Brady Deeprose, guitarist for UK Riff Music heavyweights Conjurer, joins Spinning the Wax to play his favorite Opeth album: Watershed.
We chat about their vast discography, their prog albums, artists writing music strictly for themselves, and how his musical and personal relationship with guitarist/vocalist Dani Nightingale has evolved over the last decade.
There's also a deep-dive into Metallica's Death Magnetic and how Conjurer attempted to strip every ounce of fat from their stellar new record Unself.
CONJURER: Website | Bandcamp | Instagram | LinkTree | Merch
Song Excerpts: "Let Us Live" & "All Apart"
On the latest episode of Spinning the Wax, Ray Worth, guitarist from Asheville's Bask brings on "The Dirty South" by Alabama southern rock band Drive-By Truckers.
Though it may not be one many metal heads are familiar with, Ray digs into why he fell in love with this record back in the day and what he still gets out of it. It also informed his way of writing songs as well as finding stories in songs.
We also chat about Bask's new record The Turning, and how Hurricane Helene impacted both the album and the band.
BASK: Website | Bandcamp | Instagram | LinkTree
Bask Song Excerpts: "The Traveler" & "Long Lost Light"
Stavros Giannopoulos, guitarist and vocalist in Chicago doom-punk band Motherless and as sludge/stoner metal heroes The Atlas Moth, brings on one of his all-time favorite records: Deftones "White Pony".
We chat about how Stavros was practically a day-one Deftones fan, and how their music has influenced his music and his life, and the ins-and-outs of their discography. He also remembers how he was so excited for "White Pony" that he downloaded it on Napster before it came out. But the tracks were out of order, causing him to hate the record until he heard it properly.
MOTHERLESS: Bandcamp | Instagram
THE ATLAS MOTH: Bandcamp | Instagram | Merch
Motherless Song Excerpts: "Reptile Dysfunction" & "Weaponized Goodwill"
Guitarist James Danzo from New York heavy metal heroes TOWER joins Spinning the Wax to listen to Metallica's "Kill 'Em All", and brings along "Metal Joe" Chimienti of New Jersey's Old Bridge Militia.
Metal Joe and the Old Bridge Militia played an integral part in heavy metal history, letting a young and broke Metallica crash at his farmhouse when they moved to the east coast to sign to Megaforce Records and record their first album.
Joe tells stories about the band playing in his basement and bedroom to 15 people, the signed drum skin that's all that remains of Lars' original kit, how James Hetfield wrote "Fade to Black" on his couch, and body-slamming a drunk Dave Mustaine.
Meanwhile, James Danzo shares his favorite lore from this era of Metallica, how they influenced his guitar playing, and why Mustaine was so influential to developing both Metallica and thrash metal in general.
We also chat about Cliff Burton, when Slayer stayed at "Joe's Funhouse", and how Metal Joe, Rockin' Ray and the rest of the Militia were invited to Metallica's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction in 2009.Spinning the Wax is a heavy music interview series where guests spin a record of their choice and have a candid discussion while listening.
TOWER: Bandcamp | Instagram | Merch | LinkTree
Old Bridge Militia: Website | Instagram | Slayer @ Joe's Funhouse '84
Song Excerpts: "Under the Chapel" & "Let There Be Dark"
Thérèse Lanz, one-half of Calgary doom/sludge duo Mares of Thrace joins Spinning the Wax to sing the praises of a local Hungarian instrumental post-metal band HEGY, and their 2019 album "We Won't Make It Home."
Thérèse shares how HEGY (pronounced "hedge") blew her and bandmate Casey Rodgers away when they opened for Mares of Thrace in Budapest. She walks us through her favorite parts of the record, the Great Mares Hiatus, and the creation of their remarkable new album "The Loss."
We also bond as elder millennials who were diagnosed with ADHD later in life, and swap stories, hurdles, experiences, struggles and successes.
Spinning the Wax is a heavy music interview series where guests spin a record of their choice and have a candid discussion while listening.
MARES OF THRACE: Bandcamp | Instagram | LinkTree
Song Excerpts: "Anticipatory Grief" & "The Fourth Stage: Bargaining"
Dan Tregenna, guitarist of UK/Spain gothic doom troupe Opia, spins "The Cold White Light" by Finnish goth metal legends Sentenced.
This is also one of StayPuft's all-time favorites, so the two gush about the guitar lines, the infectious choruses and the despondent and depressing lyrics.
Dan shares how finding this band helped him recover from a depression-related eating disorder, and how he uses Sentenced's style of uncomfortable honesty in Opia's music.
We also chat their incredible new record, "I Welcome Thee, Eternal Sleep," how the band started, what it's like to have a member in Spain, and the Victorian-era veil that shrouds their music.
Spinning the Wax is a heavy music interview series where guests spin a record of their choice and have a candid discussion while listening.
https://linktr.ee/opiabandofficial
Opia Songs: "The Fade" & "On Death's Door"
Royal Thunder bassist and vocalist Mlny Parsonz joins Spinning the Wax to gush about an album she's listened to a hundred times: ADAM FAUCETT's "It Took the Shape Of A Bird".
The Arkansas singer-songwriter blends folk, Americana, alt country and rock into a unique blend that captures Mlny's ears and imagination. We chat about how we interpret his songs differently, the different cinematic scenes they evoke, authenticity in artists and their two styles of lyric writing and storytelling.
We also discuss the meaning of "heavy" while Mlny opens up about processing her father's death, and how she wants her music to inspire hope in others.
Spinning the Wax is a heavy music interview series where guests spin a record of their choice and have a candid discussion while listening.
TW: Suicide / Self harm
https://www.adamfaucett.com/ | https://linktr.ee/royalthunder | https://royalthunder.bandcamp.com/
Song Excerpt at Start: Royal Thunder - "The Knife | Song Excerpt at End: Royal Thunder - "April Showers"
On Episode 20 of Spinning the Wax, Vancouver gothic doom metal band Tribunal bring on one of their biggest influences: My Dying Bride's "Feel the Misery".Soren Mourne (vocals, bass, cello) and Etienne Flinn (vocals, guitar) talk about how their divergent interests in DOOM METAL combine for this band and this record. They also provide thorough insight on the creation of their new album "In Penitence and Ruin", including how they agonized over the sequencing and the vinyl-first creation in the best way.We also chat Dio-era Black Sabbath, dogs, beer, Blind Guardian, their creative partnership and how awesome 20 Buck Spin is as a record label.Spinning the Wax is a heavy music interview series where guests spin a record of their choice and have a candid discussion while listening.
Patrick Crawford, drummer for blackened heavy metal band Nite, brings on a mostly-forgotten record from Savatage co-founder and Trans-Siberian Orchestra songwriter Jon Oliva.
Patrick calls JON OLIVA'S PAIN - "Maniacal Renderings" the Savatage album that never was, and considers it just as important to their story as any album in their discography. He dives into the context behind the album, the enigma that is Jon Oliva, and why there's so much to take away from it if you can get passed the awful name.
Spinning the Wax is a heavy music interview series where guests spin a record of their choice and have a candid discussion while listening.
Song Excerpts: "Crow (Fear the Night)"; "Cult of the Serpent Sun"; "The Mysic"
Scott Taysom, guitarist and vocalist of Atlanta blackened heavy metal band Cloak, brings on In Solitude's "Sister" to Spinning the Wax.
He details why it's such an emotional record for him, what it's taught him about songwriting and being in a band, and how seeing them headline a show with Tribulation and Watain cemented his dream to be a heavy metal life.
Song Excerpt 1: Cloak - "The Holy Dark" | Song Excerpt 2: Cloak - "Invictus"
Kyle Walburn (vocals/guitar) & Brandon Iacovella (guitar/vocals/contrabass) of Atlanta progressive/technical black metal band Tómarúm listen to Enslaved's 1997 album "Eld."
The two musicians talk about how the progressive, Norwegian black metal band has influenced themselves and the band, and how they want to emulate Enslaved's fearless creativity across their 16 studio albums.
We also touch on the several other bands Kyle and Brandon have together (including Lunar Chamber), how the band has evolved into a full five-piece since the debut, as well as how the third Tómarúm record is shaping up.Tómarúm's new album "Beyond Obsidian Euphoria" is available everywhere now.
Spinning the Wax is a heavy music interview series where guests spin a record of their choice and have a candid discussion while listening.
Song Excerpt 1: "Shed This Erroneous Skin" | Song Excerpt 2: "Shallow Ecstasy"
Bandcamp: https://tomarum.bandcamp.com/music | IG: https://www.instagram.com/tomarumvoid/ | Store: https://shorturl.at/E9iRg
Kathrine Shepard, the talented multi-instrumentalist behind Sylvaine, brings Depeche Mode's "Violator" to Spinning the Wax!
We dive into why this band (and album) are so important to her musical journey, three of the big things Depeche Mode taught Kathrine about songwriting, and how a cover of "Enjoy the Silence" at music school led to the creation of Sylvaine.
Kathrine also details why her EP "Eg Er Framand" was so refreshing to create, and how having the support of her fans to follow that path is so special.
Finally, we live in the moment discussing her (then) upcoming show in Antwerp, Belgium with Jo Quail and the following North American tour with Eivør.
Song Excerpt 1: Sylvaine - "Nowhere, Still Somehwere" | Song Excerpt 2: Sylvaine - "Dagsens Auga Sloknar Ut"
Two-thirds of New York's cacophonous, extreme metal triumvirate Imperial Triumphant stop by to spin the 10th studio album by German power metal werewolves Powerwolf.
Zachary Ezrin (vocals/guitar) and Steve Blanco (bass) listen to this band for the very first time and have a blast. They marvel at the variety, the consistency, and the infectiousness of the record's 11 songs across 37 minutes.
All the while, they discuss their brand new album "Goldstar," how touring relentlessly and wanting to play shorter songs led to its creation, and how their songs evolve over time.
We also dive in to Powerwolf's insane ability to shred merch, their stage names, and their legions of loyal fans.
If you've ever wanted to watch two extreme/jazz musicians lose their minds to cheesy and pristine power metal, you've come to the right place.
Song Excerpts: Lexington Delirium | Hotel Sphinx
Vocalist Chelsea Murphy and guitarist Tony Thomas of Oakland progressive blackened death metal band Dawn of Ouroboros join Spinning the wax to listen to Heretoir's "The Circle."
Though this German, post-black metal album only came out in 2017, it was instrumental in shaping the music that Tony and Chelsea play now.
They dive into the beauty and genius of the record, how they started playing together, how close the band is, as well as discuss creating Dawn's latest album Bioluminescence — including how and why Chelsea improvises lyrics during writing and recording.
We also chat about doom jazz, the tedium of album sequencing, guitar tone, and how much Chelsea loves Creed and Scott Stapp.
Check out DOO's new album here: https://shorturl.at/Tl2vf
Ripped to Shreds and Houkago Grind Time mainman Andrew Lee takes us to school with a double dose of goregrind!
In a first for Spinning the Wax, Lee brings on an EP and an LP to show us the finer points of the genre. We start with Extremely Brutal's "Dead Reconsiderations" EP and end with a Sulfuric Cautery's "Chainsaws Clogged With the Underdeveloped Brain Matter of Xenophobes."
He explains how Extremely Brutal launched his love of goregrind, the different iterations of Sulfuric Cautery through the years, the pioneers of the genre and behind the scenes info on how these bands write, record, and play live.
Lee also gives plenty of recommendations for people just getting into goregrind, as well as next steps for those already interested.
Check out Ripped to Shreds' new album "Sanshi" as well as Houkago Grind Time's new record "Koncertos of Kawaiiness: Stealing Jon Chang's Ideas, A Book by Andrew Lee" both out now.
Benjamin T. Mainwaring, bassist of South Wales noir-pop band The Nightmares joins Spinning the Wax to listen to Blink-182's self-titled album from 2003.This was a massively important, coming-of-age record for Ben, as it not only helped him find his own identity at the time, but it set in motion all the dominoes that led to The Nightmares. We discuss the hiatus and turmoil Blink went through before recording this album and how it resulted in a more vulnerable and mature record. There's always more beneath the surface with this band.Ben also dives into some details behind their new album "Fire In Heaven," how the band has been growing and touring more the last few years, as well as vocalist Eleanor Coburn's expanded role in the band."Fire In Heaven" by THE NIGHTMARES is available Feb. 14, 2025 via Venn Records.
TW: This episode contains discussion of mental health, depression and suicide. Giant Walker guitarist Jamie Southern joins Spinning the Wax to play one of his all-time favorite records: Soundgarden's "Superunknown" The band is a huge influence on Giant Walker, which is evident to anyone who listens to them. We chat about the identity crisis Chris Cornell had while writing the record, how producer Michael Beinhorn brought out the best in the band, Jamie's disdain for the idea of genres, and the rare musical and personal connection that have kept the bandmates together for a decade.
Intro Giant Walker clip: "Make Me"
Outro Giant Walker clip: "Silhouettes"
Today we're listening to Illinois death metal, courtesy of Illinois death metal!
Aaren Pantke, vocalist and guitarist of MOLDER brings on IMPETIGO's 1992 album "Horror of the Zombies," a "quintessential" record he calls the "epitome of all things fun, gross, extreme and over the top, yet refined and listenable."
We dive into his love of horror and death metal, and why he's more focused on creating badass riffs than sharing any sort of emotional or reflective message.
He also chats about why Impetigo had such an influence on Molder and the death metal genre, and we have an amazing exchange about fans pretending to know lyrics even he doesn't know.
Molder's new album "Catastrophic Reconfiguration" is available via Prosthetic Records now!
Intro Molder clip: "Catastrophic Reconfiguration"
Outro Molder clip: "Bursted Innards"
Bec Thorwesten, bad bitch and vocalist of Melbourne, Australia's Terminal Sleep stops by the show to listen to Linkin Park's massive debut record "Hybrid Theory."
It's responsible for turning countless kids onto heavy music, and we discuss who we were half a lifetime ago, the perfection of Chester Bennington's voice and how the album still generates feelings no matter how long it's been since last listen.
Bec also dives into the growth of Terminal Sleep over the last few years, touring Australia, learning how to take care of her voice and why she prefers the album experience.
There's also a ridiculous amount of time dedicated to talking about our cats. Lmao, sorry not sorry. Hail Strudel and Banana!
🔗 TERMINAL SLEEP 🔗
https://www.instagram.com/terminalsleep/ | https://www.instagram.com/bsmoocho/ | https://terminalsleep.bandcamp.com/
VOLATILE WAYS - "Televised Suicide [ft. Bec of Terminal Sleep]" | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3p1WoRMUrjY
Enrique Sagarnaga, drummer for Philadelphia metal bands Crypt Sermon, Daeva, The Silver, and Head of PR at Relapse Records, brings on the criminally underrated Iron Maiden album "Dance of Death" Enrique shares how much Maiden's music has meant to him throughout his life, and the surprising amount of positive and uptempo songs on this record helped get him through turbulent times. While this album may often be overlooked because of it's infamous art, it's a gateway for both new and veteran Maiden fans alike. There's also plenty of talk about Nicko McBrain's drumming choices, the story Bruce Dickinson weaves throughout the album, and differentiating between Iron Maiden's "epic" songs and their "hot dog" songs.