![[Heavy News] On The Motion Tracker - Recent/Upcoming Release Info + Mini-Reviews.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1756464891394-B6B9Z5OWMPEHTCT2KS36/484327412_1055271216626365_6033654490345650488_n.jpg)
[Heavy News] On The Motion Tracker - Recent/Upcoming Release Info + Mini-Reviews.
[Heavy News, 29.08.25]: Having admittedly been lacking in energy for doing full album reviews of late, I’ve nonetheless been scoping out what’s pinging the motion-tracker on the endless xeno-hunt that is new and upcoming releases. See within for press releases and some mini-review synopses for No Apologies (Aus hardcore), Hexrot (US experimental black/death), The Mansters (Norwegian fast-punk) & Now I’ve Done It (US… WTF-metal)!
![[#MusicMonday 25.08.25] A Curious Trio of Upcoming Albums.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1756126968805-OA1XIEMVAGDVJ94ECJ9D/%23MusicMondays%2C+25th+Aug+Crop+%28USA%29+-.png)
[#MusicMonday 25.08.25] A Curious Trio of Upcoming Albums.
[Music Monday/ Heavy News - 25.08.25]: Join me in my ongoing spelunking through the immeasurably steep ascent up New Release Mountain with three particularly curious underground LP’s: US-based grunge-doom (CROP - S.S.R.I.) and self-style ‘Castle Metal’ (medieval black metal!) via Morke’s upcoming To Carry On and finally, sludge-laden, raw atmospheric black metal from Wales of all places in incognito-solo-artist The Sorrow Of Being Immaculate’s Suicide Forest. Most curious indeed, old bean!
![[Gallery] of Brewicide, VII: DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN/Ho99o9 @ Northcote Theatre, 13.08.25.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1755692170097-715VFEYVPNF43TKLHX5C/The+Dillinger+Escape+Plan++-+Northcote+Theatre+130825-47.jpg)
[Gallery] of Brewicide, VII: DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN/Ho99o9 @ Northcote Theatre, 13.08.25.
To commemorate a week (!!) since our coverage of The Dillinger Escape Plan’s firestorm set at Northcote Theatre, Melbourne last Wednesday, as well as that of fantastic industrial punk-hop act Ho99o9 - see within for our latest Gallery of Brewicide photo-gallery! Images courtesy of the talented Richie Black Photography.
![#MusicMonday 18.08.25]: Upcoming Release Radar.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1755517641521-QRGGO6BKWJ50E8ZMYQRM/%5B%23MusicMonday%2C+18th+August+2025%5D+Upcoming+Release+Radar.png)
#MusicMonday 18.08.25]: Upcoming Release Radar.
Another Music Monday, another great selection of album releases happening over the next couple of months! See within for artist/album info/links, music videos, preorder links etc for upcoming LPs from: Norwegian post/blackgazers Sundrowned, Australian blackened disso-death brutality via Hebephrenique, UAE/Jordan melodic death-doom collab Falling Leaves, psychedelic blackened US robot-metallers Electromancy and Norwegian hardcore/psych/post-punks Haraball!
![[Gig Review] THE DILLINGER Escape Plan @ Northcote Theatre Melbourne (AU), 13.08.25.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1755267466021-XP4KMF4OESQ00R2JNUY1/The+Dillinger+Escape+Plan++-+Northcote+Theatre+130825-33.jpg)
[Gig Review] THE DILLINGER Escape Plan @ Northcote Theatre Melbourne (AU), 13.08.25.
[Gig Reviews]: Truly a special blessing and an honour for Inner-Strength Check! A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, I was joined on Wednesday, 13th August to witness The Dillinger Escape Plan’s final Australian procession in Melbourne, with a Calculating Infinity-centric set helmed by original vocalist Dimitri Minakakis! TDEP were joined by fantastic hip-hop punk/electro-heads Ho99o9 to make up one amazing evening!
![[#MusicMondays 11.08.25]: Top 10 Upcoming Releases [#1] OLD MACHINES - ‘The Cycles of Extinction’ LP](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1754917808374-7B82C3JIY2W7E9H7K2QA/oldmachinesband.jpg)
[#MusicMondays 11.08.25]: Top 10 Upcoming Releases [#1] OLD MACHINES - ‘The Cycles of Extinction’ LP
#MusicMondays, 11.08.2025: In addition to a brief recap of the many things we’ve been up to music-wise on the ISC blog/podcast, I’m trying something different this week - bringing out my top ten recent releases from underground picks across the globe! First up, we have the scoop, links and more for Mass Effect/dystopian sci-fi inspired death metal cosmic warlords Old Machines, via ‘The Cycles of Extinction’ (out 22nd August). Get amongst it!
![[Heavy News] THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN: Australia Braces For The Arrival Of The Greatest Live Band On The Planet!](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1754043757408-NZZRDYO77OKJQB6EH9ZZ/dillingerband.jpg)
[Heavy News] THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN: Australia Braces For The Arrival Of The Greatest Live Band On The Planet!
This ain’t your average promo-piece - and why should it be when such a once-in-a-lifetime run of shows from the briefly-reformed The Dillinger Escape Plan is at stake? Check out a fantastic Q and A with John Howarth on behalf of ThePhoenix.au, plus links to tickets etc - grab those if you haven’t already, BTW! This one cannot be missed!
![[#HeavyNews] Blackvapor/USBM Duo, HELLIR, Release New Single, "Ishimura"](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1753078868539-QV9QIU9PAC9LBLPONDDF/hellircover.png)
[#HeavyNews] Blackvapor/USBM Duo, HELLIR, Release New Single, "Ishimura"
I love it when our topical worlds collide! Inspired by the ill-fated planet-cracking ship of Dead Space fame, US duo Hellir have released the equally eerie black-metal-meets-vaporwave single ‘Ishimura’, from forthcoming EP Hollow Moon: Precursor, which necromorphs unto the public on August 22nd! Grab a plasma cutter and tune in to this frequency, before it’s too late.
![[HEAVY NEWS] Roundup 09.07.25 Part I: Recent/New Releases.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1752143595357-QG3OAWQA2CLNETGGH4V2/clawfingerband.png)
[HEAVY NEWS] Roundup 09.07.25 Part I: Recent/New Releases.
(Featured Image: Clawfinger (US)). For Heavy News this week, we’re rounding up a whole heap of recent/new/upcoming releases! Featured: Star Wars themed US metal act Galactic Empire, Swedish post-punk/DM duo Floating, Spanish solo prog/psych/power project Phantom Spell, US alt-metal heroes Clawfinger, and Finnish black metal crew Mourniaty.
![[REVIEW] MACHINE HEAD - ‘UNATØNED’ LP.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1746349356885-29627CIH7I53OBORL89V/image003.jpg)
[REVIEW] MACHINE HEAD - ‘UNATØNED’ LP.
Time for our latest album review here at Inner-Strength Check! Today, we take a detour from Australian election shenanigans to bring something decidedly less chaotic/painful to your sensory organs. Pod host Brady provides thoughts on Machine Head’s 11th studio opus, UNATØNED, released April 25th via Nuclear Blast Records. Check link for review plus single streaming, album order, artist/label links and more!
![[Riffs] New Series - ‘Gallery Of Brewicide’ I: CONAN/PALLBEARER 12.03.25.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1745839916980-2MFXVH9LPRH7Q3IEF297/Conan+-+Max+Watts+120325-21.jpg)
[Riffs] New Series - ‘Gallery Of Brewicide’ I: CONAN/PALLBEARER 12.03.25.
I’m a man of few talents as podcast host/blog chief here at ISC. But two I can certainly point to - bad music puns and new thematic series! Presenting the first Gallery of Brewicide, featuring some preamble words of support for music photographers out there, plus additional pics from our prior Conan/Pallbearer headline gig review, courtesy of Blackened Lights Photography/ Richie Black Photography !
![[Heavy News] NY Act TOWER Announce Heaviest Album Yet In ‘LET THERE BE DARK’, Out April 11th.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1742195873874-JBOCH18PGEV52BT3GS2N/331847.jpg)
[Heavy News] NY Act TOWER Announce Heaviest Album Yet In ‘LET THERE BE DARK’, Out April 11th.
Ah. Nothing warms my frozen metal heart on a cold Music Monday like some Heavy News that an act is planning to make things even more metal! And, judging from latest single ‘Under The Chapel’ released alongside news of NY (US) act Tower’s descent into metal darkness with latest LP ‘Let There Be Dark’. Check out the link for album preorder/artist links, latest music video, album details and more!
![[Heavy News] Trans-Atlantic Metal Project GREY MOUNTAIN Release Debut Album!](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1741512520770-GKTX4PU55MC5SPAKX67N/Grey+Mountain+Band.jpg)
[Heavy News] Trans-Atlantic Metal Project GREY MOUNTAIN Release Debut Album!
Heavy News: New Trans-Atlantic Metal Project GREY MOUNTAIN (feat. members of Monsterworks, Bull Elephant, Construct of Lethe, Black Harvest) have released their self-titled debut album via Eat Lead and Die Music! The album is available digitally on Bandcamp (including 24-bit full dynamic range vinyl master in side A/B format) and at new platform Ampwall. Check link for preorder, full album stream and more.
![[Heavy News] New York Supergroup FLESHsPOIL Announce Latest LP ‘THE BEGINNING OF THE END’ For 28.03.25.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1740395439435-X645LCZO7F0IBD4ZLLT6/fleshspoilcover.jpg)
[Heavy News] New York Supergroup FLESHsPOIL Announce Latest LP ‘THE BEGINNING OF THE END’ For 28.03.25.
Comprising membership of several mainstream and underground heroes in the US death metal scene, Troy (NY)-based trio Fleshpoil have announced a fierce blackened death metal debut in The Beginning And The End. The album features guests and contributions ranging from Arsis, Rwake and many more! Link contains details, as well as album preorder, Bandcamp profile etc.
![[Heavy News] MACHINE HEAD Monumental 11th Album UNATØNED Out April 25th + Release Music Video For First Single 'UNBØUND'](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1739945488031-E7GJVVGL90AVYYKOW814/machineheadcover.png)
[Heavy News] MACHINE HEAD Monumental 11th Album UNATØNED Out April 25th + Release Music Video For First Single 'UNBØUND'
Bay Area metal veterans Machine Head, one of the most omnipresent bands in the heavy collective consciousness, are back with 11th LP UNATØNED, dropping April 25th! Nothing’s been spared on their official press release for it either - there’s everything here from stream and music clip for title track as first single, a whole smorgasbord of physical/digital media pre-order options, statements from the band themselves and heaps more! Machine Farkin’ Head, mate!
![[Review] Into The Void - ‘Dysphoria’ LP.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1739351410654-SZ47G56Z2U2WOC3Y0YU6/dypshoriaalbumcover.jpg)
[Review] Into The Void - ‘Dysphoria’ LP.
Introducing our first piece of fresh content from new addition to the Inner-Strength Check team in Spiro (a.k.a The Hype Guy)! For his first piece, Spiro has elected to provide a great review of the 2024 album Dysphoria, by Michigan-based alternative-rock/nu-grunge outfit Into The Void. Check the link for the full review, album and singles links and more. As well, we’ve re-included an important appeal Spiro recent put out in support of Jampot Studios. Many thanks for an awesome review!
![[Archive Review] Nest - ‘Metempsychosis’ LP.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1739088176031-QYB02RWBLAQEI35X0N0A/a2700887671_10.jpg)
[Archive Review] Nest - ‘Metempsychosis’ LP.
This post has been through the wringer! Originally posted to Overdrive Music Magazine in 2019 (many thanks to Sebastian for permission to repost) in my time as Senior Contributor, it then made it onto our old blog in December ‘24 - right as our previous website met its’ demise. This is one well worth revisiting, however, as Nest’s bludgeoning LP Metempsychosis is an abrasive, expansive sludge/death metal bruiser that clearly stood the test of time.
![[Heavy News] MEPHETIC CORPSE’s ‘Sickness Attracts Sickness’ Out Now!](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1738576059786-Y9JNDGAEMP8IAT8R0WMA/Mephitic+Corpse+promo.jpg)
[Heavy News] MEPHETIC CORPSE’s ‘Sickness Attracts Sickness’ Out Now!
From the Heavy News desk for Music Mondays here at ISC - The debut full-length from US vomit-grinders MEPHITIC CORPSE has been unleashed! Sickness Attracts Sickness is now available on digital and physical formats. Extremely Rotten Productions will release the album to European audiences with Headsplit Records (vinyl, CD and cassette) and 625 Thrashcore (vinyl and CD) releasing the album in the US. Get your gore and blast on!
![[Heavy News] GATES TO HELL Announces New Album DEATH COMES TO ALL Out March 21st + New Single, 'Next To Bleed', Streaming Now + Available As 7-Inch Vinyl](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1737350790114-99VQK0865MBYA209V9AW/image007.jpg)
[Heavy News] GATES TO HELL Announces New Album DEATH COMES TO ALL Out March 21st + New Single, 'Next To Bleed', Streaming Now + Available As 7-Inch Vinyl
The ground quakes, the surface fractures, and a colossal force rises from the abyss: GATES TO HELL have returned to deliver their undeniable truth—Death Comes to All. The Louisville natives charge onto the heavy music scene with their second full-length which will be released March 21st via Nuclear Blast Records. Check the link for initial single ‘First to Bleed’, preorder links, exclusive merch opportunities and more!
![[Archive] ISC Podcast Ep. 23 - Interview with MATT PIKE and COADY WILLIS of HIGH ON Fire.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1737090938587-X6UUV84JGSLJSQYJ5NQN/image.png)
[Archive] ISC Podcast Ep. 23 - Interview with MATT PIKE and COADY WILLIS of HIGH ON Fire.
Note: This is an archival repost, brought back to life from the bones of our sadly now-defunct prior website (RIP). Iconic U.S. rock band, High on Fire, released their newest LP, Cometh the Storm, on April 19 ‘24 via MNRK Heavy. I was fortunate to be able to interview both Matt Pike and Coady Willis of the band! We discuss Coady's arrival into the band, the songwriting, band dynamics as a power-trio and of course both international touring and the recording process.