Scars and Guitars
With over 900 interviews, Andrew McKaysmith provides a welcoming environment for artists to discuss their politics, social insights, and artistic perspectives. Offering an authentic experience, this podcast invites you to tune in to the conversations with numerous luminaries from hard rock, heavy metal, and extreme metal.
Episodes

Tuesday Aug 29, 2023
Tuesday Aug 29, 2023
As Gomorrah Burns is Cryptopsy's latest album, marking their triumphant return after a five-year hiatus. In this episode, join us for an in-depth discussion with Matt as we delve into the musical intricacies of the album, its social and political resonances, and the captivating topic of life beyond our planet, amongst a heap of other quality topics.

Tuesday Aug 29, 2023
Tuesday Aug 29, 2023
Join us as Mikael Stanne delves into exciting updates about The Halo Effect’s upcoming tour with Lagerfest in Australia throughout November. We also uncover his deep-rooted connections with Gothenburg’s luminaries, pondering the genre’s impact on extreme metal’s evolution, comparable to Florida’s late 80s death metal scene. Stanne discusses Jesper Stromblad, the remarkable project Grand Cadaver, line-up shifts in Dark Tranquillity, and revisits his days with Hammerfall and In Flames. This episode marks our debut on Rumble, and your support is appreciated as we explore this new platform’s potential. Stay tuned for more!
Get set for LAGERFEST 2023: a blend of heavy metal and Oktoberfest. Featuring THE HALO EFFECT (their debut in Australia and New Zealand), BEYOND THE BLACK, and DEVILSKIN. Also, don’t miss LAGERSTEIN, Australia’s party pirates, in their 6th explosive appearance. Catch the festival on these dates: 11/11 – Auckland, 12/11 – Christchurch, 15/11 – Brisbane, 16/11 – Sydney, 18/11 – Adelaide, 19/11 – Melbourne. Tickets at: https://www.lagerfest.net/

Saturday Aug 26, 2023
Saturday Aug 26, 2023
First up, the enigmatic BRUJERIA hits the scene with their unique Latin-infused metal. Then, the iconic DORO takes the stage, showcasing her timeless talent. And let's not forget U.D.O., led by Udo Dirkschneider, reminding us of metal's enduring power.
Rock vibes incoming! Scott Stapp shares his emotive tunes, while Mammoth WVH, Wolfgang Van Halen's project, continues the family legacy. Alice Cooper brings his signature theatrics, keeping us captivated.
Shifting gears, get ready for industrial vibes from MINISTRY and Helmet's distinctive sound. SEVENDUST's melodies and Koyo's genre-blending tunes offer something different.
Emotion-packed rock takes over with MOVEMENTS and Of Mice & Men. Kill The Lights brings explosive energy, and Polaris and Silent Planet offer introspection.
For the heavy and extreme enthusiasts, SVALBARD and TesseracT bring progressive flair. VUKOVI's electronic infusion and AMARANTHE's genre-blurring keep us guessing.
Lyrizone, CADAVER, and CRYPTOPSY bring intense sounds, while GO AHEAD AND DIE and Grand Cadaver deliver unadulterated heaviness. OBSCURA and The Amenta showcase technical mastery, Akercocke and 72 Legions delve into the dark.
Underground cravings? BLACK PESTILENCE, l0rd kha0s, and Abhorrency have you covered. EGREGORE and Hiems provide atmospheric touches, Selfgod and Urfaust dive deep. Meridian Sun's melodies and GREEN LUNG's vintage rock vibes stand out.
Turn up the volume with GRAVEYARD and INTHEWHALE, and brace for RINGWORM and Triple Kill's frenzied offerings. EXMORTUS and TILL THE DIRT go technical, INTERLOPER and After Earth go cosmic.
Symphonic delights from BEYOND THE BLACK and EPICA, while CYHRA and Primal Fear hit hard. INDUCTION and CASKETS offer their own metal style, SiM and Void Of Vision keep things fresh.
THE OMNIFIC and OBLIVION PROTOCOL impress, Spanish Love Songs tell stories, and LS Dunes, Empire State Bastard intrigue. Thunderstick and Ann Wilson close the show with finesse.

Friday Aug 18, 2023
Friday Aug 18, 2023
Kelly discusses the creative influences that shaped his first album using the Till The Dirt moniker titled "Outside The Spiral." We delve into the 1990s, where we explore his close relationship with Roger Patterson (November 29, 1968 – February 12, 1991), the bassist for Athiest, as well as his successor Tony Choy. This is followed by a dynamic conversation covering various subjects tied to the realm of social and political landscapes.

Wednesday Aug 16, 2023
Wednesday Aug 16, 2023
The trigger for the discussion with Scott from Carnifex is their ninth studio album, Necromanteum, set to release on October 6 2023, through Nuclear Blast Records. While we do delve into the album's creation, the conversation is notable through its exploration of the prevalent woke and socialist ideologies that are widespread across the Western hemisphere.

Wednesday Aug 09, 2023
Wednesday Aug 09, 2023
Serena Cherry from Svalbard discusses their fourth album, The Weight Of The Mask. We delve into intentional differences between this album and When I Die, Will I Get Better? and explore Svalbard's collaboration with The Ranch Production House, their creative process, lyrical themes, and inspirations. Discover insights from shows with Russian Circles and Cult of Luna and find out if Svalbard has an Australian adventure planned.

Sunday Aug 06, 2023
Sunday Aug 06, 2023
Shane Embury explores the challenges of balancing artistry, family, and societal pressures. We discuss censorship, the evolving music industry, and the responsibility of being an artist in today's polarised world. Shane shares their experiences collaborating with Bill Steer and Kevin Sharp and covers musicianship, bass playing and experimentation with diverse sounds and styles. This conversation offers plenty of insight into Shane's psyche and what makes him tick.

Sunday Aug 06, 2023
Sunday Aug 06, 2023
Sam Bettley, the bassist of Asking Alexandria, delves into their latest album, Where Do We Go From Here? Sam shares his thoughts on their journey and how they've evolved. Plus, get a glimpse into their creative process and the gear they use to produce their sound. Plenty of insight if you enjoy bass playing.

Sunday Aug 06, 2023
Sunday Aug 06, 2023
Josh Middleton discusses Sylosis' latest album, A Sign of Things to Come, covering their sound, writing process, and focus on creating a cohesive record. He also reflects on the significance of albums in today's music landscape and shares thoughts on playing with Metallica and his recent exit from Architects, amongst other intriguing topics.

Sunday Aug 06, 2023
Sunday Aug 06, 2023
James Bulloch discusses Ringworm's latest album, Seeing Through Fire and how he hopes it'll reach a wider extreme metal audience with the help of Nuclear Blast. James also discusses his powerful vocal style and how the band focused on a specific engineer to achieve a heavy, raw, and clear sound. James is also a tattooist and graphic designer based in Cleveland, which is a catalyst for an exchange about the economics of the music industry.