Defender of the Riff

Grodius remembers his first guitar and the first weird riffs that got him into heavy music, and runs through his completely alien pedalboard that he uses on live shows today. He showcases his love for obscure noises as well as some heavy riffs, details the four-plus decade history of one of rock's most unique bands, and details what went into the making of the exhibition . Watch until the end for a guided tour of Beyond The Streets! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Robb throws right back to the start of his career with Forbidden and Vio-lence, leaving to form Machine Head in his 20s, and details the trials and tribulations into building the band to one of the biggest in the metal scene, from humble beginnings to headlining major festivals all across the world.Robb tells a hilarious anecdote about how he created Machine Head's siganture sound, his musical upbringing and childhood guitar heroes, his first ever shows and where he sees Machine Head in 2025.Don't miss this killer episode with one of metal's finest, and make sure to pick up Machine Head's new album UNATØNED on April 25th! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mike presents his Signature ESP bass and details what it changes tone-wise from his previous collection, as well as the uniqueness of its design that makes every bass in the series different.The bassist dives back into playing with his previous melodeth band The Absence that allowed him to make many friends, develop his playing, and shape the musician he is today.Mike divulges his journey with thrash metal legends Havok and discusses his ongoing trek with Soulfly and what he's learned about himself and his playing over the course of it! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

John also remembers back to wanting to play drums when he was a kid, until he shifted towards bass and where that eventually took him to where he is as an icon of one of metal's finest now! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Wayne dives back into his childhood and teenage years first discovering heavy music through the punk rock scene, and how that lead him to owning his very first electric guitar, and discusses the riffs and original icons he had that have shaped him into the guitarist he is now. Wayne also discusses Hatebreed's influences - a mashup of different scenes and genres - that make them a great entrance for anyone first getting into heavy culture. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Gene dives back into his connection to the six-string, starting playing the instrument when he was around 15 to borrowing an acoustic and playing Pink Floyd riffs, through to thrashing to bands like Exodus and Death Angel.The Human Drum Machine tells how he wrote some riffs for his first band Dark Angel, absorbing his bandmate Jim's techniques. Gene and Daniel also discuss how guitarists speak the drummers' vocabulary, and the drumming concepts they don't understand while programming drums for demos; Gene got part of his insane talent learning how to play these "impossible" programmed drums that, in his words, "require four arms and three legs"! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Shane dives back to growing up in a house surrounded by music where his dad played guitar with friends, and the first mixtape he got as a kid, which featured Dio, Scorpions, and Van Halen, and how those influences shaped him. Shane also recounts his older sister getting him into AC/DC's High Voltage and how that orientated his musical tastes in a different way.Stories of discovering Bay Area Thrash Metal and becoming obsessed with Anthrax riffs, playing in old punk bands, and joining 3 Inches Of Blood around 2004, and working with Joey Jordison are discussed in this killer episode from one of the legends of the metal game. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Throughout, Daniel & Cody riff together to some of their favorite bands and reminisce over their growing up being introduced to heavy music and first picking up a guitar. Cody details his own personal inspirations, from Metallica to Pantera, through to Scorpions and Kiss. Join Cody as he talks through his many musical projects, playing drums and joining Drain a few years back after being a fan! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Throughout, Daniel & Josh riff together to some of their favorite bands and reminisce over their growing up being introduced to heavy music and first picking up a guitar. Josh tells us his love for the Drop D Tuning and how it changed his life. Be ready for some good old classics like Black Sabbath or Lamb Of God, played with Josh's favorite guitar tuning! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Skolnick dives back to his first musical influences being seen on television, until his first metal shows which were Exodus & Slayer. The discussion leads to where Alex is right now, playing for one of the most prestigious thrash metal bands out there. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Thomson recounts how he first got into metal, his influences and respected peers, and plays a few of his favorite riffs that created and continues to shape his playing style. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The guitarist dives back into his early love of the instrument and how he discovered he had a passion for music, being inspired by the legend that is James Hetfield, but also from a band he saw when he was 14 that made him think: "why not me"? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Jeremiah and Connor tell of how they started the band and their initial inspirations, their wide music taste and guitar heroes, and demonstrate some of their favorite riffs that they've written and outline where they could go from here. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Derrick discusses where his love for heavy music came from, discovering John Petrucci and progressive music when he was a teenager, and his path to becoming a professional musician himself. Derrick also shows his love for making weird noises with his instrument and shows how he uses his whammy pedal! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The conversation stretches over Timmy's early musical influences and how they've bled into SYSC's music and his love for chugging guitar parts. Timmy rips through his favorite go-to riffs plus the ones that have shaped his signature sound and risen SYSC to a can’t miss act .He also shares his love for the musician lifestyle, and his passion for teaching. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this new episode of Defender of the Riff, Knotfest host Daniel Dekay talks to Chase Wilson of Ov Sulfur. The conversation stretches over Chase's first love for bands like Linkin Park and Trivium, his early falling in love with guitars and first influences as a player, rocking out with his two brothers and some friends in a garage, and how this all led to where he is now with Ov Sulfur. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The conversation stretches over Sean's early love for heavy music coming from his dad who was in a rock band himself, and Sean also discusses his own history and relationship with his instrument, leading to him eventually starting at Dragged Under. Watch the full video to see Daniel and Sean riff together over some tasty tunes! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Chris discusses his early influences that lead him to learning the guitar, surrounded by a family of musicians at home. Talk about what goes on in the studio and how that's taken to the stage ensues, and the guys also chat about the business side of a band and all the skills that are required to go self-produced. Be prepared for a very nostalgic moment where Chris plays a few iconic riffs from the Guitar Hero era! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

 The guys discuss how they got into heavy music, meeting when they were teenagers in a Parkway Drive cover band and their admiration for that band still, and they also reflect on their ability to bring their favorite international bands to Australia. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sophie dives into what originally made her pick up a guitar to putting her talent out there online, the traction she picked up from that and where its led to, her signature instruments and gear and way more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.