In this episode, Jeff Wagner, Metal Maniacs editor from 1997–2001, explores shaping the magazine’s identity during metal’s subgenre diversification, maintaining underground authenticity, and tackling editorial hurdles like band selection and industry dynamics. He reflects on stories told, collaborating with writers like S. Craig Zahler, and notable moments, including studio sessions with Cradle of Filth, touring with Bruce Dickinson, and working with Mike Greenblatt and Blabbermouth’s Borivoj Krgin. Jeff also shares the most surprising and disappointing figures he met, discusses the impact of a recent tragedy, his books, and more.

Check out Jeff's podcast: https://radicalresearch.org/author/admin_jeff/

Check out the feature with Metal maniacs editor-in-chief Mike Greenblatt: https://scarsandguitars.podbean.com/e/mike-greenblatt-metal-maniacs-magazine/ 

Ahead of the group’s Australian shows, Jacob Binzer of D.A.D. discusses the band’s iconic Spaghetti Western sound and blending punk and rock roots for a potential film score. He explores the possibility of inventing a new genre for D.A.D., reflects on a hypothetical jam with icons Django Reinhardt and Jimi Hendrix, balancing humour and sincerity in songwriting.

D-A-D Greatest Hits Tour May 2025 Australian Dates

Tuesday 20th May - Perth, Rosemount Hotel

Thursday 22nd May - Brisbane, The Triffid

Friday 23rd May - Sydney, Manning Bar

Saturday 24th May - Melbourne, Northcote Theatre

Tickets

From: https://metropolistouring.com/d-a-d-2025/

Sean discusses vocalist Jay Evans's recent departure from the band, his on-stage monitoring setup for the Australian shows, how Ingested’s music confronts or reflects digital distraction and transient trends, political and social themes, and more.

INGESTED with ALGOR MORTIS performing at:

July 24th - Melbourne, Max Watts w/ Algor Mortis, Gutless, Growth

July 25th – Sydney, Crowbar, w/ Algor Mortis, Slaughtercult, Gosika

July 26th - Brisbane, Cold Day Festival, The Triffid

TICKETS ON SALE NOW:

MELBOURNE, SYDNEY – www.oztix.com.au

BRISBANE - www.moshtix.com.au

www.facebook.com/ingesteduk

www.facebook.com/algormortisau

www.swdpresents.com

This conversation with Helena Kotina takes place during Nervosa's Australian tour. They are playing in Sydney on April 18 (tonight!), so head over if you are in town. Other dates are below. 

Consider this chat a 'coffee table' introduction to Helena, one of the most exciting emerging guitarists in metal today. Topics covered include Helena's experience joining Nervosa and navigating cultural and musical differences to shape the band’s sound on the new album, Jailbreak. We also cover the influence of classic rock and heavy metal on crafting thrash metal riffs, and the impact of transitioning to a quintet on songwriting and live performances. We discuss the collaborative songwriting process for Jailbreak, lessons from performing with metal icons, and much more. 

Nervosa Australian tour dates left in the schedule: 

MELBOURNE - NORTHCOTE SOCIAL CLUB - SAT 19 APRIL

The internet’s only no-bullshit metal music show covers tunes under the banners of black metal, death metal, grind, grinding punk, grinding sludge metal, hardcore/sludge, industrial punk, instrumental, melodic death metal, melodic metal, metalcore, modern metal, nu metal, post blackened metal, power metal, punk, rock, stoner doom, symphonic doom, symphonic metal, tech death, and thrash.

On the label and PR side, the tracks are bought for you by Black Lion Records, Earsplit PR, Nuclear Blast, ROAR - RPM, Brilliant Emperor Records/Gutter Prince Cabal Records, Caverna Abismal Records, Inverse Records, Raging Planet Records, Sentient Ruin, Kostas Salomidis, Wise Blood Records and Pout Records, Agonia Records, CSquaredMusic, 604 Records, Sharptone, RCA Records/Sony Music Australia, RFL Music Entertainment, BMG, Frontiers Music S.r.l., Michael Brandvold Marketing, Black Throne Productions, Frontiers, High Roller Records, Witches Brew Records, and Listenable Records

The feature album is Ravage Of Empires from Benediction, and founding members and guitarists Darren Brookes and Peter Rew, longtime vocalist Dave Ingram, drummer Giovanni Durst, and Nik Sampson (bass) will travel far and wide once more. Already confirmed are the Tales of the Triple Death Tour with Jungle Rot and Master kicking off on album release date as well as confirmed appearances at Wacken Open Air and Maryland Deathfest. 

Show tracklist: 

The track list includes: 1. Benediction - "Engines of War" - *Ravage of Empires*, 2. Behemoth - "Lvciferaeon" - *The Shit Ov God*, 3. Battle Beast - "Eden" - *Circus of Doom: Live in Helsinki 2023*, 4. Cadaver - "From The Past" - *Hymns of Misanthropy*, 5. Crematory - "My Girlfriend's Girlfriend" feat. Michelle Darkness - *Destination*, 6. Grave Digger - "Hellfire Crusade", 7. Smith/Kotzen - "Darkside" - *Black Light / White Noise*, 8. Mystic Circle - "Afraid to Shoot Strangers" feat. Sarah Jezebel Deva - *Kriegsgötter MMXXV*, 9. Machine Head - "Bønescraper" - *Unatøned*, 10. Ghost Bath - "Well, I Tried Drowning" - *Rose Thorn Necklace*, 11. Exorcism - "Strike of The Match" - *Spectral Aggression*, 12. Phantom - "The Tower of Seth" - *Tyrants of Wrath*, 13. Exterminatus - "Cosmic Disturbance" - *Echoes From A Distant Star Part 1*, 14. Benediction - "Genesis Chamber" - *Ravage of Empires*, 15. Epica - "Fight To Survive" - *The Overview Effect*, 16. Laurenne/Louhimo - "Falling Through Stars" - *Falling Through Stars*, 17. Unén - "Forever Winter", 18. Aawks - "Cursed Soul" - *On Through the Sky Maze*, 19. Don Felder - "Hollywood Victim" - *The Vault - Fifty Years of Music*, 20. Smith/Kotzen - "05-Life Unchained" - *Black Light / White Noise*, 21. Pásmo - "Noc Rozhodnutí" - *Pásmo*, 22. Thomas Carlsen's Transmission - "Thunderbird" - *Clockwork Sky*, 23. Trick or Treat - "Dance With The Dancing Clown" - *Ghosted*, 24. A Flock Named Murder - "Pierced Flesh Catharsis" - *Incendiary Sanctum*, 25. Sleep Token - "Caramel" - *Even In Arcadia*, 26. Benediction - "Deviant Spine" - *Ravage of Empires*, 27. Ghostseeker - "Wake Up (Imposter)" - *Divergence*, 28. Luna Kills - "love u" - *Deathmatch*, 29. Freeze the Fall - "Hypothermia" - *The Red Garden*, 30. Northvoid - "Wilderness" - *Ember Remains*, 31. Buried Realm - "Ophidian Dreams" - *The Dormant Darkness*, 32. Quadvium - "Náströnd" - Single, 33. Yass - "In The Basement", 34. Meatwound - "Mount Vermin" - *Macho*, 35. Kiritsis - "Pissant" - *Kiritsis*, 36. Cannibal Accident - "Kärpästen juhlat", 37. King Parrot - "Look Away I'm Hideous" - *A Young Person's Guide To*, 38. Benediction - "Ravage of Empires" - *Ravage of Empires*, 39. Impaled - "Dead Inside" - *Demo Medicale*, 40. Ztate of Mind - "Tower of Skulls" - *Tower of Skulls*, 41. Ancient Death - "Breaking the Barriers of Hope" - *Ego Dissolution*, 42. Anoxia - "Rule By Cold Steel" - *Revel In Sin*, 43. Frantic Amber - "Black Widow" - *Death Becomes Her*, 44. Inborn Tendency - "Fist Evangelist", 45. My Dementia - "Premonição: Só Me Arrependo Do Que Não Vivi" - *Gloom's Light*, 46. Prophetic Suffering - "Gift of Decay" - *Rivalry of Thyself*, 47. Visceral - "Loathe" - *Eyes, Teeth and Bones*, 48. Benediction - "Psychosister" - *Ravage of Empires*, 49. Euphrosyne - "Funeral Rites" - *Morus*, 50. Namebearer - "Jäätyneen Järven Uumenissa" - *Industries Of The Fading Sun*, 51. Bleed From Within - "Violent Nature" - *Zenith*, and 52. Wasp - "Paint It Black" - *7 Savage Boxset*.

This discussion with Kelly offers a unique chance to explore lesser-known or under-researched facets of Randy Rhoads, including Kelly's insights on the relationship between the Osbournes and Randy, and much more.

A TRIBUTE TO RANDY RHOADS - in Australia 

Kelly is joined by musicians from Van Hagar, and Snake Bite Whisky, this event brings Randy Rhoads’ iconic classics from his Quiet Riot and Ozzy Osbourne eras to life. Alongside performances, intimate Q&A sessions will explore his remarkable life and artistry.

Event Dates & Locations:

Featuring Special Guest:

Tickets Available at www.XMusic.au  or click here: Brisbane | Sydney | Melbourne

Antoinette Anstis is the wife of the late Stuart Anstis, and she joins the show to discuss his career, legacy and much more. Stuart shaped Cradle of Filth’s most pivotal era, and throughout the chat, Antoinette recounts his early days with the band, offering her perspective on its dynamics during his tenure. Antoinette shares her thoughts on Stuart’s relationships with bandmates Nick, Dan, and Les and provides a nuanced account of his departure. She also covers his later projects, including work with Metal Church’s David Wayne and a sliding doors moment with Rob Halford. Additionally, she discusses what happened to the music featured on the demos Stuart created as a potential successor to Cruelty and the Beast. Antoinette shares personal anecdotes and insights, drawing on her unique perspective as his spouse to reveal Stuart’s character, shedding light on the mind of a guitarist whose contributions are iconic in metal history. Many other funny and personal topics are also addressed in this conversation, which will be compelling for everyone who has heard the iconic episode featuring Stuart.

Check out all the conversations with current, alums and associates of Cradle of Filth here: https://scarsandguitars.com/cradle-of-filth-conversations/

Throughout this discussion with Dennis Mikula of Ghost Bath, we focused on their album Rose Thorn Necklace and topics such as the shift from previous work, lyrical themes of mourning and death, collaborations, the album's title duality, the impact of early anonymity, the transition to a collaborative band, artwork choices, navigating criticism and trolling assumptive commentators. 

Watch 'Well, I Tried Drowning' music video:

Stream 'Well, I Tried Drowning':

GhostSeeker vocalist Celeste Bojczuk discusses the creative process behind their album Divergence. She addresses the album’s title, collaboration with new label ROAR, the shift in sound from “Initium Novum, and recording techniques. Celeste also talks about the partnership with Daniel Breen, the challenges of performing specific tracks, the influence of external producers, lyrical inspirations, the impact of Australian and international bands, and strategies for navigating creative differences. Additionally, the episode goes into Celeste’s journey as a vocalist, the formation of GhostSeeker, vocal techniques, and artists who’ve shaped her style.

Watch ‘Wake Up (Imposter)’ here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxE78ndDg1E

Watch ‘Interment’ here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07gZELH0wAw

For More Info Visit:

The great Steve Hughes discusses a range of social, political, and cultural topics ahead of his shows in Queensland. He addresses the long-term impacts of economic inequality on working-class communities, the influence of censorship and free speech debates on public discourse, and the emergence of leftist populist movements as indicators of systemic issues. Steve also shares his views on how technology, including AI, and his observations on handling mental health challenges in contemporary society. As a comedian, he reflects on the most significant unspoken issues facing humanity today. Additionally, Steve explores his musical background, detailing how his time with Slaughter Lord contributed to Australia’s thrash metal scene in the 1980s and reflects on his work with cult black metal outfit Nazxul in the 1990s