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
Wednesday Jul 20, 2022
Wednesday Jul 20, 2022
Your favourite educated fools are back to bring you the fourth installment in our review of Iron Maiden's eleventh studio album, Virtual XI. This one includes listener feedback on the last two episodes, and contains much soul-searching from both Andrew and I.
Thursday Jul 14, 2022
Thursday Jul 14, 2022
Feckin' Metal has finally returned, and on this installment I speak to Jeff Crossdale, lead singer of Dublin-based heavy rock band Strangers With Guns. Jeff discusses the Irish music scene in depth, and what it's like to be in a gigging, local band. We talk about the concept of paying dues in the music industry, not getting paid for gigs, dodgy promoters, and unsavoury establishments. We also cover the song-writing process and take a close look at some lyrics and song meanings. This was a fascinating look at music on a local level, and should be of interest to any aspiring rockers!
Sunday Jun 05, 2022
Sunday Jun 05, 2022
Making his third appearance on Feckin' Metal, is a man who wears many hats in the music industry - musician, band manager, record label owner, and festival promoter, Jarvis Leatherby. In this chat we discuss the machinations of a music festival like Frost and Fireland or Hell's Heroes, and some of the politics that go with it. Should "legacy" bands be given prime billing due to their past glories? Is it time to take a punt on younger bands in the headlining slots? Can we make lunchtime slots a thing where a band plays their hit song and then leaves??
We also discuss the recent Night Demon beer launch, whether or not Jarvis has Bruce Dickinson Syndrome, bands being accessible to fans and whether that's a good or a bad thing, and lots more. Let's spread the word on the home strait and help make Frost and Fireland a huge success!
Tuesday May 31, 2022
Tuesday May 31, 2022
The Virtual Eleven play on, as Andrew and I examine the next song on the album "When Two Worlds Collide". Don't be quick to dismiss this track as a dud. There's a lot going on beneath the surface!
Tuesday May 17, 2022
Tuesday May 17, 2022
In a temporary departure from my Virtual XI series, I interview Andy, creator of the Book of Skulls table top board game, which has strong ties to heavy metal. Learn about how the germ of the idea came about from watching an episode of Community, and allow Andy to guide you through the entire creative process of developing a board game, an app, and a heavy metal soundtrack to go with it! Something truly different for Feckin' Metal, which I found absolutely fascinating.
Saturday May 14, 2022
Saturday May 14, 2022
It's Part 2, or maybe II, of my Virtual XI review with everyone's favourite Canadian Andrew DuBroy. Prepare yourselves for alternate takes on "Lightning Strikes Twice" and "The Clansman", and a truncated Irish history lesson!
Friday Apr 29, 2022
Friday Apr 29, 2022
In Part 1 one of this three-parter, I welcome back Andrew DuBroy, whom regular listeners will remember from our Senjutsu review series back in November 2021. This episode covers some relevant Iron Maiden history, our own initial experiences with this album, analysis of the first two tracks, and copious quantities of shenanigans and tomfoolery. Expect Steve Harris and Blaze Bayley impressions galore, as Andrew and I put on our VR headsets and immerse ourselves in 1998's Virtual XI!
Monday Mar 28, 2022
Monday Mar 28, 2022
In this episode, I review the recent Unto Others gig from Whelan's, in Dublin, Ireland, on the 14th of March. I also look ahead to upcoming festivals and gigs on my calendar for 2022, with a specific focus on Hell's Heroes IV in Houston, Texas in April. On top of that, I take a look at recent releases from Saxon, (the) Scorpions, Ghost, and Sabaton. And last but not least, I take a look at recent news items from the heavy metal world that have piqued my interest, featuring Black Sabbath, Dio, Thin Lizzy, and Judas Priest. Enjoy!
Tuesday Mar 15, 2022
Tuesday Mar 15, 2022
Join me, Ferg, as I continue my quest to find great heavy metal, both old and new. After departing from Sweden, I've stopped off in Portland, Oregon, United States, to check in with the gothic metal band Unto Others, previously know as Idle Hands. This episode examines songs across the discography of the band, delving into lyrical themes and arriving all sorts of conclusions. The quest continues!
Tuesday Feb 22, 2022
Tuesday Feb 22, 2022
In this episode, I delve deep into the obscure, Swedish, 80s metal band Universe, and their follow-up band from the 2010s - Universe Infinity. If you've never listened to the self-titled album from 1985, you're in for a treat. A true hidden gem of 1980s heavy metal. The question is, when they returned to the stage (and the studio) in the late 2010s, could they live up to this fantastic debut? Join me on Installment 2 of Ferg's Quest to find out!