Non metal releases of 2022

A couple weeks late but Best of 2022 lists coming up, starting with Non metal

Greg Puciato – Mirrorcell

2nd solo album from the former The Dillinger Escape Plan vocalist and it’s totally not what you expect from him. This album is in the Alt-rock/Grunge space.

Haavard – self titled 

Debut release from Håvard Jørgensen, a former member of Ulver and Satyricon. Largely acoustic album transport you to the frosty north from the first track itself. I used this album to wind down at the end of the day.

Ian Blurton’s Future now – Second Skin

Canadian rock legend mixes rock and roll with some psychedelia. Must listen for guitar rock fans.

Joji – Smithereens

I discovered this Japanese Singer-songwriter on a chill mix playlist on Spotify. Since then I’ve had it on heavy rotation. Vocal-driven pop layered on top of catchy electro beats.

Raman Negi –  Shakhsiyat

Former frontman of Indian rock band, The Local Train. His debut album is a catchy mix of guitars and wordplay. I did enjoy it for someone who is not that fluent in Hindi.

Metal list coming up soon.

Favourite albums of 2022 – Part 2

This is Part 2 of the favourite albums of 2022. If you haven’t heard Part 1 as yet, go ahead and check it out.

This part is only available on the Spotify app.

Here are the albums (in order of appearance on the episode)

Riz Farooqi – High Vis – Blending 

Brijraj Agarwal – Blut Aus Nord – Disharmonium – Undreamable Abysses

Berty Ashley – Devin Townsend – Lightwork

Ravi B – OU – Travel 

Bantering Ram – Shipperman – Hymns For The Drunk

Peter K – Blackbraid – Blackbraid I

Favourite albums of 2022 – Part 1

This year I thought I’d do something different, before releasing my list of favourite albums of the year, I asked my friends what their favourite albums of the year were. 

Here are the albums (in order of appearance on the episode)

Anurag Tagat + Seth Werkheiser – Ithaca – They Fear Us

Adnan M – Machine Head  Of Kingdom and Crown

Andy Dowling – Idle Ruin – Valley Inferno.

Gautam K – Sigh – Shiki

Deepak aka Chuck – Playgrounded – The Death of Death

Joel – Kardashev – Liminal Rite

Alex from Undeath – Sedimentum – Suppuration Morphogénésiaque 

Abbas Rizvi – Psycroptic – Divine Council 

Aditya Rao – Gaerea – Mirage

Peter K – Wormrot – Hiss

Part 2 coming up soon!

Adnan Mryhij (Unmuted)

Adnan Mryhij is one of the few people I have met who is equally passionate about the underground metal music scene.

Adnan has worn multiple hats over the past decade and in the past couple of years, he has built a Tribe across the world with this podcast, Unmuted. 

Earlier this year, Adnan also started releasing music under the banner of Unmuted. I spoke to him about the evolution of Unmuted, how 2022 has been for him, upcoming plans for his band Svengali and more. 

Tracks played on the episode

Nervecell – Vicious Circle

Unmuted – Creation

Svengali – Freight Train

Unmuted – Earth, Hell and Heaven

Adnan on Horns Up – https://www.hornsuppod.com/the-podcast/episode/2375e701/193-or-kill-marry-fuck-or-feat-adnan-from-unmuted

https://www.unmuted.show/

Exist Immortal interview

Djent Progressive metal is my guilty pleasure. A palate cleanser between grindcore and death metal. 

A band that I’ve been listening to lately combines metalcore and technical metal with pop influences and it actually works! Exist Immortal released their self-titled album last month. 

In a rare occasion, I got a chance to speak to 3/5th of the band, Meyrick de la Fuente, Mikey Gee, and Charlie Bines. We spoke about crafting this sound, self-titled album, touring, and much more.

Songs played on this episode 

Exist Immortal – Behind the Eyes

Exist Immortal – Emerge  

Exist Immortal – Trapped Inside 

Check out their self-titled album

Gabriel Dubko (Implore) interview

Church Road Records has become one of my go-to record labels in the past year. They have a great roster of bands across the spectrum of metal. 

In this episode, I spoke to Gabriel “Gabbo” Dubko of German/Austrian extreme metal act Implore ahead of the release of the band’s 4th album The Burden of Existence. They dive into the writing of the album, performing live, his interaction with Max Cavalera of Soulfly, and even Wormrot.

On Wormrot – Hiss and touring live with the band in Europe next year

Full interview on audio

Tracks played on this episode

Implore – The Burden of Existence
Implore – Machotistic Tendancies

https://www.facebook.com/imploreband/

https://www.instagram.com/imploreofficial/

Andrew Lee (Ripped to Shreds) interview

Last week, American death metal act Ripped to Shreds released their 3rd album Jubian (their debut on Relapse) to much acclaim. 

I caught up with band founder Andrew Lee on the release date and spoke about the album, shred guitar, and also Asian representation in metal/hardcore. 

Full interview on audio

Tracks played in this episode

Ripped to Shreds – Harmonious Impiety 

Ripped to Shreds – Race Traitor

https://www.facebook.com/rippedtoshredsband/

https://www.instagram.com/rippedtoshredsdeathmetal/

Shoi Sen (De Profundis) interview

I have been following UK death metal act De Profundis for the past decade and they have slowly evolved their sound. Their latest album, The Corruption of Virtue (out now via Transcending Obscurity) is their most potent one yet.

I spoke to De Profundis guitarist, Shoi Sen about The Corruption of Virtue, why it’s their angriest album yet, the changes in the music business, and also insights from being a guitar instructor.

Full interview on audio below

Tracks played on the episode

De Profundis – Weaponized Rape 

De Profundis – Sectarian Warfare 

https://www.facebook.com/deprofundistheband

Rorik Brooks (Cloud Rat) interview

Yup, I am a Grindcore freak. 

Cloud Rat is a band that I’ve been following for a few years now, they have been quite prolific with more than 20 releases since 2010. Their 4th full-length album, Threshold is out now via Artoffact Records 

In this episode, recorded a couple of weeks before the album release, guitarist Rorik Brooks shared with me why he describes Threshold as “our best work so far.”, writing the album remotely, how he balances making music with his day job and other responsibilities and more

Tune in on YouTube

Tracks played on the episode

Cloud Rat – Babahaz 

Cloud Rat – Perscome

Check out Threshold

https://www.facebook.com/cloudratgrind

https://www.instagram.com/cloudratgrind

Cloud Rat picture by Luke Mouradian

Tobias Gustavsson (Nestor) interview

Kids in a Ghost town, the debut album of Swedish rock act Nestor was one of my favourite releases of 2021. I discovered the band thanks to my friend friend Andy Dowling of the Australian metal act Lord and the host of the Andy Social podcast.

On this episode, I spoke to vocalist Tobias Gustavsson about the recent success of Nestor, re-release of Kids in a Ghost town by Napalm Records, and even his experience as a songwriter in Sweden.

Full audio episode

Tracks played on the episode

Nestor – It ain’t me

Nestor – Signed in Blood

Check out Kids in a Ghost Town – https://lnk.to/KidsInAGhostTown 

https://www.nestortheband.com