Feckin’ Metal Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

I catch up with Rob, Tim, and Jarvis from Cirith Ungol/Night Demon regarding recent happenings with both bands, and look towards next week's Frost & Fireland Festival in Limerick, Ireland. Learn how the fellas nearly caught Venereal Disease in Australia, made women cry in China, and what James Bond has in common with Cirith Ungol. We also discuss Night Demon's recent touring activity and support slots with Bruce Dickinson and Michael Schenker. 

On this episode, I chat to Dave Morrissey: guitarist, and founding-member of Irish trad-metallers Celtic Legacy. This band have been around the block more than a few times and have suffered numerous setbacks, but they're still standing. Dave and his counterpart, Dave "Slim" Boylan have kept the ship afloat during many trials and tribulations, also known as the "Celtic Legacy Curse". Throughout all of this, they have continued to release excellent albums, and kept a positive attitude. Celtic Legacy are survivors. They will not back down and will not take no for an answer. And they may just have their best line-up yet. 

Rollin' on in 2024, I bring you the second installment of my chat with George Silano from earlier this month. Here, we cover some of our favourite releases from 2023, featuring EPs and albums released last year that we haven't discussed in our previous chats, and things take a rather sinister turn... I also include some audio left off from Episode 88 where I interviewed Damian Kolodiy about his documentary: Immortal Soul - A Riot Tribute And Concert Film.

Clips featured in episode:

1. Primordial - "How It Ends" - How It Ends (2023)

2. Primordial - "Pilgrimage To The World's End" - How It Ends (2023)

3. Primordial - "Victory Has 1,000 Fathers, Defeat Is An Orphan" - How It Ends (2023)

4. Bergfried - "May The Devil Pull Me Under" - Romantik II (2023)

5. By Fire & Sword - "Leave A Little Room" - Glory (2023)

6. "Kenneth Copeland Blasts The Poor & Tells Them to Tithe" - (Posted to YouTube by iThinkBiblically)

7. By Fire & Sword - "Tithe (The Money Song)" - Glory (2023)

8. Weald & Woe - "My Heart To Fear" - For The Good Of The Realm (2023)

9. Riot V - "High Noon" - High Noon [Digital Single] (2023)

In the first episode of Feckin' Metal, I speak to my oldest friend, Kevin Daly, about our metal evolution. From queuing up for U2 tickets, to buying Appetite for Destruction, to attending Iron Maiden, Motorhead, and Dio gigs - listen to the journey of two old friends who discovered classic heavy metal in the early 2000's and are still avid fans to this day. This journey takes us through VHS tapes, MiniDiscs, DVDs, and Spotify, as we discuss our enduring fandom for a genre that will always evolve but never die - heavy metal!

On the first episode of 2024, I catch up with my good friend George Silano on the year in metal: 2023. The first of multiple parts, on this installment we focus on festivals and gigs that stood out last year (and look towards some from next year), covering Hell's Heroes, Decibel Magazine Metal & Beer Fest, Keep it True, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Saxon, W.A.S.P., and more! I also mention the passing of Tony Clarkin from Magnum and include some clips and personal history with the band. Enjoy!

Clips used in episode:

1. Magnum - "Brand New Morning" - Brand New Morning (2004)

2. Girlschool - "Race With The Devil" - Demolition (1980)

3. The Black Dahlia Murder - "What A Horrible Night To Have A Curse" - Nocturnal (2007)

4. Iron Maiden - "Death Of The Celts - Live At 3 Arena, Dublin Ireland, 24 June 2023" - (Posted to YouTube by Chromeboy2003)

5. Magnum - "Just Like An Arrow" - On A Storyteller's Night (1985)

On the latest episode of Feckin' Metal, I catch up with Rob Garven for the first time in three years, and speak to Tim Baker for the first time ever, about all of the happenings in Cirith Ungol since late 2020. It's been an extremely busy period for the band, and next year promises to be even busier. We touch on their recently-announced retirement, the departure of guitarist Jim Barazza and who will be his replacement, getting to meet childhood hero Brian Downey, artificial intelligence, and procuring seagulls from the wild! This was a highly enjoyable chat with two very entertaining guests. You can find Cirith Ungol at the links below:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cirithungolofficial

Bandcamp: https://cirithungolofficial.bandcamp.com/ 

Merch: https://eu.kingsroadmerch.com/shop/artist/983 

Clip used in episode from the track "I'm Alive", available on the live album "I'm Alive" (2019).

I chat to friend and filmmaker Damian Kolodiy about his upcoming mammoth of a documentary "Immortal Soul", which focuses on the career of the band Riot/Riot V. Damian talks about his own background as a fan of heavy metal, the origin of the documentary idea, the filmmaking process, meeting members of the band and conducting interviews with them, and quite a lot more.

Check out the Immortal Soul trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJWgng5NyHU

And Damian's NYC Rocks TV YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@NYCROCKSTV 

On the latest installment of Feckin' Metal, I catch up with George Silano to discuss three more NWOTHM releases from 2023. This time we cover the debut album from Tailgunner "Guns For Hire", the fourth offering from Wytch Hazel "IV Sacrament", and the recent EP from Phantom Spell "Tales From The Black Spire".

We delve deep into each release, offering info on the bands, and opinions on the tracks. Featuring several clips, this episode is ideal for those uninitiated with these artists. I also include a recap from Keep It True Rising III, including an airport mishap on my return to Dublin!

On the latest episode of Feckin' Metal, Udo Dirkschneider talks about the recent, excellent U.D.O. release "Touchdown". He also discusses reuniting with former bandmate Peter Baltes, working with his son, Sven, and his relationship with Wolf Hoffmann. A legend of heavy metal speaks!

In the second installment of Feckin' NWOTHM, I'm back chatting with George Silano, and we select three releases from 2023 that fall under the New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal banner. We've chosen recent releases by Tanith, Blazon Rite, and Century, giving a nice cross-section of the various styles currently on offer in the NWOTHM scene, featuring many clips and lengthy chat about our chosen releases, and the NWOTHM movement in general. You will also learn the meaning of the word "antepenultimate"! Educational, as always, here at Feckin' Metal.