Riff Worship

Today on Riff Worship we are joined by Philadelphia-based multi-instrumentalist, audio engineer, producer, and composer Richie DeVon (Lástima, Half/Cross, Suuduer). We take an in-depth look at the making of Lástima’s debut album, A Pain Bloomed From My Lungs - a deeply personal exploration of grief and identity told through the lens of black metal, screamo, and post-hardcore. From its beautiful st...

Drawing from the darker, more extreme elements of Death, Slayer, and Kreator, New Jersey’s Ripping Corpse set out to break free from the conventions of their death and thrash metal peers. Though their time together was short-lived, the band was relentless in their pursuit of sonic intensity, honing their craft through constant rehearsals and several demos. Under the guidance of guitarist Shaune Ke...

This week Zachary Ezrin of Imperial Triumphant takes us through the inner workings of the band’s latest album GOLDSTAR, the final sessions at Menegroth the Thousand Caves, Herbie Hancock, and all things the riff! IMPERIAL TRIUMPHANT - GOLDSTAR is OUT NOW via CENTURY MEDIA RECORDS: https://www.imperial-triumphant.com/ Recommendations: ⁠PSUDOKU - Psudoktrination⁠ ⁠New Skeletal Faces⁠ Sly & The F...

If you listen to this show, chances are you’ve crossed paths with Jane Doe somewhere along your journey through extreme music. Maybe it’s your favorite Converge album. Maybe it’s the loudest record in your collection (thanks Alan Douches). Maybe it even changed your life. Wherever you land, there’s no denying that Jane Doe was a turning point for Converge. It marked the first time the band truly c...

After an 11-year creative absence, Louisville's Young Widows return with their fifth album, Power Sucker. Across 13 tracks of fuzzed-soaked guitars, thundering rhythms, and no-nonsense songwriting, Power Sucker delivers everything longtime fans love while opening an exciting new chapter for the band! We're joined by Evan Patterson (Young Widows, Jaye Jayle) to discuss the making of the alb...

After years of relentless touring, financial hardship, lineup changes, and violence, Hermosa Beach hardcore pioneers Black Flag finally unleashed their debut full-length Damaged in 1981. With 20-year-old newcomer Henry Rollins entering the fold, the band delivered genre-defining anthems like “Rise Above” and “Police Story” while also pushing boundaries on the raw, experimental “Damaged I & II....

Between 1989 and 2004, the self-dubbed “hatecore” madmen DAMAGED erupted from the rural town of Ballarat and onto the Australian metal scene, fusing unhinged aggression with the most extreme elements of of black metal, grindcore, and death metal. With releases like Do Not Spit, Token Remedies Research, and the EP Passive Backseat Demon Engines, DAMAGED unleashed a feral energy that cemented their...

Following a stretch of interpersonal conflicts and legal setbacks, Seattle’s own TAD were poised to bring their heavy, aggressive sound to the majors. The arrival of powerhouse drummer Josh Sinder (formerly of The Accüsed) reinvigorated the band, as Tad Doyle, Kurt Danielson, and Gary Thorstensen channeled a blend of punk grit and metal heft into their songwriting. On their 1993 major label debut...

UK death metal outfit Vacuous charge into 2025 with In His Blood, their blood-soaked, riff-filled Relapse Records debut. Not out to reinvent the genre or shoehorn their eclectic influences, Vacuous succeed in writing honest extreme music that is uniquely their own. Joining us this week is Vacuous guitarist Michael Brodsky for a discussion on the new album, his journey through music, and all things...

Capturing a blend of intense malice and melancholy, Burning Witch’s career-spanning compilation Crippled Lucifer is essential listening for any doom and drone fan. The band’s unique style echoes through the genre today, particularly on Alluvion, the forthcoming collaboration between heavyweights Mizmor and Hell. This week we are joined by special guests A.L.N. and M.S.W. to discuss the legacy of B...

Formed from the ashes of Thorr’s Hammer, Seattle doom pioneers Burning Witch burned intensely but briefly, dissolving before they could release a proper record. Initially met with confusion and lingering stares, the band’s mix of relentless heaviness and suffocating dread later earned them cult status—thanks in part to the reissues by Southern Lord Recordings. Join us as we kick off our two-part s...

Channeling Southern mysticism, isolation, and a heavy dose of anguish, Little Rock, Arkansas' own sludge/doom titans, Rwake, solidify their status as the crown jewel of the Natural State with their 2007 classic, Voices of Omens. Joining us this week are Rwake superfan Nate Garrett (Spirit Adrift, Neon Nightmare) and producer Sanford Parker (Buried At Sea, Minsk, Nachtmystium, Black Cross Hotel...

This week on Riff Worship we are delighted to welcome bassist, lyricist, and vocalist Meghan O'Neil (King Woman, The Armed, Punch, Super Unison) Join us as we discuss her incredible journey through music, navigating life on the road, Prince, Steve Albini, wedding DJs, and so much more! Follow King Woman on Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter Follow The Armed on Facebook , Instagram , and Twitte...

This week on Riff Worship we are joined by members of California doom quartet Ancient Tome to discuss their latest EP, The Implications of Ascendancy - OUT NOW via Chaos Records We go in-depth on the writing and recording process of this release, the band's origins, California's diverse metal scene, filmmaking, and all things the riff! Purchase a copy of The Implications of Ascendancy HERE...

This week on Riff Worship we are joined by special guest Chris Colohan of SECT, UNWELL, Burning Love, Cursed, The Swarm, and many more... We discuss his upbringing through Ontario's hardcore scene, the making of Cursed II, Burning Love's long-awaited reunion at Prepare the Ground, favorite riffs, horror films, and his latest solo project UNWELL! SECT - Plagues Upon Plagues is OUT NOW via S...

Building off the certified gold success of their breakout debut L.D. 50 and the progressive-leaning The End of All Things to Come, Illinois-based Mudvayne embraced this momentum with a bold new look and direction. After nearly four months of isolation and fine-tuning, the band emerged with massive hits like “Happy?” and “Forget to Remember”, alongside tracks like “IMN” and “All That You Are” that...

This week on Riff Worship we discuss one of Japan's most explosive and mysterious hardcore bands, Friendship, as we dissect their sophomore album, Undercurrent LISTEN TO FRIENDSHIP'S UNDERCURRENT HERE Recommendations: Sunrot - Passages Esther Rose - Want Mizmor and Hell - Alluvion Coltsblood - Obscured into Nebulous Dusk Celebrity - Automatic Changer For all updates on Riff Worship follow us on ⁠⁠...

An album that is as unpredictable as it is precise. This week we explore the influential and often imitated final album by Washington metalcore pioneers Botch - We Are the Romans ! Recommendations: Some Girls - This DNA Will Have It's Say Ancient Tome - The Implications of Ascendancy Deafheaven - Lonely People With Power Altarage - The Approaching Roar Rwake - The Return Of Magik For all updates o...

The road to heavy metal domination has to begin somewhere, doesn’t it? Before the arenas, pyrotechnics, and leather, Judas Priest were like a lot of young bands from Birmingham, England. Hungry and determined.  Unsatisfied with the lackluster production and tepid response of their debut album, the band knew something needed to change in order for them to breakthrough.  Here, they began to sculpt t...

One of the most fascinating qualities of a great riff is its ability to hook you in from the first few notes and leave you a different person on the other side. This is best represented on Primordial Sky, the latest album by Denver’s Oryx, who present riffs through a unique sense of dynamics and tone for an entire 40-minute journey. Join us this week as we chat with the band about their favorite r...

New Orleans’ own Soilent Green have endured countless struggles and tragedies throughout their tumultuous 40-year history, crafting a unique blend of death, grind, and stoner/doom. While often associated with the “sludge” scene of the region, the band separated themselves from the pack with classic records like Sewn Mouth Secrets and Confrontation . However, none have seemed as unhinged and violen...

Converge experienced a significant transformation following the release of Petitioning the Empty Sky . They found a new bassist in Cave In’s Stephen Brodsky, who would join the band on several releases in 1997 as well as their first proper full-length album the following year. This release also serves as the first full-length recorded, at least partially, by guitarist Kurt Ballou at the now-iconic...

We've crawled our way into the new year and while there are plenty of anticipated records on the horizon, we wanted to discuss our favorite metal & hardcore albums of 2024! What were your favorite albums of 2024? Best of 2024: Sheer Mag - Playing Favorites Upon Stone - Dead Mother Moon Ulcerate - Cutting the Throat of God NØ MAN - Glitter and Spit Eye Flys - Eye Flys Job For A Cowboy - Moon He...

It's the holiday season, and what better way to celebrate than with an album that has continued to give for over 30 years! Drawing heavy influence from the likes of Pete Steele, New York hardcore, and Sabbath, Crowbar's sophomore effort marks the band coming into their signature sound. From recording in a neighborhood garage to getting heckled by Beavis & Butt-Head, join us as we explore the l...

In the early 90s, Max Cavalera (then of Sepultura ) and Alex Newport (then of Fudge Tunnel ) both resided in Phoenix, Arizona. A shared admiration for each other’s music led to regular hangouts and jam sessions at the Cavalera household. As avid fans of hardcore punk and industrial acts of the era, the duo blended these influences into their own raw, unconventional sound. Whereas songs written for...