The Metal Cell Podcast

Barrfite is a band made up of: lead singer Harry Maloney, 19, from Stradbally in County Laois (near the border of County Kildare); guitarist Adam Hughes, 19, from Clarehall, County Dublin; bassist James Moriarty-Smyth, 19, from Sandyford in County Dublin; and drummer Sam Kelly, 18, from Newbridge, County Kildare. All four members of this outfit met last year while studying at the BIMM Institute music college in Dublin, and connected due to their similar taste in music, and the band was established in November of last year. Their sound varies from grudge to hardcore metal. Some of their main influences include Deftones, Alice In Chains, Queens of the Stone Age and The Scratch. Letty interviewed them at Fibber Magees as they were the headliner of the Rage Metal Night with Purify and Death Can Wait also on the bill. Band link: https://www.instagram.com/barrfite Song played: Black Sheep © Barrfite, all rights reserved.

I was delighted to welcome Greg (Vocalist) of Scottish Post Metal band Codespeaker, Tom (Guitars) of UK Post Metal band Hundred Year Old Man, Howard (Vocals/Guitars) of Irish Post Metal band Partholón and Evan of Dead Cult Promotions to talk about their upcoming Irish tour and dates. There was plenty to talk about especially with Codespeaker about to drop one of the best releases of 2024 with 'Scavenger, HYOM playing ArcTangent and debuting a new song at it and many more stories providing the back drop to this great chat and episode. Hope you enjoy it and hit 'SUBSCRIBE' to The Metal Cell YouTube channel. Cork link: https://www.facebook.com/events/526661266576317/?acontext=%7B%22eventactionhistory%22%3A[]%7D Band links: Codespeaker: https://codespeaker.bandcamp.com HYOM: https://hundredyearoldman.bandcamp.com Partholón: https://partholonian.bandcamp.com Uncultivates: https://uncultivates.bandcamp.com

It was a pleasure to welcome Julian (Vocals), Dave (Guitars) & John (Bass) of Cork based Perish The Thought onto the show. The group was formed in 2006 by Ian Walsh (Drums), and released two well received EPs in 2006 & 2008. The band expertly combine melody and hooks, whilst keeping the metal edge and groove throughout their songs. In 2009, Perish The Thought parted ways as the lads jumped into other music projects, with one of them being the ska band, Pontius Pilate & The Naildrivers, the best known band around Cork and still going strong today! There was plenty to delve into with Julian, Dave & John especially with the return of Perish The Thought and the release of their brilliant new EP 'Carrion' on August 2024. But to go forward we had to go back and try to figure out why they split up in the first place, talk about the scene back then and compare it to now and where the four piece fit into the ever changing metal scene in Ireland. Hope you enjoy the episode, click on the link to buy or support Perish The Thought and hit that 'SUBSCRIBE' button to see more interviews like this on The Metal Cell YouTube channel. Band link: https://perishthethought06.bandcamp.com Songs played: Carrion © Perish The Thought, all rights reserved. Night on the tiles © Perish The Thought, all rights reserved.

The twice yearly Siege of Limerick is one of the most anticipated events in every Irish Metalheads calendar. A huge array of talented bands from Ireland & all over Europe, along with fans all flock to Dolans on Limericks dockside, to experience this free three staged affair with a huge emphasis on music, respect and craic. John & Ciaran Culhane established Siege of Limerick in 2008 and with it about to celebrate it's 30th edition I thought it was a perfect time to catch up with John and find out what makes him keep doing it. John shares alot of insights into the running of both the Siege and Bad Reputation promotions, some great stories and many more wonderful facts on Siege of Limerick. I hope you enjoy this episode and please share it with your friends!

For this weeks podcast I'm joined by Roni from Words That Burn, Gav of Survivalist & Pete from LaVein, three of Irelands most powerful vocalists & also renowned live Metal acts.....I welcomed the lads onto the show to talk about their 'not to be missed' gig on Friday the 18th of October in the Academy 2 Dublin. Also joining the bands will be the unique Fuego Fatale, an all female alternative fire troupe that will certainly spice things up between band sets. I also get the lowdown on what all the bands have been working on over the last few months and what to expect from them in 2025 music wise. I hope you'll enjoy this really great chat with Roni, Gav & Pete, the links to their bands are below so buy some merch if you can afford to and the link to the gig is also there. Thanks for your support and please 'SUBSCRIBE' to the YouTube channel. Richie. Gig link: https://www.ticketmaster.ie/words-that-burn-survivalist-dublin-18-10-2024/event/180060AA875114DC Band link: https://wordsthatburn.bandcamp.com Song played: Sirens © Words That Burn, all rights reserved. https://survivalistni.bandcamp.com Song played: Greater Negative. © Survuvalist, all rights reserved. https://lavein.bandcamp.com/album Song played: Don't go into the water. © LaVein, all rights reserved.

Cork-based noise merchants WORN OUT have self released their sophomore EP, LOW to huge critical acclaim on August the 30th. The EP follows the release of single "Deeper" in July, and comes alongside the announcement of a headline run across Ireland later in 2024, with support from Grief Ritual and Lure In. LOW sees WORN OUT embrace the aggressive, abrasive and chaotic aspect of their metallic sound, as well as delving deeper into the more atmospheric side hinted at on their previous releases. Mixed by Joe Clayton and mastered by Sam Bloor, with the band taking on the majority of the recording themselves, the four-track EP combines a broad range of influences; clashing melody, dissonance & heavy rhythms with a scathing vocal delivery. I met up with the band in Dali, Cork where they will be doing the EP launch with Lure in on November the 9th. We talk about the recording of the EP, we talk about the differences in Worn Out since I last interviewed them for their previous EP 'Waste' and the tour schedule/plans for the next few months. Track played: Deeper © Worn Out, all rights reserved. Band link: https://linktr.ee/wornoutnoise

Kuyang are an alternative hardcore music group from Dublin, Ireland consisting of Roy Geary (Vocals) Sean Keogh (Guitar) Korey Thomas (Bass) & Emmet McNamee (Drums). Kuyang throws ideas of traditional songwriting out the window, aiming to push the envelope of Hardcore, all the while bringing their intense live performances to the forefront. This chapter marks a new era for the group, returning from what was once a side project to a fully fledged four piece, ready to deliver powerful emotionally charged music to a hungry audience. Letty catches up with the lads to talk about their formation, recording with JSR and music influences before they played the Workmans Club, Dublin. Song played: Guillotine Boy © Kuyang, all rights reserved.

Our special guest is Bariann Tuite of Fiadh Productions, New York. The U.S label’s founder and one-woman show, created Fiadh as a different kind of label, with a set of posted values in the bio: “Promoting all that is wild, dark & enchanting. Supporting animal rescue, rights & welfare. Female-run & antifascist." Other aspects of the label further set it apart, too — a commitment to publishing artists of diverse backgrounds and identities; charitable donations from revenues; a special connection to Ireland and the Irish metal scene with bands like Partholón, Grave Sermon and Dratna flying the flag for Fiadh. Myself, Howard of Parthólon and Danielle Meehan talk to Bariann about how the label was formed, her experiences running the label and her work with charities. Link: https://fiadh.bandcamp.com

It was a pleasure to have John O'Reilly (Vocals) & John Foley (Guitars) of Dublin Nu-Metal band Broken Habit on the show for the first time. The five piece with Rob (Guitars), Conor (Bass) and Andrew (Drums) started off life as a Linkin Park tribute band called Breaking the Habit in 2019. A name change, writing their own material and self producing saw them release their debut ep S.E.D.A.T.E. in August 17, 2024. We chat about the development of the band up to the release of S.E.D.A.T.E. and it wouldn't surprise me if Broken Habit shed more of their skin to encompass a far more welcoming heavier sound with their next release which they're currently working on. The band are keen to play plenty of gigs so hopefully we'll see them hit a few counties outside of Dublin in the next few months. Band link: https://linktr.ee/brokenhabit. Song played: Endings © Broken Habit, all rights reserved.

Martina and the Moons is an all-female four-piece band based in Dublin. They were one of the 32 acts selected by Ex Oh Promotions to play Mainroom at “The Next Big Thing” in Workman’s last January. They have recently supported the band ‘Thumper’ in a sold out Workmans mainroom, and they will take part in the female-fronted festival ‘We’ve Only Just Begun’, in Whelans. Furthermore, they filmed an acoustic set with Lips to Ears for their “Car Boot Sale” series, which can be found on Youtube. The band consists of Martina Moon (vocals, songwriting), Sarah Morgan (guitar), Aisling Stephens McGowan (bass), and Zahira Ellis (drums). Their debut single, Emigrate, has accumulated over 6000 streams on Spotify, and has been featured on publications such as GCN Magazine or The Going Out Out Guide. Their most recent single, Omnibus Boners, is on its way to 5000 streams and has been described by Strephen Byrne (Golden Plec) as ‘the latest example of Irish ladies delivering the goods’. Their influences vary from the singer songwriters of the 60s and 70s such as Paul Simon, Carole King or Joni Mitchell, to the BritPop and rock bands of the 90s, such as Elastica, Catatonia, Radiohead or Blur. Their lyrics talk about alienation and about yearning for connection, complemented by crunchy guitars, loud drums and catchy vocal melodies. Band link: martinaandthemoons.com Song played: Omnibus Boners © Martina and the Moons, all rights reserved.

Grave Sermon, known for their aggressive, chaotic, and blasting Death Metal, are set to release their new EP Liturgical Perversions on September 1, 2024. The band’s lineup includes current and former members from notable acts such as Legion of Wolves, Abaddon Incarnate, Thy Sinister Bloom, Aeternum Vale, Aesect, Twisted Element, and Ground of Ruin. It was a pleasure to welcome back on the show Cory (Bass) & Jason (Drums) of Death Metal band Grave Sermon. We talk through the preparation, recording and themes of their soon to be released ep 'Liturgical Perversions'. The lads fill me in on the build up to their ep launch gig in Sin E, Sept 14th, featuring Stranglewire, Fraught and Blood Soaked and recent appearance at Siege of Limerick. Liturgical Perversions, comprises four tracks of finely honed, pummeling death metal, marking a significant step up from previous releases in both ambition and execution. This EP delves into themes of penance and perdition, exposing the rank hypocrisy and ultimate ruination of zealots consumed by their own decadence, depravity, and inequity. Lauuch night tickets are now available through Eventbrite. Cost: €8 + booking fee. https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/strangle-wire-grave-sermon-fraught-blood-soaked-live-sin-e-tickets-1001401337357?aff=oddtdtcreator Band Link: https://gravesermon.bandcamp.com Songs played: This Mortal Disease © Grave Sermon, all rights reserved. Vial Of Wrath © Grave Sermon, all rights reserved.

It was great to welcome back Alex & Junior of Belfast band Lock Horns to the podcast to talk about their new release 'Red Room'. Lock Horns have gone out and recorded one of the heaviest albums of the year, there simply is no room for sentimental acoustical passages or long self indulgent solos. This is pulsing, nerve shredding hatred and rage confined within the twenty eight minutes that make up 'Red Room'. We talk through all the tracks, get some brilliant insights from Alex & Junior and try to figure out where this will take them as a band. Another serious contender for album of the year for me and do not miss Lock Horns launch show on the 13th of September in Voodoo Belfast with support from Nihilanth! Please 'SUBSCRIBE' to The Metal Cell YouTube channel! Band Link: https://lockhornsni.bandcamp.com/album/red-room Songs played on this episode © Lock Horns, all rights reserved.

Partholón, known for their ability to seamlessly blend lingering melodies with crushing riffs, has been a driving force in the Post-Metal/Sludge scene since their inception. Hailing from Cork, Daniel Howard (Vocals/Guitars) & Alan Setter (Drums/Backing Vocals) have seen numerous changes to their band, musician wise yet their collective musical prowess has earned them acclaim for pushing the boundaries of the genre while maintaining a distinct identity and sound. Their debut release “Follow Me Through Body” (2016) laid down a foundation of extremely heavy music with a heightened emotional charge. A split 7″ release with Soothsayer (IRL) followed titled: “All We Are.” In summer 2024, Partholón released “The Ocean Pours In”. It is a cathartic journey of life imitating art. From the Mary Russell seafaring tragedy to the death of an ancient tradition, five songs, spanning 37 mins, explore the hearts and minds of those that have come and gone. Married with the legend of Partholón, the tracks explore local history, mythology, tragedy and truth. I met up with Daniel, Alan & Kirk Kelly (album photographer) over two days to talk about the creation of the album and to record the stories behind it. Band link: https://partholonian.bandcamp.com All songs © Partholón, all rights reserved. Please 'Subscribe' to The Metal Cell YouTube channel for more content like this. Thanks to everyone involved in helping make this documentary happen! Richie.

Letty catches up with Aaron (Vocals/Bass), Sean (Guitars/B.Vocals) & Jake (Drums) of Dublin Thrash/Groove Metal band Unmaker in this pre-recorded interview before they played a sold out show at the Academy supporting Cavalera Conspiracy. The band chat about the prep for recording their second album, producers, influences and a few other topics before they hit the stage! (Audio only) Unmaker links: https://www.facebook.com/Unmakermetal https://unmaker1.bandcamp.com/ Song played: Status Zero © Unmaker, all rights reserved.

It was a pleasure to welcome a brand new band to the podcast, the Laois based Chiral Labs. The band experiment with all forms of punk, metal, rock and dance to create their own hyrid form of alternative metal. Formed by guitarist, producer and sound engineer, Gary Duncan from Portlaoise, a producer at Red Lake Sound locally, and vocalist Adam Brewer, originally from Dublin, the lads were joined by Spooky’ Chris Craig on guitars, and bassist Al ‘Buster Bhoy’ Tierney. I talk to Adam, Gary and Al about their approach to song writing, videos and future gig plans. The lads certainly fall under the 'ones to watch' category as they offer an exciting approach to their music visually and creatively. Check out their link below and dive into the sonic underworld with Chiral Labs. https://chirallabs.ie/ Song played: In The Company of Wolves © Chiral Labs, all rights reserved.

It was a pleasure to welcome Willow (Vocals/Bass) and Luke (Drums) of Tech Death/Thrash band Aesect onto the show. The band have released three absolutely face melting singles so far with Willow stepping forward to take over vocal duties. I was really looking forward to discussing that brilliant transformation as a front man with Willow along with the thought process that went into the videos to match up with the singles. One of which has already been flagged by YouTube as being too extreme. We cover plenty of topics on this great catch-up with Aesect as the lads prep for the release of a new album and a look to book a series of gigs around the country. They are certainly one of my favorite bands out there at the moment and I cannot wait to see them live once again. Band links: https://heylink.me/aesect https://www.facebook.com/AeSect Songs played: Revolutionary Suicide © Aesect, all rights reserved. Simulacra © Aesect, all rights reserved.

It was great to welcome brothers Sean and Tomás Hynes of the relatively new band, Adversary on the show. Word has travelled quickly in the Irish Scene about the three piece following blistering sets at The Siege of Limerick and Metal to the Masses. Formed by Sean Hynes as a one man project, Adversary starting releasing demos in 2022 before announcing they were a three-piece in 2023, consisting of the talents of brother Tomás (No Hassle, Foroasi gan Iniuchadh) and their well known uncle Shane (Death the Leveller, Mael Mordha). I talk with Sean & Tomás in this pre-recorded interview on the back of that triumphant Siege appearance. We cover their formation, song writing, gigs and many more interesting topics as I try to get behind the veil of mystic that this Blackened Doom metal band have conjured up in such a short space of time. Band link: https://adversary0.bandcamp.com Song played: Alas, a Peaceful Death © Adversary, all rights reserved.

It was a pleasure to catch up with Ciaran Coghlan (Guitars/Vocals), Ollie Cunningham (Drums) & Tomás O'Brein (Bass) of Coroza, in the historic setting of Rostellan Woods, Aghada in East Cork. An area well known to myself and Ciaran, and home to the Rostellan Dolmen amongst many other unique sites. The dolmen sits in the sea and is unique in that it opens to the east, rather than facing the setting sun, as does the normal, land-locked portal tomb. Pat O'Regan, in his review of 'As Within' described Coroza as having harnessed all that is monolithic and monumental within the extreme music spectrum and crafted an album that is both fearless and formidable. The four piece comprising of Ciaran, Ollie, Tomás and Jack O'Neill (Guitars/Vocals) have joined with Cursed Monk Records to release the album. This interview was pre-recorded before the release date so the lads were unaware of the massive swell of critical acclaim it has since achieved both here and further abroad. Thanks to Ciaran, Ollie & Tomás for sharing their insights into the making and recording of 'As Within'. Buy it now! Please 'SUBSCRIBE' to The Metal Cell YouTube channel to see more content like this. Album Link: https://cursedmonk.bandcamp.com/album/as-within Coroza are appearing on Monkfest 6th ofJuly Pharmacia, Limerick and will play the whole album: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/monk-fest-2024-tickets-765729105367 Songs played: MYRRH © COROZA, all rights reserved.

We were delighted to welcome Alex of Tooms, Eoghan of Slung from a Tree and Emmet of From The Depths Podcast on the show to talk about the upcoming eight band Doom/Sludge & Metal festival Monkfest. The lads along with Roger of Cursed Monk records are gearing up for the third year of Monkfest in Pharmacia, Limerick. Bands playing are Blut (UK), Geist (UK) and Irish acts, Luxury Mollusc, Soothsayer, Coroza, Tooms, True Home & Slung from a Tree. All money raised will be donated to Temple St. Children's Hospital and will be split between the Neurology Department and the Play Therapy Department to honour the memory of Rogers niece Ash who was so well looked after by Temple St. in her final months. Tickets are €20 each and will allow access to the live performances upstairs in the venue beginning at 6pm with doors at 5.30pm. The From The Depths Lane Party will begin at 3pm and will be free to attend. Ticket Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/monk-fest-2024-tickets-765729105367 Cursed Monk Link: https://www.cursedmonk.com All music played courtesy of Cursed Monk Records © and all rights reserved.

Formed in Dublin, Ireland, in 2007, Hero In Error was founded by drummer Stephen Reilly and guitarist Gary Regan, the band’s inception was fueled by the desire to blend the diverse styles of Mastodon, Deftones, Smashing Pumpkins, and Sikth. The five piece which are completed by Rob Powderly (Guitars), Jay Doyle (Bass) and UK based vocalist Kaan Tasan have just released their incredible self titled EP and are now ready to tour a blistering live set consisting of all your favourite past Hero in Error songs alongside the three new ones, 'Enemy Within, 'Moths to a Flame' and 'Left In Your Absence'. I talk to Gary and Confey in this pre-recorded episode about how these songs came to fruition, future plans and some other interesting topics on this exciting new phase of Hero In Error. Band link: https://hero-in-error.bandcamp.com/album/hero-in-error Songs played: Enemy Within © Hero In Error, all rights reserved. Moths to a Flame © Hero In Error, all rights reserved.