![[Review] - Newest ISC Staffer Dean Explores Saor’s ‘Amidst The Ruins’ LP.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1739365977272-M0VPLIP1ECN9KWQZLAIV/saorphoto1.jpg)
[Review] - Newest ISC Staffer Dean Explores Saor’s ‘Amidst The Ruins’ LP.
On mutual agreement, latest staffer Dean and myself have agreed to let the words speak for themselves for his formal addition to the Inner-Strength Check Podcast canon. And what beautiful, evocative words they are indeed! Check the link for our newest staffers’ resplendent coverage of atmospheric folk/black metal act Saor’s latest LP, Amidst The Ruins. You can also find album order links, multiple recent singles, full album streams and much more. Another fantastic staff introductory piece, the first of many!
![[Review] Into The Void - ‘Dysphoria’ LP.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1739351410654-SZ47G56Z2U2WOC3Y0YU6/dypshoriaalbumcover.jpg)
[Review] Into The Void - ‘Dysphoria’ LP.
Introducing our first piece of fresh content from new addition to the Inner-Strength Check team in Spiro (a.k.a The Hype Guy)! For his first piece, Spiro has elected to provide a great review of the 2024 album Dysphoria, by Michigan-based alternative-rock/nu-grunge outfit Into The Void. Check the link for the full review, album and singles links and more. As well, we’ve re-included an important appeal Spiro recent put out in support of Jampot Studios. Many thanks for an awesome review!
![[Podcast] Ep. 35: Interview with BRETT CAMPBELL of PALLBEARER.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1739267843987-9CMOZ8BKRXK0XSNUAGNI/pallbearercover.jpg)
[Podcast] Ep. 35: Interview with BRETT CAMPBELL of PALLBEARER.
Renowned doom metal merchants PALLBEARER make their return to Australia in March 2025 for an electrifying tour promising to deliver their signature blend of haunting melodies and crushing riffs. Joining them on all dates will be special guests UK doom metal titans CONAN. I was fortunate enough to catch up with vocalist/guitarist Brett Campbell earlier today. Check the link for full video interview, Spotify/alternative podcast platform audio-only versions, ticket links, tour dates and more!
![ISC Podcast, Ep. 34: [INTERVIEW] with OBSCURA frontman/Guitarist STEFFEN KUMMERER.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1739010770230-8V6YDC94R5ZH9JJSYD6I/obscurabandpic.jpg)
ISC Podcast, Ep. 34: [INTERVIEW] with OBSCURA frontman/Guitarist STEFFEN KUMMERER.
Originally posted on our now-defunct old website, dead as a doornail as of NYE 2024 (RIP) - check the link for both video and audio-only podcast formats re: Brady’s interview with Steffen Kummerer, frontman/guitarist of German progressive/technical death metal juggernaughts Obscura! Recorded on 22nd Dec ‘24, it’s an interesting exploration into the writing and process behind latest LP A Sonication, with additional artist/album bio, order links and much more within!
![[Music Mondays] Mon 3rd Feb, 2025.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1738581277133-7RTXWS4SVZEU50VZVOZ2/427135807_7654838114540460_8045244545557484009_n.jpg)
[Music Mondays] Mon 3rd Feb, 2025.
This week’s Music Monday contains more than you shake a stick at! Multiple recent Heavy News items - album releases! Recent Riffs (articles)! Reviews and more! Plus a whole swathe of updates from the equally-busy Musolegion community - more album reviews, gig reviews and several packed Musolegion Recommends pieces exploring bands from Iceland, Japan and Central Asia! Dig in, music-lovers.
![ISC Podcast Ep. 33: [INTERVIEW] w/ ROBERT ERIKsSON, Drummer of Sweden’s THE HELLACOPTERS.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1738414509042-Y091QM06C17X67PJU9IS/hellacopterscover.jpg)
ISC Podcast Ep. 33: [INTERVIEW] w/ ROBERT ERIKsSON, Drummer of Sweden’s THE HELLACOPTERS.
Another music-scene veteran with many years of industry experience under his belt in Robert Erikkson! Robert is the long-term mainstay drummer of Swedish hard-rock institution The Hellacopters. We caught up on Tue 28th Jan just prior to release of their infectious, hooky and fun latest LP Overdriver, available as of the 31st. Check out the full interview plus artist bio, album order links, latest singles and more! Rock on, Svenska style.
![[Archive] Interview with AARON TUCK of Black Metallers LUMEN AD MORTEM.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1739080389492-88WXR2185K96UDW5IW73/image-38.png)
[Archive] Interview with AARON TUCK of Black Metallers LUMEN AD MORTEM.
Pic Credit: Jai from @crannkmedia. Originally posted on our sadly now-defunct old website (RIP) in November 2024, ahead of their imposing presence/our review of same @ Froth And Fury Festival - here’s a Q&A interview with indominable frontman Aaron Tuck of South Australian black metal all-stars Lumen Ad Mortem! It’s a great chat and worth revisiting. Go check out their stuff, fantastic live too - can confirm.
![[Heavy News] GOTTHARD unleash new single & video 'Thunder & Lightning'; ‘STEREO CRUSH’ now available for pre-order](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1737964062720-IZNJ12JKX2ZY9Z2HUHJW/gotthardband.png)
[Heavy News] GOTTHARD unleash new single & video 'Thunder & Lightning'; ‘STEREO CRUSH’ now available for pre-order
Swiss rock legends Gotthard are 16 albums deep into a successful, decade-spanning career. Not content to rest on their laurels, here at the Heavy News desk for our Music Mondays column we’ve been given a swathe of details on up-and-comer LP Stereo Crush. There’s plenty of content here to sink into - album bio/details, video/streaming links for newest singles ‘Thunder and Lightning’ & ‘Boom Boom’, plus all a heap more! Stereo Crush will be released courtesy of Reigning Phoenix Music in Oz.
![[Gig Review] ENFORCER @ The Leadbeater Hotel, Melbourne 25.01.25.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1737969903782-LTJ9L6VK9H41K3HBL7QD/Enforcer+-+Leadbeater+Hotel+250125-28.png)
[Gig Review] ENFORCER @ The Leadbeater Hotel, Melbourne 25.01.25.
What an honour! Our first local review as an official outlet in Melbourne, and it could’ve been a better pick to kick things off in that respect. Sweden’s Enforcer blazed The Leadbeater Hotel in Richmond last night with a level of NWOBHM/trad/speed-metal and classic rock bombast that was transcendent, skilled and heartfelt! Read on for full the review, including sets by support acts Burnout, Aardvark and Livewire, gig footage, pics and more!
![[Archive] ISC Podcast Ep. 28: FROTH AND FURY FESTIVAL REVIEW PT 2 (Frothie-A-Deux).](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1737600222528-ODXUBU8GOTEVZJJJ274C/image-67.png)
[Archive] ISC Podcast Ep. 28: FROTH AND FURY FESTIVAL REVIEW PT 2 (Frothie-A-Deux).
[Originally posted via our old website which suffered an unexpected and untimely death on NYE 2024, RIP]. Check in for Part 2 of Brady and Mal’s extensive coverage of the HUGE event that was Froth and Fury in Adelaide, SA, November 2024. Within this post is the full two-part narrated podcast version, as well as an analysis of vendors, events and setlists from: Thornhill, Brand of Sacrifice, Organectomy, These New South Whales, Psycroptic, Day of Contempt, Fear Factory, Northlane, Bodyjar, Thy Art Is Murder and Pestilence!
![[Archive] Review of Rat Lord’s 2024 LP, ‘Blazed In The Northern Sky’.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1737172689757-BMYGZVYYSCD0XRT40BF6/ratlordcover.jpeg)
[Archive] Review of Rat Lord’s 2024 LP, ‘Blazed In The Northern Sky’.
Another review exhumed from the archival corpse of our sadly now-defunct old website (RIP), check here for review and associated links for Norwegian crust-grinders Rat Lord and their brutish, fast and fun LP, Blazed In The Northern Sky. It’s quick, nasty, fun and full of snark. Well worth revisiting in 2025.
![[Archive/Riffs]: Win: toe is coming.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1737096125771-AQXQLOPYY10MWIH7TQXM/toeband.jpg)
[Archive/Riffs]: Win: toe is coming.
Originally posted to our sadly now-defunct old website (RIP) by fellow author Hamza Siddiqi on June 12th, 2024. Hamza wrote a fantastic little retrospective/hype piece on critically lauded math/post-rockers toe ahead of their 2024 Australian tour with Dumbsaint. Be sure to check this one out; plenty more from my team’s older posts also incoming! Riff on.
![[Archive] ISC Podcast, Ep. 25: Interview with TONY FORESTA, Vocalist of MUNICIPAL WASTE.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1737094866088-U91IOXIINK1RFJ9C9N6I/image-8.png)
[Archive] ISC Podcast, Ep. 25: Interview with TONY FORESTA, Vocalist of MUNICIPAL WASTE.
Note: This is an archival repost, brought back to life from the bones of our sadly now-defunct prior website (RIP). Check the link for both video and audio-only versions of the fun and insightful conversation with Tony Foresta, vocalist and frontman for thrashers Municipal Waste ahead of their 2024 tour of Australia. We also talk side projects, recording, musicianship and so much more!
![[Archive] ISC Podcast Ep. 24: Interview with SERENA CHERRY of UK Metal Crew SVALBARD.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1737092925514-J2PV5CYV2N19687ES5OS/thumbnail_image011.jpg)
[Archive] ISC Podcast Ep. 24: Interview with SERENA CHERRY of UK Metal Crew SVALBARD.
Note: This is an archival repost, derived from the bones of our sadly now-defunct old website (RIP). Originally posted May 2024, check the link for a wonderful, fun and sincere interview with Sereena Cherry, frontwoman, vocalist and guitarist for the up-and-coming Bristol, UK metallers Svalbard. Check link for video and audio versions of what was a fantastic chat, as well as relevant album details, tour details, singles and more.
![[Archive] ISC Podcast Ep 22.: Interview with ANDREW CRAIGHAN, Guitarist of MY DYING BRIDE.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1737011005975-6677WFNSCGAYMXSK0KHY/mdb.jpg)
[Archive] ISC Podcast Ep 22.: Interview with ANDREW CRAIGHAN, Guitarist of MY DYING BRIDE.
Note: This is an archival repost, originally posted to our now-defunct prior website (RIP old site 22.03.2024, sniff). Check the link for our March 2024 interview with Andrew Craighan, guitarist for perennial UK doom veterans My Dying Bride. We discuss the 2024-released LP among many other topics pertaining to musicianship and sustaining a career in the industry. It’s a sincere, earnest and fun conversation. Thanks again to Andrew and MDB!
Relevant podcast links and additional album/artist info also contained within this post.
![[Archive] Ep. 20: Recap Part 1. State of the Podcast Address.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1736944811217-AL97WVB7V2VJDOJYG2D8/bf1.jpg)
[Archive] Ep. 20: Recap Part 1. State of the Podcast Address.
Featured Image by: Samuel Phillips Photography @ New Dead Fest. Check the blog for our review of 2022 + 2023 NDF! This is an archived podcast episodes, brought to you from the remains of our sadly now-defunct old website (RIP 31.12.2024). This one’s a.. challenging read for me considering how 2024 turned out. More on that later. See link for podcast episode links, interview links and a very thorough transcript with a lot of mental health reflection - positive, negative and all in between.
![[Review] Daufødt - ‘Glitter’LP.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1736743641516-6YRA8AJ0PKYWQJWRZEZ3/Daufodt_web.jpg)
[Review] Daufødt - ‘Glitter’LP.
Our first NEW album review for the new website! (RIP old site). I could very easily label this as my punk, hardcore or noise-rock AOTY for 202 - if it were any of these things in isolation, or even together. Norway’s Daufodt released this stellar, catchy and raw skilful cacophony in September 2024 via Fysisk Format. Glitter is glamorous, but only via the sticky, raw, neon shades of decidedly-Nordic punk. Well worth the belated review. Check link for review and artist/label links and more.
ISC Podcast Ep. 15 (Interview): NIKLAS SANDLIN of KATATONIA Talks 2025 Australian Tour, And More.
Check the link for video (Youtube) and audio-only (Spotify - available on numerous other podcast platforms as indicated!) for my archival interview from prior, now-defunct ISC website (RIP) with Niklas Sandlin, bassist of Swedish modern metal heavyweights Katatonia. In the interview, we discuss touring, thoughts on Australia in general, his perspective within the band as a long-term member and much more!
![[Heavy News] Introducing: Music Mondays and Tech Tuesdays!](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1736945266015-ZY5CR0M2KV34E7T3SKPZ/image-6.png)
[Heavy News] Introducing: Music Mondays and Tech Tuesdays!
Featured Image: Lachlan R. Dale, solo artist and label owner of Worlds Within Worlds and Art as Catharsis. (interview with Lachlan incoming as i extract it from the carcass of our now-defunct old website, RIP). This article was originally posted to our old website, long may it rest, and introduces Music Mondays for the first time - a regular column including all the latest in heavy and alternative music news, features, reviews, ISC content updates and our own musician updates as well!
![[Blog Update] Swingin’ The (Un)Dead - 2025 Content Roadmap (Jan)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1736312393094-WE71ALV5JZH06GUJE5EZ/462381226_3840719132830506_7302021971628903744_n.jpg)
[Blog Update] Swingin’ The (Un)Dead - 2025 Content Roadmap (Jan)
Hope y’all appreciate this one cause holy HELL it was a bit of work! Full Content Roadmap for ISC blog for 2025, including each individual archive piece for re-writing/posting from our prior now-dead website. Plus, a heads-up on the scheduling and content of the Podcast for 2025, list of albums for review and much more. Back to it.