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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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Piper Ferrari of Roman Candle joins us on IUF to break down the band’s debut full-length Unadulterated, out now via Sumerian Records. Born out of a moment where the band nearly called it quits, this record feels less like a debut and more like survival — raw, unfiltered, and emotionally uncompromising. We get into that turning point, the chaos that shaped the album, and how tracks like “Nothing Is Original” set the tone for everything that followed.

From confronting OCD and religious trauma on “Can We Watch Something Happy?” to pulling lyrical influence from voices like Sylvia Plath and Virginia Woolf, Piper opens up about writing without filters and treating lyrics as poetry. We also touch on creative control behind the self-produced record, navigating identity in hardcore, and balancing intensity with catharsis — all while building something entirely their own. Unadulterated is out now worldwide.

Stay connected with Roman Candle, visit: https://sumerianrecords.com/collections/roman-candle and https://www.instagram.com/romancandlex/

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Shawna Potter returns for her third appearance on Interview Under Fire as we dive into War On Women’s upcoming fifth studio album, Time Under Tension, out May 8 via Smartpunk Records. We discuss the urgency and vulnerability behind the new material, the evolution of the band’s sound, returning to the road, and what makes this next chapter feel especially energized.

We also explore Shawna’s work beyond the band — from creating safer spaces and advocacy to her work as an intimacy coordinator, author, and podcast host — and how those experiences shape her perspective as both an artist and activist. Alongside the emotional weight of songs like “Messages Unsent,” this conversation touches on music, growth, and community with one of punk’s most thoughtful voices. War On Women’s Time Under Tension arrives May 8.

Stay connected with War On Women, visit: https://www.bridge9.com/waronwomen, https://www.instagram.com/waronwomen/, and https://www.facebook.com/WarOnWomen/

Shawna's work outside of WOW: https://shawnapotter.com/

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We caught up with Haste the Day guitarist Scott Whelan to discuss Dissenter, the band’s seventh full-length album, out now via Solid State Records. In our conversation, we explored the significance of returning with their first new record since Coward, how the band rekindled its purpose following reunion performances, and how Dissenter balances Haste the Day’s signature heaviness with a more cinematic, layered scope.

We also talked about the album’s themes of cycles, collapse, and reflection, the collaboration with Garrett Russell, and what it means for a band more than two decades deep to feel creatively reborn. From legacy and perspective to what lies ahead, this was a candid look at a band entering a powerful new chapter.

Stay connected with Haste The Day, visit: https://hastetheday.com/, https://www.instagram.com/hastethedayofficial/, and https://www.facebook.com/hastetheday/

Stay connected with IUF, visit: https://interviewunderfire.com/