Cutter's Rockcast

The name (hed) PE is as synonymous with the nu-metal genre as Korn is. While they may not have gotten to the same popularity heights (hed) PE and their style of music embodies everything we love about the genre. Jahred Gomes formed the band in Huntington Beach, CA in 1994 and found huge success a few years later with songs like "Bartender" and "Blackout." In late 2023 they put out a new album called Detox and it might be their best complete body of work in decades. It's probably been that long since I've talked to Jahred and I'm happy to catch up with the outgoing frontman of Higher Education Planet Earth.

He truly is the madman of rock and roll, a legendary frontman, an avid supporter of bikers, and a bourbon maker. You know Jesse James Dupree as the lead singer of Jackyl, but when inspiration struck during a surprise visit from his son Nigel, the boys Dupree got to work and wrote a straightforward, no-nonsense rock record called Breathing Fire. Featuring songs co-written by the legendary Brian Johnson of AC/DC, they truly have something special on hand.

Texas alt-blues-rock songwriter and bonafide rockstar Austin Meade pops on to say hi. Drinking a beer and talking rock and roll, the way it should be. Honestly though has his new song "Blackout" continues to rise up the charts I thought it was a good time to get an introduction to a guy who's breathing a breath of fresh air into the modern rock landscape by doing it his way and "not giving a f***" what anyone thinks.

By the time 2024 is over there's a real good chance that Beartooth will be the biggest rock band of the year. Their new album The Surface is incredible and it features their first ever number-one rock song "Might Love Myself" and a song that features country music's biggest star of 2023 Hardy called "The Better Me." Their current headline tour is almost completely sold out and they are putting on the best show of their lives. I first met Caleb Shomo backstage at the music festival Rock on the Range (now called Sonic Temple) in his hometown of Columbus, OH and to see his rise to greatness brings me great joy. Now it's time to dig further in and get in introspective look at Beartooth.

The name Oxymorrons for this band isn't just a clever coincidence. These are some of the most thoughtful musicians one could meet. This is a band in touch with the universe around them and wanted to bring a higher meaning to the music. Sure rap-metal has been done, but not like this. Dave and Jafe from this Queens, NYC band bring the power, the introspection, and the fight for inclusion of the band to the scene of rock, metal, and yes, hip-hop.

Who doesn't love a little philosophy with their rock and roll? We'll dive into that, the truth, and the music with one of my favorite newer bands Dead Poet Society. Lead singer Jack Underkofler will even disclose his Christmas plans.

Elias returns to the Rockcast as they are in the middle of short Holiday tour that including a bunch of sold out dates and wrapping things up in the midwest. We touch on their latest Heartless E.P. being an indy band, and how to follow the music media trends. Nonpoint is always on the road and I'd highly reccomend seeing a show as soon as you possible can. One of the best and most consistent rock bands of the past two decades.

Tommy is one of the hidden gems of rock music. He started as a guitarist in the heavy metal band Warlock with Doro Pesch. From there, life took him on an adventure that included a pop-based solo career, a punk rock band, producer and engineer work, studio musician, and in the past decade-plus a spot in Alice Cooper's band and the supergroup Hollywood Vampires. That run-on sentence doesn't even do his career justice, so it's time to tell some rock and roll stories while getting introduced to his new project Crossbone Skully. That project is his brainchild, but with the help of Alice Cooper, Mutt Lang, Johnny Depp, and so many others it deserves the attention we're giving it this week on both this podcast and on my radio show The Cutting Edge Countdown.

Daniel Laskiewicz or has he is known to everyone, DL became the lead singer of Bad Wolves in 2020, and with their 4th album (2nd with DL) Die About It shows, he's comfortable being the lead singer of this band. While the whole band including DL comes from a very heavy metal background, Bad Wolves is a little more eclectic than just metal or even the hated term "radio rock." We catch up to talk about those subjects, coming from being a guitarist to just a lead singer, and how this band has opened up to be what you hear today. They are currently on the road with Bush and you can find tickets at Badwolves.com

Austin is the former lead singer of the band Hinder. He was on vocal duty during the height of the band's popularity and after spending some down time due to health concerns is back in the studio working on new music. But before we get to hear that he and another singer named Sharlyn have re-recorded Austin's biggest hit, the classic Hinder power ballad "Lips of an Angel." But why? I was curious so I asked Austin to join me here to discuss it.

It's good to be in the band Black Stone Cherry right now. Earlier this year they put out what may be their most intense and heaviest record to date with Screamin' at The Sky, they were just announced as the opener for the Sharp Dressed Simple Man Tour featuring the legends ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynyrd, and meanwhile their cover of "Give Me One Reason" continues to captivate new audiences. Lead singer and rhythm guitarist Chris Robertson checks in from the tour bus to talk all things Black Stone Cherry and the state of music in 2023.

It's been 20 years since Steel Panther first exploded onto the scene with their light-hearted tribute to the seediness of 80's hard rock and metal. Well, six albums later, world tours and even an appearance on America's Got Talent and Steel Panther are still bringing the party to a stage near you. Their Holidaze tour kicks off in a few weeks and their latest album On The Prowl came out earlier this year.

Part two of my conversation with Matt Brooks, guitarist, singer and songwriter for the band Like a Storm is about is other project. It's called Amplify and it's all about bettering yourself through healthy habits.

After spending the lockdown at their parents house in New Zealand, and even doing a whole record there, Like A Storm are back! New song is called "Saints and Sinners" and Matt Brooks joins me for a conversation about their music and how it's done. Stay tuned for part 2 of this conversation which has Matt and I talking about recovery, mental health, and self empowerment.

If you're like me you recognize the name Any Given Sin as a band that John Moyer from Disturbed helped get started about 7 or 8 years ago. After recording an EP they split with their lead singer and started over with Vic Ritchie handling the mic, and they haven't looked back. They started putting out singles and in August put out their debut album War Within via Mascott Records. Vic and I sit down this week for the Rockcast and my radio show Cutting Edge Countdown to tell the rest of the story.

The story goes back a few years when Dirty Honey was the first independent rock band to have a number-one rock song with "When I'm Gone." Since it's been a band on the rise and doing it their own way. Fresh off opening for Guns N' Roses and from hitting some waves in California, lead singer Marc Labelle and I catch up on all things Dirty Honey and his hat collection.

I was able to catch up with Parkway Drive frontman Winston McCall backstage on a recent Monsters of Oz tour stop. This is THE show that they have been teasing us in North America with for years. Full of pyro, a spinning drum cage, and all the songs that everyone from hardcore Parkway fans and casual fans alike will love. Beyond that we dig further into the album Darker Still and the title track and why it's a landmark for the band and himself as a songwriter and human. Video of this conversation can be found on my YouTube channel @thisiscuttermedia

The Memphis-based Sleep Theory blew up on TikTok and Reels earlier this year with the song "Another Way." Then, they met Memphis native and Shinedown guitarist Zach Myers who offered them an opening slot on their headline tour, now their latest single "Numb" is a top 20 rock single. Yeah, it's good to be Sleep Theory, but who is Sleep Theory? Band founder and singer Cullen Moore is here to tell us.

Earlier this year Seattle guitarist/songwriter Ayron Jones put out his second album Chronicles of the Kid and now officially has his second number-one rock song in "Blood in the Water." He's been on tour constantly since the pandemic restrictions lifted and it's showing in these songs. Also, he has said he wants to be "the guitarist for a generation," well, that sparked my interest. It's always fun to have Ayron Jones on both The Cutting Edge Countdown and Cutter's Rockcast.

Scott Stapp has become one of the most recognizable voices in rock and dare I say a good friend. He and I will be hosting an event for Operation Song in Green Bay, WI on October 6th where we'll pair veterans up with songwriters, including Scott and tell their amazing stories through song.In the '90s and early 2000s, his band Creed became one of the biggest rock bands in the world, selling millions of albums and selling out packed stadiums around the world. Around 2005 the band went their separate ways with part of the band forming Alter Bridge and Scott starting a successful solo career. After one more album a few years later, there's been no news about Creed in over a decade. That has changed as they are back together for a cruise in 2024. On top of that Scott has a heavy new solo song out and a new solo album scheduled for next year.