[Riff] Swallowing The Sun, Not Complaints.
[Riff] It’s been far, far too long since I just sat in the writers’ chair to produce something more free-form, as a thought-piece. Thus, the current article. For an answer to how Swallow The Sun and indeed melodic death-doom metal relate to a Porcupine Tree single, societal discourse, mental health and the beach somehow tie together - read on. Ticket links for tonight’s show in Melbourne, too!
[Podcast]: Ep. 66 - [Interview] w/ NICOLAI BUSSE of MØL (Denmark).
[Podcast] Ep. 66 sees myself joining Nicolai Busse from Denmark’s incredible post-black/alternative metal outfit MØL to discuss the bold new album Dreamcrush (out 30th Jan via Nuclear Blast), songwriting, influences and more. Check the link for interview (video/audio-only versions) plus ‘Young’ music video, album details, artist links and more!
[Dicey News]: RIFFS & REALMS - Nuclear Blast Records Launches A New Actual Play Tabletop RPG Series.
[Dicey News] goes Heavy News for Tabletop Thursdays here at ISC! The brutally grimdark TTRPG MÖRK BORG has always garnered a lot of very-metal 3rd-party supplements given the vibe and setting - now, three Nuclear Blast signees join MB creator Johan Nor in the ultimate marriage of death, metal and tabletop via a new actual-play series!
[Podcast] Ep. 65: [Interview] with TIM RICHMOND of Melbourne Blackened-Grinders MUNT (AU).
[Podcast] Second interview to hit the ISC airwaves/Youtube/blog for the evening, we have talented vocal destroyer Tim Richmond (aka ‘Mothlord’) joining us for an in-depth discussion about MUNT’s latest album, their upcoming tour, the local scene, plus plenty of great insights into metal vocal technique and vocalist experience. Show notes include new singles, artist links, upcoming tour info and more!
[ISC Podcast] Ep. 64: [Interview] with JAHRED GOMES of (hed) P.E. (US).
[Podcast] Episode 64: Here on the ISC Podcast, I was lucky enough to have a fun, funny and candid chat with none other than Jahred Gomes, vocalist of nu-metal mainstays (hed) P.E.! Check out the link for video/audio versions of the interview, plus full details, ticket links and more for upcoming Feb Australian Tour with fellow veterans Nonpoint.
[Album Review]: REDIVIDER (US) - ‘Sounds of Malice’ LP.
[Album Review]: See here for the latest stellar effort from independent Louisville, Kentucky US bruisers Redivider in the Sounds of Malice LP. Our own Hamza Siddiqi has provided a fantastic analysis of the album, plus we’ve also included artist media/streaming/social links for further headbangability!
[Gig Review]: BATUSHKA (POL) Feat. GERM (AU) @ Corner Hotel, Melbourne (AU), 16.01.2026.
[Gig Reviews] - Batushka with Support Germ @ Corner Hotel, Richmond, Melbourne (AU), Fri 16th January 2026.
[Album Review]: SICK SAD WORLD (France) - ‘Deuil’ LP.
[Album Review]: Sick Sad World (France) - Deuil LP, released 1st October, 2025. Check out ISC author Hamza Siddiqi’s analysis of the latest effort from French underground post-metal crew Sick Sad World, as well as artist links, single streams/music video and more. Riffin’ hard and slow, internationally.
[Guest Riff]: JASON GRUBB of GETTING TABLED Discusses Game-Design Process For ‘ENTROPY CITY’.
Our first guest-written article comes to you via none other than Melburnian local and RPG/skirmish game-designer Jason ‘The Bruce’ Grubb of international tabletop/wargaming podcast Getting Tabled. Check out the link to explore the process behind his upcoming Road Rash meets Mad Max product, titled Entropy City.
[HEAVY NEWS] ORIGIN Announce 2026 Australian Tour.
[Heavy News] US technical death metal juggernaughts Origin are shoring up arms ahead of their first ballistic extreme metal salvo in Australia since 2024! Check out the link for tickets, tour info, artist links, media and more. Get your brutality on.
[Album Review]: HEALTH - ‘Conflict DLC’ LP.
[Album Review]: LA-based industrial metal/alt-pop trio HEALTH delivered a real shocker for me in December 2025 - in a good way, with 6th release CONFLICT DLC landing in my Top 25 Albums of the Year. Find out why in the full review, which also includes links to the artist and additional media. Get your metalhead boogey on.
[Review] DEADWOOD (CA) - ‘Rituals Of A Dying Light’ EP.
[EP Review] For our first music release review of the year, we have a snappy, narky, bludgeoning and fun EP from the tundra-coated wilds of Canada, with Deadwood’s latest EP Rituals of A Dying Light, which drops worldwide on Jan 7th via Innerstrength Records. Check the link for EP review, music videos, EP preorder, artist links and more, buddy!
[Riff] 05.12.26: Fire Up The Barbie, Mate! - An Aussie 2025 Heavy Music Feature.
[Riff]: As part of our Behind Screen and Speaker 2025 retrospective/2026 prospectus series, I dive into a bunch of fantastic cuts of prime Aussie heavy-music beef. See within for the full list, album links, music videos and more, plus some additions from the Musolegion community!
[Riff] Brady’s Top 25 Albums of 2025.
[Riff]: Happy New Year, everyone! I’m kicking off 2026 with the first of many retrospective looks at the year just past via Behind Screen and Speaker, starting with my Top 25 Albums of The Year.
Links to each album included in the list - be sure to check out these heavy/alternative music bangers!
[Podcast] ISC Podcast & Blog - The 2025 Compendium.
[Blog/Podcast]: 2025 has been many things, but it’s also been our biggest and boldest year yet in terms of content! See within for a compendium of (pretty much) all of our works from the year - from gig reviews, album reviews and interviews, through to tabletop RPG/gaming reviews, essays, articles, podcast episodes and more, Happy New Year!
[Gallery of Brewcide XIII]: CRYPTOPSY (US) & Supports @ Croxton Bandroom, Melb (AU) 20.12.25.
[Gallery of Brewicide XIII]: Welcome once more, to our celebration of live music and photographic talent! See within for gig footage, Dan McKay’s incredible photography, artist links and more for: Cryptopsy (CA) and supports Writhing (AU) and Munt (AU) @ Croxton Bandroom, 20.12.25 for the ‘All So Vile’ 2025 Australian Tour.
[Podcast] Ep. 63: [Interview] w/ BEN GREEN of GRIMLOCK/GYPSY ROAD (AU).
[Podcast] Episode 63: Interview with local Melbourne-based Australian musician Ben Green, who reached out to discuss all things songwriting, band-joining, performing, producing and more for his latest projects Grimlock and Gypsy Road. For an interesting dive into local metal, post-hardcore and emo alike, plus sample tracks and artist links - click here!
[Podcast]: Episode 62 - [Interview] with MILLE PETROZZA of KREATOR.
[Podcast]: Wow, what an incredible opportunity! Pulled up on the side of the road, ISC host Brady gets a last-minute call for a once in a lifetime thrash-metal fan dream - an opportunity to speak with influential Teutonic thrash lord Mille Petrozza, of German kings Kreator! See link for video interview/audio-only podcast version, recent singles links, Krushers of The World preorder links and more. Das ist sehr gut, danke Mille!
[Announcement]: Statement of Support For Bondi.
A statement of support from myself and the Inner-Strength Check team, as well as some links to resources for those affected by the 2025 attack on Bondi Beach, 14.12.25.
[Riff] Gamertag Team: Brady + Elodie Explore BEASTIEBALL + VEIN.
[Riff]: It’s been a while between video-gaming posts for me! Thanks to body-doubling and the power of having nerd-friends as fellow writers, I bring you a brief recollection of two recently played PC titles from Elodie and I: Beastieball, and Vein. Party-sportsin’, Zombie-autism-in’ fun times were had!