Welcome to the rock history class you actually want to take!

In this blistering 56th installment, Mike and Michael balance pure speed and thunderous riffs with raw emotional weight as they journey from the golden era of thrash to one of history’s most heartbreaking ballads.

We jumpstart the episode with The Art of Discovery, highlighting three groundbreaking independent acts carving out brilliant spaces in the underground metal scene:

• The crushing, aggressive metalcore soundscapes of Of Malice
• Arizona’s vicious, high-octane heavy metal force Vertebraeker
• The intensely emotional, relentless metalcore outfit Motherwell hailing from Connecticut

From there, we brace ourselves for our main feature: an extensive, track-by-track dissection of Anthrax’s 1987 thrash metal masterpiece, “Among the Living.” Together, we analyze the sheer brilliance of this record, breaking down how the ferocious riffs of Scott Ian and Dan Spitz are anchored flawlessly by the thunderous, secret-weapon bass lines of Frankie Bello and the razor-sharp, technical drum engine of Charlie Benante. We track the album’s evolution from the haunting opening horror chords of the title track and the chaotic pit energy of “Caught in a Mosh” to the social commentary of “Indians” and the comic-book-infused power of “I Am the Law,” taking time along the way to celebrate Joey Belladonna’s soaring, iconic vocal performance.

Finally, we pivot to Michael’s Journey to explore the timeless emotional weight of Sinéad O’Connor’s 1990 masterpiece, “Nothing Compares 2 U.” We dive into the song’s origins as a Prince-penned track, celebrate O’Connor’s heartbreakingly beautiful, vulnerable vocal delivery, and share a deeply moving reflection on the raw sorrow, heartbreak, and sheer power that make this cover one of the most emotionally arresting recordings of all time.

Press play and join the journey through rhythm, movement, and rock history!

(00:00:00) – Intro/What Have You Been Listening to this Week?

(00:08:15) – The Art of Discovery

(00:08:46) – Of Malice “Spineless”

(00:12:56) – Vertebraeker “Colder Each Day”

(00:17:55) – Motherwell “Divinity”

(00:24:19) – Main Topic:Breaking Down Anthrax’s 19787 release, “Among The Living”

(01:05:29) – Question for the Audience

(01:05:58) – Can’t Wait

(01:07:17) – Michael’s Journey:Discussing Sinead O’Connor’s “Nothing Compares 2 U”

(01:14:12) – On the Next Episode

(01:14:46) – Contact Info/Outro

THE ART OF DISCOVERY:

·Of Malice – “Spineless”

·Vertebraeker – “Colder Each Day”

·Motherwell – “Divinity”

OTHER BAND MENTIONS:

·In This Moment

·Mastodon

·Russian Circles

·Green Carnation

·Bear Ghost

·Borknagar

·Buckethead

·Dreadnought

·Mother Of Millions

·Nonpoint

·Polyphia

·Queens Of The Stone Age

CONNECT WITH & SUPPORT US

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Recorded on 09/07/2026

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