Labor Day. A holiday that doesn't get a whole lot of attention for it's ties to music, but a little research has uncovered a wealth of labor-related material that celebrates the working class, the unemployed and the oppressed. Sit back and enjoy our two-part Labor Day Special! Rush, "Working Man", Rush (1974) Talkset #1 Crass, "Do They Owe Us a Living", The Feeding of the 5000 (1978) The Germs, "The Slave", GI (1979) Minutemen, "Working Men Are Pissed", The Politics of Time (1984) MDC, "I Hate W...
Sep 05, 2011•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 139
Part two of our discussion of Electric Wizard: The modern era. We see a major lineup change that includes a second guitar player/songwriter that takes them into new musical directions that push the boundaries of doom. Executive Producer: Wes Cueto "We Live", We Live (2004) Talkset #1 "Master of Alchemy", Let Us Prey (2002) "Eko Eko Azarek", We Live (2004) Talkset #2 "Dunwich", Witchcult Today (2007) "Satanic Rites of Drugula", Witchcult Today (2007) "Torquemada '71", Witchcult Today (2007) "Blac...
Aug 21, 2011•1 hr 35 min•Ep. 138
This week we tackle Electric Wizard, one of the most requested show topics in recent memory. Since their inception, they have continually defied expectation and have become the torchbearers of pushing the boundaries of doom and heavy music in general. In part 1 we discuss their first four releases and chart their conventional doom rise to the sonic barbarity of Dopethrone. Executive Producer: Brian Rogers "Wizard in Black", Come My Fanatics (1997) Talkset #1 "Stone Magnet", Electric Wizard (1995...
Aug 08, 2011•1 hr 32 min•Ep. 137
We're continuing our exploration of Ireland's Primordial, focusing on their post-2000 output. "The Golden Spiral", The Gathering Wilderness (2005) Talkset #1 "The Coffin Ships", The Gathering Wilderness (2005) "Tragedy's Birth", The Gathering Wilderness (2005) "Gallows Hymn", To The Nameless Dead (2007) Talkset #2 "Empire Falls", To The Nameless Dead (2007) "Heathen Tribes", To The Nameless Dead (2007) "Bloodied Yet Unbowed", Redemption at the Puritan's Hand (2011) Talkset #3 "No Grave Deep Enou...
Jul 31, 2011•1 hr 32 min•Ep. 136
Sweden seems to be our goto country, so it's no surprise we're back to discuss one of the obscure gems of the early 90s... Eucharist. An anomaly in the melodic death metal scene, they have more in common with At The Gates Red in the Sky... than Dark Tranquility or In Flames, using weird time signatures and unconventional riffs. We basically go through every era of their career in this crucial episode. Executive Producer: Adrian Camoens "The View", Deaf Metal Sampler (1993) Talkset #1 "Into the C...
Jul 29, 2011•1 hr 28 min•Ep. 135
Ireland isn't a country often associated with the extreme metal scene. But there is one notable exception... Primordial. The struggles and oppression they have overcome as a people is clearly felt through Primordial's lyrics, songwriting and imagery. Similar to the "viking metal" movement, they have used national pride and history as a basis for their entire career. In this first part we explore their first four records. Executive Producer: Brian Douglas "Journey's End", A Journey's End (1998) T...
Jul 20, 2011•1 hr 31 min•Ep. 134
Everyone knows the controversy surrounding Mayhem and the death of Euronymous at the hand of Varg Vikernes and the suicide of previous singer Dead, but beyond the sensationalism there is is a fantastic musical document that remains. This episode we discuss the merits of one of the most important black metal albums of all time. The riffing, unconventional songwriting and one of the most impressive drum performances up to that point all add up to a wealth of influence that is still heard to this d...
Jul 11, 2011•1 hr 34 min•Ep. 133
Morbid Angel is quite possibly the most important band in extreme metal, influencing countless black and death metal acts and reshaping the possibilities of extreme music. In recent years they have been flying under-the-radar with the promise of an album reuniting the classic David Vincent-era lineup. With such lofty expectations of what the new music might hold, fans were clamoring to hear Morbid Angel back at their best. But as many have sadly discovered, their new album sounds like an out of ...
Jul 06, 2011•1 hr 32 min•Ep. 132
It's been a long time coming, but we thought it was high time that we brought Overkill into the discussion. Considered one of the originators of thrash, yet often relegated to a second tier act. Similar to Exodus, circumstances prevented them from releasing a record until well after Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax already gained prominence in the scene. This episode we discuss the first 5 albums and hopefully shine a well deserved light on this crucial thrash band. Executive Producer: Ol...
Jun 28, 2011•1 hr 34 min•Ep. 131
We're back from vacation and with something of a different show than the usual. By listener suggestion, we do a breakdown of our experiences at Maryland Death Fest 2011 and throw in a some music from the acts that really stood out. Executive Producer: Wes Cueto In Solitude, "The World, The Flesh, The devil", The World, The Flesh, The Devil (2011) Talkset #1 Miasmal, "Abduction of Soul", Demo (2008) Cathedral, "Vampire Sun", The Carnival Bizzare (1995) Neurosis, "A Sun That Never Sets", A Sun Tha...
Jun 20, 2011•1 hr 32 min•Ep. 130
Back to some of the roots of extreme metal this week. Black Sabbath might be the first thing to come to mind when you hear Witchfinder General, but beyond some surface similarities, they are quite different beasts. Coming out of the NWOBHM scene, they didn't really fit in with their peers and were only a blip on the radar, until later touted as fuel for the later doom scene eruption in the late 80s. We discuss their blatant influence on Cathedral as well as how their lyrical content and image we...
May 23, 2011•1 hr 42 min•Ep. 129
We're trying something a little different this week. We often discuss and relate non-metal acts into our music conversations, but this time we're going to make a non-metal band the subject of this week's show. While definitely having metallic elements, Germany's The Notwist encompass multiple genres into their music and have a pervasive "unsettling" undertone that makes them a good (although not obvious) choice for our first foray into discussing a non-metal band on the show. Executive Producer:...
May 15, 2011•1 hr 30 min•Ep. 128
We're digging into the vault on this one. Two Swedish bands that had humble beginnings, but contained members that would go on to be a part of bands that would shape the genre. House of Usher, a band with little output, but a huge reputation within Swedish death metal circles and featured Martin Larsson who would go onto At The Gates and Stefan Källarsson from Crypt of Kerberos. Then we have Crystal Age, an abrasive, technical death metal outfit with a penchant for Star Wars lyrics featuring Osc...
May 10, 2011•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 127
This time we're going back to a dark day in metal... 1995. Or at least that's where our story begins, in southern California amidst a scene with the unfortunate moniker of nu-metal. While I still don't understand the success of this sub genre, there was one bright spot in an otherwise, to be frank, shitty scene: The Deftones. They quickly surpassed all their contemporaries in depth, concept and execution and have become an entity completely of their own making. Sit back as we discuss the career ...
May 03, 2011•1 hr 39 min•Ep. 126
This episode we are joined by Jeff Wagner, author of Mean Deviation: Four Decades of Progressive Heavy Metal. In part two of our conversation we delve into the world of bizarre progressive metal, the avant guard and the downright weird. Executive Producer: Ron Merz Celtic Frost, "Caress Into Oblivion", Into The Pandemonium (1987) Talkset #1 Pan-Thy-Monium, "Machinery", Khaooos (1993) Ved Buens Ends, "It's Magic", Written in Waters (1995) Maudlin of the Well, "The Curve That to an Angle Turn'd", ...
Apr 24, 2011•1 hr 38 min•Ep. 125
This episode we are joined by Jeff Wagner, author of Mean Deviation: Four Decades of Progressive Heavy Metal. In part one of our conversation we delve into the world of extreme progressive metal, running the gamut from thrash to black metal. Executive Producer: Jill Hundey Voivod, "Overreation", Killing Technology (1987) Talkset #1 Deathrow, "Machinery", Deception Ignored (1988) Death, "Overactive Imagination", Individual Thought Patterns (1993) Atheist, "Mineral", Elements (1993) Talkset #2 Gor...
Apr 18, 2011•1 hr 35 min•Ep. 124
Continuing where we left off last week with Autopsy, Dismember picks up the death/gore torch and elevates it to heights unseen in pure visceral, raw, searing sound. It's safe to say there wouldn't be a Dismember without Autopsy, at least not the band we know today. Dismember adopted some frameworks that Autopsy built, but ended up taking their sound to a level still unmatched. They were the counter to Entombed's low end, filthy guitar tone. They brought the high-gain, "treble" end of the spectru...
Apr 11, 2011•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 123
One of the most crucial influences on the Swedish death metal scene of the late 80s, Autopsy pulled in elements of doom, hardcore, rock n roll and death metal to create a sound that was all their own. Being that they were an anomaly in the underground, they didn't get the attention they deserved at the time, but in retrospect, they are one of the most important bands in the genre. Executive Producer: Jeff Wagner "Charred Remains", Severed Survival (1989) Talkset #1 "Service For a Vacant Coffin",...
Apr 05, 2011•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 122
Getting back to the United States and to some rock n roll with Monster Magnet. An anomaly back in the early 90s, clearly standing out from "Alternative" scene with their psychedelic, drug-infused, bombastic rock n roll. We explore three of their early albums: Spine of God, Superjudge and Dopes to Infinity. Executive Producer: Jill Hundey "Black Mastermind", Spine of God (1992) Talkset #1 "Medicine", Spine of God (1992) "Zodiac Lung", Spine of God (1992) "Spine of God", Spine of God (1992) Talkse...
Mar 24, 2011•1 hr 28 min•Ep. 121
It's been awhile since we've delved into the world of black metal, so we figured we'd discuss one of the most influential and notorious bands in the genre... Burzum. Instead of discussing the titillating and the controversial, we're just gonna talk about the music at where it falls into the history of extreme metal. Executive Producer: Shawna Perez "War", Burzum (1992) Talkset #1 "Lost Wisdom", Det Som Engang Var (1993) "Dominus Sathanas", Aske (1993) "Det Som Engang Var", Hvis Lyset Tar Oss (19...
Mar 12, 2011•1 hr 28 min•Ep. 120
This episode we conclude our discussion of Napalm Death with Albert Mudrian (Editor-in-chief of Decibel Magazine) and touch upon Mass Appeal Madness-era through 2009 album, Time Waits for no Slave. We are also pleased to announce an exclusive excerpt of Legacy was Yesterday, soon to be heard on Decibel's May issue's Flexi-Disc. Executive Producer: Anonymous "Mass Appeal Madness", Mass Appeal Madness EP (1991) "I Abstain", Utopia Banished (1992) Talkset #1 "The World Keeps Turning", Utopia Banish...
Feb 28, 2011•1 hr 31 min•Ep. 119
Few bands hold as much cache in the extreme metal world as Napalm Death. From their early hardcore punk roots, they have blazeded trails that entire genres have followed. Some phases of their career have been more successful than others, but they have always pushed ahead, ADD MORE TO THIS. This episode we are pleased to be joined by Napalm Death enthusiast, Albert Mudrian (Editor-in-chief of Decibel Magazine) to discuss the first decade or so of their career. Also stay tuned for next week's show...
Feb 20, 2011•1 hr 28 min•Ep. 118
Thrash has the Big 4, but that group is missing one of the bands that embodies the term to its core... Exodus. Always a bit behind the curve (as far as release schedules) and didn't make the impact they could have initially, but they have made up for it in longevity. This episode we're exploring the early part of their career, showcasing: Bonded by Blood, Pleasures of the Flesh and Fabulous Disaster. Executive Producer: Brian Rogers "Metal Command", Bonded by Blood (1985) Talkset #1 "And Then Th...
Feb 11, 2011•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 117
Picking up where we left off last time.. The Victor Griffin, Joe Hasselvander and Martin Swaney-era of Pentagram. A decidedly different band than their 70s incarnation. The rock n roll has been bled out and the doom has really began to overtake their sound. Liebling's vocals aren't quite as bombastic as before, but what they create on the next 3 records is a blueprint for the next generation of doom purveyors. "Sinister", Relentless (1985) Talkset #1 "Your Lost I'm Free", Relentless (1985) "Burn...
Feb 01, 2011•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 116
Since the 70s Pentagram have flown the flag of doom. Founded by Bobby Liebling and Geof O'Keefe as a heavy rock act influenced by the likes of Uriah Heep, Black Sabbath, Sir Lord Baltimore and UFO, they spent the next 6 years churning out some of the best rock n roll to ever enter an ear canal. The tragedy is they only issued a few singles and never released a proper album until 1985 with a completely different lineup, only Liebling remaining. The self-titled debut began to lay the groundwork fo...
Jan 24, 2011•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 115
This week we're trying something a bit different based on the suggestion of a listener... talking about metal documentaries. Not specifically just metal, but basically our "best of" list. We discuss: Metal: A Headbanger's Journey, Global Metal, Iron Maiden: Flight 666, Iron Maiden: The Early Days, American Hardcore, Get Thrashed, Anvil: The Story of Anvil and many others. Rush, "Working Man", RUSH (1974) Talkset #1 Iron Maiden, "Women in Uniform", Women in Uniform EP (1980) Talkset #2 Black Flag...
Jan 20, 2011•1 hr 37 min•Ep. 114
We're back to our favorite metal country, Sweden. This time to discuss one of the underrated acts that got overshadowed by the likes of Dissection and their ilk, Unanimated. Their pedigree is quite impressive, with members of Merciless, Entombed, Desultory, Dismember, General Surgery, Watain and Carbonized calling Unanimated home. They only put out two records, one in 1993 another in 1995, then came a 14-year hiatus. In 2009 they released the fantastic In the Light of Darkness album, which furth...
Jan 09, 2011•2 hr 19 min•Ep. 113
Part III of our year end coverage concludes with an unexpected debut from a Swedish satanic cult and the triumphant return from some established metal mainstays. Ghost, "Ritual", Opus Eponymous (2010) Ghost, "Stand By Him', Opus Eponymous (2010) Talkset #1 Darkthrone, "I Am The Working Class", Circle The Wagons (2010) Watain, "Four Thrones", Lawless Darkness (2010) The Dillinger Escape Plan, "Gold Teeth on a Bum", Option Paralysis (2010) Talkset #2 Electric Wizard, "Turn Off Your Mind", Black Ma...
Dec 30, 2010•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 112
Part II of our year end coverage continues with some metal mainstays and some debuts. Join us as we discuss 2010 in metal. Danzig, "The Revengeful", Deth Red Saboth (2010) Danzig, "Deth Red Moon", Deth Red Saboth (2010) Talkset #1 Agalloch, "Into the Painted Grey", Marrow of the Spirit (2010) Kvelertak, "Blodtorst", Kvelertak (2010) Talkset #2 Deftones, "Beauty School", Diamond Eyes (2010) Black Breath, "Escape From Death", Heavy Breathing (2010) Talkset #3 Deathspell Omega, "Dearth", Paracletus...
Dec 30, 2010•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 111
2010 has come to a close and it's time to put together the obligatory year end list. This year didn't have the amount of immediately obvious choices that 2009 did, but after much deliberation we came up with what we feel were the most interesting and enjoyable metal releases of 2010. Jason and I each came up with 10 albums and over the next 3 shows we'll discuss and dissect the year 2010 in metal. Kylesa, "Tired Climb", Spiral Shadow (2010) Kylesa, "Cheating Synergy", (2:51) Spiral Shadow (2010)...
Dec 30, 2010•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 110
