Best Scorched Tundra Podcasts (2024)

1
HH 095: My Best Friend (Live at VivaSounds w/ Amira Gluhic, Lilia Ohls, Oskar Fredén) 34:38

2y ago34:38

34:38

This week's Heavy Hops episode comes from a panel discussion I moderated on December 3rd at Viva Sounds - a conference and live music showcase that takes place annually in Gothenburg, Sweden, hosted by West Side Music.This panel - titled "My Best Friend" - looks at the live music sector from a small, independent venue owner and operators’ perspecti…

1
HH 094: I Will Survive (Live at VivaSounds) 53:35

2y ago53:35

53:35

This week's Heavy Hops episode comes from a panel discussion I moderated on December 3rd at Viva Sounds - a conference and live music showcase that takes place annually in Gothenburg, Sweden, hosted by West Side Music.This panel - titled "I Will Survive" - looks at the live music sector from a booking agent’s perspective. We venture beyond the head…

1
HH 093: As The Writing Process Unfolds (Will & Sam Skarstad/Yellow Eyes, Ustalost) 58:36

2+ y ago58:36

58:36

One of my favorite parts about talking to musicians is getting to the heart of why they make the creative and musical decisions that are then committed to tape or performed live. Why did they choose to write their lyrics in a certain manner? Why did they record their live album in a historic water tower? How will they reimagine older material for a…

1
HH 092: Human-Size Stories (Michael Kiser/Good Beer Hunting) 1:26:32

2+ y ago1:26:32

1:26:32

Good Beer Hunting has changed how beer is covered and viewed. Over the past decade, founder Michael Kiser and his team have used photography, long form journalism, podcasting, humor and even festivals as avenues for sharing experiences, flavors and perhaps most importantly, human-size stories. I joined Michael at GBH studio in West Town, and over g…

1
HH 091: Historiographies (Tara Nurin/A Woman's Place Is In The Brewhouse) 49:06

2+ y ago49:06

49:06

Tara Nurin is a veteran freelance writer, consultant, lecturer and educator who focuses on the culture, history and business of beer. Her most recent book A Woman’s Place Is In The Brewhouse: A Forgotten History of Alewives, Brewsters, Witches and CEOs (Chicago Review Press, September 2021) covers these exact topics, celebrating the contributions a…

1
HH 090: Back On The Road (Kirill Orlov & Marc Najjar/Huntsmen) 44:13

2+ y ago44:13

44:13

Joining us this week are Kirill Orlov and Marc Najjar guitarist and bassist/vocalist respectively of Huntsmen. The bands unique combination of folk Americana with doom-inspired heavy sections and harmonized vocals are presented through different production and storytelling lenses on the band's debut American Scrap and 2020’s Mandala of Fear. The re…

1
HH 089: Context Is Crucial (Martin Atkins/Museum of Post Punk & Industrial Music) 56:19

2+ y ago56:19

56:19

Martin Atkins’ experience as a musician and entrepreneur spans genres, borders and industries. He was a member of Public Image Limited with Johnny Rotten, Ministry, Killing Joke, and Pigface in addition to being a performer with Nine Inch Nails. He’s touched every aspect of the music industry and covered it in his three books. We discuss Martin’s m…

1
HH 088: Hybrid Strains (Lance Shaner/Omega Yeast Lab) 44:14

2+ y ago44:14

44:14

Joining me this week is Lance Shaner, founder of Omega Yeast Lab in Chicago. A microbiologist by training and former patent attorney, Lance’s analytical approach to creating hybrid yeast strains for breweries was groundbreaking from the inception of Omega Yeast in 2013. We discuss how Lance approaches creating these hybrid strains of yeast, and we …

1
HH 087: The Taste of a Tastemaker (Jerald O’Kennard/Beverage Testing Institute) 43:02

2+ y ago43:02

43:02

Joining me this week is Jerald O’Kennard, Director of the Beverage Testing Institute in Chicago. BTI’s independent reviews of beer, wine and spirits are highly influential internally within the bev-alc industry and with consumers. Pappy Van Winkle received a considerable boost to its brand recognition in 1997 when BTI awarded it a 99/100, the highe…

1
HH 086: Thermal Runaway (Katie Davies/Pupil Slicer) 32:49

2+ y ago32:49

32:49

Joining me today is Katie Davies, guitarist and vocalist for the British grindcore band Pupil Slicer. The band’s debut Mirrors was released in March 2021 and it captured my interest, the combination of mathcore, grind and post metal was unique in its delivery and transportive in its effect on me as a listener. I found myself revisiting Converge’s J…

1
HH 085: Critique Is An Act of Storytelling (JJ Koczan/The Obelisk) 1:00:46

2+ y ago1:00:46

1:00:46

Joining me this week is JJ Koczan, founder of The Obelisk, an online publication focusing on desert rock, stoner and doom metal. JJ and I both found our way into the music industry around twenty years ago through college radio and journalism. JJ became Managing Editor at The Aquarian Weekly and Associate Editor at Metal Maniacs Magazine in New York…

1
HH 084: Make Them Bleed From The Eyes (Ammo) 49:23

2+ y ago49:23

49:23

Joining us week is Amaury “Ammo” Dastarac, a freelance illustrator based in Brussels. You’ve likely seen Ammo’s work; he’s created concert and festival posters for Neurosis, Converge, The Melvins, Chelsea Wolfe, Enslaved and Hellfest. He’s also illustrated beer labels for breweries De Ranke, Cantillon and most recently Brasserie De La Mule. We disc…

1
HH 083: Efficient Isn't Always Better (Lou Bank & Chava Peribán/S.A.C.R.E.D & Agave Road Trip Podcast) 1:05:04

2+ y ago1:05:04

1:05:04

For a few years I’ve been intrigued by agave spirits, and in particular Mezcal. The flavor profiles, methods of production and history of these beverages are fascinating and delicious. In the interest of promoting curiosity, an eternal goal of this podcast, I wanted to give space to this unique world of beverages that have an intriguing sense of pl…

1
HH 082: Under The "L" In Evanston (Paul Hletko/Few Spirits) 49:34

2+ y ago49:34

49:34

Joining me this week is Paul Hletko, founder and distiller of Few Spirits in Evanston, immediately north of Chicago. Hletko’s imaginative approach to bourbon, whiskey and gin have garnered many accolades since Few’s inception in 2011 including Whiskey Advocate Craft Whiskey of the Year and Icons of Gin World Distiller of the Year. We discuss his ap…

1
HH 081: Wall of Amps (Greg Anderson/Sunn 0))), Southern Lord Records) 52:14

2+ y ago52:14

52:14

Joining us this week is Greg Anderson, co-founder of the experimental metal band Sunn O))) and its label home Southern Lord Records. We discuss the band’s recent output Metta, Benevolence BBC 6Music: Live On the Invitation of Mary Anne Hobbs a live recording captured in 2019 at the legendary Maida Vale Studios in London. We discuss how these drones…

1
HH 080: The Second Testament (Jeff Alworth/Beervana, The Beer Bible) 43:02

2+ y ago43:02

43:02

Jeff Alworth, an award-winning beer writer based in Portland, Oregon is our guest this week. Jeff has authored five books on beer, The Widmer Way, The Secrets of Master Brewers, Cider Made Simple, Beer Tasting Tool Kit, and The Beer Bible. A second edition of the Beer Bible was released in September 2021, and we took the opportunity to discuss beer…

1
HH 079: Experiences and Experiencing (Esben Willems/Monolord, Studio Berserk) 38:05

2+ y ago38:05

38:05

This week we’re joined by Esben Willems, drummer in Swedish heavy band Monolord. Your Time To Shine, the band’s fifth album, was released last year on Relapse Records, and we dive into it from his perspective as a musician and producer. Your Time To Shine was his first recording in Studio Berserk, which he took over a year ago. We also discuss tour…

1
HH 078: Happiness From The Sky (Luca Cimarusti/Annihilus, Luggage) 47:23

3y ago47:23

47:23

Joining me this week is Luca Cimarusti - drummer in Chicago-based heavy trio Luggage, and leader of his solo black metal project Annihilus. Both bands were creatively active in 2021 and released new material, Happiness is Luggage’s fourth album and Follow A Song From The Sky is the second Annihilus offering. We discuss these two albums on their own…

1
HH 077: Wheaties & Lucky Charms (Kate Bernot/Good Beer Hunting Sightlines, Craft Beer & Brewing) 1:04:18

3y ago1:04:18

1:04:18

Joining us this week is Kate Bernot, a contributing Editor for Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine, Sightlines contributor for Good Beer Hunting, and previously beer editor for Draft Magazine. In addition to her award winning writing, she is a BJCP certified beer judge, based in Montana. Her work covers a variety of companies and stories within the alcoh…

1
HH 076: Protest Songs (Zach Blair/Rise Against) 36:53

3y ago36:53

36:53

Joining us this week is Zach Blair, lead guitarist in the legendary punk band Rise Against. For anyone that grew up in Chicago in the early 2000s and was at all interested in rock music, Rise Against was a touchstone. We use the group’s recent EP Nowhere Sessions as a lens into the tradition of punk rock covers of protest songs and their live reson…

1
HH 075: Discovering Cultural Confidence (Lucy Corne/On Tap Magazine/African Beer Cup) 53:58

3y ago53:58

53:58

Joining me this week is Lucy Corne a freelance writer and beverage industry consultant based in Cape Town. She is the Editor of On Tap Magazine, South Africa’s only magazine dedicated to beer. Lucy is BJCP and Cicerone® certified, having judged a number of competitions globally, including the African Beer Cup, the only pan-African beer competition,…

1
HH 074: Death Metal Forever (Anders "El Guapo" Gustafsson/Zombiekrig) 58:04

3y ago58:04

58:04

Joining us this week is Anders “El Guapo” Gustafsson, founding guitarist of Zombiekrig, a thrash metal band based in Gothenburg Sweden. The band released new studio material for the first time in almost a decade on December 10th - Dödstecken an EP two new songs and live recordings captured at the second Scorched Tundra festival edition in 2012, one…

1
HH 073: Land of Men (Buick Audra/Friendship Commanders) 49:18

3y ago49:18

49:18

Joining us this week is Buick Audra, a Grammy award winning musician, writer, and activist living in Nashville, TN. She is the guitarist, primary songwriter and vocalist in the melodic heavy duo, Friendship Commanders. The band recently released four singles “Stone Child” and “Your Reign is Over” last year to mark Indigenous Peoples Day, and most r…

1
HH 072: Finding Inspiration In Family History (Laurin Mack/Conrad Seipp Brewing Company) 54:37

3y ago54:37

54:37

People find their way into the commercial side of beer world through many avenues. Common narratives typically involve an interplay of seeking something different than what the market offered, discovering the joys of homebrewing, finding a community, and taking a risk with hopes for an independent future.Laurin Mack’s path has been exceptional and …

1
HH 071: Experiences Drive Sensory (Averie Swanson/Keeping Together) 50:30

3y ago50:30

50:30

Joining us this week is Averie Swanson, the founder and beermaker of Keeping Together. While the company was founded in 2019 - when Averie arrived in Chicago and had an opportunity to begin making her beers at Half Acre Beer Co. - Keeping Together was only recently first served at a beer festival in Washington DC. We use this event as a lens throug…

1
HH 070: Rekindling (Mikael Stanne/The Halo Effect, Dark Tranquillity, Grand Cadaver) 37:52

3y ago37:52

37:52

This week I am in Studio Berserk in Gothenburg Sweden with Mikael Stanne, vocalist and lyricist of the melodic death metal band Dark Tranquillity and Grand Cadaver. Our conversation revolves around his newest project, The Halo Effect, whose lineup is rounded out by guitarists Niclas Engelin and Jesper Strömblad, bassist Peter Iwers, and drummer Dan…

1
HH 069: Pairing Music With Landscapes (Jeremy Walker & Alex Feher/Fire In The Mountains) 47:36

3y ago47:36

47:36

From its clandestine roots, to an environmentally focused multi day music and lifestyle event, Fire In The Mountains, has become an important festival in the heavy music calendar. Want to see Emma Ruth Rundle play on a grand piano with the Grand Tetons as a backdrop? Enjoy a barbecue featuring local, sustainably grown, food cooked by a Norwegian ch…

1
HH 068: Negative Space (Scott Evans/Kowloon Walled City) 35:02

3y ago35:02

35:02

I don’t often have an emotional response to music. Perhaps it's the prevalence of streaming services and being able to access audio and video content on demand that makes music an accessory. Sitting and intentionally focusing on a piece of music draws us in differently. In allowing music to consume us with less distraction our imagination can freel…

1
HH 067: Vinyl “Delays” (Michael Greig Thomas/Kindercore Vinyl) 54:32

3y ago54:32

54:32

It’s no secret that the vinyl pressing industry has faced a surge in demand over the last 18 months. The British Phonographic Industry recorded 4.8 Million Vinyl Albums sold in the UK in 2020, marking a decade of growth, which globally eclipsed 1 billion dollars for the first time. In the United States LP and Ep shipments increased 23.6% while comp…

1
HH 066: Run The Brews (Amaechi Uzoigwe & Kate Brankin/Run The Jewels)

3y ago

—

Run The Jewels has not only taken the music world by storm, but they are also making waves in beverage - and specifically beer. Their history of making or lending their brand to collaborations with Goose Island, Interboro Spirits & Ales and Pipeworks Brewing were initial opening experiences for how they can connect with more audiences and create ne…

1
HH 065: The Fire Still Burns (Matthias Trum/Schlenkerla) 1:23:00

3y ago1:23:00

1:23:00

Smoked beers are thought to be an acquired taste. Aromas and flavors of campfire or bacon, when presented in the context of a pale or dark lager, can be surprising, jarring or intriguing. However, when we think broadly about our own relationship to this sensory experience we can be transported to familiar and even nostalgic places: an outdoor gathe…

1
HH 064: Zone Tripper (Dave Schmidt/Electric Moon, Zone Six, Sula Bassana) 59:15

3y ago59:15

59:15

Joining us this week is German multi instrumentalist Dave Schmidt. He is a pillar in the modern psychedelic music scene: his projects Electric Moon, Zone Six, Krautzone, Intercosmos as well as his solo work - released under the name Sula Bassana - are essential listening for anyone looking to open their mind and reach the outer galaxies. His label …

1
HH 063: Torment & Glory (Brian Cook/Russian Circles, Sumac) 1:00:01

3y ago1:00:01

1:00:01

Joining us this week is Brian Cook, you may know him as bassist in heavy bands Russian Circles and Sumac. This conversation focuses on his first solo effort - under the name Torment & Glory - which was released in late August. We Left a Note with an Apology draws from a wide music palate, folk tradition, country storytelling, krautrock with moments…

1
HH 062: Touring Life (Mattias Nööjd & Axel Wittbeck/Firebreather) 56:23

3y ago56:23

56:23

This week we're in Gothenburg Sweden at Studio Berserk with Mattiias Nööjd and Axel Wittbeck, guitarist/vocalist and drummer respectively of the riff driven heavy band Firebreather. The band will head to the USA for the first time in early 2022 with Monolord.Our conversation revolves around the role that touring plays in gaining notoriety, and the …

1
HH 061: Modern British Beer (Matthew Curtis/Pellicle Magazine) 1:06:20

3y ago1:06:20

1:06:20

Joining us this week is Matthew Curtis, an award-winning freelance writer, broadcaster and author based in Manchester. You may be familiar with his work as Editor-in-Chief of Pellicle Magazine, a publication and podcast focused on beer, cider, wine, food and travel.Matt’s most recent book, Modern British Beer, is the focus of our conversation. The …

1
HH 060: Tasting Into The Future (Mike Schallau/Is/Was Brewing) 1:01:03

3y ago1:01:03

1:01:03

This week we catch up with Mike Schallau, co-owner and brewer of Is/Was Brewing, an artisanal producer of rustic, farmhouse-inspired ales based in Chicago.We explore two of Mike’s first blended mixed fermentation beers: Levain and Bend Towards Daylight. In discussing the construction and intention of these beers we learn more about Mike’s symbiotic…

1
HH 059: "Cool Story" Barrels (Jim Cibak & Marty Scott/Revolution Brewing) 2:11:01

3y ago2:11:01

2:11:01

Joining us this week are Jim Cibak and Marty Scott - Brewmaster and Barrel Program Lead respectively - at Revolution Brewing in Chicago. The brewery’s “Deep Woods” Series of barrel aged beers has garnered the attention of drinkers of these time and ingredient intensive styles. Balance, Jim and Marty argue, as perceived during the sensory process, a…

1
HH 058: Less Transformers, More Harry Crumb (Sanford Parker/HyperCube) 1:29:52

3y ago1:29:52

1:29:52

Joining us this week is Sanford Parker, a Chicago-based musician, studio engineer and producer. You’ve heard his work in these capacities on albums from Eyehategod, YOB, Wovenhand, Voivod, Hide, Darkthrone, Youth Code, Harm's Way, Facs, and Unearthly Trance, just to name a few. As we get to know Sanford, hear about his engineering and production pr…

1
HH 057: Best of 2021...So Far (Nick Dellacroce/Bongripper) 1:14:44

3y ago1:14:44

1:14:44

Joining us this week is Nick Dellacroce, guitarist of instrumental doom band Bongripper and solo project Bottomed. We discuss what’s been happening with Bongripper, what we’ve been listening to and which albums, podcasts, movies and shows have struck us from 2021 so far. Listeners will recognize Nick not only for his musical work, but also from his…

1
HH 056: Paganism and Metal (Deena Weinstein/DePaul University) 1:35:39

3y ago1:35:39

1:35:39

I was recently flipping through a collection of old compact discs and DVDs, and came across a treasure trove of folk and pagan inspired metal albums. From violins, bagpipes, and hurdy gurdies to throat singing, lutes and horsehead fiddles, modern metal bands have found interesting ways of incorporating traditional instruments, folklore and ritual i…

1
HH 055: Tension (Tim Pope/The Amenta) 58:09

3y ago58:09

58:09

Joining us this week is Tim Pope, keyboardist, programmer and lyricist for Australian extreme metal band The Amenta. Describing this band's sound - whether on a single album or as a characterization over time - in a two or three word genre title is challenging. Maybe that’s the point. Revelator, the band's fourth album, which was released in Februa…

1
HH 054: Symbiosis (Gert van der Waal) 1:03:11

3y ago1:03:11

1:03:11

Gert van der Waal refers to his ventures in hop growing, malting, and distilling as “experiments.” There’s a level of modesty in this claim indicative of his character. On his small farm located outside Pretoria, South Africa, you’ll find four varieties of hops: Cascade, Kracanup (a cross of Chinook and Cascade originating from Australia), DrakGold…

1
HH 053: Tiny Prints (Maura Walsh/Black Nail Studio) 1:02:03

3+ y ago1:02:03

1:02:03

Maura Walsh, a Chicago-based artist, gained notoriety during the pandemic for her appropriately named Tiny Guide to Chicago's Best Music Culture Spots and Tiny Guide to Chicago Arts which raise funds for local organizations Chicago Independent Venue League and Save our Stages. We explore the origins of this project, the challenges of communicating …

1
HH 052: Right Place At The Right Time (Coy Eakes/Collective Arts & Gamma Brewing) 1:02:42

3+ y ago1:02:42

1:02:42

This week's episode is a story about curiosity, saying yes to opportunities, not fearing living somewhere new, and relishing challenges. Coy Eakes, co-Founder of Gamma Brewing, located just outside of Copenhagen, Denmark, tells us how he left his native North Carolina for a country he’d never been to, how he found brewing, and the importance of col…

1
HH 051: Roadburning (Walter Hoeijmakers & Becky Laverty/Roadburn Festival) 1:29:52

3+ y ago1:29:52

1:29:52

During the first weekend after Easter, Tilburg - a university town in the south of Holland - becomes a destination for curious music enthusiasts from around the world seeking to discover and enjoy up and coming, and select established names, in heavy music. Roadburn Festival’s influence and role as a forward-thinking tastemaker is immeasurable; eve…

1
HH 050: Surveying The Hosts (Alexi Front & Sam Cangelosi) 1:05:27

3+ y ago1:05:27

1:05:27

For the fiftieth episode artist and longtime collaborator Bryn Gleason is taking the helm and asking listener submitted questions. Sam and I offer behind the scenes insight into the shows background, how we adjusted during the lockdown period, what we look for in collaboration beers and projects, and what future content listeners may expect.Big tha…

1
HH 049: Non-Traditional Hop Farming (James Altwies/Hopnology & Siebel Institute of Technology) 1:17:52

3+ y ago1:17:52

1:17:52

This week we're focusing on a specific overlap of agriculture and beer: small scale hop farming in non-traditional areas. Who is starting small farms, where are they located and what are the historical and present challenges these farmers face in North America where the “scale-up to succeed” mentality and monocropping are most prevalent? How is the…

1
HH 048: Morbid Malts (Samu Rahn/Louis Glunz Beer, Cairn & Wintering) 1:55:26

3+ y ago1:55:26

1:55:26

We’re back in the studio this week for the first time since October, enjoying a few beers with Samu Rahn. Our wide-ranging conversation touches on Samu’s musical endeavors as a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist in dark heavy bands Cairn and Wintering; the importance of seeking new, niche, experiences - whether at home or abroad; beer and metal int…

1
HH 047: Hearing Conservation (Drs. Michael Santucci & Howard Kotler) 1:00:10

3+ y ago1:00:10

1:00:10

With summer festivals and club concerts on the horizon, we wanted to explore the connections between mental, physical and hearing health. No better guests to join us than Chicago-based audiologist Dr. Michael Santucci and Otolaryngologist Dr. Howard Kotler, an ear nose and throat specialist. As the world’s only audiologist-run earphone manufacturer…

1
HH 046: Migration and ReChording (Trevor Shelley de Brauw/Pelican/Chord/RLYR) 1:07:34

3+ y ago1:07:34

1:07:34

Joining us this week is Trevor Shelley de Brauw guitarist of Chicago-based heavy instrumental bands Pelican, RLYR and Chord. We discuss what's happening with each of these bands, including re-releases of Pelican’s first three records (Australasia, The Fire in Our Throats Will Beckon the Thaw, City of Echoes), the fourth Chord effort Imperfect Authe…

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