Exploring the world of 'Sanguivore II: Mistress of Death' with William Von Ghould of Creeper

The sun sets, the moon rises, a vampire rock band comes out of the shadows, and a huntress is hot on their trail on Creeper’s new album Sanguivore II: Mistress of Death. Sanguivore II continues to expand the immersive and theatrical world of 2023’s Sanguivore with new characters, a compelling storyline, and killer tunes. The band’s love of ‘80s rock and metal shines through on arena-sized tracks that showcase their knack for infectious melodies, heavy riffs, and delightfully blood-soaked (and sexy) lyrics. The ‘80s serve as more than just a musical influence as the Satanic Panic infuses the storyline, from references to Anton LaVey and the Church of Satan to the crazed ranting of TV preachers. Drink the blood, keep your head, and turn Sanguivore II: Mistress of Death up loud this Halloween.

Sanguivore II: Mistress of Death will be out on Halloween, October 31, via Spinefarm Records and you can pick up a physical copy right here. Creeper will be touring Europe and the UK starting later this month and will be touring the US with Hawthorne Heights starting in March.

Punknews editor Em Moore caught up with lead vocalist William Von Ghould to talk about the new album, playing with rock tropes, the power of Rocky Horror, and so much more. Read the interview below!

This interview between Em Moore and William Von Ghould took place on October 14, 2025 via Zoom. What follows is a transcription of their conversation that has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Diving into 'The Emptiness of All Things' with Mark of Massa Nera

Listening to an album can be very similar to watching a movie. The instrumentation and lyrics transport you into a different world (or in this case, a world that we are hurtling towards with startling speed) and you become immersed in every aspect of the music. The Emptiness of All Things by Massa Nera is one such album. The band continues to push the boundaries of their sound as they combine elements of screamo, punk, emo, post-hardcore, and sludge metal together to create soundscapes that are both lush and stark, perfectly complementing the visceral nature of the lyrics. The band examines the current state of the world and explores the future that awaits us if this path is continued. They pull no punches as they dive deep into the detrimental effects that capitalism has had (and continues to have) on the environment along with our society, from the rising temperature of the planet to the reawakening of old diseases and the creation of new ones to the growth of fascism.

The Emptiness of All Things will be out digitally on Bandcamp on October 31. It will also be available on vinyl on October via Persistent Vision Records and you can pick that up right here.

Punknews editor Em Moore caught up with drummer, percussionist, keyboardist, and vocalist Mark Boulanger to talk about the album, taking the lyrics in a more literary direction, the absurdity of the modern world, moving away from streaming, and so much more. Read the interview below!

This interview between Em Moore and Mark Boulanger took place on October 7, 2025 via Zoom. What follows is a transcription of their conversation that has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

In conversation with Gabe Colhoff of 1876

Shortly after 1876 formed in 2020, they released the first Pow Wow Punk Rock EP and introduced the world to their mix of punk rock and pow wow music, complete with catchy melodies, hard-hitting pow wow drums, and sick riffs along with lyrics sung in English, Tsitsitsas, and Piikani. They continued to build on this sound with incredibly energetic live shows, singles, and EPs. In September 1876 brought the Pow Wow Punk Rock EP series to a close with Pow Wow Punk Rock IIII. The six songs find the band at the top of their game, whether they are kicking out blistering ska-infused punk on “Dancing on the Enemy” (which features Hans Gruber and the Die Hards), or putting their unique spin on a 49er on “49er? I Barely Knew Her”.

Pow Wow Punk Rock IIII is available everywhere now via F Tiipii Records and you can pick up a digital copy here. 1876 will be touring the US with Subhumans starting on October 25.

Punknews editor Em Moore caught up with lead vocalist and guitarist Gabe Colhoff to talk about bringing the Pow Wow Punk Rock EP series to a close, bringing friends and family into the music, touring with Subhumans, playing with NOFX during their final Portland show, and so much more. Read the interview below!

This interview between Em Moore and Gabe Colhoff took place on October 10 via Zoom. What follows is a transcription of their conversation that has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Finding the funny with Johanna Medranda

Detroit-based comedian Johanna Medranda started doing stand-up 8 years ago and has been making people laugh ever since. Along with doing stand-up, Johanna is a co-founder of Honorary Mentions Comedy, a producer at the Independent Comedy Club, a co-producer (along with Camila Ballario) of Don’t Tell Comedy: Detroit, a co-host (along with Bre Snitchler) of Each Other’s Mothers Podcast, and a co-host (along with Chef Ross Flack) of the YouTube series Mayo Packet.

Johanna Medranda will be playing the Bovine Sex Club in Toronto, Ontario on October 17 as part of Punx Can’t Laugh Fest. You can get your tickets right here.

Punknews editor Em Moore caught up with Johanna to talk about her start in stand-up, the uniting power of comedy and food, performing in Toronto, and so much more. Read the interview below!

This interview between Em Moore and Johanna Medranda took place on September 26 via Zoom. What follows is a transcription of their conversation that has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Photo Credit: Libby O

Talking touring, Canadian influences, and more with John and Shannon of Heart and Lung

Cleveland, Ohio’s Heart and Lung are true veterans of the punk rock grind — a band that’s learned to turn life’s curveballs into fuel for their sound. While their songs often hint at the struggles of everyday life, they deliver them with a sense of joy and resilience that makes it clear they’re still having a blast doing what they love. The self-proclaimed “Midwestern power pop punk boy band” made a mark on the scene with their album Twistin’ The Knife Away back in 2021, and they show no signs of letting up anytime soon.

Heart and Lung will be playing Punx Can’t Laugh Fest on October 17 at the Bovine Sex Club in Toronto, Ontario along with Johanna Medranda, Debt Cemetery, Last Drag, Sixteen Scandals, Nick Fierro, and Jameson Cox. You can get tickets right here.

Punknews writer Mike B caught up with bassist and vocalist John and guitarist and vocalist Shannon to talk about their origin story, fun touring stories, Canadian influences, and so much more. Read the interview below!

Talking Punx Can't Laugh Fest with Gabe Koury

Gabe Koury does it all. Gabe has played in punk bands like Back of the Class and W!NSLOW, does stand-up comedy, creates visual art, and puts on awesome shows, including the punk and comedy show Punx Can’t Laugh. Last year, Punx Can’t Laugh expanded into festival territory with help from Jeremy Dobski, taking over Toronto for three shows over two days. This year, Punx Can’t Laugh Fest will be putting on five rocking shows over the course of four days at venues across the city, including the Bovine Sex Club, Ted’s Collision, and Rainhard Brewery. Punx Can't Laugh Fest runs from October 16-19. You can see the show run-down below the interview.

Punknews editor Em Moore caught up with Gabe to talk about the origin story of Punx Can’t Laugh Fest, the connection between punk and comedy, painting, and so much more. Read the interview below!

This interview between Em Moore and Gabe Koury took place on September 22, 2025 over Zoom. What follows is a transcription of their conversation that has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Talking 'Critical Excess', touring, and more with Brad Manners of School Damage

This year has been full of shows for Toronto-based punk rockers School Damage. They played Western Canada for the first time in almost 15 years in the spring, played with The Spits in Toronto, and they're currently getting ready to play Punx Can’t Laugh Fest. They will be playing the festival on October 18 at the Bovine Sex Club in Toronto with Real Sickies, Snakes, Ashlee Schatze, Jason Allen, Carter Deems, Finn Bogi, Dan Treadway, and Brian Rabadeau. You can grab your tickets right here.

Punknews writer Mike B caught up with guitarist and vocalist Brad Manners to talk about the origin of the band name, their album Critical Excess, running a venue in Toronto, playing Punx Can’t Laugh Fest, future plans, and so much more. Read the interview below!

In conversation with comedian Rush Kazi

Montreal-born, Toronto-based Rush Kazi is a comedic powerhouse. Rush has been making people laugh for over 10 years, whether she’s doing stand-up, sketch, musical comedy, participating in roast battles (some award-winning), acting, or producing hit shows like Asian Comedy All-Stars. With sharp wit and delivery, Rush dives into her Bangladeshi background as well as a multitude of life experiences, including being out as a queer person in the early aughts, the perils of waxing, and dealing with conspiracy theorists.

Rush Kazi will be performing at Punx Can’t Laugh Fest on October 18 at Rainhard Brewing Co. in Toronto and you can get your tickets right here. The next Asian Comedy All-Stars will take place on October 25 at the Rivoli as part of the Comedylicious Festival which runs October 23-27 in Toronto.

Punknews editor Em Moore caught up with Rush to talk about her start in comedy, giving new meaning to the recycling symbol, playing Punx Can’t Laugh Fest, and so much more. Read the interview below!

This interview between Em Moore and Rush Kazi (with appearances by Rush’s dog Loki, who recently got into a fight with a dog named Thor) took place over Zoom on September 17, 2025. What follows is a transcription of their conversation [which is sadly missing the full transcript of the most aggressively Canadian thing that Rush has ever seen (it involved two girls on bikes apologizing to each other repeatedly even though neither had run into the other)] that has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Listen to Smug LLC's new song and read an interview with Drew Thomson!

Today, we are very excited to bring you the premiere of the new song by SMUG LLC! It is called “Exciting Doom” and is off SMUG LLC’s upcoming debut EP New Exciting Doom.

SMUG LLC was formed earlier this year by Drew Thomson of Single Mothers and The Drew Thomson Foundation and finds him exploring a more laptop-based approach to songwriting. We caught up with Drew to talk about “Exciting Doom”, the ever-present sense of doom, kung fu movies, and more.

New Exciting Doom will be out on October 3 via Anxious and Angry and SMUG LLC will be touring the US with Off With Their Heads this fall. Listen to “Exciting Doom” and read our interview with Drew Thomson below!

JER talks their new album 'Death of the Heart'

Last month, JER, the solo project of composer, multi-instrumentalist, and Skatune Network creator Jer Hunter, released their excellent second album Death of the Heart. Following up their 2022 debut album BOTHERED / UNBOTHERED, Death of the Heart finds them diving into new musical territory, both in the genres they explore and the way the album was recorded. Recorded semi-live off the floor for the first time, this album highlights the indomitable energy of the JER band, made up of Elwood Bond, Esteban Flores, Ricky Weber, and Emily Williams. This energy infuses the 15 tracks that make up the album, adding more life to the inventive arrangements that seamlessly blend together elements of ska, punk, hardcore, grunge, emo, reggae, and hip-hop. JER’s songwriting prowess also shines through on the lyrics, which find them tackling topics such as the destructive nature of capitalism, the rapidly changing climate, the worrying rise of apathy, and the necessity of growth with lyrics that pull no punches.

Death of the Heart is available everywhere now via Bad Time Records. You can grab a copy here or here. JER will be heading out on tour starting tomorrow.

Punknews editor Em Moore caught up with Jer Hunter to talk about the new album, recording with a full band, pushing back against moral apathy, the importance of compassion, and so much more. Read the interview below!

This interview between Em Moore and Jer Hunter took place on September 11, 2025 via Zoom. What follows is a transcription of their conversation that has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

In conversation with Tiff Hannay of Rodeo Boys

Earlier this year, Lansing, Michigan-based punk rockers Rodeo Boys released their excellent second album Junior. Punknews writer Bryan “Jonesy” Jones recently caught up with guitarist and vocalist Tiff Hannay to talk about the album, songwriting, Midwest gender nihilism, the importance of having the patience needed to change someone’s mind, and so much more. Read the interview below!