The Metal Cell Podcast

This is a update for Spotify and other streaming sites featuring Solothurn instead of the Shortest Straw clip that somehow made it onto the Solothurn 381 episode.

Emerging from Belfast's thriving underground scene, Solothurn return to The Metal Cell Podcast to discuss their brilliant new EP, High Priestess. This isn't just another release—it's a significant step forward in the band's development.

We discuss the evolution of Solothurn's sound, the writing and recording process, working with acclaimed artist October Midnight on the EP artwork. This is a thoughtful and wide-ranging conversation about heavy music, creativity, the world around us and why High Priestess represents the band's darkest and most ambitious release to date.

Featuring:

• Ryan Adair – Vocals

• Dee Cleland – Rhythm Guitar

• Jamie Wright – Lead Guitar

• Marty Elley – Drums

Band Link:

https://solothurn.bandcamp.com

If you're a fan of Tool, Mastodon, Alice In Chains, atmospheric sludge, progressive metal and check Solothurn out.

Subscribe to The Metal Cell Podcast for more interviews with the best artists from Ireland and beyond.

Solothurn #HighPriestess #TheMetalCellPodcast #IrishMetal #NorthernIrelandMetal #ProgressiveMetal #SludgeMetal #DoomMetal #Tool #Mastodon #AliceInChains

Cian (Riffs/Vocals) & Emmett (Bass) of Bucket talk to Letty Sharp of The Metal Cell podcast before their show supporting Knocked Loose at a sold out The Academy in Dublin June 23rd 2026.

Bucket are one of the most exciting bands to emerge from the Dublin underground in recent years. They sit at the crossroads of punk, noise rock, hardcore and industrial intensity rather than traditional metal. Think of them as existing in the same broad ecosystem that produced bands like Gilla Band, but with a younger, more abrasive DIY energy.

Mosaic was released on 29 April 2026 via A Baker's Dozen and is the follow-up to their debut EP Muck (2025). It contains five tracks and represents a significant evolution in their sound, incorporating more electronic textures, breakbeat influences and ambitious song structures while retaining the band's trademark noise-rock intensity.

Band link:

https://bucket.band

This week on The Metal Cell Podcast, Richie sits down with Paul O'Rourke (Vocals), Brian Gribben (Guitar), Daryl Hill (Bass) and Lucas Todesco (Drums) from Belfast heavyweights Shortest Straw.

With their debut EP A New Normal arriving on 11 August, the band discuss far more than breakdowns and blast beats. They reflect on finding their identity, balancing aggression with honesty, writing songs with purpose and building a band that values authenticity over imitation.

The conversation explores the creative process behind the EP, working with producer Josh Sid Robinson (JSR Audio), the realities of starting a heavy band in 2026, preparing for their Irish tour with Dead Mob and Carynx, and why live performance remains the heartbeat of Shortest Straw.

Upcoming Shows:

• 03 August – Limelight 2 supporting Vio-Lence

• 20 August – Ulster Sports Club, Belfast

• 21 August – Sin É, Dublin

• 22 August – Fred Zeppelins, Cork

• 24 October – Northern Dissonance, Limelight 2, Belfast

Shortest Straw link:

https://linktr.ee/shorteststrawuk

If you enjoy discovering the stories behind Ireland's heavy music scene, don't forget to Like, Subscribe and Share.

I was delighted with Liam Hughes (Vocals) and Gerard O'Callaghan (Drums) from Cork's atmospheric blackened doom metal force Soothsayer for an in-depth conversation recorded in person at The Metal Cell Studios.

Following the release of their stunning second album, The Unbinding, we go far beyond the usual album-cycle interview. Together we explore the philosophy, symbolism and deeply personal experiences that shaped one of the most compelling Irish metal releases of 2026.

We also delve into Liam's connection with India and Hindu mythology, the recurring themes of hope, uncertainty and transformation, and why The Unbinding asks listeners to embrace difficult questions rather than easy answers.

Ger also discusses creating the remarkable cover artwork, revealing how the painting unexpectedly became the perfect visual companion to the album's themes of leaving familiarity behind and stepping into the unknown.

Soothsayer links:

Ablum:

https://apocalypticwitchcraft.bandcamp.com

https://www.facebook.com/soothsayerdoom