Send us a text As 2025’s Album of the Year conversations begin, let us put forward a strong contender — Born of Osiris’s Through Shadows. The Illinois-based progressive metalcore veterans have done it again with their seventh studio release, delivering a record that is both sonically ambitious and deeply refined. Joining us is Nick Rossi — primaril…

Send us a text Let's take a time machine back to the 90s. We’re joined by Bobby, Dave, Kevin, and Andrew of New England’s rising metalcore force, Dreamwake. Blending the intensity of metalcore with the atmosphere of synthwave, they’ve crafted a sound that’s entirely their own. Their new album, The Lost Years, delivers everything that first drew lis…

Send us a text “We burned down the limitations we had previously put on ourselves and restarted our writing process with a singular goal — to sound like Fox Lake.” ALL GAS NO BRAKES. We welcome Nathan Johnson, frontman of Colorado-based hardcore outfit Fox Lake, to IUF. With their second full-length album New World Heat, the band leans into a raw, …

Send us a text We caught up with frontwoman Kasey Karlsen of Deadlands to talk about their debut release, SEVEN — a record that marks a bold new chapter for the duo hailing from Long Island, New York. We got into the writing process, personal insights, influences, and what this album means after the early years of pushing boundaries alongside her b…

Send us a text We’re joined by guitarist and founding member Maik Weichert of German metal titans Heaven Shall Burn, as the band returns with their latest and most striking release to date—Heimat. Known for fusing unrelenting heaviness with deep social and political themes, Heaven Shall Burn once again proves why they’ve remained one of the most re…

Send us a text Back into the creative theatrics we go! We’re joined once again by Jacob Charlton of Thornhill, marking his return to IUFduring an exciting new chapter for the band (currently on tour at the time of this recording). With the release of their latest album Bodies, Thornhill continues to evolve—exploring new sounds, deeper emotion, and …

Send us a text We’re joined by bassist and vocalist Adam Biggs of Rivers of Nihil, as the band makes a thunderous return with Rivers Of Nihil, their self-titled album—their first in four years. Despite major lineup changes, Rivers of Nihil show no signs of slowing down. In fact, they’ve delivered what may be one of the most ambitious and forward-th…

Send us a text Welcome to Season 18! We’re excited to welcome back two of the most fearless voices in UK heavy music—vocalist Justine Jones and guitarist Sammy Urwin of Employed to Serve—for their second appearance on IUF. Over the last 14 years, the band has built a fierce reputation through relentless touring, standout performances at major festi…

Send us a text We’re joined by one of the most dynamic voices in heavy metal—Chrigel Glanzmann, frontman of the legendary folk metal pioneers, Eluveitie. After 23 years of trailblazing innovation, the band continues to elevate the genre, redefining the boundaries of folk metal with every release. Their latest album, "Anv," marks yet another powerfu…

Send us a text Epica returns in full force with their 9th studio album, Aspiral — a testament to their evolution as symphonic metal mainstays. We recently caught up with powerhouse vocalist Simone Simons to discuss the journey behind the record, shaped by over two decades of experience and artistic growth. Drawing from the joys and challenges of mo…

Send us a text From a Quiet Town to a Powerful Presence: Katerina Nicole Has Arrived Hailing from the small town of Summertown, BC, independent artist Katerina Nicole is making a bold entrance into the heavier realms of music. Drawing from an eclectic mix of influences—Celine Dion, Paramore, and Lamb of God among them—Katerina has crafted a sound t…

Send us a text A new chapter in post-metal has begun with the arrival of Camille Contreras, the latest voice of French progressive metalcore outfit Novelists. Taking on the role of lead vocalist is no small task—especially following a line of predecessors who helped shape the band's identity. Yet, Camille steps into the spotlight with remarkable po…

Send us a text A debut album can be a defining moment for any band, but for seasoned vocalist Vicky Psarakis, it's just another challenge to take head-on. When we last spoke with Vicky in 2022, she was fronting melodic death metal outfit The Agonist while simultaneously developing her nu-metal side project, Sicksense. Following The Agonist's breaku…

Send us a text Thrash Metal Lives On: Kragen Lum Talks Heathen’s Bleed The World Seasoned guitarist Kragen Lum returns to IUF to discuss Heathen’s electrifying live album, Bleed The World. It’s been five years since our last conversation, and now, with the dust of the pandemic finally settled, Kragen is more than ready to unleash new music. This li…

Send us a text Killswitch Engage’s Justin Foley on This Consequence and the Band’s Enduring Legacy This Consequence, the latest album from metalcore legends Killswitch Engage, marks another milestone in the band's storied 26-year career. We sit down with drummer Justin Foley to discuss his personal and professional journey as part of one of the mos…

Send us a text Traitors Unleash "Phobias": A Conversation with Tyler Shelton The wait is over—"Phobias," the highly anticipated fifth album from Tampa-based deathcore powerhouse Traitors, has arrived. We sit down with frontman Tyler Shelton for a jam-packed conversation covering his deep passion for music, film, his formative years, and the influen…

Send us a text Finnish artist Marko Hietala has navigated a career filled with both triumphs and challenges, and now, after an illustrious four decades in music, he returns with a solo album that encapsulates his journey. Roses From the Deep is a heartfelt homage to his roots, drawing from the timeless influence of classic rock. Known for his tenur…

Send us a text We are joined by vocalist Sam McCauley and bassist George Lewis of British rock upstarts Oversize, as they gear up for the release of their highly anticipated debut album, Vital Signs. Since their formation in 2019, the band has spent six years carving out their identity, culminating in a milestone moment—signing with the renowned Sh…

Send us a text Echos: Finding Solace in Sound In the depths of darkness, solace emerges. Echos, a rising singer-songwriter from Washington, invites listeners on a transformative journey with her latest album, Quiet, In Your Service. Known for blending EDM and dance into her earlier work, Echos has embraced a new direction, infusing ambient rock ele…

Send us a text A great comeback story always resonates, especially when it involves a band that’s caught the attention of prominent music outlets like Revolver Magazine, who dubbed them a “Band You Need to Know.” Meet Gore, a breakthrough four-piece metalcore outfit from Houston, Texas, and their dynamic frontwoman, Haley Roughton. In this episode,…

Send us a text Welcome to the 'Emotional Rodeo': A Conversation with Janet Devlin We are thrilled to welcome back the gifted Irish singer-songwriter and author, Janet Devlin, for another insightful conversation. It’s been three years since our last chat, and during that time, Janet has continued to explore a rich tapestry of music genres, from folk…

Send us a text “Universal Tales”: A New Chapter for Xandria The symphonic metal powerhouses Xandria have unveiled their latest work, Universal Tales, and we are thrilled to welcome their extraordinary frontwoman, Ambre Vourvahis, to today's podcast. Since joining the band in 2022, Ambre has stepped into a legacy spanning back to Xandria’s formation…

Send us a text Yesterwynde, a word crafted to evoke the essence of time, history, memory, and a connection to past generations, is the latest title from symphonic metal legends Nightwish. Behind this inventive title is Troy Donockley, the band’s versatile multi-instrumentalist. Now with 10 albums and nearly two decades together, Nightwish raises th…

Send us a text The new album is here. It’s a true testament to the band they’ve become, and we're thrilled to welcome back frontman Sean Harmanis of Make Them Suffer. Our last conversation was during their North American tour in the spring; since then, they've taken on an intense schedule, from major summer festivals to headlining across Australia.…

Send us a text In today’s episode, we are excited to welcome back the talented Dutch singer-songwriter Charlotte Wessels. Since her last appearance in 2021, much has changed. With the release of two solo studio albums and growing recognition from fans worldwide, Charlotte has firmly established herself as a force in the jazz, classical, and hard ro…

Send us a text We are joined by Damon Tate, guitarist and founder of the Michigan-based metalcore band Of Virtue. The band has been gaining significant attention recently, and with their new album "Omen" receiving positive recognition, Damon shares the major personal and professional strides he has taken. Each step has led to significant improvemen…

Send us a text Time for some Canadian Power Metal. Juno Award-winning heavy metal band Unleash The Archers returns with their sixth studio album, "Phantoma," continuing the momentum from their 2020 release. We recently had the pleasure of welcoming back the band's prolific frontwoman, Brittney Slayes, to the podcast to discuss the past four eventfu…

Send us a text Transience – the fleeting nature of existence, lasting only for a short time. For the German-based post-metal band Venues, this concept has profound meaning. Their latest album is a testament to their seamless transition into new chapters of their lives, both individually and collectively, a journey that is evident in their music. I …

Send us a text Nestled in central Massachusetts, the post-hardcore band Wind Walkers has carved out a niche in the scene with their blend of heavy, intricate guitar work, melodic hooks, and poignant lyrics. While these elements may echo those of other bands in the genre, Wind Walkers have managed to carve out their own identity since forming in 201…

Send us a text Over the span of a decade, time can seem interminable, especially for music acts attempting to resume their careers after a long hiatus. However, fan-favorite death metal band Job For A Cowboy has managed to make a seamless transition back into the spotlight. Joining us in this episode is bassist Nick Schendzielos, who discusses the …

Send us a text Today, we are delighted to have frontwoman Britta Görtz from the German-based metal band Hiraes joining us. Britta, known for her work with other music acts like Chaos Rising and Critical Mess, founded Hiraes in the challenging year of 2020. Despite the difficulties, the chemistry she developed with her bandmates was immediate and pr…

Send us a text “Cult Classic” has become a classic. The newest EP from LA-based duo Holy Wars showcases unique genre blending in the elements of hard rock and heavy metal, and they do it well. We welcome that duo, Kat Leon and Nick Perez on today's podcast to talk about this new album and what the future holds as they continue to trend upward on th…

Send us a text Brooklyn's finest have never looked better. We are of course, talking about rising metalcore group VRSTY (pronounced Varsity). We are joined by the uniquely talented frontman Joey Tyler. Joey is a Puerto Rican singer raised on R&B, pop, and Spanish music, which makes it that much more impressive due to him taking the route to heavy m…

Send us a text The amazing Sharon den Adel has made her long-awaited return, and not just on IUF, but with a brand new album from Within Temptation, titled “Bleed Out.” We last spoke with Sharon during the early days of the pandemic, and boy oh boy, times have changed since then. 3 years have gone by in a blink, and it's been a breath of fresh air …

Send us a text We recently welcomed back seasoned veteran guitarist Travis Miguel onto the podcast. It's been a couple of years traversing through the pandemic, and now with the world wide open again, Travis gets us caught up with everything he's been working on. Whether it's touring with metalcore giants Atreyu, or building the foundation with his…

Send us a text Siblings, artists, and talented chemistry. Anastasia and Max Haunt have all the tools to put together one of the rising bands in the contemporary alt-pop scene. We were recently joined by this duo to talk about their short yet successful journey in the last 8 years. The Haunt, who have been receiving widespread critical acclaim from …

Send us a text Welcome to Rose City. Metalcore music of the modern era has been on the rise, and at a breakneck pace too, thanks to Portland, Oregon-based group Dying Wish pushing the movement forward. We were recently joined by the viciously talented frontwoman Emma Boster to talk about her beginnings with the band that kicked off in 2018. Five ye…

Send us a text Taking the sound of death metal back to its roots; We are joined by drummer Morten Hansen from danish-based band Asinhell. Morten, alongside bandmates from other heavy metal acts, Michael Poulsen (Volbeat), and Marc Grewe (Morgoth), didn't take long for their chemistry to develop into a full-fledged three piece. We talk to Morten abo…

Send us a text Black metal. But make it western. We welcome frontman Shane McCarthy from Colorado-based black metal outfit, Wayfarer. In this episode of IUF, Shane talks about the 11-plus-year journey for the band, leading up to their fifth studio album, titled “American Gothic.” Powerful riffing, bleak melodic sensibilities and visceral songwritin…

Send us a text Deathcore will never die. We welcome back a seasoned frontman from one of the genre's finest, Scott Lewis of Carnifex. Now reaching 18 years of brutality, the San Diego-based outfit continues to raise the bar with their upcoming 9th album, “Necromanteum.” Scott sits with us today to talk about the band's journey and bringing that lev…

Send us a text The French are coming. Lyon's post-metal outfit Resolve have returned with their highly-anticipated sophomore effort, “Human.” We talk to bassist Robin Mariat about the formation of the band and the years leading up to their debut album “Between Me And The Machine” in 2021. Not only was that album a solid effort, but it was a product…

Send us a text “The Weight Of The Mask,” the newest album from post-hardcore outfit Svalbard, shows the evolution of not only the genre, but the band itself. Transcending over a decade through the sounds of heavy metal and blackgaze, and with a twist of melodic death, this UK-based quartet are now finally receiving the recognition they deserve. We …

Send us a text One of the more innovative progressive metal acts is back with their highly-anticipated 5th studio album, “War Of Being” from UK-based band Tesseract. We welcome back bassist Amos Williams onto IUF, and he talks about the writing process behind one of this year's top contending albums. While this record is aiming to be the band's bes…

Send us a text When it comes to the theatrics, heavy metal lore, humor, medieval themes, and fantasy, German folk-metal giants Feuerschwanz deliver. We are joined by founder and frontman of the band, Hauptmann Feuerschwanz to talk about the band's 11th studio album “Fegefeuer.” Nearly 2 decades of insane battlecry-filled up-tempo tunes, and taking …

Send us a text “A puzzle, a painting, a work of art in the making.” Frontman Lucas Woodland from Wales-based post metal outfit Holding Absence recently joined the IUF podcast. It's been an insanely good and well-deserved journey for Lucas in the last eight years. In today's podcast, he talks about the early days of the band while establishing thems…

Send us a text “My biggest competition is myself.” We welcome back seasoned musician Nicole Papastavrou from rising bi-coastal progressive metal outfit, Kallias. On the cusp of unleashing their first LP, Nicole sits with us today to talk about the hard-grinding journey leading up to “First Ascent.” From the signing with Jackson Guitars to her passi…

Send us a text Evolution. If there's one word out there to describe deathcore mainstays Signs Of The Swarm, there you have it. We are joined by prolific drummer Bobby Crow to talk about one of the most creative deathcore albums in recent memory, titled “Amongst The Low & Empty.” In the last 10 years, the sound of deathcore has evolved, and while ot…

Send us a text Welcome to season 16! Our returning guest today is established music producer and guitarist JF Dagenais from heavy metal titans Kataklysm. Now back with their 15th studio album, appropriately titled “Goliath,” JF talks about his experience on producing the band's work over the years and how the convenience of being at the helm of pro…

Send us a text Lots of bands can tell you horror stories about paying dues on their way to the top. But on the finale of our fifteenth season, the guys from Return to Dust tell a different kind of tale. By a string of fortunate events, combined with formidable talent and unmatched dedication, Return to Dust are ready to truly hit the ground running…

Send us a text Welcome to the Age Of The Offended. We welcome back a veteran frontman from the Norwegian underground metal scene, Anders Odden from extreme metal act, Cadaver. We last spoke to him in the pandemic-ridden 2020. 35 years in on setting the foundation for underground music, Anders and Cadaver are back and refined the new album, “The Age…