Johannesburg Episodes

February was jam packed full of highs and lows across the South African alternative and metal scene, we're breaking it all down! On this episode, Marcel & Nasiphi recap the month's biggest stories: The cancellation of Calabas...

Step into the mind of Sunken State frontman Dwayne Hees in this unfiltered episode of Sludge Underground. We look at his journey, having grown up in an Afrikaans household in Rustenburg, starting out as a vocalist before even...

What really happens after Wacken Open Air? In this episode, we dive deep into the challenges South African bands face after representing the country in Germany, and why breaking out internationally isn’t as straightforward as...

Join the boys as they look back at the best South African band releases and events of 2025. From memorable gigs to standout music releases, they highlight their favourites and share a glimpse of what's coming in the remainder...

Ramfest 2025 was everything we’ve been waiting for. From Bongloard’s wild energy and Sunken State’s chaos (gorilla suit included), to Jack Parow proving he absolutely belongs on a heavy lineup, this festival was a full-on cel...

Johannesburg boys Sunken State have a chat with Marcel about their highly anticipated EP Hunting Ghosts, Finding Demons dropping on the 18th of July. Join in as they dive into their process, the story behind the Ep, and the d...

In this explosive interview, we dive into how Alana Britz became the digital force behind Emalyth, Metal4Africa, and Wacken Metal Battle Sub-Saharan Africa, helping shape the online identity of Africa’s loudest metal festival...

Pretoria boys No Closure recently made it onto the Ramfest lineup consisting of headlining act The Devil Wears Prada in South Africa. We chat about the metalcore/hardcore scene in Pretoria, the diversity in South African live...

Marcel has a chat with Seb and Dylan of ⁨@indiedogband⁩ Join in as they chat about the bands love of touring, the stories behind their music videos and their dream to become the best rock band in the world Explore our exclusi...

EP392: We're chatting to Ashley of Lower Hollow on this episode. We're looking at where the band started, band member departures, the future of the band, and more. #sludgeunderground #southafricanband #lowerhollow #southafric...

EP380: The 2025 Wacken Metal Battle South Africa is underway. Here Marcel catches up with the winners of the second heat Walk These Skies. They share their thoughts on their win, the show, and the prospects of potentially rep...

EP379: In this engaging interview, Qü shares his thoughts on whether Johannesburg remains the entertainment capital of South Africa and discusses the impact of social media on emerging artists. We look at the challenges faced...

Marcel had a chat with two members of one of South Africa's newest up and coming bands. Sam and Matt detail the origin of the band as well as their extensive history within the scene. From the days of Tempo's, Thornsfest, and...

EP373: Starting off 2025 with a bang Marcel dives into the age old question of is heavy music dying out in South Africa. Listen in as he shares his thoughts from being a part of the scene as well as interviewing dozens of loc...

EP370: In today's episode Marcel has a chat with arguably one of the most influential people behind the South African music scene. From post-show videos to music videos NotRussellCrow has helped capture an era of the South Af...

EP365: Sean and Zainab are two experienced media professionals who have started Midnight Eneregy to fill a gap in the South African scene. Join in as they chat about what they can do for artists, music videos in the making, a...

EP360: On this episode we get valuable insight from Wessel, the creative mind behind Dystopia, who opens up about the trials and triumphs of running a music blog in an ever-evolving digital age, and how SEO and historical arc...

EP356: Join us as we take a deep dive into Jasper Dan's latest single 'Mama Voodoo' & more! Support the Show. Help us continue making great content for listeners everywhere by subscribing to Sludge Underground Podcast + Websi...

EP355: MaxX & Love, the electrifying music duo from South Africa, take us on an unforgettable journey behind the scenes of their debut album, "These Blues Might Get You Too." Through candid conversations, they reveal the pain...

EP353: Meagan chats to Ashley, Chad, Trystan & Benjamin from hardcore/metal band - Lower Hollow . They speak about rebuilding their lineup, solidifying their sound & trading tracks on tour. The band discusses getting hybrid i...

EP352: Marcel catches up with the boys from Ruff Majik and talks about their most recent tour, Merch sales, and run-ins with local police. This ones a wild ride so buckle in Help us continue making great content for listeners...

EP351: Meagan chats to Mark Biagio from Indie Alt-Rock band - The Fismits . They discuss the unsigned heroes of the 90’s, measuring progress & balancing life’s equations. Mark opens up about sharpening his storyteller skills,...

EP350: Marcel has a chat with Brandon Render of Middle Grounds about the bands conception and rapid growth into one of the giants of the South African metal scene. Going on to win the sub Saharan Africa battle for Wacken and...

Let us know what you thought of this episode and we’ll put it up on our pages✍️ EP345: Marcel has a chat with local hyper-pop Artist Daisy Arson. Support the Show. Help us continue making great content for listeners everywher...