Jeff: “Was talking with my friend S. Craig Zahler a few days ago, and we were discussing Sarcofago’s 1987 debut, I.N.R.I. Zahler noted that there are some bewildering timing issues in 'Nightmare,' and how he’d like Hunter ('who is 20 times the drummer I am') to try and identify what the hell’s going on. I put this quandary/query to Hunter and let ‘er rip.”

Note I:

The Radical Research Patreon page is now set up and ready for your patronage. We are offering tiered subscription levels for those who want a set-it-and-forget-it donation option. As ever, if you choose to support us, we are humbled and grateful! patreon.com/RadicalResearchPodcast Note II:

All past Radical Research episodes can be found here, where you can also find Jeff’s Peter Steele and Fates Warning books…and more to come soon! Radicalresearch.org

Music cited in order of appearance:

Sarcofago, “Nightmare” (I.N.R.I., 1987)

Radical Research is a conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of rock and metal music. This podcast is conceived and conducted by Jeff Wagner and Hunter Ginn. Though we consume music in a variety of ways, we give particular privilege to the immersive, full-album listening experience. Likewise, we believe that tangible music formats help provide the richest, most rewarding immersions and that music, artwork, and song titles cooperate to produce a singular effect on the listener. Great music is worth more than we ever pay for it.

This episode brings to a close our periodic investigations of the Steven Wilson-curated 'Intrigue' compilation. Covering progressive sounds in UK alternative/post-punk music from 1979-89, 'Intrigue' nails its intention, proving that, while traditional prog rock may have waned in the '80s, that spirit of adventure and invention remained alive through the work of dozens and dozens of UK music-makers in this time period. This episode focuses on Kate Bush, Dif Juz, Cardiacs, Dead Can Dance, SLAB!, Momus, No-man and a host of others.

Note I:

If you don’t want to hear about our awesome Patreon supporters and how YOU TOO can support us, and if you don’t want to hear about Deserts of Hex #2, which YOU ALSO would love to read…then skip to the 9:07 mark of this show where we finally start talking about the subject at hand: Intrigue compilation, CD 4. Thank you.

Note II:

The Radical Research Patreon page is now set up and ready for your patronage. We are offering tiered subscription levels for those who want a set-it-and-forget-it donation option. As ever, if you choose to support us, we are humbled and grateful! patreon.com/RadicalResearchPodcast Note III:

All past Radical Research episodes can be found here, where you can also find Jeff’s Peter Steele and Fates Warning books…and more to come soon! Radicalresearch.org

Music cited in order of appearance:

­­­intro: Talk Talk, “Living in Another World” (The Colour of Spring, 1986)

[all snippets are taken directly from the Intrigue compilation; the following indicates where the songs originally appeared] Kate Bush, “Waking the Witch” (Hounds of Love, 1985)

This Mortal Coil, “Ivy and Neet” (Filigree & Shadow, 1986)

Perennial Divide, “Beehead” (Beehead 7”, 1987)

The Sisters of Mercy, “This Corrosion” (Floodland, 1987) O Yuki Conjugate, “Ascension” (Into Dark Water, 1987)

Dif Juz, “No Motion” (Lonely is An Eyesore, 4AD compilation, 1987)

SLAB!, “Gutter Busting” (Descension, 1987)

Momus, “Murderers, the Hope of Women” (Murderers, the Hope of Women, 1987)

Dead Can Dance, “The Host of Seraphim” (The Serpent’s Egg, 1988) Cardiacs, “R.E.S.” (A Little Man and a House and the Whole World Window, 1988) The The, “Good Morning Beautiful” (Mind Bomb, 1989)

The Shamen, “Omega Amigo” (Omega Amigo single, 1989)

No-Man, “Night Sky, Sweet Earth” (Speak, 1999 re-recording of 1989 version, originally from The Girl from Missouri EP)

Kitchens of Distinction, “The 3rd Time We Opened the Capsule” (12” single, 1989)

Radical Research is a conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of rock and metal music. This podcast is conceived and conducted by Jeff Wagner and Hunter Ginn. Though we consume music in a variety of ways, we give particular privilege to the immersive, full-album listening experience. Likewise, we believe that tangible music formats help provide the richest, most rewarding immersions and that music, artwork, and song titles cooperate to produce a singular effect on the listener. Great music is worth more than we ever pay for it.

UNTIL WE PERCEIVE BIFROST...THIS is Radical Research

Our man Ginn loves him some Gadd! In this brief episode, we extract three of Hunter’s favorite moments by his favorite drummer on the planet, Steve Gadd. It results in something we thought we’d never do on this podcast: play a snippet of a Paul Simon song. But you have to admit, Gadd is Badd…Badd Ass!

Note I:

The Radical Research Patreon page is now set up and ready for your patronage. We are offering tiered subscription levels for those who want a set-it-and-forget-it donation option. As ever, if you choose to support us, we are humbled and grateful! patreon.com/RadicalResearchPodcast Note II:

All past Radical Research episodes can be found here, where you can also find Jeff’s Peter Steele and Fates Warning books…and more to come soon! Radicalresearch.org

Music cited in order of appearance:

Chick Corea, “Quartet No. 2, Part II” (Three Quartets, 1981)

Chick Corea, “Night Sprite” (The Leprechaun, 1976) Paul Simon, “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover” (Still Crazy After All These Years, 1975)

Radical Research is a conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of rock and metal music. This podcast is conceived and conducted by Jeff Wagner and Hunter Ginn. Though we consume music in a variety of ways, we give particular privilege to the immersive, full-album listening experience. Likewise, we believe that tangible music formats help provide the richest, most rewarding immersions and that music, artwork, and song titles cooperate to produce a singular effect on the listener. Great music is worth more than we ever pay for it.

In less than 10 years’ time, Michigan’s maddest scientists, Thought Industry, built a five-album discography that drew upon every available atom and protein in the rock and metal corpora. From the mutated post-thrash of its debut, Songs for Insects, to the melancholy, cosmic vistas of its watershed swan song, Short Wave on a Cold Day, Thought Industry never abandoned their quest for invention and, like the noblest and most knowing bands, drew the curtain on their career at precisely the right moment. Please join us as we pay tribute to these great, mercurial, marginal Michiganians. Note I: All music for this episode was curated by our good friend, Jason Walton, brilliant bassist of Agalloch and Khorada, and host of the excellent podcast, I Hate Music. Hailz! Note II: Thought Industry stylized logo and song titles on their first two albums. Everything was lower case except the Os, which were capitalized. We don’t play that game, but if we did, it would look like this: thOught industry were sO tOtally bad-ass. Note III: If you’re reading this upon episode’s release and are in the Birmingham, England area, say hi to our sponsor, Jim Raggi/Lamentations of the Flame Princess, at the UK Games Expo! https://www.ukgamesexpo.co.uk/ Music cited, in order of appearance: “Songs for Insects” (Songs for Insects, 1992) “Ballerina” (Songs for Insects, 1992) “Alexander vs. the Puzzle” (Songs for Insects, 1992) “Horsepowered” (Mods Carve the Pig: Assassins, Toads and God’s Flesh, 1993) “Republicans in Love” ” (Mods Carve the Pig: Assassins, Toads and God’s Flesh, 1993) “Boil” ” (Mods Carve the Pig: Assassins, Toads and God’s Flesh, 1993) “Watercolor Grey” (Outer Space is Just a Martini Away, 1996) “Jack Frost Junior” (Outer Space is Just a Martini Away, 1996) “The Squid” (Outer Space is Just a Martini Away, 1996) “Pink Dumbo” (Black Umbrella, 1997) “December 10th” (Black Umbrella, 1997) “Earwig” (Black Umbrella, 1997) “Satan in the Gift Shop” (Short Wave on a Cold Day, 2001) “The Measure of Our Miles” (Short Wave on a Cold Day, 2001) “Lovers in Flames” (Short Wave on a Cold Day, 2001) Episode 33 preview: Dark Angel, “Older Than Time Itself” (Leave Scars, 1989) Radical Research is a conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of rock and metal music. This podcast is conceived and conducted by Jeff Wagner and Hunter Ginn. Though we consume music in a variety of ways, we give particular privilege to the immersive, full-album listening experience. Likewise, we believe that tangible music formats help provide the richest, most rewarding immersions and that music, artwork, and song titles cooperate to produce a singular effect on the listener. Great music is worth more than we ever pay for it. This is Radical Research Podcast episode 32

Crawling out of Manchester to work strange machinations on the English psych-pop era of the late 1960s, Peter Hammill and Van Der Graaf Generator’s sonic architecture was a mirror to that decade’s creative promise and a murder of its utopian ideals. They documented their deeds throughout eight albums between 1969 and 1977, revving up the electrostatic contraption again in the 2000s when the world might have finally been ready for them. When we wear the Keep Prog Weird slogan on our backs, it is the spirit of Van Der Graaf Generator we honor and praise. Note I: Chris Judge Smith wasn’t mentioned in this episode, but should have been. He founded Van Der Graaf Generator with Peter Hammill in 1967, but left in 1968 after the recording of the band’s first single, “People You Were Going To” / “Firebrand”. He’s been recording as a solo artist since then, and as of 1994 has been simply known as Judge Smith. Note II: www.lotfp.com for all of your weird horror and fantasy role-playing needs! Music cited, in order of appearance: “A Place to Survive” (World Record, 1976) “Pilgrims” (Still Life, 1976) “The Emperor in His War Room” ” (H to He Who Am the Only One, 1970) “After the Flood” (The Least We Can Do is Wave to Each Other, 1970) “White Hammer” (two moments) (The Least We Can Do is Wave to Each Other, 1970) “Octopus” (The Aerosol Grey Machine, 1969) “Killer” (H to He Who Am the Only One, 1970) “A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers” (two moments) (Pawn Hearts, 1971) “Scorched Earth” (Godbluff, 1975) “The Sleepwalkers” (Godbluff, 1975) “Cat’s Eye / Yellow Fever (Running)” (The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome, 1977) “Man Erg” (Pawn Hearts, 1971) “Interference Patterns” (Trisector, 2008) Episode 32 preview: Thought Industry, “Third Eye” (Songs for Insects, 1992) Radical Research is a conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of rock and metal music. This podcast is conceived and conducted by Jeff Wagner and Hunter Ginn. Though we consume music in a variety of ways, we give particular privilege to the immersive, full-album listening experience. Likewise, we believe that tangible music formats help provide the richest, most rewarding immersions and that music, artwork, and song titles cooperate to produce a singular effect on the listener. Great music is worth more than we ever pay for it. This is Radical Research Podcast episode 31

We here at Radical Research like a good departure. Whether that means the beginning of a vacation or the sixth Journey record, departures are just good for the soul. And so goes the third record by Germany’s Deathrow, Deception Ignored, which constitutes a break from the band’s heaving thrash origins and a migration to technically-advanced thrash territory. This episode celebrates the evolution of the Düsseldorf-based quartet and highlights some of D.I.’s most exciting and alarming moments, such as the instrumental high water mark, “Triocton.” Join us on our deep dive into the recesses of tech-thrash history. Note I: Your LOTFP Weird Fantasy Role Playing discount code for this episode: www.lotfp.com Coupon Code: TRIOCTON Note II: Just like the good ol’ days of RadRe, lots of tangents here: Destruction, Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax, Holy Terror, Kreator, Blind Illusion…it’s gonna happen when we’re talking Deathrow ’88. Note III: Markus and Sven of Deathrow are on record as disliking Deception Ignored. We respectfully completely disagree with their view. Music cited, in order of appearance: “Bureaucrazy” (Deception Ignored bonus track, 1988) “Slaughtered” (Satan’s Gift aka Riders of Doom, 1986) “Mortal Dread” (Raging Steel, 1987) “Events in Concealment” (Deception Ignored, 1988) “The Deathwish” (Deception Ignored, 1988) “Triocton” (Deception Ignored, 1988) “N.L.Y.H.” (Deception Ignored, 1988) “Watching the World” (Deception Ignored, 1988) “Narcotic” (Deception Ignored, 1988) “Machinery” (Deception Ignored, 1988) “Life Beyond“ (Life Beyond, 1992) episode 30 preview: Van Der Graaf Generator, “Cat’s Eye / Yellow Fever (Running)” (The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome, 1977) Radical Research is a conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of rock and metal music. This podcast is conceived and conducted by Jeff Wagner and Hunter Ginn. Though we consume music in a variety of ways, we give particular privilege to the immersive, full-album listening experience. Likewise, we believe that tangible music formats help provide the richest, most rewarding immersions and that music, artwork, and song titles cooperate to produce a singular effect on the listener. Great music is worth more than we ever pay for it. This is Radical Research Podcast episode 30

Under the guidance of bassist Ralf Hubert, Mekong Delta’s initial phase featured a revolving door lineup of Euro-metal luminaries. Adopting pseudonyms and lurking unseen in shadows, Mekong plied a brand of progressive metal that drew inspiration from composers such as Modest Mussorgsky, Aram Khachaturian and Alberto Ginastera, to name just a few. Never lacking in speed and intensity, Mekong Delta were the technical, antithetical other side of the coin to Germany’s more caustic thrash blitzkrieg. Note I: Your LOTFP Weird Fantasy Role Playing discount code for this episode: Broodmother SkyFortress https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse.php?discount=9484bab643 Note II: MEKONG DELTA PSEUDONYMS/MEMBERS, 1987-1994: Ralf Hubert aka Björn Eklund – bass. Leader/writer for all Mekong Delta albums. Peter “Peavy” Wagner aka Jake Jenkins – vocals/bass. Didn’t play on an album, left early but remained as lyricist for first two albums. Best known for his role as leader of long-running German band Rage. Jochen Schröder - guitar. Earliest lineup, left early, not on an album. Early member of Rage. No pseudonym. Wolfgang Borgmann aka Keil – vocals, first three albums Frank Fricke aka Rolf Stein – guitar, first three albums. Also member of Living Death. Reiner Kelch aka Vincent St. John – guitar, first two albums. Also member of Living Death. Jorg Michael aka Gordon Perkins – drums, first four albums. Also member of Rage, later Running Wild, Grave Digger and Stratovarius, among many others. Uwe Baltrusch aka Marc Kaye – guitar, third album to Visions Fugitives. No other major credits, although he did sub for Frank Blackfire on Sodom’s Agent Orange era touring. Doug Lee (no pseudonym) – vocals. American singer, comes in on 4th album, and on next two. From Florida band Siren, who were on Aaarg Records at some point, hence the connection. Peter Haas (no pseudonym) – drums, Kaleidoscope and Visions Fugitives. Perhaps the most interesting resume of any Mekong member: he was also in Babylon Sad, Poltergeist, Calhoun Conquer, Clockwork (mid ‘90s band of Coroner’s Tommy T. Baron), the Buddy Lackey solo album, and Krokus. honorary mention: Uli Kusch aka Patrick Duval. Drums on 1988 EP The Gnome (title track) and on 2007 album Lurking Fear. Best known for his work in Helloween, Gamma Ray, Masterplan and Holy Moses.

Note III: COMPOSERS and BANDS covered by MEKONG DELTA 1987-1994: Modest Mussorgsky (19th Century Russian composer): “The Hut of Baba Yaga,” “Night on a Bare Mountain,” “Pictures at an Exhibition” Marius Constant (20th Century Romanian/French composer/conductor): “Twilight Zone” Julio Sagreras (late 19th Century, early 20th Century Argentinian guitarist/composer): “El Colibri” Bernard Herrmann (20th Century American composer): “Interludium” (two versions/parts) Lead Belly (20th Century American folk/blues musician): “Black Betty” Alberto Ginastera (20th Century Argentinian composer): “Tocatta” (fourth movement of Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 28) Genesis (20th Century English progressive rock band): “Dance on a Volcano” Aram Khachaturian (20th Century Soviet Armenian composer/conductor): “Sabre Dance” Christopher Young (20th Century American Composer): “Dance” (part 4 of Hubert’s larger original piece, “Suite for Group & Orchestra” Music cited, in order of appearance: “The Hut of Baba Yaga” (Mekong Delta, 1987) “Nightmare Patrol” (Mekong Delta, 1987) “Shiva’s Return” (Mekong Delta, 1987) “Age of Agony”

As Pythagoras mused, “There is geometry in the humming of the strings, there is music in the spacing of the spheres.” So too is there magical energy in the shapely contours of the most mathematical rock music. In this episode of Radical Research, we trace out a heritage of calculus embodied by bands on the acute end of the rock spectrum. From the rarified, Bartok-ian rock of King Crimson to the wildly dynamic Sturm und Drang post-rock of Slint, this episode focuses on the identification of rhythmic land mines and the surreptitious emotions located therein. Keep your vintage TI handy and join us in the liberation from the tyranny of 4/4. Note I: Confessor’s “Condemned” features some of the mathiest metal ever mathed, with a puzzling drum part by Martian percussionist Steve Shelton. Let us know if this helps – mostly likely it will not: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_54BL0aOt5E

Note II: Makers of math rock tend to lean toward ridiculous song titles. Some are featured or mentioned in this episode -- here are a few more winners: Don Caballero “The Peter Criss Jazz”; The Fucking Champs “I Am the Album Cover”; Melvins “Eat Yourself Out”; Breadwinner “Kisses Men on the Mouth on the Mountain” Note III: Lamentations of the Flame Princess Weird Fantasy Role-playing and Radical Research offer you the Tower of the Stargazer introductory adventure for a mere $1 US! ONLY AVAILABLE HERE: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse.php?discount=999b8ca14c

Music cited, in order of appearance: King Crimson, “Fracture” (Starless and Bible Black, 1974) Magma, “De Futura,” two passages (Udu Wudu, 1976) Melvins, “Exact Paperbacks” (Gluey Porch Treatments, 1986) Breadwinner, “Tourette’s” (232 S. Laurel St. 7”, 1990) Confessor, “Condemned” (Condemned, 1991) Slint, “Nosferatu Man” (Spiderland, 1991) Don Caballero, “Rollerblade Success Story” (2, 1995) Happy Family, “Kaiten (Ningen Gyorai)” (Happy Family, 1995) The Champs (aka The Fucking Champs), “Flawless Victory” (III, 1997) Minus the Bear, “Women We Haven’t Met Yet” (Highly Refined Pirates, 2002) Episode 29 preview: Mekong Delta, “The Jester“ (The Principle of Doubt, 1989) Radical Research is a conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of rock and metal music. This podcast is conceived and conducted by Jeff Wagner and Hunter Ginn. Though we consume music in a variety of ways, we give particular privilege to the immersive, full-album listening experience. Likewise, we believe that tangible music formats help provide the richest, most rewarding immersions and that music, artwork, and song titles cooperate to produce a singular effect on the listener. Great music is worth more than we ever pay for it. This is Radical Research Podcast episode 28

A Skeptic’s Universe is what happens when student becomes master. Spiral Architect’s school years were spent in obscurity, honing their craft, learning their lessons, keeping their noses to the grindstone. In 1998 they began work on their master’s thesis, and in early 2000, upon publication, earned a spot on the lonely pedestal of top-tier tech metal. While owing debts to Watchtower, Fates Warning, Psychotic Waltz, Sieges Even, Toxik and Cynic, the young Norwegians upstaged them all with a most vicious merging of high-test progressive metal, bubbling fusion ferocity, and laboratory-borne aural pathogens.

Music cited, in order of appearance: “Spinning” (A Skeptic’s Universe, 2000) “Excessit” (A Skeptic’s Universe, 2000) “Moving Spirit” (A Skeptic’s Universe, 2000) “Occam’s Razor” (A Skeptic’s Universe, 2000) “Insect,” two passages (A Skeptic’s Universe, 2000) “Cloud Constructor” (A Skeptic’s Universe, 2000) “Conjuring Collapse,” two passages (A Skeptic’s Universe, 2000) “Adaptability” (A Skeptic’s Universe, 2000) “Fountainhead” (A Skeptic’s Universe, 2000) “Prelude to Ruin,” two passages (A Skeptic’s Universe, Japanese version bonus track, 2000)

Radical Research is a conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of rock and metal music. This podcast is conceived and conducted by Jeff Wagner and Hunter Ginn. Though we consume music in a variety of ways, we give particular privilege to the immersive, full-album listening experience. Likewise, we believe that tangible music formats help provide the richest, most rewarding immersions and that music, artwork, and song titles cooperate to produce a singular effect on the listener. Great music is worth more than we ever pay for it. This is Radical Research Podcast episode 27

Angular, adventurous, and apocalyptic in nearly equal shares, few bands scratch the collective itches of Radical Research like Victoria, British Columbia’s Nomeansno. From their punky beginnings to the nuanced terror of their mature work, Nomeansno trafficked some of the most dangerous and dexterous rock music of the '80s and '90s. Accompanied by venomous libretti - Rob Wright May be responsible for rock music’s most articulate extrapolation of Hannah Arendt’s theory of the Banality of Evil - Nomeansno summoned a heady din of seething, twisting, mongrel-music. Peerless in a peer-friendly world, Nomeansno takes the road never traveled.

Note I: Caveat! We talk for 7 or 8 minutes at the beginning of this episode about drummer Vinnie Colaiuta before we get into Nomeansno. Note II: Due respect to Mama, Sex Mad, The Worldhood of the World (As Such) and Dance of the Headless Bourgeoisie. All Nomeansno albums are recommended by Radical Research! Note III: Rob Wright is the man. For a long time, he looked like Phil Donohue…and when he was raging on stage, singing with sardonic malice and playing bass like a god, it was a fantastic visual, both hilarious and terrifying. Music cited, in order of appearance: “The End of All Things” (Wrong, 1989) “Victory” (Small Parts Isolated and Destroyed, 1988) “It’s Catching Up” (Wrong, 1989) “Ghosts” (0+2=1, 1991) “I See a Mansion in the Sky” (All Roads Lead to Ausfahrt, 2006) “Forget Your Life” (The Day Everything Became Nothing, 1988) “Real Love” (Small Parts Isolated and Destroyed, 1989) “0+2=1” (0+2=1, 1991) “The Day Everything Became Nothing” (The Day Everything Became Nothing, 1988) “Teresa, Give Me That Knife” (Small Parts Isolated and Destroyed, 1988) “The Tower” (Wrong, 1989) “Under the Sea” (One, 2000) “Everyday I Start to Ooze” (0+2=1, 1991) “Mary” (0+2=1, 1991) “Small Parts Isolated and Destroyed” (Small Parts Isolated and Destroyed, 1989) “The River” (Why Do They Call Me Mr. Happy?, 1993) “Bitch’s Brew” (One, 2000) Radical Research is a conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of rock and metal music. This podcast is conceived and conducted by Jeff Wagner and Hunter Ginn. Though we consume music in a variety of ways, we give particular privilege to the immersive, full-album listening experience. Likewise, we believe that tangible music formats help provide the richest, most rewarding immersions and that music, artwork, and song titles cooperate to produce a singular effect on the listener. Great music is worth more than we ever pay for it. This is Radical Research Podcast episode 26

Pytten’s Chamber Music: Black Metal in Grieghallen

As the ground began to swell in early ‘90s Norway, a shadowy figure known to metal fans only as “Pytten” (ne Eirik Hundvin) ensconced himself in Bergen’s Grieghallen Studio and began to document the work of the country’s Young Turks. In this frontier territory, Pytten used the cavernous spaces of Grieghallen to create a miasmic, atmospheric sound that would establish the production aesthetics for the emergent global black metal movement. For its 25th episode, Radical Research examines the morphology of Pytten’s work across a ten year span, as well as his cooperation with some of black metal’s most emblematic artists. Note I: We so appreciate our Sponsor, Lamentations of the Flame Princess, and urge you to go deep with their various RPGs! Get Frostbitten and Mutilated at a Triumphant Discount: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse.php?discount=9ff813a5db

Note II: There isn’t much interview documentation or footage on Pytten, but here’s a great video that reveals some details we weren’t aware of at the time we recorded this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvQLSigwF2U Note III: Pytten, much like English producer, Colin Richardson, was dragged into the world of extreme music rather innocently. His first production, for Bergen’s Old Funeral, began as a favor to one of the band members’ fathers. Solid dad move.

Note IV: As we mention in our conversation, Pytten played bass in several rock bands in the ‘80s. Apropos of this episode, he also contributed fretless bass to Enslaved’s “Yggdrasil,” from their classic 1994 album, Frost, confirming his mettle as both producer and practitioner. Music cited, in order of appearance: Old Funeral, “Skin and Bone“ (Abduction of Limbs, 1990 demo) Burzum, “Det Som Engang Var” (Hvis Lyset Tar Oss, 1993) Mayhem, “Life Eternal” (De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas, 1994) Emperor, “The Burning Shadows of Silence” (In the Nightside Eclipse, 1994) Hades, “Hecate (Queen of Hades)” (…Again Shall Be, 1994) Immortal, “Moonrise Fields of Sorrow” (Battles in the North, 1995) Borknagar, “Vintervredets Sjelesagn” (Borknagar, 1996) Gorgoroth, “Destroyer” (Destroyer, or About How to Philosophize with the Hammer, 1998) Aeternus, “Warrior of the Crescent Moon” (…And So the Night Became, 1998) Trelldom, "Slave Til En Kommende Natt" (Til Et Annet…, 1998) Mork Gryning, “Maelstrom Chaos” (Maelstrom Chaos, 2001) Enslaved, “The Cromlech Gate” (Monumension, 2001) episode 26 preview: Nomeansno, “All Lies” (Wrong, 1989) Radical Research is a conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of rock and metal music. This podcast is conceived and conducted by Jeff Wagner and Hunter Ginn. Though we consume music in a variety of ways, we give particular privilege to the immersive, full-album listening experience. Likewise, we believe that tangible music formats help provide the richest, most rewarding immersions and that music, artwork, and song titles cooperate to produce a singular effect on the listener. Great music is worth more than we ever pay for it. This is Radical Research Podcast episode 25

Emerging from the swampy wastes of Florida, Nasty Savage created a body of work built on the inimitable vocals of Ronnie Galetti (aka Nasty Ronnie), hammering percussion, and a harmonic guitar language that has yet to be replicated. This episode of Radical Research takes a focused look at the band's most feverishly creative period, represented by 1987's Indulgence LP and 1988's Abstract Reality EP. Neither thrash nor power metal nor prog, these two pieces of music vibrate at a pitch all their own, but have influenced artists who occupy a broad space of the heavy metal spectrum. Join us as we disinter these savage gems and apply the RR scalpel. And remember: You Snooze, You Lose!

Note I: Nasty Savage was among the first metal bands to popularize the use of Morrisound Studio in Tampa, Florida, which would come to be known as the crucible of the then-primordial Florida Death Metal scene.

Note II: We briefly mention the cover art that attends the two subject albums, rendered by Lewis VanDercar. Your Radical Research hosts are passionate advocates of visual surrealism and VanDercar is one of the form's most unsung practitioners. You are urged, should you be so inclined, to investigate the man's work.

Note III: You could do way worse than buy this thing right now: https://www.discogs.com/Nasty-Savage-Indulgence-Abstract-Reality/release/3063475 Note IV: And you could do plenty worse than checking out LotFP’s RPG, Towers Two, with a special discount -- at this link only -- for Radical Research listeners: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse.php?discount=96d8ca0fe Note V: The steady band lineup of Galetti/Meyer/Austin/Beeson had trouble keeping a bass player for any length of time. The bassists on Indulgence and Abstract Reality were Dezso Istvan Bartha and Chris Moorhouse (RIP), respectively. Hail.

Music cited, in order of appearance: “Stabbed in the Back” (Indulgence, 1987) “Divination” (Indulgence, 1987) “Indulgence” (Indulgence, 1987) “Inferno” (Indulgence, 1987) “Hypnotic Trance” (Indulgence, 1987) “Incursion Dementia” (Indulgence, 1987) “Distorted Fanatic” (Indulgence, 1987) “?” (Indulgence, 1987) “Abstract Reality” (Abstract Reality, 1988) “Eromantic Vertigo” (Abstract Reality, 1988) “You Snooze, You Lose” (Abstract Reality, 1988) “Unchained Angel” (Abstract Reality, 1988) Radical Research is a conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of rock and metal music. This podcast is conceived and conducted by Jeff Wagner and Hunter Ginn. Though we consume music in a variety of ways, we give particular privilege to the immersive, full-album listening experience. Likewise, we believe that tangible music formats help provide the richest, most rewarding immersions and that music, artwork, and song titles cooperate to produce a singular effect on the listener. Great music is worth more than we ever pay for it. This is Radical Research Podcast episode 24

This game originates from one Jeff plays semi-regularly with our pal Tim Hammond, where CD-Rs fly back and forth between the Boros (States and Greens), and one has to puzzle out the other's mystery tracks. It's been an effective way to both discover new stuff and learn about things to avoid. This episode Jeff and Hunter play mystery tunes for each other. We'll likely repeat this point-5 feature on occasion, so if we're keeping score, it's Jeff 1, Hunter 0. But maybe Hunter gets .5 for his guess of...oh wait, it's a secret. Music cited, in order of appearance: sorry...nothing to see here...move along, you lookyloos!

Pull up a chair and get your ears out! We get giddy when we’re together in the same space, which we were for this episode. You’ll hopefully forgive our exuberance and all the talking over each other in excitement of brotherhood, music, pizza and other various inputs. All in the name of exalting the third of four CDs in the Steven Wilson-curated Intrigue compilation series. Join us for another walk through the fascinating world of progressive-minded ‘80s-era UK post-punk and alternative rock.

Note I:

The Radical Research Patreon page is now set up and ready for your patronage. We are offering tiered subscription levels for those who want a set-it-and-forget-it donation option. As ever, if you choose to support us, we are humbled and grateful! patreon.com/RadicalResearchPodcast Note II:

All past Radical Research episodes can be found here, where you can also find Jeff’s Peter Steele and Fates Warning books…and more to come soon! Radicalresearch.org

Note III:

If you haven’t checked them out already, we encourage you to listen to our first two Intrigue dissections, conveniently linked for you here:

Music cited in order of appearance:

intro: David Bowie, “Up the Hill Backwards” (Scary Monsters [and Super Creeps], 1980)

[all snippets below are taken directly from the Intrigue compilation; the following indicates where the songs originally appeared]

Twelfth Night – “Three Dancers” (Smiling at Grief, 1982)

Thomas Dolby – “Airwaves” (The Golden Age of Wireless, 1982) Crispy Ambulance – “Are You Ready?” (The Plateau Phase, 1982)

Rupert Hine – “The Outsider” (Waving Not Drowning, 1982)

A Certain Ratio – “Knife Slits Water” (Sextet, 1982) Tears for Fears – “Memories Fade” (The Hurting, 1983) Peter Hammill – “Patient” (Patience, 1983)

Cocteau Twins – “Donimo” (Treasure, 1984)

Mr. and Mrs. Smith and Mr. Drake – “In a Waiting Room” (Mr. and Mrs. Smith and Mr. Drake, 1984) The Art of Noise - “Close (to the Edit)” (Close [to the Edit] 7”, 1984)

Dalis Car – “Dalis Car” (The Waking Hour, 1984)

Scott Walker – “Rawhide” (Climate of Hunter, 1984)

David Sylvian – “Brilliant Trees” (Brilliant Trees, 1984)

Propaganda – “Dream Within a Dream” (A Secret Wish, 1985)

Ep. 188 preview: Renaissance, “The Death of Art” (The Death of Art, 1994)

Radical Research is a conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of rock and metal music. This podcast is conceived and conducted by Jeff Wagner and Hunter Ginn. Though we consume music in a variety of ways, we give particular privilege to the immersive, full-album listening experience. Likewise, we believe that tangible music formats help provide the richest, most rewarding immersions and that music, artwork, and song titles cooperate to produce a singular effect on the listener. Great music is worth more than we ever pay for it.

The possibly despicable term “art rock” is where pop, prog & rock meet, with a generous layer of quirk embedded throughout. Art rock is pop without restraint, prog with good table manners, rock stretching its creative fibers beyond the norm. And yet, gray areas abound! In episode 23 of Radical Research, we offer an hour-long survey of several artists in this realm: Crack the Sky, Be Bop Deluxe, Godley & Creme, Split Enz and Max Webster. Leaping off from the platform built by the Beatles, David Bowie, Roxy Music, 10cc and Queen, we crash-land onto beguiling terrain. Note I: Other than the featured artists & foundational art rock gods mentioned above, more bands we recommend not featured in this episode: Alan Parsons Project, City Boy, Brian Eno (1973-1977), Phil Manzanera, Citizen Band, Angel (1975-1976), Manfred Mann’s Earth Band (1977-1980), Buggles, Japan, Sparks, Tubes, Eddie Jobson/Zinc, and even select Cheap Trick tunes. Blue Oyster Cult also intersect with this family of bands. And there are more… Note II: We’re proud to be sponsored for 2019 by Lamentations of The Flame Princess, Weird Fantasy Role Playing! We encourage you to check out their award-winning (and sometimes banned!) products here: www.lotfp.com/RPG/

Music cited, in order of appearance: Cheap Trick, “High Priest of Rhythmic Noise” (All Shook Up, 1980) Crack the Sky, “Ice” (Crack the Sky, 1975) Crack the Sky, “Nuclear Apathy” (Safety in Numbers, 1978) Be Bop Deluxe, “Sister Seagull” (Futurama, 1975) Be Bop Deluxe, “Kiss of Light” (Modern Music, 1976) Godley & Creme, “The Sporting Life” (L, 1978) Godley & Creme, “I Pity Inanimate Objects” (Freeze Frame, 1979) Split Enz, “Crosswords” (Dizrythmia, 1978) Split Enz, “In the Wars” (1980 b-side) Max Webster, “Toronto Tontos” (Max Webster, 1976) Max Webster, “Battle Scar” (Universal Juveniles, 1980) Blue Oyster Cult, “Hungry Boys” (Cultosaurus Erectus, 1980) Episode 24 preview: Nasty Savage, “Abstract Reality” (Abstract Reality, 1988) Radical Research is a conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of rock and metal music. This podcast is conceived and conducted by Jeff Wagner and Hunter Ginn. Though we consume music in a variety of ways, we give particular privilege to the immersive, full-album listening experience. Likewise, we believe that tangible music formats help provide the richest, most rewarding immersions and that music, artwork, and song titles cooperate to produce a singular effect on the listener. Great music is worth more than we ever pay for it. This is Radical Research Podcast episode 23

It would be inaccurate to say that Germany’s Pyogenesis is underrated because, in fact, they have hardly ever been rated at all. Over the course of their career – which is still in process – Pyogenesis worked across a wide swath of genres, including death/doom and alternative metal, before settling on a mostly-unsuccessful foray into pop-punk. The 22nd installment of Radical Research dedicates most of its time to the band’s finest piece of music, 1995’s inscrutably-titled, Twinaleblood. Our 70-minute conversation digs in deeply to the album’s daring mosaic of sounds and styles, which ranges from the Type O Negative grandeur of “Undead” to the hooky alternative rock of “Weeping Sun.” The album was an island in 1995 and remains so in 2018, bearing the visionary mark.

Note I: Immense appreciation to RR listener Giorgos Ketigenis for supplying mp3s of the early demo and 7 inch tracks.

Note II: Hunter knows The Archaic Course is a Borknagar album and not an Arcturus one. We both get excited and lose our minds a little when it comes to discussing the best performances of vocalist Simen Hestnaes. Incidentally, Jeff believes Simen’s performance on Arcturus’s Arcturian is one of the best in metal history. And there’s your Norwegian metal reference for this episode. Note III: Way back in episode 4 (Disharmonic Orchestra) we discuss the interesting heritage of the laugh in metal music. Listener and doggone brilliant observationist Forrest Pitts reminded us about Tim Asmodeus’s laugh on Pyogenesis song “In the End.” It’s not in the part we sample this episode -- we had already recorded -- but it's absolutely worth noting. Haw haw haw! Please keep the laugh-spotting coming, people. Might be a cool subject for a point-5 episode at some juncture. Note IV: Tim was also in a band called G.U.T. at the same time Pyogenesis was getting started. We wanted to mention that but conversation took us elsewhere. They were nuts. Check it out if you dare: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFvUB-y4Lz4

Music cited, in order of appearance: “Considering the Majesty of Doom” (Ode to the Churning Seas of Nar-Mataru demo, 1991) “Lowland of Impiety” (Sacrificious Profanity 7”, 1992) “Still Burn in Fire” (Ignis Creatio, 1992) “In the End” (Waves of Erotasia, 1994) “Fade Away” (Sweet X-Rated Nothings, 1994) “Undead” (Twinaleblood, 1995) “Twinaleblood” (Twinaleblood, 1995) “Weeping Sun” (Twinaleblood, 1995) “Every Single Day” (Twinaleblood, 1995) “Abstract Life” (Twinaleblood, 1995) “Those Churning Seas” (Twinaleblood, 1995) “God Complex” (Twinaleblood, 1995) “Mutz Umst Erben” (Twinaleblood bonus track, 1995) “Supavenus” (Twinaleblood, 1995) “Love Nation Sugarhead” (Love Nation Sugarhead - EP, 1996) episode 23 preview: Crack the Sky, “Virgin…No” (Animal Notes, 1976)

Meet the creatures Plotkin & Dubin, instigators of some of the most beguiling music ever beamed to Earth from a  New Jersey-shaped quasar. Like the guy in the petri dish on the Musical Dimensions… album cover, your puzzled Radical Research hosts consider the bizarre landscape before them and dive into the peculiar tumult of OLD.

 Note I: We can only assume “sleastak,” from the album title The Musical Dimensions of Sleastak, is a reference to Sleestaks, an extra-dimensional reptile race from 1970s Saturday morning show, Land of the Lost.

Note II: We briefly mention Khanate, a post-OLD endeavor of Plotkin & Dubin, but the wealth of material and collaborations James Plotkin became involved in after OLD’s demise is impressive and worth mentioning. First is Flux, whose 1997 album, Protoplasmic, was a direct successor to the trail followed on OLD’s Formula. Not to mention membership in the short-lived Khlyst, supportive roles with Scorn and Namanax, and collaborations with Mick Harris, K.K. Null, Mark Spybey, and many other specimens.

Note III: Jeff said there’s nothing exclusive on the Grindcrusher compilation. Not entirely true: the version of Carcass’s “Exhume to Consume” is different than the Symphonies of Sickness version. Either way, Grindcrushergoes with us to our graves.

Note IV: We love Duran Duran (ref. “Marzuraan” intro). We own and listen to 21 Duran Duran releases between the two of us. (19 of those are Jeff’s)

 NoteV: Discogs Dot Com. Buy or Die.

Music cited, in order of appearance: “Peri Cynthion” (The Musical Dimensions of Sleastak, 1993) “Total Hag” (Old Lady Drivers, 1988) “Old Ladies Always Break Their Hips” (Old Lady Drivers, 1988) “Cocaine” (Old Lady Drivers, 1988) “Outlive” (Lo Flux Tube, 1991) “Citient Null” (Lo Flux Tube, 1991) “Marzuraan”(Lo Flux Tube, 1991) “Who Are You” (Masters of Misery – Black Sabbath: An Earache Tribute, 1992) “Two of Me (Parts One and Two)” (The Musical Dimensions of Sleastak, 1993) “Freak Now” (The Musical Dimensions of Sleastak, 1993) “Happy Tantrum” (The Musical Dimensions of Sleastak, 1993) “Last Look” (Formula, 1995) “Break (You)” (Formula, 1995) “Thug” (Formula, 1995) “Z.U.” (Lo Flux Tube, 1991) Episode22 preview: Pyogenesis, “Abstract Life” (Twinaleblood, 1995)

 Radical Research is a conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of rock and metal music. This podcast is conceived and conducted by Jeff Wagner and Hunter Ginn. Though we consume music in a variety of ways, we give particular privilege to the immersive, full-album listening experience. Likewise, we believe that tangible music formats help provide the richest, most rewarding immersions and that music, artwork, and song titles cooperate to produce a singular effect on the listener. Great music is worth more than we ever pay for it.

This is Radical Research Podcast episode 21

From the dark past, in the light of freezing moons and through funeral fog, Mayhem reappeared in 1997, under cover of night and to relatively little fanfare. Wolf’s Lair Abyss, the band’s first release since 1994’s epochal De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas, reveals a fiercer, future-forward approach to Mayhem’s trademark hailstorm black metal. Time has been kind to this EP and so your Radical Research hosts have pulled out the cuneiform in order to decipher symbols of bloodswords.

Note 1: With this EP, we see the reappearance of two former Mayhem members, Maniac and Necrobutcher. This lineup would go on to record two full-length albums, 2000’s black-tech masterpiece, Grand Declaration of War, and 2004’s steely Chimera.

Note 2: The EP’s final track, “Symbols of Bloodswords,” features a chord progression that would become a motivic device on Grand Declaration of War. Radical Research suggests a back-to-back listen for maximum effect.

Music cited, in order of appearance: “From the Dark Past” (De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas, 1994) “De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas” (De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas, 1994) “The Vortex Void of Inhumanity” (Wolf’s Lair Abyss, 1997) “I Am Thy Labyrinth” (Wolf’s Lair Abyss, 1997) “Fall of Seraphs” (Wolf’s Lair Abyss, 1997) “Ancient Skin” (Wolf’s Lair Abyss, 1997) “Symbols of Bloodswords” (Wolf’s Lair Abyss, 1997) “A Grand Declaration of War” (Grand Declaration of War, 2000) “Completion in Science of Agony (pt. II of II)” (Grand Declaration of War, 2000) episode 21 preview: OLD, “Backwards Through the Greedo Compressor” (The Musical Dimensions of Sleastak, 1993)

Radical Research is a conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of rock and metal music. This podcast is conceived and conducted by Jeff Wagner and Hunter Ginn. Though we consume music in a variety of ways, we give particular privilege to the immersive, full-album listening experience. Likewise, we believe that tangible music formats help provide the richest, most rewarding immersions and that music, artwork, and song titles cooperate to produce a singular effect on the listener. Great music is worth more than we ever pay for it.

This is Radical Research Podcast episode 20

Goodbye clarity, hello obfuscation… Norway’s other post-black metal duo, perhaps dwelling deeper in obscure shadows than Solefald… we hail Fleurety’s dedication to the dark arts and… which craft? All the ones that bring metal to the most precarious of left-field edges. So bizarre that it makes complete sense. We enthusiastically endorse their mission.

Note I: Of all our favorite high school Latin teachers who are also committed metal fans, our favorite has to be Chris Ayers. We are grateful for his help with the Latin translations/meanings in this episode. Chris also has the rare distinction of having attended a listening party for DVC’s Molecular Shadow in Florida in 1992.

Note II: The Inquietum CD is the yellowest in either of our collections. It is also a mandatory Fleurety document. Buy it here: https://www.discogs.com/Fleurety-Inquietum/release/10711416

Music cited, in order of appearance: “Descent Into Darkness” (Ingentes Atque Decorii Vexilliferi Apokalypsis 7”, 2009, recorded 2004/05) “Profanations Beneath the Bleeding Stars” (A Darker Shade of Evil 7”, 1994) “Absence” (January 1995 demo) “Fragmenter Av En Fortid” (Min Tid Skal Komme, 1995) “Englers Piler Har Ingen Brodd” (Min Tid Skal Komme, 1995) “I Saw Claws” (Last-Minute Lies, 1999) “Face in a Fever” (Department of Apocalyptic Affairs, 2000) “Shotgun Blast” (Department of Apocalyptic Affairs, 2000) “Barb Wire Smile” (Department of Apocalyptic Affairs, 2000) “Summon the Beasts” (Evoco Bestias 7”, 2011, recorded 2008) “Degenerate Machine” (Et Spiritus Meus Semper Sub Sanguinantibus Stellis Habitabit 7”, 2013, recorded 2009/10) “Consensus” (two moments, Fragmenta Cuinsvis Aetatis Contemporaneae 7”, 2017, recorded 2011-2015) “The Science of Normality” (The White Death, 2017) “Future Day” (The White Death, 2017) “Facets” (Last-Minute Lies, 1999) episode 20 preview: Mayhem, “Ancient Skin” (Wolf’s Lair Abyss, 1997)

Radical Research is a conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of rock and metal music. This podcast is conceived and conducted by Jeff Wagner and Hunter Ginn. Though we consume music in a variety of ways, we give particular privilege to the immersive, full-album listening experience. Likewise, we believe that tangible music formats help provide the richest, most rewarding immersions and that music, artwork, and song titles cooperate to produce a singular effect on the listener. Great music is worth more than we ever pay for it.

This is Radical Research Podcast episode 19

From a kernel to a cosmos. Over the course of a decade and beyond, Germany’s Grobschnitt twisted and bent and stretched a piece of sound that would be known as “Solar Music.” An alchemical collision of Prog, Krautrock, psychedelia, and uncanny theater, “Solar Music” represents a fascinating evolutionary journey and, particularly in its live iterations, reveals a band at the height of its powers. Radical Research dispenses with the Prominence and aims to get to the Core of the matter.

Note I: We have to thank Tom Phillips for turning us on. Without him, we wouldn’t know “Solar Music,” and if we didn’t know “Solar Music,” we’d be malnourished. Hail Tom.

Note II: If you want to dive in, we recommend these fine releases: https://www.discogs.com/Grobschnitt-Solar-Music-Live/release/7026856

https://www.discogs.com/Grobschnitt-The-History-Of-Solar-Music-1/release/1957738

https://www.discogs.com/Grobschnitt-Ballermann/release/7026664

Music cited, in order of appearance: “Solar Music” (live in Berlin, 1977) “Sun Trip (On the Way)” (Grobschnitt, 1972) “Solar-Music, Part 1” (Ballermann, 1974) “Golden Mist” (Solar Music – Live, 1978) “Otto Pankrock” (Solar Music – Live, 1978) “Solar Music III” (Solar Music – Live, 1978) four moments from Warburg performance, 1978 four moments from Munster performance, 1979 final fade, from Warburg, 1978

Radical Research is a conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of rock and metal music. This podcast is conceived and conducted by Jeff Wagner and Hunter Ginn. Though we consume music in a variety of ways, we give particular privilege to the immersive, full-album listening experience. Likewise, we believe that tangible music formats help provide the richest, most rewarding immersions and that music, artwork, and song titles cooperate to produce a singular effect on the listener. Great music is worth more than we ever pay for it.

This is Radical Research Podcast episode 18

The second in an occasional series of brief ambushes. With this mini-episode, we ponder and marvel at similarities between a certain few musical passages. Prompted by our previous episode on Afflicted, we compare/contrast moments of uncanny similarity, one of which is too close for comfort. Coincidence or rip-off? We’re not judging. But you can… Music cited, in order of appearance: Afflicted, “Rising to the Sun” (Prodigal Sun, 1992) My Dying Bride, “The Cry of Mankind” (The Angel and the Dark River, 1995) Solefald, “Philosophical Revolt” (The Linear Scaffold, 1997) Metallica, “For Whom the Bell Tolls” (Ride the Lightning, 1984) Bathory, “Home of Once Brave” (Hammerheart, 1990) Angel Witch, “Angel of Death” (Angel Witch, 1980) Manilla Road, “Dreams of Eschaton” (Crystal Logic, 1983)

for all episodes, blog, and playlists: www.radicalresearch.org

Prolific for a brief few years, with curious beginnings and a mostly ignored ending, Afflicted’s supernova burned brightly at its peak. That peak, Prodigal Sun, is the essential cornerstone of Afflicted’s output and is explored in depth here. Psychedelic, transcendent left-field death metal lunacy from far beyond.

Note I: As we talk about Afflicted’s 7” era in this episode, we discuss an insane haul both of us made at Manifest Records in Charlotte, NC back in 2003. In the hauls, Hunter bought Primordial’s A Journey’s End, original vinyl pressing, for $4. It’s now going for around $90 on Discogs.com. Jeff’s best score was Mortem’s Slow Death 7”, bought for $3, currently going for around $85 on Discogs.

Music cited, in order of appearance: “Consumed in Flames” (as Afflicted Convulsion) (Beyond Redemption demo, 1990) “Viewing the Obscene” (Ingrained 7”, 1990) “Prodigal Sun” (Prodigal Sun, 1992) “Harbouring the Soul” (Prodigal Sun, 1992) “In Years to Come” (Prodigal Sun, 1992) “Astray” (Prodigal Sun, 1992) “Rising to the Sun” (Prodigal Sun, 1992) “Spirit Spectrum” (Prodigal Sun, 1992) “Consumed in Flames” (Prodigal Sun, 1992) “Ivory Tower” (Prodigal Sun, 1992) “Dawn of Glory” (Dawn of Glory, 1995) “I Am Vengeance” (Dawn of Glory, 1995) RR18 preview: Grobschnitt, “Solar Music I“ (Solar Music – Live, 1978)

Radical Research is a conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of rock and metal music. This podcast is conceived and conducted by Jeff Wagner and Hunter Ginn. Though we consume music in a variety of ways, we give particular privilege to the immersive, full-album listening experience. Likewise, we believe that tangible music formats help provide the richest, most rewarding immersions and that music, artwork, and song titles cooperate to produce a singular effect on the listener. Great music is worth more than we ever pay for it.

This is Radical Research Podcast episode 17

Few things in life get the hosts of Radical Research as excited as the squishy, otherworldly sounds of the analog synthesizer. For our 16th episode, a special detour from our typical musings, we sort through the decades in search of some of the deepest, wildest, most thrilling synthesizer sounds in the rock and metal kingdoms. So, please, meet us at the wormhole and tag along for this investigation into radical, electronic sound.

Note I: Kim Rantala, whose playing is featured here on Amorphis’ “The Orphan,” is also an accomplished accordion player and professional DJ. We’re happy that he opted for the Moog on Elegy.

Note II: Hunter sounds like he’s underwater throughout this episode. We apologize. We would love to buy him a decent but affordable preamp for better quality recording on his laptop. We do take Paypal donations if you want to help: paypal.me/rrpodcast. Regardless, expect this issue to be fixed by next episode.

Note III: The following link doesn’t cover deeply technical aspects of our favorite brand of synthesizer, the Moog; instead it captures a wonderful, more emotional aspect of Bob Moog as an innovator, father and unintentional role model. Check out this fantastic Ted Talk featuring Bob’s daughter, Michelle Moog-Koussa: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BG_PYTsSSAM

Note IV: When you’re a whore, you gotta have more. If you enjoy this episode, you’re in luck. There are simply too many iconic synthesizer moments to wrap into a single episode, so, rest assured, we’ll revisit this, one of our very favorite topics, in a follow-up future episode.

Music cited, in order of appearance: Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, “Wind” (Glorified Magnified, 1972) Museo Rosenbach, “Zarathustra, b) Il Re Di Leri” (Zarathustra, 1973) Genesis, “Riding the Scree” (two moments) (The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, 1974) Blue Oyster Cult, “Flaming Telepaths” (Secret Treaties, 1974) Goblin, “Wild Session” (Profondo Rosso, 1975) Epidaurus, “Andas” (Earthly Paradise, 1977) Gary Numan, “Conversation” (The Pleasure Principle, 1979) Amorphis, “The Orphan” (Elegy, 1996) Paraxism, “Fear” (.Xism Excursion, 1996) Ulver, “The Future Sound of Music” (Perdition City, 2000) Jethro Tull, “My God” (Aqualung, 1971) RR 17 preview: Afflicted, “Viewing the Obscene” (Ingrained 7”, 1990)

Radical Research is a conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of rock and metal music. This podcast is conceived and conducted by Jeff Wagner and Hunter Ginn. Though we consume music in a variety of ways, we give particular privilege to the immersive, full-album listening experience. Likewise, we believe that tangible music formats help provide the richest, most rewarding immersions and that music, artwork, and song titles cooperate to produce a singular effect on the listener. Great music is worth more than we ever pay for it.

This is Radical Research Podcast episode 16

Can you sense them? The ghosts? Quiet yourself for a moment. They hang in the air and whisper in our ears. They taunt us with memories of a golden age. Listen closely and you can hear the spectral voice: “1993.” They mock the sterility and cannibalism of contemporary metal and remind us of a single day that produced three works of heavy metal futurism: Dimensions, Spheres, and Focus. Radical Research heeds the call and crosses the threshold. Do you dare?

Note I: The ending of Cynic’s “How Could I?,” which concludes this episode, is derived from an earlier song intended for the Focus album, “Pleading for Preservation.” In the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew, which we discuss, the band scrapped the song, which can only be heard on what is known as the “Roadrunner Demo” (1991).

Note II: So that “How Could I?” could end this episode the only way it should end, we elected to not preview our next episode. Radical Research 16, Synth Whores, will be a rapid-fire examination (a la episode 5, Bad-Ass Fusion Decapitations) of some of our favorite synthesizer moments, drawing from the prog and metal worlds, and even one specimen from the almighty Gary Numan. Be there or be hip.

Music cited, in order of appearance: Cynic, “Textures” (Focus, 1993) Believer, “Gone” (Dimensions, 1993) Believer, “Dimentia” (Dimensions, 1993) Believer, “What Is But Cannot Not Be” (Dimensions, 1993) Pestilence, “Multiple Beings” (Spheres, 1993) Pestilence, “Personal Energy” (Spheres, 1993) Pestilence, “Demise of Time” (Spheres, 1993) Cynic, “Celestial Voyage” (Focus, 1993) Cynic, “I’m But a Wave To…” (Focus, 1993) Cynic, “How Could I?” (Focus, 1993)

Radical Research is a conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of rock and metal music. This podcast is conceived and conducted by Jeff Wagner and Hunter Ginn. Though we consume music in a variety of ways, we give particular privilege to the immersive, full-album listening experience. Likewise, we believe that tangible music formats help provide the richest, most rewarding immersions and that music, artwork, and song titles cooperate to produce a singular effect on the listener. Great music is worth more than we ever pay for it.

From Gentle Giant to Gigan, Goblin to Gorguts, Radical Research dissects the work of rock and metal’s most daring artists and albums.

This is Radical Research Podcast episode 15

In this brief episode, we spotlight the two metal bands brave enough to tackle the middle part of King Crimson's innovative and highly influential 1969 classic, "21st Century Schizoid Man."

Note I:

The Radical Research Patreon page is now set up and ready for your patronage. We are offering tiered subscription levels for those who want a set-it-and-forget-it donation option. As ever, if you choose to support us, we are humbled and grateful! patreon.com/RadicalResearchPodcast Note II:

All past Radical Research episodes can be found here, where you can also find Jeff’s Peter Steele and Fates Warning books…and more to come soon! Radicalresearch.org

Music Cited in Order of Appearance:

King Crimson, "21st Century Schizoid Man" (In the Court of the Crimson King, 1969)

Voivod, "21st Century Schizoid Man" (Phobos, 1997) Forbidden, "21st Century Schizoid Man" (Distortion, 1995)

Had Leif Endling disbanded Candlemass after 1989’s Tales of Creation, he would have given enough to place his band in the halls of metal infamy. But the bassist pressed on, enduring lineup shifts, label hassles, and changing times, to eventually arrive in the late ‘90s at a most esoteric iteration of Candlemass. We immerse deeply in this era for Radical Research episode 14. Please join us somewhere in nowhere, northwest of Babylon, out there beyond the abstrakt sun…

Note I: We would be remiss if we didn’t mention that Europe drummer Ian Haugland played on two Dactylis Glomerata songs (“Wiz,” “I Still See the Black”). We think highly of the first two Europe albums.

Music cited, in order of appearance: Abstrakt Algebra, “Shadowplay” (Abstrakt Algebra, 1995) Abstrakt Algebra, “Blue Wizard” (II, unreleased 1997 album) Candlemass, “Dustflow” (Dactylis Glomerata, 1998) Candlemass, “Apathy” (Dactylis Glomerata, 1998) Candlemass, “Lidocain God” (Dactylis Glomerata, 1998) Candlemass, “Tot” (From the 13th Sun, 1999) Candlemass, “ARX/NG 891” (From the 13th Sun, 1999) Candlemass, “Galatea” (From the 13th Sun, 1999) Candlemass, “Container” (Wiz EP, 1998) Episode 15 preview: Believer, “Future Mind“ (Dimensions, 1993)

Radical Research is a conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of rock and metal music. This podcast is conceived and conducted by Jeff Wagner and Hunter Ginn. Though we consume music in a variety of ways, we give particular privilege to the immersive, full-album listening experience. Likewise, we believe that tangible music formats help provide the richest, most rewarding immersions and that music, artwork, and song titles cooperate to produce a singular effect on the listener. Great music is worth more than we ever pay for it.

From Rottrevore to Roxy Music, Albino Slug to Alchemist, Radical Research dissects the work of rock and metal’s most daring artists and albums.

This is Radical Research Podcast episode 14

There are no happy accidents or lucky mistakes in Rick Rubin productions. The legendary producer knows exactly what he wants and how to get the leanest, meanest performances from each artist he works with. In our examples, he wielded a decisive guiding hand in helping bands clean up their tendencies toward the wandering and erratic, leading to honed, definitive albums that became legendary. His greatest talent, perhaps, was that he might have changed these bands significantly, but never sapped them of their purest essence.

Note I: About Rubin’s later work with Metallica and Black Sabbath, ie. “low hanging fruit”: Rubin was hired to get the band back on track after disaster (Death Magnetic, after St. Anger), or to sculpt a definitive-sounding record in a career’s late stages (Black Sabbath’s 13). Essentially a similar purpose to our featured examples, but the point is, by the mid ‘00s, Rubin was no longer plucking young metal or rock bands from relative obscurity and readying them for the big time. It’s an important point we felt wasn’t clarified very well in the episode.

Music cited, in order of appearance: Slayer, “At Dawn They Sleep” (Hell Awaits, 1985) Slayer, “Post Mortem” (Reign in Blood, 1986) Samhain, “Lords of the Left Hand” (Samhain Grim sessions, 1986) Danzig, “Possession” (Danzig, 1988) The Cult, “Rain” (Love, 1985) The Cult, “Love Removal Machine” (Electric, 1987) Trouble, “Born in a Prison” (Run to the Light, 1987) Trouble, “Black Shapes of Doom” (Trouble, 1990) The Mars Volta, “Eunuch Provocateur” (Tremulant EP, 2002) The Mars Volta, “Eriatarka” (De-Loused in the Comatorium, 2003) Trouble, “The Sleeper” (Manic Frustration, 1992) Episode 14 preview: Abstrakt Algebra, “Bug Queen” (II, unreleased 1997 album)

Radical Research is a conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of rock and metal music. This podcast is conceived and conducted by Jeff Wagner and Hunter Ginn. Though we consume music in a variety of ways, we give particular privilege to the immersive, full-album listening experience. Likewise, we believe that tangible music formats help provide the richest, most rewarding immersions and that music, artwork, and song titles cooperate to produce a singular effect on the listener. Great music is worth more than we ever pay for it.

From 10cc to Colosseum II, Into the Pandemonium to Burning Time, Radical Research dissects the work of rock and metal’s most daring artists and albums.

This is Radical Research Podcast episode 13

For our 12th installment, your intrepid hosts sift through time and dust in search of Orange County’s Mind Over Four. Bridging an unknown gulf between cutting edge alternative rock and hyperkinetic tech/prog metal, Mind Over Four was poised for a breakthrough to the mainstream. But the stars never aligned and Mind Over Four has mostly been forgotten. Radical Research celebrates the timelessness and innovation of the band’s first four albums and invites you to play Dante to our Virgil as we navigate the barriers and passages of Mind Over Four.

Note I: If you like Mind Over Four, then “like” this: https://www.facebook.com/MindOverFour/

Note II: The snippet of “Ogre Battle” that closes this episode is from a 1990 record label sampler (The Goddess era). The beginning is clearly not from the Queen song — it’s the first emanations of “Phobos Y Damos,” which appeared half a decade later, on 1995’s divisive and career-capping Empty Hands. We find this all very interesting.

Note III: For the Radical Research trainspotters: we mention an EKG monitor sound in MO4’s 1987 song, “Martin’s Song.” We also mention use of the same sound effect back in Episode 7, in My Dying Bride’s “The Whore, the Cook and the Mother.” Bonus points: once again, count the Voivod references.

Note IV: Is this a tongue-twister? “Hunter Totally Tunes Roto Toms Too Tight”

CORRECTION: Pat Dubar comes up in this conversation. Jeff incorrectly mentions he is from the band Youth of Today, but that’s incorrect. Pat was in Uniform Choice. The only thing Jeff got right was that he was in a straight edge band. You can’t count on Radical Research for off-the-cuff references about straight edge hardcore, folks. But hey, don’t worry about it, have a beer and keep moving!

Music cited, in order of appearance: “Vernal Equinox” (demo, year unknown, probably 1987-88) “She Beams the Light” (Out Here, 1987) “God” (Out Here, 1987) “Pity” (Out Here, 1987) “Social Stature” (Mind Over Four, 1989) “Messiah” (Mind Over Four, 1989) “The Black Orgasm” (Mind Over Four, 1989) “Prayer for the Dying” (The Goddess, 1990) “Gemini” (The Goddess, 1990) “Airplanes” (The Goddess, 1990) “My Name is Nothing” (Half Way Down, 1993) “Jack the Throne” (Half Way Down, 1993) “Conscience of a Nation” (Half Way Down, 1993) “Retarded” (Empty Hands, 1995) “Paralyzed” (Empty Hands, 1995) “Ogre Battle” (On the Nineties Tip – Hear and Now, Caroline Sampler, 1990) Episode 13 preview: Danzig – “Possession” (Danzig, 1988)

Radical Research is a conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of rock and metal music. This podcast is conceived and conducted by Jeff Wagner and Hunter Ginn. Though we consume music in a variety of ways, we give particular privilege to the immersive, full-album listening experience. Likewise, we believe that tangible music formats help provide the richest, most rewarding immersions and that music, artwork, and song titles cooperate to produce a singular effect on the listener. Great music is worth more than we ever pay for it.

From Finch to Furbowl, Genesis to Pyogenesis, Radical Research dissects the work of rock and metal’s most daring artists and albums.

This is Radical Research Podcast episode 12

Death metal is very weird musick. It’s the rupturing and restructuring of musical tradition. At its best it offers otherworldly, phantasmagoric deliverance. We begin this episode hearing Carbonized in its embryonic stages as an exemplar of the peculiar Swedish death metal substrata, but in short time, they took the weirdness inherent in death metal and followed their muse to its logical (illogical?) end. Death, post-death, avant-garde, noise rock, progressive, eclectic…whatever you call it, Carbonized was a vanguard of musical abnormality for 7 strange years before sputtering to a screaming end.

Note I: Count how many times we say “Voivod” in this episode.

Note II: On second thought, maybe those cars on album covers 1 & 3 are supposed to be Rolls-Royces.

Note III: Bagpipes are not accordions, and vice versa. We know this way better than we know cars.

Music cited, in order of appearance: “Purified (From the Sulfur)” (For the Security, 1991) “Paradise Lost” (Au-To-Dafe demo, 1989) “Au-To-Dafe” (No Canonization, 7”, 1990) “Two Faces” (Recarbonized demo, 1990) “Euthanasia” (For the Security, 1991) “Blinded of the Veil” (For the Security, 1991) “Third Eye” (For the Security, 1991) “Monument” (For the Security, 1991) “Spanish Fly” (Disharmonization, 1993) “Night Shadows” (Disharmonization, 1993) “The Voice of the Slained Pig” (Disharmonization, 1993) “Confessions” (Disharmonization, 1993) “Spacecraft” (Disharmonization, 1993) “Circles” (Screaming Machines, 1996) “Psychodelica” (Screaming Machines, 1996) “Fever” (Screaming Machines, 1996) “Purified (From the Sulfur)” (For the Security, 1991) Episode 12 preview: Mind Over Four, “Barriers and Passages” (Half Way Down, 1993)

Radical Research is a conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of rock and metal music. This podcast is conceived and conducted by Jeff Wagner and Hunter Ginn. Though we consume music in a variety of ways, we give particular privilege to the immersive, full-album listening experience. Likewise, we believe that tangible music formats help provide the richest, most rewarding immersions and that music, artwork, and song titles cooperate to produce a singular effect on the listener. Great music is worth more than we ever pay for it.

From Mr. Bungle to Moth Vellum, Manilla Road to Mekong Delta, Radical Research dissects the work of rock and metal’s most daring artists and albums.

This is Radical Research Podcast episode 11

The 10th installment of the Radical Research odyssey pries into the amorphous body of work that has been known to your hosts privately as “Ginncore.” Based around a loosely-connected confederacy of artists — mostly American and mostly active during the difficult-to-define ‘00s — Ginncore has come to embody for Messrs. Wagner and Ginn a cryptic and subversive narrative in modern rock’s often-blighted history. Over the course of two hours, your hosts examine the work of 9 artists, whose music often wrestles with the tensions between commercial ambition and the pursuit of rarified expression. In this shadowy space, deep hooks are draped over thorny time signatures and signal declares an alliance with noise. This is Ginncore and this time, it’s personal.

Note 1: Hunter mentions during the discussion of Cave In’s epochal Jupiter the influence of several bands, such as Radiohead, Hum, and Failure. However, he fails to cite the title of Failure’s Fantastic Planet, which one would assume had a deep influence on Cave In. We urge you to check out that album, if you’ve not already done so. And, if you like it, we also think that you need to find a copy of Thought Industry’s Short Wave on a Cold Day.

Note 2: We talk briefly about the vocal glories of Chino Moreno, which are not confined to Deftones. We also recommend checking out his work in Crosses, Team Sleep and Palms, which find him working in more understated contexts.

Note 3: Rage For Order. Not Ginncore. But rules now, rules forever.

Music cited, in order of appearance: Cave In, “Requiem” (Jupiter, 2000) Glassjaw, “Pink Roses” (Worship and Tribute, 2002) The Mars Volta, “Frances the Mute” (The Widow single, 2005) The Mars Volta, “Teflon” (Octahedron, 2009) Deftones, “Cherry Waves” (Saturday Night Wrist, 2006) Mew, “156” (Frengers, 2003) Mew, “The Zookeeper’s Boy” (And the Glass Handed Kites, 2005) Coheed and Cambria, “Ten Speed (Of God’s Blood & Burial)” (Good Apollo, I’m Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness, 2005) 3, “Amaze Disgrace” (Wake Pig, 2004) 3, “My Divided Falling” (The End is Begun, 2007) Dredg, “The Canyon Behind Her” (El Cielo, 2002) Dredg, “Ode to the Sun” (Catch Without Arms, 2005) Fair to Midland, “Golden Parachutes” (Arrows & Anchors, 2011) episode 11 preview: Carbonized, “Lord of Damnation” (Disharmonization, 1993)

Radical Research is a conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of rock and metal music. This podcast is conceived and conducted by Jeff Wagner and Hunter Ginn. Though we consume music in a variety of ways, we give particular privilege to the immersive, full-album listening experience. Likewise, we believe that tangible music formats help provide the richest, most rewarding immersions and that music, artwork, and song titles cooperate to produce a singular effect on the listener. Great music is worth more than we ever pay for it.

From Peter Hammill to PFM, Carbonized to Confessor, Radical Research dissects the work of rock and metal’s most daring artists and albums.

This is Radical Research Podcast episode 10

Rock Progressivo Italiano (RPI) was a remarkably fertile, prolific progressive rock movement of the 1970s. Italy’s compositional and performance acumen rivaled England’s more popular scene, and its output exceeded it. Your Radical Research hosts are mad for the stuff, and with our ninth episode, we pluck three of our favorite specimens from the ether and put them under the microscope. These albums by Semiramis, Corte dei Miracoli and Alphataurus also count among the many one-offs from Italy’s vast number of representatives – one and done, but hardly forgotten in these parts.

Note I: We couldn’t help but mention other Italian prog greats in our discussion of these three. Since our skills in that language do not pay the bills, we thought it helpful to list some of the other bands/albums noted in the episode, all highly recommended: Il Balletto di Bronzo – Ys; Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso – Darwin; Biglietto per L’inferno – self-titled; Blocco Mentale – POA; Cherry Five – Cherry Five; New Trolls – Ut; Le Orme – Felona Y Serona; Metamorfosi – Inferno; PFM – Chocolate Kings; Osanna – Palepoli. And there are so many others.

Music cited, in order of appearance: Semiramis, “Luna Park” (Dedicato a Frazz, 1973) Semiramis, “Uno Zoo Di Vetro” (Dedicato a Frazz, 1973) Semiramis, “Frazz” (Dedicato a Frazz, 1973) Semiramis, “Clown” (Dedicato a Frazz, 1973) Corte Dei Miracoli, “…E Verra L’Uomo” (Corte Dei Miracoli, 1976) Corte Dei Miracoli, “Verso Il Sole” (Corte Dei Miracoli, 1976) Corte Dei Miracoli, “Una Storia Fiabesca” (Corte Dei Miracoli, 1976) Corte Dei Miracoli, “I Due Amanti” (Corte Dei Miracoli, 1976) Alphataurus, “Peccato D’Orgoglio” (Alphataurus, 1973) Alphataurus, “Dopo L’Uragano” (Alphataurus, 1973) Alphataurus, “La Mente Vola” (Alphataurus, 1973) Alphataurus, “Ombra Muta” (Alphataurus, 1973) Episode 10 preview: The Mars Volta, “Viscera Eyes” (Amputechture, 2006)

Radical Research is a conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of rock and metal music. This podcast is conceived and conducted by Jeff Wagner and Hunter Ginn. Though we consume music in a variety of ways, we give particular privilege to the immersive, full-album listening experience. Likewise, we believe that tangible music formats help provide the richest, most rewarding immersions and that music, artwork, and song titles cooperate to produce a singular effect on the listener. Great music is worth more than we ever pay for it.

From Seven Impale to Cherry Five, 3 to Mind Over Four, Radical Research dissects the work of rock and metal’s most daring artists and albums.

This is Radical Research Podcast episode 9

Join us on an extended tour through the curious world of Norway’s Beyond Dawn. For thirteen years, Beyond Dawn occupied a shadowy, distorted universe of their own making. Rather than scowl at the moon, Beyond Dawn chased phantoms through pitiless cityscapes and fairytale grottos in equal measure. An outlier even in a community of dissidents, Beyond Dawn created a realm where things are rarely as they appear.

Note I: In this episode, we take a brief sidebar to wax romantic on the bass stylings of Hugh Stephen James Mingay, better known to metal enthusiasts as Skoll. If you’ve not done so, we encourage you to explore the man’s work in Ulver, Ved Buens Ende, and Arcturus. Even his work with the lesser known Fimbulwinter (Skoll appeared on their 1994 LP Servants of Sorcery) has its merits and paves the way for the comparably bass-forward Carpathian Forest LP, Black Shining Leather. Few metal bassists have ever approached the instrument with such lyricism.

Note II: We apologize for the dodgy quality of some of the dialogue. We were having a lousy Internet connection on one end and a storm on the other. Still, we think the life-affirming optimism of Beyond Dawn’s music, or complete lack thereof, comes through loud and drear.

Note III: Give it up and give in.

Music cited, in order of appearance:

“The Sound of Wings” (Heaven’s Dark Reflection, 1991 demo) “Strained, Down and Under” (Up Through the Linear Shades, 1993 7”) “Cold” (Longing for Scarlet Days, 1994 EP) “Clouds Swept Away the Colours” (Longing for Scarlet Days, 1994 EP) “As the Evening Falters, the Dogs Howl” (Pity Love, 1995) “Ripe as the Night” (Pity Love, 1995) “Resemblance” (Revelry, 1998) “Life’s Sweetest Reward” (Revelry, 1998) “Naked (How to Produce Honesty)” (In Reverie, 1999, recorded 1996) “Certain Qualities” (Electric Sulking Machine, 1999) “Fairy Liquid” (Electric Sulking Machine, 1999) “Far from Showbiz” (Frysh, 2003) “Bloody Comeback” (Frysh, 2003) “Severed Survival” (Autopsy, Severed Survival, 1989) “Severed Survival” (Frysh, 2003) “Chaosphere” (Longing for Scarlet Days, 1994 EP)

Radical Research is a conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of rock and metal music. This podcast is conceived and conducted by Jeff Wagner and Hunter Ginn. Though we consume music in a variety of ways, we give particular privilege to the immersive, full-album listening experience. Likewise, we believe that tangible music formats help provide the richest, most rewarding immersions and that music, artwork, and song titles cooperate to produce a singular effect on the listener. Great music is worth more than we ever pay for it.

From Corte Dei Miracoli to Carbonized, Yes to Nomeansno, Radical Research dissects the work of rock and metal’s most daring artists and albums.

This is Radical Research Podcast, episode 8

Wishful Dreaming: A Study of My Dying Bride’s Urban Detour

Join Radical Research hosts Jeff Wagner and Hunter Ginn in a spirited discussion on the fifth album from English death/doom maestros My Dying Bride. 34.788%…Complete was met with quizzical confusion upon its release in 1998, but we feel it was always one of the band’s finest hours. We’re here to proffer evidence of its worth. As usual, we sweat the small stuff.

Note I: Jeff forgot about 2004’s Songs of Darkness, Words of Light in the final minutes of our discussion. Unless that’s your favorite MDB album (and how could it be?), he begs forgiveness of that minor lapse.

Music cited, in order of appearance: “The Whore, the Cook and the Mother” (34.788%…Complete, 1998) “The Stance of Evander Sinque” (34.788%…Complete, 1998) “Der Uberlebende” (34.788%…Complete, 1998) “Heroin Chic” (34.788%…Complete, 1998) “Apocalypse Woman” (34.788%…Complete, 1998) “Base Level Erotica” (34.788%…Complete, 1998) “Under Your Wings and Into Your Arms” (34.788%…Complete, 1998) “Follower” (34.788%…Complete sessions, 1998) “God is Alone” (Symphonaire Infernus et Spera Empyrium, 1991) Episode 8 preview: Beyond Dawn, “Bygone” (Up Through the Linear Shades 7”, 1993)

This is Radical Research Podcast, Episode 7

Radical Research is a conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of rock and metal music. This podcast is conceived and conducted by Jeff Wagner and Hunter Ginn. Though we consume music in a variety of ways, we give particular privilege to the immersive, full-album listening experience. Likewise, we believe that tangible music formats help provide the richest, most rewarding immersions and that music, artwork, and song titles cooperate to produce a singular effect on the listener. Great music is worth more than we ever pay for it.

From Semiramis to Seven Impale, Mew to Melvins, Radical Research dissects the work of rock and metal’s most daring artists and albums.

Band in the Trees: Among the Ruins of Die Kreuzen

Episode 6 of Radical Research finds your intrepid hosts deep-diving into the discography of Milwaukee’s cult heroes, Die Kreuzen. Over the span of a decade, Die Kreuzen created four records that propose a hostile challenge to easy categorization. Their discography tests the boundaries of punk and metal and accounts for one of the most fascinating morphologies in all of rock music. As always, we invite you to join us in our immersion and wander the ruins of Die Kreuzen.

Note I: The band’s Gone Away EP (1989) is given the hushed-tone treatment. Though we prefer physical media, the iTunes version also includes the Germs and Wire covers we discuss. So does the long out-of-print 1990 CD version. Here’s the salient point: buy this music. RR is not a forum for sanctimony, but the artists who sweat and bleed for the music we love deserve remuneration for their toil.

Note II: Guitarist Brian Egeness left the band on April 1, 1992, resulting in what is possibly the saddest April Fool’s day ever.

Note III: Jeff mentions admiration for ‘70s Aerosmith in this episode, and how “terrible” the later stuff is. For the record, we both place 1982’s Rock in a Hard Place in the upper echelon of great Aerosmith albums. Done With Mirrors (1984) is merely mediocre. After that it gets ugly.

Music cited, in order of appearance: “Fighting” (Die Kreuzen, 1984) (full song) “Live Wire” (Die Kreuzen, 1984) “All White” (Die Kreuzen, 1984) “Man in the Trees” (October File, 1986) “It’s Been So Long” (October File, 1986) “Among the Ruins” (October File, 1986) “Elizabeth” (Century Days, 1988) “The Bone” (Century Days, 1988) “Number Three” (Century Days, 1988) “Gone Away” (Gone Away EP, 1989) (two parts) “Land of Treason” (Pink Flag/Land of Treason 7”, 1990) “Wish” (Cement, 1991) “Deep Space” (Cement, 1991) “Over and the Edge” (Cement, 1991) “Halloween” (Century Days, 1988) “Rumors” (Die Kreuzen, 1984)

This is Radical Research Podcast, Episode 6

Radical Research is a conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of rock and metal music. This podcast is conceived and conducted by Jeff Wagner and Hunter Ginn. Though we consume music in a variety of ways, we give particular privilege to the immersive, full-album listening experience. Likewise, we believe that tangible music formats help provide the richest, most rewarding immersions and that music, artwork, and song titles cooperate to produce a singular effect on the listener. We believe music, truly great music, is worth more than we ever pay for it.

From Captain Beyond to Beyond Dawn, Atheist to Believer, Radical Research dissects the work of rock and metal’s most daring artists and albums.

Radical Research 5.5 is the first in an occasional series of brief ambushes. Super-trivial stuff that’s too fun, weird and/or interesting to ignore, but undeserving of a full episode. For Radical Research diehards only!

Music cited in order of appearance: Nuclear Death – “A Dark Country” (Carrion for Worm, 1991) Nuclear Death – “Lurker in the Closet: A ‘Fairy’ Tale” (Carrion for Worm, 1991) Nuclear Death – “Cathedral of Sleep” (Carrion for Worm, 1991) Nuclear Death – “Homage to Morpheus” (Carrion for Worm, 1991) Kiss – “Calling Dr. Love” (Rock and Roll Over, 1976)

This is Radical Research Podcast, Episode 5.5

We love Nuclear Death. We love Kiss. We hope Gene Simmons attempts legal action.

When it comes to a difficult-to-define concept like psychedelia in music, it's subjective. It’s not all hippies with sitars and lava lamps and bongs…but that’s not wrong either. With a little help from author Michael Hicks and his parameters for what makes music psychedelic, we pose the question: “What is Psychedelic Music?” and offer the Radical Research answer.

Note I:

The Radical Research Patreon page is now set up and ready for your patronage. We are offering tiered subscription levels for those who want a set-it-and-forget-it donation option. As ever, if you choose to support us, we are humbled and grateful! patreon.com/RadicalResearchPodcast

Note II: Our friend Tom Hailey counts Stupid Dream as his favorite and only truly loved Porcupine Tree album. That’s fine. We love it too. But we love many other Porcupine Tree albums. So, when Hunter said “I’ve gotta be honest with you, I’ve gone full Tom Hailey, there’s really only one Porcupine Tree record that I really love anymore,” it blew Jeff’s gaskets. And then it appeared Hunter said that one album was Signify (“and maybe Sky Moves Sideways”). The whole thing became maddening. After listening back to this torrid exchange (starting at the 1:03:25 mark), Hunter wants to clarify: “Stupid Dream is my favorite Porcupine Tree album, and like I said, I like all ‘90s Porcupine Tree.“ He was being oblique in the recording and it all got a bit out of hand. This is the sort of first-world relationship problem that Radical Research can occasionally suffer. And the world keeps turning!

Note III:

All past Radical Research episodes can be found here, where you can also find Jeff’s Peter Steele and Fates Warning books…and more to come soon! Radicalresearch.org

Music cited in order of appearance:

Can – “Halleluwah” (Tago Mago, 1971)

Miles Davis – “Rated X” (Get Up With It, 1974)

Steve Hillage – “Meditation of the Snake” (Fish Rising, 1975)

Joy Division – “Decades” (Closer, 1980) Seefeel – “Time to Find Me (AFX Slow Mix)” (Pure, Impure, 1993)

Beherit – “Summerlands” (Drawing Down the Moon, 1993)

Emperor – “The Loss and Curse of Reverence” (Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk, 1997) Coil – “The Dreamer is Still Asleep“ (Musick to Play in the Dark Vol. 1, 1999)

Portal – “The Endmills” (Seepia, 2003)

Steven Wilson – “Significant Other” (Insurgentes, 2008)

Melvins – “The Bunk Up” (Hold it In, 2014) Arcturus – “Crashland” (Arcturian, 2015)

Cynic – “Mythical Serpents” (Ascension Codes, 2021) ep. 117 preview: Crispy Ambulance – “Are You Ready?” (The Plateau Phase, 1982)

Radical Research is a conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of rock and metal music. This podcast is conceived and conducted by Jeff Wagner and Hunter Ginn. Though we consume music in a variety of ways, we give particular privilege to the immersive, full-album listening experience. Likewise, we believe that tangible music formats help provide the richest, most rewarding immersions and that music, artwork, and song titles cooperate to produce a singular effect on the listener. Great music is worth more than we ever pay for it.

Ten blasts of springtime joy before the scorch of summer. This is the Radical Research strain of fusion, corralling some of the baddest asses within the larger prog/jazz/fusion/rock heliosphere. From NYC giants Mahavishnu Orchestra and Return to Forever, we veer into decidedly deadly territory through explorations in early Utopia, England’s high-end nutz Brand X, and Italy’s utterly withering Area. These and others are the sons borne of Miles Davis’s Bitches Brew (1970) and the gonzo spazz-jazz moments in King Crimson’s “21st Century Schizoid Man” (1969).

Note I: ‘Ten Bad-Ass Fusion Decapitations’ will likely be the most notes you’ll ever have to process on any Radical Research episode. Not for the faint of heart.

Note II: We hope you purchase any music you hear on this episode that you’d like to delve into further. Outlets such as Discogs, Laser’s Edge, Amazon and your local record store all depend on your patronage (except maybe Amazon, they’ll be okay without you). Online snacking tubes or corrupt streaming services interrupt music with advertising and pay artists a pittance for their work, if they pay anything at all.

Music cited in order of appearance Mahavishnu Orchestra – “ Vital Transformation” (The Inner Mounting Flame, 1971) Horacee Arnold – “Puppett of the Seasons” (Tales of the Exonerated Flea, 1974) Return to Forever – “Captain Senor Mouse“ (Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy, 1973) Utopia – “The Ikon” (Todd Rundgren’s Utopia, 1974) Brand X – “DMZ” (Do They Hurt?, 1980) Colosseum II – “Wardance” (Wardance, 1977) Happy the Man – “New York Dreams Suite” (Happy the Man, 1977) Finch – “A Passion Condensed” (Beyond Expression, 1976) Area – “Arbeit Macht Frei” (Arbeit Macht Frei, 1973) King Crimson – “The Law of Maximum Distress: Part I,” 11/15/73, Zurich, Switzerland King Crimson – “21st Century Schizoid Man,” 10/4/14, San Francisco, CA

This is Radical Research Podcast, Episode 5

Radical Research is a conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of rock and metal music. This podcast is conceived and conducted by Jeff Wagner and Hunter Ginn. Though we consume music in a variety of ways, we give particular privilege to the immersive, full-album listening experience. Likewise, we believe that tangible music formats provide the richest, most rewarding experiences and that music, artwork, and song titles cooperate to produce a singular effect on the listener. We believe music, truly great music, is worth more than we ever pay for it.

From Ulver to Utopia, Crack the Sky to Last Crack, Radical Research dissects the work of rock and metal’s most daring artists and albums.

Episode 4 of Radical Research explores the surreal work of Austrian metalunatics, Disharmonic Orchestra.* Our conversation exposes the psychic tensions and psychedelic grottos of this extraordinary band, one whose music was ignored largely during its heyday and continues, for the most part, to be bereft of appreciation. From the gnashing death/grind of their early output to the strange emotions and nuanced geometry of their mature work, your hosts ask that you listen with perishing passion and immerse yourselves in the addicted seas of Disharmonic Orchestra.

Note I: D’Orch’s third album, Pleasuredome, was released by Steamhammer Records. This has Disharmonic Orchestra keeping unlikely company with Fozzy, Dokken, and Judas Priest. Truth is always stranger than fiction, folks.

Note II: According to the estimable Metal Archives, Austria has given the world 1,147 metal bands. Hunter was able to name 4 of them.

*D’Orch (pr. “dork”) for short.

Music cited, in order of appearance: “Inexorable Logic” (Expositionsprophylaxe, 1990)

“Accelerated Evolution” (Expositionsprophylaxe, 1990)

“Sick Dishonourableness” (Expositionsprophylaxe, 1990)

“Disappeared with Hermaphrodite Choirs”(Expositionsprophylaxe, 1990)

“Perishing Passion” (Not to be Undimensional Conscious, 1992)

“Groove” (Not to be Undimensional Conscious, 1992)

“The Return of the Living Beat” (Not to be Undimensional Conscious, 1992)

“Time Frame” (Not to Be Undimensional Conscious, 1992 — three moments)

“The Silence I Observe” (Pleasuredome, 1994)

“Pleasuredome “ (Pleasuredome, 1994 — full song)

“Nine9Nine” (Ahead, 2002)

“Mindshaver” (Ahead, 2002)

“Rascal in Me” (Fear of Angst, 2016)

“Down to Earth” (Fear of Angst, 2016)

Episode 5 preview: Utopia, “Mister Triscuits” (Another Live, 1975)

This is Radical Research Podcast, Episode 4

Radical Research is a conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of rock and metal music. This podcast is conceived and conducted by Jeff Wagner and Hunter Ginn. Though we consume music in a variety of ways, we give particular privilege to the immersive, full-album listening experience. Likewise, we believe that tangible music formats provide the richest, most rewarding experiences and that music, artwork, and song titles cooperate to produce a singular effect on the listener. We believe music, truly great music, is worth more than we ever pay for it. From Fleurety to Friendship Time, Die Kreuzen to David Sylvian, Radical Research dissects the work of rock and metal’s most daring artists and albums.

Episode 3 of Radical Research covers three progressive rock bands from the glorious ‘70s era that often don’t come up in the usual ‘70s prog conversations. But they should, and this is our little way of correcting that. Please drop your prejudices and Yes albums, just for a little while, and explore further: meet Gnidrolog (UK), Supersister (Netherlands) and Artcane (France).

Note: We wonder in the episode what an original vinyl copy of Gnidrolog’s In Spite of Harry’s Toe-Nail might go for. Jeff researched: looks like about $100 minimum for a copy in acceptable condition.

Note II: Artcane’s sole album, Odyssee, was released on the Philips label, the same Philips that produces or has produced electronics, lighting and health care products. What a world.

Note III: Hunter gets all unctuous up in this.

Music cited, in order of appearance: Gnidrolog – “Long Live Man Dead” (In Spite of Harry’s Toe-Nail, 1972) Gnidrolog – “Snails” (In Spite of Harry’s Toe-Nail, 1972) Gnidrolog – “Time and Space” (In Spite of Harry’s Toe-Nail, 1972) Gnidrolog – “I Could Never Be a Soldier” (Lady Lake, 1972) Gnidrolog – “Social Embarrassment” (Lady Lake, 1972) entr’acte: Pink Floyd – “Alan’s Psychedelic Breakfast” (Atom Heart Mother, 1970) Supersister – “11/8” (Present From Nancy, 1970) Supersister – “Mexico” (Present From Nancy, 1970) Supersister – “Metamorphosis” (Present From Nancy, 1970) Artcane – “Novembre” (Odyssee, 1977) Artcane – “Artcane I” (Odyssee, 1977) episode 4 preview: Disharmonic Orchestra – “Introphylaxe” (Expositionsprophylaxe, 1990)

This is Radical Research Podcast, Episode 3

Radical Research is a conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of rock and metal music. This podcast is conceived and conducted by Jeff Wagner and Hunter Ginn. Though we consume music in a variety of ways, we give particular privilege to the immersive, full-album listening experience. Likewise, we believe that tangible music formats provide the richest, most rewarding experiences and that music, artwork, and song titles cooperate to produce a singular effect on the listener. We believe music, truly great music, is worth more than we ever pay for it.

From Mr. Bungle to Mind Over Four, Carbonized to Comus, Radical Research dissects the work of rock and metal’s most daring artists and albums.

The second episode of Radical Research dives into the strange world of Sweden’s Dan Swanö. From his neo-prog roots in Unicorn to the way-left-of-center Karaboudjan, and bedrocks Edge of Sanity and Pan-Thy-Monium, we are usually in awe. Swanö has also been a crucial cog in the Katatonia and Opeth machines. He has approximately 24 other bands to his credit, and about 4 bazillion production/engineering/mixing/mastering credits. What have YOU done lately?

Note: The proper Swedish pronunciation of Dan Swanö goes a little something like: Don Swan’-ya. Don’t worry about it. We prefer to say it just like every other American Swanö fan does. But hey, you Scandinavians, we know.

Note II: We also know Pan-Thy-Monium vocalist Derelict (Roberth Karlsson) went on to membership in Scar Symmetry, but we here at Radical Research choose to ignore that fact.

—

Music cited, in order of appearance: Edge of Sanity – “Twilight” (Unorthodox, 1994)

Pan-Thy-Monium – “The Battle of Geeheeb” (Khaooohs and Kon-fus-ion, 1996)

Pan-Thy-Monium – “Khaoohs I” (Khaooohs, 1993)

Karaboudjan – “Plan 714 Till Sydney“ (2001) (recorded 1996-97)

Pan-Thy-Monium – “Behrial” (Khaooohs and Kon-fus-ion, 1996)

This is Radical Research Podcast, Episode 2

Radical Research is a conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of rock and metal music. This podcast is conceived and conducted by author and skylifter, Jeff Wagner, and the highly evolved brain of Hunter Ginn, also percussive summoning for tech-metal terrors Canvas Solaris. Though we consume music in a variety of ways, we give particular privilege to the immersive, full-album listening experience. Likewise, we believe that tangible music formats provide the richest, most rewarding experiences and that music, artwork, and song titles cooperate to produce a singular effect on the listener. We believe music, truly great music, is worth more than we ever pay for it.

From Gentle Giant to Arcturus, Gorguts to Nomeansno, Chroma Key to Chrome, Radical Research dissects the work of rock and metal’s most daring artists and albums.

semi-random bad-ass artrock clip for your ingestion: The Tubes “Space Baby” 1975 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuNJ7xPPzsU

For the inaugural episode of Radical Research, we delve into the mysterious, magnificent William Blake’s The Marriage of Heaven and Hell (1998), the fourth album by Norwegian shape-shifters Ulver.

Note: The sound quality of RR1 isn’t exactly superb, especially Jeff’s mic in the intro. This was our first time in the lab. Our apologies. Our next two episodes are already recorded and edited; the improvements will be immediately noticeable. We also apologize for slaughtering the pronunciation of various surnames and nicknames in this episode. [‘It Ulver Is’ was recorded in September 2017]

Note: We talk about the infamous “car picture” in relation to its use in the packaging of …The Marriage…, yet those who were howling in 1997 may recall that the same picture began circulating upon the release of Ulver’s previous album, Nattens Madrigal. We’re aware that some people will tie the car picture into the Nattens era, and that’s fair enough. It’s subversive hijinks from any perspective.

Music cited, in order of appearance: “A Memorable Fancy, Plates 6-7” “A Memorable Fancy, Plate 15” “Proverbs of Hell, Plates 7-10” “A Song of Liberty, Plates 25-27” “The Argument, Plate 2” “Voice of the Devil, Plate 4”

—-

This is Radical Research Podcast, Episode 1

Radical Research is a conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of rock and metal music. This podcast is conceived and conducted by author Jeff Wagner and southern son Hunter Ginn (also drum design for tech-metal terrors Canvas Solaris). Though we consume music in a variety of ways, we give particular privilege to the immersive, full-album listening experience. Likewise, we believe that tangible music formats provide the richest, most rewarding experiences and that music, artwork, and song titles cooperate to produce a singular effect on the listener. We believe music, truly great music, is worth more than we ever pay for it.

From King Crimson to Ved Buens Ende, Pulsar to Pan-Thy-Monium, A Perfect Circle to Perfect Beings, Radical Research dissects the work of rock and metal’s most daring artists and albums.

Our second in the Permeable Lines series, and our first point-5 episode since 83.5 nearly two years ago! That enough numbers for you? Join us for a brief dust-up between inspiration and rip-off. You decide. (More numbers: “18 is actually 9…it stuck in his mind….”)

Note I:

The Radical Research Patreon page is now set up and ready for your patronage. We are offering tiered subscription levels for those who want a set-it-and-forget-it donation option. As ever, if you choose to support us, we are humbled and grateful! patreon.com/RadicalResearchPodcast

Note II: All past Radical Research episodes can be found here, where you can also find Jeff’s Peter Steele and Fates Warning books…and more to come soon! Radicalresearch.org

Note III:

Let’s take stock. These are our other .5 episodes thus far. Mini-episodes, if you will. Great for late-night Radical snackin’!

Metal Laughs, 83.5 (8 min, 13 sec)

Mystery Snippets Part 2, 41.5 (13 min, 51 sec) https://radicalresearch.org/episode-41-5-mystery-snippets-pt-2/

Mystery Snippets, 23.5 (9 min, 28 sec) https://radicalresearch.org/episode-23-5-mystery-snippets/ Riff Similarities (Permeable Lines), 17.5 (10 min, 59 sec) https://radicalresearch.org/episode-17-5-the-curious-the-uncanny/ The Kiss/Nuclear Death Convergence, 5.5 (7 min, 10 sec) https://radicalresearch.org/episode-5-5-calling-dr-morpheus-the-kiss-nuclear-death-convergence/

Music cited in order of appearance:

Mercyful Fate, “A Dangerous Meeting” (Don’t Break the Oath, 1984)

Megadeth, “Return to Hangar” (The World Needs a Hero, 2001)

Diamond Head, “Am I Evil?” (Lightning to the Nations, 1980)

Megadeth, “When” (The World Needs a Hero, 2001)

Testament, “Over the Wall” (The Legacy, 1987)

Sieges Even, “Apocalyptic Disposition” (Lifecycle, 1988)

Pestilence, “Out of the Body” (Consuming Impulse, 1989) Suffocation, “Infecting the Crypts” (Human Waste, 1991)

Radical Research is a conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of rock and metal music. This podcast is conceived and conducted by Jeff Wagner and Hunter Ginn. Though we consume music in a variety of ways, we give particular privilege to the immersive, full-album listening experience. Likewise, we believe that tangible music formats help provide the richest, most rewarding immersions and that music, artwork, and song titles cooperate to produce a singular effect on the listener. Great music is worth more than we ever pay for it.

We celebrate musicians and bands that rapidly evolve and challenge their audience with newness each endeavor. But the abrupt left-turn San Francisco metal band Hexx took between 1986 and 1987 is beyond fascinating, and beyond the norm. It culminates in one of our favorite albums of the early ‘90s, the mighty, seething, adrenaline-injected Morbid Reality. Strap in, freaks, this will be a bumpy ride!

Note I:

The Radical Research Patreon page is now set up and ready for your patronage. We are offering tiered subscription levels for those who want a set-it-and-forget-it donation option. As ever, if you choose to support us, we are humbled and grateful! patreon.com/RadicalResearchPodcast Note II:

All past Radical Research episodes can be found here, where you can also find Jeff’s Peter Steele and Fates Warning books…and more to come soon!

Radicalresearch.org

Music cited in order of appearance:

“Terror” (No Escape, 1984) “Edge of Death“ (Under the Spell, 1986)

“Edge of Death” (Watery Graves 12”, 1990)

“Sardonicus” (Quest for Sanity, 1989)

“Fields of Death” (Quest for Sanity, 1989)

“Twice as Bright” (Quest for Sanity, 1989)

 “Morbid Reality” (two moments) (Morbid Reality, 1991) “The Last Step” (Morbid Reality, 1991)

“Blood Hunter” (Morbid Reality, 1991)

“Persecution Experience” (Morbid Reality, 1991)

“Watery Graves” (Morbid Reality, 1991)

“Spider Jam” (Morbid Reality, 1991)

Radical Research is a conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of rock and metal music. This podcast is conceived and conducted by Jeff Wagner and Hunter Ginn. Though we consume music in a variety of ways, we give particular privilege to the immersive, full-album listening experience. Likewise, we believe that tangible music formats help provide the richest, most rewarding immersions and that music, artwork, and song titles cooperate to produce a singular effect on the listener. Great music is worth more than we ever pay for it.

Radical Research can’t stay away from Scandinavia for more than a brief spell. To that end, your hosts find themselves in Sweden, digging through the short but robust initial run by Mourning Sign. Over the course of a demo, an EP, and two full-lengths, Mourning Sign twisted and bent metal into a wide variety of shapes. Neither exclusively brutal, progressive, nor melodic, but rather an alloy of all three, Mourning Sign, in the tradition of Sweden’s best and brightest, staked out their own territory and defended it with might. Join us on this, our 114th journey into the vortex of radical sound.  Note I: The Radical Research Patreon page is now set up and ready for your patronage. We are offering tiered subscription levels for those who want a set-it-and-forget-it donation option. As ever, if you choose to support us, we are humbled and grateful! patreon.com/RadicalResearchPodcast

Note II:

Buy Mourning Sign stuff at Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/artist/268458-Mourning-Sign

Note III:

We appreciate Chris Warunki, and you can find his myriad of music projects right here: https://warunkimedia.bandcamp.com/artists

Music cited in order of appearance:

“Inner Calmness” (Last Chamber, 1992 demo)

“Supressed Past” (Last Chamber, 1992 demo)

“Redeem” (Alienor, 1993)

“Desert Sun” (Alienor, 1993)

“Godsend” (Alienor, 1993)

“I’ll See to That” (Mourning Sign, 1995)

“Like Father Like Son” (Mourning Sign, 1995)

“Seems Endless” (Mourning Sign, 1995) “I’ll Be Dancing” (Multiverse, 1996)

“Subtle Climax” (Multiverse, 1996)

“Seed of Revival” (Multiverse, 1996)

“Neerg” (Multiverse, 1996) Episode 115 preview: Hexx, “Fire Mushrooms” (Morbid Reality, 1991) Radical Research is a conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of rock and metal music. This podcast is conceived and conducted by Jeff Wagner and Hunter Ginn. Though we consume music in a variety of ways, we give particular privilege to the immersive, full-album listening experience. Likewise, we believe that tangible music formats help provide the richest, most rewarding immersions and that music, artwork, and song titles cooperate to produce a singular effect on the listener. Great music is worth more than we ever pay for it.

For our 113th episode, we dispense with the usual exhalations of the past in favor of the thrills of the tense present-future. Thief, the Los Angeles-based brainchild of visionary producer, Dylan Neal, has released one of 2024’s most extraordinary albums, Bleed, Memory, a harrowing journey through the late stages of the human mind and spirit. Without giving away all of the album’s treasures, this episode can be considered an act of seduction, a persuasion. We dare even the heartiest will to resist the siren strains of Bleed, Memory. 

Note I: The Radical Research Patreon page is now set up and ready for your patronage. We offer tiered subscription levels for those who want a set-it-and-forget-it donation option. As ever, if you choose to support us, we are humbled and grateful! patreon.com/RadicalResearchPodcast

Note II:

Some insight into Dylan Neal’s note to Jeff, mentioned in the early part of the episode (and the question that we borrowed for this episode’s title): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Original_face

Note III:

Please consider donating if you listen to Radical Research often: https://www.paypal.me/rrpodcast We also have a webstore where you can find shirts, CDs, and books, many of them recently restocked:

http://radicalresearch.org/shop/

Music cited in order of appearance:

all songs from Thief, Bleed, Memory (2024)

“Apparitions”

“Cinderland”

“Paramnesia”

“Prankquean”

“Dead Coyote Dreams”

“Dulcinea”

“Behemouth”

“Pissing” “To Whom It May Concern”

Radical Research is a conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of rock and metal music. This podcast is conceived and conducted by Jeff Wagner and Hunter Ginn. Though we consume music in a variety of ways, we give particular privilege to the immersive, full-album listening experience. Likewise, we believe that tangible music formats help provide the richest, most rewarding immersions and that music, artwork, and song titles cooperate to produce a singular effect on the listener. Great music is worth more than we ever pay for it.

For its 112th episode, Radical Research travels to balmy Greece to investigate the cryptic evildoing of Hail Spirit Noir, whose hellbroth of black metal, prog, psychedelia, and witchery strikes a special chord with your hosts. We take a deep look at the band’s first four albums and find ourselves more spellbound than ever before. There is no warding off the spell, so give in and join us in this most dangerous of meetings.

  Note I: The Radical Research Patreon page is now set up and ready for your patronage. We offer tiered subscription levels for those who want a set-it-and-forget-it donation option. As ever, if you choose to support us, we are humbled and grateful! patreon.com/RadicalResearchPodcast

Note II:

Please consider donating if you listen to Radical Research often: https://www.paypal.me/rrpodcast We also have a webstore where you can find shirts, CDs, and books, many of them recently restocked:

http://radicalresearch.org/shop/

Music cited in order of appearance:

“Mountain of Horror” (Pneuma, 2012)

“Into the Gates of Time” (two moments) (Pneuma, 2012)

“Blood Guru” (Oi Magoi, 2014) “Satan is Time” (Oi Magoi, 2014)

“The Mermaid” (Oi Magoi, 2014)

“Mayhem in Blue” (Mayhem in Blue, 2016)

“Lost in Satan’s Charms” (Mayhem in Blue, 2016)

“The Cannibal Tribe Came from the Sea” (Mayhem in Blue, 2016)

“Alien Lip Reading” (Eden in Reverse, 2020)

“Crossroads” (Eden in Reverse, 2020)

“Automata 1980” (Eden in Reverse, 2020) “On the Loose Again” (Mannequins, 2021) ep. 113 preview: Thief, “Prankquean” (Bleed, Memory, 2024)

Radical Research is a conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of rock and metal music. This podcast is conceived and conducted by Jeff Wagner and Hunter Ginn. Though we consume music in a variety of ways, we give particular privilege to the immersive, full-album listening experience. Likewise, we believe that tangible music formats help provide the richest, most rewarding immersions and that music, artwork, and song titles cooperate to produce a singular effect on the listener. Great music is worth more than we ever pay for it.

For episode 111, Radical Research returns to its spiritual homeland of Norway. But on this trip, RR steers clear of the usual avant suspects and instead climbs the Mountains of Might to take a closer look at Immortal’s twisted and divisive fourth album, 1997’s Blizzard Beasts. Though optically outside of RR’s usual territory, the hosts make a compelling case for the album’s inclusion in the annals of the weird. Please tune in but beware of Nebular Ravens and Frostdemons.

Note I: Although we failed to mention it, along with a resemblance or two to various riffs from Hellwitch’s Syzygial Miscreancy, we find parallels between Blizzard Beasts and any given Order From Chaos era, both vocally and musically. Not that Hellwitch or Order From Chaos directly influenced this album, but if Immortal had said so, we could see it. As you were.

Note II: The Radical Research Patreon page is now set up and ready for your patronage. We offer tiered subscription levels for those who want a set-it-and-forget-it donation option. As ever, if you choose to support us, we are humbled and grateful! patreon.com/RadicalResearchPodcast Note III:

Please consider donating if you listen to Radical Research often: https://www.paypal.me/rrpodcast We also have a webstore where you can find shirts, CDs, and books, many of them recently restocked:

http://radicalresearch.org/shop/

Music cited in order of appearance:

[all songs are from Immortal’s Blizzard Beasts, 1997]

“intro”

“Blizzard Beasts”

“Nebular Ravens Winter”

“Suns That Sank Below” “Battlefields”

“Mountains of Might”

“Noctambulant”

“Winter of the Ages”

“Frostdemonstorm”

Radical Research is a conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of rock and metal music. This podcast is conceived and conducted by Jeff Wagner and Hunter Ginn. Though we consume music in a variety of ways, we give particular privilege to the immersive, full-album listening experience. Likewise, we believe that tangible music formats help provide the richest, most rewarding immersions and that music, artwork, and song titles cooperate to produce a singular effect on the listener. Great music is worth more than we ever pay for it.

In this .5 episode (the longest point-5 we’ve done to date), we offer up 6 subjects of previous Radical Research episodes and take a look at their activities since we last put our spotlight on them. (As we explain at the beginning, the sound quality is rough this time, as Hunter is still reeling from Hurricane Helene’s effects on his household's technology.)

Note I:

The Radical Research Patreon page is now set up and ready for your patronage. We are offering tiered subscription levels for those who want a set-it-and-forget-it donation option. As ever, if you choose to support us, we are humbled and grateful! patreon.com/RadicalResearchPodcast Note II:

All past Radical Research episodes can be found here, where you can also find Jeff’s Peter Steele and Fates Warning books…and more to come soon! Radicalresearch.org

Music cited in order of appearance:

­­­Hail Spirit Noir, “The Road to Awe” (Fossil Gardens, 2024)

Hammers of Misfortune, “Ghost Hearts” (Overtaker, 2022)

Manes, “End of the River” (Pathei Mathos, 2024)

Diskord, “Cogged Pother” (Bipolarities, split with ATVM, 2024) Xysma, “Midnight Call” (No Place Like Alone, 2024) Kayo Dot, “Get Out of the Tower” (Moss Grew on the Swords and Plowshares Alike, 2021)

Radical Research is a conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of rock and metal music. This podcast is conceived and conducted by Jeff Wagner and Hunter Ginn. Though we consume music in a variety of ways, we give particular privilege to the immersive, full-album listening experience. Likewise, we believe that tangible music formats help provide the richest, most rewarding immersions and that music, artwork, and song titles cooperate to produce a singular effect on the listener. Great music is worth more than we ever pay for it.

We continue our wander through the 4CD Intrigue compilation. This installment features 15 UK bands, several which we’d never heard of before (Art Nouveau, New Musik, Section 25). We hope this episode helps prove curator Steven Wilson’s note that Intrigue operates on the “idea that conceptual thinking and ambition didn’t suddenly evaporate after ’77…ambitious, weird and thrilling music was all around you in the ‘80s – if you looked in the right places.” Amen.

Note I: The Radical Research Patreon page is now set up and ready for your patronage. We offer tiered subscription levels for those who want a set-it-and-forget-it donation option. As ever, if you choose to support us, we are humbled and grateful! patreon.com/RadicalResearchPodcast

Note II:

Please consider donating if you listen to Radical Research often: https://www.paypal.me/rrpodcast We also have a webstore where you can find shirts, CDs, and books, many of them recently restocked:

http://radicalresearch.org/shop/

Music cited in order of appearance:

Intro: Brian Eno, “Third Uncle” (Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy), 1974) [all snippets below are taken directly from the Intrigue compilation; the following indicates where the songs originally appeared]

The Sound, “I Can’t Escape Myself” (Jeopardy, 1980) Joy Division, “The Eternal” (Closer, 1980) Swell Maps, “Big Empty Field” (…In “Jane from Occupied Europe”, 1980)

Art Nouveau, “Enemies” (unreleased, 1980)

Gary Numan, “The Joy Circuit” (Telekon, 1980) 23 Skidoo, “The Gospel Comes to New Guinea” (single, 1980)

Echo and the Bunnymen, “All My Colours” (Heaven Up Here, 1981)

The Specials, “Ghost Town” (single, 1981) New Musik, “They All Run After the Carving Knife” (Anywhere, 1981) New Order, “The Him” (Movement, 1981) The Associates, “White Car in Germany” (single, 1981)

Section 25, “Hit” (Always Now, 1981)

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, “Sealand” (Architecture & Morality, 1981)

Japan, “Talking Drum” (Tin Drum, 1981)

The Cure, “Faith” (Faith, 1981)

Radical Research is a conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of rock and metal music. This podcast is conceived and conducted by Jeff Wagner and Hunter Ginn. Though we consume music in a variety of ways, we give particular privilege to the immersive, full-album listening experience. Likewise, we believe that tangible music formats help provide the richest, most rewarding immersions and that music, artwork, and song titles cooperate to produce a singular effect on the listener. Great music is worth more than we ever pay for it.

Sigh is unquestionably one of the weirdest bands in the metal realm. And since Radical Research skews weird, and since we are both fans of Sigh since the mid ‘90s, it seemed obvious that we would eventually do an episode featuring some of the very weirdest of Sigh’s weird moments. So…if you are down with our motto of Keep Metal Weird, you know what to do.

Note I: The Radical Research Patreon page is now set up and ready for your patronage. We offer tiered subscription levels for those who want a set-it-and-forget-it donation option. As ever, if you choose to support us, we are humbled and grateful! patreon.com/RadicalResearchPodcast

Note II:

Please consider donating if you listen to Radical Research often: https://www.paypal.me/rrpodcast We also have a webstore where you can find shirts, CDs, and books, many of them recently restocked:

http://radicalresearch.org/shop/

Music cited in order of appearance:

"Hail Horror Hail" (Hail Horror Hail, 1997)

"A Sunset Song" (Imaginary Sonicscape, 2001)

"Scarlet Dream" (Imaginary Sonicscape, 2001)

"Heresy II: Acosmism" (Heir to Despair, 2018)

"Satsui - Geshi No Ato" (Shiki, 2022)

"12 Souls" (Hail Horror Hail, 1997) "Amongst the Phantoms of Abandoned Tumbrils" (In Somniphobia, 2012)

“Invitation to Die” (Hail Horror Hail, 1997) “Diabolic Suicide” (Scenario IV: Dread Dreams, 1999)

“The Molesters of My Soul” (Graveward, 2015)

"Seed of Eternity” (Hail Horror Hail, 1997)

Radical Research is a conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of rock and metal music. This podcast is conceived and conducted by Jeff Wagner and Hunter Ginn. Though we consume music in a variety of ways, we give particular privilege to the immersive, full-album listening experience. Likewise, we believe that tangible music formats help provide the richest, most rewarding immersions and that music, artwork, and song titles cooperate to produce a singular effect on the listener. Great music is worth more than we ever pay for it.