The Downbeat

My guest on the podcast this week is Devin Swank, vocalist of Ohio Death Metal band Sanguisugabogg. We talked about his approach to lyrics and songwriting, the early days of the band, taking inspiration from horror…and we talk a LOT about death metal.

My guest on the podcast this week is Cody Quistad, guitarist of Wage War. With 4.3 BILLION streams to his name, Cody is also an incredibly talented and sought-after songwriter. We caught up to talk about Wage War’s new EP ‘It Calls Me By Name’ as well as what he thinks of the modern scene and the term’ Octanecore’ - when heavy breakdowns meet active rock choruses, which is something that Cody pretty much single handedly brought into the mainstream. Big brain on this lad.

My guest on the podcast this week is Mark Morton, guitarist and founding member of Lamb Of God. We talk everything about their ripper of new album ‘Into Oblivion’ as well as his new signature Gibson guitar, sobriety, writing a book, AI in music and much more. I made a friend today.

My guests on The Downbeat podcast this week are Tūranga Morgan-Edmonds and Lewis de Jong of ALIEN WEAPONRY.Alien Weaponry are a groove metal band from New Zealand, and their music and lyrics heavily reflect all three members’ Māori ancestry. This episode digs into said ancestry with conversations about Tā moko (traditional Māori tattoos) as well as the Haka, a ceremonial Māori dance that the band performs on stage. We also discuss their new album Te Ra, meeting your idols, working with Randy Blythe, and touring with Gojira. A truly educational episode 2.5 hour episode… and I could have done 2.5 more.

My guest on the podcast this week is Matt Garstka, drummer, educator, amateur arm-wrestler and 1/3 of arguable the most progressive band on planet earth. We talk about his recent distal bicep tear and his recovery, as well as the use of AI in music, musical competition, and my recent drum lesson with him

Flo and Kevin from LANDMVRKS dive into their creative process and the mental health struggles behind their new album, highlighting anxiety and burnout. They explore their roots in hardcore music, unique songwriting methods, and the band’s influence within the French metal scene. Expect discussions on cooking on tour, quirky American food reactions, and their playful banter about Dua Lipa. They also touch on the importance of collaboration, sharing their tension-filled yet rewarding journey in DIY production and the vibrant community supporting French heavy music.

My guests on the Downbeat Podcast this week are Colter Cuthbertson and Mike Sugars - the dual vocalists of self proclaimed SPINKICK DEATHCORE band Psycho-Frame. In many ways an underground supergroup, Psycho-Frame make hilariously heavy music and their debut LP Salvation Laughs In The Face Of A Grieving Mother easily made it’s way into my top 5 of 2025. We talk about everything around the band- from its formation to the album itself, as well as their aesthetic, splitting lyric writing duties and the influence of anime, video games and politics on said lyrics. Many laughs were laughed

My guest on the podcast this week is Adam ‘Nolly’ Getgood. Acclaimed guitarist and producer whose credits include Animals as Leaders, Periphery and Sleep Token. Nolly is also the co-founder of GGD - a hugely successful plugin company that went from being two friends with a mutual love of capturing drum tones to a household name in the world of music production. We talk in depth about the origin and ethos of GGD, his career as musician and producer, and of course the development of MY new plugin on their platform: One Kit Wonder: The Downbeat. He’s a very nice and successful man

Join Will Ramos, the dynamic lead vocalist of Lorna Shore, known for his diverse vocal techniques, and drummer Austin Archey, as they dive into their intense musical journey. They discuss the creative process behind their new album, exploring themes of vulnerability and personal struggles. Will shares tales of his unique Moto Compacto e-bike, while Austin breaks down various blast beat techniques. Their candid stories blend humor and insight, making for an engaging conversation about life on tour and the future of their music.

My guest on the podcast this week is Cody Ash. Cody is the drumming powerhouse behind the country megastar Jelly Roll. We tell the entire story of his career trajectory - from sleeping in a van in metalcore bands all the way to his current gig playing sold out arenas alongside the likes of Eminem and Post Malone.