This week, I’m joined by Patrik Jensen of The Haunted and Witchery to dive into “Songs of Last Resort”, arguably the band’s strongest release since 2003’s "One Kill Wonder". We explore Patrik’s early days with Seance, the origins of The Haunted, his take on the current metal scene, the music industry’s challenges, and much more.

In the weekly news rant, I round up new singles from Blackbraid, Hexvessel, Deathgoat, Lord Belial, and Unleashed for judgment. I also tackle your questions, sharing my top death doom albums, confessing my controversial movie opinions, and revealing my dream list of albums begging for a remaster. PLUS: why I’m betting on a new Emperor album and why Metallica’s support acts for their 2026 European tour are a massive letdown.

Joan Monguio from Spain’s blackened death metal outfit, Jade, joins the podcast this week for a discussion about their latest album, “Mysteries Of A Flowery Dream”.  We also explore how the lack of a flagship band has been detrimental to the growth of Spain’s extreme metal scene, compare our favourite album covers and more.

On the weekly news rant, Drugoth is back to leave no wimp un-slayed, as we round up the latest singles by Cryptopsy, Inhuman Condition, Imperialist, Blood Monolith and Refusal for judgment.  We also get the scoop on his upcoming releases, and stack-rank our favourite Crowbar albums.

PLUS - Storming Heaven join the pantheon of future underground legends on this week’s Unsanctioned Filth.  

Please support the bands featured on this episode

JADE: https://emperorjade.bandcamp.com/   

STORMING HEAVEN: https://negativeearth666.bandcamp.com/ 

SKAPHOS: https://skaphos.bandcamp.com/ 

MASTER: https://master.bandcamp.com/  

Check out Drugoth’s latest album, “Battles May Cease But War Is Forever” 

https://drugoth.bandcamp.com/  

This week, Jonas Holmberg, vocalist for Swedish blackened hardcore outfit This Gift Is A Curse, joins the podcast to talk about their blistering new album, "Heir", released on Season of Mist in March. We explore Covid’s impact on the band, how Jonas’ career outside the music industry fuels his songwriting, we discuss the band’s creative process and much more.

Then it’s on to a solo news rant where I answer your questions, including ranking my top five Swedish death metal albums, spotlighting bands primed for a comeback, and explaining why I haven’t launched a Patreon. Plus, I check out new tracks from Kaamos Warriors, Sodom, Gaahl’s Wyrd, Gruesome, and Full of Hell, and I weigh in on Machine Head’s latest public humiliation.

PLUS - we have another Premiere on the Sphere, featuring Turkish true black metal act Ash Magick with an exclusive track from their upcoming album, “Rituals of the Anathematic East”.

Please support the bands featured on this episode

THIS GIFT IS A CURSE: https://thisgiftisacurse.bandcamp.com/  

SERPENTES: https://serpentes.bandcamp.com/ 

RED HARVEST: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057788554463  

Pre-order the new ASH MAGICK ALBUM, “Rituals Of The Anathematic East”

https://apocalypticwitchcraft.bandcamp.com/ 

The legendary Jamey Jasta of Hatebreed joins the podcast this week to talk about this year’s edition of Milwaukee Metalfest.  We get into the ins and outs of running the festival, curating the line-up and more.  I also get an update on the next Hatebreed album, Stormbreeders of Death and I ask perhaps the most important Jasta-related question of them all: why have we not had another Icepick album.

Then Matt Priso of Conspiracy X, Spells Ov Torment and SIK joins to co-host the weekly news rant.  We round up the latest singles by Horn, Signs of the Swarm, Death Angel, Helheim, and for judgment, and Matt updates me on the status of all his musical projects.  

PLUS: Sydney, Australia’s Anoxia are here to crush skulls with “Rule By Cold Steel”.

Please support the bands featured on this episode

HATEBREED: https://hatebreed.bandcamp.com/ 

ICEPICK: https://icepickhardcore.bandcamp.com/ 

ANOXIA: https://anoxiadeath.bandcamp.com/ 

DEICIDE: https://deicide.bandcamp.com/ 

Milwaukee Metalfest Tickets  

https://therave.com/metalfest 

David Stepanavicius of death metal juggernauts, Atrae Bilis, joins the podcast this week to chat about their sophomore effort, “Aumicide”.  We deep-dive into “Warfare”, the new movie by Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza, discuss our shared experiences of relocating from our home countries, the Australian metal scene and much more.  

On the weekly news rant, I check out the latest tracks by Ondfodt, …And Oceans, Celestial Sanctuary, Caustic Wound, Pelican and Pandemia.  I also answer your questions, including my favourite pro wrestling moments, gym playlists, some of my own personal bad metal takes.

Please support the bands featured on this episode

Pre-order links:

Check out my ‘Pain Is Weakness’ workout playlist here

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5BW6MWim3NWtgLRoddwyYO?si=d4688addea5948d8 

This week Steve Jansson, Edward Gonet and Enrique Sagarnaga of Philadelphia blackened thrash outfit, Daeva, join the podcast to discuss their “Through Sheer Will & Black Magic” debut and how the band got together.  We also explore how professional wrestling connects to black metal, weigh the merits of writing in the rehearsal space and much more.  

Later in the show, it’s on to the weekly news rant where the latest cuts by Cryptopsy, Lord Belial, Vader, Hexvessel, Skaphos, Cadaver and more.  I offer a scathing rebuttal to a recently published list of the best black metal albums of the decade so far, and I share my thoughts on Nick Wallwork’s departure from Winterfylleth.  

PLUS: Lord Humungous join the pantheon of legends who have featured on my Unsanctioned Filth segment.

Please support the bands featured on this episode

DAEVA:  https://daevarock.bandcamp.com/ 

LORD HUMONGOUS: https://lordhumongous.bandcamp.com/  

NOCTURNAL GRAVES: https://nocturnalgraves.bandcamp.com/ 

The Trve Best Black Metal Albums Of The Decade So Far

Akhlys - “Melinoe”

The Antichrist Imperium - “Vol 3: Satan In His Original Glory”

Horna - “Nyx - Hymnejä Yölle Kuier”

Misthyrming - “Med Hamri”

Panzerfaust - “The Suns of Perdition Chapter 2: Render Unto Eden”

Utkena - “Nex Fornix”

Selbst - “Relatos De Angustia”

Inferno - “Paradeigma”

Funeral Mist - “Deiform”

Inquisition - “Veneration of Medieval Mysticism And Cosmological Violence”

RUÏM - “Black Royal Spiritism – I – O Sino da Igreja”

Trivax - “Eloah Burns Out”

Slidhr - “White Hart!”

Darvaza - “Ascending Into Perdition”

Aversio Humanitatis - “Behold The Silent Dwellers”

Cloak - “Black Flame Eternal”

Bythos - “Cthonic Gates Unveiled” 

Drugoth - “Battles May Cease But War Is Forever” 

Marduk - “Memento Mori”

Tombs - “Under Sullen Skies”

The legendary Paul Ledney of Profanatica makes his long overdue debut on Into The Necrosphere this week.  Profanatica has just released their new EP, “Wreathed In Dead Angels” through Hells Headbangers.  Paul is also a four decade veteran of extreme and underground music, who has literally seen every trend you can imagine - and was more than happy to share his unique perspective on the evolution of death and black metal, along with discussing a host of other topics.

Billy Bayou of Glorior Belli joins the podcast this week to discuss the inspiration and creative process behind their self-titled comeback album, available now on Dark Empire Records.  We also talk about Billy’s views on this industry, his love of music outside of the metal genre and much more.  

PLUS, on my weekly news rant, the latest singles by Necrotted, Ghost Bath, Crust, Ondfodt, Death Chasm and Autumn Nostalgie are rounded up for judgment. I’m also answering your questions and this week I reveal the five bands I hate the most, my favourite Pride fighters of all time and more.

Please support the bands featured on this episode

GLORIOR BELLI:  https://gloriorbelli.bandcamp.com/ 

TEITANBLOOD: https://teitanblood.bandcamp.com/ 

DAEVA: https://20buckspin.bandcamp.com/ 

MUNITIONS: https://munitions1.bandcamp.com/ 

Justin Horval, host of the wildly popular Dead By Dawg Youtube channel and one of the founders of the legendary Hells Headbangers joins the podcast for the first time this week. No wimps or posers are spared as J-Dawg runs the gamut of his upcoming Dead By Dawg Fest, the evolution of his channel, the early days of Hells, bodybuilding and more.

Then it’s on to this week’s News Rant, where I’m joined by my good friend Svartalv of Nocturnal Breed, Gehenna and Engangshammer.  We round up the latest singles by Conan, Obsidian Tongue, In The Woods and Nightfall for judgement, while Svartalv gives me the low-down on all his musical endeavors.  

Please support the bands featured on this episode

PROFANATICA: https://profanatica-us.bandcamp.com/ 

ATTIC: https://attic-vanrecords.bandcamp.com/ 

NECROPHAGIA: https://necrophagia.bandcamp.com/ 

Get your DEAD BY DAWG FEST tickets here:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dead-by-dawg-fest-volume-1-tickets-948328133977 

Get your daily J-Dawg fix on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@justinhorval8491 

Visit Hells Headbangers Online Store here: https://shop-hellsheadbangers.com/ 

Chris McEwin makes his Into The Necrosphere debut this week.  Chris is the bassist for Australian blackened death metal titans, Destruktor.  Their latest album, “Indomitable” is available on Hells Headbangers right now and was a featured record in my Top 30 albums of last year.  In addition, Chris is a Jiu-Jitsu black belt and coach in his hometown of Geelong, Australia.  

Also in this episode: my weekly news rant rounds up new singles from Hexvessel, Gates To Hell, Dormant Ordeal, The Haunted, …And Oceans, and others for judgement. I also share my five favorite all-time bands, tell you which now-defunct UK bands I’d love to see reform, and much more.

Plus, a killer new single from Centuries of Decay cements their place among underground legends—earning them a spot on my Unsanctioned Filth segment.

Please support the bands featured on this episode