And Now The Band

EP327 Inside Blackwater Drowning’s Heaviest Album Yet – Morgan Riley Interview

Morgan Riley of Blackwater Drowning joins Tom on And Now The Band to break down the band’s upcoming album Obscure Sorrows, out February 27 via Blood Blast Distribution and Bleeding Art Collective. Morgan dives into the band’s new collaborative songwriting approach, adding orchestration and atmosphere to create their most expansive and emotionally heavy record yet. They also talk about balancing metal life with a full-time IT career, preparing vocals for tour, and the realities of being a working musician in today’s scene. The conversation covers: • The making of Obscure Sorrows • Upcoming U.S. tour dates with Butcher Babies, Filth, and Infected Rain • How bands lose money by missing royalties • Vocal warmups and performance prep • Growing up around theater and discovering heavy music through The Matrix Reloaded • Favorite tour memories with Jinjer and Crypta • Why full albums still matter in the streaming era If you’re into modern metal, underground touring bands, and honest conversations about how musicians actually make it work, this episode is for you. Subscribe for weekly interviews with heavy music artists from around the world. #BlackwaterDrowning #MorganRiley #ObscureSorrows #ButcherBabies #MetalPodcast #HeavyMetal #WomenInMetal #TourLife #UndergroundMetal #NewMetal #BandInterview #AndNowTheBandBlackwater Drowning interview, Morgan Riley interview, Obscure Sorrows album, metal podcast, metal band tour, Butcher Babies tour, women in metal, underground metal bands, heavy music interviews

EP326 Johnny Zilch on Music, Resilience, and Creating Through MS

Tom sits down with Johnny Zilch of Stacked Deck and Useless by Design for one of the most personal and resilient conversations yet — covering lifelong musicianship, health battles, and why creating music never stops.Johnny opens up about living with multiple sclerosis, how it’s impacted everyday things like night driving, and the physical challenges he’s faced over the years. After surviving cancer, a stroke, and MS, he’s had to retrain his hands multiple times just to keep playing guitar — but quitting was never an option.Music, for Johnny, isn’t a hobby. It’s survival.The two trace Johnny’s journey from rebellious teenage guitarist to his early days with SmashBandits, through today’s projects Stacked Deck, Useless by Design, and other rotating collaborations. Whether it’s rehearsals, writing sessions, or local shows, he stays busy purely for the love of playing and connecting with people — not chasing trends or algorithms.They also get into the realities of modern DIY music:QR-code releases, digital distribution through Ditto, streaming platforms, and building audiences independently. The conversation turns reflective as they discuss aging, generational differences, and how constant social media has changed how younger scenes connect compared to the old days of flyers, word-of-mouth, and local shows.There’s also a deeply human moment as both share stories about losing beloved pets and navigating serious family health scares — reminders that life outside the stage hits just as hard.Through everything, Johnny’s mindset stays simple:Keep writing. Keep playing. Keep showing up.Because music is what keeps him going.Living and performing with multiple sclerosisSurvived cancer and stroke; retrained his hands to keep playingProjects include Stacked Deck and Useless by DesignDIY releases using QR codes and digital distributionTech background helps manage music independentlyFocused on local Michigan shows and scene collaborationAdvocates for band partnerships and show-swapping to grow crowdsHonest discussion on aging, family, pets, and life perspectiveMusic as therapy, expression, and purpose#JohnnyZilch#StackedDeck#UselessByDesign#DIYMusic#MichiganMusic#HeavyMusic#AndNowTheBand#IndependentArtists#MusicLife

EP325 Patrick Brink on Launching Mojave Experience Festival + Building a Desert Rock Destination

Tom sits down with Patrick Brink of Volume to talk about launching the inaugural Mojave Experience Music Festival, a two-day desert rock and psych gathering set for March 20–21 in Joshua Tree, California. Rather than performing with his own band this year, Patrick made the deliberate decision to step back and focus entirely on producing the best possible experience for fans, artists, and volunteers. His goal isn’t just another concert — it’s a destination event that captures the spirit of the desert itself. Friday kicks off at Mojave Gold with a 16-band pre-party featuring acts like Rubber Snake Charmers, The Freeks, Arthur Seay and the Riff Killers, and more. Saturday moves outdoors into Joshua Tree with heavy hitters Earthless, Dead Meadow, John Garcia, Yawning Man, Ecstatic Vision, Howling Giant, Early Moods, plus vendors, art, and immersive experiences designed to make the weekend feel bigger than just music. Patrick breaks down what it really takes to build a festival from scratch: permits, county approvals, artist contracts, scheduling conflicts, and the logistical chess match of balancing band expectations with production realities. Drawing on decades of DIY booking experience dating back to the ’90s punk and stoner rock scenes, he’s applying old-school community values to a modern event. The conversation also dives into Patrick’s musical roots — discovering bands through mail order and SST Records, the thrill of pre-internet music discovery, and how that passion still fuels his drive to spotlight both legends and emerging acts. Long-term, Mojave Experience isn’t chasing massive corporate scale. Patrick envisions a 5,000-person boutique festival over the next 5–8 years — something intimate, curated, and uniquely tied to the landscape, blending desert rock, psych, and heavy underground artists while preserving the vibe that makes Joshua Tree special. It’s a labor of love built by fans, for fans. * Mojave Experience debuts March 20–21 in Joshua Tree * Friday pre-party at Mojave Gold with 6 bands * Saturday outdoor event headlined by Earthless, Dead Meadow, and John Garcia * 12+ vendors, art, and immersive desert activities included * Patrick stepped away from performing with Volume to focus on production * Extensive permits, contracts, and logistics behind the scenes * Inspired by DIY booking roots and pre-internet music discovery culture * Goal: grow thoughtfully to ~5,000 attendees without losing intimacy * Designed as a destination festival, not just a show #MojaveExperience #PatrickBrink #VolumeBand #DesertRock #StonerRock #JoshuaTree #HeavyMusic #MusicFestival #AndNowTheBand

EP324 Francesco Paoli (Fleshgod Apocalypse) on the Avatar Tour, Tour Life & The Art of an Album

Tom sits down with Francesco Paoli of symphonic death metal powerhouse Fleshgod Apocalypse to talk about the band’s upcoming U.S. tour supporting Avatar and Frozen Soul, kicking off this spring.The conversation traces Francesco’s journey from his early days with Hour of Penance to Fleshgod’s rise as one of extreme metal’s most ambitious and cinematic acts. With festival appearances at Rockville and Sonic Temple on the horizon, the band is preparing to bring their dense, orchestral sound to bigger American stages than ever before.Francesco reflects on the realities behind the scenes — including a past incident where the band’s gear was stolen in Sweden and a blackmail attempt followed. Instead of crowdfunding or paying a ransom, they chose to handle it professionally through law enforcement, reinforcing their belief that bands should rely on resilience and hard work rather than desperation tactics.They also dig into the emotional side of touring. Francesco opens up about the adrenaline highs of performing, the powerful connection with fans, and the very real post-tour depression that hits when the momentum suddenly stops. The camaraderie of life on the road can feel like family, making the return to normal life unexpectedly heavy.Creatively, Francesco explains why Fleshgod Apocalypse remains an album-focused band. Their songwriting process is slow, deliberate, and perfectionist — often taking years to refine ideas into cohesive records. Rather than chasing singles, trends, or viral moments, the band prioritizes complete artistic statements, crafting immersive albums that reward front-to-back listening.The result is music built on passion and authenticity — not algorithms.Key TakeawaysFleshgod Apocalypse joins Avatar and Frozen Soul for a major U.S. tourFirst large-scale American festival experiences mirror European-style eventsProfessionalism and resilience matter more than online panic when setbacks happenTouring creates intense emotional highs — and equally tough comedownsPost-tour depression is a common but rarely discussed reality for musiciansTheir songwriting is meticulous, often spanning years per albumAlbums are treated as cohesive artistic works, not collections of singlesUnderground music thrives on authenticity over commercial pressure#FleshgodApocalypse#FrancescoPaoli#SymphonicDeathMetal#ExtremeMetal#MetalPodcast#UndergroundMetal#TourLife#AndNowTheBand

EP323 Ben Koller (Converge / High on Fire) on Touring Chaos, Real Estate, Royalties & Life in Heavy Music

In this episode of And Now The Band, Tom Robbins talks with Ben Koller — drummer for Converge, High on Fire, Mutoid Man, and Killer Be Killed — about the realities of balancing a relentless touring schedule with family, business, and the changing music industry.The conversation opens with tour life memories and a shared love of live music, including Ben bringing his 11-year-old son to his first metal show — a rite of passage complete with moshing and earplugs.Outside of music, Ben discusses an unexpected second career: real estate. After frustrating personal experiences with agents, he got licensed to better serve friends and family. With multiple bands keeping him on the road, he currently operates as a referral agent — a practical way to stay involved without sacrificing touring. Tom, also a realtor, relates to the desire to guide people through one of life’s biggest transactions with integrity.From there, the discussion dives into:The realities of touring logistics and broken gear mid-setWhy traveling with backup equipment is non-negotiableScheduling tours a year out — and how life, health, and cancellations still disrupt plansBeing the main provider while chasing every opportunityProtecting family time and mental healthThey also explore modern challenges facing musicians, including technology burnout, social media overload, and the growing role of AI in music creation. Ben expresses concern about losing the human imperfections that make heavy music feel real.A major highlight is Ben’s deep dive into songwriter royalties and rights. After discovering unclaimed mechanical royalties through the Music Modernization Act and the Mechanical Licensing Collective, he began educating other musicians and launched the Heavy Music Collective to help artists understand how to properly collect what they’re owed.At its core, this episode is about sustainability — how to build a long-term life in heavy music without burning out, financially or personally.Key TakeawaysTouring demands preparation, redundancy, and adaptabilityReal estate can provide stability alongside creative careersFamily balance becomes more critical with age and responsibilityTech boundaries are essential for mental clarityAI threatens to dilute the human core of musicMany artists leave royalties unclaimed due to lack of educationUnderstanding publishing and mechanical rights is crucial for survivalCommunity knowledge-sharing strengthens the heavy music ecosystem#BenKoller#Converge#HighOnFire#MutoidMan#KillerBeKilled#HeavyMusic#MetalPodcast#DIYMusic#SongwriterRights#AndNowTheBand