

The Downbeat
Craig Reynolds
The Downbeat Podcast is an award-winning heavy music podcast featuring in-depth interviews with the biggest names in metal, hardcore, and alternative music.
Hosted by Craig Reynolds, The Downbeat explores metal, death metal, black metal, hardcore, and metalcore through long-form, unfiltered conversations with legendary musicians and rising artists. Hear behind-the-scenes stories, songwriting insights, touring life, and honest discussions from across the global heavy music scene.
New episodes feature iconic bands, underground favorites, and the voices shaping modern heavy music.
Hosted by Craig Reynolds, The Downbeat explores metal, death metal, black metal, hardcore, and metalcore through long-form, unfiltered conversations with legendary musicians and rising artists. Hear behind-the-scenes stories, songwriting insights, touring life, and honest discussions from across the global heavy music scene.
New episodes feature iconic bands, underground favorites, and the voices shaping modern heavy music.
Episodes
Mentioned books

May 2, 2021 • 1h 39min
Josh Smith - Northlane
My guest this week is Josh Smith, guitarist of Northlane. As well as playing guitar for the Australian progressive metalcore (?) giants, Josh is also a manager and keen cyclist. We talk about all of that, and a bunch of other stuff. Just listen to it. Peace!

Apr 16, 2021 • 1h 51min
Matt Halpern - Periphery
My guest this week is Matt Halpern, drummer of Periphery and co-owner of GGD. Back again but this time to talk about many things including: his as-yet-untold worries about playing live, playing annoying parts guitarists have written, his new snare drum, NFTs, and much much more. Peace!

Apr 1, 2021 • 1h 19min
Justine Jones - Employed To Serve
My guest this week is Justine Jones, vocalist of UK metal band Employed To Serve and co-owner of Church Road Records. I caught up with Justine at the end of last year to talk about the band's new album and new drummer Casey, our boring lives in lockdown and running a label with her husband Sammy. Peace!

Mar 11, 2021 • 2h 7min
Adam "Nolly" Getgood - Producer
My guest this week is producer, engineer, mixer, guitarist, bassist, and espresso master Adam "Nolly" Getgood. You may know Nolly from his work playing with Periphery or producing bands like Animals As Leaders, The Devin Townsend Project, Architects and many more. I pretty much explained the many strings to Nolly's bow in sentence one so obviously we spoke about those, as well as his VST instrument company GGD, our thoughts on drums, drum tracking and what makes a good drummer, as well as coffee and of course: his favourite bands.

Feb 25, 2021 • 1h 48min
Ali Dean - Architects
My guest this week is glorious perfect human being Ali Dean, bassist of Architects. Ahead of the release of their new album For Those That Wish To Exist, we talked about nearly everything except that. Life living on his own in lockdown, his marathon training, old tours, PROJECT: REYNOLDS, as well as Tom and Dan's many affectionate nicknames for him. I can't even remember anything other than I laughed a lot and we both might have got a little tipsy. He's genuinely one of my favourite people in the entire world. Peace!

Feb 11, 2021 • 1h 50min
Johannes Persson - Cult Of Luna
My guest this week is Johannes Persson, vocalist and guitarist of Swedish post-metal pioneers Cult Of Luna. We talk about the band's new EP 'The Raging River' as well as lockdown lifting (shock horror), working with Mark Lanegan, and how to deal with conspiracy theorists. Peace!

Jan 26, 2021 • 1h 41min
Drew York #2 - Stray From The Path
My guest this week is Drew York, singer of my own band Stray From The Path. He's back with more jingles and tales of his fresh move to France! He's ONE OF US NOW EUROPE! We also talk about staying sane during lockdown, working out, and we remember the worst place we ever slept on tour. Peace!!

Jan 11, 2021 • 1h 24min
Sam Carter - Architects (THE SEQUEL)
My guest this week is my best bloody mate Sam Carter. General legend and frontman of Architects. We talk about their new (amazing) album 'For Those Who Wish To Exist', from its writing/recording to playing an empty Royal Albert Hall on a live stream. We talk about coping mechanisms through lockdown and a lot about mental health. I love Sam. He's the best.

Dec 17, 2020 • 1h 52min
Brendan Murphy #2 - Counterparts
My guest this week is Brendan Murphy, vocalist of Counterparts and END. He's back. We talk about nonsense, the future of touring, mental health medication, and his cat. Peace!

Dec 3, 2020 • 1h 29min
Ed Gamble - Comedian
My guest this week is comedian and far-more-famous podcaster Ed Gamble. As well as being an immensely successful stand-up and TV comedian, Ed (alongside co-host James Acaster) also hosts one of the internet's biggest podcasts 'Off Menu' where guests share their dream menu. Unbeknownst to some Ed is also a keen metal fan, with a very surprising top 5 bands. I think he's more legit than me. Basically asked him what it's like to do comedy for a living, we talked about metal, and he made me a laugh a lot (LAL). Shout out to Sam Carter for facilitating this episode by telling his famous mates to come on. Peace!


