And Now The Band

Tom sits down with Steve Austin of Today Is the Day to discuss his new outlaw country-inspired solo album “Marked Cards and Loaded Dice,” songwriting authenticity, life in rural Maine, and the emotional experiences that shaped the record.
Steve reflects on growing up listening to classic country artists like George Jones and Willie Nelson before discovering heavier music through AC/DC’s “Back in Black.” The conversation explores how those early influences resurfaced in a deeply personal album blending traditional country instrumentation with cinematic songwriting and raw emotional honesty.
The episode also dives into Steve’s songwriting process, the importance of human connection through music, and how difficult life experiences inspired some of the album’s most powerful moments. Steve discusses writing “The Rain Keeps Coming Down” during a period marked by family loss and the emotional aftermath of the COVID era.
Additional topics include:
Outlaw country and classic country influences
Today Is the Day history and evolution
Songwriting during grief and hardship
Living off-grid in Maine
Heating costs and rural living realities
Filming at Acadia National Park
Upcoming tours with Napalm Death, Eyehategod, and Pentagram
Authenticity in underground music culture
Young fans discovering heavy music
Steve also shares details about upcoming live performances, future videos, and his collaboration with filmmaker Zev Deans.
If you enjoy outlaw country, underground metal, noise rock, sludge metal, and artist deep dives, subscribe for more long-form conversations with independent musicians and heavy music legends.
#SteveAustin #TodayIsTheDay #OutlawCountry #HeavyMusicPodcast #CountryMusic #NoiseRock #UndergroundMusic

Tom sits down with Phase Meridian for a wide-ranging conversation covering progressive sludge metal, underground touring culture, physical media, AI-generated music, and the themes behind their upcoming release “Egregore.”
The band discusses their songwriting philosophy of pairing complex instrumentation with memorable vocal hooks, drawing inspiration from progressive and sludge metal legends while building their own sound. The conversation explores the resurgence of bands like Crowbar, Acid Bath, and Eyehategod among younger listeners, the realities of DIY touring, and the importance of community within local metal scenes.
The episode also dives into vinyl pressing plans, collectible physical media, absurd Costco performance ideas, cannabis legalization, and the darker economic themes explored throughout “Egregore.” The band reflects on modern capitalism, technological dependence, and the growing influence of AI-generated music on streaming platforms.
Topics Include:
Progressive sludge metal songwriting
The return of classic sludge influences
Touring in small towns vs major cities
Vinyl and cassette release plans
DIY metal scene culture
AI-generated music concerns
Cannabis legalization discussions
The concept and themes behind “Egregore”
Underground heavy music communities
If you enjoy doom metal, sludge metal, progressive metal, and underground heavy music podcasts, subscribe for more interviews and conversations with independent artists and heavy bands worldwide.
#PhaseMeridian #SludgeMetal #DoomMetal #ProgressiveMetal #HeavyMetalPodcast #UndergroundMetal #MetalPodcast #VinylRecords #AI Music #Egregore

Abrams join the show to break down their latest album Loon, their evolution as a band, and what it was like recording at God City Studio.
Taylor and Graham dive into how the band transitioned from pandemic-era remote writing to fully collaborative studio sessions, shaping the sound of albums like Blue City and Loon. We also get into standout tracks like “Glass House” and “Said and Done,” plus how experimentation and iteration refined their final sound.
We also cover:
The evolution of Abrams since 2013
Recording with producers like Kurt Ballou
Why execution matters more than originality in modern heavy music
Denver’s thriving underground metal scene
Upcoming UK tour + Desertfest London appearance
Real-world lessons from recording and songwriting
If you’re into post-metal, sludge, and forward-thinking heavy music, this episode delivers a deep dive into how modern bands evolve and stay relevant.
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Dee from St Louis based Xaemora during some down time at the Volcandra album release show a couple weeks ago at Portal Louisville.

Check it Out. Subscribe, Follow and pay attention. There will be some giveaways on Instagram of some absolutely banger albums!

On Friday April 24th Volcandra had a release show for their latest album. With a stacked lineup on the bill, it was a show I wasn't going to miss.While we were there, I had the opportunity to chat with some of the bands. Graveripper have been on my radar since their latest album started promo. It is a Ripper of Graves for sure!Check out this short chat!