Fearghal Traynor, co-host of The Feckin’ Check-In, presents a podcast from Dublin, Ireland which celebrates hard rock and heavy metal, both old and new. Enjoy interviews, reviews, informal chats, and special series arcs spanning multiple episodes.
Episodes
Thursday Feb 01, 2024
Thursday Feb 01, 2024
This episode brings to a close my 2023 wrap-up with George Silano. Here we discuss more releases from 2023, including Tomb Mold, Green Lung, Amethyst (I know it was 2022, before you write in), King Gizzard And The Wizzard Lizard, and more.
Also featuring: Death metal chat, ennui in Swedish metal, Jim Ross references, more learning for me, ridiculous album names, and enormous discographies. Enjoy!
Clips featured in episode:
1. Tomb Mold - "Will Of Whispers" - The Enduring Spirit (2023)
2. Heavy Load - "Ride The Night" - Riders Of The Ancient Storm (2023)
3. Green Lung - "Maxine (Witch Queen)" - This Heathen Land (2023)
4. Green Lung - "One For Sorrow" - This Heathen Land (2023)
5. Amethyst - "Chasing Shadows" - Rock Knights (2022)
6. King Gizzard & The Wizard Lizard - "Witchcraft" - PetroDragonic Apocalypse; Or, Dawn Of Eternal Night: An Annihilation Of Planet Earth And The Beginning Of Merciless Damnation (2023)
7. High Spirits - "Til The End Of Time" - Safe On The Other Side (2023)
8. High Spirits - "Now I Know" - Hard To Stop (2020)
9. Night Demon - "Obsidian" - Outsider (2023)
10. Black Sabbath - "Cross Of Thorns" - Cross Purposes (1994)
Wednesday Jan 24, 2024
Wednesday Jan 24, 2024
Rollin' on in 2024, I bring you the second installment of my chat with George Silano from earlier this month. Here, we cover some of our favourite releases from 2023, featuring EPs and albums released last year that we haven't discussed in our previous chats, and things take a rather sinister turn... I also include some audio left off from Episode 88 where I interviewed Damian Kolodiy about his documentary: Immortal Soul - A Riot Tribute And Concert Film.
Clips featured in episode:
1. Primordial - "How It Ends" - How It Ends (2023)
2. Primordial - "Pilgrimage To The World's End" - How It Ends (2023)
3. Primordial - "Victory Has 1,000 Fathers, Defeat Is An Orphan" - How It Ends (2023)
4. Bergfried - "May The Devil Pull Me Under" - Romantik II (2023)
5. By Fire & Sword - "Leave A Little Room" - Glory (2023)
6. "Kenneth Copeland Blasts The Poor & Tells Them to Tithe" - (Posted to YouTube by iThinkBiblically)
7. By Fire & Sword - "Tithe (The Money Song)" - Glory (2023)
8. Weald & Woe - "My Heart To Fear" - For The Good Of The Realm (2023)
9. Riot V - "High Noon" - High Noon [Digital Single] (2023)
Wednesday Jan 17, 2024
Wednesday Jan 17, 2024
On the first episode of 2024, I catch up with my good friend George Silano on the year in metal: 2023. The first of multiple parts, on this installment we focus on festivals and gigs that stood out last year (and look towards some from next year), covering Hell's Heroes, Decibel Magazine Metal & Beer Fest, Keep it True, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Saxon, W.A.S.P., and more! I also mention the passing of Tony Clarkin from Magnum and include some clips and personal history with the band. Enjoy!
Clips used in episode:
1. Magnum - "Brand New Morning" - Brand New Morning (2004)
2. Girlschool - "Race With The Devil" - Demolition (1980)
3. The Black Dahlia Murder - "What A Horrible Night To Have A Curse" - Nocturnal (2007)
4. Iron Maiden - "Death Of The Celts - Live At 3 Arena, Dublin Ireland, 24 June 2023" - (Posted to YouTube by Chromeboy2003)
5. Magnum - "Just Like An Arrow" - On A Storyteller's Night (1985)
Tuesday Dec 05, 2023
Tuesday Dec 05, 2023
On the latest episode of Feckin' Metal, I catch up with Rob Garven for the first time in three years, and speak to Tim Baker for the first time ever, about all of the happenings in Cirith Ungol since late 2020. It's been an extremely busy period for the band, and next year promises to be even busier. We touch on their recently-announced retirement, the departure of guitarist Jim Barazza and who will be his replacement, getting to meet childhood hero Brian Downey, artificial intelligence, and procuring seagulls from the wild! This was a highly enjoyable chat with two very entertaining guests. You can find Cirith Ungol at the links below:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cirithungolofficial
Bandcamp: https://cirithungolofficial.bandcamp.com/
Merch: https://eu.kingsroadmerch.com/shop/artist/983
Clip used in episode from the track "I'm Alive", available on the live album "I'm Alive" (2019).
Sunday Nov 26, 2023
Sunday Nov 26, 2023
I chat to friend and filmmaker Damian Kolodiy about his upcoming mammoth of a documentary "Immortal Soul", which focuses on the career of the band Riot/Riot V. Damian talks about his own background as a fan of heavy metal, the origin of the documentary idea, the filmmaking process, meeting members of the band and conducting interviews with them, and quite a lot more.
Check out the Immortal Soul trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJWgng5NyHU
And Damian's NYC Rocks TV YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@NYCROCKSTV
Tuesday Oct 17, 2023
Tuesday Oct 17, 2023
On the latest installment of Feckin' Metal, I catch up with George Silano to discuss three more NWOTHM releases from 2023. This time we cover the debut album from Tailgunner "Guns For Hire", the fourth offering from Wytch Hazel "IV Sacrament", and the recent EP from Phantom Spell "Tales From The Black Spire".
We delve deep into each release, offering info on the bands, and opinions on the tracks. Featuring several clips, this episode is ideal for those uninitiated with these artists. I also include a recap from Keep It True Rising III, including an airport mishap on my return to Dublin!
Saturday Sep 02, 2023
Saturday Sep 02, 2023
On the latest episode of Feckin' Metal, Udo Dirkschneider talks about the recent, excellent U.D.O. release "Touchdown". He also discusses reuniting with former bandmate Peter Baltes, working with his son, Sven, and his relationship with Wolf Hoffmann. A legend of heavy metal speaks!
Wednesday Aug 23, 2023
Wednesday Aug 23, 2023
In the second installment of Feckin' NWOTHM, I'm back chatting with George Silano, and we select three releases from 2023 that fall under the New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal banner. We've chosen recent releases by Tanith, Blazon Rite, and Century, giving a nice cross-section of the various styles currently on offer in the NWOTHM scene, featuring many clips and lengthy chat about our chosen releases, and the NWOTHM movement in general. You will also learn the meaning of the word "antepenultimate"! Educational, as always, here at Feckin' Metal.
Friday Aug 04, 2023
Friday Aug 04, 2023
On this episode, I welcome the members of Armstrong Gun, and Feckin' Metal alumni, to participate in the first ever Feckin' Metal Quiz! An idea that's been floating around in my brain for quite a while, and a recording that's been sitting on my hard drive for slightly less time than that. Feel free to play along with Dan, Cameron, and Lewis, as they compete head-to-head (-to-head?) in an interactive quiz to determine the inaugural champion of what I hope to be a regular event. Plenty of questions about Wayne's World, and a lengthy tangent about Black Sabbath, because why not?
Wednesday Jul 26, 2023
Wednesday Jul 26, 2023
On this episode of Feckin' Metal, I chat to Tom Hewson - bass player, main songwriter, and founding member of UK traditional metallers, Tailgunner. You'll likely have heard their name mentioned recently, whether that's due to being touted as the next coming of Def Leppard by KK Downing, or for their upcoming gigs touring the UK, or being on the bill for Keep It True Rising III in October. But how did we come to this? How did this band appear to achieve great success, seemingly overnight? Tom gives the full back story of the group, and reveals what has been happening behind closed doors to get them to where they are today.