![[#HEAVYNEWS] Perth Crushers ASHEN (AU) Announce Latest LP ‘Leave The Flesh Behind’, 22.08.25.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1750764130735-D6XT42JMXMH3YK51PH9K/BANNER.jpg)
[#HEAVYNEWS] Perth Crushers ASHEN (AU) Announce Latest LP ‘Leave The Flesh Behind’, 22.08.25.
Perth? You’re full of lovely folk and you guys don’t cop half the shows us Victorians. You get a preamble shoutout from me. Ashen are stepping up the death-metal game in WA, with slated 2nd full-length LP Leave The Flesh Behind slated for release on Aug 22nd, 2025 via Redefining Darkness Records. Oh and bands? Check the addendum; we have a surprise for you. You’re on notice.
![[#TabletopThursdays] A FREE LEAGUE PUBLISHING/EXALTED FUNERAL Art Showcase.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1751112428971-CXN657T2CJXN2HO7S2GU/jarek-kubicki-alien-promo-psd-8.jpg)
[#TabletopThursdays] A FREE LEAGUE PUBLISHING/EXALTED FUNERAL Art Showcase.
Art’s an integral part of consolidating the sensory experience in many hobbies - music and tabletop roleplaying games particularly! Check the link for a feature on some evocative and talented works from a number of artists involved with Alien: The Roleplaying Game, Forbidden Lands and Mork Borg, via Free League Publishing and Exalted Funeral.
![[Riffs/Music]: A Humble Dedication to MIESZKO TALARCZYK of NASUM (Rest in Power).](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1750839649090-1Y9DL1CS9RRT13ZUJPU8/images+%282%29.jfif)
[Riffs/Music]: A Humble Dedication to MIESZKO TALARCZYK of NASUM (Rest in Power).
Just me, your humble podcast/blog host, paying homage to one our fallen. One of many men in the heavy music industry who shaped me into who I am today. Rest In Power, MIESZKO TALARCZYK - the spirit of Nasum flows through all of us.
WELCOME TO COUNTRY From The Inner-Strength Check Team.
Formal Welcome To Country, from the Inner-Strength Check Team.
Featured Image: via the Watharoung Aboriginal Co-Operative.
Truth to Power. Pay The Rent, Close The Gap.
![[Gig Review] TESTAMENT w/ HIDDEN INTENT @ Northcote Theatre, Melb (AU), 21.06.25.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1750680260952-RCYEO323PBEMSPXPW7UN/Testament+-+Northcote+Theatre+210625-25.jpg)
[Gig Review] TESTAMENT w/ HIDDEN INTENT @ Northcote Theatre, Melb (AU), 21.06.25.
Eleven long, thrash-gig-filled years of our lives. And yet, Testament nonchalantly pop in from across the pond and, alongside local thrash-units Hidden Intent, completely lay waste to everyone since @ Northcote Theatre, Melbourne (AU) on Saturday, 21st June. Care of The Phoenix.au, Metropolis Touring NT staff, touring crew, and Richie Black Photography. Cheers.
![[Gig Review] CHURCH OF CROW - DOOM FESTIVAL III @ Chiesa Di San Giuseppe (IT), 02.05.25 (Part II).](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1750247731340-1S29AABC8HKRGVPU1EB3/20250503_2246392.jpg)
[Gig Review] CHURCH OF CROW - DOOM FESTIVAL III @ Chiesa Di San Giuseppe (IT), 02.05.25 (Part II).
Featured Image: Dean. Well, we’re back on the second day of posting our doom-aficionado’s apex Italia journey into metal’s logical conclusion - a two-day festival in a regional Italian church! Featuring: Gli Alberi, Nero Kane, Dead Chasm, In Autumn, The Rite, Hands of Orlac, Epitaph & Abysmal Dawn. To quote the guy hung upside down for a long time in Life of Brian: “You lucky, lucky bastard!”.
![[REVIEW] STANDOVER (NZ) - ‘…When A Clenched Fist Is No Longer An Option’ LP.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1750217029840-N0IZ2R9ST4GG7IJXL4O5/475770143_593864023804155_607402825164242248_n.jpg)
[REVIEW] STANDOVER (NZ) - ‘…When A Clenched Fist Is No Longer An Option’ LP.
I’m physically exhaling with relief, as a pseudo-intellectual, pretentious dude (aka, every metalhead, ever). Taking a break from endless pontification and metaphor-heavy meandering BS, I’m smacked upside the jaw by some stress-tested, tried-and-true metallic hardcore in the classic late-90’s/early-aughts vein by New Zealand’s Standover and latest bruiser ‘…when a clenched fist is no longer an option’. I’m all for musically being smacked upside the head with good ‘core. Let’s go.
![[GIG REVIEW] CHURCH OF CROW - DOOM FESTIVAL III @ Chiesa Di San Giuseppe (IT), 02.05.25 (Part I).](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1750172695629-LOYJV0I2BHL6T2XKPB32/crownihiliom.jpg)
[GIG REVIEW] CHURCH OF CROW - DOOM FESTIVAL III @ Chiesa Di San Giuseppe (IT), 02.05.25 (Part I).
(Featured Image credit: Ombeline Cannele). Man’s gone and done it again, tut-tut! ‘Least esteemed dooms-man Dean left it ‘til after his holiday to get this onto the desk. But, speaking of holidays, our bearded adventurer has wandered into a small church in Italy on his travels, where he experienced multiple days of doom-metal glory in an iconic, intimate setting. Yep, here’s Part 1 of his Church of the Crow Doom Metal Festival III coverage - we’ll have Part II out tomorrow!
![[Podcast] Ep. 49: [Interview] w/ JOEY SCOTT & JAMES TAYLOR of Sydney Death-Metal Crew ANOXIA.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1750072910987-Z5ALZ6UH973Z0LTO003G/125057422_803975720170677_6124749243162250705_n.jpg)
[Podcast] Ep. 49: [Interview] w/ JOEY SCOTT & JAMES TAYLOR of Sydney Death-Metal Crew ANOXIA.
Accelerating through the tiers of the Australian/Sydney extreme metal scene faster than a cheetah with a chili pepper wedged up its’ backside, are old-school/technical death metallers Anoxia. I caught Joey Scott (Vocals) and James Taylor (Bass) for a comprehensive chat around their recent tour with Atheist, thoughts on making it in the current music-industry climate, songwriting, future plans and more - including an upcoming tour with Krisiun! Do we have the links and info for that too?! Yeah, baby!
![[Heavy News] PARADISE LOST Announce ‘ASCENSION’ LP Out SEP 19th; First Single 'Silence Like The Grave' Streaming Now](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1750060154549-E9MZ72598W88KNGOPKLO/paradiselostband.jpg)
[Heavy News] PARADISE LOST Announce ‘ASCENSION’ LP Out SEP 19th; First Single 'Silence Like The Grave' Streaming Now
It’s shaping up to be a very busy week for today’s #MusicMondays / Heavy News features. Of the lucky few making the cut for today are gothic-doom icons Paradise Lost. These venerable stalwarts are slated to release 17th LP Ascension 19/09/25 via Nuclear Blast. Check link for preorder, full album details, video/stream links for first single ‘Silence Like The Grave’ and much more.
![[Gallery] of Brewicide V: ATHEIST + Supports @ Leadbeater Hotel, Melb (AU) 08.06.2025.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1749556271062-QARXHE9VX9NX7EKPYOJT/16.jpg)
[Gallery] of Brewicide V: ATHEIST + Supports @ Leadbeater Hotel, Melb (AU) 08.06.2025.
As if one gig review stacked with enough quality snaps from Atheist’s performance on Sun 8th June was enough. Nor some great shots of supports Anoxia, Vexation and Alarum. Hell no, man. Not when we’ve got talented band/crowd-snapper Jason Vidic of Vidic Images on the case! See within for additional crisp snaps from a truly chaotic, mind-bending evening. Plus artist links and more!
![[RPG Play Report] Echoes of Yesterday Mission Log (Part 1 of… ?)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1749539369305-MNXI5DKYX5YQEH0KE13U/Imperialist+Echoes+of+Yesterday+coloured+3+without+vignette+3-min.png)
[RPG Play Report] Echoes of Yesterday Mission Log (Part 1 of… ?)
Read the tale of a campaign set in the world of Élodie’s work-in-progress RPG inspired by the Great War and her own nightmares! Part one includes dramatic recaps of the first two sessions and some behind-the-curtain notes.
![[Gig Review] ATHEIST + Supports, Leadbeater Hotel (Melb, AU), 08.06.25.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1749481348294-L9LKWPNDY9XSLNQRGBCG/27.jpg)
[Gig Review] ATHEIST + Supports, Leadbeater Hotel (Melb, AU), 08.06.25.
How many words/which words can be used to describe a night of musical perfection? A night 35+ years in the making, featuring one of the most important and influential bands in extreme metal via Atheist? Supported by Australian death-metal legends Alarum, Vexation and Anoxia?! No idea, but for the best-guess attempt & some stellar images by Jason Vidic (of Vidic Images), check out our gig review.
![[Podcast] Ep. 48: Interview With ERIC PETERSON, Guitarist of US OG Thrashers TESTAMENT.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1749427182327-6998ML0SAR5TJESTFCU3/Testament.jpg)
[Podcast] Ep. 48: Interview With ERIC PETERSON, Guitarist of US OG Thrashers TESTAMENT.
Kicking off Music Mondays in style, we were joined this morning by none other than Eric Peterson, longstanding member and guitarist of thrash-metal titans Testament! With the Australian tour kicking off in just a couple of weeks, we discussed Eric’s thoughts on heading to our sunburnt land again, plus a whole lot more. Ticket links and other tour info also contained within. Thrash on!
![[Dicey News] From The Twilight Zone (Apparently).](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1749218177995-BAEXN1F7I0DZ18CKYKH6/5Ca9Y5.jpg)
[Dicey News] From The Twilight Zone (Apparently).
Well then! This was meant to be a Tabletop Thursdays update, however my body clock saw it fit to sleep until late evening. Thus, on that note, today’s Dicey News update is a nocturnal-friendly affair. We explore titles from the itch.io Bundle For Ukranian Hospitals, and provide a number of great new/upcoming tabletop/hobby releases. Don’t sleep on these like I slept yesterday!
![[Riffs] Three (Gauss) Prime Tech-Death Picks.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1748953940229-3JBKT74XGF8I8SHZ7RL2/gaussnormal.jpg)
[Riffs] Three (Gauss) Prime Tech-Death Picks.
Imagine this - you’re piloting a super high-speed biomechanical exosuit fighting hordes of interdimensional adversaries. Hmm, what to listen to, I wonder? Check out three great technical/progressive death metal releases from 2025 that we think will go down a treat for any ADHD-coded exoskeleton!
![[Podcast] Inner-Strength Check Content Update, May 2025.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1748782232322-JPFA2B828TX8XBJ2BZDQ/6tt7cbea6rpa1.png)
[Podcast] Inner-Strength Check Content Update, May 2025.
It’s been an absolutely bonkers month here at Inner-Strength Check - lots and lots of content! I’ve herded all said content-cats together in one handy compendium-post: gig reviews, album reviews, interviews, podcast episodes, news, covers, music/gaming/tabletop-related content, photo galleries and more!
![[Heavy News] Mayday! Mayday! Five Riff-Bombers on #MusicMonday!](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1748864744998-O3ZMDS1HIR19NSSJKLBT/492747206_10162827909019391_1853405978499656545_n.jpg)
[Heavy News] Mayday! Mayday! Five Riff-Bombers on #MusicMonday!
No flak or anti-air needed here. This is a most welcome raid upon our cochleas! First of a few May release-roundups we’ll be doing features a Swedish psych-doom delve (Cavern Deep), a Milwaukee (US) man’s Liminal Spirit, a tango with Belgique sludge-monsters (Growing Horns), chopping frenzied Californian tech-death (Ominous Ruin) and ensuring not to pass the black metal post in Romania (Genune)! Open those hatches, bombs away.
![[Gig Review] ALPHA WOLF (AUS) /MALEVOLENCE (UK), The Wool Exchange (Geelong, AU) 29.05.2025.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1748574026974-HILUCQQ48AV91GH4LJ7R/499731828_1029957405907952_4880345621613435170_n.jpg)
[Gig Review] ALPHA WOLF (AUS) /MALEVOLENCE (UK), The Wool Exchange (Geelong, AU) 29.05.2025.
I was NOT expecting many, many things when I took on a regional show from destroyalllines to write up Alpha Wolf’s blitzkrieg-tour of Australia alongside beloved UK ‘core-titans Malevolence. Supported by no less than two knockouts in Zuko and Melting. A gig so fun, frenetic, manic, loveable and earnest that I went pretty damn hard in that direction, too.
![[Podcast] Ep. 47: Interview with BRANDON SALLER, Vocalist of US Metalcore Titans ATREYU.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1748478568189-ZA1LQLNZ078BPXW5L3FN/download+%2811%29.png)
[Podcast] Ep. 47: Interview with BRANDON SALLER, Vocalist of US Metalcore Titans ATREYU.
Break out the eyeliner, ill-fitting jeans and stretch up for the mosh - Atreyu are headed back to Australia in July for a jam-packed tour alongside fellow metalcore giants Memphis May Fire! I spoke with Brandon Saller around all things Atreyu this morning - the upcoming tour/recent shows, thoughts and reflections on both band and The Curse around the 20th-anniversary LP tour, and much more! Peep the link for podcast interview plus all the tour info you’ll need. Best get in quick, though!