Laughing Monkey with Shawn Ratches

Shawn Ratches
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Music Interviews
  • Updated twice weekly

Welcome to Laughing Monkey with Shawn Ratches which is a show that explores all genres of music. As someone with autism, I bring a unique perspective to my interviews, aiming to create an authentic and engaging experience for both artists and listeners.Thanks for watching and please subscribe to help me keep bringing new content to you!

  1. 5 hr ago

    Max Cavalera on Touring, Soulfly, Drop D, 4-Strings & Re-Recording Old Sepultura Albums.

    Max Cavalera is one of metal’s most influential figures, first rising to prominence as the co-founder, vocalist, and rhythm guitarist of Sepultura. Emerging from Brazil in the 1980s, Sepultura helped reshape extreme metal with landmark albums like Beneath the Remains, Arise, Chaos A.D., and Roots, blending thrash, groove, punk, and tribal influences into a sound that reached far beyond the underground. Cavalera’s fierce delivery, percussive guitar style, and instinct for reinvention made him a defining voice in heavy music. After leaving Sepultura in the mid-1990s, Cavalera launched Soulfly, a band that gave him room to push even further into groove, nu metal, hardcore, and world-music textures. Over the years, Soulfly has become a long-running creative outlet and touring force, with Max continuously evolving the lineup and sound while staying rooted in aggression, rhythm, and identity. His career has also included projects like Nailbomb, Cavalera Conspiracy, Killer Be Killed, and Go Ahead and Die, reinforcing his reputation as an artist who never stops moving. In this interview, Cavalera reflects on life on the road, the enduring mission of Soulfly, and the gear and tuning choices that helped shape his signature heaviness — from Drop D riffing to the raw power of 4-string guitars. He also opens up about the idea of revisiting older material, including the growing conversation around re-recording classic Sepultura-era albums. The result is a wide-ranging discussion with one of metal’s true lifers: honest, loud, and deeply connected to the music that built his legacy. https://www.soulfly.com https://www.cavaleraconspiracy.net

    Max Cavalera on Touring, Soulfly, Drop D, 4-Strings & Re-Recording Old Sepultura Albums.

  2. 2 days ago

    Possessed's Jeff Becerra: Remembering DEATH’S Chuck Schuldiner & Writing New Possessed Album!

    Possessed emerged from the Bay Area metal underground in the early 1980s and quickly became one of the defining bands in the first wave of death metal. After early demos and a growing local reputation, the band released Seven Churches in 1985, a record widely recognized for helping shape the sound and language of the genre. They followed it with Beyond the Gates in 1986 and The Eyes of Horror in 1987 before the original run came to an end that same year. Jeff Becerra’s story is inseparable from that legacy. After the band’s breakup and the shooting that left him paralyzed in 1989, Possessed remained an influential name in extreme metal, even during long periods of inactivity. When Becerra brought the band back in the 2000s, it marked the beginning of a new chapter that eventually led to Revelations of Oblivion in 2019, the first full-length Possessed album in more than three decades. This interview picks up from there, looking both backward and forward. It focuses on Becerra’s friendship with Chuck Schuldiner, a relationship he has described in direct and personal terms, and on the current state of Possessed as he continues writing material for a new album. Together, those subjects frame a conversation about history, memory, and the next phase of one of death metal’s foundational bands.

    Possessed's Jeff Becerra: Remembering DEATH’S Chuck Schuldiner & Writing New Possessed Album!

  3. 2 days ago

    MORTIIS The Rise and Evolution of Mortiis in 2026

    Mortiis, the project of Norwegian musician Håvard Ellefsen, began in 1993 after his departure from Emperor, where he had been the band’s original bassist. From the start, Mortiis developed as a separate creative outlet, first centered on atmospheric, synth-based compositions that stood apart from the black metal scene he came out of. In the years that followed, the project expanded in both sound and form, moving through distinct phases that introduced darker electronic, industrial, and rock influences. That progression has made Mortiis a career defined by change, with each period reflecting a different approach to mood, structure, and composition. Looking back across those shifts offers a way to talk not only about the development of the project, but also about the writing behind it: how ideas take shape, how methods evolve, and what connects the work across different eras. With that in mind, this interview turns to his career and songwriting process, and to the way his music has changed over time.

    MORTIIS The Rise and Evolution of Mortiis in 2026

  4. 8 Aug

    Cannibal Corpse Paul Mazurkiewicz on Umbilicus history and new EP and Cannibal Corpse playing shows!

    * **0:19** – Introduction of Paul Mazurkiewicz and his projects. * **1:12** – Discussion on the origins of Paul's rock band, Umbilicus. * **2:34** – Early projects: Path of Man and the search for a 70s-style rock singer. * **6:15** – Reforming during the pandemic and starting fresh with new members. * **10:30** – Details on the Umbilicus EP, *Ambiguous*. * **12:11** – Paul's role as a drummer vs. his history with songwriting and guitar. * **16:05** – Writing the Cannibal Corpse song "Destroyed Without a Trace" entirely on drums. * **18:11** – Paul's first instrument: Learning guitar on an acoustic before switching to drums. * **25:28** – The evolution of Paul's drumming style over 40 years. * **31:30** – Why "Hammer Smashed Face" is the epitome of the Cannibal Corpse sound. * **33:01** – The challenge of creating setlists with such a massive discography. * **40:00** – Staying physically fit for extreme metal drumming as he gets older. * **49:09** – Looking ahead to upcoming Slayer shows and the future of Cannibal Corpse.

    Cannibal Corpse Paul Mazurkiewicz on Umbilicus history and new EP and Cannibal Corpse playing shows!

  5. 8 Aug

    Steelheart’s Miljenko Matijevic on the New Single and Upcoming Album with Niclas Engelin!

    Miljenko Matijevic joins the show for a one-on-one conversation about “Without You,” and his work with Niclas Engelin, the new collaborative album that’s on the way, his voice, and the realities of today’s music business. Best known as the founder and voice of Steelheart, Matijevic reflects on the songwriting, the performance side of singing, and how he approaches recording and longevity as a rock vocalist. The interview also looks back at Steelheart’s history, from the band’s beginnings in Connecticut under the name Red Alert to their breakout with the 1990 debut Steelheart, followed by Tangled in Reins, the 1992 onstage accident that changed everything, and the later return of the band through new releases and touring. It’s a focused conversation with one of hard rock’s most distinctive singers about past chapters, current work, and the new album coming with Niclas Engelin.

    Steelheart’s Miljenko Matijevic on the New Single and Upcoming Album with Niclas Engelin!

  6. 28 Jul

    Stephen Gibb KILL THE ROBOT and super music deep dive of his life!

    Stephen Gibb, often known as Steve Gibb, is a guitarist, singer, and songwriter with a career rooted in hard rock and heavy metal. Born in London in 1973 and raised in Miami, he is the eldest son of Barry Gibb. Although he comes from a famous musical family, Stephen developed his own identity by pursuing a much heavier sound than the pop style long associated with the Bee Gees. Throughout his career, Gibb has performed with several well-known rock and metal acts, including Black Label Society, Crowbar, Kingdom of Sorrow, and Saigon Kick. He has earned respect as a skilled and adaptable musician, contributing both onstage and in the studio. His work reflects a strong commitment to the rock and metal genres, where he has built a reputation based on musicianship rather than family connections. In addition to his metal career, Gibb has also collaborated extensively with his father in The Barry Gibb Band, adding guitar, vocals, and songwriting support. This side of his career highlights his versatility and ability to move between very different musical styles. Stephen Gibb’s path is notable because he has managed to honor his family’s musical legacy while establishing himself as a credible artist in his own right.

    Stephen Gibb KILL THE ROBOT and super music deep dive of his life!

  7. 24 Jul

    The World of Valor Kand and Christian Death

    alor Kand is a musician known for his work with Christian Death, where he became a central creative figure as a guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter. His presence helped define the band’s identity for decades, and he became closely associated with its intense sound, theatrical style, and confrontational themes. In addition to performing, he played a major role in shaping the group’s direction and keeping it active across multiple eras. As an artist, Kand brought a forceful and dramatic approach to Christian Death’s music. His work often emphasized heavy guitars, dark atmosphere, and lyrics that drew on religion, power, violence, and social tension. The result was a sound that felt severe and deliberate, combining gothic imagery with a harder musical edge. His style gave the band a sense of scale and intensity that remained a consistent part of its character. Beyond individual albums or performances, Valor Kand’s significance lies in the way he sustained Christian Death as an ongoing artistic project. He was not simply a performer within the group but one of its main drivers, responsible for much of its continuity, image, and output over time. His name remains tied to the band because of that long-term creative leadership and the strong imprint he left on its music.

  8. 21 Jul

    IMPERIUM Unleash the new album EXODUS UNKNOWN

    * **00:00** - Intro and Welcome * **00:35** - Meet Hardip (Lead Guitar) and Ben (Vocals) * **00:57** - Band History and First Releases * **02:22** - The Bond Between Band Members * **04:13** - Influences and Finding Their Sound * **06:58** - Playing Alongside Different Genres * **10:37** - Working with Tony (VENOM INC ) on the New Album * **15:15** - Album Release Details * **17:42** - Upcoming Shows and Bloodstock Festival * **21:28** - Advice for Young Bands and the Reality of Touring * **23:39** - The Importance of Playing Live * **28:44** - Outro and Farewell

    IMPERIUM Unleash the new album EXODUS UNKNOWN
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About

Welcome to Laughing Monkey with Shawn Ratches which is a show that explores all genres of music. As someone with autism, I bring a unique perspective to my interviews, aiming to create an authentic and engaging experience for both artists and listeners.Thanks for watching and please subscribe to help me keep bringing new content to you!

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