Nate Garrett's Big Riff Energy

Eulogizing the mighty and beloved American hero Carl Weathers, proclaiming the end of the HM-2 era as society prepares to embrace the new dawn of a vintage Boss effects pedal resurgence, discussing racism in metal and how to separate the art from the artist, going nuclear on a grown man who walks around with a name like Gelal Necrosodomy, and more! Album of discussion:  Black Breath - Slaves Beyon...

Reviewing a recently released masterpiece that firmly cements itself as the extreme metal album to beat in 2024, announcing a brand new Spirit Adrift release for Feb. 2 Bandcamp Friday, highlighting can't-miss metal festivals and shows on the near horizon, exploring the best metal bassists/bass-centric bands, and more! Album of discussion:  Sovereign - Altered Realities (2024)  ___________________...

The quest for a Smashing Pumpkins audition, celebrating the downfall of the world's douchiest music publication, answering e-mails sent by Big Riffers from Australia to Brazil, breaking down one of the best metal albums of the last 20 years, sharing more industry grossness sent in by a nameless riffer from one of the best current metal bands, and more.   Album of discussion:  Inter Arma - Paradise...

Diving deep into three masterpieces of Hellenic Black Metal, brief studio update, responding to some of the most profound and compelling emails to date, naming the single best band post-2010, singling out OG New Orleans legends as #1 pick for tour mates, and more! Albums of discussion: Rotting Christ - Triarchy of the Lost Lovers (1996) Varathron - Patriarchs of Evil (2018) Varathron - The Crimson...

Setting attack strategies for 2024, determining which NPR Tiny Desk performance has the Biggest Riff Energy, remembering a truly terrifying childhood friend, analyzing the potential riff energy of rap music, raging against leeches and vultures of the touring world, first ever on-air fistfight story, and more! Album of discussion: Mournful Congregation - The Incubus of Karma (2018)  _______________...

Last episode of the year! Reviewing 2023 and preparing for 2024. Discussing new songs + new project which will see the light of day next year. Lamenting the slew of untimely deaths in the wake of the plague years. Revealing the BIG SECRET of death metal guitar tone that "THEY" don't want you to know. And more… Albums of discussion:  Pentagram - First Daze Here (1970s) Pentagram - Relentless (1985)...

Breaking down the recent Queens of the Stone Age show in Houston. Has there been a record made in the last 20 years that's better than Songs for the Deaf? Will Josh Homme be the last ever rock star in music history? Have we made the concept of a rock star extinct in general? Other topics include the total irrelevance and uselessness of Jann Wenner/Rolling Stone Magazine, teenage chaos in Oklahoma,...

What did the Power Trip surprise set feel like in person? What was it like hearing Nightmare Logic for the first time with Riley Gale? Who is the best band in Austin, TX right now? How does the hyper-violent UFC Austin fight night relate to big riffs? Musings on physical violence, post-pandemic possibilities, aging, coolest sober rocker icons, and more… Album of discussion:  Deaf Dealer - Journey...

What makes a record good? What makes a record remarkable? What makes a record great? Are there honestly more than 5 great metal albums released in any given year at this point? People will be listening to this one decades from now… Email questions include discussions of Opeth, Deicide, southern culture, representation in metal, and more! Cruciamentum - Obsidian Refractions (2023)  ________________...

Assessing the fallout from the Babymetal crybaby meltdown. Drawing parallels between obsession with pop culture, mental illness, and doomsday cults. The gradual extinction of cancel culture. Breaking down the 10 best "BIG DUMB RIFF" death metal albums… and more!  Album(s) of discussion:  Marduk - Panzer Division Marduk (1999) Malevolent Creation - Envenomed (2000)  ________________________________...

Japanese idol industry creepiness infiltrating the "metal" world, AI public relations bots infiltrating my videos, Saint Vitus - Born Too Late vs. Trouble - The Skull track-by-track (sorta), and more! Album of discussion:  Black Sabbath - Headless Cross (1989)  ______________________________________ Find Nate: https://www.youtube.com/@borntoonate  ______________________________________ Find Spirit...

Tour announcement, musings on musical influences vs. originality, memories of the best shows ever witnessed at house parties/underground venues, and more! Albums of discussion: Wand - Ganglion Reef (2014) Wand - Golem (2015)  ______________________________________ Find Nate: https://www.youtube.com/@borntoonate  ______________________________________ Find Spirit Adrift: https://www.youtube.com/@sp...

On this special Halloween episode, Nate answers more of your questions, teases upcoming touring plans, details a massive Spirit Adrift merch drop for the upcoming Bandcamp Friday, lists his choices for best current metal guitarists, discusses one of the best (and worst) horror sequels ever made, gives his thoughts on two of the best modern-day doom bands, and more.  Album of discussion:  Type O Ne...

Nate discusses the fact that Cannibal Corpse is the greatest death metal band that's ever existed. Other topics include encountering a wild Necrobutcher in his natural environment, seeing Baroness in Austin on their tour for the new album "Stone," analyzing what could be the most underrated Black Sabbath album, recounting scenes of chaos and madness during the first Pallbearer tour, the importance...

Nate details an epic e-mail correspondence with the bass player of old school traditional metal legends Deaf Dealer (AKA Death Dealer), discusses his favorite album artists/artwork, and shares his biggest takeaways from Soul On Fire (the biography of Peter Steele), including some full-circle personal moments.  Album of discussion:  Type O Negative - World Coming Down (1999)  ______________________...

After a COVID-induced hiatus, Nate returns to answer backed up fan mail, discuss the secret to great vocals (including his pick for greatest current death metal singer), rejoice in the demise of merch cuts, recap Metal Injection Festival and his trip to Red Rocks to see Tyler Childers, and much more… Album of discussion: Type O Negative - October Rust (1996)  ______________________________________...

Nate talks about the current "crisis of purpose" so many people are facing, particularly in the music industry. Highlighted examples of this conundrum (and possible solutions) are discussed, including a 68-year old Danzig destroying San Antonio with an impeccable set list, Billy Corgan's creative obsession leading to a nervous breakdown during the Siamese Dream sessions, and the inner demon needed...

Nate recaps the epic weekend of shows with Rwake and Pallbearer, diving deep into the emotional, musical, personal, spiritual, historical significance of the event. Albums of discussion: Rwake - If You Walk Before You Crawl, You Crawl Before You Die (2004) Deadbird - III: The Forest Within The Tree (2018)  ______________________________________ Find Nate: https://www.youtube.com/@borntoonate  http...

Nate and Mike Fury talk about the events that led to Mike becoming the drummer of Spirit Adrift, and reminisce on their experience rehearsing, touring, and eventually tracking drums in Chicago at Electrical Audio. Album of discussion: Ozzy Osbourne - The Ultimate Sin (1986)  ______________________________________ Find Nate: https://www.youtube.com/@borntoonate  https://www.instagram.com/borntoonat...

Nate catches up with fan mail, discusses the uselessness of criticism versus the importance of fandom, and gives a quick rundown of the new book "12 Notes" by Quincy Jones (potentially the most important American musical mind in history). Album of discussion (including an age-4 core memory of witnessing the title track music video in 3D at Disney World): Michael Jackson - Thriller (1982)  ________...

Join Nate as he analyzes his life's biggest failures, eulogizes William Friedkin, dives into "depth art" and how it relates to the human experience, and bemoans the corporate-owned, soulless, artless hellscape we've chosen for ourselves in the modern era. Album of discussion: Morbus Chron - Sweven (2014)  ______________________________________ Find Nate: https://www.youtube.com/@borntoonate  https...

On this episode, Nate analyzes the writing, demoing, preproduction, and cosmic events that coalesced during the making of Ghost At The Gallows. Ghost At The Gallows is out August 18 on Century Media.  ______________________________________ Order Ghost At The Gallows vinyl/CD: https://www.nightshiftmerch.com/collections/spirit-adrift https://evilgreed.net/collections/spirit-adrift https://shop.revo...

Following the recent announcement of Spirit Adrift shows with Pallbearer and Rwake, Nate details his experience moving to Arkansas and cutting his teeth in the riff-fertile Natural State from 2006 until his move to Phoenix in 2011. From being neck deep in the life-changing, chaotic music scene centered around bands like Rwake and Deadbird, to forming lifelong friendships and bonds… Arkansas perman...

On this episode, Nate recounts the writing, recording, and release of Forge Your Future. Album of discussion: Malokarpatan - Nordkarpatenland (2017)  ______________________________________ Find Nate: https://www.youtube.com/@borntoonate   https://www.instagram.com/borntoonate/ ______________________________________ Find Spirit Adrift: https://www.youtube.com/@spiritadriftmusic   https://www.spirit...

On this episode, Nate breaks down the juiciest bits of Geezer Butler's new autobiography 'Into The Void.'   The book sparks a discussion of deep, lifelong metaphysical connections with Black Sabbath.   Stories include discovering the first Sabbath album in the middle of a pitch black night, paranormal/psychedelic encounters that mirror events the band experienced, sneaking to the front row of a Sa...