Taking a break from my interview format this week to instead give you a taste of another project that I've been working on. Earlier this year I teamed up with my friend and former Lamniformes Radio guest Joseph Schafer to launch The Human Instrumentality Podcast, a re-cap and analysis podcast about the classic 90s anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion.

The secret's out! Your boy is a certified nerd. But I think nerds and normie's alike can get something out of The Human Instrumentality Podcast. Whether it's your first time watching or a rewatch, this podcast is the perfect companion to one of the most psychologically twisted and thematically complex anime series out there.

I'll be back next week with another interview, but for now be sure to keep up with the latest episodes of The Human Instrumentality Podcast on our website:

https://instrumentalitypod.com/

Today I am joined by Damon Hardjowirogo of Infinity Shred, an instrumental trio with roots in the chip tune scene of the late 2000s, that have since evolved to incorporate post rock, heavy metal, and cutting edge electronic production. Last Friday Infinity Shred released EP 002: Recovery through 3Dot Recordings. I was psyched to have Damon on the podcast to talk about this latest EP, as well as the band’s sci-fi aesthetic, touring with bands like Periphery and Horse The Band, skateboarding, and much, much more.

https://infinityshred.bandcamp.com/

https://lamniformes.bandcamp.com/album/you-cant-do-this-alone

Today I am joined by Mike Schleibaum, the guitarist of Darkest Hour and Be Well. For the last 25 years Darkest Hour have played a high energy mix of hardcore punk and heavy metal. After releasing nine studio albums through labels like Victory, E-One, Sumerian, and Southern Lord, the band have decided to go independent for album number ten. While working on that record, the band have also launched a patreon page, where they’ve recently debuted “Live In Lockdown,” a recording of a live stream concert that they used to raise money for the legendary DC venue The Black Cat. I was psyched to have Schleibaum on the podcast to talk about Live in Lockdown, the move to patreon, and his thoughts on Darkest Hour’s impressive catalog. Thank you for listening.

https://www.patreon.com/DarkestHourOfficial

https://lamniformes.bandcamp.com/album/you-cant-do-this-alone

Today I am joined by Zain Alam, who performs music under the name Humeysha. Humeysha are a difficult band to in down, Alam mixes shoegaze inspired guitar, booming 808s, and samples recorded during a year long stay in India to study the effects of the partition of 1947. The end result is like very little else out there. I've had the honor of playing drums in the live version of Humeysha for two years now, and I was delighted to have Alam on to talk about the origins of this project and the way it balances both anthropology and art.

https://humeysha.bandcamp.com/

Today I am joined by Amalia Soto, better known as the web artist Molly Soda. I wanted to have Molly on the show because of her most recent project, Keeping Tabs where she attempts to break out of the web’s social media hegemony and surf towards less visited parts of the internet. One of the key themes to the series is the way that the mobile phone has completely changed the way that the internet works, which resonated with me because of the way that mobile phones have impacted music consumption. I was delighted to have Molly on to talk about these topics, internet archiving, and her art practice in general.

https://www.eternal.tv/programs/keeping-tabs-with-molly

https://mollysoda.exposed/

https://linktr.ee/Lamniformes

This week I'm joined by Gary Suarez. In addition to writing freelance for Rolling Stone, Vice, Vibe, NPR, The Guardian, The Quietus, The Pit, and more publications than I could list here, Suarez also runs the hip-hop newsletter Cabbages, where he highlights the best in new independent hip-hop. Suarez also just started the second season of the Cabbages podcast, where he talks to rappers and writers about TV and movies. I've been a longtime reader of Suarez's work, ever since his controversial Oceano review on Metalsucks, so I was psyched to have him on the podcast to talk about Cabbages and the state of independent media in general.

You can find Gary's work here:

https://cabbages.substack.com/

https://gary-suarez.squarespace.com/

Today I am joined by Dan Barrett, the singer of internet cult heroes Have A Nice Life. In December Barrett released his second album as Black Wing, a solo project where he limits himself strictly to electronic instruments, titled "No Moon." In our conversation we talk about the process for "No Moon," Barrett's acoustic project Giles Corey, the intersections of his business and artistic life, Puffin Rock, and much more!

https://nowflensing.com/

https://theflenser.bandcamp.com/

https://www.betterquestionsemail.com/

https://twitter.com/enemieslist

On this episode I am joined by writer Langdon Hickman, to talk about his massive Rush retrospective project for Treble. Over the last year, Langdon has written about every studio album that the legendary Canadian progressive rock band Rush released in their 40 year career. Langdon and I went deep to cover the band's musical and personal evolution, tracing the changes in their influences as well as their shift from Ayn Rand-ian libertarianism to a more compassionate worldview.

Intro - 0:00

Rush through 2112 - 33:44

A Farewell to Kings through Moving Pictures - 45:14

Signals through Hold Your Fire - 1:09:50

Presto through Test For Echo - 1:26:48

Vapor Trails through Clockwork Angels - 1:50:38

You can find Langdon's writing here:

https://www.treblezine.com/author/langdon-hickman/

https://www.invisibleoranges.com/author/langdon/

Jay Kohler, the guitarist and composer behind the band Juan Bond came on the podcast to talk about the long path that led him to the release of the band's debut album "Womb", out now on Dark Trail Records. Along the way we cover everything from his middle school experiments with hip-hop, playing in rap rock bands, studying music in college, private lessons with the members of Sleepytime Gorilla Museum and his roundabout route to heavy music. We also narrowly avoid a dreaded NY vs MA sports convo. Thanks for listening!

https://juanbond.bandcamp.com/

Frank Meadows and Jonathan Mondragon join me to talk about The Mars Volta, a band beloved by crowds and hated by rock critics in the 2000s. The three of us covered all six of the band's albums, their origins in the wake of At The Drive-In and the El, Paso Texas, the band's unconventional recording process, and how their work mixes progressive rock, salsa, jazz, magical realism, and much, much more. It's a long one to close out the year folks. Thanks for listening!

Frank Meadows:

https://linktr.ee/frank_meadows_music

Jon Mondragon:

https://www.instagram.com/monathanjondragon/

Time Stamps:

Intro to The Mars Volta - 2:52

At The Drive-In - 8:08

Defacto - 15:56

Tremulant EP - 22:54

De-Loused in the Comatorium - 32:22

Scabdates - 42:25

Frances The Mute - 46:46

Amputchture - 1:06:34

The Bedlam in Goliath - 1:13:33

Octahedron - 1:28:25

Noctourniquet - 1:39:56