It had been well over a year since I spoke with a band birthed from the ’90s New England metal scene. It was a pleasure to welcome Trevor Phipps, the vocalist of Unearth, who some—like me, for example—argue is the heaviest among the “Big 4 of Massachusetts Metalcore”.

I am proud to introduce the first woman interviewed for Mind over Metal: the inimitable Veronica Freeman of Benedictum! The latest monster from the trad metal upstarts is “Dominion”—their third full-length overall and first for Frontiers Records. We talk about the label switch, females in heavy music, and uprooting from San Diego to Phoenix with her husband and bandmate for their other love: motorcycles.

Who—or what—is Gigan? Turns out they have less to do with kaiju (though they’re still fans) and more to do with transcendental existence. Go figure.

Hear about commonalities with recent tourmates, details on the robbery that almost kept them from doing those tours, his black metal project Djevel, singing/recording in Norwegian, and Erland’s offer to let me punch him in the face should they ever use predominantly English lyrics.

Still another first on the ‘Mind Over Metal’ broadcast, as I attempt to use Earsplit Compound’s calling card to internationally dial the UK for this interview with the Anaal Nathrakh frontman. After only five or six tries, it actually happened, and we got to discuss their fucking ridiculously awesome new album “Passion”.

Hear about Woods of Ypres’ evolution into funeral doom, his teaching in Kuwait and the Metal environment there, The Northern Ontario Black Metal Preservation Society, and much more!

Brad Barratt asks about the NWoTHM, influences, “Burning Fortune”, and more with Ian Chains of CAULDRON!

“It’s gotta be all five of us really digging the stuff, or we don’t even work with it.” ~Olavi Mikkonen

“Remember, tv and movies pay, record companies don’t!” ~Blag Dahlia

Brad Barratt goes 9 deep with the Punk legend, uncovering Dwarves favorites of the past, details on the new album “Are Born Again”, and Blag’s feelings on A Simple Plan.

Functioning as a channel, the dubiousness of music ownership, Gillian-era Black Sabbath, and a whole lot about Sunn Amplifiers!