And Now The Band

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.

EP315 Dirty Dave & Andy “Lil Bucky” of The Glasspack on Punk Roots, Vinyl & Survival

Dirty Dave and Andy “Lil Bucky” of The Glasspack join Tom for a deep dive into punk ethics, underground survival, and the realities of making heavy music across multiple decades. From early tours disrupted by 9/11 to vinyl pressing delays, label collapses, and the shift from analog to digital creation, this episode captures what it actually means to stay active in the underground. The conversation covers punk roots, rock history, artist compensation, Louisville’s influence, and why DIY still matters more than ever. Essential listening for fans of punk, stoner rock, heavy underground music, and real-world band history. #TheGlasspack #PunkRock #UndergroundMusic #DIY #StonerRock #HeavyRockThe Glasspack podcast, Dirty Dave interview, punk rock history podcast, underground rock bands, stoner rock musicians, vinyl punk records, DIY rock ethics

EP314 Sonia of Velkhanos on Extreme Vocals, Voice Training & Modern Metal

Tom sits down with Sonia of Velkhanos to explore the discipline, technique, and personal drive behind modern extreme metal vocals. From joining Velkhanos in 2020 to touring Europe and teaching vocals professionally, Sonia shares how anatomy, control, and mindset are critical to sustaining aggressive vocal styles. The conversation touches on theatrical live performances, the influence of bands like GWAR, the rise of modern deathcore, and the pressure young bands face as they gain rapid attention. This episode is a must-listen for fans of extreme metal, death metal, vocal performance, and the technical side of heavy music. #Velkhanos #ExtremeMetal #MetalVocals #DeathMetal #MetalCommunity #HeavyMusicVelkhanos podcast, Sonia metal vocalist, extreme vocal techniques, death metal singer interview, metal voice teacher, modern metal vocals, Spanish metal scene

EP313 Planet Desert Rock Weekend VI Preview, Lineup & Scene Talk w/ John Gist

Tom sits down with John Gist to preview Planet Desert Rock Weekend VI, happening January 29th–February 1st in Las Vegas. John breaks down how the festival lineup comes together, the importance of diversity in heavy music, and why Planet Desert Rock focuses on community, fairness, and artistic integrity over trends. The conversation covers standout bands on the bill, the Ripple Showcase, the realities of rock promotion in the U.S., and the challenge of bringing younger audiences into the scene. They also dive into genre evolution — from hair metal to grunge to modern stoner and desert rock — and why live music remains the most powerful way to sustain underground scenes. This episode is essential listening for fans of stoner rock, heavy psych, doom, and independent festivals. #PlanetDesertRock #StonerRock #HeavyPsych #UndergroundRock #MusicFestival #RippleMusic Planet Desert Rock interview, John Gist podcast, stoner rock festival, desert rock weekend, underground rock festivals, heavy psych podcast, Ripple Music bands, Las Vegas rock scene