Darren Johnson otherwise known as "DJ Sacrifice" swings in for a visit. DJ finally gives us the dirt on the fact that there was no dirt with his departure with Living Sacrifice; it was just time. I've been wanting to ask him about that for twenty years. Darren gives us one of the funniest stories I've heard yet: a dude SHOT HIMSELF to be in a band with Lance Garvin. DJ tells us some very old and timeless stories as well as an exclusive listen to a new project he was asked to do a song with called Tetelestai. I love doing this show for many reasons and this chapter is just another example of how amazing this journey has been. Thanks DJ.

Go make friendlys with DJ: https://www.facebook.com/darren.johnson.773981

LS FB: https://www.facebook.com/livingsacrifice/

Tetelestai is coming: www.anewheavy.com

Slow Southern Steel Documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDK6ECp-6Zc

Chapter 109 Music:

"Violence" by Living Sacrifice

"Anorexia Spiritual" by Living Sacrifice

"Enthroned" by Living Sacrifice

"Not Beneath" by Living Sacrifice

"The Good The Bad And The Ugly" Theme

"No Grave Concern" by Living Sacrifice

"Breathing Murder" by Living Sacrifice (as performed by Crutch)

"Preeminence Of" by Tetelestai

"Breathing Murder" by Living Sacrifice

As The Story Grows links:

See what I did there? I met Jeff Martin at a Zao show in Indianapolis and we hit it off. I asked him onto the show and it's just that easy. Here he is. Jeff is the VERY talented vocalist of the band Lo-Pan and I've really come to love listening to him sing. Jeff was nice enough to take some time out and tell us about his early years and how it has all lead to what he is doing now with Lo-Pan...which includes a tie-in with Ooziest. Not to shabby, Jeff. He also has a new band called Acula and I can't wait to hear what he is doing vocally in a darker band with nine minute songs. Thanks Jeff!

http://lopandemic.com

https://www.facebook.com/lopandemic

Chapter 108 Music: I played all five songs from their latest release "In Tensions" on Aqualamb Records

As The Story Grows links:

What happens when Thrice, Kowloon Walled City and Curl Up And Die all combine their artistic forces? You get Less.

Mike Minnick sits down with me and goes over every square inch of the new Less Art album "Strangled Light" on Gilead Media. Mike was the vocalist of the kegger-ruining band Curl Up And Die from Vegas and now lives in Chicago. Mike was asked to put his honest and gut-wrenching lyrics to this amazing album and offered the time to sit with me and cover it all. He tells a bit of back story, we clean up the alternate facts on his wiki page and then we go track by track for you. Thank you Mike, Less Art, former guests Ian and Riley and Gilead for allowing me to do this. This is getting a nod for AOTY2017 from me. Enjoy all of Less Art.

Less Art FB: https://www.facebook.com/LESSARTBAND/

The "Diana The Huntress" podcast. Wow. https://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/506/secret-identity

Check out Megans band Super Unison: http://www.superunison.net

Friend of the show, former guest and all around sex bomb Jon Petkau did a review for "Strangled Light" for Nine Circles. Read it here: https://ninecircles.co/2017/07/24/album-review-less-art-strangled-light/

Chapter 107 Music:

Less Art, "Strangled Light" in it's entirety

As The Story Grows links:

This chapter was edited by the efficacious Bryan Patton. Thanks Bryan! https://twitter.com/bryanpatton84

Chapter 106: "Where The Mosh Pit Meets The Dance Floor" ...as read by Klank

Meet Daren Diolosa, the one and only Klank. Listen as Mr. Klank leads us through the early days of Circle Of Dust all the way up to being bitten by a rattlesnake and almost dying last year. How'd he get his name? In here. How he met his wife at the circus? Yep. Dug Pinnick slept on his couch for a week? You betcha. Signed with Tooth And Nail in blood? No joke. Some of his wildest stories? Yessirs we gots 'em. Plus we go track by track for his newest release "Rise". Klank you very much.

http://klanknation.com

Chapter 106 Music:

Klank's 2017 album "Rise" in it's entirety:

As The Story Grows links:

This chapter is dedicated to one of my favorite finds called Vast Robot Armies. Jason Thomson and I became fast friends via email about the podcast and long story short: here we are. Jason founded a band called Vast Robot Armies and I have really taken a liking to their Life And Times/Archers/Hum/Polvo style. Jason and I talk about how the band got started as pretty much just him, meeting up with Allen Epley of Life And Times, misconceptions of Canadians, being a new dad and a killer Will Sasso story. Check out the links to learn everything you need to know about VRA and I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. Definitely scratching the itch for me...

https://www.facebook.com/VastRobotArmies/

Chapter 105 Music: from the VRA release "Dinner Music"

https://vastrobotarmies.bandcamp.com

Motor Home

Sailing Stones

Dinner Music

Commodore

Grey Area Living (from Goodnight Myopia)

Cruel Elephant

Mahovolich

Normal Things

Sailing Stones (again, because it's awesome)

As The Story Grows links:

This podcast has afforded me the opportunity to become friends with folks that I listen to already. Sometimes my friends BECOME musicians I listen to. Jeremy Hunt has become such a great friend that I am more than honored and excited to introduce his new musical project Qoheleth. Jeremy, along with his drummer Mike Strickler and the "visual identity" position being filled by his cousin Caiden Withey are up to something unique and very special.

Jeremy tells me all about being born overseas and living in France, moving all over the world and the eventual goal of coming home to the east coast. Mr. Hunt is in seminary and has the daily wrestling match with his own faith which I am always interested in hearing about. Qoheleth was assembled as part of a college thesis and I wanted you all to hear about this. Yeah, it's just a noise rock band...but this story has angles I wanted you to hear. I backloaded this chapter with a lot of the Qoheleth release "God Is The Warmest Place To Hide" which is available on band camp. Go get.

This chapter is dedicated to my friend Seth Werkheiser who lost his mother this past week. My heart is crushed right next to yours, my friend. Hang in there.

Follow Jeremy on FB at https://www.facebook.com/jeremy.hunt

...or watch us beat each other up on twitter at https://twitter.com/jehuthehunt

Qoheleth FB: https://www.facebook.com/qohelethnoise/

Qoheleth BC: https://qohelethnoise.bandcamp.com

Chapter 104 Music: All Qoheleth from "God Is The Warmest Place To Hide"

Brood Of Vipers

Advance Of Inhumanity

Heaviness Of Presence

The Hypocrisy In You Is The Hypocrisy In Me

Brain Of Bees

As The Story Grows links:

Chapter 103: "Podcast Empowered" ...as read by Bruce Fitzhugh, Lance Garvin, Chris Truby, Jason Truby and Brandon Ebel

Where were you on June 3rd, 1997? (I don't remember either.) But, I know something special that happened that day. A band from Little Rock, Arkansas called Living Sacrifice released their fourth full-length album called "Reborn" on new Tooth & Nail metal spinoff label Solid State Records. People have called this one a game changer; others claim this was Christian metal's first "metal core" album. I personally think this is one of the most important Christian metal albums to ever hit the scene.

You are going to hear from all four members who recorded on the album along with executive producer and label owner Brandon Ebel. This massive undertaking began it's planning stages about five months ago and I'd like to personally thank all five guests who took time from busy lives to speak with me. I especially need to thank my partner-in-crime Bryan Patton who is responsible for stitching this thing together for you. It's a biggie. Strap on a paper hat and grab a slice of cake. Today is Reborn's twentieth birthday. (Be sure to stick around to the end; Chad Neptune of Further Seems Forever/Strongarm has something funny to add to this.)

Living Sacrifice is still alive and well with Arthur and Rocky at https://www.facebook.com/livingsacrifice/

As The Story Grows links:

This chapter was edited by the dasterdly Bryan Patton. Thanks Bryan! https://twitter.com/bryanpatton84

Chapter 102: "Suns and Daughters" ...as read by Alexis Marshall of Daughters (and formerly As The Sun Sets)

Recorded on March 31st, 2017

Alexis Marshall has been the lead vocalist of Daughters for 15 years. He was the lead in the group As The Sun Sets and I'd recommend them as well. This guy is actually one of my favorite vocalists because I love his approach to his vocal style. Snarky and backhanded with plenty of metal still in the tank. "Lex" tells me about his troubled childhood, parental stuff, living on couches and his climb out of alcoholism.

I love this discussion because he didn't have to open up like he did...but he did. We learn that the iconic "announcement" after As The Sun Sets and before Daughters was a mistake. There is plenty of turbulence in the band's past. And, hilariously, if it hadn't have been from Andy Low of Robotic Empire kinda lying to Lex and Nick they may not be back together now. I hope you enjoy listening as much as I enjoyed speaking to him.

Daughters FB page: https://www.facebook.com/daughtersmusic/

Chapter 102 Music:

As The Story Grows links:

This chapter was edited by the capatious Bryan Patton. Thanks Bryan! https://twitter.com/bryanpatton84

Chapter 101: "This one's for Jet" ...as read by Mike Felumlee of The Bigger Empty and The Smoking Popes

(Recorded on April 11th, 2017)

Mike Felumlee has quite a musical resume....and drummer for The Smoking Popes and Alkaline Trio wasn't quite enough. Mike is the lead vocalist and guitarist for his group The Bigger Empty. Mike tells us about skateboarding in the basement, playing a show for the deaf and opening for Weezer to about 17,000 people. We also cover dogs, his band Duvall and what it is like to be a non-religious guy in a band that suddenly has a religious change. Oh...and this little thing called "Live at The Rock Room." Crazy. This is a great chapter and we have Gary Strack of Reybee Inc to thank for the hook up. Thanks, Gary!

The Bigger Empty FB page: https://www.facebook.com/TheBiggerEmptyBand/

The Bigger Empty Reybee page: http://www.reybee.com/wp3/roster/the-bigger-empty/

The Bigger Empty on La Escalera: http://laescalerarecords.com/bigger-empty-eps/

You have GOT to check out the Rock Room: https://www.livefromtherockroom.com

Chapter 101 Music:

The Bigger Empty: ""By Its Own"

Smoking Popes: "That's Where I Come In"

Smoking Popes: "End Of Your Time"

Alkaline Trio: "Stupid Kid"

The Bigger Empty: "Take My Heart With You"

The Bigger Empty: "All Mixed Up"

As The Story Grows links:

This chapter was edited by the bohemian Bryan Patton. Thanks Bryan! https://twitter.com/bryanpatton84

Chapter 100: "Podtera?" ...as read by Joshua Toomey, Erik Hall and Brandon Kellum

This may be the world's first online podcast cover band. Maybe? That's actually not a big deal anyways...nevermind. But Podtera? We've been assembling a cover song for well over a half-a-year and the best we could come up with is PODTERA?

Long story short: Brandon Kellum (vocalist of American Standards), Erik Hall (of the guitar podcast Shoot The Shred), Joshua Toomey (former bassist of Primer 55 and host of the Talk Toomey podcast) and myself decided to start an online cover band. Why? Because we can.

Our first song is Elite from the Deftones. Why? Because Erik makes bad decisions.

We're naming the band Podtera. Why? Because Josh makes bad decisions.

It can be found on my bandcamp page for free. Why? Because I make bad decisions.

...and so do YOU! Thank you for listening to this show a hundred times. When I rebranded this thing I was intimidated that no one would care. In the grand scheme of podcasts...no one does. But i'll tell you what: I get quite a bit of love from email, twitter, Facebook and people reaching out to me to let me know that they're listening and they love the show. I'd like to thank every single one of you. This has been a blast. Onward...upward...we love you. Take care. Bye-bye.

Get the song and some other songs HERE: https://asthestorygrows.bandcamp.com

American Standards FB: https://www.facebook.com/AmericanStandards/

American Standards BC: https://americanstndrds.bandcamp.com

Talk Toomey Home: http://www.talktoomeypod.com

Shoot The Shred Home: https://shredpod.simplecast.fm

Chapter 100 Music:

American Standards: "Carpe Diem Tomorrow"

Podtera: "Elite" (Deftones cover...sorry Deftness)

As The Story Grows links: