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Dead Tired have never seemed interested in following a formula, and that came through in our conversation with Franz Stefanik and Marco Bressette. We talked about Hornets of Fall, the years of friendship behind the band, and how giving songs the time to develop has allowed them to make a record that feels heavy without sounding forced. We also got into the self-produced approach at Deadquarters Studio and what went into shaping their fourth full-length.

We also touched on the Canadian hardcore scene, the guest appearances from Liam Cormier, Andrew Neufeld, and Chris Cresswell, and Franz’s life as a tattoo artist outside of the band. At the center of it all is something pretty simple: five friends who still genuinely enjoy making loud music together—and that chemistry is all over Hornets of Fall.

The new album is out now via New Damage Records.

Stay connected with Dead Tired, visit: https://zdeadtiredz.bandcamp.com/album/hornets-of-fall, https://www.instagram.com/zdeadtiredz/ and https://www.facebook.com/zdeadtiredz/

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Texas home-town heroes Colorblind have been building toward this moment since 2017, and we got to talk with Travis Moseley about finally bringing "Who Sold You This Truth ++ Was It Yours To Hold" to life. We got into the evolution of the band’s “dreamcore” sound, the years of work behind the debut, and how songs like “Pressure” and “Chemical Warfare” reflect the weight of identity, expectations, and everything that comes with growing as an artist.

We also talked about taking these songs from the studio to the stage, the move to Solid State Records, and finding the balance between heavy, atmospheric, and melodic elements that makes Colorblind stand apart. After years of building this independently and sharing stages with some major names in heavy music, it’s finally time for the full story to be heard.

Stay connected with Colorblind, visit: https://colorblindtx.com, https://www.instagram.com/colorblindtx/ and https://www.facebook.com/Colorblindtx/

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There’s been a lot of growth since our last conversation with Katerina Nicole, and catching up with her again was a great way to see just how much that journey has shaped her. We talked about “Ladybug” and “Black on White” featuring Johnny Ciardullo of Angelmaker and Carcosa, and the heavier direction she’s taking while still holding onto the emotional side that first caught our attention with "Serene in Violent Oceans."

We also got into finding her own identity as an artist, the vulnerability behind her songwriting, bringing these songs to the stage, and what it takes to keep building independently. From music to life outside of it, Katerina is clearly entering a new chapter—and these latest songs are only the beginning. The life of an independent artist is equal parts freedom, pressure, and persistence.

Stay connected with Katerina Nicole, visit: https://katerinanicolemusic.com/ and https://www.instagram.com/katerinanicolemusic/

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Catching up with Maria Lessing of Future Palace again was a reminder of just how much the band has evolved over the past few years. With "Resurgence" now out via Century Media Records, we talked about the emotional weight behind the album, embracing growth without losing the band's identity, and why this record feels like both its darkest and most hopeful chapter yet.

We also got into Future Palace's willingness to push beyond genre boundaries, balancing vulnerability with resilience, and how Maria continues to use music as a way to confront difficult emotions while creating something that connects with others. From mental health and creative evolution to life beyond the stage, this was an honest conversation with one of the most compelling voices in modern heavy music.

Stay connected with Future Palace, visit: https://future-palace.com/, https://www.instagram.com/futurepalaceofficial/, and https://www.facebook.com/futurepalace/

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From shaping the worlds of God of War Ragnarök, The Walking Dead, Battlestar Galactica, and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power to creating one entirely his own, it was an absolute privilege to spend some time with Bear McCreary. We talked about “The Singularity: Ekleipsis,” due out July 31 via Sparks & Shadows Records, and what it meant to step beyond composing for other stories to build a universe driven completely by his own creative vision.

We also explored Bear's incredible range of influences behind the record, bringing together progressive metal, cinematic storytelling, folk traditions, and an all-star lineup of collaborators into something uniquely his own. From the difference between composing and being an artist to the challenge of translating a project this ambitious to the live stage, this was a conversation about fearless creativity, constantly pushing boundaries, and never being afraid to build something entirely new.

Stay connected with Bear McCreary, visit: https://bearmccreary.com/, https://www.instagram.com/bearmccreary, and https://www.facebook.com/BearMcCrearyOfficial/

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Ten years in the making, Prairie feels like the record David Osterhout had been chasing since the earliest days of Bike Routes. We caught up with David to talk about finally bringing that vision to life, the influence of growing up in New Jersey, and how home can be both the place that shapes us and the place we spend a lifetime trying to understand.

We also dive into the incredible range of influences behind Bike Routes—from Bruce Springsteen and My Chemical Romance to death metal, literature, and everything in between—and how those worlds naturally coexist in his songwriting. It’s a conversation about identity, perseverance, and the creative journey that ultimately led to Prairie. One of more underrated albums of the year is out now via Blue Grape Records.

Stay connected with Bike Routes, visit: https://bikeroutesnj.com/, https://www.instagram.com/bikeroutesnj/ and https://www.facebook.com/BikeRoutesNJ/

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Some records don't just tell stories—they open old rooms and invite you inside. In the latest edition of IUF, Lynsey Ward and Jonny Knight of Exploring Birdsong discuss "Every House We Built," the band's debut album out now via Long Branch Records. The conversation explores the years-long journey behind the record, using houses as a metaphor for relationships, and why this became their most personal and vulnerable collection of songs to date.

What makes Exploring Birdsong so compelling is their refusal to fit neatly into one category. Progressive rock, cinematic arrangements, alternative textures, and pop sensibilities all coexist while never losing sight of the emotion at the center of the music. This episode dives into heartbreak, grief, resilience, and the beauty of embracing what makes a band truly unique. If you've been searching for a band that feels both ambitious and deeply human, Exploring Birdsong might just be your next obsession.

One of the most unique pieces of work you will hear in 2026. "Every House We Built" is out now worldwide via Long Branch Records.

Stay connected with Exploring Birdsong, visit: https://exploringbirdsong.com/, https://www.instagram.com/exploringbirdsong/ and https://www.facebook.com/ExploringBirdsong/

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Always the black sheep.

We recently welcomed Diva Satanica of Bloodhunter back to IUF to talk about Sons of the Abandoned, and one topic kept finding its way to the center of the conversation: identity. We discussed taking a more vulnerable approach to songwriting, confronting inner struggles through music, and the challenge of being completely honest with yourself in a genre that often looks outward rather than inward.

What stood out was how fearlessly she approached these subjects. Rather than looking for easy answers, Sons of the Abandoned embraces uncertainty, personal growth, and the uncomfortable realities that shape who we become.

Stay connected with Bloodhunter, visit: https://www.bloodhunter.net/home, https://www.instagram.com/bloodhunterband/, and https://www.facebook.com/BLOODHUNTEROfficial/

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