Hosted by Jay Ingersoll & Modd, this episode dives into a topic every metalhead can relate to: **gateway bands**—the artists that first sparked our obsession with heavy music and led us down the path to extreme metal, death metal, metalcore, black metal, and beyond. 🤘

But what exactly *is* a gateway band?

A gateway band is a group whose music is just heavy *enough* to catch the ear of new listeners, yet accessible thanks to catchy hooks, polished production, or genre-bending elements. They open the door for millions to discover heavier and more underground bands, becoming the first step in countless metal journeys.

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### 🧠 **What makes a band a gateway?**

* Cleaner production than raw underground acts

* Melodic choruses or anthemic riffs

* Cross-genre appeal (metal meets rock, punk, even pop)

* Exposure on mainstream channels (MTV, radio, gaming soundtracks)

* Lyrics or visuals that resonate with a wider crowd

### 🔥 **In this episode, we talk about bands that became gateways for us and countless others:**

**⚙️ Heavy Metal Icons:**

* *Metallica* – From “Enter Sandman” to “Master of Puppets,” they turned millions into lifelong metal fans.

* *Iron Maiden* – Epic storytelling and soaring melodies that bridge classic rock fans into NWOBHM.

* *Black Sabbath* – The dark, doomy birth of heavy metal itself.

* *Pantera* – Groove, aggression, and hooks that defined the 90s.

* *Slayer* – Their ferocity pulled many thrash fans toward death metal.

**🤘 Metalcore & Deathcore:**

* *Killswitch Engage* – Melodic choruses + heavy riffs = perfect entry into metalcore.

* *Parkway Drive* – Catchy yet crushing; a modern classic gateway.

* *Bring Me The Horizon* (early era) – Their evolution from deathcore to arena rock brought countless fans along for the ride.

**☠️ Death Metal Gateways:**

* *Cannibal Corpse* – Their infamous album art & brutal sound piqued curiosity.

* *Death* – Technical yet melodic; opened doors to progressive & tech death.

* *Amon Amarth* – Viking themes and melodic riffs attracted new ears.

**🧊 Black Metal Access Points:**

* *Dimmu Borgir* – Symphonic black metal with huge production.

* *Cradle of Filth* – Gothic, theatrical, and strangely accessible.

* *Immortal* (later albums) – Ice-cold riffs with more clarity than the rawest black metal.

**⚡ Nu Metal Crossovers:**

* *Slipknot* – Heavy but hooky, angry yet anthemic.

* *Korn* – Deep grooves and raw emotion resonated with 90s youth.

* *System of a Down* – Weird, wild, and instantly memorable.

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### 🎯 **Why do gateway bands matter?**

They inspire people to:

✅ Explore deeper and heavier subgenres

✅ Keep local and underground scenes alive

✅ Become fans, musicians, and supporters of extreme music

Everyone starts somewhere—and we celebrate that first spark that leads to a lifetime of riffs, blast beats, and stage dives. 🔥

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**🌙 We also chat about:**

* Newer gateway bands like *Beartooth*, *Spiritbox*, *Sleep Token*

* The bands that *personally* drew us into heavier worlds

* Why it’s *okay* (and awesome!) to love the popular bands that got you started

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🎧 **Join us for Episode 108** as we remember those first riffs that changed our lives—and maybe yours, too!

🩸 **Stream now on YouTube & Spotify** | Don’t forget to like, comment & share your own gateway band stories in the comments!

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