Scars and Guitars

31/07/2024

Soon…

30/07/2024

Not my words and I don’t know who came up with it, but it’s the most accurate description of early Metallica yet!

10/07/2024

Another one too funny not to share 😂

09/07/2024

This episode features a conversation with Shayan, host of the metal-focused Iblis Manifestations podcast and frontman of the Death/Black Metal band Trivax. Shayan is originally from the Islamic Republic of Iran but is now based in the United Kingdom. We explore many topics, including music, podcasting, political dynamics, and current global issues, with a focus on the rise of authoritarianism and sectarianism in the Western hemisphere. Our discussion also covers the benefits of plant medicine, maintaining health and fitness, and personal choices such as abstaining from alcohol.

Click here to listen! https://scarsandguitars.com/shayan-iblis-manifestations-podcast-trivax/

03/07/2024

Hear from Samer and Mamdoh of Dune, two key figures in the Saudi metal scene since the mid-2000s 🇸🇦. They discuss their musical influences and what drives their passion for heavy music. They explain how the establishment of the General Entertainment Authority in 2016 revitalised the Saudi metal scene, significantly enhancing Dune’s opportunities to perform and release music. Explore the creative process behind the recent single “Refuge” from their debut EP Years Of Chains and understand why this release is a milestone for the band. Learn about Dune’s role in the expanding Saudi metal community and plans, including upcoming music, tours, and collaborations. Additionally, they share personal stories about their journey as a metal band in Saudi Arabia, including memorable experiences from their performances and recording sessions.

Click here to listen! https://scarsandguitars.com/samer-nakhala-and-mamdoh-tawili-dune/

02/07/2024

Drummer Dave Witte was available to chat about Municipal Waste’s upcoming Australian shows, the influence of youth in rock and metal, his extensive career, and much more!

https://scarsandguitars.com/dave-witte-municipal-waste/

Link includes tour dates, ticket links and more!

23/06/2024

Sammy Duet discusses his journey with Acid Bath and Goatwhore through tour experiences and reflects on albums like “When the Kite String Pops” and “The Eclipse of Ages into Black.” Sammy shares insights into his musical evolution, exploring influences behind Acid Bath’s themes and the transition to Goatwhore’s distinctive sound. Additionally, he discusses collaborations with Erik Rutan and Spike Cassidy from DRI, offering a comprehensive look at his prolific career in metal.

Click here to listen! https://scarsandguitars.com/sammy-duet-acid-bath-goatwhore/

23/06/2024

Tune in to hear Mike IX from Eyehategod discuss key milestones from his career and the band’s history. Mike reflects on the impact of their debut album, “In the Name of Suffering,” and looks back on the band’s studio reunion with the 2014 self-titled album. He provides insights into making the 1993 epic “Take as Needed for Pain” and shares stories of memorable live shows and touring challenges. Mike also reveals his views on how psychedelics and other psychoactive medicines can help overcome addiction.

Click here to listen! https://scarsandguitars.com/mike-ix-williams-eyehategod/

23/06/2024

Join me for an episode featuring a conversation with Andy Scott from Sweet ahead of their November 2024 Australian shows. We discuss the tour, his perspectives on working with an emerging Iron Maiden, and Sweet’s influence on extreme and heavy music and image trends.

Click here to listen! https://scarsandguitars.com/andy-scott-sweet/

23/06/2024

Tucker Carlson was next level last night at the Australian Freedom Conference. If you get a chance to watch him in action, take it!

09/06/2024

No idea who created this… 😂😱

08/06/2024

.wickler was there for so many killer gigs back in the day. Check out these classic snaps featuring Paul and Ben Ryan, Nick, Robin and Dan. I wonder where Paul Allender is? However the most interesting aspect of these images is the setlist in front of Dan and the choice of songs. There are plenty from Dusk on the list. I would’ve loved to have heard them with the Ryan brothers performing live.

06/06/2024

It’s odd that Metropolis Touring are using stills from the video for “From the Cradle to Enslave” as their lead graphic for the Australian tour this year. How many of the punters that turn up to these Cradle shows, sing the lyrics, buy the merch and get drunk on $9 Jack Daniels and Coke would know it’s the bloke on Dan’s left that wrote that song, and many others that’ll be used throughout the set and no doubt, as part of the encore. The show must go on….

05/06/2024

Does anyone else find this album virtually unlistenable due to the production? It sounds like a cross between *Diabolus in Musica* and *Divine Intervention*, but the actual mix has Tom way too high and most of the tight riffs are buried. Just an observation.

30/05/2024

Daniel Freyberg, guitarist of Crownshift and ex-Children of Bodom, discusses the formation of Crownshift, their debut album, and musical influences.

Click here to listen! https://scarsandguitars.com/daniel-freyberg-crownshift-ex-children-of-bodom/

He shares experiences that shaped Crownshift’s direction and dives into the songwriting process, production challenges, and album artwork significance. Daniel reflects on his transition from Children of Bodom to Crownshift, their long-term goals, and fan connections.

28/05/2024

The new music show for May 2024 explores the vast spectrum of metal, uniting classic thrash figures and modern innovators.

Click here to listen! https://scarsandguitars.com/new-music-show-may-2024/

It starts with Kerry King’s “Rage,” featuring Paul Bostaph and Mark Osegueda, reigniting the fervour of 1980s California thrash. NOCTURNUS AD follows with “Hod, The Stellar Light,” a pinnacle of progressive occult metal from their album Unicursal. EXODUS revisits their legendary 1989 live show with “Fabulous Disaster,” recorded at The Astoria in London, celebrating a key moment in thrash history. The show also includes APOCALYPTICA’s symphonic take on Metallica’s “One” with James Hetfield and Six Feet Under return. The episode features a variety of styles, from the gritty urban trad-metal of RIOT V’s “Mean Streets” to the nostalgic rock of Lucifer’s cover “I Would Follow You Babe,” with heavier sounds from Daath’s “Ascension.” Gnarly underground stuff from Earsplit PR is a feature, and other highlights include technical displays from bands like CROWNSHIFT and Cognitive, concluding with the dynamism of MY DYING BRIDE and Melbourne’s The Omnific.

25/05/2024

The Acolyte Of The Foul Ones leads Altar of Gore, a New Jersey death metal band, with its new album, Litanies Of The Unceasing Agonies.

Click here to listen: https://scarsandguitars.com/acolyte-of-the-foul-ones-altar-of-gore/

We discuss the sound’s evolution, drawing inspiration from epic fantasy series for lyrical content and exploring obscure cult rites. We also discuss how their focus on flesh, blood, and bone over occult spirituality shapes their music and lyrics. We also discuss their creative process, visual imagery, and what’s ahead for Altar of Gore.

25/05/2024

The idea of an *almost* perfect album presents several examples that exist. But what about the perfect song? While there are contenders, many come from Iron Maiden. However, I’ll take a bold stance and propose Anthrax’s “Nothing.”

Released in 1995, Stomp 442 received little attention and has since been dismissed as one of the band’s weaker albums, particularly by younger fans or those who weren’t even born when it debuted. Across The Sound of White Noise, Stomp 442, and Volume 8, Anthrax underwent a transformation akin to a bare-metal respray, transcending the thrash genre. “Nothing” encapsulates this evolution and remains not only my favorite Anthrax track but also one of my all-time favorites.

What’s your favorite song, and what makes it special to you?

24/05/2024

Learn about the inspiration behind Tzompantli from ringleader Brian ‘Itztlakamayeh’ Ortiz through his reflection on the band’s identity and music.

Click here to listen! https://scarsandguitars.com/brian-itztlakamayeh-ortiz-tzompantli/

We explore the motivation behind blending indigenous/native rituals, history, and lore into their death/doom metal sound and Brian shares how traditional instruments enhance the band’s new album, Beating The Drums Of Ancestral Force. We get to the bottom of how cohesion was maintained, with over ten musicians contributing to the album, and explore the significance of collaborating with members from different bands. I also gain insight into the creative process of recording, producing, and mastering the album.

23/05/2024

**Svalbard is currently on tour across Australia!**

In this episode, Serena from Svalbard joins me for a laid-back conversation.

Click here to listen! https://scarsandguitars.com/serena-cherry-svalbard-2/

Amidst a whirlwind of interviews, ours stood out as the informal gem among the earnest queries from eager indie journalists. Despite the relaxed atmosphere, we still discussed some intriguing topics, including Australia’s unique traits, the prime spots for rollercoaster enthusiasts while on tour, the world of psychedelics, and, naturally, insights into Svalbard’s tour.

23/05/2024

I’m curious to know what you all consider a perfect album from start to finish.

For me, I could easily choose any of the five Iron Maiden albums from “The Number of the Beast” up to and including “Seventh Son of a Seventh Son,” but I’ll go with “Somewhere in Time.”

A few other albums I think are up there in terms of perfection include “Mob Rules” by Black Sabbath, “Cruelty and the Beast” by Cradle of Filth, “Rust in Peace” by Megadeth, “Deliverance” by Corrosion of Conformity, Slayer’s “Reign in Blood,” and “Formulas Fatal to the Flesh” by Morbid Angel.

If you’ve got one that you think is genuinely outstanding, I’d love to know what it is.

22/05/2024

In this conversation with Lena of Infected Rain, we explore her experience aboard the 2024 edition of the 70,000 Tons of Metal cruise, her insights on Australian audiences, and the excitement for the upcoming September 2024 shows with Cradle of Filth.

Click here to listen/ watch! https://scarsandguitars.com/lena-scissorhands-infected-rain/

Lena also shares her hopes and aspirations for the future, reflecting on experiences living under the hammer and enduring the long shadow of socialism and the Soviet Union in Moldova.

14/05/2024

I caught up with David Stepanavicius from ATRÆ BILIS to discuss their latest album, Aumicide. We talk about the evolution from 2021’s Apexapien, the intense themes behind “Inward to Abraxas,” and the stunning visuals that bring the track to life.

Listen here! https://scarsandguitars.com/david-stepanavicius-atrae-bilis/

David also illuminates the collaboration behind the album’s cover art and discusses the raw energy of Aumicide, shaped by Cyberdyne slams and vocal experiments. With more touring on the horizon, we explore their preparation and what fans can expect to live.

Something else: David is an Aussie ex-pat living in Canada, so it was great to hear that he is doing well and capturing the attention of extreme metal fans across North America!

12/05/2024

Robert Saler is an Associate Dean for Evaluation and Assessment, Associate Professor of Theology and Culture, and Executive Director of the Center for Pastoral Excellence and the Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Program at the Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis. Robert is also an author and theologian who specialises in the intersection of faith and modern society, covering pastoral sabbaticals, theology of the cross, and religion’s role in today’s culture. Steve Von Till from Neurosis introduced me to Robert, an opportunity I’m thankful for, as I’ve been eager to find a guest who resides at an intersection of extreme metal and faith for the show.

Tune in here to listen! https://scarsandguitars.com/robert-saler-theologian-scholar-and-author/

It’d be tempting to say this is a different guest from what you are used to, but that isn’t true. I was the first journalist to contact Stuart Anstis, who blew the lid off the popular narratives surrounding Cradle of Filth. I’m the only person to interview Trey from Morbid Angel’s mother. Across 800 other episodes of the show, you have become familiar with my technique of allowing the guest to brooch topics across all social, political and religious contexts.

The conversation goes beyond typical discussions of faith; it’s a deep exploration into his path to spirituality, ministry, and scholarly work in theology. I hope this is the first of many insightful discussions with Robert.

11/05/2024

See you there!!

We're coming for you Vinnies Dive bar Gold Coast, with our mates in
Vulgar display of 90s, Friday 9th August, tix available now

https://vinniesdive.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/da44feb5-c025-4788-b226-be86ca3fba00

11/05/2024

Vinnie Dombroski, the frontman of alternative rock band Sponge, talks about the story behind ‘Planet Girls’, a long-lost album that has recently been released. Originally intended to follow the success of their iconic albums’ Rotting Piñata’ and ‘Wax Ecstatic’, the label shelved Planet Girls and remained unreleased for years.

Tune in here! https://scarsandguitars.com/vinnie-dombroski-sponge/

Vinnie discusses the original sound and vision of ‘Planet Girls’, which aimed to align more closely with Sponge’s earlier work rather than the pop-oriented direction of ‘New Pop Sunday’. He sheds light on the pressures from the music industry in the late ’90s, including the influence of contemporary bands like Goo Goo Dolls and the impact these pressures had on the band.

The conversation also explores Vinnie’s collaboration with producer Kevin Shirley on the ‘Planet Girls, the enduring relationship with Tim Patalan (producer of ‘Rotting Piñata’ and ‘Wax Ecstatic’), and the dynamics within the band during those pivotal recording sessions.

Further, Vinnie touches on the legacy of Sponge’s music, particularly discussing tracks like ‘Neenah Menasha’ and its significance in the ’90s alternative rock scene. He also pays tribute to the unique talents of band members like Mike Cross (RIP) and Joey Mazzola, giving fans a deeper insight into the chemistry and creativity defining Sponge’s sound.

06/05/2024

Very gracious of Nagash to help Jamie and the Lord Kaos crew.

30/04/2024

The Scars and Guitars April new music show is FULL of black and extreme s**t!

Click the link to listen! https://scarsandguitars.com/new-music-show-april-2024/

The show kicks things off with DEICIDE performing “Sever The Tongue,” followed by Kerry King’s “Residue.” DARKTHRONE will present “Black Dawn Affiliation”, and ACCEPT brings “Humanoid.” The Omnific will showcase “Matrices,” and APOCALYPTICA covers “The Unforgiven II.” WARDRUNA will perform “Hertan,” with Týr following with “Dragons Never Die.”

DORO will hit the stage with “Lean Mean Rock Machine,” and FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH teams up with DMX for “This Is The Way.” Orange Goblin delivers “(Not) Rocket Science,” and MONO will perform “Oath.” ZEAL & ARDOR are set to play “TO MY ILK,” with DOPETHRONE bringing “Shlaghammer.” Demersal introduces “Lys I Natten,” and Faustian performs “Primordial Rot.”

Skulldozer begins with “Bow To None,” PARACRONA features Baard Kolstad for “Carry The Cross.” Darkthrone returns with “The Bird People Of Nordland,” and Blaze Of Perdition plays “W kwiecie rozłamu.” Morgue Meat takes the stage with “Crushing The Messiah’s Skull,” followed by KRÅBØL with “Perish.” Enevelde will perform “Pandemonium,” and Whoredom Rife presents “Den Vrede Makt.”

Nekyian offers “Hevn,” and Nachtheem presents “Drift van Nostalgie.” Obscuration will play “Violent Art,” with Death Like Mass performing “Sorcery Unbridled.” Altar Of Gore introduces “Carrion Womb,” Hässlig plays “Slaves,” and Unborn Generation brings “Heritage.” UNITYTX is set for “PLAYING FAVORITES,” and 156/Silence presents “Unreasonable Doubt.”

Wage War will perform “NAIL5,” Make Them Suffer will present “Epitaph,” and ERRA will take the stage with “Cure.” AZIMUT19 will showcase “Anger Plague,” and SMOKE AxD will perform “Smoke All Day.” Vulture is lined up with “Oathbreaker,” and Belushi Speed Ball closes with “My Favorite Color is Pizza.”

28/04/2024

Steve Von Till peels back the layers of his new Harvestman release, Triptych: Part One, revealing the genesis of its captivating opening track, “Psilosynth.”

Click here to listen! https://scarsandguitars.com/steve-von-till-neurosis-harvestman/

Steve discusses the creative process as he intricately integrates guitars, percussion, and synths into a cohesive sonic tapestry, guiding listeners into meditative states of consciousness. He also explores the celestial significance of coordinating the album series’ release with specific full moons and how ancient sites, folklore, and ancestral resonance infuse the sonic landscapes of Triptych.

Steve sheds light on the significance of the title “Triptych”. He reflects on Henry Hablak’s artwork as a visual representation of the auditory journey and his hopes for listeners’ takeaway from Triptych: Part One. Additionally, he reflects on Neurosis’ monumental album, Through Silver in Blood, exploring its enduring influence on today’s extreme metal landscape and the pivotal role he played in shaping its sound.

26/04/2024

Join Cremator from Ghoul as he unearths the sinister secrets of Creepsylvaniana.

Click here to listen! https://scarsandguitars.com/cremator-ghoul/

Fresh from the release of their latest EP, “Noxious Concoctions,” Cremator takes us on a chilling journey through the genesis of their ghoulish creations. From the infernal inspiration behind their return to the recording studio to the harrowing sessions at Antisleep Audio, the macabre process is revealed. Prepare for a nightmarish interview direct from the depths of Creepsylvaniana. Welcome to the nightmare…

PS: I was unaware that the interview would be conducted in character. Feel free to laugh at my expense as I fumble through the initial exchanges, trying to make sense of what’s happening!