Music

Classic Metal Show

Since 1996, THE CLASSIC METAL SHOW has been the ultimate destination for honest, no-holds-barred talk about hard rock, heavy metal, and everything in between.

This isn’t just another channel. It’s an uncensored community.

On our paid tier, you get commercial-free access to all of our daily episodes, plus bonus content, behind-the-scenes insights, and the opportunity to interact with us directly.

If you’re tired of corporate music media and you want the truth from two guys who have been doing this for over two decades, this is your new home.

Disclaimer: If you can’t handle opinions that aren’t your own, you’re in the wrong place. We’re not here to make friends. We’re here to talk metal. Deal with it, crybabies!

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Latest Episodes:

Geoff Tate Spills On Operation Mindcrime 3 May 15, 2026

Show notes

Chris Akin sits down with Geoff Tate for a raw, no-BS conversation about Operation Mindcrime X (dropping May 3rd), the evolution of the story, why the new single “Power” sounds nothing like 1988, and how he’s still living the rock ‘n’ roll dream while balancing family life. From painting audio pictures to the never-ending tour, this is pure CMS-TV gold for every Queensrÿche, Mindcrime, and Geoff Tate fan.

GET QUEENSRYCHE’S OPERATION MINDCRIME ON VINYL: https://amzn.to/41qYkVx

Geoff Tate joins Chris Akin Presents to dive deep into the long-awaited Operation Mindcrime 3 (officially titled X). He reveals the album grew from years of curiosity about the shadowy Dr. X character — the mysterious figure fans never fully knew. Tate calls it a “guilty indulgence” and a true labor of love, co-written with Kieran Robertson through late-night messages across the globe.

He explains how the first two albums focused on Nikki and Sister Mary, while this one flips the perspective to Dr. X’s upbringing and mindset. Musically, “Power” is deliberately modern — bigger dynamic range, not a nostalgia trip — and Tate treats every track like painting an audio scene where music and lyrics lock together perfectly.

Chris presses him on the pressure of following up a legendary concept record, whether he misses quick three-minute singles, and how the theatrical storytelling style has become his signature. Geoff is refreshingly honest: he loves both short songs and deep stories, but this record is exactly what he wanted to make right now.

They also talk touring life — the tour never ends, he loves bringing shows to places that rarely get live metal, and he has zero plans to retire to the couch. Family travels with him when they can, and he’s still all-in on the road. The chat wraps with how he wants fans to experience the new album: headphones on, no distractions, letting the full sonic picture sink in.

A must-watch for anyone who grew up on Operation: Mindcrime, Empire, or Sweet Oblivion. Real talk, zero fluff, straight from the legend himself.

Call to Action:Watch the full interview now, smash that like button, subscribe to The CMS Network, and join us on Locals/Substack for uncensored extras. Drop your favorite Geoff Tate era in the comments — Nikki, Dr. X, or something else?

#GeoffTate #OperationMindcrime #Mindcrime3 #Queensryche #ClassicMetalShow #CMSNetwork #MetalLegends #ChrisAkinPresents

Timestamps

00:00:00 - Intro & Welcome to CMS-TV00:00:20 - Chris Akin Introduces Geoff Tate00:01:01 - The Excitement Around Operation Mindcrime X00:01:55 - Why This Album Focuses on Dr. X00:03:28 - Is There Pressure Following a Metal Classic?00:03:38 - A Labor of Love – 4 Years in the Making00:04:14 - Co-Writing with Kieran Robertson00:04:53 - Were These Ideas Brewing Since the 80s?00:05:46 - Shifting Perspective to Dr. X’s Side of the Story00:06:29 - First Single “Power” – Modern Sound Explained00:07:48 - Painting Audio Pictures & Song Structure00:08:45 - Theatrical Storytelling vs. Quick Singles00:10:01 - The Challenge of Long-Form Concept Albums00:11:10 - Touring Life & That Athens Pit Story00:12:04 - Will We Ever Get the Full Mindcrime Trilogy in One Show?00:13:27 - The Never-Ending Tour & Bringing Metal to New Places00:14:31 - Family Life on the Road00:16:14 - How to Experience the New Record in 202600:18:23 - More Singles Coming? Final Thoughts00:18:42 - Outro & Thanks to Geoff Tate

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cmspn.substack.com/subscribe

The Day the Chainsaw Died: Jackyl, Aerosmith, and the Death of Cool | CMS Classic 2012 May 14, 2026

Show notes

Jesse James Dupree is a friend of the show, but friendship doesn’t buy you a pass when you decide to desecrate the altar of Run-DMC. We sat down to listen to Jackyl’s cover of “It’s Tricky,” and what we found was a cringe-inducing attempt to recapture the lightning-in-a-bottle magic of “Walk This Way.” It’s not just bad; it’s “chainsaw-revving-in-a-silent-library” misplaced.

DON’T TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT! HERE’S JACKYL’S BEST IN SHOW: https://amzn.to/4dpJQfb

But the rot doesn’t stop with Dupree. We take a hard look at the architects of the “Sell-Out” blueprint: Aerosmith. Since 1987, the Bad Boys from Boston have traded grit for glitter, culminating in Steven Tyler’s absolute surrender of dignity on the American Idol stage. When did rock stars stop being dangerous and start being caricatures of their own grandmothers? We’re pulling the curtain back on the fake drama of reality TV saloons and the “shitty” reality of modern rock covers.

The version you’re seeing here is the “sanitized” edit. To hear the full, unfiltered, and legally dangerous deep dive—including the stuff that gets us banned elsewhere—join the Inner Circle at https://classicmetalshow.locals.com. Become a VIP and get the substance the mainstream won’t touch.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cmspn.substack.com/subscribe

Alex Van Halen: The Grave Robbing of Heavy Metal May 14, 2026

Show notes

Let’s be real: the “Founding Member” doesn’t mean a damn thing to the suits anymore. We just sat through the absolute train wreck of a Judas Priest documentary discussion, and it’s clear—the industry wants the brand, but they hate the history. Excluding KK Downing and Ripper Owens isn’t just a snub; it’s a rewrite of history that treats a decade of the band’s life like a mistake.

And don’t even get us started on the Van Halen camp. Alex is digging through Eddie’s private vaults, bringing in Steve Lukather—a god on the fretboard, sure—to “finish” what Eddie left behind. If the man who defined modern guitar didn’t finish it, it wasn’t meant to be heard. It’s the same disease affecting The Eagles and Pantera. At what point do you stop being a band and start being a traveling museum of “what used to be”? We’re watching our heroes turn into high-priced tribute acts of themselves, and the fans are expected to just swallow it and buy the 1,700-minute Reload box set.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cmspn.substack.com/subscribe

The "Handjob" Heard 'Round the World | CMS Classic 2012 May 13, 2026

Show notes

Let’s talk about the absolute state of 80s legends trying to navigate the modern streaming era. Loudness—Japan’s greatest heavy metal export—just dropped Eve of Dawn, and while the riffs are still sharp, the “gang vocals” have hit a hilarious, unintentional snag.

GET LOUDNESS’ EVE TO DAWN HERE: https://amzn.to/4uu66KO

We took a deep dive into the track “Hang Tough,” and I’m telling you, once you hear it, your ears are ruined for life. Between the accent and the production, the legendary Minoru Niihara isn’t singing a classic anthem of resilience; he’s screaming “HANDJOB!” at the top of his lungs over a “weedle-weedle” guitar solo.

It’s the kind of high-friction, bar-room comedy you can’t make up. We transitioned from that linguistic trainwreck into a power-metal cover of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” by the Northern Kings that was so over-produced and “too much,” it actually made us miss the accidental filth of Loudness. Is the “substance” of metal being traded for gimmick covers and phonetic failures? We break it all down with the kind of honesty that gets us kicked off the “safe” platforms.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cmspn.substack.com/subscribe

Randy Trask’s Boombox Bloodbath May 13, 2026

Show notes

Let’s be real—the music industry is currently a joke. While the mainstream media is busy polishing the turds of industry plants, we’re out here dealing with the raw, unfiltered, and sometimes agonizing truth of the “metal life.”

This week, we deep-dive into the absolute fraud that is modern DIY production. Our long-time “friend” Randy Trask dropped off his new record, Buffonia 2026. But he didn’t just bring the music; he brought a $40 Walmart boombox and a dozen donuts because he’s so technologically finished he can’t even send an MP3.

What follows is a 6-hour descent into madness. We’re talking about “drum sounds” that sound like tin foil in a microwave and “vocals” that resemble a cat being strangled in a gym shower. It’s a total bloodbath of bad timing and zero substance. We love the guy, but someone has to tell the truth: this record is a technical snub to anyone with ears.

“The version you’re seeing here is the ‘sanitized’ edit. To hear the full, unfiltered, and legally dangerous deep dive—including the stuff that gets us banned elsewhere—join the Inner Circle at https://classicmetalshow.locals.com. Become a VIP and get the substance the mainstream won’t touch.”

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cmspn.substack.com/subscribe

A Grammy That Actually Hurt? 12 Stones' Paul McCoy Reveals the Dark Side of Mainstream Success May 13, 2026

Show notes

Paul McCoy is the voice you know from one of the biggest songs in history, but the industry did everything in its power to make sure you only knew him for that. After a brush with death and 25 years in the trenches, the 12 Stones frontman is finally setting the record straight. Why did a Grammy win feel like a curse? How did a label dispute turn him into a “villain” in the eyes of Evanescence fans? We’re digging into the cold, hard truth of the New Metal era and why “World So Cold” is more relevant today than ever.

GET THE FULL TRUTH: https://classicmetalshow.locals.com

GET 12 STONES POTTERS FIELD NOW: https://amzn.to/3NI6821

ON THIS EPISODE:

- Surviving the Industry: Paul McCoy’s Health Scare & Re-evaluation- The “World So Cold” Legacy: 20 Years of Staying Relevant- Working with Howard Benson: From Plugins to the Studio- The Evanescence Fallout: Being “Villainized” by the Fans- 12 Stones 2026: The New Album and Hitting the Road

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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cmspn.substack.com/subscribe

KID EMBARRASSES ROCK LEGENDS | CMS CLASSIC (2009) May 12, 2026

Show notes

Is rock and roll officially so easy a toddler can do it, or has the “professional” bar dropped so low that we can’t tell the difference between a superstar and a pre-schooler? In this highlight, we witness 4-year-old Alex Lidster—a kid who likely hasn’t mastered the art of not coloring on the walls—absolutely put the modern rock establishment to shame with an AC/DC cover.

EDDIE MONEY’S THE SOUND OF MONEY ON VINYL HERE: https://amzn.to/4uuj2jN

But the real story here isn’t just a cute kid with a microphone. It’s the brutal comparison between raw, unadulterated passion and the over-produced, soul-sucking “tributes” we see from industry veterans. When a kid with a juice box has more “rock star” energy than Eddie Money’s later-day efforts, we have a systemic problem in the industry. We dive deep into the hilarity of this clip, but we also peel back the curtain on why “professional” rock has become a sterilized version of what this 4-year-old is doing naturally. It’s funny, sure, but it’s also a damning indictment of the current state of “legendary” performers who are just punching the clock.

The VIP Bridge: The version you’re seeing here is the ‘sanitized’ edit. To hear the full, unfiltered, and legally dangerous deep dive—including the stuff that gets us banned elsewhere—join the Inner Circle at https://classicmetalshow.locals.com. Become a VIP and get the substance the mainstream won’t touch.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cmspn.substack.com/subscribe

Steam-Powered Monsters, Travel Tensions, and the "Plan-demic" Recap May 12, 2026

Show notes

The High-Altitude Circus and Steam-Powered Salvation

This week on CMS, we’re looking at the absolute degradation of modern society through the lens of a middle seat on a Spirit Airlines flight. Chris is ready to drive three days to Austin just to avoid the DMV and the “Real ID” surveillance state, while Neeley is gearing up to chase the “Big Boy”—a 6,000-horsepower relic of a time when things actually worked and looked cool doing it.

We dive deep into the “seat squatting” epidemic and why airlines should honestly just charge $1,000 a ticket to keep the riff-raff from making sandwiches in the aisles. Plus, we look back at the utter idiocy of 2021—remember when the virus was only dangerous if you were standing up or drinking after 9:00 PM? We’re pulling back the curtain on the “new normal” and why it’s anything but.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cmspn.substack.com/subscribe

CMS LIVE! 5/2/26: LEGACY BANDS EXPOSED: Lies, Lawsuits & Fake Lineups May 11, 2026

Show notes

The industry is a joke and the history of metal is being rewritten by suits. From the absolute snub of KK Downing in the Judas Priest doc to the “museum” version of Pantera, we are witnessing the total degradation of the legendary band. Plus, the “Bloodbath” of modern DIY production—if the music has no substance, why are we pretending it’s art?

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cmspn.substack.com/subscribe

RADIO IS DEAD: The Shadoe Steele Bloodbath May 10, 2026

Show notes

Let’s talk about the absolute fraud that is the modern “personality” business. We spent years listening to Shadoe Steele—real name Dale Mikolaczyk—as he dominated the airwaves in the Wyoming Valley. The guy was a staple, the “voice” of Saturday night, and the man behind the traffic reports as Rusty Fender. But behind the snappy radio voice and the persona that thousands of fans latched onto was a man with a degree in aerospace systems engineering and a master’s in electrical engineering.

While the “mainstream” radio world is busy cannibalizing itself with corporate downsizing and live-and-local cuts, Dale took his high-level expertise back to where the actual money is: the energy sector. We dive into the hilarious and somewhat depressing reality that a veteran with 42 years on the air can find more stability and respect laying gas pipe than he ever did behind a console. It’s a bloodbath out there for radio veterans, and Dale’s exit is a masterclass in knowing when the ship is sinking. If you think the “magic” of radio still exists, this update is a cold, hard dose of substance that the industry rag-sheets would never dare to print.

The version you’re seeing here is the ‘sanitized’ edit. To hear the full, unfiltered, and legally dangerous deep dive—including the stuff that gets us banned elsewhere—join the Inner Circle at https://classicmetalshow.locals.com. Become a VIP and get the substance the mainstream won’t touch.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cmspn.substack.com/subscribe

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