Backstage Hangs With SPLIT CHAIN

Backstage Hangs With SPLIT CHAIN

Author: HEAVY Magazine January 27, 2026 Duration: 12:40
Interview by Simon Russell-White
Videography and editing by Rashid AlKamraikhi
There’s a phrase you’ll hear repeatedly when in the company of Split Chain: “The Chain does what it wants”. As mantras go, it’s used by the Bristol, UK quintet as a means of encapsulating the broad-minded, unconstrained creative freedom with which they approach their art, as well as a means through which to try to make sense of the sky-rocketing trajectory the band have found themselves on.
Call it instinct, fate, divine intervention, whatever – the whims of ‘The Chain’ have led to a moment where one thing is abundantly clear: Split Chain are one of the hottest, zeitgeist-capturing new bands in the world.
In Australia right now on tour with Better Lovers, this is Split Chains first ever trip Down Under, and this is what HEAVY reviewer and conductor of this interview, Simon Russell-White, thought of their live performance in Brisbane...
"It’s currently 6° Celsius in Bristol, UK, this being the hometown of English rockers Split Chain. If the hot and humid weather in Queensland bothered anyone on stage, then they sure didn’t show it. Split Chain delivers a heavy and emotive set, emotive in the way of musical notation and all out deep feels. Singer “Bert” Martinez-Cowles voice sails through the PA system as the band cruises through their eclectic tracks including stand out (for me) ‘who am i?’ drawing serious attention and crowd participation.
It’s been a whirlwind two plus years for the lads, from playing small hometown shows, to signing with Epitaph soon after now Bert, Jake, Oliver, Tom and Aaron have embarked on their first ever Australian tour, and tonight’s show along with Better Lovers is their first here in the land of Oz. It was special, and the reception the quintet received will surely see them return very soon!"
With three shows left in Melbourne, Belgrave and Adelaide be sure to catch this epic line-up for yourself.


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.

Dive straight into the raw, unfiltered conversations happening behind the amplifiers and drum kits. HEAVY Music Interviews, straight from the team at HEAVY Magazine, pulls you backstage and into the green room for genuine talks with the most compelling voices in rock, punk, metal, and the wider heavy music landscape. This isn't about polished press releases; it's where artists open up about the craft of a crushing riff, the stories behind an iconic album, and the realities of life on the road. Each episode delivers a new perspective, whether it's a legendary frontman reflecting on decades of noise or a breakthrough band explaining their explosive sound. You'll hear the passion and personality that fuels the music, directly from the musicians creating it. For anyone who lives for the energy of a heavy track and wants to know the people behind it, this podcast serves as a regular, essential connection. Tune in for authentic discussions that go far beyond the surface, keeping you directly plugged into the heart of the scene.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 1000

HEAVY Music Interviews
Podcast Episodes
Finishing With A Bang According To BILLY SHEEHAN From MR. BIG [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:12
Interview by Kris PetersMr. Big have been captivating music lovers since their inception in 1988 with an irresistible blending of rock and blues music that is as infectious as it is beautiful to hear.After releasing thei…
Laying Down The Gauntlet With SAM BEAN From WEREWOLVES [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:53
Interview by Kris PetersIf you used only the sheer brutality of their music as a guide, it would be easy and highly probable to imagine Werewolves to be a serious metal band. Their music is soul-destroying and intense, p…
Devil's In The Detail With SKINNY From MUSHROOMHEAD [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:19
Interview by Kris PetersThere are very few bands in the world of music that push themselves to the extremes like Mushroomhead.Their music draws from pretty much all genres of metal known to man, with sprinkles of punk, h…
Finding Your Muse With JOSHUA O'DONNELL From BANKS ARCADE [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:58
Interview by Kris PetersNew Zealand-hailing, Melbourne-based heavy outfit Banks Arcade have always been a band who colour just outside the lines of acceptance, believing their fresh and unique outlook on the accepted par…
Divine Intervention With JAKE TAYLOR From IN HEARTS WAKE [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:00
Interview by Kris PetersMusical bonds forged over many years in the industry are almost an essential part of surviving and thriving in the cut-throat world of music.While friends and fans come and go, the mutual respect…
Turning Time Against Itself With MIKE IX From EYEHATEGOD [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:47
Interview by Kris PetersHeavy metal and blues music have a long history that is ignored by some and refuted by others, but when push comes to shove there can be no denying the two genres can not only co-exist in the same…
Sugar & Spice With JAY GORDON And CARLTON BOST From ORGY [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:14
Interview by Kris PetersIt's hard to believe that two of rocks biggest musical exports of the last quarter of a century have never toured Australia before. With a combined tenancy of 50 years, ORGY and COLD are loved and…
A Pleasurable Pain With SAM SPADE From THE MIDNIGHT DEVILS [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:44
Interview by Kris PetersIn a world where the lines between light and shade are being constantly shifted, it is refreshing to come across a band who embrace life to its fullest while still enjoying the many and varied exc…
Honour, Metal & Respect With NEVILLE PEARCE From SNAKE MOUNTAIN [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:09
Interview by Kris PetersThey say good things come to those who wait, and if that's the case, Gold Coast melodic technical death metal outfit Snake Mountain have some damn fine times ahead of them.Rather than trying to fo…