Spotlight – Metal Express Radio

four males, one female staring ahead, on male has his hands in his pocket with a baseball hat, the other three men wearing black also hands in their pocket, female wearing a blue jean jackett

ERIC KUSANAGI (HIROE): “What Started As a a Coping Mechanism Quickly Ignited A Passion”

June 16, 2025 Matt Zaniboni

Philadelphia rock band Hiroe are set to release their debut album entitled Wield on June 20th. The band’s guitarist Eric Kusanagi spoke with Metal Express Radio about their upcoming album, the band’s formation, his favorite releases of 2025, and more. Check out the chat below! Metal Express Radio: How did the formation of your band come about? Kusanagi: Hiroe formed during the pandemic when the world shut down. It began as a small project with myself and Jill, and it served as a way to connect through music. Nothing made sense at the time, the only thing that made sense was the solace in playing music. For me, it had been over ten years since I’d really been involved with music, and it was during that time I truly realized how much I’d missed it and how much I needed it. What started as a coping mechanism quickly ignited a passion I had ignored for a long time. Ultimately, with Hiroe, we were just a couple of people who wanted to connect, create, and express ourselves through music. MER: You’ll be releasing your debut album entitled Wield on June 20th, what can you tell everyone about your band’s first album? Kusanagi: We’re incredibly excited to release our debut album, Wield, on June 20th! Wield is designed to be a journey, meant to be listened to from beginning to end, as one complete piece. We put a lot of care into sequencing the album, aiming to truly present listeners with a cohesive journey. Beyond that, Wield is meant to be a direct counterpart to our first release, Wrought. Wrought was all about creation, like fashioning something from raw metal. Wield, then, is about doing something with that creation—it’s about wielding it. While the name might make you think of holding a weapon, we …READ MORE

All four members of the band Senna standing together in a hall way

MARCELL DÜRR (SENNA): “Live Music Is The Purest And Most Raw Way To Experience Music”

May 19, 2025 Matt Zaniboni

German metalcore band Senna are set to release their debut full length album entitled Stranger To Love on May 23rd. The band’s guitarist Marcell Dürr spoke with Metal Express Radio about their upcoming album, about the formation of the band, their recent tour with The Devil Wears Prada, and more. Check out the chat below! Metal Express Radio: How did the formation of the band come about? Dürr: Senna started as a studio project between Simon (vocals), Manuel (producer), and me. Our first few demos got a great response, and people were really encouraging us to form a proper band and give it a chance. We quickly found our other band members, Leon, Tobi, and Fabi, because we’d played shows with them before or had known them through our network in Mannheim. Tobi and Leon left the band in 2023 to pursue their careers as session musicians, and we were totally supportive of their other musical projects, so there was no bad blood at all. We found a replacement for Viktor on drums when he stepped in on the Being As An Ocean Tour in 2023. It felt really natural for him to join the band because we’d all toured with him before. MER: Who are some of the band’s main influences? Dürr: AJ Rebollos’ guitar work on Issues is a major inspiration for me. It’s heavily influenced by RnB music, but it’s super complex and unique, yet still very accessible and easy to listen to. Don Broco is another huge influence, especially their Technology album. It sounds huge, but it’s still very playful and fun at all times. In general, we try to blend accessibility and musical virtuosity and keep the listeners on their toes. MER: You’re set to release your debut album entitled Stranger To Love on May 23rd, what …READ MORE

JONATHAN HULTÉN: “Every Song On This Album Exists In Its Own Little World”

March 5, 2025 Matt Zaniboni

Jonathan Hultén (ex Tribulation), just released his second solo album entitled Eye of the living Night on January 31st. Hultén Spoke with Metal Express Radio about the album, his recent tour with Unlcle Acid & the Deadbeats, his inspirations on becoming a solo artist, and more. Check out the chat below! Metal Express Radio: Your new album entitled Eye of the Living Night was released on January 31st, what can you tell fans about your latest release? Hultén: From acoustic fingerpicking to retro-electronic rock, every song explores its own spectrum of sounds. If I were to describe the music of this album in 3 words, it would be Ambient Dream-Grunge—I think it captures the atmosphere better than the usual genre labels like, folk, rock, pop, or prog. Thematically, Eyes Of The Living Night is a story about being lost in the night, obtaining the ability to see in the dark, and finding a path forward. It’s a journey for lost souls. MER: How was the writing and recording process having this being your second album as a solo artist? Hultén: The writing period of Chants… was spread out on a period of 10 years or more, while Eyes… took about 1,5 years to both write and record—it was much more intense. The time frame was the biggest diﬀerence between creating the albums, and I enjoyed this new way of working much more. It allowed me to dive deeper into the creative sphere much faster—it felt like a lot was happening in a short time span. As I pushed myself into immersion, inspiration came to me more easily. Dedication was the key! MER: You’ve released two songs from the album so far, so you feel they represent the album well? Hultén: Every song on this album exists in its own little world, …READ MORE

HAMMISH REILLY (VUKOVI): “We Live For The Chaos Of The Pits”

January 3, 2025 Matt Zaniboni

Scottish Rock band Vulovi are set to release their fourth album out on January 24th entitled My God Has Got A Gun. The band’s guitarisr Hammish Reilly spoke with Metal Express Radio about the upcoming album, touring North America for the first time, and more. Check out the chat below! Metal Express Radio: Your band, Vukovi are set to release their new album entitled My God Has A Got A Gun on January 24th, what can you tell fans about the upcoming album? Reilly: It’s the most un shy I’ve been about a record, usually I feel a bit sheepish and scared about a new record. MER: How was the writing and recording process having this being your band’s fourth full album? Reilly: It was cool writing most of it in Janine’s kitchen rather than doing it remotely. Easier to bounce off ideas instantly and just enjoy the process. Recording in Texas was so good, it was over before we knew it. We really bonded with Machine and left feeling like it was the start of a new chapter. MER: Have you noticed a lot of growth within the band having four albums completed? Reilly: More self-sufficient. I think the way we assemble songs have a much tighter, and more of a surer process. MER: You recently released a single from the album entitled “SNO”, do you feel this song along with your other single “GUNGHO” represent the album well? Reilly: “SNO” is the only song like that on the album. It’s more of a stoner rock sound to it. Sonically and lyrically it’s consistent to the record though. We wrote “GUNGHO” with playing live in mind. We live for the chaos of the pits! MER: What do you see as plans for you and your band after the album release? Reilly: …READ MORE

Editorial

The Metal Express Radio Crew’s TOP 11 Shows 2024

December 29, 2024 Stig G. Nordahl

We’re ending the 2024 and it’s time for our annual Metal Express Radio crew shows. We’ll be playing songs off our favorite 11 Rock and Metal albums from 2024. Expect a wide variety of bands and artists! Wouldn’t it make more sense to have a top 10, you say? Well… Running order Wednesday, January 1 – Matt Brendon Thursday, January 2 – Séverine Peraldino Friday, January 3 – Mark Zagotti Saturday, January 4 – Bryce Van Patten Sunday, January 5 – Scott Jeslis Monday, January 6 – Stig Gøran Nordahl Tune in here each day to hear the shows at: 21:00 Central Europe 3:00 pm US East Coast 12 pm US West Coast

Album cover art for Opeth's 2024 release: Last Will and Testament.

OPETH – Last Will And Testament

December 9, 2024 Bryce Van Patten

The wait is over as Swedish masters of heavy duty prog metal are back with their signature blend of complex musical arrangements and grunts, which have been missing since 2014’s Cauda Venenum. Opeth – Last Will And Testament is a true tour de force, and could be their best effort yet, captivating the listener from the opening notes of the first track, and never letting go. In an unusual approach, the songs are simply titled as sections of a will, excepting for the final track of the album “A Story Never Told”. The album offers a blend of King Crimson styled prog, including a refreshing orchestra and flute, with electric piano and heavy AF riffs the band are known for. The concept album is set in the post-World War I era, unfolding the story of a wealthy, conservative patriarch (whose wife is infertile), whose last will and testament reveals shocking family secrets. Lyrics The opening song does a fantastic job of foreshadowing what’s to come in this ghostly story, as it opens the story with laments of the now deceased father inter-cut with the chants of the assembled family for the reading of the last will and testament. “§1” Draped in death, the howl of lore Draped (Draped) In death (In death) The howl (The howl) Of lore (Of lore) My time is at an end I have wallowed in self-pity And I confess to you As part of final plight Draped in death, the howl of lore The last will and testament of father Hear the last will and testament of father A syndicates mass in the waiting room Like spiders weave rumors spread fast above regal tombs Enacted grief I will here unearth the secrets I’ve been hiding, hiding, hiding And guide my children through my troubles Put …READ MORE

KING DIAMOND (Live at the Arlene Schnitzer Auditorium, Portland, OR, USA, November 26, 2019)

KING DIAMOND Embarks on North American Headlining Tour With Overkill And Night Demon

November 12, 2024 Bryce Van Patten

King Diamond has embarked on the long-awaited North American headlining tour: Saint Lucifer’s Hospital 1920. The tour kicked off in San Antonio, Texas in October, and runs through December 6th returning once again to Texas. Additional backing vocals for the King Diamond set will be provided by special guest, Myrkur. A real treat are the supporting bands Overkill and Night Demon, creating a fantastic experience with some of the best heavy metal anywhere. Get your tickets NOW at kingdiamondcoven.com. King Diamond talks about what fans will have in store: “This is Saint Lucifer’s Hospital, enter if you dare! We have been busy putting this ever-growing horror story together, and it’s still growing. I know the end of it, but how we will get there will be a long trip. There are so many characters, and so many unexpected things along this journey. It’s a crazy family on another timeline in 1920, where I experienced some hard times, and they have to come to our time to steal from us to survive. This is the most elaborate thing we have ever done, that goes for the stage production as well.” “There will be additional backing vocals by Myrkur and she’ll be playing organ for songs that need it. There will be some horrific surprises taking place on stage, but we are not to be held responsible since we are on a whole different timeline in 1920. It was back at the time when medicine was going through a dark period with lots of testing on human beings in order to progress medicine. This is Saint Lucifer’s Hospital, also known as The Institute, enter if you dare!” KING DIAMOND w/ Overkill & Night Demon 11/14/2024 Mission Ballroom – Denver, CO 11/16/2024 The Complex – Salt Lake City, UT 11/18/2024 Orpheum – Vancouver, …READ MORE

CREEPER (Live)

March 22, 2024 Mick Burgess

It`s only a couple of years since they impressed opening for Alice Cooper on a 3 band bill and Creeper have come on leaps and bounds since then. Much of that is down to their astonishing third album, Sanguivore which has seen them pushing their boundaries far wider than their initial Punky Modern Metal approach of those earlier releases bringing a darker, more melancholic Gothic approach to their sound to stunning effect. It`s no surprise therefore to see the Boiler Shop pretty much packed for what may well be their last headlining tour in the clubs before they head to the arenas and within seconds of opener ‘Cry To Heaven’ the place literally erupts with hundreds of rabid fans jumping up and down singing every word before the ferocious Punk energy of ‘Poison Pens’ kicks like a mule. With deep red and dark blue lighting and plenty of shadows and shade, songs such as ‘Lovers Led Astray’ and ‘Teenage Sacrifice’ shimmered in Gothic splendour while ‘The Ballad Of Spook and Mercy’ maybe possibly be the darkest, most sinister love song since Nick Cave`s duet with Kylie on ‘Where The Wild Roses Grow.’ As charismatic lead singer Will Gould (although his pseudonym Will Von Ghould, seems a more appropriate fit) conducts the crowd from the front with his vampiric leather clad charm. Hannah Greenwood, unleashed from behind her keyboards took centre stage for the lead vocals on ‘Ghosts Over Calvary’ where the chorus simply soared and on a stripped down ‘Crickets’ where she was alone on stage with a single acoustic guitar accompaniment. An insanely lively, ‘Annabelle’ had the floor literally shaking as the entire venue jumped up and down as one heaving mass while ‘I Want To Live’ was illuminated by hundreds of waving mobile phones as ‘Further Than Forever’ …READ MORE

This Friday’s Guest DJ: IRONBORN

July 23, 2023 Stig G. Nordahl

IRONBORN started out as a cover band, but it soon became clear that the band had more to offer than just covers. It wasn’t long before they started writing their own songs. In 2017, the band released its first six-song EP. The reactions in the metal press were very positive and so the band decided to stop completely as a cover band to fully focus on their own material. The first full-length album After The Flood was released in June and should be checked out by fans of Metallica, Megadeth, Iron Maiden, Pantera and so on…. Bandmembers: Tom Hugelier (Vocals) John Mortelez (Lead Guitar) Jan Versnick (Bass Guitar) Tom Deblauwe (Drums) Bjorn Coysman (Guitar) In this Guest DJ Show the band will introduce ten of their most influential Hard Rock tracks before we spin a handful of cuts form the band’s fresh debut album. The Friday Guest DJ Hour Show airs at the following times: 15:00 and 21:00 Central Europe 9:00 am and 3:00 pm US East Coast 6:00 am and 12:00 pm US West Coast Find ways to tune in here. While you wait, make sure to check out the video for “Into Darkness”

MER Crew’s Top 11 Albums Of 2022 Radio Show

January 1, 2023 Kristian Singh-Nergård

We’re ending the 2022 and it’s time for our annual Metal Express Radio crew shows. We’ll be playing songs off our favorite 11 Rock and Metal albums from 2022. Expect a wide variety of bands and artists! Wouldn’t it make more sense to have a top 10, you say? Well… Running order: Monday, January 2 – Séverine Peraldino Tuesday, January 3 – Bryce Van Patten Wednesday, January 4 – Mark Zagotti Thursday, January 5 – Jon Harvey Friday, January 6 – Kristian Singh-Nergård Saturday, January 7 – Stig Gøran Nordahl Tune in here each day to hear the shows at: 15:00 and 21:00 Central Europe 9:00 am and 3:00 pm US East Coast 6:00 am and 12 pm US West Coast Click here to see our previous top lists (the page will be updated after each show).