Our cipher met up with living doom metal encyclopedia J.J. Koczan of The Obelisk fame. Over pints, J.J. talks about how Roadburn changed his life, getting kicked off the WSOU staff, and how doom metal keeps his head above water. They talked so much, we had to split the episode in two, so stay tuned for the next chapter!

Frank Godla of Metal Injection dropped by the doom cave to talk about highlights and hardships of 15 years of independent metal coverage, how the music landscape has changed for him since the 90s, and putting together the greatest jam session the world has ever seen (or at least to the patrons of Saint Vitus).

Band Discussed - Elephant Tree

Dana Schecter of Insect Ark joins us this week to recount what it was like growing up with Cliff Burton, being snap recruited into Zeal & Ardor, and her favorite horror films. They've got a new record out and if you can make it to the release show on February 26th at Saint Vitus, go!

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By day, you know him as Tim Bugbee. By night, you know him as Tinnitus Photography. Under his banner, Tim has shot some truly iconic bands and he delves into that along with seeing Jello Biafra recruit a drummer at a show, working at Forced Exposure, and how he feels about his work being turned into a meme.

Band Discussed - Arkham Witch

D.C. psyche rockers Caustic Casanova join our cipher in the discussion of their favorite Queens of the Stone Age record, encountering the singer of King Crimson by chance in Montreal, and how they got themselves into the roster of bands on Magnetic Eye Records. 

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In a daring break of genre, our cipher has brought on his friends in Bofo Kwo, a symphonic black metal band out of Finland, as he owed them a favor and wanted to make the best use of their previous conversation. Ted and Kimmo delve into how they crafted an album series based on the time traveling escapades of a cannibal lord, as well as how they get their cats to help out in the art department.

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After our cipher recounts his experience with The Eraser Man, August West is back with a full rundown of Sleep's end of the decade residency at Thalia Hall in Chicago, during which he dodged a security guard with the tenacity of Rosa Klebb, met heavy metal Larry David, and broke in the new year with legalization and the Marijuanaut.

Band Discussed - Acid Rooster

Those that can't do, teach. And for those that do metal, also teach. Garrett Tanner is a Swiss Army knife of a person: writer, music teacher, musician, and more. We discuss how being a teacher has affected his musical intake, what it is like being in a polka band, and some of the best releases in metal from 2019 (yes, this was recorded in 2019).

Band Discussed - Reverend Bizarre

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Shinegrinder

Originally released on 1/16/2020

Eternal Black dropped a slammin' record last year and frontman Ken Wohlrob has some words to say about it as he talks about having Davey Gunner of Kraut cameo at his Halloween party, translating promotion tactics from being a writer to a musician, and his disdain for well-endowed album artwork.

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Support End of Hope

Originally released on 1/9/2020

A fellow Metro Area acolyte joins us in the form of Bill Kerls, a longtime fan originally from the center of the universe otherwise known as Lodi, New Jersey. During our conversation, our cipher celebrates one year of going to shows with Bill, how he survived seven concerts in seven days, and earning his early music chops by being paid in vinyl.

Support Book of Wyrms here and here!

Originally released on 1/3/2020