Vigorously with Val Kleinhans

This week, Americans voted in midterm elections that were so hotly discussed that even James Hetfield of Metallica got in on the politics conversation recently…whether he wanted to or not.

The backlash this man received from his comments, and the way we’re seeing culture address political change today really made me ask, has choosing not to discuss politics become a political statement in itself? Why is there this expectation that artists speak on the issue simply because they have a public platform?

Social media has made celebrities more accessible, but has that accessibility created an expectation of constant commentary? Did James Hetfield actually say anything controversial?

Let’s look into this vigorously! 

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@vigorouslyvalpod

Follow Val: https://www.instagram.com/valkleinhans?xtok=NzFwcGtjOGZzbnBx&utm_source=qr

Get more Val at https://valkleinhans.com/

Metal, makeup, and making your mark! Full Metal Jessie joins Val on Vigorously to talk about finding her place in the metal community, developing her passion for heavy vocals, and expressing herself through music, makeup, and content creation.

Jessie and Val dive into the work that goes into creating content, the challenges of performing both on camera and onstage, and the growing influence of digital creators within the metal scene. Jessie also shares her experiences as a woman in heavy music, how this pops up in content creation, and why makeup and metal have more in common than some might think.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/9pDCzZ59fOc?si=vtUR56ePLTLro_0I

Get more Jessie: https://www.instagram.com/fullmetaljessie/

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@vigorouslyvalpod

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Get more Val at https://valkleinhans.com/

Val has said multiple times on this podcast that in recent years, and even today, core has taken over the metal scene. It seems to be what sells now. It seems to be what we’re interested in.

In her words, "I know that if I wanted to look into why this is true, I can’t do it without citing one man I feel is responsible for bringing core some mainstream awareness. Mitch Lucker."

Today, we’re going to honor Mitch, look at what Suicide Silence is up to now, and find out just why core still has the grip on us that it does all these years later.

Let’s look into this vigorously! 

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@vigorouslyvalpod

Follow Val: https://www.instagram.com/valkleinhans?xtok=NzFwcGtjOGZzbnBx&utm_source=qr

Get more Val at https://valkleinhans.com/

Four years after Momentous, OSYRON is entering a new era. Val sits down with lead vocalist Reed Alton to discuss the band's upcoming self-titled album, the power of collective creativity, and what it takes to build a sustainable future in music.

Entirely funded through Kickstarter, this record is as much a testament to their community as it is to the band's evolution. Reed shares the lessons they've learned about crowdfunding, financial stability, and navigating the business side of being a band without losing sight of the music.

We also dive into the vocal experimentation behind the new record, the message of “Telos” and its rejection of outside expectations, and the relatable frustration of feeling stuck when you know you're meant for something more. How do you find your own direction without putting pressure on yourself to have your entire life figured out?

Osyron is out November 27th.

Osyron stream: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5bBK2zUbVtvkvbtVBjchFB?si=0QErfxgXQ7OX5h3GZlHL4w

Follow Osyron: https://www.instagram.com/osyronband/

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@vigorouslyvalpod

Follow Val: https://www.instagram.com/valkleinhans?xtok=NzFwcGtjOGZzbnBx&utm_source=qr

Get more Val at https://valkleinhans.com/

If you’ve ever been to an Amon Amarth concert, a Týr concert, an Enslaved concert, in the US - you know full well that Americans love a viking moment. But why are we so obsessed? What attracts us to this culture and these stories?

Now that we have a new Amon Amarth album out this month, and a new one from Enslaved just a week away, I thought it would be a good time to look into this - vigorously!

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@vigorouslyvalpod

Follow Val: https://www.instagram.com/valkleinhans?xtok=NzFwcGtjOGZzbnBx&utm_source=qr

Get more Val at https://valkleinhans.com/

Peekay are one of the fastest growing metalcore groups from India. The eyes of the world are on them right now, and that's something vocalist Prantati Khanna takes in stride.

Val and Pranati get into how to go global as a band, how to bridge cultural gaps in music, what navigating an artist visa is really like, new music on the way, and the latest Cast in Chaos EP.

Peekay stream: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2QRt3WqRMTnQXu6mgGnqKl?si=uEMoozTuTny5eZRdAuv-BQ

Follow Peekay: https://www.instagram.com/peekayindia/

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@vigorouslyvalpod

Follow Val: https://www.instagram.com/valkleinhans?xtok=NzFwcGtjOGZzbnBx&utm_source=qr

Get more Val at https://valkleinhans.com/

In the year of our lord 2026, it's very easy for things to feel very dystopian. If you're looking for the perfect soundtrack to this, THE UNCRTN may have just provided it in their new EP Machine out Friday.

Val, Tyler and Sonia discuss shedding old identities, the story behind The Drifter, and the making of “BAD FOR ME,” featuring Ricky Armellino. Plus, we get into the creative vision behind the EP's visual world, dream collaborations, the New York music scene, and whether the music industry really understands what heavy music fans want.

What does it take to build something meaningful in a world that can feel increasingly dehumanizing? THE UNCRTN have some thoughts.

THE UNCRTN stream: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0VhUs7qYeDFt9bopnjvqPl?si=96FC4v5hSeKZzkLl3hZBdg

Follow THE UNCRTN: https://www.instagram.com/theuncrtn

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@vigorouslyvalpod

Follow Val: https://www.instagram.com/valkleinhans?xtok=NzFwcGtjOGZzbnBx&utm_source=qr

Get more Val at https://valkleinhans.com/

After a small vacation, Val is back to welcome October the only way she knows how - by honoring the best albums to celebrate the month.

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@vigorouslyvalpod

Follow Val: https://www.instagram.com/valkleinhans?xtok=NzFwcGtjOGZzbnBx&utm_source=qr

Get more Val at https://valkleinhans.com/

Life is hard, but what do you do with it? When you want to accomplish something, do you let the "hard" win? If you ask alternative/electronic/hip-hop fusion group Banks Arcade, it's all about choosing what your "hard" is.

Vocalist Joshua O' Donnell joins Val for a chat about what it really takes to launch a band based in New Zealand, the struggles to take the band to the United States, MMA adventures and their new album SECOND PLACE SUPERSTAR.

SECOND PLACE SUPERSTAR is out now.

Banks Arcade stream:

https://open.spotify.com/artist/0dPpBOzonBzIhl7EoLnj3D?si=JuUPdZjwQ0i1yEWe3MLjhA

Follow Banks Arcade: https://www.instagram.com/banksarcade 

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@vigorouslyvalpod

Follow Val: https://www.instagram.com/valkleinhans?xtok=NzFwcGtjOGZzbnBx&utm_source=qr

Get more Val at https://valkleinhans.com/

What else matches the season better than some psychedelia and indie vibes? For your fix this fall, we present Moon Darling.

Mike and Eliza join Val for a chat about their biggest fears, navigating being the "new kid in town", all the details on making their latest album Hearts To Blame in a cabin, and what makes Moon Darling so bewitching. 

Hearts To Blame is out now.

Moon Darling stream: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6HUkpz2MeD2lDpGiAFZFIj?si=EX2r3e3ORbKvuepszj4eIA

Follow Moon Darling: https://www.instagram.com/moondarlingofficial/

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@vigorouslyvalpod

Follow Val: https://www.instagram.com/valkleinhans?xtok=NzFwcGtjOGZzbnBx&utm_source=qr

Get more Val at https://valkleinhans.com/