The P.O.D. Kast

Latest Episodes:

Episode 36: Alien Ant Farm's "ANThology", or Lessons in How Not to Be La-Hoo Aug 05, 2022

Show notes

It's an episode that begins with us talking quite frankly about our balls (and our strength), and you might need a lot of strength to get through almost two hours on an album that just doesn't quite get to where it thinks it's going, as the risks hardly ever pay off and at the end of the day, its biggest song is still a cover. But WHAT A COVER IT IS. We discuss what it means to have a cover hit huge, how we perceived it then and now, and whether or not "Movies" can hold a candle to "Smooth Criminal" as the album's first (and third!) single. We also learn that Alien Ant Farm really wants you to know they're good musicians, actually, and it took us 36 episodes but we also figure out that every band categorized as "nu-metal" in the early 2000s could actually be divided into one of two groups: Ozzfest or Warped Tour. And finally, we wax poetic about skaters and "skateboard bands" and Dryden Mitchell's "write the words, worry about what they mean later" strategy of songwriting.

If you want to learn a lot more about songwriting strategy and support the show at the same time, you can head on over to patreon.com/thepodkast, where $4/month gets you access to THREE bonus episodes a month. We do two short reviews of nu-metal songs and one full-length episode much like this one, as last month we had Bryn Nieboer from Stay Inside on the show to discuss The Mad Capsule Markets' classic, "OSC-DIS". There's nearly 80 episodes in the back catalogue to choose from and you get access to our Discord too. What a deal!

Episode 35: Coal Chamber's "Coal Chamber", or the Silliness of Nu-Metal Realized Jul 08, 2022

Show notes

BIG TRUCK! BIG TRUCK! After literal years of trying to get this album to win a Poll, Bryan's dream finally comes true and the boys cover Coal Chamber's debut, self-titled album and it does not disappoint. Perhaps the first nu-metal band to recognize the inherent silliness of the genre, from the lyrics to the interviews, we also recognize that this record absolutely kicks ass. It's clearly inspired by Korn's first record in all the right ways, with gritty production, chunky riffs, and a great rhythm section holding it all down. Bryan talks about loving this album as a kid and John loves it now, and it's got one of the genre's best album covers too. Just a real "great job, gang!" situation all around.

If you want to be part of a great gang, you can head on over to our Patreon at patreon.com/thepodkast, where $4/month gets you access to THREE bonus episodes every month. Last month, we covered The Crow soundtracks with Lorin from Roach Koach, and we've also got a fun Discord and lots of other cool stuff, so head on over there to check it out. It's the best deal in podcasting!

Episode 34: Slipknot's "Iowa", or The Episode Where We Start To Get Serious Jun 02, 2022

Show notes

It's a truly wild episode of the POD Kast this month, as Bryan talks about the first time he did acid...at the age of 12. It sets the tone for the entire episode, as we discuss Neighborhood Jesus, Mick Thomson's "sense of humor" and just how it became that a very heavy metal band made a very heavy sophomore album and still managed to capture the hearts and minds of people everywhere. Of course, this was also right around the time Slipknot began to take themselves VERY seriously, and John wonders if borrowing some of Corey Taylor's recording techniques, like smelling animal remains and puking and pissing everywhere while recording might make the podcast better (it won't). Slipknot also loves to tell you how much they hated making this album and we get into one of the most egregious examples of a band giving Rolling Stone exactly the type of coverage they would want from them, and Rolling Stone eating it all up with a giant, masked spoon.

If you want to be spoonfed more content from us, you can head on over to patreon.com/thepodkast, where $4/month gets you access to THREE bonus episodes every single month. Last month, we covered Linkin Park's "Reanimation" with our good friend Chris James in an episode a lot of people are calling an "all-timer", and on a singles episode, we recoil as we cover the Metallica/Ja Rule monstrosity that might be the single worst song we've ever covered. Plus, you get bonus posts from us, access to our Discord, and more. So check it out!

Episode 33: Hollywood Undead's "Notes From the Underground", or 10 Years Too Late May 10, 2022

Show notes

It's time for one of the most puzzling albums we've ever covered on this show, a pure nu-metal album that came out in the complete dead zone of 2013 from a bunch of guys who don't seem interested in anything other than trying to be famous. From a "club banger about football" to a myriad of ballads to songs about drugs and killing everyone, this album literally has it all. And it's all bad. So of course, Bryan loves it! We dive into some of the more questionable lyrics on the album, why they love lions so much, and how you can possibly write songs when everyone in the band is a singer and they don't seem to have worked out any sort of writing process. Oh, and their old lead singer definitely made up a story about them jumping him after a show, they're all Scientologists, and they've worn more masks than any other band in history. It's a wild ride.

If you want to be taken on more wild rides, check out our Patreon and support the show over at patreon.com/thepodkast, where we review two nu-metal singles and one album every month for just $4. Last month, we covered the Matrix Reloaded soundtrack with our pal Randee Neumeyer, and we have more awesome stuff on the way. Plus you get access to our Discord, you get a monthly listening list so you can prepare for the episodes, and MORE!

Episode 32: Mushroomhead's "XIII", or A Collection of Anthems Apr 05, 2022

Show notes

We finally get to talking about the band responsible for the best artist biography in the business, Mushroomhead. Covering their most popular album, "XIII", we take a read of the infamous bio as well as the "News" portion of their site, which we find is just as fluffily written as the biography is and purports their albums to be "a collection of anthems". The album is...ok. We discuss the songs and how they try to find nu-metal's middle, as we find out that turntablist Stitch is a haunted house aficionado, and gives the longest interview answer of all-time. Plus, John becomes a Crocs guy, the band just can't help continuing to compare themselves to Slipknot even though they insist there's no bad blood, and Bryan comes up with his latest hot take just one day before the Machine Gun Kelly debacle: there is no such thing as a bad cover.

If you want to hear us talk on a lot of covers (and other fun stuff), you can head on over to patreon.com/thepodkast and support the show. In exchange for your donation, you'll get THREE bonus episodes every single month, where we review nu-metal singles and albums suggested by you, the listener. You can donate to decide on what you want us to cover on those episodes over on the Patreon, and you can also hear last month's main bonus show, where we watched Anime Music Videos with OK Fox of the Art and Labor podcast. It was a good time! We also have a Discord, you get a listening list every month before we record the episodes, and more goodies. So check it out.

Episode 31: Faith No More's "Angel Dust", or A Decade Under the Influence Mar 04, 2022

Show notes

It's the first time that Bryan & John have been forced to tackle a band that isn't a nu-metal band, but greatly influenced a vast majority of the bands we've covered on this show. Named the Most Influential Album of All-Time by Kerrang! in 2003 (a list we investigate...it has some holes), it's easy to see how many bands of the nu-metal era were inspired by this record, even if they really didn't want to be seen as the progenitors of the genre. We get into the weirdness of Mike Patton, some of the more bizarre musical elements, and Bryan is blown away by the covers on the record. And just to ease a lot of listeners' concerns...we didn't hate it.

If you want some more stuff you won't hate, donate to the show at patreon.com/thepodkast, where $4/month gets you THREE bonuses every month. You'll get two mini-reviews of nu-metal singles and one full-length bonus episode, including last month's bonus episode where HolidayKirk joined us to discuss French nu-metal stalwarts Pleymo. And of course you can't get access to our famous Zoom live shows without being a patron, and our next one is coming up March 21st, as we are gonna review a series of anime music videos with the Art & Labor podcast. So don't delay!

Episode 30: Drowning Pool's "Sinner", or a Life Lost Too Soon Feb 04, 2022

Show notes

30 episodes and 4 poll nominations later, Drowning's Pool magnum opus "Sinner" finally gets a review and it turns out it's not a moment too soon, as this one is a banger. Amidst talk of Bryan undergoing a personal rebrand, the boys do a rebrand of their own as they talk about originally disliking "Bodies" and realize during the work for this episode that no, it's actually one of the best nu-metal songs ever. And the rest of the album follows suit, as we thoroughly enjoy it all and it makes us realize Dave Williams was a true talent lost too soon. He seemed like a hell of a cool guy, too. That said, at least we have this record still and it packs a wallop and we dissect it all.

If you want some more of us two cool guys, you can head on over to patreon.com/thepodkast, where $4/month gets you access to THREE bonus episodes every month. Last month, Steve Sladkowski from PUP joined us to talk about one of the truly bizarre contributions to the nu-metal canon, Fieldy's solo instrumental album "Bassically". Yeah, that's the real title. It was a ton of fun and we also have a great Discord and two short singles episodes every month, so check it out!

Episode 29: Hoobastank's "Hoobastank", or When We Learned Hoobastank Might be the Feds Jan 11, 2022

Show notes

It's another episode Bryan absolutely did not want to do, as his attempt to juice the poll in favour of Far went sideways and we are forced to cover Hoobastank's major-label debut album. And what a debut album it is, as it sounds an awful lot like Incubus and we try to figure out what the drummer means when he says they were destined to sound the same because they grew up 5 minutes from each other. We also get into Doug Robb's attempts to be a "funny guy" in interviews, how good the singles are (very good), and Bryan reveals that he actually likes "The Reason" a great deal. PLUS! It's huge nu-metal news as Disturbed frontman David Draiman is back on Twitter and we find out live on the show that he blocked us.

If you want to show your moral support for the block, you can head on over to patreon.com/thepodkast, where $4/month gets you access to THREE bonus episodes, one of which is a full-length album review and the other are two mini song reviews. And you can even donate at a certain level to tell us what to cover! It's a wonderful thing. Last month, we reviewed Darke Complex's 2016 nu-metal debut "Point Oblivion", and had their lead singer, Vincente Void, on to discuss it with us. He was very candid and it was an awesome episode, so be sure to check it out. Plus we also have a Discord and other fun perks so donate today!

Episode 28: Papa Roach's "Infest", or a Total Turnaround Dec 08, 2021

Show notes

It's therapy time for Bryan as John and Bryan get personal on this one, as talking about our dads leads into Bryan's history with drug use and ends with some extreme talk about...pole vaulting. Bryan's insistence that he could very quickly learn how to pole vault turns contentious, and we swear we find some time to talk about this album eventually. And what an album it is, exploring Papa Roach's mammoth smash "Infest", as Bryan learns that he actually quite enjoys this album after nearly two decades of just assuming he hated it. We discuss Papa Roach's general corniness as dudes as John fills Bryan in on the Wye Oak incident and we read some interviews where Jacoby Shaddix comes across as a little cloying. Luckily the album is anything but, as we both love it and fawn over the 4 indisputably great singles, the bizarre yet confessional lyrics, and how it was a perfect album for the time.

If you want some more great singles, you can head on over to patreon.com/thepodkast, where for $4/month, you can hear us review TWO singles and ONE full-length piece of content, every single month. I say "piece of content" because last month, we watched the Disturbed rockumentary "M.O.L." with the guys from blink-155 and it was...something. We've got over 50 episodes in the back catalogue and they're all at your fingertips with a donation, so get into it! Rock on!

Episode 27: 311's "311", or The One Where Bryan Threw Up Nov 09, 2021

Show notes

We don't think it's because of the album we were covering, but Bryan made it down to the Street Fight Studios just in time to vomit and then immediately record this episode. Bryan said that while he powered through, he doesn't remember most of the recording, but the takes are good and hot as we go deep on the album that broke 311, a melange of influences that is mostly pleasant to listen to but whose lyrics leave a lot to be desired. We get into their infamous Rolling Stone interview that's all about how much weed they smoke, Bryan once again takes aim at the Billboard Heatseekers Chart, we learn who guns are for (pussies), and we find out what exactly a "brodel" is. Plus, we include a mini-review of the new Limp Bizkit album "Still Sucks", and introduce a very special poll just in time for Christmas.

If you want to give yourself an early Christmas gift, you can head on over to patreon.com/thepodkast, where $4/month gets you access to THREE bonus episodes every single month. Last month, we went back to our rockumentary roots as we watched Fear Factory's "Digital Connectivity" with Ryan Williams, and it was a doozy. Plus, you get two additional singles reviews each month AND access to our Discord. It's the best deal in podcasting, so check it out!

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