121 – Weekly “Metal Is Trash” Update

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This week me and my regular co-host Cody are tired of all the garbage in metal. Marduk, Cirith Ungol, Meshuggah, Decapitated, just throw it all in the trash fire. Then, more positivity. Cody is really excited about Psycho Las Vegas, which leads to him checking out Wolves In The Throne Room. There’s a new Ihsahn song, and I got into Krosis, and tried to get into the new Panopticon album. Then we talk about Death, Gruesome and Cist. Finally, we go over this video comparing Mike Portnoy and Mike Mangini, and what the loss of Portnoy means for Dream Theater. Then, cool people time with A Quiet Place, The Knick, Unsane, The Exorcist (TV show) and more. Enjoy!

95 – Taylor Swift

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We’re back! Sorry. Not much going on, anyway. First, Matt Harvey of Exhumed’s dumb statement about Nazis and Toilet ov Hell’s great response. Oli from Archspire wanting to fight Tim Lambesis of As I Lay Dying. Indie labels creating their own streaming services. The unfortunate news that Todd Honeycutt, the bassist for Enfold Darkness has committed suicide. Then, new stuff from Mastodon, Shokran, Soften the Glare (featuring Ryan Martinie from Mudvayne), Taylor Swift, Unleash the Archers, and Archspire. Also, Messengers by August Burns Red is 10! We also discuss me going back to Slipknot’s latest and thinking it’s not bad. Enjoy!

Orden Ogan – Gunmen

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Orden Ogan has made an extremely enjoyable power metal record with Gunmen. Like fellow power metal acts Unleash The Archers and Witherfall earlier this year, the band manages to make their respect for the genre’s past clear while still finding new sounds to play with. Originally a small-time act in the folk metal boom of the mid-2000s, Sebastian Levermann, the mastermind and frontman of the group, has worked to make the act one of the most unique and fresh voices in the current power metal scene. There’s so much to talk about here not least of which is Levermann’s talent for writing choruses with lots of huge choirs. Just listen to the opening title track.

Unleash The Archers – Apex

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Crafting a great power metal album is a difficult thing. The genre is so steeped in thrills and adrenaline, it can be easy to create something too over-the-top and annoying. Writing the catchiest chorus, playing the fastest solo, and singing the highest notes aren’t going to mean anything if the music doesn’t have depth and meaning. Great power metal albums like Nightfall in Middle Earth, Land of the Free, The Metal Opera, and, more recently, Noble Beast employ subtly when necessary. They have memorable choruses and great riffs but also moments of real emotion. While less serious bands like Primal Fear, Dragonforce, and Sabaton have their proper place and legitimate enjoyment factor, they will never be remembered in the same way.