Metal mayhem and festival tales dominate as we break down the Sonic Temple experience from start to finish. After four years of podcasting (an eternity in the podcast world!), we're celebrating episode 172 with a deep dive into what makes a great metal festival.

Sonic Temple emerges as the clear winner when compared to Inkcarceration, offering flat ground instead of treacherous hills, better spacing between stages, and perfect timing weather-wise. The lineup delivered serious firepower with Ice Nine Kills crushing their set, Bullet For My Valentine sounding album-perfect, and Whitechapel demonstrating why they're considered death metal royalty. Even unexpected acts like ICP drew massive crowds, though some veterans like Rob Zombie showed their age with winded performances and partial lyrics.

Beyond festival talk, we explore Cedar Point's surprising new comedy shows and take a musical journey through bands you might not know yet but absolutely should. From Russian mathcore outfit Ape on the Rocket to Italian metalcore group Burning Hayes, we unearth hidden gems that deserve spots on your playlist. Each discovery fuels our appreciation for the endless creativity in the metal scene.

After 172 episodes, we're still passionate about sharing the music and movies we love. Whether you're here for the bands, the banter, or the bizarre tangents, we appreciate you joining our metal-fueled conversations. Check out these bands, let us know what you think, and join us next week for more mayhem.

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'Beavis and Butt-head' Cover art created by Joe Crawford