As The Story Grows

Chapter 691 - "For Us, It's A Statement" ...as read by Amon Garrasi of Lost In Hollywood  Today we welcome Lost In Hollywood frontman Amon Garrasi to the podcast! Lost In Hollywood will release their self-titled Arising Empire debut LP this Friday, March 20th. Amon talks about the rising popularity of the German metal scene, becoming a vocalist, the reason behind choosing to self-title their album, being open to blending genres into their metalcore sound, and more. https://lostinhollywood.de/enhttps://arisingempire-us.shop/collections/lost-in-hollywoodDiscordPatreonSubstack Email: asthestorygrows@gmail.com Chapter 691 Music: Lost In Hollywood - "Pretty Skin" Lost In Hollywood - "I Should Have Known Better" Lost In Hollywood - "The Art Of Being Torn Out"

Chapter 690 - "There Is Still Something That Could Be Good" ...as read by Vicious Rain Today we welcome back David Häusermann and Mauro Gugerli from Vicious Rain to the podcast. The new Vicious Rain record, The Anatomy Of Surviving, is out today on Arising Empire Records! The guys talk about the writing process and connecting The Beauty Of Letting Go to the new record, the continuing evolution of writing lyrics as a duo, the intention behind the artwork, being a band on Arising Empire as the label’s popularity grows, and more. https://viciousrain.com/https://arisingempire-us.shop/collections/vicous-rainDiscordPatreonSubstack Email: asthestorygrows@gmail.com Chapter 690 Music: Vicious Rain - "IKIGAI" Vicious Rain - "Spitting Blood Again" Vicious Rain - "Hysteria" Vicious Rain - "A Spotless Mind"

Chapter 689 - "It's Advantageous To Be Creative All The Time" ...as read by Ryan Patterson of Coliseum/Fotocrime Today we welcome Coliseum and Fotocrime frontman Ryan Patterson to the podcast! The new Fotocrime record, Security, is out this Friday, March 13th, on Arttofact Records. Ryan talks about the influence of Dischord Records and creating music outside of genre boxes, inviting friends to be a part of the new Fotocrime record, the theme behind Security, how Fotocrime opened the door for more music from Coliseum, and more. https://www.fotocrime.com/https://fotocrime.bandcamp.com/musichttps://coliseum.bandcamp.com/DiscordPatreonSubstack Email: asthestorygrows@gmail.com Chapter 689 Music: Fotocrime - "Crimewave" Fotocrime - "Plowjob" Fotocrime - "Unthinkable" Fotocrime - "Security"   

Chapter 688 - "It Keeps You Young" ...as read by Eric Peterson of Testament Today we welcome Eric Peterson, guitarist for legendary thrash band Testament to the podcast. Testament released their 14th full-length, Para Bellum, late last year and is about to embark on the Thrash Of The Titans tour with Overkill and Destruction. Eric talks about the legacy and relevancy of thrash, how touring, press, and songwriting have changed over the years, the joy of playing music, experimenting with their live set, and more.https://www.testamentlegions.com/DiscordPatreonSubstack Email: asthestorygrows@gmail.com Chapter 688 Music: Testament - "For The Love Of Pain" Testament - "Children Of The Next Level" Testament - "Infanticide AI" Testament - "Witch Hunt" Testament - "Nature Of The Beast" Testament - "Para Bellum" Testament - "Return To Serenity" 

Chapter 687 - "Leave The Interpretation To The Listener" ...as read by Bryan Manning of Bosse-de-Nage Today we welcome Bosse-de-Nage frontman Bryan Manning to the podcast. The new Bosse-de-Nage record, Hidden Fires Burn Hottest, is out today on The Flenser. Bryan talks about his love of black metal, his early bands and the formation of Bosse-de-Nage, the band’s musical exploration and evolution, the inspiration for Hidden Fires Burn Hottest, and more.https://bosse-de-nage.bandcamp.com/https://nowflensing.com/collections/bosse-de-nageDiscordPatreonSubstack Email: asthestorygrows@gmail.com Chapter 687 Music: Bosse-de-Nage - "Where To Now" Bosse-de-Nage - "Marie" Bosse-de-Nage - "In The Name Of The Moth" Bosse-de-Nage - "Leviathan"

Chapter 686 - "An Outside Perspective Of Things I've Seen" ...as read by Jake Murphy of Final Gasp  Today we welcome Final Gasp frontman Jake Murphy to the podcast. Final Gasp released New Day Symptoms last Friday on Relapse Records. Jake talks his experience in the local music scene as a teenager, wanting to create music inspired by Samhain, how friends connected the band to Relapse, the musical evolution the band underwent on New Day Symptoms, how promotion is changing and shifting, and a lot more. https://finalgasp.bandcamp.com/album/mourning-moonhttps://www.relapse.com/collections/final-gaspDiscordPatreonSubstack Email: asthestorygrows@gmail.com Chapter 686 Music: Final Gasp - "The Apparition" Final Gasp - "Climax Infinity" Final Gasp - "Burials Of Birth"  

Today I have clips from every episode that aired in February, including conversations with Joe Edwards and Sam Finney of Shields, Jake Woodruff of Jagged City and Defeater, Dima Kozhuhar and Alex Zaterkovny of Space Of Variations, Kat Keo of Hoaxed, Tom Hewson of Tailgunner, Martijn Westerholt of Delain and Eye Of Melian, and Zac Mayfield of Dayseeker and Oh Sleeper. February Sponsor - Tapehead City https://tapeheadcity.com/DiscordPatreonSubstack Email: asthestorygrows@gmail.com Music: Shields - "Abuser" Jagged City - "Imaginary Lines" Space Of Variations - "Tribe" Hoaxed - "Kill Switch" Tailgunner - "Tears In Rain" Eye Of Melian - "Symphonia Arcana" Dayseeker - "Pale Moonlight"

Chapter 685 - "We Want You To Do Cool S*** On Drums" ...as read by Zac Mayfield Today we welcome Dayseeker and Oh Sleeper drummer Zac Mayfield to the podcast! Zac talks about “baddiecore” and genre classifications, how joining Oh Sleeper changed the trajectory of his life, finding himself thrust into the christian metal scene and navigating those experiences, Dayseeker not rushing into new music, the current state of the gaming industry, and more. https://dayseeker.band/ February Sponsor - Tapehead City https://tapeheadcity.com/DiscordPatreonSubstack Email: asthestorygrows@gmail.com Chapter 685 Music: Dayseeker - "Bloodlust" Oh Sleeper - "The Marriage Of Steel And Skin" Dayseeker - "Pale Moonlight" Dayseeker - "Nocturnal Remedy"

Chapter 684 - "Not A Preplanned Thing" ...as read by Martijn Westerholt of Delain and Eye Of MelianToday we welcome Delain and Eye of Melian keyboardist and songwriter Martijn Westerholt to the podcast! The new Eye Of Melian album, Forest Of Forgetting, is out today on Napalm Records. Martijn talks about the influence of his brothers and getting into keyboards, starting Delain after leaving Within Temptation, Charlotte leaving Delain, the inspiration for Eye Of Melian and creating something not in the metal world, and so much more.https://eyeofmelian.com/https://eyeofmelian.bandcamp.com/https://www.delain.nl/https://delain.bandcamp.com/musicFebruary Sponsor - Tapehead City https://tapeheadcity.com/DiscordPatreonSubstackEmail: asthestorygrows@gmail.comChapter 684 Music:Eye Of Melian - "Symphonia Arcana"Delain - "Frozen"Delain - "Dance With The Devil"Eye Of Melian - "Dawn Of Avatars"

Chapter 683 - "The Way Heavy Metal Is Supposed To Sound" ...as read by Tom Hewson of TailgunnerToday we welcome Tailgunner bassist and founder Tom Hewson to the podcast! Tailgunner released Midnight Blitz back on February 6th with Napalm Records. Tom talks about his love for and wanting to make classic British heavy metal, finding the right band members to execute the musical vision in his head, signing with Napalm Records, the visual aesthetic of the band and heavy metal as a whole, and a lot more. https://tailgunner.bandcamp.com/album/midnight-blitzhttps://napalmrecords.us/collections/tailgunnerFebruary Sponsor - Tapehead City https://tapeheadcity.com/DiscordPatreonSubstackEmail: asthestorygrows@gmail.comChapter 683 Music:Tailgunner - "Midnight Blitz"Tailgunner - "Tears In Rain"Tailgunner - "Barren Lands And Seas Of Red"Tailgunner - "War In Heaven"

Chapter 682 - "A More Energetic Album" ...as read by Kat Keo of HoaxedToday we welcome back to the podcast Hoaxed front woman Kat Keo! The new Hoaxed record, Death Knocks, is out today on Relapse Records! Kat talks about adding April to the band on bass, touring with black metal bands, the preparation the band put into the songs before hitting the studio, the lyrical ideas on Death Knocks, and more.https://www.hoaxedband.com/https://hoaxed.bandcamp.com/https://asthestorygrows.com/episodes/hoaxedFebruary Sponsor - Tapehead City https://tapeheadcity.com/DiscordPatreonSubstackEmail: asthestorygrows@gmail.comChapter 682 Music:Hoaxed - "Where The Seas Fall Silent"Hoaxed - "The Family"Hoaxed - "Kill Switch"

Chapter 681 - "The Hardest Years Of Our Lives" ...as read by Dima Kozhuhar and Alex Zaterkovny of Space Of VariationsToday we welcome Dima Kozhuhar and Alex Zaterkovny from Ukrainian metalcore band Space Of Variations to the podcast! Space Of Variations will release Poisoned Art this Friday, February 13th, on Napalm Records. The guys talk about how war affected the band and how playing live serves as a moment of escape for the band and fans, being excited to release music even though it was during Covid lockdowns, the themes on Poisoned Art, and more.https://label.napalmrecords.com/space-of-variationshttps://spaceofvariations.bandcamp.com/album/poisoned-artFebruary Sponsor - Tapehead City https://tapeheadcity.com/DiscordPatreonSubstackEmail: asthestorygrows@gmail.comChapter 681 Music:Space Of Variations - "Doppelgänger"Space Of Variations - "Halo"Space Of Variations - "Ghost Town"

Chapter 680 - "The Power Of Chasing Creativity" ...as read by Jake Woodruff of Jagged City/DefeaterToday we welcome Defeater guitarist Jake Woodruff to the podcast! Jake has a new project called Jagged City and they released their debut EP, There Are More Of Us, Always, last Friday with Pelagic Records! Jake talks about his early days touring, joining Defeater, the inspiration behind Jagged City, connecting with Robin and Pelagic Records, and more.https://jaggedcity.bandcamp.com/album/there-are-more-of-us-alwayshttps://defeaterhc.com/February Sponsor - Tapehead City https://tapeheadcity.com/DiscordPatreonSubstackEmail: asthestorygrows@gmail.comChapter 680 Music:Jagged City - "Imaginary Lines"Defeater - "Unanswered"Jagged City - "Ocean East, Ocean West"Jagged City - "Deluge In A Paper Cup"

Chapter 679 - "Death & Connection" ...as read by Joe Edwards and Sam Finney of Shields Today we welcome Joe Edwards and Sam Finney from UK Metalcore band Shields to the podcast. Shields released Death & Connection last Friday, January 30th, with Long Branch Records. We dive deep into this new record, talking abut the musical exploration and diversity on the album, the trials and suffering the led the band to reunite and inspired the lyrical ideas, the art design concept, and so much more. https://shields.band/https://shieldsuk.bandcamp.com/album/death-connectionFebruary Sponsor - Tapehead City https://tapeheadcity.com/DiscordPatreonSubstackEmail: asthestorygrows@gmail.comChapter 679 Music:Shields - "Abuser"Shields - "Death & Connection" 

January 2026 RecapToday you'll Dave Lee of Signal Snowboard, Sabine Edelsbacher and Arne "Lanvall" Stockhammer of Edenbridge, David Grossman of New Miserable Experience, Uri Dijk of Textures, Mike Gitter of BLKIIBLK Records, Joe Nally of Urne, Nils Wittrock and John Lappin of The Hirsch Effect and Manuel Möbs of Our Mirage.February Sponsor - Tapehead City https://tapeheadcity.com/DiscordPatreonSubstackEmail: asthestorygrows@gmail.comMusic:Turnstile - "Holiday"Edenbridge - "Where The Wild Things Are"New Miserable Experience - "Payback From God"Textures - "At The Edge Of Winter"Unto Others - "Angel Of The Night"Urne - "The Spirit Alive"The Hirsch Effekt - "Das Seil"Our Mirage - "Violent Spin"

Chapter 678 - "A Huge Increase Of Energy" ...as read by Manuel Möbs of Our MirageToday we welcome Manuel Möbs, bassist for German metalcore band Our Mirage to the podcast. Our Mirage’s new album, Fractured Minds, is out today on Arising Empire Records. Manuel talks about transitioning from piano to bass guitar, the band surviving and releasing music throughout Covid lockdowns, their relationship with Arising Empire, the musical shifts on Fractured Minds, and more. https://ourmirage.de/https://arisingempire-us.shop/collections/our-mirageDiscordPatreonSubstackEmail: asthestorygrows@gmail.comChapter 678 Music:Our Mirage - "Violent Spin"Our Mirage - "Awakening"Our Mirage - "Fractured"Our Mirage - "God Behind Your Eyes"

Chapter 677 - "Should I Go On With This Tradition" ...as read by Nils Wittrock and John Lappin of The Hirsch EffectToday we welcome Nils Wittrock and John Lappin from The Hirsch Effect to the podcast! The Hirsch Effect will release Der Brauch, the Friday on Long Branch Records. The guys talk about the musical connection that led to them playing together, the good and bad of being a German language band, expanding their sonic palate on Der Brauch, accepting their level of success, and more.https://thehirscheffekt.de/https://thehirscheffekt.bandcamp.com/https://asthestorygrows.com/episodes/moritz-schmidt-from-the-hirsch-effektDiscordPatreonSubstackEmail: asthestorygrows@gmail.comChapter 677 Music:The Hirsch Effekt - "Der Brauch"The Hirsch Effekt - "Der Doppelgänger"The Hirsch Effekt - "Die Heimkehr"

Chapter 676 - "There's No Way I Can Go Down That Avenue Again" ...as read by Joe Nally of UrneToday we welcome back Urne frontman Joe Nally to the podcast! Urne will release their incredible new album, Setting Fire To The Sky, this Friday on Candlelight Records! Joe talks about wanting to stay away from the dark themes that were on A Feast Of Sorrow, his grand vision for the artwork on the new album, adding a new member to the band, and more. https://urneofficial.com/https://asthestorygrows.com/episodes/joe-nally-from-urneDiscordPatreonSubstackEmail: asthestorygrows@gmail.comChapter 676 Music:Urne - "Be Not Dismayed"Urne - "The Spirit, Alive"Urne - "Harken The Waves"

Chapter 675 - "It's A Very Rare And Special Situation" ...as read by Mike GitterToday we welcome Mike Gitter to the podcast. Mike was just announced as the new Global Head of A&R for Frontiers Label Group, who just relaunched BLKIIBLK, their metal, hardcore and extreme music label! Mike talks about starting a zine and how that zine led to him eventually becoming an A&R Rep for Atlantic Records, the journey the led him to working with Frontiers and BLKIIBLK, his passion for new music that keeps him going, and so much more.https://www.blkiiblk.comDiscordPatreonSubstackEmail: asthestorygrows@gmail.comChapter 675 Music:Biohazard - "Forsaken"Cro-Mags - "Signs Of The Times"Thrown Into Exile - "The Forsaken"Unto Others - "Cold World"

Chapter 674 - "We All Want To Write Cool And Beautiful Song" ...as read by Uri Dijk of TexturesToday we welcome Textures keyboardist Uri Dijk to the podcast. Textures will release their new record, Genotype, this Friday with KScope Records. Uri talks about discovering metal and learning to play keys, the feeling of watching the bands you inspire pass you in popularity, the freedom to explore new musical ideas on Genotype, and more. https://texturesband.com/https://texturesband.bandcamp.com/album/genotypeDiscordPatreonSubstackEmail: asthestorygrows@gmail.comChapter 674 Music:Textures - "Nautical Dusk"Textures - "Shaping A Single Grain of Sand"Textures - "Closer To The Unknown"Textures - "At The Edge Of Winter"