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

Spill Your Guts interview

This episode is long overdue. 

Blackened Hardcore act Spill Your Guts formed in Shanghai, China and comprised of expatriates. Earlier this year they released their 2nd album, The Wrath It Takes via PermCityPunk Records (Russia), Trepanation Recordings (UK), and Graboid Of The Ground Records (China).

I spoke to vocalist Dima and drummer Tyler before the album was released about The Wrath It Takes, recording with Scott Middleton (Cancer Bats), the music scene in China, and more. 

Tracks played on the episode

Spill Your Guts – Wrath it Take

Spill Your Guts – Prey on Death

Loudspeaker –  无脸人

Check out The Wrath It Takes

https://www.facebook.com/spillyourgutsband

https://www.instagram.com/spillyourgutsband/

Hassan Amin (Zanjeer) interview

In 2014, I had interviewed Pakistani grindcore act Multinational Corporations and has since been in touch with vocalist Hassan Amin.

Hassan’s latest band is based in Germany and a punk act composed of musicians from  Colombia, England and Germany. A couple weeks ago they released their debut release, ‘Parcham Buland Ast’.

I caught up with him to find out more about Zanjeer, the topics on ‘Parcham Buland Ast’, his hip hop projects and much more.

Full Audio interview

Songs played on this episode 

Zanjeer – Nakhair 

Daranti Group – Represent 

Zanjeer – Taliban Murdabad

Buy Parcham Buland Ast on Vinyl here – https://symphonyofdestruction.bandcamp.com/album/parcham-buland-ast-7

Multinational Corporations interview from 2014 – https://trendcrusher.wordpress.com/2014/04/18/multinational-corporations-interview/

Article on Karachi Biryani on Fifty Two – https://fiftytwo.in/story/rice-fat-meat-streets/

A good interview about Hassan’s background and more on Unite Asia – https://youtu.be/-Sd4OGtVBuw

Hassan photo courtesy – Ramis Abbas

Ivan Belcic (Kosmogyr) interview

Vocalist/drummer Ivan Belcic is a man of many talents. His most recent act is Kosmogyr with guitarist/bassist Xander Cheng. Their split with Putrescine titled On Desolate Tides releases on 23rd September via Tridroid Records.

I’ve interacted with Ivan on Twitter a lot in the past couple years. I thought it would be a great time to get him on the podcast when the split with Putrescine was announced. We spoke about it, the Shanghai music scene and also music that he has been listening to this year.

Tracks played on this episode

Kosmogyr – Rise towards God
Boys Climbing Ropes – The Knitting Song
Spill your Guts – Pain Echoes Back

Pre order On Desolate Tides

https://weareshanghai.bandcamp.com/music

Abaddon Incarnate interview

Irish grindcore act Abaddon Incarnate released their album, The Wretched Sermon last month via Transcending Obscurity Records. Their first release in 8 years. 

I was introduced to the band many years ago by by Kunal Choksi as he know I was into grindcore.

I spoke to vocalist/guitarist Steve Maher and drummer Olan Parkinson about The Wretched Sermon, writing the album remotely and the impact it had and also about Irish metal acts.

For those who prefer the audio version

Check out The Wretched Sermon

Buy their cds and merch on

https://tometal.com/store/

https://transcendingobscurity.aisamerch.com/

Ted Lundstrom (Amon Amarth) interview

It’s Melodic Death metal month on the podcast!

If you told teenage me that someday in the future I would be doing interview with bands like Soilwork and Amon Amarth, I would never believe you then. Still can’t believe that I get to interview some of the bands that I grew up listening to.

On this episode, I spoke to Ted Lundstrom – bassist of Amon Amarth about their latest album The Great Heathen Army, out via Metal Blade Records, the writing process and even beer.

Audio version for those who prefer it.

Read a transcribed version of this interview on The Metal Wanderlust 

Listen to The Great Heathen Army  – https://orcd.co/tgha

Picture courtesy – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:13-06-07_RaR_Amon_Amarth_Ted_Lundstr%C3%B6m_07.jpg

Bjorn Strid (Soilwork) interview

This is one I won’t forget for a long time.

I’ve been a fan of Swedish melodic death metal act Soilwork for quite some time now. When I first got into metal, I went through melodic death metal phase and Soilwork one of the bands that I listened to a lot. A Predator’s Portrait was on repeat for days.

Over the past 2 decades the band has consistently released new music and their twelfth studio album, Övergivenheten (The Abandonment in English) is out this week. 

I caught up with vocalist Bjorn “Speed” Strid prior to the album release to talk about it, writing for Soilwork and Night Flight Orchestra, their upcoming Australian tour and even what’s been on his playlist.

Audio version

A transcribed version of this interview will be live on The Metal Wanderlust soon.

Listen to Övergivenheten – https://bfan.link/SoilworkAlbum.yde

Groovebot interview

Groovebot is the studio project of Indian musician Chinmay Agharkar (Paradigm Shift, Hook). Last week Under Pressure, the 3rd single from the project was released featuring Anand Bhaskar on vocals and Roop Thomas on bass.

Chinmay shared with me how the collaboration came about, the impetus behind Groovebot and also his work in music production.

Audio episode

Songs played in the episode

Groovebot – Under Pressure

Feathers of Jatinga – Master who bleeds

Listen to Under Pressure  – https://open.spotify.com/album/5rtMFNilqpUD1GLijfxsMo?si=QwogJ4-OSjS6S-N372WkPA

Garry Brents (Cara Neir) interview

Garry Brents is one half of Black metal scientists Cara Neir and part of many others. Cara Neir released their 8th LP Phantasmal via Zegema Beach Records last month. 

I first came across Cara Neir through Metal Twitter and noticed how prolific a musician Garry Brents was. In this chat I tried to tap into his mind through his recent release Phantasmal and also upcoming album from Gonemage. We also spoke about how he manages multiple projects. Tune in to find out more.

Songs played in the episode :-

Cara Neir – Damnation

Cara Neir – Unkindness

A video clip of the chat

Check out Phantasmal

Links to all of Garry’s projects – https://linktr.ee/yerbacaster