Influencers of Metal Podcast

Gamers and metalheads together at last! In this episode of the Influencers of Metal Podcast, Collin and Tom explore the deep and often overlooked connection between metal music and video games. From Mick Gordon’s award-winning DOOM soundtrack to the absurdly stacked Brütal Legend playlist, this episode dives into the heaviest soundtracks, surprise metal moments, and fictional bands like Telltale’s...

Happy Canada Day! In this festive episode of Influencers of Metal, Collin and Tom go full hockey loving, cobra chicken fearing mode to celebrate the best of Canadian culture—from beavers and zambonies to hockey and Tim Hortons’ questionable Ryan Reynolds collab. But the real celebration? Canada's metal scene! The duo breaks down six essential Canadian metal bands you need to know—from the aggressi...

It’s the biggest “What Have You Been Listening To?” episode yet! Collin and Tom are joined by a very special guest—Tom’s girlfriend Shay, a.k.a. the Pumpkin Queen—for a chaotic, genre-hopping ride through their top music picks of June 2025. From listener-submitted gems like horror metal act Blood Opera, to grindcore insanity with King Parrot, there’s something for every flavor of metalhead. Shay s...

From Shakespearean soliloquies in blast beat form to parrot-fronted death metal, Collin and Tom dive headfirst into the wonderfully absurd world of niche metal bands. In this hilariously offbeat episode, the duo explores metal acts so oddly specific, they practically invent their own genres—from Okilly Dokilly (yes, Ned Flanders-core) to kid-friendly dino-metal with Heavisaurus, to the band fronte...

Collin and Tom return to explore what happens when metal bands team up with others to create some truly interesting bangers. That’s right—this episode is all about metal-on-metal collaborations, and the duo dives headfirst into some of the wildest, weirdest, and most unexpectedly awesome team-ups the genre has ever produced. Highlights include a surprisingly solid Journey cover from Daughtry and L...

In this episode of the Influencers of Metal Podcast, Collin—the resident thrasher—drags a skeptical Tom into the pit for a full-force celebration of thrash metal’s best. From the raw chaos of Slayer to the technical finesse of Exmortus, they explore what makes bands like Kreator, Metallica, and Anthrax each sound so distinct—yet all undeniably thrash. Plus, they shine a spotlight on modern titans...

In this episode of the Influencers of Metal Podcast, Collin and Tom tackle a question that too many metalheads wrestle with: Is it socially acceptable to go to a concert alone? Spoiler alert—hell yes, it is. Drawing from personal experiences (like Collin’s solo trip to see Steel Panther or Tom’s lone pilgrimage to see Trivium), the duo explores the pros, cons, awkward seat placements, and freedom...

We’re back with the one game that makes guitar players (Tom) cry: Guitar Hero! In this episode of the Influencers of Metal Podcast, Collin & Tom dive into the third installment in the legendary rhythm game franchise “Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock” to find out whether it’s the most metal Guitar Hero game. From headbanging classics like “Raining Blood” and “Number of the Beast,” to left-field...

In this episode, Collin and Tom dive headfirst into dangerous waters: is My Chemical Romance a rock band… or a metal band? What starts as a genre debate turns into a hilarious and passionate breakdown of the emo icons’ legacy, from “Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge” to "The Black Parade" and "Danger Days”. The duo takes on the definition of metal, roasts mid-2000s eyeliner aesthetics, and wrestles w...

This month on Influencers of Metal, our favourite metal duo dives into what they've had on repeat—and they asked you what you've been spinning too. From the genre-bending chaos of Poppy’s I Disagree and an all-star Triumph tribute album featuring Dee Snider, to Collin’s deep black metal binge and Tom’s own kvlt leanings, this episode delivers enough trv kvlt energy to keep corpse paint from cracki...

It’s concert review week! On this episode of the Influencers of Metal Podcast, Collin and Tom break down their experience seeing Devin Townsend and TesseracT live at the newly renovated Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Toronto. The venue impressed with its sleek, modern design and solid acoustics—though the sky-high prices on pizza and beer left a bad taste. Security was on point—maybe too on point—as t...

It’s concert review week! In this episode of the Influencers of Metal Podcast, Collin recounts his experience going to see Steel Panther live at Hamilton Place earlier in May. He breaks down the setlist of the night, including for the disappointing co-headliner Buckcherry. From questioning Buckcherry’s frontman’s sobriety, to the laughs of Steel Panther, Collin goes through the good, the bad, the...

In the 50th episode of the Influencers of Metal Podcast, Collin and Tom celebrate a major milestone—hitting 50 episodes before even reaching their one-year anniversary. With their signature banter, the duo reflects on their podcasting journey, from the long road to their debut episode to the chaotic, hilarious brainstorming sessions that birthed the show's name. They revisit early ideas like The T...

In this episode of Influencers of Metal Podcast, Collin and Tom dive into the world of acoustic metal, exploring how some of the heaviest bands strip away distortion and transform their songs into mellow, emotional experiences. They highlight standout examples like Blind Guardian’s iconic “The Bard’s Song,” Slipknot’s moving “Vermilion Pt. 2,” and Whitechapel’s haunting acoustic version of “Hickor...

In this edition of the "What is _____’s Heaviest Song?" series, Collin and Tom take on the Metal Gods themselves: Judas Priest. With a catalog spanning five decades, the duo sift through the band’s most thunderous tracks—from early classics to modern scorchers—to find out which song hits the hardest. Could it be something off Painkiller? A surprise pick from Firepower? Or maybe an old-school anthe...

In this episode, Collin and Tom revisit their high school years by diving into the metal bands that rose between 2011 and 2018—an era that shaped their musical identity. From Periphery and Motionless in White to Deafheaven, Power Trip, Jinjer, Alien Weaponry, and Nothing More, they explore how these rising acts helped define the 2010s metal landscape. Expect a mix of chaotic fun, personal stories,...

In this nostalgic episode, Collin & Tom take a trip down memory lane to revisit the high school days that shaped their love for metal. They explore the bands that first introduced them to heavy music, reflect on how their tastes evolved over the years, and laugh at some of the cringeworthy favorites of their teenage selves (Three Days Grace, anyone?). Collin recalls how a steady diet of Billy...

In the duo’s third installment of “Are They Rock or Metal?” Collin and Tom dive into a hotly debatable topic: is 80s-era Bon Jovi rock or metal? Despite some reluctance to tackle the subject (mostly from a burnt out Collin), the two tackle Bon Jovi’s first five albums—from their 1984 debut through 1992’s Keep the Faith—breaking down iconic tracks while reflecting on the band’s undeniable arena-roc...

As we charge into Q2 of 2025, Collin and Tom return with another “What Have You Been Listening To?”—the monthly series where your favorite metalheads break down the best albums and sonic surprises they’ve had on repeat. This time, Collin takes a shocking detour into the world of power metal with Edguy, travels to the highlands with Bleed From Within, and digs into technical brutality with Cryptops...

In this episode of the Influencers of Metal Podcast, Collin and Tom dive into a topic every metalhead can relate to—merchandise. From t-shirts and patches to long sleeves and posters, they explore the highs and lows of buying band merch, whether online or at a show. Things kick off with a rant about the eternal pain of online shopping: outrageous shipping costs, absurd delivery times, and the all-...

In this off-the-rails and hilarious episode, Collin and Tom dive headfirst into the wild world of metal bands in pop culture. From Napalm Death’s infamous one-second performance on a morning show to Metallica turning into dragons in a kids cartoon, no stone—or power chord—is left unturned. They cover Anthrax shredding on Married with Children, Cannibal Corpse’s chaotic cameo in Ace Ventura (fun fa...

Two bros talking into microphones…

What happens when a band decides the norm is too boring? On this episode of the Influencers of Metal Podcast, Collin and Tom find that out by diving into some of the strangest, most niche instruments used in a metal song. From the trip to the highlands with bagpipes, to the journey into Brazil with the berimbau, and… a chainsaw? If it exists, metalheads have tried to make it an instrument. Check o...

In this lively, humour-filled episode of the Influencers of Metal Podcast, Collin and Tom react with excitement to the announcement of Korn’s upcoming Canadian tour. The band will hit eight Canadian cities alongside Gojira and Loathe—without a single U.S. date or Canadian opener in sight. The duo marvels at how rare it is for international bands, especially American ones, to dedicate an entire run...

In this episode of The Influencers of Metal Podcast, Collin and Tom dive headfirst into the wild world of Guitar Hero II as part of their ongoing series determining which installment of the franchise is the most metal. This second part of the series explores the iconic 2006 game’s massive 98-song tracklist (on the Xbox 360 version), highlighting the significant uptick in metal representation compa...