And Now The Band

EP320 From School Project to Serious Contender: Unburier on Growth, EPs & the Future

In Episode 320 of And Now The Band, host Tom Robbins is joined by Ben and Stan of UK-based death metal band Unburier for an in-depth conversation about the band’s evolution, creative discipline, and long-term vision. Formed in 2018 and releasing their first music in 2022, Unburier’s momentum truly accelerated once the right lineup and shared mindset locked into place. Ben and Stan break down how lineup changes shaped the band’s identity, why collaboration over ego is central to their process, and how each member contributes to songwriting with the goal of serving the song—not individual technique. The discussion dives deep into Unburier’s collaborative writing workflow, from Ben and Blake’s initial instrumental foundations to full-band refinement, consensus-based decision making, and Stan’s unconventional bass-first-late approach. They also explore the balance between technical death metal precision and memorable songwriting, emphasizing hooks, live impact, and emotional weight over empty virtuosity. Ben and Stan discuss the creation of their latest EP “As Time Awaits,” the lessons learned from remote writing and production, and how EPs function as modern-day demo statements rather than final destinations. While the band initially planned a full-length album, they explain why EPs have allowed them to experiment, sharpen their sound, and build momentum ahead of a proper debut LP. The conversation also touches on live performance goals, standout shows with bands like Crypta, Evile, Psychoptic, and Mithras, upcoming UK dates including a London release show, and long-term ambitions of eventually touring the United States. Throughout the episode, Unburier makes one thing clear: patience, cohesion, and shared vision matter more than rushing releases. This episode is essential listening for fans of modern death metal, underground band development, and artists focused on longevity over hype.

EP319 Post Fest Gets Bigger: Matt McCray Announces Preface Pre-Show & Festival Vision

In Episode 319 of And Now The Band, host Tom Robbins is joined by Matt McCray of Idlestar Productions for the first official announcement of the Preface Pre-Show for Post Fest—a new event designed to expand the festival experience while staying rooted in the values that made Post Fest special from the start. Matt and Tom dive into the power of music as a unifying force, discussing how festivals like Post Fest create shared experiences that transcend generations, genres, and backgrounds. The conversation explores the origins of the Preface pre-show, why it matters, and how it adds depth and narrative to the broader Post Fest weekend. They also discuss the challenges of growth versus preservation, emphasizing the importance of maintaining authenticity, affordability, and community as festivals evolve. Matt highlights the intentional curation behind the lineup, focusing on emerging and underground bands, thematic storytelling, and the role local venues play in sustaining healthy music ecosystems. This episode underscores why supporting local artists, promoters, and venues is essential, and how festivals can remain inclusive while still growing in scale and ambition. At its core, the conversation centers on friendship, shared passion, and the anticipation that drives live music culture forward. Whether you’re a Post Fest regular, a festival organizer, or a fan of underground and post-heavy music, this episode offers valuable insight into how community-driven festivals are built—and protected. #PostFest #PrefacePreShow #IdlestarProductions #MattMcCray #MusicCommunity #UndergroundMusic #MusicFestival #AndNowTheBand #LiveMusicCulture

EP318 Exhumed’s Matt Harvey Breaks Down Red Asphalt, Touring & Modern Death Metal

In Episode 318 of And Now The Band, host Tom sits down with Matt Harvey, guitarist and vocalist of Exhumed, to discuss the band’s upcoming album Red Asphalt, out February 20th via Relapse Records.Matt dives deep into the concept behind Red Asphalt, a record built around road-related horror, mechanical violence, and the deadly realities of life on the highway. The album features ten tracks including “Unsafe at Any Speed,” “Red Asphalt,” “Shovelhead,” “Iron Graveyard,” “Crawling from the Wreckage,” “Signal 30,” and “Symphorophilia,” forming one of Exhumed’s most focused and cinematic releases to date.The conversation explores Matt’s creative philosophy, including the importance of chasing ideas even if they don’t always work, and how working across multiple projects helps keep his songwriting sharp and avoids burnout. Matt explains how the initial spark for Red Asphalt came during a long drive home from Australia, and why the album’s concept justified its place in Exhumed’s extensive discography.Tom and Matt also discuss the band’s upcoming tour, where Exhumed plans to play over half of the new album live, while still honoring fan-favorite tracks. Matt shares his thoughts on modern music production, expressing a preference for raw, authentic, unpolished recordings over overly processed or AI-generated music, and why live shows remain irreplaceable in extreme metal.This episode is essential listening for fans of death metal, grindcore, Relapse Records artists, and anyone interested in album concepts, touring realities, and creative longevity in heavy music.#MattHarvey#Exhumed#RedAsphalt#DeathMetal#ExtremeMetal#RelapseRecords#MetalPodcast#AndNowTheBand#Grindcore#heavymusic Matt Harvey Exhumed, Exhumed Red Asphalt, death metal podcast, Relapse Records interview, extreme metal album discussion, Exhumed interview, grindcore death metal, metal touring podcast, concept albums metal

EP317 Kyle Thomas (Exhorder) on Brutal Self Critique, Vocal Longevity & Metal’s Evolution

In Episode 317 of And Now The Band, host Tom sits down with Kyle Thomas, legendary vocalist of Exhorder, for a wide-ranging conversation on songwriting integrity, vocal longevity, and the evolution of heavy music culture. Kyle breaks down his songwriting philosophy, emphasizing brutal self-critique, honesty, and cutting anything that doesn’t genuinely excite him. He discusses how this mindset applies not only to music, but also to parenting, creativity, and personal growth—focusing on doing your best without unhealthy comparison. The conversation dives deep into Kyle’s musical background, including his early choral training and how it shaped his vocal control, endurance, and technique. Kyle also shares practical insights on vocal care, avoiding damage, maintaining health on the road, and sustaining a long career in extreme music. Tom and Kyle also discuss Exhorder’s upcoming tour, the excitement of returning to familiar cities while exploring new territories, and the importance of diverse mixed-genre bills featuring bands like Ringworm, Phobia, and others. Kyle reflects on his early acceptance within the punk and hardcore scenes, and how today’s metal audience is more open than ever to genre crossover. The episode closes with a thoughtful discussion on how metal culture has evolved, Kyle’s journey from strict metal purist to embracing a wider range of music, and why staying authentic ultimately attracts the right audience. If you’re interested in thrash metal history, vocal technique, touring life, songwriting discipline, or the legacy of Exhorder, this episode delivers insight straight from one of heavy music’s most respected voices. #KyleThomas #Exhorder #ThrashMetal #HeavyMetalPodcast #MetalPodcast #ExtremeMetal #VocalTechnique #Songwriting #MetalHistory #HardcorePunk #AndNowTheBand

EP316 Demos to Crushing Doom: Weaving Spiders on Songwriting, Solitude, and Letting Music Breathe

In this episode, host Tom sits down with Gary and Matt of Weaving Spiders to unpack the band’s unconventional origin story, creative process, and evolving sonic identity. Born out of isolation during the COVID lockdowns, Weaving Spiders began as a solo GarageBand project after Gary’s departure from Bad Wizard. What started as remote experimentation slowly transformed into a fully realized band once Matt—initially reluctant to step into the role—became the group’s vocalist. The conversation explores how solitude, restraint, and trust shaped the band’s sound. Gary and Matt dive deep into the realities of remote collaboration vs. writing in the same room, the limitations of Dropbox songwriting, and why their next chapter will likely sound very different once everyone is physically together. They discuss influences ranging from Refused to Spotlights, the importance of presence while writing, and the decision to avoid unnecessary banter in live performances. The episode also touches on: * Writing outside traditional verse-chorus structures * Balancing simplicity with heaviness * Loud drummers, bigger amps, and basement practice spaces * The philosophy of letting songs exist without over-explaining them * Why lockdown solitude was creatively freeing This is an honest, grounded conversation about modern underground music, creative trust, and allowing a band to become what it needs to be—naturally.