Advertise on podcast: Fans With Bands

When I moved over to Substack to host the Fans With Bands podcast, I was limited to 100 episodes. This means that the beginning of the podcast is not here on Substack until NOW! Enjoy this episode from Oct 26, 2020 (the very FIRST episode!) Show Notes: A chat with Clint the vocalist for the Lansing, Michigan extreme metal band Recorruptor and Nick a fan of band. On this episode, we talk about Nick’s first experience with the band at Mac’s (a classic dive bar in Lansing) and picking up Recorruptor’s “Some Shit” demo. This launched Nick into following Recorruptor through their “Bloodmoon” and recently released “Funeral Corridor” albums. We also delved into the gateway bands of Slayer and Lamb Of God that pulled Nick and Clint into more extreme forms of metal. A big shout out to the godfather of the double kick drum, Dave Lombardo! Nick was curious as to the drinking routine for load in and we got into Clint’s 21st with Goatwhore, Black Fast and Acid Bath. Hilarity then ensues :) Our talk gets a bit cerebral when we discuss the calming and cathartic aspect of metal music. While some may find the blistering chaos of Black Dahlia Murder beyond the pale. Extreme metal fans find the blasting power releases the tension from the day and leads to a blissful zen. Check out Recorruptor’s music on Bandcamp Follow Recorruptor on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram Fans With Bands Subscribe to Fans With Bands on your favorite podcast service such as Apple, Youtube, Spotify, Audible, or Amazon Music. Be sure to rate the show and please send us feedback. We would love to hear from you. You can also follow Fans With Bands on Facebook, Youtube, Instagram, and Bluesky For samplings of music by artists featured on Fans With Bands, check out our playlist on Spotify Get full access to Fans With Bands at fanswithbands.substack.com/subscribe

Chuck and Nuno are back to discuss their earliest memories of music videos, the golden era of MTV, and legendary concert footage. We share stories about discovering heavy metal and rock bands on late-night TV, the evolution of music video production, and the sometimes comedic (and dangerous) history behind classic shoots. Episode Highlights * Catching Up: Nuno fills in Chuck on his busy season at work and his shift toward writing reviews on his Substack: instead of producing content for YouTube. * Early MTV & Music Video Memories: We reminisce about the early days of MTV, highlighting A-ha‘s “Take On Me” and the dangerous windmill scene in Duran Duran‘s “Hungry Like the Wolf” video. We also note the massive impact of Van Halen‘s “Hot for Teacher” and the cinematic length of Michael Jackson’s epic “Thriller” video. * Headbangers Ball & Metal Favorites: Chuck shares his ritual of recording Headbangers Ball to catch heavy videos like “Betrayer” by Kreator. Nuno recalls watching Portuguese TV specials featuring Iron Maiden and Sepultura. * Megadeth vs. Metallica: We take a deep dive into the intertwined history of Megadeth and Metallica. They discuss Dave Mustaine’s early writing credits on “The Call of Ktulu” and “Fight Fire with Fire,” as well as the speed differences between “Mechanix” and “The Four Horsemen”. Nuno also praises Metallica‘s “One” video and Megadeth‘s “Wake Up Dead” and “Peace Sells”. * Live Concert Experiences & Surprises: Nuno recounts seeing Israeli band Orphaned Land open for Fear Factory, noting that they later recorded an album produced by Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree. They also laugh about Portuguese band Moonspell terrifying children by performing a death metal version of a kids’ song on live TV. * Tour Talk & Extreme Metal: Chuck laments that the upcoming tour with Forbidden, and Heathen won’t be stopping in Detroit this time around. Nuno shares his love for Napalm Death‘s live DVDs and their surprisingly melodic Tiny Desk concert, while acknowledging the band’s diverse influences such as Cocteau Twins. * Covers and Late-Night Discoveries: Chuck remembers discovering AC/DC on The Midnight Special. The conversation wraps up with a discussion on great cover songs, including Voivod covering Pink Floyd, White Lion covering Golden Earring, Heathen covering Sweet, and Mötley Crüe covering Brownsville Station. * Honorable Mentions: The duo briefly touches on legendary home videos from Pantera, music from King’s X, and the visual aesthetics of Cannibal Corpse, Quiet Riot, and Accept. Fans With Bands Subscribe to Fans With Bands on your favorite podcast service such as Apple, Youtube, Spotify, Audible, or Amazon Music. Be sure to rate the show and please send us feedback. We would love to hear from you. You can also follow Fans With Bands on Facebook, Youtube, Instagram, and Bluesky For samplings of music by artists featured on Fans With Bands, check out our playlist on Spotify Get full access to Fans With Bands at fanswithbands.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of Fans With Bands, we sit down with Kevin Kay (Detroit Music Collective) to analyze the results of the recent Greater Detroit Music Census. We were joined by singer-songwriter Julianne Ankley, who shared her perspective as a working musician in Detroit. The conversation dives into the financial realities facing local artists, venue shortages that cause touring acts to bypass the city, the perception of elitism in the local scene, and practical initiatives underway to strengthen the region’s 10-county music ecosystem. Key Census Highlights & Data Points Total Survey Response 2,500+ respondents across 10 counties (75-mile radius around Detroit) - unique in that this was all done with grassroots effort. Music-Generated Income Average music income is $20,000/year, well below the poverty line, while average total income is $88,000. Primary Employment 68% of musicians rely on non-music jobs for their primary income. Out-of-Pocket Investment Local musicians spend $16.2 million annually out-of-pocket to support their music careers. Venue Performance Detroit averages 64 events per venue per year, compared to Cleveland/Columbus (96–97) and Nashville (172). Artist Retention Flight Risk 74% plan to pursue music in 3 years, but only 48% plan to stay in Detroit. Perception of Scene 54% view the scene as elitist, spiking to 87% among 18–24-year-olds. Discussion Topics * Grassroots Power vs. Lack of Civic Support: How community partners pulled off the census without city government backing or major press support, outperforming larger markets on a per-capita grassroots basis. * The Missing Mid-Sized Venues: Why touring bands skip Detroit on Midwest runs between Chicago and Cleveland due to a shortage of venue capacities and a lack of a local Independent Venue Association chapter. * Recording Dollars Leaving Michigan: How artists often travel to cities like Nashville for streamlined studio workflows, and what Detroit studios can do to capture local talent and keep production capital in-state. * Treating Musicians as Small Businesses: Why municipal and county economic development programs need to view independent musicians as small businesses deserving of tax write-offs, resources, and streamlined event permitting. * Rebuilding the Scene’s Infrastructure: * Master Events Calendar: Developing an automated, scraped region-wide calendar for all live shows and cultural events across the 75-mile radius. * Student PR Network: Partnering with local university journalism/PR programs (e.g., Oakland University, Wayne State) to give students portfolio-building experience covering local bands and shows. * Master Industry Directory: Creating a comprehensive resource listing area studios, equipment specs, rates, and session musicians. * Sponsorship Models for Independent Venues: How small venues can boost revenue and support artists by tapping into local business sponsorships and cross-promotions. Key Quotes “We don’t have a talent problem here. We have an infrastructure problem.” — Kevin Kay “An artist is a business... If the Greater Detroit metropolitan area truly believes that music is an important industry to this area, we have all got to work together to help strengthen and grow that.” — Kevin Kay “The minute I left town, all of a sudden I was more valuable here. That’s got to change too... There’s so much talent here that it would be nice to see it promoted from within.” — Julianne Ankley “Rising tide lifts all boats... Working together is critical. There’s got to be a consensus among everyone within this community to start valuing artists and their music.” — Kevin Kay & Chuck Greater Detroit Music Census Report Website Check our the report Check out the census data dashboard Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube Kevin Kay Check out the Detroit Music Collective Follow on Facebook, Instagram Julianne Ankley Check out her music Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Spotify Fans With Bands Subscribe to Fans With Bands on your favorite podcast service such as Apple, Youtube, Spotify, Audible, or Amazon Music. Be sure to rate the show and please send us feedback. We would love to hear from you. You can also follow Fans With Bands on Facebook, Youtube, Instagram, and Bluesky For samplings of music by artists featured on Fans With Bands, check out our playlist on Spotify Get full access to Fans With Bands at fanswithbands.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, I Ryan, Don, Brandon, and Victor from Void The Light. Their latest album, Speaking With Gods, is an amalgamation of heavy riffs, progressive vibes, and flat out hard hitting tunes. We spent some time talking about their approach to music, what inspires the storyline that runs through their sound. As always, we can’t help but talk about pizza too. Void The Light Check out their music Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Spotify Fans With Bands Subscribe to Fans With Bands on your favorite podcast service such as Apple, Youtube, Spotify, Audible, or Amazon Music. Be sure to rate the show and please send us feedback. We would love to hear from you. You can also follow Fans With Bands on Facebook, Youtube, Instagram, and Bluesky For samplings of music by artists featured on Fans With Bands, check out our playlist on Spotify Get full access to Fans With Bands at fanswithbands.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Chuck and Nuno are talking about 1984. Not the dystopian novel by George Orwell, but the Metal Storm listing of top metal albums for 1984. We worked our way from the bottom to the top provide our commentary and metal memories along the way . 1984 - Metal Roundup * #20: Cirith Ungol - King of the Dead * A long-time favorite of Chuck and a new edition for Nuno. A great heavy album which leans into doom territory. * Kick ass cover art by Michael Whelan which is from the Michael Moorcock fantasy book Bane Of The Black Sword which is near and dear to Chuck’s heart (Check out Battalion playing Bane Of The Black Sword) * #19: Queensrÿche - The Warning * The last album before the band turns up the progressive jams and storytelling such as 1986’s Rage for Order and the highly acclaimed Operation: Mindcrime. * We share some laughs about the video “Take Hold of the Flame” which is pretty cheesy, but we love it.. * #17: Q5 - Steel the Light * Neither of us had a clue about this band. Evidently, Floyd Rose was in the band. * We gave it a quick listen. Nuno compares them to bands like Quartz, Sword, Y&T, and Praying Mantis—groups that often fell into that hazy middle ground between heavy metal and hard rock. * #17: Deep Purple - Perfect Strangers * A damn fine rock album by Deep Purple featuring Ritchie Blackmore, Roger Glover, and Ian Gillan. * It features some of their biggest hits, including “Knocking at Your Back Door” and “Perfect Strangers,” alongside underrated tracks like “Under the Gun,” “Mean Streak,” and “Wasted Sunsets”. * We get off track chatting about the album Burn and the killer drumming of Ian Paice. * #16: Van Halen - 1984 * Both of us dig the album, beside the lame ass tune: “Jump”. “Panama,” and “Hot for Teacher,” are great hard rockers. The album also features fantastic deep cuts like “Top Jimmy,” “Drop Dead Legs,” and “I’ll Wait”. * Nuno shares some trivia: The closing track, “House of Pain,” was actually reworked from early demos produced by Gene Simmons when the band first signed to Warner Brothers. * Nuno (a fountain of trivia) also shared that many songs on their later reunion album, A Different Kind of Truth, were also built from older, unreleased demo riffs that David Lee Roth wrote new lyrics for. * #15: Jag Panzer - Ample Destruction * Both of us never got into this band, so there you go. * #14: Manowar - Hail to England * This is Nuno’s favorite Manowar album. * Standout tracks for Nuno include “Blood of my Enemies,” “Each Dawn I Die,” “Black Arrows,” and “Bridge of Death”. * Chuck is not really into Manowar, but to each their own. * #13: Trouble - Psalm 9 * This band rules and this album is quintessential doom metal putting them alongside bands like Saint Vitus and Witchfinder General. * #12: Omen - Battle Cry * Sure they sound a bit like Maiden, but still a damn fine album. Although Nuno digs The Curse a bit more. * #11: Yngwie Malmsteen - Rising Force * An album we both agree changed the face of metal guitar playing. * Chuck shares the time he saw Yngwie live around 1984 or 1985 in a room packed exclusively with “guitar nerds”. It was a sweaty sausage fest. * #10: Twisted Sister - Stay Hungry * The album that put Twisted Sister on the map with “I Wanna Rock” and “We’re Not Gonna Take It,”. Great tunes, but don’t forget “Horror-Teria,” “Burn in Hell,” and “The Beast”. * #9: Scorpions - Love at First Sting * A decent album, but it’s not Blackout. * The album has some massive hits like “Still Loving You” and “Rock You Like A Hurricane,” alongside tracks like “Bad Boys Running Wild,” “I’m Leaving You,” and “Big City Nights”, but it’s still not Blackout * #8: Warlord - And The Cannons of Destruction Have Begun * Neither of us were really familiar with this band. We’ve put it on our “Listen To Later” list. * #7: W.A.S.P. - W.A.S.P. * You either dig this band or you don’t. Chuck isn’t a fan, but Nuno can get behind a few tunes. * #6: Dio - The Last in Line * Dio with Vivian Campbell kicks ass. “We Rock”, “Egypt”, and “I Speed at Night” kick ass. Although this album doesn’t quite have the punch of Holy Diver. * #5: Metal Church - Metal Church * Metal Church! What more do you need! A classic line-up and still a killer album. * #4: Judas Priest - Defenders of the Faith * It’s Priest, but sort of lacks consistency and punch. The song lyrics are a hoot. Check out Rob Halford’s autobiography Confess for the inside scoop. * #3: Mercyful Fate - Don’t Break the Oath * We both agree this album is fine, but doesn’t hold a candle to King Diamond’s Abigail * #2: Iron Maiden - Powerslave * We both agree this is Bruce-era of Maiden at their best. * #1: Metallica - Ride the Lightning * A tough call for both of us on whether this or Master of Puppets is the very best Metallica album. There is no doubt that you can listen to this album anytime and get whiplash. Get full access to Fans With Bands at fanswithbands.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, I talked with Ian from Coyote Man. Their new album Prosthetic Memories, is about to be released and it is another masterpiece in heavy, progressive, instrumental music. Although, there is a surprisingly wonderful track with vocals. Ian and I chat about the making of this new album, what sets it apart from their other creations, and plans to spread the word far and wide. Coyote Man Check out their music Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Spotify Fans With Bands Subscribe to Fans With Bands on your favorite podcast service such as Apple, Youtube, Spotify, Audible, or Amazon Music. Be sure to rate the show and please send us feedback. We would love to hear from you. You can also follow Fans With Bands on Facebook, Youtube, Instagram, and Bluesky For samplings of music by artists featured on Fans With Bands, check out our playlist on Spotify Get full access to Fans With Bands at fanswithbands.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of Fans with Bands, Chuck and Nuno dive deep into the world of guitar players. From the world changing playing of Jimi Hendrix and Eddie Van Halen to 80s metal heroes, 90s grunge icons, and today’s modern virtuosos, this episode covers the players who we dig and some we maybe weren’t the most keen on. However, they all jam. Below is the ultimate cheat sheet for every artist, band, album, and track mentioned in the episode. The Pioneers & Shred Virtuosos The guys who caused the “seismic events” in guitar history, alongside the pure solo shredders who defined the genre. * Jimi Hendrix - need we say more? * Eddie Van Halen - dude..Van Halen (1978’s Van Halen I) * Chuck Berry - Rock & Roll Pioneer * Dick Dale - King of the Surf Guitar * Hank Marvin - The Shadows * Steve Vai - Solo and with David Lee Roth * Yngwie Malmsteen - neo-classical gamechanger * Joe Satriani - Satch Boogie!! * Eric Johnson - Solo (“Cliffs of Dover”) * Michael Angelo Batio - Good Lord! * Paul Gilbert - Racer X / Mr. Big 70s & 80s Classic Rock & Metal Legends The riffs and solos that built the arenas. * Ace Frehley - Kiss * Alex Lifeson - Rush * Robert Fripp - King Crimson * Andy Summers - The Police * Elliot Easton - The Cars * David Gilmour - Pink Floyd * Brian May - Queen * Angus Young - AC/DC * Malcolm Young - AC/DC * Mark Knopfler - Dire Straits * Lindsey Buckingham - Fleetwood Mac / Buckingham Nicks * Joe Perry and Brad Whitford - Aerosmith * Matthias Jabs - Scorpions * Uli Jon Roth - Scorpions * Michael Schenker - Scorpions/ UFO / MSG * Nuno Bettencourt - Extreme * Gary Moore - Solo and Thin Lizzy Heavy Metal, Thrash, & Hard Rock * Tony Iommi - Black Sabbath * Randy Rhoads - Ozzy Osbourne (huge inspiration for Chuck) * Jake E. Lee - Ozzy Osbourne * Zakk Wylde - Ozzy Osbourne * Adrian Smith - Iron Maiden * Dave Murray - Iron Maiden (another of Chuck’s inspirations) * Dennis Stratton - Iron Maiden * Marty Friedman - Megadeth * Dave Mustaine -Megadeth * Chris Broderick -Megadeth * Chris Poland - Megadeth * Kirk Hammett - Metallica * James Hetfield - Metallica * Dimebag Darrell - Pantera * Jason Becker - Cacophony * Chuck Schuldiner - Death * Trey Azagthoth - Morbid Angel * Alex Skolnick - Testament * John Petrucci - Dream Theater * George Lynch -Dokken * Craig Goldy - Dio * Vivian Campbell - Dio * Warren DeMartini - Ratt * Criss Oliva - Savatage * Vito Bratta - White Lion Grunge, Blues, and more * Stevie Ray Vaughan * Tom Morello - Rage Against the Machine * John Frusciante - Red Hot Chili Peppers * Kurt Cobain - Nirvana * Jerry Cantrell - Alice in Chains * Kim Thayil - Soundgarden * Mike McCready and Stone Gossard - Pearl Jam * Billy Corgan - Smashing Pumpkins * Mark Tremonti - Creed / Alter Bridge * John 5 Honorable Mentions & Deep Cuts Other musicians, vocalists, rhythm section icons, and legendary albums referenced in this episode: * The Drummers: Neil Peart (Rush), Eric Carr (Kiss - complete with the tank turret drum kit!), Nick Menza (Megadeth). * The Bassists: Billy Sheehan. * The Singers: Terry Glaze (Pantera), David Bowie, Mick Jagger, Michael Jackson, Prince. * Albums & Songs Mentioned: * Van Halen I (Van Halen) * Kiss Alive, Kiss Alive II, Creatures of the Night, Lick It Up, Destroyer (Kiss) * Hemispheres (Rush) * Double Live Gonzo (Ted Nugent) * Blackout (Scorpions) * New York Groove (Ace Frehley) * Rock You Like a Hurricane (Scorpions) * Beat It (Michael Jackson - featuring EVH’s legendary solo) * Let’s Dance (David Bowie - featuring SRV) * Cliffs of Dover (Eric Johnson) Get full access to Fans With Bands at fanswithbands.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, I talked with Caving Grounds from Negaunee / Marquette. This Upper Peninsula band channels the ferocity and brutal beauty of where they live into relentless hardcore. Titanic riffs, pummeling rhythms, and menacing vocals characterize their music. I had a great chat talking about the origin of the band’s name, their music, pizza, and their new album Become Soil, which you can pick up today. Caving Grounds Check out their music Follow on Instagram, Youtube, Spotify Fans With Bands Subscribe to Fans With Bands on your favorite podcast service such as Apple, Youtube, Spotify, Audible, or Amazon Music. Be sure to rate the show and please send us feedback. We would love to hear from you. You can also follow Fans With Bands on Facebook, Youtube, Instagram, and Bluesky For samplings of music by artists featured on Fans With Bands, check out our playlist on Spotify Get full access to Fans With Bands at fanswithbands.substack.com/subscribe

In this special crossover episode, Chuck and Nuno (Needle in a Substack and Nuno Babo Youtube) sit down with legendary drummer Shannon Larkin. In a highly candid conversation, Shannon takes us through his incredible 40-year journey in the music industry. From the early club days with Wrathchild America and the label bidding wars of the 1980s, to finding his groove with Souls at Zero Ugly Kid Joe and ultimately, Godsmack, Shannon holds nothing back. He also opens up about his 10-year sobriety, his departure from Godsmack, and the tragic loss of Amen’s Casey Chaos. Show Notes & Key Highlights The Early Days & The Label Bidding War * Shannon talks about starting Wrathchild with Terry Carter as teenagers. The root music that inspired them. The rise of Wrathchild, label woes, and more. Becoming Souls at Zero * Shannon shares the origins of Souls at Zero. Sobriety, Charity, and “The B’s” * Shannon proudly discussed being happily sober for 10 years and charity work with Brad Divens (former bassist / vocals for Wrathchild America and Souls At Zero) Stepping Back from Godsmack * Shannon explained his amicable departure from Godsmack and how the pandemic influenced the shift in his life priorities. Honoring Casey Chaos & Amen * Shannon shared emotional memories of Amen frontman Casey Chaos, who tragically passed away following a heart attack. Current Projects & The Future * Shannon is currently putting out his own music independently through Inside Skinny Productions and working with several bands, including a collaboration with Terry Carter known as Spirit Wheel. Shannon Larkin Website, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube Fans With Bands Subscribe to Fans With Bands on your favorite podcast service such as Apple, Youtube, Spotify, Audible, or Amazon Music. Be sure to rate the show and please send us feedback. We would love to hear from you. You can also follow Fans With Bands on Facebook, Youtube, Instagram, and Bluesky For samplings of music by artists featured on Fans With Bands, check out our playlist on Spotify Nuno Babo Subscribe to Needle In A Substack. Check out other interviews on Youtube. Get full access to Fans With Bands at fanswithbands.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Chuck sits down with the legendary Chuck Billy of Testament to discuss his upcoming autobiography, Holding My Breath: The Two Testaments of Chuck Billy, dropping November 10th. We dive into the process of translating a Chuck’s fiercely private life into an open book, and how his journey is split cleanly into the “Old Testament” (his early life, athletic background, and the early days of Testament) and the “New Testament” (his triumph over a devastating cancer diagnosis at 38 and his revitalized musical career). Key Topics Covered: * The Power of the Pre-Fame Years: Why it was essential for Chuck to explore his childhood, his athletic background, and his teenage years. * From Sports to the Stage: How getting kicked out of high school pivoted Chuck toward a life in music, and how he translated his aggressive athletic mentality into becoming the frontman for Testament. * The KISS Influence: Chuck recalls seeing KISS live in 1976 and how Gene Simmons’ theatrical performance inspired him to rock out in his garage. * Beating the 38-Year Deadline: Chuck’s childhood premonition that he would “sell his soul” for rock and roll and only live to 38, the exact age he was diagnosed with cancer, and how surviving it reignited Testament. * The Meaning of “Holding My Breath”: The literal and metaphorical meaning behind the book’s title, tracing a stubborn childhood habit to the way Chuck navigated his entire career and life. * Guest Forewords: Why it was crucial to have Metal God Rob Halford (representing the “Old Testament” era) and Lamb of God’s Randy Blythe (representing the “New Testament” era) pen the foreword and afterword. * The Ultimate Question: Does Chuck Billy put pineapple on his pizza? Chuck Billy Pre-order the book: ChuckBillyBook.com (Keep an eye out for special editions signed by Chuck, Rob Halford, and Randy Blythe!) Follow on Facebook, Instagram Testament: Website, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube Fans With Bands Subscribe to Fans With Bands on your favorite podcast service such as Apple, Youtube, Spotify, Audible, or Amazon Music. Be sure to rate the show and please send us feedback. We would love to hear from you. You can also follow Fans With Bands on Facebook, Youtube, Instagram, and Bluesky For samplings of music by artists featured on Fans With Bands, check out our playlist on Spotify Get full access to Fans With Bands at fanswithbands.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, I had the fellas in Drift. Thanks to my old friend Bill Fitzpatrick for sharing the music of this new metalcore band from Detroit. They are playing powerful music that will definitely appeal to fans of Wage War, I Prevail, and Misery Index. We talked about how these guys got together, their prolific songwriting, and plans for the future. As usual, we got into origin stories and pizza toppings. Check out Drift’s latest singles “Alone” and “Deceiver” which are out on all the streaming platforms. Drift Check out their music Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Spotify Fans With Bands Subscribe to Fans With Bands on your favorite podcast service such as Apple, Youtube, Spotify, Audible, or Amazon Music. Be sure to rate the show and please send us feedback. We would love to hear from you. You can also follow Fans With Bands on Facebook, Youtube, Instagram, and Bluesky For samplings of music by artists featured on Fans With Bands, check out our playlist on Spotify Get full access to Fans With Bands at fanswithbands.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, I had the opportunity to talk with Ron and Zach from Widetrack. I’m so happy to have found the powerful, emotive, and deeply satisfying music from this father and son duo. I very much enjoyed talking with them about how they got started and their respective musical journeys. Of course, we talked a bit about their future plans and pizza. Be on the lookout for shows this summer with Widetrack. In the meantime, I highly recommend their latest album Galatea. Get your copy today!. Widetrack Check out their music Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Spotify Fans With Bands Subscribe to Fans With Bands on your favorite podcast service such as Apple, Youtube, Spotify, Audible, or Amazon Music. Be sure to rate the show and please send us feedback. We would love to hear from you. You can also follow Fans With Bands on Facebook, Youtube, Instagram, and Bluesky For samplings of music by artists featured on Fans With Bands, check out our playlist on Spotify Get full access to Fans With Bands at fanswithbands.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, we are back with another installment of Music Notes with Nuno. Chuck and Nuno reunite across the globe to dive into a special assignment. Chuck’s buddy Vic from the Michigan-based label Dystopian Dogs Productions sent over a brand new 12-track compilation vinyl titled Wrong Way Rockers: Peninsular Metal. They dive into the record, admire the old-school artwork, and give a track-by-track breakdown. Album Spotlight: Wrong Way Rockers: Peninsular Metal * Label: Dystopian Dogs Productions * Format: Vinyl compilation featuring 12 metal tracks from the Michigan area. * Artwork: The cover art by Timothy Jenkins gives off an old-school Frank Kozik vibe. The inside gatefold photo by David Zimmerman sets the tone. * Extras: The record comes with an awesome booklet where each band gets a dedicated page to showcase their art and info. * Overall Vibe: Both Chuck and Nuno agree the compilation is incredibly well-thought-out, perfectly balancing different metal subgenres (thrash, progressive, power) without a single track feeling out of place. Track-by-Track Review (Side A) 1. Dungeon Beast – “To Shatter What Binds” * The Vibe: Heavy metal with a progressive flare and power metal elements. * Highlights: An energetic instrumental track chock-full of great guitar leads and sweet solos. * Background: Originally from Lansing, MI, the band appears to have reunited after a 10-15 year hiatus. 2. Sauron – “The Infernal Sword” * The Vibe: Slayer-esque infused metal with early black metal riffs. * Highlights: Features staccato riffing and a mix of raspy and operatic (Mercyful Fate-style) vocals. * Background: An old-school band that fully embraces the spiked gauntlet aesthetic; Chuck actually saw them live at Berserker a while back. 3. Low Magic – “Sinister Barrier” * The Vibe: Labeled as “Dungeon Synth,” but reminds Nuno heavily of Turbo-era Judas Priest. * Highlights: High-soaring melodic vocals paired with electronic riffing. * Background: A one-man project with a cool, DIY/lo-fi aesthetic. 4. Locust Point – “City Sharks” * The Vibe: Clutch-infused stoner rock with a working-class, blue-collar ethic. * Highlights: Highly charged rock music reminiscent of heavy 70s rock and early Tygers of Pan Tang. * Background: One of Chuck’s absolute favorites; he highly recommends their previous full-length album. 5. Syder – “Hell Thrashing Death Brigade” * The Vibe: Blackish-infused thrash metal loaded with punk attitude. * Highlights: A devastating, raw, fast-paced track that channels early Slayer, Bathory, and Venom. 6. Acid Witch – “You’re Melting” * The Vibe: A mix of evil metal and stoner rock fueled by the spirit of King Diamond. * Highlights: Eerie keyboard melodies mixed with high-pitched vocals. * Background: Closes out Side A. The band shows off their veteran status here with highly professional production and composition—while clearly having a lot of fun. 7. Nuke – “Crossfire” * The Vibe: Early Iron Maiden (circa Killers) with raspy vocals and a heavily punkish attitude. * Highlights: A street-wise, thrashy track that channels early Metallica (Kill ‘Em All), Sodom, and the Canadian thrash pioneers Exciter. * Background: Kicks off Side B. The track’s raw, formative energy leads the guys into a discussion about who really recorded the first thrash metal song. 8. Jail – “January” * The Vibe: Hell Awaits-era Slayer worship with a darkened, Satanic thrash aesthetic. * Highlights: A fast-paced, old-school thrash track that also brings early Dark Angel to mind. * Background: The aggressive, “evil sounding” nature of the track leads Chuck and Nuno into a fun tangent about the early days of metal panic and overzealous religious protesters at Ozzy and Maiden shows. 9. Cruthu * The Vibe: Epic doom blended with epic power metal vocals. * Highlights: A unique mashup style that gives off a heavy Candlemass vibe. * Background: Nuno’s 4th favorite track on the compilation. Both Chuck and Nuno single out vocalist Ryan for his compelling vocal delivery, with Nuno declaring this the best vocal performance on the entire record. 10. Anguish – “Celephaïs” * The Vibe: Power metal with soaring, high-register vocals reminiscent of Grim Reaper, infused with psychedelic wah pedal work. * Highlights: Chuck and Nuno describe the interesting guitar work as what it would sound like “if Jimi Hendrix had a metal band”. * Background: Features the kind of “Jimi Hendrix infused Wawa pedal” work that prompts Nuno to (jokingly) trash Metallica’s Kirk Hammett. 11. Prelude to Ruin – “Take It Away” * The Vibe: Lively power metal with ripping guitar solos and a haunting, classical vibe. * Highlights: An operatic, epic track deeply influenced by Manilla Road and Cirith Ungol. * Background: Nuno’s 5th favorite track. The song’s clear reverence for Manilla Road sparks a passionate agreement between Chuck and Nuno that Manilla Road is one of the most underrated bands in metal. 12. Time Gambler – “Stalemate” * The Vibe: A fine line between hard rock and power metal with strong New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) influences, akin to early Saxon. * Highlights: Hard rock-leaning vocals paired with driving power metal guitar riffs and instrumentation. * Background: Closes out the album, and ranks as Nuno’s 6th favorite track. It represents that classic early ‘80s transitional era when hard rock was evolving into heavy metal, reminiscent of the Paul Di’Anno years of early Iron Maiden. Nuno Babo Check out Nuno at Needle In A Substack and Loud Hailer Magazine Fans With Bands Subscribe to Fans With Bands on your favorite podcast service such as Apple, Youtube, Spotify, Audible, or Amazon Music. Be sure to rate the show and please send us feedback. We would love to hear from you. You can also follow Fans With Bands on Facebook, Youtube, Instagram, and Bluesky For samplings of music by artists featured on Fans With Bands, check out our playlist on Spotify Get full access to Fans With Bands at fanswithbands.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, I had a chance to chat with Ashleigh and Cody of Blockhouse Valley. It was a joy talking with them about how they came together to form their band, how they approach making music, influences, and so much more. They mix their love of Americana, show tunes, and jazz into a delightful amalgam of music.. Be sure to pick up a copy of their latest album It’s Alright and be on the lookout for their new album coming soon. Blockhouse Valley Check out their music Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Spotify Fans With Bands Subscribe to Fans With Bands on your favorite podcast service such as Apple, Youtube, Spotify, Audible, or Amazon Music. Be sure to rate the show and please send us feedback. We would love to hear from you. You can also follow Fans With Bands on Facebook, Youtube, Instagram, and Bluesky For samplings of music by artists featured on Fans With Bands, check out our playlist on Spotify Get full access to Fans With Bands at fanswithbands.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, I had a chance to chat with Cory, Megan, and Bryan of Casket Robbery. They craft seriously heavy and brutal horror themed death metal with a bit of secret sauce. We talk about how the band got started, their secret sauce that lends eerie tones to their tunes, influences, and more. Casket Robbery are headed out west for Vegas Un Alive Fest (March 20) and a string of other shows. They are also part of the fantastic lineup at this year’s Milwaukee Metal Fest which runs from Friday June 5 to Sunday June 7. Casket Robbery will be playing on Saturday June 6. Make it a metal weekend and get your tickets for the Milwaukee Metal Fest today! Tickets for all upcoming Casket Robbery shows can be found here. Casket Robbery Check out their music Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Spotify Fans With Bands Subscribe to Fans With Bands on your favorite podcast service such as Apple, Youtube, Spotify, Audible, or Amazon Music. Be sure to rate the show and please send us feedback. We would love to hear from you. You can also follow Fans With Bands on Facebook, Youtube, Instagram, and Bluesky For samplings of music by artists featured on Fans With Bands, check out our playlist on Spotify Get full access to Fans With Bands at fanswithbands.substack.com/subscribe