On this episode of the Shred Sessions Podcast, I had the distinct honor of interviewing someone I've known for a long time, Luke Granered. Luke is the guitarist and vocalist of alt rock band Better Off. Over the years I've seen Luke work tirelessly on his many music projects from Cash Basket to Twin Stacks and more recently Gorge, a hardcore infused death metal band and his most recent project Meter with his longtime partner Cortney Hale.In addition to all of this, Luke holds it down daily at the Bad Luck Burger food truck, one of the best cheeseburgers you can get in Nashville.

Metal music truly has the power to bring people together, and it's typically always a net positive for the musicians and the fans. Since I started Shred Sessions, I've rekindled lost friendships and reconnected with some of the coolest people I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. Such is the case with my friend Brian Leh, drummer of Chicagoland death metal band Art of the Flesh! Brian is also the drum tech for Hellhammer (Mayhem's drummer) as well as Carmine Appice, the legendary rock drummer. Brian is no stranger to complicated and technical setups, which is why it's no surprise that he's out working with Acid Bath as Zack Simmon's drum tech. Join us as we take a trip down memory lane and talk about what it's like drum teching for these legendary drummers. Listen to Art of the Flesh:https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kcVRRSy71W2yBSmpXh8KQ?si=8W6yScF7TNigaRHW7T0bdwSupport the show, get some Shred Sessions stuff:https://shred-sessions-shop.fourthwall.com/

In this episode of the podcast, I sit down with JT Anderson from Cold Hard Steel, a band consisting of members from all over the Southeast. JT reflects on the impact of how playing hardcore music has made a positive impact on his life, connecting with his friends, family and community through music. Cold Hard Steel opened for Volcano at the Vinyl lounge on Feb 7th, 2026, which turned out to be one of the wildest hardcore shows in recent history for Nashville. Thank you for watching, please comment, like and subscribe for more!

This episode features visual artist and vocalist of the band Worker: Ryan Rado, who also hosts the show "Make it Perfect," Andy Atkins from A PLEA FOR PURGING and Bad Luck Burger Club, Josh Landreth vocalist of Nashville Hardcore band Lethal Method and Adam Easterling, the vocalist of metalcore band ORTHODOX. This episode is special to me because I've known these guys for such a long time, and it's amazing to hear about and see what these guys are up to now. Really cool things on the horizon for everyone. Stoked that we could do this. Please drop and comment below, we'll see you in the next one!

Support the show:https://shred-sessions-shop.fourthwall.com/Subscribe to Make it Perfect: @MakeItPerfect Join Bad Luck Burger Club:https://www.badluckburger.club/Listen to Orthodox:Merch Store:https://orthodoxtn.com/Music:https://open.spotify.com/artist/0DkKBTgWxBnvYsOXDaoTVP?si=fuUXmpl7QmO2M09Ku04PZgListen to Lethal Method:Merch Store:https://www.badworldanarchy.com/https://open.spotify.com/artist/13UhNhMkpvCaxHEbMdqH9x?si=xxLKuY_kTd-fus4jmmctkQ

At Gidmas 2025 I was able to get an interview with Officer Down, a relatively new HEAVY and SCARY Nashville hardcore band. The band has been crushing it this past year, playing some highly attended and packed out local hardcore shows. Earlier in 2025 Officer Down toured with Chamber and Mugshot, spreading their unique sound all the way up to the Buffalo New York and the east coast. The future is looking bright for this band, they have chemistry, a powerful message advocating for the marginalized, and they got the riffs, style and recordings to prove it.

Listen to Officer Down:https://open.spotify.com/artist/2WCGb0ciwdMjwZAraAHAmY?si=TuhqzYyyQxGwiyzUmmRXww

Support the Shred Sessions Podcast by ordering some merch:https://shred-sessions-shop.fourthwall.com/

In this video I interview drummer Taylor Carpenter and guitarist Gabe Manuel of the mind bending chaotic metalcore band Chamber. Eventually bassist Chris Smith and guitarist Henry Dierig join us to share some additional insight into how the band works together to create their compelling and mosh-worthy songs. Chamber expects to have a new record out in 2026, an album that they recorded with legendary heavy music producer/engineer Randy Leboeuf.

If you want to hear the power violence/grind band called Deaf Kid that Drew played in with Taylor Carpenter, David Hobbs, Luke Granered, and Danny Goscinak in 2014 you can do so here:https://thiskidisdeaf.bandcamp.com/album/deaf-kid

Support the show, get some Shred Sessions stuff:https://shred-sessions-shop.fourthwall.com/

Join us on this special edition of the Shred Sessions Podcast as we look back on what happened this year as well as some of the improvements we want to make in 2026. Joining us on this episode is Phoenix Studios owner/operator Seger Rauls, Norman Regan III, Hard Reset Vocalist and Pheonix Studios partner, Jacob Keith Moton, vocalist of Mverdercide, Sammy Slamdance of Slamdance Promotions, Shane Runnels, vocalist of Yugen and Barb, and Christian Colabelli, Shred Sessions host and collaborator. This might be the last time we have 7 people on a podcast at the same time, so enjoy it haha, Merry Christmas ya filthy animals!Support the show by ordering some Shred Sessions merch:https://shred-sessions-shop.fourthwall.com/

In this video I kick it with Aim Down Sight, a relatively new band in the Nashville Hardcore scene. If you go to hardcore and metal shows in Nashville, you will more than likely bump into one of these guys. I really enjoyed hanging with them for a bit at Gidmas and hearing about how the band started, their influences and their plans for 2026. Intro video by Cortney Hale:  @cortneyhell  Listen to/follow Aim Down Sight on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/artist/1oUOPPG7NF2IRQY8SPbFlI?si=lag4Ud7lQFCeP5OYSwid1gSupport the show, get some Shred Sessions Merch:https://shred-sessions-shop.fourthwall.com/

Cody aka "Newjack" from Rules of Engagement tells us about the new single and EP dropping for the band. There's also a lot of easter eggs in this one about upcoming shows for 2026 from Jukebox booking. Make sure you watch the entire video to get the details of what's coming up in 2026.Rules of Engagement new single "Southeast Beast" drops Jan. 1st 2026Rules of Engagement new EP drops Jan. 20th 2026EP Release show at Arcane Workshop Feb 14th 2026Video by Evan QuallsEngineered by Kelly CookMixed and Mastered by Tate MercerFollow Rules of Engagement on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/artist/4b5uQEsC6rQGRGRFgqhSnq?si=SF1yKDZsQ3yvfM4ao6jt_wSupport the show by getting some Shred Sessions merch:https://shred-sessions-shop.fourthwall.com/

Sen'am Palmer is an Atlanta based jazz fusion and metal guitarist who has performed live and on recordings with rapper B.o.B., jazz/fusion shred gaze band Crispin Wah and Scattrbrain, a new project formed by rapper and former Shady Records artist Grip. When I first met Sen'am in 2014, he was a solo guitar loop artist and we played a show at The Springwater on West End in Nashville. We became fast friends and have had some awesome guitar hangs on video calls and in person when visiting each-other's cities. I wanted to catch up with Sen'am for a bit before he started his shift for the night. Sen'am talks about what he's been up to, the Atlanta metal and punk scene and we delve into some of the different ways you can use the melodic minor scale over Dominant 7th chords. Please enjoy!-Drew

Matt Perrin is one of the 3 guitarists that play in Vancouver deathcore unit Angelmaker. Matt typically handles the shreddy lead guitars for the band. We caught up with Matt at the Nashville date of their Fall 2025 full US tour with Whitechapel, Bodysnatcher and Disembodied Tyrant! Matt filled us in on how the shows were going, the gear he uses live, the making of Angelmaker's new record "This Used to be Heaven," and a harrowing story about his apartment fire where he lost his 5150 amp. Thank you Matt for talking to the Shred Sessions crew, we really appreciate you!***Thumbnail photo by Jake Murnane

Ryan Vickers is the proprietor of Rigs of Death Metal, an Instagram account that highlights the sickest rigs specifically made for the more extreme side of the tonal spectrum. Expect to see pointy guitars, high gain amps, the dirtiest dirt boxes and oh so much more on Rigs of DM. I wanted to chat with Ryan because of our shared interest in talking about death metal bands, guitars, amps, IRs, recording and tones, and that's exactly what we have here for you, a 2 hour + long conversation about just that.

In this episode of Shred Sessions, we sit down with Zack Simmons, the powerhouse drummer of Goatwhore and current drummer for the legendary Acid Bath for a raw, unforgettable interview recorded INSIDE A CAVE at The Caverns in Pelham, Tennessee.That’s right… this entire conversation goes down underground, just hours before Acid Bath’s highly anticipated return to the stage, alongside death metal icons Obituary and Louisiana death thrashers Heraklion.We dive deep into:Zack’s drumming approach in Goatwhore vs Acid Bath-The reality of stepping into one of the most cult-followed bands in underground music history-Behind-the-scenes moments from this historic show-Touring, endurance, and what it takes to perform extreme metal at the highest level-The energy of the Acid Bath reunion and what it means for fansThis wasn’t just a show, it was a moment in metal history. Fans from across the Southeast packed The Caverns for a night that won’t be forgotten, and we captured a piece of it right here.If you're into death metal, sludge metal, hardcore, or extreme drumming, this is a must-watch.🔥 SUBSCRIBE for more in-depth interviews with the biggest names in metal🔥 Full episodes, lessons, and exclusive content available via channel membershipCamera work by Christian Colabelli, interview by Drew Creal. Support the show by becoming a member of this channel or stopping by the Shred Sessions Store: https://shred-sessions-shop.fourthwall.com/

Delta Hate is a metalcore band from Montgomery, AL consisting of Shay (vocals), Brent (guitar), Mike (drums), Ryan (bass) and Neil (guitar). Since the 2020s the band has been putting out releases including "Touch," "The Mess We Made" and an EP called "Split" with another band called Gimmick. We were able to catch up with Delta Hate before their Nashville date of a 4 day run with Fliora and Drossera, two other incredible heavy bands. We talked about performing with DANZA at Furnace Fest, being in a band from the south, and how the band writes and records their music. The future is looking bright for Delta Hate.

Defeated Sanity is a German technical death metal band from Daschbach, Bavaria that began in 1993 with guitarist Wolfgang Teske and his son, drummer Lille Gruber. Over the past two decades the band has had a few different line-ups and has released 7 crushing full length records and a slew of EPs and splits. Defeated Sanity went on tour with Sanguisuggabogg, Despised Icon and Corpse Pile in November 2025 supporting their previous release "Chronicles of Lunacy." I was able to catch Vaughn Stoffey (guitar) and Jacob Schmidt (bass) for a few minutes after sound check to discuss playing to younger audiences, trends in the music industry and what it's like playing the most technically demanding riffs in death metal.

Matty Arsenault is the lead singer for Boston based pop-punk band A Loss for Words. The band formed in the years leading up to 2004 and have released several studio albums and EPs including 2009s "The Kids Can't Lose," "Motown Classics" "These Past 5 Years EP" and the "Webster Lake EP." The band has a new EP out called "These Past 25 Years" with 2 new songs and lead sing Matty has a new book out called "Just South of Boston." The book is about Matty's experiences growing up near Boston in the 90s and 00s, touring with A Loss for Words and getting imprisoned in Japan for several months. I was able to sit down with Matty for a half hour at the Nashville Hardcore and Tattoo Fest, which took place at The Vinyl Lounge on October 25th, 2025. I want to thank Cody aka "NewJack" for linking me up with Matty and for putting on one of the best Hardcore fests in the Southeast. Thank you for watching and supporting the show!

James Cole is a Nashville based musician and vocalist. In November 2024 he re-launched the band Apparitions under the name Aphonia. After filming and releasing three successful music videos with Aphonia and playing a few shows, the band had an unfortunate falling out with their guitarist and the band broke up.

Since that time, James has been working on new music for his solo project under the name "James Cole IV" and on October 27th 2025 he released "Pretty Farm Girl," the first of several more songs to come out for this new endeavor.

Joining us on the podcast is Clarksville drummer Josh Ray who is a longtime bandmate and collaborator of James from the band Aphonia. Josh also plays drums in technical death metal band Deathless and has also played in Clarksville metalcore act Meditator.

In this episode we talk about the difficulties of playing in a band, the commitment that's required to keep it going, the struggles of life, addiction, faith, extreme metal drumming and so much more. Thank you for listening to the Shred Sessions Podcast.

In this episode of Shred Sessions I sit down with:

-Cody, the vocalist of Nashville Hardcore band RULES OF ENGAGEMENT and owner/operator of Jukebox Booking.

-Josh Landrith, vocalist of Nashville Hardcore band LETHAL METHOD and operator of Badworld Booking

-Jack Babel, the owner and operator of Badworld Anarchy and Badworld Booking.

-Evan Qualls, owner/operator of Courage Tattoos.

These 4 excellent gents are putting on NASHVILLE HARDCORE TATTOO FEST, which takes place on Saturday, October 25th starting at 1:00pm at The Vinyl Lounge in Nashville Tennessee.

I expect this to be one of the most attended shows of the year for Nashville Hardcore and part of why we did this episode is to ensure that it is!

Grab a ticket online for $10 at the link below or just pull up to the Vinyl Lounge on Saturday and pay $15 ticket and see some of the best bands in the Nashville hardcore scene.

Support Shred Sessions by listening, liking, sharing and commenting. T Shirts coming soon via Badworld!

Tickets:https://www.tixr.com/groups/vinyllounge/events/nashville-hardcore-tattoo-fest-158808

One of my longtime friends and guitar homies is Gideon guitarist Tyler Riley. It was a real joy to catch up with him at Furnace Fest and hear what it's been like playing in one of the best metalcore bands of the past 15 years. Tyler is the real deal, he's always had the same even-keeled demeanor and he's always a fun person to be around. His guitar playing is serious, he's always locked in! You really need to check out Gideon's new song "Wrong One."

Ryan Rado has been a staple of the hardcore/punk scene in Nashville since the 2000s. In more recent years, he's made a name for himself with his visual art and his unique interview format on the  @MakeItPerfect  show, where he interviews and paints with artists, musicians, chefs and interesting people. I was able to kick it with Ryan for a little while at Furnace Fest 2025 where I was able to ask him some deep questions I had on my mind.

Mike Gurnari, the guitarist of the crushing legacy hardcore band MADBALL, took some time with us to talk about how he joined the band and what it's like playing in MADBALL! Mike even told us where we can find the best best pizza in the world...at a place called Brooklyn Square in New Jersey...with the sesame seed crust!

The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza is officially BACK in action! I was able to interview founding members Layne Meylaine (guitar) and Mike Butler (bass) as well as their new guitarist Eric on day 3 of Furnace Fest. There were so many questions that I wanted to ask them that I feel like I forgot some of the most important ones! All I can say is that this was one of my favorite heavy bands from back in the day, and I'm so stoked that they have reunited! They sounded absolutely incredible at the main stage at Furnace Fest!

Hailing from Saratoga Springs, Scott began making a name for himself at the age of sixteen through the New York City club circuit before toughing it out touring along the east and west coasts racking up more than 2600 shows. It wasn't long before Scott was recognized nationally as an on the rise talent by coming in 4th out of 750 players in the Guitar Wars Semi-Finals, and regional runner-up in Guitar Center’s Guitarmageddon competition.Scott is currently a Level 5 guitar instructor at School of Rock in Florida, where he currently resides. Scott also demos pedals for various guitar brands in the industry, namely Boss Effects and has had a decades long relationship with the brand as well as many others. Scott knows great tone like the back of his hand and has helped countless other players find their tone and become great on the instrument. This is our conversation with guitar legend Scott Gailor.

What does it actually take to play guitar in Defeated Sanity?In this exclusive episode of Shred Sessions, I sit down with Vaughn Stoffey, guitarist of the legendary slamming brutal death metal band Defeated Sanity, to break down the real mechanics behind his playing.We go deep into riffs from “Accelerating the Rot” — one of the standout tracks from the band’s 2024 release Chronicles of Lunacy — and unpack the techniques that make Vaughn’s style so brutal, precise, and unique.This isn’t just a surface-level interview… this is a full guitar lesson + breakdown of how these riffs are actually executed.🔥 In this episode, we cover:How Vaughn approaches complex brutal death metal riffingAdvanced pinch harmonic control in extreme temposDifficult power chord movement strategies used in Defeated Sanity songsPicking techniques for tight, percussive rhythm playingA rare tapping technique you won’t see in most metal bandsThe mindset behind writing riffs for modern slam and technical death metalIf you’re into brutal death metal guitar, slam riffs, advanced metal technique, or you’re trying to level up your playing in extreme styles — this episode is packed with insights you won’t find anywhere else.This is one of the most in-depth breakdowns of Defeated Sanity guitar work currently available.Support the show, check out our webstore:https://shred-sessions-shop.fourthwall.com/Catch Defeated Sanity on tour with Infiri and Organectomy this spring:https://defeatedsanity.com/https://metalinsider.net/touring/defeated-sanity-announce-2026-headline-tour

Still Here is a Nashville based hardcore band consisting of vocalist Nic Fox, bassist Joseph Barnum, drummer Greg Dowling and guitarists Jake Hawkins and Lane Senter. Together the group brings a new metallic flavor of hardcore. Their new EP entitled "Scars Like Chains" is available for streaming everywhere. Catch the band live on October 4th, 2025 opening up for Terror at The End in Nashville, TN.

Felix Martin is a Venezuelan born progressive rock and metal guitarist who plays double neck 16 string guitars using a unique pianistic 8 finger tapping technique. Since graduating from Berklee College of Music in the early 2010s, Felix has been releasing full length records and touring the world playing his unique style of hyper rhythmic and beautifully melodic, Latin infused guitar music. During the pandemic, Felix started his own guitar company called FM Guitars, bringing the world of double neck guitars and basses to more guitarists, at an affordable price. FM Guitars also produces more conventional headless guitars and basses, but with a fresh forward thinking design. Felix currently resides in Los Angeles, where he continues to build a community of like-minded double-neck enthusiasts and prog rockers, runs the FM Guitars company, and continues to write some of the most beautifully jaw-dropping compositions. Christian Colabelli and I were able to interview Felix in early September 2025 as he's in the process of making a new album. This is the interview.

Sean Doherty and Will Sheppard are the purveyors of all things punk and hardcore in Nashville, TN. The two started their own fanzine called "Iconoclast" to help spread the word about bands, shows and the overall ethos of the southeast hardcore scene in middle Tennessee and beyond. Join us for our conversation about how the ZINE started, what's in it and who the key bands and players are in Nashville hardcore.

Be ready when Issue #5 drops:

iconoclastfanzine.bigcartel.com

Instagram:

@iconoclastzine

@nashvillehardcore

Kilian Duarte is nothing short of a modern day bass guitar god. His humble spirit and massive chops have brought him into the fold of technical death metallers Abiotic and Fallujah as well as proggier projects like Scale the Summit and Felix Martin. Kilian continues to push the boundaries of what's possible on the bass guitar in various musical contexts and he's helping others achieve similar heights with his teaching. This is our conversation with Kilian Duarte, I hope you find this enlightening and encouraging in your musical journey, I certainly know I did!

Claire Gardner is the vocalist of Huntsville Alabama hardcore band Briteside. She grew up in the Nashville hardcore scene and moved around the south east, always finding her way into the heavy music scenes. In this episode Claire tells us her story, what she has learned being a licensed therapist and the role she plays in the Alabama hardcore scene in Huntsville.

Dani Rabin is the guitarist and band leader of jazz fusion band Marbin. Marbin was formed in 2007 after Dani graduated from Berklee college of music. The band later settled in Chicago, where the band currently resides. Marbin has been touring and releasing full-length albums regularly since 2009 and has opened for jazz-fusion greats, Scott Henderson, Allan Holdsworth and Wayne Krantz. Join us for this hilarious interview with Dani, one of the most funny and provocative guitarists in the improvised music game!

Tom "Fountainhead" Geldschlager is the chief composer and mastermind behind CHANGELING, a technical and progressive death metal band consisting of Morean on Vocals (Alkaloid, Dark Fortress), Arran McSporran on Bass (Vipassi, Virvum) and Mike Heller on Drums (Fear Factory, Raven and Malignancy.) The new self-titled record is one of the most ambitious, dense, beautiful and powerful metal records that I've ever heard featuring fretless guitar and bass, orchestral elements, choir, world instruments and it all comes together effortlessly, producing in a cohesive and enjoyable listening experience. I listened to the album twice while mowing my lawn and I didn't get tired of listening to it. That's really saying something! Here's my conversation with Tom Geldschlager!

Wes Breedwell is the vocalist of legendary Nashville metalcore band, Alcina. Wes was also a key member of the Nashville hardcore scene for many years starting in 2006 when he started booking hardcore and metal shows at his friends houses in Mt. Juliet, TN. Wes was also instrumental in putting on local shows at Cafe Express, 615 Records, Cafe Coco and Rocketown for many years. Wes was a partner with booking agencies Music City Booking and AM/PM Booking where they put on some of the best shows in the scene. In this episode Wes talks about how he initially got involved in the Nashville Hardcore scene, how he booked shows and how he was eventually let go from his employer in 2013 for wearing a Hostage Calm T Shirt that said: "I Support Same Sex Marriage" to work. If you're a card carrying member of the Nashville Hardcore scene, you're going to love this episode.

K Enagonio aka "K the Screamer" is the vocalist for melodic metalcore band Chasing Satellites. K has also recently joined The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus as their harsh vocalist! In addition to making music and playing shows with these bands, K is a talented videographer and handles rocket launch photography and video for Interstellar Gateway. K also loves exploring and photographing abandoned buildings and spaces with No Tracers Urban Exploring. K sat down with me for a couple hours and we discussed their background growing up in the middle east, living in Australia, photographing the most insane live shows in metal ever, and joining The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus as a vocalist.

Ray Suhy is the lead guitarist and touring guitarist for Six Feet Under. Ray also currently tours with New Jersey Death Metal band Waking the Cadaver. Ray is an extremely accomplished guitarist who not only plays extreme death metal, but also jazz and fusion styles in the groups The Lewis Porter Quartet and Gematria, which is an experimental prog rock band with Steve Honoshowsky. In this interview, we talk about touring, growing up in Biddeford, Maine, studying jazz with Charlie Banacos and many more aspects of being a modern guitarist.

This episode features my longtime friend and mentor Frank Pasquale of Pasquale Custom Guitars. Our friendship first started when Frank built me my first custom made guitar when I was 16 years old. Frank, being a godly man, always had really great advice and encouragement for me when I was a budding shredder in the Chicago suburbs. Come along for the ride as Frank shares his story of moving to LA from Pittsburg, PA in the late 80s to purse his dreams of being a thrash metal rocker, to then become a guitar builder who learned from Mike Lipe, the Ibanez USA Custom shop master builder. In this episode we go through my guitar collection, which has several guitars that Frank built for me over the years, we then go through several of Frank's custom creations from his secret collection and he tells us about his affinity for vintage Kramer guitars, of which he's amassed nearly 20! Frank is a one of a kind, hardworking American that tells it like it is and has built some of the coolest metal machines the guitar world has ever seen.To see more guitars built by Frank, follow Pasquale Custom Guitars on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/PasqualeCustomGuitars/

Support the show by ordering a Shred Sessions T-Shirt or a Mug: https://shred-sessions-shop.fourthwall.com/

Clockwise is a deathcore band from Chattanooga Tennesse. They've been ripping shows all over region in support of their new EP entitled "Gloom" which came out in early 2025. In this episode I talk with guitarist Chandler Callahan and vocalist Casey Needler. We cover topics ranging from The Dragon's Roast, Cloud Springs Deli, ESP guitars, Quad Cortex, extreme metal vocals, mixed genre shows and many more topics that deal with being in a metal band in 2025.

Listen to Clockwise: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2OGMAxg5AUjJhz25ezPuh8?si=KYF2tva-QcCyA_TdWqOjiA

YouTube: ⁨@clockwisebandtn⁩ 

Instagram: @clockwiseband

Koty Bluhm is the guitarist for Nashville based deathcore band The Human Condition. Koty is also one half of Shuttle City Booking, a new heavy music show promotion company that harkens back to the Rocketown days and hopes to facilitate heavy music concerts where young folks can be safe and have a great time seeing the music that they love. In this interview, Koty and I touched on the good times at Rocketown and also speculate about why metal concerts don't happen there anymore.

Abated Mass of Flesh is a brutal slam metal band from Unionville Tennessee. The band began as a Christian Metal solo project by founded guitarist Zack Plunkett and eventually evolved into the non-religious slam metal band fronted by brother and vocalist Matthew Plunkett, Topher Stanfield (drums) and Grant Alan (bass). The band has been playing a string of live shows all around Middle Tennessee supporting their new record "Rebirthing the Vile" which came out in March of 2025. The record is a crushing and powerful sludge metal experience with pinging snare drum sounds, guttural vocals and memorable riffs that are sure to make you bang your head or mosh with reckless abandon. In this full band interview, we cover a range of topics from Christian Metal, unique DIY recording techniques and the changing tides in the metal scene towards SLAM!

Grant Robinson is a Nashville born extreme metal bass player. He recently got off the "Level Up Tour" where he filled in on bass for Psycho Frame. Angelmaker, Humanity's Last Breath and Gloom in the Corner were also on the month-long tour. Grant has played bass for bands such as Crown Magnetar, Widowmaker and Chariot the Moon.

Follow Grant on Instagram: @grantmrobinson

Dissonation is a progressive deathcore band from Nashville, TN. They released a new song called "Ignite Hell" on June 3rd, 2025. Vocalist Taylor Pace and drummer James Hunt discuss the development of the band, the process of writing and recording the new song, scaling up as a band and their future plans for the band over the coming months.

Fuzzripper is a horror infused heavy metal band from Clarksville, TN consisting of Dusty Mahan on guitar and vocals, Tommy Scott on Guitar, Dom Miller on Bass and Joshua Porche on Drums. The band released their brand new full length record "Poltergeist" in April of 2025 and released two singles, "Poltergeist" and "These City Nights." Join us as we discuss the history of the band and the inspiration behind the songs on Poltergeist, the Clarksville music scene and the future plans for the band.

On this episode of Shred Sessions I interview two of Nashville's busiest members of the hardcore/metal scene. Norman Regan is the vocalist and main songwriter of Hard Reset, and Seger Rauls is the drummer. These two "djents" run the very impressive Phoenix Studios, where they work with a long list of clients from metal bands, pop artists and even a range of different podcasts. In this episode you'll learn how these two creative musicians have been able to delve into music full time and have a career that not only bolsters the local Nashville metal scene but also generates revenue to support a lifestyle.

Waste is a deathcore band from the Twin Cities, Minnesota. They have a unique style of heavy, tough guy beat-down deathcore and during the time of this interview, they were in Nashville recording a new EP. In this episode we discuss the history of the band, the MN heavy music scene, growing up in Canada, politics and what's coming up next for the band.

Barry Donegan is the vocalist for genre bending progressive metal funk band LOOK WHAT I DID. The band released their breakout full length record "Minuteman For the Moment" in 2005 and continued to release records throughout the 2010s. The band went on to play on the Warped Tour in 2005 and 2006 as well as tour with Drop Dead Gorgeous, The Human Abstract, Animosity, Ion Dissonance and Tub Ring. The band is currently in the studio working on another full length record. Barry hung out with us for a few hours and walked us through the history of the band, what the music industry was like during that time and a few shocking memories from their insane high energy live shows.

Andy Jones is a full time gigging guitarist who plays with Monte and The Monsters on Broadway in Nashville. Andy hails from Ocala Florida where he honed his chops and played in various local bands in the area. Andy is an incredible shred style guitar player who grew up listening to Dream Theather, Steve Vai, Satriani, Malmsteen, MacAlpine, Shawn Lane, Holdsworth and all the great shredders. Join us for our conversation and learn what it's like first hand to be a part of the Nashville gigging scene and hear riveting tales of the craziness that is Broadway, Nashville.

On this episode of Shred Sessions, I sit down with Ryan Rado — host of the podcast/show Make It Perfect, vocalist of the cult Nashville hardcore band WORKER, and a visual artist known for his powerful large-scale abstract paintings.Ryan is one of those people who naturally pushes conversations into deeper territory. In this discussion we explore everything from childhood trauma and mental health, to living with Tourette’s syndrome, the influence of mass media and millennial programming, and how these experiences shaped Ryan’s artistic voice in both music and visual art.Ryan also shares stories from the Nashville hardcore scene, the underground following surrounding his band WORKER, and what it means for the band to be reuniting and writing music again after years away.Since beginning his painting career in 2014, Ryan has built a reputation for emotionally intense large-scale abstract paintings that channel personal experience, trauma, and reflection into visual form. In this episode we talk about the connection between art, music, healing, and self-examination, and why confronting difficult topics openly can be a path toward growth.We also dive into a wide range of unexpected topics including:• Ryan’s experience growing up with Tourette’s syndrome• Childhood trauma and emotional processing• The psychology of mass media influence and cultural programming• Fatherhood and identity• The return of WORKER and the Nashville hardcore underground• Art as a tool for confronting personal history• Reflections on the 2026 Super Bowl and media spectacleRyan has a rare ability to ask questions that force you to reflect on your own motivations, identity, and beliefs — which makes this one of the most introspective conversations we’ve had on the podcast.If you're interested in hardcore music, underground culture, mental health conversations, or the intersection of art and personal transformation, you won’t want to miss this episode.About Ryan Rado:Ryan Rado is a Nashville-based artist, musician, and host of the Make It Perfect Podcast. He is the vocalist of the underground hardcore band WORKER and is known for his emotionally charged abstract canvas paintings that have gained attention in the independent art world since 2014.Subscribe for MoreShred Sessions features interviews with musicians, artists, and creators exploring the craft, philosophy, and culture surrounding heavy music and creative life.Support the show:https://shred-sessions-shop.fourthwall.com/

Sunmancer is a metalcore band from Atlanta, Georgia. The band has only been active for a year but has two EPs to date as well as brand new songs, "Doom Temple" and "Chasm Darkly." The band is releasing a new single on 11/1/2024 called "Lower Cavalier."Join us for this exciting conversation around how the band was formed, how they write their music and all of the fun details about what it's like being in an up and coming metalcore band from the south east. Support Sunmancer:https://sunmancer.bandcamp.com/track/doom-temple

Listen to Sunmancer:https://open.spotify.com/artist/0Yw0lpEUHdAaELxbxtVgvk?si=qpRM7hn0R7evJmJmL1k--A

Christian Colabelli is a progressive metal guitarist from Long Branch, New Jersey. Christian has played guitar all over the world with various artists, wedding bands, on cruise ships and with his progressive metal band called Circuitry. Christian also worked for Eventide as a product manager and content creator. Christian recently moved to Nashville to be closer to where all the music is happening and he's currently looking for the right gig and to collaborate with other improvisational musicians. Listen to the opening song here:https://youtu.be/jfL8zBbZT7MFollow Christian on YouTube and Instagram: @christiancolabelli  Listen to Circuitry:https://circuitry.bandcamp.com/album/switchhttps://open.spotify.com/artist/7MBPhtINQLdUhnPnjPQgjF?si=uo2xe4FgQmS-6ssHpwXLFA

Brandon Adams is a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and mixing engineer living in Nashville Tennessee. Brandon is the lead vocalist and guitarist of progressive alt rock band Proteus. Brandon also collaborates with Paul Mayo on a “no genre restrictions” project called Spice Garden. Brandon has mixed dozens of records and EPs ranging from Pop, Country and Metal. Join us for this interesting and insightful conversation into Brandon's musical background and how he gained his experience mixing and producing music.

Sammy Slamdance is a heavy metal content creator with thousands of followers across instagram, TikTok and YouTube. He is the former vocalist of Nashville metal acts like Adelaide and Infiri and he is currently the vocalist and main songwriter for Nashville deathcore act Abyss Walker. Joining him is his longtime bandmate, Adam Conran, who plays guitar in Abyss Walker. Adam also plays guitar in Dissonation, an up and coming Nashville Progressive Deathcore act that is sure to be a top contender in the scene very soon.Join us for the conversation as we travel through time and discuss our respective journeys through the chaotic sphere of metal and how our lives became intertwined and forever changed...