Heavy Metal Tones

This week on Heavy Metal Tones, it’s time to wrap the year up the only way that feels right — with my personal Top Ten Albums of the Year 🤘No algorithms, no hype machines, just the records that hit hardest, stayed on repeat, and defined my year in metal. There are a few surprises, a few no-brain-ers, and maybe one or two picks that’ll spark some debate — but that’s half the fun.From crushing riffs to unexpected left-turns, this episode is all about celebrating the albums that mattered most to me. Agree, disagree, or discover something new — either way, crank it up and let’s end the year loud.THANKS FOR A GREAT YEAR and here is to the next.....KEEP ROCKING wherever and who ever you are.

Heavy Metal Tones – Metal Roos Tapes: Final Cut of the YearWe’re closing out the year in serious style with the last Metal Roos Tapes of the year, and I’ve pulled together three of my all-time favourite interviews from the vault.First up, modern metalcore heavyweights ERRA talk about hitting Australia on their first-ever headline tour, breaking down the grind, the growth, and what it takes to level up in today’s metal scene.Then it’s over to the dark side as Dani Filth dives deep into the creation of the latest Cradle of Filth album—exploring the vision, the madness, and the legacy of one of extreme metal’s most enduring forces.And to close out the show on an absolute high, Cherie Currie reflects on the first—and last—ever Australian tour with The Runaways, sharing memories, moments, and a piece of rock history that will never be repeated.If you want to support the show and help keep Heavy Metal Tones and the Metal Roos Tapes alive, you can back the podcast via my Patreon page (link in the show notes).You can also check out the full archive of interviews and Australian metal coverage over at Metal Roos — again, links are in the show notes.Three interviews. Three eras. One final Metal Roos Tapes for the year.Hit play, crank it loud, and thanks for the support 🤘Patreon/heavymetaltones.comhttps://metal-roos.com.au/

This week on Heavy Metal Tones, we dive headfirst into one of Iron Maiden’s most ambitious and visionary albums — Seventh Son of a Seventh Son. More than just a record, this was Maiden’s full-blown prog masterclass, where galloping riffs met keyboards, concepts, and a darker, more mystical atmosphere.In this episode I break down the album track by track, exploring what makes Seventh Son such a pivotal moment in Maiden’s career, from the seamless flow of the songs to the bold decision to fully embrace a concept album. We go behind the scenes as well, looking at the writing, production, and the risks the band took in pushing their sound into more progressive territory — and why those risks paid off in a huge way.Whether you’ve worn out your vinyl copy over the years or you’re revisiting this classic with fresh ears, this is a deep exploration of an album that still stands tall as one of Iron Maiden’s most creative and influential releases. Crank it up and join me as we uncover the magic, mythology, and metal that make Seventh Son of a Seventh Son truly timeless. 🤘

This week, the grind of everyday life has forced the shadows to open once more. While I wrestle with a heavy workload, we return to a chapter buried deep in the Heavy Metal Tones archives — Episode 131:This Haunted Life. Recorded in 2023, this episode drags up the ghosts that have stalked the edges of my world for as long as I can remember. Flickering shapes in the dark, whispers that never fade, and the invisible weight that follows me still.Normal service will resume next week… but for now, descend once more into the haunting.

This week on Heavy Metal Tones, we dive headfirst into a crushing wall of riffs and raw aggression with Aarran Tucker — the bass-thumping, throat-shredding vocalist of UK thrash newcomers Struck A Nerve. Their self-titled debut album has just landed, and it hits hard: fast, furious, and unrelenting. We’ll explore the driving force behind the record — from the grit of recording, the anger fuelling the lyrics, to the horror-infused riffs that make tracks like “Nocturnal Terror,” “Inside the Torture Fortress” and “Raining Death” surge with venom.Expect stories about what pushed Aarran and the band to create some of the most savage thrash this side of the Atlantic — as well as an inside look at how they plan to take this debut from the studio to the stage. If you’re hungry for head-banging catharsis and brutal honesty, this is one conversation you don’t want to miss.Watch the official video for “Struck A Nerve” — the album’s title track: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4lgSR8Tlxo YouTubeWatch the video for “Raining Death”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XFQ5jbdhoE YouTubeStream or grab the full debut album on Bandcamp: https://listenable-records.bandcamp.com/album/struck-a-nerve

This week on Heavy Metal Tones, we crack open the vault once again for another dive into the legendary Metal Roos Tapes—this time it’s Volume 7. Pulled from the archives of the iconic Australian metal webzine Metal Roos, this episode brings you two powerhouse interviews: Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons, serving up raw rock ’n’ roll energy, and Richard Jobson of The Skids, offering insight, attitude, and stories from a life steeped in punk and steel.Join me as we revisit these rare conversations, packed with grit, history, and the spirit of heavy music in its purest form.