The Heavy Desert Podcast

Today on The Heavy Desert Podcast, I welcome vocalist Mehdi Beltaïef, drummer Aziz El Ghoul and bassist Walter Vega of the Tunisian band Shade. These guys forge a fierce, high‑energy blend of alternative rock, stoner grit, and heavy metal. Driven by muscular riffs and detailed, shape‑shifting arrangements, they pull listeners into dense, hypnotic landscapes that erupt with sudden bursts of intensity. Their sound feels both rooted in rock tradition and boldly new.

We dig into everything - from their influences, the backstory and both of their awesome EPs that they released in the span of ten months, 2025’s Under The Distant Suns and 2026’s The Exploitation Tapes.

A killer band that more people need to hear, so make sure to tune in and subscribe!

Today on The Heavy Desert Podcast, Nick and Jake Blevins of two-piece, fuzzed out, doom metal, noise rock band, Arsis Thesis, join the show. They recently released their debut full-length album, Ustanak, on July 31. An album that was put on the back burner seven years ago, has finally seen the light of day, and we dig into it. We also talk about the dynamic of being brothers and how that affects the creative process of the songwriting. They’re also set to perform on December 5th at the Gravitoyd Battle of the Bands for a chance to play at next year’s Gravitoyd Doomfest. It was a pleasure talking with these guys, and I hope you enjoy our conversation as much as I did! Make sure to tune in and subscribe.

Today on The Heavy Desert Podcast, I welcome Dalton Kennerly and Schuyler Kotner of the band Creeper Bud to the show. Creeper Bud is a stoner/doom band out of Carbondale, Illinois set to release its self-titled debut album on September 18 via River To River Community Records, and we dig into it, along with their influences and how they got together. We also talk about the scene in Carbondale and there’s also a little guitar pedal talk, as Dalton talks about some of his favorite go-to pedals to use. We cover a lot, and if you stick around, The Heavy Desert Podcast premiers a new track from the upcoming album! You won’t wanna miss it! Make sure to tune in and subscribe!

Today on The Heavy Desert Podcast, I’m joined by Drew Dupuis of Call of the Beast Radio and Mark Richard of The Jam Yeti Music Blog for a full‑throttle preview of Ripplefest Texas 2026!

We tear through the entire lineup: the bands we can’t wait to see, the ones we’re just discovering, and the heavy hitters guaranteed to level Austin. We also break down what to expect at both venues — Sagebrush and The Far Out Lounge — from the atmosphere to the energy to the kind of frenzy that makes Ripplefest the heavy rock pilgrimage of the year.

Drew gives us the inside scoop on how Call of the Beast plans to make its mark at the fest, and as always, hanging with these guys turns into a blast of riffs, laughs, and pure underground hype.

Ripplefest is almost here, and we’re fired up to get out there and soak in every crushing set.

Tune in and hit subscribe — this episode sets the tone for the whole damn weekend.

*At the time of this recording, Yob was still scheduled to play.

Today on The Heavy Desert Podcast, I welcome guitarist and founding member of Greenleaf, Tommi Holappa to the show. This legendary band has brought so much great music to the scene and we dig into the influences, the backstory and what’s coming up on the horizon. Not to mention after 25 years, they will be making their first trek to North America for a 13-show tour starting in Austin, Texas at Ripplefest on September 20th and wrapping up at In The Key of Doom Fest on October 3rd, in Brooklyn, New York. Not to mention, they’ll be back in late January of 2027, in Las Vegas, Nevada for Planet Desert Rock Weekend. I had a great chat with Tommi who was a blast to have on, so make sure to tune in & subscribe!