Lingua Brutallica

In episode 8 we speak to vocalist Mallika Sundaramurthy of international band Castrator about how her lyrics are reflecting on and critiquing death metal's history of misogyny, whilst also acting as a vehicle for exploring women's anger and frustration developed through trauma and oppression. To keep up to date with Castrator's music and, especially their upcoming release, follow https://www.facebook.com/CastratorBand/ and listen to their music at https://castrator.bandcamp.com/

In this episode, we chat with Rikke Emilie List, vocalist of death/doom band Konvent, based in Copenhagen, Denmark. We discuss how the relatable subject matter of Konvent's lyrics ask listeners to consider the brutality of everyday life. We also explore the broader role of metal in providing a space to examine difficult personal experiences and topics like depression and trauma. To see more from Konvent visit: https://www.facebook.com/konventband/, https://label.napalmrecords.com/konvent

This episode we briefly return to Australian extreme metal by delivering a much overdue interview featuring vocalist Loki Robson from Melbourne's sci-fi/occult obsessed extreme metal band Hybrid Nightmares. We discuss how the diversity in metal music generates considerable difficulties in distinguishing metal lyrics from non-metal lyrics, and why he feels that rhyme is an integral part of the lyric process for himself. For more info on Hybrid Nightmares' music, upcoming shows, merch and eventually tours, see https://hybridnightmares.com/ 

Episode 5 presents our first departure from the Melbourne extreme metal scene! In this episode we talk with Grimo and Fonzo from Cytotoxin, Germany's premier "Chernobyl death metal" band, about their team approach to writing lyrics which balance brutality and respect for the victims of nuclear disasters. For more info on Cytotoxin's music, merch and upcoming tours, see https://www.cytotoxin.de/

Our fourth episode here involves a departure from our usual format by presenting an interview with lecturer in communications and media, Dr Rosemary (Rosie) Overell, in which we discuss her experience conducting research on the grindcore scenes of Melbourne (Australia) and Osaka (Japan). We share anecdotes about our experiences as participants and observers across the two scenes and highlight key differences in how extreme metal brutality is structured by different groups. To see more on Dr Rosemary Overell's work go to: https://www.otago.ac.nz/mfco/staff/rosemaryoverell.html 

Our third episode features a first for this podcast by interviewing a vocalist from not one, but two extreme metal bands. Listen as vocalist Spyke Jägerkrieg of Melbourne death metal band Scaphis and doom metal band Squashed Moth, talks about using language to navigate between depictions of horror-movie-style gore and expressions of deep emotional catharsis, and how to balance a desire to be shocking without being offensive. Find Scaphis and Squashed Moth on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/scaphis and https://www.facebook.com/squashedmoth 

In this episode of Lingüa Brütallica we discuss everything from the fundamental question of how to produce meaningful lyrics to the appropriate vowel sounds for low-pitch percussive vocal stylings in our interview with vocalist Jared Bridgeman from the blackened-death metal band Earth Rot. Listen to their latest album Black Tides of Obscurity released earlier this year at https://earthrot.com.au/.

Lingüa Brütallica is a podcast where linguists and co-hosts, Dr Jess Birnie-Smith and Dr Wes Robertson, interview extreme metal musicians about their lyrical choices and discuss what makes lyrics distinctively dark, brutal and well... metal. This week we interview frontman Andrew Hudson of Melbourne-based thrash metal band Harlott, whose new album is out Nov 13 (for more see https://www.metalblade.com/harlott/)