Dig Me Out: 70s & 80s Metal

Dig Me Out
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J, Chip, and Tim dig into the heavy rock and metal that defined two decades—from Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin’s pioneering riffs to Mötley Crüe’s sonic excess, the unsung heroes, and the stories behind it all. One album at a time. Let’s relive the magic. www.digmeoutpodcast.com

  1. 9H AGO

    Before You Replay Master of Puppets, Hear This

    When an Australian thrash band that never broke big in the U.S. gets compared to early Metallica, Slayer, and Maiden in the same breath, you know you’ve stumbled onto something special. This episode dives into Mortal Sin’s 1986 debut Mayhemic Destruction—a ferocious, drum‑heavy, DIY thrash record from Sydney that plays like a missing puzzle piece in 80s metal history. Across the conversation, the hosts unpack how Mortal Sin emerged out of Australia’s pub‑rock and Buffalo‑style heavy scene into a faster, more aggressive sound after drummer Wayne Campbell discovered Metallica through tape‑trading in 1984. They trace the band’s rapid rise from self‑funded studio upstarts to landing a global deal, touring with Metallica, Megadeth, and Testament, and struggling with that classic “too big for pubs, too small for arenas” problem back home. Along the way, they dig into the band’s revolving‑door lineup, eerie mystery around the original drummer’s disappearance, and the evolution of Mortal Sin’s sound across later records. Musically, the episode zeroes in on what makes Mayhemic Destruction such a compelling outlier in 80s thrash. The drums and low end dominate the mix in a way that completely inverts the American template, forcing listeners to dig for the guitars and exposing a strange, rewarding hybrid of thrash, New Wave of British Heavy Metal, power metal, Motörhead grit, and proto‑death‑metal experiments on the title track. There’s plenty of love for the riffs, time‑changes, and dark modal choices in songs like “The Curse” and “Lebanon,” but also honest criticism of the limited, Hetfield‑ish vocal approach and the odd sequencing choices that bury some of the strongest material in the back half. If you’re into 80s thrash metal, early Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax, Testament, NWOBHM, or obscure Australian metal bands that never quite got their due, this deep dive into Mortal Sin and Mayhemic Destruction is absolutely in your wheelhouse. It’s a conversation about more than one album—it’s about how geography, timing, and weird production decisions can turn a record into a cult artifact waiting to be rediscovered. Episode Highlights 0:00 – Mayhem from Sydney – Setting up Mortal Sin, Mayhemic Destruction, and why this Australian thrash debut matters in the 80s metal landscape. 5:05 – Battle jackets and logos – Gavin’s origin story with Mortal Sin via patches, Kerrang! mags, and why some bands lived as imagery long before you ever heard a note. 7:00 – Band history and lineup chaos – From Sydney origins and early rehearsals with Lino to global deals, tours with Metallica and Megadeth, and constant guitar player turnover. 12:05 – DIY Mega Metal and Hetfield’s stamp – Recording at 301 Studios, self‑releasing the album, mailing it out like a zine, and landing James Hetfield’s 1986 endorsement. 17:20 – “The Curse” – How the opening riffing, harmonics, and dissonant second‑guitar lines signal that Mortal Sin aren’t just copying Bay Area thrash. 22:30 – Drum mix from another planet – Why the massive, low‑end‑heavy drum sound flips the usual thrash hierarchy and changes how you hear the riffs and groove. 24:50 – “Lebanon” – Dark, almost Slayer‑like scales, Dokken/Mr. Scary vibes, and how this track becomes a standout for mood and melody. 25:30 – Thrash without a ballad – The near‑total absence of slow songs, the fake‑out intro of “Liar,” and what that says about the band’s commitment to speed and aggression. 30:15 – Honest strengths and weak spots – Praise for the riffs and rhythm section, plus a candid look at the limited vocals, buried mixes, and backward‑feeling sequencing. 35:25 – Album art, demons, and Sydney in ruins – The Dungeons & Dragons‑style cover, nuked‑city imagery, and why this screamed “Tipper Gore nightmare” in the 80s. 35:30 – “Mayhemic Destruction” (title track) – Proto‑death‑metal vocals and blast beats a year before Death’s Scream Bloody Gore, and why burying it as the closer was a smart move. 40:30 – Live vs. studio – What the 20th anniversary live tracks reveal about the band’s true sound compared to the unique, drum‑heavy studio mix.[ 45:00 – Final verdict – Is Mayhemic Destruction a worthy album, a decent single, or a lost cult gem in the Australian thrash canon? Love uncovering 80s metal obscurities and lost thrash gems? Hit subscribe, leave us a review, and share this episode with a fellow metal nerd who still remembers drawing band logos on grocery‑bag book covers. Dive deeper into archives, polls, and bonus content at digmeoutpodcast.com and join the Union to vote on future episodes at dmounion.com. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.digmeoutpodcast.com/subscribe

    1h 7m

  2. FEB 3

    Agitation Free: The Album Nobody Remembers (But Tangerine Dream Does)

    Ever heard of a band that traveled to Egypt on a Goethe Institute tour, recorded street sounds in Cairo bazaars, then came home to Berlin and created one of the most mind-bending krautrock albums of the ’70s? This week, we’re digging into Malesch by Agitation Free—a 1972 experimental masterpiece that won our listener poll despite none of us having ever heard it before. This is pure discovery territory. In this episode, we explore how a Berlin rock band named themselves after playing a free show, lost their drummer to Tangerine Dream, then embarked on a two-week Middle Eastern tour that changed everything. Armed with field recorders and cutting-edge EMS Synthi A synthesizers, Agitation Free created an album that sounds simultaneously prehistoric and futuristic—cosmic krautrock fused with Egyptian street recordings, primal percussion, and space-age electronics. We discuss what makes Malesch so challenging yet compelling: the lack of traditional song structures, the subtle integration of Middle Eastern influences without clichés, the innovative use of early synth technology, and why this album works better as immersive background music than active listening. Is this metal? Barely. Is it original? Absolutely. Does it connect to modern bands like Blood Incantation? More than you’d think. If you love Tangerine Dream, Can, Cluster, early Pink Floyd, Grateful Dead jams, or experimental krautrock that defies easy categorization, this episode is for you. Episode Highlights 0:00 – Intro & Poll Results – How an obscure 1972 krautrock album beat out Humble Pie for our January 70s poll 4:32 – Band History – From “Agitation” to “Agitation Free” and the Tangerine Dream connection 6:10 – The Middle East Tour – Goethe Institute sponsorship, field recordings in Egypt, Lebanon, Cyprus, and Greece 9:21 – “You Play For Us Today” – Opening the album with phrases captured from a Middle East Airlines pilot 13:17 – What Works – Atmospheric mood-setting, early synth innovation, and why this sounds like nothing else from 1972 19:00 – “Pulse” – The buzzing, bee-like synthesizer showcase that’s both annoying and mesmerizing 21:10 – Krautrock Context – How German post-war youth created experimental music that influenced decades of rock 22:26 – The Blood Incantation Connection – Modern death metal’s surprising embrace of ambient krautrock 24:03 – The Jandek Tangent – Why Malesch is challenging but not that challenging 28:05 – What Doesn’t Work – Fragmented structure, lack of consistent grooves, and the “convincing metalheads this is metal” challenge 30:39 – “Malesch” – The eight-minute title track that’s the album’s most mesmerizing moment 34:01 – Final Ratings – Worthy Album vs. Decent Single debate 37:40 – Band Legacy – Still active in 2023, Christopher Franke’s Tangerine Dream career, and the Vertigo swirl label collectibility Join the Metal Union! Become a Patreon member at digmeoutpodcast.com to vote on future albums, access bonus episodes, and join our private Discord community. Visit dmounion.com to keep the metal ad-free and make the next episode happen. Explore more 70s and 80s metal deep cuts, forgotten krautrock gems, and underrated progressive rock classics. Subscribe wherever you get podcasts and follow us for weekly episodes covering everything from Humble Pie to Agitation Free—the albums you know and the ones you’ve never heard of. #AgitationFree #Malesch #Krautrock #GermanRock #1970sRock #ExperimentalRock #ProgRock #TangerineDream #VertigoRecords #DigMeOut #MetalPodcast #70sMetal #KrautrockClassics #PsychedelicRock #EMSSynthiA #MiddleEasternRock #CultClassics #ObscureAlbums This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.digmeoutpodcast.com/subscribe

    41 min
  3. Nothing But a Good Time… or Cold War Therapy?

    JAN 20

    Nothing But a Good Time… or Cold War Therapy?

    What if the “dumb party metal” you grew up with turned out to be one of the sharpest mirrors of 1980s America? In this episode of Dig Me Out: 80s Metal, we sit down with author, professor, and 80s tribute-band guitarist Jesse Kavadlo to talk about his new book Rock of Pages: The Literary Tradition of 1980s Heavy Metal and why those songs about girls, demons, and good times were actually wrestling with nuclear fear, censorship, and what it meant to grow up under the Cold War. Jesse walks us through how 80s metal lyrics connect to classic literature, from Def Leppard reimagining Genesis and Paradise Lost to Metallica and Ozzy Osbourne grappling with existential dread, addiction, and the possibility of global annihilation. We dig into the PMRC hearings and satanic panic, the way MTV videos turned escapism into literal chains and magic portals, and how Stranger Things surprisingly nails the mix of danger and freedom that metal kids actually felt in the 80s. Along the way, we talk subculture vs. streaming-era playlists, why Dio and Iron Maiden might be the true heirs of Romantic poetry, and how heavy metal may have nudged the Cold War toward its end at the Moscow Music Peace Festival. If you care about 80s heavy metal, the MTV era, or just love thinking about how songs work under the hood, this episode is for you. Fans of Iron Maiden, Metallica, Ozzy Osbourne, Van Halen, Mötley Crüe, Poison, Bon Jovi, Dio, and even Steel Panther’s parody universe will hear this music in a new way. And if you’re into how culture and politics collide in sound—think the way punk, hip-hop, or grunge carried the anxieties of their eras—you’ll find a lot to chew on here too. Episode Highlights 0:00 – Intro / Setting the stage How Jesse went from Brooklyn club stages and opening for Danger Danger to a PhD in literature and an 80s tribute band in St. Louis, and why 80s metal still gets written off as “by and for dummies” while Dylan and Kendrick win major literary prizes. 5:12 – Are 80s metal lyrics actually literature? Cassette liner notes, goofy rhymes, and serious themes: Jesse breaks down how synecdoche, personification, metaphor, and symbolism show up in songs by Def Leppard, Metallica, and Twisted Sister. 12:45 – PMRC, Tipper Gore, and the fight over teenage imagination We revisit the 1985 PMRC hearings, Dee Snider’s testimony, and why “Under the Blade” and “Suicide Solution” say more about adult panic than teen corruption. 20:30 – Cold War metal: Bon Jovi to Nuclear Assault How videos like Bon Jovi’s “Runaway” and songs by Metallica, Ozzy, Megadeth, and Nuclear Assault carried nuclear anxiety, class conflict, and apocalyptic dread beneath all the hairspray. 28:10 – Escapism, fantasy, and why Dio matters From Dungeons & Dragons to Iron Maiden and Dio, we explore metal’s love of magic, fantasy, and portals as a deeply human response to a world that often felt unlivable. 36:40 – MTV, chains, and the magic door We unpack the visual language of 80s metal videos: breaking out of asylums and prisons, falling through mirrors, and what it meant to “escape to the concert” once metal hit the mainstream. 45:05 – Outsiders selling millions of records Why metal fans still felt like misfits even as the music dominated MTV, and how that outsider identity overlaps with the way readers and writers see themselves. 52:30 – Van Halen, class struggle, and 1984 From “Running with the Devil” and “Jump” to “Hot for Teacher,” we look at David Lee Roth’s working-class storytelling, school-as-prison imagery, and the eerie resonance of naming an album 1984 in the synth-drenched futureshock of the mid-80s. 1:01:10 – Cowboys, Road Warriors, and the end of the world How metal videos borrowed from Escape from New York, The Road Warrior, and cowboy mythology to build a visual language of lawless survival and American ruggedness. 1:09:45 – W.A.S.P., Nine Inch Nails, and moving the line What it means that W.A.S.P.’s “Animal (F*** Like a Beast)” got pulled from shelves while “Closer” became a critical darling, and how censorship lines shifted from the 80s to the 90s. 1:18:20 – White Lion, Living Colour, and the politics hiding in band names We get into White Lion’s unexpected political conscience, the uncomfortable optics of Pride, and how Living Colour wore their politics more explicitly. 1:25:40 – How to listen differently after Rock of Pages Jesse explains how he hopes readers (and listeners) revisit 80s metal: with streaming open, videos queued up, and an ear tuned to metaphor, context, and the way these songs helped kids survive their era. 1:33:50 – What’s next and where to find the book Jesse hints at possible 90s projects and shares where to find Rock of Pages through Bloomsbury, indie bookstores, and the usual suspects. If this conversation makes you want to pull your old cassettes out of the box (or at least re-open your 80s metal playlist), don’t stop here. Dive into the full archive of 70s & 80s metal episodes, history-of-the-band deep dives, and mixtapes at digmeoutpodcast.com. Join the DMO Union for bonus episodes, new release reviews, polls, and our private Discord community at dmounion.com. Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with the friend who still swears 80s metal was “just for fun.” Let’s prove, once and for all, that the music that raised us was doing a lot more than just partying. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.digmeoutpodcast.com/subscribe

    1h 10m

  4. JAN 6

    46% of Our Community Voted for This Leafhound Album—Here’s Why They Were Right

    What if Led Zeppelin had a long-lost twin that nobody remembers? In this episode of Dig Me Out, we unearth Leafhound’s 1971 proto-metal masterpiece Growers of Mushroom—an album that had all the ingredients for greatness but somehow slipped through the cracks of rock history . With a Robert Plant-caliber vocalist, Jimmy Page-inspired guitar tones, and riffs heavy enough to rival Black Sabbath, Leafhound created one of the most compelling “what if?” stories in early 70s heavy rock . Born from the remains of Black Cat Bones—the band that spawned Free’s Paul Kossoff and Simon Kirk, plus Foghat’s Rod Price—Leafhound emerged with vocalist Peter French and a sound that captured the raw, blues-drenched fury of the era . Released on Decca Records in 1971, Growers of Mushroom represents that crucial moment when heavy rock was still finding itself, experimenting with psychedelic tangents, folk influences, and proto-metal darkness before the genre lines were drawn . In this deep dive, hosts Jason, Tim, and Chip explore why this album works so well sonically while examining its fatal flaw: great performances without truly memorable songs . We discuss the album’s massive guitar tones, the Plant-inspired vocal howls, and those adventurous moments where Leafhound breaks from the Zeppelin/Sabbath template to explore jazzy, psychedelic, and Southern rock territories . From the buzzing intensity of “Freelance Fiend” to the eight-minute odyssey of “Work My Body,” this is an album that demands attention—even if it never quite delivers the knockout punch . If you love Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Mountain, Cactus, Atomic Rooster, or Deep Purple, this episode is essential listening. We’re diving deep into the Heavy 70s—that glorious era of custom vans, tinted sunglasses, and amps cranked to the point of speaker destruction . Episode Highlights 0:00 – Intro & “Freelance Fiend” Overview of Leafhound’s place in 1971 heavy rock, the band’s origins in Black Cat Bones, and why this album won our December 70s Rock poll with 46% of the vote . 2:15 – The Album Poll Results Breaking down the four albums in contention: Armageddon (1975), Leafhound’s Growers of Mushroom (1971), Bloodrock (1970), and Toad (1971), plus community reactions from our Metal Union members . 6:45 – Band History: From Black Cat Bones to Leafhound How Paul Kossoff and Simon Kirk left to form Free, Rod Price departed for Foghat, and vocalist Peter French assembled a new lineup that would record two albums before dissolving . 13:30 – What Works: The Led Zeppelin DNA Analyzing the lead singer/lead guitarist dynamic, the Plant-inspired vocal howls, the Leslie West guitar tones, and that stripped-down 70s performance-based intensity . 15:25 – “Freelance Fiend” The album’s killer opening track with its razor-sharp buzz, cowbell, and Mountain-style riffing . 18:05 – “Drown My Life in Fear” The album’s standout moment—a bass-driven, Sabbath-influenced doom track with slide guitar textures and Robert Plant-caliber vocals . 22:47 – The Zeppelin Comparisons Why this album sounds like the Creed to Led Zeppelin’s Pearl Jam—familiar DNA, different execution . 24:30 – “Work My Body” An eight-minute journey featuring jazzy blues guitars, multiple structural shifts, and an unexpected organ-driven finale that recalls Deep Purple . 29:00 – “With A Minute to Go” Breaking down the song’s direct lift of the cadence from Led Zeppelin’s “What Is and What Should Never Be” . 35:59 – What Doesn’t Work: The Missing Hooks Honest conversation about why great guitar tones and performances aren’t enough without memorable choruses and compelling songwriting . 40:15 – “Stray” & The Sabbath Influence How Leafhound shifts between Zeppelin-inspired blues rock and Black Sabbath’s minor-key doom throughout the album . 44:00 – Recording & Production Discussing those massive, fuzzy 70s guitar tones—how they achieved speaker distortion, fuzz pedals, and that buzzing quality unique to early heavy rock . 53:22 – The Aftermath: What Happened Next Peter French’s move to Atomic Rooster and Cactus, the band’s 2004 reunion, and the 2022 expanded reissue of Growers of Mushroom . 58:10 – “Growers of Mushroom” The album’s trippy, psychedelic title track that evokes the Amboy Dukes and late-60s acid rock . 1:02:00 – Final Verdict & Album Rankings Where Growers of Mushroom stands among other 70s heavy rock discoveries, and whether this album deserves cult classic status or remains a well-executed footnote . Join the Conversation Love discovering forgotten heavy rock? Subscribe to Dig Me Out and join the Metal Union at digmeoutpodcast.com to vote on future albums, access bonus episodes, and connect with our private Discord community . Keep the show ad-free and help us uncover more Heavy 70s gems by becoming a Patreon member at dmounion.com . Got a 70s deep cut we need to cover? Drop us a suggestion—we’re always hunting for the next Leafhound . This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.digmeoutpodcast.com/subscribe

    54 min

  5. 12/20/2025

    Is Living Colour’s Vivid the Most Underrated Guitar Album of the 80s?

    Living Colour’s Vivid: When Rock Refused to Play by the Rules What happens when a jazz-trained guitar virtuoso teams up with a Broadway-bound singer, adds Mick Jagger as producer, and sets out to demolish the color lines that 1980s radio had drawn around rock music? You get Vivid, Living Colour’s 1988 debut that kicked down every door with “Cult of Personality” and then refused to play by anyone’s rules. This is an album that proved Black musicians could dominate every corner of rock, from shredding metal to funk grooves to social commentary. It reached number six on the Billboard 200, sold two million copies, and launched a Grammy-winning single that still sounds ahead of its time. If you love the genre-blending creativity of Fishbone, the fearless experimentation of Prince, or the socially conscious hard rock of Rage Against the Machine, this episode explores an essential album that changed what rock could be. Vivid isn’t just a great debut album. It’s the story of the Black Rock Coalition, Vernon Reid’s grassroots movement to challenge the segregation creeping into New York’s rock venues and radio stations. At a time when rock stations stopped playing James Brown next to the Rolling Stones, Living Colour asked: why? They answered with an album that opened for the Rolling Stones’ Steel Wheels tour, appeared on Headbangers Ball, and influenced everyone from Tom Morello to the entire alt-metal movement of the ’90s. Episode Highlights 0:00 – Intro The final community-voted album of 2025. Vivid wins with 62% of the Patreon vote. 3:30 – Personal Connections Chip shares his 1989 encounter with Living Colour at a Cleveland record store, where Corey Glover spontaneously sang a song about his date. 12:00 – Album Facts Released May 2, 1988. Produced by Ed Stasium and Mick Jagger. Features Chuck D and Flavor Flav on “Funny Vibe.” Charted globally and appears on every major “greatest metal albums” list. 21:00 – Vernon Reid’s Guitar Mastery Jay explores Reid’s creative dominance as guitarist and primary songwriter. His riff writing sounds more like the ’90s than 1988, and nearly every melodic hook is guitar-driven. 32:00 – The Black Rock Coalition Vernon Reid’s mission to fight radio segregation and get Black rock musicians back into venues and onto rock radio. 38:00 – The Beatles as Inspiration The band intentionally created a diverse, non-cohesive album that could work at any party for any crowd, from metal fans to funk lovers. 50:00 – Genre Debates: Metal or Not? Who cares? The album won metal awards and hosted Headbangers Ball, but more importantly, it used heavy riffs to expose listeners to funk, R&B, and social commentary they wouldn’t have heard otherwise. 1:03:00 – “Cult of Personality” Deep analysis of one of rock’s most iconic opening tracks and why it set an impossible standard. 1:08:00 – “I Want to Know” and “Open Letter (To a Landlord)” How the album moves from poppy hooks to six-minute epics that shift between R&B, funk, and aggressive rock. 1:22:00 – “Memories Can’t Wait” The Talking Heads cover that provides breathing room and showcases smart song selection. 1:35:00 – Production Issues The reverb-heavy ‘80s drums that sometimes work against the band’s raw creativity. 1:55:00 – Vernon Reid’s Influence Tom Morello’s clear debt to Reid’s unconventional guitar techniques and willingness to let the instrument do unexpected things. 2:07:00 – Social Commentary Living Colour sang about gentrification and displacement when most metal bands were singing about nothing heavier than Saturday night. 2:28:00 – Final Ratings The crew debates production, diversity, and nostalgic attachment. Join the Metal Union Subscribe at digmeoutpodcast.com and join the Metal Union at dmounion.com to vote on future albums, unlock bonus episodes, and join our private Discord community where real music discussions happen every day. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.digmeoutpodcast.com/subscribe

    1h 2m

  6. 12/07/2025

    Motörhead’s Ace of Spades: The Bar Band That Accidentally Redefined Heavy

    Motörhead - Ace of Spades: The Bar Band That Redefined Metal (Whether They Liked It Or Not) What happens when you salvage a beaten‑up classic from the graveyard? You discover why Motörhead’s Ace of Spades remains one of the most influential rock albums of all time—even if Lemmy himself refused to call it metal. Recorded in six weeks during the summer of 1980 and unleashed that October, Ace of Spades is 36 minutes of raw, boogie‑infused rock and roll cranked up to 11. On this episode of Dig Me Out: 80s Metal, hosts Jason Ziad, Tim Minneci, and Chip Midnight resurrect this second‑chance poll winner to explore why this album sounds like nothing else—and why that matters. The classic lineup of Lemmy Kilmister, “Fast” Eddie Clarke, and Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor weren’t trying to invent metal. They were channeling Chuck Berry, ZZ Top, and Thin Lizzy through a blown amp, adding a danceable swing that inspired everyone from Metallica and Slayer to The Hellacopters and New Bomb Turks. This is the sound of a band that knew exactly what they did well and executed it with surgical precision—even when they got sick of playing “Ace of Spades” every night. If you love early Van Halen, AC/DC, the Ramones, or the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, this episode is for you. We break down how Lemmy’s voice became the second guitar, why Eddie Clarke’s playing is criminally underrated, and what it means when an album charts everywhere from Sweden to Greece but barely makes a dent in the U.S. Episode Highlights 00:00 – Intro: Why this listener‑suggested album almost didn’t happen 01:38 – The “second chance poll” rescue mission and how Testament won the first round 05:42 – Chip’s legendary three‑question interview with Lemmy (spoiler: he left to “freshen his drink”) 10:09 – Album history: recorded August–September 1980, produced by Vic Maile (Hendrix, Zeppelin, Clapton) 14:25 – Lemmy’s time in Hawkwind, The Damned, and as Jimi Hendrix’s roadie 17:29 – (We Are) The Road Crew – Why Lemmy’s tribute to roadies still makes crew members cry 18:20 – The “Ace of Spades” legend: Why Lemmy sang “eight of spades” for years and nobody noticed 19:02 – What Works: Jay breaks down the 70s swing, boogie‑rock energy, and danceable aggression 25:14 – Fast and Loose – The ZZ Top‑meets‑Motörhead shuffle that proves this is rock and roll 27:07 – How Motörhead influenced thrash, punk, and 90s action rock (Hellacopters, New Bomb Turks) 31:54 – The Chase Is Better Than the Catch – The Van Halen‑inspired riff that almost wasn’t 34:18 – Eddie Clarke’s guitar genius: Why “Fast” Eddie is the secret weapon of this album 37:58 – What Doesn’t Work: Aged lyrics, formulaic moments, and why Lemmy’s voice is an acquired taste 42:34 – Why fade‑outs are the album’s worst decision 48:53 – Final Verdicts: Worthy Album, Better EP, or Decent Single? 55:37 – Gavin Reed gets credit for suggesting this album (and arguing with Jay about whether it’s metal) Keep the Conversation Going This album came back from the dead because a listener like you suggested it. What record deserves a second chance? What forgotten classic or underrated gem should we dig out next? Join the Metal Union at digmeoutpodcast.com suggest and vote on future albums. Paid subscribers get access to bonus episodes covering 70s rock, 80s metal, and 2000s rock, plus new release reviews and our private Discord community where the debates never stop. Pick an album and join us on the podcast at dmounion.com. For Jason, Chip, and Tim—thanks for digging with us. We’ll see you next time on Dig Me Out: 80s Metal. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.digmeoutpodcast.com/subscribe

    56 min

  7. 11/22/2025

    What If Queensrÿche Only Made This One Record?

    Before Operation: Mindcrime, there was this. Queensrÿche’s 1984 debut The Warning is the album that almost didn’t happen—at least not the way the band intended. While they were touring Japan, EMI executives remixed and completely rearranged their progressive metal masterpiece without permission, burying the band’s weirdest, most ambitious material deeper in the tracklist. But even with corporate interference, The Warning stands as a pivotal moment in metal history: a Seattle band crafting something that sounded like nothing else in 1984, blending Iron Maiden gallops with Genesis-level prog complexity and Jeff Tate’s otherworldly operatic vocals. In this episode, we break down why this debut matters—not just as a stepping stone to Mindcrime and Empire, but as a document of a band discovering their identity in real time. We debate whether it’s a hidden gem or a rough draft, explore the label drama that reshaped the album’s sequence, and dive into the tracks that reveal Queensrÿche’s DNA: from the Maiden-esque power of “Deliverance” to the robotic sci-fi weirdness of “NM 156.” This is Double-A ball before the majors—you can see the talent, hear the potential, and witness five musicians isolated in Seattle creating something that would change progressive metal forever. If you love Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Fates Warning, or Dream Theater, this episode is for you. Episode Highlights 0:00 – Intro: Poll results and how The Warning won the Metal Union vote 5:23 – Album context: Queensrÿche in 1984—Seattle isolation and the progressive metal blueprint 12:45 – “Deliverance” – The opening track that wasn’t supposed to open the album 18:32 – The EMI remix controversy: How the label rearranged the album while the band toured Japan 24:15 – “NM 156” – The weird, jazzy, robotic prog odyssey that terrified record executives 31:40 – Jeff Tate’s voice at 24: Operatic range, theatrical character work, and why he’s more than just “metal Bruce Dickinson” 38:50 – “Take Hold of the Flame” – The anthem that hints at Operation: Mindcrime 44:20 – Geography matters: Why being in Seattle (not L.A.) saved this band from breaking up 51:10 – “Road to Madness” – Epic ambition or forced prog? Debating the 10-minute closer 58:30 – The verdict: EP, worthy album, or rough draft? The hosts cast their votes 1:03:15 – What comes next: Rage for Order, Mindcrime, and the evolution into metal immortality Join the Conversation This album won because you voted for it. Now it’s your turn again—what 80s metal album should we break down next? Head to digmeoutpodcast.com to join the Metal Union, vote on future episodes, access bonus content, and join our private Discord community. Keep the show ad-free and help us dig deeper at dmounion.com. Subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen to podcasts. Got a deep cut we need to cover? Drop your suggestions in the comments or hit us up on social media. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.digmeoutpodcast.com/subscribe

    55 min

  8. 11/14/2025

    Pluto (1971): From Record Bin Oddity to Cult Classic

    Ever wondered why some killer 70s rock albums slipped through history’s cracks? This week, Dig Me Out listeners unearth Pluto’s self-titled 1971 LP—an overlooked slab of psychedelic hard rock, boogie vibes, and vintage cosmic groove. Join us as we dig up the story of the London band with festival creds, a jaw-dropping album cover, and a sound that’s part Blue Öyster Cult, part proto-metal pioneers, but all obscurity. Pluto wasn’t a household name, but they were closer to the big leagues than you’d think: opening for Thin Lizzy and T. Rex, dropping a record with colored vinyl (ultra-rare for the era!), and chasing UK stardom with ace basslines and fuzzed-out guitars. In this episode, we debate the lost art of 70s rock vocals, the magic of live-in-the-room dynamics, and why some racks collect dust while others become classics. If you’re into Deep Purple, Blue Öyster Cult, early Rush, or chasing forgotten bands through dusty record bins, this is your episode. Episode Highlights 0:00 – Theme & Intro – Welcome to the 70s Rock spotlight; how Pluto edged out Trapeze, Julian’s Treatment, and Dr. Z in the October poll 7:30 – Band Origins & Album History – London roots, the Foundations connection, gigging with scene legends, and a wild album art backstory 15:20 – The Sound of the Era – Acid rock vs. proto-metal: where Pluto lands, and why categories were still blurry in ‘71 22:45 – “She’s Innocent” – Acoustic/electric interplay and why this track defines Pluto’s subtle power 27:10 – B-Side Deep Dive – From “Beauty Queen” to “Mr. Westwood”: the grooves, the jams, and the dream of finding this record for $8 33:50 – “Ragabone Joe” – The oddball campfire sing-along that splits the hosts—endearing or skippable? 39:00 – Better Album, EP, or Single? – The ultimate verdict: trimming, sequencing, and fantasy resurrections with a killer vocalist Ready to keep the needle moving? Subscribe, tell your friends, and dig even deeper with us at digmeoutpodcast.com and dmounion.com. Suggest the next lost classic for our polls, join our Discord, and fuel our record hunts across decades. Let’s keep unearthing rock’s forgotten gems—together! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.digmeoutpodcast.com/subscribe

    56 min
See All (53)

5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

J, Chip, and Tim dig into the heavy rock and metal that defined two decades—from Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin’s pioneering riffs to Mötley Crüe’s sonic excess, the unsung heroes, and the stories behind it all. One album at a time. Let’s relive the magic. www.digmeoutpodcast.com

Information

  • Channel
    Dig Me Out
  • Creator
    Beyond the hits—exploring the albums, bands, and moments that shaped the heavy 70s & 80s metal
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    53
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © J Dziak
  • Show Website
    Dig Me Out: 70s & 80s Metal

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