Radical Research Podcast: Recent Episodes
Jeff Wagner & Hunter Ginn
Join hosts Jeff Wagner and Hunter Ginn in a bi-weekly conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of left-field rock and metal music.
It's back to Norway for Radical Research, although this time, it's not about weirdness, unless you consider us covering an album like this a little weird. But we adore this band, especially this 30-minute masterpiece. And for years, we’d talked of spotlighting Tell No Tales with none other than Bryon Dudley and Aaron Alcott of the excellent Hair Metal Memories podcast. We finally got down to business and in this episode, we dissect all the beauty, joy, audacity and high, higher, highest of this great band’s greatest album. This collaboration felt really natural, and we might do another one with these guys, dudes who aren’t quite at opposite poles as much as one might assume. As Aaron says here, Tell No Tales is “something that should be known beyond the borders of its genre.”Note I:Led by two gentlemen well-versed in a wide variety of music genres, we encourage our listeners to check out Hair Metal Memories, which explores the genre with nerdy passion and a fresh, informed perspective it rarely receives.Find them here: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/hair-metal-memories/Note II:Jeff’s Voivod book, ‘Always Moving: The Strange Multiverse of Voivod,’ is now available. You can purchase a copy of the 540-page, 3-pound behemoth HERE: radicalresearch.org/voivodNote III: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/RadicalResearchPodcastMusic cited in order of appearance:[all snippets from TNT, Tell No Tales (1987)]“Everyone’s a Star”“10,000 Lovers (in One)”“As Far As the Eye Can See”“Sapphire”“Child’s Play”“Listen to Your Heart”“Desperate Night”“Northern Lights”“Tell No Tales”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.
What exactly constitutes "Radical Research material?" We're gonna test that question with this and the next episode. With episode 148, we answer with more questions: "Is it weird?" "Is it heavy?" "Is it something we enjoy?" "Would most of the music-listening world hate it?" Yes, yes, yes and yes! And lord, do we love us some Cathedral. Especially the early era, which is the 5-year chunk of time investigated here. Herein, we hail Dorrian, Gaz, Griffiths, Lehan and the three drummers that comprise this most potent, powerful era of the UK's legendary lords of doom.
Note I:Something we knew about but failed to mention on this episode: even though the roots of Cathedral are partly based on the fateful meeting of doom-heads Lee Dorrian and Mark Griffiths, it is also rooted in a project that guitarist Gary “Gaz” Griffiths did after leaving Acid Reign. The following is from the mighty Metal Archives, to help fill in the gap here: “Morbid Doom recorded a demo entitled ‘Sorrow's Epitaph’ in late 1989 or early '90, which contained about 9 songs. Two of the tracks on it would later become Cathedral songs: ‘Sorrows End’ became ‘Jaded Entity", and ‘Suffocation of Mankind’ became ‘Phantasmagoria.’ The reworked/re-recorded versions of both ended up on 1993's The Ethereal Mirror album.”Note II:Jeff’s Voivod book, ‘Always Moving: The Strange Multiverse of Voivod,’ is now available. You can purchase a copy of the 540-page, 3-pound behemoth HERE: radicalresearch.org/voivodNote III: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/RadicalResearchPodcastMusic cited in order of appearance:“Mourning of a New Day” (In Memorium demo, 1990)“Commiserating the Celebration” (Forest of Equilibrium, 1991)“Equilibrium” (Forest of Equilibrium, 1991)“Reaching Happiness, Touching Pain” (Forest of Equilibrium, 1991)“Soul Sacrifice” (Soul Sacrifice, 1992)“Autumn Twilight” (Soul Sacrifice, 1992)“Enter the Worms” (The Ethereal Mirror, 1993)“Fountain of Innocence” (The Ethereal Mirror, 1993)“Phantasmagoria” ” (The Ethereal Mirror, 1993)“Hypnos 164” (Statik Majik, 1994)“Cosmic Funeral” (Statik Majik, 1994)“Voyage of the Homeless Sapien” (Statik Majik, 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 scope of Kevin Moore’s genius begins with Dream Theater’s “Space-Dye Vest” and concludes with OSI’s Fire Make Thunder. We try to use the g-word sparingly around here, but truly, Moore’s singular artistic vision is something we attempt to hail and dissect here, for our 147th episode. Join us in celebrating this specific, singular talent.
Note I:Hunter mentions “library music” in response to Chroma Key’s music on the Graveyard Mountain Home album. You can learn more about library music here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Production_musicNote II:The story we relate from Chris Warunki, at this end of this episode, about his very lucrative sale of Kevin Moore’s pre-Chroma Key release, This is a Recording: Demos 1994-97, is given evidence here:https://www.discogs.com/release/4238872-Kevin-Moore-This-Is-A-Recording-Demos-1994-97Note III:Jeff’s Voivod book, ‘Always Moving: The Strange Multiverse of Voivod,’ is now available. You can purchase a copy of the 540-page, 3-pound behemoth HERE: radicalresearch.org/voivodNote IV: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/RadicalResearchPodcastMusic cited in order of appearance:Dream Theater, “Ytse Jam” (When Dream and Day Unite, 1989)Dream Theater, “Wait for Sleep” (Images and Words, 1992)Dream Theater, “Space-Dye Vest” (Awake, 1994)Kevin Moore, “Space-Dye Vest” (demo, 1994)Fates Warning, “A Pleasant Shade of Gray, Part VIII” (A Pleasant Shade of Gray, 1997)Chroma Key, “Colorblind” (Dead Air for Radios, 1998)Chroma Key, “On the Page” (Dead Air for Radios, 1998)Chroma Key, “Astronaut Down” (You Go Now, 2000)Chroma Key, “Come In, Over” (Graveyard Mountain Home, 2004)OSI, “Hello, Helicopter” (Office of Strategic Influence, 2003)OSI, “Go” (Free, 2006)OSI, “Terminal” (Blood, 2009)OSI, “Radiologue” (Blood, 2009)
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.
Our friends Marty and Alan at the Heavy Metallurgy podcast challenged us to a duel, and we fire back. The idea was simple: Offer five different albums, any genre, to cover on an episode. Of their five, we chose the only non-metal album, the stunning, beloved 1983 debut Script of the Bridge by English band, The Chameleons. How did Heavy Metallurgy handle our challenge? Find out here: https://www.youtube.com/live/BnrwkIqJ7OU?si=GHex4X8mqILUSQXnNote I:Jeff’s Voivod book, ‘Always Moving: The Strange Multiverse of Voivod,’ is now available. You can purchase a copy of the 540-page, 3-pound behemoth HERE: radicalresearch.org/voivodNote 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
Music cited in order of appearance:all snippets from The Chameleons, Script of the Bridge (1983)“Don’t Fall”“Here Today”“Monkeyland”“Second Skin”“Up the Down Escalator”“Less Than Human”“Thursday’s Child”“A Person Isn’t Safe Anywhere These Days”“Paper Tigers”“View From a Hill”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.
Herein, you will find our tribute to Pan-Thy-Monium. Briefly covered in episode 2, we finally give this very special entity its due. We dive deep into the deeps of Raagoonshinnaah’s dwelling and emerge as awed and dumbfounded as ever.Note I:At the 28:55 mark, Jeff forgets to name the band who released the Death Has Made Its Call album in 1998. The band was called Ashes, which featured PTM guitarist Mourning aka Robert Ivarsson.
Note II:Jeff’s Voivod book, ‘Always Moving: The Strange Multiverse of Voivod,’ is now available. You can purchase a copy of the 540-page, 3-pound behemoth HERE: radicalresearch.org/voivodNote III: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
Music cited in order of appearance:“Zenotaffph” (1990, Dawn demo)“II” (1991, Dream II EP)“Raagoonshinnaah” (Dawn of Dreams, 1992) (three moments)“Eepitaffph” (Dawn of Dreams, 1992)“Amaraah” (Dawn of Dreams, 1992)“Jag & Vem” (Khaooohs, 1993)“Khaooohs I” (Khaooohs, 1993)“Utsikt” (Khaooohs, 1993)“IV” (Dream II, CD reissue)“The Battle of Geeheeb” (Khaooohs and Kon-Fus-Ion, 1996) (two moments)“Thee-Pherenth” (Khaooohs and Kon-Fus-Ion, 1996) (two moments)
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.
As noted early in this episode: we’ve always wanted to do an episode focusing on King Crimson, but couldn’t figure out the right approach. Until this idea, where we dissect and decipher all five parts of the band’s “Larks’ Tongues in Aspic” song cycle, spanning several decades and three different lineups. Join us as we delve into a musical delicacy better listened to than tasted…
Note I:Jeff’s Voivod book, ‘Always Moving: The Strange Multiverse of Voivod,’ is now available. You can purchase a copy of the 540-page, 3-pound behemoth HERE: radicalresearch.org/voivodNote 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/RadicalResearchPodcastMusic cited in order of appearance:“Larks’ Tongues in Aspic, Part One” (1973, Larks’ Tongues in Aspic)“Larks’ Tongues in Aspic, Part Two” (1973, Larks’ Tongues in Aspic)“Larks’ Tongues in Aspic, Part III” (1984, Three of a Perfect Pair)“Larks’ Tongues in Aspic - Part IV” (2000, The Construkction of Light)“Level Five” (2003, The Power to Believe)“The Deception of the Thrush” (unsure of year, maybe 2000, maybe 2003, live)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.
No other band with roots in Swedish death metal did it like Comecon. Not even close. We find a few similarities to Carbonized, but generally, this band is unique, special, and underappreciated enough that we had to come to their rescue for a little over an hour. Headed by brainiacs Pelle Strom and Rasmus Ekman, Comecon cycled through three different vocalists over three different albums (L.G. Petrov, Martin van Drunen, Marc Grewe), and if you have any interest in death metal with a distinct difference, please give this episode a listen…Note I:Listener challenge!! As mentioned in this episode: if you have a solid working knowledge of Comecon-related bands The Krixhjalters and Omnitron, assemble a 10-song episode, 5 songs each band, about 2 minutes per snippet (you can just send us titles and time codes). We’ll do an episode on it! We are sadly ignorant of these bands, but really should know them, given our love of Comecon. ALSO: Enter the Hunt isn’t directly related to Comecon, as Jeff surmised. It did feature Pontius, of Krixhjalters, and indeed, two members of Candlemass from our beloved Dactylis Glomerata/From the 13th Sun period. We still have so much to learn.
Note II:Speaking of having much to learn: we’re not exactly up on the entire vinyl reissue scene, because we didn’t know Comecon’s Fable Frolic was released with the original logo, as Jeff mentions in this episode. Lookie here! https://www.discogs.com/sell/release/30811545Note III:Jeff’s Voivod book, ‘Always Moving: The Strange Multiverse of Voivod,’ is now available. You can purchase a copy of the 540-page, 3-pound behemoth HERE: radicalresearch.org/voivod
Note IV: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/RadicalResearchPodcastMusic cited in order of appearance:“Wash Away the Filth” (Megatrends in Brutality, 1992)“Slope” (Megatrends in Brutality, 1992)“Armed Solution” (Megatrends in Brutality, 1992)“Conductor of Ashes” (Megatrends in Brutality, 1992)“Aerie” (Converging Conspiracies, 1993)“Bleed/Burn” (Converging Conspiracies, 1993)“Worms” (Converging Conspiracies, 1993)“The House That Man Built” (Converging Conspiracies, 1993)“Frogs” (Fable Frolic, 1995)“Ways of Wisdom (Serves Two)” (Fable Frolic, 1995)“Anaconda Charms Grass Snake” (Fable Frolic, 1995)“Canvas of History” (Fable Frolic, 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.
We all know the big names of prog rock -- they're mentioned numerous time in this episode -- and we all know the music of many other names from all over the world, especially the Italian and Scandinavian progressive gods. And Holland's Supersister! But do you know Babylon, Yezda Urfa or Ethos? Perhaps not. The US prog movement of the '70s happened mid-/late decade, well past the prime/peak of 1972 (ish)...but we haven't forgotten these excellent American contributors to our favorite subset of rock music. Dive in with us as we unearth five of our US prog favorites from that glorious decade...
Note I:Wow, sorry about the quality of Jeff’s transmission in the first three-quarters of the episode…we’re back to the dark ages of early RR episodes there. Our apologies!Note II:Jeff’s Voivod book, ‘Always Moving: The Strange Multiverse of Voivod,’ is now available. You can purchase a copy of the 540-page, 3-pound behemoth HERE: radicalresearch.org/voivodNote III: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
Music cited in order of appearance:Babylon, “The Mote in God’s Eye” (Babylon, 1978)Babylon, “Dreamfish” (Babylon, 1978)Cathedral, “Introspect” (Stained Glass Stories, 1978)Cathedral, “The Search” (Stained Glass Stories, 1978)Ethos, “Atlanteans” (Ardour, 1976)Ethos, “Long Dancer” (Ardour, 1976) Yezda Urfa, “Boris and His Three Verses (Including Flow Guides Aren’t My Bag)” (Boris, 1975)Yezda Urfa, “The Basis of Dubenglazy (While Dirk Does the Dance)” (Boris, 1975)Starcastle, “Elliptical Seasons” (Starcastle, 1976)Happy the Man, “Stumpy Meets the Firecracker in Stencil Forest” (Happy the Man, 1977)Happy the Man, “Steaming Pipes” (Crafty Hands, 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 band is a major cog in the engine that powers us. We’ve said that about Voivod, King Crimson, and Arcturus, and will add Watchtower as a major ingredient of what compels Radical Research. Formed in 1982 by four maniacs whose handle on their instruments was far beyond their years, and with record collections spanning speedy heavy metal as well as wild prog rock and jazz fusion, Watchtower made perhaps the largest impact of any metal band with a mere two full-length albums to their credit. Listen in wonder right along with us, because we’re still trying to figure it all out!Note I:Jeff’s Voivod book, ‘Always Moving: The Strange Multiverse of Voivod,’ is now available. You can purchase a copy of the 540-page, 3-pound behemoth HERE: radicalresearch.org/voivodNote 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
Music cited in order of appearance:“Meltdown” (Cottage Cheese From the Lips of Death compilation, 1984)“Tyrants in Distress” (Energetic Disassembly, 1985)“Energetic Disassembly” (Energetic Disassembly, 1985)“Cimmerian Shadows” (Energetic Disassembly, 1985)“The Eldritch” (Instruments of Random Murder demo, 1987)“Mayday in Kiev” (Control and Resistance, 1989)“Control and Resistance” (Control and Resistance, 1989)“Life Cycles” (Control and Resistance, 1989)“Coming Home” (Scott Jeffreys audition, 1990)“Technology Inaction” (Concepts of Math: Book One, 2016)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.
It has taken light years of travel, but we’ve finally reached Arcturus. For our 140th episode, Radical Research dives into the catalog of one of Norway’s longest-running institutions. Over the course of five full-length albums and a clutch of odds and sods, Arcturus has defined and redefined the possibilities of experimental heavy metal. This episode goes all-in, exploring the entire body of work of this beacon of Norweird.Note I:We wondered who released the second Arcturus album, La Masquerade Infernale, in the US, and it turns out, no one did until 5 years after its initial release (Candlelight Records, 2002). Note II:Jeff’s Voivod book, ‘Always Moving: The Strange Multiverse of Voivod,’ is finally available. You can purchase a copy of the 540-page, 3-pound behemoth HERE: radicalresearch.org/voivodNote III: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/RadicalResearchPodcastNote IV:we touched on Arcturus in these episodes, if you’re wanting more on these legends:Episode 76: Ulver’s Kristoffer Rygg Outside the Wolfpackhttps://www.radicalresearch.org/episode-76-ulvers-kristoffer-rygg-outside-the-wolf-pack/Episode 79: Simen Hestnaes aka ICS Vortex – 25 Years of Agility and Quirkhttps://www.radicalresearch.org/episode-79-simen-hestnaes-aka-ics-vortex-25-years-of-agility-and-quirk/
Music cited in order of appearance:“My Angel” (My Angel 7”, 1991)“Morax” (My Angel 7”, 1991)“Icebound Streams and Vapours Gray” (Constellation EP, 1994)“Naar Kulda Taar” (Constellation EP, 1994)“To Thou Who Dwellest in the Night” (Aspera Hiems Symfonia, 1996)“Du Nordavind” (Aspera Hiems Symfonia, 1996)“Master of Disguise” (La Masquerade Infernale, 1997)“Ad Astra” (La Masquerade Infernale, 1997)“Deception Genesis” (Disguised Masters, 1999)“Kinetic” (The Sham Mirrors, 2002)“For To End Yet Again” (The Sham Mirrors, 2002)“Evacuation Code Deciphered” (Sideshow Symphonies, 2005)“Hufsa” (Sideshow Symphonies, 2005)“Angst” (Arcturian, 2015)“Demon” (Arcturian, 2015)“The Journey” (Arcturian, 2015)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.
When we first announced this episode several weeks back, we received several queries from listeners all around the globe who phrased their questions similarly: "Realm? The Milwaukee Realm?": Oh yeah, freaks, the one and only. Near and dear to our hearts, as with other Wisconsin RR favorites Die Kreuzen and Last Crack, this one-hour and 14-minute episode explores, expounds and exhorts the mighty Realm…the Milwaukee one!
Note I:NO JOKE: if you can identify another Wisconsin band referenced in the description above, and explain the reference, RR will send you a Norweird prize package of CDs by Arcturus, Fleurety, Solefald, and Virus. Contact us if you decipher the code…Note II:We forgot to mention “Dick”! We had a blast recording this episode and listening back to the great Realm. And we turned over a lot of stones, but left this one unturned: “Dick”! It’s a song on Suiciety, and it’s easily the worst idea on either of the Realm albums. In fact, it’s the only truly lamentable moment. And really, it’s only the horrid chorus the ruins things. It’s an M.O.D.-wanna-be, and…well, it should be self-explanatory why it’s lame. Otherwise: HAIL REALM.Note III:Finally, after years of toil, Jeff’s Voivod book is finally available. You can purchase a copy of the 540-page, 3-pound behemoth…ONLY available in the US HERE: radicalresearch.org/voivod European distribution is here, please visit: https://rekviem.no/en-us/products/always-moving-the-strange-multiverse-of-voivod-book-preorderNote IV: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/RadicalResearchPodcastMusic cited in order of appearance:“Second Coming” (Perceptive Incentive demo, 1985)“The Temple” (Final Solution demo, 1987)“Endless War” (Endless War, 1988)“Slay the Oppressor” (Endless War, 1988)“Root of Evil” (Endless War, 1988)“Eleanor Rigby” (Endless War, 1988)“All Heads Will Turn to the Hunt” (Endless War, 1988)“Cain Rose Up (Scream Bloody Murder)” (Suiciety, 1990)“Fragile Earth” (Suiciety, 1990)“Energetic Discontent” (Suiciety, 1990)“The Brainchild” (Suiciety, 1990)“La Flamme’s Theory” (Suiciety, 1990)“One More Red Nightmare” (demo, 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 short episode is one that Jeff has been promising Hunter we’d get to eventually…and we finally did. Herein, Hunter is granted 12 minutes to make a case for this lost and mostly-forgotten ‘90s alterna-metal album, 'Dead to the World' by West Virginia's Chum.
Music cited in order of appearance:“Stepping on Cracks” (Dead to the World, 1996)“Greetings (From the Inner Self)” (Dead to the World, 1996)“Angels in the Snow” (Dead to the World, 1996)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.
“And she became a completely different woman…” With that line, Italy’s Monumentum sums up the Radical Research Christmas spirit circa 2025. Supernatural hokum or divine prophecy told by madmen? Either way, screw all this shopping nonsense and screw your reason for the season: this 1995 album by one of the most enigmatic of all Italian enigmas blasts a blasphemous light on everything sacred. And we, here, right now, at the end of a year that began in torture, shine a light. We don’t celebrate anniversaries -- not of the musings of Mammarella & company nor of the birth of the bastard child. Still, we acknowledge the 30 years this uncanny album has sustained us in a way no other can.Note I:Jeff’s Voivod book, 'Always Moving: The Strange Multiverse of Voivod,' is now available. You can purchase a copy of the 540-page, 3-pound behemoth...Available HERE: radicalresearch.org/voivod
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/RadicalResearchPodcastThank you to Rob Kachluba and Joe for recent donations!Note III:Any mention of John Norum and the Monumentum song “Terra Mater Ofranorum” are purely coincidental.
Music cited in order of appearance:all snippets taken from Monumentum, In Absentia Christii (1995), except where notedVisage, “Fade to Grey” (Visage, 1980)“Battesimo: Nero Opaco”“A Thousand Breathing Crosses”“Consuming Jerusalem”“Fade to Grey”“On Perspective of Spiritual Catharsis”“Σελυνης αγγελος”“From These Wounds”“Terra Mater Ofranorum”“Nephtali”“La Noia”
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.
Led by the estimable Percy Jones on bass and supported by a cast of elite co-conspirators, England's Brand X released a covey of essential fusion albums in the '70s and early '80s. Blending rock and jazz with uncommon aggression and dexterity, Brand X cuts across genres and decapitates rivals. Join us on this deep dive into one of fusion's oft-overlooked champions.
Note I:
Jeff’s Voivod book, Always Moving: The Strange Multiverse of Voivod, is finally available. Taking orders now for this 540-page, 3-pound behemoth…ONLY available HERE: radicalresearch.org/voivod
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
Music cited in order of appearance:“Nuclear Burn” (Unorthodox Behaviour, 1976)“Smacks of Euphoric Hysteria” (Unorthodox Behaviour, 1976)“Disco Suicide” (Moroccan Roll, 1977)“Macrocosm” (Moroccan Roll, 1977)“Access to Data” (Masques, 1978)“The Ghost of Mayfield Lodge” (Masques, 1978)“Don’t Make Waves” (Product, 1979)“Dance of the Illegal Aliens” (Product, 1979)“Act of Will” (Do They Hurt?, 1980)“Fragile” (Do They Hurt?, 1980)“Triumphant Limp” (Do They Hurt?, 1980)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 years (yes, we've been doing this a while now), various Radical Research listeners around the globe have asked us, "When is the Dark Millennium episode coming?" For Hunter, this would have been an easy answer: Anytime! For Jeff, a crash course in this interesting, challenging, wholly unique band was in order. Having boned up on the details, Jeff joins Hunter and those RR freakazoid listeners in hailing this band's first two albums, which we dissect readily in this episode. Tangents on Therion and graphite included...
Note I:Finally, after years of toil, Jeff’s Voivod book is finally available. Taking pre-orders now for this 540-page, 3-pound behemoth…'Always Moving: The Strange Multiverse of
Voivod' is ONLY available HERE: https://www.radicalresearch.org/voivod
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/RadicalResearchPodcastNote III:We are regularly posting newer and older episode to our Youtube channel. Please check that out here and please subscribe if you wanna aid in getting all our coverage into more people's feeds: https://www.youtube.com/@radicalresearchpodcast4942
Music cited in order of appearance:“Below the Holy Fatherlands” (Ashore the Celestial Burden, 1992)“Spiritual” (Ashore the Celestial Burden, 1992)“Inside the Sunburnt Thoughts of Frost” (Ashore the Celestial Burden, 1992)“The Atmosphere” (Ashore the Celestial Burden, 1992)“Dead in Love” (Diana Read Peace, 1993)“Brotherhood Sleep…Back to Treasureland” (Diana Read Peace, 1993)“Fatehistory” (Diana Read Peace, 1993)“Peace in My Hands” (Diana Read Peace, 1993)episode 137 preview: Brand X, “Not Good Enough…See Me!” (Product, 1979)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.
Listener and friend Paul Stolp prompted this conversation/episode, mentioning how he thought a “course correction” episode would be fun. What is a course correction? Paul offered the example of Judas Priest’s Ram it Down being the wipeout and Painkiller being the glorious correction. Naturally, this got our gears turning, and this is the conversation that resulted. As Hunter notes in this episode, “a course correction is not necessarily an achievement, but more that you got back on your path.” (Driving mishap analogies abound in this episode.) And we want to hear from you: what are YOUR favorite examples of the Course Correction?Note I:Finally, after years of toil, and then a tragedy, Jeff’s latest book (Always Moving: The Strange Multiverse of Voivod) is finally available. We're taking pre-orders now for this 540-page, 3-pound behemoth…ONLY available HERE: radicalresearch.org/voivod
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/RadicalResearchPodcastNote III:We are regularly posting newer and older episode to our Youtube channel. Please check that out here and please subscribe if you wanna aid in getting all our coverage into more people's feeds: https://www.youtube.com/@radicalresearchpodcast4942
Music cited in order of appearance:Celtic Frost, “Dance Sleazy” (Cold Lake, 1988)Celtic Frost, “Nemesis” (Vanity/Nemesis, 1990)Leviathan, “True Whorror” (True Traitor, True Whore, 2011)Leviathan, “Dawn Vibration” (Scar Sighted, 2015)Savatage, “Lady in Disguise” (Fight for the Rock, 1986)Savatage, “24 Hrs. Ago” (Hall of the Mountain King, 1987)Deadboy and the Elephantmen, “Misadventures of Dope” (We Are Night Sky, 2006)Dax Riggs, “Didn’t Know Yet What I’d Know When I Was Bleedin’” (We Sing of Only Blood or Love, 2007)episode 136 preview: Dark Millennium, “Mechanismeffects” (Diana Read Peace, 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.
2023 marks the 40th anniversary of Voivod, a band that are at the very heart of everything we do at Radical Research and everything we listen to as incorrigible music obsessives. In celebration, Voivod released Morgoth Tales, which finds the Mark V lineup (Snake, Away, Chewy, Rocky) covering songs from various past eras. For ourselves, we pay tribute by offering our longest and most in-depth episode yet, while also celebrating a landmark of our own. We invite all chaosmongers, nothingfaces, cockroaches and diehards across the schizophere to join us in celebration of the one, the only, the eternal VOIVOD!!!
Note I:
The reason for this relaunch of this episode is simple: Jeff's Voivod book ('Always Moving - The Strange Multiverse of Voivod') is imminent! You can reserve your copy of this 3 lb., 540-page behemoth here and ONLY here: radicalresearch.org/voivod/
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
Music cited in order of appearance:[all Voivod except where otherwise noted]intros from War and Pain, Killing Technology, Angel Rat, The Wake“Experiment” (Dimension Hatröss, 1988)“Blower” (War and Pain, 1984)“Ripping Headaches” (Rrröööaaarrr, 1986)Carnivore, “Carnivore” (Carnivore, 1985)“Forgotten in Space” (Killing Technology, 1987)Cave In, “Decay of the Delay” (Jupiter, 2000)“Cockroaches” (Killing Technology, 1987)“Psychic Vaccum” (Dimension Hatröss, 1988)“Brain Scan” (Dimension Hatröss, 1988)
Wartech, “Virtual Reality” (demo 1991)“Missing Sequences” (Nothingface, 1989)“Into My Hypercube” (Nothingface, 1989)“Inner Combustion” (Nothingface, 1989)King Crimson, “Larks’ Tongues in Aspic, Part Two” (Larks’ Tongues in Aspic, 1973)“Nuage Fractal” (Angel Rat, 1991)Alchemist, “Escape from the Black Hole” (Organasm, 2000)“Clouds in My House” (Angel Rat, 1991)Die Kreuzen, “Best Goodbye” (Cement, 1991)“Best Regards” (Angel Rat, 1991)“Freedoom” (Angel Rat, 1991)“Horror” (Rrröööaaarrr, 1986)Rush, “Natural Science” (Permanent Waves, 1980)Van Der Graaf Generator, “Man-Erg” (Pawn Hearts, 1971)“Moonbeam Rider” (The Outer Limits, 1993)“Time Warp” (The Outer Limits, 1993)“Phobos” (Phobos, 1997)“Temps Mort” (Phobos, 1997)“Neutrino” (Phobos, 1997)“Aware” (demo for unrealized 10th album, 2000)“Facing Up” (Voivod, 2003)“Divine Sun” (Voivod, 2003)“Polaroids” (Katorz, 2006)“Corps Etranger” (Target Earth, 2013) “Iconspiracy” (The Wake, 2018)“Always Moving” (The Wake, 2018)“Quest for Nothing” (Synchro Anarchy, 2022)
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.
Although Ukraine’s Drudkh may be best known for its trance-inducing, minimalist black metal, Radical Research makes a case for the band’s divisive 2009 and 2010 recordings, Microcosmos and A Handful of Stars, which explore new sonic geographies. We believe these oft-maligned records are worth your attention and hope that our discussion will convince you so.
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/RadicalResearchPodcastNote II:
All past Radical Research episodes can be found here, where you can also find Jeff’s Peter Steele book, Soul on Fire…and more to come soon! Radicalresearch.org Note III:We are regularly posting newer and older episode to our Youtube channel. Please check that out here and please subscribe if you wanna aid in getting all our coverage into more people's feeds: https://www.youtube.com/@radicalresearchpodcast4942
Music cited in order of appearance:“Distant Cries of Cranes” (Microcosmos, 2009)“Decadence” (Microcosmos, 2009)“Ars Poetica” (Microcosmos, 2009)“Dawnfall of the Epoch” (A Handful of Stars, 2010)“Towards the Light” (A Handful of Stars, 2010)“Twilight Aureole” (A Handful of Stars, 2010)“The Day Will Come” (A Handful of Stars, 2010)
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.
Jeff got this text from Hunter a couple months ago: "Gorguts 'Nostalgia' is a fascinating piece of music. A slice of late '90s avant-death that refers to Pearl Jam, nu metal, noise rock and Indian raga. I mean, Damn!" And I responded, "I mean, damn, that's a great idea for a Point 5 episode." We finally tackle this most important of observations...
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/RadicalResearchPodcastNote II:All past Radical Research episodes can be found here, where you can also find Jeff’s Peter Steele book, Soul on Fire…and more to come soon! Radicalresearch.org
Note III:We are regularly posting newer and older episode to our Youtube channel. Please check that out here and please subscribe if you wanna aid in getting all our coverage into more people’s feeds: https://www.youtube.com/@radicalresearchpodcast4942
Music cited in order of appearance:Gorguts, “Nostalgia” [five segments] (Obscura, 1998)Today is the Day, “Silver Tongue” (Supernova, 1993)Pearl Jam, “Oceans” (Ten, 1991)16, “A Real Piece of Work” (Blaze of Incompetence, 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.
If this conversation seems easy, it's because we are back in the cold waters of our favorite nation. Herein, we dig into the good deeds of Norway's often vexing but always pleasing The 3rd and the Mortal. We attempt to peel away the band's many layers and untangle its knotty evolution. Should you care about cutting-edge Norweird - and if you have stuck with us for all this time, surely you do - please join us on this most titillating conversation.Note I:
After all that flugelhorn talk, turns out Jeff mis-horned. It’s actually a crumhorn on Gryphon’s Red Queen to Gryphon Three album. A crumhorn!
Note II:
The Ulver song title we were trying to remember: “I Love You, but I Prefer Trondheim (Parts 1-4) (A. Wiltzie vs. Stars of the Lid remix)” (from First Decade in the Machines, 2003)
Note III: 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/RadicalResearchPodcastNote IV:
All past Radical Research episodes can be found here, where you can also find Jeff’s Peter Steele book, Soul on Fire…and more to come soon! Radicalresearch.org
Note V:
We are regularly posting newer and older episode to our Youtube channel. Please check that out here and please subscribe if you wanna aid in getting all our coverage into more people's feeds: https://www.youtube.com/@radicalresearchpodcast4942
Music cited in order of appearance:
“Ring of Fire” (Sorrow, 1994)“Why So Lonely” (Tears Laid in Earth, 1994)
“Death Hymn” (Tears Laid in Earth, 1994)
“In Mist Shrouded” (Tears Laid in Earth, 1994)
“Neurosis” (Nightswan, 1995)
“Commemoration” (Painting on Glass, 1996)
“Persistent and Fleeting” (Painting on Glass, 1996)
“Veiled Exposure” [two parts] (Painting on Glass, 1996)
“Stream” (In This Room, 1997)
“Sophisticated Vampires” (In This Room, 1997)
“Did You” (In This Room, 1997)“Zeppoliner” (Memoirs, 2002)
“Spider” (Memoirs, 2002)
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.
If Radical Research exists to dissect the most esoteric and weird and unique recordings in the spheres of rock and metal, then we are sorely overdue to feature the singular debut by Type O Negative. 'Slow, Deep and Hard' began life as Repulsion's one and only demo, 'None More Negative,' recorded in late 1989 and early 1990. After a name change and a contract with Roadrunner Records, the album was re-mastered, the song order re-configured, and the 7-minute "Glass Walls of Limbo (Dance Mix)" added, 'Slow, Deep and Hard' was born. Join us as we plunge into all the blood, fire and death of this completely unique album in the Type O Negative discography.
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/RadicalResearchPodcastNote II:
All past Radical Research episodes can be found here, where you can also find Jeff’s Peter Steele book, Soul on Fire…and more to come soon! Radicalresearch.org
Note III: Our Youtube channel is firing back up again. Please access it at the link provided and please SUBSCRIBE! You'll be helping us reach even more people with your subscription and views. We'll regularly be adding many more older episodes to the channel for your listening/viewing pleasure. https://www.youtube.com/@radicalresearchpodcast4942
Music cited in order of appearance:
[all from Type O Negative - Slow, Deep and Hard, 1991]“Unsuccessfully Coping With the Natural Beauty of Infidelity”“Der Untermensch”“Xero Tolerance”“Prelude to Agony”“Glass Walls of Limbo (Dance Mix)” “Gravitational Constant”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 was an unplanned conversation about an unplanned, unexpected, shocking event in our lives. It’s just Hunter and I talking about a dear friend that recently passed, one of our own leaving earthly bonds. And in our reveries and remembrances we left out so much: Tom Hailey was the beer/wine buyer at the Raleigh Whole Foods and held that position for many years there, beloved by the entire staff. He had a college radio metal show where he adopted the persona of The Unholy One and spoke to (no, COMMANDED!) his audience in a John Tardy-like roar. We also failed to mention the time Hunter and I, in 2019, listened to Voivod’s Nothingface with Tom, all of us air drumming, air guitaring, air bassing and singing every bit of it, all the way through……these and many more memories only scratch the surface of our friend Tom and why we’re going to miss him so damn much.
Note I:
CLOVER CAT RESCUE donation link: https://tinyurl.com/donate-CCR Please note "In Memory of Tom Hailey" when you give
or VENMO @clovercatrescue
Note II:
We think Tom would be amused by the gaff of a gaff Hunter makes when talking about post-Confessor bands. He said he called Fly Wheel Fly Leaf, when that band was actually named Fly Machine. Hunter knows a lot, and we can’t fault him for not knowing the specifics of post-Confessor tree branches.Note III:
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/RadicalResearchPodcastNote IV:
All past Radical Research episodes can be found here, where you can also find Jeff’s Peter Steele and Fates Warning books, Hunter’s Deserts of Hex Volume 2…and more to come soon! Radicalresearch.org
Music cited in order of appearance:
Die Kreuzen, “Elizabeth” (Century Days, 1988)
Forbidden, “Forbidden Evil” (Forbidden Evil, 1988)Confessor, “Condemned” (Condemned, 1991)Carcass, “Feast on Dismembered Carnage” (Reek of Putrefaction, 1988)The Champs, “Andres Segovia Interests Me” (III, 1997)The Chameleons, “A Person Isn’t Safe Anywhere These Days” (Script of the Bridge, 1983)
Everything Everything, “Pizza Boy” (Raw Data Feel, 2022)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.
When God decides to record his first metal album, he will be disappointed to remember that Obliveon already recorded its masterpiece, Nemesis, in the Year of Our Lord, 1993. On its latest episode, Radical Research conducts a much-belated investigation of the first two albums by Montreal's most underrated sons, Obliveon. In the early '90s, the band treated a small-but-fanatical audience to highly-advanced, cutting edge, cosmic death thrash in the forms of 1990's From This Day Forward and the aforementioned Nemesis. Still unsung after all these years, Radical Research is here to set the record straight and shed light on one of underground metal's true greats. Note I:
The “pointless, ridiculous 7 inch" Hunter mentions in this episode is this one, a Coroner covers split between his band, Canvas Solaris, and our phurry phriends phrom Pharaoh:https://www.discogs.com/release/2586288-Pharaoh-6-Canvas-Solaris-Tribute-To-Coroner
Note II:
Speaking of covers: Jeff mentions Agoraphobic Nosebleed’s cover of Voivod’s “Forgotten in Space.” He says the cover if about 6 minutes long, but it’s actually a shorter 3:48. Don’t trust Jeff on ANYTHING he says about Voivod…
Note III:
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/RadicalResearchPodcastNote IV:
All past Radical Research episodes can be found here, where you can also find Jeff’s Peter Steele and Fates Warning books, Hunter’s Deserts of Hex Volume 2…and more to come soon! Radicalresearch.org
Music cited in order of appearance:
“From this Day Forward” (From This Day Forward, 1990)
“Fiction of Veracity” (From This Day Forward, 1990)
“Access to the Acropolis” (From This Day Forward, 1990)
“Chronocraze” (From This Day Forward, 1990)
“Nemesis” (Nemesis, 1993)
“Obscure Mindways” (Nemesis, 1993)
“Factory of Delusions” (Nemesis, 1993)
“Strays of the Soul” (Nemesis, 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.
Norwegian vocalist Gaahl is a man who we deeply admire...his work with Gorgoroth and Trelldom, in particular, has a special place in the blackest ventricles of our hearts. Same, too, for his band Gaahls Wyrd, In our initial listens to the band's freshly-released (as of this writing and recording) Braiding the Stories album, we find ourselves facing one of the greatest post=black metal Norweird offerings in a decade. We are particularly excited by final song "Flowing Starlight," which we dissect here for your enlightenment and/or amusement.
Note I:
The Radical Research Patreon page is 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/RadicalResearchPodcastNote II:
All past Radical Research episodes can be found here, where you can also find Jeff’s Peter Steele biography, Soul on Fire...…and more to come soon! Radicalresearch.org
Music cited in order of appearance:
Gaahls Wyrd, "Flowing Starlight" (Braiding the Stories, 2025)
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.
Restless creative spirit Mat Kvohst McNerney has been roaming esoteric realms since the mid '90s, giving voice to a wide variety of bands, be it the international collective Code, Norweird supernovas Dodheimsgard, the Beastmilk/Grave Pleasures hauntings, and the incomparable Hexvessel, We feature these projects and more in this survey of one of the most distinctive vocalists we've ever had the pleasure to enjoy.
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
Music cited in order of appearance:
Vomitorium, “Rhapsody in Blasphemy” (Hauriam Oscula De Te demo, 1994)The Tragedians, “Stoneblind” (Krull demo, 1996)Void, “Pathogen Bombshell” (Posthuman, 2003)
Code, “A Cloud-Formed Teardrop Asylum” (Nouveau Gloaming, 2005)
Code, “I Hold Your Light“ (Resplendent Grotesque, 2009)Decrepit Spectre, “Stranded Angels” (Coal Black Hearses, 2008)Dodheimsgard, “Apocalypticism” (Supervillain Outcast, 2007)Dodheimsgard, “Chrome Balaclava” (Supervillain Outcast, 2007)Gangrenator, “Cyclops Tribes of Inner Earth” (Tales from a Thousand Graves, 2010)Beastmilk, “Fear Your Mind” (Climax, 2013)
Beastmilk, “Surf the Apocalypse” (Climax, 2013)
Grave Pleasures, “Infatuation Overkill” (Motherblood, 2017)
Hexvessel, “Bog Bodies” (Kindred, 2020)Hexvessel, “A Cabin in Montana” (Polar Veil, 2023)
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.
Inspired by Jeff's soot-damaged, waterlogged, promo-punched copy of his treasured US CD version of this 24-song behemoth, we take an hour and 40 minutes to revel in this intensely special 1990 compilation. The epitome of the Earache label at its peak, this was a fun episode to record, captured partly in Savannah while we hung out at Hunter's and partly remotely, from our separate outposts. From the ruins of a devastating fire...GRINDCRUSHER lives on Radical Research!
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/RadicalResearchPodcastNote II:
All past Radical Research episodes can be found here, where you can also find Jeff’s Peter Steele and Fates Warning books, Hunter’s Deserts of Hex Volume 2…and more to come soon! Radicalresearch.org
Music cited in order of appearance:Morbid Angel, "Chapel of Ghouls"Repulsion, "Radiation Sickness"Carcass, "Exhume to Consume"Godflesh, "Streetcleaner"Terrorizer, "Dead Shall Rise"Hellbastard, "Justly Executed"Carnage, "Malignant Epitaph"Naked City, "Osaka Bondage"Filthy Christians, "Extremely Bad Breath"Old Lady Drivers, "Colostomy Grab-Bag"Intense Degree, "I"ve Got a Cure"Sore Throat, "Horrendify and Kill"Napalm Death, "Malicious Intent"Entombed, "But Life Goes On"Nocturnus, "BC/AD"Bolt Thrower, "World Eater"Lawnmower Deth, "Satan's Trampoline"Cadaver, "Hypertrophian"Sweet Tooth, "Fat City"Mighty Force, "Thrashing a Dead House"Spazztic Blurr, "He-Not-A-Home-Me-Marco"Heresy, "Release"Unseen Terror, "Divisions"Napalm Death, "You Suffer"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're incorrigible Genesis fans. We hail every bit of output from 1970 to 1978. We even go further than that. But here, for episode 127, we stop and lovingly gaze at the band's final album of the '70s, the first after the departure of guitarist Steve Hackett, and a work that some mark as the band's departure from prog rock. Not so, say we! Spectral, ghostly, gauzy, playful, lush as all get-out...and total prog. We laud this fascinating transitional effort by one of the greatest bands of all time...prog or otherwise,
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/RadicalResearchPodcastNote II:
All past Radical Research episodes can be found here, where you can also find Jeff’s Peter Steele and Fates Warning books, Hunter’s Deserts of Hex Volume 2…and more to come soon! Radicalresearch.org
Music cited in order of appearance:
All songs from Genesis, And Then There Were Three (1978)
“Down and Out”
“Undertow”
“Ballad of Big”
“Snowbound”
“Burning Rope”
“Deep in the Motherlode”
“Many Too Many”
“Scenes from a Night’s Dream”
“Say It’s Alright Joe”
“The Lady Lies”
“Follow You, Follow Me”
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 126th episode, Radical Research travels to the farthest reaches of our favorite country and we do so with a rare companion, Agalloch lynchpin, John Haughm. In this episode, we dive into the discography of Thule, a progressive rock band that defies the rules of progressive rock. Dark, nocturnal, frozen, magical - Thule's seaborne prog offers the listener glimpses into forbidden worlds. We hope that this episode will seduce you into taking the risk that is well worth the reward.
Note I:
We were stoked as hell to have Agalloch’s John Haughm with us for this episode. As such, we go on even more tangents than when we get up to that nonsense when left alone. So, tangents on Emperor, on Genesis, on ZZ Top, and on much more as we trawl the murky, exotic waters of Thule.
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/RadicalResearchPodcastNote III:
All past Radical Research episodes can be found here, where you can also find Jeff’s Peter Steele and Fates Warning books, Hunter’s Deserts of Hex Volume 2…and more to come soon! Radicalresearch.org
Music cited in order of appearance:
“Supernova” (Graks, 1997)
“Krigens Ansikt” (as Ultima Thule, I Lovens Navn, 1985 demo)
“Over De Iskledte Fjell” (Ultima Thule, 1987)
“Kolonisasjon” (Ultima Thule, 1987)
“Håp” (Natt, 1990)
“Langfærd” (Natt, 1990)
“Den Store Ordan” (Frostbrent, 1993)
“Aeventyr” (Frostbrent, 1993)
“Daga” (Graks, 1997) into Minus the Bear, “Broken China” (Lost Loves, 2014)
“Soldansen” (Graks, 1997)
“Hjaerteslag” (Graks,1997)
“Liquid” (Liquid [Rock and Roll Dream], 2005
“Aurora B” (Liquid [Rock and Roll Dream], 2005)“Reason” (Liquid [Rock and Roll Dream], 2005)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.
Radical Research has risen! For our first episode following the tragic event of Jeff's house fire and the loss of members of his beautiful feline family, we have chosen to return with an exploration of one of the most emotional and intense albums of the 1990's, Anathema's Eternity. This album takes the weight of the profoundest Pink Floyd and marries it with the doom and feedback sorcery upon which Anathema built its reputation. Please join us for this most cathartic and, ultimately, affirmative of episodes.
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/RadicalResearchPodcastNote II:
All past Radical Research episodes can be found here, where you can also find Hunter’s Deserts of Hex Volume 2…and more to come soon! Radicalresearch.org
Music cited in order of appearance:
[all selections from Anathema’s Eternity, 1996]“Sentient”
“Angelica”
“The Beloved”
“Eternity Part 1”
“Eternity Part 2”
“Hope”
“Suicide Veil”
“Radiance”
“Far Away”
“Eternity Part 3”
“Cries on the Wind”
“Ascension”
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.
What started as a joke ("send us a $10,000 donation and we'll do an episode on Bathory's disasterpiece flop, 'Octagon'!") Well, we wondered what that kind of episode would be like, so we decided to just chat about it and see what happened. No big plan, no huge overarching analyses...just a little walk through the ugly, clattering eighth album by a man and band we absolutely worship. We count 'Octagon' as one of the worst two albums ever released by a legendary band...the other one, 'St. Anger' by Metallica, is even worse than this.
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/RadicalResearchPodcastNote 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:
“Crosstitution” (Requiem, 1994)
“Immaculate Pinetree Road #930” (Octagon, 1995)
“Schizianity” (Octagon, 1995)“Crawl to Your Cross” (1988 recording)
“Sociopath” (Octagon, 1995)“Grey” (Octagon, 1995)“Century” (Octagon, 1995)“War Supply” (Octagon, 1995)
“Deuce” (Octagon, 1995)“33 Something” (Octagon, 1995)“Born to Die” (Octagon, 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.
As Hunter so aptly calls it early in this short episode: “Fiend for Blood is an EP that is in the process of dying.”
After the classic Mental Funeral of 1991, Autopsy released the Fiend for Blood EP as its follow-up. Those who were there in 1991 would have already recognized Mental Funeral as a towering achievement of death metal and, indeed, time has proven us right on that score. But Fiend for Blood impressed less. It was even more garage-y, it was a mere 12 minutes, and, at first, it felt like a mere afterthought. In the thinking of at least one Radical Research host, however, it is the band’s second-best recording in their entire discography. We discuss this 12-minute EP in…well, a few more than 12 minutes.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/RadicalResearchPodcastNote 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:
“Fiend for Blood” (Fiend for Blood, 1992)
“Keeper of Decay” (Fiend for Blood, 1992)
“Squeal Like a Pig” (Fiend for Blood, 1992)
“Ravenous Freaks” (Fiend for Blood, 1992)
“Battery Acid Enema” (Acts of the Unspeakable, 1992)
“A Different Kind of Mindfuck” (Fiend for Blood, 1992)
“Dead Hole” (Fiend for Blood, 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.
Australia’s Vauxdvihl (or, for a short time, Vaudeville) came quickly, evolved swiftly, and left behind a beautiful corpus of 19 documented songs. We have stood in awe for three decades of this short but impressive discography, and episode 123 of our weird little podcast is an attempt to bring you into the Vauxdvihl fold. (Beware of the ridiculous amount of Fates Warning mentions here…or make a drinking game of it.)
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/RadicalResearchPodcastNote 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:
Intro: “Summoning” (Siberian Church Recordings, 2001)
“To Dimension Logic” (To Dimension Logic, 1994)
“Questions or Misanthropy” (To Dimension Logic, 1994)
“Separate Ends” (To Dimension Logic, 1994)
“Comedy of Errors” (To Dimension Logic, 1994)
“Philosophia Mosaica” (To Dimension Logic, 1994)
“In Search of Forever” (To Dimension Logic, 1994)
“Assassination” (Vog, 1998)
“The Funeral Party” (Vog, 1998)
“For the Son Has Gone to Hell” (Vog, 1998)
“Plots, (T or F) Are a Necessary Thing?” (Siberian Church Recordings, 2001)
“Isis/Pekt” (Siberian Church Recordings, 2001)
“Movement” (Siberian Church Recordings, 2001)
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.
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/RadicalResearchPodcastNote 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/RadicalResearchPodcastNote 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
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/RadicalResearchPodcastNote 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.
Switzerland’s deadliest export, Coroner, which sliced and sawed its way through the metal landscape of the ‘80s and early ‘90s, has finally found its way under the Radical Research microscope. From the savage thrashing mayhem of R.I.P. to the reclined elegance of its final missives, Radical Research dives deeply into the methods and madness of one of metal’s ablest battalions.
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/RadicalResearchPodcastNote 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:
“Pale Sister” (Mental Vortex, 1991)
“Son of Lilith” (Mental Vortex, 1991)“Spectators of Sin” (Death Cult demo, 1986)
“Coma” (R.I.P., 1987)
“Absorbed” (Punishment for Decadence, 1988)
“R.I.P.” (R.I.P., 1987)
“Shadow of a Lost Dream” (Punishment for Decadence, 1988)
Canvas Solaris, “Arc-Lite” (Tribute to Coroner, 2010)
“Paralized, Mesmerized” (Grin, 1993)
“D.O.A.” (No More Color, 1989)
“Tunnel of Pain” (No More Color, 1989)
“Read My Scars” (No More Color, 1989)
“Grin (Nails Hurt)” (Grin, 1993)“Shifter” (Coroner, 1995)
“Gliding Above While Being Below” (Coroner, 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.
A quick look at Queen’s “The Prophet’s Song,” its a cappella middle section, and the treatment it was given by one Jeff Scott Soto in various live performances. It’ll all make a little more sense when you listen…
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/RadicalResearchPodcastNote 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:
Queen, “The Prophet’s Song” (A Night at the Opera, 1975)
Jeff Scott Soto (fronting Sons of Apollo), “The Prophet’s Song” (live in Orlando, FL, February 2018)
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.
Is there an album more representative of this podcast's main focus? Not outside of Norway, there isn’t. Montréal’s DBC (Dead Brain Cells) released ‘Universe’ in 1989, a tech-y cosmic opus of 37:26 that manages to cover the big bang, the evolution of life, the fall of the dinosaurs, man’s eventual dominance on Earth, and humanity's possible future in the album's brief but eventful duration. Join us as we spelunk through the black holes and blocky, monolithic riffs of DBC's second and final album…
Note I:
All Ye Who Enter: Tangents on other Canadian metal bands will happen throughout this episode. And a Swiss one, too. And time machines…and the moon…and Phil Anselmo’s Mind Over Four shirt.
Note II:
Although Hunter claims Garth Richardson (aka GGGarth) produced Helmet’s Betty, the RR fact-checking department can find no evidence that the guy was anywhere near that album. Hunter apologizes and says, “Total brain fart. It was T-Ray [Todd Ray].”
Note III:
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/RadicalResearchPodcastNote IV:
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:
[all snippets from DBC, Universe, 1989]
“The Genesis Explosion”
“Heliosphere”
“Primordium”
“Exit the Giants”
“Rise of Man”
“Estuary”
“Humanity’s Child”
“Phobos & Deimos”
“Threshold” “Infinite Universe”
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 a “careful for what you wish for” kind of thing. For years and years, we hoped that we could hear the mighty Steve DiGiorgio’s bass work with more clarity on Death’s 1991 masterpiece, Human. Once we could, thanks to the 2011 reissue, we relented and realized we preferred the original version after all. We present this mini-episode in good humor and with an anxious heart, because we hope no one, least of all DiGiorgio himself, understands this is not a critique of his playing. The man is a god to us…we just prefer the original sound of the 1991 ‘Human’ over the 2011 reissue. This shit’s important!
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/RadicalResearchPodcastNote 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:
Death, “See Through Dreams” (Human, 1991 [2011 reissue])
Death, “Suicide Machine” (Human, 1991 [2011 reissue])
Death, “Vacant Planets” (Human, 1991 [2011 reissue])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.
Operating outside of the metal infrastructure, but heralding its glory and complexity more so than most “true” metal bands, The Fucking Champs, in their 1994-2007 rampage, cobbled together elements of Trouble, Confessor, Don Caballero, and Kraftwerk and reshaped the geometric possibilities of math metal, all with the insouciance of its indie rock roots. Please join us as we attempt to solve this riddle wrapped in a conundrum. You’ve got a thirst, Portland!Note I:
We talk about the various name changes our San Franciscan heroes have endured…from The Champs to C4AM95 to The Fucking Champs. We failed to mention what might be our favorite name, one they never recorded under but adopted for a short spell: The Champs UK.
Note II:
Apologies for the confusion on the tracks we sample from V. You’ll hear the correction within the episode, and the correct song titles are noted below. Drag City, we are pissed! But…we’re already over it.
Note III:
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/RadicalResearchPodcastNote IV:
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: “Lamplighter” (IV, 2000)“Guns in Our Schools” (Triumph of the Air Elementals demo, 1994)
“So Then I Was All Why’d You Say Fuck My Style” (Songs for Films About Rock demo, 1994)
“Merry Go Round” (Songs for Films About Rock demo, 1994)
“Flawless Victory” (III, 1997)
“Heart to Heart” (III, 1997)
“Tonight, We Ride” (III, 1997)
“These Glyphs Are Dusty” (IV, 2000)
“Esprit De Corpse” (IV, 2000)
“Thor is Like Immortal” (IV, 2000)
“Children Perceive the Hoax Cluster” (V, 2002)
“I Am the Album Cover” (V, 2002)
“Major Airbro’s Landing” (V, 2002)
“A Forgotten Chapter in the History of Ideas” (VI, 2007)“Dolores Park” (VI, 2007)“Earthen Sculptor” (VI, 2007)
ep. 120 preview: DBC, “Infinite Universe” (Universe, 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.
Sometimes it takes a while to come around to an album. In our case, it took 28 years with Cryptopsy’s second album, None So Vile. Better late than never. We repent!!!
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/RadicalResearchPodcastNote 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:
RR listener Joseph Schafer pointed out that we incorrectly credited the sample at the beginning of 'None So Vile.' It is, in fact, from the film 'The Exorcist III: The Heretic.' Our apologies and thanks, Joseph, for helping us come correct!
Music cited in order of appearance:
All from Cryptopsy, None So Vile (1996)
“Slit Your Guts”
“Orgiastic Disembowelment”
“Crown of Horns”
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 one-long-song album is a rare event in the metal genre, and a tough assignment to tackle and get right. We hold up these five albums as the finest examples of the approach. While it’s difficult to convey their scope in snippet form, we tried our best and had a lot of fun doing so. (Incidentally, this also happens to be one of our longest-ever episodes!) Join us, even if these albums only have one good song on them…
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/RadicalResearchPodcastNote 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:
Renaissance, “The Death of Art” (The Death of Art, 1994)
Edge of Sanity, “Crimson” (Crimson, 1996)
Sabbat, “The Dwelling – The Melody of Death Mask” (The Dwelling, 1996)
Fates Warning, “A Pleasant Shade of Gray” part 5 & 11 (A Pleasant Shade of Gray, 1997)
Green Carnation, “Light of Day, Day of Darkness” (Light of Day, Day of Darkness, 2001)
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.
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/RadicalResearchPodcastNote 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.
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/RadicalResearchPodcastNote 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.
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/RadicalResearchPodcastNote 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)
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.
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/RadicalResearchPodcastNote 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:
Buy Mourning Sign stuff at Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/artist/268458-Mourning-Sign
Note II:
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:
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 II:
Please consider donating if you listen to Radical Research often: https://www.paypal.me/rrpodcastWe 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:
Please consider donating if you listen to Radical Research often: https://www.paypal.me/rrpodcastWe 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:
Please consider donating if you listen to Radical Research often: https://www.paypal.me/rrpodcastWe 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.
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:
Please consider donating if you listen to Radical Research often: https://www.paypal.me/rrpodcastWe 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:
Please consider donating if you listen to Radical Research often: https://www.paypal.me/rrpodcastWe 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.
The body of critical study - and fan adoration - around the music of Napalm Death has concerned itself principally with the band's pioneering grindcore and its transition into the death metal of Harmony Corruption. But what of the band's wilderness years, the mid- to late-1990s? The 108th episode of Radical Research digs into what its hosts consider to be Napalm Death's most radical music, the four-album futurist blitzkrieg spanning the years 1994-1998. Get ready for some serious side-eye, Legions, as we cross over into the torn apart.
Note I:
In the episode, Hunter mentions Ian Christe's writing on the band's 1994 album, Fear, Emptiness, Despair. In Christe's Sound of the Beast, he writes that the album, "...started a fresh chapter in the history of a band whose membership half-life had once lasted no longer than an album side. Previous urban hardcore noise blasts were mowed by sophisticated guitar layering and innovative drum patterns. Their dissonance became a conscious component of the composition, not merely a side benefit of chaos, and the marriage of intense anger and calculation yielded a masterpiece of passionate, politically minded, negative realism."
Note II:
In an act of gall, the scalar dimensions of which could only be compared to the Pacific Ocean, Mont Blanc, and John Holmes' ballistic member, Christe includes Fear, Emptiness, Despair in his list of the 25 Greatest Heavy Metal Albums of All Time. The list includes other controversial entries, such as Morbid Angel's Formulas Fatal to the Flesh, and Dream Death's rarely-trumpeted but mighty Journey Into Mystery.
Note III:
In our excitement, we failed to mention the men who produced these albums. All were produced by the estimable Colin Richardson, except Fear, Emptiness, Despair, which was handled by Pete Coleman. Only one of these gentlemen have played flute on a Skyclad album.
Note IV:
Please consider donating if you listen to Radical Research often: https://www.paypal.me/rrpodcastWe 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:
“The Infiltraitor” (Words from the Exit Wound, 1998)“Plague Rages” (Fear, Emptiness, Despair, 1994)
“Primed Time” (Fear, Emptiness, Despair, 1994)“Fasting on Deception” (Fear, Emptiness, Despair, 1994)
“Ripe for the Breaking” (Diatribes, 1996)
“Take the Strain” (Diatribes, 1996)
“Diatribes” (Diatribes, 1996)
“Birth in Regress” (Inside the Torn Apart, 1997)
“Prelude” (Inside the Torn Apart, 1997)
“Lowpoint” (Inside the Torn Apart, 1997)
“None the Wiser?” (Words from the Exit Wound, 1998)
“Trio-Degradable / Affixed by Disconcern” (Words from the Exit Wound, 1998)
“The Infiltraitor” (Words from the Exit Wound, 1998)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 a podcast that traffics in all things wild and mind-expanding, the subject of our 107th episode makes everything else feel stone-cold sober by comparison. The fifth album by Sweden's Tiamat, A Deeper Kind of Slumber, luxuriates in the wan, reclined possibilities of Leary biscuits and Psilocybin dreams. This episode paddles along the hallucinatory waters of Tiamat's final masterpiece and resolves itself to the album's irreconcilable mysteries.
Note I:
Please consider donating if you listen to Radical Research often: https://www.paypal.me/rrpodcastWe 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: “The Ar” (Wildhoney, 1994)
“The Southernmost Voyage” (The Astral Sleep, 1991)“A Caress of Stars” (Clouds, 1992)“Do You Dream of Me?” (Wildhoney, 1994)
“Cold Seed” (A Deeper Kind of Slumber, 1997)“Teonanacatl” (A Deeper Kind of Slumber, 1997)“Trillion Zillion Centipedes” (A Deeper Kind of Slumber, 1997)
‘The Desolate One” (A Deeper Kind of Slumber, 1997)“Atlantis as a Lover” (A Deeper Kind of Slumber, 1997)
“Alteration X 10” (A Deeper Kind of Slumber, 1997)
“Four Leary Biscuits” (A Deeper Kind of Slumber, 1997)
“Only In My Tears It Lasts” (A Deeper Kind of Slumber, 1997)
“The Whores of Babylon” (A Deeper Kind of Slumber, 1997)
“Kite” (A Deeper Kind of Slumber, 1997)
“Phantasma De Luxe” (A Deeper Kind of Slumber, 1997)
“Mount Marilyn” (A Deeper Kind of Slumber, 1997)
“A Deeper Kind of Slumber” (A Deeper Kind of Slumber, 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.
We tend to skew toward the past in our explorations with Radical Research, uncovering sounds we feel are overlooked and/or underrated. We’re breaking our usual time travel approach and focusing solely on some new metal music that thrilled us in 2023 and one very fresh entry for 2024. It’s not 1986 or 1991 anymore, obviously, but 2023 was a great year for new music, metal and otherwise. Herein, we delve into the greatness that is Ontological Mysterium (Horrendous), In But Not Of (Afterbirth), Andermans Mijne (Laster), and The Deepening (Vemod). Metal lives? Metal lives!!!
Note I:
Please consider donating if you listen to Radical Research often: https://www.paypal.me/rrpodcastWe also have a webstore where you can find shirts, CDs, and books, many of them recently restocked:
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Music cited in order of appearance:
Horrendous, “Neon Leviathan” (Ontological Mysterium, 2023)
Horrendous, “Preterition Hymn” (Ontological Mysterium, 2023)
Horrendous, “Exeg(en)esis” (Ontological Mysterium, 2023)
Afterbirth, “Devils With Dead Eyes” (In But Not Of, 2023)Afterbirth, “Vivisected Psychopomp” (In But Not Of, 2023)
Afterbirth, “Hovering Human Head Drones” (In But Not Of, 2023)
Laster, “Poëtische Waarheid” (Andermans Mijne, 2023)Laster, “Onzichtbare Muur” (Andermans Mijne, 2023)
Laster, “Doodgeboren” (Andermans Mijne, 2023)
Vemod, “Der Guder Dør” (The Deepening, 2024)Vemod, “The Deepening” (The Deepening, 2024)
Ep. 107 preview: Tiamat, “Atlantis as a Lover” (A Deeper Kind of Slumber, 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.
For Episode 105, Radical Research follows the lead of musical polyglot and overachiever, Steven Wilson. Inspired by Wilson's recently-curated, Intrigue: Progressive Sounds in UK Alternative Music 1979-1989, this episode traces out the music found on the first disc of this four-volume edition, digging into such varied artists as Public Image Ltd., John Foxx, In Camera, and This Heat. This constitutes the first in a four-part series around Wilson's collection, which we will revisit occasionally throughout 2024. Should you have any interest in the rich mosaic of the late 1970s/early 1980s UK underground, tune in, turn on, and experiment out.
Note I:
As mentioned late in the episode, here is further reading on the Durutti Column’s sandpaper packaging of their Return of the Durutti Column album: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Return_of_the_Durutti_Column
Note II:
Please consider donating if you listen to Radical Research often: https://www.paypal.me/rrpodcastWe 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: Peter Hammill, “Nobody’s Business” (Nadir’s Big Chance, 1975)
[all snippets in this episode are taken from the Intrigue compilation; the following indicates where the songs initially appeared]
Wire, “I Should Have Known Better” (154, 1979)
Bill Nelson’s Red Noise, “A Better Home in the Phantom Zone” (Sound on Sound, 1979)
Magazine, “Back to Nature” (Secondhand Daylight, 1979)
XTC, “Complicated Game” (Drums and Wires, 1979)Public Image Ltd, “Careering” (Metal Box, 1979)The Stranglers, “The Raven” (The Raven, 1979)Punishment of Luxury, “Puppet Life” (Puppet Life 7”, 1979)Ultravox, “Astradyne” (Vienna, 1980)
Gang of Four, “Contract” (Entertainment!, 1979)
Simple Minds, “I Travel” (Empires and Dance, 1980)
The Durutti Column, “Sketch for Summer” (The Return of the Durutti Column, 1980)
This Heat, “Health and Efficiency” (Health and Efficiency [EP], 1980)
John Foxx, “Burning Car” (Burning Car 7”, 1980) Robert Fripp and the League of Gentlemen, “Cognitive Dissonance” (The League of Gentlemen, 1981)In Camera, “The Fatal Day” (Fin [EP], 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.
As is so often the case, Radical Research, for its 104th episode, finds itself in Norway, only this time to investigate the psycho-necrotic brutality of Oslo’s Diskord. At once garage-y, asymmetric, and morbid, Diskord hawks death-wares that invite listeners to stroll through the hallways of the weird metal madhouse. Only death and Norway are real.
Note I:
Thanks to Tim Hammond for the Oscillations mp3s. We only had the vinyl and no digital version, and we knew who to turn to. Thanks Tim, you are a fucking champ!Note II:
Wagner was thinking “Funebrarum” but said “Encoffination.” Please forgive a mind way too filled up with this otherworldly nonsense. Thank you. The point still stands, re: the rise of Funebarum and other similar combos in early Incantation mode around 2007.
Note III:
Wagner and Ginn are both huge fans of Autopsy up to and including Tourniquets, Hacksaws and Graves (2014). In fact, both, weirdly, believe that album to be the best of Era II Autopsy. Things after that are fine if all you want is more of that. But we wanted more than that. But goddamn we love the fuck out of Autopsy. Fiend for Blood FTW.
Note IV:
Please consider donating if you listen to Radical Research often: https://www.paypal.me/rrpodcastWe 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:“Pervasive Discreetness” (Doomscapes, 2007)
“Reptilian Ancestry” (Doomscapes, 2007)
“Instauration” (Doomscapes, 2007)
“Overseer” (Dystopics, 2012)
“Psychotic Process” (Dystopics, 2012)
“Rambling Words from a Sore Throat” (Dystopics, 2012)
“Horrid Engine” (Oscillations, 2014)
“Hermit Dream” (Oscillations, 2014)
“Loitering in the Portal” (Degenerations, 2021)
“Dragged for Coronation” (Degenerations, 2021)
“Gnashing” (Degenerations, 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.
Death, humor, society? Who doesn't love these things? Radical Research certainly does! So, it should come as no surprise that we chose the second album by Houston, Texas' Dead Horse as the subject of our 103rd episode. Peaceful Death and Pretty Flowers, released by Big Chief Records in 1991, plunders the remotest corners of thrash, hardcore, and mangled death as fodder for its singular brand of knee-slappin' brutality. Join us for this rather less than peaceful episode.
Note I:
Please consider donating if you listen to Radical Research often: https://www.paypal.me/rrpodcastWe 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 tracks from Dead Horse’s Peaceful Death and Pretty Flowers, 1991
“Cod Piece Face”
“Turn”
“La La Song”
“Like Asrielle”
“The Latent Stage”
“Peaceful Death”
“Eulogy”
“Snowdogs”
“The Lark Nest”
“Medulla Oblongata”
“Aplo”
“Rock Lobster”
“Sawbone”
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.
Forged in the crucible of the Tri-State hardcore and thrash scenes, New York City's Into Another released three genre-defying albums that blend together -- seemlessly -- the disparate sensibilities of its members. The band's membership boasts a heritage that includes such stalwart acts as Whiplash and Youth of Today, though Into Another's rich, mystical rock hardly betrays those roots. Episode 102 of Radical Research does its best to reveal the treasures of this tragically-overlooked band.
Note I:
Please consider donating if you listen to Radical Research often: https://www.paypal.me/rrpodcastWe 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:
“Robot Whales” (Into Another, 1991)“Underlord” (Into Another, 1991)
“While I Die” (Into Another, 1991)
“As It Were” (Into Another, 1991)
“Laughing at Oblivion” (Ignaurus, 1994)“Maritime Murder” (Ignaurus, 1994)“William” (Ignaurus, 1994)
“Mutate Me” (Seemless, 1995)
“Locksmiths & Lawyers” (Seemless, 1995)
“For a Wounded Wren” (Seemless, 1995)
“Crossed” (Omens, 2017)
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.
HUNTER's NOTES
After several years of perdition, silence, and melancholy, Oslo’s Ulver, a totem of the Radical Research faith, released, in 2005, its sixth full-length album, the manic and panicked Blood Inside. The album has inspired divisive opinions and obsessive worship. Its nine songs come together like a house of mirrors, where every lunatic fantasy, every fear, every shameful ecstasy, is reflected and refracted back into the listener’s ears. Radical Research takes a firm position in defense of the album’s genius.
Note I:
Please consider donating if you listen to Radical Research often: https://www.paypal.me/rrpodcastWe 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:
“Not Saved” (Silencing the Singing, 2001)
“Surface” (Svidd Neger, 2003)“Doom Sticks” (A Quick Fix of Melancholy, 2003)“Dressed in Black” (Blood Inside, 2005)
“For the Love of God” (Blood Inside, 2005)
“Christmas” (Blood Inside, 2005)
“Blinded by Blood” (Blood Inside, 2005)
“It Is Not Sound” (Blood Inside, 2005)
“The Truth” (Blood Inside, 2005)
“In the Red” (Blood Inside, 2005)
“Your Call” (Blood Inside, 2005)
“Operator” (Blood Inside, 2005)
/
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.
2023 marks the 40th anniversary of Voivod, a band that are at the very heart of everything we do at Radical Research and everything we listen to as incorrigible music obsessives. In celebration, Voivod released Morgoth Tales, which finds the Mark V lineup (Snake, Away, Chewy, Rocky) covering songs from various past eras. For ourselves, we pay tribute by offering our longest and most in-depth episode yet, while also celebrating a landmark of our own. We invite all chaosmongers, nothingfaces, cockroaches and diehards across the schizophere to join us in celebration of the one, the only, the eternal VOIVOD!!!
Please consider donating if you listen to Radical Research often: https://www.paypal.me/rrpodcastWe 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 Voivod except where otherwise noted]intros from War and Pain, Killing Technology, Angel Rat, The Wake“Experiment” (Dimension Hatröss, 1988)“Blower” (War and Pain, 1984)“Ripping Headaches” (Rrröööaaarrr, 1986)Carnivore, “Carnivore” (Carnivore, 1985)“Forgotten in Space” (Killing Technology, 1987)Cave In, “Decay of the Delay” (Jupiter, 2000)“Cockroaches” (Killing Technology, 1987)“Psychic Vaccum” (Dimension Hatröss, 1988)“Brain Scan” (Dimension Hatröss, 1988)“Missing Sequences” (Nothingface, 1989)“Into My Hypercube” (Nothingface, 1989)“Inner Combustion” (Nothingface, 1989)King Crimson, “Larks’ Tongues in Aspic, Part Two” (Larks’ Tongues in Aspic, 1973)“Nuage Fractal” (Angel Rat, 1991)Alchemist, “Escape from the Black Hole” (Organasm, 2000)“Clouds in My House” (Angel Rat, 1991)Die Kreuzen, “Best Goodbye” (Cement, 1991)“Best Regards” (Angel Rat, 1991)“Freedoom” (Angel Rat, 1991)“Horror” (Rrröööaaarrr, 1986)Rush, “Natural Science” (Permanent Waves, 1980)Van Der Graaf Generator, “Man-Erg” (Pawn Hearts, 1971)“Moonbeam Rider” (The Outer Limits, 1993)“Time Warp” (The Outer Limits, 1993)“Phobos” (Phobos, 1997)“Temps Mort” (Phobos, 1997)“Neutrino” (Phobos, 1997)“Aware” (demo for unrealized 10th album, 2000)“Facing Up” (Voivod, 2003)“Divine Sun” (Voivod, 2003)“Polaroids” (Katorz, 2006)“Corps Etranger” (Target Earth, 2013) “Iconspiracy” (The Wake, 2018)“Always Moving” (The Wake, 2018)“Quest for Nothing” (Synchro Anarchy, 2022)
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 98 episodes, the pilots of Radical Research have gone it together. Mind you, the hosts have had some curatorial help along the way (Jason William Walton and Forrest Pitts, please take a bow). But on the eve of episode 100, Radical Research has called on two of its most stalwart allies, the estimable Thomas Nul and Brian Grebenz. Over the course of almost two hours, this veritable Roman Senate chews on the hard-hitting issues that occupy the minds of all right-thinking citizens of the Research Republic. We invite you to turn on and tune in to this symposium of sickness.
Note I:
Please consider donating if you listen to Radical Research often: https://www.paypal.me/rrpodcastWe 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:
Genesis, “Dodo / Lurker” (Abacab, 1981)Black Sabbath, “The Eternal Idol” (Eternal Idol, 1987)
King Crimson, “Discipline” (Discipline, 1981)
Celtic Frost, “(Once) They Were Eagles” (Cold Lake, 1988)
A Forest of Stars, “Premature Invocation” (Grave Mounds and Grave Mistakes, 2018)
Jethro Tull, “Thick as a Brick” (Thick as a Brick, 1971)
Slayer, “The Final Command” (Show No Mercy, 1983)
Acanthus, “Le Frisson des Vampires” (Le Frisson des Vampires, 1971)
Journey, “Of a Lifetime” (Journey, 1975)
Unearthly Trance, “Penta(grams)” (In the Red, 2004)
episode 100 preview: Voivod, “Temps Mort” (Phobos, 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.
Formed in 1998 in the Hertfordshire region of England, The Meads of Asphodel are a special, experimental heavy metal band with many distinctive and beguiling qualities. So why did it take one of the Radical Research hosts 24 years to acquire a taste for the Meads? We don’t have the answer, but in this episode, Jeff runs down all his favorite aspects of Meads while Hunter listens, corroborates and discusses this better-late-than-never obsession.
Note I:
This is from the main page of the Meads of Asphodel website, https://www.themeadsofasphodel.co.uk/: “Experimental extreme metal band The Meads of Asphodel believe in all peoples’ right to live in peace, free from the shackles of inflicted dogma and servitude.” Damn straight!
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:
“Psalm 666” (Damascus Steel, 2005)
“Christ’s Descent into Hell” (Brittania Infernus compilation, 2002) “A Healer Made God” (Exhuming the Grave of Yeshua, 2003)
“Send My Love to Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz” (Sonderkommando, 2013)
“Jezebel and the Philistines” (The Excommunication of Christ, 2001)
“On Graven Images I Glide Beyond the Monstrous Gates of Pandemonium to Face the Baptized Warriors of Yahweh in the Skull-Littered Plain of Esdraelon” (Exhuming the Grave of Yeshua, 2003)
“Boiled in Hell Broth and Grave Dust” (The Murder of Jesus the Jew, 2010)
“Jew Killer” (The Murder of Jesus the Jew, 2010)
“Sword of the East” (Damascus Steel, 2005)
“Hourglass of Ash” (Sonderkommando, 2013)
“Black is Black & White is White” (Running Out of Time Doing Nothing, 2019) “Like Blood Shaped Flakes of Snow” (Running Out of Time Doing Nothing, 2019) “Nazi” (English Punk Black Metal, 2010 split)
“My Psychotic Sand Deity” (The Murder of Jesus the Jew, 2010)
“Addicted to God” (The Murder of Jesus the Jew, 2010) “Weeping Tears of Angel Light” (The Excommunication of Christ, 2001)
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.
Is heaviness a quantifiable aspect of music? Can a piece of music display such weight, such heft, that the listener can only accept its heaviness as fact? Radical Research says “Yes,” and we are here to offer evidence. For our 97th episode, we take our second trip down under to survey the concise but mighty discography of Disembowelment. We invite you to join us as we dig into the cryptic horrors of this otherworldly music. But be warned: research rarely gets this heavy.
Note I:
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 – Mourning September” (Mourning September demo, 1990)
“Impoverished Filth” (Mourning September demo, 1990)
“Thou Messiah” (Mourning September demo, 1990) “Extracted Nails” (Pantalgia – An International Death Metal Compilation, 1992) “River of Salvation (My Divine Punishment)” (Deep Sensory Procession into Aural Fate demo, 1991)
“As Your Soul Befalls…” (Deep Sensory Procession into Aural Fate demo, 1991)
“The Tree of Life and Death” (Transcendence into the Peripheral, 1993)
“Your Prophetic Throne of Ivory” (Transcendence into the Peripheral, 1993)
“Excoriate” (Transcendence into the Peripheral, 1993)
“Nightside of Eden” (Transcendence into the Peripheral, 1993)
“A Burial at Ornans” (Transcendence into the Peripheral, 1993)
“The Spirits of the Tall Hills” (Transcendence into the Peripheral, 1993)
“Cerulean Transience of All My Imagined Shores” (Transcendence into the Peripheral, 1993) “Outro” (Mourning September demo, 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.
The Southeastern United States, from whence Radical Research is broadcast, has long prided itself on its sundry wrestling traditions. From the bare-chested hectoring of the SoCon to the gator-tangling of Central Florida, southerners approach wrestling with a sense of birthright authority. But today we face a new challenger: taxonomy. The second full-length album by Germany’s Disillusion, the forbidding Gloria, is an oil-rubbed beast that slips away from our every attempt to ensnare it with our inadequate classifications. We invite you to tune in to our 96th episode and declare, once and for all, a victor in this battle of equivocation.
Note I:
Please consider donating if you listen to Radical Research often: https://www.paypal.me/rrpodcastWe 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 selection from Disillusion, Gloria, 2006]
“The Black Sea”
“Dread It”
“Don’t Go Any Further”
“Avalanche”
“Gloria”
“Aerophobic”
“The Hole We Are In”
“Save the Past”
“Lava”
“Too Many Broken Cease Fires”
“Untiefen”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.
Herein we present the third and likely final installment of our Bad-Ass Fusion Decapitations series. We repeat two bands previously featured on other episodes (Kraan, King Crimson) and bring you eight more missives from the deepest cosmos. Watch that noggin of yours -- the headhunters are abound tonight!Note I:
As noted within the episode, here’s that link to “Study the Greats”:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIXBu_uoCQk
Note II:
As this is likely the final installment of Bad-Ass Fusion Decapitations, here are the first two, in case you missed them or want a refresher course:
Part 1: https://radicalresearch.org/episode-5-ten-bad-ass-fusion-decapitations-mahavishnu-orchestra-return-to-forever-colosseum-area/
Part 2: https://radicalresearch.org/episode-73-bad-ass-fusion-decapitations-part-2/
Note III:
Please consider donating if you listen to Radical Research often: https://www.paypal.me/rrpodcastWe 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:
Al Di Meola, “Flight Over Rio” (Elegant Gypsy, 1977)Bruford, “Beelzebub” (Feels Good to Me, 1978)Ian Carr, “Remadione” (Belladonna, 1972)
Ain Soph, “Crossfire” (A Story of Mysterious Forest, 1980)
Transit Express, “Disparition” (Opus Progressif, 1976)Herbie Hancock, “Palm Grease” (Thrust, 1974)
Kraan, “Rund Um Die Uhr” (Wiederhoren, 1977)
King Crimson, “Neurotica” (November 22, 2017, Ann Arbor, Michigan)Mats/Morgan Band, “Min Hast” (Live, 2001, recorded 1999)
Soft Machine, “Hazard Profile, Part Five” (Bundles, 1975)
Episode 96 preview: Disillusion, “Don’t Go Any Further” (Gloria, 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.
Over the course of its previous 93 episodes, Radical Research has banged, thrashed, and decapitated but never before has it waltzed. That ends now. Formed as Aslan in 1985, San Diego's Psychotic Waltz released four full-length albums in the ‘90s, each of which challenges all received notions of "progressive metal." Despite being one the most even-handed of metal bands -- not a weak link in the psychotic chain -- this episode pays particular attention to the uncanny, elegant guitar playing of Dan Rock and Brian McAlpin. Their entangled, spiraling guitar tendrils push the instrument to the point of apotheosis in the context of heavy metal. But there is room for all the rug-cutters at this hoedown. Put on your dancing shoes and come join us.
Note I:
Not anything to do with Psychotic Waltz, but we’ve been informed that….”Hunter Wagner” is protagonist’s name in a concept album by a band called Scapegrace and their The Abyss Swallows album. https://scapegracebc.bandcamp.com/track/the-abyss-swallows
Note II:
Please consider donating if you listen to Radical Research often: https://www.paypal.me/rrpodcastWe 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:
“And The Devil Cried” (A Social Grace, 1990)
“Another Prophet Song” (A Social Grace, 1990)
“I of the Storm” (A Social Grace, 1990)
“Out of Mind” (Into the Everflow, 1992)
“Into the Everflow” (Into the Everflow, 1992)
“Little People” (Into the Everflow, 1992)
“Haze One” (Mosquito, 1994)
“Cold” (Mosquito, 1994)
“Only Time” (Mosquito, 1994)
“Faded” (Bleeding, 1996)
“Bleeding” (Bleeding, 1996)
“Northern Lights” (Bleeding, 1996)
“My Grave” (Bleeding, 1996)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.
When a member of a fringe Swedish death metal band makes a request, Radical Research heeds the call. To that end, RR episode 93 is a response to Philip Von Segebaden’s (Afflicted) appeal for a song-by-song analysis of Swallowed in Black by California’s preeminent thrash metal assassins, Sadus. Though apparently a bit outside of the RR wheelhouse, our dissection will reveal traces of the weirdness upon which this house is built. Should poser-killing, gravity-defying metal violence be your poison, consider this your invitation to the Last Abide. If not, then Good Rid’nz.
Note I:
The Steve DiGiorgio playlist from the History of Metal magazine (1994) mentioned around the 15-minute mark is as follows:Psychotic Waltz – A Social Grace
Black Sabbath – Never Say Die
Voivod – Nothingface
Ozzy Osbourne – Bark at the Moon
D.B.C. – Universe
Possessed – Beyond the Gates
Anacrusis – Screams and Whispers
Rainbow – Rising
Judas Priest – Screaming for Vengeance
Savatage – Sirens
Note II:
As mentioned, the name Sadus comes from the Frank Herbert novel, Dune. It appears to be the plural form of Sadu. The definition, from the Dune fan wiki: “among the fremen the blessed company of heavenly judges. A Sadu presided over the traditional scales, which here weigh either the soul or the water rendered from the dead, for the scales formed the T of the Tau.”
Note III:
Please consider donating if you listen to Radical Research often: https://www.paypal.me/rrpodcastWe 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 Swallowed in Black, 1990:
“Black”
“Man Infestation”“Last Abide”
“The Wake”
“In Your Face”
“Good Rid’nz”
“False Incarnation”
“Images”
“Powers of Hate”
“Arise” “Oracle of Obmission”
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.
Rarely can a rock or metal band be described in terms of open-heartedness, nostalgia, or compassion. But the subject of Radical Research’s 92nd episode defies convention in nearly every way. Madison, Wisconsin’s Last Crack was a band that seemed on the brink of breakout success but, ultimately, condemned to wander the corridors of obscurity. They recorded their second album at Eldorado Studios in Hollywood, and released the results via Roadracer/Roadrunner in 1991. To our ears, Burning Time is a masterpiece of left-field hard rock/metal. A mesh of razor-sharp guitars, a deft rhythm section, and the magisterial wailings of the group’s master of ceremony, Buddo, Burning Time embraces the listener and brings us into its enchanted Midwestern fantasia.
Note I:
Our apologies to Last Crack: ”Mini Toboggan” deserves so much better than some kind of crass comparison to a ridiculously-titled Cannibal Corpse song. We were feeling plucky on this night. But seriously, we do so love this song to the utter ends of our lives, whether we grew up sledding (Jeff) or not (Hunter).
Note II:
Please consider donating if you listen to Radical Research often: https://www.paypal.me/rrpodcastWe 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 Burning Time, 1991:
“Wicked Sandbox”
“Mini Toboggan”
“Energy Mind”
“My Burning Time”
“Precious Human Stress”
“Love, Craig”
“Kiss a the Cold”
“Love or Surrender”
“Mack Bolasses”
“Blue Fly, Fish Sky”
“Papa Mugaya”
“Down Beat Dirt Messiah”
“Oooh”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.
Occasionally, Radical Research dares to tackle the big questions: what is time, and can we have a piece of it? Can a psychic saw perform brain surgery? Can a metal album have a samba track and several bars of Miami bass hip-grind? On episode 91, a look into the works of Florida’s seminal tech titans, Atheist, we take on these and other pressing matters. Pull up a chair and strap on your trustiest pair of headphones: it’s pizza time.
Note I:
We meant to bring it up in the conversation, but simply overlooked this fascinating, Atheist-related trivia: Atheist’s Kelly Shaefer auditioned for Velvet Revolver, the band formed by members of Guns ‘N Roses. You can check out some Blabbermouth reporting on this event here:https://blabbermouth.net/news/atheist-frontman-talks-about-his-velvet-revolver-audition
https://blabbermouth.net/news/velvet-revolver-2002-kelly-shaefer-vocalist-audition-tape-posted-online
Note II:
Hunter misspoke, and Jeff mis-agreed with him: Kelly Shaefer didn’t stop playing guitar due to tinnitus, of course. He stopped due to carpel tunnel syndrome.
Note III:
Deserts of Hex direct buy link: https://radicalresearch.org/product/deserts-of-hex-studies-in-experimental-dark-sound-volume-1-magazine/
Note IV:
Destination Onward direct buy link: https://radicalresearch.org/product/destination-onward-the-story-of-fates-warning-book-by-jeff-wagner/
Note V:
Please consider donating if you listen to Radical Research often: https://www.paypal.me/rrpodcastWe 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:
“Brain Damage” (R.A.V.A.G.E., On We Slay demo, 1987)“Choose Your Death” (Beyond demo, 1988)“Piece of Time” (Piece of Time, 1990)“Unholy War” (Piece of Time, 1990)“No Truth” (Piece of Time, 1990)
“Unquestionable Presence” (Unquestionable Presence, 1991)“An Incarnation’s Dream” (Unquestionable Presence, 1991)“And the Psychic Saw” (Unquestionable Presence, 1991)“Air” (Elements, 1993)
“Mineral” (Elements, 1993)“Earth” (Elements, 1993)“See You Again” (Elements, 1993)
“Second to Sun” (Jupiter, 2010)
“Fraudulent Cloth” (Jupiter, 2010)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 installment finds Radical Research in familiar territory, in the wilds of Scandinavia, this time in pursuit of progressive rock luminaries, Anekdoten. Our study covers not only the group’s six full-length albums but also their inspired, ghostly collaboration with fellow Swedes, Landberk, under the Morte Macabre moniker. Should you be interested in the evolution of one of modern prog’s most serious practitioners, we invite you to join us, as ever. Up the Mellotrons, legions!
Note I:
Please consider donating if you listen to Radical Research often: https://www.paypal.me/rrpodcastWe 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 by Anekdoten except where noted]“The Flow” (Vemod, 1993)
“The Old Man and the Sea” (Vemod, 1993)
“Harvest” (Nucleus, 1995)
“This Far from the Sky” (Nucleus, 1995)Morte Macabre, “Sequenza Ritmica e Tema” (Symphonic Holocaust, 1998)
Morte Macabre, “Quiet Drops” (Symphonic Holocaust, 1998)
“Kiss of Life” (From Within, 1999)
“Hole” (From Within, 1999)
“Monolith” (Gravity, 2003)“SW4” (Gravity, 2003)
“King Oblivion” (A Time of Day, 2007)
“In For a Ride” (A Time of Day, 2007) “Shooting Star” (Until All the Ghosts Are Gone, 2015)
“Our Days are Numbered” (Until All the Ghosts Are Gone, 2015)
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.
It’s the gutsier, uglier, unwieldier alternative to the heavy metal guitar solo: The goddamn heavy metal BASS guitar solo! We have collected 20 beautifully behemoth examples, laid bare for you to ponder. Sightings are rare, but they’re out there…and we love the hell out of them.
Note I:
As noted in the intro of this episode, RR favorites Hammers of Misfortune have a new album out! Info on Overtaker can be found here:https://hammersofmisfortune.bandcamp.com/
Note II:
Please consider donating if you listen to Radical Research often: https://www.paypal.me/rrpodcastWe 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:
Motorhead, “Keep Us On the Road” (Lemmy Kilmister, Motorhead, 1977)Motorhead, “Stay Clean” (Lemmy Kilmister, Overkill, 1979)
Armored Saint, “Released” (Joey Vera, Delirious Nomad, 1985)
Manowar, “Sting of the Bumblebee” (Joey DeMaio, Kings of Metal, 1988)
Manowar, “Mountains” (Joey DeMaio, Sign of the Hammer, 1984)
Sadus, “Torture” (Steve DiGiorgio, Illusions, 1988)
Death, “The Philosopher” (Steve DiGiorgio, Individual Thought Patterns, 1993)Nasty Savage, “Sin Eater” (Richard Bateman, Penetration Point, 1989)
Darkthrone, “Sempiternal Sepulchrality” (Dag Nilsen, Soulside Journey, 1991)
Kataklysm, “World of Treason” (Maurizio Iacono, Sorcery, 1995)
Stargazer, “Hooves” (Damon Good, Psychic Secretions, 2021)
Martire, “Lucixion” (Damon Good, Brutal Legions of the Apocalypse, 2012)
Necrophagist, “Only Ash Remains” (Stephan Fimmers, Epitaph, 2004)
Rainer Landfermann, “Langsam, Hinters Licht” (Mein Wort in Deiner Dunkelheit, 2019)
Dream Theater, “Metropolis – Part I: The Miracle and the Sleeper” (John Myung, Images and Words, 1992)Canvas Solaris, “Arc-Lite” (Gael Pirlot, Tribute to Coroner, split 7” w/Pharaoh, 2010)
Cynic, “Textures” (Sean Malone, Focus, 1993)
Spiral Architect, “Excessit” (Lars Norberg, A Skeptic’s Universe, 2000)
Corrosion of Conformity, “My Grain” (Mike Dean, Deliverance, 1994)
Metallica, “Orion” (Cliff Burton, Master of Puppets, 1986)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 admit that, in all our geographic music spelunking, we haven’t scaled many of the mountains offered by Russian noisemakers. So, if we say that “Hieronymus Bosch is our favorite Russian band,” it’s true, but it’s also based on a slight bit of ignorance. If we say that “Hieronymus Bosch is our favorite Dutch artist of the late 1400s/early 1500s,” we can rest easy knowing that will probably hold for the rest of our lives. But c’mon, we think H.B., the band, are outstanding!!! Show us a Russian band that’s better. Bet you can’t. Here, we survey their output, from early demo emanations to their final album, the great Equivoke, of 2008.
Note I:
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:
“Near Death Experience” (Petra Scandali demo, 1994)
“The Apogee” (The Human Abstract, 1995)
“Mental Perfection” (The Human Abstract, 1995)
“The Gardens of Earthly Delights” (The Human Abstract, 1995)
“Interference” (Artificial Emotions, 2005) “Escape from Primitivity” (Artificial Emotions, 2005)
“Heartbeat Seismology” (Artificial Emotions, 2005)
“Zero on a Dice” (Equivoke, 2008)
“Monad Hecatomb” (Equivoke, 2008)
“Tracer Bullet Falling Star” (Equivoke, 2008)
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.
When onetime Acid Bath and Agents of Oblivion vocalist Dax Riggs took himself to the outermost reaches of his imagination with Deadboy & the Elephantmen, he reached the highest of creative and emotional heights. After the first Deadboy album (If This Is Hell Then I’m Lucky, self-released, 2002), Dax and band went through a number of changes before arriving at the more stripped down and, in our opinion, disappointing We Are Night Sky (Fat Possum, 2006). This episode focuses on the incredible material Dax/Deadboy were working on in their most transitional and obscure phase. The total godhead.
Note I:
We urge you to witness this performance of “Evil Between the Numbers”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIaA387CnXA
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:
http://radicalresearch.org/shop/
Music from a Dream in Which We Die Before We Wake:
“Evil Between the Numbers,” Grant St. Dance Hall, Lafayette, January 24, 2004 “Filling Empty Holes,” Spanish Moon, Baton Rouge, April 25, 2003 “Never Mind the Scenery, It’s Only Bleeding,” demo 2004 “Wicked Tongue,” demo 2004
“Thing in a Jar,” Mermaid Lounge, New Orleans, April 18, 2003 “Fly on the Eye of the Lamb,” Grant St. Dance Hall, Lafayette, January 24, 2004
“Sigh of Wolves” aka “Burn Before You,” Grant St. Dance Hall, Lafayette, January 24, 2004
“What the Stars Have Eaten,” demo 2004
“Quiet Doom,” Spanish Moon, Baton Rouge, April 25, 2003
“Stranger to Reason,” Spanish Moon, Baton Rouge, April 25, 2003 “Scarlett of Heaven nor Hell,” Grant St. Dance Hall, Lafayette, January 24, 2004
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 know many Radical Research listeners partake in music we’re not totally familiar with. As much weird/left-field/inventive rock/metal as we digest or are aware of, there’s so much more that we have no experience with. Thus, we invited listeners to submit samples of an artist, or multiple artists, they’re certain we have no familiarity with. So it is that Mr. Forrest Pitts -- writer, thinker, dreamer, master of disaster, headspinner general – fucked with our heads this entire episode. Five snippets each by three different artists. We had a blast, and think you’ll find this a rather fresh and unusual episode. Come with us!
Note I:
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:
http://radicalresearch.org/shop/
You can go directly to the purchase page if you're interested in Jeff's new Fates Warning book, 'Destination Onward': www.fateswarningbook.com
Music cited, in order of appearance:
We will refer you to the end of the episode, where all will be revealed. We hope you’ll come on this mystery train with us.
We highly recommend the first and third band. Forrest made us fans. Thank you, Forrest.
We close with a snippet of a version of Yes classic, “Roundabout,” played by the Wrigley Field organist in Chicago June 4, 2022, before the game began. A field recording by Jeff Wagner.
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.
Miles away from the torchlight of Norway, Austria’s mysterious Abigor spent their time in the ‘90s not generating headlines but rather plying their heretical craft in virtual secrecy. The band’s album-to-album evolutionary leaps bear the mark of restless and visionary minds. This notion is confirmed by the group’s radical reinvention of itself in the mid-aughts. The 85th episode of Radical Research takes a close look at Abigor’s progress over the course of a decade-and-a-half of three-dimensional blasphemy.
Note I:
The beginning of this episode wasn’t planned but we decided to keep it in, regardless of it probably sounding wildly out of context. It just had to be said, about the Wario/Abigor thing, the joys of salted watermelon and other whatnots. If you want to skip all the nonsense, we begin proper Abigor discussion at the 8:15 mark. And here’s a link to that Super Mario Wiki page, regarding the Wario/Abigor image and info we stumbled upon: https://www.mariowiki.com/Abigor
Note II:
Jeff guesses that last year’s first-ever vinyl issue of Channeling the Quintessence of Satan goes for about $80 now. Wrong. Try $300: https://www.discogs.com/release/17685616-Abigor-Channeling-The-Quintessence-Of-Satan
Note III:
Tell us about your dragon magic, write: radicalresearchpodcast@gmail.com
Note IV:
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:
http://radicalresearch.org/shop/
We actually pay for music with our own personal finances, NOT Radical Research donations, as portrayed in this episode. Donations help defray hosting costs, Zoom costs, equipment costs, etc.
Music cited, in order of appearance:
“Temptation II: Stasis” (Leytmotif Luzifer, 2014)
“Eye to Eye at Armageddon” (Verwustung / Invoke the Dark Age, 1994)
“Part I” (Time is the Sulphur in the Veins of the Saint, 2010)
“Part II” (Time is the Sulphur in the Veins of the Saint, 2010) “As Astral Images Darken Reality” (Nachthymnen – From the Twilight Kingdom, 1995) “Cold Void Choir” (Fractal Possession, 2007)
“Mirages for the Eyes of the Blind” (Opus IV, 1996) “The Elder God (My Dragon Magic)” (Opus IV, 1996) “Eclipse My Heart, Crown Me King” (Supreme Immortal Art, 1998)
“Magic Glass Monument” (Supreme Immortal Art, 1998)
“Equilibrium Pass By” (Channeling the Quintessence of Satan, 1999)
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 spends much of its time plundering the most mind-bending sounds in rock and metal. On our 84th episode, we go several light years farther in our quest for psychic devastation as we survey and discuss the improbable body of work amassed by Chicago’s Gigan. As forbidding and violent as the character from which it derives its name, Gigan’s music blends savagery and psychedelia with skill and compositional might that have no peers. If you survive this episode, you can consider yourself a veteran of the psychic wars.
Note I:
We recorded this together, at Jeff’s place, in Greensboro, NC. Hence some occasional volume differentiation on our voices. It was a completely off-the-cuff, hardly-formal approach.
Note II: We contacted Eric Hersemann after recording this episode. The Gigan mastermind tells us that the band is alive and well, and will be entering the studio this fall for album #5.
Note III:
If you knew immediately that Jeff was wrong when referring to Steel Attack as German (they’re Swedish), you definitely know too much.
Note IV:
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:
http://radicalresearch.org/shop/
Music cited, in order of appearance:
[all music by Gigan except where otherwise noted]
“The Oracle of Orson” (Footsteps of Gigan, 2007) “Space Coffin Hallucinations” (The Order of the False Eye, 2008)
“Hiding Behind the House of Mirrors” (The Order of the False Eye, 2008) The Universe Divide, “Day 4” (2014 demo)
“Suspended in Cubes of Torment” (Quasi-Hallucinogenic Sonic Landscapes, 2011)
“Skeletons of Steel, Timber and Blackened Granite” (Quasi-Hallucinogenic Sonic Landscapes, 2011)
“Influence Through Ritualistic Projection” (Multi-Dimensional Fractal Sorcery and Super Science, 2013)
“Mother of Toads” (Multi-Dimensional Fractal Sorcery and Super Science, 2013)
“Wade Forward Through Matter and Backwards Through Time” (Undulating Waves of Rainbiotic Iridescence, 2017)
“Hyperjump-Ritual Madness” (Undulating Waves of Rainbiotic Iridescence, 2017)
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.
Metal is serious business. So why so much laughter? We don’t really have the answer, but here’s the first installment of some of our favorite metal laughs. There are more and we’ll revisit this silly topic at some future point in time.
Note I:
As promised in the episode, here’s a link to a wealth of laughs by Mr. King Diamond. Praise be to the person who built this insane collage. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qh3juX_RdQ0
Note II:
We enjoyed getting back to the bite-size point-five episode format. Here are our other ones from the distant past, still worth a listen, wethinks!
5.5 (7 min, 10 sec) https://radicalresearch.org/episode-5-5-calling-dr-morpheus-the-kiss-nuclear-death-convergence/
17.5 (10 min, 59 sec) https://radicalresearch.org/episode-17-5-the-curious-the-uncanny/
23.5 (9 min, 28 sec) https://radicalresearch.org/episode-23-5-mystery-snippets/
41.5 (13 min, 51 sec)
https://radicalresearch.org/episode-41-5-mystery-snippets-pt-2/
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:
http://radicalresearch.org/shop/
Music cited, in order of appearance:
King Diamond, “Bye, Bye Missy” (Them, 1988) Testament, “C.O.T.L.O.D.” (The Legacy, 1987)
Lost Horizon, “Sworn to the Metal Wind” (Awakening the World, 2001)
Massacre, “Aggressive Tyrant” (Aggressive Tyrant demo, 1986)
Megadeth, “In My Darkest Hour” (So Far, So Good…So What, 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.
The soils of Seattle rock have been tilled to ruin, the same seeds planted season after season. Radical Research has come to rotate the crops. Of the artists to emerge from the primordial welter of 1980s Seattle, few have been neglected so criminally as Skin...
In anticipation of Destination Onward – The Story of Fates Warning and its publication in July, 2022, the author, Jeff Wagner, and Radical Research co-host, Hunter Ginn, sit down and talk about Fates Warning. It’s far from the first time we’ve discussed Fates Warning together,...
How California-based drummer, Dave Murray, has escaped the notice of several more tens of thousands of people worldwide, we cannot say. We recognize an extraordinary talent in Murray, not only as a musician, but as a composer and crucial cog in a small but rarefied...
For our 80th episode, Radical Research detaches itself from the icy grips of Norway and takes a sojourn southward to France, a country whose history with death metal gives priority to quality over quantity. From 1990-1994, the chronically-underrated Supuration were busy at work creating their...
For the final installment of our 6-episode Norwegian tour across this most creatively-fertile country, Radical Research surveys the career of Simen Hestnaes. Working both under his given name, as well as his better-known nom de l’acier, ICS Vortex, Simen has assembled a large and exceptional...
We love Enslaved. They are a rare long-running band that, in our estimation, have not released a bad album. Of their 15 full-lengths to date, your Radical Research hosts highly rank their sixth album, 2001’s Monumension: it’s Ginn’s #2 (just behind Eld, 1997) and Wagner’s...
To date, Radical Research has made more trips to Norway than any other country. But, typically, we spend our time in the shadowy realms of post-black metal. For our 77th episode, we travel to the green pastures of Honefoss, in search of Wobbler, Norway’s preeminent...
We know and love him as Garm, the frontman in Ulver since that pioneering band’s very beginnings. He has also fronted Norwegian luminaries Arcturus and Borknagar. All this alone would be enough to place him in our hall of infamy, yet he has given so...
At the dawn of the 21st century, strange sounds brewed in the Southeastern corner of Norway — musical paths cobbled together with the tortured echoes of second wave black metal, the ambitious, borderless miscellanea of progressive rock and metal, and the hostile liberalism that is...
In our 39th episode, we explored the family tree of Kristiansand, Norway collective In the Woods… Here, in our 74th episode, we go straight to the source to explore and exalt the work of In the Woods…, proper, between 1993 and 2000. Over the span...
12 ripping snippets from 11 fusion ragers spanning 1972 to 1982. We did the first one in 2018, episode 5, and it was high time we returned to the madness! We herewith present a variety of displays from various American, Danish, German, Japanese and Spanish...
Formed in the Czech Republic in 1987, Master’s Hammer summoned a singular, constantly mutating approach to black metal over two distinct lifetimes (1987-1995, 2009-2020). The band’s debut album, Ritual (1991), is described by Darkthrone’s Fenriz as “the first Norwegian black metal album, because it sounded...
Paul Chain’s Illogical Slow Evolution Radical Research interrogates, with few exceptions, the work of artists who operate in the darkest, most cryptic corners of the rock and metal multiverse. The music of Italy’s Paul Chain, however, puts to test the inquiry even of the most...
Extant since the mid 1990s, Solefald may have been the first Norwegian black metal band to entirely bypass the necro stages of development and arrive fully formed as a “post”/”avant” type mischief-maker on their debut album, The Linear Scaffold (1997). We have watched and listened...
Often overlooked relative to Gothenburg luminaries such as At the Gates, In Flames, and Dark Tranquility, Eucharist, whose entire legacy hinges upon two full-length albums and a clutch of compilation tracks, recorded some of the most vibrant, imaginative melodic death metal of the era. It’s...
The occasion of Radical Research’s 68th installment could have been marked in one way only – with a full-force exaltation of music’s deadliest, most head-snapping time signature, 6/8! On this episode, we survey a vast range of metal subgenres to demonstrate the ways in which artists...
With this dispatch, we descend into the catacombs to examine France’s heritage of musical terror. From the spectral melancholy of Pulsar to the howling conflagrations of Deathspell Omega, this episode provides a tour across four decades of music that commits itself to the most essential...
Have you even the slightest notion of mystical reincarnation? Unfortunately for you, as for the rest of we mortals, even after spending hours with the music of Houde-era Kataklysm, it is unlikely that you will have any tighter apprehension of the matter. On this, the...
Erupting from the wastes of Tallahassee, Florida, DVC (Darth Vader’s Church) produced two long-players of low-slung filth and Southside mania. From 1989 to 1992, DVC explored the most shameful, subterranean grottoes of death/thrash and did so in almost categorical secrecy. On Episode 65, Radical Research...
No anniversaries, no deaths, no reissues, no birthdays, no arbitrary celebrations. This is Hackett for Hackett’s sake! Guitarist Steve Hackett is one of the most extraordinary musicians ever to wield the instrument. Herein we present a clutch of short, sharp shocks from the man’s prolific...
There is simply nothing like Alchemist. Active throughout the ‘90s and into the aughts until their dissolution in 2010, the Australian quartet offered severe heaviness embellished by insanely loopy guitar weirdness and pounding aboriginal rhythms. Their psychedelic metal flew largely under the radar, despite linking...
Episode 62 of Radical Research challenges the notions of identity, probes at both the masks and the faces themselves. What biology occurs when the firstborn cleaves to the breast of another? This conversation claws at the God-playing reconstructions of Type O Negative, Ulver, Manfred Mann’s...
Citizens of a scene that demands innovation and progress, Norway’s Dødheimsgard have assembled a body of work that evidences the evolutionary strides common to Norweird, but have nevertheless remained red in tooth and claw. Episode 61 provides a comprehensive survey of Dødheimsgard’s work, from the...
We at Radical Research have made a habit of descending into the vortices of profound sound, but our adventures with the musical hijinks of Helios Creed make most other sojourns seem, by comparison, like empty gestures. On our 60th episode, we divest ourselves of empty...
Even in the bizarro wilderness of Radical Research, Alf Svensson’s Oxiplegatz stands out in its peerless freakishness. A founding member of the epochal Swedish death metal band, At the Gates, Svensson used Oxiplegatz as a conduit for his most perverse cosmic fantasies. Built on a...
If the wild, transcendent music we exalt were a cluttered yet beautifully arrayed galaxy, the artists making that music would be planets and Rush would be its sun. So much of what ticks off all the right boxes for us is inherent in the music...
Germany’s Atrocity have been plying their execrable goth-metal wares since 1994’s precipitously tragic Blut, but the band’s first two albums, 1990’s Hallucinations and 1992’s Todessehnsucht (aka Longing for Death), occupy space in the top tier of death metal’s golden age. Wild, technical, psychotic, and destructive,...
“If you think it’s pretentious, you’ve been taken for a ride” With this episode, we look at the second half of Genesis’s 1974 double-album, The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway. Garnering a mixed reaction upon release, it eventually grew into a mammoth cult classic. But...
Herewith we present an overview of one of the most beguiling bands to emerge from American soil. Part doomed epic metal, part gothic grandeur, peppered with prog, and very much in the spirit of our other chameleonic favorites, we run through Hammers of Misfortune’s works...
part 1:In which Hunter is assigned a 7 Degrees of Separation task, with these parameters: begin in Norwegian metal, end in Norwegian metal. Betwixt, he was free to roam. We start at Ivar Bjornson (Enslaved) and end with Morty Black (TNT). Hunter’s route is circuitous,...
We love to draw lines and conclusions. We hear links and threads where there may be none, or, on a good day, where we might just be onto something. And we love Norway, especially its music. Especially the weird metal stuff. And we have always...
A journey through a wilderness of Nembutals and Luciforms, The Mars Volta’s fifth album offers up a radical departure from the itinerant mania of The Bedlam in Goliath, to explore the inscrutable, dream-like vistas of the interior mind. Though songs like “Teflon” and “Cotopaxi” puncture...
Continuing our appreciation for the unloved misfits of Metalopolis, we always considered 1992’s Thresholds, by Florida’s Nocturnus, an honorary 1993 album. Until we found out it was recorded in December 1991. Whatever the case, these eight chunky, blocky, cosmic, technical songs find Nocturnus at its...
Storming the gates with a new wave cover tune, borrowing from Baudelaire and sampling from NASA Apollo transmissions over primitive machine pulses, Swiss pioneers Celtic Frost exploited terrain no metal band had before with their third full-length album. Created under constant stress and duress in...
Many bands have professed to play death metal, but few have summoned the power of death itself, have forced the very bowels of earth to erupt. Nuclear Death, the lords of their own putrid hell-scape, emerged from the sun-scorched wastes of Phoenix, Arizona to ply...
For the second time in a matter of months, your intrepid hosts find themselves in the frosty arms of Trondheim, Norway, this time to investigate the world of the frustratingly private Albino Slug. Known to few but adored by those who do, Albino Slug’s legacy...
After firing up a band called No Man Is An Island (later shortened to No-Man), a young Steven Wilson corralled a couple friends and some wild ideas to sculpt homespun cassette recordings under the strange name Porcupine Tree. These then-obscure tapes, Tarquin’s Seaweed Farm (1989)...
Bust out the Purell and take a healthy dose of penicillin because the whores are back in town. On this special — and occasionally-recurring — episode of Radical Research, we stroll alongside a pornographic buffet of sumptuous synthesizer vibrations. For this globetrotting, sweaty-browed sojourn, we’ll...
For the 45th episode of Radical Research, we continue our trek north, this time landing in Trondheim, Norway, where we take a close look at the vast and fascinating discography of Manes. Well-respected in black metal circles for their personal and visionary approach to the...
When Uranus falls, once and for all, in the cosmic background will be heard the humming, buzzing sound of a tragically-overlooked group of travelers. Formed in 1988 in Turku, Finland, Xysma waged a decade-long war against expectation and small-mindedness. With phantasm-like stealth, the band moved...
After recording two mind-bending and defiant albums — pieced together, ever so precariously, with the bacterial molecules of metal, ska, contemporary music, free jazz, musique concrete, tango, imaginary soundtracks, and the music of the Middle East — Mr. Bungle returned to the table in 1999...
Emerging from a web of poststructuralist philosophy and electronic fetishism, France’s Heldon — whose name is derived from Norman Spinrad novel, The Iron Dream — functioned from 1974–1979 as a vehicle for Richard Pinhas’ wildest aural fantasies. The group’s first six albums work through an...
Welcome to the second installment of this occasional episode in the margins…we have fun trying to fool each other by playing an unlabeled, unmarked piece of music. For diehard Radical Research enthusiasts only! Music cited in this episodeSorry, you’ll need to listen to find out.
Let’s face it: we live in a world bereft of justice. And so it falls on the shoulders of Radical Research to shine a bit of light into this dim world. On this, our 41st episode, we give a voice to the voiceless and spotlight...
Departing from the tractor-beam blasphemy of their seminal first four albums, Bergen, Norway’s Gorgoroth offer a more panoramic approach to (a career in) evil on their daring fifth missive, Incipit Satan. IC absorbs influences from death industrial, morbid rock and roll, and melodic death metal,...
Greetings from the nativity. This podcast began as an examination of the vast and nebulous frontier of Norwegian post-black metal. In that spirit, episode 39 of Radical Research probes the tentacles of the In the Woods… diaspora and gives an ear to Drawn, Stille Opprör,...
Toby Driver’s path to the present has been circuitous and inscrutable, which is to say, in keeping with music he has written over the last 25 years. His work in Maudlin of the Well, Kayo Dot, and as a solo artist has encompassed metal, chamber...
Writing about Devil Doll is like skating about horticulture. Led by the deeply enigmatic Mr. Doctor, and purposely shrouded in the thickest mystery, Devil Doll’s music disappoints even the keenest taxonomist. Experimenting with metal, classical, and progressive rock, Mr. Doctor and his revolving cast of...
Melvins’ career — a vast, still-expanding 36-year odyssey across the full spectrum of heavy and experimental sound — is marked by goalposts, some triumphant, some deviant. On this episode of Radical Research, we train a critical eye on 2002’s bellwether, the curiously-named Hostile Ambient Takeover....
The so-called “Canterbury scene” was an adventurous musical movement of time and place, bonded tightly by shared influences and an incestuous genealogy. This episode, we climb our favorite limbs from the Canterbury tree, including but not limited to Caravan, National Health, Egg and Quiet Sun....
It began with suffering and ended with screams (and whispers). St. Louis’ radically-progressive Anacrusis never enjoyed the recognition they so deserved, but popular neglect did little to temper their potent vision. A product not only of the ‘80s thrash scene but also of the fertile...
Men Behaving Badly: Trashed Productions What is music if not sound? In episode 28, we discussed the mathematical properties that have shaped some of rock and metal’s most extraordinary albums. In episode 33 of Radical Research, we expand our investigation into the controversial, often divisive,...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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!...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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....
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...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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,...
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...
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...