Vigorously with Val Kleinhans

In this edition of New Music Friday, Chas Huff introduces us to alt-metal project Get Out Alive - and its purpose. 

Simply put, the mission of Get Out Alive is to leave anyone who listens feeling better than they were before. You might also find that it's the perfect remedy for a mental health struggle, and your nostalgic 00s loving heart. Something Chas also touches on this episode.

Get ready to meet Get Out Alive and stay ahead of a new EP on the way.

STREAM G...

Identity Crisis are solidifying themselves as the grunge band you need to know - but how is Gen Z receiving them?

Val and lead vocalist Reece Gonzales deep dive into why Identity Crisis is resonating on all cylinders - globally and generationally. They also discuss the Starve EP and what's next musically. Hint: it might just be an album.

Val and Reece get into it all.

Get more Identity Crisis: 

https://www.identitycrisisofficial.com/

STREAM Starve:

https://ffm.to/i...

Our very first edition of New Music Friday features DARKSTXR. 

The boys chat with Val about the rollout process for their new project, their first single "EVERGREEN" their upcoming debut show in South Carolina, why more bands should glaze each other.

Get more DARKSTXR: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6EUsHqEocZmF9w0hjmEErM?si=4Cvmp9pUTomk6CiIt59VOQ

DARKSTXR Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedarkstxr/

Get more Val at https://valkleinhans.com/

Mastodon have been through the wringer lately with the passing of guitarist Brent Hinds. 

While addressing "The Mastodon in The Room" and discussing a new album and era for the band, Val dissects what we can learn from the group about processing tragedy and ponders what calls for a band to take on a new identity entirely. 

Get more Val at https://valkleinhans.com/

Some of the best elements of Xandria include those famous cinematic and symphonic moments we know and love. 

In this episode, Val chats with Marco Heubaum about the sonic evolution of the band, why the album still matters, and what to expect from their brand new release Eclipse coming Friday.

STREAM Eclipse: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1jzIEzXVJ4p1kFDmio6LEL?si=Q_F7OjR6T16D6oT1SDLYqQ

Get more Xandria: https://www.xandria.de/

Get more Val at https://valkleinhans.com/

40 years later, the legendary Prong is still fighting thanks to vocalist and guitarist Tommy Victor. 

In this episode, Val and Tommy celebrate the release of Prong's first self-titled album coming in November. Val and Tommy also dive into current trends in music, how Prong gave Rob Zombie his directorial debut, the importance of being willing to experiment in music, and what's next for the band.

Stream Prong: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6SER9tY2pDIDVWVf5Ql97B?si=OjhQOmP7SKml3rwMum35OA

Prong Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p...

It's never easy learning a loved one might be on the opposite end of the political spectrum. XBYRDX might just have the remedy for this dagger in his music - in his new album Anthems For The End Times.

Val and XBYRDX chat about the importance of using artistry to make a statement.

Get more XBYRDX: https://www.instagram.com/xbyrdxmusic/

STREAM Anthems For The End Times: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6YTaWI5Nk358TPiZAhkPWv?si=c5M8lskySG-M53FE77z7kw

Get more Val at...

Val and Joey Vesely of Trace Remains reminisce about their hometown (Pittsburgh), the new Zero Hour EP, and the importance of flexibility when adapting to the ever changing music industry.

Stream the Zero Hour EP: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5xnmynY7Zj625B0XAuwU2h?si=7-1F20HGTRKp4g1WwuFc9w

Get more Trace Remains: https://www.instagram.com/traceremains/?hl=en

Get more Val at https://valkleinhans.com/

Yungblud and Bad Wolves have made the news in the rock and metal scene throughout the early part of this month for a variety of reasons. One is under fire for getting vulnerable. The other is getting mixed reviews as they announce a new era with a new single - something they’ve done a lot in their career. They’re each experiencing two different scenarios right now, but they have one thing in common - they’re both dealing with questions of legitimacy, continuity and audience expectations. 

Val thinks they’re caught between t...

Welcome to a new Tuesday and Thursday schedule for the pod!

In this first Tuesday guest episode, Val chats with Vicky Psarakis of Sicksense about whether or not the range actually helps with Call of Duty play, AI ethics, and the upcoming Funerals EP that mirrors all the thoughts that surround these moments.

PRE-ORDER the Funerals EP: https://ffm.to/sicksense-funerals

Get more Sicksense: https://sicksense.com/

Get more Val at https://valkleinhans.com/

When the world seems to be working against you, Beautiful Skeletons have learned that those are the times to bond together that much tighter when accomplishing a goal. 

Val chats with Tina Firefly about music industry challenges, working with legend Ulrich Wild, and the haunted experiences shared while putting the upcoming album Pulse Line Scar together.

STREAM Beautiful Skeletons: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6dZD3pOhLSVUZCXLFRwwpd?si=CQV4_j-7Q7aVY7L4gHmEeA

Beautiful Skeletons Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/beautiful_sk...

We’re officially in festival season right now, and every year, somebody somewhere is disappointed when severe weather happens and a show has to either be cut short or is canceled altogether. But what exactly happens when this process unfolds? What does it actually take for a show to be cut short or canceled due to severe weather? Who makes that call? And why does it feel like they sometimes make that call too late? How do you make a decision in the middle of all this when you’ve got your own feelings in the way?

Val...

Is delulu the solulu? If you ask Døuble Identity, the answer just might be yes! In life, and creativity! 

Val chats with twins Arden and Courtney about their new single "Kiss Me Again" and how it came to be, why boys make for good subject matter as artists, show safety, and the frustrations that come with navigating the world as a young adult. 

Get more Døuble Identity: https://www.instagram.com/doubleidentityband/

STREAM "KISS ME AGAIN" : https://open.spotify.com/artist/6pdssHgpeHiTKzHlmGvGVW?si=S0QIZZDSRw6REbnCQb8gaA<...

In today's edition of the divorce no one saw coming, Val dissects the divorce announcement coming from Jelly Roll and Bunnie Xo. 

Does divorce impact public figures differently? Why do fans receive this news the way they do? Can we learn anything from their situation to help us navigate divorce better?

Let’s get into the subject of divorce, vigorously.

When anyone gets divorced, it’s a messy, uncomfortable moment that is filled with mixed emotions - and not just between the couple involved, but everyone else in their orbit...

Trash metal is kept alive in South Dakota by Exhausted.

What is the scene in Sioux Falls like? Best moments from Milwaukee Metal Fest? In a world where it seems core is taking over, is trash still viable? How are band members balancing family life, work life, and everything being in a band requires? 

Val, Doug, and Michael cover it all in celebration of the Down To The Wire EP out Friday, June 26th.

Get more Exhausted: https://open.spotify.com/artist/66dtZ1Ny9vDcoYwUg3wj96?s...

If anyone is having an interesting Pride Month, it's certainly Caleb Shomo of Beartooth.

Val dissects the recent interview Caleb gave on Disrespectfully with Katie Maloney and Dayna Kathan, and quickly discerns that there's a bigger conversation to be had in response to Caleb's news.

Get more Val at https://valkleinhans.com/

Depression and anxiety are not things to play with, but sometimes, finding humor in the absurd just might be the cure.

This episode with Jonah from Milk St. examines how to turn those tough moments into seriously funny lyrics that carry us through when nothing else will. 

WATCH THE "JUST SO" VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m44iFJ6hI0A&list=RDm44iFJ6hI0A&start_radio=1

Get more Milk St.: https://www.instagram.com/milkstband/

Get more Val at ht...

It's Florida, but this episode doesn't get weird. It gets historical... with a side of pirates, and a little bit of Hollywood. Welcome to the world of Blood Of Angels. 

They chat their world travels, what lessons they've learned while diving into the history of where they've been, and the new album Les Agnst ov Thanatou out June 21st.

Get more Blood Of Angels: https://www.instagram.com/bloodofangels

Get more Val at https://valkleinhans.com/

What actually is an industry plant? Why are Castle Rat and Angine de Poitrine facing accusations of being ones? Are we throwing around these labels too quickly?

Val gets into he industry plant of it all this episode. 

Get more Val at https://valkleinhans.com/

If you're a band trying to blow up, this is the episode you need to listen to. 

Is there a reason that there's such a focus on lead singers? Or, is that strategic branding? What is the best way to market and book your band?

Mikey Dunn of Who They Fear chats about balancing booking as a booking agent, the current climate of the music industry, doing the work when you don't feel like doing it, and Maryland metalcore. 

Get more Who They Fear: https://linktr.ee/whotheyfear?ut...

Who knew AI was so controversial? Kidding... we all did... except for Butcher Babies.

Heidi Shepherd's AI video post had fans seriously disappointed last week, and Val does a deep dive into the backlash and weighs whether we're missing important and valid concerns surrounding the use of AI.

We also chat about the news from Beartooth singer Caleb Shomo that broke the internet over the weekend. It really shouldn't have been such a topic of discussion, but it was. Do you think divorce impacts more than just the couple involved? Val...

There's a few secrets to a successful breakdown in deathcore, and if anyone has figured them out, it just might be Gouged. 

Take a listen to their journey, find out why breakdowns are hitting right now, and learn how The Bee Movie influenced their newest single "Unholy Perversion of Nature" which is out now.

Get more Gouged: https://www.instagram.com/gougedpnw/

Stream Gouged: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5YBdymBwFJxlqr0l23Dusl?si=yhJW63o1Saiqtn3NlpAi9g

Get more Val at https://valkleinhans.c...

We’re going to talk about another layer that I think is missed by fans sometimes, and that’s the layer that involves promotion and social media: content creation. It’s a whole other animal we’re diving into today. 

You've heard "bands can't just be bands anymore" before, and Val has some pushback to those annoyed with those venting sessions. 

Can bands "just be bands" today? Can we give artists the space to vent when they need it? Should we change the way we think about and use social media? All of this is explored.<...

In a very instant, digital heavy world, it can be difficult to build true bonds and community. It's not so difficult for Seaside Massacre thanks to their "boots on the ground" method.

Val chats with vocalist Don about why showing up is already a great head start toward to building a fanbase, how to incorporate nostalgia into your promotion, and staying mentally healthy through it all.

Get more Seaside Massacre: https://www.instagram.com/seasidemassacre/

Get more Val at https://valkleinhans.com/

Somewhere between post-Mother's Day weekend and the next star frontwoman, we're celebrating women while watching an evolution when it comes to what the roles of women in music look like - and that's a good thing.

Val shares her thoughts on why the Alissa White-Gluz joining Dragonforce news was on absolutely no one's bingo card for 2026 - but should've been. We also dive deeper into why this was a shock at all while citing the history of female evolution in heavy music. 

Get more Val at https://valkleinhans.com/

It's not unheard of for band members and artists to have side hustles. We talk to the king of side hustles this week: Greg Molina of A Moments Notice. 

What does it really take for a band to land a national tour? Is the key to "success" landing at least 10,000 followers monthly? How do we find the time for it all? Is there such a thing a criticism that's too harsh?

Greg answers all of those questions, while sharing what it's like while juggling A Moments Notice and multiple side hustles. 

...

In this solo episode, Val shares her gripes with the word "whimsy" and how she resolved them. What does Noah Kahan have to do with whimsy? Everything.

Get more Val at https://valkleinhans.com/

Andreas and Hagge from Self Deception chat with Val about their upcoming album ONE OF US (out May 15th), and dive into the connections it has to realizing dystopian nightmares. 

Is the internet (and the way we use it) going to collapse on itself? What exactly happened to the bride and groom in "The Wedding"? What have Andreas and Hagge learned throughout their decades in the music industry? When are we going to the see them in the US?

The crew do their best to answer all of those questions, but in some cases, only t...

Over analyzing. Over thinking. Doing the absolute most when you really don't have to. It's an epidemic! We all do it, and Val is going to break all the noise down to one takeaway nugget that will get you through it all. 

Val shares her experience at seeing Echos live, and the Amonklok tour with Amon Amarth, Dethklok and Castle Rat. We also chat a lot about rebranding, and why Machine Gun Kelly and Lizzo are experts in this in the middle of releasing new music.

Get more Val at https://valkleinhans.c...

What does shading yourself look like? Is it more important to roast yourself, or others? Resider chose to take a balanced approach on the subject while they gear up for tour and more nu-metalcore music headed our way later.

Val and bassist Niko Bowers play "Is AI accurate?", chat about touring essentials, Dune, and what being a musician really looks like in 2026.

Get more Resider: https://linktr.ee/resideordie?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGn26c1jAopDAx4...

Does being a music journalist today look anything like it did in Almost Famous? Is it still just as fun? Are there still opportunities to build relationships in the industry we love? In short, yes.

Writer Ashley Oken has been featured in Alternative Press, ELLE and The New York Times - and she's not stopping anything soon. 

In this episode, Ashley gets real about how essential commitment is, the struggles women sometimes face in the music industry, and how holding onto those perfect 90s and early 00s moments gets her through it all.

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode mentions suicidal ideation and oppression against women. If you or anyone you know is struggling, contact 988 Lifeline. 

Does violence look different when a woman commits it? Solo artist Izzy T is in the building to break down all the misogynistic barriers women sometimes face in music. 

Because the subject is close to home for her, Val and Izzy chat about the current events happening in Iran and their impact on the world, and why Izzy is just using these moments as fuel to continue doing what she do...

The Metal Therapist clocks in from the UK! On this "Work On You Wednesday", Robyn Ward explains her mental health journey, what it takes to be a therapist, and why heavy music is just so therapeutic. 

Get more Robyn: https://www.instagram.com/the.metal.therapist/

Robyn's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@The.Metal.Therapist

Get more Val at https://valkleinhans.com/

Sean Martin of The Quarantined stops by to share his love of heavy music, his time in the military as infantry, and all the mental health related lessons learned along the way. We also dive into Aversion To Normalcy.

Be prepared to learn this one!

Get more Sean: https://www.instagram.com/thequarantined/

The Quarantined: https://www.thequarantined.com/

Get more Val at https://valkleinhans.com/

What does it really mean to be “safe” anyway?

I’ve been asking myself this question since I’ve felt the word “safe” become a buzzword. We’re all using it. We’re using it in the literal and figurative way. “I just want someone I feel safe with” or “This is not a safe environment” - those moments.

What’s crazy is I found myself having a reaction to the use of this word. So, I’d like to explore that with you today in another “Work On You Wednesday” and get to the bottom of what does it really me...

TW: Mentions of mental health disorders and suicidal ideation.

CHNNR is a solo artist blending nu-metal and hip-hop in his own unique way. It's kind of hard not to mesh those things when you were raised on both and music holds a special place in your heart. 

Val and CHNNR talk about the passion behind being a music fan, what it takes to be a solo artist, their respective mental health journeys and why it takes balls to go after your dream - and admit when that dream looks different t...

Why is emotional regulation important? Does it mean you have to stifle yourself at all times? Maybe it's all just about balance. Val explores the topic of emotional regulation this week while sharing some fun stories about emotionally regulating while meeting rockstars for the first time.

In this episode, Val shares her stories meeting the guys in Pierce The Veil, I Prevail, Jamie Campbell Bower, Lzzy Hale, Taylor Hawkins, Chris Jericho and more.

Get more Val at https://valkleinhans.com/

Veronica Bordacchini of Fleshgod Apocalypse stops by to talk their upcoming spring tour in the US. Val and Veronica get deep about growing up Italian, while sharing some fun thoughts on horror and makeup too.

Get more Fleshgod Apocalypse: https://shop.fleshgodapocalypse.com/pages/the-band

Upcoming TOUR DATES: https://shop.fleshgodapocalypse.com/pages/tour-dates

Get more Val at https://valkleinhans.com/

Arguably the talk of the past week, Afroman has made headlines centered around a defamation trial. A court case he would end up winning. 

How did he win? What does this mean for musicians and content creators? What does it mean as a society? Val examines it all this episode.

Get more Val at https://valkleinhans.com/

Guitarist and vocalist Kenny Hickey created a decades long career that began with the niche and devoted audience found in Type O Negative. We knew about the guitar work, we knew about the vocals, but this episode dives in to what Kenny is up to now.

SUN DONT SHINE, his latest project, has allowed him to experiment with vocals and production in ways he never had before. 

This is how to make a career in music last. This is how to reinvent yourself in the process. 

It all comes to...