This is very exciting. I’m pleased to announce and bring you the first of The Audioeclectica Interviews! Our first guest is Marcelo “Cello” Dias from Murder One (The First Motörhead Tribute) as well a being a former member of Soulfly, Abloom, and Against All Will. We talk about his days working with Sepultura as a tech and lighting director, the formation of Soulfly, recording that magical debut album, tour stories and so much more!
Enjoy this great conversation with myself (Brian), Justin and Cello!
Be sure to check out Murder One! They are playing Friday November 14 at The Whisky A Go Go with The Iron Maidens!
This year the Cavalera brothers went on tour to celebrate their album, Chaos A.D. This is my all time favorite Sepultura album. I love this record. It’s heavy, brutal, full of great ear candy moments, and the mix on it is superb. I honestly thought when I was a kid and even today, that if Sepultura had kept expanding upon this sound and style by adding just a tinge of melody, they’d have been global giants! But that’s a topic and subject for a whole other time. Instead lets focus on track one of Chaos A.D. and that is “Refuse/Resist.” There are so many great track one’s and this song is definitely one of them. The groove on this song is beyond awesome. Interestingly, “Refuse/Resist” was the fourth single to be released from this album. It’s still a live staple to this day, even in Sepultura now, as well as with Max and Igor when they tour. Another fun tidbit is the beginning intro features the heartbeat of Max’s then unborn son, Zyon, who now plays with Max in Soulfly. You really can’t go wrong with Chaos A.D. and to have “Refuse/Resist” kick it off?! Now that’s a banger!
Today would’ve been Scott Weiland’s 58th birthday. Scott was one of those talents that truly had a gift of song. The way he wrote lyrics, conjuring sweet melodies, and his performances, there was no denying Scott was one of the best. With it being Scott’s birthday, why not highlight one of my all time favorite Stone Temple Pilots songs, “Atlanta.” This song is absolutely divine. There’s moments throughout the song that makes it feel like The Doors are a part of the song. And I do LOVE The Doors. I still remember the first time I heard this song when I bought the CD and got it home. I wound up putting “Atlanta” on repeat for at least a good hour. It’s also one of the best ending the night songs as you pull into the garage or parking spot. STP has always had a knack for writing great songs with a vibe. “Atlanta” is a great example of that! Happy Birthday Scott!
Atlanta (Through The Eyes/Ears Of Robert, Dean and Eric):
There’s always so much music being released these days it’s hard to keep up with it all at times. Luckily, you all have me to sort through it all and deliver the good stuff! As always, this batch of bands and albums is quite the eclectic one. This New Music Friday has all sorts of rock, metal, hardcore, electronic, and indie. Do check out all these bands and if they are playing near you, go see them and support your scene! At the end of the day there is no scene if there are no people there! Enjoy these picks and remember to always, Listen Eclectically! – Brian
01) The Anti-Groupies- Pretty Vicious: The Anti-Groupies are the real deal! I’ve been a fan for quite a bit now and it’s been a blast to watch their growth not just as a live band but as songwriters. Their debut album, Pretty Vicious, is out now and it’s a righteous slab of rock. It’s got the attitude and charisma of the 90’s, a fun playfulness that has a late 70’s early 80’s glam/punk rock vibe a la Blondie and Joan Jett and a style that is bombastic. The Anti-Groupies are one of those bands that will kick you in the teeth when you see them. The fun aspect of seeing this band is there along with the feeling of wanting to mosh. Give Pretty Vicious a spin!! And on November 15 come out to The Cobalt Presents show at Bar10 at Corbin Bowl and see The Anti-Groupies live for the Highwire Daze Magazine 35th Anniversary Show!
02) Au Jus- Very Well, Then: I find myself at times being quite intrigued with what the kids are doing musically these days. It’s been fun to watch a new generation of kids get into the things I grew up on. Sometimes there are a few bands that can capture a certain artsy essence of that time. With that in mind, let me introduce you to Au Jus and their album, Very Well, Then. This album is very much in the 90’s alternative vein with that introspective touch to it. It’s got a sort of The Smashing Pumpkins vibe mixed with Blind Melon. So it’s sort of whimsical and spacey with some sprinkles of psychedelia and shoegaze. Give Very Well, Then a spin and see where it takes you! You can catch Au Jus live Saturday October 25 at The Cobalt Presents Show at Hotel Ziggy!!
03) The Barbarians Of California- Pseudo Intellectuals Are Hating On My Band (Pure Power): Ever since I heard The Barbarians Of California I’ve been hooked. It’s been great to hear Aaron Bruno back in the hardcore realm of things. I grew up in the same area as Aaron and watching his old band Insurgence along with a slew of others like Counterveil, Homemade and others was a blast. So it’s been really fun and a bit nostalgic to have this band around. The Barbarians released a new song recently that also features Keith Buckley of Many Eyes/ex Every Time I Die. This is just one of those really fun sing along hardcore songs. It’s infectious! That’s the word I was trying to come up with. Enjoy this one!!
04) God Alone- The Beep Test: I love when I get sent things that I have zero about and I just put it on and then it’s game on! That’s what happened when I checked out Cork, Ireland’s, God Alone and their album, The Beep Test. It’s this crazy amalgamation of math rock, hardcore, punk, electronics and dance. I know, what? But seriously it all works quite well. The experimental nature of the album leaves you really wanting to delve into it more and more. There is so much to unpack in a glorious way, like opening presents on your birthday. I don’t want to say too much of it will give away the fun. Just put this album on and dance your feet off!
05) Jet Black Iris- How Sweet Is The Taste Of Your Infection?: A while back a band hit me up about playing a show with The Cobalt Presents. As I always do, I checked out the band and could definitely hear something I liked. So I booked them and DAMN! Jet Black Iris really captured my attention. Firstly, the sound of the band is chock full of things I love. There’s the 90’s quiet/loud vibe but more so in the Failure way, then you add in a really cool Post-Punk element a la Joy Division as well as Interpol (mainly their first 2 albums), and then a punk vibe that sits in that metallic/melodic spot. Put all that together and you really do have one hell of a sound and Jet Black Iris definitely takes flight! Their debut album, How Sweet Is The Taste Of Your Infection?, is ten songs of pure passion poured out onto tape (well the computer these days). Jet Black Iris has fast become one of my favorite new bands. Come see them live Saturday October 25 at The Cobalt Presents Show at Hotel Ziggy!!
06) Motherless- Do You Feel Safe?: More often than not, I’m usually in a heavy music mood. Depending on my mood depends on the level of heavy. The other day I wanted something that was HARD! So I went through my list of things to check out and put on the album Do You Feel Safe? by Motherless. After listening the eight song album, I knew I found what I was looking for and I put it on again. Punishing! That’s what this album is. It’s Metal, its got Hardcore sprinkled all over as well as dashes of Black Metal, Sludge and Doom! Motherless features members of The Atlas Moth (if you haven’t heard their album Coma Noir, you really should) and Without Waves. This album is quite intense and like I said, punishing (in the best way possible)!
07) Puscifer- Self Evident: I’ll admit, I haven’t been the biggest fan of Puscifer. There are songs I do like a lot but, for some reason it jus wasn’t connecting with me. Then a few months ago, I sat down to do some other work and put all the Puscifer albums on and found myself enjoying it a lot more than before. So when the news came out the other day that after five years, come February 6, 2026 via Alchemy Recordings, we will get a new Puscifer album called, Normal Isn’t. This new album is supposed to align more with the Post-Punk/Goth side of the bands collective influences. The first single “Self Evident” is just that, it’s dipped and swirled in post-punk. I’m sure Beavis and Butthead would be happy with one of the lyrics too!
08) Trace Amount Featuring Fatboi Sharif- Seeing God On The L Train: Over the past few years, I’ve been interested in where all the electronic music is going. There are so many sub-genres to it now that it almost seems made up. There are certain ones though that I’ve taken a liking too. The apocalyptic/atmospheric soundscapes with what seems like post-industrial beats has caught my ear. One artist that I’ve really enjoyed that does this style is Trace Amount (aka Brandon Gallagher). I got to see Trace Amount a few years ago open for Greg Puciato’s solo tour and Brandon’s set was one of those that set a tone sort of foreshadowed the craziness of the night. This new track though is pretty rad in that the sparce sound accompanied by the vocal deliver of Fatboi Sharif makes this a trippy song!
I’ve been on a bit of a Soulfly kick as of late. I’ve got something really cool coming up that is Soulfly related but, you’ll just have to wait a moment for that! Part of what put me on this kick was my podcast co-host Justin doing a full Soulfly rewind review (which will be out on Sinisterreviews.wordpress.com shortly) and I went back through a few a few of my favorites. Also, Soulfly’s thirteenth studio album, Chama, comes out 11.24.25!! One of the albums I went back to was their seventh album, Omen. This record is an interesting one for a myriad of reasons. Logan Mader who would tour with Soulfly during the first album was the producer/engineer/mixer. Prong’s Tommy Victor lends his superb and very underrated guitar work to the song “Lethal Injection.” And the reason for this article is Greg Puciato of Better Lovers/The Black Queen/Killer Be Killed/ex The Dillinger Escape Plan, guests on the song “Rise Of The Fallen.” This track is a banger for sure. It’s got a really cool groove to it along with some great worldly textures and then you add in Greg’s vocals both aggressive and melodic and the combination is gold. Listening to this song you can hear how and why Killer Be Killed was formed. Max and Greg work like peanut butter and jelly! The picture at the top is of Greg and Max from the studio! And to end it on a positive note, this collaboration has happened live as well and it’s straight up vicious.
Soulfly with Greg Puciato- Rise Of The Fallen (LIVE):
NEW TOPIC ALERT: HARDCORNER IS A TOPIC DEDICATED TO BANDS IN HARDCORE
The Pacific Northwest is a haven for great music. We all know about the Seattle explosion in the 90’s but, there is more to this area than just “grunge.” For years, even going back to the 90’s explosion, heavy music has always been part of the landscape up there. In particularly, Metal and Hardcore music. The legendary Botch is from here along with other great bands like These Arms Are Snakes, Akimbo, Filth Is Eternal and so many others. The scene up in this area is alive and well, let me tell you! There is a band from the Tacoma area that has caught my ear a bit the past couple weeks and they are called, Denial Of Life.
Denial Of Life is a metallic hardcore band that will punish your ears in the best way possible. Combining elements of speed and thrash a la Slayer, Sepultura and a bit of Swedish Death Metal courtesy of Entombed and At The Gates, making this an onslaught of audio! The culmination of their sound is menacing, dark, and uncompromising. Each member you can tell brings their own personal influence to the collective inspiration. Vocalist Brenna Gowin is a force of nature. Those screams will sink in for sure. Guitarists Logan Miller and Dante Zickler have that hardcore tandem down and with precision. Then there is the rhythmic assault of bassist Brian Bernard and drummer Nick Cody.
Personally I love bands that have crossover elements to bring together people that are into other bands and genres. The band was formed in 2019 and have already released a handful of singles, as well as their independent debut album, No Reason. Which I have to say is a very raw and pummeling record. Their upcoming new EP, Witness The Power will be out on November 7th via Creator-Destructor Records. The first single/video for “Circle The Drain” is beyond impactful. I keep finding myself starting it over each time I hear it.
Denial Of Life is a band I’ve got on my radar for sure! You can catch them on their West Coast tour with Shai Hulud starting November 5th through November 15th. Be on the lookout for the Witness The Power EP!!!
The other day when I put together my Those 80’s Songs post, I had another song pop in my head but I couldn’t think of who it was. While out and about with my friend and podcast co-host Justin yesterday, the song and artist revealed itself to me. The band was Collective Soul and the song is “December.” You might very well recognize this songs as it was all over the radio in 1995. So much so that it reached number 21 on Top 40 radio too. You can find this song on the bands second album which is often referred to as their Blue Album. Another hit of theirs is found on this album, “The World I Know.” If you look into the history of Collective Soul, it’s quite interesting. From the amount of songs they’ve released as singles that we all know to even some deep cuts that have been in TV and Film. Collective Soul are definitely one of those 90’s bands that make you remember those times!
There are some people in the world that leave such a lasting impact on many and that legacy will hold on forever. When you look back at rock n’ roll history the band KISS, is without a doubt, one of the biggest inspirations to so many that have picked up an instrument or started a band. Yes, KISS had the makeup and schtick to really make it something else but the real deal was the music and the songs. I can’t help but think about the very first KISS album and how that really changed everything. The album cover with all four faces of Gene, Paul, Ace and Peter in their respective makeup. I can only imagine being a kid when that came out, going to the record store and buying it solely based on the cover art. Then you get it home and drop the needle down and track one is “Strutter?!” I mean how perfect does it get? As you listen through the first album, you hear banger song after another. From “Deuce,” “Cold Gin,” “Nothin’ To Lose,” “Let Me Know,” “100,000 Years,” and one of my all time favorite KISS songs, “Black Diamond.” When you speak of the best debut albums, this first KISS album has to be on the list and high up. The songs are there but, Ace Frehley really put his stamp on this album as well as all he played on. His guitar work is otherworldly. After all he is the “Spaceman.” The style he played with had such a swagger and looseness that really complemented Paul’s playing and the balance of rhythm between Gene and Peter. That Les Paul Ace had too, with the smoke coming out of it is so iconic. And how can you forget about his solos! While not “flashy” Ace played with a grace and freeness that only so many can. I had the great chance in 1998 on October 31st, to see KISS live at Dodger Stadium on their Reunion tour and for the Psycho Circus album. It was one of those shows I will always remember. A spectacle for damn sure but, KISS had a way a lot of the bands they inspired, to make you feel like you are right in front of the stage. I distinctly remember watching Ace that night and being in awe of the way he played and made it look so easy. Thank you Ace for all the years of great music, candidness and inspiring so many to pick up that instrument and start playing. Your impact and legacy is intact forever!
R.I.P. Paul Daniel “Ace” Frehley (April 27, 1951- October 16, 2025)!
I’m not quite sure how my brain does these things to me while I am asleep but, I love it. This morning I woke up with not just a song in my head but a music video. Motley Crue’s “Wild Side” from 1987’s Girls, Girls, Girls was the song and video. I still remember being a little kid and seeing this video on MTV. Filmed at a live show and features Tommy Lee playing drums upside down and rotating. How can you not think that was cool back in the day?! Tommy is still a badass on the drums and I’ve always thought was the secret sauce of Motley. As of this writing, the “Wild Side” video has over 42 million plays and on a cool note, was one of MTV’s most played videos of the time. Motley Crue is one of the bands that represents the epitome of the 80’s rock scene, especially the “glam” side of the time. I was a giant Motley fan when I was a little kid. I still do enjoy some of their songs and they did make some great videos back in the day.
For the past few days I went on a bit of a deep dive with the band Chevelle. I’ve been enjoying their new album, Bright As Blasphemy, and it had been a while since I went through all their albums. Chevelle since they burst on to the scene in the early 2000’s, have been one of the most consistent rock bands. By that I mean, they have constantly been a solid live band that delivers a great live show and performance. Their albums have all been good while some have definitely surpassed others. And even their B-sides are damn good too. All in all Chevelle really is one of the most solid rock bands of the past 25 years. With that in mind, here’s n album rank of not their best to their best! Check out these albums if you haven’t yet or if you haven’t listened in a bit.
