Jai That Aussie Metal Guy

06/09/2026

G’day legends,

156/Silence have released their new album From A Distance via Pure Noise Records, and this one is heavy, atmospheric, emotional and absolutely crushing.

The title track features Alex Reade of Make Them Suffer, which gives this release a nice extra connection for Aussie heavy music fans, especially with 156/Silence heading our way in February 2027 supporting thrown.

This band has always had that dark, cinematic weight to what they do, but From A Distance really leans into the emotion, the atmosphere and the sense of unease while still hitting hard.

I’ve got the full feature up now on Crannk.

Read it here:
https://crannk.com/156-silence-from-a-distance/

Stream From A Distance:
https://purenoiserecs.lnk.to/156stores

Tickets for the Australian tour:
https://www.destroyalllines.com

156/Silence release their new album From A Distance via Pure Noise Records and share the title track featuring Alex Reade of Make Them Suffer.

17/08/2026

In this episode I sit down with Jai Anderson — the Aussie metal guy...

09/08/2026

Something different coming. I interview Jai That Aussie Metal Guy .
He interviews everyone but no one has a story like.
Jai's and yeah.. this dude is amazing.
Its an absolutely brutal discussion. Ive been sitting on this for a while.
We talk fires. Death. Cancer. Chemo and beyond.
Will be out this week. You do not want to miss this chat especially if you need some encouragement to push on.
Will be on the DD youtube. JAI YOU ARE A MIGHTY WARRIOR BROTHER 🙏🏽 ❤️

03/08/2026

Australia has always had a massive connection with The Sweet.

When I caught up with Andy Scott for Crannk, I asked him why he thinks Sweet connected so strongly with Australian audiences, especially with 13 Top 50 singles here, two Number Ones, and “Fox on the Run” becoming Australia’s biggest selling single of 1975.

Andy’s answer started with a laugh: same language helps. But he also pointed out that Sweet were different from other bands at the time, and that difference clearly struck a chord with Australian fans.

Sweet return to Australia this October and November for The Final Blitz Tour.

Watch the full Andy Scott of Sweet interview here:
https://youtu.be/ZcCVHhGH1WE

Read the full Crannk feature:
https://crannk.com/andy-scott-sweet-final-blitz-australian-tour-interview/

Metropolis Touring

02/08/2026

Besomora - Australian Melodic Death Metal’s Vlad Martynov first met Chris Broderick back in 2011 during his Megadeth years and kept the photo from that encounter. Years later, after seeing Chris perform with In Flames, Vlad had an idea. He sent him a Besomora demo, attached their old photo to the email and asked whether he would record a guest solo. That reunion eventually brought Chris Broderick onto “Leave Me Alone” from Besomora’s forthcoming EP, Devotion to the Fear. 📺 Watch the complete Vlad Martynov interview: https://youtu.be/oBMtbK43Bnc 📖 Read the full Crannk companion feature: https://crannk.com/besomora-vlad-martynov-devotion-to-the-fear-interview/ 🤘 Follow Besomora: https://linktr.ee/besomora

02/08/2026

26/07/2026

G’day legends 🤘
It was an absolute honour sitting down with the Johan Länquist of Candlemass, the unmistakable voice behind Epicus Doomicus Metallicus and exploring one of heavy metal’s most remarkable full circle journeys.

Johan takes us back to his earliest musical influences, the creation of that monumental Candlemass debut and why his heart remained with Jonah Quizz in 1986.

We also discuss the family life and creative years that followed, returning to Candlemass more than three decades later, recording The Door to Doom, releasing his own music through Johan Langquist The Castle and carrying songs from across the complete Candlemass legacy.

Most importantly for Australian Candlemaniacs, we talk about Candlemass finally bringing four decades of epic doom to Australia for the very first time this September and October.

Crannk feature
https://crannk.com/candlemass-johan-lanquist-australian-tour-interview/

YOUTUBE
https://youtu.be/947wt0B_qUg?si=KlW2gkiCKiwSCWCp

SPOTIFY
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1iqcVLlYHiuxpqaLIgM7cP?si=uJFBA9UZQa-VoUT5YaLQYw

Tickets and info YOUR MATE Bookings
https://yourmatebookings.com/tours/candlemass-aus-tour-2026/

A massive thank you to Johan for taking the time to have a chat with me.

Candlemass vocalist Johan Länquist discusses Epicus Doomicus Metallicus, his return to the band and their historic first Australian tour in 2026.

24/07/2026

G’day legends 🤘
I recently had the honour of speaking with Temka, tovshuur player and throat singer for Mongolian Hunnu Rock pioneers The HU for Crannk.

Joining me from Mongolia with the help of an interpreter, Temka took me inside the years of work behind THE HU’s third album, HUN, which is out now through Better Noise Music.

We discussed his musical upbringing, the evolution of Hunnu Rock, expanding THE HU’s sound without losing its Mongolian heart and the ancestral wisdom, compassion and resilience carried throughout the album.

Temka also opened up about turning the movement of horses and the Mongolian landscape into rhythm, the message behind “Lost Soul” and bringing Jonny Hawkins of Nothing More into THE HU’s world.

🤘 Read the companion feature:
https://crannk.com/the-hu-temka-hun-album-interview/

🤘 Watch the full interview:
https://youtu.be/4tdafCyuoU8?si=W1tGQHdXzaILpTf6

🤘 Listen on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5XNzMaINI83Prtx65O1T2O?si=njMePEkCT0GACe4PM_zwvw

A massive thank you to Temka, the interpreter and everyone who helped make this conversation possible.

THE HU’s Temka discusses new album HUN, Hunnu Rock, Mongolian tradition, ancestral wisdom and staying grounded in this Crannk interview feature.

12/07/2026

G’day legends,
Melbourne thrash titans Harlott are back, and they are coming in sharp with their new album Exsequiis, out September 11 via Metal Blade Records.

After a six year gap between albums, HARLOTT have returned with “Trial By Liar”, a furious new single that takes aim at misinformation, manipulation and the collapse of truth in the modern world.

This is Aussie thrash with speed, tension, precision and plenty of bite.

I’ve got the full feature up now on Crannk.

Read it here:
https://crannk.com/harlott-exsequiis-trial-by-liar/

Watch “Trial By Liar”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbqfEKcpr0A

Preorders:
https://metalblade.com/harlott

Australian thrash titans HARLOTT announce new album Exsequiis, out September 11 via Metal Blade Records, and release the new single “Trial By Liar”.

12/07/2026

German power metal veterans StormHammer (Power Metal - official band page) are back with a bloody ripper of a new album, Wrath Of The Hammer, out July 17th.

I had the absolute pleasure of catching up with Horst Tessmann and M.Nox for Crannk to talk all about this new chapter for the band, keeping StormHammer alive after more than three decades, the fire M.Nox has brought into the current era, working with Alexander Krull at Mastersound Studio, and the stories behind tracks like “Wrath Of The Hammer,” “Scars Of The Abyss” and the killer closing track “The Dune.”

This album has that classic StormHammer power metal backbone, but there’s also thrash driven guitars, progressive touches, symphonic layers and a rawer modern edge that makes this thing hit hard.

You can check out the full feature on Crannk, watch the interview on YouTube, or listen on Spotify below.

Feature on Crannk:
https://crannk.com/stormhammer-wrath-of-the-hammer-interview-feature/

YouTube Interview:
https://youtu.be/jQaokPT7jOg?si=8i9FzBTyVN_e3yNq

Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/7MqjrIxWz9qDdYy0e0us28?si=rLqNaqBnSP2WbZhShkv2Vg

Crank this one loud, legends. Wrath Of The Hammer is coming July 17th.

StormHammer’s Horst Tessmann and M.Nox talk Wrath Of The Hammer, the band’s new era, German power metal legacy, Alexander Krull and more.