Hey! There’s a new Keefs single out in the world! The Keefs, the Delaware/Philly-based band that released some of the most essential punk rock ‘n’ roll cuts of the early 2010s, have brought back “Fleshbomb,” an oldie but goodie from their live set. This track features a lineup of Dave, Kenn, Vince, and Andy along with one of America’s most preeminent rock keyboardists, Mr. Kris Rodgers. If you like The Keefs, well this is vintage Keefs. It’s a straight-forward rocker with gritty vocals, melodic guitars, a hooky chorus, and a powerful sound. It was recorded by Arik Victor at Creep Recording Studio in Philly, and it sounds absolutely crackling. The Keefs were literally featured on Day One of this blog (June 9, 2011), so it’s always a pleasure when new music from these guys shows up online. “Fleshbomb” is a total scorcher and a must for your spring/summer “turn it up loud!” playlist!
Hallows Eve’s Tommy Stewart Talks New Music, Old School Roots, and Keeping It Real on The Zach Moonshine Show
The latest episode of The Zach Moonshine Show on Metal Devastation Radio delivered exactly what underground metal fans live for… a raw, unfiltered conversation with a true lifer. Tommy Stewart of Hallows Eve, Black Doomba Records, and Tommy Stewart’s Dyerwulf joined the show for a deep dive into his latest work, his process, and a lifetime in heavy music.
Right out of the gate, the conversation had that classic “figuring out the tech while talking shop” vibe… the kind of real-world chaos that makes live interviews feel alive. From Discord confusion to audio setups running through mixers and compressors, it was a reminder that even seasoned veterans are still navigating the ever-changing digital landscape. No polished corporate nonsense here… just two guys making it work and getting straight to the good stuff.
The Meaning Behind “My Politics Are My Own”
The centerpiece of the discussion was Dyerwulf’s new single, “My Politics Are My Own.” And here’s the kicker… despite the title, it’s not about politics in the way people assume.
Stewart made it clear: the song is about not engaging in the noise. In a world where everyone’s shouting opinions online, he’s choosing the opposite lane. Keep it private. Keep it personal. No flag-waving, no debates, no soapbox.
That message, ironically, stirred up mixed reactions. Some playlists rejected the track purely based on the word “politics” without digging deeper. That says more about the current climate than the song itself. Stewart leaned into it though. If anything, the reaction proved the point.
At its core, the track is about drawing a line. Not taking sides… just stepping out of the circus entirely.
A Raw Recording Process That Hits Hard
If you’re expecting overproduced, polished-to-death modern metal… this ain’t that.
The recording process for the track was as stripped down as it gets. Stewart laid down what was meant to be a scratch bass track… and ended up keeping it. One take. Full force. So aggressive it literally tore up his fingers mid-recording.
From there, drummer Joseph Dingle stepped in and nailed his parts in a single take as well. No endless rehearsals, no overthinking. Just musicians who know their craft showing up ready to deliver.
Even the vocals followed that same instinct-driven approach. Lyrics written on the fly, recorded with minimal passes. Stewart described it like pulling something already written out of the air… one of those rare moments where everything just clicks.
Bass-Driven Doom With a Twist
Dyerwulf continues to carve its own lane with a bass, drums, and vocals setup. No guitars. No filler. Just thick, heavy low-end and rhythm.
To shake things up, Stewart brought in Caleb Riser of Black Moon Cult to handle a lead bass section. That’s right… lead bass. And it works.
Instead of competing for space, the two bass styles complement each other. One holds down the foundation, the other adds texture and chaos on top. It’s unconventional, but that’s the whole point.
Old School Mentality Meets Modern Reality
One thing that stood out through the entire conversation… Stewart doesn’t chase trends. Never has.
He sees his entire career as one long songwriting journey, whether it’s Hallows Eve, Dyerwulf, or anything in between. The names change, the lineup changes, but the core stays the same.
That mindset carries into how he handles business too. Contracts aren’t about control… they’re just agreements. Plans. Clarity. Simple and old-school.
And while the industry keeps evolving with new platforms like Discord, Twitch, and beyond, Stewart approaches it with curiosity instead of resistance. He’s learning, adapting, but not losing himself in the process.
The Atlanta Scene and Those Classic Warehouse Days
The conversation took a nostalgic turn diving into the Atlanta scene. Back in the day, rehearsal spaces were packed with bands who would eventually become major names.
We’re talking about shared walls with bands like Mastodon, The Black Crowes, and Jackyl… all grinding it out in the same buildings, feeding off each other’s energy.
That kind of environment shaped the sound and the attitude. Loud, competitive, and full of personality. If your band was too loud for the room next door… that was a badge of honor.
Vinyl, Collecting, and Letting Go
Like any true lifer, Stewart has a deep connection to vinyl. Not just for listening, but for collecting.
But here’s the twist… he’s also lost massive collections more than once. Walked away from everything during a breakup. Lost another chunk to a flood. And his attitude?
It’s just stuff. You can always get more.
That perspective hits different in a world where people obsess over collecting. For Stewart, the music matters more than the object… even if he still appreciates a rare pressing when it shows up.
Festivals, Label Work, and What’s Next
Outside of recording, Stewart’s staying busy with Black Doomba Records, supporting multiple festivals, and working on upcoming releases… including new material from Megaton Communion.
Dyerwulf’s next full-length is in progress, with a target window somewhere down the line. No rush. The focus is on making it right, not just making it fast.
Final Thoughts
This wasn’t just another interview… it was a snapshot of what it means to stick with metal for the long haul.
No gimmicks. No trend-chasing. Just honesty, experience, and a willingness to keep evolving without losing your roots.
And if there’s one takeaway from the whole thing, it’s this… you don’t have to shout the loudest to be heard. Sometimes the strongest move is stepping back and letting the music speak for itself.
Crank it loud.
Full Track List:
Battle Of The Bands Top Six Winners:
1 – ANTIPOPE – Doors of the Dead 2 – Severed Sun – Complex 3 – Another Demon – Drawn and Quartered feat. James Murphy (Testament, Death, Obituary) 4 – Weak13 – Me to Be 5 – Mistress – Terrified eyes 6 – Ru_Bass – Time
The Zach Moonshine Intro
7 – Iommi – Who’s Fooling Who – Featuring Ozzy 8 – Rob Zombie – The Black Scorpion 9 – Immolation – Bend Towards The Dark 10 – Phantom – Summoned to Kill 11 – Hallows Eve – Metal Merchants
Tommy Stewart – Interview featuring My Politics Are My Own
12 – Black Moon Cult – At The Mountains of Madness 13 – Burnt Witch – Bastard 14 – IATT – Walk Amongst 15 – Nicarus – Vegan 16 – BRAINMAZE – Nightmare & Reality 17 – Sins of Shadows – Tell Me Why 18 – We All Rise – Crown 19 – MENTAL ANGUISH – The Repugnant Void 20 – Far From Refuge – Circuits II; Timelines
The Interview segment is also available on Youtube, Spotify, Apple and more!
Super huge shout out to the 206,251 metal maniacs from around the world that tuned in to the live broadcast Friday night!
Dude, just shut up. He may be a talented drummer, but goddamn does System of a Down’s John Dolmayan say some dumbass shit sometimes. I’m not gonna get into all of it here—you can very, very easily look it up for yourself—but he’s basically like a MAGA puppet that’s for whatever reason allowed to walk around on his own. What’s funny about the situation at hand though is he thinks South African actress Charlize Theron is the one who said some dumbass shit when in reality, what was said wasn’t dumb, and Theron wasn’t even the one who said it in the first place.
Dolmayan took to his Instagram a couple days ago to react to a screenshot that claimed Theron said: “What drives me is this: my children are all queer. My Eldest child is non-binary. My son is gay. My youngest child is fluid.” Sweet words, whether they came from Theron or not, right?
Well, Dolmayan decided to take his giant, kick drum blasting foot and shove it up his own ass, because he posted the screenshot to his stories along with the caption:
“This woman should be in an asylum or jail. These children are being mentally abused, statistically impossible!”
Here’s the thing though—while Theron does openly advocate and support trans rights, and she has two adopted children, one of whom is transgender, this quote is misattributed to her. She never said it!
Instead, the words actually came from another actress, Academy Award-winning Marcia Gay Harden. According to People, Harden said the following back in 2023:
“What drives me is — my children are all queer. My eldest child is non-binary. My son is gay. My youngest is fluid. And you know, they are my kids and they teach me every day.”
Whether Charlize said it, or Marcia, the point is it’s not hard to support your children for who they are. Like, it’s really, really not. Maybe John didn’t feel nearly enough of that love growing up and that’s why he’s out here in these streets acting this way now? Something to think about, but put the phone down, John. Put it down, in another room, and go find some compassion.
On the evening of 13th April, Glasgow’s intimate club venue Slay played host to a triple bill of black metal mastery. The lineup featured Spain’s Noctem, Britain’s Winterfylleth, and headliner Blackbraid, whose rising profile brought the crowd together for a night that promised fierce energy, sonic depth, and a sense of unity within the genre. … Continue reading Gig Review: Blackbraid / Winterfylleth / Noctem – Slay, Glasgow (13th April 2026)
Justin Bieber’s Coachella Weekend 1 set has been spawning a lot of conversations online. Some people argue that him bringing out a laptop to sing karaoke over his old music videos was lazy; others argue that he’s endured enough in his career and should be able to do whatever the hell he wants. Either way, he switched things up for his Weekend 2 headlining performance last night, bringing out a slew of special guests: Billie Eilish, SZA, Sexyy Red, Big Sean, and Dijon.
With the mystery of no officially announced support acts, it’s safe to say anyone with a taste for the brutal and melodic were thoroughly surprised yet tantalised by newly formed band TheBoyShadow. Connor Sweeney, former guitarist for Liverpool-based metalcore band Loathe, unveiled his new project by releasing the group’s one and only published single on … Continue reading Gig Review: President / TheBoyShadow – SWG3 Galvanizers, Glasgow (15th April 2026)
April 2026 He recorded with Tim Hardin and produced Long John Baldry, he arranged strings for THIN LIZZY and RENAISSANCE and conducted orchestras onstage with FACES, he worked with such different artists as AIR SUPPLY and BAD COMPANY, he credited … Continue reading →
Brad Marino released his 5th studio album Agent of Chaos on April 3rd, and it truly embodies the sound he’s been perfecting for decades. For those not familiar with Brad Marino, he has created a niche in the art of power pop and garage rock. In all his releases, he originates punchy power pop with classic punk and rock energy, and in his new release that identity feels more prominent than ever. On Agent of Chaos, Marino maintains his signature Ramonescore style by pairing sharp guitars with mesmerizing melodies and catchy choruses. The production has a vintage sound to it that complements the songwriting and overall vibe, giving the album a nostalgic and timeless feeling.
Agent of Chaos starts off with the track “Blowing Smoke”, an immediate burst of energy that sets the tone for everything that follows. With a 90’s pop punk, garage rock vibe, buzzing guitars, and infectious hooks, it wastes no time pulling you in to want more. It’s a perfect opener for this album, and just made me want to get up and dance. The next track “Dissin’ & Dismissin’” slows things down a bit and focuses more on groovy driven melodies. It’s a perfect track to help to show that Brad has range.
“Voodoo” brings the energy back up with catchy riffs and a strong melodic core. I feel like this is one of his best, most straightforward power pop moments on the album.
“Murder and Violence” is one of my favorites on this album. The dark-sounding title is a bit misleading, as it’s actually a pretty upbeat song, though lyrically it’s deeper that it sounds. I just really love the tambourine, the melodies, and the overall sound of it. I’ve always been a fan of songs that hide dark and disturbing lyrics behind upbeat and catchy melodies.
“I Don’t Want You Anymore” is another track that makes me want to get up and dance. With pretty straightforward lyrics, it’s super catchy and easy to remember. Followed by “Regards”, another upbeat, infectious track that surprised me with a harmonica! It works so well in his album, I absolutely love the classic rock feel it added. This is also one of my favorites on the album, another one that is very catchy, groovy, and full of character. “Calling Your Bluff” keeps that same energy with great guitar hooks and solid songwriting. This one oddly feels like a classic you could have been listening to for decades now, proving that Brad Marino keeps the true sound and spirit of punk rock and roll alive.
“Lost Without You” draws you in from the moment it starts til it ends. With straightforward and captivating lyrics, it’s another slower track that leans into that classic power pop and Ramonescore sound. The next track is my favorite on the whole album. “Devil May Care” is such a good song that I cannot stop listening to. The steel guitar, keyboard, tambourine, and melodies all come together in a way that is so incredibly addicting. It seamlessly blends an early sixties vibe with that classic vintage garage rock feel to create a perfect track, showing just how well Marino can expand his sound.
“Sick of You” picks things up again with one minute and forty-two seconds of fast, frustration-fueled energy. “Reason or Rhyme” just continues that, and really just encapsulates the true garage rock band feel. Like it makes me want to get up, write my own songs, and start a punk band in my garage.
The last track on the record, “Make This Last” is the perfect closer. It brings another reflective moment on the album. With a super catchy chorus, it balances melody and sentimentality with Marino’s signature punchy songwriting and guitar work. This song feels vintage and nostalgic in the best way, bringing the record to a satisfying close and solidifying that timeless feeling of Agent of Chaos.
In the end, Agent of Chaos is everything you would expect from a Brad Marino record, and more. It stays true to his signature blend of power pop and garage rock while delivering plenty of memorable hooks and vintage inspired energy. Catchy and full of personality from start to finish with enough variety to keep you wanting more. Significant songwriting, quality hooks, and a sound rooted in classic punk and garage rock are what make this record so fun, and bound to get stuck in your head.
.webp)
