Speak N' Destroy

It's just me! I'm talking about the Metallica 40th anniversary celebration, the cover songs released by Metallica post-Garage Inc., and filling the Speak N' Destroy audience in on some of what I've been up to the past few months, and new interviews arriving in 2022! Speak N' Destroy podcast theme by Scott Mellinger. Visit the Speak N' Destroy website and socials HERE. Part of the PopCurse podcast network.

RIVERS OF NIHIL guitarist Brody Uttley was born in 1991, the year the Black Album was released. He talks about the musical journey that led to his tech-death metal band and production work, with an emphasis on the crucial role of Metallica in his life. Speak N' Destroy podcast theme by Scott Mellinger. Visit the Speak N' Destroy website and socials HERE. Part of the PopCurse podcast network.

The Acacia Strain guitarist has his wife's name tattooed on him, in the Metallica font! This is a super fun episode. Speak N' Destroy podcast theme by Scott Mellinger. Visit the Speak N' Destroy website and socials HERE. Part of the PopCurse podcast network.

BYZANTINE vocalist/guitarist Chris "OJ" Ojeda and bassist Ryan Postlethwait talk discovering Metallica; the failure of old-school tab books; high school talent shows; winning a pair of Lars Ulrich's drum sticks in a MetClub contest; meeting the band in a VIP experience; the Metallica monitor mix; each of the Metallica albums; how metal fans react to the evolution of various bands; the righthand of James Hetfield; and the story of the "Quarantine Jam" version of "Shortest Straw" featuring OJ, Phil Demmel (ex-Machine Head), Chris Kael (Five Finger Death Punch), and Speak N' Destroy veterans Mike Portnoy (ex-Dream Theater) and Doc Coyle (Bad Wolves). Speak N' Destroy podcast theme by Scott Mellinger. Visit the Speak N' Destroy website and socials HERE. Part of the PopCurse podcast network.

AMENRA / OATHBREAKER guitarist Lennart Bossu counts Ride the Lightning among the five heavy albums that changed his life. The Belgian musician ranks the Metallica catalog, talks about meeting Kirk Hammett, his favorite riffs, seeing the band live, the spiritual side of post-doom collective Amenra, and more. Speak N' Destroy podcast theme by Scott Mellinger. Visit the Speak N' Destroy website and socials HERE. Part of the PopCurse podcast network.

ALLUVIAL guitarist Wes Hauch has plenty to say about Metallica. This is a deep dive conversation covering the band's different eras, puzzling and unique tuning choices, and the importance of certain opinions in the fan ecosystem. He even puts on his guitar and explains something by playing a bit of Metallica during the conversation. Hauch's guitar resume includes stints with The Faceless, Black Crown Initiate, and Thy Art Is Murder. Speak N' Destroy podcast theme by Scott Mellinger. Visit the Speak N' Destroy website and socials HERE. Part of the PopCurse podcast network.

Guns N' Roses & Metallica! The incredible co-headlining tour, filled with cancelations, a death-defying pyro accident, a riot, the ego ramp, debauchery, and so much more. It's the 30th anniversary of the Black Album this year and a perfect time to revisit 1992's infamous Guns N' Roses/Metallica tour. Andrew Carter and Eric German return to share memories about the gigs. Andrew is ex-Deputy Editor for Terrorizer Magazine, a former band manager, and a longtime attorney in the film business. Eric, part of the major label lawsuits against Napster back in the day, represents huge rock acts, including Five Finger Death Punch, AWOLNATION, Bad Wolves, and Ice Nine Kills. Speak N' Destroy podcast theme by Scott Mellinger. Visit the Speak N' Destroy website and socials HERE. Part of the PopCurse podcast network.

LACUNA COIL singer Cristina Scabbia fell in love with heavy music when she first heard Metallica's 1991 self-titled fifth record, aka the Black Album. In this episode, she talks about the impact of that album and the band on her career; the formation of Lacuna Coil; the story behind the band's signing to Century Media; the relationship between bands like Paradise Lost, Type O Negative, Lacuna Coil, and Metallica, whose sound and image evolves over the years, with their fans, and more. It's a wide ranging and insightful conversation. Speak N' Destroy podcast theme by Scott Mellinger. Visit the Speak N' Destroy website and socials HERE. Part of the PopCurse podcast network.

TWISTED SISTER frontman Dee Snider once declared Metallica had "a lot of heart, but they’re never going to go anywhere.” In this fun and spirited conversation, Dee reflects on Twisted Sister's feuds with Manowar, Hanoi Rocks, Mr. Mister, and the PMRC; how Metallica ended up headlining over Twisted Sister in Holland in 1984; the role of Kirk Hammett in the Bay Area thrash scene; the importance of Dave Mustaine in early Metallica; the move he borrowed from Sammy Curr in the movie Trick Or Treat; singing “Metal Militia”; the PMRC hearings; Pee-Wee Herman; and more. Speak N' Destroy podcast theme by Scott Mellinger. Visit the Speak N' Destroy website and socials HERE. Part of the PopCurse podcast network.

WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM drummer and cofounder is talented, intellectual, spiritual, and a consummate Metallica fan. We talk about the band's influence on Aaron and his brother, Nathan; Lars Ulrich behind-the-kit and behind-the-scenes; plotting epic length songs; and more. Speak N' Destroy podcast theme by Scott Mellinger. Visit the Speak N' Destroy website and socials HERE. Part of the PopCurse podcast network.

BAD WOLVES guitarist Doc Coyle becomes our first three-peat guest! This episodes collects highlights from the Speak N' Destroy live takeover of the Knotfest Twitch channel. Downey and Doc talk Black Album box set, Metallica Blacklist, cover songs, movie posters, Twitch streaming, and more. Doc knows a little something about covers: the Bad Wolves version of alt-rock hit "Zombie," by The Cranberries, went platinum, and he's part of The Wedding Band, alongside Kirk Hammett, Robert Trujillo, Whitfield Crane, and Joey Castillo. Speak N' Destroy podcast theme by Scott Mellinger. Visit the Speak N' Destroy website and socials HERE. Part of the PopCurse podcast network.

BOKASSA frontman Jørn Kaarstad tells the behind-the-scenes story of the huge helping hand the Norwegian group received from Lars Ulrich, which ultimately led to an opening slot on Metallica's 2019 tour. As Lars himself said, "Bokassa are incredibly good. The songs they write, their whole energy and vibe is such a breath of fresh air. When I heard their music, they blew my head off." Speak N' Destroy podcast theme by Scott Mellinger. Visit the Speak N' Destroy website and socials HERE. Part of the PopCurse podcast network.

DARKEST HOUR guitarist Mike Schleibaum on his lifelong love of METALLICA! Speak N' Destroy podcast theme by Scott Mellinger. Visit the Speak N' Destroy website and socials HERE. Part of the PopCurse podcast network.

EVILE began as a cover band called Metal Militia, playing mostly Metallica classics. Frontman Ol Drake talks about the English thrash band's beginnings, the strengths of James Hetfield's rhythms and Kirk Hammett's leads, the missing bass on ...And Justice for All, his love for the Load/Reload era, his 2015 solo album on Earache Records, taking over vocals duties following his brother Matt's departure, and his Top 5 Metallica songs. Speak N' Destroy podcast theme by Scott Mellinger. Visit the Speak N' Destroy website and socials HERE. Part of the PopCurse podcast network.

When TikTok star and R&B musician Zaria wore a Ride the Lightning shirt in a video, commenters challenged her to "name three Metallica songs." She didn't just answer that challenge with words. She strapped on her guitar and shredded through sections of four different Metallica classics. Her troll-slaying caught the attention of Loudwire, NME, and Guitar World, among other outlets. Miley Cyrus and Metallica themselves took notice, too. Speak N' Destroy podcast theme by Scott Mellinger. Visit the Speak N' Destroy website and socials HERE. Part of the PopCurse podcast network.

FEAR FACTORY guitarist, cofounder, and band leader Dino Cazares on his upbringing; discovering Metallica; the righthand of James Hetfield; touring with Metallica in 2010; making sandwiches for Dave Mustaine in the early 80s; getting Fear Factory music to Tom Araya in a brick of weed; the history of his band, the search for a new singer to replace Burton C. Bell, and how Metallica shaped the Fear Factory sound. Speak N' Destroy podcast theme by Scott Mellinger. Visit the Speak N' Destroy website and socials HERE. Part of the PopCurse podcast network.

HJELVIK. The former singer for KVELERTAK now leads his own band, HJELVIK. He talks about discovering Metallica and heavy metal; growing up in a small Norwegian village, pop. 1000, where he listened to Slipknot while milking cows; meeting James Hetfield at a Kvelertak show; touring with Metallica for eight months; and much more. Speak N' Destroy podcast theme by Scott Mellinger. Visit the Speak N' Destroy website and various social media profiles HERE. Speak N' Destroy is part of the PopCursepodcast network.

Phil Towle is the man who, according to Lars Ulrich, saved Metallica. He's best known as the performance coach immortalized in the documentary film Some Kind of Monster. This conversation covers Phil's background, methodology, and of course, Metallica. Speak N' Destroy podcast theme by Scott Mellinger. Visit the Speak N' Destroy website and various social media profiles HERE. Speak N' Destroy is part of the PopCursepodcast network.

BUDDERSIDE (and former Adler’s Appetite) vocalist Patrick Alan Stone crossed paths with Lemmy and his entire life changed. The Motörhead frontman and his bandmates all made regular appearances at his home. When Velvet Revolver searched for a new singer, Lemmy recommended Patrick, which led to several demos. Lemmy personally signed Budderside to Motörhead Music. Lemmy's son, Paul Inder Kilmister, produced their debut. Phil Campbell guests on the band’s second album, Spiritual Violence, released in March, 2021. Patrick talks about his relationship with Lemmy, his upbringing, jamming with Slash and Steven Adler, and of course, Metallica. Speak N' Destroy podcast theme by Scott Mellinger. Visit the Speak N' Destroy website and various social media profiles HERE. Speak N' Destroy is part of the PopCursepodcast network.

BUDGIE cofounder Tony Bourge is the man behind the riffs in "Crash Course in Brain Surgery" and "Breadfan." Budgie classics have been covered by Soundgarden ("Homicidal Suicidal"), Iron Maiden ("I Can't See My Feelings"), Megadeth ("Melt the Ice Away"), as well as Metallica. Van Halen opened early club shows with "In for the Kill." Tony talks about the band's history, influence, songwriting, recording sessions at the Rockfield Studios in Wales, site of legendary recordings by Black Sabbath, Judas Priest (who opened for Budgie), Motörhead, Stone Roses, Oasis, and many more. He even straps on his guitar and plays a bit of "Crash Course" and "Breadfan." His memoir, Rocking Man - With an Axe to Grind (written with Chris Pike), was released in late 2020, with an accompanying CD. Purchase that here. Speak N' Destroy podcast theme by Scott Mellinger. Visit the Speak N' Destroy website and various social media profiles HERE. Speak N' Destroy is part of the PopCurse podcast network.