Interview - Alien Weaponry talk Te Ra, Randy Blythe & making sandwiches with Riccardo
Lewis and Henry de Jong of Aotearoa/New Zealand Metal band Alien Weaponry talk to Riccardo about growing up on the road, working with Josh Wilbur, having Randy Blythe of Lamb of God guest on their new record and remembering to do the dishes amongst other things!
Interview - 5 minutes with JJ Burnel of The Stranglers by Riccardo Ball
Riccardo Ball wraps up a quick 5 minutes with JJ Burnel of The Stranglers
ahead of their tour down-under this March.
Look-out for the full interview on The Metal Bar & Libel Music.
The Metal Bar Interview - Riccardo speaks with Einar Selvik of Wardruna - 14th January 2025
By: Riccardo Ball
Riccardo and Einar Selvik talk about Wardruna, Einar finding his voice, his cultural connection and being a modern day Viking ahead of his band touring Australia and New Zealand this coming January 2025
Studio Interview - Daryl Habraken (AKA The Mole) Speaks with Mikey Havoc - 21 March 2022
The Mole speaks with New Zealand ‘Radio Relic’ & Vocalist of Push Push about their slot at the upcoming Bay Rock at the Historic Village Green, Tauranga next weekend; how music has changed over the last 30 years and a little about the future of Push Push. Thanks Mikey; it was fantastic to have you in the studio!
By: Daryl Habraken (AKA The Mole)
Interview - Mark Jansen of Epica speaks with Mark Derricutt - January 2021
Like many, my love for symphonic metal can be traced back to the debut of Nightwish. Before that, however, Angra, Blind Guardian and After Forever had captivated my ears with their blending of orchestras, heavy melodies, and starting a dangerous hobby of peak soundstage in headphones.
By: Mark Derricutt
Interview - Hoody Time, Bosho, and Max Duncan speak The Truth with Mark Derricutt - December 2020
Just over four years ago I ‘met’ Joey Talmage (Hoody Time) - the American rapper/hip-hop artist via reddit's r/newzealand sub ahead of his tour, and subsequent emigration to New Zealand. I managed to catch up with Hoody, and new found collaborators Bo Ade-Simpson (Bosho) and Max Duncan prior to the literal New Year release of MUSIC.
Interview - Dave White of Heathen speaks with Mark Derricutt - August 2020
Back in August, ahead of the release of Empire of the Blind - Mark Derricutt sat down with David White to discuss all things Heathen.
Interview - Tom Nauman of Primal Fear speaks with Mark Derricutt - July 2020
Misplaced somewhere among the madness of 2020; just prior to it's release - I found myself on a cold rainy night, waiting for TOM NAUMAN - guitarist for long standing German Power Metal masters PRIMAL FEAR to talk about the release of METAL COMMANDO - the bands thirteenth release.
By: Mark Derricutt
Interview - Imugi speaks with Mark Derricutt - November 2020
Revealing his electronic/synth-pop loving alter ego - Mark Derricutt spoke to Auckland duo Imugi about their new release Dragonfruit, discovering music, and their upcoming December shows at Meow and The Tuning Fork.
Interview - Brett Campbell of Pallbearer speaks with Mark Derricutt - October 2020
Doom metal is not always about sorrow and gloom, but can often be an emotional journey of reflection and healing - Brett Campbell of Arkansas doom metallers Pallbearer talks to Mark Derricutt about their latest album Forgotten Days.
By: Mark Derricutt
Interview - Tim Lucier of The Kingsmen speaks with Mark Derricutt - May 2020
It now seems like a lifetime ago that I sat down to talk with Tim Lucier, guitarist for Rhode Island newcomers Kingsmen to discuss their debut album “Revenge. Forgiveness. Recovery”, an album that's still getting regular rotation around the house.
By: Mark Derricutt
Interview - Paul McLaney of Gramsci speaks with Mark Derricutt
Released during the height of a global pandemic, Paul McLaney and Gramsci return after a fifteen year hiatus with the release of their critically acclaimed album, Inheritance, and with the recent return to Alert Level One a confirmed and rescheduled live performance of the album at Auckland's ASB Waterfront Theatre on Friday 16th October.
By: Mark Derricutt
Interview - Mark Heylmun of Suicide Silence speaks with Mark Derricutt - October 2020
Long before the days of lockdowns, bubbles, and social distancing - California based Suicide Silence released their 5th album Become The Hunter on Valentine's Day. Since then the whole world has been turned upside down, and somewhere among them this interview with guitarist Mark Heylmun somehow got lost in the shuffle.
By: Mark Derricutt
Interview: Derrick Green of Sepultura speaks with Mark Derricutt
By Mark Derricutt
Ever since forming way back in 1984, Sepultura have been at the forefront of heavy metal, bringing to the world their tribal/Brazilian influenced blend of groove/thrash/death metal, and whilst the band has had its share of line up changes over the years - with the recently released 'Quadra'
Interview: David Coverdale of Whitesnake Speaks with Mark Derricutt
By Mark Derricutt
David Coverdale…. “Yes, we are so fucking excited to be coming back after all these years. I’m bringing my wife and son as they’ve never seen how beautiful your country is and how hospitable you all are…Yes…It’s gonna be FUN!!!” …..Read the interview with David re their tour with Scorpions down-under !
Interview: Bruce Soord, The Pineapple Thief
By Mark Derricutt
Two years after the release of his eponymous solo album, The Pineapple Thief's frontman Bruce Soord has released his second solo album All This Will Be Yours ahead of the bands upcoming new live album Hold Our Fire and their first North American tour. It's been a busy year for Soord and yet we sat down to discuss the new album, the recording and writing process, and the changing landscape of the world.
Interview - Michael Timmins (Cowboy Junkies) - October 2019
By Labretta Suede
Cowboy Junkies will be returning to New Zealand May 2020, showcasing their newest album All That Reckoning and old fan favourites. With three decades behind them, consistently delivering creative, alternative sounds and staying true to themselves, they are eagerly anticipated by their Kiwi and Aussie fans.
Interview: Neil Fraser, Villainy
By Levi Harris
Kiwi-rockers, Villainy, have re-entered the scene after a four-year hiatus with a crash and yell!
Their recent album, Raised in the Dark—the collective —is a 10-track testament to their musical prowess… and with the ten being the best 10 out of 107 songs, you know that each song is deliberate and speaks to a vulnerability underneath all the heavy smashing, crashing, and noise. Being the collective imagination of the band and long-time collaborators, Tom Larkin (Shihad) and Samuel K, the album is loaded with creative riff-work, slamming rhythms, heavy guitar solos, and poetic lyrical work.
Interview: Amy Mansfield, I Didn't Invite You Here To Lecture Me
By Andra Jenkin
One of our writers sat down with Amy Mansfield, writer of I Didn’t Invite You Hear To Lecture Me, ahead of the Basement shows. Most students throw out their study notes, but not Amy. She has kept hold of them for the past 20 years--vertibiam quotes from her lectures that are too good to ever get rid of. The play was shown throughout the Auckland Fringe Week 2018, and even in some personal living rooms, the vibe is very independent and witty.
Interview: Richard Shaw, Cradle of Filth
By Mark Derricutt
It was a cold bleary eyed Saturday night as the clock struck midnight, and counted towards 1am… the time set forth to conjure Richard Shaw, guitarist for legendary UK black metal act Cradle of Filth. We talked ahead of their sold out, first ever performance here in New Zealand.