GBHBL Interviews

Interview: Finding My True Self - Damien Cain on Standarte and A Legendary Career

Damien Cain is an Ireland-based independent artist whose music blends melancholic alt-rock, gothic undertones, and a cinematic sense of storytelling. Active since the late 1980s, he first gained underground recognition with his progressive art-rock project Celtic Crypt and later with CAIN – whose 2000 single ‘Age of Darkness’ sold over 250,000 copies and earned the Impala Diamond Award. Over the years, Cain has collaborated with artists ranging from Sir Christopher Lee to Wayne Hussey (The Mission), and developed a signature sound rooted in emotion, atmosphere and poetic darkness. Now living in Co. Laois, Ireland, Cain returns with his new album ‘Standarte’, his most personal work to date. Mixed and mastered at Hellfire Studios in Dublin, the record brings together international musicians and explores the line between alt-rock, soft rock, darkwave, and melodic hard rock. ‘Standarte’ marks both a continuation and a rebirth: three decades of stories carried forward into a new era. We had the pleasure of speaking with Damien about his new album, the creative process behind it, his extensive career, and so much more. Find out more here: https://www.damiencain.com/ Website: https://gbhbl.com/ LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/gbhbl Ko-Fi (Buy us a coffee): https://ko-fi.com/gbhbl Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GBHBL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gbhbl/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/gbhbl.com Threads: https://www.threads.net/@gbhbl Contact: gbhblofficial@gmail.com Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/gbhbl Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5A4toGR0qap5zfoR4cIIBo Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/hr/podcast/the-gbhbl-podcasts/id1350465865 Intro/Outro music created by HexedRiffsStudios YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKSpZ6roX36WaFWwQ73Cbbg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hexedriffsstudio

Interview: It's Time to Thrash - Talking Dead Flesh Rising with Guitarist/Vocalist Rafal of Hellmaze

Interview: It's Time to Thrash - Talking Dead Flesh Rising with Guitarist/Vocalist Rafal of Hellmaze by Games, Brrraaains & A Head-Banging Life

Interview: Fighting Words - Talking Blood of the Bull with Danny (Vocals) of Upon A Burning Body

Groove metal Texans, Upon a Burning Body, are back with their brand-new album, ‘Blood of the Bull’. Released on December 5th, 2025. On the one hand, Upon a Burning Body keep it really simple here. Delivering a bevy of riff-based groove-infused metal with slamming tendencies. Whereas on the other hand, this is up there as one of their most experimental releases to date. Finding the band exploring metalcore territories and delivering poppier choruses. It’s a fascinating listen, thirty-odd minutes of varied, but familiar, metal that has plenty of banging moments, with just the occasional misstep here and there. Read the full review here: https://www.gbhbl.com/album-review-upon-a-burning-body-blood-of-the-bull-self-released/ We spoke to vocalist Danny Leal about the new album and how Upon A Burning Body are in a much better place now they have gone independent. We talk about their evolution, the challenges around touring abroad, and much more. Find out more here: https://www.uabbtx.com/ Website: https://gbhbl.com/ LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/gbhbl Ko-Fi (Buy us a coffee): https://ko-fi.com/gbhbl Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GBHBL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gbhbl/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/gbhbl.com Threads: https://www.threads.net/@gbhbl Contact: gbhblofficial@gmail.com Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/gbhbl Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5A4toGR0qap5zfoR4cIIBo Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/hr/podcast/the-gbhbl-podcasts/id1350465865 Intro/Outro music created by HexedRiffsStudios YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKSpZ6roX36WaFWwQ73Cbbg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hexedriffsstudio

Interview: Back & Bolder Than Ever - Talking Genotype with Uri Dijk of Textures

It’s been six long years, but the impossible has happened, Dutch progressive metal innovators Textures are back with ‘Genotype’. Serving as the conceptual counterpart to 2016’s acclaimed Phenotype, the new album arrives January 23rd, 2026, on the band’s new label home, Kscope. It's all about evolution, which in progressive rock really shouldn’t be that much of a surprise, but the new layers that Textures offer here will divide to some degree. This is the Textures you know, but they’ve grown that bit more and found a array of new soundscapes to explore. Resulting in a dynamic listen that captures the imagination. Read the full review here: https://www.gbhbl.com/album-review-textures-genotype-kscope/ We spoke to keyboardist Uri Dijk about the new album, the Textures return, growth from within the band and from a personal perspective, the creative highs and lows, and so much more. Find out more here: https://texturesband.com/ Website: https://gbhbl.com/ LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/gbhbl Ko-Fi (Buy us a coffee): https://ko-fi.com/gbhbl Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GBHBL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gbhbl/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/gbhbl.com Threads: https://www.threads.net/@gbhbl Contact: gbhblofficial@gmail.com Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/gbhbl Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5A4toGR0qap5zfoR4cIIBo Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/hr/podcast/the-gbhbl-podcasts/id1350465865 Intro/Outro music created by HexedRiffsStudios YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKSpZ6roX36WaFWwQ73Cbbg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hexedriffsstudio

Interview: The Hara - Raw and Exposed: The Fallout

Out on January 23rd, 2026, via Mascot Records, ‘The Fallout’ is the new album from the Manchester alt-rock band, The HARA. The HARA’s ability to fit neatly within the alternative rock scene, while having a wider sound base that draws from varied genres, has always made them special. Yet, there’s an argument that they’ve been missing a little something that could help transform them into giants of the scene. Something that nobody really knew they were missing until now. That something is authenticity. It does feel like they’ve reached a whole new level here, and all because it has the potential to connect with a broader audience. Read the full review here: https://www.gbhbl.com/album-review-the-hara-the-fallout-mascot-records/ We spoke to the band about the new album, digging into the story of its creation and how THE HARA have naturally evolved to find themselves in a more open and honest place. Find out more here: https://theharaband.com/ Website: https://gbhbl.com/ LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/gbhbl Ko-Fi (Buy us a coffee): https://ko-fi.com/gbhbl Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GBHBL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gbhbl/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/gbhbl.com Threads: https://www.threads.net/@gbhbl Contact: gbhblofficial@gmail.com Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/gbhbl Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5A4toGR0qap5zfoR4cIIBo Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/hr/podcast/the-gbhbl-podcasts/id1350465865 Intro/Outro music created by HexedRiffsStudios YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKSpZ6roX36WaFWwQ73Cbbg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hexedriffsstudio