Valkyrie Sessions

Episod

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  QUEEN NENE! Thai Rockstar Crowned AGT Champion 👑🤘 24.09.2026 16min

  NENE ROYAL IS YOUR AMERICA’S GOT TALENT SEASON 21 CHAMPION! 👑🤘What an incredible journey.After months of unforgettable performances, Thai rockstar Nene Royal has officially won AGT, and I HAD to jump on for a special edition of Valkyrie Sessions to celebrate it.In this video, I look back at Nene’s incredible finale performance of “Seven Nation Army,” what makes her stage presence and ability to reinvent legendary songs so special, and why I believed she had a legitimate chance to win this competition from early in her run.And somehow, winning AGT wasn’t the only insane part of her week.We’ve also got to talk about Nene performing alongside Linkin Park, including sharing vocals with Emily Armstrong, as well as her awesome “Kerosene” collaboration with The Warning.But now comes the really exciting part: what happens next?We’ve watched Nene put her own spin on music from The Cranberries, Muse, Soundgarden, The White Stripes and more. Now I can’t wait to hear what Nene Royal’s own music sounds like as she prepares for her debut EP, In The Making.From Thailand to the AGT stage to becoming a champion at just 16 years old—what a fucking ride.Congratulations, Nene. You earned it. 👑Let me know below: What was your favorite Nene Royal performance from her entire AGT run, and what do you want to see her do next?🎙️ Listen to Valkyrie Sessions:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ValkyrieSessions#NeneRoyal #AGT #AmericasGotTalent #LinkinPark #TheWarning #WomenInRock #WomenInMetal #ValkyrieSessions
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  Why Wasn't Soundgarden's Halftime Show Televised?! | Valkyrie Sessions Ep. 12 18.09.2026 49min

  Why wasn’t Soundgarden’s NFL halftime performance with Taylor Momsen shown to viewers at home?On Episode 12 of Valkyrie Sessions, I break down the frustration surrounding Soundgarden’s performance with Taylor Momsen and Mike McCready during NFL opening week—and ask why viewers watching on NBC didn’t get to see it, especially when the Jonas Brothers’ halftime performance was shown in full on Netflix the very next night.We also get into the newly announced upgrades coming to Welcome to Rockville in 2027, including some much-needed additional shade, and hear two new Valkyrie Voices responses from Evol Walks guitarist Chris Borell on Leah Martin-Brown and Unleash the Archers bassist Nick Miller on Brittney Slayes.Plus, it’s time for the first-ever Valkyrie Sessions Q&A! I answer your questions about underrated women in rock and metal, my dream band lineup, my Mount Rushmore of frontwomen, which non-rock singer I’d love to hear go heavy, and the song I wish I could experience again for the first time.Then I review Showing Teeth’s debut EP A Fate Worse Than Loneliness, exploring Addison’s incredible vocal range and the emotional journey connecting all seven tracks before giving it a Valkyrie Score.And finally, we head to Sydney, Australia, as Closure takes the spotlight as this week’s Valkyrie Sessions Band of the Week!EPISODE 12:🎸 Soundgarden + Taylor Momsen’s unaired NFL halftime show🤘 Welcome to Rockville 2027 upgrades🎤 Valkyrie Voices — Chris Borell & Nick Miller❓ First-ever Valkyrie Sessions Q&A🔥 Showing Teeth — A Fate Worse Than Loneliness EP Review⚔️ Band of the Week — ClosureThere will be no Valkyrie Sessions next week as I take a short break, but I’ll be back in two weeks with plenty more—including a review of Lacuna Coil’s Sleepless Empire. And depending on what happens with Nene Royal in the AGT finale, you may hear from me a little sooner!Thanks for watching and listening, and as always, keep on rocking! 🤘Listen to Valkyrie Sessions:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ValkyrieSessions#ValkyrieSessions #Soundgarden #TaylorMomsen #ThePrettyReckless #ShowingTeeth #UnleashTheArchers #WomenInMetal #WomenInRock
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  Are Cell Phones Ruining Concerts? | Valkyrie Sessions Ep. 11 11.09.2026 52min

  Are cell phones ruining the concert experience? 📱🤘On Episode 11 of Valkyrie Sessions, I dive into the debate after Kittie recently discussed how live shows have changed in the smartphone era. Taking a few pictures or short videos is one thing — but are we spending too much time recording concerts instead of actually experiencing them?Also on this week's show:🏈 The Warning are headed to the NFL! Dany, Pau and Ale will perform at halftime of the Vikings vs. 49ers game in Mexico City.⚔️ Valkyrie Bingo returns! This time I'm joined by a very special guest — my mom — to see is she has a superior rock & metal résumé.🔥 In This Moment – Witch Album Review: There are some songs I really enjoyed, but the heavy reliance on industrial/electronic production and THREE covers on an 11-song album left me with some questions. Where does it land on the Valkyrie Score?🎸 Band of the Week: Dream State — featuring vocalist Jessie Powell, who previously joined Valkyrie Voices. If you've never heard them before, start with “Bloom”!And don't forget: I'm collecting questions for the first Valkyrie Sessions Q&A! Drop your questions in the comments below or send them to me on social media. They can be about women in rock & metal, festivals, the show, music in general, or anything else you want to ask!Follow Valkyrie Sessions:Instagram: @ValkyrieFestTikTok: @ValkyrieSessionsWatch Valkyrie Sessions on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@ValkyrieSessionsWhat do YOU think: Are phones ruining concerts, or should fans be able to record as much as they want? Let me know below!#ValkyrieSessions #WomenInRock #WomenInMetal #InThisMoment #TheWarning #Kittie #DreamState #RockMusic #MetalMusic
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  AS GOOD AS GOLD?! Nene Royal Does It AGAIN! | Valkyrie Sessions Ep. 10 04.09.2026 1j 5min

  Nene Royal is AS GOOD AS GOLD!Valkyrie Sessions officially hits double digits with a packed Episode 10!I break down Nene Royal’s performance of Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun” on America’s Got Talent, the incredible crowd reaction, her Golden Buzzer from Mel B and the continued evolution of a 16-year-old performer who looks increasingly comfortable commanding the stage.Then it’s time for a busy week of rock news, including a recap of Daisy Chain Fields, Taylor Momsen joining Soundgarden for the Seattle Seahawks’ opening-night halftime show, and the controversy surrounding Skillet and Bad Wolves following backlash directed toward new Bad Wolves vocalist Sara Skinner.This week’s Valkyrie Voices features three perspectives from across the rock and metal world: Xandria vocalist Ambre Vourvahis discusses why women in rock and metal shouldn’t have to fit a particular narrative, vocal coach Beth Roars highlights the impact of Jinjer’s Tatiana Shmayluk and Arch Enemy’s Alissa White-Gluz, and Eva Under Fire drummer Dave Miller II shares what stands out about vocalist and bandmate Amanda Lyberg.Then, it’s a full track-by-track review of The Warning’s Everything’s Falling. From Ritual and Perfect Daughter to the aggression of Ego and explosive finale Kerosene, I dive into the music, lyrics and recurring themes before giving the album its Valkyrie Score.Finally, Evol Walks, led by Leah Martin-Brown, is this week’s Band of the Week, with “Surrender” as my recommended starting point.Plus, details on the first-ever Valkyrie Sessions Q&A coming in Episode 12 and a preview of next week’s review of In This Moment’s Witch!Until next week, keep on rocking! 🤘
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  What's Missing From Music Festivals? | Valkyrie Sessions Ep. 9 28.08.2026 42min

  Music festivals keep getting bigger, more expensive and more elaborate — but are they actually getting better for the average fan?On Episode 9 of Valkyrie Sessions, I break down what I think is MISSING from today's music festival experience — from giving unknown local bands a legitimate shot, to better hydration and shade options, fan jam sessions and workshops, and bringing back more opportunities for fans to actually interact with artists.Plus, there's plenty more on this week's show:🤘 Nita Strauss returns for her seventh season performing with the Los Angeles Rams🔥 Floor Jansen announces her new solo album and releases new music🎙️ Valkyrie Voices: Peggy Smits of Queen of Spades shares her perspective on women being recognized as musicians first, motherhood, and showing her children what it looks like to chase your dreams🎪 What's Missing From Music Festivals? — The Crash Pit, Rock/Metal's Got Talent, fan participation, artist signing tents and why VIP should buy luxury — NOT the basic festival experience🌊 Album Review: Spiritbox — Tsunami Sea — a creative, emotionally dynamic album featuring one of my favorite Spiritbox songs yet🇦🇺 Band of the Week: RedHook — the high-energy Australian rock band blending alternative rock, pop-punk and metalcoreThank you as always for listening and supporting Valkyrie Sessions!📺 Watch Valkyrie Sessions on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@ValkyrieSessionsUntil next time, keep on rocking! 🤘
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  Nene Royal & Brook Lynn Are ROCKING AGT! | Valkyrie Sessions Ep. 8 21.08.2026 49min

  Nene Royal was damn near perfect with her cover of Muse’s “Hysteria” on AGT — but she wasn’t the only woman bringing some rock and metal into the competition. Brook Lynn took on Evanescence’s “Bring Me to Life,” and suddenly rock fans might have a LOT more to root for this season than we thought.On Episode 8 of Valkyrie Sessions, Aaron breaks down both performances and why Nene continues to look like a legitimate contender to win the entire competition.Plus, we get into the latest news surrounding Within Temptation, the new collaboration between Courtney LaPlante and Oli Sykes for VALORANT, and the newly released Louder Than Life set times — including some seriously impressive representation for women on the Decibel Stage.Jessie Powell of Dream State joins Valkyrie Voices to share her perspective on the opportunities finally opening up for women across rock and metal, before we dive into an album review of Dorothy’s The Way and spotlight Catalyst Crime as the Band of the Week.From AGT to festivals, new music and rising bands, it’s another packed episode celebrating the women shaping rock, metal and heavy music.⚔️ Valkyrie Sessions — the hub for everything going on with women in rock, metal & heavy music.
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  Why Are Women Taking Over Rock & Metal? | Valkyrie Sessions Ep. 7 14.08.2026 57min

  Why are more women than ever thriving in rock and metal—and what’s driving that growth?On Episode 7 of Valkyrie Sessions, we bring back Valkyrie Voices to hear directly from people within the scene. Closure vocalist Lucy May shares her thoughts on representation and femininity in heavy music, while Emily Agnesini, Sarah Macdonald and Steve Hughes give their perspectives from the metal media world on visibility, social media, changing gatekeepers, inclusion, the women who paved the way, and—most importantly—the incredible music being made today.Plus, I’m fresh off seeing The Pretty Reckless open for AC/DC at Levi’s Stadium, and I’ll share my thoughts on Taylor Momsen and the band live, including a couple clips from the show!Also on Episode 7:🎸 The major editorial cuts affecting Alternative Press, Revolver, BrooklynVegan and Goldmine—and what they say about the state of music journalism🎤 The first-ever Valkyrie Bingo! Find out your Valkyrie Score and play along🔥 A full track-by-track review of Halestorm’s Everest one year after its release⚔️ Band of the Week: Unleash the Archers🤘 And plenty more from the world of women in rock & metalWhat do YOU think has been the biggest catalyst for the growth of women in rock and metal over the past decade? Let me know in the comments!🎧 LISTEN TO VALKYRIE SESSIONS:Spotify: Valkyrie Sessions on SpotifyApple Podcasts: Valkyrie Sessions on Apple Podcasts#ValkyrieSessions #WomenInMetal #WomenInRock #Metal #RockMusic #Halestorm #ThePrettyReckless #UnleashTheArchers
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  Rock + Metal BELONG on Talent Shows | Valkyrie Sessions Ep. 6 07.08.2026 40min

  Do rock and metal deserve a bigger place on TV talent shows? I think the answer is yes.In this episode of Valkyrie Sessions, I dive into why shows like America's Got Talent, The Voice, American Idol, and The X Factor have helped launch incredible rock and metal artists.Also this week:🎤 Thailand names Nene Royal as part of its Global Tourism campaign after her incredible America's Got Talent performance.🤘Can rock & metal festivals do more to reward their most loyal fans?🏆 Evanescence's "Bring Me to Life" reaches an incredible 11× Platinum certification.🎧 Album Review: Future Palace – Resurgence🤘 Band of the Week: Infected RainWhat do you think? Should rock and metal festivals introduce loyalty rewards programs for their biggest fans? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!🎙️ Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ValkyrieSessionsFollow Valkyrie Fest on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/valkyriefest🎵 Follow Valkyrie Sessions on TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@valkyriesessions#Rock #Metal #RockFestival #MusicFestival #FuturePalace #InfectedRain #Evanescence #NeneRoyal #AmericasGotTalent #ValkyrieSessions
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  Nene Royal Could Win It All! | Valkyrie Sessions Episode 5 31.07.2026 51min

  Could Nene Royal win it all? On Episode 5 of Valkyrie Sessions, I break down her powerful America’s Got Talent performance of “Zombie” and explain why she has the talent, stage presence and uniqueness to go far in the competition.Also in this episode:🎸 Courtney LaPlante of Spiritbox steps in after a fan gets violent—and why proper mosh-pit etiquette matters.🎤 Valkyrie Voices: Women from across rock and metal answer one important question: What’s one thing you wish more people understood about women in rock and metal? Featuring responses from Lena Scissorhands of Infected Rain, Zoe Marie Federoff of Catalyst Crime and Brittney Slayes of Unleash the Archers.🔥 A full review of Jinjer’s latest album Duel, including my favorite songs.📱 Plus, an update on where you can follow Valkyrie Sessions now on social media!Valkyrie Sessions is a podcast celebrating women throughout rock and metal—from rising artists and major performances to album reviews, industry conversations and the future of Valkyrie Fest.Listen to Valkyrie Sessions: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ValkyrieSessionsApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/valkyrie-sessions/id6787630656Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valkyriefest/Subscribe and join the conversation: How far do you think Nene Royal can go?#NeneRoyal #AmericasGotTalent #ValkyrieSessions #WomenInRock #WomenInMetal #Spiritbox #Jinjer
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  This Is a Huge Win for Women in Metal | Valkyrie Sessions Ep. 4 24.07.2026 50min

  Welcome back to Valkyrie Sessions!This week, we're remembering Jennifer Finch of L7 and the impact she made on rock music. We also dive into the latest controversy surrounding Poppy, take a look at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's new Women in Metal: You Will Know My Name exhibit, and discuss what it means for the future of heavier music.Plus, I share realistic ticket prices, attendance expectations, and potential dates for what Valkyrie Fest could actually become.Also in this episode:🎸 Album Review: Eva Under Fire – Villainous🤘 Band of the WeekIf you enjoy celebrating women in rock, metal, punk, alternative, and beyond, be sure to follow and join the conversation in the comments and make sure to follow @ValkyrieFest on Instagram! What do you think of the Rock & Roll HOF Women in Metal exhibit?#WomenInMetal #RockMusic #Metal #RockAndRollHOF #Poppy #L7 #JenniferFinch #EvaUnderFire #ValkyrieSessions #ValkyrieFest
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  🤘 I Think I Found the PERFECT Home for Valkyrie Fest... | Valkyrie Sessions Ep. 3 21.07.2026 39min

  This week on Valkyrie Sessions, we're covering one of the best live shows I've ever attended, discussing Louder Than Life's new all-female stage, and diving into the biggest question surrounding Valkyrie Fest so far...Where should it be held?!After researching dozens of potential festival locations across the United States, I narrow it down to my personal favorites and explain what makes a venue capable of hosting a major rock and metal festival.Plus:🤘 My review of Jinjer & Entheos live at Ace of Spades - Sacramento🎸 Louder Than Life's all-female stage featuring Halestorm, In This Moment, Lindsey Stirling and more🏟️ Valkyrie Fest Short & Long-Term Goals💿 Album Review:The Pretty Wild — Zero.Point.Genesis⭐ Band of the WeekLet me know in the comments:Which location would YOU choose for Valkyrie Fest?🎙️ Available on YouTube, Spotify & Apple Podcasts.If you enjoyed the episode, don't forget to subscribe for more conversations celebrating women in rock and metal.
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  Olivia Rodrigo's Festival Idea Rock & Metal Should Copy | Valkyrie Sessions Ep. 2 10.07.2026 45min

  Why do so few women appear at the world's biggest rock and metal festivals?In Episode 2 of Valkyrie Sessions, I compare five major rock festivals and break down the numbers behind female representation on festival lineups. I also discuss Olivia Rodrigo's new Daisy Chain Fields festival and why I believe parts of that concept could inspire future rock and metal festivals.Also in this episode:🌼 Why Daisy Chain Fields has people talking📊 The surprising "1 in 11" statistic from major rock festivals🎤 Should bands change their name after replacing a vocalist?🤘 The Pretty Reckless – Dear God review🎸 Band of the Week: EntheosAbout Valkyrie SessionsValkyrie Sessions celebrates women in rock and metal through album reviews, artist spotlights, industry discussion, and the long-term vision of creating Valkyrie Fest—a festival dedicated to showcasing incredible women-led talent from across the rock and metal scene.If you enjoy the show, please consider following, rating, and sharing the podcast. It really helps new listeners discover Valkyrie Sessions.Follow along on Instagram:@valkyriefest
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  An All-Female Rock/Metal Festival?! | Valkyrie Sessions Ep. 1 03.07.2026 44min

  Could an All-Female rock, metal, metalcore and alternative music festival actually succeed? Welcome to the very first episode of Valkyrie Sessions! On Episode 1, I introduce Valkyrie Fest- a concept for a destination festival celebrating the incredible women leading today's rock, metal, metalcore, punk, and alternative scenes. I discuss what a festival like this could look like and mention some bands who could play at the inaugural festival! In this episode, we discuss: - The concept of Valkyrie Fest- Whether "female-fronted" is a useful term- A review of Sanctuary by Evanescence- This week's Band of the Week: Deadlands- Plus More!I'd love to hear your thoughts: Would you attend Valkyrie Fest? Which bands would have to be on the bill? What city should host it and why? Thanks for listening to Episode 1 of Valkyrie Sessions. If you enjoy the show, be sure to follow so you don't miss future episodes!#ValkyrieFest #Rock #Metal #Metalcore #Alternative #MusicFestival