As The Story Grows

Chapter 682 - "A More Energetic Album" ...as read by Kat Keo of HoaxedToday we welcome back to the podcast Hoaxed front woman Kat Keo! The new Hoaxed record, Death Knocks, is out today on Relapse Records! Kat talks about adding April to the band on bass, touring with black metal bands, the preparation the band put into the songs before hitting the studio, the lyrical ideas on Death Knocks, and more.https://www.hoaxedband.com/https://hoaxed.bandcamp.com/https://asthestorygrows.com/episodes/hoaxedFebruary Sponsor - Tapehead City https://tapeheadcity.com/DiscordPatreonSubstackEmail: asthestorygrows@gmail.comChapter 682 Music:Hoaxed - "Where The Seas Fall Silent"Hoaxed - "The Family"Hoaxed - "Kill Switch"

Chapter 681 - "The Hardest Years Of Our Lives" ...as read by Dima Kozhuhar and Alex Zaterkovny of Space Of VariationsToday we welcome Dima Kozhuhar and Alex Zaterkovny from Ukrainian metalcore band Space Of Variations to the podcast! Space Of Variations will release Poisoned Art this Friday, February 13th, on Napalm Records. The guys talk about how war affected the band and how playing live serves as a moment of escape for the band and fans, being excited to release music even though it was during Covid lockdowns, the themes on Poisoned Art, and more.https://label.napalmrecords.com/space-of-variationshttps://spaceofvariations.bandcamp.com/album/poisoned-artFebruary Sponsor - Tapehead City https://tapeheadcity.com/DiscordPatreonSubstackEmail: asthestorygrows@gmail.comChapter 681 Music:Space Of Variations - "Doppelgänger"Space Of Variations - "Halo"Space Of Variations - "Ghost Town"

Chapter 680 - "The Power Of Chasing Creativity" ...as read by Jake Woodruff of Jagged City/DefeaterToday we welcome Defeater guitarist Jake Woodruff to the podcast! Jake has a new project called Jagged City and they released their debut EP, There Are More Of Us, Always, last Friday with Pelagic Records! Jake talks about his early days touring, joining Defeater, the inspiration behind Jagged City, connecting with Robin and Pelagic Records, and more.https://jaggedcity.bandcamp.com/album/there-are-more-of-us-alwayshttps://defeaterhc.com/February Sponsor - Tapehead City https://tapeheadcity.com/DiscordPatreonSubstackEmail: asthestorygrows@gmail.comChapter 680 Music:Jagged City - "Imaginary Lines"Defeater - "Unanswered"Jagged City - "Ocean East, Ocean West"Jagged City - "Deluge In A Paper Cup"

Chapter 679 - "Death & Connection" ...as read by Joe Edwards and Sam Finney of Shields Today we welcome Joe Edwards and Sam Finney from UK Metalcore band Shields to the podcast. Shields released Death & Connection last Friday, January 30th, with Long Branch Records. We dive deep into this new record, talking abut the musical exploration and diversity on the album, the trials and suffering the led the band to reunite and inspired the lyrical ideas, the art design concept, and so much more. https://shields.band/https://shieldsuk.bandcamp.com/album/death-connectionFebruary Sponsor - Tapehead City https://tapeheadcity.com/DiscordPatreonSubstackEmail: asthestorygrows@gmail.comChapter 679 Music:Shields - "Abuser"Shields - "Death & Connection" 

January 2026 RecapToday you'll Dave Lee of Signal Snowboard, Sabine Edelsbacher and Arne "Lanvall" Stockhammer of Edenbridge, David Grossman of New Miserable Experience, Uri Dijk of Textures, Mike Gitter of BLKIIBLK Records, Joe Nally of Urne, Nils Wittrock and John Lappin of The Hirsch Effect and Manuel Möbs of Our Mirage.February Sponsor - Tapehead City https://tapeheadcity.com/DiscordPatreonSubstackEmail: asthestorygrows@gmail.comMusic:Turnstile - "Holiday"Edenbridge - "Where The Wild Things Are"New Miserable Experience - "Payback From God"Textures - "At The Edge Of Winter"Unto Others - "Angel Of The Night"Urne - "The Spirit Alive"The Hirsch Effekt - "Das Seil"Our Mirage - "Violent Spin"

Chapter 678 - "A Huge Increase Of Energy" ...as read by Manuel Möbs of Our MirageToday we welcome Manuel Möbs, bassist for German metalcore band Our Mirage to the podcast. Our Mirage’s new album, Fractured Minds, is out today on Arising Empire Records. Manuel talks about transitioning from piano to bass guitar, the band surviving and releasing music throughout Covid lockdowns, their relationship with Arising Empire, the musical shifts on Fractured Minds, and more. https://ourmirage.de/https://arisingempire-us.shop/collections/our-mirageDiscordPatreonSubstackEmail: asthestorygrows@gmail.comChapter 678 Music:Our Mirage - "Violent Spin"Our Mirage - "Awakening"Our Mirage - "Fractured"Our Mirage - "God Behind Your Eyes"

Chapter 677 - "Should I Go On With This Tradition" ...as read by Nils Wittrock and John Lappin of The Hirsch EffectToday we welcome Nils Wittrock and John Lappin from The Hirsch Effect to the podcast! The Hirsch Effect will release Der Brauch, the Friday on Long Branch Records. The guys talk about the musical connection that led to them playing together, the good and bad of being a German language band, expanding their sonic palate on Der Brauch, accepting their level of success, and more.https://thehirscheffekt.de/https://thehirscheffekt.bandcamp.com/https://asthestorygrows.com/episodes/moritz-schmidt-from-the-hirsch-effektDiscordPatreonSubstackEmail: asthestorygrows@gmail.comChapter 677 Music:The Hirsch Effekt - "Der Brauch"The Hirsch Effekt - "Der Doppelgänger"The Hirsch Effekt - "Die Heimkehr"

Chapter 676 - "There's No Way I Can Go Down That Avenue Again" ...as read by Joe Nally of UrneToday we welcome back Urne frontman Joe Nally to the podcast! Urne will release their incredible new album, Setting Fire To The Sky, this Friday on Candlelight Records! Joe talks about wanting to stay away from the dark themes that were on A Feast Of Sorrow, his grand vision for the artwork on the new album, adding a new member to the band, and more. https://urneofficial.com/https://asthestorygrows.com/episodes/joe-nally-from-urneDiscordPatreonSubstackEmail: asthestorygrows@gmail.comChapter 676 Music:Urne - "Be Not Dismayed"Urne - "The Spirit, Alive"Urne - "Harken The Waves"

Chapter 675 - "It's A Very Rare And Special Situation" ...as read by Mike GitterToday we welcome Mike Gitter to the podcast. Mike was just announced as the new Global Head of A&R for Frontiers Label Group, who just relaunched BLKIIBLK, their metal, hardcore and extreme music label! Mike talks about starting a zine and how that zine led to him eventually becoming an A&R Rep for Atlantic Records, the journey the led him to working with Frontiers and BLKIIBLK, his passion for new music that keeps him going, and so much more.https://www.blkiiblk.comDiscordPatreonSubstackEmail: asthestorygrows@gmail.comChapter 675 Music:Biohazard - "Forsaken"Cro-Mags - "Signs Of The Times"Thrown Into Exile - "The Forsaken"Unto Others - "Cold World"

Chapter 674 - "We All Want To Write Cool And Beautiful Song" ...as read by Uri Dijk of TexturesToday we welcome Textures keyboardist Uri Dijk to the podcast. Textures will release their new record, Genotype, this Friday with KScope Records. Uri talks about discovering metal and learning to play keys, the feeling of watching the bands you inspire pass you in popularity, the freedom to explore new musical ideas on Genotype, and more. https://texturesband.com/https://texturesband.bandcamp.com/album/genotypeDiscordPatreonSubstackEmail: asthestorygrows@gmail.comChapter 674 Music:Textures - "Nautical Dusk"Textures - "Shaping A Single Grain of Sand"Textures - "Closer To The Unknown"Textures - "At The Edge Of Winter" 

Chapter 673 - "It Happened Organically" ...as read by David Grossman of New Miserable ExperienceToday we welcome Rosetta bassist and New Miserable Experience frontman David Grossman to the podcast. New Miserable Experience will release Gild The Lily next Friday, January 23rd, on Pelagic Records! David talks about the journey of musical discovery and the importance of teachers and record stores, the hubris of youth and Rosetta’s The Galilean Satellites, embracing darkness with Gild The Lily, the possibility of New Miserable Experience being a live band, and more. https://newmiserableexperience.bandcamp.com/https://theanaesthete.bandcamp.com/DiscordPatreonSubstackEmail: asthestorygrows@gmail.comChapter 673 Music:New Miserable Experience - "The Devil We Know"Rosetta - "Capella"New Miserable Experience - "Ordinary People"New Miserable Experience - "Payback From God"

Chapter 672 - "Only What Comes To Light Can Be Seen" ...as read by EdenbridgeToday we welcome Sabine Edelsbacher and Arne "Lanvall" Stockhammer from Symphonic Metal band Edenbridge to the podcast! Edenbridge will release Set The Dark On Fire this Friday with Steamhammer Records. Sabine and Arne talk about how they met and started playing together, keeping a band together for 25 years while members come and go, the themes on Set The Dark On Fire, and more. https://www.edenbridge.org/https://edenbridgesteamhammer.bandcamp.com/musicDiscordPatreonSubstackEmail: asthestorygrows@gmail.comChapter 672 Music:Edenbridge - "The Ghostship Diaries"Edenbridge - "Set The Dark On Fire"Edenbridge - "Where It Ends Is Where It Starts" 

Chapter 671 - "I Don't Really Think About The Challenges" ...as read by Dave Lee of Signal SnowboardsToday we welcome Signal Snowboards founder Dave Lee to the podcast! Dave and Signal have a YouTube show called Cardboard Sessions, where musicians come and play instruments that Dave and his team have designed that are made out of Cardboard! Dave talks about being a part of the Seattle music scene as it was exploding, getting into snowboarding, the inspiration behind creating instruments out of cardboard, his dream guests for the show, and more! https://www.youtube.com/@SignalSnowboard/playlistshttps://www.signalsnowboards.com/DiscordPatreonSubstackEmail: asthestorygrows@gmail.comChapter 671 Music:Dinosaur Jr - "No Bones"Turnstile - "Holiday"

Today I go through my Top 10 favorite EP's & Singles and my Top 20 Favorite Albums of 2025!DiscordPatreonSubstackEmail: asthestorygrows@gmail.comMusic:Lauren Babic - "Breathe You In"Drought - "An Invitation"Deep Sea Diver - "Emergency"Pyschonaut - "Endless Currents"The Callous Daoboys - "Schizophrenia Legacy"Dawn of Ouroboros - "Nebulae"Novelists - "Adam And Eve"Slow Crush - "Haven"Lorna Shore - "Prison Of Flesh"Deafheaven - "Doberman"Echos - "Bruises"Arch Enemy - "Blood Dynasty"

December RecapToday you'll hear clips from interviews with Hampus Sätterlund and Ludvig Sommar of Thermality, Myke Terry of Volumes, RUNE, Shawna Potter of War On Women, and Xavier and Vincent Morency of Second Harbour!DiscordPatreonSubstackEmail: asthestorygrows@gmail.comMusic:Thermality - "Helix"Volumes - "Sidewinder"RUNE - "Hostage"War On Women - "Precious Problem"Second Harbour - "Relative"

Chapter 670 - "The Genre I Listen To The Least" ...as read by Xavier and Vincent Morency of Second Harbour Today we welcome Xavier and Vincent Morency from Second Harbour to the podcast. Second Harbour released their SharpTone Records debut, Coalesce, last week. The guys talk about the music scene in Montreal, being a band where every member plays multiple instruments, what did and did not influence the band’s sound, signing with SharpTone, and a lot more.https://sharptonerecords.co/collections/second-harbourDiscordPatreonSubstackEmail: asthestorygrows@gmail.comChapter 670 Music:Second Harbour - "Relative"Second Harbour - "Mourning Dove" 

Chapter 669 - "Everything Is Still Relevant" ...as read by Shawna Potter of War On WomenToday we welcome War On Women front woman Shawna Potter to the podcast! War On Women recently released a new single, Precious Problem, and have a new record on the way in 2026, their first with Smart Punk Records. Shawna talks about discovering punk rock and making a space for herself in the scene, her journey to political activism, the social and political climate surrounding the release of Wonderful Hell, how she was able to write the upcoming album, and a lot more. https://waronwomen.bandcamp.com/https://waronwomen.bigcartel.com/DiscordPatreonSubstackEmail: asthestorygrows@gmail.comChapter 669 Music:War On Women - "Precious Problem"War On Women - "Wonderful Hell"War On Women - "Her"

Chapter 668 - "I Do See A Future In This Genre For Myself" ...as read by RUNE Today we welcome RUNE to the podcast! RUNE’s UNFD debut ep, Depth Perception, is out now! RUNE talks about using VST’s vs actual synthesizers, the transition from WHOISRUNE to RUNE, transitioning from electronic pop music to metal, the hopes for playing live, and more. Depth Perception is phenomenal ep and I loved getting to chat with RUNE and I’m excited to help share her music with all of you!  https://www.whoisrune.com/DiscordPatreonSubstackEmail: asthestorygrows@gmail.comChapter 668 Music:RUNE - "Hostage"RUNE - "Erode"RUNE - "Depth Perception"

Chapter 667 - "The Honor Of My Life" ...as read by Myke Terry of VolumesToday we welcome Volumes vocalist Myke Terry to the podcast. The new Volumes record, Mirror Touch, is out this Friday on Fearless Records. Myke talks about his journey across the United States in pursuit of music, the ups and downs of shifting vocalists in Volumes, the nature of how Volumes writes and records music, being proud of what Volumes have created on Mirror Touch, and more! https://volumesofficial.com/DiscordPatreonSubstackEmail: asthestorygrows@gmail.comChapter 667 Music:Volumes - "Sidewinder"Volumes - "S.O.A.P."Volumes - "Bad Habit"

Chapter 666 - "We Just Took A Chance" ...as read by Hampus Sätterlund and Ludvig Sommar of ThermalityToday we welcome Hampus Sätterlund and Ludvig Sommar from Thermality to the podcast! Thermality released their new record, Concept 42, last week on Black Lodge Records. The guys talk about their early start as metal fans, meeting and forming a band in school, the process of growing up as musicians and people, the ideas on Concept 42, and more. https://thermalitysweden.bandcamp.com/DiscordPatreonSubstackEmail: asthestorygrows@gmail.comChapter 666 Music:Thermality - "Concept 42"Thermality - "Fire Will Reign"Thermality - "Breaking Point"Thermality - "Inception"