The Downbeat Podcast is an award-winning heavy music podcast featuring in-depth interviews with the biggest names in metal, hardcore, and alternative music. Hosted by Craig Reynolds, The Downbeat explores metal, death metal, black metal, hardcore, and metalcore through long-form, unfiltered conversations with legendary musicians and rising artists. Hear behind-the-scenes stories, songwriting insights, touring life, and honest discussions from across the global heavy music scene. New episodes feature iconic bands, underground favorites, and the voices shaping modern heavy music.
What this show covers
drummingHardlorehardcoreband interviewmetalcoreLouder Than LifeDragonForceArch EnemyBlue MedusaAlissa White-GluzMarrow DeepBrann DailorMastodonvocalsdrums
What listeners will find here
Alissa White-Gluz talks Blue Medusa and building a handpicked supergroup
Alissa White-Gluz joins the show to talk about Blue Medusa, her new project unveiled during a chat at Louder Than Life. The episode centers on how she assembled a lineup of seasoned and fresh musicians after major runs with Arch Enemy and DragonForce.
Brann Dailor on Marrow Deep, drumming roots, vocals, TV, and a clown obsession
Brann Dailor of Mastodon talks about the band’s return with Marrow Deep, their first album since the tragic death of Brent Hinds. The conversation covers the record’s meaning, how it was written and recorded, his path into drumming and vocals, playing on TV, and his fascination with clowns.
Colin Young on grief, grind, Hardlore, and a renewed love of drums
Colin Young talks about balancing Hardlore, Twitching Tongues, and God’s Hate while pushing forward after the loss of Bo Leuders. The episode centers on work ethic, friendship, creative resilience, and how a new EP and Zildjian signing reignited his passion for drums.
Dying Wish swap ghost stories, travel chaos, and dream biopic casting
Dying Wish joins the show for a loose, personality-driven chat about paranormal experiences, a near no-fly-list disaster, and who should play the band in a movie. Expect a mix of spooky stories, tour-adjacent chaos, and playful fan casting.
156/Silence’s Jack Murray unpacks From A Distance and the rise after People Watching
156/Silence vocalist Jack Murray digs into why People Watching became a breakout moment and how From A Distance builds on it as a true successor. The conversation also branches into religion, video games, and the eerie backstory of the band’s mascot, Phillip.
Episodes
More like The Downbeat
THE MORNING SHIFT
THE PEOPLES MEDIA CO.
Joe and Jada
iHeartPodcasts and The Volume
SoundBoardW.com
SoundBoardW
Desert Island Discs
BBC Radio 4
New Rory & MAL
iHeartPodcasts and The Volume
Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard
Armchair Umbrella
Let It Roll
Pantheon Media
Word In Your Ear
Mark Ellen, David Hepworth and Alex Gold
Dig It with Jo Whiley and Zoe Ball
Persephonica
The Joe Budden Podcast
The Joe Budden Network