Neil Fallon is one of the most distinctive vocalists in music. As the frontman for Maryland quartet Clutch, he has routinely written exceptional couplets and manipulated his voice in a myriad of astonishing and remarkable ways. 2019 marks Fallon’s 28th year fronting Clutch, one of the most respected and consistent bands in heavy rock, and in that time, he has never failed to bring his unique and inimitable style to the band, elevating it above many of their peers. In this exclusive chat backstag...
Feb 12, 2019•54 min•Ep. 37
This week Steve and Remfry discuss the ‘controversy’ around the completely uncontroversial decision to let Parkway Drive headline the Saturday night of Bloodstock. Steve certainly doesn’t think it’s a bad idea after seeing their attempt to blow up London’s Alexandra Palace. Remfry plumped for a slightly smaller show with around 10,250 less people in attendance for Ithaca’s album launch show at East London’s fashionable end in the East of London which is so very fashionable because it’s East Lond...
Feb 08, 2019•1 hr 45 min•Ep. 36
The second Rioteers Review comes from the mind of Alasdhair McMillan, who we thank for being the first person to suggest an album and therefore unintentionally starting thing whole strand of Riot Act. Well done mate! Alasdhair gave Steve and Remfry '22 A Million' by modern folk manipulator Bon Iver. One of the guys is a big fan of Bon Iver, the other is… just confused by it all. Listen now to hear who’s who! Go to patreon.com/riotactpodcast to contribute and make your own suggestions for Rioteer...
Feb 05, 2019•26 min•Ep. 35
After nearly coming to blows the Riot Act chaps are both up for a ruck again this week as they review the surprise new covers album by Weezer. Which is either a genuinely brilliant piece of marketing, if you believe Remfry, or a cynical, stinking waste of everyone’s time, according to Steve. There are also reviews on the new albums from Bring Me The Horizon, Ithaca and Spielbergs, a Trade Off between Cult Leader’s A Patient Man and Favez’s From Lausanne, Switzerland and a whole load of live revi...
Feb 01, 2019•2 hr 15 min•Ep. 34
On this special episode of Riot Act, we are joined by the legendary Freddy Cricien, frontman of one of New York hardcore’s most enduring bands; Madball. With over three decades of hard road toil under his belt, and as a committed lover of live music Steve spoke to Freddy about his five favourite frontmen/women of all time. We get his thoughts on just what it takes to command a stage, from the smallest dive bars to the biggest stadiums, and he reveals his memories from his own career, from the ea...
Jan 29, 2019•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 33
This week's episode of Riot Act comes with a twist! Usually, it’s Steve who is the grumpy one, but this week Remfry is going in on EVERYONE, presumably due to his less than flattering inclusion on the Batman Soundtrack Wikipedia page. He GROANS about Architects' glorious Wembley triumph! He MOANS about Shaun Ryder and his Black Grape chums sounding too 90s on 'It’s Great When You’re Straight, Yeah!' after he was given them on Trade Off! He SLAMS Flint thugs King 810… He likes A.A. Williams and P...
Jan 25, 2019•1 hr 50 min•Ep. 32
In the first ever in a new series, Steve and Remfry dive deep on an album suggested by the lovely people over on the Riot Act Patreon. This week's pick - Manic Street Preachers' 1993 sophomore effort 'Gold Against The Soul' - comes from Christopher Clayton, and it's a fantastic suggestion seeing as the boys are a couple of 90s Brit rock enthusiasts! If you would like to make your own suggestions for Rioteers Review, head over to https://www.patreon.com/riotactpodcast (patreon.com/riotactpodcast)...
Jan 22, 2019•38 min•Ep. 31
It’s another week of great music and jovial chat from the Riot Act chaps, who this week discuss one of the most eagerly anticipated debuts of 2019 by political agit-hardcore punks Fever333 and the brand new album from Japanese post-rock stalwarts Mono. There’s also chat about Idles' unexpected BRIT Award nomination, and this weeks Trade Off leads to some positive purrings on Fink and his album Perfect Darkness, alongside some frankly utterly bewildering chat on the legend that is Prince and his ...
Jan 18, 2019•2 hr 2 min•Ep. 30
Despite only ever achieving limited commercials success, Sacramento California’s Far have had a profound influence on a wide range of rock bands including Biffy Clyro, Incubus, Thursday, Jimmy Eat World, Finch, Funeral For a Friend and Deftones. With the release of their forth full-length album Water & Solutions in 1998, Far created their ultimate musical statement, a concise blend of emotive hooks and hardcore sonics that before sadly splitting up barely a year later. Remfry say down with F...
Jan 15, 2019•1 hr 46 min•Ep. 29
This week, Steve and Remfry discuss the sobering topic of HMV going into administration for a second time and what that could potentially mean for the music industry at large (spoiler, it’s not good). In addition, they talk about some surprising and welcome additions to NME’s ‘Essential new artists for 2019’ as well as the sheer ridiculous situation that has forced Kate Bush to come out and proclaim she’s not a Tory supporter (as if anyone sensible cared). There are also album reviews of Swerved...
Jan 11, 2019•1 hr 28 min•Ep. 28
It’s the first Riot Act of 2019 and as is usually the case for this time of year, there ain’t all that much going on, so Remfry takes the opportunity to crowbar in a record that he’s become utterly obsessed with over Christmas. Speaking of the festive period, Stephen spent most of it watching and re-watching BROS: After the Screaming Stops, the music documentary that’s garnered a massive audience overnight after its televisual premier on BBC Four. Who knew it would turn out to be the funniest fi...
Jan 05, 2019•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 27
Remfry sat down with Holy Roar Records founder Alex Fitzpatrick and label assistant Sam Robinson to discuss the label that in 2018 alone brought you stunning releases from Rolo Tomassi, Møl, Conjurer, Svalbard, Boss Keloid, Pijn, Talons, Ohhms, Slow Crush, Secret Cutter, Modern Rituals, Garganjua, Giver, Group of Man, Portrayal of Guilt and Burning Vow. Over almost 2 hours, they discuss the history of the label, and how they’ve built them up to be rock’s premier UK underground label for dark, he...
Jan 01, 2019•1 hr 48 min•Ep. 26
It’s the first ever Riot Act Big Fat Alternative Quiz of the Year and we’ve roped in eight guests to pit their wits against a plethora of questions about the year in music, including Matt Reynolds (Haggard Cat), Em Foster (Nervus/Milk Teeth), Brady Deeprose (Conjurer), Hannah Boulton (Bledig), James Spence (Rolo Tomassi), Lizzie Coulson (KLAE), Andy Gillan (Palm Reader) and Will Gardner (Black Peaks). Chaos reigns across 2½ hours and 42 questions as booze is consumed, Jaffa Cakes are flung, Stev...
Dec 28, 2018•2 hr 38 min•Ep. 25
It’s only ruddy bloody Christmas isn’t it, and we couldn’t leave our faithful followers in the lurch when it came to delivering a Riot Act Christmas special. And who better to deliver such a sermon than our very own regular special guest Mr Jamie Lenman. In the fourth edition of The World According to Jamie Lenman, the moustachioed wunderkind extols the virtues of Chas and Dave’s Christmas Carol Album, featuring the cockney duos’ renditions of prominent Chrimbo classics such as Good King Wencesl...
Dec 25, 2018•25 min•Ep. 24
It’s part two of Riot Act’s Albums of the Year 2018 extravaganza and there is a multitude of questions to be answered. Who will be Steve’s Number One? Who will be Remfry’s Number One? Will Muse be in Steve’s worst albums of the year? Will Muse be in Remfry’s worst albums of the year? As well as all that excitement, the boys shout out their gigs of the year and there’s some news regarding tea sponsorship. Turns out if you ask, you shall receive. Merry Christmas you filthy animals! See acast.com/p...
Dec 21, 2018•2 hr 31 min•Ep. 23
As we reach the end of the year it’s time for Steve and Remfry to look back on the last twelve months and whittle it down to the cream of the crop. That’s right, it’s the first annual Riot Act Top 20 Albums of the Year podcast. This week the boys kick off with numbers 20 to 11 and also discuss the records that just missed out, the best EPs of 2018 and what genre, in their humble opinion, has dominated the world of alternative music this year. WARNING: May contain Cardi B references. See acast.co...
Dec 14, 2018•2 hr 30 min•Ep. 22
It’s Riot Act’s first official special, and in the time-honoured tradition of shouting about the things we’re passionate about, we’ve decided to dedicate 90 minutes to the very special and unique Roadburn festival. Taking place annually in the serene city of Tilburg in The Netherlands, Roadburn seeks to constantly explore and push the boundaries of what heavy music is. From the sonically pulverising likes of Thou or At The Gates to the thematically weighty themes of Emma Ruth Rundle or Anna Von ...
Dec 11, 2018•1 hr 30 min•Ep. 21
It’s another week of looking back on some of 2018’s missed records on this week’s Riot Act. Steve and Remfry chat about this year’s releases from Carseat Headrest, Thou, Basement, Wire Love, Ocean Wisdom, Nothing and also discuss whether The 1975’s new album really is a ‘Millennial OK Computer’. The trade off see’s the boys talking about the relative merits of Technique by New Order and Caspian’s Dust And Disquiet. And we truly live up to our status as an ‘alternative’ podcast, but exploring som...
Dec 07, 2018•2 hr 50 min•Ep. 20
With just 31 days left of 2018, Steve and Remfry delve into albums released over the past 11 months that they missed first time around. In the first part of this two part round-up, the boys look at albums by The Armed, itoldyouiwouldeatyou, Louise Lemón, Ovlov, Kississippi, Ólafur Arnalds and Twenty One Pilots. Elsewhere, Remfry sat down with current Vennart/ex-Oceansize main man Mike Vennart to discuss his top five Iron Maiden songs. Remfry stuck around to review the show as well as shows from ...
Nov 30, 2018•2 hr 22 min•Ep. 19
Steve and Remfry aren’t just fountains of musical knowledge, they are massive cinephiles as well. This week the guys wax lyrical over the relative merits of comedy classics Police Academy 7: Mission To Moscow and See No Evil, Hear No Evil. When they can be bothered to talk about music there are reviews on the latest releases from Smashing Pumpkins, Mumford And Sons, Failure and Azusa. Plus a trade off involving the self titled debut album by Gravity Kills and Marriages Kitsune EP. And we are onc...
Nov 23, 2018•2 hr 50 min•Ep. 18
On this week’s episode of Riot Act there is plenty to be worried about. Steve is worried about Remfry’s drinking habit, the state of the world in general, and the sound of the new Muse album which is reviewed alongside the latest albums from Thom Yorke, Can’t Swim and The Ocean. There is respite from the furrowed brows in both The Trade Off, where we exchange superlatives about both Killing Joke’s Absolute Dissent and The Illusion Of Democracy by Reflux, and Remfry sat down for a stress free cha...
Nov 16, 2018•2 hr 26 min•Ep. 17
Steve’s in a sing-song mood this week, giving his very personal renditions of songs by Will Haven, Die Antwoord and Dream Theater. Remfry, for the most part, sits bemused. Elsewhere there are reviews of the new albums from Architects, The Prodigy and Laura Jane Grace & the Devouring Mothers as well as live reviews of Slayer’s final London show, Cancer Bats, Anti-Flag, Palm Reader and Will Haven. Speaking of which, Steve sat down with guitarists Jeff Irwin (Will Haven) and Andy Gillan (Palm R...
Nov 09, 2018•2 hr 26 min•Ep. 16
Steve’s absolutely furious this week because he’s got a cold and is surely just a cough away from certain death. Remfry feels fine (thanks for asking) although he is slightly perturbed by the colour of Steve’s toilet seat. Despite these debilitating circumstances, neither are discouraged from talking about some of the most exciting new music in the alternative sphere, which this week takes the form of reviews of albums by Sick of it All, Toska and Sylvaine. Remfry headed across to Oxford to see ...
Nov 02, 2018•2 hr 41 min•Ep. 15
Steve and Remfry are joined by Matt Reynolds, one half of dirty ‘delta’ blues two-piece Haggard Cat, whose popped by (from Nottingham) for some tea cakes. Whilst he was here, we thought why not ask him to help us review the new albums by Bloodbath, Daughters and Pijn. For Trade Off, Steve wraps his ears around Okovi by Zola Jesus for the first time, whilst Remfry gets to grips with Assassins: Black Meddle Part 1 by Nachtmystium. Elsewhere, Remfry gets sad about seeing his last ever Arcane Roots ...
Oct 26, 2018•2 hr 52 min•Ep. 14
Steve and Remfry went to see the original Smashing Pumpkins line-up (shhhh, don’t talk about Darcy!) at London’s most soulless shameful shit-shed Wembley Arena... turns out there was A LOT to talk about! Remfry managed to catch a bunch of other shows as well, including much-hyped masked marauders Sleep Token, Part 1 of Brighton label Small Pond’s Enjoy Sugoi festivities and The Black Queen in Nottingham. Speaking of which, Greg Puciato and Steven Alexander from The Black Queen both sat down with...
Oct 19, 2018•3 hr 1 min•Ep. 13
We’ve surreptitiously designated this week ‘Canada Week’ in honour of Remfry sitting down with Luke and Kyle from Hamilton, Ontario alt-rock trio The Dirty Nil to discuss their 5 favourite Canadian punk bands. Sticking with the ‘Canada’ theme, Steve and Remfry also review Fucked Up’s latest double album opus ‘Dose Your Dreams’, alongside Echo & The Bunnymen’s re-imagination record The Stars, The Ocean & The Moon’ and the debut album from one of our 12 Unsung Heroes of 2018 (all the way b...
Oct 12, 2018•2 hr 33 min•Ep. 12
This week Steve and Remfry are joined by Will and Joe, half of the mighty quartet that make up one of the world’s greatest current bands, Black Peaks. The four of them discuss news of the double departure from Machine Head, the new Architects song, Muse’s announcement that they’re playing Royal Albert Hall and ickle punk pensioner Jonny Rotten’s tiff with also-old-but-not-quite-as-old punks Green Day. Steve, Remfry, Will and Joe also dish out a variety of opinions on new albums from Behemoth, Co...
Oct 05, 2018•2 hr 32 min•Ep. 11
This week, Steve and Remfry welcome our first ever regular contributor to Riot Act, the one and only Mr. Jamie Lenman. In his first of many contributions to Riot Act, Jamie gives an in-depth account of his love for The Presidents of the United States of America’s underrated third album ‘Freaked Out and Small’. Elsewhere, Steve and Remfry review new albums from the likes of Black Peaks, The Black Queen, Anaal Nathrakh and Restorations. They also discuss Metallica’s return to Europe’s stadiums nex...
Sep 28, 2018•2 hr 26 min•Ep. 10
It’s an album review bonanza this week on Riot Act, as Stephen and Remfry sit down to cast their critical eye across a string of great albums including Thrice, Therapy? Vennart, Emma Ruth Rundle, The Dirty Nil... oh yeah, and Paul Weller. Remfry also went to see Puppy and Ghost live and gives a view to the latter that differs (somewhat) from the universal praise and acclaim that’s been lavished upon it. In festival news, we discuss Sleep’s decision to snub Coachella in favour of Roadburn, plus t...
Sep 21, 2018•2 hr 23 min•Ep. 9
In a change from our regularly scheduled programming, this week we bring you a very special episode dedicated to the life and work of American singer songwriter virtuoso Jeff Buckley. Stephen and Remfry go beyond Grace, the only studio album released in his life-time, to give you a definitive guide to the albums released in the wake of his death. From Jeff’s café days at Sin-é in Manhattan’s East Village to the post-punk experimentation that became a major influence on his unfinished follow up t...
Sep 14, 2018•3 hr 1 min•Ep. 8
