Heavy Metal Philosophy

In episode 228 of Heavy Metal Philosophy, Jon Barbas sits down with Gus Rios of Gruesome fame, who is creating a GI Joe metal band called Cold Slither. In partnership with Hasbro, Reigning Phoenix Music and the help of members of Exhumed and KMFDM, Gus is bringing to life the fictitious metal band of Cobra mercenaries. But since this band and idea was the creation of a corporation is Cold Slither...

In episode 227 of Heavy Metal Philosophy, Jon Barbas breaks down the truth  about Metallica versus Pete Hegseth and the Department of Defense. The secretary uploaded a video with Enter Sandman playing in the background. X (Formerly Twitter) then asked the DoD to remove the video on copyright grounds. As you can imagine the Internet went wild over this with some completely terrible takes. Let's fin...

In episode 226 of Heavy Metal Philosophy, Jon Barbas gives his thoughts on Black Sabbath's "Back To The Beginning", their final concert and Ozzy Osbourne's retirement show. From the emotional highs and lows, to the historical and philosophical significance of this end of an era, we're talking heavy metal legacy! Get Heavy Metal Philosophy Merch! https://jonbarbas-shop.fourthwall.com/ Heavy Metal P...

In episode 225 of Heavy Metal Philosophy, Jon Barbas reacts to the reasons why British city councils are cancelling Marilyn Manson concerts, the philosophy and morality of cancel culture, and behind the scenes details from the touring industry to consider.  Get Heavy Metal Philosophy Merch! https://jonbarbas-shop.fourthwall.com/ Heavy Metal Philosophy Contact; https://heavymetalphilosophy.com/ You...

In episode 224 of Heavy Metal Philosophy, Jon Barbas met the most dedicated Metallica fan he's ever encountered - this guy attended 12 different Metallica shows in 2025 alone! From time to money, this metalhead reveals exactly how he made it to shows across multiple countries. What drives someone to this level of commitment? Join us to find out and celebrate one of the greatest metal bands ever. G...

In episode 223 of Heavy Metal Philosophy, Jon Barbas got an early preview of the upcoming Cryptopsy album 'An Insatiable Violence'. After analyzing the lyrics I got a chance to run my interpretations by lead singer, Matt McGachy. Instead of normal slasher and zombie death metal, Cryptopsy have made a death metal record about the worst parts of the Internet.  What's your take on using negativity as...

In episode 222 of Heavy Metal Philosophy, Jon Barbas recounts his experience at Metallica's June 3rd, 2025 concert in Atlanta's Mercedes Benz Stadium. With Pantera and Suicidal Tendencies on the bill, we were super excited for the show, but the Atlanta crowd and the venue really let me down. The bands were great, but a rare miss for Atlanta that night. Join me for the story, and let me know if you...

In episode 221 of Heavy Metal Philosophy, Jon Barbas wants to hear from the Metalcore community who the go-to guy is for Modern Metal now that Nik Nocturnal quit YouTube. This episode explores the importance of staying current with other genres of metal and examines Nik's farewell video. Can you help us? Let us know, metalheads! Nik Nocturnal Links; https://linktr.ee/niknocturnal  Get Heavy Metal...

In episode 220 of Heavy Metal Philosophy, Jon Barbas is joined by Andy Thomas from Rivers of Nihil. We both express how important Rivers of Nihil's 'The Work' was to us personally and then weigh in on the spirituality of work. Then, we dive into the themes and philosophies of the music on their upcoming self-titled album. I came away from this conversation with a much clearer insight into the phil...

In episode 218 of Heavy Metal Philosophy, Jon Barbas chats with Andy from the deathcore band Thus Spoke Zarathustra about Nietzsche, MySpace era deathcore, and funny song titles. Why are metalheads so into Nietzsche versus other philosophers, and what is the state of the scene in Deathcore? Join us! Get Heavy Metal Philosophy Merch! https://jonbarbas-shop.fourthwall.com/ Thus Spoke Zarathustra lin...

In episode 218 of Heavy Metal Philosophy, Jon Barbas analyzes the ideas and themes on Sleep Token's new album, Even in Arcadia. Sleep Token lyrics often have dual meaning and the music behind them can teach us which emotional interpretation is correct. From the biblical allusions, Greek allegories, and of course the sexual nature of the songs... this is part two of The Philosophy of Sleep Token! G...

In episode 217 of Heavy Metal Philosophy, Jon Barbas previews and analyzes the upcoming new Behemoth record, 'The Shit Ov God'. Is it all toilet points and poop references or does Nergal and company have something more to say? Is this the new era of Behemoth? Let's talk about the feces of the divine! Behemoth links; https://www.behemoth.pl/  Get Heavy Metal Philosophy Merch! https://jonbarbas-shop...

In episode 216 of Heavy Metal Philosophy, Jon Barbas compares controversial debates about abortion, birth control, and gun control to the controversies surrounding artificial intelligence. These topics evoke strong emotions and ethical dilemmas, raising questions about autonomy, morality, and the future of society. We'll analyze arguments from both sides, discuss public perceptions, and highlight...

In episode 215 of Heavy Metal Philosophy, Jon Barbas sits down with Wednesday 13 about Horror Punk, his new album 'Mid Death Crisis', and being a weirdo in the South. What started as me wanting to learn more about horror punk turned into us relating over religious parents and taboo metal. Join us! Wednesday 13 links; https://wednesdaythirteen.bandcamp.com/album/mid-death-crisis https://officialwed...

In episode 214 of Heavy Metal Philosophy, Jon Barbas is joined by Philosophy Professor and fellow metalhead Krista Thomason. Dr. Thomason is a Professor of Philosophy at Swarthmore College, and she wrote the book, 'Dancing With The Devil; Why Bad Feelings Make Life Good' The book argues that negative emotions aren't something to avoid but rather embrace. This advice goes against conventional wisdo...

In episode 213 of Heavy Metal Philosophy, Jon Barbas is joined by Sofia Frasz of symphonic blackened power metal band, Exiled Hope. Sofia is currently in law school studying to be a music attorney. I was curious to know why someone who is trained to know how predatory the music industry can be would want to make music herself. Once we got to talking about the new Exiled Hope album, Apocrypha, the...

In episode 212 of Heavy Metal Philosophy, Jon Barbas is joined by one of the anonymous members of Wrath of Logarius. They coined the term "Formless Black Metal" and I wanted to know what that is. What better way than to ask them? They appeared suddenly with their EP 'Necrotic Assimilation' and were immediately signed by Season of Mist. The buzz from their unique sound put them in a strange positio...

In episode 211 of Heavy Metal Philosophy, Jon Barbas tells the stories of five notorious bandmates whose toxic behavior caused chaos, harm, violence and ultimately led to the downfall of their groups. Rock n roll is full of insane stories, but these are at the top of the most unbelievable. Get Heavy Metal Philosophy Merch! https://jonbarbas-shop.fourthwall.com/ Heavy Metal Philosophy Contact; http...

In episode 210 of Heavy Metal Philosophy, Jon Barbas weighs the good and the bad of the rise of social media platforms. Viral memes have become a powerful force in shaping trends and influencing artists. But how exactly are these memes impacting the music industry? From Sleep Token to Pentagram, let's examine some cases together! Get Heavy Metal Philosophy Merch! https://jonbarbas-shop.fourthwall....

In episode 209 of Heavy Metal Philosophy, Jon Barbas takes a closer look at the unexpected exit of Brent Hinds from the legendary band Mastodon. What led to this significant change in one of metal's most beloved groups? We’ll explore various angles, including past interviews from Brent Hinds, Brann Dailor, and Bill Kelliher. Also Brent Hinds silently updated his Instagram which is a giant clue! We...

In episode 208 of Heavy Metal Philosophy, Jon Barbas chats with Dawn of Ouroboros who take black metal into new territory by incorporating smooth jazz elements. Join us as we delve into the creative process behind this unique blend, showcasing how the band masterfully intertwines heavy riffs with sultry melodies. We'll discuss how their experiences in nature and their day jobs in molecular biology...

In episode 207 of Heavy Metal Philosophy, Jon Barbas inquires into the world of Pantera and Phil Anselmo with his unexpected venture into black metal with his band Scour. Join us as we explore the motivations behind Anselmo's bold musical shift, and the creative process of crafting a black metal record. Bassist John Jarvis provides insights from band members, behind-the-scenes work, and commentary...

In episode 206 of Heavy Metal Philosophy, Jon Barbas asks Jonas from Spawn of Possession and Retromorphosis about their name change. What prompted this transformation, and what does it mean for their music and identity? Join us as we explore the band's journey, the significance of their new name, and what fans can expect from their upcoming projects. We discuss the evolution of their sound and how...

In episode 205 of Heavy Metal Philosophy, Jon Barbas chats with Alan Averill of Primordial fame. He was kind enough to have me on as a guest on his podcast late last year. We had a great chat about politics and culture war issues, in particular in the metal scene. We wanted to have him on Heavy Metal Philosophy afterwards, but we decided to wait until after the election... and whooo boy did that m...

In episode 205 of Heavy Metal Philosophy, Jon Barbas chats with Alan Averill of Primordial fame. He was kind enough to have me on as a guest on his podcast late last year. We had a great chat about politics and culture war issues, in particular in the metal scene. We wanted to have him on Heavy Metal Philosophy afterwards, but we decided to wait until after the election... and whooo boy did that m...