Amplified w/Darby

I spent the weekend listening to a lot of new music and finally had time to really dig into some of this week's releases—including The Pretty Reckless, Truck Violence, Willow Avalon, Beth Orton, and the massive **Metallica **Reload deluxe box set.I also get into the latest music news, including:Whitesnake vinyl reissuesFive Finger Death Punch's new album announcementBring Me the Horizon revisiting their debutJason Newsted's upcoming memoirSocial Distortion's recycled tour merch initiativeDisturbed taking a breakIce Nine Kills, Beck, Joy Division, Children of Bodom, and more.Plus, I share some thoughts on remasters, demos, the future of albums versus singles, and the records I've had on repeat over the past few days.New episodes of Amplified drop every Tuesday and Friday.Follow along on Instagram: @darby.amplified#AmplifiedPodcast #RockMusic #Metallica #ThePrettyReckless #Whitesnake #FiveFingerDeathPunch #BringMeTheHorizon #SocialDistortion #JasonNewsted #NewMusic #HardRock #AlternativeRock #MetalPodcast #MusicDiscovery #RockNews

Metallica's Reload gets the deluxe treatment, and I'm making the case that it deserves a lot more love than it gets. Plus, I'm breaking down one of the strongest new release Fridays we've had in a while with new music from The Pretty Reckless, Butthole Surfers, Muse, Pixies, The Strokes, Willow Avalon, Savatage, Mortiis, Beth Orton, Switchfoot, and more.In music news, we remember legendary music executive Clive Davis, talk about Tesla's 40th anniversary celebration, a massive Smashing Pumpkins tribute album, unreleased Zwan material, new music from Phoebe Bridgers, PJ Harvey, Brandon Flowers, Jim James, Cult of Luna, Russian Circles, and why Turnstile continues to be one of the most exciting bands in rock. I also dive into Deftones, Rival Sons, AC/DC, William Shatner's unexpected metal project, and plenty more.New episodes of Amplified drop every Tuesday and Friday.Follow along on Instagram: @darby.amplified

Ozzy has a giant new statue, KISS is building an avatar show in Vegas, and Shinedown's Brent Smith shared one of the coolest quotes I've heard in a while. I also talk about new music from Beartooth, Starcrawler, Sleep Theory, I Prevail, and Quicksand, the Rolling Stones getting into podcasting, a new Waylon Jennings release, and why I still have no interest in making this show sound perfect. Plus a few records I've been spinning over the last week and the usual detours along the way.New episodes of Amplified every Tuesday and Friday.Follow Amplified:Instagram: @darby.amplifiedTikTok: @darby.amplified

This week on Amplified, I survived an aerial assault from a gang of territorial birds, got stared down by a beaver with a stronger work ethic than most people, and can officially report that the mysterious cowboy carved into a tree on my walking trail is now a full cowboy.On the music side, it's a lighter week for new releases, but there's still plenty to talk about. We get into Godsmack's latest lineup change, Linkin Park making Download Festival history, Bon Jovi's vocal recovery, the upcoming Linkin Park documentary, and why Jack Osbourne should probably stop arguing with people online.Plus:Tesla's first new song in yearsThe Big Four of grunge debateDaughtry's unplugged anniversary tourA couple allegedly getting very adventurous on a Ferris wheel at Download FestivalRadiohead's immersive Kid A experienceWhy the return of Faith No More might be the most exciting rock news of the weekNew episodes every Tuesday and Friday.Follow: @darby.amplified

Jake Diab of Autumn Kings joins me for a special episode of Amplified. We've been trying to make this interview happen for a while, but schedules kept getting in the way. I'm glad we finally found a time to sit down because it was well worth the wait.We talk about the band's rise from the independent scene to signing with Hopeless Records, the work that went into getting there, what drives their songwriting, life on the road, and what's next for the band. Jake was incredibly open about the highs, the challenges, and the mindset that's helped Autumn Kings continue building momentum.If you're already a fan, you'll get some great insight into the band. If you're just discovering them, this is a great place to start.Check out Autumn Kings:• Website: autumnkings.com • Instagram: @autumnkingsband • TikTok: @autumnkings • YouTube: @autumnkings • Spotify: Autumn KingsConnect with Amplified: • Instagram: @darby.amplified • TikTok: @darby.amplified • YouTube: @darby.amplified

This week, a chainsaw artist on a walking trail sparks a conversation about the power of creativity, the importance of art, and the songs that help us through life’s toughest moments. Darby shares a recommendation from the John Butler Trio, talks new music from The Warning and Duane Betts, and dives into the latest headlines from Iron Maiden, Blink-182, Evanescence, A Perfect Circle, Hollywood Undead, My Chemical Romance, and more.Plus: why therapy isn't weakness, the highest-grossing music biopic of all time, AI-generated music detectors, and a reminder that music—and art in all its forms—can make the world a better place.Follow: @darby.amplified on Instagram & TikTok.New episodes every Tuesday and Friday.

Rush is back. Anthrax says they may have written their best song ever. Shinedown has thoughts on AI music. Lamb of God threw out a first pitch. And somehow I ended up at a fancy golf resort listening to Hair Nation all weekend.Also in this episode:Electric Callboy + Dexter HollandMike D’s first solo album since Beastie BoysNew Deep PurpleA new Guitar Hero-style gameTaylor Momsen talking about keeping music humanMe randomly ranting about Utah sports team namesNew episodes every Tuesday and Friday.Instagram & TikTok: @darby.amplified#RockNews #Rush #Anthrax #Shinedown #AmplifiedPodcast #RockPodcast #MusicNews 

This week on Amplified, Darby dives into another stacked New Music Friday with new releases from Converge, Evanescence, Death Cab For Cutie, Evergrey, Voivod, Modest Mouse, The 69 Eyes, and more. Plus: Mastodon release an emotional new song after Brent Hinds’ exit, Weezer announce The Gold Album, Guns N’ Roses’ lost Perfect Crime documentary surfaces online, and Chris Robinson gets booed in Florida after pushing back on a USA chant.Darby also completely loses patience with the claim that Eddie Van Halen “ruined rock guitar,” talks about Roger Daltrey insisting The Who invented heavy metal, and shares stories from seeing Guns N’ Roses on the Use Your Illusion tour.Also in this episode:Autumn Kings interview previewNew Taste of Chaos tour detailsMetallica playing Rammstein in BerlinKiss merch…still somehow expandingGarth Brooks reportedly shopping a $2 billion catalog dealWhy Love Island is impossible to watch comfortablyNew episodes every Tuesday & Friday.Instagram: @darby.amplified TikTok: darby.amplified X: darbyamplifiedTopics: rock news, metal news, new rock releases, Converge, Evanescence, Mastodon, Eddie Van Halen, Guns N Roses, Weezer, Chris Robinson, Black Crowes, Metallica, new albums 2026, hard rock podcast, alternative music news