Steel Legion Podcast

Sam sits down with vocalist Vance Bratcher of Aethereus and The Devils of Loudun to discuss Aethereus' new album, "Leiden". We discuss Aethereus' unique song structures and songwriting, Vance's introduction into metal and musicanship, and touch on The Devils of Loudun's new album, "Escaping Eternity". Finally, we close things out with the Aethereus song "“The Living Abyss”. Thanks, and enjoy!

Sam sits down with bassist Brandon Michael of the Allegaeon to discuss their new album, "Damnum". Brandon discusses the creative process behind the new album, his musical background, and his unhealthy obsession with beans (and how, ultimately, this is responsible for band-mate Greg Burgess meeting his now-wife)! Finally, we close things out with the latest Allegaeon single "Of Beasts and Worms". Thanks, and enjoy!

Sam sits down with special guest host Jordan (of Iapetus) to count down the best metal of 2021. "Best of the Rest", Favorite EPs, Top 10 Albums and Track of the Year for each host are discussed. Thanks and enjoy!

Sam sits down with Phil Tougas of the Canadian neoclassical-techdeath band First Fragment to discuss their new album, "Gloire éternelle". Phil also explains his commitment to the band's unique style, discusses his musical background, and regales us with a tale of how charcoal supplements can help one to avoid the unstoppable need to run for the toilet while on tour! Thanks, and enjoy!

Sam sits down with Stevie Boiser, front man of four awesome bands: Ashen Horde, Equipoise, Inferi and Tethys! We primarily discuss Inferi's new album, "Vile Genesis". Stevie also assigns his bandmates Magic The Gathering Planeswalker stats, spins a tale of a first-date-gone-wrong, and enlightens Sam as to the weirdest thing that he (or perhaps anybody) has seen at a metal show! Thanks, and enjoy!

Sam sits down with guitarist Nathanael and violinist Evan of the Canadian neofolk-chamber-trio Musk Ox. We discuss the trio's tangential relationship to the metal world, Nathanael's and Evan's musical backgrounds, and their instrumental-prog-symphonic-metal band The Night Watch . We also discuss the art of composition vs "just playing", Nathanael's work with Agalloch, as well as nature vs nurture when it comes to musical talent. Thanks and enjoy!

Sam sits down with Mike & Chris of Alustrium to discuss their new album, "A Monument to Silence". Also discussed: the act of excreting fecal matter upon ones sleeping quarters, Alustrium vs. Rivers of Nihil at metal-summer-camp, and one of the roughest "a place to stay while touring" stories ever heard. Finally, we close things out with their awesome song "The Accuser". Thanks and enjoy!

The "Missouri-Metal-Tour" continues, as Sam sits down with Ricky Giordano of St. Louis' The Lion's Daughter. We discuss their new album, "Skin Show", the underrated metal music of the post-glam/pre-grunge era, Rick's metal and musical background, and the band's unique use of incorporating synths to make horror-infused metal. We also discuss how overrated St. Louis-style pizza is before closing things out with the badass song "Neon Teeth". Thanks and enjoy!

Sam continues to keep things "local", sitting down with fellow Missourians David and Ryan of St. Louis' Summoning the Lich. We discuss their new album, "United in Chaos", the formation of their band, their metal and musical backgrounds, and the production of the album by Jack Daniels of Sickstone Studios. We also touch on their love of Fantasy/RPGs before closing things out with the killer song "Hymns (of the Witches of the West)". Thanks and enjoy!

Sam sits down - in-person, in the new Steel Legion Studio - with fellow Kansas City northlander Luke Adams of Gourmand. We discuss Luke's upbringing in the arts, his college-thesis-turned-death-metal-album, the progression of Gourmand's sound, and why there's a cello in this Death Metal band in the first place. We also touch on Gourmand's upcoming EP, and what (previous guests) Kardashev have to do with Luke's new baby. Thanks and enjoy!

Sam sits down with Andrew, Nick, & Shaun of Wills Dissolve. We dive deep into their one-track/album, prog-death masterpiece, "Echoes". We discuss how the concept to make the whole album one song came about, the various different vocal styles they incorporated, as well as the lyrical content. We also touch on each of the guests' entry into musicianship and metal, and then close things out with the longest ever outro-song "Echoes". Thanks and enjoy!

Sam sits down with Greg Burgess of Allegaeon and Nuclear Power Trio. We go over Nuclear Power Trio's new EP and both of the singles that Allegaeon put out last year. We also discuss the different direction for Allegaeon's next album, Johann Sebastian Bach, what it's like being an executive assistant for Trump, Star Wars, Greg's acoustic/classical guitar work, and his absolute affinity for Christmas songs. Finally we close things out with the most recent Allegaeon single, "Concerto in Dm". Thanks and enjoy!

Sam is joined by 3 members of Death Metal bad-asses Arkaik. Guitarist Alex Haddad joins Sam as they count down their favorite metal of 2020, while founding members Jared Christianson and Chance Strickland chime in with their thoughts on each pick. "Best of the Rest", Favorite EPs, Top 10 Albums and Track of the Year for each host are discussed. Thanks and enjoy!

Sam sits down with former cohost Keifer to assemble a metal soundtrack/playlist to pair with the shitty year that has been 2020. Each host picks a metal track for 5 categories: Coronavirus, social unrest, politics/polarization, isolation/overall shittyness, and finally, a suggestion to help you keep your head up! Thanks, and enjoy! Playlist can be found here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6c8GLNtdzxxxasyMbyStu1?si=qqk36HV0RbW4P8bdAIXzbg

Sam sits down with returning guest-host Shea Bile for a conversation with Nico and Mark of Neverbreath. We discuss their tremendous debut album, "To Defile is to Transcend" while Shea takes the reigns for a deep-dive into the Left-Hand-Path-inspired lyrics. Meanwhile, Sam shares the results from his research into the ancient deity known as "Blegh". Thanks, and enjoy!

Sam sits down with Eden of Heavy Blog is Heavy for an in-depth discussion surrounding the social unrest and protesting around the globe. This episode picks up where Episode 42 left off. In the second half of that show, we referenced some comments Eden made on Twitter, and now the man himself has come on to further delve into these issues. Thanks, and enjoy!

Sam sits down with Allen and Chris of Symbolik. We explore their musical background, discuss Symbolik's origin and evolution, and dive deep into the musical and lyrical concepts within their new, debut LP "Emergence". We also touch on Chris' rap game, get side-tracked on Star Wars movies, and then close things out with their song "Invoking Oblivion". Thanks and enjoy!

Sam calls in a favor from Winterfell to bring you a ridiculously special guest reading for an exclusive Steel Legion Podcast premiere: the short story, "The Gravedigger" by Matt Cerami of Iapetus. "The Gravedigger" is an original short story that Matt wrote as source material for the latest Iapetus album, The Body Cosmic (and more specifically, for the song "The Star of Collapse"). Thanks and enjoy!

Sam sits down with Jared Christianson (of Arkaik), Matt Cerami (of Iapetus), and Stevie Boiser (of Inferi, Equipoise, Tethys, and Ashen Horde) for a round-table discussion on the intersection of current events and the metal community. The group tackles some big questions: How has the COVID19 pandemic effected metal bands, venues, and fans? How little do metal musicians earn from their music being streamed vs purchased? What is the role of a metal in the recent protests against racial injustice? Thanks, and enjoy!

Sam sits down with Nico and Mark of Kardashev. We dive deep into their new EP "The Baring of Shadows", discuss their black-metal side project "Neverbreath", revisit Mark's Klingon-language skillz (and break down how likely that is to help you get laid), and even play an on-air D&D adventure! Also discussed are topics such as loss, grief, horrid first dates, stoicism, and more, before closing things out with their new song "Hearthache". Thanks and enjoy!

Sam sits down with guests Ryan & Nick of Aronious to discuss their brand new, debut LP, "Perspicacity". We also tackle Ryan's & Nick's musical upbringings, the band's history and evolution in sound, and touch on what Corona-quarantine life is like for the metal world, Lastly, we close things out with the closing track off of "Perspicacity", "Inconclusive". Thanks and enjoy!

Sam sits down with cellist Raphael Weinroth-Browne. We explore Raphael's musical background and the journey that brought a cellist into the metal world. We also discuss his work with the band Leprous, as well as his musical projects Musk Ox, Kamancello, and The Visit. Lastly, we dive into Raphael's masterful new dark/ambient/metal-classical-crossover solo cello album, "Worlds Within". Thanks and enjoy!

Sam sits down with guests Jason and Jace of Warforged for a discussion centered around their 2019 ground-breaking LP, "I: Voice". We discuss the band's history and early years, some of the concepts explored on this album, the band's influences (musical & otherwise), and engage in an in-depth breakdown of (former SLP guest) Samuel Nelson's artwork used on the album's cover. Also discussed is the similarity between a certain regional food and some gender-specific anatomy! Finally we close things out with the Warforged song, "Eat Them While They Sleep". Thanks and enjoy!

Sam sits down with special guest host Riley McShane (vocalist of Allegaeon, Continuum, & Virulent Depravity) to count down the best metal of the last decade! We each selected 1 album for each year of the "20-teens", then had to rank 'em! Join us as we celebrate one helluva decade for metal! Thanks and enjoy!

Sam sits down with special guest host Jared Christianson (vocalist of Arkiak) to count down the best metal of 2019. "Best of the Rest", Favorite EPs, Top 10 Albums and Track of the Year for each host are discussed. Thanks and enjoy!

Sam sits down with returning guests Matt and Jordan of Iapetus for an in-depth discussion about their mind-blowing new album, "The Body Cosmic". We break down the ridiculous guest musicians they brought together for this album, the lyrical/narrative concepts, the Cormac McCarthy influences, and the ire/laugh-inducing bodily sounds that Matt's former boss would make. Finally we close things out with their new song, "For Creatures Such as We". Thanks and enjoy!

Sam sits down - actually, in-person sits down! - with Hunter, Tanner, Dylan, and Kevin of Kansas City's own Sedlec Ossuary. We discuss their upcoming album, dive into the band's history, go over their debut EP - "Harsh Barge", and touch on the KC-area metal scene. We also discuss Kevin's tween-age man-crush on Fred Durst, and Hunter challenges Sam to answer his own "Whip it Out" questions. Thanks and enjoy (and pardon the repeated interruption of beer cans being cracked open)!

Sam sits down with Aaron Green of Aerith. We discuss their new, badass EP, "The Cosmic Winds", chat about all their Melodeath influences, geek out over Al Pacino's performance in "The Devi's Advocate", and Aaron reminisces about the time Ken Bedene's dad fell down a flight of stairs! Finally we close things out with their new song, "The Hereafter". Thanks and enjoy!

We've got the NEW ARKAIK SONG for you! Sam sits down with returning guest Jared Christianson of Arkaik. The two discuss Arkaik's new song, "Supernal Flame", new band members, a new record label, and the forth-coming album that they're writing. Jared also unravels a bit of the mythos around Arkaik's concept albums, and discusses the insane metal history behind his current residence! Thanks, and enjoy!

Sam sits down with 2-time guest host Shea Bile... on Shea's podcast, Deferred Gnosis. This one's a bit different than what's typical of a Steel Legion Podcast episode, but Shea kicks ass and the debate that ensues was good enough to share! Thanks and enjoy!

Sam sits down with Colin Davis of Vile and The 01 EXPERIENCE. We discuss Colin's time back in early 90’s as the death metal scene was first exploding, the mastering work he’s done on a slew of albums, what it takes to create art, Carl Jung’s idea of “the shadow”, the nature of consciousness, his new project - The 01EXPERIENCE, and a whole bunch of other stuff! Thanks and enjoy!

Sam sits down with Vance Valenzuela of Vale of Pnath. We discuss their brand new EP, "Accursed", including the awesome new black metal sound they've incorporated and the story behind the sick album artwork. We also touch on the band's unique, Lovecraft-inspired name, Vance's love of photography and horror movies, and the fact that there's creatures known as "D-holes" and "B-holes" in the Cuthulu mythos. Finally we close things out with the wicked closing track off Accursed, "Spectre of Bone". Thanks and enjoy!

Way back during year one of this show, we recorded a conversation with the entertaining and knowledgeable (& practicing Satanist) Shea Bile where we covered the connections that metal music has with Satan. It was one of my favorite episodes to take part in, and it still consistently ranks as one of our most popular episodes. But there was so much we went over, that some interesting points didn't get the airtime that they deserved. So, there was only one thing to do - bring Shea back on to record "The Satanic Sequel"!!! Joining the two of us is another previous guest host, Brandon, from Episode 4: The Heavy Metal Subgenre Round-table Discussion. Brandon, Shea and I cover a wide range of topics: from religious musings, to a more in-depth look at the history of Satan, to the Satanic Ritual Abuse Scandal of the '80's and 90's. We somehow even get sidetracked on the misconceptions that various ancient cultures had regarding the virtues of anal sex, and finally close things out with an amazing, metal-AF, spoken word track from Shea himself! Thanks and enjoy!

Sam sits down with Nico and Mark of Kardashev. We discuss their unique "deathgaze" sound, the band's physicist-inspired name, and chat a bit about about the language Mark invented for their most recent EP, "The Almanac" (during which, Mark even busts out his Klingon-language skillz). We close things out with the "Mailbag" and "Whip it Out" segments, and their single "Between Sea and Sky". Thanks and enjoy!

Sam sits down with Nick Padovani and (once again!) Stevie Boiser of Equipoise. We look back at their 2016 debut release and discuss the band's decision to give to the Jason Becker Foundation, chat a bit about their anime-inspired lyrics, cover their upcoming LP, "Demiurgus", and briefly go over Nick's Blink 182 pop-punk phase in life. Lastly, Nick & Stevie join Sam in answering some of the audience's questions and then close things out with the brand new single, "Dualis Flamel". Thanks, and enjoy!

Sam sits down with Cesar Moreira of Enblood! We dive into their 2018 debut (and completely kick ass) album, "Cast to Exile", discuss the formation of the band, and Cesar describes how nearly every metalhead in Portugal is really old....like Sam. Thanks, and enjoy!

Sam sits down with special guest host Stevie "Big Boi" Boiser (vocalist of Inferi, Equipoise, Tethys, and Ashen Horde) to count down the best metal of 2018. Top 3 EP's, Best of the Rest, Top 10 Albums and Track of the Year for each host are discussed.

Sam sits down with Hugo Doyon-Karout, the bad-ass bass player of Beyond Creation, to discuss their awesome new album, "Algorythm". Other topics touched on include the forthcoming debut album from Equipoise, Hugo's beginnings (and future) with Brought by Pain, cockroaches, poutine, and mindfulness meditation . Thanks, and enjoy!

Sam sits down with Riley McShane of the almighty Allegaeon! We discuss their upcoming album, "Apoptosis". We also discuss how humanity can improve, the criminally underrated Son of Aurelius album, "Under a Western Sun", the upcoming Continuum album, and the types of noises that Riley's father thinks come out of Satan's butt hole. Thanks, and enjoy! #Allegaeon #BlueTwinkie #SoundsFromSatansButthole #DeathMetal

Sam sits down with Kent and Rod (and eventually Ben) of Mordant Rapture. We discuss their bad-ass debut EP, "The Abnegation", as well as the subject of the album art: Manderpig! We also rap about Hans Zimmer and the frail skin of the elderly. Thanks, and enjoy!

Sam sits down with Arkaik's Jared Christianson, Iapetus' Matt Cerami, and actor Aaron Munoz for a round-table discussion on artistic expression. The group tackles some big questions: How does today's sociopolitical climate, along with our more communicative and ever increasing social-media-based world, effect artists and their freedom of expression and speech? Can art be separated from the artist? We also discuss some recent examples within heavy metal that tie into this discussion. Thanks, and enjoy!

Sam sits down with Mike Low, guitarist for Oubliette and Inferi, and co-founder/co-owner of The Artisan Era record label. We discuss Oubliette's upcoming album, "The Passage", Inferi's latest album, the growth of The Artisan Era label, and throw some love at the too-often-underappreciated audio engineers. Finally, we close things out with "The Raven's Lullaby", a song from the upcoming Oubliette album! Thanks, and enjoy!

Sam sits down with Jared, the frontman and vocalist for Tech-Death powerhouse Arkaik. In a wide-ranging and in-depth conversation, our host and guest cover topics such as astral projection, the different ways in which technical death metal may evolve, just how hard it is for death metal musicians to make a living from recording and touring, and the themes and philosophy behind Arkaik's lyrical concepts and mythos. Thanks and enjoy!

Sam sits down with the vocalist/guitarist of Exmortus, Conan! We discuss their upcoming album - The Sound of Steel, as well as the evolution of the band's sound, their heavy neoclassical influence, and Conan's love of Disney's "Night on Bald Mountain". Thanks, and enjoy!

Sam sits down with Malcolm Pugh of the bands Inferi and A Loathing Requiem, and co-founder/co-owner of the label The Artisan Era. We discuss Inferi's upcoming album, what the future holds for A Loathing Requiem, the genesis of The Artisan Era record label, and how the theft of Malcolm's favorite toaster led him down the path to become a guitar virtuoso. We also have a first: A SLP exclusive debut of the new Inferi single "Thy Menacing Gaze", off the upcoming album "Revenant"! Thanks, and enjoy!

Sam sits down with drummer KC Brand and guitarist Ben Jackson of Sacramento's The Odious Construct. We discuss the early years and formation of the band, their 2016 self-titled debut EP, the new music they're currently recording to be released later this year as well as KC's fondness for marching band and Journey and Ben's love of Justin Bieber. Thanks, and enjoy!

Sam sits down with former co-host Keifer, as well as guest host Brandon Cromer, to dig deep into a discussion on Amon Amarth! The history, discography, style and legacy of these Melodic Death standard-bearers is discussed in depth.

Sam sits down with Cameron Porras, composer, guitarist and vocalist for Inanimate Existence. We talk about their latest release, the fantastic "Underneath a Melting Sky". We also discuss the story behind the album's lyrics, band-member stability and hip-hops influence on metal. Thanks, and enjoy!

Sam sits down with special guest host Stevie "Big Boi" Boiser, vocalist of Tethys, Equipoise and Ashen Horde to count down the best metal of 2017. Top 3 EP's, Best of the Rest, Top 10 Albums and Track of the Year for each host are discussed. 0:00 - Intro with Stevie Boiser 6:34 - Top 3 EP’s 10:00 - The Best of the Rest 16:15 - Top 10 Albums of the Year 1:13:07 - Top Track of the Year 1:19:57 - 2017 Reflections and 2018 Preview 1:28:51 - Outro: “Astral Transcendence” by Tethys

Sam sits down with Samuel Nelson, the mastermind behind STIGMA: The Art of Samuel Nelson. Samuel has painted dozens of album covers across a slew of metal sub-genres. We discuss his beginnings as an artist, art in heavy metal as a whole, gory album art, not-so-gory gory album art, his influences and more. Thanks and enjoy!

Sam sits down with Matt and Jordan of Iapetus. We discuss the origin of the band, their debut album, influences, favorite movies, female guest vocals in metal and go on many brief side tangents, including: Ne Obliviscaris' new album, The Punisher trailer, and why Matt wants to punch Jordan when they're near a keyboard. Thanks and enjoy! 0:00 - Intro 0:27 - Iapetus Interview 1:10:23 - "My Father, My God" by Iapetus, from their new album "The Long Road Home"