And Now The Band

About And Now The Band

And Now The Band is a podcast focused on music mainly in the Rock or Metal realm. With a love of music of all sorts, there is a heavy emphasis on the underground variety. Tom (the Host) spends his time going to shows all over, watching bands play in front of crowds from no one to 10s of thousands of people. Join the conversation and learn about some bands you may never have heard of without this show. Life is an experience, don't forget to enjoy it.

Publisher

Heavy Music

Category

music

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

25 Dec 2023

Latest episode

19 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

410 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   19 Oct 2026

   EP395 Greg Sheriff, Voidward: Extreme Metal, Double Kick, Improvisation & Making Music Without Rules

   Greg discusses his latest musical projects and the evolution of Voidward, including his desire to create extreme metal built around wall-to-wall double-kick drumming, blast beats and unapologetically fast playing. For Greg, the music represents reaching a point where he can simply play the way he wants without feeling restricted by conventional expectations. The conversation also explores Nobility and Death, Greg's ongoing series of extreme-metal releases. He describes the latest material as an “Extreme Metal Fantasia,” combining elements of black metal, death metal, progressive experimentation, clean vocals and increasingly unconventional arrangements. Tom and Greg even get into the free-jazz-like ideas appearing toward the end of some of the material and how Greg uses repeating riffs as frameworks for the musicians to improvise around. Greg also talks about his interest in reimagining jazz standards through a grindy extreme-metal approach, potentially taking material such as “Autumn Leaves” into completely different musical territory. The discussion moves through the underground music community, including Doomsday Prophet, Legalize Lex, Holler at Doom and Hufferfest, along with the challenges of coordinating recording projects around touring and band members' schedules. With drummer Noah currently in Perth, Australia until December, Voidward's next recording plans may not happen until January. Tom and Greg also discuss the unique atmosphere of Holler at Doom, a camping and music event in the woods, as well as the unpredictable moments that can happen when musicians take the stage. Another major topic is how bands should release music in the modern era. Greg reveals that the band has approximately a double album's worth of material, including the possibility of a four-song cycle. Tom and Greg discuss the growing popularity of singles and shorter release cycles while comparing today's music landscape with the era of classic full-length albums. Technology has also changed the way musicians create and distribute music. The conversation explores how modern recording technology has removed many traditional gatekeepers and allowed artists to choose between singles, EPs, full-length albums and other formats based on what works for their music. Tom and Greg dive deep into vinyl and physical media, including the ritual of listening to records and the different ways people connect with music. Tom discusses his own record collection of roughly 1,200 albums, while Greg explains why he has intentionally tried not to let collecting get out of control. Their conversation touches on artists and recordings including Sun Ra, Chopin and Pig Destroyer. The episode also gets into the business side of being an independent heavy band. Tom and Greg brainstorm unconventional merchandise ideas and discuss how creative merch can become another part of a band's identity. For Voidward, they talk about merchandise that fits the band's progressive psychedelic stoner-metal aesthetic and the potential for custom dugouts through Tokmage. Ultimately, EP395 is about the freedom to experiment—whether that means extreme metal, jazz interpreted through grind, extended improvisation, unusual release strategies, vinyl collecting or creative merchandise. Topics Covered: Voidward • Greg Sheriff • Extreme Metal • Death Metal • Black Metal • Progressive Metal • Double Kick • Blast Beats • Improvisation • Nobility and Death • Jazz Meets Grind • Underground Metal • Holler at Doom • Hufferfest • Legalize Lex • Vinyl Records • Physical Media • Independent Music • Band Merchandise • Psychedelic Stoner Metal • Music Technology And Now The Band — EP395 Featuring: Greg Sheriff / Voidward Genres: Extreme Metal / Progressive Metal / Psychedelic Stoner Metal / Experimental Music #UndergroundMetal #HollerAtDoom #Hufferfest #LegalizeLex #VinylRecords #PhysicalMedia #IndependentMusic #HeavyMusic #MetalPodcast #MusicPodcast

2. 

   16 Oct 2026

   EP394 Gates of Kiev: Progressive Rock, Improvisation, Amsterdam & the Sound of ‘Gates of Kiev’

   Tom sits down with Hessel and Tomas of Gates of Kiev to talk about the band’s musical journey, their evolution from teenage musicians into a more serious and adventurous project, and the unique sound behind their self titled album. Gates of Kiev began when Hessel and Tomas were around 18, eventually taking a five-year break before returning with a renewed commitment to the band. Their earliest rehearsals already contained ideas that would eventually become part of “Cosmic Chronograph,” giving a glimpse into how their sound developed over time. The conversation dives deep into the band's songwriting and performance process. Gates of Kiev often begin with long jam sessions and improvisation, but those initial ideas can evolve dramatically over months of development. Live, they approach their songs as structured improvisations—keeping the framework of the recorded material while allowing each performance to take on its own character. Tom and the band also discuss creating a huge, layered sound without a traditional guitar player, using keyboards, organ, bass, drums and other textures to build their music. Although Gates of Kiev features intricate studio layering, the band's live shows are driven by intensity, energy and the chemistry between the musicians. Their music crosses boundaries between progressive rock, garage rock, punk and underground heavy music, something that has helped them connect with audiences outside traditional progressive-rock circles. The band talks about playing Amsterdam's underground scene, performing for younger audiences, and why today's listeners seem increasingly open to musicians who refuse to stay inside one genre. Hessel and Tomas also reflect on their earliest shows, the painful reality of hearing recordings from those performances, and the importance of continuing to grow rather than settling for what you've already accomplished. They discuss the balance between technical development, creative experimentation and simply keeping music fun. The addition of bassist Eszl has also opened up new possibilities for Gates of Kiev, including his contribution to the concept behind “Drunkship of the Mice.” The band explains why they intentionally leave some imperfections in their recordings to preserve a raw, human and live feeling rather than chasing sterile perfection. The conversation also covers vintage equipment, finding the right stage setup, audience reactions, the challenges of performing experimental music, and Gates of Kiev's plans for the future—including their November 11 release show in Amsterdam and their hopes of eventually bringing their music to the United States. Topics Covered: Gates of Kiev • Tales of Ion • “Cosmic Chronograph” • “The Drunkship of the Mice” • Progressive Rock • Garage Rock • Punk • Improvisation • Experimental Music • Amsterdam Music Scene • Underground Music • Live Performance • Songwriting • Vintage Equipment • Independent Music And Now The Band — EP394 Featuring: Gates of Kiev — Hessel & Tomas Album: Self-Titled Genre: Progressive / Experimental / Underground Rock #GatesOfKiev #TalesOfIon #AndNowTheBand #ProgressiveRock #ExperimentalRock #GarageRock #PunkRock #Improvisation #AmsterdamMusic #UndergroundMusic #HeavyMusic #IndependentMusic #ProgressiveMusic #LiveMusic #EmersonLakePalmer #ELP

3. 

   12 Oct 2026

   EP393 Jon Andre of Hempire: USS Indianapolis, Jaws, New EP & Taking Hempire on the Road

   On EP393 of And Now The Band, Tom sits down with Jon Andre of Hempire to talk about the band's new EP, the story and sounds behind it, physical media, touring, and the challenges of building a heavy music band in today's underground scene. The new Hempire EP draws inspiration from the USS Indianapolis disaster and the movie Jaws, giving the release a distinctly dark and atmospheric theme. Jon explains how the band incorporated unusual sounds into the recordings, including car crash samples and sonar pings, to help build the atmosphere around the music. The EP's artwork was created by Hempire's friend Dave Hood, adding another layer to the visual identity of the release. Jon and Tom also discuss Hempire's plans for physical releases. The band is starting with CDs after looking at the current local market, while holding off on vinyl until there is enough demand to make a pressing worthwhile. A cassette release is also being considered. The conversation gets into the changing physical-media market, with Tom and Jon discussing how economic conditions have affected record sales while CDs and tapes have seen renewed interest because they remain relatively affordable and easy to store. Touring is another major focus. Hempire has been building its regional presence, recently purchasing a van to make traveling more manageable, and is looking toward new markets—particularly the Northeast. Jon explains the importance of strategically booking shows and why Hempire is interested in being the middle band on a bill rather than always trying to headline. For a touring band, getting in front of the right audience can matter more than being at the top of the poster. Hempire is also preparing for an upcoming October run, including a October 24th show at Wild's Last Resort in Whitesburg, Kentucky, as part of the Halloween Hootenanny. Tom and Jon discuss the importance of younger audiences to the future of live music, how concert experiences change as you get older, and why finding the right balance between comfort and being in the middle of the action becomes increasingly important. The conversation also travels outside music, with Jon talking about Asheville, North Carolina, outdoor activities, Boone, regional tourism, and the differences between music scenes in places such as North Carolina, Vermont, Maine and Arkansas. They compare larger festivals like Louder Than Life with smaller community-driven events and discuss why certain regional scenes can thrive even when major touring acts don't regularly visit. Tom and Jon also talk about Hempire's future, including the possibility of expanding into new territories while maintaining relationships with promoters, venues and audiences they've already built. From the USS Indianapolis and Jaws-inspired concept behind the new EP to physical media, touring strategy, Asheville's music scene and the realities of reaching new audiences, EP393 is a conversation about where Hempire came from—and where they're going next. 🎙️ And Now The Band — EP393 ⚓ Jon Andre — Hempire 🎵 Sealed By The Sea EP 🦈 USS Indianapolis • Jaws • Horror-Inspired Heavy Music 📅 October 24 — Wild's Last Resort, Whitesburg, Kentucky #Hempire #JonAndre #AndNowTheBand #HempireEP #USSIndianapolis #Jaws #HeavyMusic #Metal #DoomMetal #DeathDoom #UndergroundMetal #KentuckyMetal #AshevilleMusic #WhitesburgKY #HalloweenHootenanny #LouderThanLife #PhysicalMedia #VinylRecords #Cassette #CD #MetalPodcast #MusicPodcast #LouisvilleMusic

Who has been a guest on And Now The Band

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Samu
• Mike Sugars
• Greg March
• Steve
• Aaron

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

872,242

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

5 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 79 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

99

Social presence

0

YouTube

86

Engagement

60

Contact And Now The Band

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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