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Have you ever bought a record just because the cover caught your eye?
This week on Riff Worship, we spotlight the legendary creators who defined the aesthetic of the bands we love!
Join us as we discuss our favorite albums covers including the profound works of artists like John Dyer Baizley (Baroness, Pig Destroyer), Orion Landau (Yob), Mariusz Lewandowski (Mizmor), Paul Romano (Mastodon), and Arik Roper (Sleep).
From hand-painted masterpieces to captivating photography, we’ll also highlight several of our favorite working artists including Benjamin Vierling, Mark McCoy, Bo Orr, Zach Hobbs, Caroline Harrison, Tetsunori Tawaraya, and many more!
What is your favorite album cover of all time? Let us know in the comments!
Featured Albums / Artists:
Blacklisted - Heavier Than Heaven, Lonelier Than God (Melissa Farley)
Yob - Clearing the Path to Ascend (Orion Landau)
Darkest Hour - Deliver Us (John Dyer Baizley)
Baroness - Red Album (John Dyer Baizley)
Pig Destroyer - Phantom Limb (John Dyer Baizley)
Sleep - Dopesmoker (Arik Roper)
Bruce Springsteen - Nebraska (David Michael Kennedy)
Full of Hell - Trumpeting Ecstasy (Mark McCoy)
Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp a Butterfly (Denis Rouvre)
The Locust - Plague Soundscapes (Sam McPheeters)
Cannibal Corpse - Vile (Vincent Locke)
Mizmor - Cairn (Mariusz Lewandowski)
Songs: Ohia - Magnolia Electric Co. (William Schaff)
Sepultura - Chaos A.D. (Michael R. Whelan)
Neurosis - Through Silver in Blood
Dream Unending - Song Of Salvation (Benjamin A. Vierling)
Converge - Petitioning The Empty Sky (Aaron Turner)
Korn - Korn (Jay Papke and Dante Ariola)
Mastodon - Crack the Skye (Paul Romano)
YOB - Clearing The Path To Ascend (Orion Landau)
Thou - Tyrant
Other Featured Artists:
Adam Burke
Zachary Hobbs
Caroline Harrison
Tetsunori Tawaraya
Liz Walshak (Vanitas Illustration)
Kristian Wåhlin (Necrolord)
H.R. Giger
Jacob Bannon
Dan Seagrave
Wes Benscoter
Mike D'Antonio (DarkicoN Design)
Matt Scott Barnes
Derek Hess
Jim H Madison (Print Mafia)
Recommendations:
Dream Unending - Certain Uncertainties
Asbestosdeath - Dejection / Unclean
Venom - Welcome to Hell
Venom - Black Metal
Artificial Brain - Antillia
Darkest Hour - Deliver Us
HISS - A Cheapened Crown
Witch Bolt - The Tallowman EP
Suicide Silence - Graceless
Slow Pulp - Melodie
John Carpenter - Anthology: Movie Themes 1974-1998
Follow Riff Worship
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riffworshippod/
Twitter: https://x.com/RiffWorshipPod
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RiffWorshipPod
Check out our Official Playlists:
Riffs on Repeat (Spotify)
Riffs on Repeat (YouTube Music)
Hits from the Crypt (Apple)
This week on Riff Worship, we explore the impact and evolution of extreme music compilations and label samplers!
In this episode, we’ll discuss:
Why compilation albums matter as cost-effective label promos, essential music discovery tools, historical snapshots of evolving musical trends, and sources for rare, exclusive tracks!
We also break down landmark releases that shaped the underground:
Earache's Grindcrusher (1989): Showcasing extreme metal and grindcore pioneers like Morbid Angel, Napalm Death, Carcass, Godflesh, Bolt Thrower, and Terrorizer.
MTV2's Headbangers Ball Vol. 2 (2004): A Roadrunner Records release featuring heavyweights and underground acts like Slipknot, Killswitch Engage, Cradle of Filth, and Dimmu Borgir.
BMA vs. Metal Blade vs. Robotic Empire Split Comp (2004): A massive label crossover featuring Pig Destroyer, Lamb of God, Cannibal Corpse, Opeth, and Unearth.
What was the first compilation album or label sampler that hooked you on underground music? Let us know below!
Recommendations:
Grindcrusher - The Earache Sampler
Grindcrusher - The Ultimate Earache
MTV2's Headbangers Ball Vol. 2 (Disc 1)
MTV2's Headbangers Ball Vol. 2 (Disc 2)
BMA vs. Metal Blade vs. Robotic Empire Split Comp
Dark Passages
Sounds Of The Underground Volume One
Ampere - The First Five Years
Destroy New Granada
Thou - A Young Person's Guide to Thou
(Don't Forget To) Breathe
Hex Records 10 Year comp.
Jade Tree - Twenty Five Years
Paramaecium - Exhumed Of The Earth
Easy Blame - HYPERNORMALIZED
Every Time I Die - New Junk Aesthetic
Every Time I Die - From Parts Unknown
Follow Riff Worship
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riffworshippod/
Twitter: https://x.com/RiffWorshipPod
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RiffWorshipPod
Check out our Official Playlists:
Riffs on Repeat (Spotify)
Riffs on Repeat (YouTube Music)
Hits from the Crypt (Apple)
This week on Riff Worship, we unpack the underground legacy of post-hardcore icons Hot Cross and the turbulent creation of their 2007 swan song, Risk Revival.
In this episode, we discuss:
The band’s roots in post-hardcore and screamo heavyweights Saetia, You and I, and Neil Perry.
Their essential catalog, including defining splits with Light the Fuse and Run, Lickgoldensky, and The Holy Shroud.
The decision to scrap the album and re-record it from scratch with former guitarist Josh Jakubowski for Equal Vision Records.
How exhaustion, label pressures, and shifting personal lives led to the band's indefinite hiatus in 2007.
Breaking down the razor-sharp twin-guitar textures, aggressive delivery, and unsparing intensity that set Hot Cross apart from their contemporaries!
Photo: Jonathan Feinstein
Recommendations:
Emma Ruth Rundle - These Killing Times
Asunder - A Clarion Call
Asunder - Works Will Come Undone
Follow Riff Worship
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riffworshippod/
Twitter: https://x.com/RiffWorshipPod
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RiffWorshipPod
Check out our Official Playlists:
Riffs on Repeat (Spotify)
Riffs on Repeat (YouTube Music)
Hits from the Crypt (Apple)
Long before the ballads and sold-out stadiums, a twenty-year-old Billy Joel ditched classical piano, maxed out a Hammond B-3 organ through a wall of Marshall stacks, and set out to melt faces.
In this episode of Riff Worship, we explore the strange, short-lived history of Attila: the legendary proto-metal duo Joel formed with drummer Jon Small.
Join us as we trace their evolution from The Lost Souls and The Hassles straight into the meat-locker photoshoots, the catastrophic reception of their 1970 Epic Records debut, and how it ultimately paved the way for a prolific solo career!
Andy Williams Forever: https://andywilliamsforever.com/
Recommendations:
Willie Colón & Héctor Lavoe - Cosa Nuestra
Jim & Jesse and The Virginia Boys - Y’all Come
Breathing Fire - Demo
Breathing Fire - Years of Lead
Genital Shame - Wellness Plan
Follow Riff Worship
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riffworshippod/
Twitter: https://x.com/RiffWorshipPod
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RiffWorshipPod
Check out our Official Playlists:
Riffs on Repeat (Spotify)
Riffs on Repeat (YouTube Music)
Hits from the Crypt (Apple)
This week on Riff Worship, we dissect the history of Atlanta’s vegan straight-edge grindcore trio, Dead in the Dirt. We trace their journey from early DIY beginnings to their signing with Southern Lord, exploring the making of their debut LP, The Blind Hole!
In this episode, we’ll discuss:
Guitarist and vocalist Blake Connally’s bizarre introduction to extreme music, from unearthing a buried Helmet CD in the woods to discovering Napalm Death on the 1995 Mortal Kombat movie soundtrack.
The trio's deep roots in the Atlanta heavy music scene, touching on early links to the mathcore outfit Me And Him Call It Us before solidifying the Dead in the Dirt lineup with bassist Bo Orr and drummer Hank Pratt.
A breakdown of the band’s discography, including the raw Vold EP, their Southern Lord debut Fear, and the recording sessions with Andy Nelson (Bricktop Recording, Weekend Nachos) for 2013’s The Blind Hole.
Notable tours alongside heavyweights like Foundation, Harm's Way, Weekend Nachos, and Sunn O))).
The aftermath of the band's relentless touring schedule including post-DITD projects like Infernal Coil, Slow Fire Pistol, and Arbor Labor Union!
Recommendations:
Dead In The Dirt
me and him call it us
Foundation
Infernal Coil
SOLAR FLOWER
ARBOR LABOR UNION
Slow Fire Pistol
Siderean - 30,000 Cycles (Demo)
Nails - Fear Based Life
Emma Ruth Rundle - These Killing Times
Follow Riff Worship
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riffworshippod/
Twitter: https://x.com/RiffWorshipPod
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RiffWorshipPod
Check out our Official Playlists:
Riffs on Repeat (Spotify)
Riffs on Repeat (YouTube Music)
Hits from the Crypt (Apple)
Special guest Zach Reini (Ukko’s Hammer) returns to the Riff Worship Podcast to help us unpack the legacy of Finnish death-doom trailblazers Rippikoulu and their monumental 1993 demo, Musta seremonia!
In this episode, we’ll discuss:
Rippikoulu’s evolution from their chaotic hardcore punk origins in Valkeakoski to becoming architects of crushing, atmospheric death metal.
Revisiting their 1992 debut, Mutaation aiheuttama sisäinen mätäneminen and tracing their early foray into gore-obsessed heaviness.
How vocalist Anssi Kartela shifted the band's lyrical focus toward poetic reflections on life and sorrow, establishing Rippikoulu as the first death metal group to perform entirely in Finnish.
A detailed look into the recording process and the impossibly heavy, downtuned legacy of Musta seremonia.
The tragic passing of founding guitarist Marko Henriksson, the band's resulting hiatus, and their unexpected resurrection with the 2014 Ulvaja EP.
Zach breaks down the blistering, riff-heavy metallic hardcore of Ukko’s Hammer’s Demo II, detailing how Finnish folklore, language, and underground music directly shape his artistic approach.
Follow Ukko's Hammer
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ukkoshammer/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN3Bly2q6K69xh5UukxMIyQ
Bandcamp: https://ukkoshammer.bandcamp.com/music
Recommendations:
Ukko's Hammer - Demo II
Rippikoulu - Musta seremonia
Rippikoulu - Mutaation aiheuttama sisäinen mätäneminen
Rippikoulu - Ulvaja
GODFLESH - Decay
KAAOS - Nukke EP
V/A - No Future, No Past – Finnish Speed & Thrash Metal Explosion 1986–1992
Thergothon - Stream from the Heavens
Asunder - A Clarion Call
Spectral Voice - Sparagmos
Death Possession - Demo
Follow Riff Worship
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riffworshippod/
Twitter: https://x.com/RiffWorshipPod
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RiffWorshipPod
Check out our Official Playlists:
Riffs on Repeat (Spotify)
Riffs on Repeat (YouTube Music)
Hits from the Crypt (Apple)
In the mid-1980s, global charity supergroups like Band Aid and U.S.A. for Africa dominated international headlines, raising tens of millions of dollars to combat severe famine in Ethiopia. Yet, despite heavy metal’s massive commercial dominance, hard rock and metal musicians were noticeably excluded from pop-centric relief efforts.
In this episode of Riff Worship, we break down how Dio guitarist Vivian Campbell, bassist Jimmy Bain, and legendary frontman Ronnie James Dio decided to take action, recruiting over 40 hard rock and metal icons to create their own charitable anthem: "Stars" under the collective name Hear 'n Aid.
From the geopolitics and internal conflicts surrounding the 1983–1985 Ethiopian famine to the behind-the-scenes madness at Hollywood's A&M Studios, we explore the full story behind metal's most ambitious collaboration.
In this episode, we'll discuss:
The Ethiopian Famine: The political, economic, and military factors under Mengistu Haile Mariam's Derg regime that compounded the crisis.
Pop Philanthropy vs. Metal Stigma: How media controversy, PMRC hearings, and "Satanic Panic" left metal out of Band Aid and Live Aid.
The Origin of Hear 'n Aid: A chance radio interview at LA’s KLOS that sparked Vivian Campbell and Jimmy Bain to launch the project with Ronnie James Dio.
The All-Star "Stars" Recording Sessions: Highlights from May 1985 featuring members of Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Mötley Crüe, Queensrÿche, Dokken, Twisted Sister, W.A.S.P., Blue Öyster Cult, and an in-character appearance by Spinal Tap.
The Solos & The Choir: Behind-the-scenes studio dynamics, including the 3+ minute tag-team guitar solo relay featuring Yngwie Malmsteen, Neal Schon, George Lynch, and Brad Gillis.
Release Delays & Legacy: Label red tape, how Hear 'n Aid’s direct non-profit model avoided administrative grift, and updates on the long-awaited reissue and photo book benefiting the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund.
Hear N' Aid - Stars (1986): https://youtu.be/G5H94GHb-10?si=VKTVKbzfubKhRlXJ
The Hear 'n Aid Sessions (1986): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sHaQxEMM_g&t=489s
Live Aid: The Terrible Truth by Bob Keating (SPIN Magazine, 2015): https://www.spinmagazine.com/2015/07/live-aid-the-terrible-truth-ethiopia-bob-geldof-feature/
Recommendations:
Northern Lights - Tears Are Not Enough
Selenoplexia - The Battle of Agretes (Glory of Holy Warfare)
Cinder Well - A Blooming Body
Follow Riff Worship
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riffworshippod/
Twitter: https://x.com/RiffWorshipPod
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RiffWorshipPod
Check out our Official Playlists:
Riffs on Repeat (Spotify)
Riffs on Repeat (YouTube Music)
Hits from the Crypt (Apple)
This week on Riff Worship, we dive into the chaotic evolution of mathcore pioneers The Dillinger Escape Plan and the transformative journey behind their sophomore album, Miss Machine.
Formed in Morris Plains, New Jersey, in 1997 from the ashes of the short-lived hardcore band Arcane, Dillinger immediately set out to break the boundaries of heavy music. By fusing free jazz, progressive metal, and new-school hardcore, they built a legendary reputation on fractured song structures and notoriously unhinged live shows.
After releasing their explosive EP Under the Running Board and their landmark 1999 debut Calculating Infinity, the group reached a major crossroads. Following the departure of original vocalist Dimitri Minakakis, the band brought on frontman Greg Puciato and bassist Liam Wilson to kickstart a new era.
Refusing to simply record Calculating Infinity Part 2, they spent years meticulously balancing their signature technicality with newfound melody, electronic textures, and structured songwriting.
From recording in blocks with long-time producer Steve Evetts to navigating depleted budgets, financial gambles, and grueling tour cycles (including near-arrests on Warped Tour and hostile crowds on Gigantour), this episode uncovers the full story behind the creation of Miss Machine!
In this episode, we’ll cover:
Arcane’s transition into The Dillinger Escape Plan and their formative work at Trax East with producer Steve Evetts.
Overcoming devastating accidents, lineup changes, and trading away publishing rights to finish their debut album.
How an open audition tape and a collaboration with Mike Patton on Irony Is a Dead Scene set a new standard, bringing Greg Puciato into the fold.
The four-year writing process for Miss Machine, guerrilla studios, Pro Tools tracking, and deliberate stylistic risks on tracks like “Panasonic Youth,” “Setting Fire to Sleeping Giants,” and “Unretrofied.”
Surviving brutal injuries on the road, charting on the Billboard 200, and cementing their status as extreme music innovators!
Recommendations:
Idiot Pilot - Wolves
Long Goodbye - A Whispered Promise of Failure
GODFLESH - Decay
Metallica - Ride The Lightning
Photo courtesy of Dustin Rabin
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DustinRabin/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dustinrabin/
Website: https://www.dustinrabin.com/
Follow Riff Worship
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riffworshippod/
Twitter: https://x.com/RiffWorshipPod
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RiffWorshipPod
Check out our Official Playlists:
Riffs on Repeat (Spotify)
Riffs on Repeat (YouTube Music)
Hits from the Crypt (Apple)
This week on Riff Worship, we dive deep into the making, history, and sonic evolution of Kylesa’s seminal 2009 masterpiece, Static Tensions!
From their roots in Savannah’s pioneering crust-punk band Damad to their rise as titans of psychedelic sludge, Kylesa's story is defined by resilience, reinvention, and sheer heaviness.
In this episode, we explore:
The early days of co-founders Phillip Cope and Laura Pleasants, navigating the tragic loss of founding bassist Brian Duke, and how their DIY origins built their signature sound.
How Carl McGinley and Eric Hernandez unlocked Kylesa’s legendary double-drum assault—plus the hard-panned recording magic crafted at Jam Room Studios.
Rehearsing under The Jinx (and drawing noise complaints from Paula Deen’s restaurant), capturing a real Southern rainstorm for "Nature's Predators," and the surprising tonal influence of The Cult's Love.
The story behind the iconic artwork hand-painted by Baroness’s John Dyer Baizley and session bass work from Javier Villegas (Born Against, Cattle Press).
A detailed analysis of classics like "Scapegoat," "Running Red," "Unknown Awareness," and the frantic "Insomnia for Months!”
Recommendations:
Kylesa - Time Will Fuse Its Worth (20th Anniversary Limited Edition)
Iron Monkey - Our Problem
Cove - Cove
CADY - Limitations of the Human Form
Capsule - Ferox
Gojira - From Mars to Sirius
Corrosion of Conformity - Animosity
Krallice - Scour Order
Follow Riff Worship
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riffworshippod/
Twitter: https://x.com/RiffWorshipPod
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RiffWorshipPod
Check out our Official Playlists:
Riffs on Repeat (Spotify)
Riffs on Repeat (YouTube Music)
Hits from the Crypt (Apple)
This week on Riff Worship, we dive into Rush’s 1978 conceptual titan, Hemispheres!
Following the grueling tour cycle for A Farewell to Kings, Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, and Neil Peart headed to Rockfield Studios in Wales with producer Terry Brown to test their limits and record one of the most complex and ambitious albums of their career.
We break down Rush’s origins in Willowdale, Ontario, the transition from early hard rock to high-concept progressive rock, and the grueling, round-the-clock recording sessions that pushed the band to the edge.
We’ll examine Side A’s 18-minute epic, “Cygnus X-1 (Book II: Hemispheres),” analyzing its psychological battle between Apollo and Dionysus, alongside Side B standouts “Circumstances,” “The Trees,” and the legendary 12-part instrumental “La Villa Strangiato (An Exercise in Self-Indulgence).”
Join us as we discuss why Hemispheres marked both the peak and the end of Rush’s pure, side-long prog era!
Recommendations:
Aliya Ultan - Looks Far Woman
Spazz / Romantic Gorilla - Split
Emma Ruth Rundle - These Killing Times
Cro-Mags - Best Wishes
Psycroptic - The Pulse of Annihilation
Follow Riff Worship
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riffworshippod/
Twitter: https://x.com/RiffWorshipPod
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RiffWorshipPod
Check out our Official Playlists:
Riffs on Repeat (Spotify)
Riffs on Repeat (YouTube Music)
Hits from the Crypt (Apple)
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