Metalcore & Muscle

In this episode, we analyze the lyrical content of two of the most emotional albums of 2022. Many people have experienced great loss over the last two years, whether that was losing out on experiences or actually losing loved ones and listening to these two albums can be a cathartic avenue to work through some of those emotions. The albums analyzed in this episode include The Hell We Create by Fit For A King and Dark Sun by Dayseeker. We then examine a research article that investigates the effects of emotion on sports performance. Today's episode is rounded out with the Spotify release radar recap. We hope you enjoy!

Resources:

• Fit For A King’s track-by-track guide to new album The… | Kerrang!
• Emotions and Sport Performance: An Exploration of Happiness, Hope, and Anger in: Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology Volume 31 Issue 2 (2009) (humankinetics.com)
• Fit for a King (band) - Wikipedia
• Dayseeker - Wikipedia

Release Radar Recap:

• Sabotage by Thousand Below
• Elysium by Invent Animate
• Gambit by Shrezzers 

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Are you gearing up for a big winter bulk? Many trainees will enter a bulking phase as winter approaches, and in this episode, Evan describes his experiences during his first bulking phase 10 years ago vs. his current bulking phase. We highlight lessons learned during that experience including topics of training, supplementation, nutrition, and sleep. We also discuss what the research shows surrounding best practices for gaining muscle. The Release Radar Recap is intertwined with the main content of this episode. If you are interested in gaining muscle mass as a natural, you will not want to miss this one!

Resources:

• Frontiers | Is an Energy Surplus Required to Maximize Skeletal Muscle Hypertrophy Associated With Resistance Training (frontiersin.org)
• Natural vs. Enhanced Lifters (t-nation.com)
• SHAREABLE RESOURCE: Ten Ways to Implement the Principle of P... : ACSM's Health & Fitness Journal (lww.com)
• Sleep And Muscle Growth: How Much Sleep Do You Need? (9 Studies) (builtwithscience.com)

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This episode of the podcast features an album comparison of two of metalcore's best concept albums from the 2012-2013 era. Crown the Empire and Famous Last Words face off in a comparison of their first studio albums: The Fallout and Two-Faced Charade. In this episode, we break the comparison down into the following categories: instrumentals, vocals, workoutability (breakdowns), and lyrics. Lastly the episode rounds out with the Spotify Release Radar Recap. 

Resources:

• Crown the Empire - Wikipedia
• The Fallout (Crown the Empire album) - Wikipedia
• Famous Last Words (band) - Wikipedia
• Q and A with Famous Last Words 2 – BAREBONES ENTERTAINMENT
• What’s the story in “The Fallout” by Crown the Empire? : Metalcore (reddit.com)

Release Radar Recap:

• Deja Vu (album) by Novelists FR
• Lotus (album) by Within Destruction
• Circles by Varials
• Idlewaves by Our Hollow, Our Home

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Do you enjoy your workouts, or are you finding yourself unmotivated to train? We are more likely to adhere to exercise that we enjoy, thus perhaps resulting in increases in motivation and consistency. In this episode, we discuss 7 ways to make your workouts more enjoyable, one of which is music. We discuss ways to find new metalcore music and cap the episode off with the release radar recap from Spotify. If you find yourself bored with your current training, hopefully this episode will help!

Article: Workout nutrition explained. What to eat before, during, and after exercise. - Precision Nutrition

Release Radar Recap:

• War by Bazanji feat. NEFFEX 
• The Death We Seek by Currents
• Disparity (album) by Oceans Ate Alaska
• Culling Kindness by Saving Vice

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Have you ever wondered how long it takes to build muscle? If your goal in the gym is to build muscle, you won't want to miss some of the key practical applications shared in this episode. If you are a beginner with your weight training, we are hoping this episode is helpful in establishing safe and realistic expectations regarding your training goals. We also touch on some recent research examining resistance training variables promoting muscular hypertrophy. The episode then transitions into our current selections for top workout songs right now, followed by a couple highlights from our Spotify Release Radar.  Fitness meets the metalcore genre in this episode, you don't want to miss it!

Research Articles: 

• Resistance Training Variables for Optimization of Muscle Hypertrophy: An Umbrella Review - PubMed (nih.gov) 
• An examination of the time course of training-induced skeletal muscle hypertrophy - PubMed (nih.gov)

Release Radar Recap:

• True Power (album) by I Prevail
• Bitterblossom by Westhand feat. ERRA

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In this episode, we discuss Fearless Record's Punk Goes Pop series and how it became a gateway into the metalcore genre. We breakdown each album discussing artists involved, favorite covers from each volume, and lastly make a selection for best volume within the series. Our host also discusses some of his favorite covers that are not included within the Punk Goes Pop series. We then round into a fitness segment, discussing some tips on growing bigger arms. Today's episode concludes with the Release Radar Recap discussing some of the latest music releases in the metalcore genre. Enjoy! 

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Exercise has often been touted as a great method for anxiety and stress management however, it may be hard to tap into these benefits if the gym environment sparks feelings of anxiety. For many people, even experienced weightlifters, the gym can generate feelings of social anxiety. In today's episode, our host Evan discusses some of the anxiety and stress reduction benefits of exercise, situations that increase social anxiety for males in the gym environment, and lastly some strategies/solutions you can implement to mitigate some of the anxiety. If you experience gymtimidation, you are not alone!

 The episode rounds out with the Spotify Release Radar Recap where Evan shares some new songs from the metalcore scene that were released this week.

For updates follow the MetalCore and Muscle Instagram page @mc_muscle. Enjoy!

ACSM Article: MIGHT PLIGHT: THE SOCIAL ANXIETY FELT BY MEN IN THE WEIGHTLI... : ACSM's Health & Fitness Journal (lww.com)

Anxiety and Depression Association of America Article: Exercise for Stress and Anxiety | Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA

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Have you ever wondered why or how music evokes emotions? Whether it's your favorite song from when you were a kid or a new song that pumps you up in the gym, there is no denying that music makes us feel emotion as humans. In this episode, Evan explores an article that seeks to answer the question, "Why do we get emotional when we listen to music?". Evan then transitions into discussing some common misconceptions/commonly held beliefs within the fitness space. The episode concludes by discussing some new metalcore tracks that were released this week with our Release Radar Recap. 

Article Link: Why Do We Get Emotional When We Listen To Music? (bustle.com)

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In this episode, we attempt to answer the question, "what role does genetics play in building muscle?" by examining an online article from the Good Guide for Health Care. We then transition into discussing two recent research articles (linked below) that discuss advanced resistance training techniques promoting hypertrophy, as well as the optimal resistance training volume per muscle group. We finish out the episode discussing some things to look out for as a consumer in the fitness industry, and Evan provides a look into his Spotify Release Radar for this week. We hope there are a lot of key takeaways from this episode that you can directly implement into your training routine to maximize muscle hypertrophy. Enjoy!

Role of Genetics in Bodybuilding: Role of Genetics for Muscle, Strength And Training (gghc.org)

Hypertrophy Articles:

• Maximizing Muscle Hypertrophy: A Systematic Review of Advanced Resistance Training Techniques and Methods - PubMed (nih.gov)
• A Systematic Review of The Effects of Different Resistance Training Volumes on Muscle Hypertrophy - PMC (nih.gov)

Fitness Industry:

• Hot Take on Fake Natties
• Instagram Exercise Challenges
• Fitness Influencers' Coaching Programs

Release Radar Recap:

• Forsaken by Until I Wake
• Body Bag by I Prevail

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Welcome to season number two of the podcast! We are kicking this season off with a fun episode hypothetically creating the ultimate metalcore band utilizing a "fantasy draft" to select some of the best musicians in the genre. Evan builds his ultimate 6-piece (clean vocals, screaming vocals, lead guitar, rhythm guitar, bass guitar, and drums) metalcore group and explains his selections in depth. The episode transitions into the fitness tip segment where Evan discusses some common form mistakes when performing alternating dumbbell bicep curls and cable rope triceps extensions. This episode wraps with the selection for workout song of the week. Enjoy! 

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