Welcome to Mandatory Music! A podcast about the craft of music. Join Mike and Sebastian as they unravel the depths of song writing, musicianship and great artists. Each season centres on one particular band, with a deep dive into specific songs that delve into their creation, sound and complexity. It is within song and harmony, melody and rhythm that our emotional heartbeat echos. It has been said that "Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the ima ...
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Episode 38: Marko Hietala(Ex Nightwish) Left on Mars review
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In this week’s episode of Mandatory Music, we dive into Marko Hietala’s captivating new song, Left on Mars. Join us as we explore the song’s themes, musicality, and what it reveals about Hietala’s artistry. Along the way, we share a dynamic conversation covering various topics that music fans won’t want to miss. Tune in for another engaging episode…
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Thunderstruck by AC/DC’s Tour and Ghost’s Haunting Melodies
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Sebastian is back on Mandatory Music! In this episode, we dive into the electrifying announcement of AC/DC's upcoming tour and debate if it’s worth trying to snag tickets. Then, we shift gears to dissect Ghost’s haunting track, "Call Me Little Sunshine," exploring its themes, lyrics, and musical brilliance. Join us for an episode packed with rock, …
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Solo Session: Mike’s Dive into Four Mystical Bands
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With Sebastian under the weather, Mike takes the stage solo for this week’s Mandatory Music. This episode dives into the sounds of four fascinating bands: the darkly enchanting Lucifer, the retro-fueled Sienna Root, the mystic storytelling of Jess and the Ancient Ones, and the electrifying Wucan. Join Mike for a journey through heavy riffs, psyched…
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Linkin Park Returns: Breaking Down the New Sound
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In this week’s episode of Mandatory Music, Mike and Sebastian dive deep into Linkin Park’s latest album, They unpack the evolution of the band’s sound, their new themes, and how this album stands up to Linkin Park’s previous work. Plus, we couldn’t resist discussing the recent Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul fight – and a few other topics that caught our …
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Silver Screen Sounds: Our Top 5 Movie Compilation Soundtracks
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In this week’s episode of Mandatory Music, we’re diving into our top 5 movie compilation soundtracks—a mix that spans decades and genres but shares one thing in common: unforgettable music that defined its era. From the timeless soul of Stand by Me to the adrenaline-pumping hits of Top Gun and the disco grooves of Saturday Night Fever, we’re taking…
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Musical Icons and the Mysteries of Pink Floyd's Animals (Side B)
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What if you could uncover the hidden threads connecting a musical legend and a rock masterpiece? In our latest episode, we honor the unparalleled Quincy Jones, whose recent passing at the age of 91 marks a profound loss in the music world. We share insights into his legendary career, from working with icons like Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, and Mich…
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Shepherds Reign: Thunderous Polynesian Metal and the Magic of No-Phone Concerts
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In this episode, we dive deep into the powerful soundscapes of Shepherds Reign, a band blending Polynesian roots with heavy metal in a way that’s fierce, soulful, and utterly unique. We also tackle the growing trend of no-phone policies at concerts—are these policies helping us live in the moment, or are they just an unnecessary hassle? We would lo…
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Dark Realms and Dog Tales: Pink Floyd’s Animals (Side A)
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This week on Mandatory Music, Michael and Sebastian take a journey back to the 1970s as we delve into Side A of Pink Floyd's provocative album, Animals. Join us as we uncover the backstory behind tracks like “Pigs on the Wing (Part 1)” and the sprawling “Dogs,” exploring the biting social critiques, existential themes, and musical complexity that m…
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In this episode of Mandatory Music, we dive deep into the latest solo release from Jerry Cantrell, the iconic guitarist and co-founder of Alice in Chains. Join us as we explore the album's sonic landscapes, Cantrell's signature guitar work, and how it fits into his legendary career. From grunge roots to evolving solo sounds, we break down track hig…
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Classic Album Revisited: Black Sabbath – Paranoid
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This week on the podcast, Mike and Sebastian dive deep into the iconic Paranoid album by Black Sabbath. This legendary record holds a special place in our hearts, and we explore its lasting influence on us personally and on the heavy metal genre as a whole. From the rebellious energy of 'War Pigs' to the crushing riffs of 'Iron Man' and the anthemi…
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Bonus Episode!! Hangman's Chair- 2 AM Thoughts
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In this episode of Mandatory Music, Mike and Sebastian dive deep into Hangman’s Chair’s hauntingly beautiful new single, "2 AM Thoughts." The duo explores the melancholic vibes and atmospheric sounds that make this song stand out, blending doom, post-metal, and introspective lyrics. They discuss their personal interpretations of the lyrics and refl…
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In this episode, Mike and Seb dive into Coldplay's latest album, Moon Music. Mike, with his sharp ear for detail, breaks down the album’s dreamy soundscapes and explores how it pushes the band’s sonic boundaries. Meanwhile, Seb brings his unfiltered takes, questioning whether Coldplay's cosmic themes have gone too far. Expect a lively debate on sta…
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The Smashing Pumpkins - Aghori Mhori Mei album review.
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Today is the greatest day, to review an album. Mike and Seb discuss the somewhat throw back album to what resonated sonically with fans in the mid 90’s, but with a slight modern tone. We talk about what works, what doesn’t and what the picture on the album cover is all about… We would love to hear from you!! Send us a text Mandatory Music is proudl…
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Join us this week as we dive deep into Nightwish's latest album, "Yesterwynde." We'll unravel the epic tales woven into each track, discuss how the band's sound has evolved, and explore the emotional journey "Yesterwynde" takes listeners on. From the soaring vocals of Floor Jansen to the intricate orchestral arrangements, this album is a true maste…
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Jimi Hendrix - Excuse me while I kiss the sky.
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The legend himself, arguably the greatest guitarist of all time. Number one on so many top guitarist list. Yes, lets talk about him. He had such a short time here on earth but made one of the biggest impacts in music and those reverberations are still felt to this day. Mike and Seb have one question for you…Are you experienced? We would love to hea…
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Now for something different. Mike and Sebastian unpack the new David Gilmour album released just a couple of days ago. This is proof we are not just metal heads as our appreciation for music flows through many styles and moods. Join us as we explore one of the true masters of songwriting and navigate with us through the tender and soulful solos and…
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We are back from our trip to Edmonton to watch the icons that are Metallica. Spoiler warning, we do talk about the set list quite a bit, so if you are planning to hit up the Mexico shows in the up coming weeks you and do not want the set list ruined…wait till after to listen to us. Man what a ride though and what an experience. Join us as we recap …
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What would it be like if we could have control of Metallica’s set list? Well, Mike and Sebastian give you that very answer. We outline some bangers, some surprises and some specific reasons on the order of the songs. With so many choices of incredibly well written pieces by our favourite band, this task was extremely difficult. So, enjoy our lists …
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Join us as we rank the eleven Metallica studio albums from worst to best. Will we have the same list or will Mike and Seb bicker like toddlers fighting for the playground swing? Also, if you want to let us know your list please leave us a line. We would love to hear from you!! Send us a text Mandatory Music is proudly hosted and produced by Michael…
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What if you could only bring 5 albums with you to an island and that is all the music you would listen to for the rest of your life? Well on this episode of Mandatory Music, we tackle that exact question. We discuss some of the albums we would take, some honorable mentions so join us and give us a holler on what albums you would take with you. We w…
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We are back with the last of our Sleep Token tunes, The Summoning. This is definitely the most popular song by this band that we have done to date and we are excited that this conjuring of a song has evoked many flavours for us. What does the mystery that is Sleep Token have for us… We would love to hear from you!! Send us a text Mandatory Music is…
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We are back with the fourth instalment of our Sleep Token series. This week we explore the captivating track "Alkaline" from their Sophomore album, This place will become your tomb, and uncover its hidden meanings. We would love to hear from you!! Send us a text Mandatory Music is proudly hosted and produced by Michael Heide and Sebastian Kwapich C…
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Welcome back to Mandatory Music as we continue our journey through the realm of Sleep Token. The Offering is the most listened to song off their first full length studio album, Sundowning. What dark choral worship music are we going to unlock on this episode as we walk with the deity of sleep through the lands of mystery and slumber? We would love …
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Mandatory Music has returned with another Sleep Token track, that may or may not be about rocks…Granite. Join us as we explore more of this the not-metal, not-pop band, not-alternative, not R&B…actually what is Sleep Token. Come help us fine out. We would love to hear from you!! Send us a text Mandatory Music is proudly hosted and produced by Micha…
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Michael and Sebastian are back after a little hiatus to bring you a real raw and blind reaction to a band that has haunted the reaction channels of everyone, Sleep Token. Sometimes beauty and magic come from the most mysterious and unknown places, so step into the garden with us as we unravel this enigmatic band. We do not have any notion of what t…
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We are back with All Nightmare Long from Metallica’s super compressed album Death Magnetic. Do you like palm muting? Good, because this Lovecraft inspired song pulls from a short story called" The Hounds of Tindalos" and it takes us back to Metallica’s roots. The sound and thrash are back, this tune carries an aggression and power that has been mis…
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Mandatory Music is back with Metallica’s longest song from 72 seasons, Inamorata. A unique song that offers interesting and doom like flavors, this masterpiece of song writing takes James voice to places of tenderness and sorrow, of regret and pain. Come join us as we unravel the riffs and tones that make up what could very well be Metallica’s last…
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This week on Mandatory Music, Mike and Seb are doing the longest song off of the Hardwired album, Halo on Fire. We all go through life, ripe with situations full of temptations and bad decisions, some lead us to danger and darkness or to sorrow or sadness. We are all human in the end and we try to make the correct choice in our lives but sometimes …
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Welcome back to Mandatory Music. Join us as we explore Metallica’s first ever ballad from the Ride the Lightning album, Fade to Black. This set the standard that Metallica was not just a trash band and showed their audience what was possible within the song writing talent of the band. Emerging from James' depression and sorrow, it is often said tha…
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Welcome back to Mandatory Music where this week Michael and Sebastian discuss the deeply connected ballad, Bleeding Me. A song about the pain we create and the demon’s that are born inside of us when we don’t know how to properly move through darkness. Is this a Metallica masterpiece? Join us and decide for yourself. email: mandatorymusicshow@gmail…
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Mandatory Music is back this week with a monster episode. Yes we are doing it, we are chatting about Some Kind of Monster from the polarizing St. Anger album. Metallica went through perhaps their darkest period while recording this album. At one point, they were no longer a band. Join us as we explore a most distinct sound from a specific era of ou…
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Welcome to Mandatory Music. On today’s episode Michael and Sebastian dissect the Metallica’s closing track on the Hardwired…to self Destruct album….the thrash banger, Spit Out the Bone. We peel back layer after layer of themes and riffs to get to the metallic core of this tune about succumbing to technology and turning into a machine. Join us on th…
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Join Michael and Sebastian as they Deep dive the Metallica classic Sad But True. We dig into the lyrics and song composition. We also discuss seeing the song live, the guitar solo and some interesting facts about the song. - The lyrics of "Sad But True" reflect feelings of paranoia, angst and self-doubt. The line "I'm your truth, telling lies" can …
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Michael and Sebastian tackle what some consider the undeniable greatest song that Metallica has every recorded, Master of Puppets. Take a ride with us as we explore the rise and fall of the music, lyrics and themes of addiction as the song echo’s feelings of euphoria and despair, elation and depression. Obey your master. https://apps.apple.com/ca/a…
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“You insist that the weight of the world should be on your shoulders.” Michael and Sebastian chat about one of the most melancholy songs that Metallica had ever put out, My Friend of Misery. Join us as we break down what it is and what it could have been. Facebook search: mandatory music email: mandatorymusicshow@gmail.com We would love to hear fro…
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We talk about the second track on Metallica's debut album, Kill Em All. Released when the band was twenty years old and already showing massive signs of mature and complex writing and musical composition. Join us as we discuss the thematic riffs and lyrics of this biblical masterpiece. We would love to hear from you!! Send us a text Mandatory Music…
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Michael and Sebastian tackle the controversial first single release from the Metallica's Load album, Until It Sleeps. We discuss Metallica's new sound, look and try to unpack the band's new trajectory into their musical sound. Thank you for listening!! We appreciate the support. We would love to hear from you!! Send us a text Mandatory Music is pro…
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Mike and Sebastian break down Metallica's iconic song One. We dig deep into the lyrics, song composition and the imagery from their first ever music video. We also stroll down memory lane reflecting on our experiences seeing the song live. Thank you for listening!! we really appreciate the support Email: mandatorymusicshow@gmail.com Follow on Faceb…
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Mike and Sebastian introduce themselves and talk a little music and what's to come in the future. We cover the format of the podcast which is to deep dive specific songs from 1 band for a 14 episode season. 7 songs for Sebastian and 7 songs for Mike. Season 1 we will be talking all things Metallica!! We would love to hear from you!! Send us a text …
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