In this episode, Erik chats with Alexi Front, founder of Scorched Tundra, a heavy music festival that takes place annually here in Chicago and Gothenburg Sweden since 2011. Alexi has a long history in the music industry, working as a music journalist, in PR, and most notably founding the independent label Pivotal Rockordings Record Label in 2004. The label specializes in sharing and syndication of a variety of death metal music from Sweden.
Alexi is also a fellow podcaster and produces Heavy Hops, a weekly interview format podcast focusing on innovators, creators and insiders in the music and beverage industry related to heavy music and beer. Alexi is also a life-long resident of Chicago.
We discuss a number of different things related to the art and craft of podcasting, the undertakings and values for curating an international music festival along with different ways of looking at experiencing new music post-pandemic in different contexts.
The music featured in this episode is “Clearing the Sand” by Huntsmen and “Twist Ending” by Annihilus.
Photo: Therese Rasmusson
The 12th edition of the Scorched Earth festival will take place September 1-3, 2022 at The Empty Bottle in Chicago and 13th in December 2022 in Gothenburg, Sweden.
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GUEST LIST
Alexi curated 90 minutes of music from some of his favorite artists from Chicago along with some amazing performances from national and international acts who made live recordings at some of our city’s venues.
| Track | Artist |
| Riding the Universe | Oozing Wound |
| Supernatural Killing Spree | Usurper |
| Rain | Luggage |
| Draw the Beast | Annihilus |
| Depailure | Electric Hawk |
| Satan | Bongripper |
| Midnight and Mescaline | Pelican |
| Not Here | Bruges |
| Coffin Varnish | The Atlas Moth |
| Girl on Girl | HIDE |
| Stumbling Toward Catharsis | Immortal Bird |
| Transmission | Cloud Cruiser |
| Reconductor | RLYR |
| Cmaj | Chord |
| In the Grip of Winter – Live In Chicago | Autopsy |
| Blackest Eyes – Live | Porcupine Tree |
| Colossus | Huntsmen |
| Within and Without | Minsk |
| The Crystal World | Locrian |
| Bullets and Graves | Corrections House |
| Fool Around | Hitter |
| Climax & Exile | Varaha |
| Famine Driven Thirst | Hatemonger |
| Victorian Punishment | Without Waves |
