This week we're discussing Umbilical, the latest album by sludge/doom metal band Thou. We sure you hope you like punishing, brutal, and unrelenting metal, because Umbilical is one of the gnarliest records released this year. Not counting collab albums, this is the band's first full-length since 2018's Magnus. Crank it and brace yourselves. Closing …

This week we're discussing every album by Acid Bath. While their existence was short lived, Acid Bath's style of sludge metal and stoner rock was a clear inspiration to bands like Pantera. If you're looking for brutal sludge with hard rock hooks, these dudes deliver. Closing track: "Finger Paintings of the Insane" from When the Kite String Pops (19…

This week we're discussing Lost Themes IV: Noir, the latest album by legendary movie director John Carpenter. Collaborating with his son, Cody Carpenter and his godson, Daniel Davies, this is Carpenter's fourth album and it's a ton of fun. Like previous Lost Themes albums, there are a ton of synths, 80s rock guitars, and driving electronic rhythms.…

This week we're discussing every album by Faith No More. As one of the pioneers of alt metal, Faith No More combined heavy hip hop-spired rhythms with chunky metal guitarwork to create a wholly unique style. But since Mike Patton joined the band in the late 80s, FNM has evolved into one of the most interesting and diverse rock bands of all time. Th…

This cigar podcast could save your or a loved one's life. Following his own mental health crisis, Adam Levine founded the League of Fat Bastards Cigars. The boutique Nicaraguan cigar brand gives away 40% of its profits to men's mental health initiatives; hosts events where men can get real about their lives; and encourages intentional discussions a…

This week we're taking some time to honor the great Steve Albini. Having already done full episodes on Big Black, Rapeman, and most recently Shellac, this time we're talking about everything Albini has worked on that's affected us over the years. Mike speaks with Alex, their history guy, Tom, as well as his brother Robert about everything Steve Alb…

Use Boveda to protect all the Lovely Cigars in your humidor, click here to get emails: https://hubs.la/Q01BLsBF0 This vintage 1800s Wisconsin cigar brand has a new life thanks to owners Mike Gehm, Keith Archiquette, and Dylan Masse. The trio blends cigar that they love, and it turns out a lot cigar smokers love Lovely Cigars, too. Hear more about t…

This week we're discussing every album by Shellac. After covering Big Black and Rapeman in past episodes, it was only a matter of time before we eventually got to Shellac. However, due to the unexpected and tragic loss of Steve Albini this year, this episode is bittersweet. They were a fantastic band that we're happy to dissect in detail here. Clos…

NEW CIGAR BRAND: Domain Cigars, whose flavor and construction are protected by Boveda. Use Boveda to protect the cigars in your humidor, click here to get emails: https://hubs.la/Q01BLsBF0 Domain Cigars is the crest of the third wave of cigar making. Fully vertically integrated. Craft. Innovative. If they can't produce a cigar, they won't make it a…

This week we're discussing Cometh the Storm, the latest album by the great High on Fire. Led by guitarist/vocalist Matt Pike (Sleep) and joined for the first time by drummer Coady Willis (Murder City Devils, Big Business, Mevlins), Cometh the Storm is High on Fire doing what they do best. Is it similar to their other albums? Yes. Does it rule? Also…

Protect your cigars from bad guys like mold and low humidity by using Boveda in your humidor, click here to get emails: https://hubs.la/Q01BLsBF0 Unlike a bad guy, his Maduro cigar won't kick you in the head. Discover Porto Real, actor Alex Estrella's boutique cigar brand. Porto Real cigars are tasty Dominican and Nicaragua blends that are affordab…

This week we're discussing every album by Destiny's Child. Yes, you read that correctly. Do we want to cover this band? Absolutely not. Did someone pay us to do it? You're damn right. So we listened to all their albums as unbiased as possible. For the love of God, if you're a fan of Destiny's Child or Beyonce, do not watch this. Closing track: "Jum…

Protect the flavor and character of boutique cigars like PDR with Boveda. Click here to get emails: https://hubs.la/Q01BLsBF0 Does the size of a cigar matter? Sure does for PDR founder Abe Flores. Find out if he prefers fatter stogies versus shorter, slimmer cigars. Then get cigar recommendations from this award-winning master blender. Looking for …

This week we're discussing WAR., the newest album by noise rock band WHORES. This album hits insanely hard. If you find yourself in the mood for noise rock with a healthy dosage of sludge metal mixed in there, you'll have a hard time finding a better album than this one this year. Crank this one loud, folks. Closing track: "Quitter's Fight Song" Pa…

Protect the flavor and character of artisan cigars with Boveda. Find out how to use Boveda in your humidor, click here to get emails: https://hubs.la/Q01BLsBF0 Cigar smokers in the Pacific Northwest, you made this Tampa cigar famous. Try the latest iteration of the Juan de Fuca cigar blended by Serafin de Cuba. Fourth generation cigar maker Arnoldo…

This week we're discussing the remaining albums by Siouxsie and the Banshees. This era covers 1984-1995, into their subsequent break up. While there are still plenty of beloved albums in this era, this is also where some complications hit the band. One of which being their brief stint with The Cure's Robert Smith on guitar. It's not all good, folks…

So they're ready for cigars right away, Brizard & Co. ships humidors with Boveda's specialty seasoning packets. Brizard airflow humidors have compartments that position Boveda above and below the cigars to surround them in the idea humidity. Find out how to use Boveda in your humidor, click here to get emails: https://hubs.la/Q01BLsBF0 Brizard & Co…

This week we're discussing the debut solo album by Portishead vocalist Beth Gibbons titled Lives Outgrown. We honestly weren't sure what to expect from this record, but what we got is easily one of the best albums of the year. While there are hints of Portishead's sound here, Gibbons has taken a turn for the dark, orchestral, and tribal. This is on…

Whether you're holding on to a $100 Sans Pareil Gold or a value smoke, preserve that cigar's flavor with Boveda, click here to get emails: https://hubs.la/Q01BLsBF0 Sans Pareil is pronounced sahn-pah-rehy. (BTW, Boveda is pronounced boh-veh-dah.) Sans Pareil is French and translates to "without equal or unparalleled." Fitting for four lines of ultr…

This week we're discussing every album by hip hop trio Injury Reserve. Made up of Ritchie with a T, Parker Corey, and Stepa J. Groggs (before his untimely death in 2020), Injury Reserve made some of the most innovative and downright insane rap in history. This isn't for casual music listeners, but it is wholly unique unlike anything we've heard bef…

This week we're discussing the latest album by metalcore band Knocked Loose, titled You Won't Go Before You're Supposed To. Now Alex and Mike aren't the hugest fans of hardcore/metalcore, but they are fans of extreme music. And let me tell you, ANY fan of extreme music must hear this album. The hype is real, folks. This is one of the most creative …

What's in your humidor? Protect it with Boveda—sign up for cigar care tips here: https://hubs.la/Q01BLsBF0 A whole lotta smart cigar storage in this one. Along with its popular 80-count model, CigarBros personal humidors are now available in 4 new sizes to keep 5, 10, 20, and 30 cigars. CigarBros founder Remon Mansour announced that retailers, like…

This week we're discussing every album by Hot Snakes. Led by the prolific guitar duo of Rick Froberg and John Reis (Drive Like Jehu, Rocket from the Crypt, Obits), Hot Snakes takes the post-hardcore technicality of Drive Like Jehu and condenses into shorter and more energetic song structures. An incredible band whose life was cut short due to the u…

If $60 cigars are stored with Boveda, shouldn't yours be? Click here to receive cigar care tips: https://hubs.la/Q01BLsBF0 UberLuxury cigars are a new segment of premium cigars created by Jeremiah Meerapfel. His family's legendary Meerapfel Cameroon tobacco is touted as the most exclusive wrapper in the world. This fifth generation cigar man talks …

Keep the cigars you buy from drying out, use Boveda. Click here to get cigar care tips: https://hubs.la/Q01BLsBF0 Mo reveals a new release for Patina Cigars! Founder of Patina Cigars, Mo Maali believes a cigar is a two-hour vacation, a cost-effective psychiatrist session, and a barrier-breaker. Cigars ARE the best way to bring people together, incl…

This week we're discussing Infinite Desires, the latest album by post-disco artist Donny Benét. This isn't the type of album we normally cover on this show, but after taking one look at Donny's incredible mustache and hairdo, we were sold. And the music? If you're open to funky, soulful, and dancey stuff, then it is a must-listen and one of the bes…

Cigar loving wise men (and women) preserve the flavor, aroma, and character of sticks with Boveda, click here to get emails: https://hubs.la/Q01BLsBF0 Foundation is no longer making the El Güegüense cigar nor the original Wise Man Maduro blend. In their place, find out what Nicholas Melillo, Foundation founder has in store for lovers of this popula…

Long Live the King! Learn how to preserve cigars with Boveda, click here to get emails: https://hubs.la/Q01BLsBF0 After running Caldwell Cigar Co., for a decade, Robert Caldwell and co-founder, Juan Jaramillo sold the company to Laudisi Enterprises. How will your favorite Caldwell cigars, like Blind Man's Bluff and Anastasia be affected? Find out d…

This week we’re discussing the only album by Maskull. This album is the biggest mystery we’ve ever had on this show. After its release in 1997, Maskull vanished leaving virtually no trace, aside from a few rumors. The music itself? Completely insane and downright hilarious. Joined by Mike’s brother Robert, we dive deep into the rabbit hole to uncov…

Missing something from your cigars? Learn what humidity has to do with cigar flavors, click here to get Boveda emails: https://hubs.la/Q01BLsBF0 Connoisseurs of fine wines who love cigars, this cigar talk is for you. Get in the know on Somm's limited-release boutique cigars. Somm is short for sommelier. Somm's lines are named after wines and blende…

Never miss cigar care reveals. Click here for Boveda's email insider news: https://hubs.la/Q01BLsBF0 Who are you gonna call to save a massive cigar collection you have to take possession of in a few weeks? Find what Michael Herklots did as he takes you through launching his storied cigar brand, Ferio Tego. Ferio Tego is behind Elegancia and Generos…

This week we’re discussing every album by Grotus (stylized as Grötüs). Die hard Mike Patton fans might recognize this band, as he championed them in the early 90s and even took them on tour with Mr. Bungle. However, Grotus’s music stands on its own as a brutal mashup of industrial and groove metal. An overlooked gem of a band that’s worth checking …

Never miss cigar greatness. Click here for Boveda's email insider news: https://hubs.la/Q01BLsBF0 It's like having a smoke in a cigar lounge WITH 5 CIGAR NOTABLES. Light up you best celebratory cigar (perhaps La Flor Dominicana Andalusian Bull, rated #1 cigar of 2016 by Cigar Aficionado, BTW?) for this virtual smoke sesh featuring: - Cigar Aficiona…

Good cigar talk? Learn more about cigar storage with Boveda. Click here to get emails: https://hubs.la/Q01BLsBF0 Casa 1910—THE Cinco De Mayo cigar of choice! Add this cigar trip to your bucket list: Miami, Florida, Cinco De Mayo (Cinco De Dade!) for tequila and Casa 1910's new Mexigars—affordable bundled cigars that “encapsulate the essence of Mexi…

This week we’re not only discussing Tarantula Heart, the latest album by the Melvins, but Buzz Osborne himself has graced us with an exclusive interview (which starts at 37:56). Tarantula Hearts marks the Melvins’ return to dual drummers (this time with Ministry’s Roy Mayorga) and it’s a delight. Later in the episode, our history guy Tom talks to B…

This week, we’re discussing the latest album by sludge metal band BIG|BRAVE, A Chaos of Flowers. We’ve been following BIG|BRAVE since this show began and A Chaos of Flowers shows them evolving in a massive way. Still one of the heaviest albums you’ll hear, but with careful attention to atmosphere, minimalism, and beauty. A dense and destructive alb…

This week we’re discussing the latest album by Pissed Jeans, Half Divorced. If high speed hardcore punk with a noise rock edge is your thing, this is easily one of the best albums of the year. This is Mike and Alex’s first time hearing Pissed Jeans and they were delighted, to say the least. Give it a shot, this one’s hard not to love. Closing track…

This week we’re discussing every album by Siouxsie and the Banshees from 1978 to 1982. Aside from being one of the most influential bands in modern music, Siouxsie Sioux and the Banshees played a major role in pioneering goth music, along with Bauhaus and the Cure. In this episode, we’re tackling the early years where they laid the foundation. It’s…

This week we’re discussing A Sudden Craving, the newest album by The Children… And for the first time ever, we have included an exclusive interview with the band. Made up of Michael Wiener, Jim Coleman (Cop Shoot Cop), and Phil Puelo (Cop Shoot Cop, Swans), The Children have created some of the most fascinating, texture-rich music you will hear thi…

Learn about the sweat equity that goes into fire-curing tobacco for cigars. See baby tobacco plants grow and mature. And hear how a tobacco plant becomes cigar ready in this field trip to a tobacco farm on the central northern border of Tennessee with cigar connoisseur Rob Gagner and Tennessee realtor/historian Jennifer Davis. What is Boveda? Craft…

This week we’re discussing every album by Foetus. However, there are a million EPs, remix albums, and collabs, so we’re just sticking with the core 10 albums. Foetus is the brainchild of JG Thirlwell, whom many will know as the music composer for The Venture Bros. and Archer. But Thirlwell’s roots stem all the way back to the New York no wave scene…

For Tom's full interview with the band: https://tomosman.substack.com/p/episode-10-prisoner?r=6g776&triedRedirect=true This week we're discussing Putrid | Obsolete, the latest album by Prisoner. While these guys are self-described as industrial/metal/punk, the result sounds like all of these and none of them at the same time. Punishing, disturbing,…

This week we’re discussing the one and only album by Mike Patton’s Peeping Tom. We all know Patton from Faith No More and Mr. Bungle (and his million other side projects, honestly), but Peeping Tom was the one time he tried mainstream pop music. Or at least his version of it, which of course sounds like no one else and could barely be considered po…

OpusX, Chateau Fuente, Julius Caeser, Cuesta-Rey, shall we go on? You wouldn't have Dominican cigars without the Dominican people.The mountainous agricultural Bonao region of the Dominican Republic, however, suffers from extreme poverty, an inadequate educational system, and poor water quality, which greatly affects people's health. Two giants in p…

This week we’re discussing every album by Porno for Pyros. Formed by Perry Farrell and Stephen Perkins of Jane’s Addiction, Porno for Pyros is a completely distinct spin-off band. Where JA was more guitar-centric, these guys are more rhythmic and psychedelic. A completely different style, but dynamic and with plenty of musical depth. Also, the band…

This week we’re discussing She Reaches Out to She Reaches Out to She, the latest album by Chelsea Wolfe. Aside from being a mouthful, this album has Wolfe once again taking a sharp detour from the style of her last album—this time into mind-bending, dark electronic. Wolfe rarely disappoints and this record is no different. Dig it. Closing track: “W…

Ready to get metaphysical over cigars? "Everything is an experience," says sensory expert and cigar passionado Reinhard Pohorec. And what a vision quest this entrepreneur is on since he joined UberLuxury cigar brand Meerapfel as its vice president. You might recognize Reinhard as host of the live cigar podcast, Light 'em Up Lounge, where he talks t…

This week we’re discussing TANGK, the latest album by IDLES. We’ve been huge fans of these guys for years, but now the rest of the world is finally getting around to them. TANGK is their biggest record yet, with production by Nigel Godrich and a guest appearance by LCD Soundsystem. But TANGK doesn’t just talk a big game—it’s their best album yet an…

This week, we’re discussing every album by Tupac Shakur. Or, more accurately, every album by 2Pac and one by Makaveli. It would take us a year to cover all his posthumous albums, so we’re sticking with just one. If you’ve heard of music, then you know 2Pac, plain and simple. But how do we feel about his actual full-length albums? Let’s just say thi…

Are Apostate Cigars God's gift to cigar smokers? Prepare to be converted by this boutique cigar maker whose blends are based on the symbolism of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Founded by former LSD members, Brandon Oveson and Kendrick Woolstenhulme, Apostate Cigars are blended at Jochy Blanco's Tabacalera Palma cigar factory i…