Riff Worship
by Austin Paulson, Dylan Adams, and Justin Swindle
The riff is the foundation of heavy music, evolving over several decades and styles. Many of our favorite songs started with a single idea and guitar in hand. Anyone can write a riff, but what makes a good riff? Each week, riff disciples Austin Paulson, Dylan Adams, & Justin Swindle attempt to answer this question by discussing their favorite riffs, how they came to be, and why we still worship them today.
Episodes
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#175 - White Zombie, Primus & 90s VR Horror: Brainscan (1994) Halloween Special
In this Riff Worship Halloween Special, guest David Stepanavicius (Atræ Bilis, Fulci Rots) joins us to dissect the 1994 cult VR horror film Brainscan. Directed by John Flynn and written by Andrew Kevin Walker (Seven) and Brian Owens, this 90s cyber-slasher stars Edward Furlong as a teen trapped…
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#174 - Dream Unending, NØ MAN & Darkest Hour: October 2026 Extreme Music Releases
This week on the Riff Worship podcast, we highlight our most anticipated extreme music releases of October! From atmospheric death-doom to blistering hardcore punk, we break down the albums you need on your radar this month. In this episode: Dream Unending – Certain Uncertainties (20 Buck Spin)...
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#173 - Iconic Album Covers & The Artists Behind Them (Yob, Mastodon, Sleep & More)
Have you ever bought a record just because the cover caught your eye? This week on Riff Worship, we spotlight the legendary creators who defined the aesthetic of the bands we love! Join us as we discuss our favorite albums covers including the profound works of artists like John Dyer Baizley...
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#172 - The Evolution & Impact of Extreme Metal Compilations & Label Samplers
This week on Riff Worship, we explore the impact and evolution of extreme music compilations and label samplers! In this episode, we’ll discuss: Why compilation albums matter as cost-effective label promos, essential music discovery tools, historical snapshots of evolving musical trends, and...
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#171 - Hot Cross - Risk Revival
This week on Riff Worship, we unpack the underground legacy of post-hardcore icons Hot Cross and the turbulent creation of their 2007 swan song, Risk Revival. In this episode, we discuss: The band’s roots in post-hardcore and screamo heavyweights Saetia, You and I, and Neil Perry. Their essential...
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#170 - When Billy Joel Went Heavy Metal: The Story of Attila (1970)
Long before the ballads and sold-out stadiums, a twenty-year-old Billy Joel ditched classical piano, maxed out a Hammond B-3 organ through a wall of Marshall stacks, and set out to melt faces. In this episode of Riff Worship, we explore the strange, short-lived history of Attila: the legendary...
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#169 - Dead In The Dirt - The Blind Hole
This week on Riff Worship, we dissect the history of Atlanta’s vegan straight-edge grindcore trio, Dead in the Dirt. We trace their journey from early DIY beginnings to their signing with Southern Lord, exploring the making of their debut LP, The Blind Hole! In this episode, we’ll discuss:...
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#168 - Rippikoulu - Musta Seremonia w/ Ukko's Hammer
Special guest Zach Reini (Ukko’s Hammer) returns to the Riff Worship Podcast to help us unpack the legacy of Finnish death-doom trailblazers Rippikoulu and their monumental 1993 demo, Musta seremonia! In this episode, we’ll discuss: Rippikoulu’s evolution from their chaotic hardcore punk origins…
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#167 - Hear 'N Aid - Stars
In the mid-1980s, global charity supergroups like Band Aid and U.S.A. for Africa dominated international headlines, raising tens of millions of dollars to combat severe famine in Ethiopia. Yet, despite heavy metal’s massive commercial dominance, hard rock and metal musicians were noticeably...
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#166 - The Dillinger Escape Plan - Miss Machine
This week on Riff Worship, we dive into the chaotic evolution of mathcore pioneers The Dillinger Escape Plan and the transformative journey behind their sophomore album, Miss Machine. Formed in Morris Plains, New Jersey, in 1997 from the ashes of the short-lived hardcore band Arcane, Dillinger...
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#165 - Kylesa - Static Tensions
This week on Riff Worship, we dive deep into the making, history, and sonic evolution of Kylesa’s seminal 2009 masterpiece, Static Tensions! From their roots in Savannah’s pioneering crust-punk band Damad to their rise as titans of psychedelic sludge, Kylesa's story is defined by resilience,...
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#164 - Rush - Hemispheres
This week on Riff Worship, we dive into Rush’s 1978 conceptual titan, Hemispheres! Following the grueling tour cycle for A Farewell to Kings, Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, and Neil Peart headed to Rockfield Studios in Wales with producer Terry Brown to test their limits and record one of the most...
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#163 - Mortal Decay - Forensic w/ Garry Brents (Sallow Moth) & Joe Gordon
This week on Riff Worship, we’re joined by prolific multi-instrumentalist Garry Brents (Sallow Moth) and guitarist Joe Gordon (Mortal Decay) for a deep dive into Mortal Decay’s landmark 2002 sophomore album, Forensic! Together, we trace Mortal Decay’s evolution—from their early 1990s origins as...
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#162 - Trap Them - Seizures In Barren Praise w/ Clint Gee (Smearing)
This week on Riff Worship, we dive headfirst into one of the 21st century's most visceral extreme music masterpieces: Trap Them’s 2008 sophomore album, Seizures in Barren Praise. Joining us to dissect the record's enduring legacy is Clint Gee, vocalist of Seattle grindcore outfit Smearing! We’ll...
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#161 - Thergothon - Stream from the Heavens
This week on Riff Worship, we descend into the slowest, darkest, and heaviest corner of extreme music history to explore the birth of Funeral Doom through Thergothon’s 1994 cult classic, Stream from the Heavens! Before disbanding in 1993 and leaving the metal world behind, a group of Finnish...
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#160 - Deadguy - Fixation on a Co-Worker
Discover the chaotic history of metalcore pioneers Deadguy! In this episode of Riff Worship, we chart the band’s volatile journey from their 1993 formation in New Brunswick, NJ, to the creation of their 1995 landmark album, Fixation on a Coworker. This week we’ll explore: How members of…
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#159 - His Hero Is Gone - Monuments to Thieves
This week on Riff Worship, we explore the brief yet prolific history of His Hero Is Gone and their landmark 1997 album, Monuments to Thieves! Active only between 1995 and 1999, the legendary Memphis, Tennessee crust punk band left their mark on underground music forever. By blending punishing,...
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#158 - Autopsy - Severed Survival
In the late 1980s, the San Francisco Bay Area was the undisputed global epicenter of thrash metal. But deep within the underground, a new generation of metalheads were brewing something far more extreme. In this episode of Riff Worship, we are diving headfirst into the blood, guts, and history...
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#157 - Dragged Into Sunlight - Hatred for Mankind
What does it take to create one of the most abrasive, unsettling metal records of the 21st century? In this episode of Riff Worship, we dive into the shadows to dissect the terrifying sonic legacy of the UK’s most elusive extreme music collective: Dragged Into Sunlight. Formed in 2006 by a group…
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#156 - Majority Rule - Emergency Numbers
This week on Riff Worship, we’re diving into the comprehensive history of Washington D.C.’s Majority Rule! From skateboarding and high school Driver’s Ed to their final release, Emergency Numbers, we’ll explore the lineage of one of hardcore's most abrasive and dynamic trios. In this episode, we...
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#155 - Top 5 Death Metal Albums w/ David Stepanavicius (Atræ Bilis, Fulci Rots)
This week on Riff Worship, we’re diving into one of the most revered and fiercely debated styles in extreme music: Death Metal! Special guest David Stepanavicius (Atræ Bilis, Fulci Rots) returns to the show to help us trace the genre’s rapid evolution, highlight defining record labels, and break...
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#154 - Gorguts - Obscura
This week on Riff Worship, we dive deep into the technical and spiritual labyrinth of Gorguts’ 1998 masterpiece, Obscura! Often hailed as one of the most innovative death metal albums of all time, Obscura was a radical departure that redefined the genre's boundaries. We trace the band’s journey...
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#153 - Full of Hell - Roots of Earth Are Consuming My Home
This week on Riff Worship, we trace the origins of one of extreme music’s most prolific forces: Full of Hell. We’re joined by special guest John Wooten (Wooten Photo) for a deep dive into the foundations of the band, culminating in their seminal 2011 debut full-length, Roots of Earth Are…
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#152 - Isis - Oceanic w/ Chained to the Bottom of the Ocean
This week on Riff Worship, we explore the history and impact of the seminal 2002 album Oceanic by post-metal pioneers Isis! Join us as we trace the band’s sonic evolution, from the bludgeoning heaviness of their debut Celestial to the atmospheric and melodic textures that would evolve throughout...
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#151 - The Great Double Album Debate (Top 5 Double Albums)
This week on Riff Worship we take a deep dive into the history and eventual “demise” of the double album! From the introduction of the LP in 1948 to an era of pivotal releases ushered in by Bob Dylan’s Blonde on Blonde, we’ll explore the evolution of the format while attempting to answer several...
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#150 - Coheed and Cambria - In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3
This week on Riff Worship, we explore the pivotal sophomore era of Coheed and Cambria. We'll trace the band's evolution from their early days in New York mixing punk, funk, and heavy metal as Shabütie to the moment they truly found their voice. Released on October 7th, 2003, In Keeping Secrets of...
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#149 - The Dillinger Escape Plan - Calculating Infinity
In this episode of Riff Worship, we dive deep into the origin story and explosive impact of The Dillinger Escape Plan’s 1999 debut full-length, Calculating Infinity! Born out of the ashes of the New Jersey band Arcane, Dillinger set out to create something deliberately alienating and strange by...
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#148 - The Berzerker w/ Luke Kenny & Sam Bean (The Berzerker)
This week on Riff Worship, we’re throwing it back to the turn of the millennium to dissect an extreme metal anomaly. Combining elements of gabber, speedcore, and deathgrind, The Berzerker’s self-titled debut is a monument to creative integrity and raw experimentation. We are joined by special...
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#147 - Andrew W.K. - I Get Wet
This week on Riff Worship, we’re diving into the bizarre, blood-soaked, and fiercely persistent origins of Andrew W.K. and his 2001 landmark debut, I Get Wet. We trace the transformation of an Ann Arbor piano prodigy into a global party icon, navigating his journey from Michigan’s eclectic...
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#146 - Alice In Chains - Dirt
This week on Riff Worship, we take a look at the prolific and tumultuous history of Seattle rock legends Alice In Chains and the making of their 1992 magnum opus, Dirt! In this episode we’ll explore… The band’s glam metal roots and evolution into one of the heavy hitters of the Pacific Northwest....
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#145 - Punch - Flexi Your Head w/ Meghan O'Neil (Punch, The Armed, King Woman)
This week on Riff Worship, we’re taking a look at the long-standing musical tradition of the “cover song.” Whether it’s a popular hit or a niche favorite, covers often act as a direct pulse to the listener—offering a glimpse into an artist’s personal influences and taste. Throughout the history…
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#144 - Converge - You Fail Me
Following the release of the now-iconic Jane Doe, Converge could have easily delivered a direct sequel to satisfy fans craving the same sonic intensity. To avoid the risk of pigeonholing themselves, however, the band opted to write for themselves and subverted expectations with a more minimal…
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#143 - Breather Resist - Charmer w/ Evan Patterson (Breather Resist, Jaye Jayle, Young Widows)
This week on Riff Worship we’ll explore the Louisville hardcore scene with a deep dive into Breather Resist and their seminal 2004 album, Charmer! We’re joined by guitarist Evan Patterson (Jaye Jayle, Young Widows, Future Heart Works) to discuss the band’s evolution from projects like The…
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#142 - Morbid Angel - Altars of Madness
This week on Riff Worship we’re tracing the origins of one of death metal's most foundational pillars: Morbid Angel. We’ll follow the band’s formative years in Tampa, Florida, to the chaotic journey toward their 1989 debut album, Altars of Madness! On this episode, we explore: Guitarist Trey...
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#141 - Bleeding Through - The Truth
Building on the momentum of their genre-defining Trustkill Records debut, This Is Love, This Is Murderous, Orange County’s Bleeding Through returned in 2006 with their most ambitious work to date. By seamlessly weaving together elements of death metal, hardcore, and black metal, the band pushed...
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#140 - Pageninetynine - Document #8
This week on Riff Worship, we’re exploring the chaotic history of Pageninetynine (Pg. 99)—from their DIY basement roots in Sterling, Virginia, to their lasting impact on a generation of hardcore and extreme music. We’ll dive into their early split releases with bands like Enemy Soil and Reactor…
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#139 - diSEMBOWELMENT - Transcendence into the Peripheral
By 1993, death metal had reached its arguable commercial peak, with bands like Carcass and Morbid Angel infiltrating major labels and spawning a sea of imitators. Meanwhile, Melbourne’s diSEMBOWELMENT set out to break the mold with their sole full-length album by incorporating influences far…
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#138 - Top 5 Favorite Punk Records
This week on Riff Worship, we dive into our Top 5 Favorite Punk Records of all time (or at least at the moment). From the foundational riffs of the Ramones and The Misfits to the breakneck speed of Minor Threat and Dead Kennedys, we explore the albums that helped define the genre and shaped our...
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#137 - Best of 2025
2025 was an incredible year for heavy music. In this episode, we're breaking down some of our top albums of the year (in no particular) across heavy metal, hardcore, and more! We also take a look back at our favorite Riff Worship moments of 2025, share our honorable mentions, and discuss are most...
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#136 - Born Against - The Rebel Sound of Sh*t and Failure w/ Bryan Funck (Thou)
During their volatile four-year existence, NYC’s Born Against played over 200 shows across North America and Europe, released several splits and LPs, and managed to alienate just about everyone in the DIY hardcore scene. In our final episode of 2025, we are rejoined by special guest Bryan Funck...
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#135 - Earth Crisis - Destroy the Machines w/ Trevor Phipps (Unearth)
Before "metalcore" became a buzzword, Earth Crisis was already bridging the gap between the raw energy of New York Hardcore with the technical precision of metal. Their sound wasn’t just a sonic shift, but a platform to deliver an uncompromising message of animal rights and their commitment to a...
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#134 - Carcass - Heartwork
Having traversed the realms of grindcore, death metal, and progressive experimentation, English pioneers Carcass sought to refine their sound into something far more unprecedented on their 4th album. Featuring songs such as “Embodiment,” “No Love Lost,” and the genre-defining title track, 1993’s...
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#133 - Defacement - Doomed
Following the critical success of 2024’s Duality, blackened death metal outfit Defacement have returned with Doomed—arguably their most potent and varied album to date. This week we are joined by Defacement members Khalil, Ahmed, and Tadzio to discuss the intense work ethic behind these...
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#132 - Maruta - Forward Into Regression w/ Jack McBride (Bandit)
This week we are joined by guitarist and grindcore scholar Jack McBride (Bandit) to explore the enduring legacy of Florida’s Maruta and dive into their pummeling sophomore album, Forward Into Regression. Released via Willowtip Records nearly 15 years ago, Forward Into Regression remains a…
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#131 - Mastodon - Blood Mountain w/ Liz Walshak (Glacier, SEA)
After the release of the now-classic Leviathan and the relentless touring that followed, Atlanta prog/sludge quartet Mastodon signed to a major label and unleashed another slab of conceptual madness with their third full-length album. Featuring tracks as varied as the melodic “Colony of…
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#130 - Halloween Special - Danzig (1988)
It’s the Danzig debut album Charlie Brown! This week we’re celebrating the Halloween season with a dark, blues-inspired heavy metal masterpiece. We’ll discuss how the Misfits and Samhain laid the foundation for Glenn Danzig’s solo work, the introduction of longtime collaborator and producer Rick...
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#129 - Cave In - Until Your Heart Stops w/ Dan Thomson (lowheaven)
Everything has to start somewhere. Before the sonic evolution to space-rock on Jupiter and their eventual move to a major label, Cave In was just a group of teenagers trying to find their voice in the East Coast hardcore scene. Born in Methuen, Massachusetts, the band experienced a tumultuous and...
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#128 - Cult Leader - Lightless Walk w/ Michael Mason and Sam Richards (Cult Leader)
A decade ago, Salt Lake City’s Cult Leader unleashed their emotionally devastating debut album, Lightless Walk. Quickly making ripples throughout the extreme music scene, the album perfectly balances grinding, visceral bursts of aggression with morose moments of catharsis. This week we’re joined…
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#127 - Electric Wizard - Dopethrone w/ John Hoffman (STOMACH, Weekend Nachos) and David Stepanavicius (Atræ Bilis)
This week, Riff Worship celebrates 25 years of Electric Wizard’s nihilistic masterpiece, Dopethrone! We’re joined by special guests John Hoffman (STOMACH, Weekend Nachos) and David Stepanavicius (Atræ Bilis, Fulci Rots) to explore the band’s rural Dorset roots as well as the tumultuous events and...
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#126 - Between the Buried and Me - Alaska
Between the Buried and Me was born from a desire for unrestricted, musical expression. Guitarist Paul Waggoner and vocalist Tommy Giles started the band to escape the creative constraints of their respective projects and explore new sonic territory. Following their initial two releases, the band...
About this show
The riff is the foundation of heavy music, evolving over several decades and styles. Many of our favorite songs started with a single idea and guitar in hand. Anyone can write a riff, but what makes a good riff? Each week, riff disciples Austin Paulson, Dylan Adams, & Justin Swindle attempt to answer this question by discussing their favorite riffs, how they came to be, and why we still worship them today.
Hosted by
Austin Paulson, Dylan Adams, and Justin Swindle
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