![[Podcast] Ep. 43: [Interview] with KELLY SHAEFER of Florida (US) Death-Metal Gods ATHEIST.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1744875038508-EVQ7Q73SKG0G5NF9U6L8/4_3Y5A9158-1-%5B4-5-IG%5D.jpg)
[Podcast] Ep. 43: [Interview] with KELLY SHAEFER of Florida (US) Death-Metal Gods ATHEIST.
As host of this humble podcast/blog, I am incredibly humbled and awed beyond measure for this opportunity! See the link for an extensive, fun and thought-provoking interview with Kelly Shaefer of US death-metal godfathers Atheist, ahead of their upcoming first-ever Australian tour, care of YourMateBookings.com. You’ll also be able to access tickets, tour info, artist bio, additional album info, album/merch order links and more!
![[Review] Drudkh - ‘Shadow Play’ LP.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1744445473350-1XVJDCWUYG089UY2MTQP/p5k9tajoj0qe1.jpeg)
[Review] Drudkh - ‘Shadow Play’ LP.
Ukrainian atmospheric black metal veterans Drudkh offer their latest musical outing to the world, Shadow Play, released on March 21st via label Season of Mist. Check out ISC staffer Dean’s comprehensive review of this sojourn into their latest darkly aesthetic offering, as well as full-album and single streams, artist/label/album order links and more.
![[Archive Review] Brian Campeau - ‘Old Dog, New Tricks’ LP (19.07.18)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1744095660954-S8PS8WG9AR1IL2YY1MXF/From+The+Vault+%231+Brian+Campeau+-+Old+Dogs%2C+New+Tricks+LP.png)
[Archive Review] Brian Campeau - ‘Old Dog, New Tricks’ LP (19.07.18)
Reposted from the sadly now-defunct Overdrive Music Magazine, with permission from owner Sebastian Graham. Check out ISC staffer Hamza’s prior review from 2018 of an interesting fork from our usual - Australian folk/indie acoustic singer-songwriter Brian Campeau’s 2018 LP Old Dogs, New Tricks! Link also contains artist/label socials, as well as a little intro preamble from your host, Brady. More treasures from the vault to be posted across 2025! Thanks again to label Art as Catharsis.
![[Podcast] Ep. 41: [Interview] with ALEX TAYLOR, Vocalist of UK Metalcore Bruisers MALEVOLENCE.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1743774539831-NJMFEDJQ47LVZH7UYSN8/Podcast+Ep.+41+%5BInterview%5D+with+ALEX+TAYLOR+of+MALEVOLENCE..png)
[Podcast] Ep. 41: [Interview] with ALEX TAYLOR, Vocalist of UK Metalcore Bruisers MALEVOLENCE.
Rounding out a trio of UK heavy-music interviews for the past week is Alex Taylor, enigmatic and passionate vocalist for UK's fast-rising metalcore bruisers Malevolence. We had a wide-reaching conversation, covering everything from the process of writing and recording for upcoming LP Where Only The Truth is Spoken (including recording in the infamous Studio 606, owned by Dave Grohl!) up to touring, the UK metal scene's recent string of successes, the upcoming Australian tour and much more!
![[Podcast] Ep. 40: [Interview] with SCOTT KENNEDY, Vocalist of UK’s BLEED FROM WITHIN.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1743762054651-AZHHWAD0P5R4UMD06WEG/Podcast+Ep.+40+%5BInterview%5D+with+Scott+Kennedy.png)
[Podcast] Ep. 40: [Interview] with SCOTT KENNEDY, Vocalist of UK’s BLEED FROM WITHIN.
Episode 40 of the Inner-Strength Check Podcast is here! This week, host Brady interviews Scott Kennedy, vocalist of Glasgow’s fast-rising modern metal wrecking-crew Bleed From Within. With Zenith officially releasing as of the 4th April, we discuss the albums’ recording/songwriting process, plus BFW’s history, recent and upcoming tours and more! Check link for video version, audio-only version plus single music videos, artist and album order links and more!
![[ALBUM REVIEW] THORNHILL - ‘BODIES’ LP. ](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1743674857885-VGRV3BJ95E9WWOKN5JDA/THORNHILL-BODIES-3000X3000.jpg)
[ALBUM REVIEW] THORNHILL - ‘BODIES’ LP.
If you missed Thornhill’s recent Bodies album preview shows and can’t wait to hear the LP, here is your chance to familiarise yourself with this first-class metalcore creation, the night before its official release.
![[Podcast] Interview with DARREN ‘DAZ’ BROOKES of UK Death Metal Godfathers BENEDICTION.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1743163261970-75X362ERO37HUH7ESVOO/ISC+Podcast+Ep.+39+Interview+with+DARREN+BROOKES+of.png)
[Podcast] Interview with DARREN ‘DAZ’ BROOKES of UK Death Metal Godfathers BENEDICTION.
What a venerable honour for this late end of a Friday evening. Tonight, I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to discuss upcoming LP Ravages of Empires (and so, so much more) with UK death metal godfathers Benediction’s guitarist and one of two founding members - Darren Brookes! A band that is hugely influential for much of the music we post here, as well as many bands I/we know and love. Great interview, plus the blog post also contains album order links, single music videos and more!
![[Podcast] Ep. 38: Interview with DAN MACHUCA, a.k.a. Dan The Game Master.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1742369671267-GLG5MEFTROAJRDBM1FI8/danpic.jpg)
[Podcast] Ep. 38: Interview with DAN MACHUCA, a.k.a. Dan The Game Master.
Local educator, TTRPG game master, game therapist and all-around good freaking bloke Dan Machuca (aka Dan The Game Master) has the distinct honour of being our first industry professional interviewed in video/audio format! In this episode, Dan and I discuss his efforts merging hobby passion with education via his rules-lite/accessible TTRPG, regular game sessions for at-risk youth in Melbourne, his teaching work, men’s mental health, favourite RPG systems, work-life balance, and more!
![[Heavy News] FLESHSPOIL's 'The Beginning of the End' LP Releases March 28th.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1742190645373-P34XWCA0LQDIXRRI2YV0/912390.jpg)
[Heavy News] FLESHSPOIL's 'The Beginning of the End' LP Releases March 28th.
Troy (NY) - A new force in Blackened Death Metal has emerged to lay waste to 2025! FLESHSPOIL, featuring veteran players from Arsis, The Final Sleep, and Illucinus, will release full-length debut album, The Beginning of the End, March 28 on digital format! For more info, as well as Bandcamp artist link/album preorder, check out our Heavy News coverage right here on the ISC blog for Music Mondays.
![[Album Review] SPOILED - ‘Collapse’ LP.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1742101987442-QK4J8RTZ8WKGCKHJMZ8O/spoiledband.jpg)
[Album Review] SPOILED - ‘Collapse’ LP.
Tearing out of the blocks like a drunken cop-chase on a scooter through the intersections and alleyways of Rome, Italian crossover-thrash unit Spoiled deliver a decidedly Americanised and fun blend of punk, hardcore and retro-revival thrash. And it’s as fun as it is snark-riddled and bruising. Check out the link for our review of latest LP Collapse, full album stream, artist media/links and more!
![[ALBUM REVIEW] COHEED AND CAMBRIA - ‘The Father of Make Believe’ LP.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1741948982319-I28ID8YDDXHSWRO3D263/COHEED+AND+CAMBRIA+THE+FATHER+OF+MAKE+BELIEVE.jpg)
[ALBUM REVIEW] COHEED AND CAMBRIA - ‘The Father of Make Believe’ LP.
Come for the music and the melody, stay for the beauty and the poetry. Coheed and Cambria release their eleventh studio album–The Father Of Make Believe upon our ears, and my word, it's worth the lengthy listen.
![[Podcast] Ep. 37: Interview with Jeff Sahyoun of LETLIVE. Ahead of 2025 Australian Tour!](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1741828791993-QJSHOV98OVLMO0YAVL1Z/letlive.jpg)
[Podcast] Ep. 37: Interview with Jeff Sahyoun of LETLIVE. Ahead of 2025 Australian Tour!
What an incredible opportunity this morning, to have a chance to speak with Jeff Sahyoung, guitarist of the seemingly-undefeatable post-harcore/soul-punk heroes letlive.! Check out the link for video interview/audio-only streams plus tour dates, ticket links and more. You do not want to miss this gig, Australia - these guys know how to put on an energetic and impassioned live show, and we have our chance to respond in kind!
![[Heavy News] INDUSTRIAL PUKE Set To Unleash Swedish Crust/Death Metal Carnage With ‘Alive To No Avail’ LP!](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1741660107819-C9REN9UKKCKE3SWI0KEG/industrialpukeband.jpg)
[Heavy News] INDUSTRIAL PUKE Set To Unleash Swedish Crust/Death Metal Carnage With ‘Alive To No Avail’ LP!
Heavy News: Vomiting forth from the northern climes of Sweden, death metal juggernaught Industrial Puke are set to erupt on the scene via Suicide Records with the gnashing LP Alive To No Avail. Hearkening everything from Napalm Death and Skitsystem to Slayer and Entombed, you can check new single ‘Hoax Mongers’, album details, order link and more right here!
![[Heavy News] ELUVEITIE Release Brand New Single 'Awen' + New Album ÀNV Is Out On April 25th](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1741587730507-DP4686JL5MS7L37NFA3W/eluveieteband.png)
[Heavy News] ELUVEITIE Release Brand New Single 'Awen' + New Album ÀNV Is Out On April 25th
ISC Heavy News/ Music Monday, 10.03: As the release of ELUVEITIE’s new album ÀNV approaches the band release today their uplifting new single 'Awen'. The track sees the bands more traditional instrumentation at the forefront, shining a spot light on the Celtic roots buried within ELUVEITIE’s core. The new album Ànv, will be released on April 25th, 2025 via Nuclear Blast Records.
![[Heavy News] Trans-Atlantic Metal Project GREY MOUNTAIN Release Debut Album!](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1741512520770-GKTX4PU55MC5SPAKX67N/Grey+Mountain+Band.jpg)
[Heavy News] Trans-Atlantic Metal Project GREY MOUNTAIN Release Debut Album!
Heavy News: New Trans-Atlantic Metal Project GREY MOUNTAIN (feat. members of Monsterworks, Bull Elephant, Construct of Lethe, Black Harvest) have released their self-titled debut album via Eat Lead and Die Music! The album is available digitally on Bandcamp (including 24-bit full dynamic range vinyl master in side A/B format) and at new platform Ampwall. Check link for preorder, full album stream and more.
![[Heavy News] Finnish Old-School Death-Metallers MESSIAH PARATROOPS Release Second Single + Music Video 'Out of Reality' From Upcoming Debut LP!](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1741228185619-P3SOJB2CQG3MR6C0XSHC/MESSIAH+PARATROOPS%281%29.jpg)
[Heavy News] Finnish Old-School Death-Metallers MESSIAH PARATROOPS Release Second Single + Music Video 'Out of Reality' From Upcoming Debut LP!
1989 - that’s 35 years. Thirty-five years in the making, through a number of lineup changes, significant periods of hiatus. And finally, with a sigh of relief I’m sure, old-school death metal outfit Messiah Paratroops bring you the release of second single and music video for ‘Out of Reality’, ahead of long-time-coming LP Legions of Tomorrow on April 4th, 2025, via Inverse Records. Check link for preorder, single, tracklist, artist statement/bio/links and more!
![[Heavy News] Italian Death-Doom Trio DEAD CHASM Release Title-Track Single + Preorders for ‘Spectral Tyranny’ LP.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1740999594409-9GJ99UXKMD6NSLHSWET8/deadchasmprofile.png)
[Heavy News] Italian Death-Doom Trio DEAD CHASM Release Title-Track Single + Preorders for ‘Spectral Tyranny’ LP.
From the Heavy News desk - New Transcending Obscurity Records signing Dead Chasm from Italy deliver a short but highly potent slice of dark, doomy death metal that they have been perfecting since their debut. They’re unleashing they next LP Spectral Tyranny in May 2025 - check the link for title-track single video, artist bio, album preorder link, band/label links and more!
![[ARCHIVE - Undoing Ruin] Moshing Happily Under Radioactive Ash: An ADHD-Focused Look At 2024 From Me.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1740911128178-WKGWR53NN4FGDHV2CEZQ/image-101.png)
[ARCHIVE - Undoing Ruin] Moshing Happily Under Radioactive Ash: An ADHD-Focused Look At 2024 From Me.
One of my more acerbic and honest/critical self-reflective pieces (as well as just plain lengthy), this is an honest neurodivergent-peer review of 2024, originally posted to our prior now-dead website (RIP) late last year. I pull no punches here (and content warning - discussions of mental health, anxiety, depression etc) about the impact living with ADHD had on me last year, my whole life, and some frustrations with stereotypes. It’s not all bad, though - I discuss many positives about being ND, too!
![[Album Review] Lacuna Coil - ‘Sleepless Empire’ LP.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1740124900956-STT5KJRWPP2WGU4E7LQQ/lacunacoilcoverphoto.png)
[Album Review] Lacuna Coil - ‘Sleepless Empire’ LP.
Italy’s longstanding melodic-metal success story continues via Lacuna Coil and their latest LP, Sleepless Empire, which released on February 14th via Century Media. Dean gives the album a thorough track-by-track rundown, and it’s a good’un! Check the link for full review plus links to artist socials/official website, album order link plus latest single videos, live footage and more!
![[Heavy News] MACHINE HEAD Monumental 11th Album UNATØNED Out April 25th + Release Music Video For First Single 'UNBØUND'](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1739945488031-E7GJVVGL90AVYYKOW814/machineheadcover.png)
[Heavy News] MACHINE HEAD Monumental 11th Album UNATØNED Out April 25th + Release Music Video For First Single 'UNBØUND'
Bay Area metal veterans Machine Head, one of the most omnipresent bands in the heavy collective consciousness, are back with 11th LP UNATØNED, dropping April 25th! Nothing’s been spared on their official press release for it either - there’s everything here from stream and music clip for title track as first single, a whole smorgasbord of physical/digital media pre-order options, statements from the band themselves and heaps more! Machine Farkin’ Head, mate!