HEAVY Music Interviews

HEAVY Magazine

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Music Interviews
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All the latest music interviews from the team at HEAVY Magazine. HEAVY interviews the worlds leading rock, punk, metal and beyond musicians in the heavy universe of music. We will upload the latest interviews regularly so before to follow our social accounts and our podcast account on www.speaker.com/user/heavy Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

7 hr ago

Absence Makes The Riffs Grow Stronger With JENNI And MARTY POWELL From RIFF RAIDERS

Melbourne outfit Riff Raiders are a powerhouse hard rock outfit known for their explosive live energy, massive hooks, and crunching guitar riffs. Formed in 2017, the band features core members Jenni Powell on soaring lead vocals and Marty Powell on lead guitar. The band initially built a loyal following across the Australian live rock circuit with their debut album Live Like You Mean It and their critically acclaimed 2020 follow-up Rock and Roll Daydream, with their signature sound blending classic Aussie rock traditions with a sharp, modern alternative edge. On 7 June 2026, the band ended a six-year album hiatus by releasing their highly anticipated third studio record, Welcome to Mars. Released worldwide across streaming platforms like Spotify and YouTube Music, the tightly constructed 11-track project serves as a grand "rock ’n’ roll re-entry". Welcome to Mars is a genre-blurring collection that explores diverse musical flavours while staying rooted in hard rock. The album's roll-out was driven by three standout singles that showcase the band's creative evolution: Nothing to Lose, Broken Halo and Welcome To Mars. To support the release, Riff Raiders are breaking their long absence from the live stage. They will celebrate their official live comeback on August 28 in Melbourne as part of the Rock Is Not Dead festival, bringing their new space-age stadium anthems directly to the fans. HEAVY caught up with Jenni and Marty to chat more, asking them to describe Welcome To Mars from a musical point of view. "On the last album, Rock and Roll Daydream, we did a lot more overdubbing and went for a bigger production sort of sound," Marty measured. "So this time we stripped it right back and brought the bass and drums right up into the picture and kept the guitars pretty dry and simple and really showcased the vocals. The idea of the band with Riff Raiders is we do a few different styles of hard rock, which hopefully tie together under the theme of Welcome to Mars this time." In the full interview, Jenni and Marty dive deeper into Welcome To Mars, including the three singles released and how they reflect the album overall. We spoke about the different layers of rock throughout the album and finding the balance and cohesiveness to keep the flow going. We talked about Riff Raiders' prolonged absence from the stage and the reasons behind it, the upcoming Rock Is Not Dead show, future gigs and more. Welcome To Mars is out now: https://tinyurl.com/WelcomeToMars Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

12 min
7 hr ago

From Calm Comes Chaos With JAYTANIC RITUAL From THE NEPTUNE POWER FEDERATION

Interview by Kris Peters Dead of Winter Festival is officially back, resurrecting its glorious, dark alternative underworld at Brisbane’s iconic Mansfield Tavern on Saturday, 27 June 2026. After six long years in the shadows, this absolute staple of the heavy music calendar is rising like a Phoenix. Organisers have curated a massive line-up of 31 bands, performance art, and horror cosplay. Yet, out of all the distortion and chaos set to take over the multiple stages, one band is uniquely poised to completely steal the show: The Neptune Power Federation. Fresh off massive European touring, the Sydney-based rock outfit is making their highly anticipated return to Australian soil. If you have ever witnessed them live, you already know it is an over-the-top, mind-bending experience. If you haven't, prepare your soul. Fronted by the utterly hypnotic and fiercely commanding Imperial Priestess, Screaming Loz Sfire, the band seamlessly blends 1970s heavy psych, punk-driven aggression, and pure, unadulterated stadium rock theatrics. They do not just play a set; they bring a full cosmic ritual that forces your feet to tap and your neck to snap. What makes their inclusion at Dead of Winter so perfect is how seamlessly their occult energy meshes with the festival's community atmosphere. Backed by a razor-sharp rhythm section and an onslaught of massive, screeching guitar riffs, they are an absolute powerhouse of rock 'n' roll. Dead of Winter has always built its legacy on being a super fun, super safe space for sub-genres to collide. The Neptune Power Federation delivers exactly that brand of welcoming, theatrical madness. HEAVY sat down with bass player Jaytanic Ritual (a.k.a Jason Whalley from Frenzal Rhomb) to better prepare ourselves for the show and asked about the genesis of the band. "We were formed on a distant planet," he began. "We were summoned by Her Majesty the Imperial Priestess to basically support her in all her endeavours. Those endeavors being traveling through time to destroy the patriarchy. So we've basically been doing her bidding now for about 10 years in our time, but it spans the millennia in other people's time. We also have all these rules. So, none of the men in the band are allowed to speak. She's deemed that it's okay for me to talk today, so I can talk candidly, but for the most part, we're there just to do her bidding. And apparently, her bidding is to play 1970s psychedelic rock." We mention that it must be an exercise in futility expecting Jaytanic Ritual to say nothing from the stage, to which his tone became more sombre. "The consequences of speaking are so dire that it's better off just doing what she wants," he replied, fear in his eyes. "The other thing we're not allowed to do is smile, because what we're doing is very serious. Plus, we're not allowed to wear band shirts because we're the only band from our planet, so there are a lot of rules, but I do like the boundaries." In the full interview, we explore the world of The Neptune Power Federation in greater detail, finding out what makes them tick and the driving force behind their music. Jaytanic Ritual runs us through their live performance and what to expect, offering three songs concert goers can listen to in order to get to know the band better if they are only new to the party. We talk about the new album Mondo Tomorrow and its musical psyche, including the move away from recounting the adventures of the High Priestess in favour of technology. Jaytanic Ritual explains how the album sees The Neptune Power Federation return more to their punk roots, the surprise album that was recorded at the same time and more. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

15 min
1 day ago

Finding Salvation in Loss With ALPHA From GAEREA

Interview by Kris Peters Portuguese masked metal maestros Gaerea will embark on their highly anticipated debut tour of Australia next month. Presented by Soundworks Direct, the five-date national run is officially titled the Loss Australian Tour. This run marks the very first time the cathartic extreme metal band will bring their intense live performance down under. Known for their signature black hoods and a sound that blends crushing breakdowns with soaring, emotional melodies, Gaerea has built a formidable reputation in the global heavy music scene. The upcoming shows promise to deliver immense emotional impact and raw live energy. Vocalist Alpha shared that the tour is a massive milestone for the group. While Australian promoters have shown eager interest since Gaerea's early days, the high financial barrier of international travel delayed the trip until the band reached a stable position. Now celebrating a ten-year journey, the band is thrilled to bridge the physical gap with their long-time supporters. The nightly setlists will span Gaerea’s entire discography. Audiences can expect to hear definitive tracks from earlier foundational releases like Unsettling Whispers, Limbo, and Mirage. The performance will heavily highlight material from their 2024 album Coma, alongside an immersive exploration of their newest sonic era, Loss. Supporting the band across the East Coast leg of the tour is Melbourne-based progressive tech-metal act Ironstone, adding exceptional local flavour to the brutal bill. HEAVY caught up with Alpha to find out more, asking him to run us through what fans can expect from the shows. "Well, I always say that it is the best cocktail mix that we can do to make a very aggressive show," he replied, "together with minimalistic, super melodramatic emotional moments where we go through the motions of anger, but also loss, for example, or sadness. There's a bit of everything in terms of the extremes of emotions in the show. We try to be very visual with that. And yeah, I'm pretty sure it's going to be a good, striking, emotional ride. That's what we set ourselves to do 10 years ago, and we've been doing that. So again, it feels good to be able to do it for the first time in a country. But I heard the fans go completely wild in Australia, so that's always something that gets our blood running for even better shows." Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

15 min
1 day ago

Growing Pains With NATHAN CAVALERI

There are few stories in Australian rock history as heavy or as real as Nathan Cavaleri’s. We all remember the kid—the pint-sized blues prodigy who jammed with B.B. King, signed global deals, and made the guitar sing like a seasoned delta master before he was even a teenager. But as any rock fan knows, the higher the climb, the more brutal the crash. With his upcoming massive national theatre production, the Growing Pains tour, Cavaleri isn't just playing a set of tunes; he’s laying his soul bare on stage in a raw, real-time reckoning with stardom, mental health, and survival. This isn't your standard, ego-driven rock retrospective. This is an intimate, solo performance that beautifully blends heavy storytelling with the soulful, blues-infused musical prowess that made him a household name. Cavaleri is taking audiences on an emotional rollercoaster, tracking his journey from busking on the streets of Campbelltown to conquering international stages, battling leukaemia, and surviving a full-blown mental health collapse that once left him terrified to even pick up a guitar. What makes Growing Pains so essential is its unapologetic vulnerability. Cavaleri openly admits to feeling "nervous as hell" about putting his darkest moments under the theatre spotlight. Yet, it’s exactly that honesty—paired with his undeniable guitar wizardry—that leaves the crowd uplifted, inspired, and completely in awe. It is a powerful reminder of how music can serve as ultimate therapy. HEAVY sat down with Nathan to chat about the run of shows and the subject matter, asking where the idea came from. "When I got back into it, I was actually just starting to share my experiences," he began, "like growing up on tour and playing with all these amazing legends, but also making sense of life along the way and some of the challenges I went through. I was getting a lot of feedback from members of the audience saying that they loved the songs, but they really loved the stories and wanted more of them, and suggested I write a book. I've lived this life, so it's not... it just feels pretty normal to me. And I thought, well, I don't want to write a book. It feels a little bit premature, but they were barking at me for a long time. So I thought, all right, well, why don't I try something different and bring it to the stage and create a live show out of it?" In the full interview, Nathan talks more about the genesis of the idea, including how he decided what subject matter to cover. He detailed the difficulties he faced confronting some of those memories and working them into a narrative, offering up some stories that made the final cut along the way. He talked about some of his best memories, how music ultimately affected his mental health and the steps he has taken to get through it. The format of the shows was discussed, as was the level of crowd interaction, as well as new music and more. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

21 min
3 days ago

THE DAMNED's CAPTAIN SENSIBLE Reflects On 50 Years Of Punk Chaos

Interview by Angela Croudace Fifty years after helping ignite the UK punk movement, Captain Sensible still sounds pleasantly surprised that The Damned are standing strong. Speaking ahead of the band's Australian 50th Anniversary Tour this September, the guitarist reflected on a career that has taken the group from playing tiny pubs to prestigious venues that once wanted nothing to do with them. "When we started, I never thought it would last more than three or four weeks," he laughed. "We were playing this uncompromising noise music and upsetting audiences. I never thought anyone would let us make an album, let alone still be doing it 50 years later." For Sensible, The Damned's longevity comes down to authenticity. Despite five decades on the road, the band continues to embrace unpredictability. "You never know what's going to happen next, even we don't know," he said. "That's the great thing about proper, organic rock and roll." The celebrations arrive during what Sensible calls a "golden period" for the band. One particularly satisfying milestone has been performing at iconic venues that once rejected them. "We're playing places that banned us back in the day," he said. "The Royal Albert Hall didn't want us in the late '70s, and now we're playing places like the Sydney Opera House. For a band that's always been anti-establishment, that's pretty ridiculous." The conversation also unearthed one of punk's more bizarre stories, with Sensible confirming a bit of family lore for me; a tale involving an inflatable dinosaur costume at London's Rainbow Theatre. After being dragged into the crowd by the costume's tail, he emerged without it and finished the show naked. "It's why there was never a repeat performance," he joked. Fifty years on, The Damned remain rebellious, unpredictable and, somehow, still surprising themselves. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

22 min
3 days ago

Not Beating Around The Bush With BRENT SMITH From SHINEDOWN

American rock titans Shinedown and British alternative legends Bush are uniting for a massive co-headline tour across Australia and New Zealand in September 2026. Promoted by Destroy All Lines, this blockbuster arena run bridges two distinct eras of heavy guitar music. The highly anticipated roadshow represents Shinedown’s monumental return down under for the first time in over 15 years. Simultaneously, it marks Bush’s first full-scale headline run of the region in nearly three decades. Shinedown brings a precise, high-octane live production to the stage, fueled by a record-breaking 24 number-one rock hits and more than 8.3 billion global streams. Local audiences can expect a dense, anthemic setlist packed with their definitive mainstream radio hits like Second Chance, Sound of Madness, and Monsters. The Florida-based rockers are also using this international trek to showcase brand-new material from their eighth studio album, EI8HT, which launched recently with widespread critical acclaim. Complementing Shinedown's arena-ready energy is the raw post-grunge power of Bush, anchored by the iconic charisma of frontman Gavin Rossdale. With over three decades of global success and a billion streams, the London-born outfit remains an essential fixture of modern alternative rock. Their performance will highlight definitive mid-90s hits from their seminal, multi-platinum debut record Sixteen Stone, treating fans to live renditions of Glycerine, Comedown, and Machinehead. Additionally, Bush will perform tracks from their tenth studio album, I Beat Loneliness, demonstrating their continuing creative evolution. HEAVY sat down with Shinedown frontman Brent Smith to get his thoughts on the tour. It's been 16 years since Shinedown last toured this country, so we ask Brent what has changed with the band over that period. "Just the trajectory of the band," he measured. "The albums. Life. Experience… The thing that I never take for granted is that I can look back and say to myself, I feel very, very fortunate that from the moment I could have a conscious thought… what I wanted to do with my life, I'm doing. And to still be 25 years into being in this band… You don't ever want to have this big, meteoric rise. I don't know the way I should say this, but I can only say it in the most authentic way possible. Experience is something that you need in this industry. Sometimes, when you get a big jump, there can be a heavy fall. It's a very difficult industry to navigate, the music business and however you want to look at it. But the reality is it all comes down to the audience and the artist. I've said this before, and I mean it. In Shinedown, we only have one boss. It's just everybody in the audience. And Shinedown is also everyone's band." In the full interview, Brent makes apologies for taking so long to get back to Australia, promising the band will more than make up for lost time. He spoke about the evolution of Shinedown over their musical journey and the importance of staying grounded, no matter what else is happening. He recounted how the initial discussion to pair Shinedown and Bush on tour came about, expressing his respect and love for their touring partners and how their music will compliment the other. Brent talked about Shinedown's recent album Ei8ht and its reception, highlighting the positive reaction by fans and critics alike, plus more. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

16 min
12 Jun

Keeping Death Metal Honest With BORISZ THE SAVAGE And BASTIAN HERZOG From FLESHCRAWL

Interview by Ali Williams German death metal veterans FLESHCRAWL are entering a major new chapter with Epitome Of Carnage, their 10th studio album and the first to feature Borisz (The Savage) Sarafutgyinov handling all vocals and lyrics. In conversation with HEAVY’s Ali Williams, founding drummer Bastian Herzog and Borisz spoke about the refreshed lineup, the record’s old-school approach, the pressure of carrying a long-running name forward, and the small matter of trying to get the band to Australia without financially maiming everyone involved. It is a big moment for FLESHCRAWL, although neither Borisz nor Bastian seem interested in dressing it up as some grand reinvention. The feeling is more practical than theatrical. The lineup has changed, the energy has shifted, and the band have used that movement to build something that still sounds unmistakably like FLESHCRAWL. Borisz joined the band in 2021 following the passing of longtime vocalist Sven Gross, and Epitome Of Carnage marks his first album taking full control of the vocals and lyrics. That is no small handover. FLESHCRAWL have been part of the European death metal landscape since 1987, and walking into that kind of history requires more than a decent growl and a reliable calendar. For Borisz, the change in sound comes naturally from the people now in the room. “The lineup is pretty fresh,” he explained, pointing to the two newer guitar players as part of the reason this album feels different. His own voice and lyrics also helped push the material into its current shape, giving the band a new angle while keeping the core intact. Bastian sees it as a new start as well. Coming from a founding member, that carries weight. He has been there since the earliest days, long enough to make most band origin stories look like recent lunch orders. Yet there is no sense of him clinging to the past with both hands and a suspiciously labelled backup hard drive. He sounds ready for this version of FLESHCRAWL to stand on its own. The lyrical direction on Epitome Of Carnage came from a darker place, although Borisz admitted he only fully recognised the pattern once interviews for the album began. War, media doom, social decay and the world’s apparent commitment to behaving like a malfunctioning meat grinder all worked their way into the songs. When asked what drove the album, his answer was refreshingly direct. ‘Being pissed off’. Fair. Death metal has never exactly demanded a vision board and has launched entire careers on less. That anger, however, has been channelled with purpose. FLESHCRAWL were clear about wanting the album to feel organic, not manufactured into something overly slick. Borisz spoke about avoiding modern production techniques such as enhanced drums, triggers and excessive studio layering. The aim was to create a record that could connect with older fans while still making sense in 2026. Bastian contributed riffs and also wrote a short instrumental piece for the album, although he was typically understated about his role. Borisz was quicker to point out that everyone contributed across the record, with no strict divisions in the writing process. The band worked as a unit, which also means everyone had the pleasure of annoying everyone else in useful ways. Check out the full interview for much more. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

18 min
12 Jun

Waking Up The Dead With STEVE FRANCIS From BULLETBELT

Get ready to snap your necks, Australia, because New Zealand black-thrash titans Bulletbelt are crossing the ditch this June to tear you all a new one. The Wellington metal veterans are locked and loaded for the highly anticipated resurrection of Dead of Winter Festival. Taking place on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at its brand-new stomping ground the Mansfield Tavern, this iconic alternative counter-culture gathering is officially back after a multi-year hiatus. While Aussie heavyweights like DZ Deathrays and Mammal are ready to hold down the home front, Bulletbelt represents the absolute pinnacle of relentless, sonic savagery coming from across the Tasman. If you have ever witnessed Bulletbelt live, you know they do not just play music; they deliver a sonic assault that leaves your ears ringing and your feet bruised. Their signature blend of old-school thrash velocity and cold, uncompromising black metal atmospheric filth creates a hellish wall of sound. It is the kind of measured aggression that instantly gets your head snapping. For years, these guys have carved out a reputation as one of the hardest-working, most road-hardened extreme metal forces in the Southern Hemisphere. Dead of Winter has always been a sanctuary for the outsiders, the riff-lords, and the beautiful weirdos of the heavy music community. Moving the madness to the legendary Mansfield Tavern means 34 acts will split your skull across multiple stages. It offers the perfect, high-intensity indoor environment for Bulletbelt to do what they do best: decimate crowds. Expect sweat-soaked leather, full-throttle blast beats, and a wave of pure, unadulterated energy that hits with the subtle force of a flying brick. HEAVY caught up with drummer Steve Francis to find out more. With Dead Of Winter returning after a number of years, we ask Steve just how important festivals that nurture homegrown talent are to the continued growth of Australian and New Zealand music. "They're huge," he replied instantly. "And look at Australia. Look at how many amazing heavy bands there are at the moment, and a little bit of a parallel to back here in Wellington. I think the local scene at the moment here in Wellington and the bigger New Zealand is probably better than it's ever been. There's so many bands that are getting overseas and getting signed to international labels and coming over to play Brisbane with such a really cool, diverse lineup as well. We came two years ago and played Necrosonic Festival, and that was catered a little bit more to the heavier side of the rock genre. But this one is really exciting because we're going to be presenting ourselves in front of a bunch of people who aren't just into heavy music, they're into all sorts of rock-oriented music. So, yeah, really excited." In the full interview, Steve reported that Bulletbelt has been off the road since a November 2024 15th‑anniversary show while recording a new album, which is finished and produced by U.S. producer Damien Reynard to achieve a “world‑class” sound. The record emphasizes more melody, higher tempos (including songs near 200 BPM) and power‑metal influences, and is planned for release around October; release timing is partly delayed by the postponed film Deathgasm 2, for which Bulletbelt wrote the theme. Steve characterized the band’s festival approach as high‑energy, crowd‑engaging “party band” sets and said festivals are crucial for reaching broader rock audiences beyond heavy‑music niches. He confirmed the band will perform two new songs during the Australian shows and named local bands he’s anticipating at Dead of Winter and more. Dead Of Winter will be held at the Mansfield Tavern in Brisbane on June 27, featuring Mammal, DZ Deathrays, Jay and Lindsay, Beanflipper, Toe to Toe, Slim Krusty and many more. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

11 min

All the latest music interviews from the team at HEAVY Magazine. HEAVY interviews the worlds leading rock, punk, metal and beyond musicians in the heavy universe of music. We will upload the latest interviews regularly so before to follow our social accounts and our podcast account on www.speaker.com/user/heavy Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

Creator

HEAVY Magazine
Years Active

2018 - 2026
Episodes

1k
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© HEAVY 2025
Show Website

HEAVY Music Interviews