And Now The Band

Tom welcomes David back to the show for a complete recap of Holler of Doom 2026, reflecting on one of the festival's biggest and most successful years despite unpredictable weather, logistical challenges, and the ever-changing realities of organizing an independent music festival.
David shares how heavy rain and overnight storms threatened portions of the weekend but ultimately had little impact on the performances themselves. Thanks to careful planning, dedicated volunteers, and an incredible community effort, the festival ran smoothly with no major incidents while delivering two unforgettable days of underground heavy music.
The conversation highlights many of the standout performances from across the weekend, including unforgettable sets from Vibrolas, Crystal Spiders, Faerie Ring, Wyndryder, Year of October, Hollows, Phoxxxy Grandma, Earth Tomb, Riffzard, Ghost in Me, and Veilcaste, whose appearance marked the venue's 100th show. David also discusses how Vibrolas' partnership has helped shape the future direction of Holler of Doom, creating an even stronger foundation for future festivals.
Additional topics include:
Holler of Doom 2026 recap
Overcoming severe weather conditions
Festival logistics and organization
Record-breaking pre-sale ticket numbers
Supporting more bands than ever before
Vendor and sponsor appreciation
Hagtronics' festival sponsorship
Merchandise sales and festival branding
Growing attendance from across the United States
Community volunteers and teamwork
Heat exhaustion response and attendee safety
Planning Holler of Doom 2027
Building one of the Southeast's premier underground heavy music festivals

David also reflects on more than two decades of involvement in underground heavy music and how Holler of Doom has evolved from its humble beginnings into a destination event for doom, sludge, stoner rock, and underground metal fans. The episode concludes with a look ahead at future festivals, upcoming shows, and the continued growth of the Holler of Doom community.

Tom welcomes Patrick of Nashville-based heavy rock band Nehoda for a thoughtful conversation about the band's musical evolution, recording philosophy, the realities of balancing music with full-time careers, and the ever-changing Nashville music scene.
Patrick shares the story of relocating from Seattle to Nashville nearly a decade ago in search of a more affordable city where musicians could continue creating while maintaining sustainable careers. Together, Tom and Patrick reflect on Nashville's incredible level of musicianship and how many world-class performers balance their artistic passions alongside everyday professions.
The conversation explores Nehoda's evolution across four albums, highlighting the band's decision to embrace a more studio-oriented approach for their latest recordings. Patrick explains how layering guitars, vocals, and additional textures allowed the band to expand beyond their traditional live recording style while preserving the emotional core of each song. He also discusses revisiting earlier material by re-recording five songs with drummer Chip, giving longtime fans a fresh perspective on the band's growth and improved production.
Additional topics include:
Moving from Seattle to Nashville
Nashville's thriving music community
Building songs inside the recording studio
The band's evolution over four albums
Re-recording classic songs with drummer Chip
Independent music promotion and PR strategies
Balancing a full-time career with touring
Quality over quantity in live performances
Weekend touring and regional expansion
The changing Nashville music landscape
Staying artistically authentic in a commercial music city
Learning to enjoy the present instead of constantly chasing the next goal
Family, loss, perspective, and finding balance through music
Patrick also opens up about the challenges of managing the business side of an independent band while maintaining his passion for creating music. The discussion concludes with an honest conversation about personal growth, the importance of appreciating each milestone, and why making meaningful music remains the band's greatest priority.

Tom welcomes David, Rodrigo, and Antonio of UK heavy rock band Okay You Win for an in-depth conversation about their debut full-length album End of Days, recording with producer Andy Hawkins, signing with Blues Funeral Recordings, and building a career through authenticity rather than chasing trends.
The band reflects on the creation of End of Days, discussing how every song was written honestly from personal experiences without trying to fit into commercial expectations. Tom praises the album's dynamic songwriting, particularly the opening track "Smoke," while the band shares the stories behind standout songs including "Beat Me Down," "The Greatest Lie," and "Red Flag."
David explains how the lyric "I won't break" became a defining statement for the record, representing perseverance through life's challenges. Rodrigo discusses the collaborative effort that shaped "The Greatest Lie," while Antonio highlights the spontaneous punk energy that made "Red Flag" one of the band's favorite songs to perform live.
Additional topics include:
The making of End of Days
Recording with producer Andy Hawkins in Leeds
Signing with Blues Funeral Recordings
Honest songwriting and artistic authenticity
Lessons learned during the recording process
Desertfest London
Opening for Alan Johannes
Performing at London's legendary Underworld
Opening for Orange Goblin at Cart & Horses
Queens of the Stone Age's influence
Favorite emerging UK bands
Touring Europe and future U.S. plans
Expanding internationally while remaining independent
The conversation also explores the band's rapid growth, from early local performances with friends to festival appearances and major support slots. The members discuss the importance of staying true to their artistic vision while building momentum across Europe and looking ahead to future tours in the United States. Their passion for songwriting, friendship, and genuine connection with listeners shines throughout this engaging interview.

Tom welcomes Atlanta extreme metal trio Apostle for an emotional and insightful conversation about their latest EP, A Splinter in the Infinite Noumenon, the band's creative evolution, and how personal loss has shaped both their music and outlook on life.
The members of Apostle discuss how transitioning from a four-piece to a three-piece lineup strengthened their chemistry, streamlined their songwriting, and created a more focused creative process. Working through daily rehearsals, collaborative vision boards, and open communication, the band has developed an approach that balances technical precision with emotional intensity.
A major focus of the conversation centers on grief, healing, and finding purpose through music. Maurice shares the deeply personal experiences that inspired much of the EP following the loss of multiple family members in 2024, explaining how those experiences brought greater clarity to both his songwriting and his perspective on life. Tom also reflects on his own experiences with loss, leading to an honest discussion about the healing power of music and the connections it creates between people from all walks of life.
Additional topics include:
The making of A Splinter in the Infinite Noumenon
Working with Terminus Hate City
The evolution from four members to three
Vision boards and collaborative songwriting
Building stronger band chemistry
Touring throughout the Southeast
Long-term plans for the Northeast, Canada, Europe, and Japan
Vinyl color variants and physical releases
Creating artwork alongside Fabio using early demos and visual concepts
Balancing day jobs with independent touring
Atlanta's thriving underground metal community
Favorite albums and artist recommendations
The band also discusses the importance of maintaining friendships outside of rehearsal through regular non-music gatherings, demonstrating how strong personal relationships continue to fuel Apostle's creative growth. The result is an honest conversation about resilience, artistic purpose, and building meaningful heavy music through trust, collaboration, and shared experience.

Tom sits down with the members of Soft Curse—Jonny (vocals/guitar), Jef (bass), Michael "Mitch" (guitar), and Dan (drums)—to discuss their debut album Liminal Ritual, the band's origins following State Faults, and their unique blend of doom metal, post-rock, and atmospheric songwriting.
The band reflects on how lifelong friendships and years of playing together naturally led to the formation of Soft Curse, allowing them to explore slower tempos, massive riffs, clean vocals, and cinematic textures while moving beyond the screamo and post-hardcore foundation of their previous band.
The conversation explores the making of Liminal Ritual, including the decision to record the entire album live to two-inch analog tape in a single day. The band explains how the pressure of capturing complete performances created an organic energy that perfectly matched the emotional weight of the songs.
Additional topics include:
The creation of Liminal Ritual
Recording live to analog tape
Vinyl collecting and rare pressings
Favorite records and musical influences
The transition from State Faults
DIY artwork, music videos, and independence
Spotify music discovery
Spotlights and modern "doomgaze"
Chelsea Wolfe, Pallbearer, Electric Wizard, Acid King, and Mars Red Sky
Building Dan's custom drum kit
Favorite songs from the album
"Weight of the Sky" and its deeply personal inspiration
Bringing melody and atmosphere into heavy music
Touring opportunities and future East Coast shows
The band also shares stories behind several of the album's standout tracks, discussing the collaborative songwriting process, the emotional experiences that shaped the record, and why maintaining complete creative independence remains central to Soft Curse's identity. The result is a thoughtful conversation about friendship, artistic growth, and creating emotionally powerful heavy music without compromise.