Into The Necrosphere

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. Show Links: ⬇️⬇️ YOUTUBE: youtu.be/Gino4_3TgvY APPLE: apple.co/38wDYhi AMAZON: amzn.to/3epNJ4K SPOTIFY: spoti.fi/3iKqbIP

One of my favourite interviews to date (which, given we're at Ep 337 is saying something). If you haven't seen this episode yet, make sure you check it out ASAP.

This week, I’m honoured to welcome @RealLondonMay, 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_UK, Heathen, Tortured Demon, Panzerfaust, @Silvertombband 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.   Out now on all digital platforms: YOUTUBE: youtu.be/xPuZknveIbQ APPLE: apple.co/38wDYhi AMAZON: amzn.to/3epNJ4K SPOTIFY: spoti.fi/3iKqbIP #londonmay #samhain #metalpodcast

I first came across Shayan and his band, Trivax, after a random thought led me to their profile on Metal Archives. Were there any black metal bands in Iran, I wondered? It turned out there were, and I immediately reached out to Shayan to invite him onto Into The Necrosphere. It's safe to say we became fast friends from there. As I got to know Shayan over the years and learned more about his story, I began to think that someone needed to make a documentary about it. Earlier this year, I decided that someone was going to be me. And so began an endeavour I'd never attempted before. I fumbled my way through an entirely new process, learning as I went, until I arrived at the end result: MURTAD. A documentary about resilience, the refusal to let your dreams die, and the reality of what it means to yearn for freedom when living under a religious theocracy. I'm not a professional filmmaker, and this was very much a journey into uncharted territory for me. But I poured countless hours into this project, approaching every question, every shot and every edit with the utmost respect — not only for Shayan and TRIVAX, but for everyone living under similar circumstances. This was never just about making a film about a band. It was about telling a story I believed deserved to be heard. I hope I've done my friend's story justice. MURTAD is out now on YouTube. youtu.be/GR2IWTxR9HA

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This week I’m joined by the legendary Gene Palubicki, the guitarist and driving force behind Angelcorpse, Perdition Temple, Hexorcist and Malefic Throne, to talk about his decades-long career in extreme metal and his refusal to stand still creatively. We get into the mid-’90s period when, in Gene’s words, death metal started to go soft, the creation and enduring impact of Angelcorpse, the importance of ignoring genre boundaries and outside expectations, his prolific approach to songwriting, and the excellent new Hexorcist album, “Crucificial Implications”. Then it’s on to The Weekly News Rant, where I’m joined by the sinister minister himself, Karl Hikara. We weigh in on the latest developments around My Dying Bride and Nevermore, and discuss our favourite albums of all time. We also round up the latest tracks from Power From Hell, SRPNTS, Nova Militiae, Atomic Aggressor and Hail Conjurer for judgement, while getting sidetracked into everything from the decline of physical-release extras to a head-to-head comparison of cover recordings of Venom’s “In League With Satan.” Plus: West Yorkshire extremists, Soul Grief, take a bow on the Unsanctioned Filth segment with their latest single, The Misosophist. Show Links: YOUTUBE: youtu.be/5k9GTw0P-Ug APPLE: apple.co/38wDYhi AMAZON: amzn.to/3epNJ4K SPOTIFY: spoti.fi/3iKqbIP

This week, I’m back at Fortress Festival 2026 for a face-to-face interview with Ken Sorceron of Abigail Williams. We dive into the early days of the band, as Ken shares stories from their first-ever tour, supporting none other than the legendary Emperor. We also talk about Abigail Williams’ evolution alongside the development of the US black metal scene, and Ken shares the story behind the making of the band’s most recent album, A Void Within Existence. On the Weekly News Rant, I’m answering YOUR questions, including which non-metal guests I’d love to have on the show, which revered bands I just can’t get into, and which musicians I’ve interviewed whose music I ended up liking more — but the person less. Plus, plenty more! I also round up new music from Tony Iommi, @Silvertombband, Sigh, Krallice, Kanonenfieber and Critical Defiance for judgment. PLUS — Illinois blackened death metallers, Solt, serve up a man-sized helping of “Unsanctioned Filth”. Out now on all digital platforms.

This week, I'm honoured to welcome all three founding members of Sweden's legendary Vinterland - Andreas Jonsson, Pehr Larsson and Danel Bragman - to Into The Necrosphere. Not only is this their first appearance on the show, but it also marks the first long-form podcast interview any of the three founding members have ever given together, making this a genuinely historic conversation. We explore the story behind “Welcome My Last Chapter” - from its enduring legacy and why it continues to resonate decades later, to the band's long absence, their return to the stage, the evolution of their songwriting, and why Vinterland has always followed its own path rather than the expectations of the black metal scene. We also revisit the chaotic journey that nearly prevented the band from making it to Fortress Festival, reflect on what it means to create timeless music, and discuss what the future holds for Vinterland after one of metal's most unlikely and celebrated comebacks. On the Weekly News Rant, Karl Haikara returns to the show to round up the latest releases from Terrestrial Hospice, Taake, Forbidden, Rapid and others for judgement. We discuss the recently announced formation of Towards The Sinister, list the metal subgenres we simply can't get into, pay tribute to the late, great Lou Koller from Sick of it All and on the Swirly of the Week we take aim at black metal fans afraid of buying a T-shirt without first checking whether it's socially acceptable. PLUS - two exclusive Premieres On The Sphere, courtesy of Theosophy and Conspiracy X. Out now on all digital platforms. #vinterland #blackmetal #deathmetal

This week on Into The Necrosphere, I'm joined by Psycroptic frontman Jason Peppiatt to discuss the band's crushing new album, The Pulse of Annihilation, and the remarkable journey that brought him to one of extreme metal's most respected acts. Jason reflects on his early days as a fan of the band, how the opportunity to join Psycroptic came about, and what it was like stepping into the shoes of a long-established vocalist before helping ushering in the band's next chapter. From there, we dive into why so much modern metal has lost its humanity, the unintended consequences of click tracks and digital recording, and why the best extreme metal still needs a little danger and imperfection. We also reminisce about discovering death metal through the legendary Nuclear Blast 'Death Is Just The Beginning' tapes, the surreal experience of eventually sharing stages - and beers - with heroes like Cannibal Corpse, memorable touring stories, and what it takes for a band to remain relevant more than two decades into their career. Then, Nathan Glover of Graveir joins me for another instalment of the Weekly News Rant as we round up the latest singles from Veilburner, Firtan, Februus, Hesperia, End of Green and more. A demented campaign against a local metal institution earns the Swirly of the Week, while Ohio blackened death industrialists Preliminus bask in the glory of the Unsanctioned Filth spotlight. Show Links: YOUTUBE: youtu.be/286abtBMha0 APPLE: apple.co/38wDYhi AMAZON: amzn.to/3epNJ4K SPOTIFY: spoti.fi/3iKqbIP

This week on Into The Necrosphere, Alan Averill returns to the podcast for one of our most thought-provoking conversations to date. We discuss what it means to become a legacy band, why @PrimordialEire's lyrics seem more relevant today than they did thirty years ago, the rise of AI and its impact on creativity, and whether heavy metal is still capable of producing artists with genuine authenticity and staying power. We also explore the changing nature of the music industry, the pressures of growing older in extreme metal, why so much modern art feels increasingly disposable, and Alan shares his thoughts on the state of the scene as only he can. On the Weekly News Rant, I check out the latest singles by @HULDER_OFFICIAL, From The Vastland, Terrestrial Hospice, Mordant Rhed, Left To Die and others, debate which modern black metal bands have what it takes to replace the likes of Mayhem, Emperor and Satyricon as genuine festival headliners, countdown my favourite Motörhead songs and, of course, dunk another deserving recipient on my Swirly of the Week.  Plus: Epikoros deliver a fire-and-brimstone debut with “Black Sun Eclipse” and take a thoroughly deserved bow in the Unsanctioned Filth spotlight. Out now on all digital platforms (link in bio). #primordial #blackmetal #nemtheanga

This week on Into The Necrosphere, I'm joined by Adam Gregory, Festival Director of Bloodstock Open Air, for an in-depth conversation about the past, present and future of the UK's biggest independent metal festival. We discuss the challenge of finding the next generation of festival headliners, Bloodstock's remarkable growth, booking philosophy, the changing landscape of heavy music, and why Adam believes AI-generated bands have no place in metal. We also dive into fan expectations, social media criticism, the realities of running a major festival, and what it takes to keep Bloodstock thriving in an increasingly competitive market. Then it's time for another edition of The Weekly News Rant, with the Reverend Karl Hikara returning to the co-host's chair. This week we round up the latest singles from Psycroptic, Fuming Mouth, Green Carnation, Abyssal Rift, Heretic Cult Redeemer and more for judgement, get our first horrifying taste of rent-a-slattern metallers Dogma, put simp culture in heavy metal firmly on blast, and reward made-up complaints about the YouTube algorithm with the Swirly of the Week. PLUS: Northumberland black metallers Unto Thee joins the pantheon of legends featured on the Unsanctioned Filth segment of the podcast, with their latest track, “We Were Fire.” Show Links: YOUTUBE: youtu.be/JkkpHhql8ME APPLE: apple.co/38wDYhi AMAZON: amzn.to/3epNJ4K SPOTIFY: spoti.fi/3iKqbIP

This week I’m joined by former Marduk bassist and legendary producer Magnus “Devo” Andersson for an in-depth conversation about his journey into recording and sound engineering, his years in Marduk, and life beyond one of black metal’s most greatest bands. Then, Drugoth returns for the Weekly News Rant as we break down the latest singles from Samael, Behemoth, Cvinger and Hexbane. We also debate the merits of gatekeeping, count down our all-time favourite beatdowns, and, on this week’s Swirly of the Week, hand out multiple dunks down the Porcelain Bowl of Reckoning for black metal T-shirt bootleggers and anyone suffering conniptions over a romantic interest’s record collection. PLUS: Lake Cheko, the new project from my guest, joins the ranks of the Unsanctioned Filth alumni with their crushing new single, “The Antikogol Trust Initiative.” Out now on all digital platforms.

This week I'm joined by Jason Mendonca, David Gray and Sam Loynes from @AkercockeBand at the Fortress Forum, part of Fortress Festival 2026, to reflect on their seminal 2003 masterpiece, Choronzon. The band reveal lesser-known stories from the making of the album, discuss its enduring legacy, and share their thoughts on how both the metal scene and wider culture have changed since its release. I also ask about the possibility of new material, and the band takes questions from the audience. On the Weekly News Rant, Dan Barkasi of No Clean Singing joins me to round up the latest singles from Psycroptic, Seven Chains, Flykt, Witches Hammer and more for judgment. Dan also shares his experience of Fortress Festival 2026 as we discuss our standout performances of the weekend and the bands we'd most like to see added to the line-up in 2027. PLUS: Wyrdstaef unleash "Great Migrations", the first single from their forthcoming debut album, Primordial Bloodlines. Show Links: YOUTUBE: youtu.be/BTlTIlErEw4 APPLE: apple.co/38wDYhi AMAZON: amzn.to/3epNJ4K SPOTIFY: spoti.fi/3iKqbIP

This week Catherine and Hamish Glencross join me for a raucous, wide-ranging discussion featuring a deep dive into the making of the new Projections record by Godthrymm. We explore the evolution of the band’s sound across their three-album discography, Catherine’s increasingly prominent role on newer material, and the perks and pitfalls of balancing marriage, family and careers with life in a band. Along the way, Hamish also shares insights from his time with Vallenfyre and My Dying Bride — and I drop a huge announcement of my own. Then it’s on to the Weekly News Rant, where I round up the latest singles from Verzauber, Chamber of Unlight, Left to Die, Witch Club Satan and more for judgment. I also share my list of must-see bands at this weekend’s Fortress Festival, talk about my favourite film scores, and plenty more besides. PLUS: UK blackened death metal upstarts Leadbelcher deliver a “Premiere On The Sphere” with their latest single — while reanimating a fallen icon because you’re starved for attention and money earns a one-way trip to the porcelain bowl of reckoning for this week’s Swirly of the Week. Show Links: YOUTUBE: youtu.be/BTlTIlErEw4 APPLE: apple.co/38wDYhi AMAZON: amzn.to/3epNJ4K SPOTIFY: spoti.fi/3iKqbIP

1. Rammstein 2. Akercocke 3. Biohazard 4. Mayhem 5. RUÏM 6. Misthyrming 7. Gehenna 8. Abbath 9. Deicide 10. Akhlys

This week I’m joined by Justin Greaves and Belinda Kordic to discuss the making of the latest Crippled Black Phoenix offering, Sceaduhelm. We dive deep into the album’s influences and the inspiration behind many of its tracks. Along the way, we also explore Justin and Belinda’s individual musical journeys — from Justin growing up around his father’s record store, which helped shape his remarkably broad musical palette, to Belinda’s evolution from extreme metal screamer into one of the most stirring and distinctive vocalists in heavy music today. On the Weekly News Rant, Sheriff Mike Scondotto returns by popular demand to help round up the latest singles for judgment and mull over the metal issues of the day. We give our first impressions of new tracks by Anthrax, Madball, Forsmán and others, while also answering some of your questions. PLUS: two servings of Unsanctioned Filth courtesy of Christbane with a track from their upcoming record, Antichrist, alongside the bleak death metal stylings of UK extremists Aeffect. Show Links: YOUTUBE: youtu.be/sWTj9E2u7Bg APPLE: apple.co/38wDYhi AMAZON: amzn.to/3epNJ4K SPOTIFY: spoti.fi/3iKqbIP

On this week’s episode of Into The Necrosphere, I welcome Gildas Le Pape of Via Doloris to the podcast for the first time to discuss the band’s blistering debut album, Guerre Et Paix. We dive deep into the writing and creation of the record, including how Gildas linked up with the legendary Frost to perform drums on the album. We also discuss Gildas’ stint as guitarist for Satyricon, what he learned from the experience, and his musical pursuits outside of black metal. Then, on the Weekly News Rant, the sinister minister himself, Karl Hikara, returns to help me round up the latest singles from Haemoth, Darkthrone, Frozen Soul, Enevelde and more for judgment. We also rank our favourite Satyricon albums, Karl delivers his own “bad metal take,” and we administer a well-earned tag-team swirly to a thoroughly deserving gaggle of online nitwits. PLUS: another Premiere on the Sphere, courtesy of our friends at Apocalyptic Witchcraft, as Flowers Of Rust debut the first single from their upcoming release, Crude Exhibitions of the Soul. Show Links: YOUTUBE: youtu.be/7vGhHURsL6U APPLE: apple.co/38wDYhi AMAZON: amzn.to/3epNJ4K SPOTIFY: spoti.fi/3iKqbIP