Riffing With Christina

In this week's episode, The Void host Christina Rowatt is joined by the iconic Nergal of Polish blackened death metal band Behemoth for a brief yet informative conversation on the release day of Behemoth's new record, "I Loved You At Your Darkest." Beyond the Behemoth interview, Christina has a rousing discussion with local Satanist and good human Esial about his experience at the Burning Seed Festival, the Satanic approach to life and an exploration of the Church of Satan's Eleven Satanic Rules of The Earth.  The Void with Christina is also a YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/thevoidwithchristina  

Aaron Spectre / Drumcorps is an American musician who creates electronic music across the emotional, sonic and instrumental spectrum, from dancefloor-slaying ragga jungle and breakcore to finely crafted grind/industrial/vocal music that he performs with guitar, synths and records everywhere from raves to grindcore festivals. Aaron's work transcends genres and could be described as what aliens would assemble from relics found after the dark side of the musical apocalypse. His most recent full-length Drumcorps release, "Falling Forward" is a masterful slab of songs that I liken to a rowdy pirate ship in the spirit of a cathedral like Nine Inch Nail's "The Fragile" which features a guest appearance from legendary drummer Iggor Cavalera. In this expansive podcast episode, host Christina Rowatt and Aaron Spectre discuss his history, music around the world (born and raised in the Massachusetts hardcore scene, he has also lived in Berlin, Switzerland, New York and is currently based in Amsterdam), art, evolution and

Christian Peters of German stoner rock band Samsara Blues Experiment speaks to Christina Rowatt about growing up during the fall of the Berlin Wall, his latest record One with The Universe, the history of the band, psychedelic music, his solo project, the stoner rock renaissance and lots more. Watch the interview on The Void with Christina YouTube channel. Follow Christina on Instagram: www.instagram.com/xtina_rowatt

Michele and Christina discuss this week's concert, embracing the fourth wall, what makes for healthy human interactions and Michele's very first album.  Watch Christina's YouTube channel: youtube.com/thevoidwithchristina

Christina Rowatt and Michele Madden discuss Michele's upcoming return to the stage, her new chapter in Bob Dylan anthology "Tarantula Revisited," being electric, aural romance, going green and all the regular innuendo and silliness you've come to expect from the Sisters of Eternal Belligerence.  Follow us on Instagram at xtina_rowatt and homicidegirl7. Watch Christina's YouTube interviews: youtube.com/thevoidwithchristina

Ryan Martin and Gibby Miller run Dais Records, an experimental record label that specialises in adventurous new artists and releasing rare and resurrected recordings. Launched in 2007 with Throbbing Gristle legend Genesis P-Orridge's never before heard 1968 record, the label operates out of New York and Los Angeles. Ryan and Gibby joined The Void hosts Christina Rowatt and Michele Madden to discuss music, art, ridiculous cult films and running an independent label in the 21st century. Plus all the regular Madden-led tangents down rock and roll memory lane.

Christina and Michele are joined by Leeroy, a fluent speaker in boy language (and Michele's personal translator) to discuss love, romance and our wildly different perspectives on 21st century relationships of all persuasions. We conclude that being curious, kind and quick with the truth are qualities that are appealing for every kind of human entanglement.

Peter "Blackie" Black and his legendary band The Hard-Ons have been making Australian punk rock proud for 40 years. In this special episode we explore his colourful history, from ingesting incredible 70's rock to falling in love with punk, forming the band as kids, their wild and wonderful experiences around the world and country through to releasing a song a day (for a year) four decades later. Humble, funny and super dedicated to his craft and a lifelong quest to learn more, Blackie is also Void co-host Michele Madden's (Tourettes, Meldrum) musical big brother and we learn a lot about their relationship and their mutual musical respect. Michele has appeared onstage and on record with the Hard-Ons many times over the years (their memorable first studio session is shared in detail here) and her stagecraft still leaves Blackie in awe to the same degree his musicianship and passionate commitment to hard work and creative evolution informs little sister Michele's own relationship with the artform. This episode p

Lo! is a wildly creative sludge metal band from Australia. Singer Sam Dillon contributes raw, savage death metal vocals and some undeniably reptilian stage presence. In this interview with Christina Rowatt, we discuss their killer record "Vestigial," how he evolved from wandering the Australian wilderness looking for snakes to making rock and roll, the deep and viscous excellence of sludge in general, and what Peter Gabriel and Al Jourgensen from Ministry share.

Christina Rowatt and Michele Madden pay tribute to two icons of heavy metal and the driving force behind legendary groove metal band Pantera - Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul. This week, Vinnie tragically passed away and joins brother Dime in rock and roll heaven. We talk about Michele's teenage words of support from Dime, the sibling-like relationship that can develop when you're fellow musicians and what made Vinnie so exceptional and unique as a drummer. No one hits harder than Vinnie Paul, and no one riffs harder than metal's Jimi Hendrix, the one and only Dimebag Darrell. Check out Chistina's Vinnie Paul YouTube tribute here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vA-XML_GmF4

In this week's episode, we celebrate the incredible life of Anthony Bourdain, who's bold and gentle spirit shone brightly on the screen and on the page. We also explore suicide, anxiety, how to stoke the burning fire of self love within that is necessary before romantic love and platonic love is possible, the profound impact of gratitude according to leading neuroscientists, what the ninja chefs Bourdain was surrounded by shared with rock stars, and lots more rambling from your regular neighbourhood rock and roll nuns.  Follow Christina on Instagram: www.instagram.com/xtina_rowatt/ Follow Michele on Instagram: www.instagram.com/homicidegirl7/ Watch Christina's video interviews on YouTube: www.youtube.com/thevoidwithchristina

Zeal and Ardor is the brainchild of Manuel Gagneaux, a Swiss/American musician who on his latest record "Stranger Fruit" has created a powerful alchemy of blues, gospel, black metal, brutal guitars and straight up soul. During a spirited conversation, we discuss his life as an outsider, what he learned from his jazz musician mother and the story of the record. 

Christina and Michele reflect on Jeff Buckley 21 years after his death, Liz Taylor's incredible charity work, Stevie Nicks always having a fire burning, the connection between Van Halen and Blood Duster, being an underage waif in a bar, transformative teachers, Renaissance men, praying to Elvis, the elusive Muse, and the usual innuendo on romance, sex and ridiculousness you've come to expect.

In this week's episode, Christina and Michele explore the wonderful world of no bullshit veganism with Emma Roche of Plant Plate, the legend behind the incredible Plant-Based Eating on $5 a Day cookbook. We discuss what the movement shares with the DIY ethic of independent music, the hard science that backs it, the danger of ridiculous animal fad diets and how plant-based eating has improved the hell out of our mental and physical health.

Sara Taylor and Ryan George of Los Angeles industrial band Youth Code share the story of how the band began on a flyer for the Vacation Vinyl employee showcase, the electric first night they met, their brutal next record, Sara's new punk rock side project, why they'd spend every single touring night with Chelsea Wolfe and that time Darryl Hall of Hall and Oates terrifyingly resembled Rob Lowe in "Behind The Candelabra" at a show. 

In a special literary episode, your hosts Christina and Michele explore a selection of the books and writers and poets that have left deep ink stains on our souls. Includes a robust discussion around Hunter S. Thompson, 1970's punk rock, 1990's Southern Gothic, the original Depression era crime writers, 12th century poets, Bret Easton Ellis, and that one time Michele ended up in deep conversation with the ultimate romantic lyricist Peter Steele of Type O Negative in a hotel lobby on tour.

Chris Cornell of Soundgarden possessed one of rock's most raw, powerful and soulful voices, capable of cutting deeply into the heart with the rusty blade of every note. In a special tribute episode, Christina Rowatt and Michele Madden explore Cornell's creative and emotional impact one year after his death. We also explore what it was like experiencing Soundgarden and Seattle music as young Australians on the other side of the world, great books and documentarians, and why suicide is never the answer. 

Christina Rowatt and Michele Madden talk about what intimacy means in the 21st century, the intensity of touring life, size queens, their vastly different approaches to love and romance, hermit heaven and cutting sick on the interwebs. And just generally riff on life and what it is to know your animal and exist in the human world. 

Christina Rowatt and Michele Madden enjoy another rollicking conversation about the soulful nature of making music, attitude, effort, love, the art of war, the war of art and Michele's moment at seven years old when she no longer needed validation from the outside world, ever again. Nothing beats persistence. And Clint Eastwood brevity. It is omnipotent. 

Christina explores co-host Michele Madden's musical story, from growing up on soul music, falling for heavy metal, the story of her first band Tourettes, the electricity felt standing side of stage with Henry Rollins whilst witnessing the majesty of Beasts of Bourbon and what happened when she ran away to Los Angeles to join legendary drummer Gene Hoglan's band Meldrum. Over the course of another wild and wonderful conversation, we end up in bed with Hunter S. Thompson. Literature (cliterature?) if not literally.