Influencers of Metal Podcast

Metal is a term used to describe a broad range of different sounds of the heavy music we enjoy. There’s Heavy Metal, Black Metal, Death Metal, Power Metal. But there’s even more niche subgenres such as Dream Thrash? Or Nintentocore? Pornogrind? Viking Metal? The tree of metal is quite large, and it’s a tree that’s hard to find the branches of a lot of the time. These are just some of the strangest...

“Are They Rock or Are They Metal?” It’s back with another entry bound to get us in more trouble than the last one. The Influencers of Metal Podcast brings on the Pumpkin Queen once again to talk about Ghost B.C., and whether the debate surrounding their metal status is warranted. Looking through their catalogue from beginning to today, seeing their rise in popularity and seeing their sound warp an...

It’s WHYBLT Time! Rounding out the end of March, Collin & Tom have come out of their hibernation with their latest selection of brutal bangers and weird pivots to present their favourite listenings from the last month. From Collin’s heavy list of iconic death metal classics and latest thrash metal releases, to Tom’s usual all over the place list of metal bangers and odd ball picks, it’s an epi...

In this episode of Influencers of Metal, Collin and Tom dive into the nominees for the 2025 JUNO Award for Metal/Hard Music Album of the Year, celebrating Canada's recognition of heavy music ahead of the award ceremony March 30th. The JUNOs may be celebrating only Canadian artists, but as any metalhead who’s watched the Grammys can attest, the JUNOs get metal right more often than not. The duo loo...

In this episode of the Influencers of Metal Podcast, Collin and Tom prove there’s no topic too controversial they won’t touch. “What is _____ Heaviest Song?”, a new segment on the show where they rank ten songs from a band’s discography to determine the heaviest. The debut episode focuses on Metallica, and the duo acknowledges upfront that their rankings are subjective and based on personal opinio...

In this episode of the Influencers of Metal Podcast, Collin, Tom, and special guest “the Pumpkin Queen” dive into the essentials of concert-going, offering a foolproof plan to ensure a safe and fun experience. Building on their previous episode about concert etiquette, they emphasize the importance of preparation, from what to bring to how to navigate the venue. This episode goes over the absolute...

In this episode of the Influencers of Metal Podcast, Collin makes Tom jealous as he tells the story of the recent Dream Theater stop in Toronto celebrating 40 years of the progressive metal giants. Collin shares the setlist of the show, including his thoughts on the show’s dynamic setlist while geeking out over fan favourites. He goes on to talk about the experience he had with the show’s venue, e...

Time to shift gears for today. In this episode of Influencers of Metal Podcast, Collin and Tom welcome back the "Pumpkin Queen" for a deep dive into her experience dating Tom, a metal influencer. What starts as a lighthearted interrogation quickly turns into a candid and entertaining discussion about their relationship, filled with hilarious stories, first impressions, and the challenges of dating...

Concerts aren’t just about the music—they’re about the memories that stick with us for a lifetime. Whether it’s the first time stepping into a venue, the show that cemented our love for metal, or the craziest experience in the pit, every metalhead has their own concert stories. So on this episode of the Influencers of Metal Podcast, Collin and Tom dive into their own stories. From first shows with...

It’s back! The big episodes returns for February! The Influencers of Metal Podcast presents “What Have You Been Listening To?” for the short month of February, the show that brings you our personal listening choices for the month that include some banger new releases, some returning albums, and some oldies but goodies. From the classics of Ozzy Osbourne’s “The Ultimate Sin” and Immortal’s “Sons of...

In this episode of Influencers of Metal Podcast, Collin and Tom dive into the unexpected world of metal collaborations—specifically when metal artists step outside their genre. They explore why metal bands often collaborate with non-metal artists and highlight surprising partnerships that worked. Remember when Run D-M-C collaborated with Aerosmith? How about when Ozzy featured on a Post Malone tra...

In this episode of Influencers of Metal, Tom and Collin dive into the world of Guitar Hero, the legendary rhythm game that has both humbled and entertained metalheads for nearly two decades. The episode marks the beginning of an ambitious new series where they will analyze each Guitar Hero title to determine which one is the most metal. Their method? Counting the number of metal songs in each inst...

In this episode of Influencers of Metal Podcast , Collin and Tom dive into the weirdest, most bizarre metal band names. From the most absurd tongue twisters of King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard, to the obscene Aborted Hitler Cock, to even the longest band name ever named, the duo has something to say about the weirdest band names in metal. Truly, the creativity and sense of humour for metalheads...

It’s time for love, and moshing (which I understand is basically aggressive cuddling). In this special Valentine’s Day episode of the Influencers of Metal Podcast , Tom, Collin, and the Pumpkin Queen, celebrate love through the lens of metal music. Metal isn’t just the dark and evil, there’s the feeling of love in the air with heavy down-tuned junts and pig squeals. Drawing from personal favorites...

About time we got around to this episode. Wrestling and Metal music go together a lot, especially in the many “walk out” themes wrestlers have. Some of the most metal ones can be the most memorable, the most entertaining, and the most intimidating for any opponent. From Disturbed's “Glass Shatters” for Stone Cold Steve Austin, or AMENRA’s “Ogentroost” for Malakai Black, all the way to Motionless i...

In this episode of Influencers of Metal, Collin and Tom try to take a more laid-back approach before realizing controversy is what they crave. And so, they introduce their new recurring segment, "Are They Rock or Metal?" where they debate whether certain bands fall under the metal category or if they are more accurately classified as rock. For this inaugural episode, they tackle KISS, the iconic b...

Influencers of Metal Podcast presents "What Have You Been Listening To?" The monthly book club of metal where Collin and Tom talk about the music they've been headbanging to over the month, and we hear from you as well! Featuring a special guest, the Pumpkin Queen (a.k.a. Tom's girlfriend), it's time to ask: What Have You Been Listening To? Check out more from Collin! https://indi1015.ca/shows/thr...

In this episode of the Influencers of Metal Podcast, Collin and Tom dive into the fascinating world of metal bands covering unexpected songs from outside the metal genre. Dubbed "Part Two" of their exploration of metal covers, the episode highlights some of the most surprising, random, and even bizarre reinterpretations of non-metal tracks by renowned metal artists. Check out more from Collin! htt...

Everyone has a “bucket list”, a list of things to do before you die a probably painful death, such as jumping into a hardcore moshpit in your 40s. In this episode of the Influencers of Metal Podcast, Collin and Tom present their “Thrash-et” list, a list of bands they want to see live before their time in the pit comes to an end. From nu-metal juggernauts like Slipknot to power metal up-and-commers...

In this episode of The Influencers of Metal Podcast, Collin and Tom dive into morning alarms, exploring the sounds, songs, and strategies that help—or terrify—them awake each day. They discuss their personal alarm choices, from anxiety-laden tracks like Pokémon’s Champion Cynthia theme and Slayer’s "Angel of Death" to more melodic wake-up tunes like Nightwish’s "Gethsemane" and Ozzy Osbourne’s "Cr...

In this episode of The Influencers of Metal Podcast , Collin and Tom dive into a collection of hilarious, absurd, and downright disturbing metal songs that make you go, "What the fuck?" From dancing like a flamingo, to cannibalism, BDSM and Uranus, metal finds a way to be entertaining, and – on occasion – a little fucked up. Check out more from Collin! https://indi1015.ca/shows/thrashers-paradise/...

Metalheads aren’t THAT simple. In this episode of the Influencers of Metal Podcast, Collin and Tom take a detour in their musical shenanigans to look at some of their favourite albums from outside of the heavy and the dark, the brutal and the somber. From Canadian punk in Billy Talent and indie rock in The Tea Party, to the classic hard rock of Bon Jovi and video game soundtracks in the Command &a...

Collin and Tom explore the intricate art of metal covers, emphasizing the creativity and diversity inherent in the genre. From genre-defying renditions like Cradle of Filth's take on Iron Maiden’s "Hallowed Be Thy Name" to faithfully powerful tributes like Vader's cover of Motörhead's "Overkill," they highlight how covers can honor original works while adding fresh twists. Notable mentions include...

The latest episode of the Influencers of Metal Podcast kicks off 2025 with Collin and Tom taking a nostalgic dive into the origins of heavy metal. The hosts explore the genre's roots in the 70s and 80s, highlighting key bands and albums that defined the era. They dive into the impact of foundational bands like Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, and Judas Priest, emphasizing their influence on shaping the...

The year comes to an end, and what a year it was. In this episode of the Influencers of Metal Podcast, we round out the year with a look back at some of the best metal albums that came out in 2024. From power, to death, to symphonic. From the expected, to the unexpected, and everything in between. Collin and Tom give their picks for the best metal albums of 2024. Check out more from Collin! https:...