![[Riffs] Quake Good.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1737604083728-HWSL50QAUDPWPVX97BWA/quake+concept+art.jpg)
[Riffs] Quake Good.
Featured Image Credit: Blizzard-Activision Studios. Another archival repost unearthed from the bones of our as-of-NYE-unexpectedly-now-dead old website (RIP). Join Hamza on a journey through the valleys of all things Quake, one of the OG first-person shooters. In this Riff [article], Hamza also delves into community modding using the KEX Engine and discusses his thoughts around the still-active Quake scene! Gear up, buddy.
![[Archive] Interview With OPETH’s MARTIN MENDEZ + Australian/NZ 2025 Tour Details.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1737534970321-ZWJZODG02GL6Z7D57841/image-34.png)
[Archive] Interview With OPETH’s MARTIN MENDEZ + Australian/NZ 2025 Tour Details.
Originally posted to our prior website, which died an unexpected and sudden death on 31.12.24 (RIP), we have revived a seminal interview from late ‘24 with Martin Mendez, long-term bassist for Sweden’s progressive-metal titans Opeth. Check the post for video interview, as well as full details (ticket links, bio, artist links, The Last Will and Testament order links etc) of their upcoming November 2025 Australian/NZ tour!
![[Archive] Interview with OLOF WIKSTRAND of Sweden’s ENFORCER + Australian Tour Details.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1737520812639-U43J3B80ZKQQ5WVCID3A/472871823_1144203967066725_9209872957837145904_n.jpg)
[Archive] Interview with OLOF WIKSTRAND of Sweden’s ENFORCER + Australian Tour Details.
AUSTRALIA! Are you ready to rock out in your finest leathers and gauntlets? You should be, ‘cause Swedish heavy/true-metallers Enforcer are on our shores and are about to show Newcastle the Steel! Check the link for my video interview with Olof Wikstrand, frontman/guitarist, which was originally posted on our website that unfortunately went down on 31.12.24. It’s too late, however - peep the link and get the scoop on tickets, artist links, new singles and more!
![[Archive] ISC Podcast, Ep. 30: AUDIO LOG - Clinical Examination Of Specimen XX-121, AKA ‘Xenomorph’(Part 2).](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1737469225300-MINEU9B936G73ER4HN1B/w7rl8lxm3fqc1.jpeg)
[Archive] ISC Podcast, Ep. 30: AUDIO LOG - Clinical Examination Of Specimen XX-121, AKA ‘Xenomorph’(Part 2).
Exhumed from the chest-bursted corpse of our old website (RIP old site 31.12.24, sniff), here’s Part 2 of our Dissecting The Perfect Organism series. Check link for both audiodrama podcast links and written narrative, diagrams, lore and information relating to sci-fi’s perfect villain, told from a scientist-doctor perspective. The current episode details, among other things, the ‘Black Goo’, engineers, The Deacon, proto-xenomorphs and potential origins of our favourite eyeless-space killer!
![[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] ISC Pod EP. 28 (Part 1): Review of FROTH AND FURY FEST, Sat 9th Nov 2024 - A Day of Metal & Mayhem.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1737436311029-A1AK2X1WIG3J3DY0XEDV/458314957_821529990096799_6768939003107938271_n.png)
[Archive] ISC Pod EP. 28 (Part 1): Review of FROTH AND FURY FEST, Sat 9th Nov 2024 - A Day of Metal & Mayhem.
See here for Part 1 of Brady and Mal’s MASSIVE coverage of 2024’s Froth and Fury Festival in Adelaide, South Australia last November. We cover a swathe of detail raging from site and venue to the first half of our gig reviews from the day - Bifurcation, Sundowner, Signals, Lumen ad Mortem, Pizza Death, FANGZ, Future Static, Great American Ghost, Hands Like Houses and Dharma. Plus some of the wrestling and medieval fighting events (you heard right), cool vendors and more!
![[Archive] Inner-Strength Check Youtube Covers List + Requests.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1737423951187-ULHIDNESYLUFJB2R06Y1/isc-covers-insta.png)
[Archive] Inner-Strength Check Youtube Covers List + Requests.
Originally posted to our old site October 2024, before it’s untimely demise in December (RIP). See link for document containing full list of songs to be covered on our Music and Covers Youtube playlist (link contained), as well as our process for creating said covers! Rock on.
![[Riffs] Skyrim: AKA How I Learnt To Stop Morrow-Booming and Love The Cat-People.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1737381053609-2JK95NVEGTDE49FSCJLJ/image-67.png)
[Riffs] Skyrim: AKA How I Learnt To Stop Morrow-Booming and Love The Cat-People.
A Riff [article] on gaming, originally posted to our now-defunct old website in late 2024 (RIP). In this one, I as your host author discuss the enduring appeal of Skyrim amidst personal struggles and a changing gaming landscape. While critiquing some flaws, I also expressing joy in re-engaging with it after a period of stress and highlight its’ lasting place within the gaming community.
![[Archive] ISC Podcast Ep. 31: Luna's Cult of Dark Souls - A DM Interview With... A DM.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1737374953745-KOOUP7BVQPNHKY8IRE43/image-51.png)
[Archive] ISC Podcast Ep. 31: Luna's Cult of Dark Souls - A DM Interview With... A DM.
My first interview focussed on exploring someone else's expertise and thoughts around a franchise/hobby/series and the community surrounding it, and first interview with a community member around the design of their own RPG! Read on for a fantastic discussion with Luna, a friend of mine from Discord, who goes all-out on Dark Souls lore and discusses her TTRPG adaptation. Which she also provides for free, by the way, in the link!
![[Archive] ISC Podcast Ep. 29: Dissecting The Perfect Organism - An Examination of Xenomorph XX-121, Part 1.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1737370632341-HWO0D4SC4NLWD4KB6FJX/image-14.png)
[Archive] ISC Podcast Ep. 29: Dissecting The Perfect Organism - An Examination of Xenomorph XX-121, Part 1.
Check the link for Episode 29 of the Inner-Strength Check Podcast, and the full transcript of Dissecting The Perfect Organism: An Examination of Specimen XX-121. Over multiple podcast episodes, we’re bringing you a comprehensive, lore-based examination of the infamous Xenomorph from the Alien franchise. The current article explores the Chemical Agent or ‘Black Goo’ , as well as initial encounters with the pathogen as seen in the film Prometheus. Plenty of additional media here, so be sure to check it all out!
![[Riffs] Some Thoughts On: Info-Overload, Option-Paralysis, and Digital Chaos.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1737364680985-ZUKYY0BXCGS7HCO5EICR/457036991_8115688801812036_3842076234784244127_n.jpg)
[Riffs] Some Thoughts On: Info-Overload, Option-Paralysis, and Digital Chaos.
Originally posted to our prior now-defunct website (RIP), this Riff (article) is an exploration of technology, information overload/overwhelm, digital minimalism and how this relates to both me personally, but also in the context of directing and managing the Inner-Strength Check Podcast/blog etc. Read on!
![[Heavy News] Turkish blackened death metal band SHRINE OF DENIAL unveil debut full length.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1737353159904-VK69KEEV9EUAVTMHOIP5/imoloch.png)
[Heavy News] Turkish blackened death metal band SHRINE OF DENIAL unveil debut full length.
Quoting label Transcending Obscurity: “Shrine of Denial are Turkey's best kept secret. They're blending styles to create beautifully structured songs that are both intense and memorable. After releasing albums by Serpent of Old and Carnophage from Turkey, we're pleased to work with newcomers Shrine of Denial for their debut release.” Check the link for album preorder, singles, cool merch and much more! Keeping it #heavynews for #musicmonday at ISC.
![[Heavy News] GATES TO HELL Announces New Album DEATH COMES TO ALL Out March 21st + New Single, 'Next To Bleed', Streaming Now + Available As 7-Inch Vinyl](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1737350790114-99VQK0865MBYA209V9AW/image007.jpg)
[Heavy News] GATES TO HELL Announces New Album DEATH COMES TO ALL Out March 21st + New Single, 'Next To Bleed', Streaming Now + Available As 7-Inch Vinyl
The ground quakes, the surface fractures, and a colossal force rises from the abyss: GATES TO HELL have returned to deliver their undeniable truth—Death Comes to All. The Louisville natives charge onto the heavy music scene with their second full-length which will be released March 21st via Nuclear Blast Records. Check the link for initial single ‘First to Bleed’, preorder links, exclusive merch opportunities and more!
![[Heavy News] BURNING WITCHES Announce May 2025 Debut Australian Tour](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1737348379249-Q8EEBGWX60ORZBS6XXVP/bwcover.png)
[Heavy News] BURNING WITCHES Announce May 2025 Debut Australian Tour
Swiss heavy/power-metal quintet Burning Witches bring their coven of traditional heavy metal witchery to Australian shores in 2025! Check the link for tour dates, latest single, artist links and more. For #musicmonday here at ISC, from the #heavynews desk.
![[Archive/Riffs] Beer Factory, A.K.A. InnerStrengthCheck is Off to Froth!](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1737606951570-JMSJ8BFZYLUUWDRVAYIM/458314957_821529990096799_6768939003107938271_n.png)
[Archive/Riffs] Beer Factory, A.K.A. InnerStrengthCheck is Off to Froth!
Originally posted to our sadly dead-and-gone-unexpectedly old site (RIP 31.12.24), this is nonetheless still worth a read. It’s a pre-festival primer which includes a whole wealth of background on Adelaide itself, promoter/organiser Jason North, the venue/grounds, Indigenous Title of the First Nation of Kaurna Meyetta on which the grounds were situated, as well as a whole raft of additional context and info related to the festival itself. Our huge, extensive two-person review of Froth and Fury 2024 is available on the site and our podcast!
![[Archive - Gig Review] CONAN + BELL WITCH, Max Watt's Melbourne, 08.11.2018](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1737196099289-Z3VX5TL0N2071BWLAQHU/conancover.jpg)
[Archive - Gig Review] CONAN + BELL WITCH, Max Watt's Melbourne, 08.11.2018
This was originally published on the now-defunct Overdrive Music Magazine during my time as Senior Contributor, whereby I attended this fantastic gig and reported back thoughts on the Melbourne leg of the 2018 Conan/Bell Witch tour. Thanks to Sebastian for permission to repost in both cases. Check out this retrospective from a great night - can you believe 2018 was that long ago already?!
![[Riffs] I can't stop playing Doom.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1737195264871-J48VBFRAR4PSYU6IL41S/image-4.png)
[Riffs] I can't stop playing Doom.
Originally posted to our sadly now-defunct old website (RIP) late 2024, authored by fellow contributor Hamza. It’s a great little retrospective on his experiences in the video gaming space, particularly with one of the OG greats in DOOM. Check out some interesting thoughts and custom content he’s discovered via the community in this article. We have plenty more gaming content coming where this one came from, too - old and new.
![[Archive] Review: Alithia - 'The Moon Has Fallen' LP.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1737193935694-DM1FU0SP7ZTRKMFD62M2/the-moon-has-falled.jpg)
[Archive] Review: Alithia - 'The Moon Has Fallen' LP.
Note: This review was originally posted on our now-defunct website (RIP), authored by fellow ISC contributor Hamza in 2024. Hamza provides a fantastic analysis of Melbourne-based progressive/post-rockers Alithia by way of The Moon Has Fallen LP. Check the link for the full review, album stream and more.
![[Archive] Review of Februus’ 2024 LP, ‘Surveillance Orgy’.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1737173636159-X60N9UPHS7FXEHGKGVXA/451603.jpg)
[Archive] Review of Februus’ 2024 LP, ‘Surveillance Orgy’.
Another archival review painfully extracted from the carcass of our old website (RIP). In this review, Hamza tackles something a little more on the heavier end of his metal-listening wheelhouse in progressive death metallers Februus and their 2024 album, Surveillance Orgy. The album is out now on Transcending Obscurity Records; check link for album stream, Bandcamp links and more!
![[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.