Ramblings on Hot Topics

TH: hey, this is Tim from To Hell with the Podcast and you are listening to Rock and Metal Faith.

DG: Hey, this is Darrell from To Hell with the Podcast and you are listening to Rock and Metal Faith. Check it out.

TH: Well, what I'm saying is it's

Arin Hancock: Yeah.

TH: it's not as easy though. It's harder. It it's there's so much music

Kris plamondon: Yeah.

Arin Hancock: Yeah.

TH: coming out though. There's th that's what I'm trying to say. There's so much music coming out. You could have a good artist come out, but they get lost because there's so much that's being put out on Spotify.

Arin Hancock: This is the Rock and Metal Faith Podcast. Welcome back to the Rock and Metal Faith Podcast. where it's all about the classic Christian rock and metal, the rock that makes me sing. From the new guys all the way back to the classics. I'm your host, Aaron Hancock, with my co-host Chris Pramon. We're joined by a couple other guys, hosts. Tim and Darrell from To Hell with the Podcast. We've had them on before. We love talking with you guys. Thanks for coming back. How are you guys doing?

TH: Yeah, we're glad to be here. Thanks for having us today. We're excited.

Arin Hancock: Yeah, and for those who are listening and watching, this is really gonna be a free for all I've got

Kris plamondon: Yeah, it's gonna be everything. We're gonna throw pillows at each other. Well virtually. It's gonna be great.

Arin Hancock: That'd be fun. But you know what we're in the middle of summer. I've got a busy month this month of August. I've got one episode already in the can, already done and edited. and we I just wanna do something for fun and th we'll throw a bunch of topics out there. I'm not really sure where this discussion's gonna go. We'll just

Kris plamondon: Do we do we have someone in our chat?

Arin Hancock: We don't have a chat. We're not doing live stream.

Kris plamondon: I have a little icon on it that says that we have someone in our chat.

Arin Hancock: That means you could I don't know. I don't know what you got going.

Kris plamondon: Did you guys bring a stranger into our chat?

Arin Hancock: and I'm gonna actually

TH: Well, I will say this, Chris. When I was having some technical issues

Kris plamondon: way.

TH: before getting on.

Kris plamondon: There we go. Okay.

TH: I'd send a chat when you guys couldn't hear me, so

Arin Hancock: that's probably what it is. Yeah,

Kris plamondon: that's where that's where okay.

TH: Yeah.

Arin Hancock: so for those listening to our main episode there, like Tim had some techno technical issues trying to log on and get both the mic and the speaker working at the same time. We've worked through those. And Chris has always doesn't know how to position his camera, so he's gonna be in and out of the camera.

Kris plamondon: Hey yeah, that wasn't real nice. All right, that's fine. Yeah, I know. That's my persona. That's fine.

Arin Hancock: Well, you're at the bottom of your frame and And you know what, I'm tired of editing and trying to fix your camera angle all the time, so whatever comes out comes out. If you're watching this on if you're watching this

Kris plamondon: I know. I'll just tape it there. Yeah.

Arin Hancock: on YouTube,

DG: Yeah.

Arin Hancock: Chris is doing whatever Chris does.

DG: my god, we're off to a

Kris plamondon: There.

DG: rousing start.

TH: Well, you know, it's great when

Kris plamondon: Yeah.

TH: I'm sitting there working and you're trying to have a discussion with somebody. And I don't know if you guys remember the show Home Improvement, but I always f you know, they feel like you're talking to Mr. Wilson, the guy behind the fence, 'cause this is what you see on their

Arin Hancock: Ha ha ha

Kris plamondon: Yeah.

TH: face, and you're like,

Arin Hancock: Yeah.

TH: Come on, raise your camera up or raise your chair. I wanna see you.

Arin Hancock: I know. I know that was his stuff,

Kris plamondon: Well we

Arin Hancock: yeah.

Kris plamondon: who was it, Aaron, that we had a interview with? yeah, one bad pink I think. And he was in his closet. Yeah.

Arin Hancock: Yeah, the only the only quadring he could find was in a a clothes closet.

Kris plamondon: That's

TH: Ha ha.

Kris plamondon: right. That was awesome.

Arin Hancock: Well, it was better than the time we had Scott Wendell. The only problem was Scott was couldn't figure out how to use Riverside and and log on. Even though we sent him the link. He couldn't figure he said, I'm I'm in your lobby, but I can't get into the main part of studio. And we finally had to just do an audio. podcast and we put on the phone on speaker and I just held the the phone up to the the microphone and stuff. So yeah, working around technical technical problems I guess. Yeah.

DG: Do what you gotta do.

Arin Hancock: And stuff. well, you and I so I've got a few topics. We'll see how many we we get through these. I was gonna like say label this ramblings and and hot topics, but you know, one of the big questions and I think this came up actually I think even Heaven's Metal wrote an article about this. About what does it mean to be a Christian rock and roll band and stuff. you know, do you have to have faith based lyrics? Do you have to have have members in the lifestyle? you know, th that are faithful Christians. And yeah, at the same time we we've seen bands that, you know, sound like they're Christian but find out maybe they aren't. so your thoughts on that? What does it take to be a a Christian rock band?

TH: I think that's a pretty loaded question. because I think, you know, I think if you're gonna say to me, it's all about what the vision of the band is. And if we're gonna label and if we're gonna put the label Christian on them, like this is a Christian band, then in in my interpretation of that, I would expect faith based lyrics. Like I know if I go listen to Petra. Which I was listening to earlier today. I was listening to their new album. and if you don't know, they came out with one earlier this year. that's not to you guys, because I know you guys know that, but if somebody listening doesn't know, they had a new their first album in 21 years that came out. So to me, they are a Christian rock band. So when I go listen to them, I am going to expect some type of faith-based lyrics, and they're gonna be pretty strong. I mean, I remember back in the day When they were with Star Song and then they were with somebody else after that, they would have the lyrics and they would have the Bible verse, you know, with where those lyrics came from. And so I think if you're marketing yourself as a Christian band, that's one thing. Now, on the flip side of that, though, if you are a band that is Christians, I think it's gonna be mixed. I think. Like a lot of times when I think about bands, and I know one of the bands we talk about, Daryl and I do, is Striper. And they've always said, We're not we're we're we're Christians that are in a band. They've never liked the label Christian Christian band themselves, but they have a mix of both lyrics in there. I mean, you've got very solid lyrics like more than a man, Yahweh, you know, to name a few from the mod modern era and the old era. But then you also have your love songs, your ballads. And and I gotta say, Aaron, I loved, I loved your response on Facebook. I think it was last week when Michael Sweet brought up the comment about

Kris plamondon: Yeah.

TH: the ballads. I thought your response was pretty good.

Arin Hancock: All right.

TH: And so if you want to bring that up, you can. But I saw that and I was like, it's pretty good. But I but

Kris plamondon: Mm-hmm.

TH: they never really marketed themselves as Christians, but people knew that they were Christians. But you're gonna say you're I'm giving you a long winded answer, but if you're if you say you're a Christian band, I would expect to be able to turn on the lyrics and it'd be safe if my seven year old's in the car. I'm not gonna be like, Well, what the heck was that that I just heard? You know? I f I think it it w it would be safe.

Arin Hancock: Right. But I think it's more than that. I I think as a Christian band, you want to have, like I said, those bold faith-based lyrics, the gospel evangelical style lyrics. And there's a lot of bands out there that people are calling Christian bands. And I'm not calling out their their faith. I'm sure the members are Christians. But I'm going when I'm listening to them, I don't hear that boldness in in in a lot of bands. And you know, and there's nothing wrong with it. If they just want to be a band that has positive lyrics, you know, rising up, fighting against bad things, or you know, being strong because you're attacked mentally and and that's the the other thing is is there's a lot of people with mental problems struggling and a lot of bands are are talking about that or singing about that and probably even going through that themselves and that that's great. And they're talking about how we you know we can get through this But yet I don't hear saying we get through this because we know Jesus or an or anything like that. And I'm not questioning our faith. you know, a lot of these bands out there that people say are Christian bands, I'm going, I don't hear it in the lyrics, you know.

Kris plamondon: And and I guess to go off what what Tim said star said starting off, when they say Christian band, I almost expect them to do maybe they don't do it anymore, but the altar call kind of thing, right? There's something a mention of it live, right? That kind of thing.

TH: Yeah. 'Cause I hear what you're saying and Aaron, going back to what you were just saying about the, you know, sometimes the lyrics, you know, may not be as bold, but they're, you know, they're saying they're a Christian band, I I think that they're 'cause I think we're all old enough to remember the seventies and eighties Christian bands, the early nineties. It was like you picked up a y if you went to the local Christian store and bought a Christian album You knew that it was gonna be pretty faith, you know, pro they're you know, they're proclaiming their faith. I mean,

Arin Hancock: Yeah. Yeah.

TH: all the way from for him down to White Cross. I mean, the song is popping into head my head is the No Second Chances song. And

Arin Hancock: Right.

TH: then, you know, you had Petra behind you. And at some point, and I would say it's when the Christian independent the Christian labels, in a sense, got bought up that

Kris plamondon: Mm-hmm.

TH: then the lyric

Arin Hancock: Everything started changing.

TH: b then things started shifting in that industry. It became very more watered down. It you know, the sound is coming out of Nashville now. And these are people

Arin Hancock: Right.

TH: that are, you know, that you would hear on the radio and stuff like that. Now, there are Christian artists that are out there that are independent, doing their own thing. I mean, you've got s so many ways to put music out there. But if you're talking about the ones that were you know, that are on the labels that you know, it's just kind of feel good, you know, it kind of makes me feel good. I can it seems like we're all writing, you know, those labels are all writing songs to see if they can be played in a church versus doing their own thing because they get the royalties and all this other kind of mess. Like if I can make the next biggest church hit song, I'm gonna make a ton of money. So

Arin Hancock: Right.

TH: I would say that shift from specific Christian labels to Just an in just a conglomerate, a big label like Sony or something like that. That's where the lyrics really started getting watered down. That's my opinion.

Kris plamondon: What do you think, Darrell?

DG: Well, and don't forget you still excuse me. You still have that pocket of like Salem. There's radios like the if you're down here in in in Georgia, you still have pockets of those radio stations like the fish that play like six songs an hour. And so you you hear just there's church songs, right? And so you you still have that pocket of artists that Nobody's doing anything new. They're just recycling some

Kris plamondon: Mm-hmm.

TH: Same sound.

DG: some the same s the same sound and the same artist. And I mean I don't know how I don't know how I feel about the state of like I won't even call it worship music 'cause it's really not. it's kind of like how I feel about country music right now.

Arin Hancock: Actually I could get probably get

DG: It kinda just all

Arin Hancock: into today's country easier than I can get into the older country, that's for sure.

DG: Well it just kinda

Kris plamondon: so do you guys think the Christian Hard Rock scene, do you think it's better than it was twenty years ago?

DG: Do I feel that it's better now than it was twenty years ago?

Kris plamondon: Yeah. Do you think there's more artists coming out and they're not getting signed, obviously they have to do it on their own, but do you think it's better for the audience?

DG: I f Mm, that's a good question. I feel like

TH: I think it's harder for the audience because I think for what you're saying, Chris, you really sometimes have to search for it. If you're if you're

Kris plamondon: Yep.

TH: looking, if you're look if you're talking about a hard rock, you know, Christian Christian band, it's not you know, gone are the days of walking into the store and seeing the new albums that are out. You know, it's like I used to you guys interviewed Ken Tamplin before. That's how I found out about Shout, because they weren't being played on the radio station. But I just walked in and saw saw the album cover and I was like, Let me listen to it real quick.

Kris plamondon: Who's this? Yeah.

TH: And and you just

DG: Yeah, but that's that that's all we have Spotify.

TH: Well, what I'm saying is it's

Arin Hancock: Yeah.

TH: it's not as easy though. It's harder. It it's there's so much music

Kris plamondon: Yeah.

Arin Hancock: Yeah.

TH: coming out though. There's th that's what I'm trying to say. There's so much music coming out. You could have a good artist come out, but they get lost because there's so much that's being put out on Spotify.

Kris plamondon: Hey, Aaron, you have to use that clip what Daryl just said, the way he said it. You gotta use that cli.

Arin Hancock: Sure, maybe that'll be one of the highlight clips or or some actually, you know, I'm gonna try I never

DG: Well, I'm just saying like every every Friday on my on my to do list is to go look at Spotify because I mean that's just how I find stuff and it's like I don't care what

Kris plamondon: Sure.

DG: genre it is, it's just like okay, Spotify knows my jams and it's just like all right, I don't care if it's worship stuff or metalcore or whatever. it's in my

Kris plamondon: That's true.

DG: to do list. So it's like I I don't have a better way of finding new stuff and I do want to find new stuff.

Arin Hancock: Well, and and here's the th thing I find funny with I'm on Facebook all and the question comes up all the time from somebody. I'm into these bands, I need more bands. What are some good suggestions? I'm like, can you not go and find these yourself? Listen to Spotify once or twice And that's gonna give you suggestions, you know. you know, type in a name and or me start making a playlist. As soon as you make a playlist with one band on there, it's gonna if you like that, you're gonna like these ones too, right? So I don't know. and and you're right, we don't have the bookstores, but I'm going, there's tons of people out there's on Facebook groups saying, Hey, here's a good band, here's a good band, check out this band. There are ways of doing that. I don't know, maybe it's the fact that Yes, now you gotta put a little more effort in into it and finding these bands? I don't know.

DG: Well people are freaking lazy, so

TH: Well, I think that's that's what I was trying to get at.

Kris plamondon: Yeah.

Arin Hancock: No, I I agree with you.

TH: That's what I was trying to get at. It's it's not as I wouldn't call people lazy. in my I would say sometimes it's time constraints and but it's not it's not it's not as

DG: Come on, dude, and take that long.

Arin Hancock: Okay, yeah.

TH: it's not as it it you just can't go you just can't you can go to one place like Spotify, but sometimes if I find, hey, I put in a playlist and it's pulling up all the other people that I listened to already. Hey, you'll like this band or this band. I'm

Arin Hancock: All right.

TH: like, okay, where's

Kris plamondon: Mm.

TH: Where's the where where's the new stuff? You know, where's somebody I haven't heard before?

Arin Hancock: Right. Yeah, and we'll get into that too. I I think there are a few new bands and I'm always out there looking for bands too. we won't d worry about it today either, but quite often on our program then we have this plugged in segment and I'm trying to promote new stuff or stuff that doesn't get promoted out there and stuff. So if you're one of these bands listening and we haven't played you yet, hey, get in touch. There's a few I've got to get to yet that I haven't gotten to, but we'll try and get you guys on. But yeah, I mean And and you and then the other thing is when we're talking about faith-based lyrics, but yet I don't think a Christian band has to have faith-based lyrics a hundred percent of the time. I remember when Holy Soldier's second album came out, they had the one song on there called Crazy, which is just talking about you know, being heartbroken over a broken relationship. And I don't know, some drop in group at one time and one guy said, Wow, they're not a Christian band, 'cause they got that song about relationship on their own. Big deal. Christians go through heartbreaks

TH: Yeah.

Arin Hancock: and relationships

Kris plamondon: Yeah.

Arin Hancock: all the time, you know?

TH: And see, that's why that's why I've liked those types of bands. One's again, that's why, you know, I've always been drawn to bands like Striper. They're gonna give you the faith base, but they also give you the real life stuff because we're humans. We're gonna go

Arin Hancock: Yeah.

TH: through that stuff. We're gonna we're in relationships with people. We have challenges in life, whatever it may be. And I like the mix in there where it it I can relate to it. You know, it's like. If I was always singing a song, if they were always singing a song about one topic, it's like, okay, good music, but I don't relate to it lyrically. And

Arin Hancock: Right.

TH: and I think you ex you you can expand and and say what you said, you know, have the relationship song in there. And then the the on that second album, they also did Give Me Shelter by The

Arin Hancock: Yeah.

TH: Rolling Stones as a remake, which was actually

Kris plamondon: Yeah, that's right.

TH: really good. So you know,

DG: Nice.

TH: my I mean, I just saw this earlier today as I was thumbing through. The algorithms on TikTok. Somebody was, you know, giving Stryper a hard time. I thought they were a Christian band, but they're playing Breaking the Law by Judas Priest. Where is that in Christianity? I'm like

Arin Hancock: Hmm. I know.

Kris plamondon: Yeah.

DG: Which is awesome.

TH: I'm like, good grieve. You know?

Arin Hancock: Yeah, we talked we we talked about that on our episode about the covering because they covered breaking the law on the covering, but they've been doing it live and yeah, you're right. There's a few people out there having problems with that. Well, why'd they singing this song? So what? You know, it it's not really against Christian values, I don't think. It's just a song. Yeah. I was actually confused

DG: It's just people.

Arin Hancock: when Against the Law came out and I first song I heard it was against the law, I'm like Against the law? Why are they against the law? I don't get until I dove

TH: Ha ha.

Arin Hancock: deep and and understood what the lyrics were about and then I went, okay, now I get it.

DG: It's like when people nitpick about comedy and just just just picking at art. I'm just just like shut up and ac accept it. This is what we're doing. Get just get over yourself. I mean

Arin Hancock: Mm-hmm.

DG: I had a specific question for you guys if I can have a a minute. So I was going through some stuff today and I was thinking about some bands that that are like super heavy and but they are faith based bands. Like one that came to mind in particular was was Demon Hunter and another one was Wolves at the Gate. So what do you guys think about like the metal core bands? But you can tell they have like faith based lyrics. Do you have like any opinions on that style?

Kris plamondon: I'll I'll start first I think Aaron 'cause I think I know where Erin was gonna go with this. I I I can't get into Demon Hunter. I've tried, I've tried. Maybe one song and then no no no no no So the Metacor is not for me, no. Maybe twenty years ago. No, I don't I don't know. And the whole Demon Hunter name You know, that could scare off some people. For me it doesn't, but you know, Aaron, go for it.

Arin Hancock: Yeah, okay. Well, I like the name Demon Hunter. I like their logo. I'm almost thinking again the tattoo of the logo. And I'm not a huge fan of the band either. I just love that logo. and I'm not a big fan of the bad again, I'm not a big fan of that style of lyrics. And it it's funny because like I said, I was on a rock for him and kinda talked to I know the host of that program loved that style. And so I kinda asked asked Villem, I says Why do you like that style? And they love the energy, the raw emotion that comes out in that style. And I'm like, I don't knock it as as a music style. If you like it, great. I have no problem

Kris plamondon: Yeah, that's right.

Arin Hancock: with whatever style of music with faith-based lyrics. That doesn't mean I like every s music style either. And Demon Hunter for me is kinda hit and miss because I'm not into the metalcore vocals. there are some songs where the other guy sings the most of the lines and is more melanic. That's stuff I I'm more into. there's a couple of metalcore songs actually on the new Striper Tribute record that the fortieth anniversary of Tale of the Devil, where all the songs are done by other artists. And there's a couple bands on there that are kind of metalcore and I'm going, well, okay, those ones I'm not into. But then other ones are done really well. Actually, and we were talking about this I think last time you were on if Michael Sweet ever had to leave or step aside from doing the vocals, who would do the vocals? I'd have to look up again too. but the current singer for Reign of Glory is really good. And they've covered To Hell with the Devil on that tribute record. I'm going, there you go. If you need a replacement singer, there he is.

DG: I hadn't thought about that. That's a good pull.

Arin Hancock: But yeah, for

DG: Okay.

Arin Hancock: for the mental chord, like Demon Hunter, I'm not and I'm not even a huge skillet fan just because of John Cooper's vocals. It to me he's more belt in, more shouting the lyrics than actual singing. And that's a style he's going for. So for the skillet fans, great. If you feel like that, great. For me, I'm I'm just not into no, I do like some some skeletons. You know, I absolutely love monster which apparently is the most popular. I mean that reached how many streams on Spotify now? But yeah, so that's where I sit. Wolf of the Gate I haven't listened to. Demon Hunter I'm trying to get into and I'm I'm finding it's a kind of a hit and miss.

Kris plamondon: What about you guys?

DG: Okay.

Kris plamondon: Do you guys like Demon Hunter? If so, why?

DG: you can go look at on YouTube and watch the drummer from Demon Hunter. And that's why I'm a fan of Demon Hunter because that dude is insane.

Kris plamondon: Yes, I would imagine. my goodness.

DG: But if you if you sit down and look at some of the lyrics, they are like very forward pressing with their faith. but yeah, it's I mean it's like you're listening to Slayer if they were Christians. Like, I mean, the the music to me is why I like them s or the music with the lyrics combined is why I like them so much because very, very technical. So yeah, but there's there's there's a a few younger bands that are coming along that kind of remind me of them. I mean and it and like bands like Red to I Still Love Those Guys and they've been around for a minute. August Burns Red. another band like that. But yeah, so I'll get out of the way.

TH: Yeah, I would say, like you, Chris, I never got into Demon Hunter. I know who they are. And I know some of the metal core that are in the Christian community. I mean, no of the bands, but that was just never my flavor of music.

Kris plamondon: Mm-hmm.

TH: It was I would say I would say probably about the hardest I get into is just probably just rock itself. Now I'll get into some of the other heavier stuff a little bit heavier than that, but if you get into the metal core, that's you know, it's just not my flavor, you know? And you know, not a knock and that's not a knock to people who like metal core. I just think we're

Kris plamondon: That's right.

TH: all just built differently and we just all have what we like and that it's just not my

Kris plamondon: Ba back in the day for me when Christian Beds came here in Alberta, I usually did security for them. And when there was the really, really heavy bands, they always seemed to put me behind the drummer. And I mean I would sit there and be like, my gosh. Like how do you do that? Like like you just you know, they take a breath and they go for like five minutes. I'm like like not for me. No, no.

Arin Hancock: Well, see and that brings up one other thing then.

DG: We're built differently.

Arin Hancock: As f as and I I guess I have to dive into Demon Hunter's lyrics more because from what I've heard, they're good positive lyrics, but I haven't heard a lot of faith based gospel in in it. In other words, come to Jesus because of he can solve your problems or or or this, that so that just means I haven't heard their lyrics that well is is is all that means.

DG: You haven't listened enough.

Arin Hancock: Yeah. You know, and and yeah, maybe I need to sit there with the lyric sheet because as soon as the metal chord comes around I'm going, I got no idea what he's saying.

DG: Okay, fair enough.

TH: I'm I'm I'm like you. I'm like you, Aaron. What did you just say?

Arin Hancock: But that brings up an that brings up another question which I was gonna bring up too. There was a young artist, he s

Kris plamondon: Mm.

Arin Hancock: strikes out on her own. I can't remember what band

Kris plamondon: Yeah.

Arin Hancock: she was forming with, goes by the name Magdalene Rose. And so she's this young girl that can sing but does the metal chord vocals at the same time. I t I tell you, when she does the metal chord vocals, she is scary.

Kris plamondon: She was odd wow.

Arin Hancock: sh sh she really belts it out. But here's the thing, and and so then she has this goth look. And she went on tour and I guess bands were booking her without knowing anything about her and then started checking out her material and going or church were booking her and then going, I don't think we want you coming here now you know. And she had a few shows cancelled because of her sound and her look. You know, it's wow, you know.

TH: So they so was it the Christian community that cancelled her or was it somebody else that cancelled her?

Arin Hancock: Yeah. No, it was like churches. And now after she went on and said that some of them did we can

DG: Course.

Arin Hancock: say, okay, well maybe we made a mistake. You know, we'll we'll book you back and and and this and that. But it's that whole judgment Christian judgmental thing again where well you don't look Christian at all. I don't know if we if you are and if we should have you in and you don't sound Christian 'cause now you're doing this metal chorus screaming and

TH: I mean, I I hear what you're saying on that because I mean, growing up, if you know, here I am five years old, and if I wasn't wearing a three-piece suit, I wasn't a Christian going to church. You know, I mean, it was, you know, you had to wear a three-piece suit or a shirt and tie, you know, as you

Kris plamondon: Yeah.

TH: got older. And it's just the way that I've always looked at it is it goes back to people having different flavors of styles of music, who they are. I mean, and my this is just my belief, God created all of us. Individually, we're all unique. We all have a certain thing that we like. And it's where, you know, I could have been out on the sunset sunset strip back in the 80s. And then all of a sudden I hear this band striper.

Arin Hancock: I wish I was there, yes.

Kris plamondon: Ha ha

TH: You know, then I hear this band striper.

DG: Yeah.

TH: And then all of a sudden I'm like, I get led to the Lord. But at the same time, you know, if Striper wasn't out there, I may have never stepped in. I'm not saying this happened to me, but Somebody may have never stepped into church or nay may have never gotten saved, but Stryper did what they did because that's who they were. And it sounds like it's the same thing. I'm not familiar with the person that you just spoke about, but it's like she has her thing. And, you know, if you're goth or if you're thrash, but you're in a very conservative type denomination of Christian church or something like that, what are you doing to reach the people in the goth? Because you're not relating to them, you know? And

Kris plamondon: Yeah.

TH: It kind of it kind of and I could be using this verse out of context. So forgive me if I am, but it it's kind of like when Paul wrote about and said, To this group, I was this group, you know, to the Jew, I was a Jew, to the Greek, I was a Greek, you know. And not that he formulated and sinned and partaked in their debauchery with them, but he was able to be relatable to people. And I think that's what we miss a lot. When we do thing when the church does things like that and cancels people out, we take a whole segment of people w that may never be reached because they don't look like us, they don't act like us, they don't sing like us.

Kris plamondon: That's right.

TH: I think it's a big miss.

Arin Hancock: definitely I'm with you there. You know, it's that whole again judgmental thing which I thought we were past that. I mean Petra went through that, Stryper went through that, Bloodgood went through that, because they were too metal to be Christians. You couldn't be Christian and metal at the same time. I thought we were over this, you know

TH: Yeah.

Kris plamondon: Yeah. It's

TH: It likes to rear its ugly head every now and then.

Kris plamondon: It's crazy. It's

DG: That's a very that yeah, that's a very A D thing. I mean, if you think about it, 'cause yeah, like Tim, you were saying the the three piece suit wear and, you know, private jet flying, you know, mega church, the whole that whole thing was like, Yeah, you you can't you can't come in here because you don't look the right way. That that whole thing is my word. But it's like, yeah, who's coming in the back door? It's like, I don't care. Come in, sit down.

Arin Hancock: Yeah.

DG: And and like yeah, sometimes you do s and I can't believe we still do that to this day, sometimes you still see that ish and it's just like, Man, are we are we still s serving the same God? It's like come on man.

Kris plamondon: Yeah, it's so so le legalistic as well. Like you know, some of them might say, Well we want you just to like the piano and soft music. You know, no no hardcore stuff. Like but but but why? You know?

Arin Hancock: Yeah, I mean that that's not what some bands do. So, you know

Kris plamondon: Yeah. And

Arin Hancock: maybe if you're gonna be that way, you know, do your homework first before you you book someone and find out who who they are and if they're if they're the the artist you want to bring into your church, you know. But then it makes it hard for these other guys who are doing that. yeah, I don't know, like I said, everybody should be able to do the style as as long as you're living the the style, you've got the faith based lyrics You know, but then maybe spans like that ought to be out in the clubs anyways. They more likely reach people more in the clubs than they would reach them in a church.

TH: Yeah, I I'll say this.

Kris plamondon: Yeah.

TH: Like I said, I I'm not familiar with the lady you were talking about, but I I haven't seen too many goths showing up in church lately.

Arin Hancock: Yeah.

Kris plamondon: They're they're

DG: I don't know. We got a few of them at my

Kris plamondon: real In the nineties.

DG: pace.

Arin Hancock: Ha ha ha. Well here's a question

DG: my word.

Arin Hancock: and this comes from Dale Thompson. I follow him on Facebook too and he brings up brought up an interesting question. Actually, he said, what bands do you wish had done more? you know, put out more records before they they disbanded So that that was interesting. A lot of the comments then were were saying, Well, Guardian and who else? Holy soldier, I'm going That's great idea, but now which version of Guardian or Holy Soldier do you want more from? Because when the nineties hit, they were playing ninety

DG: Right.

Arin Hancock: style, you know. I want more of the eighties of from those bands. But yeah, that was an interesting thought. You know, are there bands out there that you wish had put out more albums than what they did?

DG: this is easy for me. I want I would have wanted more from Amberlynn.

Arin Hancock: Okay, I don't know them, but okay.

DG: Well, they took a long break. and the first time I saw them, I think it was on their second tour. and this will be Aaron, this will be one of your bands that was like I know they they were a Christian band, but not in your face like lyrically.

Arin Hancock: Okay.

DG: But I knew I knew what they were about. So but they took like a good grief, probably eighteen years off. And so I w I wish there were more material from them, but Between them and Petra, those would be my two.

Arin Hancock: Right. Well Petra put out quite

DG: But but but

Arin Hancock: a bit. It took twenty years between records, but they did put out quite a few in the eighties.

DG: well that yeah, well that you know what? I got up this morning and I was trying to, you know, kind of prep for today and today's usually like everybody's asleep, so I'm just gonna like listen to music and stuff. Man, that pressure record, that's that thing's no joke. It's

Arin Hancock: I love that old man.

DG: it's really, it's really, really good. I mean, I I enjoyed it. I I didn't th I didn't think there was a skipper on the whole freaking thing, but yeah, Amberlynn and and Petrar, I wish we would have gotten more out of both of those artists. So anyway.

TH: Well, that's a good question. I know that when I say this band, because I'm like you, Guardian, the Fire and Love album, you know, would be one I would have liked to have heard more of. I know from Shout,

Kris plamondon: Mm.

TH: they only did two albums, and then they did a greatest hits album kind of mix of Shout and Ken Tamplin stuff. kind of cool to hear them released a new song recently. And But I think the band that I only remember seeing one album, and there was just this whole thing afterwards, like if I recall correctly, one of them left Christianity or or something like that. But it was a band called Rage of Angels. They only did one album. and I want to say the opening

DG: Going deep.

TH: what was the opening track on that album? Never leave you or forsake you. It was like number one or number two. But when I first heard them, the the their they were just so I mean they rocked, they were different, they didn't sound, they didn't necessarily, in my opinion, sound like anybody else at the time. Because Daryl and I have talked about this before. Sometimes, well, at least down here in the States, the Christian market. Would say, hey, if you like this band, you'll love this band. They didn't really do that with Rage of Angels. And that's one band I would have loved to have heard more from. Because like you said, Guardian, they had after Fire and Love, they had three or four more albums, but they were different sounding. They weren't the Fire and Love all the way through. But Rage of Angels probably would have been one I would have loved to have heard more from.

Arin Hancock: Yeah, that's a good good pick.

DG: Wow, that's a deep pull. Nice.

Arin Hancock: I I would probably would say that myself. I didn't get in I didn't even hear of Rage of Angels until the last few years. But people keep bringing up and keep talking about and so I'm like, I gotta check these guys out. And you're right, they had that great eighties sound and yeah, i it was a one and done, but too bad they they didn't stick around and put more out. The other part of that answer I would say, and again, here's another band that carried on into the 90s with that 90s sound a little bit, and and later on we'll get into that down the road. There we've been doing this whole nine 80s bands that do 90s records. But I would say White Cross, and what I wanted to see is I wish there would have been more with Rex and Scott together The last

DG: Yeah.

Arin Hancock: one that that they did together was In the Kingdom. And Rex I understand did have to leave. He had family problems, personal issues to deal with. It's just too bad he couldn't have got along with Scott and or worked together with Scott and do more after that. But unfortunately that's that ship has sailed and that's not that's not gonna happen.

Kris plamondon: Did you guys ever check out White Cross is a Ken Taplin song?

DG: Hmm.

Arin Hancock: I think you did. I think you were talking about that on your last episode,

Kris plamondon: Yeah, they b they did a song together. It's awesome.

Arin Hancock: Where Rex Kurrow and and and Kentemplin

TH: yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I remember

DG: Yeah yeah.

TH: what you're talking about. But let me ask you this. You brought this up, Aaron, and I just always I always thought this was interesting. the In the Kingdom album. The last track on that album, Holy War. What did you think of the

Kris plamondon: Yes. yeah.

TH: mix of that song? Of them. Yeah.

Arin Hancock: I love that song. I love the song. I and I love the rapping on it only because they had the demons part wrapped and I loved it, you know, because I hated rap

TH: Yeah. Yeah, 'cause it was but

Arin Hancock: at the time. But the fact if you're gonna have rap in your song and the demon is rapping, but it worked, and I saw them on that tour. They played that song, they had some unknown guy, I don't know who he was, but come out for that song just so he could rap. that that part of the song. And it was great. I loved it. Hol Holy Wars is one of my favorite White Cross tunes actually.

TH: Yeah, I agree with that. I've always that that is one song that I have liked because it does on paper it doesn't seem like it would work, but they made that song work. it worked really well, so.

DG: Yeah, that's a weird one.

Arin Hancock: back. I'd have to go back and I wonder if it's in my notes. when we first started our podcast I was doing notes on in little notebook, like the old fashioned way and writing down my all my ideas I was gonna say. I bet you if I went back into that I could probably find what my top ten white cross songs were. Nowadays I'm doing a little more digitally adding, you know, notes on Google and then I can drop in into our program here to

DG: Wait, you write stuff down?

Arin Hancock: Yeah. Chris writes stuff down and then still doesn't know what he's written down. But yeah, well let's get back to that that show. You brought up the new shout song. So what was your impression of that?

TH: You know, it was When I first heard it, I was like, this has got an interesting vibe to it. Cause I 'cause I I just always thought that Ken Tamplin's voice just fit really well with with that type of music.

Kris plamondon: Yeah.

TH: And and 'cause sometimes I'll admit when I hear s him do some stuff on the Ken Tamplin Vocal Academy, I mean, I love his voice, but sometimes I for for me, I'm like, that his voice doesn't necessarily fit that song, even though he sings it well. And it was I've listened to it a few times, and I I actually I just hope it leads to more. Let me say that. I hope it's just not like, hey, we recorded one song and we're done. I hope it I hope when they did the festival last year and him and Chuck King got together and then they were both on the v video that they did together there. I hope it leads to and it looks like it might might lead to a full album and I would love to see him do a tour. But I mean I like the song.

Arin Hancock: Yeah, I liked it. lyrically I think it's great. It's it's almost like like he's

TH: Yeah, lyrically it's great.

Arin Hancock: singing the

Kris plamondon: Yeah.

Arin Hancock: Lord's Prayer. He's brought a lot of I think the Lord's Prayer lyrics in into it. And the only problem I have is there's not enough guitar. And I think what it is is now I don't know where Chuck is, if he's been keeping up h his chops over the years or not, or even since that reunion with with Omo and Immortal Fest there if Chuck decided, hey, I I gotta get back to him playing again and and and start rehearsing again or what. I know Ken probably hasn't played guitar very much. He's been working more on his vocals and and doing the vocal academy. He said said that's why they brought in a third guy for that Immortal Fest, because he didn't have the time to practice and and get his fingers up to the speed metal part, all the fast playing that they used to do. Now and maybe Chuck can't do that anymore either. I don't know. I just wish there were more guitars. It seemed to be more of a a keyboard oriented song or or or something, you know?

TH: Yeah, it it was. I mean it didn't have it didn't have the like you said, the the guitars, but I still enjoyed it. 'Cause I mean it's it's like I've always loved Ken Tamplin. Yeah, he's been one of my favorites. So to hear him do something new, I'll take it.

Kris plamondon: Yeah, me too me too. Me too.

Arin Hancock: Yeah, th I think that's exciting. I've got into Shout I didn't have everything Ken has done. I've got one Shout record, I got one solo record, I've got that other one released just under the name Tamplin. That it didn't even say Ken on it. All it said was Tamplin. But there's some great great material on on that one. And that might actually be my might even be my favorite album that he's he's ever put out, really.

TH: And you know, it goes back to what you were saying earlier about you can have a Christian who's writing music and but they're also talking relationally because I th it it was his first solo album, I believe, and Acts to Grind. I mean, one of my favorites, if you're talking about relational songs, is Never Give Up or Never Gave Up. It's yeah,

Kris plamondon: Yes, yes.

TH: that to me, that song is is an amazing song, but that

Kris plamondon: That's a g well written.

TH: and I thought it was well written and I thought it was you know that I I will say this that particular song is one of me and my wife's songs because as I I'll share this I'll share a little Tim moment here with you. As I was driving over to my wife's house to declare my love for her one morning, that's the song I was listening to as I was driving over there. So

Arin Hancock: Okay.

TH: That became kind of one of our one of our songs from that. But it's it's it you know, you can have a Christian who can dive deep into lyrics like that and it doesn't have to always be an altar call song.

Arin Hancock: Yeah, definitely.

Kris plamondon: Well that that's another wow topic you're yeah, for sure.

Arin Hancock: on that, you know,

DG: Nice full dude.

Arin Hancock: as as a Christian band, I think yes, you need to have those bold sounds, you know, in God we trust or or more than a man or whatever, but not every sound has to be that way either. You can have the relationship type sounds. Or just, you know, I had a bad day 'cause a bunch of stuff happened and you know, and I had a bad day, you know.

TH: Yeah, I was just gonna say go ahead.

Kris plamondon: I think Christian bands should be spending should be spending more time doing relationship songs. I think that would help them a lot better to get into the mainstream and if that's what they want to do.

TH: Yeah. Yeah, 'cause you you talk about the album in an axe to grind. It leads off with Living for My Lord, which is very direct, very

Kris plamondon: Yeah.

TH: faith-based. And then the fourth song on the album is Never Give Up.

Arin Hancock: Right. Yeah, I love the Living from the Lord.

Kris plamondon: Yeah.

Arin Hancock: I don't know if I've heard the entire album myself, but I did hear that first song and I thought that was a great song.

DG: So you're going deep on some of this stuff. Good job.

TH: Ha ha.

Arin Hancock: but if you guys don't mind have let me take a page out of your podcast for a second here. I know you bought striper trivia book. Have you gone through many of those questions? I was gonna tr okay, I was gonna

TH: Not yet. I I haven't done it because I really just wanted to use it for Daryl and I when we have you know to have some fun. So I haven't skipped ahead. I've only done that one section. And I mean there were some ones that you know, just from the section that I did that one day, was like, I have no clue.

Kris plamondon: Ha ha

Arin Hancock: Yeah

DG: I

Arin Hancock: I had a

DG: mean where I got my ass kicked.

Arin Hancock: Well, I had a perusal through the book. I bought it. I'm thinking we're gonna use it on on our podcast. maybe it'll be a new segment where we ask a question, plenty of Lumia's going to lose so people can try to get the thinking caps on and they can pause the podcast what they think about it. And then we'll give the answer, you know, ten, twenty seconds later type of thing. but I just wanted to throw one of the questions out there and I I don't know if you've looked at it or or not. they had one of the questions the long and short of it and they were asking for Strapers longest songs. They asked for ten of them. I said, you know what, if you can even name, say, the top three longest songs, I'd I'd have to scratch my head on that one.

TH: Well, I would say Yahweh is one. I would jump in there reason for the season is probably another one of their longest ones. Let me just grab my book and cheat here.

Kris plamondon: Ha ha ha.

Arin Hancock: Well, you hit

TH: Wow.

Arin Hancock: two of them. You you actually did hit two of them. you got any thoughts there, Darryl?

DG: I think I would think more than a man would be around there somewhere.

Arin Hancock: More than a man didn't even make didn't even make the

DG: But

Arin Hancock: top ten.

DG: seeing seeing how I

TH: Are there any

DG: sucked at all these, I wouldn't wouldn't even yeah, my answers are all gonna be lame, so

TH: Let me ask you this, Aaron. Are there any ballots on there?

Arin Hancock: Yeah, well yeah.

Kris plamondon: Creed, yeah. You need creed in there, yeah.

DG: You need what?

Arin Hancock: striper. We're talking striper, Chris. there is one ballad on there. I'll I'll I'll do the top five.

TH: Is it first love?

Arin Hancock: Yes. The first love king

TH: Okay, 'cause I was thinking first love would be a long one.

Arin Hancock: That came in at number four. The the top five well actually you know what? They asked for the top ten songs, and I've got I got no idea how long any song is, really, so I don't know. but the way they listed it here, the top ten longest songs from ten to one. Together is one at ten, soldiers under command at nine, eclipse for the sun at eight, no more hell to pay at six, two bodies, one mind, one soul at six six or sorry no more health pay was at seven two bodies at six reach out at five first love at four number three was make love great again and then yeah Yahweh and reason for the season

Kris plamondon: Okay.

TH: You know, there are some on that list I wouldn't have expected to be on that list.

DG: Yeah, no kidding.

Arin Hancock: Yeah, I know. And like I said, and I'm I kinda approved. I haven't looked at all the answers and it doesn't even matter if I know the answers because when I say on a podcast, I'm gonna say the answer a few seconds later anyways, just to get people thinking. But you know, some of the questions were real simple, like what was the one original on the covering? Well, we covered that record. I

TH: Yeah, God.

Arin Hancock: know I bought that. I bought that the

TH: Ha ha ha.

Arin Hancock: original song before I bought the rest of the record. See, I I just bought that as a download, only because I'm not big into cover albums. if I wanna hear the song, I usually go to the original artist and and hear the song. And unless they do something really different with it. And I don't know. Maybe that first striper tribute threw me off of cover records because we haven't got to that on our program yet But the first striper tribute came out in the nineties. They had a bunch of nineties bands do striper covers and absolutely butchered them. I'm We're gonna fun fun with that episode just telling about how much we disliked it.

TH: Yeah, I I think I know which album you're talking about because I remember one time I was trying to listen to it and I was like, I can't I I couldn't listen to it. But what there is one, I don't know if you're aware of this one, but Guardian actually did a cover of the yellow and black attack front to back. And I thought that

Arin Hancock: Yes, yes,

TH: they did a pretty good job with it.

DG: It was yeah, it was pretty good.

Arin Hancock: I've heard that one. Again, I never found a reason to buy it. we did feature one of their tracks from that album on our plug-it in when we did the covering. I thought, well, if we're gonna the covering, striper covering a bunch of other bands, let's throw out a band that covered Striper and and let's let's do a good cover of the Striper song. But yeah, that bad tribute record, that was called the Sweet Family Music. And I was almost I was gonna try and get to it this summer and talk about that that record just because I thought it would be fun just to give our impressions of it. And I don't think Chris has heard it. That might be first response to the record type of episode, which could be fun. we'll try and get to that sometime. I don't want

DG: Listen to that thing in ages. That'd be fun to

Arin Hancock: I don't wanna listen to that. It's funny because we did the the nineties Guardian or sorry, the 90s Holy Soldier. And I thought that was gonna be a tough listen. And there's a couple tracks on there I go, Yeah, okay, it's different. It's not that bad. If if you think it's a s if it's a different band, it's not that bad of a record.

DG: So you listen to it again?

Arin Hancock: I'm going, well, this sounds not bad. It just doesn't sound like a Holy Soldier rec sound though, that's the problem.

DG: Right.

TH: I know it's funny. You know, I you you bring up Holy Soldier, and you know, on their first album, and I can't remember the name of the song, I've got the lyrics going through my mind at the moment, but on their first album, they even get a little political on one of their songs because one of their songs, was focused on being pro life.

Arin Hancock: Yeah. Well that's the other thing and although a lot of bands are doing that, they were kind of stepping into the social awareness arena, being pro life or the anti this, anti that. If they listen to the Christian Geeks podcast, they did an episode a while back called the was it Saturday s after school special and focusing on b on bands that did these public announcement type sounds like See No Evil, Hearing No Evil from Holy Soldier. there were a ton of songs they could have picked from Tourniquet. They only had picked one. you know, I can't remember which one they picked, you know, but then Tourniquin did it with Ark of Suffering and focusing on animal rights and animal cruelty. But there were a lot of bands talking about pro life and and anti abortion. Baron Cross did it too. It almost seemed it was an obligatory subject you had to write one song about, if you were a Christian band in the eighties.

TH: Yeah, I didn't realize Baring Cross did it and I was never not I I don't wanna say I wasn't I mean I heard Baring Cross, I'll listen to but they weren't like in my tops, you know, so I didn't I didn't realize that they had done one too. I th I I'll admit I thought Holy Soldier was unique.

Arin Hancock: Yeah.

Kris plamondon: Ha ha ha.

Arin Hancock: Well a lot of these bands I've kinda got into after the fact. Like I got into I think Blood Good more after they were done. same with Baron Cross, I got into more afterwards and I don't know why yeah.

DG: Yeah, they were later anyway.

TH: Well, that that's an interesting that's an interesting point because you've said that I've heard you say that a few a couple of times now. how did you end up finding these bands later on after they had disbanded? Did you find them online? Did you find in a record store, like a used record store? How did you how did you kind of find these eighties eighties bands?

Arin Hancock: Well Blood Good I knew about at the time they were around. I did buy their greatest hits record that had was released. I didn't get into them deeper at the time, other than the race hits. 'Cause I I wasn't big on on the production. I listened to the songs going, well the songs sound great. The production sound sounds kinda tinny or or too much on on the treble end. And it just didn't sit well in my ears. I did kinda get into that last one they did, Dangerously Close. And it took me a long time to buy just because due to finance, it's you know at this point I was the older in my life w raising a family. But didn't know about that when that came out and I thought that was probably the be production wise that was probably the best. I got into more now through Facebook groups. Everybody telling me how great Blood Good is. you know, I listened

TH: Yeah.

Arin Hancock: to more. We did a program on our favorite songs from Blood Good. then I really had to dive into them and listen to all the records and kind of got into them more. Baron Cross actually was through one of the on-stream internet radio stations that plays Christian music. And one of their songs popped up and I'm like This is an awesome tune. And so I had to check out what song it was and and what record that was from. I think with Baron Cross, it was one of those names that had been kicked around that I kinda heard but never actually listened to. But yeah, so any band I discovered is quite often is through Facebook. And that's sometimes where I discover even these brand new bands that are making their way. to our program or making their way through my ears. As someone talks about this this brand new band or maybe because I've been listening to a few of these bands on a little bit, Facebook goes, Well, hey, here's an ad from some band. Do you like these guys or not or not? And and I go, okay, I'll check them out. And and whatever. but that's the way I do it now is through some of these Facebook groups.

TH: You know, I like what you said there because there's always that, you know, social media has that stigma, you know, it's bad, it's good, it's this. But I've told my wife this and I mean, there's so many times I go, Man, I would love to get off of Facebook. I would love, you know, just not to have to deal with social media, all that other kind of stuff. We have those conversations, but I'll tell you the one thing that keeps me on it. Is being able to follow the music and find out about music that I love. Because I remember just back in the day being a kid, it was like, hey, you know, we haven't heard anything from this band in like two or three years. Whatever happened to them. And then all of a sudden, it's like, they've got a new song coming out in the next six months. But because of social media, you're able to follow an artist and they're posting of what the band's doing. We're going into the studio, we're going into this, or Hey, you might want to check this band out or like like what you said, Aaron. So I gotta get that that is one of the reasons I love about social media, is just being able to stay in tune with the music that I love.

DG: I hate it and I love it, but I just started a new freaking group channel last week and I hate Facebook. So so so I'm posting reels like every freaking day and I hate Facebook. So

Arin Hancock: Yeah.

DG: so yeah, I'm still I'm still in social media and I freaking hate it. But it's you know, but I'm still, you know, posting crop every day, but it's you know

Kris plamondon: Yeah.

DG: it is what it is. So, you know, hot rock takes every day on freaking Facebook. So yeah, whatever. It is what it is. But I mean, you know, I am having fun with it, so it's you know, get talk about stuff that I'm you know in love with.

Kris plamondon: I know I'll bring

TH: You get to geek out on.

Kris plamondon: up I'll bring up a guy we've talked about a lot today. I really liked how Michael Sweet has used Facebook to show how he's doing and w and what he's doing with Stryper in his concert dates. Like he's doing behind the scenes stuff. I just think that's awesome. Like as fans

DG: Yeah, he's used it well.

Kris plamondon: yeah, to see how well he's doing and I I just think that's awesome. You know.

TH: Now speaking of him speaking of him real quick, this dropped yesterday.

DG: boy, Tim's gonna pull out a freaking record.

TH: This this dropped yesterday, but

Arin Hancock: I was gonna say, have you heard the new iconic? Imagine you you've got the the new release. Wow, that's great.

Kris plamondon: what what what's that?

TH: Yeah. I love this back cover.

Kris plamondon: the coverer,

TH: Or the the back and you got the front, but Michael Sweets

Arin Hancock: Show the back again 'cause you froze for a second there when you're trying to show the back.

DG: Yeah, that'll be our next podcast.

Arin Hancock: Okay.

Kris plamondon: cool.

Arin Hancock: I just heard a few tracks off it yesterday actually.

Kris plamondon: And is that

TH: Yeah, I have it.

Kris plamondon: is that the new album?

Arin Hancock: No, that's not Striper.

TH: That's the new one.

DG: Yeah.

Arin Hancock: that's not Striper.

TH: That's the new one.

DG: Yeah.

Arin Hancock: That that's so for those who who are just listening and and didn't see what was going on there, Tim just showed his copy of the brand new Iconic record. And for those who don't know Iconic, it's a side project, a super group that Michael is a part of. He only plays guitar in that one, I I believe, because it wasn't him singing. And but it was good.

TH: Yeah, Nathan Gathan James, I believe it is, is a lead singer. And then on the first album, there were maybe two or three songs where they do back and forth on the vocals, but primarily with iconic, it's Michael Sweet being a guitarist, which you like you were just saying a minute ago, he a lot of times people don't you play guitar? Yeah, you know. So so he gets to show

Arin Hancock: Yeah.

Kris plamondon: he's he's

TH: off its guitar chops on it.

Kris plamondon: he's awesome. Mm-hmm.

Arin Hancock: Yeah, I'll I'll have to check that out. I listened to a few songs yesterday and it was on a random play, so I can't remember what order they were or what sounds. But the first couple I heard are going, sounds okay. Nothing stands out. It you know, it's not bad, but and then a couple more came on and going, this is a good song. I like this one

DG: No, it's it's

TH: Yeah, I haven't

DG: it's thick, man. Nathan James with those vocals. I mean, it's very retro eighties, but I mean, when you think about it, okay, Nathan James is in the front, but then when you're thinking about the solos and Michael Sweet's doing a lot of the heavy lifting back there, it it is it's a thick record. So I'm I'm I love I really do like what's going on here. So yeah. I'll all all praise to to to that band, so yeah. Go check it out.

Arin Hancock: And I'm sure you guys have heard the new striper single that that Throne of Thorns. What was your your take on that

DG: hell yeah.

Arin Hancock: one?

TH: You know what was interesting about that song Daryl brought up, you know, it it was he goes, it was missing a little bit of Oz in it. You know, it didn't sound like there was Oz in it. And what ended up happening, or what came out this week, apparently through an interview, was that. Oz wasn't playing on the record because he wasn't feeling well or something like that. And so it was primarily Michael doing the guitars on this upcoming album.

Arin Hancock: the guitarist. Yeah. I I I did see that post, I did see that interview, and thought that was interesting. Although Michael said he did try his best to make it sound like two distinct players and try to recreate Oz's parts to sound like Oz as much as he could. And for those with discerning ears, like the average listener isn't gonna notice the difference, I don't think. Those with discerning ears probably could tell difference. You know, they always say, Well, nobody sounds like this player. It doesn't matter which guitar player you're talking about, they'll say nobody else sounds like it. Every player sounds like themselves. So

DG: especially ours.

TH: Yeah, so but no, I liked it.

Arin Hancock: So we'll see how it goes. I'm still yeah, I'm still looking forward to the new record. I might have to slow down my buying that I've already got my priority, you know, and that went through Amazon 'cause then I don't have to worry about shipping charges.

TH: Yeah, I've got my pre order in as well. So it's looking forward to hearing the rest of that one.

Arin Hancock: Definitely and I think with that we might have to wrap this up 'cause we've been about an hour and I got other stuff I gotta get to today. I love talking to you guys. we'll definitely talk more in the future, I think.

TH: No, absolutely.

DG: Yeah, man.

TH: And we we enjoy talking to you guys too. It's a lot of fun syncing up and getting together and doing this. So we appreciate you guys having us on.

Arin Hancock: Sounds good, yeah. yeah, so

Kris plamondon: Yeah, you too.

Arin Hancock: we'll we'll work that all out. This has been the Rock and Metal Fate Podcast.

Kris plamondon: A podcast.

Arin Hancock: for all you listeners out there, don't forget we have a Patreon page now. If you want to check that out, we have a link to buy us a coffee. And if you just want to listen and support us that way, then share it out. Share this episode out to all your friends so that they get to listen. We are growing in numbers and we'd like to continue and If you know people who would like what we're doing, let them know about it. Thank you. I'm your host, Aaron Hancock, with my co-host Chris Pramon. We're joined by a couple other guys, hosts. Tim and Darrell from To Hell with the Podcast. We've had them on before. We love talking with you guys. Thanks for coming back. How are you guys doing?

TH: Yeah, we're glad to be here. Thanks for having us today. We're excited.

Arin Hancock: Yeah, and for those who are listening and watching, this is really gonna be a free for all I've got

Kris plamondon: Yeah, it's gonna be everything. We're gonna throw pillows at each other. Well virtually. It's gonna be great.

Arin Hancock: That'd be fun. But you know what we're in the middle of summer. I've got a busy month this month of August. I've got one episode already in the can, already done and edited. and we I just wanna do something for fun and th we'll throw a bunch of topics out there. I'm not really sure where this discussion's gonna go. We'll just

Kris plamondon: Do we do we have someone in our chat?

Arin Hancock: We don't have a chat. We're not doing live stream.

Kris plamondon: I have a little icon on it that says that we have someone in our chat.

Arin Hancock: That means you could I don't know. I don't know what you got going.

Kris plamondon: Did you guys bring a stranger into our chat?

Arin Hancock: and I'm gonna actually

TH: Well, I will say this, Chris. When I was having some technical issues

Kris plamondon: way.

TH: before getting on.

Kris plamondon: There we go. Okay.

TH: I'd send a chat when you guys couldn't hear me, so

Arin Hancock: that's probably what it is. Yeah,

Kris plamondon: that's where that's where okay.

TH: Yeah.

Arin Hancock: so for those listening to our main episode there, like Tim had some techno technical issues trying to log on and get both the mic and the speaker working at the same time. We've worked through those. And Chris has always doesn't know how to position his camera, so he's gonna be in and out of the camera.

Kris plamondon: Hey yeah, that wasn't real nice. All right, that's fine. Yeah, I know. That's my persona. That's fine.

Arin Hancock: Well, you're at the bottom of your frame and And you know what, I'm tired of editing and trying to fix your camera angle all the time, so whatever comes out comes out. If you're watching this on if you're watching this

Kris plamondon: I know. I'll just tape it there. Yeah.

Arin Hancock: on YouTube,

DG: Yeah.

Arin Hancock: Chris is doing whatever Chris does.

DG: my god, we're off to a

Kris plamondon: There.

DG: rousing start.

TH: Well, you know, it's great when

Kris plamondon: Yeah.

TH: I'm sitting there working and you're trying to have a discussion with somebody. And I don't know if you guys remember the show Home Improvement, but I always f you know, they feel like you're talking to Mr. Wilson, the guy behind the fence, 'cause this is what you see on their

Arin Hancock: Ha ha ha

Kris plamondon: Yeah.

TH: face, and you're like,

Arin Hancock: Yeah.

TH: Come on, raise your camera up or raise your chair. I wanna see you.

Arin Hancock: I know. I know that was his stuff,

Kris plamondon: Well we

Arin Hancock: yeah.

Kris plamondon: who was it, Aaron, that we had a interview with? yeah, one bad pink I think. And he was in his closet. Yeah.

Arin Hancock: Yeah, the only the only quadring he could find was in a a clothes closet.

Kris plamondon: That's

TH: Ha ha.

Kris plamondon: right. That was awesome.

Arin Hancock: Well, it was better than the time we had Scott Wendell. The only problem was Scott was couldn't figure out how to use Riverside and and log on. Even though we sent him the link. He couldn't figure he said, I'm I'm in your lobby, but I can't get into the main part of studio. And we finally had to just do an audio. podcast and we put on the phone on speaker and I just held the the phone up to the the microphone and stuff. So yeah, working around technical technical problems I guess. Yeah.

DG: Do what you gotta do.