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The Distorted EmporiumEpisode XXVIII - TDE's Rear View Mirror #4 - 1993There is no question that the brief span between 1992-1994, quite literally, changed my life. Sandwiched right in the middle is the year 1993. That's when things got serious. I was no longer the only kid trying to dig into the world of heavy music. There were a number of us, and allowances and lunch money would not be spared. It really didn't matter if I had the money to buy an actual album, I could always swindle a blank Memorex, Sony, or Maxell (among others) cassette tapes to dub whatever we came across, and that was as good as...2025-07-132h 01The Distorted EmporiumEpisode XXVII - Best of Grindcore and Destruction?Heavy on the destruction, completely void of grindcore. On this episode, I focus on the 1994 Priority Records compilation, Best of Grindcore and Destruction. I am pretty sure this compilation only found its way into the hands of a few people. Hell, only 50 people have it on Discogs, and that's the cassette and cd combined. Having said that, and absurd name aside, it is an awesome collection of brutal, heavy songs. It was one of those that has stuck with me since the day I grabbed it. There's nothing obscure or particularly special about it. No B...2025-06-141h 03The Distorted EmporiumEpisode XXVI - A P****y-Ass PlaylistI've always had a soft spot for bands that could push the envelope when it came to songwriting and musicianship in the world of metal and rock. Those that could incorporate the ferocity and speed of extreme music while doing so have always been held in high regard. Not every band featured in this episode are "prog-" in the 70's King Crimson/Mahavishnu Orchestra style of bombast and complexity; nor do many lean into the classical and jazz territory as much as Emerson, Lake & Palmer and Return to Forever. All those bands, and many others (Rush?!?), were the bedrock u...2023-12-172h 12The Distorted EmporiumEpisode XXV - Into the Crypts With Celtic FrostIt's almost impossible to imagine a world without Celtic Frost. What would metal even sound like? Sure, we'd have bands following in the footsteps of artists like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Metallica, and Slayer, but what would it sound like without the riffs and imagination of Thomas Gabriel Fischer, or Tom G. Warrior? I honestly don't know and I'm glad we don't have to worry about that.In this episode, we dive in on some covers of classic Celtic Frost and Hellhammer songs and discuss the wide ranging influence the band had across multiple genres of heavy...2023-09-0457 minThe Distorted EmporiumEpisode XXIV - Nu-Metal Songs That Don't Suck (...And 2 That Do)Without a doubt, Nu-Metal stands as one of the most polarizing genres of hard rock to ever exist. Despite it being reviled more any other sub-genre metal, hair metal included, it continues to sell albums, sell out arenas, and influence music to this day. With this episode, I've tried to showcase some of the bands, or at least particular songs, that stood out from the heap of generic, derivative dribble that permeated the mid- to late 1990's. This episode is definitely not for everyone, and that's fine. I had many friends in that era that would have n...2023-07-232h 01
Talking Texas HistoryIconic Texas FilmsWhat do A Trip to Bountiful, No Country for Old Men, and The Last Picture Show all have in common? They're just a few of the iconic Texas films we're discussing in this episode. Join us as we explore our favorite movies that capture the essence of Texas life and the unforgettable characters and landscapes that make these films so memorable.From the captivating West Texas depictions in the works of the Coen Brothers and Tommy Lee Jones to the emotional journey of Geraldine Page's character in A Trip to Bountiful, we delve into the various themes...2023-06-2033 minThe Distorted EmporiumEpisode XXIII - TDE's Best of 20222022 was another remarkable year for extreme music in the post-shutdown landscape. This episode highlights some of the best I came across last year. We discuss some old timers, some newcomers, and a local Bakersfield band that I think is on the cusp of greatness. Despite what some say, I feel heavy music is in a great place right now so dive and find some bands!As always you can follow me on Instagram @thedistortedemporium or reach me via email at thedistortedemporium@gmail.comSpotify playlist : https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5xeX479WQhq0p1Ez3kEFIH...2023-02-262h 04The Distorted EmporiumEpisode XXII - TDE's Rear View Mirror #3 - 19921992 - The year heavy metal infected the world. Or at least that's how it appeared to us kids growing up in Southeast Texas. Grunge ruled the world, but as we watched Headbanger's Ball and scoured the various mags we could find at the department stores and gas stations, it became obvious that something incredible was taking place. Every corner of the globe seemed to have a scene, or something that the writers in the metal mags could spin into an interesting story. It took years for me to truly put into perspective how important 1992 actually was in the...2023-02-041h 39The Distorted EmporiumEpisode XXI - TDE's Tribute to Jeff BeckWhere does one even start with the passing of a musician that is guaranteed a spot on the Mt. Rushmore of their chosen instrument? Not since the death of Eddie Van Halen in October 2020, has the guitar world been so shaken and felt such a loss. The impact Jeff Beck had on the world of rock and guitar-driven music is beyond reproach. Once he replaced Eric Clapton in the Yardbirds, on three days notice, no less, he followed up with a 7 decades-long career that morphed and evolved in a way like no other to pick up the i...2023-01-1235 minThe Distorted EmporiumEpisode XX - Cavalera CollabsWhether in Sepultura, Soulfly, or his countless other projects, Max Cavalera has always embraced collaboration. While the obvious move would have been to explore the songs in which he brought in guest musicians on his own material (which is an amazing list in and of itself), I chose to dive into his catalog of guest appearances on the songs of other artists. This ended up being a very fun, and at times surprising, show to put together. Lifer. That sums up Max. That sums up you and I. So, regardless of your thoughts on Cavalera's work the las...2022-12-031h 19The Distorted EmporiumEpisode XIX - SoCal Punk and Hardcore Vol. 1Southern California. The land of scenic beaches, beautiful people, never-ending sunshine... and one of the most vibrant and explosive music scenes to exist in the late 1970's and 1980's. It was a bastion of creativity consisting of kids that were, if only temporarily, putting down their surfboards and skate boards and picking up instruments. Once bands like the Ramones and The Damned started coming through LA, there was an explosion of bands that formed in the wake. And much like the melting pot that is Los Angeles, these bands pulled from a diverse range of influences creating a wide...2022-07-231h 15The Distorted EmporiumEpisode XVIII - "It's just murder. All God's creatures do it."Ed Kemper, Ed Gein, Andrei Chikatilo, Albert Fish, and on and on. The list of mass murdering psychopaths that have inspired heavy music is an extensive one to say the least. Their influence isn't genre specific either. As you'll see tonight, death metal, sludge, grunge, thrash... bands of all styles have used these atrocities as inspiration for song. This is an eerie, and at times unsettling episode of The Distorted Emporium so turn out the lights and dive in.As with previous episodes, I fully intended to say a few more words regarding the episode, however, 2 days a...2022-05-141h 13The Distorted EmporiumEpisode XVII - Sabbath Holy SabbathQuite literally, Black Sabbath changed music, and heavy music in particular, forever upon the release their self titled debut in 1970. Debates have raged for decades as to who was the first "heavy metal" band, and while I am on team Sabbath in that argument, even those who oppose that sentiment have to agree that Sabbath is the most influential band in the history of heavy metal. Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Slayer, and on and on... They all owe a debt of gratitude to the four-piece from Birmingham, England.Now as cliched as it might sound, Sabbath...2022-04-161h 31The Distorted EmporiumEpisode XVI - TDE's Rear View Mirror #2 - 1991For better or worse, 1991 is the year heavy music changed forever. With the release of Metallica's Black Album and the grunge explosion coming out of Seattle, heavier sounds were hitting the airwaves all over the world. However, if you were to turn off the radio and dig into one of the many fanzines or metal magazines that were widely available, you'd find that 1991 was a high water mark in the world of extreme music. Death metal was king in most of Europe and in parts of the US, the second wave of black metal was beginning to r...2022-03-181h 13The Distorted EmporiumEpisode XV - NWOAHM - East Coast EditionThe New Wave of American Heavy Metal is a controversial term used to describe the explosion of bands that rose out of the United States in the late 90's and early 00's in the aftermath of nu-metal. The earliest known reference to the term is from Cleveland, Ohio's Chimaira, who put the phrase on a shirt, and later cds, around 2001. While the NWOAHM is obviously biting off of the now famous New Wave of British Heavy Metal from the late 1970's/early 1980's, I think it is an appropriate moniker given the sheer number of bands that had a h...2022-02-191h 03The Distorted EmporiumEpisode XIV - TDE's Rear View Mirror #1 - 1990-1990-The year before all hell broke loose. Pre-Black Album, Pre-Grunge explosion, pre-nu/groove metal, pre-second wave of black metal... This was a very fertile, yet peculiar, year in the history of metal and rock. We had 3 of the Big 4 of American thrash all release classic albums, we had the first gold record in the grunge movement released, death metal was burgeoning and on the brink of exploding, and for better or worse, we had a band from Texas and a band from New York that were setting the stage for nu-metal to explode a few...2022-01-221h 18The Distorted EmporiumEpisode XIII - Stoned Is the Way of the RockFire up whatever it is you're smoking and dive into episode 11 of The Distorted Emporium! Tonight's show gets hazy, cloudy, and very intoxicating as we explore some of my favorite stoner and doom tracks from the 90's to the present day. The Sabbath-worship is strong in this one, as it should be, and the riffs are massive. As I state in the show, I stayed exclusively in the 90's and 2000's by design. I plan on doing a show and paying respect to the forefathers of these particular genres in the near future, so they will get their due. T...2022-01-071h 16The Distorted EmporiumEpisode XII - TDE's Best of 2021 Part 2In this episode of TDE, we wrap up our look back at 2021. As I've stated numerous times, 2021 gave us an abundance of killer releases and by the end of this show, we will have explored over 3 hours of new music for you guys to seek out.As promised, this episode features a new Jesus Christ Muscle Car song. Nothin' for Nada is the song title and I think you guys will love it! This song and Blackbird (featured in the last episode) will be available to stream in January so hang tight.Tonight's show will al...2021-12-211h 41The Distorted EmporiumEpisode XI - TDE's Best of 2021 Part 1 2021 has proven to be an absolutely remarkable year in regards to heavy and extreme music. From old school death metal bands with 30 plus years under their belts to newer bands that are pushing the bounds of what extreme music can be, 2021 has given us an abundance of great releases. In fact, once I started compiling tracks for the show, I quickly realized this will have to be a 2 part series so buckle up! I guarantee you'll find something new and exciting in here. In addition to highlighting my favorite songs of the year, each episode will feature a...2021-12-071h 39The Distorted EmporiumEpisode X - The Psycho Las Vegas That Didn't HappenWelp... it didn't happen. Psycho Las Vegas 2021 was set to be my return to the world of live music following all the covid madness. All access pass, spare room at my buddy's house, vacation from work all lined up, everything. Life had different plans, however. A few weeks prior to the festival, my wife had a horrible accident in our driveway which resulted in her leg being broken in multiple places and, ultimately, surgery. There was no way I could bail out of state and leave her alone with the kids. No worries, though. It just wasn't m...2021-11-221h 04The Distorted EmporiumEpisode IX - Heavy (Non) MetalTo the untrained ear, everything with distorted guitars and harsh or aggressive vocals tends to fall under the moniker of "metal" or "heavy metal." While these terms are certainly subjective, in this episode I showcase numerous bands that are as heavy as any metal band but sit comfortably outside the confines of what, in mainstream circles, is usually defined as metal. Join me as we get pummeled by 11 non-metal bands that destroy the ways in which we define and categorize heavy music.You can find the corresponding playlist on Spotify at " The Distorted Emporium Episode 9 "...2021-11-0654 minThe Distorted EmporiumEpisode VIII - The Roots of Early Black MetalWelcome to Episode 8 of The Distorted Emporium! In this episode, I try to navigate the bands that had a part in inspiring one of the most extreme forms of heavy metal. We'll travel from the early days of Black Sabbath and 70's hard rock, through the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, to the early days of American and German thrash, and land squarely in the middle of the first wave of Black Metal. Before the suicides, murders, and church burnings, these are some of the players that got us there. You can find the co...2021-10-221h 08The Distorted EmporiumEpisode VII - Random Roadrunner Song GeneratorWelcome to Episode VII of The Distorted Emporium! In this episode, I've curated a greatest hits, of sorts, from Roadrunner Records illustrious catalog. Now before I get a lot of shit about leaving off this band or that band, I've left off the bands I covered in past episodes in order to highlight some other acts and songs that I dig. Having said that, with Roadrunner's 41 year legacy, it was quite easy to make a slammin' playlist that covers multiple genres of heavy music and spans decades without falling back on what I've already done. So, while the...2021-10-0759 minThe Distorted EmporiumEpisode VI - SwedenFor a country that is roughly the size of California, albeit with a quarter of the population, Sweden might be the pound for pound champion in the metal world. In this episode, I dive into some of my favorite bands from the Scandinavian powerhouse and share some of the tracks that remain staples in playlists and on the turntable. While the sheer volume of quality bands made this a tough task for an hour long show, this episode serves as a great launchpad for anyone not familiar with the devastating and hugely influential sounds to rise out the country...2021-09-221h 00The Distorted EmporiumEpisode V - Riffs For DaysRiffs, riffs, and more riffs... In this episode, we continue to explore some songs that made my 100 Favorite Riffs list. These tracks crush and make for a killer mixtape! Don't forget, you can find the full playlist to all episodes of The Distorted Emporium on Spotify. Just look up The Distorted Emporium Episode 5 for this one and enjoy!2021-09-061h 01The Distorted EmporiumEpisode IV - Morrisound Madness!Morrisound Recording ( aka Morrisound Studios) is a recording studio in Tampa, Florida that was opened in 1981 by the brothers Jim and Tom Morris. With the help of engineer/producer Scott Burns, they helped to popularize some of the most extreme music to come out of the post-thrash metal landscape. In this episode, we will explore some of the highlights that led to death metal ruling the world in the late 80's and early 90's. This one gets loud!Check out the full playlist on Spotify at The Distorted Emporium Episode 3:https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5F...2021-08-2157 minThe Distorted EmporiumEpisode III - An Introduction to Southern MetalIn this episode, we'll go on a journey to explore some of the bands that have risen out of what may be the most divisive and misunderstood region of the United States: the American south. From Texas to Tennessee, we'll discuss a few of the bands that have made their mark on the history of metal. Be sure and check out the full playlist on Spotify. The Distorted Emporium Episode 3https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1zR2zKAAwpjA8mANr9Fm2T?si=bc8dbc5237ce4fa0I've also curated the playlist on YouTube! Check i...2021-08-0655 minThe Distorted EmporiumEpisode II - My 100 Favorite Riffs Part 1In this episode, I discuss some of my favorite hard rock and metal riffs. Note - From time to time I do make mistakes and I caught one in the episode. Shane Embury is not a founding member of Napalm Death as I stated. He didn't join until 1987, replacing Jim Whitely.Check out the corresponding playlist on Spotify, The Distorted Emporium Episode 2:https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4vGEeC7xMrzY4ukrY7yKJq?si=06d606a23f4147c0I've also curated the playlist on YouTube! Check it out here and please subscribe!2021-07-2454 minThe Distorted EmporiumEpisode I - SkullcrushersA deep dive into the 1993 Relativity/Combat compilation, Skullcrushers. Check out the corresponding playlist on Spotify, The Distorted Emporium Episode 1:https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6MpHXg6CK2CWuDWVeEN7K1?si=5ebf74fac10b4aea I've also curated the playlist on YouTube. Check it out here and please subscribe to the channel!https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7LJDuPsL9M5pMMeGgllXuk11eC6NF7Sa&si=hvH6OYBf0bugMjo8Cheers!2021-07-2254 min
REQUIEM METAL PODCAST241 - The Bizarre Phenomena of 90s Metal Soundtracks Part 1The Bizarre Phenomena of 90s Metal Soundtracks Part 1
Intro- Beavis and Butthead Experience
“Time Machine” Black Sabbath Wayne’s World O.S.T. 1992
T/S #1
“Battle Stations” Winger Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey O.S.T 1991
“Go To Hell” Megadeth Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey O.S.T 1991
“Nobody Rides For Free” RATT Point Break O.S.T 1991
“Birth Ritual” Soundgarden Singles O.S.T 1992
T/S #2
*** Tommy Sosebee testimonial
“What the Hell Have I?” Alice in Chains Last Action Hero O.S.T 1993
“Angry Again” Megadeth Last Action Hero O.S.T 1993
“Real World” Queensryche Last Action Hero O.S.T 1993
“Swim” Fishbone Last Action...2021-04-1200 min
REQUIEM METAL PODCASTThe Bizarre Phenomena of 90s Metal Soundtracks, Part 1Intro - Beavis and Butthead Experience
Black Sabbath, "Time Machine", Wayne’s World O.S.T. (1992)
Talkset #1
Winger, "Battle Stations", Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey O.S.T (1991)
Megadeth, "Go To Hell", Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey O.S.T (1991)
RATT, "Nobody Rides For Free", Point Break O.S.T (1991)
Soundgarden, "Birth Ritual", Singles O.S.T (1992)
Talkset #2
Tommy Sosebee testimonial
Alice In Chains, "What the Hell Have I?", Last Action Hero O.S.T (1993)
Megadeth...2021-04-112h 58
Everybody's Talking At OnceWhat We Played and ‘Casted (and What We Didn’t) in 2018ETAO Podcast, Episode 45.
http://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/etao.files.wordpress.com/2018/12/etao-podcast-45.mp3
As 2018 winds down, esteemed ETAO Podcast producer Frances Michelle Lopez sits down to talk about what we played in 2018, what we’re looking forward to playing in 2019, and what’s currently sitting in our to-read piles. We couldn’t get to everything, during this conversation or throughout this year. We never can. There are too many games, too many excellent games, games forever and everywhere and for all seasons.
Not all of the games we played in 2018 were releas...2018-12-1500 min