Inner-Strength Check Podcast

Inner-Strength Check Podcast

by Brady

Ep. 57: [Interview] with NICK HOLMES of PARADISE LOST (UK).

Far from the stereotypes you might associate with a nickname like, well, Old Nick, our latest vocalist-interviewee was candid, mirthful and excited in our midnight chat (very goth-coded, I know) ahead of Paradise Lost's 17th (!) studio opus Ascension. Due for release on September 19th via Nuclear Blast Records, we caught up with Nick to discuss said album, but also branch out into directions ranging from the practical (touring, songwriting, etc) all the way through to the existential. For the video version of this interview + more info on the fantastic upcoming LP, single/music videos, artist info/links and more, check out the show-notes over at: www.innerstrengthcheckpodcast.com/blog Once again, massive thanks to Mr. Holmes for a wonderful chat, and to Nuclear Blast Australia for facilitating an opportunity to speak with a metal-groundbreaker! Peace, Love and Happiness via Doom - Brady.

Ep. 58: [Interview] with CHUCK BILLY of TESTAMENT.

Yesterday I was joined by Chuck Billy, the powerful and talented vocalist/frontman for Bay Area thrash metal legends Testament. During our conversation we discussed the interesting dynamics involved in the bands' writing and recording for the hard-hitting 14th LP Para Bellum, which releases on October 10th via Nuclear Blast Records. Naturally there's a whole slew of other topics covered during our chat, so be sure to dive in! If you'd like to view the video version of this interview, head on over to the InnerStrengthCheck Youtube Channel. For more details on the album, additional artist statements/links/info, preorder links, clips for latest Para Bellum singles and more, check out the show notes for this episode at: www.innerstrengthcheckpodcast.com/blog Peace, Love and Thrash Eternal, Brady - ISC.

Ep 59: [Interview] with JEFF BECERRA of POSSESSED.

Bay Area metal-progenitors Possessed are nothing short of iconic, having been a primary influence in the formation of death and thrash metal. On Friday, I caught up with vocalist Jeff Becerra to discuss the bands' first ever Australian tour, celebrating 40 years of their landmark album Seven Churches and much more! For full details on the upcoming tour, ticket links, artist info and more, head on over to: www.innerstrengthcheckpodcast.com/blog for more. Peace, Love and Death Metal Possession - Brady.

Ep. 60: [Interview] with NOAH SEE of CONJURER (UK).

Late last week, I was joined on the Inner-Strength Check Podcast by Noah See, drummer of progressive post-metal/doom heavyweights Conjurer (UK). With the imminent release of third full-length Unself later this month, as well as an upcoming slew of UK/European tour dates, Noah and Co are understandably keen as hell. Given the album remains true to the core musical dynamic yet also branches out from both Mire (2018) and Pathos (2022), I can personally confirm via advance listens that this is a superbly crafted LP! We discuss the album, drumming, songwriting, entering the band as a recent addition, touring and much more. Thanks once again to Noah for a thoughtful and candid chat!. Show notes for Episode 60 available alongside recent singles/other artist media, additional bio/commentary on the album and more, at: www.innerstrengthcheckpodcast.com/blog. Peace, Love and Post-Metal Riffage - Brady.

Ep. 61: [Interview] with ERIC JARRIN of DESPISED ICON (CAN).

Deathcore pioneers Despised Icon occupy an interesting space. Equally as influential in pioneering the deathcore movement as they are distinctly their own sound, few bands just straight-up nail the melding of death-metal brutality with streetwise hardcore as these Canadian crushers. Whilst the wheels of the touring machine warm up, the band are preparing to drop 7th full-length LP Shadow Work on us in a week's time. Here to talk about all of the above and more is guitarist Eric Jarrin, who had a hand in album production alongside vocalist Alex Erian. Eric has a lot of great thoughts to share about songwriting, production, touring and more! Accompanying our chat today, you can also pre-order/pre-save the album (due for release October 31st, via Nuclear Blast Records), listen to latest singles and check out more relevant artist info via show notes at: www.innerstrengthcheckpodcast.com/blog A big thank-you to Nuclear Blast, Despised Icon and of course my guest Eric. Can confirm this album's a scorcher - bring your mosh shorts and sunscreen on the 31st! Peace, Love and Deathcore - Brady.

Ep. 62: [Interview] with MILLE PETROZZA of KREATOR,

Last Friday, whilst headed to a gig in Melbourne, I received word of a once-in-a-lifetime interview opportunity which required some last-minute intervention! In a first for the Inner-Strength Check Podcast, we used the power of the smartphone to have a roadside chat from somewhere in regional Victoria to converse with a living thrash-metal god: Miland 'Mille' Petrozza of German thrash titans Kreator. A man I have looked up to for decades. We push through my starry-eyed fanboying to discuss upcoming album Krushers of The World (out Jan 16th via Nuclear Blast Records), the songwriting process and key elements of the upcoming album in that respect, Mille's upcoming film and biography work, and more. The full video interview version will be available shortly on our Youtube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@innerstrengthcheck. Full show notes, including press release with artist statement, artist/album bio, link to latest single 'Satanic Anarchy' as well as album preorder, artist links and more. For these, head on over to: https://innerstrengthcheckpodcast.com/blog. Peace, Love and World-Crushing Teutonic Thrash - Brady.

Ep. 63: [Interview] with BEN GREEN of GRIMLOCK & GYPSY ROAD (AU).

It's #MusicMonday. Our last before Christmas and second-last of 2025. What a year it's been! Much like the slew of international and local tours pouring out of every nook and cranny, latest interviewee Ben Green has shown no signs of slowing up just 'cause we're in December. Hot off a recent successful first-ever show with the newly formed and very blackened metalcore act Grimlock (on lead guitar duties), Ben's also been involved with a Melbourne emo/post-hardcore act known as Gypsy Road as a bassist. Topping that off, Ben also puts out some shredtastic riffery across Youtube and socials under the muso-moniker @iplayguitars0metimes. We have a chat that's casual and friendly in nature but very broad in scope and content! Given Ben's position across two disparate styles, getting into more live musicianship and employing long-held songwriting, as well as finishing a Cert IV in Audio Production, these topics and much more are on the table. We also discuss the respective state of the above genres in context of the local and broader scene, engaging in both production and songwriting and more. Links to all of Ben's musical projects will be available on the accompanying show notes for Episode 63 over at www.innerstrengthcheckpodcast.com/blog. For the video version of this interview, head on over to our channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@innerstrengthcheck. This may or may not be our last episode for 2025. Irregardless, from myself and the ISC Team we wish all our listeners/readers a happy holidays. And, as always: Peace, Love and Grindcore - Brady.

Ep. 64: [Interview] with JAHRED GOMES of (hed) P.E.

(HED) P.E. return to shake Australia to its very foundations and they are bringing NONPOINT with them, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their landmark album Broke! To celebrate this landmark in nu-metal canon, discuss thoughts about prior tours, the realities of making it as a musician in modern times and much more, I was joined late last week on the podcast by none other than bar-spittin' vocalist and chill dude Jahred Gomes. Jahred and I had a conversation that was funny, candid and sincere - even if my webcam decided to switch off until around the 14-minute mark! Keep an eye out on the ISC blog for show notes, also containing additional artist media, links, tour information and more at: www.innerstrengthcheckpodcast.com/blog. Peace, Love and Nu-Metal-Nostalgia Double Hitters - Brady.

Ep. 65: [Interview] with TIM RICHMOND of Melbourne Blackened-Grinders MUNT.

(Ignore the gaffe from me on the thumbnail/intro image - that's Tim Richmond, not Richardson! D'oh!) For show notes, including recent press release/album order links etc, check out the accompanying blog post at: www.innerstrengthcheckpodcast.com/blog. Our second interview out for today is a longer one, but it's certainly worthwhile listening in! Tim 'Mothlord' Richmond helms the mic for local Melbourne blackened-deathgrind outfit Munt, and is back today with the same for a podcast chat. Having exploded onto the scene as part of a storied lineup comprising years of experience in the heavy music scene, the band received high praise for initial EP Towards Extinction (2023), a split with heavyweights Cordell (2023) and finally, the earth-shaking debut LP The World Is Not Yours in 2025. Munt are heavy. Heavy on record, but phenomenally heavy live. A band who've incorporated elements of sludge, hardcore, post-metal, doom and more to concoct something truly nasty. And delicious. Naturally, we discuss happenings such as said album release and the public/critical response, as well as their upcoming tour alongside Nembutolik (AU) et al. Tim went a level deeper, though, and provides a lot of reflections, strategies and advice about extreme metal vocal performance, practice routines, using a vocal coach and more. Biggest of thanks to Tim, Munt and Cult Etiquette PR for providing an opportunity for a rich, in-depth discussion about Australian extreme metal, musicianship and what's in store for a fast-rising troupe of fast-riffers. Show notes contain our recent Heavy News release, which contains The World Is Not Yours streaming/order links, music videos, singles, artist info/links and more. Peace, Love and Blackened Grindcore - Brady.

Ep. 66 - [Interview] with NICOLAI BUSSE of MØL (DEN).

Genre tags are a funny thing - you'll often see bands lumped in with the 'atmospheric' and 'post-XYZ' tags, who play it safe within those domains. Not Denmark's MØL, however. Dreamcrush releases in a week's time, and it sees significant stylistic shifts which, in this writers' opinion, they landed. Here to talk about the album and give us extra insights into influences, style, taste, recording and musicianship is talented guitarist Nicolai Busse! A man proud of his craft and the new directions the band are taking together organically. Check out our awesome conversation here, then head over to the blog link below for 'Young' single music video, additional Dreamcrush album info/preorder links, artist links and more. Available in the show notes at: www.innerstrengthcheckpodcast.com/blog Dreamcrush arrives Jan 30th, 2026 via Nuclear Blast Records. Peace, Love and Dane-core - Brady.

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