Into The Necrosphere

This week I’m joined by Justin Greaves and Belinda Kordic to discuss the making of the latest Crippled Black Phoenix offering, Sceaduhelm. We dive deep into the album’s influences and the inspiration behind many of its tracks. Along the way, we also explore Justin and Belinda’s individual musical journeys — from Justin growing up around his father’s record store, which helped shape his remarkably broad musical palette, to Belinda’s evolution from extreme metal screamer into one of the most stirring and distinctive vocalists in heavy music today.
On the Weekly News Rant, Sheriff Mike Scondotto returns by popular demand to help round up the latest singles for judgment and mull over the metal issues of the day. We give our first impressions of new tracks by Anthrax, Madball, Forsmán and others, while also answering some of your questions.
PLUS: two servings of Unsanctioned Filth courtesy of Christbane with a track from their upcoming record, Antichrist, alongside the bleak death metal stylings of UK extremists Aeffect.
  
Featured Bands
Crippled Black Phoenix: https://crippledblackphoenixsom.bandcamp.com/  
Christbane: https://christbane.bandcamp.com/ 
Aeffect:  https://aeffect.bandcamp.com/ 
Danzig: https://danzigsingselvis.bandcamp.com/ 
 
Visit intothenecrosphere.com for playlists and more. Subscribe for weekly black and death metal interviews, news rants, and reviews. Follow on X, Instagram and Facebook, and check out the Horsemen of the Podcasting Apocalypse: Horrorwolf 666, Iblis Manifestations, Everything Went Black, Necromaniacs and The Sol Nox Podcast.
 

On this week’s episode of Into The Necrosphere, I welcome Gildas Le Pape of Via Doloris to the podcast for the first time to discuss the band’s blistering debut album, Guerre Et Paix.
We dive deep into the writing and creation of the record, including how Gildas linked up with the legendary Frost to perform drums on the album. We also discuss Gildas’ stint as guitarist for Satyricon, what he learned from the experience, and his musical pursuits outside of black metal.
Then, on the Weekly News Rant, the sinister minister himself, Karl Hikara, returns to help me round up the latest singles from Haemoth, Darkthrone, Frozen Soul, Enevelde and more for judgment. We also rank our favourite Satyricon albums, Karl delivers his own “bad metal take,” and we administer a well-earned tag-team swirly to a thoroughly deserving gaggle of online nitwits.
PLUS: another Premiere on the Sphere, courtesy of our friends at Apocalyptic Witchcraft, as Flowers Of Rust debut the first single from their upcoming release, Crude Exhibitions of the Soul.
 
Featured Bands
Via Doloris: https://viadoloris.bandcamp.com/ 
Flowers Of Rust: https://orcd.co/apw063 
Ars Goatia:  https://arsgoatia.bandcamp.com/ 
Visit intothenecrosphere.com for playlists and more. Subscribe for weekly black and death metal interviews, news rants, and reviews. Follow on X, Instagram and Facebook, and check out the Horsemen of the Podcasting Apocalypse: Horrorwolf 666, Iblis Manifestations, Everything Went Black, Necromaniacs and The Sol Nox Podcast.

Roman V — founder and creative force behind black metal outfit Bizarrekult — returns to Into The Necrosphere this week. We go deep on the creation and themes of the band’s new album, Alt Som Finnes, with Roman opening up about the personal struggles that shaped it, and how unexpected support from a scene legend helped bring it across the finish line. We also cover his experience performing at this year’s Inferno Festival in Oslo, and plenty more.
 
On the Weekly News Rant, fellow Horseman of the Podcasting Apocalypse Mike Scondotto joins me for an epic breakdown of the latest singles from Ride For Revenge, Lorn, Inferno, Arroganz and more. We also get into the recent layoffs at MetalSucks and Metal Injection — and what they signal about the state of metal media — before Mike drops a “bad metal take” that needs to be heard to be believed.
 
PLUS: Soothsayer premiere their latest single on the Sphere, Werewolves throw down the black metal gauntlet with Faustian, and a delusional rockstar wannabe earns a watery reckoning in my Swirly of the Week.
 
Featured Bands
Bizarrekult: https://bizarrekult.bandcamp.com/
Soothsayer: https://soothsayer.bandcamp.com/ 
Faustian:  https://apocalypticwitchcraft.bandcamp.com/ 
Morbid Angel:  https://morbid-angel.bandcamp.com/   
 
Visit intothenecrosphere.com for playlists and more. Subscribe for weekly black and death metal interviews, news rants, and reviews. Follow on X, Instagram and Facebook, and check out the Horsemen of the Podcasting Apocalypse: Horrorwolf 666, Iblis Manifestations, Everything Went Black, Necromaniacs and The Sol Nox Podcast.

Steve Brogden of California thrash upstarts Nukem joins the podcast this week to dive into the band’s ferocious new record, The Grave Remains.
Beyond the music, Steve breaks down how he landed a dream job as a guitar tech for the legendary Gary Holt, and offers a candid, behind-the-curtain look at life on tour with high-profile bands.  We also talk about the lessons that the new generation can take from the old guard and talk about some of Steve’s favourite thrash albums and influences.
 
Featured Band:
Nukem - https://nukemthrash.bandcamp.com/ 
 
Visit intothenecrosphere.com for playlists and more. Subscribe for weekly black and death metal interviews, news rants, and reviews. Follow on X, Instagram and Facebook, and check out the Horsemen of the Podcasting Apocalypse: Horrorwolf 666, Iblis Manifestations, Everything Went Black, Necromaniacs and The Sol Nox Podcast.

Sam Bean, bassist and vocalist for Into The Necrosphere favourites Werewolves, returns to the podcast this week for a wide-ranging discussion spanning both musical and personal territory. He reflects on his experiences as a musician, shares a surprising update on Australian noise merchants The Berzerker, and offers insight into future plans for Werewolves and Faustian. In a surprise twist, we also get unexpectedly deep on our respective journeys through adulthood, careers and relationships.
 
On the Weekly News Rant: I rank my favourite drummers and guitarists, and round up the latest singles from Reeking Aura, At The Gates, Cognizance, Behemoth, Wandar and more for judgement.
 
PLUS: SIK’s new single, “Sons of Pestilence”, basks in the glow of the Unsanctioned Filth spotlight, while a chance discovery of a black metal “sketch” list merits a brutal Swirly of the Week—and a one-way trip to the porcelain bowl of justice.
 
Featured Bands:
Werewolves - https://werewolvesdeathmetal.bandcamp.com/    
SIK - https://sikmusic2.bandcamp.com/    
The Antichrist Imperium - https://apocalypticwitchcraft.bandcamp.com/  
 
Support Nick Barker: https://www.gofundme.com/f/nicholas-barker 
 
Visit intothenecrosphere.com for playlists and more. Subscribe for weekly black and death metal interviews, news rants, and reviews. Follow on X, Instagram and Facebook, and check out the Horsemen of the Podcasting Apocalypse: Horrorwolf 666, Iblis Manifestations, Everything Went Black, Necromaniacs and The Sol Nox Podcast.

On April 2nd, 2026, Ultha dropped the surprise follow-up to their critically acclaimed album All That Has Never Been True with no warning, press or prior buildup.
 
Ahead of its release, I sat down with my good friend Ralph Schmidt, guitarist for Ultha, to dissect the new record, A Light So Dim. Ralph takes us track-by-track through the album, unpacking the personal experiences behind it, the evolution within the band, and how those shifts shaped its final sound.
 
On the Weekly News Rant: I’m answering your questions on hi-fi, grilling the perfect steak, and TV shows, while rounding up the latest tracks by Trelldom, Defiled, Aversio Humanitatis, Mork, Shane Embury and others for judgement. 
 
PLUS: Horsemen of the Podcast Apocalypse capos Mike Hill and Karl Hikara join forces with the mighty Drugoth for Hollow Lands in this week’s Unsanctioned Filth spotlight, and a feeble attempt at trolling backfires spectacularly, earning its author a well-deserved Swirly of the Week.
 
Featured Bands:
Ultha - https://ultha.bandcamp.com/   
Hollow Lands - https://ordotenebris.bandcamp.com/   
Harms Way - https://harmswayband.bandcamp.com/ 
 
Support Nick Barker: https://www.gofundme.com/f/nicholas-barker 
 
Visit intothenecrosphere.com for playlists and more. Subscribe for weekly black and death metal interviews, news rants, and reviews. Follow on X, Instagram and Facebook, and check out the Horsemen of the Podcasting Apocalypse: Horrorwolf 666, Iblis Manifestations, Everything Went Black, Necromaniacs and The Sol Nox Podcast.

The legendary Robert Vigna of Immolation joins me this week to dissect one of death metal’s most enduring legacies. We dig into the band’s remarkable longevity, the creative fire that still drives them, and the making of their upcoming album Descent.  Robert reflects on Immolation’s early days in the underground, his decades-long creative partnership with Ross Dolan, and what fans can expect from their upcoming tour alongside Deicide, Behemoth and Rotting Christ.
 
On the Weekly News Rant: I tackle your latest questions and round up the latest singles by Doedsvangr, Moonspell, Dimmu Borgir, Nargaroth and more are rounded up for judgment.
 
Canadian black metal insurgents Beholder return to the Unsanctioned Filth spotlight—while another UF alumni finds themselves on the receiving end of the Swirly of the Week.
 
Featured Bands:
Immolation - https://immolation.bandcamp.com/  
Beholder - https://beholderqc.bandcamp.com/  
Ulcerate - https://ulcerate.bandcamp.com/ 
 
Support Nick Barker: https://www.gofundme.com/f/nicholas-barker 
 
Visit intothenecrosphere.com for playlists and more. Subscribe for weekly black and death metal interviews, news rants, and reviews. Follow on X, Instagram and Facebook, and check out the Horsemen of the Podcasting Apocalypse: Horrorwolf 666, Iblis Manifestations, Everything Went Black, Necromaniacs and The Sol Nox Podcast.

Hellripper mastermind, James McBain, joins me on the show this week to chart the band’s evolution from a one-man black/speed metal assault to one of the most electrifying forces in the underground. We get into his songwriting process, the evolution of the Hellripper sound, and how he overcame performance anxiety to emerge as one of metal’s most commanding frontmen.
On the Weekly News Rant, I react to two huge surprises from the past weekend: a new Darkthrone record and the long-awaited return of Neurosis. I also share first impressions of new material from Ashen Horde, High Parasite, and Samael, plus my take on the divisive new Exodus album—and plenty more.
PLUS: Unsanctioned Filth spotlights rising Mexican chaos merchants Ov Darkness I Breed.
 
Featured Bands:
Hellripper - https://hellripper.bandcamp.com/music 
Ov Darkness I Breed - https://ovdarknessibreed.bandcamp.com/ 
Midnight - https://midnight-ohio.bandcamp.com/ 
 
Support Nick Barker: https://www.gofundme.com/f/nicholas-barker 
 
Visit intothenecrosphere.com for playlists and more. Subscribe for weekly black and death metal interviews, news rants, and reviews. Follow on X, Instagram and Facebook, and check out the Horsemen of the Podcasting Apocalypse: Horrorwolf 666, Iblis Manifestations, Everything Went Black, Necromaniacs and The Sol Nox Podcast.

Chris Naughton and Simon Lucas of UK black metal stalwarts Winterfylleth join me to break down the inspiration and themes behind their excellent new album, The Unyielding Season. We also talk about the band’s decision to sign with Napalm Records, their take on how the music industry is evolving, and take a nostalgic detour into the halcyon days of British comedy.
On the Weekly News Rant: new singles from Melechesh, Corrosion of Conformity, Skaphos, Sisyphean, Immolation, Transilvania and Six Feet Under get rounded up for judgment.
PLUS: my six favourite 80s action movies, the fallen legends I’d most like to have shared a drink with, the definitive ruling on whether gas BBQ counts as real BBQ, and more of your burning questions answered.
On this week’s Unsanctioned Filth, I celebrate the launch of new label Serpent Sun Records and spotlight one of their standout signings: Mexico’s Hierophany.
And finally, both Ticketmaster and Metallica are frogmarched—kicking and screaming—towards their first, and long overdue, appearance on the Swirly of the Week.
 
Featured Bands:
Winterfylleth - https://winterfylleth.bandcamp.com/ 
Hierophany - https://hierophanytemple.bandcamp.com/ 
Transilvania - https://transilvania.bandcamp.com/ 
 
Support Nick Barker: https://www.gofundme.com/f/nicholas-barker 
 
Visit intothenecrosphere.com for playlists and more. Subscribe for weekly black and death metal interviews, news rants, and reviews. Follow on X, Instagram and Facebook, and check out the Horsemen of the Podcasting Apocalypse: Horrorwolf 666, Iblis Manifestations, Everything Went Black, Necromaniacs and The Sol Nox Podcast.

Christian Larson from US black metal legion Necrofier joins the podcast this week to discuss the band’s sensational new album, Transcend Into Oblivion. We dig into Necrofier’s decision to sign with Metal Blade Records, talk about the changing realities of the modern music industry, and Christian breaks down the real cost of touring the United States. We also go deep on his festival Hell’s Heroes, which returns this year for its eighth edition.
On the weekly news rant, I round up the latest singles from Deathstorm, Archspire, Warsenal, Yoth Iria, and Trelldom for judgment. I also answer more of your questions, including ranking my favourite Marduk albums and revealing some of the cover songs I’d love to see metal bands take on.
There’s also a Premiere on the Sphere, as Australian black metallers Graveir unveil the first taste of their upcoming album, The Festering Triad. And finally, labelling bands as “sketch” based on hearsay and internet rumour earns one member of the online red guard a double dunk in the Swirly of the Week.
 
Featured Bands:
Necrofier- https://necrofier.bandcamp.com/ 
Graveir - https://graveircult.bandcamp.com/ 
Coscradh - https://coscradh.bandcamp.com/ 
 
Support Nick Barker: https://www.gofundme.com/f/nicholas-barker 
 
Visit intothenecrosphere.com for playlists and more. Subscribe for weekly black and death metal interviews, news rants, and reviews. Follow on X, Instagram and Facebook, and check out the Horsemen of the Podcasting Apocalypse: Horrorwolf 666, Iblis Manifestations, Everything Went Black, Necromaniacs and The Sol Nox Podcast.