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Catching up with Maria Lessing of Future Palace again was a reminder of just how much the band has evolved over the past few years. With "Resurgence" now out via Century Media Records, we talked about the emotional weight behind the album, embracing growth without losing the band's identity, and why this record feels like both its darkest and most hopeful chapter yet.

We also got into Future Palace's willingness to push beyond genre boundaries, balancing vulnerability with resilience, and how Maria continues to use music as a way to confront difficult emotions while creating something that connects with others. From mental health and creative evolution to life beyond the stage, this was an honest conversation with one of the most compelling voices in modern heavy music.

Stay connected with Future Palace, visit: https://future-palace.com/, https://www.instagram.com/futurepalaceofficial/, and https://www.facebook.com/futurepalace/

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From shaping the worlds of God of War Ragnarök, The Walking Dead, Battlestar Galactica, and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power to creating one entirely his own, it was an absolute privilege to spend some time with Bear McCreary. We talked about “The Singularity: Ekleipsis,” due out July 31 via Sparks & Shadows Records, and what it meant to step beyond composing for other stories to build a universe driven completely by his own creative vision.

We also explored Bear's incredible range of influences behind the record, bringing together progressive metal, cinematic storytelling, folk traditions, and an all-star lineup of collaborators into something uniquely his own. From the difference between composing and being an artist to the challenge of translating a project this ambitious to the live stage, this was a conversation about fearless creativity, constantly pushing boundaries, and never being afraid to build something entirely new.

Stay connected with Bear McCreary, visit: https://bearmccreary.com/, https://www.instagram.com/bearmccreary, and https://www.facebook.com/BearMcCrearyOfficial/

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Ten years in the making, Prairie feels like the record David Osterhout had been chasing since the earliest days of Bike Routes. We caught up with David to talk about finally bringing that vision to life, the influence of growing up in New Jersey, and how home can be both the place that shapes us and the place we spend a lifetime trying to understand.

We also dive into the incredible range of influences behind Bike Routes—from Bruce Springsteen and My Chemical Romance to death metal, literature, and everything in between—and how those worlds naturally coexist in his songwriting. It’s a conversation about identity, perseverance, and the creative journey that ultimately led to Prairie. One of more underrated albums of the year is out now via Blue Grape Records.

Stay connected with Bike Routes, visit: https://bikeroutesnj.com/, https://www.instagram.com/bikeroutesnj/ and https://www.facebook.com/BikeRoutesNJ/

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Some records don't just tell stories—they open old rooms and invite you inside. In the latest edition of IUF, Lynsey Ward and Jonny Knight of Exploring Birdsong discuss "Every House We Built," the band's debut album out now via Long Branch Records. The conversation explores the years-long journey behind the record, using houses as a metaphor for relationships, and why this became their most personal and vulnerable collection of songs to date.

What makes Exploring Birdsong so compelling is their refusal to fit neatly into one category. Progressive rock, cinematic arrangements, alternative textures, and pop sensibilities all coexist while never losing sight of the emotion at the center of the music. This episode dives into heartbreak, grief, resilience, and the beauty of embracing what makes a band truly unique. If you've been searching for a band that feels both ambitious and deeply human, Exploring Birdsong might just be your next obsession.

One of the most unique pieces of work you will hear in 2026. "Every House We Built" is out now worldwide via Long Branch Records.

Stay connected with Exploring Birdsong, visit: https://exploringbirdsong.com/, https://www.instagram.com/exploringbirdsong/ and https://www.facebook.com/ExploringBirdsong/

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Always the black sheep.

We recently welcomed Diva Satanica of Bloodhunter back to IUF to talk about Sons of the Abandoned, and one topic kept finding its way to the center of the conversation: identity. We discussed taking a more vulnerable approach to songwriting, confronting inner struggles through music, and the challenge of being completely honest with yourself in a genre that often looks outward rather than inward.

What stood out was how fearlessly she approached these subjects. Rather than looking for easy answers, Sons of the Abandoned embraces uncertainty, personal growth, and the uncomfortable realities that shape who we become.

Stay connected with Bloodhunter, visit: https://www.bloodhunter.net/home, https://www.instagram.com/bloodhunterband/, and https://www.facebook.com/BLOODHUNTEROfficial/

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On a humid May afternoon in Dallas, we caught up with Ross Dolan, Bob Vigna, and Alex Bouks of Immolation at the tail end of the Godless IV Tour alongside Behemoth, Deicide, and Rotting Christ. Nearly four decades into their career, Immolation continue to prove why they've remained one of the most respected and uncompromising forces in death metal.

Beyond discussing their newest album, Descent, we also talked about the energy surrounding this tour and the shared excitement that both the bands and fans have brought to every stop. Night after night, venues were packed with longtime supporters standing shoulder to shoulder with a younger generation discovering these legendary bands for the first time. It was a reminder that extreme metal is as passionate and connected as ever. We also dug into Immolation's longevity, Bob's unmistakable guitar style, and how the band has spent 38 years staying true to its vision while continuing to push forward.

Stay connected with Immolation, visit: https://www.immolation.info/, https://www.instagram.com/immolation_band/ and https://www.facebook.com/immolation/

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Symphonic metal veterans Amberian Dawn are entering a completely new era, and we had the chance to talk with founder Tuomas Seppälä and new vocalist Nicole Willerton about everything behind Temptation’s Gates, out June 26 via Napalm Records. Hearing Tuomas reflect on the band’s evolution since 2006 — and the renewed creative spark behind this record — really put this next chapter into perspective.

We got into Nicole stepping into such an established band, the creative chemistry that shaped this album, and the emotional depth running throughout the record’s themes of desire, fear, melancholy, and self-discovery. From explosive heaviness to massive symphonic hooks, Temptation’s Gates feels like Amberian Dawn pushing themselves into bold new territory while still staying true to who they are.

Stay connected with Amberian Dawn, visit: https://amberiandawn.com/, https://www.instagram.com/amberiandawn/ and https://www.facebook.com/amberiandawn/

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We’re joined by John Dillon and Max Codoceo of CODE:WORDS to Interview Under Fire to talk about the band’s rapid rise, signing with The Artery Foundation, and the emotional weight behind tracks like “Limerence” and “All Consuming.” For a band that’s only been around since 2023, CODE:WORDS already feels like something much bigger — blending melody, electronics, and heaviness into a sound that feels both modern and deeply personal.

We also get into the themes driving the music — obsession, burnout, emotional exhaustion, and self-preservation — along with the creative process behind building a band that wants people to feel something. Beyond the atmosphere and massive hooks, there’s a real sense of honesty at the core of what they’re creating, and it genuinely feels like they’re only beginning to scratch the surface of where this band can go.

Stay connected with CODE:WORDS, visit: https://www.codewordscult.com/, https://www.instagram.com/codewordsmusic/ and https://www.facebook.com/Codewordsmusic/

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