I was a teenager in the 90’s and grew up surrounded by a plethora of incredible music from a broad range of genres. I showed no prejudice with music and absorbed everything I heard like a sponge. From Britpop and Indie, to Hardcore and Punk, from Classic Rock to Thrash Metal and everything in between.
For over 20 years, I have played in a variety of metal bands and extensively toured the UK and Europe. In 2001 I joined Murder One featuring members of Iron Monkey and Raging Speedhorn. Then in 2004, I formed the deathcore outfit The Seventh Cross with a group of friends who shared a love for Scandinavian death metal and brutal hardcore. We signed to Candlelight Records and released the album “Scorched By The Flames of Vengeance” to rave reviews by the music press. We toured Europe many times over playing shows and festivals with the likes of Napalm Death, Bring Me The Horizon, Crowbar, Converge, Comeback Kid and more.
Since then, I have played in Betrayed By Many (featuring members of UKHC legends Stampin’ Ground) and Gods (featuring members of The Hurt Process and Winterfylleth). I now play in sludge/punk/noise outfit Barrabus (featuring members of Medulla Nocte) and our debut album recently released through Undergroove Records received 5K’s in Kerrang, 8/10 in Metal Hammer and 8.5/10 in Terrorizer.
I remember my parents playing a rock compilation cassette in the car when I was a kid and heard Toto, Thin Lizzy, Rainbow and Boston blasting through the stereo – my life was changed! Throughout my teens, I traded tapes and CD’s with mates at school and college as if the world was about to end. I was obsessed. Each new record I heard was a thrilling, exciting discovery which took me away from the mundane boredom of daily life. To now have the tools to allow me to easily share new music with like-minded people is a dream come true.
Every time I hear a credible record that has passion oozing through the wall of distorted guitars and pounding drums, I'm as excited as I was when I first got into heavy music. It's this excitement about new music that I want to bring to the podcast every week.
