady.

Oh, cuzzie. This was an interview that seemed destined not to happen, but after being unable to review in-vivo at Brutefest 2025 in Melbourne (*cough-werevieweditonthesite-*cough*), then multiple tech SNAFU's - Chris, Daif and myself finally pulled through to get an interview!

One which was, by the way, such an extensive talk (covering everything from Stalker's touring, mental health, the New Zealand scene, some realities and benefits of modern musicianship - and more) that we broke Zoom's time-limit and had to make it a two-parter!

This was a really fun and earnest chat - we spend as much time laughing as anything else, great banter! - and one I truly appreciate.

Accompanying this interview will be additional photography, footage and more from Stalker's recent headliner set at Brutefest 2025 - this will be contained within the same post as the current video, plus audio-only version links and some Stalker goodies!

Find the full blog post with an accompanying additional photo-gallery (which is alongside our Brutefest 2025 gig review, which Stalker headlined!) at:

www.innerstrengthcheckpodcast.com

Peace, Love and ANZAC-Metal-Predator-Handshakes xoxo - Brady.

With an Australian tour creeping up quicker than you'd think, alongside first-time Australia-enjoyers ADEMA, we caught up with drummer and longest-serving member of Latin-influenced nu-metal legends Ill Nino, Dave Chavarri! 

Dave's perennial love for Australia (and touring/playing in general) shines throughout our conversation, which includes aforementioned upcoming tour but also latest happenings in the band, some advice for up-and-coming musicians, reflections on the resurgence of the nu-metal genre in recent times and more!

See below for link to accompanying show notes, which also contain all the relevant info/links regarding the upcoming September 2025 tour, at:

www.innerstrengthcheckpodcast.com

Big thanks to October Presents for bringing these US chargers out, and huge ups to Nuclear Blast Australia for facilitating the interview!

Peace, Love & Grindcore (and Latin-Influenced Nu Metal) xoxo - Brady.

Welcome aboard, passengers!

Yet again, Australian-touring-enjoyer and enigmatic vocalist/frontman of both Soilwork and The Night Flight Orchestra, Sweden’s Bjorn ‘Speed’ Strid, joined ISC for the second time this evening. We discussed past and recent/upcoming tours (such as the Australian tour happening VERY soon!), the experience of fronting both bands in a live setting, TNFO influences and much more!

Check the link below for additional podcast links, multiple recent/past music TNFO music videos, tour info, tickets, Australian dates and more at:

https://www.innerstrengthcheckpodcast.com/blog/podcast-ep-44-interview-2-w-bjorn-speed-strid-of-the-night-flight-orchestrasoilwork

Peace, Love and Getting Staunch Cross-Armed Metal-Bros To Dance xoxo - Brady.