Chord Progression Podcast: The Gateway to New Rock and Metal Music

Being a symphonic metal band for almost 30 years commands respect to the craft and an intrigue to music has a whole. How have things changed since the 90's for artists? How do artists continue to evolve their sound that late into their career? Can we learn anything from them?

Of course, we can learn everything from them. Artists can learn the important concepts and themes that will allow their music to continue to evolve without losing what made their sound special. Fans can learn how important their interactions with their favorite artists really mean to the band...

Welcome to the Chord Progression Podcast in 2026 with our first episode of the year. So what should we do for our first episode of the year? Sure we will have a discussion with an artist to highlight their music and show you who they are. But we wanna start it off with a bang.

So how about an interview full of music industry insights that can help young bands and artists avoid bad business practices? How about an interview talking about the types of people that need to be avoided in the music industry for a growing...

For the first time in almost 3 years, Kevin does not have a guest on the Chord Progression Podcast. It is the end of the year, and this is the music industry. For the next 3 weeks, it is like time stops so everyone can spend some well earned time with their families. So what are we to do?

Kevin does is first solo episode in 3 years and levels with you all. On this episode, Kevin talks about

- The state of the Chord Progression Podcast and why it is going on hiatus for a few weeks...

Bringing little known artists to our audience has been our specialty over the years. It has always been a mission of ours because we know how hard it is for artists with big dreams and goals to break through the noise and through all the competition. A little help can go a long way. But, those artists need to be willing to help themselves too.

So how can artists help themselves? Well in this world, there are a few things. They can make the best quality music they can. They can use a successful social media strategy...

In the middle of 2024, we introduced you to a young band that was taking their gruge inspiration with a much more evolved sound, and starting to make waves in the rock and metal world. Have you been keeping up with them? Have you been watching their growth as artists? If you haven't let us detail what happened in 2025.

The band played theater shows, opened for Billy Corgan, opened in arenas for Breaking Benjamin & Three Days Grace, and release a new EP that was acclaimed for its growth in diversity of sound around their grunge core. Clearly 2025 was...

For artists that started during the age of streaming, where singles dominate music release, consumption, and pleasing streaming algorithms, how is a band supposed to show growth and expansion of sound over time? The single shows a track, but an album or an EP can show focus, growth, and give room for an artist to experiment. So how do they walk the fine line of how music is consumed today, and showing more of what they can do?

Well today you are in luck. That is because we have a band that Sharptone records believes showed enough...

Artists that have been making music for the majority of their lives notice the same things as they get older. Moving on stage is harder, responsibility in life continues to grow, and mental blocks in the writing process cause new music to take longer to release. It happens to everyone, even though we dont want that to happen.

But what happens when an artists embraces these changes, takes their time with the music, and uses those changes to make an introspective review of life? Sure the music might take longer to release, but we get something much...

Musicians and artists are at war with AI. People are using AI to rip off real musicians for financial gain, and hard working artists are suffering in the massively competitve music space. Remember the saga of the AI band Bleeding Verse ripping of Holding Absence? Yea, this is only going to continue to happen.

So in this war, who is going to win? Is it going to be those using AI to create music because it is easy and convenient? Or is it going to be the artists who have the ability to adapt and be creative...

Music has an incredible ability to create an enhanced way to express complex issues, problems, and ideas. Those problems could be as small as having a bad day, or as big as being in a toxic relationship and struggling to get out. Those ideas could be as small as what should I do today, or as big as learning to handle your emotions properly.

With their first song out in 5 years, this punk rock band came back just as passionate as when they left. Not afraid to take on big topics and ideas, and express them in...

There are always bands out there that are making music so closely intertiwned with the sounds that made them want to become musicians in the first place. Whether it be Led Zeppelin, or the Painkiller album by Judas Priest (like this band), those sounds stay consistent and strong. But how can that sound evolve, and become something more individualistic for an artist?

Well, 8 years after their debut album, a heavy metal band out of the Midwest is taking their heavy metal roots, adding a more robust anthemic and melodic sound, and creating an album that shows exactly...

Musicians face an uphill battle in life when it comes to trying to make it a career, and achieve their dreams. From a need to write great songs, stand out from the crowd, and continue working towards those dreams when everything in life is trying to stop you, musicians dont have it easy.

But if you work hard enough, you may get something. You may figure out your styel of writing and creating. You may just discover that you were meant for this. You may be able to reflect back on life, thinking of what your 15 year...

4 years to create an album is a long time, especially in the age of streaming and digital music. So why not release the album in 3 batches? 2 EPs and then as a full album with more songs thrown in there? Would that even work?

Well it does satisfy the hunger and the want for consistent music in the world today. But it poses some problems of the thought of releasing something as repackaged, releasing something that is better off as parts of a whole, or releasing something that is mostly filler. Can a band do this style right...

Manga and anime have become a massive force in pop culture around the world, being something that is celebrated and enjoyed by many. 20 years ago in the United States and most of Europe, that wasn't the case. Of course it was popular in Japan, but also in France?

So what happens when French musicians grow up on manga & anime, create heavy music heavily inspired and driven by that love for manga, and make music in a creative & unique way, you know you found something. And when heavy music is in the midst of its revival, it is...

Heavy music today is more unique than ever compared to any point in history. It is more diverse in sound compared to the beginnings in the late 60s, than the boom of the 80's, than the nu metal wave of the 90's, than any other era that came before it. But something still is consistent with it, the heaviness is at the core of every artist's sound.

So how do you build off of that to keep this diversity in heavy music continuing to grow and blossom? Something differnt has to be done. Well we found a...

Heavy music has always gone through points of evolution throughout the course of time. From the evolution of thrash metal in the 80s, nu metal in the 90s, and what is happening right now with bands like Bad Omens and Sleep Token. But is that because of artists rehashing and remixing old ideas, or creating something that is uniquely them in this time period?

Well today, we found a band that is one of the freshest sounding heavy bands in the current day. One that is bringing different styles into their music, not in the same way...

At the beginning of 2021, we brought on a band to the podcast due to a copyright snafu forcing their name to change, because we were interested. That has led us to absolutely fall in love with their sound, their fantastic debut album, and a sophmore album that amplified everything about their sound.

But with their third album coming up, you know we have to catch up with the band and answer a few questions. Questions like; what has the band done to evolve their sound oveall on this record, is it going to work out for them...

Some artists in the music industry never realize their full potential. We have heard of so many artists that never made it and we thought they would, or the ones that called it quits before making it big. It is not an easy thing to do, to realize what your potential is.

Back in 2023, we had a stoner metal band on the podcast releasing their second album, and it showed us what untapped potential there was for them. 2 years later, taking their recording to the next level, and adding a 4th member full time, not only has...

The internet is a tough place for any metalcore band to break through the noise and succeed. Not only are you competing with other artists to get in front of fans, but you are also competing against other corporations pumping in millions for social media ads and marketing. Adding on the algorithms that add a paywall to get your music out to people consistently, it is a massive uphill battle.

But how does a band win when they must keep up their masked mystique, win most of their fans over with their live performances, and need to...

Writing heavy and aggressive music over the course of a long career is not an easy thing. Yes it can be done, but to have a long and successful career, it requires a few things. It requires an ability to adapt writing style as time goes on, not restricing themselves based on past success and fan expectations, and not staying focused on the viral moment that hooks a fan.

Heavy bands that are able to evolve and resist the urge of staying with fan expectations end up creating a more diverse sound, maintaining heaviness throughout, and stay...

When it comes to a heavy band gaining traction and popularity in 2025, we on the Chord Progression Podcast have discovered 2 commonalities. First, the music has to hit hard but somehow still connect with people on a more profound level than just the surface. Second, there has to be something else that brings people into the band and connect with them.

Well, we found those 2 commonalities in this band. From the new EP, there is something about the music that hits hard, but provides something more profound in the lyrics and the story. But the second commonality, is...

Time and time again since the 2020, the heavy music scene has been growing because artists have been sticking to their guns with their songwriting, their influences, and not bowing down to what is popular or what every other band that is showing success is doing.

This band is one of those bands in the heavy music space doing just that. From an opening song on the album that throws you off balance in the first 5 seconds, and a theme that shows a little bit more hope in the sadness of the current state of the world, they...

Diversity in metal music has been growing and become on of the most accepted things in music in the 2020's. But that diversity not only comes in the form of the music, but in the presentation of that music as well. It is the artists that are standing out as unique in all levels that are hitting major strides in achieving their dreams. Think Ice Nine Kills, Sleep Token, & Bring Me The Horizon.

But how is a younger band, with a lot smaller of a budget than the examples listed, going to do that when they create...

Music and art gives an escape to the individual from the mundane, fall in line, always be the same motivations of society as a whole. For so many, that is the only place where they can be themselves and truly feel comfortable with how they are. But the trick is, how does one take that and apply that to the outside world?

Music and art provide the blueprint to that, and that blueprint is rebellion. Rebelling against the status quo, rebelling against what someone else who doesn't even think about you would want you to be. Rebelling...

The great saying "good things come to those who wait" has stood the test of time for one main reason... because it is true. And in music, not only do good things come to those who wait, but good things come to those who work their ass off to win in an insanely competitive space.

We have seen this band on the podcast before, and the last time was 3 years ago, when they were close to finishing their latest album. 3 years later, that album has finally released. And now, that album has finally released. Good things come...

Bands and musicians are always putting in an increible amount of work in order to push their dreams, and their music, to the next level. And when their sound begins to reach the masses thanks to online sharing as well as a heavier presence on radio, it puts a lot more buzz around the music.

So how will an artist capitalize on it? What will they do with their new music in order to hit even more impactfully with fans and new listeners alike? If they are known for going in a dark direction, they go darker...

When it comes to being in a band, trying to make it in the rock and metal world, Arnold Schwarzenegger's 5th rule of success applies, WORK YOUR BUTT OFF! Your dreams aren't going to work unless you do. So what does that mean?

That means putting in all of the extra work outside of the norm, outisde of what everyone else is doing. Always make time for the fans, always make your music an experience for the fans, and always remember how much you can mean to a music lover. Those artists, make it to the top...

This band has been classified as the best modern metal band by a good number of publication and tastemakers in metal. And it is not surprising to be honest. The sound the band is known for is something heavy, something aggressive, and something cinematically grand.

But now signed to a much bigger label, and with metal being so much more known in popular culture, what is this band going to do with their new music? Make the best metal album of 2025? Yea, that seems like the way to go.

Niklas from the Swedish metal band...

Many artists have come back to the Chord Progression Podcast over the course of 6 and a half years. Many of those artists share stories of their successes, their failures, and show us what is in store for the next album. Rarely do we get to dive into a band's attempt at international recognition when they come back, but when you take your growth seriously as an artist, it can happen.

From taking European tours by storm as an opener, to almost representing Germany in the Eurovision song contest, this band has picked up more traction across the...

It's the year 2025, and if you look on any social media platform (Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok, Reddit), you will notice that the world seems to be living in an era of darkness. People are unhappy with the state of the world, depressed at how life is turning out for them, and shut off with a belief that there is nothing better ever coming again. But this music, will make that not be the case.

When we are in the darkness, we have to find some shred of hope to hold on to. It allows us to keep...

At the end of 2024, we brought Ireland's greatest emo band to the podcast to get to know their backstory where no one believed in their music but themselves, and how they continued to thrive by just believing in themselves.

One year later, the duo is ready to release their second album, reflecting on how everyone did not believe in them, and they had to believe in themselves to win. They know it is ok to be sad, but this is about not wallowing in that sadness, and moving forward with your life and goals.

Steph...

Making music that connects with fans of whatever genre you are in, isn't easy. Making music that connects with fans of other genres is even harder. Doing so and being able to connect on concert bills where you are the lightest band on the bill, it is nearly impossible. But there has to be something that creates that connection.

And we found it with this band. No, there is no specific gimmick that makes them stand out. No, there is no member that was previously famous from another band trying something new. So what is it? The...

Sometimes artists write music to express their own emotions to us in a way that they couldn't do otherwise. Othertimes, they write music as it is the only thing that brings them happiness. The list of reasons goes on and on. But what about writing your music to call yourself out and take accountability?

That is what we found with this artist in the heavy music scene. One that isnt afraid to create music that looks inward at his own faults, take accountability, and learn to move on. Hopefully, we are able to take it that same...

2 years ago, we brought an alt rock and grunge inspired 17 year old artist to the Chord Progression Podcast as he was bringing a fresh sound to the genre. After those 2 years, you might be wondering... what happened to him?

It is 2025 and there is much more to talk about with him. And instead of having you search it up and try to see what he has been up to, we will take care of it ourselves right about now.

Hunter Oliveri rejoins the Chord Progression Podcast for the 2nd time. Hunter is releasing his new...

Put yourself in this position. You are an artist in the heavy music space that has been seemingly opening nearly every tour over the past few years. Every time it seems like fans go and see a show, you are on it. You want to take it to the next level, but how?

Well we found a band in that exact same position and asking that exact same question. And what was their answer to that question? Upgrade their music making process to be greater than anything they have ever done before.

...

In 2024, not only did we discover this hard-hitting band, but the world discovered them with the invention of "moan core." If you heard the song "Primitive" with the moan in the breakdown, you know that this band had something. Then when you discovered more of their music and their live show, you found there was so much more.

Now right before the release of their debut album, the band is ready to not only show the world more of what their sound is, but how they are going to be one of those bands that will be...

We all know the names of the bands that make it big, go on to have incredibly long and notable careers. Their stories are well known across the musical world. But for every successful band, there are way too many bands that never got there. And some of them, just keep trying.

They try to out of a love for the music, a love for being creative, and a desire to do something outside of the norm. Being able to relate to that and have hope in what you are doing in life connects with so many...

What happens when you mix emo music and ska music together? Well, you get something that you probably haven't heard yet but know that your interest has been peaked. However, would you be surprised if we told you the ska community hasn't embraced them becasue they aren't "ska enough?"

Well we want to get you into this "sad ska" band that not only is blending emo music so well with the upbeat sounds of ska, but showing even more by expanding their sound, and their message to destigmatize mental health.

The band Horizon Point is...

We have seen musicians and artists evolve their sound thorughout their careers all the time. There are always different reasons why artists do that, and those reasons can create great music that you never expected.

This band we found originally started in pop punk, but connected with more of a Warped Tour post-hardcore sound almost immediately and set up their core sound from there. But what is the next step in that evolution? Something cool we expect.

The guys from the emo & post-hardcore band Like Ghosts join the Chord Progression Podcast today. With a brand...

We live in a world in 2025 that consists of many things that might not be the best for our own self worth. Social media is only showing us the highlights of other people's lives, and we compare ourselves to that. We are pressured to "keep up with the Jones's" and follow along with the crowd in terms of style and tastes.

That is why it is more imporant to find yourself, fall in love with who you are, and be yourself unapologetically. Music always brings that message to us, and this artist not only is doing that...

If you were ever laid up in a hospital bed, seeing people with the same condition as you never leaving, what would that do to your will to fight? Would it inspire you to keep going, or would it make you want to throw in the towel? And if you made it out, how would you treat the rest of your life?

For one musician, he lived this exact scenario over the past few years, going from hospital bed to being unsure if he would make it. But a mantra of "I've Felt Better" kept him driving...

10 years is a long time being in a band and trying to make it in the music industry. It is something that very few people achieve, and even fewer succeed in. And for an artist that succeeds in that endeavour and onto album 6, what goes through their minds?

Are they thinking of the next step and wanting more? Are they thinking it is good enough? Are they keeping things in perspective to their wants and goals, while enjoying the ride along the way? The answer to that is the last, and it brings an album with the...

Who would have thought that after over 13 years since their last album and breakup, that Woe Is Me would be back together as a band, but releasing a full length album? Certainly not the band. But you would be surprised just how much can change over time.

Now there is a new album ready to be released, and a more enhanced sound to come. But what does that sound consist of? And how has the band evolved as songwriters over the last decade plus? Well, we aim to answer that for you right here.

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A special episode is here with our 3rd band to be featured on the Chord Progression Podcast for a 5th time. From their first time on the podcast all the way during the pandemic till now, being able to watch them grow into a great band and even greater people has been our pleasure, and we hope it has been yours too.

So what do we have for you on this band's 5th episode with us? A great number of stories to share from the life of a growing band? A recap of what has been happening...

What is reggaecore? Is it hardcore reggae music? Is it a blend of reggae music and heavier musical styings like metalcore? And what can a blend of those types of styles do in order to come together and create some beautiful new heavy music in today's world?

We found out the answer to that is yes, and the way we found it out is by being open minded to all of the experimentation that is coming through in heavy music today, to find the perfect blend of a sound that makes you "aggressively happy" and we are...

Supporting local artists and emerging artists in the music world is one of the most important things we can do as fans to propel the best bands around us to where we want to see them go, and create a community of support and growth. We always advocate for that here.

So when we saw a pop punk artist shoot a promo video on the marooned Deep Thought or "Milwaukee Minnow" with music that pops, we knew what our mission was. Bring this band to the podcast, show you who they are, and fully support the local...

In the heavy music scene of 2025, we are seeing so many bands doing creative things with their music. Sleep Token is bringing an intense aura to metal. Electric Callboy is turning heavy music into a party. Ice Nine Kills brings horror to life with their style of metal. So let's find another great thing.

4 years ago, we met a band that was blending an intense love and passion for synthwave into their style of metalcore. Now, not only have they expanded their idea of synthwave mixed with metal in that time, but they have incorporated the saxaphone...

When a new band hits the music scene and is about to release their first full length record, one fo the best ways to measure & predict how things will go for them is how their music resonates with the live crowd that has yet to know them. Are they going to be a band that takes the crowd by storm? Or are they going to be forgotten about?

Well when you play a show outside your home country and people are in the front row singing every word to every song, you know you have something. When...

It is no shock that hardcore music is having a moment right now. From the massive blow up in pop culture of Knocked Loose, the incredible rise of Kublai Khan, Alpha Wolf, and thrown, as well as the experimental flow of Mugshot and Thoratcut, we are in the golden age. Therefore, how will the golden age continue? With innovation and creativity in a sound that has so much room for growth.

And yes, there is a band that did that in hardcore in 2025 by bringing in so much more nu metal flare into hardcore, just becasue it...

When a young band sees success, and that success continues to build, what does their mindset become? Some thrive in the situation as if they were destined to do this from the moment they were born. Some take it for granted, and end up crashing and burning. Some, wonder if they deserve it and wait for the ride to be over.

Today, that is something that we get to look into. What happens when an artist begins to succeed, and is wondering when the ride is going to stop. Hopefully, they are able to press on and...

Every young band and artist is looking for their way to making it big in the music industry. They want to be able to stand out any way they can in a world that not only is fighting for everyone's attention, but dealing with so many more musicians online today.

So what is the way for a young band or musician to do this? There are many ways but if you look closely at the biggest bands, there is a commonality amongst all of them. They dediced to stand out and go the extra mile, when others...

Hardcore music keeps crushing it in the 2020's, but why is that? Of course there are many reasons for the increasing popularity of the genre and increase of the quality of music being created. Those reasons can come from better production, better songwriting, a stronger connection to the public's emotions.

But when it comes from the quality of the music, it comes from an authentic focus on anger, aggression, and angst. And to create that authentic sound, artists have to be creative in an environment that authentically creates that aggressive headspace. And this German hardcore band did...

At one point in time, every band has had a dream to be signed to a great label and to release a debut album to show that their creative endeavors are both worth it and their new way of life. But the questions for so many that want to acheive that remain the same. How do we get signed? What do you have to do to release a debut album? How do you make your sound unique?

Well we aim to get those answers with a band that not only is living that right now, but thriving...

Calva Louise is a complete enigma of a band that you will ever find. 3 band members from different corners of the globe somehow came together at the right time to achieve their dreams with their own style of music. Only problem is… it seemed like the world was against them.

From living with nuns, couch surfing for years in London, working odd jobs just to get by, the world seemed to always say no to Calva Louise. But they never said no to themselves, always finding a way around every challenge in life. And with an expansive mu...

Over the past 5 years, we have seen the French metal scene begin to really grow in relevance. We have seen Gojira explode in popularity thanks to their performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Novelists get big with Camille taking over vocals, Landmvrks headlining a tour in the USA, & Resolve growing as well. So... who is next?

How about a band that never lets one song be like another that they have done? What about a band that never has a set writing process so their music can always be unique? What about a band that takes modern metal...

Rock & metal music have been seeing a large amount of artists blending their style with other genres to create a much larger sound and a more expansive idea of what heavy music can be. Some have hit, some need some work, and some really hit.

This artist really hit from her music making roots in country, but with her childhood containing some of the best heavy music around, she was bound to blend country and heavy music together. And when bands like Seether, Skillet, Asking Alexandria, and From Ashes to New take her out on tour before...

Hot Milk is an enigma of a band like Sleep Token or Bring Me The Horizon. They are not comfortable being put in a box in regards to their music or their art. No matter what genre or classification you try and put them in, they are going to break it.

So with their 4th album on the way, was the band able to continue that goal of making everything their own, never worrying about what anyone else is doing, and challenge themselves to do better than before? Would an album of the year candidate prediction for 2025...

We all saw the emergence of Kasey Karlsen as an up-and-coming vocal powerhouse in the metal scene with her covers of Zombified by Falling in Reverse and To The Hellfire by Lorna Shore in early 2022. Since then, she has formed the band Deadlands with longtime friend CJ, to create original music and take their musical journeys to new heights.

It is now 2025, and there is new music set to come from the band. But as fans we are wondering about this new music. Is it going to show more range from Kasey? Is the songwriting going to...

Hardcore music is easily a genre on the rise in the heavy music scene, and in pop culture as well. Alpha Wolf, Kublai Khan TX, and thrown have all made their mark in 2024 becoming mainstays in the heavy music scene. Knocked Loose is the largest band hardcore has ever had, and will not stop growing. So who is next for the genre?

How about and band that is releasing their first full album in 9 years? An album where each song has one element that changes itself up ever so slightly, to either make a good song great...

Dry Kill Logic has been away from music for 20 years. After releasing their most recent album back in 2006, the band has released 2 singles between then and now. You would think that a band that hasnt been active for 20 years would make a comeback, and also succeed when fans get a chance to see them live right?

Well, with a few festival performances in 2025 and a new song to add to it, the soft launch for the band is here and so far, the reaction has been highly positive. Even for a band that hasn't had an online...

Writing a progressive death metal album might not be the easiest thing. But what might even be harder is when you join the band as the vocalist in the middle of the writing process, doing what you can to add your voice to the structure that is already there. That is what happened to Kyle from Fallujah when the band wrote Empyrean in 2022.

But now with a new album coming out, Kyle had a chance to be a part of the writing process from the beginning. This led the album to be a lot more special for...

Why has heavy music been on a massive resurrgence in cultural relevance and popularity over the past 5 years? We could easily boil it down to a large number of reasons from changing preferences in the younger generations, to a connection to the culture that was lost previously. But there is one attribute that needs to be consistent in any answer, the music needs to be good and inventive.

More and more heavy music artists are creating a sound mixing heavy music with many different other influences, and creating an incredible sound. This can come from something more...

A large pilar of the Chord Progression Podcast has been to give as many artists in the rock and metal space a chance to be discovered by the largest audience posssible. It is something that helps keep the genre we love alive. And we always are thrilled to see other people and platforms doing the same thing.

We have been watching a platform work at this intensly over the past few years as a way to try and bring people to discover new artist in a way that MTV used to, creating an experience and an event...

Everyone knows that is is harder than ever to make it in the music industry as a band in 2025, and the likelihood of it getting any easier is rather grim for the future. With more music readily available on streaming platforms, and with making money in music becoming more difficult, there are less avenues artists can take for them to become successful.

We picked up with a band we had on the podcast in December of 2023 to see how they not only have grown over the past year and a half, but also provide the tools newer...

3 years ago, Steven from Wolves At The Gate joined us on the Chord Progression Podcast to talk about the band's 5th album, Eulogies, and we dove deep into the album's meaning with faith in the Gospel and pandemic reflections. Now in 2025, there is a new album coming our way from Wolves At The Gate.

But for a band releasing their 6th album some questions come to mind. What is the album going to be about? What is going to make this album different from what came before it? And is the sound going to evolve from the...

A hallmark of musicians, bands, and artists getting popular in the 2020's is having a song used for Tik Tok or on Instagram reels. Yes it is great when a piece of a song goes viral on those platforms, but what is the outcome of that? Have we seen more artists find sustained success from those moments, or fail to capture the lightning in a bottle and fall from being viral? History shows, it's the latter.

So we wonder, what makes a song, that goes viral on Tik Tok or Instagram Reels, provide long term growth and...

The last time Senna came to the Chord Progression Podcast, they were just starting out on Sharptone records, finally cutting their teeth in the rock music world. Since that time 2 years ago, they have been working hard to become a mainstay in the European metal scene.

So what happened over those few years? What is Senna doing now? And what helped them achieve creative success on their upcoming album? Well... it all has to deal with time and putting good out into the world.

Marcel & Viktor from the German band Senna come...

It is only human that songwriting evolves over time, regardless of the genre. Rock music, metal music, any kind of heavy music really undergoes an evolution in songwriting as life, culture, and history change around us. But it is slow.

However, many artsits experienced a massive shift in songwriting style 5 years ago when the Covid-19 pandemic threw the entire world into isolation. So how has songwriting changed because of the pandemic, what are its impacts in 2025, and how have bands gotten better because of it.

They guys in Wounded Touch, a metalcore...

When any band changes vocalists, naturally fans are going to be rather vocally opinionated regarding the change whether they like it or not. But when that vocalist transition is from a male vocalist to a female vocalist (or vice versa), the opinions and criticisms can be much more striking. So how does that band succeed going forward.

This French band experienced just that in 2023, and through a combination of band unity, mental & emotional strength from the new vocalist, and the quality of music to back it up, the band not only succeded but began to thrive. Now...

There are many musicians out there that start in one sound or genre, and then move to the next. It is not anything uncommon. But one of the hardest decisions artists have to make is if taking a step back from the success you had prior to start something new will lead to greater happiness and success later on.

One upcoming band has already discovered this and is here to show you that taking a step back to take 2 steps forward in the end is not as scary as it seems, and could be a great idea...

Rock and metal music is for everyone, truthfully. It always has been from the authenticity of the sound, to the connection each song has to us, all the way to the impactful live shows that never die in our minds. This authenticity is why many artists gravitate to the genres.

There are also artists out there in other genres that grew up loving rock & metal, as well as still loving it to this day. So what should we do as fans when those artists try and find their sound in rock & metal? We do what we should...

Doesn't it seem like NERV is on every tour that you see come to your town in the past few years? Doesn't it seem like they don't slow down and will continue to push forward in order to make their musical dreams come true? It certainly did to us, and we wanted to find out why.

Not only did we go forward and find out how they do this, but we also got the background behind their newest EP coming out in May. This is an EP that shows off how their genre-bending style continues to evolve...

Imagine this scenario. You are in a band and are itching to release new music. So you travel to Michigan for only 4 weeks to record an album with one of the greatest minds in modern metal today. And when you get off the plane you have... absolutley no idea of what your new album is going to be.

This is the situation Acres found themselves in October of 2024. So what was the overall outcome of that hard-working 4 week time period? A new album so dynamic but so perfectly unique to Acres, that it shows so much more...

With the amount of data and analytics tools available to every artist and band in the music industry, a focus on data is necessary to ensure the best growth of your music in the digital age. We are talking about streaming metrics, listener demographics, social media post engagement, all of it.

But how should an artist use these tools? Should they use them to know what content to make? What platform should they focus any promotion efforts on? Where to book a live show or tour? And if they should follow the sounds that are hitting numbers...

Becoming one of the most desired entertainment photographers in the music industry, Nathan James to try something different. And if you are reading this description on the Chord Progression Podcast, you know that his next adventure was to become a musician, making his own style of music in the rock and metal space.

What has happened has been the beginning of a massive rise to the top. With singles being featured on Sirius XM Octane regularily, and growing support in a live setting, we all want to know what is next. What is Nathan's next move? And...

Where has Framing Hanley been since the release of their 2020 album Envy & what have they been up to lately? That either has you asking yourself 1 of 2 questions. First is “Yeah, I love them. What have they been up to?” Or the second one is “Who is Framing Hanley and should I get into them?”

That is what we set out to answer on this episode. What has Framing Hanley been up to since Envy, and does a return with new music and a brand new outlook on making music as a whole make sense in 2025? Well we found ou...

Mayday Parade has been around for 20 years, making music in the pop punk and emo genres that many people not only have had a personal connection with in their formative years, but still go back to this very day. So it is only fitting to take time and look back at the impact of 20 years of music, while new music is coming your way.

But what does a review of 20 years in music entail. The impact of the music on the members' lives? The impact of the music on the listeners' lives? How music delivery has changed...

Magnolia Park has been considered one of the "Get to know them now before they get big" for a few years now. Their active rock blend with pop punk and alt rock has been something known to create high quality music. So what is that next step in 2025 that is going to see them BLOW UP?

Could it be a new album that expands futher on their sound than ever before? Could it be a better stage show with more production and active storytelling? Could it be a mission and cause that is greater than them? Well...

Metal music has been undergoing many changes since the dawn of Spotify and the age of streaming. With more focus on the release of the single and staying relevant to an algorithm, the importance of the album has suffered. This also comes at a time when artists making money from their music is becoming more sparce, and the incentive to make music that pleases an algorithm seems to grow.

So how is metal music going to grow and thrive in a time like this? Clearly there is one way, and that is to focus on the art...

It's 2025 in the United States of America, and it is fair to say that there is political division everywhere you look. No matter what side of the aisle you are on, you can see and experience the division caused by those well above in class & monetary status, and those in control. But that is when art, music, and expression is most needed, to make sure no voice goes silent or censored.

Punk rock has always been about that since its inception back in the 1970s, and now in 2025, one Florida punk band is making sure that their...

20 years ago, Bleed From Within started out as a band humbly covering Lamb of God throughout Glasgow, Scotland. At this point in their careers, they have released 6 albums (with the 7th on the way) and have toured around the world, breaking into the USA in 2023. And in that time, they have seen their friends in bands like Bring Me The Horizon and Architects rise to international superstardom.

As artists, what is a band to do with album #7 in a time when heavy music is the toast of the music industry? Do they play it safe and stay...

Heavy music in rock and metal has continued to rise in prominence and become a powerhouse once again over the past few years. The reasons behind this have been a combination of a willingness to experiment with sound, a growth of the overall capabilities of the vocals with the musicianship, and an unrelenting authenticity.

Today, we are going all the way to Finland to bring you a band that is combinging their experimental heavy roots, with a vocalist who has heavily worked to master her extensive range, to bring you an up-tempo and energetic metal album that...

Life is funny sometimes. Every one of us have massive amounts of dreams that we want to achieve and go after in life, but so many of them go by the wayside for one reason or another. Whether it is a worry about not being good enough, a fear of what others might say and think as you strive to your dream, or anything else, we need inspiration to keep going.

This artist not only struggled through forgiving herself for the things in her past that were holding her back, but the work to do that allowed...

Any new artist that is trying to get as much positive buzz around their debut album as possible knows how tough of a task it is. Do you focus on the social media aspect? Should your focus go towards making the most dynamic music possible? Or is it about playing live and getting fans excited for yet-to-be released music?

This band, with their second turn on the podcast, have shown that it is a combination of all 3 that gets the best buzz for a debut album. Dynamic music, appearing all over social media and other media publicaitons...

The concept of the album in rock and metal has forever changed since the streaming revolution took over. As people, artists, and labels put more importance on releasing singles to maximize a song's life in a time with shorter attention spans, does that mean the album will die out.

We say it will not, because it will take its construction and build onto its legacy as a time capsule of the band at that time. It may just be seen as a collection of singles, but it is the marker to an era for that band. And...

Writing music is no easy task in the year 2025. At times it seems like artists past and present have either come up with the progressions and ideas that you have previously, or the only way to find success is to chase the trends of what is popular on Tik Tok and social media. So how do bands like Bad Omens, Sleep Token, and Knocked Loose pop off with unique sound and flare?

The answer to those questions can be found right here, in this episode, with someone who lives this in his music, and needed to try...

When someone is the son of a well known musician such as Jason Bonham, and the grandson of legendary Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, naturally people are going to assume this person is going to follow in their footsteps and make similar music.

But that is not what happened. This man went on his own journey to discover what his desires in life were, and when it was found to be music, what his sound should be. What came out was vastly different than expected, more experimental than anticipated, and something that makes this artist his own...

One major goal of any musician is to make sure their live show is engaging, captivating, and a memorable experience for anyone in the audience. There are many tools and tricks that artists use in order to ensure this is achieved. But of those tools out there, is ther one that could be better.

Prompters have been used in the music industry for quite a while now. But most prompters limit what you can use them for. We found someone who tried to better the prompter for live musicians. And we work to see if using a...

When we all discover a younger artist, we get the privilege of watching them grow and watching the sound they create evolve as time passes. Typlically, we see a change for artists as they go from what they feel they should create, to artists that create the music they want to.

Then, we as fans get to go on that journey of life with the artist, and fully appreciate the music they create, and the overall sounds that amplify our emotions and our lives going forward.

Sorry X (a.k.a. Alexa) joins the Chord...

20 years into being a band is quite the accomplishment. Being the stallworts of deathcore for that entire time is another accomplishment in itself. And after coming off of 2 well recieved records in "The Valley" and "Kin," what do they do to make sure they hit on 3 albums in a row.

The answer is use their competitive nature and challenge themselves to write the heaviest record they could reminiscent of their 2nd album "This Is Exile," while keeping the evolved song structure found on "The Valley" and "Kin." So what is the result? And album that boasts those...

As a podcast, not only do we want to help you discover many great bands to get into in the rock & metal world, but we also want to deliver knowledge to all the up and coming artists to help them avoid the pitfalls other bands have experienced before them.

This time we found a band that has been experienceing success after only 2 years of being a band, and they are able to deliver some wisdom for many younger bands to find success early on.

Chase from the San Antonio rock band Raven's Banquet joined the...

Music has a wonderful quality, regardless of genre, of being able to create a shared experience out of something increibly personal and individual. Listening to music creates that individual connection, experiencing live music creates that collective shared experience.

When two sisters worked through the lost of a grandparent and the grief caused by it, they created music that expressed their personal experiences with grief, but also how those experiences intertwined. They created "harmonized dialogue."

Sarafina and Emma from the Canadian gothic post-punk band Bonnie Trash are guests on the Chord Progression Podcast today. With their...

There are sometimes when a band comes out of nowhere with something fresh, something new, that just has you wanting to scream YES! This could be caused by a multitude of things, but when it is an artist that does it in music, it is something special about the sound that does it for you.

This brand new band inspired by the Cyberpunk 2077 soundtrack and wanting to build off of that takes that sound with the backdrop of a dystopian society to create a brand of music that sounds classic yet fresh, and has the depth to...

Losing a loved one, or someone incredibly close to you, is never an easy thing to process. The grief can be overwhelming, and can easily have anyone questioning why this happened, and how do they move forward from this point in time.

A band that we haven't spoken to in 3 years has experienced a loss just like this. Through music, being there for one another, and having a community that supported them through it all, the band was able to find closue and move forward, with the memory of their friend still strong within them.

...

Every now and again, we have an artist join the podcast to talk about their new music releasing, that gets so in-depth that you sit there, enamored that such a powerful sound can be manifested from great trauma and tragedy.

After 6 years of not releasing music and processing through a good deal of emotion, a record from the depths of a man's soul is about to come out with an evolved sludgy deathcore sound, with so much more behind it than meets the ear.

Tyler from the deathcore band Traitors joins the Chord Progression Podcast...

When you account for all the bands and artists that have ever made music and tried to succeed in their endeavors for life, a select few do. And amongst those select few, only a small handful are able to succeed in this for 25 years or more. But what causes that success?

A heavy band that has been around since "metalcore" was a term knows this and with their latest album coming out more than 25 years after their first release, they know the reasons behind why their music succeeds, and why people still connect with it for all...

When we see a band begin to appear on radio and end a year charting on the Billboard Rock Charts, we have questions that need answering. Questions like who are they, what have they done to get that success? And what can we learn from their success to help us out?

Well, fear no more everyone. Because not only do we have a band that has achieved that success to close 2024 and is still growing, but has a story that will inspire your creative side to thrive, and why you need to keep learning.

Nils...

The music world in 2025 is vastly different than it was before social media became a thing. Yes, there is a lot more opportunity to be discovered and be creative, but fans may focus more in on the brand and the image that is created rather than the music itself. This can cause a band to shift promotion and creative ideas, setting themselves up for burnout.

However, with a fresh release in 2025, one band said "screw that" and went as aggressive and creative as ever with their 8th record, rediscovering the passion they had for music like they...

Rock and metal is not dead, and it is clear to see that when artists from outside genres are either trying their hand in rock and metal, or embracing their rock and metal influences from a young age. It is moments like this that let us know, rock and metal is thriving again.

We have seen hip hop artists make this jump with varying degrees of success like MGK, and have seen artists make the jump with a lot of success like Jaali Cypher and Ekoh (both have been on the Chord Progression Podcast prior). Today, we...

We all know that humans follow trends, but why? It is out of a want and desire to fit in and be accepted by others that are around you, to not feel like an outcast. Artists and musician are humans so the same applies to them, but is that something they should overcome for the sake of their art?

Today we have a band that has lived through both. They lived through small success and always trying to follow what was trendy and popular to continue that success. They also lived through what happens when you create...

When a longtime member departs from a band (this time on good terms, thankfully), what does the future look like for that band's music? Will it change, will it stay the same, or will it evolve with a new member added into the mix?

These are the questions that keep fans up at night, and keep the artists wondering, working, and experimenting to continue the legacy that is their sound. And right now, that rings true for this band.

Kristen Sturgis of Conquer Divide joins the Chord Progression Podcast today, as the...