Interview Under Fire Podcast

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This episode begins with a brief moment of silence for the late great Joey Jordison. RIP Joey.

It's been 25 years since Belgian death metal masters Aborted have entered this world of creating headbanging chaos, and they have shown no signs of letting up within that storied timeline. Their 11th album, “Maniacult,” is set to unleash soon and we get the chance to sit with the monstrous talented frontman, Sven de Caluwe. Sven takes us back to the origins of “Maniacult,” which stemmed from the creation of an action figure made by the band themselves. Creating music from a toy line is quite the story, and the guys from Aborted are all within this creative outlet. The band has always been well loved by their fans and are also known for being nerds who don't take themselves too seriously, and needless to say, that's a good thing. Add in the technical riffs, the brutality of the drums, and the vicious growls from Sven's vocals, and it's been the level of constant success they have always found a way to maintain, and love doing what they do at the same time. Even though Aborted has had its share of lineup changes, it's been the least of all challenges for Sven, as he is the original sole member left. Sven has always had this everlasting passion for what he does, and it's certainly caught on to the rest of his bandmates. “Maniacult” also serves as an example of the band raising the bar for themselves yet again, and it's something fresh the fans will be moshing to. Another new Aborted album, yet all original. Tune in now to our conversation with Sven and be sure to buy and stream Aborted's 11th highly-anticipated studio album, “Maniacult,” dropping September 10 via Century Media Records.

Stay connected with Aborted, visit: https://goremageddon.be/, https://www.facebook.com/Abortedofficial, and https://www.instagram.com/abortedmetal/

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A Victim A Target – Commonly pronounced as AVAT in short. We are joined by vocalist Roly Velazquez of the South Florida-based metalcore outfit. Since their inception in 2015, this 5-piece band have dropped a few heavy hitting standalone singles that have caught the eyes of many throughout the underground world of heavy music. Unleashing scorching tracks like “Mirages,” “Faith In Flames,” and “Dead Or Alive” to name a few are quite the tease, as fans are eagerly awaiting for the debut record. We ask Roly about these specific tracks and the possibilities of it serving as a sneak peek into what's to come in the future for AVAT. And oh boy, there is more to discover than just what's been seen on the surface. Aside from music, staying busy during the pandemic has been an important task for Roly to tackle in the last 18 months, and he takes us through his life as a representative for business clientele who have been impacted within the worldwide crisis. And finally, his upbringing which goes back to his Cuban roots within his beloved parents. Born in New Orleans, and raised in South Florida – Roly's path is quite the story to tell. Plenty to unpack about this talented individual within a talented band that's on the rise in heavy metal. Tune in now and be sure to stay on the lookout for new music from AVAT, as their latest single “Mirages” is out now everywhere via Apocalypse Records.

Stay connected with Avat, visit: https://www.avatmusic.com/, https://www.facebook.com/avatmusic, and https://www.instagram.com/avatmusic/

Stay connected with IUF, visit: https://interviewunderfire.com/

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From performing in different heavy metal acts like Brujeria, Pentagram Chile, and Lock Up – there is no stopping the creativity and passion for seasoned Chilean musician, Anton Reisenegger. We are joined by the frontman/guitarist of the Chile-based death metal quartet, Criminal. Here they are with the 9th studio album, “Sacrificio,” and after 3 decades of dedicated brutality, it feels as if this may be their magnum opus. We speak with Anton about the origins of this record, and how it ties in different ideologies of life, death, and personal struggles that gave the album the raw and pure emotion unlike any other. Most importantly, the main narrative within “Sacrificio” centers around the social uprising that has impacted the lives of Chileans in immeasurable ways, and we dive right into the fray as Anton goes in-depth on his upbringings and the entire perspective on the country's outlook. It's been a long journey to get to this point, yet it feels as if this chapter paves a new beginning for Criminal. Tune in to our conversation with Anton Reisenegger and be sure to buy and stream Criminal's newest skullcrusher of an album, “Sacrificio,” unleashing September 17 via Metal Blade Records.

Stay connected with Criminal, visit: http://www.criminal.cl/, https://www.facebook.com/Criminal.Band, and https://www.instagram.com/criminal.band/

Stay connected with IUF, visit: https://interviewunderfire.com/

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Live streaming has been the norm for the last 18 months, and we are no strangers to it. Having said that, there are live streaming concerts, and then there are Tesseract live-streaming concerts. The progressive-metal U.K. based band are on the verge of dropping a groundbreaking cinematic experience titled “Portals.” Performed back in December of 2020, the demand has been so high from viewers around the world that the band decided to release it as an album for the books that will be remembered for any music fan (and perhaps even movie fan) out there. Tesseract's visionary and gifted bassist Amos Williams is our humble guest today as he takes us through an amazing journey filled with the creative ideas and cinematography which brought this vision to life. “Portals” has potentially set the bar high for live-streaming concerts going forward, and it goes to show how Tesseract has made the best of this worldwide event and have turned it into a staple in their impressive catalog. Aside from the theatrics, we also get the chance to talk to Amos about the importance of being a bass player in a band where the instrument can serve as a heartbeat for a song. Tesseract has a way of taking you through the emotions and waves within their compositions – and Amos discusses these elements and why they are something that is important not only to him, but also music in general. It is a band that continues to evolve and can fit into many subgenres. Tune in now with our conversation with Amos, and do not miss “Portals,” Tesseract's highly-anticipated live concert experience, dropping August 27 through Kscope Records.

Stay connected with Tesseract, visit: https://www.tesseractband.co.uk/, https://www.facebook.com/tesseractband, and https://www.instagram.com/tesseractband/

Stay connected with IUF, visit: https://interviewunderfire.com/

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True crime. Serial killers. Human nature. When it comes to themes and songwriting, this is as real as it gets. We are joined by one of the more unique artists IUF has ever had the privilege to speak with – the mesmerizing and stirring SKYND. Donned inside the dark elements, there is no filter within her, and there is no act. Everything you see is what's on the surface, as she takes the stories from true crimes and serial killers and turns them into these shocking and unforgettable cinematic music videos. We also speak with SKYND about the motives and ideas behind these controversial songs, and it is quite the spiral pathway she takes us through. Throughout her music catalog, SKYND's songs are titled after the main killers, giving it a strong impression amongst her viewers (“Michelle Carter,” “Columbine,” “Katherine Knight”). Make no mistake, she is not glorifying the killers – rather, SKYND is raising awareness about these countless amounts of horrid crimes that people may not have enough information about. Paying respect to these victims who have lost their lives is the endgame, and she is dedicated to every one out there within her lyrics and within her visuals. It is a dark world out there, and SKYND embraces it while displaying that to full devotion. Alongside the imagery and influence behind her songs, we talk to her about the collaboration with renowned heavy music artist, Jonathan Davis of Korn – on the track “Gary Heidnik.” Getting the chance to work with one of her own musical influences is something she couldn't be more grateful for. For SKYND, it's also about being a storyteller and she is putting this out there with a full imagery of talent with it. There's the horror genre, and then there is the art that is SKYND. This is an episode you will not want to miss with a talented individual, tune in now and be sure to stay on the lookout for SKYND's third upcoming album, “Chapter III,” due out this Fall.

Stay connected with SKYND, visit: https://skynd-music.com/, https://www.facebook.com/skynd.music, and https://www.instagram.com/skynd_music/

Stay connected with IUF, visit: https://interviewunderfire.com/

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We are joined by frontman Scott Ian Lewis of San Diego based deathcore outfit, Carnifex. In this episode, we get the opportunity to talk about their upcoming 8th album “Graveside Confessions” and how the live concert experience is always something Scott took to heart. Now in the middle of touring cycles, this is right where they belong; What makes Carnifex really stand out from that deathcore scene is the live presence they display on stage, and it is a thing of beauty. Even then, Scott explains how it is still important to keep an eye out for any health concerns while being on the road during a pandemic - and so far, so good. We also dive into his interests in film and writing, as Scott takes us through his personal experiences in his 54-page graphic novel titled “Death Dreamer.” So much to explore than what is seen on the surface. Being a writer serves as an extension of who he is and it has been a vessel of escapism where he can put plenty of his other talents on display. From being a frontman vocalist, to an author – the level of creativity and vision remains at a constant for Scott and Carnifex. Tune in now to this episode and be sure to buy and stream the highly-anticipated new album from this monstrous deathcore band in Carnifex, titled “Graveside Confessions,” unleashing September 3rd via Nuclear Blast Records.

Stay connected with Carnifex, visit: http://www.carnifexmetal.com/, https://www.facebook.com/CarnifexMetal, and https://www.instagram.com/Carnifex/

Stay connected with IUF, visit: https://interviewunderfire.com/

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Michigan experimental metalcore outfit Spirit Breaker are not only raising the bar for themselves musically, but they are giving the genre as a whole a breath of fresh air within their musicianship. We get the opportunity to speak with vocalist Tre Turner and drummer Alex Mitchell as they take us through the origins and growth that the band have endured. After 2017's debut outing with “Human Nature,” they have since upped the ante especially after the long wait due to the effect the pandemic had on the band – now we finally get the highly-anticipated follow up album with “Cura Nata.” Not only that, but getting the chance to drop this record with the likes of a revered label like Solid State Records really shows how far this group has come, and it only took two records and a massive work ethic to get there. They have been compared to other renowned metalcore acts such as Architects, August Burns Red, Northlane, and Silent Planet – and here they are, putting their own stamp and unique sound along with an identity with this album. This is how you start a new chapter, and Spirit Breaker is here to grab it by the horns. Tune in now to this episode with Tre and Alex and make sure not to miss this newest banger of an album. “Cura Nata,” from Spirit Breaker is due out August 13 via Solid State Records.

Stay connected with Spirit Breaker, visit: https://www.facebook.com/SpiritBreakerMI, https://www.instagram.com/spiritbreakermi/, and https://spiritbreakermi.bigcartel.com/

Stay connected with IUF, visit: https://interviewunderfire.com/

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“The Fire Itself” is the upcoming 5th album from Los Angeles-based metalcore outfit, Phinehas. We are joined by frontman Sean McCulloch about the makings and influences that went behind this record. It's been a long road for Sean and company, as he takes plenty of personal experiences that were transformed into this record. Their fan base grew and so did the lineup, even if there were changes along the way. "It's easy to write about things other people are going through, but it's nearly impossible for me to write about myself.” Says Sean. This new album is a side of Phinehas that fans will never see coming, and that's a good thing. Filled with power, honesty, and heart - “The Fire Itself” serves as a testament to not only Phinehas's craft, but to Sean's as well. Being a good husband, father, friend, and artist is a lot to take on mentally. But every day that passes serves as an opportunity for him to learn, and Sean couldn't be prouder of how far he has grown since his first days in the band – and even more so, his first days as a father. We also ask him about being a Christian, and how Phinehas exemplifies as an extension of his beliefs and himself. He weighs in on how that specific genre can loosely be thrown around without any regard to the true meaning behind it. Join in now into this episode and be sure to stick around for the Hot Seat as we test Sean to see if recognizes his own lyrics. “The Fire Itself” raises its flames on August 27 through Solid State Records.

Stay connected with Phinehas, visit: https://phinehasband.com/, hhttps://www.facebook.com/Phinehasrock, and https://www.instagram.com/phinehasband/

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The critically-acclaimed 2007 album “Colors” from progressive-metal giants Between The Buried And Me serves as a staple record and a stepping stone for many contemporary musicians. Fast forward 6 albums and a decade and a half later – we get “Colors II.” Bassist Dan Briggs joins IUF today to talk about this highly-anticipated record filled with everything you'd want as a BTBAM fan, and then some. As if the pressure wasn't already there to create a sequel to a fan favorite, their recent album “Automata I” has been nominated for a Grammy. Oh yeah, they got this for sure. Dan takes us through the twists and turns that brought this record to life, and plenty of influence and inspiration came from having the time to record an album during the pandemic. It's almost as if they were in a similar spot during the pre-production stages of “Colors” and “Colors II.” We ask Dan about those particular similarities and the themes that were chosen for the songs which paved the way for songwriting to reach different heights of creativity. And lastly, we talk about their starfish – YES, you read that correctly. BTBAM have a 67 million year prehistoric starfish named after them, thanks to a handful of scientists who happen to really appreciate the music the band has released throughout their decorated career. It's an origin story you don't want to miss. “Colors II” from Between The Buried And Me drops August 20 through Sumerian Records. Buy and stream everywhere.

Stay connected with Between The Buried And Me, visit: https://www.betweentheburiedandme.com/, https://www.facebook.com/BTBAMofficial, and https://www.instagram.com/btbamofficial/

Stay connected with IUF, visit: https://interviewunderfire.com/

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Four decades in - the run for the heavy metal giants, Sepultura, never ceases to amaze. 15 albums within that timespan and still wow-ing their worldwide fanbase in the process; We sit with frontman Derrick Green as we look back on the countless amounts of ventures this band has been through. In this jam-packed episode, we talk to Derrick about their latest live release “Sepulquarta,” and how this unique offering had the band collaborating with the likes of Alex Skolnick, Scott Ian, Danko Jones, Devin Townsend, and Matt Heafy to name a few which were recorded during the quarantine-induced home settings. Filled with favorites throughout the bands catalog, this gave the fans a chance to revel in the lore of Sepultura while getting a full glimpse of the creativity behind many of other bands working together on this full-length record. Definitely a united feeling inside the heavy metal world. We also go in-depth with Derrick about his life as a vegan, and how the importance of veganism can have a positive effect on people and the world. Furthermore, his plant based rock n roll travel show “Highway To Health” serves as an example on being health-conscious especially while on the road – and with the amount of touring that Derrick has done throughout his career, staying healthy is top priority. His hope is that eating and living healthy can be an uplifting message and a call to action to heavy metal fans worldwide, and so far, things are catching on pretty quick. At a time like today, this matters. Tune in now to our conversation with Derrick Green and be sure to buy and stream the mighty Sepultura's newest live album “Sepulquarta,”due out August 13 via Nuclear Blast Records.

Stay connected with Sepultura, visit: https://www.sepultura.com.br/, https://www.facebook.com/sepultura, and https://www.instagram.com/sepultura/

Stay connected with IUF, visit: https://interviewunderfire.com/