Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Nik Nocturnal talks with AJ REBOLLO of ISSUES / @BADWOLVESBand about the formation of ISSUES, creating the band's signature Heavy R&B sound, the Risecore era, writing Headspace, modern metal, guitar playing, genre fusion, Bad Wolves and more fun metal things.
Get 7% off Distrokid here: distrokid.com/vip/niknocturnal
🎙️ Nik Nocturnal Podcast — Episode #93
Stream on Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/7hStFs0dDA6LChP73rGUhd
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Support AJ Rebollo
instagram.com/ajbends
youtube.com/@BADWOLVESBand
open.spotify.com/intl-pt/artist/0eI3X5rAzHRZVe5FPk4MN1?si=xDbZFjBRRnSln0v_z4yfMA
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Support Nik Nocturnal Podcast🙏
• Merch: corekid.ca
• Instagram: instagram.com/niknocturnalpodcast
• TikTok tiktok.com/@niknocturnalpodcast
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro
00:01 Joining ISSUES Straight Out of High School
03:00 Writing the First ISSUES Songs
05:00 The Original Vision: R&B Meets Metalcore
06:39 Creating a New Genre
08:49 The King of Amarillo Era
10:07 The Woe, Is Me Beef
12:06 Self-Titled & The Evolution of ISSUES
12:56 Sponsor - DistroKid
13:24 AJ's Guitar Style & Jazz Influences
18:06 Creating "Heavy R&B"
20:36 Did ISSUES Inspire Modern Metal?
23:06 Dealing With Hate & Criticism
24:25 Would ISSUES Be Bigger Today?
26:30 Why Metal Fans Turn on Popular Bands
29:39 Social Media & Modern Music Culture
31:28 Writing Headspace
33:31 Working With Producers
36:17 Beautiful Oblivion
40:52 The End of ISSUES
44:19 Joining Bad Wolves
47:44 Bad Wolves' New Music
51:23 Looking Back on ISSUES
54:58 The Legacy of ISSUES
58:29 Advice for Young Bands
01:02:03 Sponsor - URM Academy
01:06:11 The Future of Heavy Music
01:10:26 Modern Metal Production
01:14:03 The Evolution of Genre Fusion
01:18:06 AJ's Favorite ISSUES Record
01:19:18 Outro
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#NikNocturnalPodcast #MetalPodcast #Issues #Badwolves
Nik Nocturnal talks with AJ REBOLLO of ISSUES / @BADWOLVESBand about the formation of ISSUES, creating the band's signature Heavy R&B sound, the Risecore era, writing Headspace, modern metal, guitar playing, genre fusion, Bad Wolves and more fun metal things.
Get 7% off Distrokid here: distrokid.com/vip/niknocturnal
🎙️ Nik Nocturnal Podcast — Episode #93
Stream on Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/7hStFs0dDA6LChP73rGUhd
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Support AJ Rebollo
instagram.com/ajbends
youtube.com/@BADWOLVESBand
open.spotify.com/intl-pt/artist/0eI3X5rAzHRZVe5FPk4MN1?si=xDbZFjBRRnSln0v_z4yfMA
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Support Nik Nocturnal Podcast🙏
• Merch: corekid.ca
• Instagram: instagram.com/niknocturnalpodcast
• TikTok tiktok.com/@niknocturnalpodcast
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro
00:01 Joining ISSUES Straight Out of High School
03:00 Writing the First ISSUES Songs
05:00 The Original Vision: R&B Meets Metalcore
06:39 Creating a New Genre
08:49 The King of Amarillo Era
10:07 The Woe, Is Me Beef
12:06 Self-Titled & The Evolution of ISSUES
12:56 Sponsor - DistroKid
13:24 AJ's Guitar Style & Jazz Influences
18:06 Creating "Heavy R&B"
20:36 Did ISSUES Inspire Modern Metal?
23:06 Dealing With Hate & Criticism
24:25 Would ISSUES Be Bigger Today?
26:30 Why Metal Fans Turn on Popular Bands
29:39 Social Media & Modern Music Culture
31:28 Writing Headspace
33:31 Working With Producers
36:17 Beautiful Oblivion
40:52 The End of ISSUES
44:19 Joining Bad Wolves
47:44 Bad Wolves' New Music
51:23 Looking Back on ISSUES
54:58 The Legacy of ISSUES
58:29 Advice for Young Bands
01:02:03 Sponsor - URM Academy
01:06:11 The Future of Heavy Music
01:10:26 Modern Metal Production
01:14:03 The Evolution of Genre Fusion
01:18:06 AJ's Favorite ISSUES Record
01:19:18 Outro
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#NikNocturnalPodcast #MetalPodcast #Issues #Badwolves
