In this episode of Ampocalypse, Damian FitzGerald is joined by Tony West of Blacklist Union to explore the stories and scars behind the band’s latest album Slay The Dragon. Fresh from the record’s release, Tony opens up about personal trauma, loss, healing, and how music became both catharsis and confrontation. It’s an honest conversation about transformation, resilience, and finding strength through rock and roll.

We also dive into Tony’s time in the Amazon jungle with the Shipibo tribe, where ayahuasca ceremonies and spiritual discovery reshaped his outlook on life and creativity. From confronting inner demons to accepting chaos in a fractured world, he explains how these experiences directly influenced his songwriting and the emotional depth of Slay The Dragon.

Then the big red button is pushed and the Ampocalypse arrives. With civilisation collapsing and nature reclaiming the earth, would Tony’s real-world jungle experience give him the edge?

🤘 Like, share and subscribe for more in-depth conversations with rock and metal artists — and drop a comment telling us how YOU would survive your own Ampocalypse and who you’d like to see face it next.

Videographer: Damian FitzGerald

Editor: Damian FitzGerald

Producer: Damian FitzGerald

#Ampocalypse #TonyWest #BlacklistUnion #SlayTheDragon #RockPodcast #MusicInterview #HardRock #AmazonJungle #Shipibo #Ayahuasca #Apocalypse

Social links

Band socials:

https://blacklistunion.com

https://www.instagram.com/blacklistunionofficial/

https://www.facebook.com/BlacklistUnionRocks/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxZvz3BE8RtN8NenLZ67ARw

V13 Media:

https://v13.net

https://twitter.com/v13media

https://www.instagram.com/v13media/

https://www.facebook.com/v13media

https://soundcloud.com/v13media

Damian FitzGerald:

https://v13.net/author/damian_fitzgerald/

https://twitter.com/damolition82

https://www.instagram.com/damolition82/

https://www.facebook.com/damian.fitzgerald1/

https://www.threads.net/@damolition82

Chapters

00:00 Welcome to Ampocalypse

01:30 Releasing 'Slay the Dragon'

03:51 Healing Through Music

08:32 Ayahuasca Journeys and Spiritual Insights

19:39 Surviving the Apocalypse

23:15 Messages for the Future

In this episode of Ampocalypse, Damian FitzGerald is joined by Brodie Maguire of Mother Vulture to discuss the release of their new album Cartoon Violence, the evolution of the band’s sound, and the realities of navigating modern music distribution in today’s industry.

The conversation explores the impact of their recent singles, the high-energy creative process behind the video for Treadmill, and what their endorsement with Gretsch Guitars means for the band’s identity and future direction. Brodie also shares his thoughts on the growing presence of AI in music and how artists can remain authentic in an increasingly digital landscape.

As always, the Ampocalypse then hits. In the second half, we find out how Brodie and Mother Vulture would survive when everything falls apart — from chaos and collapse to complete musical mayhem.

🤘 If you enjoyed this episode, like, share and subscribe — and tell us in the comments how you would survive this Ampocalypse and what scenario you’d like to hear next!

Hashtags

#Ampocalypse #MotherVulture #BrodieMaguire #CartoonViolence #Treadmill #GretschGuitars #RockPodcast #MetalPodcast #NewMusic #BandInterview #MusicIndustry

Videographer: Damian FitzGerald

Editor: Damian FitzGerald

Producer: Damian FitzGerald

Social links

Band socials:

https://www.instagram.com/mother_vulture/?hl=en

https://www.facebook.com/MotherVulture/?locale=en_GB

https://www.youtube.com/@mothervulture

V13 Media:

https://v13.net

https://twitter.com/v13media

https://www.instagram.com/v13media/

https://www.facebook.com/v13media

https://soundcloud.com/v13media

Damian FitzGerald:

https://v13.net/author/damian_fitzgerald/

https://twitter.com/damolition82

https://www.instagram.com/damolition82/

https://www.facebook.com/damian.fitzgerald1/

https://www.threads.net/@damolition82

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Mother Vulture and Cartoon Violence

03:03 Exploring the Singles: Knuckles, Phoenix, Treadmill, and Slow Down

05:58 The Evolution of Mother Vulture's Sound

09:13 The Treadmill Music Video Experience

11:55 Partnership with Gretsch Guitars

15:06 Anticipation for the Cartoon Violence Headline Tour

17:49 The Challenges of Modern Music Distribution

21:07 Concerns About AI in Music

24:04 Surviving the Apocalypse: A Fun Segment

In this episode of Ampocalypse, Damian FitzGerald is joined by The HARA for a deep dive into their latest album The Fallout. The band open up about the emotional weight behind the record, exploring the personal experiences, honesty, and intensity that drive their songwriting and define their sound.

The conversation unpacks their collaboration with vocalist Bethany Hunter of As December Falls, discussing how working together shaped the album’s themes and added a new dynamic to the material. The HARA reflect on how vulnerability and shared experiences have become a powerful creative force, helping The Fallout stand out as their most open and emotionally resonant release to date.

The band also talk about their rise within the alternative and rock scene, the cathartic release of performing live, and what the future holds as they continue to build momentum. And, of course, no Ampocalypse episode would be complete without throwing them into a hypothetical end-of-the-world scenario — debating the ultimate apocalypse soundtrack and how they’d face humanity’s final moments with humour, chaos, and loud guitars.

🤘 Like, share, and subscribe to Ampocalypse for more music conversations and end-of-the-world scenarios. Let us know in the comments how you’d survive this Ampocalypse — and which one we should unleash next.

#Ampocalypse #TheHARA #TheFallout #BethanyHunter #AsDecemberFalls #RockPodcast #AlternativeRock #MusicInterview #NewAlbum #UKRock #IndieRock #PodcastInterview #ApocalypseSoundtrack

Videographer: Damian FitzGerald

Editor: Damian FitzGerald

Producer: Damian FitzGerald

Social links

Band socials:

https://theharaband.com

https://www.instagram.com/theharaband/?hl=en

https://www.facebook.com/TheHaraBand/?locale=en_GB

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCuuikTrH6UAlI0kmLQAt7A

V13 Media:

https://v13.net

https://twitter.com/v13media

https://www.instagram.com/v13media/

https://www.facebook.com/v13media

https://soundcloud.com/v13media

Damian FitzGerald:

https://v13.net/author/damian_fitzgerald/

https://twitter.com/damolition82

https://www.instagram.com/damolition82/

https://www.facebook.com/damian.fitzgerald1/

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to The Hurrah and Their New Album

02:06 The Story Behind 'Violence' and Collaboration with Bethany

05:50 Personal Experiences Influencing Songwriting

07:12 The Rawness of 'The Fallout' Album

09:19 Confronting Self-Doubt Through Music

11:18 The Journey of Rising Through the Ranks

13:14 Choosing Singles from 'The Fallout'

15:37 The Catharsis of Performing Personal Songs Live

16:52 Experiences from Recent Tours

18:01 Future Plans for The Hurrah

20:07 Imagining an Apocalypse Soundtrack

21:26 Survival Strategies in a Zombie Apocalypse

22:50 Legacy of The Hurrah Post-Apocalypse