Today I’m talking with guitarist & producer KURT BALLOU — a true luminary of the heavy music scene, on both sides of the mixing board.

In 1990, he co-founded the pioneering metalcore band CONVERGE, whose 11th studio album, LOVE IS NOT ENOUGH, arrives on February 13.

Kurt also owns & operates GOD CITY STUDIO in Salem, MA, where he records, engineers, produces, & mixes a breathtaking array of bands. He’s given an instantly recognizable mix of grit & clarity to scores of landmark punk, metal, & hardcore records, including LPs by his own band, as well as Cave In, Isis, Pg. 99, Torche, Trap Them, Russian Circles, & many more.

In this episode, we discuss the mechanics of track sequencing, the alien geometry of sound capture, & the dreamy rhythms of deep time.

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https://godcitystudio.com

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https://www.godcityinstruments.com

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TIMESTAMPS:

02:19 // "Love is Not Enough" (Converge)

03:27 // Album Leaks

06:52 // New LP & Track Sequencing

12:09 // Studio Geometry

16:01 // ‘90s Boston Rock Scene

21:22 // Hearing HUM / “Stars” on the Radio

27:34: "Isle of the Cheetah" Discussion

01:01:01 // "Eagles Become Vultures" (Converge)

[Misc: Karate, "This Plus Slow Song"]

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Today’s conversation is with TIM DOW, one of my all-time favorite drummers.

He’s played in and/or toured with SHINER, YEAR OF THE RABBIT, SEASON TO RISK, THE JOY CIRCUIT, ON, VAE VICTIS, & more.

He was in Shiner from 1993 to ‘98, & drummed on their early landmark records, SPLAY & LULA DIVINIA, as well as on their first 6 EPs. Both LPs have since been remixed & remastered, & then reissued in 2024 on SPARTAN RECORDS.

After leaving Shiner, he played in a couple of early 2000s L.A. bands with Failure’s Ken Andrews: first the pop-leaning electronic project ON, then the heavier rock band Year of the Rabbit. He & his Y.O.T.R. bandmates, Jeff Garber & Sol Snyder, then tracked & self-released their first & only studio record, so far, called EP 1.

He’s also done studio session work for Pete Yorn, Abandoned Pools, Jonny Polonsky, & others.

In this episode, we talk about ‘90s recording styles, the web of alt-rock riff tropes, & the revved-up release of thunderous drumming.

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TIM'S DRUM DISCOG (Streaming)

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"Iron Clad Lou" Video

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TIMESTAMPS:

02:34 // "Brooks" (Shiner)

07:10 // Pre-Shiner Recordings

12:23 // Shiner & Indie Production

19:47 // Riff Drumming

22:43 // "Sailor's Fate" (Shiner)

26:12 // "My Life as a Housewife" (Shiner)

32:22 // '90s Drumming Influences

33:18 // L.A., Ken Andrews, & Year of the Rabbit

39:12 // "Absent Stars" (Y.O.T.R.)

41:59 // The Joy Circuit

44:32 // "X's" (T.J.C.)

45:48 // Pete Yorn Sessions

48:42 // "Undercover" (P.Y.)

49:42 // HUM's E2K Tape

56:34 // "Iron Clad Lou" Discussion

01:26:13 // "Sideways" (Shiner)

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Sat down today with KEITH M., singer & guitarist of the Brooklyn post-hardcore/screamo band MEMORY ENTRY.

Earlier this year, they released their 5-song debut EP, Our World is Going to Disappear, on IODINE RECORDINGS, & they’ve got new stuff on the way. Link below.

Since 2020, Keith has hosted THE NEW SCENE PODCAST, which released its 300th episode a few weeks back. He’s done wide-ranging interviews with members of Quicksand, the Jesus Lizard, Jawbox, Melvins, Seaweed, & many others, as well as with friends of this pod, Chris Enriquez from Spotlights & Josh Brigham from Hopesfall.

In this episode, we do a recent gig round-up, discuss the revealing language of dreams, & explore the chilly vastness of the arctic soundscape.

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TIMESTAMPS:

02:17 // "Lost Dreams" (Memory Entry)

03:19 // Shiner + Ink & Dagger Shows

09:59 // Memory Entry: Influences & Origins

13:21 // Dream Logics

19:22 // The New Scene Podcast

26:41 // Hearing HUM

32:46 // "The Inuit Promise" Discussion

1:07:36 // "Holler Wild Rose" (Memory Entry)

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Today I’m joined by DEREK NIEDRINGHAUS & LYLE HODGES, who were both involved, in different ways, in the making of Centaur's debut album, In Streams.

Derek plays bass in Centaur, & does art design for the band, including the iconic & oddly soothing Gaudí-inspired In Streams cover. He also plays bass in CASTOR, who just re-released their discography in remixed & remastered form as a vinyl set called Moving Backgrounds, on Earth Analog Records. He previously made music in Sarge, the Big Bright Lights, & National Skyline, among others.

Lyle was a studio assistant, tape op, & White Russian maker during the recording of In Streams. He's also been in many bands himself, including Amphibian, Tractor Kings, The Mezzanines (NYC edition), & he currently performs in ELECTRIC STALLION & CHROME CHRIST. He runs Twin Radar Records as well.

In this episode, we talk about Centaur’s hazy origins, the precarious ecosystem of the recording process, & the healing flows of pure volume.

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https://matttalbott.bandcamp.com/album/in-streams

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https://castorindierock.bandcamp.com/album/moving-backgrounds

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TIMESTAMPS:

02:34 // "Fields" (Centaur)

04:58 // Hearing & Seeing HUM

13:51 // Centaur Origins

16:55 // Recording In Streams

26:35 // Working with Keith Cleversley

37:30 // Release Date

41:29 // In Streams Artwork

50:28 // Sonics & Atmosphere

53:18 // "Placencia"

59:06 // The Champaign Sound & Writing Lyrics

01:04:58 // In Streams Themes

01:11:29 // "Life Begins"

01:18:58 // "The Same Place"

01:34:31 // "In Streams"

01:45:14 // Cover Songs

01:47:29 // "Strangers On 5"

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Today I’m joined by SCOTT KIMBLE & DON KING from the Champaign, Illinois band TERMINUS VICTOR.

Their most recent album, EVERENDING, came out in 2023, & was tracked by Matt Talbott @ Earth Analog. It’s textured, it’s heavy, a little sludgy, a little spacey; it’s awesome from front to back. Highly, highly recommended. Link in the show notes.

Before T-Vic & its predecessor HUSHTOWER, Scott played in Little Black Spiders, Wicked Walls, & the Falbonauts, & Don played in Social Imaginary & Bristle.

We make a couple references here to a previous conversation the guys had with Sven from the Champaign is Also a Band podcast, in which they go deep into the fan-favorite song “This Isn’t Real.” Link below.

In this episode, we talk about early ‘90s gig-watching, the power in restraint, & the importance of keeping things “noily.”

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T-VIC BANDCAMP

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"This Isn't Real" Discussion (C.I.A.A.B.)

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”In the Den” (2/24/18)

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TIMESTAMPS:

02:22 // "Stress in the Midwest" (T.V.)

03:38 // The Blind Pig

09:42 // Early T-Vic Shows

14:04 // "Taking the Advantage" (T.V.)

15:20 // From Duo to Trio

18:28 // Everending LP

24:07 // Recording @ Earth Analog

27:57 // Songwriting for Everending

30:59 // "To the Very End" (T.V.)

37:59 // "This Isn't Real" (T.V.)

40:02 // Hearing & Seeing HUM

46:24 // Inlet

52:19 // "In the Den" Discussion

01:28:11 // "Here Comes Everything" (T.V.)

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Joining me today from Scotland is GEOFF EVANS, an admin for the fan-driven HUM Reddit & Facebook groups.

With over 13,000 members between them, these pages have helped keep the band in the public consciousness for decades, & they're both reliable sources of news, discussion, & music recommendations.

In this episode, we talk about the joy of the live experience, wearing your fandom on your sleeve (literally), & the parallel universes of unreleased music.

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REDDIT // FACEBOOK

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"Inklings" Versions:

Chicago, IL // 2010

Austin, TX // 2011

Chicago, IL // 2011

Charlotte, NC // 2015

Gainesville, FL // 2017

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MISSION CONTROL

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DRAGONFLY DESCENDING

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TIMESTAMPS:

02:26 // HUM Tattoo

04:53 // Hearing & Seeing the Band

07:42 // Fan Socials

15:28 // "Inklings" Discussion

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Today’s conversation is with JOEY GINALDI, drummer of the Pennsylvania bands MAGIC AMERICA & CLEVER HOUR.

Magic America just released their debut album, Get in the Truck, a couple weeks back on Funeral Party Records. The first video, for the song “Carried by Angels,” is now up on YouTube.

Clever Hour, which also features Jake Clarke from Superheaven & Evan King from Magic America, put out their 5-song self-titled debut EP in 2024. Links below.

Joey’s also recorded and/or toured with many other bands from the northeast, including Knifeplay, Webbed Wing, Pony, Thought Patterns, Euphoria Again, & others.

He’s also an accomplished graphic designer, having done album art, layouts, shirts, & other merchandise for Superheaven, Drug Church, Destiny Bond, Foxing, Teethe, Run for Cover Records, & many many more to come. The best place to see all of that is on his Instagram, also linked below.

In this episode, we talk about hometown DIY pride, the transcendent impact of the band Curve, & the elements that make a perfect song truly perfect.

If you’d like to back the podcast, click “support the show” at the bottom of the notes & then “see membership options.” Donations only, no paywalls.

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https://www.instagram.com/joeyxginaldi

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https://magicamericaphl.bandcamp.com/album/get-in-the-truck

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Magic America, "Carried by Angels" Video

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https://setterwindrecords.bandcamp.com/album/demo-24

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TIMESTAMPS:

02:33 // "Burning Desire" (Clever Hour)

03:56 // Philly Roots

07:33 // Local Bands, First Bands

22:31 // Clever Hour EP

23:33 // "A Worried Existence" (Clever Hour)

28:03 // Magic America LP

29:44 // "Texting the Dead" (Magic America)

35:06 // Discovering HUM

40:36 // "I Hate It Too" Discussion

01:13:44 // Design Influences & Approach

01:19:57 // "Lights On" (Magic America)

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Joining me today is RAY HARKINS, vocalist of the Southern California melodic hardcore bands TAKEN, MIKOTO, &, most recently, BLOODGUILT.

Taken burned brightly from the late ‘90s until 2004, releasing one LP & 2 EPs on Goodfellow Records. They’ve since added a demos & b-sides compilation, a collected version of the first 3 records, & a 2018 EP titled With Regard To, on Other People Records. Links below.

Ray’s also run the DIY music & culture podcast, 100 WORDS OR LESS, for the better part of a decade, with over 670 episodes in the archive. He’s interviewed everyone from Ken Andrews & Page Hamilton to members of Fleshwater & Bleed to the Jesus Lizard, Quicksand, & dozens of other scene lifers crucial to the growth & expansion of underground music.

In this episode, we talk about the Big Bang of music culture in ‘90s Orange County, the shifting meanings of heaviness, & the waveform pathos of the EKG machine.

If you’d like to back the podcast, click “support the show” at the bottom of the notes & then “see membership options.”

Donations only, no paywalls.

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TAKEN Bandcamp

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MIKOTO Bandcamp

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BLOODGUILT Bandcamp

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TIMESTAMPS:

02:29 // "The Most Feared Thing" (Taken)

03:32 // '90s Orange County

14:17 // LA/OC Venues

21:00 // Taken

27:58 // Hearing HUM: YPAA & DIH

36:45 // "If You are to Bloom" Discussion

01:13:05 // "Eternity was on Our Lips" (Taken)

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