Riffology: Iconic Rock Albums Podcast

Episodios disponibles

5 de 64

RIFF064 - Anthrax - Sound of White Noise
Anthrax pivot hard into the ’90s on Sound of White Noise—first with John Bush, last with Dan Spitz—and somehow make it feel inevitable rather than mid-life crisis. We dig into why the songs land (drier drums, thicker guitars) and how a label switch put a new sheen on the chaos. Along the way: Dan Spitz’s surprise second act as a master watchmaker and a brief “It’s-a-me Mario” detour while trying to say “Badalamenti” like adults. Timestamps 00:00:00 — Cold open: the “journey into sound” sting. 00:09:56 — Joey out, John Bush in; grungier, growlier vocal shift. 00:10:43 — Switch from Island to Elektra; Dave Jordan connection. 00:18:22 — Only flagged as the big single. 00:18:26 — Production chat: dry drums; darker ’90s tone. 00:50:54 — First with John Bush; last with Dan Spitz. 00:51:26 — Dan Spitz leaves to become a master watchmaker (!). 00:56:44 — Black Lodge co-written with Angelo Badalamenti; Twin Peaks nod. 00:56:12 — “It’s-a-me Mario” pronunciation detour (Badalamenti). 01:04:52 — “Biscuits in that snare”—a brief St. Anger tangent. 01:06:31 — Only hailed as a key Anthrax single. 01:19:30 — Wrap-up and polite plea to like/subscribe. Credits Released 25 May 1993 on Elektra (band’s first on the label). Line-up shift: first with John Bush, last with Dan Spitz. Producer: Dave Jordan (linked here with Jane’s Addiction, Alice in Chains). Singles: Only; Black Lodge (called out as a big single). Black Lodge co-written with Angelo Badalamenti; explicit Twin Peaks reference. Peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard 200. Listen & follow Blog & show notes: https://riffology.co/2025/09/08/anthraxs-sound-of-white-noise-the-1993-pivot-that-rewired-heavy-music/ Main site: https://riffology.co/podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/riffology-iconic-rock-albums-podcast/id1691556696 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1LIU9mein7QMw346q20nyy Email: [email protected] X: https://x.com/RiffologyPod Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/riffology.co Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/riffology
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1:19:33
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1:19:33
RIFF063 - Anthrax - Persistence of Time
Anthrax get serious. We dig into Persistence of Time (1990)—the darker, tighter, grown-up pivot where Joey Belladonna’s vocals cut through a heavier mix, the grooves slow just enough to hit harder, and the Joe Jackson cover somehow makes perfect sense. Along the way: a supply-chain crisis (Coke Zero + red/black Fruit Pastilles), a self-own “burglary” story involving several PDAs, and the glorious chaos of Married… with Children: My Dinner with Anthrax. Serious album; unserious hosts. It works. Timestamps 00:00:54 — Snack panic: Coke Zero, red/black Fruit Pastilles, and a closed forecourt. 00:04:15 — Why Persistence of Time lands: darker tone, grown-up Anthrax. 00:12:39 — Production chat & why Joey’s vocals shine here. 00:17:57 — Singles: “In My World,” “Got the Time” (yes, Joe Jackson). 00:20:56 — Recording: A&M & Conway Studios (Hollywood). 00:21:16 — Mixed by Steve Thompson & Michael Barbiero (Electric Lady); mastered by Bob Ludwig. 00:22:01 — “Time”: ticking intro, Scott Ian’s right-hand clinic. 00:25:51 — “Keep It in the Family,” “Gridlock”: dynamics without the flab. 00:31:15 — What “persistence of time” means: Charlie vs. Scott (two answers, both right). 00:33:30 — Local lore: the Barry Milner Bridge (we accidentally name a band). 00:36:27 — The PDA saga: “Did you have anything stolen?” “…no… actually… yes.” 01:04:15 — Married… with Children: My Dinner with Anthrax (bonkers, not very PC). 01:07:17 — “Belly of the Beast” appreciation (because of course). 01:11:19 — Frank Bello’s hair, band charm, tidy landing. Credits (from the episode) Produced by Mark Dodson. Recorded at A&M Studios and Conway Studios (Dec ’89–Feb ’90). Mixed by Steve Thompson & Michael Barbiero at Electric Lady. Mastered by Bob Ludwig. Runtime: 58:40. Singles: “In My World,” “Got the Time.” Listen & follow Blog & show notes: https://riffology.co/2024/08/21/the-making-of-persistence-of-time-by-anthrax/ Main site: https://riffology.co/podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/riffology-iconic-rock-albums-podcast/id1691556696 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1LIU9mein7QMw346q20nyy Email: [email protected] X: https://x.com/RiffologyPod Bluesky: https://x.com/RiffologyPod Facebook: https://x.com/RiffologyPod If you enjoy the show, the nicest free thing you can do: rate and review on Apple/Spotify, and share the episode with a friend who still insists Among the Living is the only answer.
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1:34:29
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1:34:29
RIFF062 - Soulfly - Soulfly
Soulfly’s debut gets the dry-ice treatment: Max channelled grief into groove and built a new tribe from scratch. We dig into Ross Robinson’s Indigo Ranch crunch (’97–’98), Andy Wallace’s mix, George Marino’s finishing pass, and why the record sits between thrash, hardcore and late-90s “heavy with swing.” Guests roll through—Burton C. Bell & Dino Cazares, Chino Moreno, Benji Webbe, Fred Durst & DJ Lethal, Eric Bobo, Christian Olde Wolbers—while Brazilian percussion (yes, the berimbau) stitches it together. Highlights: “Eye for an Eye,” “Bleed,” “Tribe,” “No Hope = No Fear”; the ambient and percussive detours; the two cover variants; and those sleeve notes—dedications to Dana, and the ominous “judgement is coming.” We talk charts (US 79, UK 16, France 14, Germany 29, Australia 33), the Roadrunner moment, and the Slipknot/Korn/Deftones/Coal Chamber overlap without the copy-paste. Stay to the end: the driest laughs land in the sign-off, including a brief masterclass in how not to ask for subscriptions.
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1:42:09
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1:42:09
RIFF061 - Sepultura - Beneath the Remains
Sepultura’s Beneath the Remains gets the full Riffology treatment: the leap from Schizophrenia to something lean, hostile and oddly elegant. We dig into why the first half feels near-bulletproof (“Beneath the Remains,” “Inner Self,” “Stronger Than Hate,” “Mass Hypnosis”), how those nocturnal sessions at Nas Nuvens bled into the record’s raw edge, and where Scott Burns helped sharpen the attack. It’s the grim middle ground between thrash and death—menace over flash, breakdowns that earn their keep, and riffs that chug without ever getting comfortable. We wander through the artwork lore too—Michael Whelan’s “Nightmare in Red,” the Obituary swap, teenage-bedroom posters, and the strange orderliness of tape-trading that forced you to live with whole albums rather than skip buttons. Max and Igor’s engine, Andreas’ knife-point melodies, Paulo holding the line; a band stepping forward, already pointing at Arise while still covered in the dust. Then the end happens—again the funniest stretch—featuring an unscheduled James Hetfield cameo, a perfectly serious argument about whether the evening meal is “tea” or “dinner,” and a sign-off that devolves into an apology cascade capped with “Sorry, mum.” Dry, accidental, very on-brand.
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1:39:00
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1:39:00
RIFF060 - Foo Fighters - Foo Fighters
In this episode, Chris and Neil bravely tackle the Foo Fighters’ debut—after a brief existential debate on the meaning of “all the important information.” The conversation meanders through Dave Grohl’s divine ascension, the British tradition of turning on beloved celebrities, and whether being in a band is more like a relationship or just a convenient way to keep busy. Expect insightful tangents on the cyclical nature of “coolness,” a forensic look at how many “bangers” one band can string together, and the usual refusal to stick to the actual topic. No stone is left unturned, unless it’s a stone that leads back to Liam Gallagher, in which case, it gets a whole sidebar.
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1:03:16
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1:03:16