Smog and Brake cruise the skies, drifting somewhere between the known and unknown, discussing life, love, loss, and whatever else floats through the void. Meanwhile, the Matrix provides the soundtrack: Twitching Tongues’ In Love There Is No Law.

This week on Black Manifold Transmissions, Faizon Love goes missing. After a brief search, the crew decides, "Well... let's enjoy just a little quiet." That peace doesn't last long, as Faizon is eventually discovered strapped to a rocket after one hell of a bender. Then it's off to the Matrix to review Direwolf's Winter Rituals, before Faizon makes a life-changing decision that could change the fate of the Manifold forever.

This week on Black Manifold Transmissions: Interview Series, we sit down with Arkansas metal band Tempus Terra to talk about the band's journey, songwriting, influences, the local metal scene, and what's next. We also dig into life as an independent band, playing live, and, of course, plenty of heavy riffs. Tune in for another conversation celebrating the underground.

A new traveler enters the Manifold.

This week we welcome Molina to the crew and put him through the initiation ritual: a review of Baroness' Purple. Riffs, riffs, and more riffs as we break down one of the band's most beloved records and see if Molina survives the journey.

The Zune of Rune has updated.

Without warning, the ancient cursed music player awakens and delivers a new transmission from Neurosis: An Undying Love for a Burning World. Smog and Brake do what they've always done when the Zune speaks—they listen. No quests. No monsters. No desperate escapes. Just two travelers sitting around the signal, letting the riffs wash over them while they talk about the songs, the atmosphere, the emotions, and whatever strange places the music takes them.

Sometimes the greatest adventure is pressing play.

In this lively conversation, Brake and Ole Smog prepare for a mission involving espionage and the retrieval of Molina, a character with four metal arms. The dialogue flows through humorous discussions about identity, relationships, and the absurdity of their situation, including masturbation techniques and the importance of sustenance. They analyze Loathefinder - Broken Branches and Torn Roots, reflecting on its themes and musicality, while also planning a welcome party for Molina. The conversation culminates in a chaotic mission execution, leading to reflections on their experiences and a rating of the album.

Strap into the Black Manifold with intergalactic haulers Brake Savage and Ole Smog as they drift through the frozen void chasing distress beacons, bad memories, and riffs heavy enough to crack a dying moon. What starts as another routine haul across the frost bitten galaxy spirals into a strange cosmic journey involving family scars, father-son reckonings, mysterious transmissions, and rumors of a forgotten Mammoth King lurking beyond the ice storms.

Along the way, the crew reflects on personal victories, identity, power, and the bizarre connections tying every lost soul together somewhere in deep space. Between existential dread and blue-collar space trucker nonsense, the boys break down the album track by track — discussing favorite riffs, emotional gut-punch moments, standout songs, album structure, and the strange comfort heavy music brings when the galaxy feels cold and indifferent.

This week on Black Manifold Transmissions, we drift into the beautiful chaos of Asunojokei and get completely swallowed by atmosphere, emotion, and riffs powerful enough to bend spacetime around the Black Manifold itself.

Meanwhile, the crew realizes there’s only one way to bust Molina out of the Iommi Corp detention station that’s been tracking us across the sector: upgraded thrusters. That means making a stop to see The Mechanic — a straight-laced working man who spends his days repairing freight haulers, balancing invoices, and trying very hard not to get dragged into whatever insanity follows the Black Manifold across the galaxy.

Dropping outside our regular release schedule, Rob flies solo for a special Black Manifold Transmissions interview with CT of Rwake to talk all things Mutants of the Monster as the beloved Arkansas underground music and arts festival enters its 11th year running June 4th through 6th.

This week on Black Manifold Transmissions, we sit down with Paul Prater of Direwolf for a deep dive into riffs, songwriting, underground metal, and the chaos behind the music. From the evolution of the band to life in the scene, this one turns into a wild ride through heavy sounds, creative obsession, and the kind of stories you only get after the amps cool down.