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:

Jayne Mansfield's Curse, Diddy Drama, & Chris's Extra Pod! + Throwback Episode Dec 16, 2025

Show notes

Did the Curse of Jayne Mansfield follow her life right to the end? Neeley and Chris watched a ton of documentaries this week and they’re spilling all the details! Hear their thoughts on the new Jayne Mansfield doc, the explosive Puff Daddy docuseries, and the upcoming series The Abandons. Plus, find out what kind of energy Chris has left for his second podcast after CMS wraps up.

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BUY CHRIS AKIN’S BEST BOOKS HERE:

Call Me Chris by Chris Akin - https://amzn.to/44TDIZ4

Little Victories by Chris Akin - https://amzn.to/43A143y

...AND OTHER THINGS I SHOULD NOT SAY... By Chris Akin - https://amzn.to/3SRP3Bq

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NOTE: Everything said here, and on every episode of all of our shows, are 100% the opinions of the hosts. Nothing is stated as fact. Do your own research to see if their opinions are true or not.

#JayneMansfield, #PuffDaddy, #DiddyDoc, #ClassicMetalShow, #CMS, #CrunchPodcast, #DocumentaryTalk, #TrueCrime, #TheAbandonsShow, #PodcastReview

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 Classic Metal Show LIVE 12/6/25 [Full Show] Dec 15, 2025

Show notes

Did Jayne Mansfield’s life really have a Hollywood curse? Neeley and Chris dove deep into a bunch of docs this week, covering everything from the wild life of Jayne Mansfield to the new Puff Daddy docuseries. Plus, they talk about a new show called The Abandons and Chris’s extra work on the Crunch podcast after the show.

Get ready for a bombshell! Aerosmith just hit a huge milestone with hits in six decades, but the glow quickly fades when Neeley and Chris talk about a former producer who claims Joe Perry couldn’t nail some of their most iconic studio tracks. They also dive into the new Chicago and Styx tour, but be warned: the ticket prices they discuss are absolutely out of control and will blow your mind. Watch, share with everyone you know, hit that Follow button, and subscribe for more premium content! Hail and Kill! Join the rebellion!

Hold onto your wallet! Neeley and Chris can’t believe the price for a new Megadeth listening event, plus all the details on the band’s planned movie theater run. Find out why Dave Mustaine refuses to work with one original member because of their past “behavior.” And, what’s going on with former Skid Row frontman Erik Gronwall? He quit due to health concerns, but is now back with a new solo show announcement. Watch, share, and hit that Follow button!

Kiss legend Gene Simmons is taking the fight for artists’ rights straight to Washington against commercial radio—get the details! Neeley and Chris also drop their uncensored review of the new Guns N’ Roses tracks, “Nothin’” and “Atlas.” They also break down major internet legislation that could change everything for users and talk about the free music platform, Demus.

Watch, share with the faithful, and hit that Follow button! Get commercial-free shows by joining Rumble Premium at https://rumble.com/premium. Hail and Kill! Join the rebellion!

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Get all your favorite CMS Merchandise from our online store: https://classicmetalshow.creator-spring.com/

BUY CHRIS AKIN’S BEST BOOKS HERE:

Call Me Chris by Chris Akin - https://amzn.to/44TDIZ4Little Victories by Chris Akin - https://amzn.to/43A143y...AND OTHER THINGS I SHOULD NOT SAY... By Chris Akin - https://amzn.to/3SRP3Bq

Want more? Get commercial-free episodes, early releases, and exclusive content by subscribing to our premium platforms.

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#GeneSimmons, #GunsNRosesNewSong, #ArtistsRightsAct, #CommercialRadio, #InternetFreedom, #DemusApp, #GnRReview, #Kiss, #ClassicMetalShow, #MusicLaw

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

L.A. GUNS' NEW ALBUM LEOPARD SKIN IS A GODDAMN TURD Dec 12, 2025

Show notes

“If you’re going to make a record, make a good record, you know? And L.A. Guns’ Leopard Skin album is a turd. It’s a goddamn turd.” Wait till you hear WHY they said it... The guys go off on the sheer inconsistency of bands like L.A. Guns, contrasting their “turd of an album” with the flawless careers of thrash legends Testament and Overkill!

Neeley and Chris are back, picking up on the debate over Metallica’s St. Anger before diving into the controversial new lineup of Metal Church. They praise the total consistency of bands like Testament and Overkill, then deliver a brutal one-two punch against L.A. Guns’ album LEOPARD SKIN. Finally, they dig into the reports that Death Angel singer Mark Osegueda is losing focus on recording a new album, especially when Slayer is still “brilliant live”. What happened to L.A. Guns?

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CHRIS AKIN’S BOOKS (buy or the algorithm wins):

Call Me Chris – https://amzn.to/44TDIZ4

Little Victories – https://amzn.to/43A143y

...AND OTHER THINGS I SHOULD NOT SAY... – https://amzn.to/3SRP3Bq

Everything here is 100% opinion. DYOR before you @ us.

LA Guns, Leopard Skin, album review, Metal Church, Testament, Overkill, thrash metal, Slayer, Kerry King, Death Angel, Mark Osegueda, Bruce Dickinson, Graham Bonnet, CMS #LAGuns #LeopardSkin #MetalChurch #Testament #Slayer #DeathAngel #RageBait #ThrashMetal #CMS

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

ST. ANGER IS A GENIUS METALLICA ALBUM RUINED BY ONE THING Dec 11, 2025

Show notes

“Some of the songs are actually decent, except for the drums. But if they could remix it and reproduce it or something... holy shit, this thing sounds amazing.” Wait till you hear WHY they said it... Chris defends Metallica’s St. Anger, claiming the notorious ‘clanky drums’ are the only thing preventing it from being a masterpiece!

Neeley and Chris dive into the bizarre news of Glenn Danzig singing Elvis covers for New Year’s Eve at the House of Blues and the even weirder planned Sex Pistols shows featuring a new singer instead of Johnny Rotten. They talk about the new BOMBSHELL EP from Tommy Thayer and Jamie St. James before delivering a scorching take on The Hair Metal Guru’s interview length. The episode closes by asking the ultimate question: Could Metallica’s ST. ANGER have been good if they just fixed the ridiculous clanky drums?

Tired of ads? Grab ad-free episodes, early drops, and bonus rants on our premium platforms!

👉 Locals: https://classicmetalshow.locals.com

👉 Rumble Premium: https://rumble.com/premium

👉 Substack:

[SPONSOR: CMS Logo Desk Mat - https://classicmetalshow.creator-spring.com/listing/cms-desk-mat]

Rock our gear: https://classicmetalshow.creator-spring.com/

CHRIS AKIN’S BOOKS (buy or the algorithm wins):

Call Me Chris – https://amzn.to/44TDIZ4

Little Victories – https://amzn.to/43A143y

...AND OTHER THINGS I SHOULD NOT SAY... – https://amzn.to/3SRP3Bq

Everything here is 100% opinion. DYOR before you @ us.

#Metallica #StAnger #Danzig #SexPistols #RageBait #HeavyMetal #TommyThayer #Megadeth #MusicNews #CMS

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

Alcatrazz's Jimmy Waldo: "No! I DON'T CARE How Good You Are!" Dec 10, 2025

Show notes

In this exclusive interview, Chris Akin chats with Jimmy Waldo, the legendary keyboardist for the heavy metal band Alcatrazz, about their new release, Prior Convictions, which features new recordings of classic material and some fresh tracks. Jimmy gets super real about the band’s decision to show off their current incredible lineup , including singer Giles Lavery, rather than chasing a “famous name” singer who might lack the right chemistry. He also spills the details on his knack for finding guitar phenoms, from Yngwie Malmsteen to Steve Vai and now Joe Stump , explaining that aggressive playing and genuine attitude are what he looks for, not just speed. Finally, Jimmy confirms that the songs, not the star power, are what matter most to the audience.

BUY PRIOR CONVICTIONS HERE: https://amzn.to/44CVi2z

Get commercial-free versions of our episodes, early releases, and exclusive content by subscribing to our premium platforms.

We highly recommend our Locals page: https://classicmetalshow.locals.com

You can also find us on Rumble: https://rumble.com/premium and Substack:

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Get all your favorite CMS Merchandise from our online store: https://classicmetalshow.creator-spring.com/

BUY CHRIS AKIN’S BEST BOOKS HERE:

Call Me Chris by Chris Akin - https://amzn.to/44TDIZ4

Little Victories by Chris Akin - https://amzn.to/43A143y

...AND OTHER THINGS I SHOULD NOT SAY... By Chris Akin - https://amzn.to/3SRP3Bq

#Alcatrazz #JimmyWaldo #SteveVai #YngwieMalmsteen #HeavyMetal #ClassicMetalShow #PriorConvictions #GilesLavery #JoeStump #BandChemistry

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

OLD ROCKERS ARE STEALING MONEY AND KILLING THE NEXT GENERATION Dec 10, 2025

Show notes

“They are taking some of those dollars away, I guess. ... The new guys cannot get footing, they need every advantage they can get, you know what I mean? That’s all I’m saying.” Wait till you hear WHY they said it... Chris swears that geriatric rockers like Deep Purple‘s Ian Gillan (who is going blind!) and Don Dokken are actively blocking younger bands like Wolfgang Van Halen from ever making their mark!

Neeley and Chris tackle the controversial comments from Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan that the band has “no end in sight,” even though Gillan is 80 and going blind. They defend Don Dokken against trolls for performing while sitting, admitting he’s lost the ability to play guitar. Ultimately, Chris swears these old bands not retiring hurts the next generation. Do these legendary rockers have a responsibility to step aside for younger acts, or should they truly rock till they drop?

Tired of ads? Grab ad-free episodes, early drops, and bonus rants on our premium platforms!

👉 Locals: https://classicmetalshow.locals.com

👉 Rumble Premium: https://rumble.com/premium

👉 Substack:

[SPONSOR: Motley Crue - DR. FEELGOOD 35TH ANNIVERSARY LP BOX SET - https://amzn.to/3Je81AA]

Rock our gear: https://classicmetalshow.creator-spring.com/

CHRIS AKIN’S BOOKS (buy or the algorithm wins):

Call Me Chris – https://amzn.to/44TDIZ4

Little Victories – https://amzn.to/43A143y

...AND OTHER THINGS I SHOULD NOT SAY... – https://amzn.to/3SRP3Bq

Everything here is 100% opinion. DYOR before you @ us.

#DeepPurple #Dokken #IanGillan #Retirement #HeavyMetal #RageBait #WolfgangVanHalen #GeorgeLynch #ClassicRock #CMS

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

I WAS A MEAN FUCKING ASSHOLE FOR YEARS (Angry Akin Confession) Dec 09, 2025

Show notes

“That was a real ugly person that used to exist. It’s a joke based on a lot of reality because I was a very mean fucking asshole for a lot of years, but yeah. Thankfully, that day is done.” Wait till you hear WHY they said it... Chris drops a HUGE confession about his “Angry Akin” past and the emotionally “crazy” truth about why he used to fight all the time!

Neeley and Chris are back after the holiday to share their Thanksgiving stories, including Chris’s self-described sad and pathetic day working and watching football. They rip on the new season of STRANGER THINGS for its weirdly grown-up “kids” and predict the impending death of movie theaters. The episode closes with incredible CMS history destined for the new book coming in 2026, including Chris’s past life as a “mean fucking asshole.” Are you still mad at the Angry Akin, or is the new, tempered Chris better?

Tired of ads? Grab ad-free episodes, early drops, and bonus rants on our premium platforms!

👉 Locals: https://classicmetalshow.locals.com

👉 Rumble Premium: https://rumble.com/premium

👉 Substack:

[SPONSOR: Blackout Coffee - https://www.blackoutcoffee.com?p=BoNofhazE. Use Promo Code CHRIA20 to save 20% on your next purchase!]

Rock our gear: https://classicmetalshow.creator-spring.com/

CHRIS AKIN’S BOOKS (buy or the algorithm wins):

Call Me Chris – https://amzn.to/44TDIZ4

Little Victories – https://amzn.to/43A143y

...AND OTHER THINGS I SHOULD NOT SAY... – https://amzn.to/3SRP3Bq

Everything here is 100% opinion. DYOR before you @ us.

#AngryAkin #ChrisAkin #CMSHistory #ThanksgivingFail #Slayer #MovieTheaters #StrangerThings #MetalPodcast #RageBait #CMSBook

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 Classic Metal Show LIVE! 11/29/25 (Full Show) Dec 08, 2025

Show notes

Neeley and Chris are back after the holiday to share their Thanksgiving stories, including Chris’s self-described sad and pathetic day working and watching football. They rip on the new season of STRANGER THINGS for its weirdly grown-up “kids” and predict the impending death of movie theaters. The episode closes with incredible CMS history destined for the new book coming in 2026, including Chris’s past life as a “mean fucking asshole.” Are you still mad at the Angry Akin, or is the new, tempered Chris better?

Neeley and Chris tackle the controversial comments from Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan that the band has “no end in sight,” even though Gillan is 80 and going blind. They defend Don Dokken against trolls for performing while sitting, admitting he’s lost the ability to play guitar. Ultimately, Chris swears these old bands not retiring hurts the next generation. Do these legendary rockers have a responsibility to step aside for younger acts, or should they truly rock till they drop?

Neeley and Chris are back, picking up on the debate over Metallica’s St. Anger before diving into the controversial new lineup of Metal Church. They praise the total consistency of bands like Testament and Overkill, then deliver a brutal one-two punch against L.A. Guns’ album LEOPARD SKIN. Finally, they dig into the reports that Death Angel singer Mark Osegueda is losing focus on recording a new album, especially when Slayer is still “brilliant live”. What happened to L.A. Guns?

Neeley and Chris are back, picking up their discussion on the disastrous production choices of Metallica’s ST. ANGER, with Chris recalling the embarrassing documentary drama. They then compare the hit-or-miss career of bands like Metal Church and Megadeth with the flawless catalogs of Testament and Overkill. The show closes with brutal critiques of L.A. Guns’ latest turd, news on Kerry King and a lack of focus from Death Angel’s singer , and the bizarre announcement of a Bruce Dickinson/Graham Bonnet duet. Was Some Kind of Monster the moment Metallica truly lost their metal edge?

Tired of ads? Grab ad-free episodes, early drops, and bonus rants on our premium platforms!

👉 Locals: https://classicmetalshow.locals.com

👉 Rumble Premium: https://rumble.com/premium

👉 Substack: https://cmspn.substack.com

[SPONSOR: Motley Crue - CRUCIAL CRUE: THE STUDIO ALBUMS 1981-1989 on Vinyl - https://amzn.to/4oj3f4Q]

Rock our gear: https://classicmetalshow.creator-spring.com/

CHRIS AKIN’S BOOKS (buy or the algorithm wins):

Call Me Chris – https://amzn.to/44TDIZ4

Little Victories – https://amzn.to/43A143y

...AND OTHER THINGS I SHOULD NOT SAY... – https://amzn.to/3SRP3Bq

Everything here is 100% opinion. DYOR before you @ us.

#Metallica #StAnger #SomeKindOfMonster #Slayer #LAGuns #RageBait #MetalPodcast #KerryKing #Testament #CMS

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

They Skipped Six Hours of TV—and it still "Made Total Sense" Dec 05, 2025

Show notes

Chris Akin sits down with Chris “The Professor” Black, the main creative force behind the band Aktor, to discuss their intriguing new conceptual release, Professori Season 2. Black reveals that the album’s detective show concept was inspired by his unlikely pandemic obsession with Scandinavian crime dramas and their recurring cliches, leading to a hilarious realization that the shows are so formulaic you can skip whole seasons! They delve into the challenging process of creating a layered, non-traditional sound that blends psychedelic, prog, and new wave elements, and talk about their collaboration with extreme metal legend Dan Swanö for the mixing.

Get commercial-free versions of our episodes, early releases, and exclusive content by subscribing to our premium platforms.

We highly recommend our Locals page: https://classicmetalshow.locals.com

You can also find us on Rumble: https://rumble.com/premium and Substack:

Sponsor: Ratt - THE ATLANTIC YEARS 1984-1991 BOX SET - https://amzn.to/4m0HxkN

Get all your favorite CMS Merchandise from our online store: https://classicmetalshow.creator-spring.com/

BUY CHRIS AKIN’S BEST BOOKS HERE:

Call Me Chris by Chris Akin - https://amzn.to/44TDIZ4

Little Victories by Chris Akin - https://amzn.to/43A143y

...AND OTHER THINGS I SHOULD NOT SAY... By Chris Akin - https://amzn.to/3SRP3Bq

#Aktor #ChrisBlack #ProfessoriSeason2 #DanSwano #ConceptAlbum

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

Billy Squier's Career-Killing Video & Tipping Culture Outrage Dec 05, 2025

Show notes

Seriously, how did Billy Squier’s “Rock Me Tonite” video ever see the light of day? We watch it and dissect the career suicide! Plus, is tipping completely out of control now? We quibble about the culture, and share a story about Gen Z’s new gas station drink scam.

Get commercial-free versions of our episodes, early releases, and exclusive content by subscribing to our premium platforms, including our Substack:

Find us on Rumble: https://rumble.com/premium and Locals: https://classicmetalshow.locals.com

SPONSOR: CMS Logo Desk Mat - https://classicmetalshow.creator-spring.com/listing/cms-desk-mat

Get all your favorite CMS Merchandise from our online store: https://classicmetalshow.creator-spring.com/

BUY CHRIS AKIN’S BEST BOOKS HERE:

Call Me Chris by Chris Akin - https://amzn.to/44TDIZ4

Little Victories by Chris Akin - https://amzn.to/43A143y

...AND OTHER THINGS I SHOULD NOT SAY... By Chris Akin - https://amzn.to/3SRP3Bq

#BillySquier, #RockMeTonite, #CareerSuicide, #TippingCulture, #GenZScams, #HotelLawsuit, #ClassicMetalShow, #80sMusicVideo, #ServiceIndustry, #Outrage

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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