Episodes

We sit down with Christine & Paul of All This For Nothing, South Africa's longest-running progressive punk rock band. We hone in on vultures in the music industry, the band's upcoming album Nothing Is Punk Anymore, what it actually takes to build a "no-skip" record, how to pick the perfect lead single, why they left Spotify and what it's cost them, and how album releases have changed since 1998. We also talk about the homogenisation of the alt scene. #southafrica#southafricanbands #...

Ground Up is back for August! Nas and Marcel catch you up on everything that happened in the month of August as well as a bit of July to make up for what we missed talking about. Marcel touches on his experience at that Winterfest and watching the skate community pull through to skate while bands perform, Emalyths July Jol across two stages, and finally getting to catch Man As Machine again after nearly a decade. The lads look into upcoming shows you should be checking out like Durban Rock Cit...

On this episode we take a look at what Shinesh has been up to since his departure from Lefokolodi. He also breaks down the reason behind his departure from the band and how things stand between him and his former band mates. Shinesh gives his honest take on South African artists uploading music on Spotify, and gives us a first hand look at two of his latest projects, Violent Frogs & Oversharingmusician. #SludgeUnderground #SouthAfricanBands #SouthAfricanPodcast Violent Frogs: - Music: https://...

They touch on their experiences with recent European tour as well as what they think it takes for a local South African band to make an international tour a reality. There's also new music in the works, as the boys have been hard at work in the studio working on their new album, touching on the direction the bands taking their music, will there be physical media, and the debate as to what digital ownership actually means. Check it all out and drop your thoughts! Explore our exclusive merch st...

In this episode we sit down with Vince & Sean to unpack their latest single, The Omnificent. We look at the concept behind it, how it came together, and what the band was aiming for with the song. We also look at whether music videos still matter in 2026. The Omnificent: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyw0VImHfEM&list=RDkyw0VImHfEM&start_radio=1 Explore our exclusive merch store for unique and high-quality items inspired by our podcast! From stylish t-shirts to snug beanies, there’s somet...

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 ...

*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 ...

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 com...

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 ne...

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 ...

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 #SceneStori...

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 o...

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 does...

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 ...

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 pas...

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 fo...

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...

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) H...

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...

n this episode of Sludge Underground Marcel has a chat with Ken of DoomTrigger, 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/ Ins...