The MetalSucks Podcast

We wrap up 2015 before the holiday break with our take on the Best Albums of 2015. We posted our lists a while back but we wanted to dedicate a full episode to the albums that turned us on all year. Initially it looked like there weren't going to be enough to cover fifteen records, but a slew of good albums came out in the final month. Hell, the number one album on our lists hasn't even been released yet!

We go a little more in depth on the albums that got under our skin and the ones that you might have missed, but really we just wanted to recognize the stellar achievements and great work so many people in the metal community have done all year. It's been a great year for metal and a great year for us. So thank you for listening and supporting us in so many ways; we appreciate you all sticking with the podcast and all of us at MetalSucks.

Songs:
Cattle Decapitation - "Clandestine Ways"
Amiensus - "One In Spirit"
Deafheaven - "Brought to the Water"
Baroness - "Chlorine and Wine"

Direct download: METALSucks20Podcast20Ep0128.mp3
Category:The MetalSucks Podcast -- posted at: 7:13am PDT

Tommy Rogers, lead singer and multi instrumentalist for Between the Buried and Me, guests on the podcast this week. We talk about the challenges and fears of the road, being the father of a young son, bringing his family on tour, how family has changed his writing process, working with the same guys for so long and where BTBAM's latest album Coma Ecliptic fits into the band's legacy (and how it might dictate their future output).

We also try and figure out where Jeremy Wagner of Broken Hope got the cash to buy so many of Jeff Hanneman's guitars. Did he have thousands of dollars just laying around? Or is he looking at this as an investment into his future? We also look ahead to next week's "Best of 2015" episode and start the chatter about our favorite records of the year.

Songs:
BTBAM - "The Coma Machine/Dim Ignition"
Pyramids - "I Have Four Sons, All Named for Men We Lost to War"

Direct download: METALSucks20Podcast20Ep0127.mp3
Category:The MetalSucks Podcast -- posted at: 7:48am PDT

 

John Baizley of Baroness guests this week. We've been looking forward to talking with John for a while, and with the release of Purple we talk about the new members of the band, how that affected the writing process, getting back on the road after the horrific bus crash that nearly ended their lives, the impact the crash had on John's everyday life, his struggle with pain and his response to the recent terrorist attacks in Paris.

We also talk about whether or not guys that are in bands should be managers of others bands. In a recent interview, Rob Dukes (former singer for Exodus) criticized Chuck Billy for having a conflict of interest by managing Exodus and being the singer of Testament. Could that lead to mismanagement by favoring his own band? Or is it beneficial to have someone with that kind of experience doing your bidding? Do you have to trust your management no matter what?

Songs:
Baroness - "Shock Me"
Vision of Disorder - "Heart of Darkness"

Follow us on Twitter: @BeardedApe and @GodlessSpeaks
Follow us on Instagram: ChuckandGodless
Support us on Patreon: www.chuckandgodless.com

Direct download: METALSucks20Podcast20Ep0126.mp3
Category:The MetalSucks Podcast -- posted at: 7:53am PDT

Our guest this week rounds out the Big Four of metal interviews for the podcast! Kirk Hammett of the mighty Metallica gives us some time to talk about his life, how he keeps his work and life in balance, how he keeps his schedule in line, how he views happiness and success -- both personally and within the band -- and why he decided to start a company to make boutique guitar pedals.

We also argue about the best Metallica songs while trying to figure out which of their song to play this episode, and we discuss the Florida police officer who was fired for his singalong at a Vital Remains concert. In an effort to embrace his community the Chief of Police for Sanford County in Florida got rid of an officer who embraced part of their community. Was he correct? We talk, you decide!

Songs:
Metallica - "Orion (Live)"
Devin Townsend Project - "March of the Poozers (Live)"

Direct download: METALSucks20Podcast20Ep0125.mp3
Category:The MetalSucks Podcast -- posted at: 7:55am PDT

This week Doc Coyle jumps in to talk to us, not about Rejecting Our Sickness, but about his new project Vagus Nerve. We have never really "interviewed" Doc on the podcast, so we take the time to talk to him about leaving God Forbid, his relationship with his brother, the experience of being in a band outside of God Forbid for the first time, how moving from one coast to the other has affected his life and, more importantly, his dating life.

We also talk about the situation in Paris; this kind of tragedy can change the entire world, and we speculate about what it might mean to the music industry and live music. We are all vulnerable when we are out seeing live shows, and we never really think twice about it; but should we? If we change our practices at venues are the terrorists winning? Or have we been naive all along?

Songs:
Vagus Nerve - "Do You Know Who I AM"
Hegemon - "Interpreting Signs for War:Aruspicine"

Follow us on Twitter: @BeardedApe and @GodlessSpeaks and Support us on Patreon (www.chuckandgodless.com)

Direct download: METALSucks20Podcast20Ep0124.mp3
Category:The MetalSucks Podcast -- posted at: 8:34am PDT

Professional wrestler and Fozzy frontman Chris Jericho guests this week. We unlock the secrets to his success, his philosophy for keeping all his projects in check, what it takes to be a rock and roll guy but keep his feet on the ground and, of course, what kind of hair care and skin products keep him looking so dapper. Plus we hear a song from his pet project Blood Divisions which also features members of Nasty Savage.

We also discuss a recent study which claims that folk metal is more misogynistic and racist than any other type of metal. Is the sub-genre really so exclusionary or is it just painting a picture of history and the time before time?

Songs:
Blood Divisions - "Top of the Bill"
Good Tiger - "Where Are the Birds"

Direct download: METALSucks20Podcast20Ep0123.mp3
Category:The MetalSucks Podcast -- posted at: 6:35am PDT

This week the legendary Max Cavalera joins us for our first ever live podcast interview. We took some time before his show in Austin to talk about his philosophy on metal, working with guests on his albums, the formation of a path for himself after Sepultura, coming back together with his brother after such a bad split, and how his children use their coping skills versus what he had to do as a young child growing up when his father died.

We also cover Jill Janus and the strange circumstances surrounding her split -- and subsequent return -- to Huntress, what mental illness looks like and why the metal world is accusing us of talking about her only because she is a woman. Can metal commentators help themselves from name-calling and shaming? Not so much, but the double standard may not be quite what some people say when compared to other people with similar problems.

Songs:
Soulfly - "Live Life Hard!"
Abigail Williams - "Will, Wish and Desire"

Direct download: METALSucks20Podcast20Ep0122.mp3
Category:The MetalSucks Podcast -- posted at: 7:52am PDT

Daniel Tompkins lead singer of TesseracT guests this week, bringing us insight into his decision to return to the band, what it was like to reclaim his spot in a band that's taking off, what the changing sound of the band means for fans, how they react to those changes and how he copes with the shrinking opportunities for bands in the industry today.

Chuck and Godless discuss the ballsy decision of Ne Obliviscaris' drummer Daniel Presland to quit a six-figure job to continue with the band and go on a world tour. Is this dude insane? Is he sacrificing stability and security for what is probably a futile pipe dream, or is he the gutsiest guy playing in a metal band today? Many bands we talk to have to be able to bridge music and day jobs to survive, but are they just selling their music short by telling us they they're not really good enough to quit their day job?

Songs:
Tesseract - "Messenger"
Windhand - "Crypt Key"

Direct download: METALSucks20Podcast20Ep0121.mp3
Category:The MetalSucks Podcast -- posted at: 7:24am PDT

Born of Osiris guitarist Lee McKinney guests this week just as their new album Soul Sphere drops. We talk about the new album, growing up on the road, his relationship with the other band members and how that's changed over the years, how touring effects his private life and whether his skills as a guitarist enhance certain parts of his alone time.

We also listen to a bit of the new Protest the Hero song and discuss their decision to turn the industry on its head yet again with a subscription-based EP release. Is it a smart move to offer their fans something no one ever has, or will there be backlash for releasing just six songs in as many months?

Songs:
Born of Osiris - "Resilience"
Zombi - "Pillars of the Dawn"

Direct download: METALSucks20Podcast20Ep0120.mp3
Category:The MetalSucks Podcast -- posted at: 6:26am PDT

This week Michael Sweet of the legendary Christian metal band Stryper joins us to talk about his new album and the history of the band. Whenever anything remotely Christian comes up, Godless gets to flex his Atheist muscles. They discuss Sweet’s relationship with God after suffering through so much tragedy in his life, his departure from God and his ultimate return, and how that effects the band to this day. We learn about his time with Boston, his relationships with his children and so much more.

We also invited Doc Coyle back to "Reject the Sickness" of Vince Neilstein himself on the treatment of certain mainstream metal bands like Five Finger Death Punch on the website. Is it acceptable to trash bands when they are allegedly doing good things for metal? Is it justified to keep pushing negative opinions of bands who are just trying to do their thing?

Songs:
Stryper – "Big Screen Lies"
Megadeth – "Fatal Illusion"

Direct download: METALSucks20Podcast20Ep0119.mp3
Category:The MetalSucks Podcast -- posted at: 7:21am PDT

The timer at MetalocalypseNow.com has run out, and we were able to get the show's creator Brendon Small on the line to talk about the big announcement. He wouldn’t tell us what happens to Murderface, but he gives us all the details on what happened with Adult Swim and their decision not to renew the show for the fifth and final season, the thought process behind the social media campaign to bring the show back, his progress with its production, the latest on Dethklok and what we will need to do to help get Metalocalypse back on the air to finish its epic story arc.

Direct download: METALSucks20Podcast20Ep0118-5.mp3
Category:The MetalSucks Podcast -- posted at: 8:48am PDT

This week the legendary Alex Skolnick of Testament joins us to talk shop about Metal Allegiance, his place in metal history, how his work ethic differs from his counterparts, the differences between the jazz world and the metal world, and what it meant to work with such a variety of musicians on a project like Metal Allegiance. We also find out when a new Testament record is coming!

Chuck and Godless talk about the variety of beefs between musicians that seemed to pop up this week. Many were between metal-ish bands like Motley Crue and Metallica, but we wonder whether or not it is healthy for ANY scene for this kind of dishing to be happening... or maybe it needs to be happening more? Who can we find to get angry with Dave Grohl? That guy is way too nice to everybody and someone must have a problem with him, right?!

Songs:
Metal Allegiance - "We Rock"
Fit for an Autopsy - "Wither"

Direct download: METALSucks20Podcast20Ep0118.mp3
Category:The MetalSucks Podcast -- posted at: 8:31am PDT

George Clarke from Deafheaven guests this week. We find out what he thinks about the band's meteoric trajectory since their inception just a few years ago, what it means to be critically accepted, shaping the band while members are leaving (and what that means to the bands sound), his relationship with the other bandmates and whether he might need therapy soon.

We also discuss the recent "takeover" of the Billboard Top 200 by four metal bands in the top 20. It may not seem like that many but when you see 20% of album sales and streaming going to metal new and old, that's encouraging. The bright spots in metal album sales have been few and far between, so could this signal a bit of a trend? Either way Metallica's black album still sold 2000+ copies last week, so at least there's that.

Follow us on twitter: @beardedApe and @GodlessSpeaks, and support us on Patreon.

Songs:
Deafheaven - "Come Back"
Bring Me The Horizon - "Throne"

Direct download: METALSucks20Podcast20Ep0117.mp3
Category:The MetalSucks Podcast -- posted at: 6:26pm PDT

We invited guitarist Brian Eschbach of The Black Dahlia Murder to guest on the podcast this week following the release of the band's latest ripper Abysmal. We talk about the new record, using a different producer to give their music a more organic sound, what life is like off the road, how the business of TBDM works, what their relationships with former members of the band are like and the keys to success of one of the top extreme metal bands going today.

The Atlas Moth's Stavros Gianopolis joins us for another edition of "Storytime With Stavros." This time he has a little help from another member of the band and explains why weed can be very bad for you, or at least lead to some intteresting predicaments on the road. We also talk about what happens to bands after they lose core members, inspired by Tom Araya's admission that Repentless was only "half of Slayer."

Songs:
The Black Dahlia Murder - "The Fog"
Iron Maiden - "When the River Runs Deep"

Direct download: METALSucks20Podcast20Ep0116.mp3
Category:The MetalSucks Podcast -- posted at: 7:55am PDT

Sevendust frontman Lajon Withersppon guests this week! We chat about the new album Kill the Flaw, the differences between touring at the age of 21 and touring today with a family back home, how his family is growing and what that will mean for the bands future plans, how the band's history with bad decisions and unfortunate circumstances weighs on their current processes and what surprising item of clothing he was wearing when he met his wife for the first time. We almost went down a car talk wormhole, too.

We also discuss the GoFundMe campaign for a member of a band who faked her fight with cervical cancer. What does it mean that in this time where bands are struggling to make any kind of living you have a person trying to take advantage of a music scene's generosity? Could their be wider consequences than just the people affected directly by this incident? We salute Lemmy for getting back on tour and announce our own crowd funding campaign, too.

Direct download: METALSucks20Podcast20Ep0115.mp3
Category:The MetalSucks Podcast -- posted at: 7:50am PDT

We had the chance to talk to Sean Reinert right on the heels of the announcement that his seminal band, Cynic, would be calling it quits before their next tour -- which was not only a surprise to fans, but, according to Facebook, a surprise to other members of the band, too. We asked him about the recent Facebook posts he wrote about their break up, what issues lead to the current situation, the back and forth between he and Paul Masvidal, and why two people who have worked together for so long can no longer bear to be around each other.

Follow us on Twitter: @BeardedApe and @GodlessSpeaks

Direct download: METALSucks20Podcast20Ep0114-75.mp3
Category:The MetalSucks Podcast -- posted at: 2:34pm PDT

The new album from SLAYER drops today (9/11/15), and we've decided to give you all a special podcast to listen along with Repentless! This is something that's never been tried before in the history of the planet, so who knows if it will work or not -- but as you explore the new record you can listen to commentary about the new songs, a discussion of Slayer's place in history and more. We don't give you the music -- you use your own disc, LP, cassette or stream -- and listen alongside the podcast.

But this is not just the two of us hosting! We thought you might need some expert opinions to carry you through why this record may (or may not) be the best thing since sliced wrists. So we invited some of the foremost Slayer experts, musicians, comedians and more to chat along with the album and put things in perspective:

So check out our first ever attempt at an online listening party and celebrate SLAYER along with! Purchase Repentless here on physical formats and here digitally if you haven't yet. And when we tell you, push play on Repentless and hold on!

Direct download: METALSucks20Podcast20Ep0114-5.mp3
Category:The MetalSucks Podcast -- posted at: 4:33am PDT

Dave Wyndorf of Monster Magnet guests this week. We talk about the rise and fall of Monster Magnet, from having a super radio hit to hardly selling any albums, the way the industry monetizes artists and thereby lessens the value of art, getting older and realizing what it means to have longevity, and the pitfalls of rock and roll in general. His candid perspective is unique and Dave does not mince words for those in power.

We also discuss last week's Motorhead show in Austin, where Chuck witnessed first-hand the illness that caused Lemmy's shortened performance. We discuss the crowd reaction while giving him the respect he deserves. Is this the beginning of the end for one of rock's most important icons? No matter what we hope to have him around for many more years, but it might be time to set up a residency or something.

Songs:
Monster Magnet - Watch Me Fade
Motorhead - Till the End

Direct download: METALSucks20Podcast20Ep0114.mp3
Category:The MetalSucks Podcast -- posted at: 7:17am PDT

Shawn Drover, ex-drummer of Megadeth and Eidolon, joins us to talk about his new band Act of Defiance, whose debut album The Birth and the Burial is out now. We discuss his departure from one of metal's biggest bands, his pairing with former Megadeth guitarist Chris Broderick and why they stuck together, what they were thinking when putting this new group together and why they are most definitely not a supergroup.

We discuss the video advertisement Disturbed had to pull after its incendiary imagery came frighteningly true this week with two journalists being murdered in Virginia. Should we be more careful with the way we express our art?

Darkest Hour's Mike Schleibaum joins us again to discuss the latest happenings in the political world with another edition of "The Sadist Nation." We cover a lot of ground about the 2016 Presidential candidates and some other political topics that are trending.

Songs:
Act of Defiance - "The Lord Belial"
Stray From the Path - "Badge & a Bullet Part II"

Direct download: METALSucks20Podcast20Ep0113.mp3
Category:The MetalSucks Podcast -- posted at: 11:34am PDT

Legendary producer, guitarist and vocalist Erik Rutan guests this week. Hate Eternal just unleashed their new album Infernus and it plays like a death metal guidebook, so we pick his brain about a wide range of topics: producing bands, the changing metal scene, whether he would ever rejoin Morbid Angel, how he hurt his hand on the Metal Alliance Tour and what the hell happened to that tour when it shit the bed mid-run.

Doc Coyle comes back to "Reject the Sickness." This week's topic: Godless' Tweet about loving Meshuggah being the hipster way to say people love Fear Factory. What kind of influence did FF have and why do people love to hate on them so much while giving Meshuggah so much credit for their influence? Doc does his best to set us straight.

Songs:
Hate Eternal - "The Stygian Deep"
Clutch - "X-Ray Visions"

Follow us on twitter: @BeardedApe and @GodlessSpeaks

Direct download: METALSucks20Podcast20Ep0112.mp3
Category:The MetalSucks Podcast -- posted at: 6:45am PDT

This week we talk to Amalie Bruun, the mysterious woman behind the eclectic black metal project Myrkur. Her perspective on metal is unique, and we talk to her about the haters, her philosophy on making music and art, what working with her heroes has meant to her, the public reception of Myrkur (both positive and negative) and how playing pop music influences her musical output.

Godless recaps his time at Bloodstock, his first European style festival, and how it differs from the one-day touring festivals here in the States. We chat about the recent comments by The Browning that compare the incident in Ferguson a year ago to a band getting their van broken into, and we talk about Trapt using their Facebook page to vent their political opinions. Do bands need to be more careful with what they put out for public consumption?

Songs:
Myrkur – "Mordet"
Teenage Time Killers – "Egobomb"

Direct download: METALSucks20Podcast20Ep0111.mp3
Category:The MetalSucks Podcast -- posted at: 6:27am PDT

Soilwork frontman Bjorn “Speed” Strid guests on the podcast this week. We talk about the band's ongoing lineup changes and their effect on the sound, what it means to lose someone who has been playing with them for so long, if he's ever thought about leaving, his recent decision to quit drinking and, of course, the band's new album The Ride Majestic. 

We also discuss the recent Spotify report listing the top 25 top sub-genres of metal on the service; you won’t believe what landed at number 6! What does it all mean for bands and their music on the streaming service, and who the hell is still listening to nu-metal?

Songs:
Soilwork – "The Ride Majestic"
InAeona – "Sun/Moon"

Direct download: METALSucks_Podcast_Ep0110.mp3
Category:The MetalSucks Podcast -- posted at: 6:30am PDT

Dino Cazares took a break from consuming young children to be our guest on the podcast one week ahead of the release of Fear Factory’s new album Genexus. While Godless goes a little gaga, we talked about the storied history of the band, the troubles with labels and producers and their struggles with the limelight and keeping band members happy. We also find out the fate of Divine Heresy and some of Dino's other projects.

We take another listener call about festivals, since that topic seems to be on the top of everyone's mind as they watch the downfall of the Mayhem Festival. We discuss whether any changes need to be made to some static festivals such as Maryland Deathfest, and whether changing the formula would give the appearance that they're "selling out." 

Songs:
Fear Factory – "Dielectric"
Amorphis – "Death of a King"

Direct download: METALSucks20Podcast20Ep0109.mp3
Category:The MetalSucks Podcast -- posted at: 6:59am PDT

Philip H. Anselmo makes another appearance on this episode (he first joined us way back on episode sixteen!), right after his 47th birthday, and on the verge of taking Superjoint Ritual on a full tour for the first time in a decade. We talk about getting older and how it changes your perspective on conflicts with people, such as Tom G. Warrior and former band members. We also find out the status of his autobiography in the wake of the passing of his co-author and co-founder of the Housecore Horror Film Festival, Corey Mitchell.

Eyal Levi drops in for another segment of 'One Minute to Midnight,' in which unsigned bands get to be critiqued by a professional engineer, producer and all around talented dude. Event Horizon and Dissident Regressor are on the chopping block this month -- you can judge, or just listen to us tear them to shreds (actually, we attempt to help them make their music better)!

We also take another listener call and discuss who could make a good concept record (should Slipknot even contemplate trying to pull something like that off?), why Mayhem Fest founder Kevin Lyman had to apologize for calling metal "fat, old and bald," and more.

Songs:

Superjoint Ritual - "Death Threat"
Miss May I - "I.H.E."

Direct download: METALSucks20Podcast20Ep0108.mp3
Category:The MetalSucks Podcast -- posted at: 11:14am PDT

Blake Harrison and Mark Sloan, the human portion of the parrot-fronted extreme metal band Hatebeak, guest this week on the podcast. We find out if they really think metal vocalists are obsolete, why this project should be taken seriously and why it probably shouldn't be at the same time. We learn about the collaboration's history and grill Blake about whether we'll have to wait another couple decades before the new Pig Destroyer album comes out (and if it will be a D00M album).

We take a listener question about streaming services and how bands make money via Spotify, Google Play and Apple Music. Where does the money go? Why do those royalty checks for metal bands barely buy a happy meal let alone pay a mortgage?

Songs:
Hatebeak - "God of Empty Nest"
Kataklysm - "Thy Serpents Tongue"

Direct download: METALSucks20Podcast20Ep0107.mp3
Category:The MetalSucks Podcast -- posted at: 10:54am PDT

The enigmatic Dani Filth makes us work hard for our money on this week's episode: we talk about the upcoming Cradle of Filth record, how imagery can shape the outcome of an album, creating good artwork, how he keeps the Cradle sound intact with a rotating cast of band members, and why you shouldn't illegally download music.

Senior MS Editor Anso DF stops by to bring some of the latest news stories into perspective. How do the stories of Cobalt's new lead singer, Morbid Angel's embarrassing public split and Inquisition getting picked for Knotfest all tie together? Anso helps us sort it out!

Songs:
Cradle of Filth - "Deflowering The Maidenhead, Displeasing The Goddess"
Ramming Speed - "Don't Let This Stay Here"

Direct download: METALSucks20Podcast20Ep0106.mp3
Category:The MetalSucks Podcast -- posted at: 8:08am PDT

Dennis Lyxzén of the legendary Refused guests on the podcast this week. We pick his brain about the demise of the band in the late '90s, what it took to get them to reunite, his philosophy on life, religion and what it means to be a working artist, the new Refused record Freedom and more.

Now that 2015 is halfway over Chuck and Godless discuss their picks for best album of the year (so far). How will the rest of the year shape up with so many big names dropping records in the next few months?

Songs:
Paradise Lost – "No Hope In Sight"
Sigh – "The Casketburner"
Refused - "Thought Is Blood"

 

Follow us on Twitter: @BeardedApe and @GodlessSpeaks

Direct download: METALSucks20Podcast20Ep0105.mp3
Category:The MetalSucks Podcast -- posted at: 7:00am PDT

Hiran Deraniyagala of Battlecross is our guest this week as the band makes their way across Canada on tour with Crowbar. We talk about their new record Rise to Power, the band's recent success and how they've managed and struggled with it so far, what that means to who they are as people, and the real reason they've had such a problem filling the drum slot.

We also invited Sergeant D, Gear Gods Senior Editor Max Frank, and MS contributor Emperor Rhombus to the podcast after the recent back and forth on the site about the emphasis on musicianship in today's metal scene. Do fans put too much emphasis on ability and not enough on songwriting? Does it matter? And how does that impact metal's place in the music scene at large?

Follow us on twitter: @BeardedApe and @GodlessSpeaks

Songs:
Battlecross - "Not Your Slave"
Jungle Rot -  "Paralyzed Prey"

Direct download: METALSucks20Podcast20Ep0104.mp3
Category:The MetalSucks Podcast -- posted at: 6:45am PDT

On this week's podcast we go in depth with Lamb of God drummer Chris Adler. We talked about the new Lamb of God album, how the relationships inside the band have changed over time, the differences between working with Megadeth and his own band, who the best of their many fill-in guitarists has been, what a rock and roll retirement plan should look like and his thoughts on clean singing in metal. We also get the scoop on an offer he may not be able to refuse from Dave Mustaine.

Songs:
Lamb of God - "512"
Rivers of Nihil - "Perpetual Growth Machine"

Direct download: METALSucks20Podcast20Ep0103.mp3
Category:The MetalSucks Podcast -- posted at: 6:05am PDT

This week we have another installment of One Minute to Midnight, our chance for unsigned bands to have their music listened to and critiqued by one of our prolific metal producer Eyal Levi. Two bands get 60 seconds each to impress or completely disappoint; you be the judge.

We invite MetalSucks contributor Crash Thompson to help us try and figure out if there is still an underground left. IMNs will of course tell you that there is, and you just can't see it because you aren't looking, but with all of the constant internet coverage of metal the word "underground" may just be a term from the days of old we use to describe crappy music.

We also discuss Ronnie Radke's recent alleged indiscretion. Should the court of public opinion be what determines a person's guilt or innocence? Finding the truth can be almost impossible, and in the recent case of the Warped Tour flap over some of their talent, a measured response to accusations might be in order.

Follow us on Twitter: @BeardedApe @GodlessSpeaks

Songs:
Cattle Decapitation - "Manufactured Extinct"
Ghost - "Cirice"

Direct download: METALSucks20Podcast20Ep0102.mp3
Category:The MetalSucks Podcast -- posted at: 6:07am PDT

I.C.S. Vortex takes a break from his many projects and family to guest this week on the MetalSucks Podcast. His new release with Arcturus is a departure from much of what he's done in the past, and we talk about that progression, his experience with an evangelical mother, how he fits his many projects into being a father and husband and his experiences with the volatile situations in Dimmu Borgir (and his subsequent departure from the band).

We also give you the first true installment of our new politics segment, "Sadist Nation" with Darkest Hour's Mike Schleibaum. We talk about the separation between church and state and whether or not metalheads can unite under one set of causes, and what it would take to make us all come together and realize the political power we have in the world after so many years of being sidelined.

Direct download: METALSucks20Podcast20Ep0101.mp3
Category:The MetalSucks Podcast -- posted at: 6:04am PDT

This week marks the 100th episode of the MetalSucks Podcast! For this special occasion we pulled in one of our favorite people in metal today, if not the entire planet, Mark "Barney" Greenway, frontman for the legendary Napalm Death! We couldn't just have a normal interview, but one of our longest to date, covering a wide array of topics from his lengthy time with the band, his brief split, the politics of poverty and what the future of metal looks like. It really goes all over the place for almost a full 100 minutes.

Thank you to you all who have supported us, listened, subscribed and told us how terrible we are; we take it all to heart, and hopefully if we don't piss off Vince and Axl we might be around for 200.

Follow Us on Twitter: @BeardedApe @GodlessSpeaks

Songs:
Napalm Death - "Suffer the Children"
Napalm Death - "How the Years Condemn"

Direct download: METALSucks20Podcast20Ep0100.mp3
Category:The MetalSucks Podcast -- posted at: 5:32am PDT

Marc Okubo of Veil of Maya guests this week. We cover the departure of their former lead singer Brandon Butler and new BMOC Lukas Magyar: the moment everything came to a head, adding melodic clean singing, which vocalist has dreamier eyes and what actually happened to Revocation drummer Phil Dubois-Coyne when he injured his arm last year

Chuck and Godless discuss their expectations when a favorite artist is releasing a new album: getting your hopes up for new music can be devastating when it falls short.

We also chat about what makes metal news, news? Is the fact that a band is thinking about heading to the studio sometime in the future news? What kind of landscaping does Don Dokken prefer in his yard? What actually matters when it comes to your consumption of headlines?

Direct download: METALSucks20Podcast20Ep0099.mp3
Category:The MetalSucks Podcast -- posted at: 7:16am PDT

This week, Carley Coma, lead singer of the revitalized Candiria, guests on the podcast! We find out about how faith shaped his path in life, his passion for MMA, and risking his life for music. Also: when will we hear some new material for the band?  

Plus: Eyal Levi jumps back in for another session of One Minute to Midnight featuring unsigned bands looking for some expert advice on their music. Deconsecrate and The Residence get their music listened to and picked over by one of the best in the business! And Chuck and Godless discuss the flap last week between former GWAR vocalist Kim Dylla (aka Vulvatron) and current GWAR guitarist Brent Purgason (aka Pustulus Maximus), and whether the band should have handled the situation differently or not.

Songs:

Candiria – "Faction"
We Butter the Bread With Butter – "Berlin, Berlin!"

Follow Us on Twitter: @BeardedApe @GodlessSpeaks

Direct download: METALSucks20Podcast20Ep0098.mp3
Category:The MetalSucks Podcast -- posted at: 7:10am PDT

This week we welcome back a guest who has been on the podcast before, albeit in a different capacity: Mike Schleibaum, who is not only the guitarist for Darkest Hour, but is a DC resident with some great insights into the world of politics. With elections coming up and issues at hand that will effect the entire glob, Chuck, Godless, and Mike tackles political topics of interest to metal fans.Is Marijuana legalization your thing? Second amendment rights? Free speech? Or are you just worried about your tickets to MDF while Baltimore still smolders?

We also talk to Keith Fay from the band Cruachan about the craziness surrounding their latest album title and allegations of copyright infringement brought against them by the German metal band Debauchery.

Follow us on twitter: @BeardedApe and @GodlessSpeaks

Songs:

Darkest Hour - The World Engulfed In Flames

Refused - Elektra

Direct download: METALSucks20Podcast20Ep0097.mp3
Category:The MetalSucks Podcast -- posted at: 8:36am PDT

Our guest this week is "Dixie" Dave Collins, frontman and bassist for Weedeater. We talk about their latest album, Eurpopean jail, why seagulls suck, and how he got his driver's license revoked. Plus: check out a new song from their upcoming album, <em>Goliathan</em>, which comes out May 18 on Season of Mist.

We also take another call from one our listeners, and discuss the new trend of pop culture absorbing the "metal look" with some of the latest fashion. Finally, we break down Pat Robertson's riff on evil music and why it's okay to beat your kids if they listen to things you don't like.

 

Songs:

Weedeater - "Joseph...(All Talk)"

 

Slayer - "When the Stillness Comes"

Direct download: METALSucks20Podcast20Ep0096.mp3
Category:The MetalSucks Podcast -- posted at: 7:53am PDT

Matt Harvey, mastermind behind the twenty-five-year history of Exhumed, guests this week. We talk about the re-recording of the classic album Gore Metal, how bands survive with so many lineup changes, and what his personal role was in shaping the band's history. We talk about growing up without much a metal scene, keeping death metal alive in the '90s and how his new project Gruesome is really a love letter to Chuck Schuldiner and old school Death.

Chuck and Godless also talk about the recent flap between ex-Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward and SharOz Osbourne. Is the responsibility on Ward to be in the best physical condition possible to remain with the band, or do Sabbath have an obligation to bring an original member along for the the ride despite the needs of an aging member?

Songs:
Gruesome - "Trapped In Hell"
Gallows - "Leather Crown"

Direct download: METALSucks20Podcast20Ep0095.mp3
Category:The MetalSucks Podcast -- posted at: 7:43am PDT

36 Crazyfists vocalist Brock Lindow guests on the podcast this week to talk about the band's new album Time and Trauma and their upcoming tour with Nonpoint. Brock is not only the frontman of 36 Crazyfists, but he is also the father to a five-year-old, he's started his own hockey-themed sports bar, he co-hosts a podcast about craft beer and he's an all-around hard working dude.

Chuck and Godless speculate whether Marty Freidman's alleged re-addition to Megadeth would have really been a "step back" for him or if he's missing a big opportunity. The mighty Gwar's legal woes became very complicated this week when a lawsuit brought by the father of late lead singer Dave Brockie came to light, but the band vehemently denied the accusations and have handled it all perfectly.

Direct download: METALSucks20Podcast20Ep0094.mp3
Category:The MetalSucks Podcast -- posted at: 6:01am PDT

This week Testament's Chuck Billy and Exodus vocalist Steve "Zetro" Souza guest on the podcast to kick off the Dark Roots of Thrash Tour II. We talk about the early days of thrash metal, the differences between their experiences touring in the '80s and today, the benefit show that possibly made the revival of their generation of bands possible, and we find out how these seemingly popular musicians really made their living for the last couple of decades.

Eyal Levi steps in once again for another edition of "One Minute to Midnight" by giving his advice to a couple more unsigned bands, and Chuck and Godless speculate about the situation with Skeletonwitch and their departed vocalist Chance Garnette. When a lead singer departs in such a public way, and has a family member in the band, how is it possible to move past it? 

Songs:
Various (Chuck Billy) - Mr. Crowley
Ufomammut - Temple

Direct download: METALSucks20Podcast20Ep0093.mp3
Category:The MetalSucks Podcast -- posted at: 7:27am PDT

The New England Metal and Hardcore Fest kicks off its seventeenth year in just a few weeks, so Chuck and Godless had some questions about the prolific festival for founder Scott Lee. Scott talks about how he picks bands for the festival, the challenges of a changing audience over the past decade, finding the right combination of sponsors and lifestyle groups to make it financially viable without being a giant advertisement, what the landscape of regional festivals looks like, and how that competition shapes his festival and vice versa.

Chuck and Godless also recap their coverage of the story that broke last week about Otep and the alleged sexual assault against her while on tour. Our exclusive interview with her shed quite a bit of light on the controversy, but we reserved our commentary for this week's episode. 

Songs:
The Red Chord - "Blue Line Cretin"
Mantar - "Cult Witness"

Direct download: METALSucks20Podcast20Ep0092.mp3
Category:The MetalSucks Podcast -- posted at: 6:55am PDT

Otep Shamaya found herself at the center of controversy this week when her band pulled out of the upcoming Civil Unrest Tour -- also set to feature Ill Nino, 36 Crazyfists and Terror Universal -- because the singer of Terror Universal allegedly "violently grabbed my crotch on our last tour."

Since then, accusations have been flying every which way. Ill Nino and the tour's organizers both issued statements on the matter, as did the wife of Terror Universal's singer (although, interestingly, no one in the band has yet commented publicly), and Otep herself shared additional details via Twitter.

In this special edition of the MetalSucks Podcast, host Chuck Loesch speaks with Otep directly to clear up all the details surrounding the incident: what happened, when it happened, and what the future holds. Otep shares all sorts of new details about the incident, including the revelation that Dave Chavarri, a longtime personal friend of Otep's and the drummer for Ill Nino, is also the drummer AND manager of Terror Universal, creating a stark conflict of interest. 

Direct download: METALSucks20Podcast20Ep0091-5.mp3
Category:The MetalSucks Podcast -- posted at: 6:28am PDT

Drummer Hannes Grossmann of Alkaloid (Ex-Obscura, ex-Necrophagist) guests this week. We talk about the differences between being a session drummer and a band member, how to admit you wrote something that sucks, how playing fast is no excuse for bad songwriting, why he left Obscura and when the Necrophagist record will be coming out.

Chuck and Godless were consumed by SXSW this week but they still found the time to get some discussion topics together. Can Slipknot live forever? They discuss if bands should keep going without original members of the band or if the personnel are too critical to a band's identity. They also declare a winner for SXSW and it was not a headliner of any showcase, but rather something more special.

Songs:
Alkaloid - "Cthulhu"
Fallujah - "Allure"

Direct download: METALSucks20Podcast20Ep0091.mp3
Category:The MetalSucks Podcast -- posted at: 6:33am PDT

Mlny Parsonz from Royal Thunder guests on the podcast with Chuck and Godless this week. We discover her surprising history with religion and spirituality, her theory on songwriting and life, her Jesus tattoos, how she's learned to look forward instead of linger on bad situations and what frightens her most about the world.

Doc Coyle joins for another segment of Rejecting the Sickness to talk about some of his latest musings in his new VH1 column. We hash out whether being a metal puritan is a real thing and if it's a liability to the genre as a whole.

Chuck can't seem to understand how neither Vince or Godless know that much about porn, or at least Mia Khalifa, one of the biggest female stars on PornHub right now. This of course after she popped up wearing a death metal t-shirt and gave us all a rise.

Direct download: METALSucks20Podcast20Ep0090.mp3
Category:The MetalSucks Podcast -- posted at: 6:18am PDT

Chuck and Godless invite Editor-in-Chief of Decibel Magazine Albert Mudrian onto the podcast to talk about the new version of his book Choosing Death, with updated chapters on the past decade of death and grind. Albert also speculates on the future of metal; where are we headed? what might be the next hot trend? is there even any room for that nonsense anymore?

Eyal Levi drops in again for another installment of One Minute to Midnight, the segment designed to let you hear new and unsigned bands try and make an impression on one of the best producers/engineers in the industry.

Chuck and Godless will be hosting a panel at SXSW called "The Art of the Interview" in which they'll discuss the process of, the work that goes into and how to conduct a decent interview. You'll get a brief preview of the panel's subject matter here after That Metal Show apparently gave Ted Nugent a pass on the tough questions.

Direct download: METALSucks20Podcast20Ep0089.mp3
Category:The MetalSucks Podcast -- posted at: 7:16am PDT

That Metal Show co-host Don Jamieson is our guest this week. We talk about season fourteen of the show, how and why VH1 decided to put some metal into their programming line-up, who the best and worst guests have been and why they don't seem to offer much in the way of newer metal on the program.

Chuck and Godless talk about the weekend controversy with Dimebag Darrell's grave site desecration, the band or band member responsible for the act and why his apology probably won't fly in Texas.

MetalSucks Co-Founder Vince Neilstein jumps in to talk about his recent post on the major label acquisition of Century Media. What does it mean to metal in general, for other labels and for the bands on CM's roster? Could it be a good thing to dissolve yet another metal major, or does it signal a decline in metal overall?

Songs:
Pantera - "5 Minutes Alone"
Melechesh - "Multiple Truths"

Direct download: METALSucks20Podcast20Ep0088.mp3
Category:The MetalSucks Podcast -- posted at: 6:06am PDT

Enslaved founding member Ivar Bjørnson is our guest this week. The legendary progressive black metal band's new record In Times hits shelves in a few weeks, and Chuck and Godless had a chance to talk to him about his young children, how close the band has been to splitting up, bouncing back and solidifying a new line-up, the keys to a good relationship in a band and his "marriage" to Enslaved bassist Grutle Kjellson for the last 25 years.

We also discuss the metal events coming to SXSW -- including the MetalSucks South By South Death showcase -- and we go in depth on a recent post by Sergeant D about Papa Roach going Djent. Does this signify the coming end of djent? Will the pop-metal titans close the door on another kind of metal just like they did for Nu Metal? Or should we be happy the mainstream finally discovered something new to incorporate?

Songs:
Enslaved - "One Thousand Years of Rain"
Lee McKinney - "Skylasher"

Direct download: METALSucks20Podcast20Ep0087.mp3
Category:The MetalSucks Podcast -- posted at: 6:53am PDT

Dave Haley, drummer for Australian tech-death band Psycroptic, guests this week, Chuck and Godless grill him about the difficulties of being an Aussie band and touring the world, the benefits of retaining the rights to their music, their involvement with Tasmanian Devil extinction awareness and which member is the true hippie of the band.

Chuck and Godless also discuss the divisions between metal fans and how those rifts reflect racial tendencies in the U.S. It can be difficult for any band to become "legitimate," but in the modern metal scene more and more bands get criticized based on their style rather than their ability to write and play songs. Is this the new normal? Why do some people just hate clean singing and only listen to death metal? Should Chuck start a new battle vest? We discuss, you decide.

Songs:
Psycroptic - "Cold"
Veil of Maya - "Phoenix"

Direct download: METALSucks20Podcast20Ep0086.mp3
Category:The MetalSucks Podcast -- posted at: 8:31am PDT

An action packed episode this week! Chuck and Godless take a bunch of your calls, talk about love and relationships for Valentine's Day, and debut the inaugural installment of "One Minute to Midnight," where unsigned bands get to have their music featured on the podcast and heard and critiqued by veteran producer, musician, teacher and resident badass Eyal Levi. Two bands get the full treatment this week; winners? losers? You be the judge!

Doc Coyle takes us to school on Steel Panther in his ongoing "Rejecting the Sickness" segment, telling us why SP are totally legit and not as derogatory as you might think based on song titles, album titles, videos, pictures, telegraphs and smoke signals.

Songs:
Cognizance - "The Succession of Flesh"
Byzantine - "A Curious Lot"

Direct download: METALSucks20Podcast20Ep0085.mp3
Category:The MetalSucks Podcast -- posted at: 6:55am PDT

70,000 Tons of Podcast! Chuck and Godless set sail for the Caribbean with 4,000 metalheads to experience 60+ bands and some amazing times: a bigger ship, 20 more bands and even more fans on board than ever before, all headed to Jamaica with one thing in common... metal!

Corrosion of Conformity make their first appearance on the Podcast with their Blind-era lineup. They tell us all about how this group came back together of late, the big difference with the recent return to the three piece, Reed Mullin's experience with Dave Grohl and a new project called Teenage Time Killers that features some amazing guest stars.

Later Chuck and Godless sit down with Max and Gloria Cavalera and talk about their storied history with the metal business: what it's like to have so much of their family involved, what it means to have that time together and how tragedy has shaped their destiny.

Songs:
Soulfly - "Eye For An Eye"
Blind Guardian - "Ashes of Eternity"

Direct download: METALSucks20Podcast20Ep0084.mp3
Category:The MetalSucks Podcast -- posted at: 10:33am PDT

Periphery guitarist Mark Holcomb guests this week on the eve of the release of their new album Juggernaut. We talk about the recording process, guitar nerds asking too many questions, and how producing the record themselves was a liberating experience.

We take a listener call about Slayer entering into the Bonnaroo mix; what does that mean for the band and for metal in general? Does it signal metal's acceptance into the mainstream? Is the festival seeing the writing on the wall that metal fans will buy tickets? Will this expand Slayer’s fanbase, or is it just a nice, fat check? All this and a new Storytime With Stavros brings you Metallica in a continuation of his infamous New Orleans stories.

Songs:
Periphery – "Rainbow Gravity"
Venom – "The Death or Rock and Roll"

Direct download: METALSucks20Podcast20Ep0083.mp3
Category:The MetalSucks Podcast -- posted at: 8:05am PDT

Jean Paul Gaster, drummer for the mighty Clutch, joins the podcast as the band heads into the studio to record their new album. He discusses how Clutch have been able to retain the same lineup for over two decades, keeping family and band separate, the band's experience with records labels (and launching their own) and the two things every band needs to know to be successful.

Chuck and Godless also ponder why bands would make an entire record of cover songs, inspired by Prong's announcement of their own covers album. Do bands not have any new ideas? Is it to fulfill contractual obligations? Or something more simple like getting back the inspiration that may have been lost from years of touring and writing?

Songs:
Clutch - "The Face"
Psycroptic - "The World Discarded"

Direct download: METALSucks20Podcast20Ep0082.mp3
Category:The MetalSucks Podcast -- posted at: 7:37pm PDT

Josh Middleton, guitarist and vocalist for British metal band Sylosis, guests this week on the podcast. Chuck and Godless chat with him about the local metal scene in England, their bad luck with touring and vehicle wrecks, and they grill him on why he hasn't asked his girlfriend to marry him yet. New album Dormant Heart comes out on the 13th of January, so we play a song from that as well.

Chuck and Godless dissect a recent announcement that Nuclear Blast made with the label's 2015 release slate, and they use that a springboard to try to figure out where labels are going nowadays. Is it better for labels to stick with bands who are well-known and will sell lots of albums? Have the days of big labels taking chances on bands gone by the wayside? What does it take to make it on a label these days? They also get suckered in by an unsigned band's Tweet, and are pleasantly surprised by their music.

Songs:
Sylosis - "Mercy"
Napalm Death - "Cesspits"

Direct download: METALSucks20Podcast20Ep0081.mp3
Category:The MetalSucks Podcast -- posted at: 6:17am PDT

Chuck and Godless enlist drummer Alex "Rudy" Rudinger (ex-The Faceless, ex-The Haarp Machine, Conquering Dystopia, Monuments) to ring in the New Year with the first MS Podcast of 2015. They chat about his work with Jeff Loomis and Alex Webster in Conquering Dystopia, his take on drum-programming software, and his reasons for leaving The Faceless. Rudy also announces another band he will be subbing for in February after getting off the road with Monuments back in December.

Songs:
Conquering Dystopia - "Ashes of Lesser Men"
Call of the Void - "Cold Hands"

Direct download: METALSucks20Podcast20Ep0080.mp3
Category:The MetalSucks Podcast -- posted at: 6:37am PDT

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