As part of our ‘Highlight of the Week’ series

Q1. Can you tell us about what lead you to find extreme metal and what about it ignited this passion you have for it? 

I remember the tail end of the 90s, 98/99ish, I was introduced to Emperor’s Wrath Of The Tyrant and, to be honest, I thought it was just noise! But there must have been something that interested me and made me go back for more eventually. Emperor became one of my favourite bands of all time!  

I wasn’t a huge fan of the 90s death metal scene until I heard Death’s Scream Bloody Gore for the first time, that changed everything and really opened my ears to what was possible. A completely unique approach to death metal! Although Symbolic is my favourite Death album! Around a similar time, I also discovered the Swedish melodeath scene, In Flames’ Jester Race completely blew me away and from there… Entombed, At The Gates, Soilwork, The Haunted etc etc… I lapped it up! 

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Q2. When did you first get involved in underground music? Can you tell us how that journey started? 

Over the years, as a metal fan, I’ve always tried to hunt down new music which has inevitably led me to look for the heavier and more extreme. I grew up in Cornwall where there was virtually zero action when it came to heavy music so when I moved to London in 1999, all of a sudden I had everything on my doorstep. There was a small CD shop in Sutton (Can’t remember the name) which was a great source for all the good stuff you couldn’t necessarily get in HMV etc, I discovered loads of more extreme bands via that shop. Fast forward to the past 5-10 years, the streaming sites (love em or loathe em) help us all discover new music. I’m a vinyl junkie but there’s no denying how easy it is to discover new / underground music now whether it’s Spotify, Apple or the best source overall, Bandcamp. 

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Q3. Are there any pinnacle events or specific people that have kept you on the path of supporting extreme metal? 

Not as such but again, I refer to the online / social media communities. I guess it’s like modern day tape trading to a certain extent, sharing bands etc. Our Podcast (In The Abyss) helps too… early access to promo releases, interviews etc. Record labels like Dying Victims, 20 Buck Spin, Profound Lore etc etc, they always deliver the goods! A big shout out to KMAN RIFFS who posts on Twitter (urgh) and Bluesky every Friday with all the metal releases for that day…a true Defender Of The Faith! 

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Q4. Can you tell us of any resources, entities or communities that could be particularly helpful for extreme metal bands in the underground today? 

Listen to In The Abyss podcast! HAHA! Of course the heavy metal community is a gift that keeps giving… Whether it is social media communities, Facebook groups, local venues… That one especially, get out to the local shows, see up and coming bands! Get involved! 

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Q5. How many band tshirts and merch items do you think you’ve collected so far? 

Dear god I dread to think! Over the years it’s well into the high hundreds… I do however get bored sometimes and clear a load out on Ebay to free up more space for new ones! I try to keep my personal collection to around 50 or less otherwise it gets out of hand… I have been a sucker for Maiden shirts over the years, how can any metalhead resist?? My favourite current shirt is probably my Obituary tour shirt from 2023, such a great design and a PROPER tour shirt, something that seems to be a rarity these days!

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Q6. What your favourite metal themed movie? (Rockumentaries count) 

This Is Spinal Tap, hands down. Probably my favourite movie of all time! I Also love Heavy Trip, Deathgasm, Detroit Rock City… I now need to see Heavier Trip! 

Also worth a shout out is Metal, A Headbangers Journey by Sam Dunn. I would also recommend that to people getting into metal plus the 8 part(?) TV show Metal Evolution that complimented it. Super Duper Alice Cooper & Maiden Flight 666, also by Dunn and also awesome! 

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Q7. Are there any extreme metal bands in the underground today that you feel the readers need to listen to?

Mutagenic Host, Disengagement, Havukruunu, Exhume, Liquid Shit, Ancient Rivalry, Godeth.

Listen to In The Abyss Here -> https://open.spotify.com/show/3eP8QrR4bNq9LWWoffARFx?si=UH9wZxkARN2ie2zd4PdqrQ