THE BEAST

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Relentless Pacific Fury: Ben Hoagland of Extortionist Joins The Zach Moonshine Show

Friday night on Metal Devastation Radio , the airwaves got ripped wide open as Ben Hoagland , vocalist of Pacific Northwest deathcore wrecking crew Extortionist , joined The Zach Moonshine Show for an exclusive interview. With their crushing new album Stare Into the Seething Wounds set to drop October 10th, 2025 via Unique Leader Records , the timing couldn’t have been better for a deep dive into the chaos, creativity, and raw honesty behind the music.

Deathcore With a Pacific Northwest Edge

Right out of the gate, Zach put it bluntly:

“You got the deathcore fucking heaviness in there, but you’ve also got the melodic stuff you might hear from Alice in Chains or Slipknot.”

Ben didn’t hesitate to confirm it:

“Those two bands, Alice in Chains and Slipknot, they’re our biggest influence. You hit the nail on the head.”

That blend of grunge’s haunting atmosphere with the sheer intensity of extreme metal is what sets Extortionist apart. Forged in the rain-soaked shadows of the Pacific Northwest , their sound feels both familiar and completely their own — a storm of breakdowns, groove, and melody that hits hard and lingers long after the track ends.

The Making of Stare Into the Seething Wounds

The band’s upcoming album promises to be their most ambitious and punishing release yet. On the show, Ben broke down the recording process, the lyrical depth, and the emotional toll of crafting a record that reflects both personal struggle and collective rage .

Zach summed it up perfectly:

“This is what the world needs right now, man.”

From the snippets previewed on the show, it’s clear Stare Into the Seething Wounds is going to raise the bar not just for Extortionist, but for the deathcore genre as a whole.

Extortionist’s Rise Through the Underground

Extortionist has already shared stages with Lorna Shore, Attila, Bodysnatcher, and supported KING810 — but they’ve stayed true to their underground roots. Their sound may be brutal and their presence commanding, but their ethos is pure DIY grit.

That attitude made them a perfect fit for The Zach Moonshine Show , which continues to champion the bands pushing metal forward while staying connected to its raw beginnings.

Final Thoughts

Extortionist isn’t just another deathcore band. They’re a sonic force built on the bones of grunge, nu-metal, and extreme metal — music that reflects the unforgiving landscapes of the Pacific Northwest and the unrelenting spirit of underground heavy music.

Stare Into the Seething Wounds is dropping October 10th via Unique Leader Records, and if the interview was any indication, this record is going to be one for the books.

Raise your horns, crank it until the walls shake, and support the underground.

Track List:

Battle Of The Bands Top Six:

1 - Tooth & Dagger - Survive
2 - Dragonborn - Revenge Of Pagan Swords
3 - Richthammer - Parasitismus
4 - Mistress - Cherity
5 - Moonfallen - Stuck
6 - Sagenbringer - Valkyrensturm

The Zach Moonshine Intro

7 - Ozzy Osbourne - Rock 'n' Roll Rebel/Secret Loser
8 - Soulfly - Under The Sun
9 - CHESTCRUSH - Every Single Word That Comes Out Of Your Filthy Hole Is An Infectious Lie A Spreading Disease
10 - Truckface - I'm Comin' To Kick Your Ass
11 - Inhuman Condition - Burial State

Extortionist - Interview featuring Extortionist/Cycle Of Sin

12 - Ola Englund - THE GUILLOTINE
13 - Age Of Fire - Race Against the Setting Sun
14 - TESTAMENT - Shadow People
15 - Solicitor - Crimson Battle Beast
16 - MORDETH - ALIEN
17 - Toy Called God - Monster Baby
18 - Vick LeCar - It’s Time
19 - Vicar Blood - When War Comes
20 - Damned To Downfall - Swallow Your Soul
21 - FIRST JASON - Into The Fray
22 - Deteriorot - In Battle to Survive
23 - RETURN TO DARKNESS - Eternal Chain
24 - Sandrider - March of the Pigs
25 - DARK ANGEL - SCALAR WEAPONRY
26 - At The Gates - Slaughter Of The Soul

Streaming now on Mixcloud:

Also check out the interview clip on YouTube, Spotify, Apple etc:

Super massive thanks to the 127,474 metal maniacs from around the world that tuned in live to the broadcast Friday night!

Get tickets to the fest here and come see us live October 11th

https://www.hubcityevents.com/events/tennessee-metal-devastation-music-fest-2025-10-11-2025