PODCAST · music
Sonic Perspectives
by Sonic Perspectives
Where Music Does The Talking
Episodes
-
ALEX SKOLNICK Reflects On New ALEX SKOLNICK TRIO Album: “Everything Is Becoming So Dependent On Technology, But Our Music Is An Expression Of Being Human”
After weeks in Europe unleashing one of Testament’s heaviest tour runs, Alex Skolnick is back home, almost over the jet lag and coming down from nights of high-volume catharsis. The decompression is real. “I was there for a few weeks performing almost every night, and it takes a lot of energy,”…
more -
CHRIS CAFFERY Reflects On 20 Years Of Solo Career, SAVATAGE’s Return, And The Balance Between Legacy & Future
For guitarist Chris Caffery, best known for his work with Savatage and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, the release of 20 Years of the Music Man means much more than a career milestone. It’s a reflection of perseverance, humor, and the need to keep moving forward despite shifting musical landscapes....
-
RIK EMMETT On Collaborating With ALEX LIFESON & JAMES LABRIE: “That Was Probably One Of The Greatest Days In The Studio In My Life”
In the realm of hard rock and guitar virtuosity, few names resonate as profoundly as Rik Emmett. Renowned for his masterful fretwork and distinctive vocals, Emmett has left an indelible mark on the music world through his solo career and tenure with the iconic Canadian rock band Triumph.…
more -
JOEY VERA Talks ARMORED SAINT’s Recent Tour, Upcoming New Single, And Discusses Likelihood Of FATES WARNING Touring
As the bassist for Armored Saint and Fates Warning, Joey Vera has carved a unique legacy in the genre, spanning decades of uncompromising musicianship and reliable low-end on both these bands. With Armored Saint, he’s been an integral force behind the band’s dynamic blend of power, melody, and…
more -
SEBASTIAN BACH Talks New Album “Child Within The Man”: ‘It’s Mindblowing To Have My Songs Played On FM Radio In 2024’
Sebastian Bach will release his long-awaited studio album, “Child Within the Man”, on May 10th via Reigning Phoenix Music. With a career that has spanned over 35 years and tens of millions of albums sold, billions of streams, chart-topping songs, and packing arenas/theaters worldwide, Sebastian…
more -
Rhythmic Revelations: A Backstage Encounter with BARONESS’ Bassist NICK JOST and Drummer SEBASTIAN THOMSON
Celebrating twenty years of existence, Baroness released their critically acclaimed sixth album, “Stone”, on September 15, 2023. As discussed in our review (which can be read here), this is one of their most cohesive pieces of work, although there’s plenty of room for experimentation. And...
-
JOEY TEMPEST of EUROPE Reflects On New Single “Hold Your Head Up”: ‘We Always Like to Take Fans On an Adventure’
Europe has recently released its new single, “Hold Your Head Up,” ahead of a 2024 documentary film about the band’s meteoric rise to becoming one of the greatest rock bands in history. The song is a vibrant rocker reminiscent of their early hits and captures Joey Tempest [vocals], John Norum...
-
BLACK SABBATH’s GEEZER BUTLER Talks Upcoming Book “Into the Void”: ‘There Have Been Terrible Fall-Outs; You Forget Them and Come Back Together’
Not many bands can leave a lasting impression and legacy like Black Sabbath have done over the last 50 years. They have been flying the flag for heavy metal throughout their career to legions of fans around the world since their eponymous debut album, “Black Sabbath”, which was released on…
more -
Music Industry Veteran & Longtime DREAM THEATER Tour Manager RIKK FEULNER Talks New Book, Life on The Road and Upcoming DREAM THEATER Summer Tour: “DREAM THEATER Don’t Get to Play Any Festival in the US, So They Created Their Own”
Often wonder and been intrigued by what life is like working, managing or being an artist, a rock star? Traveling to foreign countries, seeing the sights, feeling the energy of live audiences, night after night, and experiencing firsthand the screaming fans? It’s not always glorious or glamorous;...
-
DEAN BACK of THEORY OF A DEADMAN Discusses Upcoming “Dinosaur “Album: “It Will Take You on A Roller Coaster Ride Between The Rockers and Ballads”
Multi-platinum rocker Theory Of A Deadman will release their eighth studio album, “Dinosaur”, on March 17th via Roadrunner Records. The track “Dinosaur” is currently at #12 on the Top 10 at U.S. Active Rock Radio and quickly approaching the Top 10. This album marks a return to form stylistically...
-
JOHN-ANGUS MACDONALD of THE TREWS: “I Want to Write Songs That Mean Something to People”
The achievements of rock n’ roll heavyweights The Trews are many and mighty, highlighted by multiple radio hits drawn from seven critically acclaimed studio albums plus several EPs, a pair of live records, and a retrospective. The band’s 2021 release, “Wanderer,” emerged with their fiercest and...
-
SAXON’s Drummer NIGEL GLOCKLER Reflects on SIX BY SIX Debut Album: “It Was Great Fun to Make This Record, and the Vibe in the Band is Very Positive”
August 19th marked the release of the self-titled debut of SiX by SiX. The collaboration between Saga‘s guitarist Ian Crichton, singer, producer and bass player Robert Berry, and Saxon‘s drummer Nigel Glockler will impress the most demanding progressive rock fans out there. Six By Six was born…
more -
LONELY ROBOT’s JOHN MITCHELL Dissects New Album “A Model Life”, Talks Future and More: ‘I Really Wanted this LONELY ROBOT Record to Be as it Turned Out, It is Certainly My Favorite’
A lone soldier on the front-lines of creativity, John Mitchell has been at the forefront of forward- thinking and progressive rock for decades now. As a member of such revered prog ensembles as It Bites, Arena, Frost* and his own projects Kino and The Urbane, he has become a uniquely vital...
-
MARK ZONDER and RAY ALDER Talk Chemistry During Creation of A-Z Debut Album: “This Album Was an Open Palette, Yet We Stuck with the Mentality of Focusing on the Hooks and the Songs”
“Beer commercials, car commercials, and Cobra Kai.” I straight up thought that legendary drummer Mark Zonder’s reference point for his new band would have been Toto or Journey. There aren’t really any sonic similarities between them and A-Z, but they all share these very key traits: at their…
more -
JOHN NORUM Talks Upcoming Solo Album “Gone to Stay:” ‘I’m Mainly a Blues Player into Pentatonic Scales but Going 100 Miles an Hour’
John Norum is most famously known around the globe as being the lead guitarist and a founding member of the band Europe. Together they are Sweden’s most prominent rock export selling over 10 million albums worldwide with songs like “The Final Countdown,” “Carrie,” and “Rock the Night.” Recently…
more -
DEREK SHERINIAN Talks Writing Process Of His Recent Album with SIMON PHILLIPS: “‘Vortex’ Has The Same Mindset And The Same Creative Energy Of ‘The Phoenix’”
Derek Sherinian seems determined to make up for the lost time. Having spent nine years working with the super-groups Black Country Communion, PSMS and Sons of Apollo, and touring with Billy Idol, Joe Bonamassa and others, he is now focused on his solo career. 2020 saw the release of “The…
more -
World Renowned Guitarist ERIC JOHNSON Comments on His Technique: “Your Tone Is Mostly on Your Fingers, And Not So Much on The Gear You Use”
While the pandemic seems like a thing of the past at the moment and many artists are going on extensive tours, there are still albums coming out which were written at the height of Covid-19. That’s the case with Eric Johnson‘s two upcoming releases, “The Book of Making” and “Yesterday Meets…
more -
Legendary Drummer VINNY APPICE Reflects on The Early Days of DIO And “Holy Diver” Reissue: “The Band Was On Fire Back Then, And We Played Really Fast!”
Vinny Appice is a metal legend, plain and simple. Having started his career playing with Rick Derringer and with his band Axis, Vinnie rose to fame after joining Black Sabbath on the Heaven and Hell Tour. With Black Sabbath he recorded the follow up album “Mob Rules,” before leaving to become the...
-
MARK BOALS On Partnership with LABYRINTH’s OLAF THORSEN on SHINING BLACK Project: “I Had No Idea We Would Click So Well”
Released on March 18, 2022, “Postcards from the End of the World” is the sophomore effort of Shining Black. The band was formed as a collaboration between vocalist Mark Boals (Yngwie Malmsteen, Ring Of Fire, Royal Hunt) and guitarist Ölaf Thorson (Labyrinth, Vision Divine). Completing the lineup...
-
Keyboard Wizard JORDAN RUDESS Describes What “An Evening with JORDAN RUDESS” Shows Feels Like: “It’s A Whirlwind to Go Out on A Solo Tour While on A Break from The DREAM THEATER Shows”
What do you do when your band is on a break, and you’re used to playing a million notes every night? If your name is Jordan Rudess, the answer is: you go out on a solo tour and play a million other notes per show. Dream Theater finished a successful run of shows in Europe and North America, [...]...
-
TESLA Guitarist FRANK HANNON Talks Upcoming Tour and Band’s Strategy for New Music: “We Will Write and Produce Our Next Albums Ourselves”
For 37 years, TESLA continues to write, record, and tour to the excitement of their fans. In 2014 they released a stellar straight-up, hard-rocking album, “Simplicity” and then in 2019 released “Shock,” a rock album but with a bit more polished and shine. It was written and recorded while on tour...
-
STRATOVARIUS Singer TIMO KOTIPELTO on Upcoming “Survive” Studio Album: “The Biggest Difference Is That We Composed This Album Together, In the Same Room”
“This whole trip was chaos,” confides a visibly exhausted Timo Kotipelto. The reserved but charismatic Stratovarius front-man and I are tucked away in a corner at the lobby of the Sonesta Midtown hotel, spitting distance from popular ProgPower USA breakfast spot The Silver Skillet. The pair and...
-
TODD “DAMMIT” KERNS of SLASH Featuring MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS Talks “Live At Studios 60” Exclusive Vinyl Release: ‘It’s A Unique Way to Celebrate the Release of 4’
Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators will be releasing “Live At Studios 60”, exclusive vinyl for Record Store Day on June 18th. It’s their first-ever double live LP featuring their entire 2022 album, “4;” plus performances of the group’s Top 5 Rock Radio Hits, including “You’re A...
-
MICHAEL MONROE Talks Upcoming “I Live Too Fast to Die Young” Album: ‘This Is the Type of Record That You Will Want to Listen to Over and Over’
Michael Monroe has long been at the forefront of breaking musical barriers from Hanoi Rocks to his successful solo career. He returns with his highly anticipated album; “I Live Too Fast to Die Young,” due out on June 10th via Silver Lining Music. In an era where the pandemic and war are seamless...
-
EVERGREY’s TOM ENGLUND Speaks About Upcoming Thirteenth Studio Album “A Heartless Portrait”: “We Have the Same Eagerness, the Same Energy, the Same Urge to Make Great Music”
Just over a year ago Evergrey released “Escape of the Phoenix,” an album that was not only the band’s greatest commercial success, but was also widely acclaimed as one of the best albums of 2021. At Sonic Perspectives, we rated it number one. While many other bands would have been content to rest...
-
SKID ROW’S RACHEL BOLAN Talks Bringing Onboard New Singer ERIK GRÖNWALL: “It’s Unbelievable How Everything Worked Out and Fell into Place So Perfectly”
Skid Row has always been one of the hardest working bands in the metal / hard rock circuit, but their touring schedule in 2022 is absolutely insane, even for their standards. With over sixty shows booked until the end of the year and hitting all corners of the world, it seems that nothing can…
more -
JOHN5 Reflects on His Touring Routine, and Shares Excitement Towards Upcoming North American Sinner Tour 2022: “As Long As I Have A Guitar In My Hands, I’m Happy!”
John5 is one of the hardest working musicians on the planet, and to prove it, he will be heading out on his Spring/Summer 2022 Sinner North American Tour before a Rob Zombie tour this summer. Johns‘ tour starts in California on April 19th and takes him through June, ending in Atlantic City, New...
-
DREAM THEATER’s JAMES LABRIE Talks New Solo Album, GRAMMY’s Award and Rekindled Friendship with MIKE PORTNOY: “We Chatted, Had A Long Good Discussion, Gave Each Other a Hug and Took a Picture Together”
Some collaborations do take time to mature and to come into fruition. In the case of James LaBrie and Paul Logue, it took 11 years for their album to finally be concluded. Their story began in 2011, when James lent his voice to a song called “No Holy Man”, from Paul‘s band, UK melodic metal [...]...
-
DESTRUCTION Front-man “SCHMIER” Talks Their New “Diabolical” Album: “We Wanted to Go Back To A More Organic Approach In The Studio”
The march of time may bring about change, but the memory of those who lived the glory days of thrash metal in the 1980s don’t have to settle for a future that doesn’t possess the music they love, at least if Germany’s own thrash titans Destruction have anything to say on the matter. Having been...
-
Drummer JONATHAN MOVER Discusses His Love of Progressive Rock and Why He Decided to Put Together PROGJECT: “The Ultimate Prog Rock Experience”
PROGJECT also dubbed “The Ultimate Prog Rock Experience” is the brainchild of drummer extraordinaire Jonathan Mover. Jonathan is not only a session drummer to the stars but has performed with some heavyweight artists like Alice Cooper, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, GTR, and Marillion, to name just a...
-
PHIL X and KURT DEIMER Talk About KURT’S recently released solo EP, Their Experiences in the Film and Music Industry over the Years and Forging a New and Unique Sound within the Long-Running and Established Hard Rock Paradigm: “We Like To Present It Just The Way It Comes Out And Make It Catchy For Our Fan Base.”
There is no such thing as being too late to the party when it comes to hard rock, and few know this better than Kurt Deimer, who seemingly came out of nowhere a few months back and unleashed an EP’s worth of familiar yet highly unique odes to the aforementioned style. More discerning minds may...
-
ENVY OF NONE’s ANDY CURRAN Reflects on The Band’s Debut Record: “There’s A Broad Spectrum of Styles on The Album and We’re Really Proud of It”
ENVY OF NONE, the new band from Alex Lifeson (RUSH), Andy Curran (CONEY HATCH), Alfio Annibalini and singer Maiah Wynne, will release its self-titled debut album on April 8 via Kscope. Through its 11 tracks, the group explores a wide array of styles, with enticing vocal melodies, pop hooks and...
-
SEAN PECK Discusses the New DEATH DEALER EP, Keeping Busy by Writing Two LPs Worth of Material during the Covid Lockdowns and Staying Relevant During the Decline and Resurgence of Metal in the 90s: “When I Make Records, I’m Always Worried About It Being As Good As The Last One.”
There is something to be said for sticking to one’s proverbial guns when times get tough, and few know that better than Cage and Death Dealer screamer Sean Peck. Sharing a birth year with the godfather of grunge Kurt Cobain, his would be a far different path of swimming against the tide of...
-
SYMPHONY X Guitarist MICHAEL ROMEO On The Writing Process Of New Album “War Of The Worlds Part II”: “I Gave Each Musician My Basic Ideas, And Asked Them To Make Them Their Own”
Michael Romeo is back! Four years after his first proper solo album, “War of the Worlds, Pt. 1” was released, the sequel is finally among us. Romeo kept the same rhythm session as the first album – bassist John ‘JD’ DeServio and drummer John Macaluso – but added singer Dino Jelusick to the fold....
-
STEVE ROTHERY on MARILLION’s New Album “An Hour Before It’s Dark”: ‘The Lyrics at Times Can Be Dark, But There’s an Incredible Joy in the Music’
With 43 years of music under their belts and a demanding yet extremely dedicated fan base, MARILLION‘s approach to making music remains fresh to this day. Granted, the pandemic made their writing process a little bit more complicated than usual, but they came out of it with yet another incredible...
-
ANDY TIMMONS Reflects About Upcoming Studio “Electric Truth” Album: ‘All My Collective Experiences Have Been Leading Up to This Record’
Andy Timmons is gearing up to add another highlight to his storied career by releasing his newest solo album “Electric Truth” on April 1st as an independent release. The upcoming album features all-new material from Andy since “Resolution” in 2006 and “Theme From A Perfect World” with the Andy...
-
HAKEN’S Vocalist ROSS JENNINGS Discusses “Troika” Debut Album: “A Lot Of The Music And Lyrics I’ve Written In The Past Have Come From An Intellectual Place, And I Just Had The Urge To Write From An Emotional Place.”
When the collaboration between Neal Morse, Nick D’Virgilio, and Ross Jennings was announced, prog fans worldwide received the unexpected association with great excitement. Even though we already know the outstanding results that the partnership between Morse and D’Virgilio usually provides, the...
-
SEAN KILLIAN Talks VIO-LENCE Reunion, the Long Road Travelled since the Bay Area Thrash Sound First Rose to Prominence and The Blunt Honesty of their Upcoming EP: “I’m Not Gonna Compromise, I’m Not Gonna Hold Anything Back, And If Anyone’s Offended I Don’t Care.”
The thrash metal wave that took the West Coast of the United States by storm may have crashed down and receded with the onset of the 1990s, but you wouldn’t know it by how the original Bay Area sound has been continually cropping back up of late. While there is no shortage of new blood [...] The...
-
ALDO NOVA Shares Insights About His Return with Two New Albums on April: “I’m a Storyteller at Heart”
Aldo Nova is back and better than ever, releasing two albums this April. The first album features ten brand new studio tracks from this 25 song Rock Opera, “The Life and Times of Eddie Gage,” due out on April 1st. His second release, “Aldo Nova 2.0 Reloaded,” features nine of his classic songs...
-
ARJEN LUCASSEN Discusses “Revel in Time” Album by STAR ONE: “I Am Totally Spoiled. I Work with The Best Singers in The World, So I Am Not Easily Impressed”
Less than two years after the release of Ayreon‘s “Transitus”, tireless Dutch musician Arjen Lucassen is back with new music. This time, the prog-metal/rock icon opted to revisit the Arjen Anthony Lucassen’s Star One project, which until now was held in hiatus. With “Revel in Time”, almost twelve...
-
NICK D’VIRGILIO Tells How He, NEAL MORSE and ROSS JENNINGS Arranged Beautiful Music on “Troika” Album: We Trusted Our Voices Will Blend Well Together, and Months Went By Before We Listened to the Three Of Us Together in a Track”
Nick D’Virgilio is one of the most versatile musicians in rock. Drummer par excellence, who has handled sticks for Big Big Train, Spock’s Beard and more sessions than one can count. A top singer-songwriter, whose 2020 solo album “Invisible” was one of the best of the year. And vocalist? The man’s...
-
PERSEFONE’s Guitarist CARLOS LOZANO Recalls Creation of Upcoming Album “Metanoia” And Its Effect on the Band: “It Was Like Therapy”
“Have you ever worked on something and been really proud of it, and the next day you feel like the worst in the history of humankind?” Why yes, Carlos, I know that feeling rather well. “It’s like that,” Carlos continues. “When we write the music, we double-check everything. We want to make every...
-
WILDERUN’s Guitarist/Composer WAYNE INGRAM Discuss Musical Influences and Creative Process Behind Recent “Epigone” Album: ‘I Think My Real Strength is Creating the Orchestral Parts’
With their recently released album “Epigone,” Boston-bred aural imaginauts WILDERUN take a deeper and darker step beyond their expansive, prog-leaning metal scores that so skillfully came together on 2019’s “Veil of Imagination.” The result is a record that is at once grandiose, complex,...
-
VOIVOD’s Guitarist DAN “CHEWY” MONGRAIN Shares His Thoughts on Upcoming “Synchro Anarchy” Album: “There Are Glimpses Of Hope, But This Is a Dark and Deep Record”
Canadian progressive thrashers Voivod have a new album in the can, the intense “Syncro Anarchy”. Recorded during lockdown, it was produced by Francis Perron at RadicArt Studio, and just like all their other albums, it features a cover artwork created by their drummer Michel “Away” Langevin.…
more -
ANNIHILATOR’s Mastermind JEFF WATERS Breaks Down Re-release of 2007 Collaborative “Metal II” Album: “Almost Everything About The Album Has Been Reworked Except For My Own Parts”
A little over 2 years to the day that ANNIHILATOR unleashed their 17th studio album and mad thrashing foray “Ballistic, Sadistic”, seasoned veteran Jeff Waters has opted to revisit an older and largely unsung effort from his recent past, resulting in a retooled and revamped retread of 2007’s...
-
TERRY ILOUS Discusses Debut “Land Of Gypsies” Album: “We Didn’t Want Something Overproduced, The 70’s Bands Were Our Blueprint for the Album”
If you’re a fan of 80’s hard rock, chances are that you heard Terry Ilous‘ voice and might not even be aware. He rose to fame with the French-based XYZ and released two albums with the band, before they were swallowed by the grunge movement in the early 90’s. They have since reformed, and…
more -
IAN ANDERSON of JETHRO TULL Chimes In on New Album “The Zealot Gene” and Different Eras of the Band: “All Members Past and Present of The Band Feel Good About Each Other”
If there’s one person that can be called a prog-rock icon, that’s Ian Anderson. Having started his first band in 1963, he went on to form Jethro Tull in 1967, and became the band leader and the sole member to have been on all lineups of the group. He also released several solo albums which [...]...
-
Guitarist ERIC GALES Reflects on Upcoming “Crown” Studio Album: “Being on Stage and Swapping Energy with a Crowd is One of the Best Feelings I Could Ever Have”
One of the most prolific bluesmen of our generation, Eric Gales is back with a new album, entitled “Crown”. More than a simple collection of songs, “Crown” is an artistic statement, which showcases Eric’s talent and sees him throwing the gauntlet to other musicians and claiming his place in the...
-
STEVE VAI Talks Upcoming Album “Inviolate” and Creative Process Behind It: “My Only Responsibility to Myself Is to Be As Brutally Creative As I Possibly Can”
“…There’s no better feeling than when your inner ear tells you to go some place and you get there…” – Steve Vai Steve Vai is gearing up for a very productive year in 2022. The first shows of his “Inviolate World Tour” have already been booked, with over 50 shows booked for North America. This…
more -
JOE SATRIANI Discusses Upcoming Art Gallery and New Studio Album “The Elephants of Mars”: “Expressing Myself in My Paintings, Fits with the Idea of Being a Musician Very Well”
2022 is shaping up to be a very busy year for guitar mastermind Joe Satriani. The renowned axeman is the world’s most commercially successful solo guitar performer, with six gold and platinum discs to his credit (including one more gold award for the debut album by his band Chickenfoot), and…
more
We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.
No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.
Loading reviews...
Loading similar podcasts...
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Sonic Perspectives have?
Sonic Perspectives currently has 300 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Sonic Perspectives about?
Where Music Does The Talking
How often does Sonic Perspectives release new episodes?
Sonic Perspectives publishes regularly with 300 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Sonic Perspectives?
You can listen to Sonic Perspectives on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Sonic Perspectives?
Sonic Perspectives is created and hosted by Sonic Perspectives.
URL copied to clipboard!