087 - Garrett Smith - Guitarist for Reflection of Flesh
Welcome back to Season 13 of the Metal Chick Podcast!
I am kicking things off with Garrett Smith from one of my favorite local metal bands, Reflection of Flesh.
Garrett and I talk about the band's history, their thrash groove metal sound, his journey from trumpet and skateboarding to guitar, and the albums and musicians that influenced him along the way.
We also talk about Reflection of Flesh's new music, including their latest single "Souls Rain Fire," the upcoming EP, and what they have planned for getting back out on the road.
And of course, we talk Manitowoc Metal Fest at Petskull Brewing, where Reflection of Flesh is opening the main stage on Friday. With a killer lineup and a growing reputation as a destination for metal, this is one festival you definitely want to check out.
Garrett and I also discuss touring, their massive production setup, their infamous weather curse, and why the band believes in quality over quantity when it comes to playing live.
This was a hell of a fun conversation and a great way to kick off Season 13!
Make sure you check out Reflection of Flesh, listen to their music, follow them on social media and go see them live.
12 Mar 2026
086 - Andrew Balistreri & Aaron Lane
In this episode of the Metal Chick Podcast, I'm hanging out at the bar with Andrew Balistreri from Thrasher and Aaron Lane from Aces High, and honestly the conversation starts before I even officially introduce them. Sometimes the best interviews happen that way.
We jump right into talking about the music that shaped us growing up, especially the late 80s when albums like …And Justice for All and Seventh Son of a Seventh Son were everywhere and MTV was still playing metal videos. That era had a huge influence on Andrew and the kind of music he still loves playing today.
The real reason we're hanging out is to talk about the big metal weekend coming up March 13th and 14th. I've been recording interviews with several of the bands and people involved to help highlight the shows, and this one focuses on the Saturday night lineup.
Andrew explains how the March 14 show actually turned into his birthday show. He was looking for a venue around his birthday, and when he started talking with Aaron they realized Aces High was already booked for that night. It made perfect sense to combine forces and turn it into a Thrasher and Aces High double bill.
Both guys talk about how well the two bands fit together. Thrasher focuses on classic thrash metal, covering bands like Slayer, Megadeth, Metallica, Testament, Anthrax, and Sepultura, while Aces High is a full-on tribute to Iron Maiden. The crossover between those fan bases makes for a killer crowd whenever the bands play together.
We also get into the topic of setlists and deep cuts. Aaron talks about how Aces High mixes well-known Maiden songs with some deeper tracks that even Iron Maiden doesn't always play live anymore. Andrew shares how Thrasher used to play a lot of obscure European thrash bands early on but eventually shifted toward more recognizable songs so the crowd could really connect with the set.
At one point I asked both of them if they ever think about doing original music instead of tribute bands. Aaron tells a great story about trying that years ago and deciding it just wasn't for him. Andrew, on the other hand, still records original material occasionally as a fun side project with friends, but says his schedule is already packed with everything else he's doing.
Of course we circle back to the upcoming show and what people can expect. It's shaping up to be a really fun night of classic metal with two bands that bring a ton of energy to the stage.
If you're a fan of thrash, Iron Maiden, or just loud metal in general, this is definitely a show you won't want to miss.
Links:
March 14 Event at Da Bar
10 Mar 2026
085 - Chris Oelke - Drummer for Reflection of Flesh
In this week's episode of the Metal Chick Podcast I sat down with Chris Oelke from the Milwaukee brutal metal band Reflection of Flesh. Chris and I have known each other for years through the Milwaukee metal scene, so this conversation felt like catching up with an old friend while talking about everything happening with the band right now.
We talk about their brand new single Souls Reign Fire, which just dropped on Friday the 13th. Chris explains the writing process behind the song, why the band spent nearly a year working on it, and how they approached creating a longer track that still keeps listeners engaged from start to finish.
We also get into touring life as an independent metal band. Chris shares stories from the road, including how the band upgraded from sleeping in vans to traveling in an RV and trailer setup so they can tour more comfortably while still keeping costs down. Reflection of Flesh has already toured across more than two dozen states and they are getting ready to hit the road again for a multi state tour through Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, California, and Utah.
Another topic we dig into is the global metal community. Chris talks about the band's surprising international following, including fans in places like Indonesia and South America, and how metal really is a universal language that connects people all over the world.
Of course we also talk about their upcoming Milwaukee show on March 13, 2026 at Da Bar in West Allis and the bands on the bill.
If you love heavy music, independent bands, and hearing what it really takes to keep a metal band moving forward, this episode is a fun behind the scenes look at the grind of the modern metal scene.
Listen to the new single:
Souls Reign Fire
You can listen to Souls Reign Fire now and follow Reflection of Flesh at the links below:
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/ReflectionofFlesh
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/reflectionofflesh
Bandcamp:
https://reflectionofflesh.bandcamp.com
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/reflection-of-flesh
Apple Music:
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/reflection-of-flesh/1436362398
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/c/reflectionoffleshofficial
Linktree:
https://linktr.ee/reflectionofflesh.official
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
100
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 53 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
80
Social presence
0
YouTube
66
Engagement
0
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