The Smashing Skull Sessions

12/07/2024

The bran new episode of The Smashing Skulls is out now! You can check out the episode with Profiler via the link below!

Profiler is a Nu-Metal reawakening from the mind of vocalist and guitarist Mike Evans. This band is inspired by those who have incited change in genres, arts...

11/07/2024

Here’s a clip from the upcoming episode of The Smashing Skull Sessions where I’m joined by Profiler

As always the episode is out on Friday at 7:30pm GMT 🤘🤘

28/06/2024

The new episode is out! The brand new podcast featuring Ian George, vocalist of Amongst Liars is out now and you can check out the Youtube video via the link below!!

A tight powerhouse of a band; urgent, questioning, loud and fierce. Together they play heavy and direct modern rock ’n’ roll: massive riffs and powerful, mel...

26/06/2024

Brand new episode of The Smashing Skull Sessions is out on Friday at 7:30pm GMT. On this episode I am joined by vocalist of Amongst Liars Ian George. Not an episode to be missed!

14/06/2024

A brand new, exciting episode of The Smashing Skull Sessions is out! This weeks episode is when I got to sit down with Emily Wolfe back in March before she hit the stage in the 3Olympia

The link to the YouTube version of the episode is below:

From Austin, Texas, Emily Wolfe is a singer-songwriter, guitarist and producer. She's on a mission to breathe new life into rock n roll with her powerful voc...

01/06/2024

The new episode of The Smashing Skulls is out now. In this weeks episode I get to chat to Aubin and Manuel from Butterfly Bulldozer. The link to the YouTube episode is below.

The debut EP The Great Becoming Of Captain Fuzz is a prologue recounting the meeting of the crew, all motivated to build a spaceship to escape the ecological...

17/05/2024

The brand new Smashing Skulls episode featuring Tortured Demon is out now! You can check the YouTube version out via the link below:

Since 2018, Oldham brothers Jacob and Joe Parkinson have been launching a full-scale assault on the UK thrash scene. As founders of UK Thrashcore hopefuls To...

15/05/2024

A brand new episode is coming out on Friday at 7:30pm GMT featuring Jacob Parkinson from UK thrash metal band Tortured Demon

The link to the premiere is below:

Since 2018, Oldham brothers Jacob and Joe Parkinson have been launching a full-scale assault on the UK thrash scene. As founders of UK Thrashcore hopefuls To...

04/05/2024

Out now! The new episode of The Smashing Skull Sessions is out now featuring Wristmeetrazor and you can check it out via the link below

Speaking on the album release, WRISTMEETRAZOR's Justin Fornof (vocals) comments: “This is an incredibly important record for us, Degeneration combines everyt...

29/04/2024

I was checking out the stats for the podcast today and was blown away by the reach The Smashing Skull has around the world! Thanks to everyone to listens! I appreciate you 🤘🤘

19/04/2024

New episode of The Smashing Skulls is out! This week I got to sit down with Brat guitarist Brenner Moate. The link to the YouTube episode is below:

Straight out of the Crescent City, BRAT are set to release their forthcoming debut album,Social Grace, via Prosthetic Records on March 15. Since their 2021 i...

06/04/2024

My new interview with Dave Gregor from Morta Skuld is out now on all streaming services. The link to YouTube is down below:

Formed in 1990 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Morta Skuld are an American death metal band. ‘Creation Undone’ is the latest work of inspired extremity from frontma...

05/04/2024

Hello everyone! After some technical issues the page will be updated with all the interviews you may have missed, apologies for the delay.

Stay safe, keep moshing- Letty 🤘🤘

25/01/2024

So, after 2 years of fronting The Smashing Skull Sessions, I've decided that it's time to end my journey on the show! I have to say that it has been an absolute honour and privilege to have chatted with so many amazing artists, musicians, bands and labels in that time, there's just too many of you to name individually! Everyone who came on the podcast, in some way played a part in shaping my musical journey over the last 15 years, so a huge thank you for taking the time to come on the podcast and chat with me.

Thanks to every band that let us review and discuss their music, whether through written words, or through The Review Room, I hope it benefitted you as a band in some way or another. A huge thanks to my reviewing sidekick, Tim Pijnenburg and also cheers to Rich Buley & Rich Murphy, who were part of The Review Room team.

Thanks to anyone who tuned into the podcasts, read the reviews or supported the show in any shape or form, I'm grateful to you all for giving it a chance 🖤

Finally, thanks to Richie LeFaux of The Metal Cell Podcast , the man who gave me the opportunity to front The Smashing Skull Sessions , and basically gave me free reign to go wherever I wanted to go with it. Your support was always appreciated when called upon. Thanks for trusting me with it all! Legend Richie.

A new face will soon front the podcast, and it would be great if you could all back and support Letty Sharp, as she puts her own stamp on the show.

Cheers everyone, see you at a gig or festival somewhere down the road!! 🖤🍻

Always Supporting The Scene.

19/01/2024

Plenty of you will agree that there's always an air of mystery, intrigue and anticipation whenever names like Olhava , TRNA and Somn come into a conversation! That whole St. Petersburg sound has a magic and a majesty to it that hypnotises and mesmerises!

Well, I'm delighted to tell you all that Tim Yusupov of OLHAVA joins me on The Smashing Skull Sessions for a chat, ahead of the release of their highly anticipated album, Sacrifice, on 26th January,

Every Olhava release brings with it a blizzard of glorious, atmospheric post-black fury that's married perfectly with lush, ambient soundscapes, and let me tell you, Sacrifice doesn't disappoint!!

With so much to discuss, Tim gives me an insight into the writing process for this latest opus, along with the hardships and obstacles that stood in their way over the last 18months. And of course, we also discuss Trna , Somn, Reverb on Repeat, and the whole St. Petersburg scene....sure it would be rude not to!!

A show not to be missed. Coming very soon, and available as always on YouTube and all good streaming platforms.

ALWAYS SUPPORTING THE SCENE

13/01/2024

This week on The Smashing Skull Sessions podcast, I chat with Tiff Scrivener of Celestial Diadem Promotions & PR .

With a very impressive 2 day post-metal event hitting London on the 26th & 27th of January, it was the perfect time to catch up with Tiff, and get an insight into what life is like behind the scenes of Celestial Diadem Promotions!

Hard work, dedication and love for this underground metal scene of ours are just some of the attributes needed to make a venture like this work, and Tiff has them all in spades! So have a watch, or a listen to the podcast, then make one of the best decisions of the year, and book your tickets!

Available as always, on YouTube and all streaming platforms right now!

ALWAYS SUPPORTING THE SCENE

https://youtu.be/HBBfvWvGNuU?si=lznJ9Il9MIyqRbxy

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6GJQwFhOkU8Av1yfrDbPiL?si=liN1ZpKsSmu-dpFsq0huoA

https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/tiff-scrivener-celestial-diadem-promotions/id1533697717?i=1000641511843

09/01/2024

Be sure to tune in this Saturday to The Smashing Skull Sessions podcast, as I chat with Tiff Scrivener of Celestial Diadem Promotions & PR

Over the last 18 months, Tiff has been working tirelessly within the underground post metal scene, setting up some amazing gigs up and down the UK, with some of the most exciting and important bands on the scene today.

With a stacked 2 day post-metal event hitting London at the end of the month, it was a good time to hear all about Celestial Diadem Promotions, and let me tell you, this lady is driven, focused and was a fantastic guest to have on the podcast!

So, If you want an insight into how hard it is working behind the scenes, but ultimately how rewarding it can all be, tune in this Saturday!. Available as always, on YouTube and all streaming platforms.

ALWAYS SUPPORTING THE SCENE

05/01/2024

Hi everyone , I hope you all enjoyed the Christmas break and got time to chill out and discover new music to carry you into 2024.

Here at The Smashing Skull Sessions, changes are afoot, but for now, why not check out our reviews, interviews and of course our end of year "12 Essential Albums Of 2023" courtesy of The Review Room. Plenty to see you through the weekend!.

Thanks for all your support last year 🖤🙏

ALWAYS SUPPORTING THE SCENE

https://youtu.be/L5YwEFO0cg8?si=JCtC8WIyru6oWipg

28/12/2023

12 Essential Albums Of 2023

The Review Room is delighted to share with you all, its 12 Essential albums of 2023. No sequence, no order, just 12 stunning releases that deserve to be part of any music collection!!

Myself , Tim Pijnenburg, Rich Buley, & Rich Murphy, each brought 3 of our favourite releases of the year to the table, and as you will see, we have assembled quite a unique and eclectic collection of music for you all to check out!

It's never an easy task for one person to highlight just 3 albums from a calendar year, but we did it, and we had a lot of fun recording it! I hope you all take the time to check out the podcast, and as always, please, please support the artists in any way you can. Here are the 12:

Úkryt - 1897

Phantom Winter - Her Cold Materials

Din of Celestial Birds - The Night Is For Dreamers

Dorthia Cottrell - Death Folk Country

Domhain - Nimue

A Pregnant Light - Capacity For Living

There Will Be Fireworks - Summer Moon

Godthrymm - Distortions

November Might Be Fine - All

Soft Kill - Metta World Peace

Silver Moth - Black Bay

Bell Witch - Future's Shadow Part 1: The Clandestine Gate.

https://youtu.be/L5YwEFO0cg8?si=imwHv96WBvNVmemc

https://smashingskullsessions.fireside.fm/58

ALWAYS SUPPORTING THE SCENE

23/12/2023

Putting together an Album Of The Year list is such a difficult task, made all the more challenging when there is a team of four contributing!. So what The Review Room has done this year is put together a list of the 12 Essential albums of 2023. No sequence, no order, just 12 stunning releases that deserve your attention!!

Myself , Tim Pijnenburg , Rich Buley , & Rich Murphy brought 3 of our favourite releases of the year to the table, and as you will see, we have assembled quite a unique and eclectic collection of music for you all to check out!. All will be revealed in the next few days, so be sure to tune into The Review Room & The Smashing Skull Sessions over the Christmas period.

ALWAYS SUPPORTING THE SCENE

16/12/2023

This week on The Smashing Skull Sessions podcast, I'm chatting with Sarp Keski of Bipolar Architecture !!

With their new album "Metaphysicize" soon to be unleashed through the mighty Pelagic Records , Sarp talks me through the writing process of this soon to be released juggernaut!

We also discuss, the bands inception, their influences and so much more besides.Tune in on YouTube for the visual experience or stream and download on your favourite platform!

Track played: Alienated ©️ Bipolar Architecture, All rights reserved

https://youtu.be/ay6iMye4KiA?si=2vygpu9FdJhvYD_D

https://open.spotify.com/episode/00gr3bPXFCs32CnENHqNm2?si=CEdALJ_SS4-oMtiZgLT2_w

https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/bipolar-architecture-sarp-keski/id1533697717?i=1000638761527

Podcast edited by Richie Duhig of The Metal Cell Podcast

ALWAYS SUPPORTING THE SCENE

12/12/2023

Next Saturday on The Smashing Skull Sessions podcast, I'll be chatting with Sarp Keski of Bipolar Architecture !!

With their new album "Metaphysicize" soon to be unleashed through the mighty Pelagic Records , Sarp gives me an insight into the creation of this behemoth of a release!

We also discuss, the bands inception, their influences and so much more besides. This Saturday!!! Tune in on YouTube for the visual experience or stream and download on your favourite platform!

ALWAYS SUPPORTING THE SCENE



https://youtube.com/?si=IA3GkEBY7nIki4Iq

10/12/2023

Chilling on a Sunday?! Why no take a leisurely scroll through Bandcamp, and be sure to have a listen to the debut album from AV Sunset . Dropped only two days ago, this really is a gem for all post-rock fans. Why not have a read of my thoughts, listen to a track, and give the band your support. This album is worthy of your time, with some fantastic merch to accompany it's release!! Enjoy 🔥

"As a band, how do you introduce yourself to the post-rock world? Step one, release a track that has within it, a melody and an ambiance that grasps you right from the outset and holds tight through every twist and turn, through every cord change and every soul stirring crescendo. Step two, follow that track up with a debut album that fits seamlessly amongst all the other great releases of the year, an album that is bubbling beneath the surface, waiting for its moment to unleash all its finery, and explode in a cacophony of colour and creativity.

Hailing from Northampton, UK, the four piece have a sound and an energy to their music that does not scream debut! It’s a refined and well-constructed collection of compositions that transport you through a kaleidoscope of emotions and reflection"
-Pat

https://smashingskullsessions.fireside.fm/articles/disconnections

https://avsunset.bandcamp.com/album/disconnections

The Smashing Skull Sessions
ALWAYS SUPPORTING THE SCENE

08/12/2023

Weekend Mode - On!

What an impressive couple of weeks it has been right here on The Smashing Skull Sessions & The Review Room. The quality and talent of all the bands featured has been ridiculously high, and just epitomizes everything that's great about this music scene of ours. 🔥

So, for the weekend why not chill out and catch up on all the reviews and Interviews that we have gathered together from both The Review Room & The Smashing Skull Sessions over the last 2 weeks!
Here's the role of honour!!

Leech
Bury The Burden
Ad Nihilum
Domhain
Filaments.band
Throat
Bipolar Architecture
Bite The Boxer
The Black Garden Circus
Three Eyes of the Void
Humulus
Wolvennest

ALWAYS SUPPORTING THE SCENE

07/12/2023

This week on The Smashing Skull Sessions, Tim Pijnenburg reviews the latest release from Finland's THROAT . Their album, We Must Leave You, is another superb release that caught Tim's attention. Check out his thoughts and be sure to head to the band's Bandcamp page and support the artists 🖤🔥

"Starting out as a noise rock act, their sound developed into new territories as well. I haven’t heard the previous albums yet so I can’t compare them, but I can confirm that We Must Leave You drifted away from purely noise rock. On this album I hear an unique style of avantgarde dark rock with an 1980’s gothic/ post-punk approach, mixed with contemporary industrial and electronic elements. Quite an addictive bunch of songs I say"
-Tim P

https://smashingskullsessions.fireside.fm/articles/leaveyou

https://ihatethroat.bandcamp.com/album/we-must-leave-you

Throat

ALWAYS SUPPORTING THE SCENE

03/12/2023

The Smashing Skull Sessions gives everything it can to this precious underground scene of ours, and it's done for the love of music, simple as that! For me, my love for the underground scene comes from my passion and love for the atmospheric doom metal bands of the 90's, in particular bands like Paradise Lost , My Dying Bride & Anathema, who were themselves, part of an underground movement back in the late 80's and early 90's

So, with all that in mind, here's a short clip for you all to enjoy from Paradise Lost where they performed their Iconic "Icon" album in full in London over the weekend, with a few classics thrown in for good measure!

I have witnessed both Paradise Lost and My Dying Bride on several occasions, but tonight they were both on top form, playing a lot of their older and best material, in my opinion!!

A very over-packed venue, but thankfully they were selling 2-pint cups of beer which made great sense🍻🍻.... Festivals take note!! Anyway, enjoy!!

Nick and the lads, let me know what dates work best for you to come on the podcast!!😉🤘😁

The Smashing Skull Sessions

Always Supporting The Scene

30/11/2023

The Review Room - This Saturday!!!

For the weekend why not check out another fun packed episode of The Review Room, courtesy of The Smashing Skull Sessions

Tim & Rich B join me this month as we play, discuss and review six more really diverse and interesting releases from :

Bipolar Architecture
Three Eyes of the Void
Bite The Boxer
Humulus
Wolvennest
The Black Garden Circus

Thanks for stopping by 🙏🖤

"Always Supporting The Scene

https://youtube.com/?si=7-KXCNk-cV0Y0WuB

28/11/2023

The end of the year is fast approaching, but it certainly doesn't mean that the quality of music is ending any time soon!

Filaments.band , from Germany have dropped a stunning post-rock/post-metal juggernaut of a track with their first single, Am Fear Liath Mór!.

You know the drill by now!

https://filamentsband.bandcamp.com/track/am-fear-liath-m-r

Whet your appetite, and have a read below 👇

https://smashingskullsessions.fireside.fm/articles/filaments

"Haunting, mystical, and entrenched in melancholy, Filaments' debut track "Am Fear Liath Mòr" brings forth a time of great lore and legends, and transports the listener to a place that was once solemn and dangerously enchanting. Filaments have conjured up a track that welcomes you in with a warm and open embrace, drawing you in deeper and deeper, before eventually tightening its grip, and constricting you with its sorrowful lament and its deep, downcast atmospherics"

ALWAYS SUPPORTING THE SCENE