Can Guitar Hero: Metallica finally dethrone the long-reigning king of metal rhythm games?

Collin and Tom dive headfirst into the pit to rank Guitar Hero: Metallica against the rest of the franchise. Featuring Metallica, Slayer, Mastodon"], Merciful Fate, The Sword, System of a Down, and a metric ton of Metallica.

Check out more from Collin!

https://indi1015.ca/shows/thrashers-paradise/

https://www.youtube.com/@thrashersparadise4132

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Check out more from Tom!

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https://www.youtube.com/@MetalRobotReviews

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MUSIC:

Corrosion of Conformity “Albatross”

The Sword “The Black River”

Trey Xavier “Animaniacs (Metal Cover)”

Mercyful Fate “Evil”

Slayer “War Ensemble”

Metallica “All Nightmare Long”

Sam Fonteyn “Pizzicato Playtime (Ren and Stimpy Soundtrack)”

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DISCLAIMER: Copyright Exceptions under the Copyright Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. C-42), allowance is made for "fair dealing" for the purposes of criticism or review.

Groove metal once ruled the pits, the charts, and your CD binder—and then vanished like your favorite MySpace band.

In this episode, Collin & Tom dive headfirst into groove metal: where it came from, why it dominated the late ’90s and early 2000s, and how it somehow died… without ever really dying.

From Pantera redefining heavy music forever, to the rise of bands like Lamb of God, to groove being slowly absorbed into metalcore, nu metal, and everything else with a breakdown—this episode asks the big questions. Was groove metal ever truly a genre? Or was it just the rhythm that metal couldn’t live without?

Check out more from Collin!

https://indi1015.ca/shows/thrashers-paradise/

https://www.youtube.com/@thrashersparadise4132

https://www.instagram.com/thrashers_paradise/

https://www.facebook.com/Thrashers.Paradise.666/

Check out more from Tom!

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https://www.instagram.com/the.metalrobot/

MUSIC:

Jacob Lizotte “Face To Face”

Pantera “Cowboys from Hell”

Lamb of God “Into Oblivion”

Static-X “Push It”

Amon Amarth “The Pursuit of Vikings”

-----------------------------

DISCLAIMER: Copyright Exceptions under the Copyright Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. C-42), allowance is made for "fair dealing" for the purposes of criticism or review.

In this edition of Are They Rock or Metal, Collin and Tom wade directly into the gothic grey zone to answer one deceptively simple question:

Is HIM a rock band… or a metal band?

What follows is a surprisingly deep (and wildly unhinged) discussion about love metal, gothic aesthetics, distorted guitars, drum velocity, Type O Negative comparisons, Ghost gatekeeping, and whether a slow dance to “Right Here In Your Arms” counts as romantic metal or just emotional damage.

Check out more from Collin!

https://indi1015.ca/shows/thrashers-paradise/

https://www.youtube.com/@thrashersparadise4132

https://www.instagram.com/thrashers_paradise/

https://www.facebook.com/Thrashers.Paradise.666/

Check out more from Tom!

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https://www.youtube.com/@MetalRobotReviews

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MUSIC:

HIM “Join Me In Death”

HIM “Wicked Game”

HIM “Wings of a Butterfly”

HIM “Right Here In My Arms”

-----------------------------

DISCLAIMER: Copyright Exceptions under the Copyright Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. C-42), allowance is made for "fair dealing" for the purposes of criticism or review.

Symphonic metal has officially entered the chat.

In this Best Of edition of the Influencers of Metal Podcast, Collin and Tom dive headfirst into the dramatic, orchestral, occasionally ridiculous world of symphonic metal—the subgenre that proves metal and classical music have always been distant cousins who secretly share the same rage.

From Nightwish’s genre-defining legacy, to Epica’s death metal backbone, Fleshgod Apocalypse’s full-orchestra insanity, and the blurry crossover with gothic, power, and extreme metal, this episode breaks down what symphonic metal actually is—and why it works.

Check out more from Collin!

https://indi1015.ca/shows/thrashers-paradise/

https://www.youtube.com/@thrashersparadise4132

https://www.instagram.com/thrashers_paradise/

https://www.facebook.com/Thrashers.Paradise.666/

Check out more from Tom!

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https://www.youtube.com/@MetalRobotReviews

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https://www.instagram.com/the.metalrobot/

MUSIC:

Music By "Cyber Pirate"

Link To The Original Song: Cyber Pirate - "Traces Of Her Voice"

Nightwish “Storytime”

Epica “Consign To Oblivion (A New Age Dawns 3)”

Fleshgod Apocalypse “The Violation”

Lacuna Coil “Our Truth”

Fantasy Meditations “Romulus and Remus”

Ex Deo “The Roman”

Leaves’ Eyes “Jomsborg”

-----------------------------

DISCLAIMER: Copyright Exceptions under the Copyright Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. C-42), allowance is made for "fair dealing" for the purposes of criticism or review.

In this episode of Influencers of Metal, Collin and Tom put on their best hockey broadcaster voices and break down one crucial question: what metal songs would actually make great hockey goal songs?

From thrash classics and hardcore breakdowns to arena-ready anthems and one truly baffling Devin Townsend choice, the boys debate what should be blasting through the arena speakers when the red light goes on. Along the way, they touch on real-life goal songs, NHL soundtracks, Canadian content pride, and why some songs absolutely rule… just not after a goal.

Check out more from Collin!

https://indi1015.ca/shows/thrashers-paradise/

https://www.youtube.com/@thrashersparadise4132

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https://www.facebook.com/Thrashers.Paradise.666/

Check out more from Tom!

https://themetalrobot.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@MetalRobotReviews

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https://www.instagram.com/the.metalrobot/

MUSIC:

Paleface Swiss “River Of Sorrows (Unplugged)”

The Haunted “99”

Metallica “Creeping Death”

Metallica “Ride The Lightning”

Knocked Loose “Counting Worms”

Nothing More “Don’t Stop”

Pantera “Domination”

Sabaton “Primo Victoria”

Lutharo “Wings of Agony”

-----------------------------

DISCLAIMER: Copyright Exceptions under the Copyright Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. C-42), allowance is made for "fair dealing" for the purposes of criticism or review.

It’s been a minute… okay, more than a minute — but Covers Episodes are BACK.

In Covers, Part III, Tom and Collin throw logic out the window and pitch their ultimate dream metal covers: songs that don’t currently have metal versions (as far as we know) but absolutely should. From ABBA heartbreak reimagined as gothic doom, to pop-punk staples begging for power metal theatrics, to Steel Panther covers that feel inevitable, this episode is part wish-list, part shitposting, and part “please hear this and make it real.”

Expect passionate arguments, dumb jokes, serious music theory moments, and several instances of “god damn it… I can hear it.”

Check out more from Collin!

https://indi1015.ca/shows/thrashers-paradise/

https://www.youtube.com/@thrashersparadise4132

https://www.instagram.com/thrashers_paradise/

https://www.facebook.com/Thrashers.Paradise.666/

Check out more from Tom!

https://themetalrobot.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@MetalRobotReviews

https://www.facebook.com/theMetalRobot

https://x.com/theMetalRobot

https://www.instagram.com/the.metalrobot/

MUSIC:

Ozzy Osbourne “Crazy Train” (music box cover)

ABBA “Angel Eyes”

Bon Jovi “I’ll Be There For You”

Billy Talent “Devil In a Midnight Mass”

Aurelio Voltaire “The Night”

Mötley Crüe “Girls, Girls, Girls”

Palaye Royale “Mr. Doctor Man”

-----------------------------

DISCLAIMER: Copyright Exceptions under the Copyright Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. C-42), allowance is made for "fair dealing" for the purposes of criticism or review.

The Influencers of Metal Podcast kicks off 2026 with a brand-new “What Have You Been Listening To?”, and spoiler alert: Collin might’ve been right about this being the Year of Thrash.

The duo break down the bangers they’ve had on repeat over the past month, while also reacting to a stacked start to the year—new album announcements, massive tours, and three back-to-back Toronto shows featuring Archspire, Amon Amarth & Dethklok, and Sepultura (Collin’s wallet started crying). The lists cover everything from thrash, deathcore, hardcore, doom, power metal, and atmospheric black metal, with Kreator proving thrash is absolutely back on the menu. 

Check out more from Collin!

https://indi1015.ca/shows/thrashers-paradise/

https://www.youtube.com/@thrashersparadise4132

https://www.instagram.com/thrashers_paradise/

https://www.facebook.com/Thrashers.Paradise.666/

Check out more from Tom!

https://themetalrobot.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@MetalRobotReviews

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https://www.instagram.com/the.metalrobot/

If you or someone you know is in crisis, you are not alone. https://findahelpline.com

Canada’s Suicide Crisis Helpline: https://988.ca/

US National Suicide Hotline: 1-800-985-5990

MUSIC:

Alex Yarmak “Thrash Metal Instrumental”

Nailbomb “Cockroaches”

The Pretty Wild “sLeepwALkeR”

Motörhead “I Ain’t No Nice Guy (feat Ozzy Osbourne)”

Hazzerd “Interdimension”

Paleface Swiss “Withering Flower”

Ellende “Zerfall”

vianova “Más Rápido”

Fear Of Domination “Last Words”

Orchid Throne “Ephemerality”

Fox Lake “Headshot (feat. Silent Planet)”

Kreator “Psychotic Imperator”

NanowaR of Steel “Feet & Greet (feat. Mikael Sehlin)”

Ov Sulfur “Seed”

Kreator “Krushers Of The World”

Upiór “The Black Paintings”

-----------------------------

DISCLAIMER: Copyright Exceptions under the Copyright Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. C-42), allowance is made for "fair dealing" for the purposes of criticism or review.

In this episode of the Influencers of Metal Podcast, Collin and Tom tackle one of metal’s most emotional brick walls: Devin Townsend. Collin comes in hot with a massive list spanning Devin Townsend, Devin Townsend Project, and Devin’s many beautiful, chaotic moods—while Tom sharpens the blade and helps trim it down to a Top 10 Heaviest Devin Townsend Songs.

From self-love anthems that make you want to cry and headbang, to Ziltoid-fueled planet smashers and blackened blastbeat freakouts, the list covers everything from Epicloud to Physicist and more—with one very specific stop in Empath-land. There are disagreements. There’s a D&D dice roll. Ziltoid shows up a suspicious number of times. And at number one? Devin absolutely losing his mind in the best way possible.

Check out more from Collin!

https://indi1015.ca/shows/thrashers-paradise/

https://www.youtube.com/@thrashersparadise4132

https://www.instagram.com/thrashers_paradise/

https://www.facebook.com/Thrashers.Paradise.666/

Check out more from Tom!

https://themetalrobot.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@MetalRobotReviews

https://www.facebook.com/theMetalRobot

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MUSIC:

Devin Townsend “Color Your World”

Devin Townsend “Devoid”

Devin Townsend “Hear Me”

Devin Townsend “Death”

-----------------------------

DISCLAIMER: Copyright Exceptions under the Copyright Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. C-42), allowance is made for "fair dealing" for the purposes of criticism or review.

This week on the Influencers of Metal Podcast, things get… artificial. Collin and Tom dive headfirst into the chaos surrounding AI-generated bands, Spotify’s AI remix nonsense, and the growing flood of soulless algorithm sludge clogging up streaming platforms.

From fake metal bands gaming Spotify’s algorithm to artists unknowingly having their music used as AI training data, the crew breaks down why so many musicians are furious—and why listeners might not even realize it’s happening yet.

It’s a topical, slightly unhinged, occasionally hilarious discussion about creativity, consent, corporate nonsense, and whether AI belongs anywhere near music at all. 

Spoiler: the Metal Robot has thoughts.

Check out more from Collin!

https://indi1015.ca/shows/thrashers-paradise/

https://www.youtube.com/@thrashersparadise4132

https://www.instagram.com/thrashers_paradise/

https://www.facebook.com/Thrashers.Paradise.666/

Check out more from Tom!

https://themetalrobot.com/

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https://www.instagram.com/the.metalrobot/

-----------------------------

DISCLAIMER: Copyright Exceptions under the Copyright Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. C-42), allowance is made for "fair dealing" for the purposes of criticism or review.

The first Are They Rock or Metal? verdict of 2026 is in—and this one comes with blast beats, kawaii chaos, and a grown man in a schoolgirl outfit… thanks again Pumpkin Queen.

Collin and Tom take on LADYBABY, Japan’s answer to the question nobody asked but everybody needed: “What if Babymetal, wrestling, and sheer confusion formed a band?” They break down LADYBABY’s origins, the infamous wrestler-frontman era, the band’s evolution, and why—despite the glitter, frills, and sheer absurdity—the answer is painfully obvious.

Check out more from Collin!

https://indi1015.ca/shows/thrashers-paradise/

https://www.youtube.com/@thrashersparadise4132

https://www.instagram.com/thrashers_paradise/

https://www.facebook.com/Thrashers.Paradise.666/

Check out more from Tom!

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https://www.youtube.com/@MetalRobotReviews

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MUSIC:

LADYBABY “Nippon Manju”

Allan Ariza “Ronin”

-----------------------------

DISCLAIMER: Copyright Exceptions under the Copyright Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. C-42), allowance is made for "fair dealing" for the purposes of criticism or review.