My guests this week are Andy Cizek and John Browne from progressive metal band Monuments. We talked quite a lot about the increasing frustration around trying to make a living as a musician - including but not limited to merch cuts, streaming, the impact on mental health, and of course we spoke about their lovely and difficult-to-play music.

My guest this week is Paul Mazurkiewicz, drummer and founding member of death metal LEGENDS Cannibal Corpse. We spoke about everything from being asked personally by Jim Carrey to feature in Ave Ventura in 1994 all the way up to embracing technology to advance their live show in the 2020s and beyond...

My guests this week are Sabian and Mitch from Alpha Wolf. We talked about why their band is so good and heavy, why Australia leads the way in modern metalcore, and I ask Chat GPT to write a romantic fanfiction about the band.

I sat down with Steve Judd of Australian progressive titans KARNIVOOL to talk drums, how he has his eggs, passing off live mistakes as simply 'Jazz', pizza...and diabetes (unrelated).

I sat down with Steve Judd of Aussie Progressive mastermind's KARNIVOOL to talk drums, coffee, food, travel, pizza, diabetes...and more!

My guests this week are Rou Reynolds and Rob Rolfe of Enter Shikari. We talked extensively about their new album 'A Kiss For The Whole World' which is out now, as well as how they like their (often plant-based) eggs, fans who wish they were heavier, fans who wish they were less political - and had a bit of a location argument about where to host their dream festival. Enjoy

My guest this week is Alexander Jones, vocalist of Rochester, NY Death Metal band UNDEATH. We talked on DAY ONE of their first european tour AT LENGTH almost EXTENSIVELY about everything death metal: the music, the history, the logos - as well as much more. The band is an amazing mix of old school death metal with a modern perspective. Check them out.

My guest this week is Nick Folio of hottest-band-in-the-world right now Bad Omens. We caught up about half way through their sold out UK/EU run to talk fishing, drums, motorbikes and having a tiny little logo on a tour poster.

My guests this week are Bryce Butler and Chris Wiseman of Shadow of Intent. I caught up with them on their mostly sold out FIRST time in Europe to find out why they're so bleeding good. Enjoy.

My guest this week is none other than Mario Duplantier of French metal titans GOJIRA. One of my favourite bands and drummers of all time, he spilled insane and humble knowledge about everything it takes to get to his level as a musician.  We caught up before their INSANE show in support of their latest album Fortitude to talk about everything from drums and practicing to jamming with James Hetfield and stage fright. It was an inspirational chat and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

My guest this week is Jack Bergin, singer of Australian metalcore band Void of Vision. We talk about their series of EPs 'Chronicles' as well as the RIDICULOUS Downbeat variant of the vinyl, Jack's alopecia, the struggles of getting a US visa, as well as much much more. Pick up the RIDICULOUS DB variant of Chronicles at unfdstore.com/voidofvision    

I catch up with Josh Smith and Jon Deiley of Australian prog-meets-industrial metal(core?) band Northlane. We talked about their latest album Obsidian and its writing process - as well as synthesizers, cats and of course their dream festival which takes place in an imagined post-war Neo-Bergen. Thumbnail photos by Kim Quint (he also loaned me the glorious camera lens as I broke one the day before. Lifesaver, thanks Kim!)

I catch up with Alex and Charlie of Malevolence to talk about their new album Malicious Intent, nicknames, being a diva and transgressing from their roots in the DIY hardcore scene to world metal domination.  

I catch up with Matty and James Veck-Gilodi aka Deaf Havana to discuss where they've been and their new album 'The Present Is A Foreign Land', as well as the time I filled in for them with 48 hours notice and it ended up being like a scene from Scarface.

My guest on the podcast this week is Manuel Gagneux, mastermind behind Swiss avant-garde black metal band Zeal & Ardor. Z+A mix the style of European Black Metal (a genre notorious for it's link with racism) and elements of African-American Spirituals and Gospel and lyrically poses the question: What if the freed slaves had embraced Satan? We talked about the band's unlikely beginnings on the darkest parts of the internet, black magick, reappropriating Richard Wagner and as ever: Manuel's...

I sat down with Dan and Sam from Architects to talk about their new album The Classic Symptoms Of A Broken Spirit...and much more.

I caught up with Isaac from Knocked Loose after their US arena tour with $UICIDEBOY$ and ahead of their huge tour with Bring Me The Horizon to talk TikTok, hardcore, laptops in music, ramen - and everything in between.

I caught up with Matt Garstka at his home in Nashville to talk everything from fake drummers and lifting to the correlations between the intricacies of specialty coffee and progressive music.

I get drunk with Ali from Bleed From Within and Sylosis and talk about Bleed's new album Shrine, as well as what makes a perfect drum tech, the joys of Glasgow, beer, and much, much more.

I caught up with Andrew Hurley, drummer of Fall Out Boy and a billion other (heavier) bands to talk about his need to scratch the heavy music itch away from his main gig, CrossFit, soundchecking with Behemoth, our mutual love of Lars Ulrich and Metallica, Dungeons & Dragons - and much more…He also curates THE MOST INSANE dream festival yet. 

My guest this week on is Pat Sheridan, guitarist of Fit For An Autopsy. I sat down with Pat before FFAA's show in Glasgow to bond about what it's like to work with the insufferable Will Putney (JK JK JK) as well as talking about everything from overcoming the anger of his youth and becoming the best father he can be - to Cardi B's leather pajamas. It gets heavy in a few places. Great dude, great chat.

I sat down with Wilkie and Josh from Malevolence to talk about the history of their band, what Sleep Token look like, 140bpm Sheffield bassline and also about their new album Malicious Intent (out May 20th). Their dream festival is a real party. 

My guest this week is Josh Travis, guitarist of Emmure and more recently a solo artist with his new EP 'NO REST'. We talked about all those things, and mullets. It was very funny. He's the best. Enjoy!

My guest this week is Aaron Gillespie, drummer and clean vocalist of Underoath. We sat down for a chat on the last day of tour to talk about everything from music and its current trend of overproduction, to mental health and mushrooms. As well as being such a funny and insightful chat Aaron opened up on a lot of stuff I'm not sure he's previously spoke about. We barely knew each other before this tour but became good friends very quickly and as a result this is one of my favourite episodes of...

My guest on the podcast this week is Pac from Knocked Loose. He's a drummer, a baker, a candlestick maker. We ate dim sum. This episode was brought to you by the satanists over at Dark Arts Coffee. Use the code THEDOWNBEAT for 15% off. Enjoy!