Andy Susemihl joins ROTR contributor Justin Smulison to discuss his wild career, collaborations with U.D.O. and David Reece and his recent solo albums, “Burning Man” and “Alienation.” For more, visit www.AndySusemihl.com & www.el-puerto-records.com.

On Top Of The World with Andy Susemihl

Jason of becoming joined Shamas for a great show and a lot of talk about metal, rock and the scene.. This is the first excerpt from that show pertaining to his band. Find out more at https://www.instagram.com/thebandbecoming/

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Jason of Becoming Interview

Shamas had a chat in March with Ethan and Fern of CorAnima about the band's beginnings, influences, and the industry. Find out more and visit https://www.instagram.com/coranimaband/

Ethan and Fern of CorAnima

Holy Mother co-founders Mike Tirelli and Jim Harris return to speak with ROTR Contributor Justin Smulison about their new release Face This Burn, and their excitement about their first show in nearly 20 years on July 29th at the Stereo Garden in NY for Dee Snider’s movie premiere party. Check out their Massacre Records release and the upcoming performance.

Holy Mother Returns to ROTR

Lutharo is a dynamic melodic death metal band from Canada. Singer Krista Shipperbottom and guitarist Victor Bucur join ROTR contributor Justin Smulison to discuss their new LP, Hiraeth, the experience of performing for their recent album release show, and what’s coming up. Check them out on Lutharo.com and on https://www.instagram.com/lutharo_official/

Justin Smulison presents Krista Shipperbottom Victor Bucur of Lutharo

A look into the band's history and present in their first appearance on Rock On The Rise With Shamas hosting. Learn more by visiting online http://www.defueld.com/

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An  Interview with Defueld

Alessandro Del Vecchio is a producer for Frontiers Records and a member of several of the label’s groups and projects. He is the lead singer and writer for melodic metal band, Edge of Forever and speaks with ROTRArmy contributor Justin Smulison about the group’s newest and heaviest album, Seminole. They also talk about reissuing the band’s back catalogue, and his approach to writing 12 albums a year for various musicians. Check out Edge of Forever and follow him on social.

Alessandro Del Vecchio and Edge of Forever in 2022

Dymytry is from the Czech Republic. They broke new ground when additional singer, Alen “A.L.” Ljubic joined to record the English-language version of Revolt, and front the band for related shows. ROTR Army Contributor Justin Smulison caught up with Ljubic to discuss this metal rarity and the themes on Revolt, which was released by AFM Records. Visit Dymytry and follow on social.

Dymytry Stages A Psy-Core ‘Revolt’

Redshark is a metal quintet from Barcelona, Spain whose newest LP, Digital Race, perfectly blends power, speed and thrash with an old-school feel. ROTR Army Contributor Justin Smulison caught up with co-founder and guitarist Philip Graves to discuss the excitement of the band’s first LP and upcoming tour dates. Visit Redshark at Listenable Records and on Bandcamp.

Redshark Jumps Into The ‘Digital Race’

Oklahoma-based metal quartet Locust Grove has arrived with their first LP, Battle of Locust. Drummer Joey Mandigo joins ROTR Army contributor Justin Smulison to discuss the independently-released album’s crushing riffs and beats and the excitement of an upcoming U.S. tour starting in Chicago, IL on June 16, 2022. Check out Locust Grove and on https://twitter.com/LocustGroveBand

Locust Grove Swarms Further Into The U.S. Metal Scene

ROTR Army Contributor Justin Smulison speaks with Martin “E-Type” Erikson, an established musician and songwriter from Germany. As the character A-Tron, Erickson leads the gothic metal band, Dampf. They discuss the debut LP, The Arrival and upcoming festival shows. Visit Dampf and on social https://www.instagram.com/dampf_official/ .

Justin Smulison Presents: ‘The Arrival’ of Dampf

Warbringer drummer and songwriter Carlos Cruz joins ROTR Army Contributor Justin Smulison ahead of the “U.S. Unraveling 2022” Tour with Heathen and Misfire on Sept 13. in Fresno, CA. They also talk about Warbringer’s crushing 2020 album, Weapons of Tomorrow. Check them out https://www.warbringermusic.com/news

Warbringer Embraces The Noise, Prepares “U.S. Unraveling” Tour

Thundermother vocalist Guernica Mancini spoke with ROTR Army Contributor Justin Smulison during the Rock Believer Tour in support of the Scorpions. They talked about performing to arenas with songs off the new album, “Black and Gold,” and how the Swedish quartet will continue to electrify audiences in the U.S. through Oct. 21, 2022. Visit Thundermother.com for music and tour dates.

Thundermother Singer Guernica Mancini Calls In From The Road

Motive Black Singer Elana Justin joins ROTR Contributor Justin Smulison to discuss the full-length debut, Auburn, available from AFM Records. They talk about playing with metal heavyweights, collaborating with a Grammy-winning producer, and Auburn’s lyrical concepts. Check out Motive Black online and on social.

Motive Black Singer Elana Justin Returns to ROTR

ROTR Army Contributor Justin Smulison interviews his all-time favorite metal singer, John Bush of Armored Saint. They discuss his career highlights with Armored Saint and Anthrax, Punching The Sky, Metal Allegiance, lyrical inspirations and the Fall U.S. tour with W.A.S.P. Visit ArmoredSaint.com

Punching The Sky in ‘23 with John Bush of Armored Saint

Jake from Of Limbo popped in to a Saturday Shut Up and Jam and had a chat with Shamas about the band, influences, modern grunge and more.. here's what went down! Check them out at https://oflimbo.com/

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Of Limbo interview with Jake

The Great Tribulation is the third full-length album by Elm Street, a metal quartet from Australia. Bassist Nick Ivkovic spoke with ROTR Contributor Justin Smulison about this epic album and upcoming shows. Visit https://www.instagram.com/metalelmstreet

Justin Smulison Presents: Elm Street

Artillery celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2024 with various live offerings. The Danish thrash icons will release Raw Live (In Copenhell) via Mighty Music on Feb. 2, and with a new singer and guitarist, will eventually reach North America in March and April. Bandleader Michael Stützer spoke with ROTR Contributor Justin Smulison about all-things Artillery. Visit Artillery online.

In Thrash We Trust: An Interview with Michael Stützer of Artillery

Exhorder frontman Kyle Thomas joins ROTR contributor Justin Smulison to discuss upcoming tours of the U.S. and the EU and themes and select songs from the Louisiana-based thrashers’ crushing fourth LP, Defectum Omnium, available from Nuclear Blast on March 8. Visit Exhorder.com

Kyle Thomas on the Future Success of Exhorder’s Defectum Omnium

Swedish melodic metal band Metalite returns with Expedition One, available worldwide from AFM Records. Singer Erica Ohlsson, bassist Robert Majd and guitarist, composer and founder Edwin Premberg discuss the album’s sci-fi themes and Spring ‘24 EU tour with Leaves’ Eyes and NorthTale. Visit Metalite.se

Justin Smulison Presents: Metalite

Powerhouse singer David Reece calls in from the Midwest ahead of his U.S. shows in years, in support of his new solo LP, Baptized By Fire, released by El Puerto Records. Reece and ROTR Contributor Justin Smulison talk about the new ground broken on Baptized, his ongoing work with Iron Allies, and touring in 2024.

Back In The U.S.: David Reece Brings The ‘Fire’

Dymytry is back with 5 Angry Men, the new psy-core LP from AFM Records. Singer Alen “A.L.” Ljubić rejoined ROTR Contributor Justin Smulison to discuss the album and the excitement of the Czech band’s first headlining tour in Germany in March and the many festival dates booked for the remainder of 2024.

The Masked Singer: Dymytry Vocalist Alen Ljubić

Dust Bolt singer/guitarist Lenny Bruce joins ROTR Army Contributor Justin Smulison to discuss the band’s fifth LP, Sound & Fury, available from AFM Records. They talk about embracing the musical risks taken on singles like “Disco Nnection,” and playing new songs live at festivals and EU / UK tour dates in 2024. Visit DustBolt.com

The Dust Bolt Interview

Ray Alder is the iconic singer of Fates Warning and recently released Really Good Terrible Things, the debut album from North Sea Echoes, a new collaboration with FW founder Jim Matheos. Alder spoke about this musical left turn and some career highlights with Fates, A-Z, Redemption and his solo work. Visit NorthSeaEchoes.com

Justin Smulison Presents: An Interview with Ray Alder

Gus G. of Firewind returns to ROTR to speak with contributor Justin Smulison about the Greek metal band’s epic new album, Stand United, and an upcoming tour with Immortal Guardian and Edge of Paradise in the U.S. starting on April 11. Visit Firewind.GR

Making a ‘Stand’ in the U.S.: Firewind Guitarist Gus G.

War Curse guitarist Justin Roth spoke with ROTR Contributor Justin Smulison about the band’s newest LP, Confession. They also discuss the lineup change and the excitement ahead of U.S. shows supporting Artillery in June 2024. Visit WarCurse.com

Justin Roth of War Curse Talks ‘Confession’

Metal wailer Wade Black is back with The Awakening, the first offering from Wade Black’s Astronomica, released worldwide by ROAR! Rock of Angels. ROTR Army Contributor Justin Smulison caught up with the singer to discuss these 10 new metal epics that capture the spirit of Black’s time with Crimson Glory, while expanding lyrical themes to tackle more personal topics. Visit AstronomicaRock.com

Out Of The Sky: Wade Black Returns to ROTR

New York metallers AnAkA return with their crushing, sixth LP, The Oblivion Call. Guitarist Peter Pallis and singer Jimmy Pallis join ROTR Army’s Justin Smulison to talk about the lead singles, highlights from the band’s 24-year history, and the excitement of headlining NYC’s iconic Gramercy Theatre on July 27.  Visit AnAkA.net

Heeding The ‘Call’: The AnAkA Interview

High octane front man and six-string wild-man, Rick Sims spoke with, new  Rock On The Rise contributor, Justin Smulison about his rock & roll career and discography, how he learned one of his songs was covered on a six-times platinum record, and how he turned a part-time job with a local theater into a successful career as a nationally sought-after sound designer! Rick also reveals why Didjits fans might want to visit a record store in the near future for an upcoming release. Find out more by visiting http://www.ricksimssounddesign.com/

Freelancer and Contributor Justin

March Interview with Rick Sims of the Didjits and Gaza Strippers

Rock On The Rise Contributor Justin Smulison has a detailed conversation with the legendary Mark Tornillo from the band Accept.

Mark Tornillo of Accept

Holy Mother is back with their first new album of originals in 18 years. Powerhouse front man Mike Tirelli talks with ROTR Army contributor Justin Smulison about the metal band’s incendiary comeback, “Face This Burn.” Check out Holy Mother: https://lnk.to/facethisburn & https://massacre-records.com/HolyMother

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