Shred Sessions Podcast

We let a girl interview a technical death metal band!!! Can you believe it?!?! Claire did an incredible job asking some of the top guitar players in the game some questions about the craft. It was truly amazing catching these guys on the "Chronicles of Lunacy" tour with Organectomy, Scasm and Defeated Sanity. All these bands have top tier musicians and deliver the material on their records with the utmost accuracy. This was truly one of my favorite shows to attend. What band should be interview next, let us know in the comments! 00:00 Intro00:53 How Has the Tour Been So Far?01:48 Heaven Wept Response03:03 Playing Tech Death Live05:11 Recording Heaven Wept06:08 Inferi Guitar Tones07:45 Guitar Tuning and String Gauges08:58 Changing Drummers RIP Spencer Moore10:16 How did Sanjay Get Involved with Inferi11:55 The Artisan Era14:19 How Did Malcolm Start Making Music Videos?17:58 Will There Be a Sheet Happens Tab Book for Heaven Wept?18:23 When You're Not Playing Metal, What are you Doing?20:31 What Drives You To Keep Going?Listen to/Support Inferi:https://inferi.bandcamp.com/album/heaven-weptSupport Shred Sessions, buy a shirt!https://shred-sessions-shop.fourthwall.com/

Levi Clay is a Glasgow based guitarist, transcriptionist and YouTuber known for his incredible guitar transcriptions and sometimes controversial takes on the online world of guitar. In this video Levi tells us about his guitar journey where he got his start in the world of shred and metal, to his approach to guitar education as well as some areas of the guitar community that he takes issue with. This video is jammed packed with solid advice for aspiring musicians of any genre as well as practice tips for guitar players of any tribe! Support the show: https://shred-sessions-shop.fourthwall.com/Levi's Website:https://leviclay.com/Get better at guitar here:https://guidedpracticeroutines.com/

Metal music truly has the power to bring people together, and it's typically always a net positive for the musicians and the fans. Since I started Shred Sessions, I've rekindled lost friendships and reconnected with some of the coolest people I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. Such is the case with my friend Brian Leh, drummer of Chicagoland death metal band Art of the Flesh! Brian is also the drum tech for Hellhammer (Mayhem's drummer) as well as Carmine Appice, the legendary rock drummer. Brian is no stranger to complicated and technical setups, which is why it's no surprise that he's out working with Acid Bath as Zack Simmon's drum tech. Join us as we take a trip down memory lane and talk about what it's like drum teching for these legendary drummers. Listen to Art of the Flesh:https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kcVRRSy71W2yBSmpXh8KQ?si=8W6yScF7TNigaRHW7T0bdwSupport the show, get some Shred Sessions stuff:https://shred-sessions-shop.fourthwall.com/

What does it actually take to play guitar in Defeated Sanity?In this exclusive episode of Shred Sessions, I sit down with Vaughn Stoffey, guitarist of the legendary slamming brutal death metal band Defeated Sanity, to break down the real mechanics behind his playing.We go deep into riffs from “Accelerating the Rot” — one of the standout tracks from the band’s 2024 release Chronicles of Lunacy — and unpack the techniques that make Vaughn’s style so brutal, precise, and unique.This isn’t just a surface-level interview… this is a full guitar lesson + breakdown of how these riffs are actually executed.🔥 In this episode, we cover:How Vaughn approaches complex brutal death metal riffingAdvanced pinch harmonic control in extreme temposDifficult power chord movement strategies used in Defeated Sanity songsPicking techniques for tight, percussive rhythm playingA rare tapping technique you won’t see in most metal bandsThe mindset behind writing riffs for modern slam and technical death metalIf you’re into brutal death metal guitar, slam riffs, advanced metal technique, or you’re trying to level up your playing in extreme styles — this episode is packed with insights you won’t find anywhere else.This is one of the most in-depth breakdowns of Defeated Sanity guitar work currently available.Support the show, check out our webstore:https://shred-sessions-shop.fourthwall.com/Catch Defeated Sanity on tour with Infiri and Organectomy this spring:https://defeatedsanity.com/https://metalinsider.net/touring/defeated-sanity-announce-2026-headline-tour

On this episode of Shred Sessions, I sit down with Ryan Rado — host of the podcast/show Make It Perfect, vocalist of the cult Nashville hardcore band WORKER, and a visual artist known for his powerful large-scale abstract paintings.Ryan is one of those people who naturally pushes conversations into deeper territory. In this discussion we explore everything from childhood trauma and mental health, to living with Tourette’s syndrome, the influence of mass media and millennial programming, and how these experiences shaped Ryan’s artistic voice in both music and visual art.Ryan also shares stories from the Nashville hardcore scene, the underground following surrounding his band WORKER, and what it means for the band to be reuniting and writing music again after years away.Since beginning his painting career in 2014, Ryan has built a reputation for emotionally intense large-scale abstract paintings that channel personal experience, trauma, and reflection into visual form. In this episode we talk about the connection between art, music, healing, and self-examination, and why confronting difficult topics openly can be a path toward growth.We also dive into a wide range of unexpected topics including:• Ryan’s experience growing up with Tourette’s syndrome• Childhood trauma and emotional processing• The psychology of mass media influence and cultural programming• Fatherhood and identity• The return of WORKER and the Nashville hardcore underground• Art as a tool for confronting personal history• Reflections on the 2026 Super Bowl and media spectacleRyan has a rare ability to ask questions that force you to reflect on your own motivations, identity, and beliefs — which makes this one of the most introspective conversations we’ve had on the podcast.If you're interested in hardcore music, underground culture, mental health conversations, or the intersection of art and personal transformation, you won’t want to miss this episode.About Ryan Rado:Ryan Rado is a Nashville-based artist, musician, and host of the Make It Perfect Podcast. He is the vocalist of the underground hardcore band WORKER and is known for his emotionally charged abstract canvas paintings that have gained attention in the independent art world since 2014.Subscribe for MoreShred Sessions features interviews with musicians, artists, and creators exploring the craft, philosophy, and culture surrounding heavy music and creative life.Support the show:https://shred-sessions-shop.fourthwall.com/

Brutal hardcore meets technical precision 🔥 In this episode, Drew Creal interviews Fliora, an abrasive and technical hardcore band from Asheville, North Carolina, to talk touring, songwriting, live energy, and the evolving Southeast heavy music scene.Fliora has been tearing through winter tour dates and quickly building a reputation for their tight musicianship, chaotic intensity, and insanely mosh-ready riffs. Every time I’ve seen them live, they deliver the same precision and aggression as their recordings, which is rare for bands pushing this level of technicality.If you’re into hardcore, mathcore, metallic hardcore, or extreme heavy music, this is a band you NEED to keep on your radar.👉 Do not miss Fliora when they hit your city. This interview covers:• Touring life in the Southeast hardcore scene• Writing technical but moshable riffs• Capturing live energy in the studio• Band chemistry and performance intensity• The future of FlioraIf you enjoy band interviews, underground hardcore, brutal metal, and discovering rising heavy bands, make sure to subscribe.***Edited by SEVEN.** Thumbnail Photo by Josh Guim.

Yo Shred Sessions viewers, Cody was kind enough to share some of his time before the Volcano set at the Vinyl Lounge in Nashville on Feb. 7th 2026. This was a special appearance for the band during a break from Sanguisuggabogg's busy touring schedule. Cody shares with us how he got into music and how he thinks about approaching hardcore and death metal. What a fascinating and inspiring musician in the hardcore/metal scene. This interview wouldn't have been possible without the awesome crew at Badworld Booking for putting on the show and making it happen. Nashville Hardcore came through, making this one of the best shows we have had in the scene in a long time.

This episode features visual artist and vocalist of the band Worker: Ryan Rado, who also hosts the show "Make it Perfect," Andy Atkins from A PLEA FOR PURGING and Bad Luck Burger Club, Josh Landreth vocalist of Nashville Hardcore band Lethal Method and Adam Easterling, the vocalist of metalcore band ORTHODOX. This episode is special to me because I've known these guys for such a long time, and it's amazing to hear about and see what these guys are up to now. Really cool things on the horizon for everyone. Stoked that we could do this. Please drop and comment below, we'll see you in the next one!Support the show:https://shred-sessions-shop.fourthwall.com/Subscribe to Make it Perfect: @MakeItPerfect Join Bad Luck Burger Club:https://www.badluckburger.club/Listen to Orthodox:Merch Store:https://orthodoxtn.com/Music:https://open.spotify.com/artist/0DkKBTgWxBnvYsOXDaoTVP?si=fuUXmpl7QmO2M09Ku04PZgListen to Lethal Method:Merch Store:https://www.badworldanarchy.com/https://open.spotify.com/artist/13UhNhMkpvCaxHEbMdqH9x?si=xxLKuY_kTd-fus4jmmctkQ

In this video I interview drummer Taylor Carpenter and guitarist Gabe Manuel of the mind bending chaotic metalcore band Chamber. Eventually bassist Chris Smith and guitarist Henry Dierig join us to share some additional insight into how the band works together to create their compelling and mosh-worthy songs. Chamber expects to have a new record out in 2026, an album that they recorded with legendary heavy music producer/engineer Randy Leboeuf. If you want to hear the power violence/grind band called Deaf Kid that Drew played in with Taylor Carpenter, David Hobbs, Luke Granered, and Danny Goscinak in 2014 you can do so here:https://thiskidisdeaf.bandcamp.com/album/deaf-kidSupport the show, get some Shred Sessions stuff:https://shred-sessions-shop.fourthwall.com/

In this video I kick it with Aim Down Sight, a relatively new band in the Nashville Hardcore scene. If you go to hardcore and metal shows in Nashville, you will more than likely bump into one of these guys. I really enjoyed hanging with them for a bit at Gidmas and hearing about how the band started, their influences and their plans for 2026. Intro video by Cortney Hale: @cortneyhell Listen to/follow Aim Down Sight on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/artist/1oUOPPG7NF2IRQY8SPbFlI?si=lag4Ud7lQFCeP5OYSwid1gSupport the show, get some Shred Sessions Merch:https://shred-sessions-shop.fourthwall.com/

Sen'am Palmer is an Atlanta based jazz fusion and metal guitarist who has performed live and on recordings with rapper B.o.B., jazz/fusion shred gaze band Crispin Wah and Scattrbrain, a new project formed by rapper and former Shady Records artist Grip. When I first met Sen'am in 2014, he was a solo guitar loop artist and we played a show at The Springwater on West End in Nashville. We became fast friends and have had some awesome guitar hangs on video calls and in person when visiting each-other's cities. I wanted to catch up with Sen'am for a bit before he started his shift for the night. Sen'am talks about what he's been up to, the Atlanta metal and punk scene and we delve into some of the different ways you can use the melodic minor scale over Dominant 7th chords. Please enjoy!-Drew

Ryan Vickers is the proprietor of Rigs of Death Metal, an Instagram account that highlights the sickest rigs specifically made for the more extreme side of the tonal spectrum. Expect to see pointy guitars, high gain amps, the dirtiest dirt boxes and oh so much more on Rigs of DM. I wanted to chat with Ryan because of our shared interest in talking about death metal bands, guitars, amps, IRs, recording and tones, and that's exactly what we have here for you, a 2 hour + long conversation about just that.