Scars and Guitars

Fredrik Åkesson (Opeth)

Fredrik dives into The Last Will & Testament, the latest album from Opeth, set for release on November 22, 2024, through Reigning Phoenix Music. In this episode, he delves into guitar performance and other related topics. This conversation was initially envisioned as part of an expansive two-part series examining various facets of Opeth's guitar work and musical evolution. Adding to the excitement, Opeth will be touring Australia and New Zealand in November 2025. 
OPETH AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND TOUR DATES 2025
Friday, 14 November – Auckland – Town Hall  
Monday, 17 November – Sydney – Sydney Opera House  
Tuesday, 18 November – Sydney – Sydney Opera House  
Thursday, 20 November – Brisbane Fortitude – Music Hall  
Friday, 21 November – Melbourne – Palais Theatre  
Saturday, 22 November – Adelaide Hindley – St Music Hall  
Monday, 24 November – Perth – Astor Theatre  
For tickets and details, visit https://metropolistouring.com/opeth-2025/ or https://davidroywilliams.com/tours/opeth-2025/ 

Oliver Amberg (ex-Celtic Frost)

Former Celtic Frost guitarist Oliver Amberg discusses his time with the band, focusing on the Cold Lake era. Oliver shares insights into the album's creative process, studio dynamics, and the band's stylistic shift. He addresses the backlash from fans, reflects on Cold Lake's legacy, and discusses his creative relationship with Tom G. Warrior. We also explore the album's visual branding, the possibility of unreleased material, and how fan perceptions have changed over time.
Check out Oliver’s recent music projects here: https://oliveramberg.bandcamp.com/
Some of Oliver's favourite musical selections as an introduction to his music:
https://oliveramberg.bandcamp.com/album/songs-like-horses
https://oliveramberg.bandcamp.com/album/the-remote-sessions-rewinded
Kissing Lucifer (Featuring Oliver) plays a swing version of Cherry Orchards: https://youtu.be/8_XqDLs_L-A?si=EN8OWhKaGb73gP7f 

Max Cavalera (Cavalera, Soulfly, ex- Sepultura)

Max Cavalera revisits Sepultura’s groundbreaking early albums - Bestial Devastation, Morbid Visions, and Schizophrenia - sharing stories of challenges, influences, and production. He reflects on Andreas, Paulo Jr., and overlooked contributor Jairo Guedz and dives into the early tape-trading scene with legends like Chuck Schuldiner and Euronymous.
CAVALERA Third World Trilogy Australian Tour Dates
Friday, January 17 - Liberty Hall, Sydney
Saturday, January 18 - The Tivoli, Brisbane
Sunday, January 19 - Northcote Theatre, Melbourne
Wednesday, January 22 - The Odeon Theatre, Hobart
Thursday, January 23 - Hindley Street Music Hall, Adelaide
Friday, January 24 - Metropolis, Fremantle
From: https://www.destroyalllines.com/tours/cavalera

Necrobutcher (Mayhem)

Jørn Stubberud, better known as Necrobutcher, joins the show ahead of Mayhem's January 2025 shows in Australia, celebrating the band's 40th anniversary. In this candid conversation, Jørn opens up about his relationship with Varg Vikernes, his thoughts on the late Euronymous, working with vocalist Attila, and the controversial promotion of the bootleg Dawn of the Blackhearts, infamous for featuring a distressing image of his friend and bandmate Per Ohlin, also known as Dead. He also discusses the Lords of Chaos biopic, his connection to Australia, his legacy and much more!
MAYHEM performing at:
Jan 9th - Brisbane, Princess Theatre
Jan 10th - Sydney, Metro Theatre
Jan 12th - Melbourne, Northcote Theatre
TICKETS ON SALE now: 
BRISBANE - www.ticketmaster.com.au
SYDNEY - www.ticketek.com.au
MELBOURNE - www.moshtix.com.au
www.thetruemayhem.com
www.facebook.com/mayhemofficial
www.swdpresents.com

Andrew Roachford (Roachford)

Andrew Roachford as he reflects on returning to Australia for his *Then and Now Greatest Hits Tour* after nearly two decades. We discuss pre-show rituals, his powerful performance mindset, and his unique journey balancing solo work with Mike + The Mechanics. Andrew shares insights on the lasting impact of his music, pivotal career moments, hidden gems in his catalogue, and his thoughts on rock 'n' roll’s overlooked legacy alongside influences like The Beatles
ROACHFORD May 2025 Australian Tour Dates
Friday 16th May - FREMANTLE, Freo.Social
Saturday 17th May - ADELAIDE, The Gov
Friday 23rd May - MELBOURNE, 170 Russell
Saturday 24th May - SYDNEY, Manning Bar
Sunday 25th May - BRISBANE, The Triffid
 
Tickets
From: https://metropolistouring.com/roachford-2025/

John Sanders (Alarum)

John Sanders, one of Alarum's two guitarists, joins the show ahead of the release of their new album, Recontinue, and their upcoming Australian tour with Pestilence and Abramelin. In this dynamic and engaging conversation, John discusses the intricacies of the new album, details of the tour, his career in radio, and how he has confronted personal challenges.
Recontinue will be released on November 8, 2024. It explores themes of regeneration, resilience, and finding strength in adversity. The album comprises 11 tracks that blend heavy and soft elements, showcasing Alarum's signature fusion of progressive metal, jazz, and thrash.
Alarum online: 
www.alarum.com
www.facebook.com/alarumofficial
Instagram: @alarum_official
ALARUM is on tour with Abramelin this November, supporting Pestilence!
Nov 6th-Brisbane, The Triffid
Nov 7th-Sydney, Crowbar
Nov 8th–Canberra, The Baso
Nov 10th-Melbourne, Max Watts
Tickets from www.swdpresents.com

John Gallagher (Raven)

John Gallagher has been the driving force at the forefront of Raven for over four decades. In this insightful conversation, he shares his thoughts on their upcoming Australian shows in November 2024, the band's enduring legacy, often-overlooked albums, and reflections on former members, including his brother and longtime guitarist, Mark Gallagher. He also opens up about his experiences with the Osbournes, Metallica, and his perspective on the growing wave of authoritarianism across the Western world. 
RAVEN and HYENA Australian Tour Dates
Friday 8th November - MELBOURNE - Northcote Social
Saturday 9th November - SYDNEY - STEEL ASSASSINS FESTIVAL - Bridge Hotel (tix via Moshtix on sale now)
Brisbane - Cancelled... 
Link to tickets: https://hardlinemedia.net/raven-%2B-hyena 
 

Chuck Billy (Testament)

Testament's Chuck Billy addresses controversies head-on, responding to a question about former bassist Greg Christian and shedding light on the Kukar Rockin' Fest 2014 incident in Indonesia. Chuck reflects on Testament's legacy, sharing thoughts on classic songs and personal favourites while revealing the inspiration behind recent album themes. He also discusses career crossroads, including his Sepultura audition and other band opportunities that might have been. He touches on the Nick Barker situation and working with James Murphy during his brief stint in Testament. Looking forward, Chuck talks about the band's upcoming Australian headline tour, their first since 2010, potential setlist changes, and Testament's current goals and ambitions.
TESTAMENT June 2025 Australian Tour Dates
Wednesday 18th June - BRISBANE, The Tivoli
Friday 20th June - SYDNEY, The Metro
Saturday 21st June - MELBOURNE, Northcote Theatre
Sunday 22nd June - ADELAIDE - The Gov
Tuesday 24th June - PERTH, Metropolis Fremantle
Tickets
Presale: Thursday 31st October, 9am Local Time
General Public On Sale: Tuesday 5th November, 9am Local time
From: https://metropolistouring.com/testament-2025/ or https://thephoenix.au/testament/
 

Halloween 2024 special featuring Dan Mitchell (Autumns Eyes)

Dan knows much more than I do about Halloween, so it was an excellent opportunity to invite him to the show to discuss Halloween and many other topics!
Check out Autumns Eyes: https://autumnseyes.com/ 

New music show October 2024

The October 2024 edition of *The Scars and Guitars* new music show celebrates 70 tracks spanning the extreme metal spectrum. The featured album, ORANSSI PAZUZU's Muuntautuja, delivers a mesmerising, boundary-pushing journey through blackened experimental soundscapes. This episode's lineup covers black metal, death metal, doom, stoner, and metalcore, showcasing iconic names and rising talents. Highlights include fresh releases from Jinjer, Hermano, Hangman's Chair, and SYLOSIS, alongside hidden gems from emerging bands like Tidal Shock and Deadform. With contributions from artists worldwide, this playlist captures the diversity and global impact of metal today, from atmospheric black metal to symphonic epics and beyond.
 
#
Artist
Song
Album
1
ORANSSI PAZUZU
Bioalkemisti
Muuntautuja
2
THE HU
Pay Tribute To Iron Maiden With The Trooper
 
3
Jinjer
Kafka
Duél
4
SOILWORK
Spirit Of No Return
 
5
KERRY KING
Where I Reign
From Hell I Rise
6
Hermano
Breathe
When the moon was high…
7
HANGMAN'S CHAIR
2 AM Thoughts
 
8
THE HALO EFFECT
Detonate
 
9
HELLOWEEN
Best Time (live)
The first single from "Live At Budokan";
10
Tidal Shock
Umbra Planetae
Riffs Of Ha
11
Wizard Must Die
The Breach
L'Or des Fous
12
THE PALE HORSES
NEVER KNOW
Enchantress
13
Deadform
Of Plagues
Entrenched In Hell
14
MOTHER OF GRAVES
Upon Burdened Hands
The Periapt Of Absence
15
Nepenthe
Upon These Unfamiliar Shores
The Fading Promise Of Tomorrow + Elegies Of Loss And Doom
16
Spineless
Disease
Dysphonia
17
SoftSun
Daylight in the Dark
 
18
Coma Hole
Alphaholics
Hand Of Severance
19
BEHEMOTH
The Thousand Plagues I Witness
XXX Years Ov Blasphemy
20
Exiled Hope
Altar Of Moloch (feat. Imperator Mortem)
Apocrypha
21
Ignominous
Dawn with no Light
Dawn With No Light
22
INFERNALIVM
Ashes of the Saints
CONQUERING THE MOST HIGH
23
Vosforis
Psychonaut
Cosmic Cenotaph
24
Metsän Alttari
Rautaa, tulta ja jäätä
 
25
NEKUS
Accursed Murmur
 
26
ORANSSI PAZUZU
Muuntautuja
Muuntautuja
27
HETEROMORPHIC ZOO
Ritual of Fidelity
New World
28
NECKBREAKKER
Shackled To A Corpse
Within The Viscera
29
Ophidian Memory
Fleshbinding Ritual
 
30
Witchpit
Forever Spoken
Forever Spoken
31
A SCAR FOR THE WICKED
ACOLYTHUS
ACOLYTHUS
32
Alarum
Imperative
 
33
CONJONCTIVE
Dying Melody
Misère de Poussière
34
EARTHBURNER
Permanent Dawn
Permanent Dawn
35
HAIL OF BULLETS
Red Wolves Of Stalin
Single
36
NECRONOMICON EX MORTIS
Trick Or Treat
The Mother Of Death
37
RECIDIVIST
Madness Malformed
Madness Malformed
38
SYLOSIS
The Path feat. Heriot
EP "The Path"
39
THANATOS
Putrid Existence
Single
40
Contrition
Not Today
Pariahs
41
EMBRYO
The Rise To Self-Demise
 
42
DEVIL SOLD HIS SOUL
Like It's Your Last MMXXIV
 
43
ICE NINE KILLS
A WORK OF ART
 
44
CABAL
Still Cursed
 
45
SPIRITBOX
Soft Spine
 
46
TURMION KÄTILÖT
Pulssi
Reset
47
MARILYN MANSON
Sacrilegious
One Assassination Under God - Chapter 1
48
OCEANS
HAPPY
HAPPY
49
ORANSSI PAZUZU
Valotus
Muuntautuja
50
Codespeaker
Rescission
Scavenger
51
ELEINE
Never Forget
We Shall Remain
52
LAY OF THE AUTUMN
After All This Time? Always
Of Love And Sorrow
53
AMARANTHE
Interference
 
54
QAALM
Hangman's Lament
Grave Impressions Of An Unbroken Arc
55
Miracle Blood
Hello Hell
Hello Hell
56
Canyoneer
Disarmer
Disarmer
57
Confess
Spitfire
 
58
SEVEN KINGDOMS
The Square
The Square
59
Nehoda
Bells
Nehoda
60
Salem UK
Rock You
Outer Limits
61
SISTERS DOLL
United
 
62
The Electric Mud
Ashes and Bone
Ashes and Bone
63
Buried
Tallies
 
64
ENFORCED
A Leap into the Dark
A Leap into the Dark
65
RAD
Ravenous Scavenger
 
66
Trip to the Morgue
Digging Your Grave
 
67
TRISKELYON
Hellbound Hellions
Shattered Elysium
68
NOTHING MORE
Announce 10th Anniversary Self-Titled Album Out Nov 22Release Remix Of “Angel Song” Feat Disturbed Vocalist David Draiman
 
69
AMARANTHE
Fading Like a Flower
The Catalyst
70
ORANSSI PAZUZU
Voitelu
Muuntautuja