The Metal Pit Podcast

Black Sabbath – Black Sabbath (1970)

Featuring Julia Elenoir of 5RAND

On this episode of The Metal Pit Podcast, Blake is joined by Julia Elenoir of 5RAND to revisit the album that changed heavy music forever: Black Sabbath’s groundbreaking 1970 debut.

Before getting into the album, Julia talks about 5RAND, her musical background, influences and her personal connection to Black Sabbath.

Released on Friday, February 13, 1970, Black Sabbath introduced listeners to Tony Iommi’s crushing guitar riffs, Geezer Butler’s dark and supernatural lyrics, Bill Ward’s powerful jazz-influenced drumming and Ozzy Osbourne’s unmistakable voice. Recorded quickly and with much of the band’s live energy left intact, the album helped establish the blueprint for heavy metal and doom metal.

Blake and Julia go through the album song by song, discussing the music, lyrics, atmosphere and lasting influence on metal.

From the rain, thunder and terrifying opening tritone of “Black Sabbath” to the blues-heavy improvisation of “Warning,” this is a deep dive into an album that sounded unlike anything else released at the time.

Was this truly the birth of heavy metal? Which song best represents the classic Black Sabbath sound? And more than five decades later, does the album still possess the power to frighten and inspire listeners?

Turn down the lights, turn up the volume and enter the darkness with The Metal Pit Podcast.

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Reload Festival Part 2: Kira Returns with the Post-Festival Recap

In this follow-up episode, the host chats with Kira from Germany after she returns from Reload Festival to recap how it went.

They start with quick personal and metal-themed questions (tea vs. coffee, beach vs. mountains, horror vs. comedy, front-row preference, Iron Maiden vs. Judas Priest, Slayer over Metallica, black metal vs. death metal, harsh vocals, small clubs, favorite non-metal music, and a dream show: Alice In Chains’ original lineup), and the host mentions his horror podcast “Someone’s in My Fruit Cellar,” where they build soundtracks for classic horror movies.

Kira describes Reload as sold-out with about 20,000 visitors, extreme heat and heavy dust, crowd surfing during Terror, and seeing bands like Judas Priest (including “Turbo Lover”), Gaerea, Deafheaven, Orbit Culture, Kittie, and Lamb of God, plus festival food, camping options, and early announcements for next year. She praises the Reload team for providing free face masks and managing dust with watering.

In this podcast episode, the host Blake talks with Kira from Germany, a Metal Pit writer and past Metal Maiden of the Month, about the upcoming three-day Reload Festival in Germany and plans to record a follow-up episode after it happens.

They plug TheMetalPit.org, the new Metal Maiden of the Month Jelena Rupic from Serbia, upcoming History of Metal and trivia pages, and invite female listeners and volunteer writers/photographers to get involved.

Kira describes Reload as a mid-sized festival (about 15–18,000 people) with two close stages that never run bands at the same time, plus camping. They discuss acts she’s excited for (Soulfly, Terror, Orbit Culture, Arch Enemy with new vocalist Lauren Hart, and Gaerea), her hope Judas Priest plays “Turbo Lover,” festival safety, staying hydrated during summer heat, and why Reload’s friendly atmosphere makes it appealing for people who dislike very large festivals.

Anthrax “Persistence of Time”

The host welcomes returning The Metal Pit writers George and Eric to discuss Anthrax’s 1990 album Persistence of Time,.

They share how they discovered Anthrax, touch on the band’s history as an East Coast thrash “Big Four” member, and describe Persistence of Time as darker and more crisply produced than State of Euphoria.

They end with their top 10 Anthrax songs.

www.themetalpit.org

Metal Pit Podcast: Kira on Satyricon’s Volcano (2002) + Top Albums of 2002

Blake welcomes Kira, a recent Metal Maiden of the Month and writer of a Hellripper album review for The Metal Pit, to her first podcast episode. Kira, from Germany, explains how Satyricon’s 2002 album Volcano first drew her into extreme metal after hearing it via a German magazine compilation, and why it remains her favorite Satyricon release.

They discuss Satyricon’s black metal roots, the band’s shift toward rock influences, and go track-by-track through Volcano, including “Fuel for Hatred” as Kira’s first extreme metal song, plus the long closer “Black Lava.”

Kira recalls seeing Satyricon at Wacken at age 14, and shares her 2002 top albums list.

Diva Satanica (Bloodhunter) Interview: ‘Sons of the Abandoned’ Songwriting, Touring Reality, and New Singles

Blake interviews Diva Satanica of Spain’s melodic death metal band Bloodhunter about their new album, "Sons of the Abandoned" (out June 12 via Via Roar/Reigning Phoenix Music),

They discussed three released videos/singles including a cover of Annihilator’s “Human Insecticide.” Diva explains Bloodhunter’s evolving songwriting process, a shift toward more first-person, personal lyrics, and how recent life changes—her mother’s passing, leaving Nervosa, and the band’s renewed focus—shaped the record.

They talk about touring’s unseen exhaustion, staying outspoken amid judgment, and the anti-war themes and visuals in “Threshold of Hell”

Diva addresses appearance pressures for women in metal, the challenges of today’s music industry, hopes to tour the US/Canada.

www.bloodhunter.net

New Episode — The Metal Pit Podcast

This week we dive into Ozzy Osbourne’s 1986 album The Ultimate Sin — big hooks, bigger hair, neon-soaked riffs, and enough 80s metal attitude to make your speakers ask for hairspray.

We go through the album song by song, breaking down the tracks, the sound, the production, the lyrics, and where this record sits in Ozzy’s solo catalog.

We also talk about the mighty Jake E. Lee, his guitar work, his impact on Ozzy’s 80s era, and why his playing on this album still deserves way more credit.

To finish it off, we each pick our Top 10 Albums of 1986 — a killer year packed with thrash classics, glam giants, traditional metal, hard rock, and a few surprises.

Crank it up and join us in The Metal Pit.

Blake is joined by James for a loud, fast, and filthy trip through Motörhead’s Rock ’n’ Roll.

We break down the album, talk about where it fits in the Motörhead catalog, hit on the standout tracks, and get into what makes Lemmy and company such a force even when they make it all sound way too easy.

Then we wrap things up by counting down our Top 10 albums of 1987. Expect plenty of riffs, a little chaos, and absolutely no acoustic detours.

​Iced Earth – Something Wicked This Way Comes (1998)

Blake is joined by returning guest Eric and George to discuss Iced Earth’s 1998 album Something Wicked This Way Comes, covering the band’s origins (including the switch from Purgatory to Iced Earth), lineup details, and where the record sits among fan favorites and polarizing releases.

They briefly address Jon Schaffer’s involvement in the January 6 Capitol events and how it affects their listening, then move track-by-track, noting musical elements, lyrics, and live versions.

They rate the album share first-listen stories, discuss live albums and concerts, and each presents a personal top 10 Iced Earth album list.

***This is our 1st episode to feature song clips***

Blake and James go back to 1983 and discuss the Raven album All For One.

They get into each song and James give his take on some of their most recent albums.

They finish off the episode with their top 10 albums from 1983. A year of a lot of great metal albums. Canadian, Blake even gives his top 6 Canadian album of 1983.

Listen for your take of Mind Over Metal.