Nick Giannak III is an American. He’s also Christian, Conservative, and loves to eat burgers. Christel Tansø is from Norway. She’s also vegan, a Marxist, and an antitheist.

Yet there’s one thing about this duo that’s rare these days…Those differences do not matter, because they can agree to disagree. Imagine that!

This is Sonic Onslaught, where Nick and Christel give their takes on the best metal. From Christel’s favorite obscure Progressive and Power Metal or deep cuts from the classics to Nick’s favorite djent riffs that are his definition of heavy, to the Symphonic Metal that brought these two together in the first place, Sonic onslaught is a wild ride. Occasionally, Nick and Christel get to talk to some of their favorites, giving you a look at the personalities behind the music along with laughter and a convivial atmosphere.

You can add to the headbanging with requests, phone calls, random commentary, and other things we haven’t even thought of. It’s heavy, it’s loud, it’s fun…It’s a Sonic onslaught!

general details

Language

en-us

Copyright

2021-2022 Nick Giannak III and Christel Tansø

Podcast

Click Here To Subscribe

episodes

Sonic Onslaught for November 12, 2024

No description available.

Sonic Onslaught for November 5, 2024

No description available.

Sonic Onslaught for October 29, 2024

Sonic Onslaught returns to normal, playing music and having its host relax. Sprinkled throughout the show is a bit of a Halloween theme – well, as much of one as a Halloween-hater like Nick is capable of. Thankfully, Alex to the rescue, providing his version of a Halloween extreme metal set…Or at least, that was his goal. Starset’s got a new song, but the reactions to it might surprise the long time listeners. Those, in brief, are the highlights – download for the heaviness!

Sonic Onslaught for October 22, 2024

In an episode themed around friendship, hosts Nick and Christel are joined by special guests Jessica and Olliver Thierjung—the key figures behind the creation and unconventional reunion of Lyriel. The main feature is an interview with them that paints a vivid picture of Lyriel's past, present, and future. If you're curious about the band's current state, this episode serves as a definitive source and is one of the few repositories of Lyriel information available in English. Nick's questions sometimes reveal misunderstandings of the band's history, highlighting the need for such an in-depth discussion; at times, he felt so off-base he wanted to dive under the table. In the second hour, the Thierjungs become co-hosts. Dianne van Giersbergen and Marcela Bovio, two friends of the show, released a duet about another one of Dianne's rekindled friendships that meant so much to her. Don't miss Jessica's emotional reaction to the video and her bullet-point description of it, supplemented by Nick's commentary based on insights from Dianne. You'll also hear tracks that inspire the Thierjungs—one current selection from Jessi and two past favorites from Olli. This episode fulfills Nick's long-held dreams, showcasing the warmth of these individuals and their band, all interspersed with great music... and Psychostick. Download it!

Sonic Onslaught for October 15, 2024

No description available.

Sonic Onslaught for October 8, 2024

No description available.

Sonic Onslaught for October 1, 2024

This week, Nick and Christel react to the next chapter in the rebirth of Lyriel, as future show guest Jessica Thierjung sings on a song by Anna KiaRa. What do they – and the listeners – think? Otherwise, it was lots of metal from all over the place – from wrestling themes to an odd cover of ‘Awesome God’. And don’t miss one rather amusing – albeit short – interruption that sounds like a blooper but was just part of the perils of live radio. Download!

Sonic Onslaught for September 24, 2024

No description available.

Sonic Onslaught for September 17, 2024

No description available.

Sonic Onslaught for September 10, 2024

No description available.

Sonic Onslaught for September 3, 2024

This week, Nick reviewed, and played tracks from, Wintersun’s long awaited album, Time II. Does he think it lived up to the 12 year wait? He’ll be happy to tell you. Otherwise, it was a show filled with various tracks from Vola to Avantasia, especially a segment of lengthy songs inspired by the review of the Wintersun album itself. Give it a listen!

Sonic Onslaught for August 27, 2024

This episode of Sonic Onslaught took you all over the place, with two hosts whose heads were elsewhere. But the music made up for it even more than usual. From the dark and aggressive riffs of Hypocrisy to the intricate and progressive melodies of Periphery, this episode covers the full range of metal's sonic landscape. Dive deep into the epic storytelling of Wintersun or get lost in the hauntingly beautiful soundscapes of Amorphis. That’s just a preview of what this show was like…Download if that interests you!

Sonic Onslaught for August 20, 2024

Where did this show go? Absolutely everywhere! Headlining the show, Nick and Christel listened to the new Nightwish song, ‘The Day Of...’ and reacted to it having not heard it before. Their expectations were already low…How, exactly, did Nightwish meet them? You won’t want to miss it…It was memorable. Otherwise, you heard metal that went everywhere from djent to Rammstein parodies in a fast moving, music-heavy two hours. Download!

Sonic Onslaught for August 13, 2024

The unexpected theme of the show? Tongue twisters! Because why not? In a second hour that moved extremely quickly, some Nick flubs leant themselves to discussions of tongue twisters in three languages. While this show may have started an hour late to allow Nick to attend lunch with a friend, it didn’t dampen the show a jot – if anything, we had full stomachs and full hearts. We also had a full playlist of some of the best of metal from all across the spectrum. On Sonic Onslaught, you can hear American Christian Metal one minute, Norwegian Black Metal the next. Download and enjoy the ride!

Sonic Onslaught For August 6, 2024

The Marquis feature of this edition is the reaction, albeit a late one, to the new Ad Infinitum single. What are they doing and what do the hosts and listeners think of it? Other than that, it’s just wall to wall metal, including some of the stuff Nick labels “comfort food.”

Sonic Onslaught for July 30, 2024

ON Sonic Onslaught today, metal combines with Baseball. Broadcasting during the runup to the Major League Baseball trade deadline, Nick keeps the listeners up to date with the deals as they happen within the two hour window of their show. The music runs the gambit from NuMetal to PowerMetal. If you enjoy a show that’s a sports time capsule as well as good music, this one’s worth your download.

Sonic Onslaught celebrates three years: July 23, 2024

Three years ago, to the day, HKC Radio relaunched anew. With Sonic Onslaught falling on this day in 2024, Nick and Christel celebrated the station from a metal perspective. The absolute headliner was a dream appearance by Stream of Passion’s Marcela Bovio that lasted two full hours, to the point where you can honestly consider her a guest cohost of this show. We talked about everything from what happened with Vuur, to backing singing with the purpose of not being heard, vocal coaching, Dark Horse White Horse, MaYaN…And much more, because she stayed even though she had to wrangle a cat. Nick reprises his impressions of growlers from 2022, we play a game of “Blow Christel’s mind” and play various station favorites from the metal genre. This show was some of the most fun we’ve ever had on air, and we hope it comes through for you who download it.

Sonic Onslaught for February 13, 2024

Tyr is releasing a brand-new album, and we play a song from…um…No we don’t. Nick was the victim of his own inability to read – as well as the trap of trusting in a pattern a certain metal news provider follows…except for when they don’t. Wintersun is going to be releasing a long-awaited album this year. In celebration, we play a 13 minute long epic to whet our appetites. That song, amongst others, was part of the unintended – but welcomed – theme of the show…drums. With so many listeners who are either drummers, percussionists, or dabblers in both, we played songs with some audible skill behind the skins. Enjoy!

Sonic Onslaught for January 9, 2024

Welcome to 2024! After an incredible 2023 for Sonic Onslaught, how do we set an aspirational tone for what the show should be in 2024? Have another special guest, that’s how! Fresh off the whirlwind interview with Dianne van Giersbergen, Nick sits down with Dianne’s podcast cohost and good friend, Marcela Bovio, the vocalist and violinist of Stream of Passion. Calling this an interview would bely what this was actually like, as it was a true two-way conversation from the get-go, discussing such topics as the new Stream of Passion EP and the inspiration to reunite, the beginnings of Marcela’s career, and the hitherto unspoken history of one of Nick’s favorite songs of all time. This speaks for itself and is more than worth your download…But unlike last time, this was not the only feature of the show. Christel and Nick listen to, and react to, the new ILLUMISHADE single, live…they had no preconceived notions about what this would be. Also, in the midst of doing the show, Nick received word that James Kottak, best known as the drummer for Scorpions, died at age 61. Nick tributes one of the finest drummers he’s ever heard play from a tonal perspective. And that’s how you start Sonic Onslaught in 2024. Download!

Sonic Onslaught for November 21, 2023

It’s the first of many! Nick and Christel embark on an interview with Dutch vocalist Dianne van Giersbergen, formerly of Xandria and now of a mononym solo career. We talk to her about why she chooses to release an album the hard way, ask some long-standing questions from the Xandria days, and have many laughs in the process as the interview becomes more of an exchange of ideas. That’s the only real feature of this show, the rest of it is just…music for music’s sake. The conversation with Dianne speaks for itself and renders this show a must-download!

Sonic Onslaught for August 15, 2023

Infrastructure trouble in Norway caused by extreme weather events (half of Norway is under water!) made it impossible for Nick and Christel to discuss Sonic Onslaught before it aired…It’s a miracle the show happened! With Sonic Onslaught’s recent Viking focus, Nick has Christel look at pictures of a luchador named “El Hijo del Vikingo” and a wrestling tag team named “The Viking Raiders”. Hilarity…Or are you just expected to laugh at her confusion…That’s for you to decide. Why is Nick interested in the band IN This Moment when he really hasn’t been before? The song they play might tell you. A conversation Nick had on Clubhouse inspired him to find out what Krypteria, and their vocalist Ji-In Cho, are up to. The band is now called… And Then She Came, and Nick and Christel decide to contrast them with their former output. All this plus more metal than you can shake a stick at and the rare format breaker…Which says something given Nick hates to break format…And you’ve got this episode of the Onslaught. Download!

Sonic Onslaught for August 8, 2023

This episode of Sonic Onslaught nearly didn’t happen, owing to a miscalculation Nick made regarding his breakfast and…varnish? Thankfully, this show did happen and was listened to. Sonic Onslaught has a Norwegian cohost. Playing Viking inspired metal is a little more authentic as a result. Red has announced their new album Rated R, and Brandon and Nick agreed that Sonic onslaught would be the first show on the station to play something from it. You’ll hear it, and Nick’s reaction to it as well as a summation of Brandon’s own reaction. Other than that, it’s just under two hours of great metal as the two hosts relax…Perhaps it will help you do the same for yourself. Download!

Sonic onslaught for August 1, 2023

Christel hates OneDrive? You’ll find out why when you listen. Nick introduces Christel and listeners to what Blackbriar is up to, playing a new song that heralds the coming of a new album. They contrast this song with earlier Blackbriar and Nick, at least, has some thoughts on the differences. You are the judge. Nick and Christel get into a discussion about metal drum sounds, owing to an old Kingfisher Sky project that has been a bugbear for Nick ever since it was released. They enjoyed themselves enough to go overtime…But did the show end right where it started? Download it and find out!

Sonic Onslaught for July 25, 2023

It all began with a phone call from Tammy…Two years ago yesterday, this iteration of Sonic Onslaught embarked on its journey on HKC Radio. Considering the vast amount of work Nick has dedicated to the larger station over the past week, it's entirely reasonable if he didn't make a big fuss over this noteworthy anniversary. However, for Christel, this milestone holds a distinct significance. It marks the two-year anniversary of her first regular stint on a radio show. It was Christel who gently persuaded Nick to host this episode, partially by consenting to switch their audio solution from Zoom to Sonobus just before going on air. This sudden change initially turned the episode into somewhat of an experiment for Nick, but it resulted in decreased latency. Coupled with the celebratory and appreciative atmosphere, it ignited a renewed enthusiasm in him. A casual comment from one of Nick’s friends, a fan of hard rock but not metal, ignited a challenge for both hosts. They were then spurred to demonstrate that the leap from hard rock to metal is much smaller than typically assumed. This week, Sonic Onslaught truly hit its stride. It's undoubtedly worth your download.

Sonic Onslaught for July 11, 2023

Within Temptation is back in the spotlight, unveiling a new song – but this time in a live setting. Does it measure up to their last release, or have they slipped back into their frustratingly average ways? Buckle up for Nick and Christel's brutally honest analysis. Our trusty friend Bob Sarnowski makes a timely appearance, sharing with everyone the insider scoop on where he and Nick will be spending their evening. Bob, displaying a sense of nostalgia, intentionally hangs up a landline phone in the year 2023. Christel, ever the relatable host, provides commentary for all the younger listeners who might be mystified by this analog relic, despite her own familiarity with it. The show's music selection runs wild and rampant, touching all corners of the metal genre, contributing to the day's charming chaos. This whirlwind episode takes place on the same day Nick replaced the computer at the Thomas J. Sarnowski memorial studio, which Bob uses to co-host the Digital Domain. Embrace the chaos and join us on this amusingly erratic journey through the realms of metal and nostalgia alike!

Sonic Onslaught for July 4, 2023

Buckle up for an Independence Day rendition of Sonic Onslaught that is as whimsical as it is ear-splittingly metal! Nick and Christel, although a bit low on energy, create a relaxed atmosphere that strikes just the right chord for the 4th of July. Of course, they have to address the somewhat amusing irony of the day – Nick, being an American, and Christel, hailing from Norway, find themselves celebrating American independence in a world where the most groundbreaking innovations in metal came from, well, not the US. Happy 4th indeed! Adding an extra dose of humor to this episode is the long-absent Jimmy Tucci, who dials in for the first time in months. In his unmistakable style, he insists on hearing something featuring Melissa Bonny. His catchphrase "Smooth like Melissa" echoes throughout the construction site he manages, proving once again that even amidst the toughest jobs, there's always room for a good metal soundtrack. Don't miss out on this charmingly offbeat episode. It promises a unique blend of international camaraderie, metallic musical genius, and an unexpected dose of construction site humor!

Sonic Onslaught for June 27, 2023

What unfolds when you blend Sonic Onslaught with Nick's entrepreneurial ventures? This episode, that's what. Despite juggling his business building efforts and the show, Nick somehow still manages to spare a moment (or several) to express his not-so-subtle disdain for the Floor Jansen era of Nightwish, all with a dash of his signature sarcasm. However, the tone of the show takes a sharp turn as we address a much more grave matter. Falling in Reverse has released their cover of 'Last Resort', a track originally by Papa Roach. This reimagining by Ronnie Radke has us diving into serious discussions as the song's theme starkly revolves around suicide. Consequently, we delve into an exploration of performance quality and its intricate correlation – and sometimes contrast – with singing technique, striking a stark contrast to the light-hearted banter of the episode's beginning.

Sonic Onslaught for June 20, 2023

Tarja is back, this time with a cover song so unexpected, it's nothing short of a head-scratcher. This perplexing decision serves as the pulsing heartbeat of this Sonic Onslaught episode, warranting our deep-dive dissection. Right from the start, Christel tackles the promotional blurb tied to this new song, an endeavor she reserves solely for marketing copy that's laughably egregious. In this spirit, they proceed to dissect the text in a way that is both insightful and hilarious. Following this, Nick and Christel bravely navigate the song and its corresponding video. The critique doesn't stop at the track, Christel dares to do the unthinkable – she plunges headfirst into the realm of public opinion, the comments section. Nick and Christel were surprised at what it looked like…But from where in the world did Christel discover a few precious nuggets of "sanity" that echo her sentiment about the song? This exploration of Tarja's latest, questionable offering becomes the highlight of the episode, so much so that it overshadowed other metal tracks. So, download this episode and prepare to enjoy some rib-tickling moments with your dose of metal. The laughter will be music to your ears.

Sonic Onslaught for June 13, 2023

This week, Nick and Christel simply had fun playing lots and lots of metal for longer than usual. However, one of the reasons they went longer than usual…Well, your milage may vary. They finally find out what Jessica Thierjung, former vocalist of Lyriel, is up to. Of course, Nick and Christel will tell you exactly what they think of it. All that and the usual dose of high quality metal and banter.

Sonic onslaught for June 6, 2023

This show does not have many special features. What it does have is another selection of music all over the metal spectrum, featuring some old favorites and tracks you might not know about. There’s also a bit of chatter from Christel about one of our cosmic companions.

Sonic Onslaught is reborn: May 30, 2023

2023 for Sonic Onslaught became a year of starts, stops, and turbulence, forcing the show to rebuild how it conducts itself. It’s not quite a format change, but from this day into the foreseeable future, Sonic Onslaught will adhere to more of, but not all, standard radio conventions. …And yes, that means you hear a lot more of Christel than you did in the past. Highlights of this first attempt include their thoughts on the new Within Temptation song and new Phantom Elite album…but don’t think you know what they’re going to say, for it might surprise you. Lowlights include Christel’s not being there for the first voice break due to technical issues preventing her from entering the Zoom call. Yes, it even has first show vibes in that way. It did, however, set the tone for how shows would be conducted in the future, so download a piece of Onslaught history.

Sonic Onslaught for February 7, 2023

Sonic Onslaught returns to normal this week, with music from all across the metal spectrum, s well as several discussion-heavy voice breaks. Is there a way to make pop-influenced metal that’s actually successful at not insulting anyone? We discuss that and play what may very well be an example. Otherwise, it’s just a fun show with a cross section of metal, albeit with a few technical problems. Download and enjoy!

Sonic Onslaught for January 31, 2023

Nick hates the state of music today. Between that and some other musical frustration in his life, and less than 24 hours after Damon went over the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 2022, Nick wanted a very heavy, non-melodic version of Sonic Onslaught. Christel did not object, so this show focuses on metal at its heaviest. Clean vocals are extremely limited. …And that’s it. That’s the show. Nothing but the heaviest metal we can find, from Djent to death to metalcore. Enjoy!

Sonic Onslaught for January 24, 2023

A late Happy New Year from Nick and Christel…and while they were away, the metal world had a content explosion. This show features brand new music from bands including, but not limited to, Periphery, kamelot, and Delain. Christel and Nick also rapidly review the self-titled album from Beyond the Black, also brand new, and they are in complete agreement on it. Alex has two contributions of his own weaved throughout the show, both of which have not been heard anywhere before. While Nick and Christel might have been better served spreading all this new music out, this show maintained a focus throughout and was incredibly fun to do and to listen. Give it a download!

Sonic Onslaught for November 15, 2022

This episode of Sonic Onslaught focused on Epica’s new collaborative EP, The Alchemy Project. Nick plays several tracks from it and tells you what he thinks of it, with Christel and listeners all hearing it for the first time. Due to some emergency situations, however, that would be the last of the special content on this show as Nick would end up doing the rest of it solo. Still, the show was full of good metal and didn’t end disastrously, so it’s here for your listening pleasure.

Sonic Onslaught for November 1, 2022

A man perpetrated a fraud scheme by pretending to be the vocalist for Japanese metal band DIR EN GREY. How and why was it successful for so long, and why shouldn’t it have been? The sheer amount of obvious that was missed by so many people is mind blowing. Alex shows us some more synthesized vocals singing metal, but with a backing that made Nick incredibly happy. If you’ve listened to Sonic Onslaught for more than five minutes, you know why. All this plus the usual interplay between broadcasters and listeners… Download this archive!

Sonic Onslaught for October 25, 2022

Alex shows up for his first episode of Sonic Onslaught to present Nick and Christel with a metal band from Poland, whose vocalist gave her voice to a death growling speech synthesizer. Nick and Christel see what they think of it…or try at least. Mariam introduces everyone to a band from her native Egypt named Riverwood…The gang was successful in its attempt at evaluating them. They also play Epica’s new song for the first time…and they go in blind, so you get to hear their sound unheard reaction. All that plus their usual mix of metal and banter make for this episode of Sonic Onslaught. Download it!

Sonic onslaught for October 18, 2022

Nick and Christel love when bands are transparent with their fans about the way they operate. Delain releasing Diana Leah’s auditions for the world to see is a level that makes both of them appreciative. More on that in this archive of a shortened show due to more nick brain fails…namely, it deserted him while the show was in process. Oh well…It’s here, get it!

Sonic Onslaught for October 11, 2022

Ad infinitum and Amaranthe are back…And Nick can’t speak. Isn’t that a fun way to do a show? Nick and Christel play the new singles from both bands…And Christel decides to read Amaranthe’s bio. Yes. Christel is compelled to read marketing copy. This only goes one way. All this, plus endless vocal flubs from Nick, coupled with the usual mix of heavy metal. Download and enjoy!

Sonic Onslaught for October 4, 2022

This episode of Sonic Onslaught was light on banter…on air, anyway. There was a lot of conversation on TeamTalk, but the crowd seemed more interested in having it off air, so Nick obliged. That does not mean that the music was any less heavy. This show was also the first to be done with Nick’s new Earthworks Ethos, received that same day. As a result, it’s not quite configured properly, but its virtues do show themselves fairly well. Download and enjoy the music!

Sonic Onslaught for September 27, 2022

Sonic Onslaught, as prolific as it is, doesn’t always catch everything. Nick and Christel choose today to bone up on things in the metal world that they might have missed over the past month. Melissa Bonny appears to be prepping a new Ad Infinitum album. While that was happening, the most prolific woman in heavy metal decided to lend her vocals to something else, this time a track from the metal string quartette known as Eklipse. From one extremely talented veteran to her direct rookie counterpart, Ambre Vourvahis and Xandria are back with a new song, but with a guest. Who is it, and does Xandria continue their tradition of writing songs that sound like their guests’ bands? We briefly debate that, but you make the choice. Finally…this is one that was not missed. Christel gets to hear the latest Avantasia single for the first time, live on the air. Get her natural reaction to it…it may not be what you expect. While this show was light on voice interaction, it was heavy on interplay and great music, and Nick believes it will be one of his favorites going forward. Go download it!

Sonic Onslaught for September 20, 2022

First Sonic Onslaught in quite a while, and Nick’s rusty. But the show had good stuff regardless. What do Christel and Nick think of the new Epica song, and how do they feel about the upcoming album? Does Christel care about Ozzy Osbourne’s new stuff, or the new Starset track? Nick’s opinions are certainly easy to decipher. Also, does the new Drowning Pool song belong in a comedy set? You decide by downloading this archive…And don’t miss the weirdness at the end.

Sonic Onslaught for August 30, 2022

This show focused on the yin and the yang of metal. In the first hour, a very focused Nick played some of the heaviest metal known to man, as is his won’t, with little regard for melody. This playlist actually generated some discussion about heaviness, and one listener’s wondering about the place for death metal on the heavy curve. In the second hour, things got a lot more melodic. Features included a surprise classic metal set from Christel – albeit with a crushing riff inserted by Nick – and a tribute to the 15th anniversary of Epica’s “The Divine Conspiracy,” which is the album that got Nick into that band. This show went all over the place but was a lot of fun to do at the same time. Download it!

Sonic Onslaught for August 23, 2022

This symphonic metal focused version of Sonic Onslaught follows up from two weeks ago. Given the introduction of Diana Leah, the new vocalist of Delain, by playing one of her YouTube covers. We also set up the next week, unknowingly, by playing a track off of Epica’s “The Divine Conspiracy,” the first Epica rocker Nick ever heard. It was good metal and good company.

Sonic Onslaught for August 16, 2022

A listener (Doc) actually wrote the lyrics to a Dutch Death Metal song. Hearing the story of that song, and playing it, was the main highlight of this show. A very personal show for Nick that nearly faced cancelation, this show is one that engenders pride. Enjoy!

Sonic Onslaught for August 9, 2022

It’s heavy music and heavy talk about heavy music. It’s a big deal when an iconic frontman, or frontwoman in this case, gets replaced in a band. One of the bigger acts in Symphonic Metal, Delain, announced on this day that Diana Leah, of the Trance music world, is their new vocalist. The announcement was accompanied by a new single which, of course, got played. Listen as Nick and Christel visibly struggle with their opinions of Delain’s new direction. For the very first time, Sonic Onslaught actually debuts a new Avantasia song. Listen to Christel’s vibey reaction to her idol’s new track, and the results of that introduction…just as Nick’s brain began to utterly rebel against him. If you enjoy European Symphonic Metal history, download this show.

Sonic Onslaught Special: "epica vs Attack on Titan" August 6, 2022

As the title suggests, this Sonic Onslaught special focuses on “Epica vs Attack on Titan,” Epica’s attempt to make an EP based on the Attack on Titan Anime. However, Christel had not heard this EP, on purpose. Nick played the original song, then the Epica remake. At that point, Christel, a massive fan of the anime as well as an Epica fan, evaluates how well Epica did in being true to the spirit of the original…and she didn’t pull her punches. This was a really fun exercise to do. Download it!

Sonic onslaught for August 2, 2022

Sonic Onslaught during the Major League Baseball trade deadline? Don’t mind if we do! How much did that impact the show? Download to find out…Yes, Juan Soto had already been traded by the time this show aired. What is “Second Wave of American Tween Melodic Rap Metalcore?” Christel shows you, describing the game containing this reference in the process. What does Christel deny all knowledge of…and does everyone believe her? How about you? Download this show and decide for yourself.

Sonic Onslaught prooves a point: July 26, 2022

With Christel missing in action at the last minute and Nick having read a Within Temptation quote that pissed him off, Nick decides to prove that their definition of “rough” is way off base by playing actually rough metal. It’s a two-hour case of assault and battery…It’s fantastic. Download it!

Sonic Onslaught for July 19, 2022

Once again, Christel is more producer than cohost as she is away from her studios and needed to be in a quiet place. Lacuna Coil Celebrates 20 Years of their landmark album Comalies by rerecording many tracks thereof. Neither Nick nor Christel are huge Lacuna Coil fans…what do they, and the listeners, think? A Canadian Band who used to bill themselves as Symphonic Metal released a new song…Should they be billed that way going forward? Disturbed has the first new song off their upcoming album as well…That’s just some of the great metal and awesome interaction on this show. Download!

Sonic Onslaught for July 12, 2022

This week, due to her taking a trip, Christel acts as more producer than cohost. Nick tells a story of the Uber trip from hell, which literally took place on the day of this show. Within Temptation went to great lengths to promote their newest song…Nick and Christel play it…Ooooh boy. They are most definitely honest about it, as is everyone there. To that point, Nick did some research as to the production of this song and found something important. What is that, and what does it mean for Within Temptation going forward? Find out. Center Stage did not air this day…Despite all the tribulation before the show, Nick and Christel ended up extending past the usual end. If that happens, you know it’s good. Download this archive!

Sonic Onslaught Copes: June 25, 2022

With Nick desperately needing a reminder of why he does internet radio, he turned to Christel on a random Saturday. However, simultaneous to Christel’s acquiescence to doing the show, she received word of a series of shootings in Oslo in a jazz club and a gay bar. With both hosts facing emotional trauma over unrelated issues, though with empathy on both sides, this show was nothing less than a coping mechanism for both participants. From raw emotionalism to a search for the positives in life, both hosts did what they could for their collective psyche.

Sonic Onslaught for june 21, 2022

It’s the first day of Northern Hemisphere Summer. But why is Christel wearing 60s-style hair rolls and a headscarf to walk her dog? It won’t take long for you to find out. With Nick emotionally under duress thanks to an incident in the house, Sonic Onslaught is a necessary bit of therapy for Nick, as seems to be the case quite a bit. In a follow up from an earlier show, over the weekend, new Xandria vocalist Ambre Vourvahis actually spoke to Nick, explaining how to pronounce her name. He shares that with the listeners…as well as the amusing interplay between Nick and Jessica that happened as a result. Similar amusing interplay would exist throughout as Nick and Christel play songs all through the metal spectrum, and the community close ranks around Nick in his time of need. Therapy? Mission most definitely accomplished.

Sonic Onslaught for June 14, 2022

Riikka takes the Cinnamon challenge. Yes, instigated by Christel and Derek, one of the most infamous moments in HKC Radio history occurs on this show, and it’s every bit as crazy as you think it is. Riikka stole the show, so we need not write any more about it.

Sonic Onslaught for June 7, 2022

For periods during this show, Nick was feeling nostalgic, so he chose to feed that nostalgia with tracks from various times in his metal life…What were you doing in 2006 and 2011, for instance? With Christel needing a laugh, she asked Nick to give his thoughts on, and do an impression of, former Amaranthe grunter Andreas Solveström. Hilarity ensued…It’s funny because it’s accurate. Christel is having a hard time with watching Delain go through its transition, a wound that opens every time Delain announces a new member, which they did. That subject gets unpacked. All that and more in this archive.

Sonic Onslaught for May 24, 2022

Christel lives in a town called Tromsø, Norway. A cheap Chinese earphone manufacturer has decided that her hometown would make a great model name for an Earphone. Christel reads the marketing copy. This can only go one way. A symphonic metal band is back from the dead…Yes, Xandria broke their cone of silence, shocking everyone in the process. Nick, Christel, and the listeners struggle with the idea that a band with one of the worst reputations in the genre is back in business, demanding to be taken seriously not with words, but with actions. Within Temptation and Asking Alexandria collaborated on something new. Does it raise the collective hope of fans of Classic Within Temptation, or does it slam the door on the ability to care about them? Discussion of that ilk was had by all. It’s heavy music and heavy talk, and it’s right here, ready for your download.

Sonic Onslaught for May 17, 2022

Nick’s wired, Christel’s tired! After celebrating Norwegian Constitution Day with a champaign breakfast and two concerts, she’s completely shot before Sonic onslaught. What a trooper for continuing the show. Speaking of constitution day, don’t miss the metal version of Norway’s national anthem. Nick is very, very angry at DigitalOcean and wants to tell everyone about it, both in voice and in song. Five Finger Death Punch released a new song that neither host had heard, nor did most of the listeners. The reactions tell their own story. All that plus the usual mix of metal.

Sonic Onslaught for May 10, 2022

Elysatium finally released one of the songs Nick was looking most forward to. Does hearing this new song change his mind about the project? Download to find out. Fozzy has released a new album…is it a bit more than marginal metal? Nick will show you. Christel has a Rammstein parody, as well as a story of when she first heard the original. Per an off-air TeamTalk discussion, Nick and Christel demonstrate pirate metal, and they decide to throw caution to the winds and play a long Epica track to close the show. Enjoy!

Sonic onslaught for May 3, 2022

How to start out a show with a completely unforced error…Nick everyone! Chrisel is really annoyed at the person who did her nails…Why? Nick attempts to play a game of “What’s wrong with this song?” The word “attempts” is there for a reason. Beginning this week, Sonic Onslaught is not the only metal show on HKC Radio. We welcome Brandon H by playing a set of music that’s inspired by the metal tastes most often heard on Heavily Influenced. It was a good return to the airwaves, once the rust was shaken off. Enjoy!

Sonic Onslaught reviews Ad Infinitum: November 2, 2021

This week, Nick and Christel review the new album from Ad Infinitum, titled “Chapter II – Legacy.” At the same time, this show focuses entirely on Symphonic Metal, and the state of the genre. Special attention is paid to the hierarchical and generational aspects of the genre, the latter of which Ad Infinitum may be a solution to. Does this band attempt at innovation? What do Nick and Christel think? No punches are pulled in the making of this show. Download another dose of honesty!

Sonic Onslaught reviews Starset: October 26, 2021

For the first time in a long time, and for the first of two straight weeks, Nick and Christel have an album review. This time, it’s Starset’s brand new album Horizons. Does it live up to their previous effort, Divisions, one of Nick’s favorite releases of 2019? We find out, without any punches pulled. It’s the ultimate honest review of an album. Download it!

Sonic Onslaught for October 5, 2021

No description available.

Sonic Onslaught for September 20, 2021

No description available.

Sonic Onslaught...Without Christel: September 13, 2021

No description available.

Sonic onslaught for August 30, 2021

No description available.

Sonic Onslaught, More music, less talk: August 23, 2021

While she might have been present, Christel was feeling terrible, so Nick took the reins entirely for this show. The result was a show more focused on music than talk, and a direction based on the prevailing mood. Highlights were a track called “Diggy Diggy Hole”, the introduction of a new symphonic metal band, and a brief discussion of Power Metal’s cheese factor.

Sonic Onslaught for August 16, 2021

It started out with reported technical problems which forced some diagnostics…But none of them were local in nature. After that, however, it turned into one of the best music shows Nick has ever done. Discussion topics included a story from Christel about the symbolic uses of garden Flamingos, a debate over what actually constitutes the heavy of heavy metal, and whether one would be able to tell whether Angela Gossow of Arch Enemy was a woman simply by listening to her. We also talk about amusing metal video games from the past, historic legends talked about in Scandinavian songs gone metal…all of this interspersed with some of the best metal on internet radio. This show ran 25 minutes over because everyone was having a blast…We hope the archive is just as much fun.

Sonic Onslaught for August 9, 2021

This show nearly didn’t happen, owing to Nick double-booking himself on a boat with his friend Lauren. However, Lauren canceled, which allowed the heavy metal to flow, and there was no shortage of heavy tracks this go round. One of the catalysts was a listener request that provided a very much unexpected Djent riff, which made Nick very happy. However, this show was the sum total of HKC Radio’s live content for several days, owing to the news of Tammy miscarrying her baby. This resulted in some songs of perseverance and trial, and an overriding message that life is to be lived. You never know what will happen tomorrow, so do some living today. Oh, and download this show while you’re at it.

Sonic Onslaught, the slot test: August 2, 2021

First, it was whether a show could even be accomplished. Now, it’s attempting it in the slot. …And the show was successful. Join Nick, Christel, and the listeners in their take on the best of metal, including one listener request that Christel fulfilled that managed to make nick’s jaw drop. The energy in this show was such that it made both Christel and Nick want to do more of them, committing them to the Monday 2 PM EDT slot. Download it and enjoy the music!

Sonic Onslaught, the Pilot: July 24, 2021

It’s launch weekend, and Sonic Onslaught is back…Let’s see what happ…Oh dear. It’s Christel’s first attempt at anything internet radio, and we start out by needing a board reboot. The failure of a Behringer X32 Producer just as the show begins had us a little bit off balance. However, toward the end, Nick and Christel started to feel it, just enough to ensure that Sonic Onslaught would get at least one more episode before committing to a slot. This show was definitely a piece of history as far as the launch programming is concerned, so download it if only for that.