Signals From Mars Podcast

In Episode 448 of Signals From Mars, Victor M. Ruiz sits down with Mark Strigl for a conversation centered on some of the biggest talking points in hard rock and metal right now. Without giving the interview away, this episode digs into the kind of topics that always spark strong opinions among fans: the idea of Metallica playing the Sphere, Iron Maiden’s 50th anniversary and Eddfest, what it mean...

Guitarist Philip Shouse joins Signals From Mars to discuss his first solo EP, Side 1 and the journey that led him to finally release music under his own name. Known for performing alongside artists such as Ace Frehley, Gene Simmons, John Corabi, Accept, and the Rock N Roll Residency, Philip has spent years on stages around the world. With Side 1, he steps into the spotlight as a solo artist and sh...

This episode is a fan-voted countdown of hard rock and heavy metal albums released in 1980. All rankings are based on listener submissions and calculated using the same points system used in previous Signals From Mars countdown episodes. This episode focuses purely on how the audience voted, highlighting consensus picks, surprise placements, and albums that narrowly missed the cut. What We’re Cove...

In Episode 445 , Victor sits down with Alex Skolnick for a wide-ranging conversation that digs into creativity, collaboration, and the mindset of a player who never stops evolving. From the unique chemistry behind Metal Allegiance to reflections on live performance, artistic curiosity beyond metal, and moments that defined a legendary career, this episode balances deep guitar talk with thoughtful...

In Episode 444 of Signals From Mars , I’m joined by Ben and Nuno from A Wilhelm Scream for a wide-ranging conversation that dives into the mindset behind their latest album Cheap Heat , the band’s creative process, and the many layers that make up their sound and identity. Rather than sticking to surface-level promo talk, this interview explores how the band thinks about album construction, influe...

In Signals From Mars – Episode 443 , I’m joined by Kat Keo of Hoaxed to talk about the band’s latest album, Death Knocks, and the evolution of their sound and lineup. We get into the sonic jump you’ll hear on this record, the creative process behind bringing April Dimmick into the fold, how that changed what the band can do musically, and how Death Knocks came together after Two Shadows . We also...

Signals From Mars – Episode 442 January 2026 Albums Review Episode 442 kicks off the 2026 album review season. Victor is joined by Jeremy (UK) and Ed (Kentucky) to discuss selected hard rock and heavy metal releases from January 2026 . The month starts slow following the holidays, but quickly builds momentum with several notable releases across thrash, sludge, symphonic metal, traditional heavy me...

In Episode 441 of Signals From Mars , we’re joined by Seattle heavy metal band Greyhawk to discuss their third full-length album, Warriors Of Greyhawk . Since emerging in 2018, Greyhawk has established themselves as one of the most consistently productive and road-tested bands in modern traditional heavy metal, releasing multiple EPs and full-length albums while refining their sound with each rele...

Signals From Mars – Episode 440 On Episode 440 of Signals From Mars , Victor is joined by Bones and Rhea of UK heavy metal band Tailgunner to talk about their new album Midnight Blitz and the road that led them there. The conversation explores the band’s collaboration with legendary guitarist KK Downing , how that relationship came together naturally, and what it was like having such a hands-on pr...

Signals From Mars – Episode 439 Fan-Voted 2025 Albums Countdown (Livestream) In Episode 439 of Signals From Mars , Victor is joined by members of the Signals From Mars community to recap the results of the fan-voted 2025 albums countdown . Listeners submitted their Top 10 albums of the year, the votes were tallied, and the final rankings were revealed live on air. This episode is driven entirely b...

🎸 Signals From Mars – Episode 438 (Livestream Recording) 🎸 Join me tonight with Jeremy and Ed as we dive into the hard rock and metal albums released in December 2025 . 🤘 We’ll be breaking down the latest releases, sharing standout tracks, unexpected favorites, and a few strong opinions along the way — from established heavyweights to releases that may have flown under the radar. Expect debate,...

🎸 Signals From Mars – Episode 437 Guest: Nathan Sadd (Struck A Nerve / Shrapnel) In Episode 437 of Signals From Mars, host Victor welcomes guitarist Nathan Sadd, a key force behind the UK thrash band Struck A Nerve, as well as longtime member of Shrapnel. The conversation centers on the explosive debut self-titled album from Struck A Nerve, released in late November, and how the band evolved from...

🎸 Signals From Mars – Episode 436: Vinyl Haul (October–Christmas Edition) 🎸 In this episode of Signals From Mars , I dig into my latest vinyl haul , covering records added to my collection from October through Christmas . This is a pure vinyl-focused episode, spotlighting albums picked up over the past few months and the stories, memories, and motivations behind each addition. As always, this is...

🎙️ Signals From Mars – Episode 435 Hour One: 2025 Hard Rock & Heavy Metal Recap In Episode 435 of Signals From Mars , Victor is joined by longtime patrons Brad Dahl , Jeremy Weltman , and Ed Ferguson for a spoiler-free recap of hard rock and heavy metal in 2025 . This episode continues the revived Hour One format , focusing on conversation, reflection, and community rather than rankings, place...

🎸 Signals From Mars – Episode 434 October & November 2025 Hard Rock & Metal Albums Review (Livestream) Episode 434 of Signals From Mars is a livestream-recorded episode featuring Victor M. Ruiz, joined by Jeremy and Ed, as they catch up on hard rock and heavy metal releases from October and November 2025. Recorded on December 12, this episode continues the show’s long-standing mission: su...

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In Episode 432 of Signals From Mars, Victor welcomes Ulf “Uffe” Pettersson, vocalist of Swedish thrashers Mezzrow, to discuss the band’s powerful new album Embrace The Awakening. Uffe reflects on Sweden’s enduring metal culture, the impact of recent losses in the community—especially Thomas Lindberg of At The Gates—and how Mezzrow rediscovered their spark decades after disbanding. Uffe explains ho...

Signals From Mars – Episode 431: Rich Knox (Danko Jones) In Episode 431, Victor is joined by Rich Knox, drummer for Danko Jones, to talk about the band’s new album Leo Rising, his journey into the band, working with Marty Friedman, and what keeps the Danko Jones sound sharp after more than a dozen years behind the kit. Rich shares stories about his audition for the band, touring with The Darkness...

Signals From Mars – Episode 430: Condition Critical In this episode of Signals From Mars, Victor welcomes Tony Barhoum from New Jersey thrashers Condition Critical! Tony discusses the band’s first new album in nine years, Degeneration Chamber, their connection to New Jersey’s thrash legacy, and how they balance old-school aggression with a modern sound. The conversation touches on the influence of...

Signals From Mars – Episode 429: Howling Giant In this episode of Signals From Mars, Victor welcomes Tom Polzine and Sebastian Baltes from Nashville heavy rockers Howling Giant to discuss their new album Crucible & Ruin, released on Halloween. The band talks about Nashville’s influence, how their sound has evolved since Glass Future, and how the addition of Adrian on keys expanded their creati...

🎃 Signals From Mars – Episode 428: The Halloween Countdown 👻 It’s spooky season on Signals From Mars! In this special Halloween episode, Victor is joined by Dr. Poison himself, Brad Dahl, as they unveil the results of the fan-voted Halloween Countdown — the top 10 bands most associated with Halloween according to the Signals From Mars community! 🧛‍♂️🦇 Listeners from around the world submitted...

🎸 Signals From Mars – Episode 427: Remembering Ace Frehley In this emotional episode of Signals From Mars , we celebrate the life and legacy of Ace Frehley — the original Space Ace whose sound, style, and spirit helped define generations of rock fans. From the very first riff that drew us in as kids, Ace became part of the soundtrack of our lives. His guitar tone, his voice, and his unmistakable...

🎸 Signals From Mars – Episode 426: US Vinyl Hall 🎸 In this episode, I take you through my latest vinyl haul — featuring albums, CDs, cassettes, and signed posters I picked up during my trip to the U.S. and a few classics rediscovered in my parents’ home. I also share some of the vinyl I’ve added to my collection here in Spain throughout the year. This is a deep dive into collecting, nostalgia, a...

🎸 Signals From Mars – Episode 425 (Livestream Recording) 🎸 Join me live on October 3rd with Jeremy and Ed as we dig into the new hard rock and metal releases from September 2025. 🤘 We’ll be sharing our reactions, favorite tracks, and hot takes on the latest albums — from the big names to the hidden gems. Expect debate, surprises, and plenty of music talk! 💬 Jump into the live chat and let us k...

In this episode of Signals From Mars , Victor is joined by Jeremy and Ed to review the new hard rock and metal album releases from July and August 2025 . Together, they dive into standout records, hidden gems, and surprising letdowns across a wide spectrum of styles — from thrash and power metal to gothic and progressive sounds. This is the first live episode in months, marking the start of Year 1...