Inner-Strength Check Podcast

05/30/2026

[Lore] 'The Wrath of Narko, Part II' - now available a week early on our Patreon!

Part I was the inciting incident, or prelude. But today - today is a new day. Waking groggily in a dusty settlement, bare and with prosthetic, skeletal augmentations where her former limbs were, our protagonist Sam wakes from the Beak Thing nightmare.

How's a simple gal traversing this dustbowl supposed to make it with no cats (currency), items, shelter or allies? Who attached these robotic limbs? Why?

Guess she - and you - will have to find out. Follow the madcap wasteland adventures a little earlier than on the main blog via Patreon below.

Shoutout to content creator for being featured with his 'How To Kenshi' series - and BIG shoutouts to for reaching 3 million copies sold! Hero's channel is easily the best around for getting into the history, lore and environmental storytelling of Kenshi. And there's quite a few great creators out there already, so not an easy call.

Finally, shoutout to Steam user Aarnhaa, who'se massive and well optimised modpack collection directly influenced this run, the narrative, and my very imminent ticking over to 2000hrs played - my most-played game on Steam, ever.

Link to post for our Riff-Nerds:

https://www.patreon.com/posts/lore-patreon-of-158740525

Link to our Patreon (which includes paid and free-access posts, chats, etc):

https://www.patreon.com/c/innerstrengthcheck

Peace, Love and Clanker-Limb-Core - Brady.

05/29/2026

[Heavy News] Release-Day Roundup/Upcoming: Abrasive Trees , Hecate Enthroned (UK), Deus Sabaoth (UKR)*, FRANKENBOK (AU) & Psycroptic (AU).

* Sorry about the typo on the image Deus Sabaoth! Bloody autocorrect!

LINK:

https://www.innerstrengthcheckpodcast.com/blog/heavy-news-abrasive-trees-hecate-enthroned-uk-dues-saboth-ukr-frankenbok-psycroptic-au

Okay. I'll be real - I haven't had a day off Inner-Strength Check in over three weeks AND I'm further behind on promoting new albums than I'd like!

We had a massive influx (lost count in the 20s+) of great heavy/alternative music releases that all dropped today, plus a number of big upcoming album announcements.

While it's not possible to cover them all, here's a select few from me from the bunch!

1. - (out now via Argonauta Records): Experimental/Post/Noise-Rock from the UK.

2. - The Co**se Of A Titan, A Lament Long Buried (via ) Symphonic Black Metal veterans, also from the UK!

3. (got it right that time - SLAVA UKRAINI!) - (via ) Ukrainian Melodic Black Metal.

4. - (via ): Aussie Metal Larrikins release new album + drop single video for 'Geppetto's Scarecrow'.

5. - (For Release July 17th via Metal Blade Records): The Croppers Return, drop new single - see within once again for tour dates re: upcoming Aus tour w/ .

BIG thanks to Grand Sounds Promotion and Maric Media for providing us pre-release listening, album info, artist links, tour dates etc. There is a lot in here and that's just a drop in the bucket!

As Always,

Peace, Love and Grindcore - Brady.

[Heavy News] Fri 29th May, 2026. See within for newly-released and upcoming albums from: ABRASIVE TREES (UK), HECATE ENTHRONED (UK), DUES SABOTH (UKR), FRANKENBOK (AU) & PSYCROPTIC (AU). Included are album order links, album info, music videos, streaming links, artist/label links a

05/29/2026

[ 29.05.06]: The Buzz Lovers (SPN) w/ Alice Remains (AU) @ 170 Russell, Melbourne (AU), 27.5.26.

Writing/Footage: (Mal Keecher)
Organised By: Total Touring

With thanks to John 'One Man Army' Howarth/Total Touring for having us on!

LINK:

https://www.innerstrengthcheckpodcast.com/blog/gig-review-the-buzz-lovers-nirvana-tribute-spain-w-alice-remains-au-170-russell

Mal proves himself unable to be placed into even a Heart-Shaped Box or a Jar of Flies, and took on a last-minute opportunity to review a stellar night from one of the most renowned acts out there in ! Joining them for a night of alt-rock celebration was our own homegrown tribute in .

Mal took on writing duties and also has included additional straight from the source.

Peep the link for the gig review, artist links, gig footage and more above.

Also OI Sydney! 2nd show announced @ Metro Theatre! Jump on that via the included ticket links cause they'll sell like teen hotcakes.

Peace, Love and Buzzin' After Good Gigs - Brady/Mal.

The Buzz Lovers lived up to the hype of being ‘The best Nirvana tribute in the known universe’, supported by local Alice in Chains tribute show Alice Remains.

05/29/2026

Oi, prog-metal fans! Soen are heading back to Australia!

More news and details coming soon from the blog, but you're more than welcome to skip us and go direct to the source below!

Australia, are you ready? 🇦🇺
This fall we’re finally heading Down Under for a couple of shows with The Omnific.
New cities. New memories. We can’t wait to experience it with you! 🖤🔥

Tickets go on pre-sale Monday, June 1 at 9 AM local time.
General sale begins June 3 at 9 AM local time.

05/28/2026

[ ]: 28.05.26 - ISC Blog/Podcast Topic Previews, May 2026.

LINK:

www.innerstrengthcheckpodcast.com/blog/tabletopthursdays-280526-isc-blogpodcast-topic-previews-may-2026

Okay, so. Confession-time. Having started this podcast/blog solo back in 2021, I've been accruing ideas pretty constantly.

I've just reached (I wish I was kidding) *one hundred and twenty one pages* worth of / / / related ideas, leads and nopes.

That might be excessive, but what isn't is this article! See within where I delve into the first batch of topics I'm looking to get onto the blog/airwaves, inc:

- / adjacent hobbies/ general hobbies and the model of health (Multiple)
- What the research says about Tabletop Roleplaying & (and what it doesn't...)
- The benefits/risks of TTRPGs for and
- The 'shadow side' of tabletop - risks, common concerns and issues
- Roleplaying and personal identity (including diverse perspectives - YOUR input wanted!)
- as intervention - paging Game Therapy, the real expert/s!

And plenty more.

Also, shoutout to The Bodhana Group for their great work, and to John Farrel of GamingTrend for his fantastic editorial on gaming therapy (available via link above, along with many others!) - fantastic work guys!

Lastly - our Patreon is where you'll get access to additional articles, bonus podcast episodes and such. Riff-Nerds, you've got some stuff coming your way soon!

Peace, Love and Barbaric Kitties - Brady.

[ ] is a little different this week! See within for some prospective/in-the-works and projected topics on offer as of May 2026 here at ISC - from the punk-rock economics of indie TTRPGs through to gaming for wellbeing, and more.

05/28/2026

[ / ]: Corinne Westbrook's Debut Novel, Psychological/Folk-Horror Epic 'The Hollow One' Out Now (Info/ My Synopsis).

Author: Corinne Westbrook
Publisher: Permuted Press
Release Date: May 26th, 2026.

LINK:
www.innerstrengthcheckpodcast.com/blog/dicey-news-horror-debut-novel-the-hollow-one-out-now-details-my-synopsisthoughts

Honestly? Never intended to set out to do a full literary analysis, particularly as that's new ground for me - but I couldn't help myself!

Corinne and our team have an existing working relationship via C Squared Music (with many, many of the independent artists we post here being supported by this team). Imagine my surprise and delight as a horror-loving metalhead, then, to find out she has debuted her first full-length novel. Verdict: It rocks!

See within for a brief bio about Corrine's background, additional info/details, and some spoiler-free synopses on plot, themes, characters, tone, etc. Not quite a review, but it's a book that is certainly worth one. Fantastic use of perspective, mounting tension and avoiding all manner of modern-horror tropes/cliches, in a grounded but also super-surreal setting.

HUGE congrats for getting your first novel out into the world, Corinne! Order links for physical paperback/digital also available in link.

Recommended if you like the works of: Neil Gaiman, Shirley Jackson, Thomas Tryon and Victor LaVelle.

Peace, Love and Unceasing Psychological Horror - Brady.

[Dicey News] goes in a whole new direction today! See within for details on Corrine Westbrook ’s gripping debut novel The Hollow One including artist/novel info, order links, as well as my own spoiler-free synopsis of what is a fantastic entry into folk/psychological-horror canon.

05/28/2026

Maybe I'm just too much of an autist (and thus my Steam Discovery Queue is full of simulators/ simulator-slop) but I *swear* I even saw this one.

Not entirely related posting so far, guys - stay tuned for some very relevant stuff later!

Plantation Simulator is no longer on Steam after the developer requested Valve remove it from the store

05/27/2026

[ - ]: Lorna Shore Announce 2026 Aus/New Zealand Tour with Special Guests Whitechapel & The Acacia Strain. *

* - NB: Whitechapel only appearing on Australian dates.

Organised by: Destroy All Lines

LINK:

www.innerstrengthcheckpodcast.com/blog/heavy-news-lorna-shore-us-ausnz-tour-2026-with-special-guests-whitechapel-us-aus-only-the-acacia-strain-us

Bloody Hell! The massive tours just keep coming, don't they? Glad to see more combined Aus/NZ heavy tours doing the rounds generally of late, too.

You can access tickets, tour info, dates, etc via the above link - see below for information on the multiple pre-sales happening soon:

Artist early bird pre-sale tickets on sale: Thursday 28 May @ 10am AEST time

Spotify early bird pre-sale tickets on sale: Friday 29 May @ 10am local time

Promoter early bird pre-sale tickets on sale: Monday 1 June @ 12pm AEST time.

To Gain Early Ticket Access Register Here -> https://daltours.cc/LornaShore

Ticketing & Venue early bird pre-sale tickets on sale: Tuesday 2 June @ 10am local time.

General tickets on sale: Wednesday 3 June @ 11am local time.

Tickets via above link and/or from destroyalllines.com.

Cheers to for cleaning up with another bruiser of an Aus/NZ tour!

Peace, Love and Grindcore - Brady.

[Heavy News] LORNA SHORE (US) Announce Australian/NZ 2026 Tour with Special Guests WHITECHAPEL (US - Aus Only) & THE ACACIA STRAIN (US). Get in quick - presales launch Thu, 28th May and will fly out the door! See within for ticket links, tour details, dates, artist links and more.

05/27/2026

Tours! Tours! Tours!

Here's two more huge from us, with more coming soon today/through the week.

[1. Rise Against/Dropkick Murphy's Announce 2026 Aus/NZ Tour]:

First up - Rise Against and Dropkick Murphys, two of some of the biggest names in US melodic punk, are joining forces to blaze a trail across both Australia and New Zealand late November/early December 2026 - with thanks to Live Nation Australia / Live Nation NZ.

Mastercard holders - you get first pick of Presale Tickets for the tour, with Live Nation Australia / Live Nation New Zealand Presale dropping tomorrow, then General Public Fri 29/05/26 at 1pm.

LINK (inc. tickets, tour info etc):

https://www.innerstrengthcheckpodcast.com/blog/heavy-news-rise-against-us-announce-double-headline-tour-w-dropkick-murphys-us

[2. Poison The Well Announce Local Supports For Australian 2026 Tour]:

Secondly and in case you missed it - metallic/post-hardcore veterans Poison The Well have announced their local supports for their upcoming Aus 2026 tour.

Congrats to: End It All (Perth), (Adelaide) Ends in Tragedy (Melbourne), PHANTOMS (Sydney), (NCHC) (Newcastle) & Wetwork (Brisbane)!

Cheers to Destroy All Lines for having these locals on for a devastating 'core tour. Looking forward to both of these!

Peace, Love and Grindcore - Brady.

[Heavy News] Goes Punk! Massive double-hitter bill announced today across Australia/NZ - Chicago (IN, US) melodic-punks Rise Against will be joined by Boston (MA, US) Celt-punk veterans Dropkick Murphy’s for a huge double-dose of Ameripunk! See within for tour info, ticket links, artist media/li