Metal Matters

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27: Classic Records Black Flag In My Head May 14, 2019

Show notes

Author / Journalist / Musician Anthony Pappalardo returns to discuss Black Flag’s sixth and final album “In My Head.” Everyone will agree that Black Flag is an icon, their relentless work ethic, stark imagery and the raw-nerve intensity of their music has carved a permanent channel into the popular music and popular culture.

Released in 1985, “In My Head” is often dismissed by a lot of fans but in our opinion, it is as crucial an entry into their catalog as “Damaged” and “Slip It In.” Despite the fact that it was the band’s swansong, it sounds like a band that was about to expand into a brand new direction.

Intro: “Paralyzed”

Outro: “Black Love”

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26: Classic Records At the Gates Slaughter of the Soul May 07, 2019

Show notes

My good friend, music journalist and fellow musician, J. Bennett returns to discuss the iconic death metal classic “Slaughter of the Soul” by At the Gates. If you’ve been listening to this podcast for a while, you will notice that we typically go for the more left-of-center classics, but this one is undeniably an influential record that helped define the “Gothenburg sound” of the mid-90’s as well as providing inspiration for a whole legion of bands.

J's work has appeared in Decibel, Revolver, Terrorizer and pretty much everywhere you can read about extreme music. He also wrote the "Slaughter of the Soul" entry into Decibel's Hall of Fame.

Intro: “Blinded by Fear”

Outro: “Suicide Nation”

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25: Classic Records Guns n' Roses Appetite for Destruction Apr 30, 2019

Show notes

My old friend, rock music scribe and fellow musician J. Bennet joins us for a Classic Records Episode this week. Aside from reading J’s work in numerous music-related outlets such as Decibel, Revolver, Noisey and others, he is a member of Mustard Gas and Roses, Ides of Gemini and Black Mare.

Guns n’ Roses’ debut album “Appetite for Destruction” has without a doubt earned its place in the pantheon of hard rock music. We both share some stories about our experiences with the record and how it crushed some of their “Hair Metal” contemporaries.

Intro: “It’s So Easy”

Outro: “Paradise City”

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24: Classic Records Voivod Phobos Apr 23, 2019

Show notes

Fellow Gimme Radio DJ Diane Farris joins us to talk about “Phobos” the 9th studio album by the Canadian metal band Voivod. You can catch Diane’s show “Lifer” on Gimme Radio.

I’ve always been fascinated by Voivod, a band that has been grinding away since the early 80’s. The emerged during the thrash / speed metal heyday along with Slayer, Metallica, Razor and Testament. In my opinion, they were always the more eccentric bands of that crop, evolving and changing as the years went on.

I think Diane and I agree that “Phobos” is the most unique record from a truly unique band.

Intro: “Quantum”

Outro: “Phobos”

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23: Death Void Transformation Sera Timms of Black Mare and LVXURI Apr 16, 2019

Show notes

My good friend Sera Timms joins us this week to talk about her newest project LVXURI. We cover a lot of ground ranging from Artificial Intelligence, Ritual Magick, to the mystery of consciousness to performing an acoustic set in a cave. Sera is an inspirational creative force whose body of work included Black Mare, Ides of Gemini and Black Math Horsemen.

Intro: “Decusatta” – LVXURI

Outro: “Ingress to Form” – Black Mare

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22: Ritual Torment and the Value of Pain Colin van Eeckhout of Amenra Apr 09, 2019

Show notes

I had the pleasure of meeting with Colin van Eeckhout, vocalist of Amenra, during their stop in Brooklyn on their current tour with Yob and Voivod. It was a beautiful afternoon, the sun was out and there was a hint of spring, so we decided to escape the dark confines of the venue to chat outside. It seemed like a great idea at the time, since Yob was bringing the thunder during their sound check, but for better or worse, you get an “authentic” New York experience with the sounds of the city mixing in with out conversation which covered a broad array of topics from ritual, the peaks and valleys of a 20 year music career and the roots of his own brand of spirituality.

Intro: “Plus Pres de Toi"

Outro: “Diaken”

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21: Classic Records Metallica Garage Days Revisited Apr 02, 2019

Show notes

Author / musician Anthony Pappalardo of Adult Inc. joins us this week for a Classic Records episode. Pappalardo has written about everything from skateboarding to hardcore music to urban lifestyle and to date has published two books Live…Suburbia and Radio Silence: A Visual History of American Hardcore. If you’ve been paying attention for the last few months, you realize that we don’t stick to the obvious, instead we set our sights on the records that resonate with us and maybe have a little more personal impact. With that said, this week’s classic record is Metallica’s “Garage Days Revisited” their 1987 EP of covers that opened up entire vistas of new musical possibilities.

Intro: “The Small Hours” (Killing Joke)

Outro: “The Wait” (Killing Joke)

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20: Classic Records Sick of It All Scratch the Surface Mar 26, 2019

Show notes

The legendary Sick of It All have been deploying their own brand of New York Hardcore since 1986. Founded in Queens, NY by brothers Lou and Pete Koller, the band has employed the blue-collar work ethic and carved out their own channel not only in the hardcore underground, but also put their mark on the mainstream music world with 1994’s Scratch the Surface.

For this episode of classic records, I teamed up with NYHC scribe and former music industry exec Howie Abrams. What started out as a discussion about Scratch the Surface, quickly expanded into a recollection of the band’s formation and the early days of New York Hardcore.

Intro: “Scratch the Surface”

Outro: “It’s Clobbering Time”

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19: Dark Age of Ruin Interview with Erik Rutan Mar 19, 2019

Show notes

When I think of hard work and integrity, I think of Erik Rutan. Having recorded two records with him at Mana Recording Studio, I have witnessed, first-hand, his intensity and workmanship at the recording console. He attacks music with the same relentless virtuosity. With Erik Rutan there is only one way: ALL THE WAY! Last year’s Hate Eternal record, “UponDesolate Sands” was my number one record of the year, which I covered on our year-end special.

We had a great time talking about the creation of “Upon Desolate Sands” and the arduous task of learning a Cannibal Corpse set for their upcoming year of touring.

Intro: “Dark Age of Ruin”

Outro: “Upon Desolate Sands”

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18: Eugene S. Robinson Will Outlast his Enemies Mar 12, 2019

Show notes

Eugene S. Robinson is a man of many talents: Oxbow front man, martial artist, writer, raconteur and overall modern renaissance man. Oxbow’s most recent record “Thin Black Duke” is a future classic, combining the discordance of the Birthday Party with Robinson’s brutally poetic lyrics and vocal delivery. They are one of the best live bands that I’ve ever seen. During our chat, I discovered that they were working on new material.

Aside from hosting his own podcast Show Stomper! which primarily covers MMA and combat sports, Eugene has launched OZY Confidential, the flagship podcast for OZY.com where he is the editor-at-large.

Intro: “The Killer”

Outro: “Cold and Well-Lit Place”

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