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
Apr 8, 2019 • 1h 58min
Tom Williams - Stray From The Path
My guest this week is Tom Williams, guitarist of my own band Stray From The Path. We talk about his crippling addiction to gambling and who is bigger out of Rammstein and Tool. We also talk about music a tiny amount and of course the PissGhost haunting Will Putney's studio. Will actually drops in to disrupt the podcast with Pat from Fit For An Autopsy and Steve Seid stars as guest 'Jamie from the Joe Rogan Podcast.' This paragraph makes no sense but who even reads this BYE.
Feb 6, 2019 • 1h 54min
Justin Nace - PVRIS
My guest this week is Justin Nace from PVRIS. Justin is an accomplished session drummer and a great guy. Can't remember what we talked about cus I'm literally about to go on tour and recorded this two weeks ago!
Jan 29, 2019 • 2h 2min
Brendan Murphy - Counterparts
My guest this week is Brendan Murphy, singer of Counterparts. He's the funniest person I know.
Jan 17, 2019 • 1h 45min
Sam Carter - Architects
My guest this week is Sam Carter. Sam is the singer in Architects and a bloody legend. I caught up with him on their bus after their sold out show in Manchester. We talk about their new album Holy Hell, school, football, becoming a touring musician, how Sam is still good at drums after all these years of being a frontman - and how for some mental reason I have been ghosting Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech in my twitter DMs.
Jan 6, 2019 • 1h 49min
Anup Sastry
My guest this week is Anup Sastry. Anup is one of metal's most in demand session drummers. He has played for artists like Marty Friedman (Megadeth), Jeff Loomis (Nevermore) and Devin Townsend as well as being either a touring or recording member of bands like Intervals and Monuments. We talk about how someone gets in his position, his studio, his upcoming sample pack and of course we talk a bunch about drums. It was nice. Enjoy!
Dec 18, 2018 • 1h 9min
Me #01
No guest! I am the guest! I did a Q&A on social media and so I've answered the best and funniest questions here as well as tell a few stories. Amongst other things I talk about how my life in music got started, my own personal top 5 bands, and of course the question on everyone's lips - whether or not I would sleep with a mermaid.
Dec 10, 2018 • 1h 33min
Kerim "Krimh" Lechner - Septic Flesh / Decapitated / Behemoth (session)
My guest this week is Kerim "Krimh" Lechner. Krimh is a fantastic Austrian drummer currently playing with Greek death metal band Septic Flesh. Prior to this he played with Decapitated, and has also sessioned for Behemoth which as we all know is probably the hardest death metal gig you could ever get.
We talk about his time in all of these bands as well as foot technique, tattoos, health/fitness and how it relates to drumming, food, blah blah all the normal stuff. I also tell the story of how I nearly got killed by actual hippos. Enjoy!
Nov 30, 2018 • 1h 42min
Kyle Brownlee - Counterparts
I'M BACK FROM TOUR. My guest this week is Kyle Brownlee from Counterparts. Kyle is an incredible, VERY precise drummer, and also obviously a great guy. We talk SO much about drums and touring (for once), including the insane story of how he got so good at drums. Our top 5 starts off as bands but then ends up Top 5 songs by The Black Dahlia Murder. Peace!
Nov 4, 2018 • 1h 50min
Will Putney
My guest this week is Will Putney. Will is a three-time grammy nominated producer working out of probably my favourite studio in the world, Graphic Nature. He is also the guitarist and main songwriter of Fit For An Autopsy. We talk about what drummers can do to make the studio a better experience for themselves and everyone around them. We also talk about gear a fair bit and near the end we discuss the famous Gralter Challenge, which is absolutely insane.
Oct 22, 2018 • 2h 5min
Dan Searle - Architects
Dan Searle, the dynamic drummer of the British metal band Architects, shares insights on life as a touring musician and collaborator in songwriting. He dives into hilarious memories with his former drum tech and the challenges faced recording their latest album, "Holy Hell." Dan also discusses the impact of becoming a father, how it reshaped his outlook and personal growth, and the balancing act of creativity amidst grief. With a dash of humor, he reflects on performance anxieties, evolving as a drummer, and his ultimate favorite bands.
