Court and Matt are back with their admittedly fragmentary best of 2025 concerts and albums.  The Profs also discuss recent rock and metal news, and the state of the genre in 2026.  Megadeth, Anthrax, Queensryche, Accept, Ratt, Slaughter, L.A. Guns,  Iron Maiden, Ghost, Helloween, Ozzy, Wings of Steel, Alice Cooper, KISS, Phantom Spell, VV and Peter Criss were all topics covered, and more!  Look for new episodes coming soon!

Court and Matt have guested on R. Alan Siler's podcast "Modern Musicology" on multiple occasions, and we thought it was time to turn the tables!  On our final episode of 2025 the Profs interview the busiest man in America -- drummer, librarian, author, performer, music connoisseur, and host of multiple podcasts -- R. Alan Siler.  Alan has performed in many bands, including tribute acts covering KISS, David Bowie, Heart and Kate Bush.  He's performed in orchestras, folk groups, and jazz ensembles. He is the owner and editor of kOZMIC Press, LLC.  He also hosts multiple podcasts, including our personal favorite, Modern Musicology.  We asked Alan to explain the difference between drummers and percussionists, and to give us his personal favorites and most influential drummers.  Spoiler -- We'll be talking about Neil Peart and Eric Carr quite a bit!  

Our thanks to all of our listeners and friends who support us each year by downloading and listening to every episode of RAMP.  We do the show for you!  Our heartfelt gratitude for taking the time to listen in!  Happy Holidays!   

Well, we decided to bring the show back after a 3-year hiatus.  On the eve of Halloween, what better way to celebrate our return to podcast glory than with the ultimate horror band, GHOST!  Court and Matt, with shows to follow as time permits.  No social media presence this time, but you can email us at [email protected]. Welcome back, and as always, thanks so much for your listenership and support!  Now, LET THE RITUAL BEGIN!

The Profs discuss the origins and evolution of rock and metal!

Oh the excess and bombast of the Sunset Strip in the late-70s and 1980s!  The Profs discuss the epicenter of rock and metal in the 70s-80s as the Sunset Strip in L.A. became ground-zero for some of the greatest rock and metal acts in American history. 

Yes, we know we talk about KISS too often.  However, in our defense, those early-80s KISS albums were SPECTACULAR.  Court and Matt discuss the iconic albums "Creatures of the Night", "Music from the Elder", "Lick it Up" and "Animalize."  

Oh the glory of the all-day music festival.  US Fest, Ozzfest, Louder than Life, Wacken and Hellfest.  So many festivals and so many bands!   The Profs discuss the pros and cons of rock and metal music festivals, and cover some of the best and worst ones they've attended.  

In this special episode of RAMP, our podcast producer and colleague Tim Williamson takes over the show.  We talk about whatever he wants to talk about!

Yeah, we've heard it all before.  After "...And Justice for All", Metallica became a different band, "sold out", and went mainstream.   Early Metallica fans in particular love to condemn Metallica in the 1990s as the band who let them down.  The Profs dispel the myths and do their level best to objectively assess Metallica's catalog in the 1990s and beyond.  

KISS fans are a devoted bunch, and much of their love for the band is contingent upon when they started listening to them.  For Matt, KISS in the 1970s were at their zenith.  However, for slightly younger fans like Court, those 80s albums hold a special place.  Dr. Lewis shines in this one, talking about the non-make-up years, the brief tenure of guitarists Mark St. John and Vinnie Vincent, the percussive mastery of Eric Carr, the guitar wizardry of Bruce Kulick, and the new direction KISS took in the 80s to attain a level of success that few could have imagined just a few years prior.