![[Podcast] Interview with DARREN ‘DAZ’ BROOKES of UK Death Metal Godfathers BENEDICTION.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1743163261970-75X362ERO37HUH7ESVOO/ISC+Podcast+Ep.+39+Interview+with+DARREN+BROOKES+of.png)
[Podcast] Interview with DARREN ‘DAZ’ BROOKES of UK Death Metal Godfathers BENEDICTION.
What a venerable honour for this late end of a Friday evening. Tonight, I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to discuss upcoming LP Ravages of Empires (and so, so much more) with UK death metal godfathers Benediction’s guitarist and one of two founding members - Darren Brookes! A band that is hugely influential for much of the music we post here, as well as many bands I/we know and love. Great interview, plus the blog post also contains album order links, single music videos and more!
![[Riffs] #BSAS2024: Brady’s 2024 AOTY List, Part 3.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1742096716527-2IDDJWYAO7JH4LOM31QX/apesuit.jpg)
[Riffs] #BSAS2024: Brady’s 2024 AOTY List, Part 3.
Continuing on with a better-late-than-never endeavour to continue coverage of 2024’s Behind Screen and Speaker yearly wrap-up, your host Brady continues his exploration of favourite albums from the year just passed. Within you’ll find synopses/mini-reviews, artist/label links, full album streams and more for Gigan, Viscera Infest, Oranssi Pazuzu, Blood Incantation and Chat Pile!
![[Tabletop Thursday, 27.03.25] A Nearly-Full-Monty (Python RPG) Column.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1743080689973-V20ZF8SMRF7F6UDGO3HZ/1589126540145.png)
[Tabletop Thursday, 27.03.25] A Nearly-Full-Monty (Python RPG) Column.
This week, I finally opened the packaging my Sensible Middle Class Edition of Monty Python’s Cocurricular Mediaeval Reenactment Programme came shipped in. In an act of divine providence akin to counting to five (three, sir!), Exalted Funeral have now brought the beautiful menagerie of TTRPG, coconut dice-roller, cow-flinging board game and more to all of you! Peek within to find more details, links and info on another upcoming campaign in The Job.
![[Dicey News] The ‘Evolved Edition’ Kickstarter For ‘Alien: The Roleplaying Game’ Has Begun!](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1742979888526-1SEMS9O9MQUCOQJAGW5S/alienevolved.jpg)
[Dicey News] The ‘Evolved Edition’ Kickstarter For ‘Alien: The Roleplaying Game’ Has Begun!
A HUGE day for Tabletop RPG’s - the long-awaited Evolved Edition Kickstarter for Alien: The Roleplaying Game has launched! Featuring new and modified rulesets, multiple core and supplemental boxes, physical minis, maps, a new solo mode and more. This is a jam-packed campaign, one of Free League Publishing’s biggest yet.
![[Riff] Eulogy for Vizier](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1742915115046-3QVKSKYERV60T6FIMSIM/vizier.jpg)
[Riff] Eulogy for Vizier
Ever one to be promoting the local talents of the underground music scene, particularly in Melbourne, resident post-rock/drumming expert Hamza provides us a funny, sentimental and sincere send-off to local institution Vizier, who unfortunately called it quits in 2019. There’s also reflections on the Melbourne post-rock scene, links to Vizier’s legacy, gig footage and more. Check it out!
![[#MusicMondays] 24.03.25: Release Round-Up](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1742813853657-VWAKND65IFJ4ZSJXTPG9/%23MusicMondays+Release+Roundup+24th+March%2C+2025.png)
[#MusicMondays] 24.03.25: Release Round-Up
Why stop at one band when you can have a whole bunch? Why also wait for albums impatiently when we can serve you up a nice platter of progressive/experimental metal (Dissocia), Italian stoner/sludge/hard rock (Drunken Crocodiles), hook-laden rock from Michigan, US (Pop Evil) and Australian-baked blackened sludge-doom (Ghostsmoker)? Do away with such questions by clicking the link!
![[Heavy News] Avant-garde Death/Black Band FELGRAVE Premiere New Song at No Clean Singing.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1742807659182-E89AI4GH1GS3UV8RVE4K/felgravealbumcover.png)
[Heavy News] Avant-garde Death/Black Band FELGRAVE Premiere New Song at No Clean Singing.
M.J Lupe, otherwise known in this auspice as Felgrave, has unleashed an absolute monster of dizzying, crushing avant-garde death/black metal with release of the 18-minute beast that is title track from upcoming LP Otherlike Darkness, out April 25th. A crushing sample of extreme metal’s exploratory periphery, you can check full details of the album, preorder link, artist links and more alongside the music video in this post!
![[Heavy News] SABATON Animated Film “THE WAR TO END ALL WARS - THE MOVIE” Now Available On Major Video Streaming Platforms!](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1742805434584-4YELE36PS6S5QRTQCUQH/thumbnail_image005.jpg)
[Heavy News] SABATON Animated Film “THE WAR TO END ALL WARS - THE MOVIE” Now Available On Major Video Streaming Platforms!
For Heavy News on Music Monday at ISC, something completely different! Swedish metallers Sabaton have launched an epic initiative in the upcoming release of animated historical film The War To End All Wars. This 67-minute-long animated musical motion picture takes viewers on a captivating journey through the harrowing and heroic stories of World War 1, aka The Great War.
![[Heavy News] Australian Modern-Jazz Outfit COAST Return With New Album; New Single ‘Ember’ Out Now](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1742729829896-P0SJQXA13AADCQOB5BZ6/018f2ab5-5176-1c48-087b-88571f64e8c1.jpg)
[Heavy News] Australian Modern-Jazz Outfit COAST Return With New Album; New Single ‘Ember’ Out Now
[Heavy News] - Art as Catharsis just recently announced COAST’s upcoming third album, Ember - a highly anticipated return to form from one of Australia’s most daring jazz acts. To celebrate, peep the link for streaming link and direct .mp3 download link for title track, pre-order links, additional album/artist info and links, as well as where to find AaC online. Smooth and breezy.
![[Heavy News] 2nd LP ‘Erasure Of Color’ From Boston Prog/Death Metallers AVERSED Out Now!](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1742726512659-W3KMG4JTUS6KQTXMVBUV/aversed.jpg)
[Heavy News] 2nd LP ‘Erasure Of Color’ From Boston Prog/Death Metallers AVERSED Out Now!
Heavy News: Having sourced a full line-up, Boston-based progressive death-metal unit Aversed have launched back onto the metal scene with 2nd LP Erasure of Color. Check the link for album order link, artist bio/links, latest single 'Lucid Decapition’ and more!
![[RIFFS/TABLETOP]: Dice Pool versus D20+Modifier: who will steal my heart?](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1742474653503-PO6VEIDWTDP4DZXE8SBF/JeShields+d20+%2820%29.png)
[RIFFS/TABLETOP]: Dice Pool versus D20+Modifier: who will steal my heart?
Resident dice-roller Èlodie pines for polyhedrals… But which die will she choose? Indeed, the life of a tabletop gaming blogger is just like a trashy romance novel.
![[#TabletopThursday] ‘It’s Already Thursday AGAIN?!’ Edition, 20.03.25.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1742477199143-FDFI680EV6IV9931R814/e0f9fd24028435b6911a11a2da02597558b1957d7bad2e587a7cc7b076af883d.png)
[#TabletopThursday] ‘It’s Already Thursday AGAIN?!’ Edition, 20.03.25.
It’s been another incredibly busy week in the tabletop industry - we could'n’t hope to cover half of the latest goings-on, but consarnit have we tried! In today’ Tabletop Thursday: A wrap-up of multiple new releases, news items and more from the week in Dicey News; exploring the massive quadruple-release via Bundle of Holding; a crowdfunding campaign stacked with goodies for Edinburgh Indie Gamers and much more!
![[Interview] with MARK PALFREYMAN of Melbourne’s ALARUM.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1736152351338-UIL5DK5Q6Y8D3EZI84AM/alarum2-1.jpg)
[Interview] with MARK PALFREYMAN of Melbourne’s ALARUM.
Featured Image: IG: @samuel_phillips_photography. Ah, Alarum. A band decades into a career of constant innovation, but always anchored to a frantic and colourful blend of jazz-fusion, prog and death metal. I caught up once more with bassist/vocalist Mark Palfreyman to talk everything ranging from recording process/response/background of latest LP Recontinue to longevity, touring, the local scene, inspiration and more!
![[Podcast] Ep. 38: Interview with DAN MACHUCA, a.k.a. Dan The Game Master.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1742369671267-GLG5MEFTROAJRDBM1FI8/danpic.jpg)
[Podcast] Ep. 38: Interview with DAN MACHUCA, a.k.a. Dan The Game Master.
Local educator, TTRPG game master, game therapist and all-around good freaking bloke Dan Machuca (aka Dan The Game Master) has the distinct honour of being our first industry professional interviewed in video/audio format! In this episode, Dan and I discuss his efforts merging hobby passion with education via his rules-lite/accessible TTRPG, regular game sessions for at-risk youth in Melbourne, his teaching work, men’s mental health, favourite RPG systems, work-life balance, and more!
![[Heavy News] MALEVOLENCE Announce New Album WHERE ONLY THE TRUTH IS SPOKEN + Release Music Video For 'If It's All The Same To You'.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1742356431661-LU4WQFZZ479WHCGAVV8R/malevolencecover.jpg)
[Heavy News] MALEVOLENCE Announce New Album WHERE ONLY THE TRUTH IS SPOKEN + Release Music Video For 'If It's All The Same To You'.
[Heavy News, 19.03.25]: Steel City beatdown-lords Malevolence have only gone from strength to strength recently. To prove their mettle, you can check out both details, pre-order/pre-save links etc for Where Only The Truth is Spoken LP, music video/stream links for singles ‘If It’s All The Same To You’ & ‘Trenches’ - and even go catch them live [recommended!] during their massive Australian national tour. Ticket links inside!
![[Heavy News] Jazzgrind band BYONOISEGENERATOR come up with hugely-awaited new album ‘SUBNORMAL DIVES’!](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1742276980823-ZAF7WKNV8TZICYGMYTOM/Screenshot+2025-03-18+131532.png)
[Heavy News] Jazzgrind band BYONOISEGENERATOR come up with hugely-awaited new album ‘SUBNORMAL DIVES’!
[Heavy News] Transcending Obscurity Records reinforce the diversity of their extreme metal roster with this fantastically-bizarre (conceptually, visually and musically!) release in Subnormal Dives by jazz/math-death-grinders BYONOISEGENERATOR. With some stellar artwork by Dmitry Rogatnev, you can also find links to new singles, album preorder, artist links, album into and more right here!
![[Music Mondays] St Patrick’s Day, 2025 Edition.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1742212318809-D2GTJJWQCKJOAL3JG6BP/the-leprechaun--an-irish-legend.jpg)
[Music Mondays] St Patrick’s Day, 2025 Edition.
Whilst a lot of Australians utilise St Patrick’s Day as a cheap excuse to spend too much on Guinness we pretend to like on a weeknight, I thought I’d stay in and celebrate in a different way. Tonight, join me on a brief historical/cultural sojourn through the Emerald Isle, traipsing back from the Gaelic/Celtic folk-musical roots of the nation, through to some seriously heavy Irish contenders. Good craic for your ears.
![[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] SLEEP TOKEN Ascends : Announces New LP ‘EVEN IN ARCADIA’ + New Offering ‘EMERGENCE’.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1742192364967-U1IKKKIZGDAP19ZNY6T3/sleeptokenimage1.jpg)
[Heavy News] SLEEP TOKEN Ascends : Announces New LP ‘EVEN IN ARCADIA’ + New Offering ‘EMERGENCE’.
[ Heavy News / Music Monday ]: Sleep Token returns with Even In Arcadia, their fourth offering and first under RCA Records / Sony Music Australia, set to release on May 9th, shortly followed by their Saturday headline slot at Download Festival, on June 13th. Check out the link for album preorder, ‘Emergence’ single streaming/,music video link, track list, artist/album details and more!
![[Heavy News] FLESHSPOIL's 'The Beginning of the End' LP Releases March 28th.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1742190645373-P34XWCA0LQDIXRRI2YV0/912390.jpg)
[Heavy News] FLESHSPOIL's 'The Beginning of the End' LP Releases March 28th.
Troy (NY) - A new force in Blackened Death Metal has emerged to lay waste to 2025! FLESHSPOIL, featuring veteran players from Arsis, The Final Sleep, and Illucinus, will release full-length debut album, The Beginning of the End, March 28 on digital format! For more info, as well as Bandcamp artist link/album preorder, check out our Heavy News coverage right here on the ISC blog for Music Mondays.