Inner-Strength Check
Inner-Strength Check is a podcast about all things music, arts, hobbies, leisure and mental health. Too often in today's overstimulated, oversatured modern world, we downplay the activities, interests and communities that can have powerful impacts on our wellbeing. Join me as we explore all things music, tabletop, gaming, culture, society and health!
Episodes
Ramping up for their first run of Australian shows in 15 years, we were lucky to catch some time in Eric Peterson's stacked schedule to chat about the upcoming tour hitting our shores this month. We also discuss recent touring abroad, staying motivated decades into the thrash-metal gigging and writing game, and more! Many thanks to John from Nuclear Blast Australia for facilitating this great opportunity, and of course to the f...
This morning, I caught up with Brandon Saller, longstanding vocalist of seminal US metalcore outfit Atreyu ahead of their impending sold-out tour of Australia in July. A tour which will feature both fellow US core-employers Memphis May Fire and a setlist oriented to the 20th anniversary of landmark album 'The Curse' (20 years?! Really...?!).
Brandon and I had a great conversation surrounding not only the upcoming tour but also shari...
Oh, cuzzie. This was an interview that seemed destined not to happen, but after being unable to review in-vivo at Brutefest 2025 in Melbourne (*cough-werevieweditonthesite-*cough*), then multiple tech SNAFU's - Chris, Daif and myself finally pulled through to get an interview!
One which was, by the way, such an extensive talk (covering everything from Stalker's touring, mental health, the New Zealand scene, some realities and benef...
With an Australian tour creeping up quicker than you'd think, alongside first-time Australia-enjoyers ADEMA, we caught up with drummer and longest-serving member of Latin-influenced nu-metal legends Ill Nino, Dave Chavarri!
Dave's perennial love for Australia (and touring/playing in general) shines throughout our conversation, which includes aforementioned upcoming tour but also latest happenings in the band, some advice fo...
Welcome aboard, passengers!
Yet again, Australian-touring-enjoyer and enigmatic vocalist/frontman of both Soilwork and The Night Flight Orchestra, Sweden’s Bjorn ‘Speed’ Strid, joined ISC for the second time this evening. We discussed past and recent/upcoming tours (such as the Australian tour happening VERY soon!), the experience of fronting both bands in a live setting, TNFO influences and much more!
Check the lin...
You've cat to be kitten me.
No, for real - how. How?!
As your humble podcast host, I'm astounded that such an opportunity as this could arise, and am grateful beyond measure for today's conversation.
Longest-standing member of easily one of the most influential bands in all of extreme metal, particularly with regards to the modern death metal scene, Kelly Shaefer is a man of almost intimidating importance as both a s...
Nameless (aka Dennis Mikula) of US atmospheric black metal lords Ghost Bath took some time out of our respectively busy schedules last week, to have a chat over the ol' Internet-machine.
--In this interview, we discuss recent and upcoming tours, utilising musicianship and songwriting as a mental health coping strategy, the production/songwriting process regarding upcoming album 'Rose Thorn Necklace' (out May 9th, 2025 via Nuclear B...
Rounding out a trio of UK heavy-music interviews for the past week is Alex Taylor, enigmatic and passionate vocalist for UK's fast-rising metalcore bruisers Malevolence.
We had a wide-reaching conversation, covering everything from the process of writing and recording for upcoming LP Where Only The Truth is Spoken (including recording in the infamous Studio 606, owned by Dave Grohl!) up to touring, the UK metal scene's recen...
Earlier this week, vocalist Scott Kennedy and I caught up via Zoom to discuss the latest happenings in the Bleed From Within camp. With the release of latest LP Zenith, the Glaswegian modern metal outfit have been gearing up for release with release of recent singles 'God Complex', 'A Hope In Hell' and 'In Place of Your Halo'. We had a great chat about the bands' recent ascension through the metal collec...
What an absolute privilege and an honour!
Tonight, I caught up with Darren Brookes, permanent mainstay of UK death metal pioneers Benediction. Formed in 1989 and responsible for no small part in forming the UK/European and indeed global extreme metal scene we see today, it's truly a privilege to have had a chat with Daz, who is full of candor, sincerity and humour.
A man still stoked to be plying his trade on the axe after multiple...
Congratulations to Dan Machuca for being our very first video/podcast interview guest within the realm of all things tabletop, hobbies, gaming and mental health! Dan and I met through the medium of tabletop roleplaying games, like the big nerds are are, a few years back. From there we've been professionally networked as part of the Game Therapy Australia movement, spearheaded by Game Therapist Michael Thorburn (also a fellow ne...
This is an interview to be treasured, for sure! Jeff and I caught up earlier this morning for a wonderful discussion around the bands' eminent tour of Australia in September this year.
Full of gratitude and passion for a return to such an opportunity, Jeff walks us through the experience of reforming, the incredible amounts of associated stoke and much more. For full details on this insanely energetic (and, as per the inter...
Another fantastic interview in the chamber! Nathan (Vocals/Lyrics) and Ben (Guitars) of fast-rising acclaimed Melburnian doom/sludge unit Ghostsmoker are set to unleash devastation on the metal masses with the upcoming release of the brutal Inertia Cult LP. I was fortunate enough to get an opportunity to speak with both band members around a whole range of topics - from the album's recording, production and songwriting process,...
Renowned doom metal merchantsPALLBEARER make their return to Australia in March 2025 for an electrifying tour promising to deliver their signature blend of haunting melodies and crushing riffs. Joining them on all dates will be special guests UK doom metal titansCONAN.//I was fortunate enough to catch up with vocalist/guitarist Brett Campbell earlier today. It was both thought-provoking and fun, weaving through themes such as songw...
Note: This is an audio version of a pre-existing video interview from Dec 22nd 2024 withSteffen Kummerer, which you can viewright here on our Youtube Channel. As well, we've got an accompanying blog post containing both interview versions, artist bio/album release statement, full details of upcoming LPA Sonication and much more! //www.innerstrengthcheckpodcast.com/blog.//
A great conversation with Steffen, covering a wide swathe...
LINK:
https://www.innerstrengthcheckpodcast.com/blog/interview-with-swedens-rock-steady-drummer-robert-erikkson-of-the-hellacopters.
Another music-scene veteran with many years of industry experience under his belt is Robert Eriksson. A long-term mainstay of Swedish hard-rock institution The Hellacopters, Robert joined me online for a catch-up on Tue 28th Jan just prior to release of their infectious, hooky and fun latest LP Over...
It's a two-fer!
Hey, my ADHD and smartphone-infested brain knows as well as any of you guys how reading blog articles can feel like a chore at times.
That's why not only have I, your humble host, decided to record said reviews, I've also injected a fair bit of fun into the mix so as to not just be a dry-run read of the website reviews.
TIMESTAMPS:
[0:32] This one's for Lindon. You're welcome, bro <3 //
[2:30]...
Many thanks once again to my friend Luna for sharing wonderful insights and prose about the Dark Souls lore and fandom!
Also featuring a brief content roadmap/update prior to the interview proper.
Link to Blog Post:
Shoutouts:
Music - intro courtesy of Minus Life
Episode Tracks courtesy of Incompetech and Phat Phrog Studios.
If you'd like to be interviewed via video or even, as per today, message, to discuss a lore deep-div...
M/UTH//R:>> INITIALISING DATA DOWNLINK - CONFIRMED. ___<<>> SECURITY CHECK - CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTS.... METW-Y Employee-Partner (Xenobiology)// --→ CONTENTS <---[PART 1: AUTHOR-DERIVED ANALYSIS ON PROGRESS OF ‘INNERSTRENGTHCHECK.COM’ PROJECT - Warning, data relevance queried][PART 2: ---DATA CORRUPTED]/// CAUSAL ORIGIN - ‘ENGINEER’ CHARACTERISTICS | USE OF CHEMICAL AGENT AO \\\SPECIMEN ANALYSIS - Physiological...
Today's episode is a narrated audio-drama version of the Xenomorph examination written piece, available at the link below:
https://innerstrengthcheck.com/2024/09/15/ep-27-dissecting-the-perfect-organism-an-examination-of-xenomorph-xx-121-part-1/
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Prior to the narrated segment, we also have a Content Roadmap and Blog Update, detailing some of the many upcoming pieces and features ahead for the InnerStrengthCheck.com podcast/blog.
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