Dose of Thunder Podcast

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In the early '90s, bands like Harem Scarem and Fair Warning dropped game-changing albums that redrew the map for hard rock. They laid out the blueprint for where hair metal and arena rock shouldhave gone—grittier, street-level, and tougher, while keeping all the massive hooks and Charismatic bombast. 

But as we all know, the mainstream music industry had something much different in mind.

Still, if you ask any real fan, this was the natural evolution for hair metal and arena rock: a more down-to-earth, street-level sound that kept all the charismatic bombast, but delivered a tougher, in-your-face vibe without succumbing to commercial pressure. And with groups like FM, Frontline, Drive, She Said, Giant, Pretty Maids, and Heavens Edge, the torch was kept burning bright through the ’90s and beyond.

scene that’s just as vibrant as anything from the genre’s heyday—championed by outlets like Frontiers Records, Escape music, MelodicRock.com, Classic Rock, Powerplay, Fireworks Magazine, and right here on Dose of Thunder, there are true passionate believers out there.

One of the bands standing tall in that scene today is Rochester, New York’s own Wicked. They are modern purveyors of all things arena rock and metal, bringing a fresh, contemporary approach that proves this music hasn't just survived—it's thriving. They’ve earned their stripes on the road, sharing bills with icons like Vicious Rumors, Buckcherry, Raven, and the late, great Ace Frehley.

With a fiercely independent spirit, their latest album, Go Rebel, proves that this brand of high-octane ear candy is here to stay. Today, bassist Danny Martin stops by Dose of Thunder to talk about where the band is headed and how they're carving out their own path.

Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Danny from Wicked! Danny, welcome to the show! 

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Since the late '80s, an underground wave of extreme metal was brewing—louder, faster, and far more brutal than anything before it. Legends like Sepultura, Death, Morbid Angel, and Entombed pioneered a dark, visceral sound, while iconic labels like Roadrunner, Earache, and Metal Blade kept feeding the flame.

As grunge faded in the '90s, extreme music pushed into the mainstream. Powered by Headbangers Ball, Beavis and Butt-Head, and Pantera injecting an adrenaline shot straight into the heart of the scene, heavy music found a massive, rabid global fanbase.

Right in the thick of that golden era, Washington, D.C.’s Darkest Hour was born. Since 1995, they’ve carried the torch for extreme metal, seamlessly blending hardcore grit with razor-sharp technicality across three decades. They’ve weathered every storm the industry could throw at them and emerged unbroken.

Their brand-new album, Suffer Divine, drops October 30th, and today, guitarist and co-founder Mike Schleibaum stops by Dose of Thunder for a brief interview to break down where the band stands today.

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Welcome to the very first episode of Dose of Thunder. Cut me some slack on this—I’m completely new at this, and I might not sound like a pro right out of the gate, but it’s a learning curve. Dose of Thunder is all about melodic rock, heavy metal, and hard rock in the now. And for episode one, we are kicking things off with a massive guest: drummer and multi-instrumentalist Brian Tichy.

If you’ve listened to hard rock over the last few decades, you’ve heard Tichy. He’s recorded with a staggering list of legends: Whitesnake, Slash, Billy Idol, Zakk Wylde’s Pride & Glory, Ozzy Osbourne, Ace Frehley, Vinnie Moore, Gilby Clarke, and even Gene Simmons—just to name a handful.

Most recently, though, he’s stepped out from behind the kit to front his own new project, Led By Vultures. Playing everything on the self-titled album, Tichy took an organic, straight-ahead approach reminiscent of classic Zeppelin and Kiss. Driven by massive riffs and infectious hooks, it’s a killer addition to modern hard rock.  

Since he toured heavily through the '90s, I asked him what it was like navigating that era as a rock musician. Coming from my own background as a record store employee forced to sell watered-down post-grunge, nu-metal, and slick soft rock, I always viewed the '90s as a brutal time for traditional rock. But Tichy gives us a fascinating perspective from the trenches—and honestly, his optimism completely proves me wrong.

So, let’s bridge the gap to the rock world of now as Brian Tichy stops by Dose of Thunder.

Ladies and gentlemen, let’s welcome Brian Tichy!"

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Attention everybody! Welcome to the Dose of Thunder podcast, the home for all things uncompromisingly heavy, loud, and melodic. I’m your host, TG Thomas. Whether you want big arena anthems, crunchy guitar riffs, soaring vocals, or down-to-earth gritty guitar grandeur, you’ve landed in the right place.
Dose of Thunder is making your speakers bleed with interviews and conversations from modern-day troubadours of hair metal, arena rock, and other loud and proud melodic grandeur—plus the classic legends who have always kept the flame burning hot. I’m pulling back the curtain to expose the new blood and invite the icons who provide us with pure audio ecstasy. 
We’re talking about fierce, self-sufficient bands—names like Eclipse, HEAT, Black Swan, The Hellecopters, Harem Scarem, Black Star Riders and Vega—bands who refuse to bow down to trends or churn out syrupy bubblegum pop songs. Let’s also mention the singer-songwriters in the scene; Ginger Wildheart, Ricky Warwick and Kurt Baker as well as grittier bands such as Graveyard, KADAVAR, and Spiritual Beggars. This ear candy beholds from record labels like Frontiers, Napalm, Ripple, Rise Above and Nuclear Blast just to name a few, these guys behind the scenes put belief and dedication above business. 
 We’re cutting through the critics and criticism to get straight to the point: the embryonic beginnings, the road stories, the trials, tribulations, and the dirt behind the diamonds in the rough with everything rock and roll entails. 
People can say all they want that this style of music is a thing of the past, but these bands are executing it right now in the present. You might not know all of them yet, but you’ll know them here. We’re getting the goods straight from the source!
Dose of Thunder is your home for all things uncompromisingly heavy, loud, and melodic. Hit subscribe, stay tuned, and let’s get started.”
And by the way, the name Dose of Thunder comes from a song by the Replacements, another great band, so maybe we’ll get into the harder bands from college radios glory years.