[Album Review] FORCEFED HORSEHEAD/SHAVING THE WEREWOLF (Split EP) + AGENBITE MISERY (LP).
[Album Review]: This week for Music Mondays at ISC, your podcast host Brady is treating you to a written-review double-dip. See within for reviews of Norwegian grindpunk/mathcore split-EP From Horrid To Worse by Forcefed Horsehead/Shaving The Werewolf, and full-length experimental horror Remorse of Conscience by New Hampshire trio Agenbite Misery. Get your freaky-Monday on.
[Podcast] Ep. 67: [Interview] with DICK VALENTINE of ELECTRIC SIX (US).
[Podcast] For Episode 67 of the Inner-Strength Podcast, host Brady was joined by none other than Dick Valentine, funtime front-man of party-punk disco-metallers Electric Six! They’re set to hit Australian shores next month for their Greatest Hits tour - see within for video/audio-only interview versions, plus all the details you need for upcoming shows! Boogey on.
[Riff] Stop The Slop in 2026 - With Tabletop.
[Riff] For Tabletop Thursday here at ISC, something a little different from our usual run of RPG news. Instead, I’d like to put forth something of a thesis/action-statement about the utility of the hobby in this, The Overly AI-Slop-Infested Year Of Our Tabletop Lord 2026.
[Gallery of Brewicide XVI]: DAYSEND + Supports, ‘Revisiting Severance’ @ Leadbeater Hotel, Melbourne (AU) 07.07.26.
[Gallery of Brewicide]: Oh, you thought our gig review coverage was a monster? Well, Richie Black Photography and ISC’s Brady both have a treat instore - see within for even more photography and additional footage from Daysend’s ‘Revisiting Severance’ tour show @ Leadbeater Hotel, 7th Feb, also featuring HOOF, Hybrid Nightmares and Emperor Moth. Up the Aussie horns!
[Gig Review]: (HED) P.E + Supports, 'STILL BROKE' Tour @ MAX WATTS MELBOURNE (AU) 8.02.26.
Hed PE returned to Australia to play their breakout album ’Broke’ in its entirety, with supports from Florida’s Nonpoint and Melbourne’s Verona Lights.
[Gig Review]: DAYSEND + Supports, ‘Revisiting Severance’ @ Leadbeater Hotel, Melbourne (AU) 07.02.26.
[Gig Reviews] A monster gig deserves a monster review! See within for our coverage of Daysend’s ‘Revisiting Severance’ 2026 Australian tour on the Melbourne leg @ Leadbeater Hotel, Sat 7th Feb, with supports Emperor Moth, HOOF & Hybrid Nightmares. With thanks to Richie Black Photography and Your Mate Bookings!
[Gallery of Brewicide XV]: ABBATH DOOM OCCULTA + Supports - Melb 30.01.26 & FROTH & FURY (SA) 31.01.26.
[Gallery of Brewicide XV]: ABBATH DOOM OCCULTA ‘Return to The Raven Realms’ Tour, 30.01.26 @ Croxton Bandroom, Melb (AU), with supports WEREWOLVES & BASTARDIZER. Also included is footage from Abbath’s Froth and Fury Fest 2026 set, via the ISC Youtube Channel.
[Gig Review]: ABBATH DOOM OCCULTA ‘Return to The Raven Realms’ Tour, 30.01.26 @ Croxton Bandroom, Melb (AU).
[Gig Review] Abbath Doom Occulta ‘Return To The Raven Realms’ Tour, with supports Werewolves (AU) and Bastardizer (AU). Fly high on Blashrykh’s blessed black wings and soar through this infernal review of Abbath’s headliner set @ Croxton Bandroom, Melbourne from the 30th Jan - brought to you by evocative writer Dean Underhill, fantastic lensman Richie Black Photography and metal-touring heroes SWD Presents!
[Gallery of Brewicide XIV]: ‘Celebrating LOU REED, THE VELVET UNDERGROUND & NICO’, 30.01.26 @ 170 Russell, Melbourne (AU).
[Gallery of Brewicide] Intrepid gig photographer and music fan Kaza Black took to the photo-pit at 170 Russell in Melbourne last Friday to capture some fantastic imagery from the supergroup tribute ‘Celebrating Lou Reed, The Velvet Underground and Nico’. See within for fantastic shots plus Lou Reed media and artist links.
[Gig Review]: SWALLOW THE SUN (FIN) & Supports, 25.01.26 @ Corner Hotel, Richmond (AU).
[Gig Reviews] Finland’s Swallow the Sun introduce their iconic and unique melodic death-doom brand to Australian shores for the first time. For full review of the Melbourne leg @ Corner Hotel, Richmond on 25th Jan, inc. supports Neomantra, The Eternal and Mammon’s Throne plus artist/media links, read on.
[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.