The Soundsphere Magazine Podcast

Heart Attack Man’s Eric Egan talks ’Freak Of Nature’ and personal growth

Heart Attack Man's Eric Egan takes time out from touring to chill with Dom Smith and talk about the "coming of age" record that is 'Freak of Nature'
 
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Starting on May 25th, Heart Attack Man will be bringing their new music on the road for the Freak Of Na-Tour. The six week run features Arm’s Length, Super American, and Photocopy. It includes stops in Detroit, New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Nashville, LA, and more, before wrapping up with two sold out hometown shows in Cleveland. Tickets across the country are selling fast, with Chicago already upgrading to a bigger room due to demand. For a full list of upcoming dates, please see below or visit: www.heartattackman.com.
Heart Attack Man write the soundtrack to “figuring it out.” Rife with intricate riffs, gleefully catchy choruses, robust rhythms, and a whole lot of outcast charm, the Cleveland band—Eric Egan [vocals, guitar], Adam Paduch [drums], and Ty Sickels [guitar]—turn all the awkwardness of growing up into undeniable and unpredictable anthems, teetering on an axis of punk, rock, and pop. After racking up tens of millions of streams and earning acclaim from Brooklyn Vegan, FLOOD, UPROXX, Alternative Press, and more, the group tell a different kind of coming-of-age story on their 2023 third full-length, Freak Of Nature.
“The overarching theme is growing up,” says Eric. “I spent my entire twenties just feeling completely out of place. It was like I hadn’t found my people yet. In early adulthood, I went through a lot of shit mentally. With Freak Of Nature, I’m embracing the fact I don’t know what the hell I’m doing, but it’s okay.”
The band initially buzzed out of the Midwest with 2014’s Acid Rain EP. Logging countless miles on the road, they consistently dropped fan favorite releases, including The Manson Family [2017], Fake Blood [2019], and the Thoughtz & Prayerz EP [2021]. Cleveland.com hailed the latter as “some of the band’s absolute heaviest tunes to date,” while Brooklyn Vegan summed it up best as “killer.” Along the way, “Pitch Black” piled up 1.7 million Spotify streams followed by “Leap Year” with 1.3 million Spotify streams and counting. Moreover, they canvased the country on tour with the likes of Neck Deep.
After bonding over a shared love of Motion City Soundtrack, Eric linked up with Lil Aaron [Lizzo, Blackbear, Kiiara] in Los Angeles. Who said nothing good goes down in the DM?
“Even though we come from different lanes, we both have the same sense of humor and a similar attitude,” he goes on. “I’d bring ideas, and he would help shape them. It was a true collaboration. I learned how Aaron channels his creative energy and how to maintain momentum. We clicked, and I was accepting all of this new energy and goodness into my life.”
Fittingly, they introduce this phase with the first single and title track “Freak Of Nature.” Co-written with Nick Wheeler of All-American Rejects, it hinges on an upbeat riff, giving way to a hypnotic bridge and infectiously irreverent refrain, “I’m a freak of nature.”
“The record started to become its own thing after we wrote this one,” he recalls. “There’s an overarching method to all of the madness. Musically, we’re levelling up. We allowed ourselves to grow.”
Whether or not you’ve figured your life out, Heart Attack Man will ultimately be with you, holding your hand every step of the way.
“I’ve grappled with complex feelings of isolation, loneliness, and freakiness, and it’s an up-and-down rollercoaster,” he leaves off. “In the end, you need to hold on and trust the process. If I was talking to myself ten years ago, I was in a completely different place. It’s better now. Things do work out. For us, this is a new start, and I’m happy about it.” 
Freak Of Nature Tracklisting:
1. Practiced In the Mirror2. Freak Of Nature3. Like A Kennedy4. Late To The Orgy5. Stick Up6. God Called Off Today7. C48. 9 On Your Bedside9. Clown School10. See You On The Other SidePre-order Freak Of Nature - HERE + Pre-save HERE
 
https://www.soundspheremag.com/

Andy Cairns talks Therapy?’s legacy and attitude to success, creating ’Hard Cold Fire’

#Therapy #HardColdFire #therapymusic
Andy Cairns of Therapy? discusses the band's enduring legacy, the success of early records like 'Troublegum', and the influences around new album, 'Hard Cold Fire' --- Northern Irish rock outfit, THERAPY? announce their colossal new studio album ‘Hard Cold Fire’, a spiralling, hypnotic melange of grunge-rock and towering melody that sees the trio steadfast and reinvigorated. ‘Hard Cold Fire’ is set for release 5th May 2023 via Marshall Records. Resilience and survival have become vital watchwords for Therapy?.
Enduring over three decades as the musical, cultural and social landscapes have shifted around them, the trio have forged and retained a powerful and lasting connection with a dedicated fan base around the world, doing so by putting their emphasis on the music, solidifying a hard-won reputation as forward-thinking writers and a fierce live proposition in the process. As Therapy?’s fourth decade finally gets underway in earnest, sixteenth album ‘Hard Cold Fire’, written and pre-produced during an unprecedented time for music, is hefty, compact, and accessible, a distillation of everything that has made them what they are - hewn from County Antrim basalt, still possessed of their stoicism, but casting a renewed focus on catharsis and healing. “One thing we did decide when we were eventually able to rehearse, was that we didn't want to make a lockdown record,” says vocalist and guitarist Andy Cairns, “because people have been through enough. “When we began to rehearse the songs, we realised there was an empathetic quality to them. We wanted to make something that was a bit more relatable, and less standoffish and claustrophobic - which we have a history of, and it stands in places - but we wanted to make something more approachable and open.” “We wanted this album to be one that felt good to play live, almost a release after this period of stasis, but then also not dwelling on the whole situation - we’re moving forward, and we wanted that energy to be there,” adds bassist Michael McKeegan.
The serrated, chugging riffage, churning low-end and propulsive rhythms that are hallmarks of the band’s sound are all present and correct, but met with a new-found sense of resolution and release, as most readily displayed on the one-two punch of their first single, ‘Joy’. “Well, 'Joy' started with a term from 'Waiting for Godot', by Samuel Beckett,” confesses Cairns “this wonderful line: 'habit is a great deadener'. I just love that word, 'dead-en-er'. It's an amazing word. People get themselves into these habits, and the next thing you know, their life is over and they've only lived in a very small circle of experience, often through choice, which is scary.” Working once more with renowned producer Chris Sheldon (Feeder, Biffy Clyro, Foo Fighters), a consistent good-luck charm for Therapy? dating back to 1994’s breakout album Troublegum, the band decamped to the newly opened Marshall Studios in Milton Keynes toward the end of 2021, working furiously to put the album down in its final form. “We know Chris. We've got a similar mindset, a similar outlook in life, a similar sense of humour,” McKeegan says.
“It works well, and it's a very easy, collaborative environment. There's no agenda to making the album, apart from 'let's make this absolutely brilliant'. “He's excellent at getting the performance out of you, knowing when to push a bit harder, knowing when something doesn't need to be over-complicated. There's an enthusiasm and a connection with him that really does bring something to the band, and to the vibe we have together.” While ‘Hard Cold Fire’ represents the next milestone in the band’s ongoing journey, it sits at the front of a long body of work, veering between noise-rock, discord and sparse, groovy experimentation, and million-selling, mainstream-friendly pop and noirish, cinematic vistas. For long-time fans, this new offering will reward an attentive ear in terms of musical flourishes and Cairns’ trademark lyrical substance, but as a finished product, the band has set out to create something that stands alone, and ‘Hard Cold Fire’ achieves just that. “There's a reinvigorated feel to the band, as though things are moving forward,” adds drummer Neil Cooper. “I'm very excited about people hearing this. It's not just about turning up and performing. Everyone's so invested... we're unbelievably lucky, some bands don't get that privilege, and I appreciate that. We're in a fantastic place.”

Mark Threlfall talks performing around the globe with Milestones and tour managing for Crawlers

#crawlers Mark Threlfall opens up about his time tour managing for Crawlers, some career highlights with his former band Milestones, and more!
https://www.soundspheremag.com/
https://theblackcase.com/ 

Dani Filth discusses Cradle of Filth’s influence on the Heavy Metal Community in 2023, working with Ed Sheeran

#CradleOfFilth #DaniFilth #EdSheeran
Dom Smith sits down with UK heavy metal icon Dani Filth to talk through Cradle of Filth's impact on heavy metal culture over the last two decades, what he thinks of the band's connection to the pop world, and collaborations with the likes of Ed Sheeran and Bring Me The Horizon. 
https://www.soundspheremag.com/
https://www.cradleoffilth.com/ 

nothing,nowhere discussed the self-confidence he found creating ‘VOID ETERNAL’

For more visit: https://www.soundspheremag.com/
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DCD2 / Fueled By Ramen artist nothing,nowhere. has announced his new album VOID ETERNAL, which will be released worldwide on 31st March. The Vermont-based artist has also shared the single THIRST4VIOLENCE (FT. FREDDIE DREDD & SILVERSTEIN) which is available now on all streaming platforms and joined by an official music video created by Gabor Toth (@gabxtoth) – watch it HERE.
 
nothing,nowhere. is the musical endeavor of Vermont songwriter, singer and guitarist Joe Mulherin, and VOID ETERNAL is his boldest offering yet; 12 tracks that journey into the darkness—a path that he walks down as far as it will go. Commenting on the new collection Mulherin noted, “I want to be what bands like Linkin Park were to me. I want to provide that level of inspiration and comfort and I want to be a safe haven to a kid who is struggling. I made it exactly how I wanted to with zero outside influence. This is the purest expression I could put down in audio form. This is the music that made me, and I want to return the favor.”
 
Speaking on THIRST4VIOLENCE he added, “I learned to channel my sadness into positive aggression. I hope people listen to this track while bettering themselves. Working out, taking a drive to blow off some steam, just getting out and getting shit done.”
 
Shane Told of Silverstein remarked on THIRST4VIOLENCE saying, “It feels amazing to repay the favour to Joe, after his appearance on my song ‘Live Like This’ last year.  I’ve been a big fan of his work for a long time and this song only took things to another level.  It’s such an honour to be part of another game changing record.”
 
Available for pre-order today, VOID ETERNAL was recorded in nothing,nowhere.’s self-built studio - a restored barn overlooking the woods of Vermont - and mostly created in isolation, only inviting in former Counterparts’ guitarist Blake Hardman, engineer Brody McKeegan, producer Taylor Morgan, and a few other close friends. The album features the previously released singles CYAN1DE featuring Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy,  M1SERY_SYNDROME featuring Buddy Nielsen of Senses Fail, and MEMORY_FRACTURE. Furthermore, VOID ETERNAL also sees nothing,nowhere. collaborating with Underoath, Static Dress, SeeYouSpaceCowboy, and Will Ramos of Lorna Shore for some of his most aggressive and in your face songs to date.
 
nothing,nowhere. is set to play Download Festival this June, and will support the mighty Fall Out Boy this October and November around the UK and Europe. Joe packed out venues on his own UK and European headline tour at the end of 2022, and has just wrapped some more headline shows in Australia. Next up is a full-scale North American spring tour, alongside Wage War and Spite For tickets and more information on nothing,nowhere.’s upcoming live dates, visit www.nothingnowhere.net.
 
 
 
 
ANX13TY
TRAG3DY (FT. WILL RAMOS OF LORNA SHORE) 
PSYCHO_PSYCHIATRY (FT. SEEYOUSPACECOWBOY)
CHR0MAKILL3R
SUICIDE_PACT
THIRST4VIOLENCE (FT. FREDDIE DREDD & SILVERSTEIN)
CYAN1DE (FT. PETE WENTZ)
ER4SER
F0RTUNE_TELLER (FT. STATIC DRESS)
M1SERY_SYNDROME (FT. BUDDY NIELSEN OF SENSES FAIL)
VEN0M (FT. UNDEROATH)
MEMORY_FRACTURE 

Enter Shikari open up about the creative process for ’A Kiss For The Whole World’

Three years and a global pandemic after their last album, UK-based electronicore pioneers Enter Shikari are back with all guns blazing with their new album A Kiss For The Whole World. The album, releasing 21st April, harkens back to the question posed by their 2020 album Nothing Is True and Everything Is Possible: “Is this a new beginning, or are we close to the end?” I sat down with band members Chris Batten and Rory Clewlow to talk about the recording process of their new album, their experiences during lockdown, and how COVID affected their approach to new music.
For more information visit:
https://www.soundspheremag.com/
https://www.entershikari.com/ 
 

John Robb talks about his new book, ’The Art of Darkness’, building a cult following with The Membranes

#JohnRobb
UK punk rock icon and Louder Than War founder, John Robb sits down with Dom Smith to discuss his new book, 'The Art of Darkness: The History of Goth', the cult status of The Membranes, and the "art" behind writing about music. 
For more information visit: https://membranes.bandcamp.com/merch/the-art-of-darkness-the-history-of-goth-john-robb
https://www.soundspheremag.com/ 

Ian Winwood on being a rockstar of the written word, the problem with music journalists in 2023

Ian Winwood talks openly and honestly to Dom Smith about his book, 'Bodies: Life and Death in Music', being a "rockstar" on the page, and his issue with modern music journalists working too hard to please PR teams.
For more information visit: https://www.faber.co.uk/author/ian-winwood/

Franklin James Fisher and Ryan Mahan discuss Algiers’ boundary-pushing, cinematic album, ’Shook’

Dom Smith sits down with Algiers' Franklin James Fisher and Ryan Mahan in the midst of their mammoth European and United States tour dates to discuss their genre-defying new album 'Shook' and all the ways that its development pushed them as artists. 
For more information visit:
https://www.soundspheremag.com/
https://algierstheband.com

Glen Matlock talks ‘Consequences Coming’, Wargasm and his musical journey after Sex Pistols

#GlenMatlock #SexPistols #blondie
Former Sex Pistols member, Glen Matlock talks openly about his new album, 'Consequences Coming', as well as his thoughts on new bands like WARGASM, and how he has developed personally through his musical journey.
http://glenmatlock.co.uk/
https://www.soundspheremag.com/