Northwest Connection Podcast

On this episode of The Northwest Connection Podcast, I'm joined by UK post-metal and post-rock innovators Atotaso. Known for their blend of massive riffs, atmospheric soundscapes, math rock precision and post-hardcore energy, Atotaso have built a reputation as one of the most unique and forward-thinking bands in the underground heavy music scene.

We discuss the band's creative journey, their ever-evolving approach to songwriting, working with guest vocalists, the challenges of carving out an original sound, and the stories behind their latest album, I Told You So. The conversation also explores the influences that have shaped the band's sound, the UK alternative music scene, and what the future holds for Atotaso.

If you're a fan of post-metal, post-rock, math rock, alternative metal, underground heavy music, experimental rock, UK metal bands and in-depth musician interviews, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

🎧 Featuring: Atotaso
🎙️ Hosts: Lee Trelford & Chris Hanlon
📍 The Northwest Connection Podcast

#PostMetal #PostRock #Atotaso #MathRock #PostHardcore #AlternativeMetal #UKMetal #HeavyMusicPodcast #UndergroundMusic #NewMusic #MusicInterview #TheNorthwestConnectionPodcast

In this episode of the Northwest Connection Podcast, we sit down with Manchester's Chrysalid Homo to explore the ideas, influences and experiences shaping their unique sound. We talk about the band's creative process, the realities of navigating the UK's underground music scene, and the challenge of turning personal expression into powerful, uncompromising art.

From songwriting and live performance to identity, transformation and community, this conversation dives deep into what drives Chrysalid Homo and where they're heading next. Whether you're already a fan or discovering the band for the first time, this is an honest and insightful look inside one of Manchester's most intriguing emerging acts.

Topics covered: Manchester music scene, alternative music, underground bands, songwriting, DIY culture, live shows, creative expression, independent artists, UK alternative music, Chrysalid Homo.

🎙️ Listen now and discover the stories behind the sound.

#NorthwestConnection #ChrysalidHomo #ManchesterMusic #UKAlternative #DIYMusic #UndergroundMusic #IndependentArtists #Podcast #AlternativeMusic #MusicInterview

In this episode of the Northwest Connection Podcast, Lee sits down with rising UK metal force Burner to discuss their explosive journey through the underground heavy music scene, their uncompromising approach to songwriting, and the release of their latest album, No One is Coming to Save Us

Known for blending elements of metal, hardcore, sludge, death metal, and extreme music, Burner have built a reputation as one of the most intense and exciting bands on the UK heavy music circuit. We dive into the band's creative process, lyrical themes, recording experience, the realities of touring, and what the future holds following the release of their new material.

Whether you're a fan of UK metal bands, hardcore music, death metal, metal podcasts, alternative music, or the thriving British underground music scene, this episode offers a fascinating insight into a band helping push heavy music forward.

Listen now as Burner discuss their music, influences, live shows, and the stories behind No One is Coming to Save Us

🔥 Subscribe for more interviews with the best bands from the worlds of metal, hardcore, alternative, rock, and underground music.

AV Sunset join me on this episode of The Northwest Connection Podcast for a deep dive into the world of post-rock, atmospheric songwriting, and those all-important odd time signatures.

We chat about the band's journey so far, their creative process, the influences that shape their cinematic sound, and how they balance huge crescendos with intricate rhythms. From crafting immersive soundscapes to bringing their music to life on stage, AV Sunset share the stories behind the songs and discuss what's next for the band.

Whether you're a long-time post-rock fan or simply curious about the people behind the music, this is a fascinating conversation with one of the UK's most exciting emerging instrumental acts.

Goodbye, Kings don’t just make music — they build vast, collaborative worlds, and this episode dives straight into the architecture of their sound. With a lineup large enough to feel orchestral, the Milan collective talks about how many hands, minds, and instruments come together to form their sweeping post‑rock landscapes.

We explore the logistics and magic of being a big ensemble: how they write as a collective, how they balance chaos with clarity, and how they turn layers of brass, strings, guitars, and noise into something cinematic and deeply human.

From their experimental roots to their towering crescendos, this conversation reveals what happens when a band embraces scale — not as a gimmick, but as a philosophy.

A portrait of Goodbye, Kings at full strength: many players, one horizon.

Northwest Connection Podcast descends into the bleak, atmospheric world of Mourir, one of the most compelling forces in the French dark metal, blackened hardcore, and extreme underground scene. In this episode, we explore the band’s haunting sonic landscapes, the creative process behind their latest release, and the emotional weight that defines their sound.

From suffocating ambience to crushing riffs, Mourir discuss the evolution of French black metal, the influence of their local scene, and how they carve out a uniquely cold, atmospheric, and immersive identity within modern extreme music.

If you’re into post‑black metal, avant‑garde heaviness, or the darker edges of the European underground, this conversation pulls you straight into the void.

Death of Youth step into the Northwest Connection with a deep dive into the lifeblood of London hardcore — the people, the rooms, the nights, and the pressure that shapes every riff. This episode zooms in on the scene itself: the DIY spaces keeping heavy music alive, the promoters fighting to hold onto venues, the crews who show up rain or shine, and the bands pushing each other to get louder, tighter, and more honest.

We get into how Death of Youth carved out their place in a city where scenes rise and collapse overnight, how London’s fractured geography creates pockets of intensity, and why community is the only thing that keeps the whole ecosystem from burning out. Expect talk of basement shows, sweat‑soaked nights at legendary rooms, the politics of surviving in a city built to price artists out, and the friendships that make the chaos worth it.

It’s a portrait of London hardcore from the inside — raw, communal, and stubbornly alive.

Northwest Connection dives deep with Din of Celestial Birds as they unveil their new album Takeoffs and Landings — a towering blend of cinematic post‑rock, atmospheric heaviness, and emotionally charged instrumental storytelling. We explore the record’s themes of momentum, turbulence, and transformation, breaking down the dense textures, crushing crescendos, and electronic undercurrents that define their sound.

We also talk about the band’s upcoming appearance at Arctangent

Stoke’s rising indie outfit Foarn join us for a warm, honest dive into their sound, their songwriting, and the local scene that shaped them. We talk origins, influences, the stories behind their latest tracks, and how they’re carving out a distinct voice in the Midlands indie landscape. Expect charm, creativity, and the kind of grounded humour only Stoke musicians can pull off.

Perfect for listeners discovering new UK indie bands, exploring Stoke’s alt‑scene, or looking for fresh, heartfelt songwriting with a DIY edge.

n this Northwest Connection Podcast episode, North talks with Becky Laverty — one of the Roadburn Festival, team, and founder of Slowpoke Fanzine, and some of the most influential moves in the heavy music, post‑metal, experimental, and avant‑garde scenes. We dive into festival curation, underground culture, artist discovery, DIY publishing, community building, and how Roadburn continues to shape the global alternative music landscape. Essential listening for fans of independent festivals, underground artists, heavy culture, zine creators, and anyone obsessed with boundary‑pushing sound.