What Happens When Interviews Get Too DEEP?
In episode 274 of Heavy Metal Philosophy, Jon Barbas attempted to have a 10 minute interview with Ben Hutcherson of Khemmis about their upcoming self-titled album. Ben and Jon then went on an hour long existential and nihilistic spiral… and they did it with smiles on their faces. Do you like cosmic horror and heavy metal? You’re in the right place, join us!
Khemmis links;
https://khemmis.bandcamp.com/music
https://www.instagram.com/khemmisdoom/
https://www.facebook.com/khemmisdoom
https://www.instagram.com/khemmisdoom/
Thomas Ligotti Books;
The Conspiracy Against The Human Race – https://amzn.to/4v0VIe7
My Work Is Not Yet Done – https://amzn.to/49R9aZD
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#doommetal #metal #existentialism
@coilfan09
June 12, 2026 at 8:07 am
This dude is super cool love this interview! When this guy was talking about his beliefs on the banality of life and his thought on its pointlessness in terms of not taking yourself too seriously and being willing to admit we are a grain of sand on beach and that being kind is the way to go I felt like it was what Iāve tried to interpret to people when I talk about why I donāt take things super serious. Life is such an amazing thing but people also need to realize that it is futile to believe that they are somehow important in the overall scope
@stevendefino7485
June 12, 2026 at 8:07 am
When someone says they heard "The Black Album" and that was when metal found them I feel old, so old, and young at the same time. Always. brain pops up that existential flowchart. We run through it to see what has changed since last time, and check our mailboxes.
When the new Khemmis vinyl arrives, it is no ordinary thing, it requires the proper listening ritual. Great band.
@YouTubdotCub
June 12, 2026 at 8:07 am
I love Thomas Ligotti so much, the story that closes out Teatro Grotesco is one of the bleakest and most impactful horror stories I've ever read. Also really love True Detective season 1, which is obviously very indebted to Ligotti's Conspiracy Against the Human Race.
@Tarkanaf_Rey
June 12, 2026 at 8:07 am
Some say they actually continued the conversation late in to the night but Jon didn't want to have to edit 6 hours of interview down to 50 minutes.
Incredible discussion. I kept forgetting I was actually listening to an album release interview. Learning about the philosophy of metal makes me learn a little more about myself every time. š¤
@radixrising
June 12, 2026 at 8:07 am
I'm was a very casual Khemiss fan at best. Needless to say I'm a huge fan now. Went through their discography a few times today!!! What a cool guy and amazing band! TY šš»šš»šš»
@salgymbro7624
June 12, 2026 at 8:07 am
I'm still half way on the interview and it's really good so far but I got sidetracked checking out the band's music, I love whenever I find a new band that I like (you actually found it for me) and they have 5 older cds and a new one coming.
I'll finish the interview and I will go back to the musicš¤.
Thanks guys.
@MasonMaiorino
June 12, 2026 at 8:07 am
I will be nervous interviewing musicians. I donāt know how you do it, man.
@KingInOchre
June 12, 2026 at 8:07 am
Something you said made me think of Thomas Ligotti. If you're not familiar his short stories are great Songs of a Dead Dreamer and Grimscribe, but there is also his non-fiction, The Conspiracy Against the Human Raceāit's more philosophical.
@CrucialVelocity-pp2qd
June 12, 2026 at 8:07 am
I watched this to hear from one of my favorite bands. I finished feeling a sense of better understanding of myself and the world. Excellent work, Jon and Ben!
@MeMeme-d7f
June 12, 2026 at 8:07 am
i didnt know they were American
@Jim.G
June 12, 2026 at 8:07 am
Thanks for this conversation, gentlemen! I've never been happier to support an artist, a band, and this channel. It's like you guys have been listening to me talk to myself in my living room! lol Seriously, been a big fan of Khemmis since seeing them back in '22 with Opeth and Mastodon. can't wait for Friday!
@acaDamiens
June 12, 2026 at 8:07 am
wow, that line he said "I am going to find the starlight in the abyss, and that is what I am going to chase" – Ben …. that is going to live with me.
@AndersElle
June 12, 2026 at 8:07 am
Great interview!
@FeRReTNS
June 12, 2026 at 8:07 am
We need a Jon and Ben Philosophy podcast.
@ericv7720
June 12, 2026 at 8:07 am
Metal is heavily influenced by Catholicism, being that its earliest practicioners (Sabbath, et al.) were Catholic. So the existentialist thesis makes sense, since the big existential thinkers (Camus, Sartre, Heidegger) came from Catholic backgrounds (Nietzsche and Kierkegaard were Lutheran, which is Catholicism with more Hell and less guilt). Thus, the obsession with death. As for me, as a Gen Xer, I've done everything I set out to do. All that is left is to make life suck less for myself and everybody else before I pass on to the next realm.
@markstewart515
June 12, 2026 at 8:07 am
Good interview Jon
@tsalagi78
June 12, 2026 at 8:07 am
š¤š½šš¤š½
@themetalmeltdownofficial
June 12, 2026 at 8:07 am
I literally spoke to Ben yesterday and literally the whole time all I could think is 'damn this guy shoulda been on Heavy Metal Philosophy instead of The Metal Meltdown' lmao, super cool dude.
@gabriel.longworth
June 12, 2026 at 8:07 am
4:40 dude, Heavy metal shows are literally a reset for the brain. Love this guy
@raoulduke8003
June 12, 2026 at 8:07 am
"Die before you die."
@DrunkenWerewolves
June 12, 2026 at 8:07 am
Man, you are just in time, I was just about to wash the dishes and was looking for something to watch while working š„³š¤
Edit: I am 25 minutes in, and this is beautiful. The two of you have amazing thoughts about this life, I completely agree with all of it, just so wonderfully said. Amazing educated men who know what they're talking about. A pleasure to listen to