Heavy Stories Podcast

Matt Mills
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Music
  • Updated Weekly

Every band has a story to tell. Join decorated music journalist Matt Mills as he interviews the biggest, best and most interesting artists in rock and metal. New episodes every Thursday morning.

  1. 6d ago

    UNDERSTANDING GRIEF WITH AS EVERYTHING UNFOLDS: Charlie Rolfe on overcoming loss, maladaptive daydreaming, new album Did You Ask to Be Set Free?

    Charlie Rolfe is the lead singer of High Wycombe metalcore band As Everything Unfolds. On episode 15 of HEAVY STORIES, she opens up about the loss of her band's drummer Jamie Gowers in August 2024 and how she navigated the grief that followed. She also discusses how the band regrouped, her experiences with maladaptive dreaming and the story and themes of new album Did You Ask to Be Set Free?.

    1h 4m

  2. Jun 11

    WHY KARNIVOOL TOOK 13 YEARS TO MAKE AN ALBUM: Ian Kenny reveals the story behind In Verses

    Ian Kenny is the lead singer of Australian progressive metal icons Karnivool. On episode 14 of Heavy Stories, he explains why the band took 13 years to make their new album, In Verses. From mental health issues to practical struggles and balancing life as a family man, he goes deep into the reasons for the decade-plus dry spell, and teases that it won’t take another 13 years for their next project to come out!

    1 hr

  3. Jun 4

    THE BEST METAL ALBUMS OF 2026 SO FAR!

    It’s June, which means we’re already (nearly) halfway through 2026! The passage of time is as relentless as it is terrifying, but at least we can distract ourselves with all the top-notch metal we’ve been handed since the New Year. Join Matt and fellow music journo Pavel Kondov as they details the albums which have rattled their ears the best this year!

    1h 31m

  4. May 28

    HELLRIPPER TALKS SCORCHING RIFFS AND SCOTTISH FOLKLORE: James McBain on new album Coronach, Metallica vs Megadeth, Anthony Fantano, myth and more

    The last few episodes have been heavy even by our standards, with discussions of war, anxiety, suicide, being attacked in the street, ADHD and attempted murder. So, for episode 12, we got Hellripper leader James McBain to talk about fast riffs and Scottish myth, and how both shaped his new album Coronach. We also chatted about the review he got from Anthony Fantano, Metallica vs Megadeth and his isolated life in the Highlands.

    1h 7m

  5. May 21

    DAN TOMPKINS’ JOURNEY WITH ADHD: Tesseract singer on neurodivergence, police past, new project Prince of Failure and more

    Dan Tompkins is the singer of British progressive metal luminaries Tesseract and rock two-piece Prince of Failure. On episode 11 of Heavy Stories, he talks about his recent diagnosis with ADHD and life as a neurodivergent person. We also discuss the new Prince of Failure album, his early days in Tesseract, his nine years as a policeman and plenty more.

    1h 23m

  6. May 14

    HOW EINAR SOLBERG CONTROLS HIS ANXIETY: Leprous frontman opens up on mental health, confronting worrying thoughts, family, meeting Ihsahn and more

    Einar Solberg is the singer/guitarist in Norwegian progressive metal band Leprous and a solo artist. On episode 10 of Heavy Stories, he discusses his history with anxiety, including how it was exacerbated by being attacked on the street aged 16 and the death of his father when he was 19. He also reveals some of his coping mechanisms and how he was able to stop his mental health from dominating his life. Image: Leo Liberti.

    1h 22m

  7. Apr 27

    IRAN, RACISM, FAMILY AND MUSIC WITH NINA SAEIDI: Lowen singer on Middle Eastern heritage, bringing weapons onstage, US–Iran War, the time someone died on her

    Nina Saeidi is the singer and co-founder of British progressive metal band Lowen. On episode nine of Heavy Stories, she talks about her ancestral roots in Iran and how her Middle Eastern heritage has inspired the music she makes. We discuss the country’s ongoing war with the US and Israel, which has deeply impacted many of her relatives who still live there, as well as her parents seeking asylum in the UK in 1979, how her aunt fled the country after being a political prisoner for nine years, her experiences with racism, falling in love with metal, the time someone actually died on her on the London Underground, and much more. (Image: Katja Ogrin)

    1h 21m

  8. Apr 20

    THE WORLD ACCORDING TO PROPAGANDHI: singer/guitarist Chris Hannah on American politics, annoying the KKK, going vegan, growing up on airbases, new album At Peace, aggravating punks, musical evolution

    Chris Hannah is the singer, guitarist, lyricist and co-founder of Canadian hardcore veterans Propagandhi. On episode eight of Heavy Stories, he sits down to talk about the impact of his childhood on airbases, including how it shaped his political beliefs and veganism. We discuss how Propagandhi was formed as a “progressive thrash” band and the distaste they quickly developed for the punk scene around them, especially the jocks and skateboarders they encountered in California after signing to Fat Mike’s Fat Wreck Chords. This hatred led to them becoming proud bear-pokers, antagonising crowds at gigs and even the KKK. Other topics covered include new album At Peace, the four-piece’s musical evolution over four decades and Chris’ thoughts on American politics under Donald Trump’s second administration. (Image: Dwayne Larson)

    1h 8m
See All (15)

About

Every band has a story to tell. Join decorated music journalist Matt Mills as he interviews the biggest, best and most interesting artists in rock and metal. New episodes every Thursday morning.

Information

  • Creator
    Matt Mills
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Heavy Stories Podcast

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