The Smashing Skull Sessions

Demersal is a band that has never feared exploring emptiness and intense emotions through

Hailing from Odense and Copenhagen, Demersal weave squalls of sound and emotions that

blackened post rock contemplation to cast a richly intense but equally cathartic confrontation

Regarding Ambiguity, Letterbombs, Vientre and Piet Onthel (2022). May 10th sees the release of the band’s self-titled sophomore full-length and their most adventurous, diverse

The album explores the importance of care and the notion of being there for each other in

I got to sit down with Viktor who is the co-vocalist and guitarist for Demersal where we talked about how the band got it's name, the recording process for the bands second album, 'Demersal', and more!

With great stories, chats and banter this is not one to be missed.

Avalible on all streaming platforms.

Check out Demersal here; https://demersalband.bandcamp.com/album/demersal

Track played: 'Something', ©️ all rights reserved Demersal

Edited by Richie Duhig of The Metal Cell Podcast.

The Smashing Skull Sessions: https://www.instagram.com/thesmashingskullsessions/

Over a raucous decade, DARKO have by definition, become veterans of the UK punk scene and it is not uncommon to see them standing as an essential name within the intricate and complex world of contemporary punk and hardcore.

In 2020, longtime voicebox Dan Smith returned to his native Australia and parted ways with the band after so long in the vox seat. Dan’s evocative, emphatic and emotional lyricisms have left quite the legacy throughout the band's releases. DARKO's four other noisemakers have curated a backdrop of vicious, hybridised Skate Punk and Melodic Hardcore that has been pushed beyond itself across thirty countries.

DARKO have now enlisted longtime touring compadre Tom West of UK shredders, Almeida. The band have never hid from what ails them or the society they inhabit but with West at the vocal helm now and forgoing the complacent societal padding forced upon us all, his lyrical discomfort has spurred the band’s most unbarred barrage yet. There is nothing hidden here, nothing soaked in distracted metaphor or softened non-confrontational rhetoric, DARKO are making full use of their scene privilege and challenging people who look akin to them to unleash their own salvos. But what of the backing? These are stops that have also been beyond pulled.

DARKO’s evolution is tied to their past but with threads so long that there is an abundance of slack to play with. Notes of Polar Bear Club, Mastodon, A Wilhelm Scream, Protest The Hero, Rise Against and Propagandhi can all be savoured in their contemporary flavour profile. Serrated, lacerating Thrash and metallic digressions contrast the meandering guitar lines rooted in Skate Punk classicism. Writhing, emotive and complicated Post-Hardcore structures supplement the “techy” displays they are known for as an overarching and indisputably Punk-charged Prog-aesthetic allows the versatile and varied vocal range to seamlessly traverse the entirety.

I got to sit down with the bands vocalist Tom West and guitarist Rob Piper where we talked about the recording process of the EP, how the band came up with their unique name and how the artwork of the EP came to be.

With great stories, chats and banter this is not one to be missed.

Avalible on all streaming platforms.

Check out Darko here; https://www.instagram.com/darko_band/

Track played: 'AUX II', ©️ all rights reserved DARKO

Edited by Richie Duhig of The Metal Cell Podcast.

The Smashing Skull Sessions: https://www.instagram.com/thesmashingskullsessions/

Inspired by the final words of Antarctic explorer, Captain Lawrence Oates and his selfless act of sacrifice, I May Be Some Time is the captivating new album from London based instrumental post-rock trio Million Moons. A breathtaking, immersive experience, I May Be Some Time is a tribute to people like him, who hear the call of adventure and risk it all to carve a path into the unknown. Its seven tracks are designed to take the listener on a musical voyage, inviting you to picture the trials and tribulations of a crew retracing Oates’ footsteps – and perhaps ultimately meeting the same fate.

The bravery and ingenuity, the tragedy and nobility are all captured within the superbly structured sounds of tracks such as ‘Endure, Overcome’ with its surging emotion and power rising from fragile, frozen emptiness. The dramatic, terrible beauty of the landscape is summoned into life by the shifting winds of ‘Voice of the Wild’ – the awe-inspiring vistas, the vast open skies and the vicious, blood-freezing, spirit draining cold.

Following on from their 2022 debut album, Gap in the Clouds, which bravely and sensitively explored the harrowing effects of the onset of Alzheimer’s, I May Be Some Time is another stunning achievement from Million Moons. The production of Lewis Johns (Ithaca, Svalbard, Employed To Serve etc) brings the very best out of every varied sonic element that combines to create I May Be Some Time – the raw power of the elements, the rich swathes of majesty, the echoing notes of crystal ice, the overwhelming waves of emotion, the propulsive rhythmic thunder, the gentle, reflective washes of sound.

I got to sit down with Ed where we talked about the recording of the album, the album's title and Ed's hobby of diving.

With great stories, chats and banter this is not one to be missed.

Avalible on all streaming platforms.

Check out Million Moons here; https://www.instagram.com/millionmoonsband/?hl=en

Track played: 'Endure, Overcome', ©️ all rights reserved Million Moons

Edited by Richie Duhig of The Metal Cell Podcast.

The Smashing Skull Sessions: https://www.instagram.com/thesmashingskullsessions/

When it was time for Four Year Strong to prep what would become their sixth album, analysis paralysis, they were truly, finally, stumped. Vocalist/guitarists Dan O’Connor and Alan Day showed up to producer Will Putney’s studio on day one of recording without a single finished song, in stark contrast to the 40-some ideas they brought to the table for 2020’s Brain Pain.

The two spent those early days in a bedroom at Putney’s house talking about, and listening to, music, desperate for a spark of inspiration. They found it by looking back: at what made Brain Pain a success and even the genesis of Four Year Strong as a band as they rode their trademark sound – pop-punk energy, dexterous riffage and caustic hardcore spirit – to the top of the underground in the late aughts. Within a month, they’d completed nearly 80% of the album, like the ominous, metal-meets-industrial “aftermath / afterthought.” They melded combustible hardcore rhythms with ‘90s alt-rock melodic bliss (“uncooked”), dabbled in rough-around-the-edges reggae (“out of touch”) and swerved between vibe-heavy synths and thunderous breakdowns (“STFIL”).

The result is an album that expands their classic sound in exciting ways – but through it all, it’s unmistakably them: O’Connor and Day’s distinctive vocals atop the airtight rhythm section prowess drummer Jake Massucco and bassist Joe Weiss provide. This deep into their career, there’s really nothing that doesn’t sound like Four Year Strong with these four involved.

I got to talk to Alan and Dan about the recording process for the album, how they came up with the idea of re-recording their 2010 album, 'Enemy Of The World', and their favourite album releases of 2024 so far.

With great stories, chats and banter this is not one to be missed.

Avalible on all streaming platforms.

Check out Four Years Strong here: https://www.instagram.com/fouryearstrong/?hl=en

Track played: 'daddy of mine', ©️ all rights reserved Four Years Strong

Edited by Richie Duhig of The Metal Cell Podcast.

The Smashing Skull Sessions: https://www.instagram.com/thesmashingskullsessions/

It's been five long years since "party doom" riff merchants GURT released their last crushing opus "Bongs of Praise", now on June 7th 2024 they are set to return with their latest, crushing-ist opus yet, "Satan Etc".

In January 2024 GURT took these new songs into the mighty Monolith Studios in London and under the watchful eye of Steve Sears, they birthed the magnificent, monstrous "Satan Etc". This album marks GURT's 5th collaboration with Sears, who always coaxes the best out of the band with a healthy mixture of positive support and scathing insults.

I got to sit down with singer Gareth Kelly where we talked the recording of the new album, how the band got their unique name and more!

With great stories, chats and banter this is not one to be missed.

Avalible on all streaming platforms.

Check out Gurt here: https://www.instagram.com/gurtsludge/

Track played: 'Appetite for Construction', ©️ all rights reserved Gurt

Edited by Richie Duhig of The Metal Cell Podcast.

The Smashing Skull Sessions: https://www.instagram.com/thesmashingskullsessions/

The Gloom In The Corner is an Australian metalcore & cinema core taking listners on a journey with their music, following a storyline in their albums and creating their own universe featuring character Sherlock Bones whose story is full of twist and turns.

I got to sit down with members Mikey (vocals) and Jesse (guitarist) before they hit the stage of Whelans Main Room in Dublin where we talked about how the band got their unique name, the recording process behind their new single, 'The Jericho Protocol', and their first time in Ireland.

With great stories, chats and banter this is not one to be missed.

Avalible on all streaming platforms.

Check out The Gloom In The Corner here: https://www.instagram.com/thegloominthecornvr/?hl=en

Track played: 'The Jericho Protocol', ©️ all rights reserved The Gloom In The Corner

Edited by Richie Duhig of The Metal Cell Podcast.

The Smashing Skull Sessions: https://www.instagram.com/thesmashingskullsessions/

Profiler is a Nu-Metal reawakening from the mind of vocalist and guitarist Mike Evans. This band is inspired by those who have incited change in genres, arts, and theories. It's a weight of legacy that Profiler is comfortable shouldering, backed by SharpTone Records, its home since 2020. After starting as a solo project in Bristol, UK, Mike stepped out from the studio and onto the stage, enlisting bassist/vocalist Joe Johnson and drummer Oscar Hocking. In early 2023, Oscar departed to be replaced by Brad Ratcliffe, cementing the line-up that would forge 2024's debut album, A Digital Nowhere.

I got to sit down with the full band, Mike (Vocals and Guitar) Joe (Bass) and Brad (Drums) before they hit the stage in Whelans Main Room in Dublin where we talked about how the tour was going with The Gloom In The Corner and Vended, their favourite albums of 2024 so far and how the recording of their debut album, 'A Digital Nowhere', was.

With great stories, chats and banter this is not one to be missed.

Avalible on all streaming platforms.

Check out Profiler here: https://www.instagram.com/profilerband/?hl=en

Track played: 'Operator', ©️ all rights reserved Profiler

Edited by Richie Duhig of The Metal Cell Podcast.

The Smashing Skull Sessions: https://www.instagram.com/thesmashingskullsessions/

A tight powerhouse of a band; urgent, questioning, loud and fierce. Together they play heavy and direct modern rock ’n’ roll: massive riffs and powerful, melodic choruses, fuzzy guitar, pummelling drums and bass, pin-balling between heavy alternative rock, grunge and punk. They also have a lyricist who can’t help but use his band as a platform to air anxieties and raise questions about the world we live in. Debut self-titled album was released in July 2022 to critical acclaim and 'You Are Not a Slave' is the fourth release from their sophomore album Design, scheduled for release on 4th July 2024. Earlier single from Design called ‘The Shameful’ was selected as Metal Hammer’s Track of the Week.

AMONGST LIARS toured in autumn 2023 supporting Theory of a Deadman across the UK and have just come off a very successful 3000 mile 15 day French tour in February 2024 supporting Ayron Jones. A July UK tour with some HMV in-stores is currently being finalised around the launch of Design and more support tours are being worked on for autumn 2024.

I got to sit down with Ian George, the vocalist of the alternative rock band Amongst Liars where we talked about the recording of their upcoming album, 'Design', how the band got their name and how the band started and so much more!

With great stories, chats and banter this is not one to be missed.

Avalible on all streaming platforms.

Check out Amongst Liars here: https://www.instagram.com/amongstliars/

Track played: You Are Not A Slave', ©️ all rights reserved Amongst Liars

Edited by Richie Duhig of The Metal Cell Podcast.

The Smashing Skull Sessions: https://www.instagram.com/thesmashingskullsessions/

From Austin, Texas, Emily Wolfe is a singer-songwriter, guitarist and producer. She's on a mission to breathe new life into rock n roll with her powerful vocals and shredding guitar style.

Teaching herself guitar from the age of 5, her 3rd album, 'The Blowback', delves into topics such as womens rights, injustices and addiction.

I got to sit down with Emily before she took the stage in the 3Olympia on the first of two nights with The Gaslight Anthem who were on the final strecth of their European tour campaign.

We talked about her favourite Gaslight Anthem album, the recording process for The Blowback and so much more!!

With great stories, chats and banter this is not one to be missed.

Avalible on all streaming platforms.

Check out Emily Wolfe here: https://www.instagram.com/emilywolfemusic/?hl=en

Track played: Dead End Luck ©️ all rights reserved Emily Wolfe

Edited by Richie Duhig of The Metal Cell Podcast.

The Smashing Skull Sessions: https://www.instagram.com/thesmashingskullsessions/

The debut EP The Great Becoming Of Captain Fuzz is a prologue recounting the meeting of the crew, all motivated to build a spaceship to escape the ecological and social problems of a planet in decline.

The band tells us about their debut: "As a series of humano-droids equipped with a fragment of consciousness is being marketed, the beginning of a new civilizational era emerges, plunging humanity into decline. Not equipped with this fragmented consciousness, the first prototype of this series, OB-1, divides opinions due to its immense power. As a precaution, it will be locked up until the outcome of its destiny is sealed.

From its cell, OB-1 intercepts a phone communication between a certain Captain Fuzz and the individual known as Professor Tricks regarding a mysterious invitation from space. The possibility of an escape from Earth leads OB-1 to organize its escape, inviting its creator, Tank, to join this space quest. OB-1, Tank, Captain Fuzz, and Professor Tricks ready, the crew, however, cannot be complete without their final encounter with the gunner Rocket. Assisted by the latter, the five of them will be able to finalize the construction of their spaceship: the Butterfly Bulldozer."

I got to chat to members Aubin (guitars and synth) and Manuel (guitars and synth) about their debut EP, 'The Great Becoming of Captain Fuzz', how the band got their unique name and so much more!]

With great stories, chats and banter this is not one to be missed.

Avalible on all streaming platforms.

Check out Butterfly Bulldozer here: https://www.instagram.com/butterflybulldozer/

Track played: BTFBDZ ©️ all rights reserved Butterfly Bulldozer

Edited by Richie Duhig of The Metal Cell Podcast.

The Smashing Skull Sessions: https://www.instagram.com/thesmashingskullsessions/