Episodes

This week on Sludge Underground @Thorns_Of_Sludge shares his experience at Misty Waters Music Festival. This festival was nothing short of a love letter to artist, festival goers, anda most importantly music lovers. Hired along as a second shooter he was front and center for all 27 bands who played seeing familiar faces but also a ton of new ones. This was one of the most diverse lineups imaginable from artists within Indie, electronic, blues, rock, punk to almost everything inbetween. Here's a ...

*Disclaimer: This episode is a little late and some of the events mentioned have already passed. This week on Sludge we Introduce our newest host Rowan, joining Marcel for the first time on the May episode of GroundUp. They dive into the wave of AI generated posters, music, and art that has the Cape Town scene divided. We're also proud to introduce SAHARA, the South African Heavy/Alternative Release Archive, a project Rowan and Meagan have been working on behind the scenes, aimed at d...

This is the story of one of South Africa's most promising hip-hop artists, filmed at the places that made him. We start at PEGG's high school, where he found hip-hop, fell in love with drama, and met the late Simon of PosterBoy. We end off at Dropkick Murphy's, the venue where he won an open mic that led to a Cotton Fest mixtape feature and a life-changing performance. PEGG breaks down: Why Glenwood's brotherhood shaped him The Alt vs Hip-Hop venue problem in Durban What makes a lyrici...

Reegan (Facing The Gallows), Myke (Your Cynical Sanity) and Dwayne (Sunken State) open with mic technique, then dive into bands and albums that inspired them to become metal vocalists. The boys cite bands like Bring Me The Horizon, Slipknot, We Butter The Bread With Butter, Infant Annihilator, and more. Later in the episode: Defending Nickelback, listing underrated bands, calling out overrated bands and vocalists, (Ronnie Radke, 90s vocalists, Cradle Of Filth), picking which South African band t...

Your monthly GroundUp for April is here! The segment where Nasiphi and Marcel cover whats been happening within the local music scene. From events like the @GhastZA National Breakdown tour or the @WalkTheseSkiesOfficial Pray For Cyanide show at Railways to upcoming shows like Devilnest's Venom at The Werehouse and Misty Waters Music Festival. They look over some of the new release's from the likes of @moshmallowband and @ManAsMachineTV Nas and Marcel get into a discussion about The Doors communi...

This week Marcel sits down with Vulvodynia guitarist Luke Haarhoff to chat about the band and where it's at. Dropping into what's on everyones mind, the open auditons to be Vulvodynia's new vocalist. What are they looking for? Who will take the role and finally free Lwandile from his unending side quest? We get into some tour stories and some of the wildest experiences the band has had, from a close call in Turkey to a wholesome experience in China. Luke also fills us in on Arson Theory, a new m...

From his involvement in the scene as far back as the early 2000s, his roots with prolific bands like The Overmind and Divine Affliction, and his present successes with Imperious Vision, Deven has solidified his place as a local scene legend, at a relatively young age. On this episode we discuss: South African Metal: Whether it's in a better place now than "back in the day" Wacken Metal Battle: We break down Imperious Vision's recent victory at the Durban heat New Music: We get updates on the upc...

Have you ever wondered where all the alternative Afrikaans music is? This week Marcel does a deep dive into the new wave of Afrikaans alternative artists that have been popping up. Who are these artists, why Afrikaans, and what was the history leading up to this point? From the origins of Afrikaans Alt traced back to Koos Kombuis, the lasting impact made by Fokofpolisiekar, DJ's getting into fist fights over demo's, to the artists shaping the sound today. Texx And The City Arti...

This week we're bringing you something new! Introducing a new segment hosted by three of South Africa's best metal vocalists. Join in as they talk about their favourite gateway bands, backstage stories, best shows, and more! Let us know what you think in the comments! Would you like to see more of Myke, Dwayne, and Reegan? Explore our exclusive merch store for unique and high-quality items inspired by our podcast! From stylish t-shirts to snug beanies, there’s something for every listene...

March saw a bunch of releases and events across the country within the alternative and metal scene! This month on Ground Up Marcel and Brynn touch on some of the interesting happenings within the scene: Orange County's IGNITE playing on South African shores for the first time, new releases from Moondaygun, The Fismits, The Medicine Dolls, And Sunken State, as well as chat in depth about bands and their output. Video Edited by: Marcel Smuts #SouthAfricanMetal #SouthAfricanBands #South...

After two decades of silence, Plum made their comeback in 2025, and they’re louder, wiser, and ready to reclaim their place in South Africa’s alternative scene. In this episode, Nasiphi sits down with Warren to unpack the band’s return, the underground legacy they left behind, and the fire that brought them back together. From wild 90s gigs to their current and future plans, this is Plum like you’ve never seen them before! #PlumReturns #SouthAfricanBands #BandComeback #MusicPodcast #SceneStories...

This week on Sludge Underground Marcel talks to Brett from ‪@igniteband‬ leading up to the bands debut appearance in South Africa. Join in as they chat about the band meeting Fuzigish's Malcom at Punk Rock Holiday in Slovenia, the bands over 30 year run, and stories from a band that's played in over 50 countries in its lifetime. Let us know who you'd like to see come to South Africa next! Edited by Marcel Smuts. Explore our exclusive merch store for unique and high-quality items inspired by our ...

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 Calabash, the success of Emalyth Fest, and the latest releases from Sonder The Africanime, Mouse, and Lucy Kruger. We're also joined by Myke Taylor of Devilnest/Your Cynical Sanity, who gives us a recap of their Durban show featuring heavyweights DOOMTRIGGER & No Closure. It doesn'...

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 touching vocals, and his pre-Sunken State days with links to MoshMallow bassist Reinhardt. Dwayne talks about how he met Mat Swanepoel and how Sunken State's OG lineup was formed. The episode also looks at Dwayne's nuanced views of cancel culture within the South African al...

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 it seems. 🎤 We put YOUR questions directly to Sash, giving you the answers you’ve been waiting for. Plus, we explore what Emalyth and the Wacken Metal Battle South Africa have lined up for 2026, and what it means for the future of heavy music in South Africa If you’re passi...

Marcel catches up with ⁨@PAGES_DOOM⁩ to chat about the recenet release of their album No More Can Be Done. Diving into themes of existential dread, geopolitical despair, environmental decay and raw emotion. Join in as we chat about the bands evolution, the importance of physical media, and how art as a meduim makes it's way into their music. Explore our exclusive merch store for unique and high-quality items inspired by our podcast! From stylish t-shirts to snug beanies, there’s something for ev...

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 of 2026. #SouthAfrica #SouthAfricanPodcast #SouthAfricanBands #SludgeUnderground Explore our exclusive merch store for unique and high-quality items inspired by our podcast! From stylish t-shirts to snug beanies, there’s something for every listener. Show your support and g...

Marcel sat down with Eli of Skrikkeljaar, an upcoming emo pop punk band with the added twist of being in afrikaans. Eli details his journey as a musician, the influences that shaped the bands sound, and the impact he hopes to have on those around him. Don't miss out on learning more about one of the South African scenes most promising newcomers. Explore our exclusive merch store for unique and high-quality items inspired by our podcast! From stylish t-shirts to snug beanies, there’s something fo...

Marcel sits down with Dierbaar, an alternative Afrikaans band from Stellenbosch, to dig into what drives their unique sound and message. We talk about why they chose to make alternative music in Afrikaans, the themes most artists shy away from, and their experience working with ‪@Afrikalt‬ . If you’re interested in the new wave of Afrikaans alternative music, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss. Explore our exclusive merch store for unique and high-quality items inspired by our podcast...

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 celebration of South African alternative and heavy music. Not everything went smoothly, sound issues hit hard during Vulvodynia’s set, but The Narrow and Facing the Gallows brought things right back, setting the stage for an unforgettable headliner: The Devil Wears Prada. For m...

From small dive bars and underground venues to the people keeping the alternative flame alive, this video dives into the heart of South Africa’s alternative and metal scene. We explore the venues, promoters, content creators, and bands that make this community what it is. Whether you’re a fan, a musician, or just curious about the scene, this is your crash course into finding your own way into South Africa’s alternative music world. 🎥 Special feature: The Headbanging Panda (CPT Metal Realm) Here...

This week we're catching up with Savannah Vermaak, A live sound engineer based in Cape Town South Africa. She Goes over experiences working within the scene, the educational content she's creating on her platform, and a behind the scenes look at one of the most important factors in live music, the sound. Explore our exclusive merch store for unique and high-quality items inspired by our podcast! From stylish t-shirts to snug beanies, there’s something for every listener. Show your suppo...

This week we're chatting to Kavesh Vello, The organizer of Music For Palestine, Joined by Berty of the band Necklace. We dive into the motivations behind the event, the bands playing, and the organizations involved. #punkrock #punk #palestine #fundraising #livemusic #giftofthegivers Website https://www.sludgeunderground.com Merch https://sludgeunderground.store/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sludgeunderground TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@sludgeunderground YouTube https://www.youtube.com/...

n this episode of Sludge Underground Marcel has a chat with Ken of D oomTrigger, one of Cape Towns most promising Metalcore bands. They dive into the bands formation, the impressive ground they've covered over the bands short time since exploding onto the scene, and the themes and messages behind their music. #doomtrigger #bandinterview #metalcore #capetown #capetownmusic #southafricanmusic #southafricanmetal Website https://www.sludgeunderground.com Merch https://sludgeunderground.store/ Instag...