PRAETORIAN
Answered together by Tom Clements (Vocals) and Mark Wilkie (Guitar)
Q1. For readers who might not be familiar with you, would you please provide some background on yourself—where you’re from, when you formed, etc.?
We’re from the county of Hertfordshire near London and we formed back in 2015. Mark our guitarist is the founding member and only original member of the band, while the rest of the current line-up was fleshed out just before COVID. The first few years of the band were a little undisciplined and disjointed, and we suffered through a few personnel changes which halted our progress, but since the beginning of the 2020s it has been pretty good going.
Q2. How would you describe your sound? Who are some of your primary influences?
We started off as a sort of heavy Entombed style death metal band – no-nonsense, groovy with some sludgy moments. That quickly segued into a more palatable mix of heavy bottom end sludge a la Iron Monkey, EyeHateGod, combined with the faster paced elements of hardcore and death metal, topped with more melodic and psychedelic elements of post-metal. We like to keep it heavy and extreme, but at the same time taking our foot off the gas and adding something you can hum to. Well…we hope! Band influences include the aforementioned Iron Monkey and EyeHateGod, along with Acid Bath, Grief, Isis, Kylesa, Darkthrone, Conan and Hum.
Q3. After three EPs, you’re now moving into full-length territory with Pylon Cult. What’s been different about that process from a writing and recording process, if anything, and was there a rationale behind going for the longer-form release this time around?
The first few EPs were just a mish-mash of new songs and little experimentation. It was just a result of the way we were playing together at the time. Truth be told, we were thinking of starting on an album around COVID but after that blew over, we just decided to do a third EP instead. For Pylon Cult, we made it clear that we wanted to branch out stylistically in different ways. Not just to write a bog standard sludge metal album, which would have been the easy thing to do. We wanted to include the usual heavy stuff, coupled with melodic parts and thunderous doom sections. We like it fast and slow, light and heavy. A mix of all, but without compromising on the flow. It could have been easy for the album to be disconnected and messy, but the reviews so far have been very positive, complimenting how well the tracklist is structured.
Q4. Has there been any kind of major sonic shift, in your view, from your earlier material to now? If so, how is that reflected on the record?
The early stuff was a bit more linear and straight forward, with reliance on just being heavy. For instance, some of the previous members from years back hated playing doom, so we had no slower material. Some melody was seeping through but there was no real progression. I still think some of the earlier stuff sounds great, but suffered from either poor production or sloppiness. The newer material is a lot more varied and it makes writing a lot easier, as there are less constraints. The songs are also a lot longer, something we did not aim for purposely. That just came by accident! Two of the tracks are the longest we’ve ever written.
Q5. What sorts of subjects and themes do you explore on Pylon Cult?
Nihilism is probably the main theme of the album. Nihilism caused by the state of things as they are at the moment. But then also trying to find some kind of meaning through it. Even if it’s through a lot of extremity. The subjects are very subjective [Laughs]! The song ‘Pylon Cult’ is a reference to Hookland and the worship of pylons in the fictional county. The rest of the songs lyrics came about through stream of consciousness automatic writing. Their own meanings will evolve over time, and will have different meanings for everyone.
Q6. Have you been/will you be touring around the release of and/or in support of the record?
We have no tours lined up, and unfortunately we have not managed to get ourselves an album launch show. We will continue to gig around the UK as we have been doing the past few years, and hopefully this year build on the progress by getting on some great festival slots and supporting some of the bigger bands. Hopefully bands who we call our major influences as well! We have some gigs confirmed in the book for this year and we will announce them in due course.
Q7. Are there any other future plans for the band currently on the horizon?
There are no long term plans as life has a habit of throwing curveballs at every turn, but in terms of material, we look to start work on new songs very soon. It’s very likely that there will be a second album coming around next, and we hope that it will expand more on our sound. More heavy, more experimentation and more weirdness. I mean, we won’t be turning into The Locust or anything, but we would definitely like to add more outside elements, like noise effects and synths along with the usual riffs. We hope to keep bagging more shows, spreading the word and building relationships along the way. Just more of the same!
AWRIZIS
Answers by Marek Frodys Pytlik
Q1. For readers who might not be familiar with you, would you please provide some background on yourself—where you’re from, when you formed, etc.?
Started 2011 in Czechia with the first EP released by international label. Since then, we have released 4 full length albums and 1 split album where we developed our style around melodic death / black metal.
Q2. Who are some of your primary influences?
The original idea was and basically still is about love of Scandinavian scene. Mainly melodic death metal, early albums by In Flames and Dark Tranquility. Now also some Scandinavian black metal bands.
Q3. Talk to us about the new album My Heart Has No Home: what was the writing and recording process like, what themes and sounds do you explore on the record, etc.?
This time it took almost 4 years instead of usually 2 years since the last one. Just because we wanted to bring something original and fresh. The album was written and recorded at multiple places, even in mountain cabin or my home studio. Creative freedom is very important for us.
Q4. Do you have a favorite song from the album, or is there one song you’d highlight as the best introduction to Awrizis and why?
There are some songs where you can feel the energy of live shows. On this album it is definitely "Chiroptera" and "Where the Sky and Earth Speaks." Can't wait to play these songs live! You can listen on Spotify etc.
Q5. Did you/do you have any touring plans in support of the album and if so, what were/are they?
The first on the list is official album release party which will be on Czech Death Fest. This is the one of the best and biggest death metal festivals in Czechia, in 2025 with I Am Morbid, Incantation and more awesome bands. And of course, there will be some shows in Central Europe as always but we hope to get more further into the world.
Q6. Are there any other future plans for the band at the current time?
There are many videos and singles coming out to support album My Heart Has No Home. Also, we have some songs and even cover song which didn't make it on the final album. Stay in touch via our social media channels!
Q7. What was it that made you want to pursue making music in the first place?
Freedom of art and just feeling to do what you love. Also traveling is big part of musician’s life, so it is nice to enjoy adventures on the road!
Q8. Do you have any parting words for the readers?
Thank you for listening to our latest album My Heart Has No Home! Let us know what you think and stay in touch!
DEKADENT
Answers by Artur Felicijan (guitar, vocals)
Q1. For readers who might not be familiar with you, would you please provide some background on yourself—where you’re from, when you formed, etc.?
Dekadent is an atmospheric extreme metal band from a small European country called Slovenia. What started as my solo project soon evolved into a full-fledged band, as I wanted to perform live. So far, we have released six albums and gone on several tours, and we will be celebrating our 20th anniversary in 2025.
Q2. Who are some of your primary influences?
The purpose of Dekadent has always been to create music that I felt was missing in the extreme metal genre. My influences come from various genres, as I like to integrate different styles into my compositions. That’s why, you might hear elements of Darkthrone, Morbid Angel, and even The Beatles in a single Dekadent song, although these nuances are very subtle. An average listener typically realizes quite quickly that we are not a typical black metal band.
Q3. Talk to us about the new album Dionyst: what was the writing and recording process like, what themes and sounds do you explore on the record, etc.?
My writing process is fairly quick, but it does take quite a bit longer to record and produce the album since we all have to get together to rehearse the parts to give the album that live-performance feel. For Dionyst we made extensive preparations, including a pre-production demo a year before the actual studio recording. By the time we were back in the studio, we were comfortable enough to experiment with arrangements and additional instruments, such as French horns and various percussions. All in all, we wanted a massive and natural sound with orchestrations that would further emphasize the mythological and esoteric side of Dekadent’s Dionyst.
Q4. Do you have a favorite song from the album, or is there one song you’d highlight as the best introduction to Dekadent and why?
When we finished the album, the song Zastor quickly became my favourite, as it showcased our unique qualities and the overall prowess of the band. At the same time, it is fairly easy to get into the melodic parts and has a nice momentum to it.
Q5. Did you/do you have any touring plans in support of the album and if so, what were/are they?
We did some initial live shows after the release, and we plan to return live in early Spring of 2025. The metal scene is extremely saturated, and it is very difficult to get good touring options. As mentioned earlier, 2025 will mark 20 years of Dekadent, so we will try to play some individual shows and probably jump onto a couple of short tours in Europe.
Q6. Are there any other future plans for the band at the current time?
We might do another video for the current album, while I am already putting together a follow-up for Dionyst. We have to prepare for the upcoming shows, do some merchandise and stuff like that. Most importantly, we want to get together, enjoy playing music and hang out. We cherish our friendship and want to ensure that it remains strong at the end of the day.
Q7. What was it that made you want to pursue making music in the first place?
I grew up in a musical family, attending music school and listening to rock bands from the 60’s and 70’s. As a result, getting involved in music felt natural to me. Over time, I realized that creating music was the ultimate catalyst for expressing my emotions and feelings, especially when I discovered extreme genres such as death and black metal.
Q8. Do you have any parting words for the readers?
Recently, I've found myself with fewer opportunities to truly immerse in an album from start to finish. The simple pleasure of sitting down with the physical copy and reading through the lyrics in the gatefold or booklet has become a rare treat. Answering these questions got me the chance to revisit a couple of awesome LPs. I kind of forgot just how rewarding that is in this age of music platforms. Thanks for that!
CENOBIUM
Photo credit: Raffaella Vismara
Answers by Andrea Lombardini
Q1. For readers who might not be familiar with you, would you please provide some background on yourself, where you’re from, etc.?
I am a bassist, composer, and producer, born in Venice, Italy. I have been playing professionally since 2000, making versatility and creativity my key strengths. I have explored almost every musical genre, from Baroque to noise rock, but it is primarily in jazz that I find the most freedom to express myself. Cenobium is the group where I can synthesize my musical experiences—and those of my bandmates—into a single, cohesive sound.
Q2. Who are some of your primary influences?
My musical tastes are very broad, but among my most evident influences, I’d highlight all Afro-American-derived music and English bands, spanning from the post-punk scene through to the end of the 20th century. Recently, I’ve been particularly interested in the new wave jazz emerging from the West Coast of the United States.
Q3. Talk to us about the new EP MMXXIV: what was the writing and recording process like, what themes and sounds do you explore on the record, etc.?
I started playing with Cenobium a little over a year ago, meeting regularly for collective studio sessions and experimentation. I wanted to give a fresh look to some pieces I had written some time ago and attempt to merge more and more rock-alternative-inspired vocal pieces with instrumental music. This first album is meant to be a quick starting point. We have a lot of music to record, and we can’t wait to get back into the studio for the second chapter.
Q4. Do you have a favorite song from the EP, or is there one song you’d highlight as the best introduction to Cenobium and why?
I would choose Grains of Sand as the vocal piece and Eggplant as the instrumental one. Both showcase our passion for harmonic richness and sudden shifts in atmosphere, as if we were actors performing in front of elaborate moving backdrops.
Q5. The EP is out on Hodie Files, the newly founded digital-only label—what can you tell us about the label, its origin and mission, etc.?
After a quarter of a century of recording experiences—some very good, others less so—I had built enough contacts to manage a release independently. I felt the need to have the control and freedom to publish my music, which some find too jazz, and others too rock. Although at the moment digital distribution earnings are negligible, I wanted to move away from physical formats for economic, ecological, and audience-related reasons. Hodie Files is a label managed by an artist with the aim of documenting music that transcends genres but is rooted in Afro-American traditions.
Q6. What have your touring plans in support of the album been and what has the experience been like so far?
Cenobium has started presenting its music live with great audience success. Having vocal pieces helps create a connection with younger listeners, to whom we can then introduce the other shades of our musical world. We have a good calendar of concerts planned for spring, currently in Italy, but we’re ready to cross borders as soon as possible.
Q7. Are there any other future plans for the band at the current time?
Next month, we’ll begin working on the repertoire for our next album, which we’ll record in the spring. We’d also like to do a more acoustic session, perhaps one or two singles. Having a label not tied to physical releases allows us to share music more quickly and directly.
Q8. Do you have any parting words for the readers?
If you’ve read this far, thank you! I invite you to listen to our music on your preferred digital platform. You can follow us on social media and get in touch. I like to think that through music, we can reach the lives of people far away and connect with them through an imaginary thread.
PYRECULT
Q1. For readers who might not be familiar with you, would you please provide some background on yourself—where you’re from, when you formed, etc.?
Hello everyone, thank you very much for this interview. We are PYRECULT, a blackened hardcore band from Paris, France. The band consists of five members from different backgrounds but united by the same passion for dark and violent music. All members have significant experience in music, having played in bands like MPO, SPITFIGHT, PROVIDENCE, and HEXIS.
Formed in 2013, the band has undergone several lineup changes, which have brought a wide range of influences, approaches, and perspectives, ensuring constant evolution over the years. To date, we have released two EPs, and a new one is just out on KNIVES OUT RECORDS, after a pretty long hiatus due to personal reasons.
Q2. Who are some of your primary influences?
Even if we all listen to a wide range of music genres, our main influences can be grouped into two main categories: hardcore punk and black metal. For the former, we draw inspiration from 90s/2000s metal hardcore and crossover bands like KICKBACK, ALL OUT WAR, ARKANGEL, REPRISAL, DENIED NYC, and INTEGRITY, as well as more contemporary acts such as ALL PIGS MUST DIE, YOUNG AND IN THE WAY, WITHDRAWAL, XIBALBA, NAILS, or QUEENSWAY.
As for black metal, we’re heavily influenced by Scandinavian bands from the second wave of black metal, including IMMORTAL, DARKTHRONE, GORGOROTH, WATAIN, and ABORYM.
Q3. Talk to us about the new EP Voluntary Serfdom: what was the writing and recording process like, what themes and sounds do you explore on the record, etc.?
Ilhan (bass) and I (Cédric – vocals) began writing Voluntary Serfdom at the end of 2022, just the two of us, as the band was on hiatus. Our goal was to retain the fundamental soul of the band but lean more toward hardcore than black metal this time. We were the only active members at the time and worked discreetly. This made the writing process very intuitive and natural. Once we had enough material to consider returning to the studio and to the scene, we started searching for a solid team. In the summer of 2023, we recruited Quentin (drums), Baptiste (guitar), and Benoît (guitar).
We recorded in various studios in Paris, and for mixing and mastering, we collaborated with Pete Grossmann and Andy Nelson at BRICKTOP Studio in Chicago. For the artwork, we once again called upon an artist we adore, Szymon Seich (VBRRTRD), who created the artworks for our previous two EPs and has also worked for BLIND TO FAITH, HOMEWRECKER, and NOISEM, just to name a few.
Q4. The EP is being released by Knives Out—can you provide some detail on the label and how that relationship came about?
We’ve known Johan from KNIVES OUT RECORDS (KOR) for years and have stayed in close contact throughout his various activities. He loved the EP right away, and for us, signing with him was a natural choice, both from a production and human perspective.
On a personal note (Cédric), Johan was the first person I met in the Parisian scene before I even moved there to live here. I met many people through him, so I’m especially grateful to him! After being the frontman of the Parisian band PROVIDENCE, he launched his label, KOR.
For readers unfamiliar with KNIVES OUT, it’s an independent extreme music label (mainly punk/hardcore) formed more than 10 years ago and based in Paris. They specialize in deluxe collector’s editions (CD, cassette, picture LP), with incredible packaging featuring laser engraving, custom cuts, and other surprising elements.
Q5. Is there one song you’d highlight as the best introduction to Pyrecult and why?
As I mentioned earlier, each EP represents a specific era and lineup of PYRECULT. Therefore, it seems relevant to examine each of the three EPs to understand their atmosphere. However, to play the game and answer your question, I’d mention the song “Death Conquers” off the second EP “Obedience”. This track, (which might be my favorite) in my opinion, faithfully represents what we try to inject into our writing. It’s also a fan favorite when we play it live so….
Q6. Talk to us a little about the Parisian hardcore scene or perhaps zooming out a little, other bands in France or beyond we should be paying attention to.
Thank you for this question and for giving us the opportunity to shine a light on the current Parisian scene and its incredible energy! After some challenging years when it was hard to gather even 50 people at shows we organized (even for great international bands on tour), and after seeing many of our favorite venues close due to political and countercultural reasons—not to mention the lockdown period we’d rather not dwell on—the Parisian scene is more alive and dynamic than ever. Shows happen by the dozen, the audience is present, and high-quality bands keep emerging, releasing records, merch and touring!
We can’t help but promote our amazing friends in Parisian bands like CALCINE, TAKE IT IN BLOOD, COLD DECAY, SORCERER, CORRUPTION PACT, HEADBUSSA, WORST DOUBT, CAVALERIE, GLASSBONE, RECLAIMED and DEVIANT. Trust us and check out all these fantastic groups ASAP.
If you want to capture the true essence of this new scene, we highly recommend the excellent video documentary FRENCH PUNK HARDCORE: FLAME STILL BURNS by Clara Griot. It documents the recent rebirth of this scene, and how things are going nowadays.
However, just talking about the active bands doesn’t fully illustrate the current strength of the Parisian scene. We also want to give a big shout-out to all the local promoters, labels, and other concert organizers, such as: PARIS HARDCORE SHOWS, EIFFEL ASSAULT SHOWS, ARAK ASSO, SUDDEN PROMOTION, DELIVRANCE RECORDS, MALLEVS RECORDS, BORN DEAD COLLECTIVE, and DOMINION SHOWS.
Q7. Do you have any touring plans in support of the EP’s release and if so, what are they?
Yes, absolutely. Alongside several shows here and there in France, we’re currently finalizing the organization of our European promo tour.
Here’s the schedule so far:
11/01Tours (Fr)
12/01 Paris (Fr)
30/01 Metz (Fr)
31/01 Nuremberg (Ger)
01/02 Berlin (Ger)
02/02 Gdansk (Pl)
03/02 Lodz (Pl)
04/02 Ostrava (Cz)
05/02 Prague (Cz)
06/02 Need help
07/02 Zurich (Ch)
08/02 Troyes (Fr)
22/06 Hellfest, Clisson (Fr)
Q8. Any parting words for the readers?
Thank you so much for your support and for listening to us. We’ll be coming to your area very soon. Come see us, talk with us, support your local scenes, buy records and merch and live your passion every day like we do—we need you!
DUSTBORN
Q1. For readers who might not be familiar with you, would you please provide some background on yourself—where you’re from, when you formed, etc.?
We have started Dustborn in 2018 in Czech Republic, shortly after the breakup of our previous band, which we left due to creative differences. We had a pretty clear idea when we wanted to take our music. At first, it was more of a melodic/symphonic death metal, that evolved over time in our current stuff, which goes more in the direction of black metal. There are still symphonic parts and some death metal riffs, but not as much as in the beginning.
Q2. Who are some of your primary influences?
Currently it’s probably safe to say that we take a lot of inspiration from Scandinavian metal, mostly from Norway and Sweden. We are not super focused on a single thing or on genre. The most prominent influences are probably earlier stuff by Dimmu Borgir or Emperor, Satryricon etc. But there are many more places where inspiration comes from, even from quite different genres, bands like Entombed, Death, Katatonia, Moonspell or Opeth and a myriad of others.
Q3. Talk to us about the new album Unconcealed Atrocities: what was the writing and recording process like, what themes and sounds do you explore on the record, etc.?
Writing this album took unusually long, mostly because of covid, during which we kind of paused the band for some time. Mostly due to lack of playing live, but also some personal stuff. Because of that, the album was in the making for several years and you can hear that in the broader range of sounds, arrangements and overall feel between the songs.
We also took a very different approach to the recording process. We wanted quite a raw sound, with atmosphere akin to older black metal records, but without sounding like copies of someone else. We felt that the material wouldn’t work well with modern, heavily produced sound. So we experimented a lot and tried to get as genuine sound as we could from the individual instruments. The guitars were recorded on three amps at the same time, in the same room and blended together. Drums are not triggered, there are live strings on the record and minimal use of samples. This combined to a very unique, yet familiar sound which we are very satisfied with.
Q4. Do you have a favorite song from the album, or is there one song you’d highlight as the best introduction to Dustborn and why?
It is hard to pick one song. We have put a lot of ourselves into this record and each and every song has some meaning for us, be it the composition, or lyrics. If we had to choose one, it would probably be the title track “Unconcealed Atrocities” – a black metal ride from start to finish, spiced up with some orchestral parts.
Q5. Do you have any touring plans in support of the album and if so, what are they?
We are confirming gigs at home in Czech Republic, but we are currently looking to appear in other countries in Europe as well.
Q6. Are there any other future plans for the band at the current time?
There is always no shortage of plans. The question is, what will our personal lives permit. We’d very much like to appear on some more larger festivals and maybe the time will also come for a tour over the pond. We have done a tour in Mexico with the previous band – there are a lot of fans of European metal there. So maybe we’ll do something like that again in the future.
Q7. What was it that made you want to pursue making music in the first place?
Each one of us would probably give a slightly different answer, but it’s mostly a general love of music, not only metal, some kind of inner desire. I don’t really know how to put that into words correctly. A lot of people like to listen to music, but not everyone has that urge to take part in it. I think that most musicians just have that deeply rooted in them.
Q8. Do you have any parting words for the readers?
Listen to music, go to concerts and support your local artists and underground scene. Because that is where music gets made from the heart, not for money. And listen to our new record, let us know how you like it.
SAISEI
Q1. For readers who might not be familiar with you, would you please provide some background on yourself—where you’re from, when you formed, etc.?
We’re Saisei, a six-member post-hardcore/metalcore band from Athens, Greece. Our name means “rebirth” in Japanese, reflecting both our influences and the idea of constant evolution. We formed a few years ago, and over time we’ve developed a sound that blends heavy guitars, electronic elements, and emotional intensity. Saisei is a space where we channel our collective energy into something unique that resonates with both the struggles and the triumphs of life.
Q2. Who are some of your primary influences?
We draw inspiration from a mix of modern metalcore heavyweights like While She Sleeps, Bring Me the Horizon, and Northlane, as well as artists that push the genre to its limits like Imminence and Landvmarks. Beyond metalcore, we love exploring genres like EDM and alternative rock, and we weave these elements into our music to create something dynamic and unexpected. Of course, our roots in Greek culture also bring a distinct flavor to our storytelling and visuals.
Q3. Talk to us about the new self-titled album: what was the writing and recording process like, what themes and sounds do you explore on the record, etc.?
The new album represents a turning point for us. Writing it was like stepping into the eye of the storm—there was a lot of tension, but also a lot of growth. The process wasn’t easy, but that struggle became the heart of the album. Lyrically, we dive into themes like resilience, transformation, and the darker aspects of the human psyche. Sonically, it’s a rollercoaster: soaring melodies, crushing breakdowns, and electronic textures that bring everything together. Every track is a piece of the puzzle, but together, they tell a story of emerging stronger through adversity.
Q4. Do you have a favorite song from the album, or is there one song you’d highlight as the best introduction to Saisei and why?
It’s tough to pick just one, but Impetus is probably the best introduction to Saisei. The song captures everything we’re about: raw emotion, explosive energy, and a willingness to experiment. It’s an homage to the trials we face as artists, and its blend of heaviness and melody showcases our identity perfectly. It’s the kind of track that hits you hard, whether you’re moshing in the pit or just vibing with headphones.
Q5. Talk to us a little about the metalcore/heavy music scene in Greece and what other bands we should be paying attention to.
The Greek metalcore scene is small but passionate. It’s a tight-knit community, and there’s a lot of talent here. Bands like Till Silence Breaks, Nonlinear and Meet The Maker are definitely worth checking out. What makes the scene special is the creativity—every band brings something different, and there’s a hunger to innovate despite the challenges of being in a smaller market.
Q6. Do you have any touring plans in support of the album’s release and if so, what are they?
Yes, we’re gearing up for a European tour, including stops in Bulgaria and France, to promote the album. We’re finalizing dates and venues, but we can’t wait to bring the energy of these new songs to live audiences. And of course we’re playing two release shows in Greece for our debut album, one in Athens 12/20 at Arch Club, as well as Thessaloniki 12/21 at Eightball Club.
Q7. Any parting words for the readers?
Thank you for taking the time to check us out! Saisei is all about connection, growth, and turning pain into power. If you’re looking for music that hits hard but stays with you long after, we’ve got you covered. Stay tuned for the album and hit us up, whether to let us know you want us to play in your region or just your take on our songs. Let’s grow together.
We are Saisei.
MAHALIA FONTAINE
West London-based singer Mahalia Fontaine joins to talk about influences, her career past, present, and future, and much more!
THE ROCK STAR ENERGY TOUR: CHEEM, PULSES., NIGHTLIFE, WITH SAILS AHEAD
Cheem, nightlife, With Sails Ahead, and pulses. join to talk all things ROCK STAR ENERGY TOUR, plus what each respective band has been up to and what's on the near horizon!
An outstanding round-table as part of a new series for the channel you do not want to miss!
https://www.instagram.com/nightlife_xo/?hl=en
https://pulsesva.com/
https://www.cheem.net/
http://www.withsailsahead.com/
WILDHEART
Photo Credit: Sean Puxty
Q1. For readers who might not be familiar with you, would you please provide some background on yourself—where you’re from, when you formed, etc.?
Wildheart are a melodic hardcore/metalcore band with members based in Brisbane and the Gold Coast in Australia. We have been a band for almost 7 years now, but really started making a name for ourselves as a live act with our debut album “Global Crisis” in 2021. Prior to forming as Wildheart, a number of us played in bands together across a couple of different genres, playing local shows around Queensland and Australia. Our lyrics and our message focus on First Nations issues such as land rights, discrimination, and racism - being fronted by proud Yugambeh man Axel Best - and we also delve into a number of other topics such as mental health, environmentalism, and political inaction in times of crisis.
Q2. Who are some of your primary influences?
Wildheart draw influences from a number of melodic hardcore and metalcore bands, both nostalgic and relatively newer bands in the scene. Some of our main influences include bands like: Counterparts, Architects, Stick To Your Guns, In Hearts Wake, For The Fallen Dreams, and The Amity Affliction.
Q3. Talk to us about the new record Searching for Life Beyond Tragedy: what was the writing and recording process like, what themes and sounds do you explore on the record, etc.?
This record - along with the stand alone single we released in May titled “Death Is All That’s Left” - is quite possibly the heaviest material we’ve ever written together as a group. This could be reflective of the current political and global climate that we find ourselves in, but really we knew we wanted to see this record be a continuation of our previous advocacy in the previously mentioned topics. It was also really important to us that we return to some of our more introspective themes in our lyrics and our songwriting where we could write more melodic songs, focusing on topics that we had written about previously such as mental health. Tracks like ‘Withered’, along with Axel Best’s own struggles with mental health and anxiety, really empowered us to shine light on that; that we all have a role to play in dispelling stigmas associated with mental health and talking about it openly and honestly.
Q4. Do you have any plans to tour in support of the record?
We recently performed in Melbourne and Brisbane on the East Coast of Australia in celebration of the upcoming release of the record. These shows were so amazing and we were so grateful for the support we saw! We would love to get out on the road and perform these songs live for people, it will just be a matter of seeing where our mental health is at the beginning of next year, as well as the rising cost of living doesn’t make touring any easier for touring musicians in a band of our size.
Q5. Is there one song or perhaps a couple songs in particular on the record you’d highlight for any specific reason(s), or perhaps as identify as “quintessential Wildheart” if someone unfamiliar with your music was going to dive in?
‘Evergreen’ is probably all of our favourite track, and reflects the anger at inaction on the very things threatening our planet; war, climate change, corporate greed, global catastrophes. It is super heavy, yet showcases our growing ability to write a damn catchy chorus! Oh, and a tempo change pit call into the end breakdown for good measure.
Q6. What was it that made you want to pursue making music in the first place?
Honestly, just the idea creating art and working with like-minded people has always been a driving force for wanting to create music. I remember as earliest primary school playing in school bands and meeting some truly inspiring musicians growing up, and the flame has always just kind of burned from there.
Q7. What’s in the water down there in Australia that there are just so many outstanding metalcore bands past and present?
I know right! If we could leave you with some suggestions to check out you may not have heard of, be sure to listen to: Volatile Ways, Belle haven, Keepsake, Vacant Home, Satellites Were Set Alight, Chapel Hill, and Saving Face.
Q8. Do you have any parting words for the readers?
If we could leave one message with readers/listeners, it would be that whilst things can often feel hopeless, that despite all the terrible things happening in the world, there is hope for a better future. We are just a local heavy band, but if we can convince one person to engage with say politics for example and make choices towards a better future for everyone, then it will have been worth it.
CHIEFLAND
Q1. For readers who might not be familiar with you, would you please provide some background on the band—where you’re from, when you formed, etc.?
We are CHIEFLAND, a modern emo/alternative rock outfit from Germany. We hail from four different German cities, making the band an exciting long-distance project. We started out as a melodic hardcore band in 2015, but have shifted towards emo and alternative over the years. On the one hand, we all evolved musically; on the other, it was due to member changes. We have released two full-lengths, three EPs and a couple of singles so far. Our new EP “Sentiment Valley” comes out November 8th.
Q2. Who are some of the band’s primary influences?
We are pretty much rooted in the sound of US bands such as Movements, Silverstein, Citizen, The Story So Far and the like. Depends on the individual song really, but those are some main influences. You can also hear a pinch of shoegaze in our songs as well.
Q3. How has your sound evolved from the beginning to now?
We shifted from melodic hardcore towards emo/alternative rock. However, we managed to keep some main characteristics of our sound. If you listen to “Silent Decay” from our latest EP, you definitely get a good impression of CHIEFLAND’s sonic DNA.
Q4. You guys are scattered across four different cities in Germany. How do you make that work?
It came to us naturally. All of us have played music for years now and got to meet a lot of friends through playing in bands and touring all over Germany. In our case, we had member changes during the pandemic and shortly after. Of course, you reach out to the friends you met through music, even though they live farther away. If you’re motivated, then that’s no problem at all. We stay in touch through our chat, have regular video calls and meet in person to rehearse. It all a matter of how much you’re willing to give.
Q5. Talk to us about your recent EP Sentiment Valley (I reviewed it here)—what was the writing and recording process like? What are some themes or particular sounds you explore on it?
Writing “Sentiment Valley” came about smoothly. We had a few sketches laying around, but most of the heavy lifting in terms of songwriting was done over the course of a few weeks in early 2024. We knew that we wanted our songs to sound more modern and beefier than our previous releases. Thematically, it is all about processing emotions anyone can relate to, such as loss, toxic relationships or everyday situations where you just feel uncomfortable.
Q6. I saw Alan Day of Four Year Strong (you can read my review of their most recent LP here) handled production duties. How did that come about?
We knew that Alan is a seasoned musician with a lot of experience under the belt. He also produced some bands we enjoy. Think of Can’t Swim, for example. Reaching out to him thus was a no-brainer. He is a super nice guy. We jumped on a video call, talked about the songs and how we wanted them to sound like. He then took the demos, re-arranged parts, made adjustments and put the songs on a whole new level. That outside view definitely helped us.
Q7. How did you choose your featured guests on the EP and what do you think they contributed to it?
We saw Christine perform with her band Pool Kids as support for La Dispute a while back in Hamburg. That show was awesome and Pool Kids have a very unique sound, somewhere between pop rock, emo and math rock. On “Bad Move”, Christine’s vocals bring in another dimension, very fragile in the verse, but powerful in the chorus. She can do it all. It really sends chills up your spine – in a good way.
Skywalker’s feature came about through touring. We supported Acres together in September 2023 and it was instant friendship. Jan contributes two different styles to “Silents Decay”. First off, some pop punk vocals that could easily be mistaken for a Mark Hoppus feature and then his growls that give the song its powerful climax.
Q8. With the EP now released, what are your plans for the near future?
We want to tour with the songs as much as possible to show them to our fans. However, we will also return to the studio early next year to record some more music to be released in 2025.
WINNIE AMA
Photo Credit: Chris McKenna
Ghanaian-Northern Irish singer Winnie Ama joins to discuss her musical background and journey, her Desert Island Top Five albums, her upcoming full-length album, and much more!
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KILLING FROST
Promo pic by Max Spoljaric
Questions answered by Mårten - Guitar & Synth.
Q1. For readers who might not be familiar with you, would you please provide some background on the band—where you’re from, when you formed, etc.?
We’re from Helsinki, Finland and we were formed in 2018. We were on the road with Foreseen and Red Death at the time and talked about starting a new band with Niko on the vocals. Initially it was Jaakko on guitar, Joonas on bass and me on drums but I made it clear from the start that I wanted to play guitar for a change but I could be behind the kit until we find someone suitable. On the demo it was Mirko on bass and me doing drums, other guitar and keyboards. A couple of variations later we finally figured out our final line-up with Niko on vocals, Jaakko on guitar, Mika on bass, Roope on drums and me on guitar and keyboards.
Q2. Who are some of the band’s primary influences?
The whole thing was built around this soundscape certain bands had. Like Sheer Terror, Celtic Frost, Darkside NYC and Crowbar. The muddy and harsh guitar sound is something you don’t come across often anymore so that was especially appealing to us. I personally adore Josh Silver’s work on the keyboards so I try to soften the guitars with some synth noodling now and then.
Q3. Many modern hardcore bands have opted for more polished production—is this something you’ve consciously moved away from?
Yes. I think hardcore music has reached a certain point of saturation because of its increased popularity and that causes a lot of bands sounding the same because of the current trends. For sure you can achieve the image of big production and clean sounding instruments, but do you really want hardcore and punk inspired music to sound all that? I’d rather have it sound more raw and handmade. Not appealing to the masses.
Q4. How do you feel your sound has evolved from your first release?
Even though we had this blueprint for the band early on it was still more about trying things out and how they work. After the demo and couple of first gigs we knew what we really wanted to sound like. I think we have found a fitting pattern for us to write music and perform live confidently. We sound more dark and powerful than in the early days.
Q5. What was your mindset writing and going in to record your Frozen Dawn EP?
I feel that the EP was our first release as a proper band since we finally had a steady crew behind it. So that in mind we just wanted to make a great 7”. Sound wise we wanted to go more towards rough direction than on the demo.
Q6. Who are some other great bands on the scene we should be paying attention to?
Dome Runner, Forced Humility both from Finland. Right now we have a great thing going on here up north and a lot of people are missing it.
Q7. What does the band have for plans on the horizon?
We just finished working on our upcoming compilation album with two new songs and we hope to have it out on our US tour this winter. After that it’s high time we start working on our debut LP.
Live photos by Eemi Kettunen
DAWNWALKER
Mark Norgate of Dawnwalker joins to talk about the band’s new record The Unknowning, gateway bands, cross-pollination in the UK scene, and much more!
NYLON
Q1. Could you please provide some background information on the band for those readers who may not be familiar with you—where you’re from, when you formed, etc.?
We are NYLON, a hardcore punk band from Sheffield, Steel City. Love a breakdown, big on 2 Stepping, not keen on posers. We formed technically in 2022. Started playing gigs in May 2023. Put an album out entirely by ourselves this summer (2024). We’re just four guys who like making hardcore.
Q2. How would you describe the band’s sound? Who are some of your primary influences?
We always say we are majorly influenced by the scene we grew up listening to and were a part of. Early to mid 2000’s hardcore is always where our sound and probably our hearts lie. Lockin’ Out records, Dead and Gone records, Bridge 9 and all that good stuff. Bands like Outbreak, Deal With It, The Legacy, Dirty Money. But having said that we aren’t stuck in the past, there is so much amazing music coming out regularly, especially in the UK that is a massive influence on where we go with our sound.
Q3. Who are some other bands in your area we should be paying attention to?
Without Love are a great melodic hardcore band from our area who we are also lucky enough to be mates with and play shows with. Their music is so well written and great to see live. Other bands in the area who just sound great are Cannon Ball, Mouth Parts, Rough Justice and Leashed. They’re all mega different and great bands in the local Sheffield scene and beyond.
Q4. Do you have any upcoming plans for releasing new music or playing shows?
We released our first album this year completely DIY and by ourselves so that’s out there currently and we have a whole heap of gigs booked for the remainder of the year and beyond which we’re looking forward to. Playing a lot of cities we haven’t played before and also out on a short tour with our friends in Hidden Mothers in February to support the release of their new album. Then we are planning on recording a few new tracks in January too as we have a lot of ideas going round our practice space at the moment.
Q5. What would be your dream lineup of bands or artists to share the stage with that you have not had a chance to?
I can only speak for myself, as a band we have a very broad taste in music.
But it would be great to play with DYNAMITE and the Flex. I could reel off loads of Euro and US bands too, past and present but with the UK scene as mint as it is right now there’s no need. But also Cold World.
Q6. Do you feel like hardcore is in a good place right now?
I think it’s more popular than I can ever remember. So yeah hardcore is in a great place. There is more opportunity to be involved in hardcore than ever before with so many bands and promoters putting on so many great gigs in so many cool venues up and down the country. When you go to these massive shows with barriers and all that it can feel a little bit diluted but while there’s still strong DIY shows and communities around Hardcore is still alive and well.
Q7. Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions! Any last words or a parting message for the readers?
Support your local scene. Go to local shows. Listen to your local bands. There’s probably a wicked scene on your door step to go get involved in so go get it.
withpaperwings
Q1. Could you please provide some background information on the band for those readers who may not be familiar with you—where you’re from, when you formed, etc.?
We are from Orlando, FL and formed around October of 2023- so we’ve been a band for about a year now. Our vocalist Evan, bassist Chris, and drummer Van were in search of guitarists after a previous unreleased project was laid to rest. Shawn and Ben happened to be in the right place at the right time. We all meshed instantly and had very similar takes on what we wanted to sound like. Everyone in the band is a Florida native other than Ben who came down from Connecticut a few years ago.
Q2. How would you describe your sound? Who would you say are some of your primary influences?
I think ultimately we are all aiming to write metalcore that is for the dancers. We want to blend the triumphant and evil tremolo riffs with fast breakdowns, and some more brutal elements. We want it to have those really sonically invasive parts while still being mosh-music. We try to stray away from the overproduction of some modern metalcore and bring back the more raw and heavy elements. As a band we really look up to some of the early metalcore and proto-deathcore bands like On Broken Wings, Nientara, Poison the Well, From a Second Story Window, Blood has Been Shed, 7 Angels 7 Plagues, Undying, etc.. Everyone in the band as an individual has pretty different influences, but we all have a common goal which allows us to blend our unique tastes into one coherent product. Our tastes span jazz, classic rock, death metal, slam, deathcore, and many more.
Q3. You have a track on the Light of the Final Dawn Coming Strife Records Compilation (my review of the compilation can be read here); how did your inclusion come about? Being such a UK-centric affair, it was an interesting geographic inclusion although sonically a perfectly sensible one.
In short, Griffin Marthe from Miracle, Memento., and Cathedral Bells connected us to Oli from The Coming Strife. Griffin (and others from these bands) have been instrumental in supporting us since the very first show. Griffin produced our demo and The Coming Strife responded with unrelenting support, which is how we ended up releasing through them. Oli reached out a few months later asking if we wanted to be on the comp and we were immediately enthusiastic about it- there are some incredible bands on there alongside us. The Coming Strife has quite the arsenal of amazing music, all fitting within a tight yet diverse sonic range.
Q4. The scene in Florida from a distance seems to be absolutely cooking right now. Is this an accurate assessment? Who are some fixtures on the scene and some other bands on the scene we should be paying attention to?
The scene in Florida is incredibly healthy right now. Four years ago you could barely get 25 people in a room on a Saturday night, now we have shows that are getting sold out on a weeknight. People are starting bands non-stop and they are all fantastic. Others are becoming really involved in the scene with the production of physical media like zines and photo-books, like the Fatal Entries zine, or the photograph zine Christopher Arauz recently printed. We have people doing incredible film/photography work too like Caleb Joshua, Matti Joseph, and Ian from Florida Hardcore. There are so many amazing bands all over Florida it would be impossible to shout them all out. From Orlando: Datura’s Embrace, Monterey, Miracle, Memento., Watts, Jinzo. From South Florida: Fallen God, Away With Words, Amnio, Domain, Sidearm, No Truth, Dissent. From Jacksonville: Unregistered Weapon, Between You and God. From Tampa: Contention, Resentment, Six Paths, Dogmatic. Check out Florida labels like Armageddon Records and blackheaven records.
Q5. There seems to be a major revival in bands looking to the origins and first wave of metalcore these days in what seems to me to be a conscious move away from the more polished iteration of the genre. What do you attribute this to?
In our personal opinion we think the South Florida scene, around 2015-2017, produced some of the first real Metalcore revival bands. xElegyx, Drawing Last Breath, Cast You Down, amongst others, were the first to really bring back and popularize the sounds of early Metalcore, reminiscent of bands like undying, prayer for cleansing, 7 Angels 7 Plagues. Additionally after these bands dissolved, The Coming Strife Records began to curate a label that had bands continuing this same Metalcore revival sound.
Q6. What is it about those earlier metalcore bands that speaks to you?
I think it's the fact that they were pioneering a genre. None of these bands were really trying to emulate other bands because they were starting a whole new wave of music. The heaviness really cuts through for these bands. The production sound they got from being the first to make music like this just created such a brutal element that isn’t really present in a lot of modern metalcore. Metalcore is supposed to be a blend of metal and hardcore, and that’s exactly what these bands were doing. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what words characterize the distinct sound these bands have other than raw, brutal, and harsh. It’s also really cool just to see the evolution of early niche genres like this and how the associated culture takes shape alongside the music.
Q7. What are some of your most memorable experiences as a band so far?
The first thing that comes to mind is definitely our first sold out show at Will’s Pub on 12/29/23. The lineup was absolutely stacked, as we played with Watts, xResentmentx, Miracle, and Testament of Hate. The room was absolutely packed and the energy was insurmountable. Just an overall phenomenal show. We also have some really fond memories from our first tour. It’s pretty surreal to see people so receptive of our music outside of our home state. We love interacting with different people from all over the country. It was also amazing to enjoy some of the scenery, such as hiking down a quarry to swim in bright blue water near Knoxville, Tennessee.
Q8. What are some of your upcoming plans—shows, new music, etc.?
We are currently in the process of writing our first EP. We aim to share this with everyone in the first few months of the new year. Finishing the year out, we will be playing I Guess It’s a Fest in Ohio, also hitting Knoxville, TN on the way there for the second time. In early December we will be playing Birmingham, AL for the first time, and taking a run through Texas with the homies in Girl of Glass and Thus Spoke Zarathrustra and playing No Sleep Fest. We are incredibly excited for the future of withpaperwings.
HARRY CLOUD
Photo credits: Gina Skwoz
Harry Cloud joins to talk about LA, not touring, not playing music at home, not taking yourself too seriously, the new record, and much more!
BELOW THE NECK
Thomas and Ciaran from Inverness "beatdoon" merchants Below the Neck join to discuss the new lineup and the band’s future, the heavy music scene in Scotland (and beyond), long-haul touring, and much more!
GRIEF RITUAL
Chris and Jamie from Church Road Records' latest signing Grief Ritual, a band I'll simply characterize as "heavy," join to chat about the signing, their upcoming single with friend of the show Harry from Burner, future plans, influences, and much more.
"There's that word again. 'Heavy.' Why are things so heavy in the future? Is there a problem with the Earth's gravitational pull?" - Doc Brown
Find out below.