More Than Metal

Hitting the scene hard in 2019 and 2021, Këkht Aräkh returns will the hotly anticipated Morning Star . With a unique approach to black metal, will this be a new classic of the genre? More Than Metal:  https://linktr.ee/morethanmetal John Bultena:  https://linktr.ee/onlyplaywizards Bailey Crowe:  https://www.instagram.com/bailefyre/

On deck today is the latest from heavy metal act of the north, Spell! We are delving into their latest release, Wretched Heart . Got a lot to say about this one. More Than Metal:  https://linktr.ee/morethanmetal John Bultena:  https://linktr.ee/onlyplaywizards Bailey Crowe:  https://www.instagram.com/bailefyre/

The challenge continues between John and Bailey. This time the contenders are Femtanyl's Chaser EP and Lucifer Over London by Current 93 . What might our hosts have to say about such esoteric materials? The Swap is where Bailey and John give each other an album they've never heard to listen to. They then share a conversation about their thoughts on the respective music composition. More Than Metal...

After months of begging her, Bailey finally listened to Deadsy's 2002 album, Commencement. Doing a deep listen, we ask if this seminal album, that is too often associated with nu-metal, holds up? More Than Metal:  https://linktr.ee/morethanmetal John Bultena:  https://linktr.ee/onlyplaywizards Bailey Crowe:  https://www.instagram.com/bailefyre/

Soothsayer is a super band out of the California Bay Area. They feature members of Castle and Theya . We chat with them about finding the right band chemistry, juggling projects, and other mystical experiences. More Than Metal:  https://linktr.ee/morethanmetal John Bultena:  https://linktr.ee/onlyplaywizards Bailey Crowe: https://www.instagram.com/bailefyre/

Early look at our favorite releases so far of 2026. Lot more year ahead of us, but what is sticking in our ears at this point. More Than Metal:  https://linktr.ee/morethanmetal John Bultena:  https://linktr.ee/onlyplaywizards Bailey Crowe:  https://www.instagram.com/bcrowevo/

Bailey and John head to Oakland to see Savage Master , LIVE, at Eli's Mile High Club with Vorlust and High Spirits opening. Enjoy us sharing our little adventure. More Than Metal: https://linktr.ee/morethanmetal John Bultena:  https://linktr.ee/onlyplaywizards Bailey Crowe: https://www.instagram.com/bcrowevo/

(note this originally was a live video stream) John and Bailey count down their favorite albums of 2025! Bailey's Runner-Ups: Health - Conflict DLC https://youwillloveeachother.bandcamp.com/album/conflict-dlc ISSBROKIE - Swaggot! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lIauoE_mZ0L3AzgFBKtJF6AaLCgs7sJUM Various - Rift of the NecroDancer OST https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUPKuAVC8PO6o...

Swapping albums, John assigns Billie Monolord's Empress Rising , a legendary big doom metal album. Billie puts John onto The Black Queen and their album Fever Daydream . The Swap is where Billie and John give each other an album they've never heard to listen to. They then share a conversation about their thoughts on the respective music composition. More Than Metal:  https://linktr.ee/morethanmeta...

LUXT , the legends of the Sacramento rock scene in the early 2000s just had their reunion show. We chat with them about how that came about, what goes into a reunion show, and what the future holds for the progenitors of Cyber Voodoo Rock. LUXT: https://www.facebook.com/LUXTofficial/ https://www.instagram.com/luxtband/ More Than Metal:  https://linktr.ee/morethanmetal John Bultena:  https://linktr...

Concerts are events where people and artists converge to share an experience. But not all concert goes know that. We delve into common advice, that is often overlooked, to make your experience at a concert better, for noobs and oldheads alike. More Than Metal:  https://linktr.ee/morethanmetal John Bultena:  https://linktr.ee/onlyplaywizards Billie Crowe:  https://www.instagram.com/bcrowevo/

The Phantom AD , a presence beyond time but always up for a good time joins the pod to chat what it takes the haunt the nation, tell us what ghoulish rock n' roll is, and what we should expect from one of his performances. It is DIY from the other side in our first Halloween special episode! The Phantom AD: https://thephantomad.com/ More Than Metal: https://linktr.ee/morethanmetal John Bultena:  h...

Trying a new segment: Does It Hold Up? where we look at an album we remember fondly of decades past. On deck is Sacramento's own industrial rock legends, LUXT. Their 1998 album, Razing Eden, saw them breaking out in the scene, but the question remains: does it hold up? More Than Metal:  https://linktr.ee/morethanmetal John Bultena:  https://linktr.ee/onlyplaywizards Billie Crowe:  https://www.inst...

On deck today is the new album from Perturbator, Age of Aquarius. Does French synth wave superstar James Kent stand up in the year 2025, particularly in the context of contemporary electronic releases? And what about the extensive guests on this album? Find out what John and Billie think on More Than Metal More Than Metal:  https://linktr.ee/morethanmetal John Bultena:  https://linktr.ee/onlyplayw...

Today's Swap has John listening to Mastodon's 2017 album Emperor of Sand with Billie taking the 1999 classic EBM/Industrial album Fun With Knives by Velvet Acid Christ to task with modern synthwave. The Swap is where Billie and John give each other an album they've never heard to listen to. They then share a conversation about their thoughts on the respective music composition.

Bill and I listen to Castle Rat's brand new album: Bestiary . We chat this highly anticipated album, its strengths and where it may fall short of expectations. Enjoy this track by track break down on More Than Metal. More Than Metal:  https://linktr.ee/morethanmetal John Bultena:  https://linktr.ee/onlyplaywizards Bill Crowe:  https://www.instagram.com/billjcrowevo/

Adam Neal, co-founder and guitarist of Savage Master, joins to talk about stage theatrics, growing up with horror and heavy metal, and how do you prepare to tour with GWAR? Savage Master: https://savagemasterofficial.bandcamp.com/  

Trevor William Church of Haunt joins Bill in discussing growing up with parents in the rock and roll business. Trevor and Bill also find they have a closer connection that they thought, all due to rock music! Haunt: https://hauntthenation.bandcamp.com/ More Than Metal:  https://linktr.ee/morethanmetal John Bultena:  https://linktr.ee/onlyplaywizards Bill Crowe:  https://www.instagram.com/billjcrow...

John and Bill catch up with Tucker Thomasson, guitarist and vocalist for the dungeon delving heavy metal band Throne of Iron. We hear about his efforts in recording and mixing, while sharing insights into rural living. Tucker Thomasson: https://linktr.ee/TuckOfIron Throne of Iron: https://linktr.ee/throneofironmetal Mega Dungeon Recording:

Bill and I listen to Blackbraid III, the latest black metal offering from Sgah’gahsowáh. Where do we place it in releases this year. Join us as we break down this album, track by track. More Than Metal:  https://linktr.ee/morethanmetal John Bultena:  https://linktr.ee/onlyplaywizards Bill Crowe:  https://www.instagram.com/billjcrowevo/

The Swap is where Bill and John give each other an album they've never heard to listen to. They then share a conversation about their thoughts on the respective music composition. Today's episode has Bill listening to Emperor the Black Runes from 2004 by Italian power metalers Domine. John gets a flash back to his EBM days with Health Vol. 4: Slaves of Fear. More Than Metal: https://linktr.ee/more...

Over the half way point of 2025, so Bill and John want to share what has really been musical highlights for the year. 2025 may be a rough year, but a fantastic one for music. More Than Metal:  https://linktr.ee/morethanmetal John Bultena:  https://linktr.ee/onlyplaywizards Bill Crowe:  https://www.instagram.com/billjcrowevo/

The Swap is where Bill and John give each other an album they've never heard to listen to. They then share a conversation about their thoughts on the respective music composition. Bill has John listen to the 2016 album All Our Gods Have Abandoned Us by seminal metalcore band, Architects. John prescribes Bill a health dose of Motherblood from 2017 by Grave Pleasures. What thoughts and insight might...

What an artist wears can sometimes say as much as their music. We talk with Sam Franco, seamstress, and musician about her project, Bara Hari, along with discussing what costuming can do for promo, album covers, and performances. Sam offers some great insights behind her process for her own project and working with other artists. Sam Franco: https://www.instagram.com/samfranco__/ Bara Hari: https:...

Justin Gautreau is an author and instructor at the University of California, Merced. He is the author of  The Last Word: The Hollywood Novel and the Studio and contributes to  The Los Angeles Review of Books . We chat his approach to writing about music and studio culture in Los Angeles. Justin Gautreau: https://www.instagram.com/justingotro/   More Than Metal:  https://linktr.ee/morethanmetal Joh...