Share
Kerrang! In Conversation
Employed To Serve: Taking metal forward, working with your heroes and why the British scene is thriving
Ep. 26
•
Welcome to episode number 26 of Kerrang! In Conversation, powered by KILLSTAR.
This week, Sammy and Justine from Employed To Serve join K! Editor Luke Morton at Nando’s Studio Soho to chat about all things heavy and metal.
From discovering the likes of Slipknot through the pages of Kerrang! to touring with Gojira, Employed To Serve are metal lifers, and we get deep into upholding the traditions of the genre, the importance of taking it forward, and why there’s so much more to it than just getting angry.
We also explore Employed To Serve’s upcoming album, working with Jesse Leach, getting wired on Dunkin’ Donuts coffee and so much more.
Subscribe now so you never miss an episode. And make sure to check out our previous interviews with Stray From The Path, Trivium, Lacuna Coil and more.
Powered by KILLSTAR: https://www.killstar.com/
Recorded at Nando’s Studio Soho.
Get Kerrang! magazine: https://kerrang.newsstand.co.uk/
Get Kerrang! apparel: https://kerrang.store/
Produced by Alex Gold.
More episodes
View all episodes
39. Wolfgang Van Halen: Robert Rodriguez, Barbie and not being a nepo baby
41:52||Ep. 39Welcome to episode number 39 of Kerrang! In Conversation.This week Kerrang! Editor Luke Morton is joined by Wolfgang Van Halen.Sitting down at Nando's Studio in central London, Wolfgang reflects on his life in rock'n'roll so far – from growing up around his father's music to heading out and forging his own path to playing at the Rock Hall Of Fame and the Oscars. Wolfgang also dives into his experiences with anxiety and panic attacks, how they informed the new Mammoth album, and making one of the most fun music videos of the year.Subscribe now so you never miss an episode. And make sure to check out our previous interviews with Trivium, Luke Spiller, The Hives and more.Shop the Kerrang! store: https://store.kerrang.com/Get Kerrang! magazine: https://kerrang.newsstand.co.uk/Produced by Alex Gold.Recorded at Nando's Studio London.
38. Taylor Acorn: Pop-punk, going viral and finding hope through music
56:31||Ep. 38Welcome to episode number 38 of Kerrang! In Conversation.This week Kerrang! Editor Luke Morton sits down with pop-punk sensation Taylor Acorn.Coming in over Zoom from her home in Nashville, ahead of her new album Poster Child, Taylor looks back on her journey into music so far – from ditching college to following her dream, gaining viral success and now playing alongside her heroes at festivals across the world.Taylor also shares her positive and negative experiences with hew newfound fame – from the incredible fan-built community to the toxicity of the comments section.Subscribe now so you never miss an episode. And make sure to check out our previous interviews with Mayday Parade, PVRIS, NOAHFINNCE and more.Shop the Kerrang! store: https://store.kerrang.com/Get Kerrang! magazine: https://kerrang.newsstand.co.uk/Produced by Alex Gold.
37. Hot Milk: Manchester, burnout and escaping your echo chamber
55:51||Ep. 37Welcome to episode number 37 of Kerrang! In Conversation.This week Kerrang! Editor Luke Morton is joined by Han Mee and Jim Shaw from Hot Milk.Beaming in over Zoom from Paris, ahead of the release of new album Corporation P.O.P, the pair take a deep dive into the themes of the record and inspirations behind it – from misguided patriotism to the struggles of artists in 2025 to the importance of breaking out of your own little bubble.Han and Jim also discuss their experiences of burnout and why they might need to take some time off in the near future.Subscribe now so you never miss an episode. And make sure to check out our previous interviews with Enter Shikari, Creeper, L.S. Dunes and more.
36. 2000trees’ James Scarlett: Kneecap, breaking new bands and how to put on a festival
54:12||Ep. 36Welcome to episode number 36 of Kerrang! In Conversation.This week Kerrang! Editor Luke Morton meets 2000trees festival booker James Scarlett.Dialling in from his base of operations, James discusses the ins and outs of putting on one of the UK’s best festivals, what makes a 2000trees band, why the British scene is so vibrant right now and who his dream headliners would be.James also discusses navigating the death threats and outside pressure from having Kneecap headline the festival, and why he has never thought about cancelling.Subscribe now so you never miss an episode. And make sure to check out our previous interviews Enter Shikari, PVRIS, RØRY and more.Shop that Kerrang! store: https://store.kerrang.com/Get Kerrang! magazine: https://kerrang.newsstand.co.uk/Produced by Alex Gold.
35. The Hives’ Pelle Almqvist: Jazz, tuxedos and life lessons from The Rolling Stones
50:45||Ep. 35Welcome to episode number 35 of Kerrang! In Conversation.This week K! Editor Luke Morton is joined in the studio by Pelle Almqvist from The Hives.Meeting at Nando’s Studio Soho, Swedish garage-rock livewire takes us through his love of jazz and Little Richard, the joy of finding your own sound, the influence of The Hives on today’s rock scene, and why they’ve finally decided to make their arena album.Pelle also shares the lessons he’s learned from touring with Foo Fighters, The Rolling Stones and AC/DC. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode. And make sure to check out our previous interviews with Enter Shikari, Jerry Cantrell, Rise Against and more.Get Kerrang! magazine: https://kerrang.newsstand.co.uk/Produced by Alex Gold.
34. Skin: Brixton, staying true to yourself and making their most difficult record yet
48:34||Ep. 34Welcome to episode number 34 of Kerrang! In Conversation.This week K! Editor Luke Morton is joined in the studio by Skin from Skunk Anansie.Sitting down at Nando’s Studio Soho, the rock legend dives into her musical upbringing, living through the Brixton riots, discovering rock music, and why she will never rest on her laurels as an artist.She also tackles some of the pertinent themes in new album The Painful Truth, the importance of staying true to yourself and the lessons she’s learned over three decades in music. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode. And make sure to check out our previous interviews with Rise Against, Lambrini Girls, Jerry Cantrell and more.Get Kerrang! magazine: https://kerrang.newsstand.co.uk/Produced by Alex Gold.
33. Callous Daoboys' Carson Pace: Getting sober, the joy of being challenged and hating concept albums
51:41||Ep. 33Welcome to episode number 33 of Kerrang! In Conversation.This week K! Editor Luke Morton is joined by Carson Pace from The Callous Daoboys. Calling from his home in Atlanta after a lengthy tour, the vocalist looks ahead to new album I Don’t Want To See You In Heaven, while taking time to reflect on the bands that made him and why he really hates concept records.Carson also dives into his sober journey, the personal events that fed into the record, why he constantly wants to challenge himself and the listener, and more.Subscribe now so you never miss an episode. And make sure to check out our previous interviews with Bob Mould, Devin Townsend, Dani Filth and more.Get Kerrang! magazine: https://kerrang.newsstand.co.uk/Produced by Alex Gold.
32. Mayday Parade’s Derek Sanders: Warped Tour, reclaiming your art and the trap of nostalgia
56:04||Ep. 32Welcome to episode number 32 and a brand new series of Kerrang! In Conversation.This week, Kerrang! Editor Luke Morton is joined by Mayday Parade vocalist Derek Sanders. Calling in from Florida at the start of their Three Cheers For 20 Years tour, the frontman reflects on two decades on the frontlines of emo and pop-punk, and why the scene is coming back stronger than ever before.We also get into Mayday Parade’s new EP trilogy, why they’ve gone independent, and the importance of not getting comfortable as an artist.Subscribe now so you never miss an episode. And make sure to check out our previous interviews with L.S. Dunes, Enter Shikari, Bowling For Soup and more.Get Kerrang! magazine: https://kerrang.newsstand.co.uk/Produced by Alex Gold.
31. Luke Spiller: Taylor Hawkins, artistic freedom and living the rockstar life
56:38||Ep. 31Welcome to episode number 31 of Kerrang! In Conversation, powered by KILLSTAR.This week, K! Editor Luke Morton is joined from Los Angeles by Luke Spiller from The Struts. Just a matter of weeks away from his debut solo album Love Will Probably Kill Me Before Cigarettes and Wine, Luke Spiller takes us inside the creative freedom he found making a ‘concept’ album about love, and what he learned about himself along the way.We also dive into his love of all things Queen, working with Taylor Hawkins, the influence of Jim Steinman, and why he’ll never get bored of the rock’n’roll lifestyle.Subscribe now so you never miss an episode. And make sure to check out our previous interviews with Palaye Royale, L.S. Dunes, Creeper and more.Powered by KILLSTAR: https://www.killstar.com/Get Kerrang! magazine: https://kerrang.newsstand.co.uk/Get Kerrang! apparel: https://kerrang.store/Produced by Alex Gold.