The Metal Nerd Podcast
by Joseph Arnold
The Metal Nerd Podcast is a sacred place where a couple of metal nerds get the chance to chat about their favorite metal albums. On each episode, host Joe Arnold and one guest tackle one impactful metal album. These albums span different sub-genres and eras from bands such as Black Sabbath, Slayer, Mastodon, Architects, and many more! The nerds discuss how these albums impacted their lives by sharing fun stories, controversial takes, and describing what they learned and how their lives were changed forever.
Episodes
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21. Metal Twins Discuss The Black Album by Metallica
Metal twins, John and Joe, from Cerebellion discuss all things The Black Album by Metallica on the 30th anniversary of the album (or close to, anyway). This conversation covers everything from their first experience hearing the Black Album to what it means into the culture of music and heavy…
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20. The Number of the Beast (Iron Maiden) Episode
On episode 20, Jen Taylor Warren (Subsurface Tension vocalist) & I discuss Iron Maiden’s 1982 classic album "The Number of the Beast." We rap about the impact of the debut album from “the air raid siren,” Jen’s favorite singer, Bruce Dickenson and the last for drummer Clive Burr. We also examine...
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19. The "Slipknot" (Slipknot) episode
On episode 19, Charlie Bodhi (writer) & I discuss Slipknot’s 1999 debut album "Slipknot." We reminisce about the insanity that was Slipknot’s rise to platinum selling success in less than one year of the release of their first album and argue about whether this would be possible today. We also...
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18. The Arise (Sepultura) Episode
On episode 18, Tony Castaneda (former Kyng bassist) & I discuss Sepultura's 1991 classic "Arise." I learned about how Tony discovered Sepultura and why this is his favorite Sepultura record. We discussed how Sepultura came into their own sound on this record and started displaying hints of their...
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17. The Rust in Peace (Megadeth) episode
Lucky 17...nah, that's not a thing. On this episode, Matt Bustamante (Black Snak) & I discuss Megadeth's 1990 thrash masterpiece "Rust in Peace." We rap about Matt’s road from KIIS FM to Rust in Peace, warm beers in the parking lot of a Megadeth show at the Forum with Heaven and Hell, and the...
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16. The Korn (Korn) Episode
Santos Camacho (former singer of Cheva and This Fiend Kills) and I discuss Korn’s game changing 1994 debut album “Korn.” Santos shares stories about when he saw Korn in 1995 with Deftones at a half-packed comedy club in downtown Fullerton CA; taking up for Jonathan Davis by yelling at a bartender...
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15. The War Moans (Mutoid Man) Episode
On this episode, Danny Mann (Sorizon guitarist) and I discuss Mutoid Man’s 2017 epic album “War Moans.” I learned about how this album was the soundtrack to Danny’s life during his single days and how a Mutoid Man concert (that we were both at, in Santa Ana ca) was the event in which Danny and…
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14. The Way Of All Flesh (Gojira) Episode
Kory Anderson (Siva vocalist) and I discuss Gojira’s 2008 classic “The Way of all Flesh!” We rap about the sweet spot Gojira has found as a really heavy band that is catchy but not poppy, proggy but simple, and artsy but focused. We also discuss their songwriting and self-production, seeing them...
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13. The Chaos AD (Sepultura) Episode
Marc Battung (bassist of Cerebellion) and I discuss Sepultura’s 1993 classic album “Chaos AD!” We rap about how this album was very divisive for Sepultura fans as the band had grown into a new tribal and groove influenced sound (whilst still boasting thrash metal roots in moments). This was...
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12. The More Things Change (Machine Head) Episode
John Arnold (guitarist of Cerebellion & Society1) and I discuss Machine Head’s 1997 classic album “The More Things Change!” We get into how this album re-established the bar for metal sound production, the aggro and natural feel of the songwriting, how this compares to the rest of Machine Head’s...
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11. The Sound of White Noise (Anthrax) Episode
11. The Sound of White Noise (Anthrax) Episode Alex Chaves and I discuss 1993’s game-changing “Sound of White Noise” via internet connection (clean as whistle BTW, thanks to Zencastr). This was Anthrax’s first album with singer John Bush after canning Joey Belladonna and Alex and I hail Bush as…
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10. The 2112 (Rush)/Neil Peart Episode
In episode 10, I sat down with shredder Paul Wilcox and discussed Rush’s “2112” and the greatness of Neil Peart. We attempted to put 2112 in its place among great Rush records. Paul tried to convince me to listen to the last 14 minutes of the song “2112” and broke down how the ancillary…
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9. The "Holy Hell" (Architects) Episode
In episode 9, I sat down with my twin brother and bandmate John Arnold, the guitarist of Cerebellion and Society1, and discussed “Holy Hell” by Architects. We talked about the separation of twin brothers/bandmates Tom and Dan Searle due to the untimely death of Tom to cancer at the age of 28 in...
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8. The "Home" (Sevendust) Episode
In episode 8, I sat down with Jimmy Schultz, the drummer of Cerebellion (which is also my band), and discussed “Home” by Sevendust. We laughed about hilarious frosted tips and button-up flame shirts sported by the band at the end of the 20th century. We also talked about what was great about...
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7. The Master of Reality (Black Sabbath) Episode
In this episode I sit down with Your Favorite Color/Black Snak drummer, Johnny Arnold, to discuss “Master of Reality” by Black Sabbath! We talk about which substances were consumed before the iconic cough that leads off the album and takes us into the classic “Sweet Leaf;” the album’s influence…
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The Somewhere In Time (Iron Maiden) Episode
In this episode, I sat down with my friend and musician, Paul Wilcox, to nerd out about Iron Maiden’s Somewhere In Time. We discussed the band’s first lengthy break after making albums and touring for over 5 straight years and how there was a disagreement between Bruce Dickinsen and the rest of…
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The Alive or Just Breathing (Killswitch Engage) Episode
On this episode, I chat with my friend and lifelong metal enthusiast Charles Asawesna about “Alive or Just Breathing” by Massachusetts band Killswitch Engage. We talk about how this landmark metalcore album marked the beginnings of a massive sea change in metal and heavy music in the US and...
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The South of Heaven (Slayer) Episode
On this episode, Joe sits down with The Even Order's Justin Schulze and his deadly right hand and discusses Slayer's epic album "South of Heaven." The two nerd out on Dave Lombardo's drumming, dirty guitar tones, how we think this album influenced bands of today, the raw production style of Rick...
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The Crack the Skye (Mastodon) Episode
On this episode, Joe sits down with Matt Bustamante from Black Snak and discusses, as he puts, “the best”...Mastodon’s Crack the Skye. Joe learns from Matt that the songwriting on this album was largely prompted by an unfortunate fight between Brent and Shavo from System of a Down. Matt also...
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The Vulgar Display of Power (Pantera) Episode
In this episode Joe sits down with former radio DJ, Buzz Steve, to discuss 1992's Vulgar Display of Power by Pantera! We talk about how Phil gave up his voice for the sake of heavy metal; the incredible songwriting and virtuosic skill of brothers Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul; how Steve and Joe...
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The Master of Puppets (Metallica) episode
Joe sits down with Bill Warren (former James Hetfield impersonator for Metallica Tribute band Creeping Death) and discusses the masterpiece that is Master of Puppets! Bill talks about his time playing guitar and singing for Creeping Death and the time Lars and Kirk from Metallica showed up at one...
About this show
The Metal Nerd Podcast is a sacred place where a couple of metal nerds get the chance to chat about their favorite metal albums. On each episode, host Joe Arnold and one guest tackle one impactful metal album. These albums span different sub-genres and eras from bands such as Black Sabbath, Slayer, Mastodon, Architects, and many more! The nerds discuss how these albums impacted their lives by sharing fun stories, controversial takes, and describing what they learned and how their lives were changed forever.
Hosted by
Joseph Arnold
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