Into The Necrosphere

This week I'm joined by the one and only Tommy Victor, frontman, guitarist and driving force behind the mighty Prong. Few musicians have navigated the evolution of heavy music quite like Tommy, and his story takes us from the streets of 1980s New York and his formative years working behind the mixing desk at the legendary CBGB's, through the evolution of Prong from “Force Fed” to “Cleansing” and beyond. We get deep into the making of those landmark records, the unexpected success of “Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck”, the fascinating story behind the divisive “Rude Awakening”, and the industry decisions that helped shape the band's trajectory. Along the way, Tommy shares some candid recollections of working with Glenn Danzig and Al Jourgensen, the strange alchemy behind writing truly timeless music, and why some of the best things in a musician's career simply cannot be manufactured or replicated. On this week's Weekly News Rant, we check out new music from Cloak, the excellent debut single from Avgrum, Nox and Necronautical, before getting into the latest Malevolent Creation line-up implosion. I also share my thoughts on the future direction of black metal, and discuss potential future documentary projects following the release of Murtad. Plus, a social media temper tantrum earns one Damnation Festival-goer the Swirly Of The Week, and Matt Priso is back with another crushing SIK track, featured on Unsanctioned Filth.   Featured Bands Prong: https://prongband.bandcamp.com/    SIK: https://sikmusic2.bandcamp.com/   Abominator: https://abominator.bandcamp.com/    Visit intothenecrosphere.com for playlists and more. Subscribe for weekly black and death metal interviews, news rants and reviews. Follow on X, Instagram and Facebook, and check out the Horsemen of the Podcasting Apocalypse: Horrorwolf 666, Iblis Manifestations, Everything Went Black, Necromaniacs and The Sol Nox Podcast.  

This week on Into The Necrosphere, I’m joined by Sina Winter, the man behind From The Vastland, for a deep dive into one of the most fascinating projects in contemporary black metal. We discuss the band's latest album, Servant Of Ahriman, an ambitious concept record rooted in ancient Persian mythology. Sina talks me through the symbolism and cultural significance of the story, the suppression of Iran's pre-Islamic heritage, and the extraordinary circumstances that shaped his own journey from making black metal in a country where the music is forbidden to finding his place in the Norwegian scene. Along the way, we get into morality police arrests, threats from the Iranian authorities, the making of the acclaimed Blackhearts documentary, and the remarkable chain of events that ultimately brought him to Norway. Then, on my Weekly News Rant, we kick things off with the long-awaited return of Leviathan and a first taste of the forthcoming Die To This, before getting into new music from Azarath, 200 Stab Wounds, Golgothan Remains, Gates Of Ishtar, Ovate, Deathbarrel, Kalt Vindur and more. I also give you my thoughts on the new Carnivore A.D. single, run through some of my most anticipated releases for 2027, and tackle a couple of listener questions, including my ten favourite Type O Negative songs. And, naturally, self-appointed moral arbiters of the black metal scene are forced to face a watery reckoning on my Swirly Of The Week. Plus: Austrian black metallers, Vargsriket, make their Unsanctioned Filth debut.   Featured Bands From The Vastland: https://fromthevastland.bandcamp.com/   Vargsriket: https://vargsriket.bandcamp.com/  Armagedda: https://armagedda.bandcamp.com/    Visit intothenecrosphere.com for playlists and more. Subscribe for weekly black and death metal interviews, news rants and reviews. Follow on X, Instagram and Facebook, and check out the Horsemen of the Podcasting Apocalypse: Horrorwolf 666, Iblis Manifestations, Everything Went Black, Necromaniacs and The Sol Nox Podcast.

This week, I’m honoured to welcome London May, actor, musician and drummer for the legendary Samhain, to Into The Necrosphere. London has a fascinating story that extends well beyond music and we kick things off by exploring his early years as an aspiring actor, a troubled childhood that saw him arrested at just twelve years old, and the unlikely journey that eventually led him to become part of one of the most influential bands to emerge from the American underground. From there, we get into Samhain, the enduring legacy of November Coming Fire, the band’s 2014 reunion and some of the misconceptions surrounding Glenn Danzig. This is a candid, wide-ranging conversation with a man whose story is every bit as compelling as the music he helped bring to life. Then it’s on to the Weekly News Rant, where I’m dissecting new tracks by Sinister, Devastator, Heathen, Tortured Demon, Panzerfaust, Silvertomb and more.  I also tackle more of your questions, including the bands that have changed their sound for the worse, my black metal desert island playlist, and some of the records currently dominating my listening rotation. And, on the Swirly Of The Week, self-righteous nitwits melting down over a benign comment by James Hetfield receive short shrift - and a double-dunk down the porcelain bowl of reckoning. Plus: Australian death doom export, Nyctalor, join the register of legends featured on the Unsanctioned Filth segment.     Featured Bands Nyctalor: https://nyctalor.bandcamp.com/  Visit intothenecrosphere.com for playlists and more. Subscribe for weekly black and death metal interviews, news rants and reviews. Follow on X, Instagram and Facebook, and check out the Horsemen of the Podcasting Apocalypse: Horrorwolf 666, Iblis Manifestations, Everything Went Black, Necromaniacs and The Sol Nox Podcast.

Sam Bean and Matt Wilcock of Australian death metal maniacs Werewolves join me this week to discuss their latest album, You’re Weak And You Know You’re Weak, the band's future plans, and the uncompromising philosophy that drives their music. We also get into the triumphant return of The Berzerker, discussing what it was like to play the band's first show back, revisiting their early days, and examining the circumstances that led to the project falling apart in the first place.  On the Weekly News Rant, Mike Scondotto is back to help me dissect the latest singles by Power Trip, Arckanum, Down, Det Eviga Leendet, and Temple Nightside. We share our reactions to the trailer for Mike Flannigan’s new Exorcist movie, and we also get into your questions, including which bands we'd choose if forced at gunpoint to listen to our least favourite metal subgenres, wrapping things up by awarding the second-ever Dutch Shake. Plus: the debut of Australian newcomers, Isartu, on this week’s Unsanctioned Filth segment.     Featured Bands Werewolves: https://werewolvesdeathmetal.bandcamp.com/    Marduk:  https://marduk.nu/    Visit intothenecrosphere.com for playlists and more. Subscribe for weekly black and death metal interviews, news rants and reviews. Follow on X, Instagram and Facebook, and check out the Horsemen of the Podcasting Apocalypse: Horrorwolf 666, Iblis Manifestations, Everything Went Black, Necromaniacs and The Sol Nox Podcast.

Harri Kuokkanen returns to Into The Necrosphere to discuss the tenth Hail Conjurer album, Abyss & Ekstasis, and the very different creative process that brought it to life. After almost two years between the recording of this album and its predecessor, Order Of Disgrace, Harri deliberately approached the new record from a more structured and premeditated perspective, composing the music, lyrics and arrangements before entering the recording process. We discuss why he felt the need for a fresh approach after a decade of creating Hail Conjurer, the tension between instinct and control that has defined the project since its inception, and how each album has become a process of shedding the skin and becoming something new. Then, on the Weekly News Rant, Karl Haikara joins me to tribute to the late, great Cronos of Venom, reflecting on his enormous influence on black metal and the countless bands who simply would not have existed in the same form without him.  We round up new tracks by Wolves In The Throne Room, Arctos, Goat Major and Dumal for judgment, debate the merits of overly literal storytelling and concept-driven lyrics, answer your questions on Elden Ring and our favourite full live sets available on YouTube, and discuss why some of the best live footage can capture a band in a way that studio recordings simply cannot. Plus: a Premiere On The Sphere with Black Flame Altar delivering an exclusive preview of their upcoming release, “Runes of Darkness & Blood”.     Featured Bands Hail Conjurer: https://hailconjurer.bandcamp.com/   Black Flame Altar:  https://blackflamealtar.bandcamp.com/   Venom:  https://venomlegions.bandcamp.com/     Visit intothenecrosphere.com for playlists and more. Subscribe for weekly black and death metal interviews, news rants and reviews. Follow on X, Instagram and Facebook, and check out the Horsemen of the Podcasting Apocalypse: Horrorwolf 666, Iblis Manifestations, Everything Went Black, Necromaniacs and The Sol Nox Podcast.