Explore every episode of the podcast Shred Sessions Podcast

I finally got to meet and talk to Dallas Toler-Wade, who is a highly requested guitarist here on the Shred Sessions Podcast. This interview was conducted on the patio at The Cobra in Nashville, TN while Narcotic Wasteland was on the "Fentanyl Zombie Apocalypse" tour with Visitant, Vile Light and Blood Coven. This conversation gives fans an inside look at the progression of his sound and creative process. We get into the specifics of his playing style and even address viewer questions regarding the amps and cabinets used during the early Nile records, on Annihilation of the Wicked as well as the recording of At The Gates of Sethu.Dallas was extremely generous with his time and was very open about the questions I asked regarding Nile, addiction and his practice routine. One of my favorite parts of the interview was when Dallas was talking about how some guitarists say: "I only pick up the guitar when I have something to write...STAY OUT OF MY LANE!" He's a true death metal guitar artist and loves playing the instrument as well as the craft and we love him for it! Subscribe for more artist interviews and breakdowns, and let us know in the comments which musician you want to see featured next.0:00 A Deep Dive with Dallas Toller-Wade2:33 Navigating Social Media Censorship6:48 The Origins of Narcotic Wasteland11:56 The Fentanyl Crisis and Modern Addiction14:15 Playing in Nile vs Narcotic Wasteland18:33 Why Dallas left Nile21:18 Dallas' Early Influences and the Bands that Got Him into Extreme Metal24:55 How Dallas met Karl Sanders27:00 Viewer Questions43:19 Advice for the Next Generation

We sat down with Derrick Schneider of Tallah for an in-depth conversation about his journey into one of modern metal’s most chaotic and exciting bands.Derrick takes us all the way back to his Tallah audition, including the wild story of auditioning with a Dream Theater song, and explains what it took to land the gig in the band founded by drummer Max Portnoy.From there, we get into what life in Tallah actually looks like behind the scenes — the practice and preparation required to perform their music, the challenges of translating such intense material to the stage, and what it’s like playing these songs live night after night.Of course, we had to talk GUITAR GEAR.Derrick breaks down his live and studio setup, his experience with Schecter guitars, why he uses the EverTune bridge, and the gear that helps him pull off Tallah’s aggressive, technical sound.But Derrick’s musical life goes much deeper than guitar.Over the years, he’s gone deep into audio engineering, recording, mixing and production, developing the skills to create killer mixes not only for Tallah, but also for other artists and clients. We talk about how he approaches mixing heavy music, what he’s learned from producing his own band, and how becoming an engineer has changed the way he thinks about guitar tone, songwriting and making records.If you're into Tallah, modern metal, guitar gear, Schecter guitars, EverTune, audio engineering, mixing, music production or the realities of being a working metal musician, there’s a ton to dig into here.Hosted by Drew Creal & Christian ColabelliTopics include:• How Derrick Schneider joined Tallah• Auditioning with a Dream Theater song• Playing alongside Max Portnoy• Learning and practicing Tallah's music• Preparing for live shows• Derrick's guitar rig and gear• Schecter guitars• Why Derrick uses EverTune• Recording heavy guitars• Audio engineering and music production• Mixing Tallah• Mixing and producing music for clients• Developing your ear as an audio engineer• The relationship between guitar tone and a great mix• Life as a modern metal musician

Legendary neoclassical shred guitarist Joe Stump joins the Shred Sessions Podcast for an epic two-hour deep dive into the world of high-level guitar playing, neoclassical metal, vintage gear, and a lifetime dedicated to the instrument.Joe takes us inside his new solo record “Lord of the Strings,” dropping October 16th, 2026, and breaks down the guitars, amps, strings, picks, and techniques behind his unmistakable sound.We get deep into Joe's incredible collection of Fender Stratocasters and ESP guitars, including his Custom Shop Strats and 1998 Fender Yngwie Malmsteen Strat. Joe explains why the Stratocaster remains his weapon of choice and talks about the Marshall amps that have powered his tone throughout his career.Of course, this wouldn't be a Joe Stump conversation without talking about shred guitar technique. Joe gives us an inside look at his right-hand picking mechanics, his approach to alternate and economy picking, repeating patterns, scales, and hexatonic concepts. If you're a guitarist interested in the mechanics and vocabulary behind neoclassical shred, there's a ton to dig into here.Joe also reflects on his favorite records, his guitar heroes, seeing Allan Holdsworth with UK opening for Al Di Meola, his years in the East Village, the New York Yankees, and his journey from obsessive guitar student to becoming one of the most respected names in neoclassical guitar.Whether you're into Yngwie Malmsteen, Ritchie Blackmore, Gary Moore, Allan Holdsworth, shred guitar, neoclassical metal, Fender Strats, Marshall amps, or just love hearing great guitar players talk shop, this episode is packed with guitar history and insight.

Serge Droban has quickly become one of the most talked-about guitarists in the YouTube guitar space. The neoclassical shredder known for insane technique, unapologetic opinions, and calling out “fake guitarists” joins me for nearly TWO HOURS on the Shred Sessions Podcast.And yes… we talk about Yngwie Malmsteen.Serge has a fascinating perspective on Yngwie’s career, from the groundbreaking neoclassical guitar playing of his early years to the point where Serge believes the legendary Swedish shredder stopped progressing. We talk Malmsteen Strats, Yngwie’s technique, his influence on generations of guitarists, and the question nobody wants to ask: Did the king of neoclassical shred eventually fall off?But this conversation goes WAY beyond Yngwie.Serge takes us through his entire journey as a guitarist, including touring nationally with a band at only 16 years old, dealing with a serious physical injury, and completely rethinking his approach to guitar technique in pursuit of effortless playing.We go deep into the mechanics and philosophy of high-level guitar playing: sweep picking, picking technique, tension, efficiency, why certain legendary shredders seemingly never lose their abilities, and what separates real technical mastery from simply playing fast.Serge also shares his thoughts on the music of classical virtuosos Frédéric Chopin and Franz Liszt and why their compositions continue to fascinate him. We discuss classical music, neoclassical guitar, musical development, and whether there can actually be an OBJECTIVE standard for determining the quality of music.Then there’s the controversy…Serge’s rise on YouTube has been fueled in part by his willingness to call out questionable and “fake” guitar performances online. We discuss that chapter of his channel, the drama surrounding fake guitar playing on social media, and why Serge ultimately decided he wanted to move beyond it and put the focus back where it belongs: MUSIC.Whether you’re into Yngwie Malmsteen, neoclassical shred guitar, sweep picking, classical music, guitar technique, virtuoso players, or the insanity of modern Guitar YouTube, there’s a LOT to unpack in this episode.Do you agree with Serge about Yngwie Malmsteen? Is there such a thing as objectively good or bad music? And what do you think about the fake guitar controversy?Drop your take in the comments. Let’s hear it.Thanks for watching!Interested in guitar lessons?Serge:https://www.sergedroban.com/Drew:https://lessonswithdrew.com/

Get ready for an in-depth Shred Sessions Podcast with Max Damske, guitarist, songwriter, and founding member of Chicago progressive death metal band Warforged. Over the course of nearly two hours, we dive deep into the creative mind behind one of the most exciting up-and-coming bands in modern progressive metal.Warforged has built a reputation for blending crushing technical death metal with cinematic atmosphere, progressive songwriting, and incredible musicianship. With their newest album arriving through The Artisan Era, home to some of the biggest names in technical death metal, including Inferi, the band offers a new record entitled "The Grove |Almanac."In this conversation, Max discusses his songwriting process, the bands and guitarists that shaped his playing, the music that continues to inspire him, and how Warforged developed its signature sound. We also nerd out over guitar gear, favorite guitars, amplifiers, pedals, recording techniques, and the latest developments in digital amp modeling, including the exciting possibilities of NAM A2 technology.Whether you're a guitarist, songwriter, producer, gear enthusiast, or simply a fan of progressive metal, technical death metal, djent, or modern extreme music, there's something here for you.In this episode:• The story behind Warforged and its musical evolution• Writing progressive and technical death metal• Max's biggest musical influences• Favorite bands, albums, and guitar players• Guitar tone, amps, pedals, and recording• NAM A2 amp modeling and the future of digital guitar technology• Creativity, songwriting, and composing long-form music• Gear talk and plenty of guitar nerd discussions

Brett Stine is a Dallas, TX based guitarist known for playing in Haji's Kitchen as well as the guy that cracked the code for how Allan Holdsworth thinks about scales, harmony and composition. In 2023, "In the Mystery: A Deconstruction of the Harmony, Melody, Compositions and Improvisations of Allan Holdsworth" was released in digital format. Since that time, Brett has updated the book and come out with "In the Mystery Volume 2" which is a compendium of all the scales that Allan Holdsworth used. These books, as well as Brett's Messiaen Etudes books, have proved to be a valuable resource for any guitarist that is looking for fresh ideas and to get inside the world of improvising like Allan Holdsworth did...perhaps to get to the next level and beyond.

This exclusive 2 hour conversation with Brett Stine covers Brett's background with music, playing in Haji's Kitchen, jamming with his brother Scott, working with Mike Varney from Shrapnel Records, 9 note scales, Messiaen's Modes of Limited Transposition and so much more!

Purchase Brett's Transcriptions and Books:

https://www.brettstinemusic.net/

Buy Physical Copies from Amazon:

In The Mystery Vol 1: https://amzn.to/4en3Jmr

In the Mystery Vol 2: https://amzn.to/4vW3A0F

Messiaen Etudes: https://amzn.to/4uHg1wj

NEW! Messiaen Patterns Vol 1: https://amzn.to/4xx0UIh

Support Shred Sessions:https://shred-sessions-shop.fourthwall.com/

Rusty Cooley is the original online Shred Guitarist. From his early days of YouTube shred videos, to his "Betchya Can't Play This" Guitar World licks, his Chops From Hell lessons and his solo records, Rusty has been an inspiration to every guitarist who tried to push the instrument beyond what it was currently capable of. Rusty is the OG extended range godfather of shred and he's here with us to discuss how he transformed the super strat into a "super shredder strat," partnering with Dean Guitars and then Ormsby Guitars. We also get into discussing his band Outworld and why they broke up as well as a ton of great practice tips and discussions around improving at guitar while trying to raise a family. If you're into extreme guitar playing at all, this episode is for you!Support the show, grab a T-Shirt:https://shred-sessions-shop.fourthwall.com/Rusty's Website:https://rustycooley.com/Lessons with Rusty:rustycooleysocial@gmail.comDrew's Website:https://lessonswithdrew.com/

Christian Donaldson is the guitarist, mixing engineer and producer for the legendary technical death metal band Cryptopsy. I caught up with Christian on the Decibel Magazine tour with Fulci, Necrot, Blood Monolith and Spirit Adrift on their stop in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I was able to ask Christian about the tour, their newest record "An Insatiable Violence," playing in a band with Flo Mounier and the legacy of the band's 1996 classic "None So Vile." Cryptopsy has remained one of the most respected and chaotic forces in death metal for decades, and Christian Donaldson’s perspective as both guitarist and producer makes this conversation essential viewing for musicians, producers, and metal fans alike.Subscribe for more interviews, guitar lessons, gear breakdowns, and deep dives into the world of death metal and extreme music.

On this episode of the Shred Sessions Podcast, we sit down with legendary guitarist Dave Nassie for a deep 2-hour conversation covering his incredible journey through rock, punk, blues, soul, and heavy music. From performing with bands like No Use for a Name, Infectious Grooves, and Bleeding Through to touring with country star Kip Moore, Dave shares stories from the road, insights into guitar tone, phrasing, songwriting, vintage gear, blues influence, and what it really takes to build a lasting career as a professional guitarist. We also dive into Dave’s current project, Dave Nassie Blues Explosion, his approach to teaching guitar, and the philosophy behind expressive playing and musical storytelling. If you're into guitar tone, classic rock, blues, punk, shredding, session work, or the evolution of modern guitar music, this episode is packed with inspiration and knowledge.Stay in touch with Dave: @DaveNassie  https://www.davenassie.com/Support the show, grab a Shred Sessions Shirt:https://shred-sessions-shop.fourthwall.com/

Eric Hill is the definition of multi-disciplinary mastery, and this episode proves it.Music producer. Guitar designer and builder at Element Guitars. U.S. sales rep for Skervesen Guitars. Dental implant designer. And somehow… also a legit pizza craftsman. Eric doesn't just wear multiple hats, he's achieved a great deal of success in everything he's involved in.In this episode of the Shred Sessions Podcast, we sit down with Eric to break down his journey through the music world, the guitar industry, and his professional career outside of music. From building high-end instruments to navigating multiple industries at a high level, Eric shares what it really takes to develop elite-level skill across completely different fields.We also get into:-What it’s like working with boutique guitar brands like Skervesen-The mindset behind designing and building custom guitars-Balancing creativity with technical careers-How discipline and curiosity can open doors most people never even seeEric instantly clicked with us, his passion, work ethic, and outlook on life line up perfectly with what Shred Sessions is all about.If you’re trying to level up your skills, build something meaningful, or push beyond average, this episode is going to hit home.

Skervesen Guitars:https://skervesen.eu/Element Guitars:https://www.facebook.com/elementguitarsUSA/Eric's Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/erockomania/Sabol/Hill Audio:https://www.sabolhill.com/Support the show, order a T-Shirt or mug:https://shred-sessions-shop.fourthwall.com/

We let a girl interview a technical death metal band!!! Can you believe it?!?! Claire did an incredible job asking some of the top guitar players in the game some questions about the craft. It was truly amazing catching these guys on the "Chronicles of Lunacy" tour with Organectomy, Scasm and Defeated Sanity. All these bands have top tier musicians and deliver the material on their records with the utmost accuracy. This was truly one of my favorite shows to attend. What band should be interview next, let us know in the comments! 00:00 Intro00:53 How Has the Tour Been So Far?01:48 Heaven Wept Response03:03 Playing Tech Death Live05:11 Recording Heaven Wept06:08 Inferi Guitar Tones07:45 Guitar Tuning and String Gauges08:58 Changing Drummers RIP Spencer Moore10:16 How did Sanjay Get Involved with Inferi11:55 The Artisan Era14:19 How Did Malcolm Start Making Music Videos?17:58 Will There Be a Sheet Happens Tab Book for Heaven Wept?18:23 When You're Not Playing Metal, What are you Doing?20:31 What Drives You To Keep Going?Listen to/Support Inferi:https://inferi.bandcamp.com/album/heaven-weptSupport Shred Sessions, buy a shirt!https://shred-sessions-shop.fourthwall.com/

Here's my interview with one of the icons of death metal, Jack Owen from Six Feet Under. Jack was a founding member of Cannibal Corpse until 2004 when he decided to leave for personal reasons. From 2004 to 2016 Jack played guitar in Deicide but then left to join Six Feet Under with original Cannibal Corpse vocalist. The band released their new record "Next to Die" on Metal Blade Records on 4/24/26. The new record has received positive reviews proving that Jack is a true genius of death metal riffing. Thanks for watching and thanks for your support!Listen to Six Feet Under:https://www.metalblade.com/sixfeetunder/00:00 Intro01:18 Jack's Thoughts on Nicotine Pouches03:20 Ray Suhy's Guitar Solos05:18 Next to Die Writing/Recording Process and Gear!08:15 Unmistakable Smell of Death Lesson10:02 Mutilated Corpse in the Woods Lesson14:50 Hammer Smashed Face Lesson18:38 Tomb of the Mutilated Gear20:55 Overcoming Writer's Block23:30 What Happened to the White BC Rich Mockingbird?26:00 Why Use Budget Gear?27:17 How Jack Records Demos31:25 Jack's Writing Style34:55 Death Metal Career?36:09 Why Bob Rusay Couldn't Continue with CC38:55 Recording with Scott Burns42:45 Does Jack Stay in Touch with Pat O'Brien?45:36 Decency Defied, Festering in the Crypt46:50 Pounded into Dust on Children's Instruments49:08 Why Jack Left Cannibal Corpse50:30 Working with Chris Barnes53:30 Jack is a Hockey FanGo check out Jack's YouTube Channel: @jackowen2906  Support the show and grab some merch:https://shred-sessions-shop.fourthwall.com/

Levi Clay is a Glasgow based guitarist, transcriptionist and YouTuber known for his incredible guitar transcriptions and sometimes controversial takes on the online world of guitar. In this video Levi tells us about his guitar journey where he got his start in the world of shred and metal, to his approach to guitar education as well as some areas of the guitar community that he takes issue with. This video is jammed packed with solid advice for aspiring musicians of any genre as well as practice tips for guitar players of any tribe! Support the show: https://shred-sessions-shop.fourthwall.com/Levi's Website:https://leviclay.com/Get better at guitar here:https://guidedpracticeroutines.com/

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 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/

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

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/

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/

I’ve wanted to take a guitar lesson with Karl Sanders for a long time, and in this episode that finally happens. The conversation begins with an in-depth discussion about some of the key chords and riffs in the song "Chapter for Not Being Hung Upsidedown..." including techniques, songwriting tricks with Cubase, and Karl’s approach to creating the brutal and intricate riffs that helped define Nile’s sound. From there, we expand into a broader conversation about the band and what's on the horizon for 2026 for Nile!

If you’re a fan of Nile, technical death metal, or extreme metal guitar, this is an interview you won’t want to miss.Support the show by liking, commenting and subscribing or picking up something from the Shred Sessions Store:https://shred-sessions-shop.fourthwall.com/

Brutal hardcore meets technical precision 🔥 In this episode, Drew Creal interviews Fliora, an abrasive and technical hardcore band from Asheville, North Carolina, to talk touring, songwriting, live energy, and the evolving Southeast heavy music scene.Fliora has been tearing through winter tour dates and quickly building a reputation for their tight musicianship, chaotic intensity, and insanely mosh-ready riffs.

Every time I’ve seen them live, they deliver the same precision and aggression as their recordings, which is rare for bands pushing this level of technicality.

If you’re into hardcore, mathcore, metallic hardcore, or extreme heavy music, this is a band you NEED to keep on your radar.👉 Do not miss Fliora when they hit your city. This interview covers:

• Touring life in the Southeast hardcore scene

• Writing technical but moshable riffs

• Capturing live energy in the studio

• Band chemistry and performance intensity

• The future of Fliora

If you enjoy band interviews, underground hardcore, brutal metal, and discovering rising heavy bands, make sure to subscribe.

***Edited by SEVEN.** Thumbnail Photo by Josh Guim.

Kick Out at Two is a melodic hardcore band from Chattanooga, TN. They stopped by the Shred Sessions studio on their southeast tour with chaotic metalcore act Fliora. Kick Out at Two is currently wrapping up a follow up to their 2024 EP "20th Century Static" which will be titled "Choke." Expect to see that EP out sometime in April or May of 2026. Join us for an interesting conversation on Christian metal, writing and recording music, running a music venue, professional wrestling, and channeling anger into a positive outlet, like hardcore music.

Yo Shred Sessions viewers, Cody was kind enough to share some of his time before the Volcano set at the Vinyl Lounge in Nashville on Feb. 7th 2026. This was a special appearance for the band during a break from Sanguisuggabogg's busy touring schedule. Cody shares with us how he got into music and how he thinks about approaching hardcore and death metal. What a fascinating and inspiring musician in the hardcore/metal scene. This interview wouldn't have been possible without the awesome crew at Badworld Booking for putting on the show and making it happen. Nashville Hardcore came through, making this one of the best shows we have had in the scene in a long time.

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.

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.

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!