Scars and Guitars

Fredrik dives into The Last Will & Testament, the latest album from Opeth, set for release on November 22, 2024, through Reigning Phoenix Music. In this episode, he delves into guitar performance and other related topics. This conversation was initially envisioned as part of an expansive two-part series examining various facets of Opeth's guitar work and musical evolution. Adding to the excitement, Opeth will be touring Australia and New Zealand in November 2025. 

OPETH AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND TOUR DATES 2025

For tickets and details, visit https://metropolistouring.com/opeth-2025/ or https://davidroywilliams.com/tours/opeth-2025/ 

Former Celtic Frost guitarist Oliver Amberg discusses his time with the band, focusing on the Cold Lake era. Oliver shares insights into the album's creative process, studio dynamics, and the band's stylistic shift. He addresses the backlash from fans, reflects on Cold Lake's legacy, and discusses his creative relationship with Tom G. Warrior. We also explore the album's visual branding, the possibility of unreleased material, and how fan perceptions have changed over time.

Check out Oliver’s recent music projects here: https://oliveramberg.bandcamp.com/

Some of Oliver's favourite musical selections as an introduction to his music:

• https://oliveramberg.bandcamp.com/album/songs-like-horses

Kissing Lucifer (Featuring Oliver) plays a swing version of Cherry Orchards: https://youtu.be/8_XqDLs_L-A?si=EN8OWhKaGb73gP7f 

Max Cavalera revisits Sepultura’s groundbreaking early albums - Bestial Devastation, Morbid Visions, and Schizophrenia - sharing stories of challenges, influences, and production. He reflects on Andreas, Paulo Jr., and overlooked contributor Jairo Guedz and dives into the early tape-trading scene with legends like Chuck Schuldiner and Euronymous.

CAVALERA Third World Trilogy Australian Tour Dates

Friday, January 17 - Liberty Hall, Sydney

Saturday, January 18 - The Tivoli, Brisbane

Sunday, January 19 - Northcote Theatre, Melbourne

Wednesday, January 22 - The Odeon Theatre, Hobart

Thursday, January 23 - Hindley Street Music Hall, Adelaide

Friday, January 24 - Metropolis, Fremantle

From: https://www.destroyalllines.com/tours/cavalera

Jørn Stubberud, better known as Necrobutcher, joins the show ahead of Mayhem's January 2025 shows in Australia, celebrating the band's 40th anniversary. In this candid conversation, Jørn opens up about his relationship with Varg Vikernes, his thoughts on the late Euronymous, working with vocalist Attila, and the controversial promotion of the bootleg Dawn of the Blackhearts, infamous for featuring a distressing image of his friend and bandmate Per Ohlin, also known as Dead. He also discusses the Lords of Chaos biopic, his connection to Australia, his legacy and much more!

MAYHEM performing at:

Jan 9th - Brisbane, Princess Theatre

Jan 10th - Sydney, Metro Theatre

Jan 12th - Melbourne, Northcote Theatre

TICKETS ON SALE now: 

BRISBANE - www.ticketmaster.com.au

SYDNEY - www.ticketek.com.au

MELBOURNE - www.moshtix.com.au

www.thetruemayhem.com

www.facebook.com/mayhemofficial

www.swdpresents.com

Andrew Roachford as he reflects on returning to Australia for his *Then and Now Greatest Hits Tour* after nearly two decades. We discuss pre-show rituals, his powerful performance mindset, and his unique journey balancing solo work with Mike + The Mechanics. Andrew shares insights on the lasting impact of his music, pivotal career moments, hidden gems in his catalogue, and his thoughts on rock 'n' roll’s overlooked legacy alongside influences like The Beatles

ROACHFORD May 2025 Australian Tour Dates

Friday 16th May - FREMANTLE, Freo.Social

Saturday 17th May - ADELAIDE, The Gov

Friday 23rd May - MELBOURNE, 170 Russell

Saturday 24th May - SYDNEY, Manning Bar

Sunday 25th May - BRISBANE, The Triffid

Tickets

From: https://metropolistouring.com/roachford-2025/

John Sanders, one of Alarum's two guitarists, joins the show ahead of the release of their new album, Recontinue, and their upcoming Australian tour with Pestilence and Abramelin. In this dynamic and engaging conversation, John discusses the intricacies of the new album, details of the tour, his career in radio, and how he has confronted personal challenges.

Recontinue will be released on November 8, 2024. It explores themes of regeneration, resilience, and finding strength in adversity. The album comprises 11 tracks that blend heavy and soft elements, showcasing Alarum's signature fusion of progressive metal, jazz, and thrash.

Alarum online: 

• www.alarum.com

ALARUM is on tour with Abramelin this November, supporting Pestilence!

• Nov 6th-Brisbane, The Triffid

Tickets from www.swdpresents.com

John Gallagher has been the driving force at the forefront of Raven for over four decades. In this insightful conversation, he shares his thoughts on their upcoming Australian shows in November 2024, the band's enduring legacy, often-overlooked albums, and reflections on former members, including his brother and longtime guitarist, Mark Gallagher. He also opens up about his experiences with the Osbournes, Metallica, and his perspective on the growing wave of authoritarianism across the Western world. 

RAVEN and HYENA Australian Tour Dates

Friday 8th November - MELBOURNE - Northcote Social

Saturday 9th November - SYDNEY - STEEL ASSASSINS FESTIVAL - Bridge Hotel (tix via Moshtix on sale now)

Brisbane - Cancelled... 

Link to tickets: https://hardlinemedia.net/raven-%2B-hyena 

Testament's Chuck Billy addresses controversies head-on, responding to a question about former bassist Greg Christian and shedding light on the Kukar Rockin' Fest 2014 incident in Indonesia. Chuck reflects on Testament's legacy, sharing thoughts on classic songs and personal favourites while revealing the inspiration behind recent album themes. He also discusses career crossroads, including his Sepultura audition and other band opportunities that might have been. He touches on the Nick Barker situation and working with James Murphy during his brief stint in Testament. Looking forward, Chuck talks about the band's upcoming Australian headline tour, their first since 2010, potential setlist changes, and Testament's current goals and ambitions.

TESTAMENT June 2025 Australian Tour Dates

• Wednesday 18th June - BRISBANE, The Tivoli

Tickets

Presale: Thursday 31st October, 9am Local Time

General Public On Sale: Tuesday 5th November, 9am Local time

From: https://metropolistouring.com/testament-2025/ or https://thephoenix.au/testament/

Dan knows much more than I do about Halloween, so it was an excellent opportunity to invite him to the show to discuss Halloween and many other topics!

Check out Autumns Eyes: https://autumnseyes.com/ 

The October 2024 edition of *The Scars and Guitars* new music show celebrates 70 tracks spanning the extreme metal spectrum. The featured album, ORANSSI PAZUZU's Muuntautuja, delivers a mesmerising, boundary-pushing journey through blackened experimental soundscapes. This episode's lineup covers black metal, death metal, doom, stoner, and metalcore, showcasing iconic names and rising talents. Highlights include fresh releases from Jinjer, Hermano, Hangman's Chair, and SYLOSIS, alongside hidden gems from emerging bands like Tidal Shock and Deadform. With contributions from artists worldwide, this playlist captures the diversity and global impact of metal today, from atmospheric black metal to symphonic epics and beyond.