Author: Brian Kelleher

Rivers Of Nihil made a big splash with their 2018 record Where Owls Know My Name, and not just because of the sax. The record featured some razor sharp guitar tones as well as some lush ambient reverb drenched almost synth like passages – and much more. Now all of those tones are available on Brody Uttley’s new Kemper pack. We catch up with the man to get the details.

Joyous Wolf have spent the last few years growing their reputation for fierce live shows – opening for everyone from Slash to Deep Purple – all without releasing an album. That all changes in 2021, as guitarist Blake Allard tells us.

Despite not picked up an instrument in person together for over a year, Of Mice And Men have written and recorded a killer new EP, Timeless, set for release Friday February 26th. We caught up with guitarist Phil Manansala to talk about the new EP, his twitch stream and his incredible guitar collection.

GWAR have made a career out of being drug addicted space aliens with a live show that leaves the audience covered in blood. We caught up with the band’s human slave Mike Derks to talk about the 30th anniversary of their sophomore record Scumdogs Of The Universe his current guitar setup, and trying to keep his guitar dry in a stage covered in fake blood.

With the release of Death By Rock And Roll, The Pretty Reckless put a couple of hard years behind them to deliver a record that’s been many years in the making. We caught up with guitarist and co-songwriter Ben Philips to talk about the record, modelling amps, and his enduring love for the Gibson ES-335.

We caught up with Swiss progressive deathcore mainstays Dreamshade to talk guitars ahead of the release of their killer new record A Pale Blue Dot

Darkest Hour are hitting you on all sides in 2021 with the release of their new live record, as well as Mike’s new signature ESP MSV1. We caught up with him to check out the specs and what makes this thing so special.

Even after almost 35 years and 10 albums, Asphyx never give up on moving their sound forward and creating killer records, and recently released epic Necroceros is no exception. We caught up with guitarist Paul Baayens to get the lowdown on the record.

When you talk about the little guys making big waves in the Kemper profiling world, MattFig is the first name that comes to mind. We caught up with him to get some of the deets behind his killer profiles.

Texas Americana singer/songwriter Austin Meade is ready to kick off 2021 in style, with the release of his third record and debut for Snakefarm Records coming up in March, and a bevvy of dates on the road. We caught up with him to talk touring during covid and gear, sweet gear.

Gatecreeper are known for their sometimes sludgy “stadium death metal” – so the surprise release of a half dozen grindcore songs (plus one funeral doom dirge) came as a shock to many. We caught up with The Darkest Cowboy (guitarist Eric Wagner) to talk about their new release, An Unexpected Reality.

Kicking off the “most anticpated” list for 2021 is Frozen Soul’s Centrury Media debut Crypt Of Ice! We caught up with the band to talk about the record and their icy tone.

Ireland’s Bitch Falcon take an unconventional approach to everything from creating synth like walls of vocals to using guitars as percussion instruments. We caught up with singer/guitarist Lizzie Fitzpatrick to get the squeeze.

My Kid Brother’s self titled debut EP for Fearless Records is, in their own words, full of “warm piano, wistful psychedelic melodies, off-kilter guitar, wiry grooves, iridescent harmonies” – and we agree! We catch up with the band to talk guitars and plans.

The Acacia Strain have spent the last year redefining the record release process, with two quite different new records that ignore the expected release schedule model. Within those records too the band packs a masterclass in how to downtune but still be articulate. We caught up with guitarist Tom Smith to discuss the two latest records, lockdown podcasting, and the incredible amount of gear that goes into The Acacia Strain’s sound.

Listening to Spirit Adrift, one influence rings out over any other – Ireland’s contribution to rock canon, Thin Lizzy (who almost make up for U2). We caught up with singer/guitarist Nate Garrett to talk about the bands, the riffs, the legend.

With only five years as a band under their belt, Ego Kill Talent have somehow managed to have a career most bands dream of, including tours with the likes of Foo Fighters and QOTSA. We caught up with Ego Kill Talent bassist and drummer Theo van der Loo to talk guitars, Dave Grohl’s house, and the famous Neve console

Somehow after 24 years and 7 albums, Within Temptation are still able to come out with new music that doesn’t rest on the laurels of the band, but instead pushes them forward. However, it’s not just musically that the band is embracing progress – they tell us about their new found love of digital amps.

Movement’s new record No Good Left To Give, recorded with post-hardcore superproducer Will Yip, is quickly shaping up to be a classic of the no longer nascent genre. I caught up with guitarist Ira George to talk about the band, the record and songs you might want to try at home.

One could be forgiven for thinking War On Women’s new album Wonderful Hell was titled for 2020 – except there’s nothing wonderful about this hellscape. We caught up with guitarist Brooks Harlan to discuss the record, not touring, and when to use amp sims.

If you love Soundgarden, Led Zeppelin and the Black Keys, you’ll love BRKN LOVE’s debut record. We caught up with singer and guitarist Justin Benlolo ahead of the November 19th special edition.

Skeletal Remains have been blazing an old school death metal trail for nine years and three albums, but their newest record steps things up a notch with some amazing Morbid Angel infused technical superiority. We caught up with to find out about the records, and what gear they used to get it’s grinding tones.

We interview James McBain, the man behind Scotland’s fast rising blackened speed metal titans Hellripper about being a one man band, Fleetwood Mac, and how to record an album on your own.

Terminal Nation have caused quite a stir with their debut album Holocene Extinction. The record combines death metal and grindcore, and then filters it through a sizeable dose of powerviolence, leaving us with a record that feels like the soundtrack to 2020. We caught up with guitarist Dalton Rail to get the inside scoop on the band, the record, and the mountain of tone that is Holocene Extinction.

As Strike Anywhere release their first recorded music in over ten years, the lean Nightmares of the West EP, we caught up with guitarist Matt Smith to talk about Dr Z amps, how wrong Equipboard can be, and guitars that have had the ever living shit kicked out of them.

Ten years on from their self titled debut’s mix of hardcore and doom, Xibalba have finally made the transition to a full on death doom band with the release of their new record, Años En Infierno. I spent some time with guitarist Brian Ortiz, talking about metal, throwing away guitar strings, and the diversity of California’s hardcore and metal scenes.