Laughing Monkey with Shawn Ratches

Shawn Ratches
  • 3.8 (6)
  • Music Interviews
  • Updated Semiweekly

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. Aug 24

    Cloven Hoof Never a Prophet in Your Own Land — a new album rooted in legacy, power, and conviction.

    Cloven Hoof have spent decades building a legacy as one of the enduring names in British heavy metal, earning a reputation for power, character, and a sound that has remained unmistakably their own. Across changing eras, the band have continued to carry forward the spirit that first defined them, combining classic metal force with a strong sense of identity. That history gives every new release added weight, and it is exactly that sense of legacy that makes this next chapter stand out. The new album, Never a Prophet in Your Own Land, arrives as a statement of purpose — one that reflects both experience and ambition. The title alone suggests conflict, perseverance, and the challenge of standing firm in the face of doubt, all themes that fit naturally within the world Cloven Hoof have built over the years. It feels like an album shaped by conviction, carrying the strength of the band’s past while pushing forward with renewed intent. For longtime listeners, this release represents more than just another record in the catalogue. It is a continuation of the band’s story, rooted in the traditions that helped establish their name while still finding room to expand and evolve. There is a sense of momentum around Never a Prophet in Your Own Land — the sound of a band drawing on its foundations without simply looking backwards. In this episode, we look at the history behind Cloven Hoof, the road that led to Never a Prophet in Your Own Land, and what this album means within the broader arc of the band’s career. We also explore how this release connects past and present, and why it stands as an important moment for a band that continues to hold its place in heavy metal with authority and purpose.

  2. Aug 24

    Forbidden marks the next era. Album and tour coming soon.

    In this episode, we talk about Forbidden, the new album that marks an important turning point for the band. Built on the history, sound, and identity that have defined the group over the years, Forbidden reflects both where the band has been and where it is headed next. It is a record shaped by growth, change, and a clear sense of purpose. We also discuss the arrival of the band’s new singer and what that means for this next chapter. Their voice brings a new energy and dimension to the music while staying true to the foundation that longtime listeners will recognize. Forbidden represents that balance between legacy and evolution, holding on to the core of the band while opening the door to something new. The episode also looks ahead to the new tour and what fans can expect from this era live. More than just a new release, Forbidden signals the beginning of a new phase for the band — one that connects its history to its future in a way that feels natural, ambitious, and ready for the stage.

    Forbidden marks the next era. Album and tour coming soon.

  3. Aug 23

    Dan Lilker on Joining Instagram, His Band History, Guest Jams, and Life After Road Touring.

    Dan Lilker is a highly respected figure in heavy music whose career has stretched across thrash metal, hardcore, crossover, and grindcore. He first came to wider attention as a founding member of Anthrax and performed on the band’s 1984 debut album, Fistful of Metal. Although his time in Anthrax was brief, it placed him at the beginning of a major moment in American thrash and helped establish his place in metal history. He went on to build an even deeper legacy through Nuclear Assault, the band most closely linked to his name, and through Stormtroopers of Death, whose aggressive and sarcastic style became hugely influential in crossover metal. Lilker later expanded into grindcore with Brutal Truth, showing how easily he could move between different extremes of heavy music. Across the years, he has also been involved with many other bands and side projects, which has made him one of the most recognizable and versatile musicians in the underground scene. What makes Dan Lilker stand out is not just the number of bands he has played in, but how often he has been part of important chapters in metal’s evolution. From early thrash to crossover and grindcore, his bass playing, songwriting, and personality have left a real mark on the genre. Even after stepping back from regular road touring, he remains an important and respected presence whose influence continues to be felt across the metal world.

    Dan Lilker on Joining Instagram, His Band History, Guest Jams, and Life After Road Touring.

  4. Aug 23

    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.

  5. Aug 20

    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!

  6. Aug 20

    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

  7. Aug 8

    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!

  8. Aug 8

    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!
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3.8
out of 5
6 Ratings

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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