LONELIER THAN GOD

Today I’m talking with guitarist & producer KURT BALLOU — a true luminary of the heavy music scene, on both sides of the mixing board. In 1990, he co-founded the pioneering metalcore band CONVERGE, whose 11th studio album, LOVE IS NOT ENOUGH, arrives on February 13.Kurt also owns & operates GOD CITY STUDIO in Salem, MA, where he records, engineers, produces, & mixes a breathtaking array of bands. He’s given an instantly recognizable mix of grit & clarity to scores of landmark punk, metal, & hardcore records, including LPs by his own band, as well as Cave In, Isis, Pg. 99, Torche, Trap Them, Russian Circles, & many more. In this episode, we discuss the mechanics of track sequencing, the alien geometry of sound capture, & the dreamy rhythms of deep time.****https://godcitystudio.com****https://www.godcityinstruments.com****TIMESTAMPS:02:19 // "Love is Not Enough" (Converge)03:27 // Album Leaks06:52 // New LP & Track Sequencing 12:09 // Studio Geometry16:01 // ‘90s Boston Rock Scene21:22 // Hearing HUM / “Stars” on the Radio27:34: "Isle of the Cheetah" Discussion01:00:38 // "Eagles Become Vultures" (Converge)[Misc: Karate, "This Plus Slow Song"]****Support the show!****

Today’s conversation is with TIM DOW, one of my all-time favorite drummers. He’s played in and/or toured with SHINER, YEAR OF THE RABBIT, SEASON TO RISK, THE JOY CIRCUIT, ON, VAE VICTIS, & more. He was in Shiner from 1993 to ‘98, & drummed on their early landmark records, SPLAY & LULA DIVINIA, as well as on their first 6 EPs. Both LPs have since been remixed & remastered, & then reissued in 2024 on SPARTAN RECORDS. After leaving Shiner, he played in a couple of early 2000s L.A. bands with Failure’s Ken Andrews: first the pop-leaning electronic project ON, then the heavier rock band Year of the Rabbit. He & his Y.O.T.R. bandmates, Jeff Garber & Sol Snyder, then tracked & self-released their first & only studio record, so far, called EP 1. He’s also done studio session work for Pete Yorn, Abandoned Pools, Jonny Polonsky, & others. In this episode, we talk about ‘90s recording styles, the web of alt-rock riff tropes, & the revved-up release of thunderous drumming.****TIM'S DRUM DISCOG (Streaming)****"Iron Clad Lou" Video****TIMESTAMPS:02:34 // "Brooks" (Shiner)07:10 // Pre-Shiner Recordings12:23 // Shiner & Indie Production19:47 // Riff Drumming22:43 // "Sailor's Fate" (Shiner)26:12 // "My Life as a Housewife" (Shiner)32:22 // '90s Drumming Influences33:18 // L.A., Ken Andrews, & Year of the Rabbit39:12 // "Absent Stars" (Y.O.T.R.)41:59 // The Joy Circuit44:32 // "X's" (T.J.C.)45:48 // Pete Yorn Sessions48:42 // "Undercover" (P.Y.)49:42 // HUM's E2K Tape56:34 // "Iron Clad Lou" Discussion01:26:13 // "Sideways" (Shiner)****Support the show!****

Sat down today with KEITH M., singer & guitarist of the Brooklyn post-hardcore/screamo band MEMORY ENTRY. Earlier this year, they released their 5-song debut EP, Our World is Going to Disappear, on IODINE RECORDINGS, & they’ve got new stuff on the way. Link below.Since 2020, Keith has hosted THE NEW SCENE PODCAST, which released its 300th episode a few weeks back. He’s done wide-ranging interviews with members of Quicksand, the Jesus Lizard, Jawbox, Melvins, Seaweed, & many others, as well as with friends of this pod, Chris Enriquez from Spotlights & Josh Brigham from Hopesfall.In this episode, we do a recent gig round-up, discuss the revealing language of dreams, & explore the chilly vastness of the arctic soundscape.****TIMESTAMPS:02:17 // "Lost Dreams" (Memory Entry)03:19 // Shiner + Ink & Dagger Shows09:59 // Memory Entry: Influences & Origins13:21 // Dream Logics19:22 // The New Scene Podcast26:41 // Hearing HUM32:46 // "The Inuit Promise" Discussion1:07:36 // "Holler Wild Rose" (Memory Entry)****Support the show!****

Today I’m joined by DEREK NIEDRINGHAUS & LYLE HODGES, who were both involved, in different ways, in the making of Centaur's debut album, In Streams.Derek plays bass in Centaur, & does art design for the band, including the iconic & oddly soothing Gaudí-inspired In Streams cover. He also plays bass in CASTOR, who just re-released their discography in remixed & remastered form as a vinyl set called Moving Backgrounds, on Earth Analog Records. He previously made music in Sarge, the Big Bright Lights, & National Skyline, among others.Lyle was a studio assistant, tape op, & White Russian maker during the recording of In Streams. He's also been in many bands himself, including Amphibian, Tractor Kings, The Mezzanines (NYC edition), & he currently performs in ELECTRIC STALLION & CHROME CHRIST. He runs Twin Radar Records as well.In this episode, we talk about Centaur’s hazy origins, the precarious ecosystem of the recording process, & the healing flows of pure volume.****https://matttalbott.bandcamp.com/album/in-streams****https://castorindierock.bandcamp.com/album/moving-backgrounds****TIMESTAMPS:02:34 // "Fields" (Centaur)04:58 // Hearing & Seeing HUM13:51 // Centaur Origins16:55 // Recording In Streams26:35 // Working with Keith Cleversley37:30 // Release Date41:29 // In Streams Artwork50:28 // Sonics & Atmosphere53:18 // "Placencia"59:06 // The Champaign Sound & Writing Lyrics01:04:58 // In Streams Themes01:11:29 // "Life Begins"01:18:58 // "The Same Place"01:34:31 // "In Streams"01:45:14 // Cover Songs01:47:29 // "Strangers On 5"****Support the show!****

Today I’m joined by SCOTT KIMBLE & DON KING from the Champaign, Illinois band TERMINUS VICTOR. Their most recent album, EVERENDING, came out in 2023, & was tracked by Matt Talbott @ Earth Analog. It’s textured, it’s heavy, a little sludgy, a little spacey; it’s awesome from front to back. Highly, highly recommended. Link in the show notes. Before T-Vic & its predecessor HUSHTOWER, Scott played in Little Black Spiders, Wicked Walls, & the Falbonauts, & Don played in Social Imaginary & Bristle. We make a couple references here to a previous conversation the guys had with Sven from the Champaign is Also a Band podcast, in which they go deep into the fan-favorite song “This Isn’t Real.” Link below.In this episode, we talk about early ‘90s gig-watching, the power in restraint, & the importance of keeping things “noily.” ****T-VIC BANDCAMP****"This Isn't Real" Discussion (C.I.A.A.B.)****”In the Den” (2/24/18)****TIMESTAMPS:02:22 // "Stress in the Midwest" (T.V.)03:38 // The Blind Pig09:42 // Early T-Vic Shows14:04 // "Taking the Advantage" (T.V.)15:20 // From Duo to Trio18:28 // Everending LP24:07 // Recording @ Earth Analog27:57 // Songwriting for Everending30:59 // "To the Very End" (T.V.)37:59 // "This Isn't Real" (T.V.)40:02 // Hearing & Seeing HUM46:24 // Inlet52:19 // "In the Den" Discussion01:28:11 // "Here Comes Everything" (T.V.)****Support the show!****

Joining me today from Scotland is GEOFF EVANS, an admin for the fan-driven HUM Reddit & Facebook groups.With over 13,000 members between them, these pages have helped keep the band in the public consciousness for decades, & they're both reliable sources of news, discussion, & music recommendations. In this episode, we talk about the joy of the live experience, wearing your fandom on your sleeve (literally), & the parallel universes of unreleased music.****REDDIT // FACEBOOK****"Inklings" Versions:Chicago, IL // 2010Austin, TX // 2011Chicago, IL // 2011Charlotte, NC // 2015Gainesville, FL // 2017****MISSION CONTROL****DRAGONFLY DESCENDING****TIMESTAMPS:02:26 // HUM Tattoo04:53 // Hearing & Seeing the Band07:42 // Fan Socials15:28 // "Inklings" Discussion****Support the show!****