Chris Akin Presents

Frozen Crown isn’t exactly backing away from the power metal formula — they’re turning the damn thing up.GET FROZEN CROWN’S THE LEGEND OF THE SIX KINGS HERE: https://amzn.to/3U0v2g1Federico Mondelli explains why The Legend of the Six Kings sounds darker, rougher and more aggressive than what came before, how playing live changed the band’s songwriting, and why one Yngwie Malmsteen song helped define the direction.Then it gets even more interesting: building the band’s fantasy world, finally having the money to bring those ideas to life, touring America with Kamelot, and why Federico refuses to regret the earlier records.This is a great look inside the head of a guy who clearly has a very specific vision — and isn’t afraid to say no when somebody screws with it.Watch commercial free and without delayed publishing by becoming a CMS VIP at https://classicmetalshow.locals.comAll comments are merely the opinions of the people speaking them, are for comical performance, and are in no way stated as factual. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cmspn.substack.com/subscribe

Nearly 30 years later, Fear Factory’s Obsolete isn’t sounding quite as fictional as it once did.GREAT DEAL OF FEAR FACTORY’S OBSOLETE ON SPECIAL EDITION VINYL: https://amzn.to/4xnBYliOn this episode of CHRIS AKIN PRESENTS..., Burton C. Bell takes a deep dive into the story behind Obsolete and the completely different way he’s now bringing that story to an audience.Burton explains “Obsolete by Word of Mouth,” his intimate performance built around the original material he wrote for the album, including his handwritten and typed manuscripts, the stories behind the songs, and a theatrical reading of the Obsolete narrative.And here’s where things get weird.Ideas that sounded like futuristic science fiction when Obsolete was released can now hit a lot closer to home. Burton talks about his fascination with apocalyptic science fiction, how writers often use imagined futures to reflect the world they’re actually living in, and why revisiting his own material today has produced some pretty startling reactions from audiences.He also goes back to the making of Obsolete and tells the story of how Fear Factory’s version of Gary Numan’s “Cars” came together — including Numan flying to Vancouver to record his vocals, knocking them out in one take, and then hanging out with Burton for an unlikely trip to the movies to see Dark City.But Burton isn’t simply cashing in on another anniversary by playing the album live.Instead, he’s created an intentionally small and personal experience limited to roughly 50 people, where the audience becomes part of the performance and the story is delivered without the distance of a massive concert.So after almost three decades, the question is pretty damn obvious:Was Obsolete really ahead of its time?Watch and decide for yourself.Watch commercial free and without delayed publishing by becoming a CMS VIP at https://classicmetalshow.locals.comAll comments are merely the opinions of the people speaking them, are for comical performance, and are in no way stated as factual. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cmspn.substack.com/subscribe

Nailbomb should have been a footnote in metal history. Instead, 32 years later, Point Blank is back onstage—and it still sounds pissed off.GET NAILBOMB’S POINT BLANK ON VINYL HERE: https://amzn.to/4hyiLZUIgor Amadeus Cavalera gets into why this record has survived, what it means to step into Alex Newport’s role, and why a new generation of fans is suddenly discovering music that was supposed to be buried in the ’90s.But the conversation goes way beyond Nailbomb. Igor talks about growing up a Cavalera, dealing with the “nepotism” label, watching his father continue to destroy stages decades into his career, and the brutal family history surrounding the Sepultura split and the birth of Soulfly.And just when you think the Nailbomb story is over, Igor hints that there’s more coming.Watch commercial free and without delayed publishing by becoming a CMS VIPAll comments are merely the opinions of the people speaking them, are for comical performance, and are in no way stated as factual. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cmspn.substack.com/subscribe

Blood White aren’t exactly trying to blend into the metal crowd—and that’s the point.GET BLOOD WHITE'S FROM HELL ON VINYL HERE: https://amzn.to/462ZOYaThe German band has built an entire world around From Hell, combining crushing modern metal with a bizarre white-and-red medical aesthetic, theatrical characters, and songs that aren’t afraid to get seriously dark. But behind the masks, there’s something a lot more interesting going on.CHECK OUT BLOOD WHITE'S "GUNS & FEAR" HERE: They talk about creating Blood White, why their visual identity came together so quickly, what happened when they hit the road with Lordi, the songs “Before I Die” and “Fear,” and what it would mean to eventually step onto a monster stage like Wacken.And if you’re wondering whether this band has the songs to back up the image… yeah. There’s a reason this record caught our attention.Watch commercial free and without delayed publishing by becoming a CMS VIP at https://classicmetalshow.locals.comAll comments are merely the opinions of the people speaking them, are for comical performance, and are in no way stated as factual. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cmspn.substack.com/subscribe

A massive four-octave vocal range, a 50-piece orchestra, and a classic ballad sitting in a vault for three decades. What made a legendary frontman keep one of his absolute best vocal performances buried while a pop megastar dominated the airwaves with the exact same track? From dodging industry politics to randomly tracking duets with grunge and metal heavyweights on a whim, this sit-down pulls back the curtain on pure vocal power, studio chaos, and why streaming pennies are killing the music scene.GET STEELHEART’S THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY ALBUM ON VINYL HERE: https://amzn.to/3SheYWyWatch commercial free and without delayed publishing by becoming a CMS VIP at https://classicmetalshow.locals.comAll comments are merely the opinions of the people speaking them, are for comical performance, and are in no way stated as factual. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cmspn.substack.com/subscribe