Radical Research Podcast

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Episode 142 – US Prog Rock in the 1970s: Five of a Perfect Quartet Mar 19, 2026

Show notes

We all know the big names of prog rock -- they're mentioned numerous time in this episode -- and we all know the music of many other names from all over the world, especially the Italian and Scandinavian progressive gods. And Holland's Supersister! But do you know Babylon, Yezda Urfa or Ethos? Perhaps not. The US prog movement of the '70s happened mid-/late decade, well past the prime/peak of 1972 (ish)...but we haven't forgotten these excellent American contributors to our favorite subset of rock music. Dive in with us as we unearth five of our US prog favorites from that glorious decade...

Note I: Wow, sorry about the quality of Jeff’s transmission in the first three-quarters of the episode…we’re back to the dark ages of early RR episodes there. Our apologies! Note II: Jeff’s Voivod book, ‘Always Moving: The Strange Multiverse of Voivod,’ is now available. You can purchase a copy of the 540-page, 3-pound behemoth HERE: radicalresearch.org/voivod Note III: The Radical Research Patreon page is now set up and ready for your patronage. We are offering tiered subscription levels for those who want a set-it-and-forget-it donation option. As ever, if you choose to support us, we are humbled and grateful! patreon.com/RadicalResearchPodcast

Music cited in order of appearance: Babylon, “The Mote in God’s Eye” (Babylon, 1978) Babylon, “Dreamfish” (Babylon, 1978) Cathedral, “Introspect” (Stained Glass Stories, 1978) Cathedral, “The Search” (Stained Glass Stories, 1978) Ethos, “Atlanteans” (Ardour, 1976) Ethos, “Long Dancer” (Ardour, 1976) Yezda Urfa, “Boris and His Three Verses (Including Flow Guides Aren’t My Bag)” (Boris, 1975) Yezda Urfa, “The Basis of Dubenglazy (While Dirk Does the Dance)” (Boris, 1975) Starcastle, “Elliptical Seasons” (Starcastle, 1976) Happy the Man, “Stumpy Meets the Firecracker in Stencil Forest” (Happy the Man, 1977) Happy the Man, “Steaming Pipes” (Crafty Hands, 1978) Radical Research is a conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of rock and metal music. This podcast is conceived and conducted by Jeff Wagner and Hunter Ginn. Though we consume music in a variety of ways, we give particular privilege to the immersive, full-album listening experience. Likewise, we believe that tangible music formats help provide the richest, most rewarding immersions and that music, artwork, and song titles cooperate to produce a singular effect on the listener. Great music is worth more than we ever pay for it.

Episode 141 – Watchtower Discography in 10 Tasty Snips Feb 25, 2026

Show notes

This band is a major cog in the engine that powers us. We’ve said that about Voivod, King Crimson, and Arcturus, and will add Watchtower as a major ingredient of what compels Radical Research. Formed in 1982 by four maniacs whose handle on their instruments was far beyond their years, and with record collections spanning speedy heavy metal as well as wild prog rock and jazz fusion, Watchtower made perhaps the largest impact of any metal band with a mere two full-length albums to their credit. Listen in wonder right along with us, because we’re still trying to figure it all out! Note I: Jeff’s Voivod book, ‘Always Moving: The Strange Multiverse of Voivod,’ is now available. You can purchase a copy of the 540-page, 3-pound behemoth HERE: radicalresearch.org/voivod Note II: The Radical Research Patreon page is now set up and ready for your patronage. We are offering tiered subscription levels for those who want a set-it-and-forget-it donation option. As ever, if you choose to support us, we are humbled and grateful! patreon.com/RadicalResearchPodcast

Music cited in order of appearance: “Meltdown” (Cottage Cheese From the Lips of Death compilation, 1984) “Tyrants in Distress” (Energetic Disassembly, 1985) “Energetic Disassembly” (Energetic Disassembly, 1985) “Cimmerian Shadows” (Energetic Disassembly, 1985) “The Eldritch” (Instruments of Random Murder demo, 1987) “Mayday in Kiev” (Control and Resistance, 1989) “Control and Resistance” (Control and Resistance, 1989) “Life Cycles” (Control and Resistance, 1989) “Coming Home” (Scott Jeffreys audition, 1990) “Technology Inaction” (Concepts of Math: Book One, 2016) Radical Research is a conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of rock and metal music. This podcast is conceived and conducted by Jeff Wagner and Hunter Ginn. Though we consume music in a variety of ways, we give particular privilege to the immersive, full-album listening experience. Likewise, we believe that tangible music formats help provide the richest, most rewarding immersions and that music, artwork, and song titles cooperate to produce a singular effect on the listener. Great music is worth more than we ever pay for it.

Episode 140 – Wormholes! ARCTURUS 1991-2015 Feb 06, 2026

Show notes

It has taken light years of travel, but we’ve finally reached Arcturus. For our 140th episode, Radical Research dives into the catalog of one of Norway’s longest-running institutions. Over the course of five full-length albums and a clutch of odds and sods, Arcturus has defined and redefined the possibilities of experimental heavy metal. This episode goes all-in, exploring the entire body of work of this beacon of Norweird. Note I: We wondered who released the second Arcturus album, La Masquerade Infernale, in the US, and it turns out, no one did until 5 years after its initial release (Candlelight Records, 2002). Note II: Jeff’s Voivod book, ‘Always Moving: The Strange Multiverse of Voivod,’ is finally available. You can purchase a copy of the 540-page, 3-pound behemoth HERE: radicalresearch.org/voivod Note III: The Radical Research Patreon page is now set up and ready for your patronage. We are offering tiered subscription levels for those who want a set-it-and-forget-it donation option. As ever, if you choose to support us, we are humbled and grateful! patreon.com/RadicalResearchPodcast Note IV: we touched on Arcturus in these episodes, if you’re wanting more on these legends: Episode 76: Ulver’s Kristoffer Rygg Outside the Wolfpack https://www.radicalresearch.org/episode-76-ulvers-kristoffer-rygg-outside-the-wolf-pack/Episode 79: Simen Hestnaes aka ICS Vortex – 25 Years of Agility and Quirk https://www.radicalresearch.org/episode-79-simen-hestnaes-aka-ics-vortex-25-years-of-agility-and-quirk/

Music cited in order of appearance: “My Angel” (My Angel 7”, 1991) “Morax” (My Angel 7”, 1991) “Icebound Streams and Vapours Gray” (Constellation EP, 1994) “Naar Kulda Taar” (Constellation EP, 1994) “To Thou Who Dwellest in the Night” (Aspera Hiems Symfonia, 1996) “Du Nordavind” (Aspera Hiems Symfonia, 1996) “Master of Disguise” (La Masquerade Infernale, 1997) “Ad Astra” (La Masquerade Infernale, 1997) “Deception Genesis” (Disguised Masters, 1999) “Kinetic” (The Sham Mirrors, 2002) “For To End Yet Again” (The Sham Mirrors, 2002) “Evacuation Code Deciphered” (Sideshow Symphonies, 2005) “Hufsa” (Sideshow Symphonies, 2005) “Angst” (Arcturian, 2015) “Demon” (Arcturian, 2015) “The Journey” (Arcturian, 2015) Radical Research is a conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of rock and metal music. This podcast is conceived and conducted by Jeff Wagner and Hunter Ginn. Though we consume music in a variety of ways, we give particular privilege to the immersive, full-album listening experience. Likewise, we believe that tangible music formats help provide the richest, most rewarding immersions and that music, artwork, and song titles cooperate to produce a singular effect on the listener. Great music is worth more than we ever pay for it.

Episode 139 – Realm? The Milwaukee Realm? Yes, THAT Realm (1985-1992) Jan 13, 2026

Show notes

When we first announced this episode several weeks back, we received several queries from listeners all around the globe who phrased their questions similarly: "Realm? The Milwaukee Realm?": Oh yeah, freaks, the one and only. Near and dear to our hearts, as with other Wisconsin RR favorites Die Kreuzen and Last Crack, this one-hour and 14-minute episode explores, expounds and exhorts the mighty Realm…the Milwaukee one!

Note I: NO JOKE: if you can identify another Wisconsin band referenced in the description above, and explain the reference, RR will send you a Norweird prize package of CDs by Arcturus, Fleurety, Solefald, and Virus. Contact us if you decipher the code… Note II: We forgot to mention “Dick”! We had a blast recording this episode and listening back to the great Realm. And we turned over a lot of stones, but left this one unturned: “Dick”! It’s a song on Suiciety, and it’s easily the worst idea on either of the Realm albums. In fact, it’s the only truly lamentable moment. And really, it’s only the horrid chorus the ruins things. It’s an M.O.D.-wanna-be, and…well, it should be self-explanatory why it’s lame. Otherwise: HAIL REALM. Note III: Finally, after years of toil, Jeff’s Voivod book is finally available. You can purchase a copy of the 540-page, 3-pound behemoth…ONLY available in the US HERE: radicalresearch.org/voivod European distribution is here, please visit: https://rekviem.no/en-us/products/always-moving-the-strange-multiverse-of-voivod-book-preorder Note IV: The Radical Research Patreon page is now set up and ready for your patronage. We are offering tiered subscription levels for those who want a set-it-and-forget-it donation option. As ever, if you choose to support us, we are humbled and grateful! patreon.com/RadicalResearchPodcast Music cited in order of appearance: “Second Coming” (Perceptive Incentive demo, 1985) “The Temple” (Final Solution demo, 1987) “Endless War” (Endless War, 1988) “Slay the Oppressor” (Endless War, 1988) “Root of Evil” (Endless War, 1988) “Eleanor Rigby” (Endless War, 1988) “All Heads Will Turn to the Hunt” (Endless War, 1988) “Cain Rose Up (Scream Bloody Murder)” (Suiciety, 1990) “Fragile Earth” (Suiciety, 1990) “Energetic Discontent” (Suiciety, 1990) “The Brainchild” (Suiciety, 1990) “La Flamme’s Theory” (Suiciety, 1990) “One More Red Nightmare” (demo, 1992) Radical Research is a conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of rock and metal music. This podcast is conceived and conducted by Jeff Wagner and Hunter Ginn. Though we consume music in a variety of ways, we give particular privilege to the immersive, full-album listening experience. Likewise, we believe that tangible music formats help provide the richest, most rewarding immersions and that music, artwork, and song titles cooperate to produce a singular effect on the listener. Great music is worth more than we ever pay for it.

Episode 138.5 – Hunter Gets 12 Minutes to State His Case for Chum Jan 11, 2026

Show notes

This short episode is one that Jeff has been promising Hunter we’d get to eventually…and we finally did. Herein, Hunter is granted 12 minutes to make a case for this lost and mostly-forgotten ‘90s alterna-metal album, 'Dead to the World' by West Virginia's Chum.

Music cited in order of appearance: “Stepping on Cracks” (Dead to the World, 1996) “Greetings (From the Inner Self)” (Dead to the World, 1996) “Angels in the Snow” (Dead to the World, 1996) Radical Research is a conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of rock and metal music. This podcast is conceived and conducted by Jeff Wagner and Hunter Ginn. Though we consume music in a variety of ways, we give particular privilege to the immersive, full-album listening experience. Likewise, we believe that tangible music formats help provide the richest, most rewarding immersions and that music, artwork, and song titles cooperate to produce a singular effect on the listener. Great music is worth more than we ever pay for it.

Episode 138 – Monumentum’s ‘In Absentia Christi’: A Radical Research Christmas (Sworn Enemy of the Virgin) Dec 23, 2025

Show notes

“And she became a completely different woman…” With that line, Italy’s Monumentum sums up the Radical Research Christmas spirit circa 2025. Supernatural hokum or divine prophecy told by madmen? Either way, screw all this shopping nonsense and screw your reason for the season: this 1995 album by one of the most enigmatic of all Italian enigmas blasts a blasphemous light on everything sacred. And we, here, right now, at the end of a year that began in torture, shine a light. We don’t celebrate anniversaries -- not of the musings of Mammarella & company nor of the birth of the bastard child. Still, we acknowledge the 30 years this uncanny album has sustained us in a way no other can. Note I: Jeff’s Voivod book, 'Always Moving: The Strange Multiverse of Voivod,' is now available. You can purchase a copy of the 540-page, 3-pound behemoth...Available HERE: radicalresearch.org/voivod

Note II: The Radical Research Patreon page is now set up and ready for your patronage. We are offering tiered subscription levels for those who want a set-it-and-forget-it donation option. As ever, if you choose to support us, we are humbled and grateful! patreon.com/RadicalResearchPodcast Thank you to Rob Kachluba and Joe for recent donations! Note III: Any mention of John Norum and the Monumentum song “Terra Mater Ofranorum” are purely coincidental.

Music cited in order of appearance: all snippets taken from Monumentum, In Absentia Christii (1995), except where noted Visage, “Fade to Grey” (Visage, 1980) “Battesimo: Nero Opaco” “A Thousand Breathing Crosses” “Consuming Jerusalem” “Fade to Grey” “On Perspective of Spiritual Catharsis” “Σελυνης αγγελος” “From These Wounds” “Terra Mater Ofranorum” “Nephtali” “La Noia”

Radical Research is a conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of rock and metal music. This podcast is conceived and conducted by Jeff Wagner and Hunter Ginn. Though we consume music in a variety of ways, we give particular privilege to the immersive, full-album listening experience. Likewise, we believe that tangible music formats help provide the richest, most rewarding immersions and that music, artwork, and song titles cooperate to produce a singular effect on the listener. Great music is worth more than we ever pay for it.

Episode 137 – Brand X, 1976-1980: Inhuman Fusion Conclusions Nov 21, 2025

Show notes

Led by the estimable Percy Jones on bass and supported by a cast of elite co-conspirators, England's Brand X released a covey of essential fusion albums in the '70s and early '80s. Blending rock and jazz with uncommon aggression and dexterity, Brand X cuts across genres and decapitates rivals. Join us on this deep dive into one of fusion's oft-overlooked champions.

Note I:

Jeff’s Voivod book, Always Moving: The Strange Multiverse of Voivod, is finally available. Taking orders now for this 540-page, 3-pound behemoth…ONLY available HERE: radicalresearch.org/voivod

Music cited in order of appearance: “Nuclear Burn” (Unorthodox Behaviour, 1976) “Smacks of Euphoric Hysteria” (Unorthodox Behaviour, 1976) “Disco Suicide” (Moroccan Roll, 1977) “Macrocosm” (Moroccan Roll, 1977) “Access to Data” (Masques, 1978) “The Ghost of Mayfield Lodge” (Masques, 1978) “Don’t Make Waves” (Product, 1979) “Dance of the Illegal Aliens” (Product, 1979) “Act of Will” (Do They Hurt?, 1980) “Fragile” (Do They Hurt?, 1980) “Triumphant Limp” (Do They Hurt?, 1980) Radical Research is a conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of rock and metal music. This podcast is conceived and conducted by Jeff Wagner and Hunter Ginn. Though we consume music in a variety of ways, we give particular privilege to the immersive, full-album listening experience. Likewise, we believe that tangible music formats help provide the richest, most rewarding immersions and that music, artwork, and song titles cooperate to produce a singular effect on the listener. Great music is worth more than we ever pay for it.

Episode 136 – Dark Millennium 1992/93: The Freaks Have Spoken, We Have Listened! Nov 04, 2025

Show notes

For years (yes, we've been doing this a while now), various Radical Research listeners around the globe have asked us, "When is the Dark Millennium episode coming?" For Hunter, this would have been an easy answer: Anytime! For Jeff, a crash course in this interesting, challenging, wholly unique band was in order. Having boned up on the details, Jeff joins Hunter and those RR freakazoid listeners in hailing this band's first two albums, which we dissect readily in this episode. Tangents on Therion and graphite included...

Note I: Finally, after years of toil, Jeff’s Voivod book is finally available. Taking pre-orders now for this 540-page, 3-pound behemoth…'Always Moving: The Strange Multiverse of

Voivod' is ONLY available HERE: https://www.radicalresearch.org/voivod

Note II: The Radical Research Patreon page is now set up and ready for your patronage. We are offering tiered subscription levels for those who want a set-it-and-forget-it donation option. As ever, if you choose to support us, we are humbled and grateful! patreon.com/RadicalResearchPodcast Note III: We are regularly posting newer and older episode to our Youtube channel. Please check that out here and please subscribe if you wanna aid in getting all our coverage into more people's feeds: https://www.youtube.com/@radicalresearchpodcast4942

Music cited in order of appearance: “Below the Holy Fatherlands” (Ashore the Celestial Burden, 1992) “Spiritual” (Ashore the Celestial Burden, 1992) “Inside the Sunburnt Thoughts of Frost” (Ashore the Celestial Burden, 1992) “The Atmosphere” (Ashore the Celestial Burden, 1992) “Dead in Love” (Diana Read Peace, 1993) “Brotherhood Sleep…Back to Treasureland” (Diana Read Peace, 1993) “Fatehistory” (Diana Read Peace, 1993) “Peace in My Hands” (Diana Read Peace, 1993) episode 137 preview: Brand X, “Not Good Enough…See Me!” (Product, 1979) Radical Research is a conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of rock and metal music. This podcast is conceived and conducted by Jeff Wagner and Hunter Ginn. Though we consume music in a variety of ways, we give particular privilege to the immersive, full-album listening experience. Likewise, we believe that tangible music formats help provide the richest, most rewarding immersions and that music, artwork, and song titles cooperate to produce a singular effect on the listener. Great music is worth more than we ever pay for it.

Episode 135 – Course Corrections… Oct 15, 2025

Show notes

Listener and friend Paul Stolp prompted this conversation/episode, mentioning how he thought a “course correction” episode would be fun. What is a course correction? Paul offered the example of Judas Priest’s Ram it Down being the wipeout and Painkiller being the glorious correction. Naturally, this got our gears turning, and this is the conversation that resulted. As Hunter notes in this episode, “a course correction is not necessarily an achievement, but more that you got back on your path.” (Driving mishap analogies abound in this episode.) And we want to hear from you: what are YOUR favorite examples of the Course Correction? Note I: Finally, after years of toil, and then a tragedy, Jeff’s latest book (Always Moving: The Strange Multiverse of Voivod) is finally available. We're taking pre-orders now for this 540-page, 3-pound behemoth…ONLY available HERE: radicalresearch.org/voivod

Note II: The Radical Research Patreon page is now set up and ready for your patronage. We are offering tiered subscription levels for those who want a set-it-and-forget-it donation option. As ever, if you choose to support us, we are humbled and grateful! patreon.com/RadicalResearchPodcast Note III: We are regularly posting newer and older episode to our Youtube channel. Please check that out here and please subscribe if you wanna aid in getting all our coverage into more people's feeds: https://www.youtube.com/@radicalresearchpodcast4942

Music cited in order of appearance: Celtic Frost, “Dance Sleazy” (Cold Lake, 1988) Celtic Frost, “Nemesis” (Vanity/Nemesis, 1990) Leviathan, “True Whorror” (True Traitor, True Whore, 2011) Leviathan, “Dawn Vibration” (Scar Sighted, 2015) Savatage, “Lady in Disguise” (Fight for the Rock, 1986) Savatage, “24 Hrs. Ago” (Hall of the Mountain King, 1987) Deadboy and the Elephantmen, “Misadventures of Dope” (We Are Night Sky, 2006) Dax Riggs, “Didn’t Know Yet What I’d Know When I Was Bleedin’” (We Sing of Only Blood or Love, 2007) episode 136 preview: Dark Millennium, “Mechanismeffects” (Diana Read Peace, 1993) Radical Research is a conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of rock and metal music. This podcast is conceived and conducted by Jeff Wagner and Hunter Ginn. Though we consume music in a variety of ways, we give particular privilege to the immersive, full-album listening experience. Likewise, we believe that tangible music formats help provide the richest, most rewarding immersions and that music, artwork, and song titles cooperate to produce a singular effect on the listener. Great music is worth more than we ever pay for it.

Episode 100 [RELAUNCH] – VOIVOD is the Engine That Powers Us Oct 07, 2025

Show notes

2023 marks the 40th anniversary of Voivod, a band that are at the very heart of everything we do at Radical Research and everything we listen to as incorrigible music obsessives. In celebration, Voivod released Morgoth Tales, which finds the Mark V lineup (Snake, Away, Chewy, Rocky) covering songs from various past eras. For ourselves, we pay tribute by offering our longest and most in-depth episode yet, while also celebrating a landmark of our own. We invite all chaosmongers, nothingfaces, cockroaches and diehards across the schizophere to join us in celebration of the one, the only, the eternal VOIVOD!!!

Note I:

The reason for this relaunch of this episode is simple: Jeff's Voivod book ('Always Moving - The Strange Multiverse of Voivod') is imminent! You can reserve your copy of this 3 lb., 540-page behemoth here and ONLY here: radicalresearch.org/voivod/

Note II: The Radical Research Patreon page is now set up and ready for your patronage. We offer tiered subscription levels for those who want a set-it-and-forget-it donation option. As ever, if you choose to support us, we are humbled and grateful! patreon.com/RadicalResearchPodcast

Music cited in order of appearance: [all Voivod except where otherwise noted] intros from War and Pain, Killing Technology, Angel Rat, The Wake “Experiment” (Dimension Hatröss, 1988) “Blower” (War and Pain, 1984) “Ripping Headaches” (Rrröööaaarrr, 1986) Carnivore, “Carnivore” (Carnivore, 1985) “Forgotten in Space” (Killing Technology, 1987) Cave In, “Decay of the Delay” (Jupiter, 2000) “Cockroaches” (Killing Technology, 1987) “Psychic Vaccum” (Dimension Hatröss, 1988) “Brain Scan” (Dimension Hatröss, 1988)

Wartech, “Virtual Reality” (demo 1991) “Missing Sequences” (Nothingface, 1989) “Into My Hypercube” (Nothingface, 1989) “Inner Combustion” (Nothingface, 1989) King Crimson, “Larks’ Tongues in Aspic, Part Two” (Larks’ Tongues in Aspic, 1973) “Nuage Fractal” (Angel Rat, 1991) Alchemist, “Escape from the Black Hole” (Organasm, 2000) “Clouds in My House” (Angel Rat, 1991) Die Kreuzen, “Best Goodbye” (Cement, 1991) “Best Regards” (Angel Rat, 1991) “Freedoom” (Angel Rat, 1991) “Horror” (Rrröööaaarrr, 1986) Rush, “Natural Science” (Permanent Waves, 1980) Van Der Graaf Generator, “Man-Erg” (Pawn Hearts, 1971) “Moonbeam Rider” (The Outer Limits, 1993) “Time Warp” (The Outer Limits, 1993) “Phobos” (Phobos, 1997) “Temps Mort” (Phobos, 1997) “Neutrino” (Phobos, 1997) “Aware” (demo for unrealized 10th album, 2000) “Facing Up” (Voivod, 2003) “Divine Sun” (Voivod, 2003) “Polaroids” (Katorz, 2006) “Corps Etranger” (Target Earth, 2013) “Iconspiracy” (The Wake, 2018) “Always Moving” (The Wake, 2018) “Quest for Nothing” (Synchro Anarchy, 2022)

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