The MetalSucks Podcast

Johan Hegg of Amon Amarth is our guest this week. We discuss Amon Amarth's new live retrospective and documentary The Pursuit of Vikings: 25 years in the Eye of the Storm, his feelings on live albums in general, whether it's possible to capture a band's connection with the audience on video, the importance of Europe’s “The Final Countdown" to the origins of Amon Amarth, the 8-bit video game the band released and his favorite video games when he was growing up, the influence of the recently deceased Stan Lee on his life, and the weapon he would choose to fight with in a Viking battle.

Petar and Brandon discover the fetish-finding company everybody needs, the couple that decided to make a baby at the front row of a Machine Head concert, Ihsahn making us all fans of Kanye West by explaining his appreciation for the rapper, and what we think is the most artistic stage of a band's career.

Songs:
Amon Amarth - “Raise Your Horns” (Live)
Amon Amarth - “Twilight of The Thunder Gods” (Live)
Eneferens - “This Onward Reach”

Direct download: Johan20Hegg2028Amon20Amarth2920Episode2026620-20FINAL.mp3
Category:The MetalSucks Podcast -- posted at: 1:21pm PDT

Our guest this week is Nita Strauss. We discuss her recently-released debut solo record Controlled Chaos, her work with Alice Cooper and her appearance on Wrestlemania earlier this year. We also talk about the first time she picked up a guitar at age 13, the lesson and power of showing vulnerability as a public figure, knowing when to abandon a song and walk away, the passing of Jill Janus (Huntress) and some experiences Nita had with her both as a friend and in their band The Starbreakers.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn discuss the whirlwind of Threatin that occurred last week on MetalSucks, the news that All That Remains guitarist Oli Herbert's death is being investigated as suspicious, Bruce Dickinson's thoughts on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the death off comic book icon Stan Lee.

Songs:
Nita Strauss - "Our Most Desperate”
Nita Strauss - “Pandemonium 2.0”

Direct download: Nita20Strauss2028Alice20Cooper2920Episode20265-20FINAL.mp3
Category:The MetalSucks Podcast -- posted at: 9:37am PDT

Todd Stern of Psycroptic is our guest this week. We discuss his role in the latest record As The Kingdom Drowns, the addition of female vocals over choruses, if there was a hazing process when he joined the band, the logistics of him living in the States and the rest of the band living in Australia, switching from guitar to bass to be in Psycroptic, acclimating to the Australian lingo of his bandmates and which of their records he would love to perform in its entirety. We also talks about the best way to introduce young fans to your band, how backing tracks for live shows can be a slippery slope for metal bands and the importance of writing songs with replay value. 

Petar, Brandon, and Joz can't get enough of the story about Threatin’s European tour, and we read aloud the statement made about Oli Herbert in regards to his toxicology report and how the delivery makes us feel about the situation.

Song:
Psycroptic - “Directive”
Psycroptic - “Frozen Gaze”
Blind Sight - “Empathy Astray”

Direct download: Todd20Stern2028Psycroptic2920Episode2026420-20FINAL.mp3
Category:The MetalSucks Podcast -- posted at: 8:16am PDT

Trevor Phipps of Unearth is our guest. We discuss the message behind the band's new album Extinction(s), how the American political puts a strain on relationships with friends and family these days, his tips on how to best consume the news, the modern presentation of opinions as facts, which band from the New Wave of American Heavy Metal he was surprised called it quits, his thoughts climate change, and his favorite beer bong memory with Oderus Urungus of Gwar.

Petar, Brandon, and Jozalyn have a field day explaining David Gunn’s statement on the new King 810 record, Tom Araya’s conservative-leaning post, Axl Rose telling people how to vote, and Pitchfork’s brutal review of the new Greta Van Fleet album.

Songs:
Unearth - “Incinerate”
Unearth - “Survivalist”
Stellar Circuits - “Nocturnal Visitor”

Direct download: Trevor20Phipps2028Unearth2920Episode2026320-20FINAL.mp3
Category:The MetalSucks Podcast -- posted at: 2:11pm PDT

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