This week riff-master Kirk Windstein of Crowbar comes on the podcast to discuss his first solo album, Dream in Motion. Kirk tells us about the challenge of covering Jethro Tull, which solo artist he thinks successfully broke away from their main band to flourish on their own, the major influence of Carnivore on the Crowbar sound, his favorite Type O Negative record, which festival would be perfect for all the bands whose members comprise Down to play, his favorite Down release and why, an update on the completion of the four Down EPs that were supposed to make up Down IV, and when we can expect a new Crowbar album (hint: very soon).

Petar and Brandon talk about the sudden passing of Cynic and Death drummer Sean Reinert, the influence that he had on modern heavy metal drumming, what Death's Human and Cynic’s Focus did for us as young metal fans, and the importance of those records in the history of the genre.

Song: Cynic - “How Could I," Kirk Windstein - “Dream In Motion” and “Aqualung”

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In this special half-episode of The MetalSucks Podcast we get a quick chat with Poppy to discuss her new album, I Disagree. Poppy tells us about the lyrical growth from her YouTube persona to this record, the importance of having a following on multiple platforms for success in today's music climate, the dark imagery that motivated her to change her persona into something more realistic, and the concept behind the music video for “Anything Like Me." She also discusses growing up on the internet and how it can make you or destroy you if it isn't used the right way, the feeling that she wouldn’t exist without the internet, the honesty in burying certain elements that she felt weren’t genuine, and her peace with knowing that the right people will find her music.

Songs: Poppy - “Anything Like Me" and "I Disagree," Bohren & Der Club of Gore - “Tief Gesunken”

Sepultura frontman Derrick Green joins us this week. We discuss the band's new album, Quadra, how the numerology concept throughout it relates to social issues, the importance of branching out in different musical directions with each record for both the longevity of Sepultura and for reaching Derrick's personal goals, the fear of being in a band that traps themselves into one particular musical sound, and the importance of just having fun when creating music. Derrick also talks about the importance of family life and its deteriorating quality today, questions if modern day propaganda is geared to a selfish individual outlook, and speaks to the power of art in today's culture.

Petar, Brandon, and Sylvia discuss their experience watching Tool live on the Fear Inoculum tour, Brandon’s altercation with someone sitting in his seat, and the importance of younger rock and metal bands bringing the same excitement into our genre that Tool do.

Songs: Sepultura - “Isolation" and “Last Time," Konvent - "Ropes Pt. II"

Midnight mastermind Athenar is our guest this week. We discuss the band's new album, Rebirth by Blasphemy, and how it fits into Midnight's history starting with the band's early seven-inches, as well as the difficulty of writing lyrics in the bizarre realm of metal, if he would ever create a record with other musicians or if he always plans to maintain full creative control, and the importance of the visual aspect behind Midnight. Athenar also tells us a bit about his personal life, explaining how a Cleveland native became a fan of his hometowns rival Pittsburgh Steelers, the charm of Cleveland's negative attitude, his lifelong passion for record collecting, the possibility of a four-year-old being a tour manager for Midnight, what instruments he learned to play as a child himself, and the joy that comes with temporarily losing his cell phone.

Petar, Brandon and Jozalyn discuss the passing of legendary Rush drummer Neil Peart, the legacy of what he did for drummers everywhere, and the art that Rush left behind for the world. We also mourn the passing of Black Breath’s Elijah Nelson, and we talk about Lorna Shore's decision to release their album with the vocals of fired and disgraced frontman CJ McCreery.

Songs: Rush - “Ceiling Unlimited," Midnight - “Fucking Speed and Darkness” and “Rising Scum”