#129 - Cave In - Until Your Heart Stops w/ Dan Thomson (lowheaven)
Everything has to start somewhere. Before the sonic evolution to space-rock on Jupiter and their eventual move to a major label, Cave In was just a group of teenagers trying to find their voice in the East Coast hardcore scene. Born in Methuen, Massachusetts, the band experienced a tumultuous and transitional series of events that helped create their debut album, Until Your Heart Stops.This week we’re joined by special guest Dan Thomson (lowheaven) for a closer look at perhaps the most raw and atypical record in Cave In's discography. We’ll discuss the last minute addition of longtime bassist Caleb Scofield, how Stephen Brodsky suddenly inherited lead vocal duties, the collaborative recording sessions at 30 Blaine (God City) with Kurt Ballou, and the “skronky” Slayer meets Converge-inspired riffs scattered throughout the album’s runtime!Check out Ritual Decay - OUT NOW via MNRK Heavy: https://mnrkheavy.com/collections/lowheavenRecommendations:Cult LeaderChevelleBeastie BoysSWANSSaw (2004)Paranormal Activity (2007)HauntedWeen (1991)Bring Her Back (2025)Sanguisugabogg - Hideous AftermathAFI - Silver Bleeds the Black Sun...Grabbers (2012)D'Angelo - VoodooVideodrome (1983)Gorguts - Colored SandsAce Frehley - Ace FrehleyFollow lowheavenFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/lowheavenbandInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lowheavenband/Twitter: https://x.com/lowheavenband?lang=enFollow Riff WorshipInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/riffworshippod/Twitter: https://x.com/RiffWorshipPodYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RiffWorshipPodCheck out our Official Playlists:Riffs on Repeat (Spotify)Riffs on Repeat (YouTube Music)Hits from the Crypt (Apple)
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#128 - Cult Leader - Lightless Walk w/ Michael Mason and Sam Richards (Cult Leader)
A decade ago, Salt Lake City’s Cult Leader unleashed their emotionally devastating debut album, Lightless Walk. Quickly making ripples throughout the extreme music scene, the album perfectly balances grinding, visceral bursts of aggression with morose moments of catharsis.This week we’re joined by guitarist Michael Mason and bassist Sam Richards to discuss the band’s necessity-driven, DIY beginnings, their early tours with groups like Oathbreaker and Yautja, and the sessions at Kurt Ballou’s (Converge) God City Studio that captured this modern classic.Follow Cult LeaderFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/CultLeaderMusic/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cultleadermusic/?hl=enTwitter: https://x.com/CultLeaderMusicWebsite: https://www.cultleadermusic.com/Recommendations:Cult Leader - Lightless WalkNEKS - Point of No ReturnWEENEthel CainSun Kil MoonAuthor & Punisher - Nocturnal BirdingRoky Erikson - The Evil OneBarren Path - GrievingFollow Riff WorshipInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/riffworshippod/Twitter: https://x.com/RiffWorshipPodYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RiffWorshipPodCheck out our Official Playlists:Riffs on Repeat (Spotify)Riffs on Repeat (YouTube Music)Hits from the Crypt (Apple)
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#127 - Electric Wizard - Dopethrone w/ John Hoffman (STOMACH, Weekend Nachos) and David Stepanavicius (Atræ Bilis)
This week, Riff Worship celebrates 25 years of Electric Wizard’s nihilistic masterpiece, Dopethrone! We’re joined by special guests John Hoffman (STOMACH, Weekend Nachos) and David Stepanavicius (Atræ Bilis, Fulci Rots) to explore the band’s rural Dorset roots as well as the tumultuous events and hazy recording sessions that forged tracks like “Barbarian” and “Funeralopolis.” Please join us as we discuss the album that redefined doom metal for the 21st century!Recommendations:STOMACH - LOW DEMONAtræ Bilis - AumicideEyehategod - Take as Needed for PainHenry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)Carcinoma (2014)Brainscan (1994)Luciferion - The ApostateUsipian - Dead Corner of the EyeWith the Dead - With the DeadRamesses - We Will Lead You To Glorious TimesPsychomania (1973)Follow STOMACHInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/stomachdoom/Follow Weekend NachosFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/weekendxnachosInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/weekendnachos2004/Follow Atræ BilisFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/atraebilisInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/atraebilis/Follow Fulci RotsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/fulcirots/Follow Riff WorshipInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/riffworshippod/Twitter: https://x.com/RiffWorshipPodYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RiffWorshipPodCheck out our Official Playlists:Riffs on Repeat (Spotify)Riffs on Repeat (YouTube Music)Hits from the Crypt (Apple)
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#126 - Between the Buried and Me - Alaska
Between the Buried and Me was born from a desire for unrestricted, musical expression. Guitarist Paul Waggoner and vocalist Tommy Giles started the band to escape the creative constraints of their respective projects and explore new sonic territory.Following their initial two releases, the band underwent a crucial transformation. In the months leading up to recording their third album, they finalized the iconic lineup that endured for nearly two decades.While the integration of three new members (Dan Briggs, Dustie Waring, and Blake Richardson) could have easily led to creative tension, the opposite occurred. The collaboration of these five equally talented musicians unlocked an expansive new dimension for BTBAM, allowing them to fuse progressive elements with extreme metal into a wholly unique sound. This foundational dynamic paved the way for all the landmark releases to follow.Please join us in celebrating Between the Buried and Me and the album that defined their path, Alaska!Recommendations:Tony Molina - On This DayChat Pile & Hayden Pedigo - In The Earth AgainAlgernon Cadwallader - Trying Not to Have a ThoughtDead and Dripping - Nefarious ScintillationsCorrosion of Conformity - DeliveranceWednesday - BleedsORBS - Asleep Next to ScienceFollow Riff WorshipInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/riffworshippod/Twitter: https://x.com/RiffWorshipPodYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RiffWorshipPodCheck out our Official Playlists:Riffs on Repeat (Spotify)Riffs on Repeat (YouTube Music)Hits from the Crypt (Apple)
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#125 - Defeated Sanity - Passages Into Deformity
Blending the ferocity of extreme metal with the complexity of jazz, Germany’s own Defeated Sanity push the boundaries of “Progressive Brutal Death Metal” on their fourth full-length.This landmark release showcases the band’s technical proficiency on tracks like “Naraka” and “The Purging,” while delivering relentless brutality through more direct assaults like “Verses of Deformity” and “Initiation.”Join us in celebrating Defeated Sanity and their 2013 classic album, Passages Into Deformity!Recommendations:Igorrr - AmenLamp of Murmuur - The Dreaming Prince in EcstasyHORSEBOY - Wild, Passionate, UglyIntercourse - How I Fell In Love With The VoidGas Chamber - Hemorrhaging LightRamuh - Glowing CivilizationFollow Riff WorshipInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/riffworshippod/Twitter: https://x.com/RiffWorshipPodYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RiffWorshipPodCheck out our Official Playlists:Riffs on Repeat (Spotify)Riffs on Repeat (YouTube Music)Hits from the Crypt (Apple)
The riff is the foundation of heavy music, evolving over several decades and styles. Many of our favorite songs started with a single idea and guitar in hand. Anyone can write a riff, but what makes a good riff? Each week, riff disciples Austin Paulson, Dylan Adams, & Justin Swindle attempt to answer this question by discussing their favorite riffs, how they came to be, and why we still worship them today.
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