Diary of Doom

Chapter 122 - Titanosaur

Stomping into the guest seat for this week's chapter is Hudson, NY's Titanosaur! One-man wrecking crew Geoff Saavedra breaks down the lore of the saur(ian) and the ups and downs that come with handling all band duties solo, as well as playing alongside Debbie Does Dallas, Killing Joke: unsung heroes of heavy, using music to cope with and be representative of his journey through his heart condition and autism, the sludgiest Godzilla flick, and why the Hudson Valley is an ideal doom climate.

Support Titanosaur

Track featured is "Shut Off the Voices" from Absence of Universe, available now!

Chapter 121 - Cosmic Eye Brewing

We return to the world of metal and beer (and hangovers) as Sam Riggins guides us through his journey from Nebraska Brewing Co. to running his own brewery, Cosmic Eye. After a quick review of the Yob residency at Saint Vitus, Dylan and Sam delve into all manner of things heavy and carbonated, including a shitty Kill 'Em All cassette, how ze lager bier won him over from Busch Light, standing apart from other breweries, deaths and rises in the craft beer scene, collab beer pride, when Wake Brewing fixed their toilet, and geek out over the new Author & Punisher.

If you're in the Lincoln, NE area, check out Cosmic Eye Brewing and be sure to give 'em a follow on Instagram!

Chapter 120 - Ritual Earth

Philly and Jersey once again come to greasy, butting heads (not really) as Ritual Earth's George Chamberlin drops by the doom cave for this week's chapter, hence the echo in this episode (Sorry!). After tripping up their Roman numerals, Dylan and George get into his band's upcoming debut album, as well as stan for Voivod, Erik Caplan - anchor of the Philly local scene, vocal influences, why Ritual Earth went with a non-metal label, King Diamond killin' it, and avoiding elf muppet metal territory.

Support Ritual Earth. Pre-orders for MMXX are available over at Deathwish Inc., with the official release on March 18th!

Track featured is "Free Me from My Vessel" from MMXX.

Chapter 119 - Sigils

After a much-delayed appearance after seeing them way back at Ode to Doom in 2019, New York's Sigils finally comes on Diary of Doom. Guitarist Tom Colello joins us to narrate his journey from Borders to being the middle man of a middle company still navigating the vinyl logistics nightmare of the pandemic, as well as slaughtering Swedish souls, touring band road relationships, doomy game night sessions, and a whole mess of bands named Carcosa. We also still don't know what doomgaze is.

Support Sigils

Track featured is "Faceless" off their first album, You Built the Altar, You Lit the Leaves

Chapter 118 - Tony Reed - Mos Generator/Big Scenic Nowhere

A longtime veteran of the scene, Tony Reed has made a name for himself both in front of a live audience and behind the scenes. In addition to leading his main outfit, Mos Generator, Tony's also a driving force in Big Scenic Nowhere (along with Bob Balch from Fu Manchu, who was featured on the show last week) and has put in years of production, engineering, and mastering work on countless albums. During his chat with Dylan, Tony delves into his many other projects, as well as stealing a 45 of "Nights in White Satin" at age four, learning "Iron Man" as his first song, an appreciation for the goths, Greg Ginn's breakfast treats, why he doesn't dwell on past decisions, gets real about production work, the green origins of the band name, and dealing with the fear of rejection.

Support Mos Generator and Big Scenic Nowhere, as well as Tony's other bands and solo releases and his alt-country band, Hot Spring Water.

Track featured is "Stolen Ages" from Shadowlands, released in 2018. Regarding the track at the time, Tony had this to say:

"This is another song that was built from a jam and was recorded the day after it was written. We ended up using two different ideas on the same theme. On the demo jam, the song changed over the course of 20 minutes and when we were reviewing the session we thought it would be cool to marry the different styles. Part one has a loose psychedelic jam style and part two has a great pushing metal boogie feel. As I am writing this paragraph I am taking a break from arranging the vocal melodies and guitar overdubs. This is the second of two songs to be arranged during session #3 in January 2018. There are quite a few ideas that we laid down to the recorder that we’ll get to in the future."

Chapter 117 - Bob Balch - Fu Manchu/Big Scenic Nowhere

While the Fu Manchu 30th (32nd?) Anniversary tour is sadly not a go, Bob Balch has been able to keep himself very occupied during these past plague years. With a recently released sophomore album from Big Scenic Nowhere, Bob and Dylan get into his long tenure with Fu and how a Del Taco order kickstarted BSN a few years ago, plus how a member of another Foo band got Bob a little headstart, recording The Action is Go at 19, when road maps were a thing, James Hetfield's golf cart luxuries, a most harrowing winter drive, and surfing with Aussie fans.

Support Fu Manchu and Big Scenic Nowhere and if you need guitar lessons, Bob has been teaching them through Play This Riff for years now. 

Track featured is "Lavender Bleu" off The Long Morrow, available now!

Also thanks to Ryan from Slightly Fuzzed Records for the sick, new episode chapter graphic! Ryan is working on getting slightly fuzzed records out the door right now, but in the meantime, check out his very own podcast!

Chapter 116 - Jon Liedtke - Inter Arma/Lost Tribes of the Moon

If you've ever wanted to know more about the theremin, look no further! Dylan hunkered down to chat with Jon Liedtke about those wondrous sci-fi pantyhose machines as well as how he got invited to join Inter Arma and his own solo outfit, Lost Tribes of the Moon. All that plus: playing the Adult Swim Fest, if you really know Thin Lizzy, what's up with all those labels, a lineup of J's, running the Milwaukee Zappa Fest, getting crooked eyes from gatekeepers, and Rick Wakeman's winter sports crack album.

Support Lost Tribes of the Moon as well as Inter Arma

Track featured is "Unleash the Berserkers" off Lost Tribes of the Moon's upcoming album, Chapter II: Tales Of Strife, Destiny, and Despair, out March 25th!

Chapter 115 - Jason Higson - Yanomamo

Dylan took a trip across the world and into the insanely near future again to touch base with Jason Higson of Australia's Yanomamo. A longtime supporter of the small but strong Australian underground music scene, Jason also runs Iommium Records, having just recently released a split with Slomatics. In addition to chatting about his label and band (including new outfit Soma), Jason elaborates on building a home studio, the metal/punk convergence, tangible merch for rabid tape collectors, Sunn O))) and Earth playing Dark Mofo, and a whole mess of Aussie bands.

Speaking of which, you can check out a playlist we put together of those Australian bands on Spotify, including Jason's own Yanomamo, of course.

Support Yanomamo

Also shoutouts to friend of the show and fellow inhabitant of the land that will kill you, Sally Townsend!

Photo by Kim Rudner

Chapter 114 - Altered States

A myriad of backgrounds coalesced to bring us Altered States. Ryan Lipynsky (Unearthly Trance, Serpentine Path, Green Dragon), Zack Kurland (Green Dragon, Sweet Diesel), and Chris Daly (Jets to Brazil, Texas is the Reason, High Disciple, Resurrection) join Dylan to weave the tale of how they all started out and ultimately ended up as a power trio. Along the way, they talk about sharing an NYC highrise with Gene Simmons, how Saint Vitus Bar is keeping the spirit alive, a Hilly Kristal yarn, hanging up the sticks for shears, starting a band outside a Mudhoney show on acid, and tour stories encompassing skinheads, chickenpox, and cross country high-speed travel.

Support Altered States

Photo by Jammi York

Track featured is "Entrances" off Dark Crossroads

Chapter 113 - King Bastard

Mike, Arthur, and Matt of King Bastard join us for this week's chapter to talk about how they went from Stonybrook bros to psychedelic space metal band. During our chat, we also chat about having a weird uncle in Unearthly Trance, amphibian metal, getting into Colin Marston's schedule, Alien samples, and going out Komarov style.

Support King Bastard

Track featured is "Bury the Survivors - Ashes to Ashes" off It Came from the Void, out January 14th!

Photo by Bri Malgioglio