Matthew Smith Joins The Zach Moonshine Show to Discuss the New Album, Old-School Death Metal Influences, DIY Recording, and Finding Brotherhood in Kentucky's Underground
Kentucky black/death metal force SINISTRUM recently joined Zach Moonshine on the Zach Moonshine Show on Metal Devastation Radio to discuss the release of their second full-length album, The Hammer Of Conquest, released November 13, 2026, through Remorseless Records.
Guitarist and vocalist Matthew Smith joined the show for a conversation covering everything from the band's songwriting process and recording techniques to the musical influences that shaped his approach to extreme metal. The discussion also explored Kentucky's underground metal community, the challenges of finding like-minded musicians, and the creative chemistry behind the band's latest release.
A NATURAL EVOLUTION
For Smith, The Hammer Of Conquest was not something the band rushed into existence. The material developed gradually as the members spent time playing together and building their chemistry.
After joining Sinistrum, Smith initially performed material from the band's previous album, Infernal Dawn, while the musicians began developing new ideas. The songwriting process eventually stretched across nearly two years.
"It was a lot of fun. It wasn't forced or nothing. It just kind of came natural and we all are kind of into the same stuff."
That shared musical foundation helped make the songwriting process feel organic rather than dictated by a particular direction or genre.
Smith explained that the band doesn't approach songwriting with the intention of fitting into a specific category.
"We all have our influences and they all come out through the music. It's not forced at all. It's either, hey, is this a good song or not?"
That straightforward philosophy is part of what gives the new material its personality.
DIY RECORDING WITH SERIOUS FIREPOWER
One of the more interesting parts of the conversation involved the recording and production of The Hammer Of Conquest.
Despite the album's powerful, professional sound, the record was produced largely through the band's own DIY efforts at drummer Scott's home studio, which Smith believed was called Cavewood Studios.
The recording process took approximately two months, with Scott handling much of the technical work, including mixing and mastering.
"He's like a mastermind. He's a really integral part of the band."
The production wasn't built entirely around digital shortcuts, either. Smith confirmed that the guitars were recorded using actual amplifiers and miked cabinets.
His rhythm guitar tracks were recorded using a Fender American Standard Stratocaster equipped with a Seymour Duncan Invader pickup in the bridge position. The amplifier setup included a Marshall JCM800-style sound blended with a Mesa Dual Rectifier.
Smith was particularly enthusiastic about the finished production, especially considering this was the first album he had played on with the band.
"This is the first album I've actually been on, but I mean, I think it sounds great. I think it sounds amazing."
OBITUARY, MORBID ANGEL, ANGELCORPSE AND THE ROOTS OF EXTREME METAL
Smith's introduction to death metal came through an unexpected starting point: Obituary's Back From The Dead.
A friend of his father's introduced him to the band through a music video, and the experience immediately made an impression.
"From that point forward I was like, this is it?"
As his musical interests expanded, Smith developed an appreciation for a wide range of metal, from Dio and Mercyful Fate to Slayer, Gorgasm, Morbid Angel, Angelcorpse, Perdition Temple, and Black Witchery.
When discussing the bands that most influenced his guitar playing, Smith singled out three major names:
"Deicide, Angelcorpse, Morbid Angel. I mean, that's them three. That's the best stuff in the world to me."
Those influences provide an interesting window into the musical foundation behind Sinistrum's approach to extreme metal.
THE LONELINESS OF THE UNDERGROUND
The conversation also took a closer look at the realities of being a metal musician in smaller Kentucky communities.
With band members spread across different towns, finding musicians who share the same musical interests isn't always easy. Smith described the difficulty of connecting with people who not only appreciate extreme metal but actually want to play it.
He explained that the isolation of living in a smaller community can even influence the songwriting.
"I would say the loneliness aspect I guess of being out here because I mean there's not much around you."
For Smith, joining Sinistrum meant finding musicians who understood the music and brought years of experience in Kentucky's black and death metal scenes.
He pointed to drummer Scott's history with Fornicus and guitarist Timmie Ball and bassist Mike May's involvement with Abominant.
"I got pretty lucky getting in with these guys because they're veterans of the Kentucky death metal and black metal scene."
That shared background and experience helped create an environment where the musicians could develop ideas without having to explain or defend their musical direction.
MEDIEVAL WARFARE AND DARK FANTASY
The artwork for The Hammer Of Conquest also received some attention during the interview.
Created by artist Johnny Prayogi, the artwork was developed around the album's themes of medieval warfare, with elements of dark fantasy added to create an ominous atmosphere.
Smith explained that the artist worked traditionally, beginning with pencil drawings before painting the finished piece by hand and delivering a digital version to the band.
"I think it encapsulates the lyrics and the music pretty well."
He described the album's overall theme as an all-out conflict, with the artwork capturing the violence and atmosphere behind the music.
SUPPORT THE UNDERGROUND
With The Hammer Of Conquest now available, Sinistrum is encouraging fans to support the band directly through its Bandcamp page.
Physical editions include CDs, cassette tapes, vinyl, and merchandise. Smith particularly recommended the vinyl edition, praising the artwork and substantial printed insert included with the release.
The band is also available through major digital streaming platforms.
When asked what he wanted listeners to take away from the album, Smith returned to the same idea that shaped its creation: musicians bringing their influences together, trusting one another, and writing music because they genuinely enjoy doing it.
The result is a record forged through experience, shared musical interests, and a genuine appreciation for extreme metal.
The Hammer Of Conquest is out now through Remorseless Records.
SUPPORT SINISTRUM:
https://sinistrum.bandcamp.com/album/the-hammer-of-conquest
The Full Show Is Streaming Now On Mixcloud!
Full Show Track List:
Battle Of The bands Top Six Winners:
1 - Mistress - Terrified eyes - (462,714 votes)
2 - Voidmaker - Epsilon Orionis - (337,104 votes)
3 - Soul Of Sheol - Paradise Is Not For Us - (84,245 votes)
4 - Rhino Rawkstar - Warning Labels - (27,682 votes)
5 - Goatvöid Holokäust - Witness it - (8,901 votes)
6 - Chosen Wolf - Ancient Entity - (4,906 votes)
The Zach Moonshine Intro
7 - Heaven & Hell - Bible Black
8 - Septarian - Prime Time Is Killing Time
9 - Diabology - Them!
10 - Day 40 - Fatal Energy (Kreator Cover)
Sinistrum - Interview featuring Empire of Gnawed Bone/Cataclysm Machines
11 - Morbid Angel - Chapel Of Ghouls
12 - Deicide - Sacrificial Suicide Demo/Dead But Dreaming
13 - Nile - Unas, Slayer of the Gods
14 - Culak - Frostborne
15 - Survivalist - House Of Hate
16 - Nile Sapphire - Eco
17 - D'Angeled - In My Death
18 - Webb Of Deceit - In My Wake (Feat. Raven & Jason Aaron Wood)
19 - Nuclear Assault - Something Wicked/No Time
20 - D.R.I. - Acid Rain
21 - Flotsam And Jetsam - Escape from Within
22 - Lord Velvet - Cold Steel
23 - Ezra Brooks - Fall Of The Protectors
24 - Smoulder - Water Wars
25 - Post Death Soundtrack - Hunting Baby Sow
26 - Baby on a Rampage - Failure of One's Name
27 - JAMES LEGENDFORGE - Amid the Winter Snow
You can also check out just the interview on YouTube, Spotify etc:
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Super massive shout out and thanks to the 179,502 metal maniacs from around the world for tuning into the live devastation Friday night!
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