Scars and Guitars

Drowning Pool will be touring Australia in February 2025 alongside Alien Ant Farm, providing the perfect opportunity to catch up with C.J. In this conversation, he shares his connection with Australia, reflects on the media's portrayal of the band's music being used by the US military, discusses balancing life and career, reminisces about his friendship with Dimebag, and much more.

ALIEN ANT FARM and DROWNING POOL February 2025 Australian Tour Dates:

Friday 7th February BRISBANE, Princess Theatre

Saturday 8th February SYDNEY, Metro Theatre

Sunday 9th February MELBOURNE, Northcote Theatre

Tuesday 11th February ADELAIDE, Lion Arts Factory

Wednesday 12th February PERTH, Magnet House

TICKETS ON SALE NOW FROM: https://thephoenix.au 

PLAYLIST: 1. Cyhra’s Superman; 2. The Halo Effect’s Cruel Perception (March Of The Unheard); 3. Scour’s Blades (Gold); 4. Lacuna Coil’s Oxygen (Sleepless Empire); 5. Dirkschneider’s Balls To The Wall (feat. Joakim Brodén); 6. Fell Omen’s Invaded By A Dark Spirit (Dungeon Metal Punks Besieging Digital Castles); 7. Obscura’s Evenfall (A Sonication); 8. Majestica’s A Story In The Night (Power Train); 9. Dynazty’s Call of the Night (Game of Faces); 10. March Of Scylla’s Ulysses' Lies (Andromeda); 11. Karla Kvlt’s Karma (Thunderhunter); 12. Harakiri For The Sky’s With Autumn I'll Surrender (Scorched Earth); 13. The Halo Effect’s Forever Astray (March Of The Unheard); 14. L.S. Dunes’ Violet (Violet); 15. The Grey’s Sharpen The Knife (Kodok); 16. Scare’s Nevermind if it all explodes, I'll die anyway (In The End, Was It Worth It?); 17. The Hellacopters’ Do You Feel Normal (Overdriver); 18. Envy Of None’s Stygian Waves (Stygian Waves); 19. Blood Cult’s We're Gonna Take Your Soul (We’re Gonna Take Your Soul); 20. Temple of Discord’s The Reaper (In The Ashes); 21. Gotthard’s Thunder & Lightning; 22. Marko Hietala’s Rebel of the North (Roses From The Deep); 23. Beltfed Weapon’s Tortured Within; 24. Lordi’s Retropolis; 25. Viperwitch’s The Viper Witch (Witch Hunt: Road to Vengeance); 26. Rauhbein’s Die laute und schnelle Musikkapelle; 27. Brainstorm’s Beyond Enemy Lines (Plague Of Rats); 28. The Halo Effect’s The Burning Point (March Of The Unheard); 29. Délirant’s Thoughteater IV (Thoughteater); 30. Zodomy’s Only Death is Real (Only Death is Real); 31. Gravethorn’s Barbaric War Declared; 32. Paths to Deliverance’s Solitude (Ten); 33. Necrambulant’s Sentenced to a Gluttonous Pit (Upheaval of Malignant Necrambulance); 34. Sadist’s No Feast For Flies (Single); 35. Gates To Hell’s Death Comes To All (Death Comes To All); 36. Abolishment Of Flesh’s Hater Of Man (Resurrecting Misanthropy); 37. Cabal’s Unveiled (Everything Rots); 38. Profiler’s Depth Perception (A Digital Nowhere); 39. Great American Ghost’s Kerosene (Tragedy Of The Commons); 40. Bleeding Through’s I Am Resistance (I Am Resistance); 41. God Complex’s Salt and Ash; 42. The Halo Effect’s A Death That Becomes Us (March Of The Unheard); and 43. Lockjaw’s Control the Chaos.

The 2024-2025 Almanac offers Dan Mitchell, AKA Autumns Eyes, and Andrew a chance to reflect on the key moments of 2024 and look forward to what's coming in the new year. Look forward to a mix of insightful commentary, lively banter, and discussions on all the regular subjects, with no shortage of Cradle of Filth discussions as well!

For all things Autumns Eyes: https://autumnseyes.com/ 

Andy Cichon is an accomplished Australian musician with an impressive career spanning decades. Currently, he serves as Billy Joel’s bassist, following a long tenure with Shania Twain’s band. In his early career, Andy co-wrote the massive hit “Suddenly,” which gained national attention as the soundtrack to the iconic 1987 TV wedding of Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan’s characters on Neighbours.

In Australia, Andy fronted Judge Mercy, a hard-hitting blues-metal band that opened for legendary acts such as Iron Maiden and AC/DC. He reflects on the reasons behind the band's disbandment and discusses the possibility of reissuing their debut album, Protocol So Holy, on vinyl or making it available on streaming platforms. Beyond Judge Mercy, Andy’s career highlights include collaborations with Icehouse and James Reyne and his iconic bass performance on Darryl Braithwaite’s hit “One Summer” from the Edge album.

Andy also shares memories of working with Pete Wells and Rose Tattoo, reflecting on the personal impact of those collaborations. From growing up in the suburbs of Adelaide to performing on some of the world’s biggest stages, Andy’s journey is a testament to talent and perseverance. In this episode, he opens up about the defining moments of his career and his insights into sustaining success in the ever-changing world of professional music.

https://www.facebook.com/andycichonbass/

https://www.instagram.com/cichonandy/

This inaugural episode of our series pays tribute to the profound influence of musicians who have redefined the musical landscape across diverse genres. It offers a deep dive into the evolution of the bass guitar, spotlighting the trailblazing artists who elevated it from a supporting role to a driving force in the development of funk, disco, and fusion as these styles branched out from their jazz origins.

We begin with Larry Graham, the father of slap bass, whose work on Sly and the Family Stone's "Thank You" and Graham Central Station’s "Hair" and "Now Do You Wanna Dance" defined funk’s rhythmic core. Moving into jazz fusion, we spotlight Stanley Clarke, whose innovative bass lines on "Lopsy Lu" and "School Days" demonstrated the instrument's melodic and harmonic possibilities.

The funk and disco world is represented by Bernard Edwards, whose legendary grooves on CHIC classics like "I Want Your Love" and "Dance, Dance, Dance" set a gold standard, alongside Nate Phillips of Pleasure, celebrated for his electrifying work on "Glide." Louis Johnson of The Brothers Johnson brought slap bass to new heights with tracks like "Get the Funk Out of My Face" and "Stomp!"

We also honour Abraham Laboriel, known for his sophisticated work on George Benson's "Give Me the Night," and Freddie Washington, whose iconic bassline drives Patrice Rushen's "Forget Me Nots." Mark King of Level 42 showcases the fusion of funk and pop with his intricate playing on "Love Games" and "Lessons in Love," while Ron Francois delivers melodic elegance in Eurogliders’ "Heaven."

The episode highlights the subtle genius of Nathan East, whose minimalist grooves in Daft Punk's "Lose Yourself to Dance" and Eurythmics' "Would I Lie to You?" exemplify restraint and precision. We then turn to the soulful power of Doug Pinnick from King's X on "Dogman" and the eccentric brilliance of Les Claypool, who reimagined Stanley Clarke’s "Silly Putty" with Primus.

Finally, we venture into extreme metal with Steve DiGiorgio, whose fretless mastery shines in Death’s "Nothing is Everything" and Control Denied’s "Breaking the Broken," and Tony Choy, whose jazz-inspired lines in Atheist’s "Mother Man" expanded the boundaries of technical death metal. We celebrate Sean Malone of Cynic for his breathtaking solo on "Textures" and remember the late Roger Patterson, whose aggressive style shaped Atheist’s early sound.

This series intentionally excludes titans like James Jamerson, Steve Harris, John Entwistle, Jack Bruce, John Paul Jones, and Jaco Pastorius, who already enjoy widespread acclaim. Instead, the spotlight underappreciated bassists from funk, jazz fusion, dance funk, disco, funk metal and extreme metal, whose artistry has influenced countless musicians, including myself. This episode is a tribute to their enduring contributions and a testament to the profound impact of the bass guitar on modern music. 

Astennu returns to the show to discuss the triumphant resurgence of Covenant. Alongside reflecting on Covenant’s relaunch, he opens up about the circumstances surrounding his departure from Dimmu Borgir, shares plans for a solo album and reveals what’s next for the legendary Lord Kaos. In this candid conversation, Astennu doesn’t hold back, shedding light on long-standing rumours and unveiling the truth behind narratives shaped by conjecture and misinformation. This episode isn’t for fanboys or those content to believe the noise - prepare for an unfiltered discussion.

Covenant is officially back in action, recently delivering a blistering Nexus Polaris-themed set at Eindhoven. Upcoming appearances include the Karmøygeddon Metal Festival, 70,000 Tons of Metal, and more. 

For bookings, contact Håkon Grav at Photograve Management: www.photograve.net.

Visit the Astennu Music Store for exclusive offerings:

Check out their Metal Archives page: Lord Kaos on Metal Archives.

Explore the band’s history and stay connected with their latest updates and releases here:

Sarah Jezebel Deva returns to discuss her experiences with the reformed Covenant and reflect on the band's reunion. She also discusses the development of her philosophies since her Cradle of Filth days, strategies for managing her music career alongside family responsibilities, her view on her legacy in extreme music, and balancing personal and band commitments. The conversation extends to what the future might hold. 

Sarah keeps her Facebook page up to date, so check it out: https://www.facebook.com/SarahJezebelDeva

Covenant: 

Also, check out Midvinterblot, her project with Heljarmadr, the lead singer of Dark Funeral: 

The December 2024 new music show features NECKBREAKKER from Within The Viscera, THE HALO EFFECT from March Of The Unheard, BATUSHKA with "WIERSZALIN III," and JINJER with "Green Serpent." HELLOWEEN performs "Forever And One (Neverland)" live alongside GAUPA, DAYS OF JUPITER, God Complex, LUNA KILLS, ELUVEITIE, BLACKBRIAR, and OCTOPLOID. ATHENA XIX, Amaranthe, and ABZY add synth and Middle Eastern metal. Power metal comes from ALL FOR METAL, DYNAZTY, Niviane, and Steel Forge and Exiled Hope. Metalcore is represented by MEMPHIS MAY FIRE and BLEED FROM WITHIN, black metal by BURIAL OATH, DECLINE OF THE I, Hellpriests, Serpent Sceptre, and Catharia. TIGGUO COBAUC, Horse Butcher, NECROTECH, HELEVORN, and various death metal bands like Boreal Grave, Klaïton, Slaughtersun, ABOLISHMENT OF FLESH, THIRTEEN GOATS, and Chuzo perform. BIND TORTURE KILL brings hardcore, Dehumanizing Itatrain Worship mixes anime with metal, Great American Ghost and Axioma offer industrial and apocalyptic sounds. OBSCURA, GRAVE DIGGER, Frankenbok, BRAINSTORM, GOTTHARD, LORDI, THE HELLACOPTERS, MARKO HIETALA, and Dellacoma cover thrash, hard rock, rock, and acoustic styles.

Mischa M and Cristian S from CHÜZO discuss their new EP, Maximum Threshold, Minimum Decay.

We’ll talk about how cultural influences shape their sound, the themes behind the EP, and Mischa’s approach to developing her vocal style. They’ll share insights on balancing creative perspectives in an international lineup, navigating Montreal’s metal scene, and their experience working with producer Kevin Jardine.

Bandcamp - https://chuzomtl.bandcamp.com/album/m-t-m-d-maximum-threshold-minimum-decay

Digital (Spotify) - https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/chzo/mtmd

EP Stream - https://youtu.be/jqCdfYwDev4

More Info: Instagram.com/chuzo.band | Facebook.com/chuzo.band