The Metal List

Episode 98: Misery Signals

BLOOD IS FOREVER - LOVE IS FOREVER.

In Episode 98 of The Metal List, we celebrate the legacy of Milwaukee/Edmonton metalcore pioneers Misery Signals. From the emotional intensity of Of Malice and the Magnum Heart to Controller, we dive into the dual eras of Jesse Zaraska and Karl Schubach, signature melodic riffs, progressive rhythms, and the band's massive impact on modern Metalcore.

Join us as we discuss one of DLo’s all-time favorite bands…

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Links & Resources:

• The Metal List Linktree: https://linktr.ee/themetallistpodcast

• Misery Signals Official Store: https://miserysignals.bandcamp.com/

• Misery Signals Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MiserySignals/

Theme Song: Godhammered

• Godhammered Linktree: https://linktr.ee/Godhammered

Episode 97: Def Leppard – NWOBHM Roots, Glam Metal Dominance & Nostalgia

Gunter gleiben glauchen globen! We're talking about the NWOBHM legends, Def Leppard!

You read that right... forgotten by many, this Sheffield powerhouse was heavily involved in that magical era defining the term "Heavy Metal." Granted, they've given elitists more than enough reason to forget their Metal roots over the decades, but their early impact is not to be slept on.

In this episode, we break down:

• NWOBHM Origins: Honoring their heavy roots on On Through the Night and High 'n' Dry before world domination took over.

• Childhood Discoveries: Jason shares nostalgia-fueled stories of discovering Def Leppard back in 1983 via Casey Kasem and classic Friday Night Videos airings.

• Movie Soundtracks & First Exposures: DLo breaks down his introduction to the band through "Two Steps Behind" on the legendary Last Action Hero Soundtrack.

• Massive Multi-Platinum Era: Exploring the Mutt Lange production polish, the unstoppable juggernauts Pyromania and Hysteria, and how they reshaped rock radio forever.

Let us know your favorite Def Leppard songs at our Linktree below!

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Musical Guest:

Difficult Henry – "Rapture"

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Links & Resources:

• The Metal List Linktree: https://linktr.ee/MetalListPodcast

• Def Leppard Official Website: https://www.defleppard.com/

• Def Leppard Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/defleppard/

• Def Leppard Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/defleppard

Theme Song: Godhammered

• Godhammered Linktree: https://linktr.ee/Godhammered

Episode 96: Rage Against The Machine – Rap Sabbath, Radical Activism & Sonic Innovation

"Anger is a gift..." That's right, we're back in the Rap District of NuMetal City for some Rage Against The Machine!

In Episode 96 of The Metal List, we break down the monumental, innovative, and unapologetically political masters of "Rap Sabbath." Love 'em or hate 'em, RATM altered the fabric of heavy music forever by fusing explosive Funk-Metal grooves with militant Hip-Hop delivery.

In this episode, we break down:

• The Hendrix Connection: Jason unleashes a hot take comparing traditional guitar technique to Tom Morello's sonic wizardry—making the case that Morello is the modern equivalent of Jimi Hendrix.

• Political Science & Turntable Guitars: Unpacking Morello’s Harvard political science background, unmatched creativity, and how he made a guitar sound like a DJ scratching.

• Walking the Walk: Respecting Zack de la Rocha’s boots-on-the-ground activism, legendary vocal intensity, and refusal to compromise his principles.

• The Rhythm Engine: Highlighting the unbreakable groove onslaught of Tim Commerford and Brad Wilk, along with classic memories of Commerford's wild stage antics.

• The Evolution: Touching on the transition into Audioslave and how their legacy holds up decades later.

Join us as we dive deep into the revolution!

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Musical Guest:

Godhammered – "Steadfast" (ft. DLo)

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Links & Resources:

• The Metal List Linktree: https://linktr.ee/themetallistpodcast

• Rage Against The Machine Official Website: https://www.ratm.com/

• Rage Against The Machine Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rageagainstthemachine/

• Rage Against The Machine Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RageAgainstTheMachine

Theme Song: Godhammered

• Godhammered Linktree: https://linktr.ee/Godhammered

Episode 95: Metal Essentials Vol. 3 – Sepultura: Arise (Album Commentary)

UNDER PALE GREY SKIES! Another "Genre Essentials Commentary" is on deck!

We're heading back to 1991 for a global breakthrough from Belo Horizonte, Brazil—one of the absolute greatest Heavy Metal records of all time: Sepultura's Arise. Is it Death Metal? Is it Thrash Metal? Is it both? Doesn't matter because it fucking rules, and we love it!

In this commentary episode, we cover track-by-track:

• "Arise" & "Dead Embryonic Cells": The crushing 1-2 opening punch that put Sepultura on the world stage.

• "Desperate Cry": Analyzing the acoustic intro, epic arrangement, and legendary riff transitions.

• "Murder", "Subtraction" & "Altered State": Exploring the relentless Speed, Thrash precision, and early tribal/percussive elements.

• "Under Siege (Regnum Irae)", "Meaningless Movements" & "Infected Voice": Closing out the album's dark atmosphere and technical dominance.

Queue up your copy of Arise, hit sync with our countdown, and ride the riff wave with us in 3…2…1…

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Links & Resources:

• The Metal List Linktree: https://linktr.ee/themetallistpodcast

• Sepultura Official Store: https://www.sepultura.com.br/

Theme Song: Godhammered

• Godhammered Linktree: https://linktr.ee/Godhammered

Episode 94: Chimaira – Cleveland Groove, NWOAHM & Mosh District Mayhem

I HATE! EVERYONE! We're both very excited for this one... it's time for Cleveland's finest: Chimaira!

This highly underrated powerhouse is sitting comfortably on the City Council in the Mosh District of Riff City—DAYUM! If you haven't heard them yet, or haven't spun their records in a while, stop whatever you're doing right now and press play. You will NOT be disappointed.

In this episode, we break down:

• The NWOAHM Debate: Is Chimaira the most un-Swedish influenced band of the New Wave of American Heavy Metal? Or are they the most Groove and Nu-Metal influenced of the bunch?

• The Heavyweight Albums: Looking back at Pass Out of Existence, The Impossibility of Reason, and their crushing self-titled record.

• Riffs & Mosh Pit Legacy: Analyzing Mark Hunter's iconic vocals, the dual-guitar attack, and why their live energy remains unmatched.

Where do you stand on Chimaira's sound, and what are your favorite tracks? Let us know at our Linktree below!

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Musical Guest:

Cascade Effect – "Dirge"

• Cascade Effect Linktree: https://linktr.ee/cascade.effect

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Links & Resources:

• The Metal List Linktree: https://linktr.ee/themetallistpodcast

• Chimaira Official Website: https://www.chimaira.com/

Theme Song: Godhammered

• Godhammered Linktree: https://linktr.ee/godhammered

Episode 93: Roadrunner United – The All-Star Sessions & 25th Anniversary Celebration

Leave it to Roadrunner Records—one of our favorite labels of all time—to knock out one of the greatest (if not THE greatest) compilation projects in metal history! What an absolute banger!

In Episode 93 of The Metal List, we dive into The All-Star Sessions: 18 songs, 57 artists across 45 bands, and 4 legendary team captains driving the ship:

• Team Flynn: Robb Flynn (Machine Head)

• Team Cazares: Dino Cazares (Fear Factory)

• Team Jordison: Joey Jordison (Slipknot)

• Team Heafy: Matt Heafy (Trivium)

If you haven't heard this record yet, or need a refresher on how insane this lineup was, go check it out immediately! We break down the incredible pairings across the album—featuring heavyweights like Corey Taylor, Howard Jones, King Diamond, Max Cavalera, Mikael Åkerfeldt, Peter Steele, Glen Benton, and Dani Filth.

Plus, we review the legendary 25th Anniversary concert at the Nokia Theatre (released on DVD and album). We break down the insane live supergroups featuring the core house band—Dino Cazares, Andreas Kisser, Adam Duce, and Joey Jordison—alongside iconic guest appearances from Scott Ian, Jamey Jasta, Tim "Ripper" Owens, Keith Caputo, and Ville Valo tearing through classic Roadrunner anthems!

What are your favorite tracks or dream pairings from Roadrunner United? Let us know at our Linktree below!

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Musical Guest:

Dimmencha – "Hand In The Fan" (Plus Intro)

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Links & Resources:

• The Metal List Linktree: https://linktr.ee/themetallistpodcast

• Roadrunner Records Official Site: https://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/

Theme Song: Godhammered

• Godhammered Linktree: https://linktr.ee/godhammered

Episode 92: System Of A Down – Secret Grindcore band, Unmatched Peak & Chaotic Grooves

"Why'd you leave the keys upon the table? You wanted to!"

Strap in for one of the strangest, most massive, and utterly unique bands to ever dominate Rock radio: System Of A Down!

In Episode 92 of The Metal List, we break down SOAD's meteoric rise, their razor-sharp political commentary, and why they might secretly be the most commercially successful Grindcore band to ever hit the mainstream. From their self-titled debut to Toxicity and the Mezmerize/Hypnotize double punch, we look at their astronomical peak—and how they keep resurfacing to remind us they still reign supreme.

In this episode, we break down:

• The Secret Grindcore Theory: Unpacking the spastic tempos, chaotic vocal switching, and frantic riffing that give SOAD their underground edge.

• Peak Dominance: Tracking their explosive rise around Toxicity and how they managed to sneak avant-garde Extreme Metal into mainstream Pop culture.

• Serj & Daron's Dynamic: Analyzing the vocal interplay, theatrical delivery, and unforgettable songwriting pair of Serj Tankian and Daron Malakian.

• Longevity & Impact: Discussing why their songs still hold up today and why no other band has ever come close to replicating their signature sound.

Does System still do it for you? Do they still hold up? Let us know your favorite songs at our Linktree below!

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Musical Guest:

Dejecter – "Absent From The Stone" (ft. Mike DiSalvo)

• Dejecter Linktree: https://linktr.ee/dejecter_kc

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Links & Resources:

• The Metal List Linktree: https://linktr.ee/themetallistpodcast

• System Of A Down Official Website: https://www.systemofadown.com/

Theme Song: Godhammered

• Godhammered Linktree: https://linktr.ee/godhammered

Episode 91: Killer Be Killed – The Ultimate Modern Heavy Metal Supergroup

One of the absolute best supergroups ever, yet still massively underrated: Sanders, Puciato, Cavalera, and Koller... unreal!

In Episode 91 of The Metal List, we dive into the crushing, multi-vocal force that is Killer Be Killed. At times, it's the perfect fusion of Mastodon meets Soulfly meets The Dillinger Escape Plan; at other times, it's a completely unique beast that doesn't exist anywhere else in heavy music. If you've never heard them before, you need to check them out... like yesterday!

In this episode, we break down:

• Supergroup Synergy: How Max Cavalera, Troy Sanders, Greg Puciato, and Ben Koller blend their distinct styles without clashing.

• The Triple Vocal Attack: Analyzing the dynamic interplay between Puciato's soaring intensity, Sanders' melodic grit, and Cavalera's iconic roar.

• Self-Titled & Reluctant Hero: Reviewing their self-titled debut and explosive sophomore record, unpacking their best riffs, hooks, and rhythmic grooves.

• Underrated Masterpiece: Why this project stands out in the landscape of modern Heavy Metal supergroups and deserves way more spotlight.

What are your favorite Killer Be Killed tracks? Let us know at our Linktree below!

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Musical Guest:

The Chaos Pattern – "The Setting Sun"

• Featuring 2-time guest Aaron Street (Godhammered, ex-Fear Factory & Sepultura episodes).

• The Chaos Pattern YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ADStreet1984

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Links & Resources:

• The Metal List Linktree: https://linktr.ee/themetallistpodcast

• Killer Be Killed Official Website: https://www.killerbekilled.com/

Theme Song: Godhammered

• Godhammered Linktree: https://linktr.ee/godhammered

Episode 90: Creed – Post-Grunge Nostalgia, Tremonti Riffs & The Mayors of Meme City

It was only a matter of time. Society, social media, internet culture... they're just too strong! It's finally time for our episode on Creed.

Love 'em or hate 'em, ironic or unironic, Creed has officially taken over the internet and been crowned the undisputed Mayors of Meme City. Whether you're unironically blasting My Own Prison or singing along to Higher on a viral sports broadcast, their massive resurgence is impossible to ignore. In Episode 90 of The Metal List, we step back into the late '90s and early 2000s to drop our Top 5 tracks.

In this episode, we break down:

• Mayors of Meme City: How Creed went from radio-Rock titans to punchlines, and ultimately transformed into the internet’s favorite ironic-turned-unironic cultural phenomenon.

• Mark Tremonti's Riff Factory: Looking past the memes to give proper credit to Mark Tremonti’s underrated guitar work, heavy tone, and iconic tuning choices.

• The Scott Stapp Effect: Unpacking the soaring vocals, dramatic stage presence, and unmistakable delivery that defined an era of Post-Grunge.

• The Top 5 Countdown: Counting down our personal favorite tracks across My Own Prison, Human Clay, and Weathered.

Let us know your favorite Creed tracks—or your most hated—at our Linktree below!

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Musical Guest:

Gary Ordinary’s entire album (lol it’s 5min long.

• DLo’s 2-man Grindcore project with his buddy Steph Colbertson

• Gary Ordinary Linktree: https://linktr.ee/GaryOrdinary

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Links & Resources:

• The Metal List Linktree: https://linktr.ee/themetallistpodcast

• Creed Official Website: https://creed.com/

Theme Song: Godhammered

• Godhammered Linktree: https://linktr.ee/godhammered

What. A. Year. Get ready to take some notes, we're ending our full recap on this one (finally)...there's just SO much from 2023!

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Stick around to the very end for a treat...our friends in Formula 400 sent us a song to share with you - "Rise From The Fallen" from their 2023 album Divination.

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Thanks for making it such a great year, we appreciate all of you that listen (and kinda those that don't...kinda lol)

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Hit us with your favorites from 2023 at: linktr.ee/MetalListPodcast

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Theme Song: Godhammered at: linktr.ee/Godhammered

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Formula 400 - https://formula400.net/