The riff is the foundation of heavy music, evolving over several decades and styles. Many of our favorite songs started with a single idea and guitar in hand. Anyone can write a riff, but what makes a good riff? Each week, riff disciples Austin Paulson, Dylan Adams, & Justin Swindle attempt to answer this question by discussing their favorite riffs, how they came to be, and why we still worship them today.
The podcast Riff Worship is created by Austin Paulson, Dylan Adams, and Justin Swindle. The podcast and the artwork on this page are embedded on this page using the public podcast feed (RSS).
Following a stretch of interpersonal conflicts and legal setbacks, Seattle’s own TAD were poised to bring their heavy, aggressive sound to the majors.
The arrival of powerhouse drummer Josh Sinder (formerly of The Accüsed) reinvigorated the band, as Tad Doyle, Kurt Danielson, and Gary Thorstensen channeled a blend of punk grit and metal heft into their songwriting.
On their 1993 major label debut Inhaler, TAD delivers a raw, monolithic slab of sound both ugly and unrelenting, while still managing to weave in moments of surprising beauty.
This week we are joined by special guest Tad Doyle to discuss the making of Inhaler, his prolific solo career, operating Witch Ape Studio, as well as his work composing scores for film!
Amalthea is OUT NOW via Bandcamp: https://thomasandrewdoyle.bandcamp.com/album/amalthea
Cara is available NOW to buy or rent digitally: https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/cara/umc.cmc.4rmrdebdccroxtxu2mzx128uh?ctx_at=6
The People's Union USA: https://thepeoplesunionusa.com/
Follow Tad Doyle
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tad.doyle.music/
Twitter: https://x.com/TadDoyle_Tad
Website: https://www.taddoyle.com/
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Riffs on Repeat (Spotify)
UK death metal outfit Vacuous charge into 2025 with In His Blood, their blood-soaked, riff-filled Relapse Records debut. Not out to reinvent the genre or shoehorn their eclectic influences, Vacuous succeed in writing honest extreme music that is uniquely their own.
Joining us this week is Vacuous guitarist Michael Brodsky for a discussion on the new album, his journey through music, and all things the riff!
In His Blood is OUT NOW via Relapse Records: https://www.relapse.com/collections/vacuous-in-his-blood
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Riffs on Repeat (Spotify)
Capturing a blend of intense malice and melancholy, Burning Witch’s career-spanning compilation Crippled Lucifer is essential listening for any doom and drone fan.
The band’s unique style echoes through the genre today, particularly on Alluvion, the forthcoming collaboration between heavyweights Mizmor and Hell.
This week we are joined by special guests A.L.N. and M.S.W. to discuss the legacy of Burning Witch and one of the year’s most anticipated releases!
Alluvion drops April 4th via Gilead Media: https://gileadmedia.net/blogs/news/mizmor-hell-alluvion-cd-lp-tape-merch-pre-order-open-now
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Photo (Thumbnail) Credit: Emma Ruth Rundle
Recommendations:
Roger Eno & Brian Eno - Mixing Colours
Craft
Enya
Burning Witch
Shape of Despair
Cold World
Darkthrone
Jimmy Cliff
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Riffs on Repeat (Spotify)
Formed from the ashes of Thorr’s Hammer, Seattle doom pioneers Burning Witch burned intensely but briefly, dissolving before they could release a proper record.
Initially met with confusion and lingering stares, the band’s mix of relentless heaviness and suffocating dread later earned them cult status—thanks in part to the reissues by Southern Lord Recordings.
Join us as we kick off our two-part series on Burning Witch, discussing their unique history and exploring their two seminal albums, Towers… and Rift.Canyon.Dreams, whose influence continues to echo through extreme music today!
Purchase digital and physical copies of Burning Witch's Towers… and Rift.Canyon.Dreams here: https://burningwitchsl.bandcamp.com/music
Recommendations:
Imperial Triumphant - Goldstar
Dorthia Cottrell - Death Folk Country
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Channeling Southern mysticism, isolation, and a heavy dose of anguish, Little Rock, Arkansas' own sludge/doom titans, Rwake, solidify their status as the crown jewel of the Natural State with their 2007 classic, Voices of Omens.
Joining us this week are Rwake superfan Nate Garrett (Spirit Adrift, Neon Nightmare) and producer Sanford Parker (Buried At Sea, Minsk, Nachtmystium, Black Cross Hotel), as they share their thoughts and stories behind this iconic record!
Rwake's latest album The Return of Magik is OUT NOW via Relapse Records: https://www.relapse.com/collections/rwake-the-return-of-magik
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Subscribe to Nate Garrett's podcast BIG RIFF ENERGY: https://www.youtube.com/@borntoonate
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This week on Riff Worship we are delighted to welcome bassist, lyricist, and vocalist Meghan O'Neil (King Woman, The Armed, Punch, Super Unison)
Join us as we discuss her incredible journey through music, navigating life on the road, Prince, Steve Albini, wedding DJs, and so much more!
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Thumbnail Photo Credit: Nathan Goldsworthy / Odin Imaging
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This week on Riff Worship we are joined by members of California doom quartet Ancient Tome to discuss their latest EP, The Implications of Ascendancy - OUT NOW via Chaos Records
We go in-depth on the writing and recording process of this release, the band's origins, California's diverse metal scene, filmmaking, and all things the riff!
Purchase a copy of The Implications of Ascendancy HERE: https://chaos-records.bandcamp.com/album/the-implications-of-ascendancy
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This week on Riff Worship we are joined by special guest Chris Colohan of SECT, UNWELL, Burning Love, Cursed, The Swarm, and many more...
We discuss his upbringing through Ontario's hardcore scene, the making of Cursed II, Burning Love's long-awaited reunion at Prepare the Ground, favorite riffs, horror films, and his latest solo project UNWELL!
SECT - Plagues Upon Plagues is OUT NOW via Southern Lord Recordings: https://southernlord.com/band/sect/
Check out Chris Colohan's solo project, UNWELL: https://unvvell.bandcamp.com/
Burning Love is set to reunite at Prepare the Ground in 2025 for their final performance! Tickets can be found here: https://www.preparetheground.com/
Photo Credit (Thumbnail): Nick Riggs
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Building off the certified gold success of their breakout debut L.D. 50 and the progressive-leaning The End of All Things to Come, Illinois-based Mudvayne embraced this momentum with a bold new look and direction.
After nearly four months of isolation and fine-tuning, the band emerged with massive hits like “Happy?” and “Forget to Remember”, alongside tracks like “IMN” and “All That You Are” that gained the attention of an expanding audience.
From the Saw II soundtrack to the Ozzfest main stage, please join us in discussing Mudvayne's Lost and Found
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This week on Riff Worship we discuss one of Japan's most explosive and mysterious hardcore bands, Friendship, as we dissect their sophomore album, Undercurrent
LISTEN TO FRIENDSHIP'SUNDERCURRENTHERE
Recommendations:
Coltsblood -Obscured into Nebulous Dusk
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An album that is as unpredictable as it is precise. This week we explore the influential and often imitated final album by Washington metalcore pioneers Botch - We Are the Romans!
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The road to heavy metal domination has to begin somewhere, doesn’t it?
Before the arenas, pyrotechnics, and leather, Judas Priest were like a lot of young bands from Birmingham, England. Hungry and determined.
Unsatisfied with the lackluster production and tepid response of their debut album, the band knew something needed to change in order for them to breakthrough.
Here, they began to sculpt their signature sound: soaring vocals, electrifying melodies, and thundering riffs. It wasn’t perfected, but it was a damn fine start.
Join us this week as we celebrate Judas Priest and their classic sophomore album, Sad Wings of Destiny
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One of the most fascinating qualities of a great riff is its ability to hook you in from the first few notes and leave you a different person on the other side.
This is best represented on Primordial Sky, the latest album by Denver’s Oryx, who present riffs through a unique sense of dynamics and tone for an entire 40-minute journey.
Join us this week as we chat with the band about their favorite riffs and how they achieved this on Primordial Sky
Primordial Sky is out now via Translation Loss Records
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Recommendations:
Full of Hell and Nothing - When No Birds SangAbyssal - GlacialThe Clifford Brown-Max Roach Quintet - Clifford Brown & Max RoachIshmael - Hell Is Empty And All The Devils Are HereShannon and the Clams - "Wax & String"Veilburner - The Duality of Decapitation and WisdomImperial Triumphant - GoldstarShirley Walker - Batman: Mask of the Phantasm - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
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New Orleans’ own Soilent Green have endured countless struggles and tragedies throughout their tumultuous 40-year history, crafting a unique blend of death, grind, and stoner/doom.
While often associated with the “sludge” scene of the region, the band separated themselves from the pack with classic records like Sewn Mouth Secrets and Confrontation.
However, none have seemed as unhinged and violent as 2001’s A Deleted Symphony for the Beaten Down!
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Converge experienced a significant transformation following the release of Petitioning the Empty Sky.
They found a new bassist in Cave In’s Stephen Brodsky, who would join the band on several releases in 1997 as well as their first proper full-length album the following year.
This release also serves as the first full-length recorded, at least partially, by guitarist Kurt Ballou at the now-iconic God City Studios and the debut under their new label, Equal Vision Records.
While their next album would arguably reshape the landscape of extreme music, When Forever Comes Crashing captures Converge at their most ferocious, precise, and unconventional yet.
Join us this week as we conclude this era of Converge with When Forever Comes Crashing!
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We've crawled our way into the new year and while there are plenty of anticipated records on the horizon, we wanted to discuss our favorite metal & hardcore albums of 2024!
What were your favorite albums of 2024?
Best of 2024:
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It's the holiday season, and what better way to celebrate than with an album that has continued to give for over 30 years!
Drawing heavy influence from the likes of Pete Steele, New York hardcore, and Sabbath, Crowbar's sophomore effort marks the band coming into their signature sound.
From recording in a neighborhood garage to getting heckled by Beavis & Butt-Head, join us as we explore the lasting legacy of Crowbar's iconic self-titled album!
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In the early 90s, Max Cavalera (then of Sepultura) and Alex Newport (then of Fudge Tunnel) both resided in Phoenix, Arizona. A shared admiration for each other’s music led to regular hangouts and jam sessions at the Cavalera household.
As avid fans of hardcore punk and industrial acts of the era, the duo blended these influences into their own raw, unconventional sound. Whereas songs written for Fudge Tunnel and Sepultura underwent intense scrutiny, this new project embraced unfiltered expression. From experimenting with samplers to smashing the occasional washing machine, no idea was too wild to explore.
Cavalera and Newport, or Nailbomb, never intended for these recordings to leave the practice space. However, with some persuasion, these sessions were immortalized on the band’s sole full-length release and later brought to life with a rotating lineup of friends at Dynamo Open Air the following year.
Join us this week as we celebrate Nailbomb and their only release, Point Blank.
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Leftist political outrage, weaponized through cutting satire and absurd humor. Erratic, yet undeniably inventive and memorable songwriting.
San Francisco’s Dead Kennedys channeled their disdain for the status quo on their debut album, a landmark work that not only launched a new era of punk music but also captured a transformative moment in American youth culture.
Please join us as we discuss the Dead Kennedys and the legacy of Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables.
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3 EPs and several members later, Boston’s Isis solidified their lineup while crafting their debut full-length album. During this period, the band found themselves balancing between their evolving identity and the influence of acts like Godflesh, The Melvins, and Neurosis.
While many have cited their follow-up, Oceanic, as a career-defining moment, this debut features a raw heaviness interwoven with the atmosphere and themes that would ultimately shape future releases.
Please join us as we discuss the origins of Isis and their debut album, Celestial!
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Following the release of their respective full-lengths, labelmates Sunrot and Body Void have joined forces to offer an assault of visceral noise and crushing riffs.
This collaboration not only serves to honor Trans Day of Remembrance but also provides direct support to the TGNC community.
All digital sales of this split release will be donated to Black Trans Liberation (NYC)
Sunrot // Body Void split is available NOW via Riff Merchant Records
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PROTECT TRANS LIVES NOW AND FOREVER
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Following the success of 2004’s Demigod, Polish black metal exports Behemoth cemented their place at the forefront of extreme metal. Determined to push their limits even further, they intensified their technical precision and speed, while introducing atmospheric elements on their massive follow-up, The Apostasy
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As longtime collaborators, Uppsala’s In Solitude spent much of their youth writing music they wanted to hear. When they began to release records and tour, however, journalists were eager to pick apart their influences and label them under any category that felt familiar.
In Solitude defies easy categorization. Upon first listen, the band may evoke the sounds of their Scandinavian predecessors. As you dive deeper, unexpected sounds might emerge like the baritones of Nick Cave or the haunting blues of the Mississippi Delta.
A conscious effort was made to separate themselves from any “typical” metal production, songwriting, and visual aesthetic on their third full-length album. Listeners will no doubt hear a blending of references, but there also exists a sound unique to the experiences and surroundings of the five musicians behind it.
Join us this week as we discuss In Solitude’s final offering, Sister: a monument to a band discovering their voice and creating something authentically themselves.
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After a series of lineup changes, production flubs, and exhausting legal battles, Cradle of Filth emerged under a new label, poised to make a statement in the new millennium.
Fueled by the ambition of their enigmatic and versatile frontman, Dani Filth, the band’s 4th album feels like a band finally achieving their twisted sound and vision.
Nothing captures the Halloween spirit quite like the works of Clive Barker blended into an orchestral, maddening, and often depraved metal opus.
This week on Riff Worship we are joined by David Stepanavicius (Atræ Bilis, Fulci Rots) for a discussion on Cradle of Filth’s Midian
Atræ Bilis - Aumicide is OUT NOW via 20 Buck Spin
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Following a prolific 2023, Chained to the Bottom of the Ocean wasted little time getting to work on their sophomore LP. Starting with a clean slate, the band continues to evolve their sound on their most menacing and visceral release to date.
No filler. No tricks. Sisyphean Cruelty is as direct and honest as a band can get.
This week we are joined by members of Chained to the Bottom of the Ocean to discuss the album as well as an EXCLUSIVE PREMIERE of the track "Unfit for Human Life" ahead of its release date!
Sisyphean Cruelty drops 10/29 via Redscroll Records
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Watch "Sisyphean Cruelty" (Official Video)
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With a lineage stretching several decades, Converge have solidified their reputation as one of hardcore’s most influential and hardest-working bands. This wasn’t accomplished overnight, but we may be able to pinpoint when things began to click.
Originally released as a 5-song EP, Petitioning the Empty Skycurrently stands as a collection of material from various recording sessions. Written by the combined forces of vocalist Jacob Bannon and guitarist Kurt Ballou, these tracks feature a familiar dissonance and intensity.
This is far from the Converge we know today, but from the first moments of its 7-minute opener, it’s clear that Petitioning the Empty Skyis a sign of great things to come.
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This week on Riff Worship, we are joined by Luke Cazares & Donnie Small of Laceration to discuss their latest album, I Erode
I Erode is OUT NOW via 20 Buck Spin
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After unleashing their genre defining Doom EP, Arizona deathcore upstarts Job For A Cowboy inked a deal with legendary label Metal Blade Records.
Rather than simply replicate the formula that launched them, the band shed their early influences and took a bold step forward, crafting an intense brutal and conceptual piece of brutality for their debut full-length.
While this shift left some longtime fans perplexed, it also began a legacy defined by progressive, technical, and politically charged albums that carried the band into the early 2010s. Join us in celebrating Job For A Cowboy’s debut, Genesis.
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With deep roots in Belgium’s H8000 scene, Ghent’s Oathbreaker similarly redefined the boundaries of hardcore by incorporating other extreme and unconventional influences.
Following their Deathwish debut as well as collaborations within the Church of Ra collective, 2013 marked the release of their sophomore album and perhaps their most realized work by this point.
Packed with anguished vocals, striking imagery, and an unprecedented guitar presence, Eros|Anteros is a perfect example of a band connected on every level to achieve a cohesive vision.
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After a tumultuous start, several members of Washington's hardcore punk scene joined forces following the dissolution of their previous bands. Despite their hardcore roots, however, the band frequently experimented with diverse sounds and textures.
This is especially prevalent on their sophomore album. In true DIY fashion, they also handled its production and packaging.
This week on Riff Worship, join us as we discuss These Arms Are Snakes and their post-hardcore monolith, Easter!
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Prior to arena tours and Grammy Awards, the band Ghost was merely an idea. Drawing influences from his adolescence, Tobias Forge developed an aesthetic, canon, and sound before setting foot on a stage.
Join us this week on Riff Worship as we dive into Ghost's melodic and satanic debut album, Opus Eponymous
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This week on Riff Worship, we discuss the 2011 E.P. Nothing Lasts by Bay Area hardcore quintet Punch - a 10-minute kick in the ass that urges you to seize every moment and create the change you long to see. Oh, and it has riffs!
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After the dissolution of The Swarm aka Knee Deep In the Head, several of its members joined forces to start a new band.
As veterans of the Southern Ontario hardcore scene, this project mirrored a familiar intensity of their contemporaries and past efforts.
However, their seamless fusion of catchy rock hooks, black metal melancholia, and doom-inspired riffage solidified the group as an anomaly in their era.
Join us this week on Riff Worship as we discuss Cursed and their classic sophomore album, II
As the ‘90s came to a close, Slipknot unleashed their eventual multi-platinum “debut” album seemingly out of nowhere. They quickly followed this up with arguably the heaviest album to crack the Billboard Top 5.
The rapid success and constant touring during this period placed a lot of pressure on Slipknot’s nine members and strained their relationships with each other. With the band on the verge of a breakup, they turned their attention to other projects and went their separate ways.
They reconvened a few years later in Los Angeles alongside a new, eccentric producer to begin working on a third full-length. While the writing and recording process proved to be massively challenging, it yielded successful results and catapulted the band into another stratosphere.
Please join us as we celebrate Slipknot’s landmark album, Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses)
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This interview with John Hoffman (Stomach, Weekend Nachos) originally aired on August 19th, 2024 on WONC FM89.1
Follow Sifting Press for all updates on John's upcoming book, Oil Spill
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Coming up in the chaotic Massachusetts crust punk scene, Terry Savastano dreamed of playing heavier and slower. Much slower. Affirmed by the likes of Black Sabbath, Saint Vitus, and Winter, Savastano recruited his bandmates in Disrupt to explore this vastly uncharted territory.
With a name that feels more like a mission statement, this new band evoked complete anguish and despair both aesthetically and sonically.
This is especially evident on their debut full-length, an under-appreciated classic in its time that helped paved the way for others to tune low and play slow. Please join us this week as we discuss Grief’s groundbreaking Come to Grief
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Four roommates and mainstays of the Massachusetts punk scene set out to start an abstract and noisy side project together. As their other bands folded, however, this eventually became the main focus and overtime developed into one of the most influential acts in chaotic hardcore. Join us this week as we discuss Ampere’s lightning-fast All Our Tomorrows End Today
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This interview with members of Denver, Colorado crossover band Ukko's Hammer originally aired on August 5th, 2024.
Listen to the Ukko's Hammer playlist from the original broadcast
Ukko's Hammer S/T cassette tape is OUT NOW
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Channeling the obscure sounds of the ‘50s, b-horror aesthetics, and a fierce eroticism, The Cramps have captivated waves of impressionable teenagers for decades.
This was especially the case for Justin Pearson (Three One G, Deaf Club, The Locust), who witnessed the band’s raw live performance at a young age, cementing his path in music.
Join us this week on Riff Worship as we discuss the influential and “unauthorized” compilation, Bad Music for Bad People
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A career spanning 20 years, eight albums, and massive critical acclaim has to begin somewhere. We continue our series on the year 2004 with Mastodon's conceptually-driven, riff-filled sophomore album Leviathan
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On Baroness’ second full-length, guitarist/vocalist John Baizley is joined by his longtime friend, Peter Adams. Much like the hosts of this show, the two were instrumental in each other’s exploration of heavy music. Rather than fighting their influences, the band also began leaning into their Southern musical roots, which are featured prominently on this album.
Riff Worship is happy to be joined by Chained to the Bottom of the Ocean this week to discuss the many guitar leads, disco beats, and mysterious lyrical themes of Baroness’Blue Record.
Obsession Destruction is OUT NOW via Redscroll Records
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After the massive success of The Real Thing, label executives and management within Faith No More’s circle were itching for another MTV smash hit. However, extensive touring to promote the album exhausted the band and left them yearning for something far less conventional. Despite plenty of discouragement, Faith No More emerged with one of their most challenging, successful, and strangest offerings to date. Please join us in celebrating Faith No More’sAngel Dust
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The ‘90s served as a transitional era for hardcore punk and while many shed themselves of their ethos to get ahead, others dug their heels in and continued to push boundaries. Four college students in Amherst, Massachusetts did just that in 1999, unleashing 11 tracks of their own chaotic and dissonant version of hardcore.
Although the band was short-lived and relatively unknown at time, the album has since become a staple of the underground and its influence is still felt today. Join us this week as we celebrate Orchid’s debut full-length Chaos Is Me
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This week Austin & Dylan are joined by riff disciple and lyricist David Stepanavicius of Atræ Bilis to discuss their sophomore album, Aumicide: a dissonant hellscape packed with brutality, groove, and... RIFFS!
Aumicide is OUT NOW via 20 Buck Spin
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Distance, lineup changes, a global pandemic... Northeastern doom quintet Cowardice have persevered through it all to bring you their latest offering, Atavist. An album several years in the making, this is the band's most daring and expansive work to date.
This week Austin is joined by Mark and Julian to discuss the new album and what lies ahead for Cowardice!
Atavist is OUT NOW via Riff Merchant Records (US) & Burning World Records (EU)
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This interview with members of Chicago's Selenoplexia originally aired on FM89's Vocal Distortion on June 17th, 2024.
Listen to Selenoplexia's playlist from the broadcast
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All good things must come to an end...
In this 5th and final episode in our series on Baton Rouge collective Thou, we’re joined by members of the band to discuss their latest album Umbilical
Umbilical is OUT NOW via Sacred Bones Records
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20 years old and just as relevant, Lamb of God’s Ashes of the Wake cemented the band as a frontrunner of the newly coined “New Wave of American Heavy Metal." With an emphasis on songwriting and a scathing critique of the former administration, Lamb of God took a leap of faith in signing a deal with a major label. Join us in celebrating a breakthrough and massive metal milestone!
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In 1994, Brutal Truth released their sophomore album: a follow up that redefined what extreme music could sound like.With industrial, harsh noise, & even black metal influences, Need To Controlushered grindcore into its adolescence and remains a timeless classic.
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2018 witnessed “The Summer of Thou” with three distinct and varying EPs. These influences culminated into a brand new full-length, which served to counter the more natural themes of its predecessor Heathen.
Join us this week on Riff Worship as we discuss Thou's self-critical triumph, Magus
Umbilical drops May 31st via Sacred Bones Records
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This week on Riff Worship we continue our dissection of Thou with their 2014 album Heathen: a 75-minute exploration of the natural world through self-affirming lyricism, lush acoustic interludes, and colossal riffs.
Umbilical drops May 31st via Sacred Bones Records
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RIP Steve Albini:
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This interview with Kayhan & Rae of Chicago's Wretched Blessing originally aired on FM89's Vocal Distortion on May 13th, 2024
Ltd. Edition Wretched Blessing tapes are available now for preorder
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This week we are joined by Civerous drummer and sound editor Aidan Neuner to discuss the band's boundless sophomore opus Maze Envy
Maze Envy is OUT NOW via 20 Buck Spin
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Following their debut Tyrant, Thou experienced an unprecedented wave of inspiration that produced material for various EPs, splits, and future full-lengths within a few short years.
In the second installment of our deep dive series, we'll discuss their dismal sophomore effort Peasantas well as the multi-faceted third album Summit.
Umbilical drops May 31st via Sacred Bones Records
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Welcome to the first episode in our four-part series on the highly prolific band Thou. For nearly two decades, this Baton Rouge collective has continuously defied expectations and challenged audiences alike.
Channeling influences of '90s proto-grunge, DIY hardcore punk ethos, and their Louisiana predecessors, Thou transcend genre boundaries and redefine the meaning of "heaviness."
This week we discuss the band's pummeling debut record Tyrant and highlight our favorite collabs, covers, EPs, & splits!
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This week on Riff Worship we are joined by Xander Bradley & John Riley of Slimelord to discuss the muck and grime behind their debut full-length Chytridiomycosis Relinquished
We also dive into their equally elaborate project Cryptic Shift, their upcoming live shows, and the haunting nature of the UK's geese population
Chytridiomycosis Relinquished is OUT NOW via 20 Buck Spin
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With three albums and years of hard touring under their belt, it should have been business as usual for Matt Pike and Des Kensel. However, there was a renewed sense of vigor with the addition of bassist/collaborator Jeff Matz as well as Jack Endino behind the board. Oakland stoner metal barbarians High On Fire were ready to lay waste on album number four.
Please join us in celebrating High On Fire's breakthrough album Death Is This Communion
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With the New Wave of American Heavy Metal on the rise, Boston’s Shadows Fall stood out from their peers by tapping into their varied influences.
Be it ‘90s melodeath, Bay Area Thrash, Pantera, Queensrÿche, Skid Row… the band expanded upon these touchstones and created a modern metal classic.
Join us this week on Riff Worship as we celebrate Shadows Fall’sThe War Within
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This week on Riff Worship we are joined by Selenoplexia guitarist Dan Vida to discuss Slint's final album Spiderland
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This episode of Vocal Distortion originally aired on WONC/FM89.1 on Monday, March 25, 2024.
We were joined by Chicago-based archivist, librarian, writer, and Degenerate Synapse vocalist Dave Hofer. Hofer discussed his DIY beginnings in DuPage County, touring with Brutal Truth, Reckless Records, his work on the latest Charles Bronson box set, and much more!
Special guest John Mendola is also featured in this interview. Mendola has been a longtime figure of the Chicagoland hardcore scene as a member Kungfu Rick, Authority Abuse, HeWhoCorrupts, Eunuchs, and Gun Kata.
Music from this broadcast has been removed to avoid copyright infringement.
For all updates on the show, follow us here: @distortion891 on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter Tune in LIVE to Vocal Distortion, Mondays at 6PM CST on FM89, WONC.org, & the iHeart Radio app Listen to our Riffs on Repeat playlist here!
This week on Riff Worship we are joined by Cam & Ryan of Pelagius to discuss their dissonant beginnings, Nashville's hardcore & metal scene, Yacht Rock, as well as their crushing self-titled debut EP
Pelagius is OUT NOW via Total Dissonance Worship
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From splits with The Get Up Kids to western-inspired instrumentals, Coalesce has never bothered to ask “Why?” but rather “Why the hell not?” That seems to be the mindset behind their appearance at this year’s Furnace Fest, their first live performance in nearly 12 years.
This week we are joined Coalesce frontman Sean Ingram to discuss the upcoming festival date as well as some future reissues through Relapse Records, his newest project Heirs, skateboarding, and more!
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After the release of the now-classicAlive or Just Breathing, Western Massachusetts-based Killswitch Engage experienced a set back that could stifle many bands on the verge of success.
With the sudden departure of original (and current) frontman Jesse Leach, the band was forced to find a suitable replacement. Through an extensive search, they found their vocalist in Blood Has Been Shed’s Howard Jones who quickly joined the band on the road as well as the studio to craft their follow-up album. The rest, as they say, is history.
Join us in celebrating a landmark metalcore album and Killswitch Engage’s commercial breakthrough, The End of Heartache
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In a matter of days, death metal veterans Job For A Cowboy will unleash their long-awaited album Moon Healer. To celebrate, we sat with bassist Nick Schendzielos to discuss the record, horror films, have an existential crisis, & more!
Moon Healer drops February 23rd via Metal Blade Records
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This week Riff Worship is honored to welcome our first guest of 2024, the legendary Sammy Duet of Goatwhore! As a follow-up to our “NOLA” trilogy, Sammy shares stories from the Goatwhore archive as well as his time playing with fellow Louisiana titans Acid Bath and Crowbar. We cover what not to wear when appearing on Headbangers Ball with Jamey Jasta, getting heckled by Tom G Warrior, "Big Daddy Rouge", & more!
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Motörhead had experienced a lot of adversity and change by the time they reached the ‘90s. With a four year gap between releases, the band traded one tumultuous record label relationship for the next and leader Lemmy Kilmister made the continental move from England to LA. This was a time for reinvention, but in true Motörhead fashion that just meant putting out the best version of what the band had to offer and that was loud, fast rock ‘n’ roll. Join us in celebrating a hidden gem of sorts from a band that was known for doing what they wanted, when they wanted, & how they wanted. They were Motörhead & this is 1916
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This week on Riff Worship we are joined by Decibel Magazine writer and Krieg frontman Neill Jameson to discuss Ruiner, the band's first full-length record in nearly a decade. In this episode we cover everything from the album's origins, Milwaukee Metal Fest 1998, Portillo's, as well as a riff of his choosing!Ruiner is out NOW via Profound Lore RecordsFollow Krieg on Facebook & InstagramFor all updates on the show, follow us here:@distortion891 on Facebook, Instagram, & TwitterTune in LIVE to Vocal Distortion, Mondays at 6PM CST on FM89, WONC.org, & the iHeart Radio appListen to our Riffs on Repeat playlist here!
It's October 32nd and we're diving head first into the holiday season by sharing our favorite horror films & bands that best represent Halloween!
Check out the companion playlist here:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0w63gCq6fjP3JPqOaAylNn?si=8699d173f53e41f4
For all updates on the show, follow us here:@distortion891 on Facebook, Instagram, & TwitterTune in LIVE to Vocal Distortion, Mondays at 6PM CST on FM89, WONC.org, & the iHeart Radio appRIFFS ON REPEAT PLAYLIST: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37W4wEyb5ELf2y0YYlhRy2?si=8529ae1e880d442c
This week on Riff Worship, Austin & Dylan are rejoined by their longtime friend Justin Swindle to discuss Cleveland metallic hardcore legends Ringworm and their 2001 sophomore album Birth Is Pain
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With humble beginnings in Pig Destroyer guitarist Scott Hull’s bedroom, Agoraphobic Nosebleed quickly took on a life of its own in the underground. While having rarely played live the band’s first decade was prolific to say the least, featuring several splits, EPs, and full-length releases. The formula was effective: “micro-length” arrangements combined with programmed drum parts at insanely fast tempos and tongue-firmly-planted-in-cheek lyrical concepts.
2009 stands as an anomaly for the band. Much of their catalog by this time captured the band with an almost improvised, raw intensity but perhaps lacked weight. However, Agoraphobic Nosebleed’s fourth album would retain many of these same elements while also making room for dynamics, hooks and song lengths that surpassed a two-minute runtime. The inclusion of the band’s newest member and Salomé vocalist Kat Katz is the standout, whose performance brought their sound to a new level of extremity listeners didn’t realize was possible. One thing was clear, this was a new era for Agoraphobic Nosebleed.
This week on Riff Worship, Austin & Dylan are joined by their longtime friend Justin Swindle to discuss Agorapocalypse
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Chuck Schuldiner was never one to follow the herd. Dissatisfied with the limitations many extreme metal bands had placed on themselves, Schuldiner always strived to set Death apart lyrically and musically. Each era of the band contains a distinct sonic quality, and with the technical proficiency and introspective themes of their fourth album Human it was clear they had matured.
Much of this progress can be attested to the inclusion of Cynic members Paul Masvidal and Sean Reinert along with metal bass pioneer Steve Di Giorgio. Schuldiner always surrounded himself with musicians capable of elevating his music and their next album would be no different. With Di Giorgio returning on bass, Schuldiner also enlisted the skills of Dark Angel drummer Gene Hoglan as well as King Diamond guitarist Andy LaRocque to create an undeniably tight unit. Death entered the world famous Morrisound Recording in Tampa, Florida and emerged in mid-1993 with a record packed full of intricate rhythms, blistering leads, and scathing lyrics.
This week on Riff Worship, join Austin & Dylan as they discuss Death’s landmark album Individual Thought Patterns
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In the final installment of our Cattle Decapitation career-long deep dive, we dig into an era that may yield the most challenging and polarizing music of their discography.
As we plunged into the end of the world with the massive Death Atlas, no one could have predicted that the album cycle would be marred with an almost 2-year pause due to a global pandemic.
With no touring for the foreseeable future, the band continued to write what would eventually become their most recent offering Terrasite. If one thing was clear, 2023 cemented that Cattle Decapitation was back and as strong as ever with the highest charting success of their career.
This week on Riff Worship, join Austin & Dylan as they both discuss two of Cattle Decapitation’s most musically and thematically realized albums to date: Death Atlas & Terrasite!
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If Cattle Decapitation had called it quits after the release of The Harvest Floor, their career would have been considered exceptional. After spending the better part of a decade touring the world and churning out a series of genre-defining records, what more did they need to prove? This question can be liberating for an artist. If you’ve accomplished your goals, you may not be as reluctant to break the rules, subvert expectations, and explore new territory. This is exactly the mindset that ushered in a “2nd career” for Cattle Decapitation. The band challenged themselves, beginning their long-standing relationship with producer (and practically 5th member) Dave Otero, who helped sculpt their sound for a new era. The albums that emerged perfectly blended the abrasiveness of black metal, the atmosphere of post-metal, and a refined version of the death metal fans had grown to love. Join us for Part 3 in Riff Worship’s deep dive on Cattle Decapitation, as Austin & Dylan discuss two bleak predictions of humanity’s influence on the environment: Monolith of Inhumanityand The Anthropocene Extinction
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With the release of their Metal Blade Records debut, Cattle Decapitation seemed focused on creating an album more akin to their death metal predecessors on To Serve Man. However, an evolution would occur over the next few years that would set them apart from the many trends in metal and hardcore throughout this time. It was clear that the band’s technical prowess and songwriting ability had grown by leaps and bounds on Humanure. The band would take this growth and fine tune it into a career highlight on Karma.Bloody.Karma. In 2009 we received The Harvest Floor: a modern death metal classic as well as the beginning of what was to come…
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There are some bands in extreme music whose catalog is so vital to the genre that it would be impossible to accurately describe in a single episode. It's been nearly 30 years since their inception and yet San Diego's Cattle Decapitationcontinue to evolve, releasing some of the best death metal of their career while others may have become stale or hung it up along the way. Over the next few weeks, Austin & Dylan will be taking a good look at Cattle Decapitation's extensive history as well as each of their 10 full-lengths. In this introductory episode, they'll cover the band's origins and ties to The Locust, their longstanding relationship with Metal Blade Records, and their first 3 albums (Human Jerky, Homovore, & To Serve Man).
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This week on Riff Worship, Austin & Dylan continue their plunge into the world of Swedish metal with Tribulation's 2018 opus 'Down Below': a vampiric, genre-bending masterclass in songwriting, atmosphere, and all things the riff. It's exactly the kind of record that was written for the fan in the front row and the die-hard in the back of the house!
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This week on Riff Worship, Austin & Dylan are joined by guitar virtuoso & record producer Andy LaRocque (King Diamond, Sonic Train Studios) to discuss owning & operating a recording studio, his origins in riff writing, as well as the 35th anniversary of King Diamond's Them
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This week on Riff Worship, Austin & Dylan are joined by James Wallwork of Faerie Ring to discuss their latest riff infused offering 'WEARY TRAVELER' (out NOW via King Volume Records), working with Alex Kercheval (Coven, Postal Recording), cycling, Dick Dale, & more!
Order 'Weary Traveler': https://kingvolume.8merch.us/product/faerie-ring-weary-traveler-lp/
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For all updates on the show, follow us here:@distortion891 on Facebook, Instagram, & TwitterTune in LIVE to Vocal Distortion, Mondays at 6PM CST on FM89, WONC.org, & the iHeart Radio appRIFFS ON REPEAT PLAYLIST: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37W4wEyb5ELf2y0YYlhRy2?si=8529ae1e880d442c
After nearly 3 demanding years of touring, Watain composed what could be considered their most grandiose and divisive album of their career. The mythologies and lore that surrounded the group were more present than ever in the record’s concept and lyrical themes. Musically, it was just as venomous and violent as their previous offerings, while still managing to push the boundaries of their sound into new territory. The inclusion of traditional vocals, hooks, and even a ballad, aimed to cement Watain as an anomaly of the genre. This week on Riff Worship, Austin & Dylan discuss the 2013 black metal opus The Wild Hunt
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For all updates on the show, follow us here:@distortion891 on Facebook, Instagram, & TwitterTune in LIVE to Vocal Distortion, Mondays at 6PM CST on FM89, WONC.org, & the iHeart Radio appListen to our Riffs on Repeat playlist here!
By 1996 death metal started to become stale and stagnant, with a wave of copycats looking to replicate the success of the genre’s heavyweights. As we’ve covered in previous episodes, extreme music had flirted with the major label world, but did not quite achieve the lofty expectations that were unfairly placed on its gore obsessed shoulders. A return to the underground was the (left hand) path needed and it led to the Great White North. After unleashing their more traditionally-minded demo and full-length debut, Montreal’s Cryptopsy welcomed new additions to their lineup that not only sparked a change in sound but also a change of pace. The songs became faster, catchier, more technical and… grotesque. This week on Riff Worship, Austin & Dylan are rejoined by their longtime friend Justin Swindle to celebrate the disgusting, genre defining classic None So Vile
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It's incredibly difficult for a musician to receive a single opportunity at mainstream success, let alone several, during their entire career. It takes drive, talent, and a lot of luck.
Ronnie James Dio cut his teeth fronting groups like Elf, Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow, and Black Sabbath during the first half of his career. His fantastical lyrics and powerful vocal delivery were like a breath of fresh air, bringing in a much needed creative energy into the fold.
After his eventual departure from Sabbath in the early '80s, the now 40-year-old singer found himself at square one again. No longer a hired gun in someone else's band, however, he sought to start a new project that would directly reflect his own name and vision.
With this self-produced solo effort, Dio recruited his former bandmates in Rainbow and Sabbath as well as a 19-year-old Irish guitar hero to help create a riff-packed adventure into a mythical heavy metal world. This week on Riff Worship, Austin & Dylan are rejoined by Justin Swindle to discuss the 1983 debut Dio album Holy Diver.
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With two genre-defining albums under their collective belt, Morbid Angel approached their third full-length with an unyielding intensity both musically and thematically. The added scale of promotion and distribution by then-Warner subsidiary Giant Records, MTV airplay, and the band's own determination cemented this album as one of death metal's highest creative and commercial peaks. This week on Riff Worship, Austin & Dylan discuss Morbid Angel's 30-year-old major label debut Covenant
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RIFFS ON REPEAT PLAYLIST: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37W4wEyb5ELf2y0YYlhRy2?si=8529ae1e880d442c
Saint Paul’s Sabot have unleashed their debut album Castration (Out now via Riff Merchant Records): a 25-minute-long statement in the form of crushing doom, powerviolence, and noise. This week on Riff Worship, we sat down with Oscar & Nehemiah of Sabot to discuss their full-length debut which channels everything from the pummeling riffs of Thorr’s Hammer, the atmosphere of Disembowelment, and the uncompromising songwriting of Björk.
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The year is 2003. Nu metal was experiencing its decline in popularity after nearly 10 years of domination and the guitar had seemingly taken a backseat across several forms of music. Even genre-heavyweights like Metallica were shying away from guitar solos to avoid sounding "outdated". Just when trends appeared to lean away from the antics and styles of the '70s & '80s, enter The Darkness: a band rooted in big guitars, big hooks, and big presentation. In the summer of 2003, the four-piece from Lowestoft dropped their debut album to an unsuspecting audience pining for hard rock to have a return to form.
As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the band’s seminal album, Austin & Dylan are joined by riff disciple Nate Garrett (Spirit Adrift, Big Riff Energy) to discuss The Darkness’ Permission to Land as well as the upcoming Spirit Adrift album Ghost at the Gallows which arrives August 18th on Century Media Records.
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2009 stands as a pivotal year for aggressive music in the early part of this century with landmark releases from Cattle Decapitation, Converge, Agoraphobic Nosebleed, and Mastodon. Simultaneously, a three-piece from Washington D.C. stands out amongst these. With a handful of releases under their belt, the abrasive Magrudergrind rose up from the underground with their sophomore album: a perfect blend of grindcore, crust, pop culture references, and hip hop into 27 minutes of pure adrenaline. This week on Riff Worship, Austin & Dylan are rejoined by their longtime friend Justin Swindle to discuss the self-titled Magrudergrind album!
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With the release of the seminal grunge album Nevermind, Nirvana had positioned themselves (unwillingly) into unknown territories of superstardom. As pressures increased to meet and eclipse the success of Nevermind, the band entered the studio alongside audio engineer Steve Albini with their own set of rules and the intention to create a follow up that was more reflective of the music they wanted to make. The outcome was darker, moodier, nosier, and heavier than anything that preceded it. This week on Riff Worship, Austin & Dylan are joined by their longtime friend Justin Swindle to discuss Nirvana's classic third and final album In Utero.
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What could your band put together in just 6 weeks? Would you have a few songs written or be ready to perform live? In less than 2 months, the death-doom quintet Thorr’s Hammer made their mark on underground music forever before vanishing into the ether. Consisting of a teenage Norwegian exchange student and several musicians from around the Seattle area, the band recorded a handful songs and played 2 gigs before ultimately disbanding. Thorr’s Hammer stands as a precursor to massively influential projects like Sunn O))) and Khanate as well as the long-standing label Southern Lord Recordings that continue to push the genre to new heights. This week on Riff Worship, Austin & Dylan go back to where it all began to discuss the sole Thorr’s Hammer EP ‘Dommedagsnatt’.
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As 2007 was coming to a close, deathcore had firmly taken its grasp, introducing metal & hardcore audiences to a new level of extremity. Alongside debut full-lengths from Job For A Cowboy & Suicide Silence, genre purveyors Animosity released what was to be their final album. This week on Riff Worship, Austin & Dylan discuss Animosity’s 'Animal', a furious bombardment of hardcore, technical death metal, & progressive leaning songs in a short 30-minute blast (beat)!
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A handful of extreme metal bands had established themselves by the mid to late 90's with an endless supply of imitators who copied the formula verbatim. However, a group from Hazlet, New Jersey dawned with 7-string guitars, odd effects, and an abstract view of songwriting quickly set themselves apart from the herd. Over a six year period, Human Remains released a unique blend of death metal, grindcore, and hardcore unlike anything before it. This brief but explosive moment in extreme music would serve as a foundation for several beloved off-shoots (Discordance Axis, Burnt by the Sun, Gridlink), but an underground following continues to praise their 40-minute long discography to this day. This week on Riff Worship, Austin & Dylan discuss the final 1996 Human Remains EP, Using Sickness as a Hero.
Topics also discussed in this episode include the contributions of producer Steve Evetts, their favorite samples, as well as music recommendations:
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In this ongoing death metal discussion, Austin & Dylan weigh-in on two distinct milestones in extreme music. The buzzsaw-like guitar tones on Entombed's "Left Hand Path'' placed Sweden on the map for its specific approach to the genre that's influence can be felt to this day. Four years later, Carcass polarized their gore obsessed fanbase with the release of their melodic death metal classic "Heartwork".
Austin & Dylan also discuss the impact of the Boss HM-2, Earache Records, as well as music recommendations:
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We're not exactly sure how the Tampa Bay metropolitan area became the hub for producing perfectly crafted death metal, but it's hard to argue with these classics. Death's "Pull the Plug" is a defining moment in which the genre came into its own while "The Time To Kill Is Now" finds Cannibal Corpse nearly 20 years into their career with no signs of slowing down (hint: they didn't).
Austin & Dylan also discuss Metallica's Lux Æterna, the importance of album artwork, the new 83-minute Bell Witch track, as well as some music recommendations:
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Tune in LIVE to Vocal Distortion, Mondays at 6PM CST on FM89, WONC.org, & the iHeart Radio app
RIFFS ON REPEAT PLAYLIST: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37W4wEyb5ELf2y0YYlhRy2?si=8529ae1e880d442c
This week's episode of Riff Worship could have opened the 2004 Ozzfest Main Stage as Austin and Dylan tackle two Roadrunner classics: Slipknot's keg-beating staple "Duality" along with Machine Head's "Imperium".
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Tune in LIVE to Vocal Distortion, Mondays at 6PM CST on FM89, WONC.org, & the iHeart Radio app
RIFFS ON REPEAT PLAYLIST: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37W4wEyb5ELf2y0YYlhRy2?si=8529ae1e880d442c
This week on Riff Worship, Austin and Dylan take a look at two riffs by two bands that redefined heavy music throughout the 90's: "Everything Dies" finds Type O Negative at their absolute bleakest while "I Feel The Burning Sun" confirms Kirk Windstein's (Crowbar, Down, Eye Am) status as a riff mastermind. Other topics discussed include Peter Steele's tour exercise routine, "good-bad" music videos, meeting Kirk in Louisville, and more!
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Tune in LIVE to Vocal Distortion, Mondays at 6PM CST on FM89, WONC.org, & the iHeart Radio app
RIFFS ON REPEAT PLAYLIST: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37W4wEyb5ELf2y0YYlhRy2?si=8529ae1e880d442c
This week on Riff Worship, Austin and Dylan discuss the Celtic-inspired twin guitar attack on Thin Lizzy's "Emerald" along with the massive grooves of Mastodon's "March of the Fire Ants."
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Tune in LIVE to Vocal Distortion, Mondays at 6PM CST on FM89, WONC.org, & the iHeart Radio app
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In this debut episode, Austin and Dylan dive into Black Sabbath's drug anthem "Snowblind", followed by the apocalyptic guitar rhythms of Metallica's "Blackened."
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Tune in LIVE to Vocal Distortion, Mondays at 6PM CST on FM89, WONC.org, & the iHeart Radio app
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En liten tjänst av I'm With Friends. Finns även på engelska.