Heavy Metal 101

Wherein Eric briefly introduces the listener to the storied career of Bay Area thrash legends Testament before sitting down to chat with Testament frontman Chuck Billy about their fantastic 2025 album, Para Bellum, and their 2026 US tour, Thrash of the Titans, with Overkill and Destruction.

For more information about Testament visit:
⁠https://www.testamentlegions.com/site/

Suggested Testament songs:
"Over the Wall" from The Legacy (1987) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZkYB81FeDc
"The Ballad" from Practice What You Preach (1989)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJ9-xPIuGs0
"Down for Life" from The Gathering (1999)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIu4yr5mYMc
"More Than Meets the Eye" from The Foundation of Damnation (2008)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09rHDabBQfA
"Brotherhood of the Snake" from Brotherhood of the Snake (2016) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeIgFsU0x4I
"Night of the Witch" from Titans of Creation (2020)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cF2hIrXq2ss

Para Bellum is available either via digital:
https://testament.bandcamp.com/album/para-bellum
or physical media:
https://shop.nuclearblast.com/products/testament-para-bellum?srsltid=AfmBOopKN2P0S13Romq-IpQwncDIXZeWkawfzllbOlHLD-jn-zUbpRwQ

Please do consider joining Heavy Metal 101 at our Patreon page for just $3/month! Not only will you gain access to exclusive content, but you'll also get that sense of pure joy that can only come from supporting the world's wackiest, most insightful heavy metal podcast. Link below:
http://patreon.com/HeavyMetal101

⁠⁠⁠Visit us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/heavymetal101podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠(you can leave us a voicemail if you're so inclined!)

Contact us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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New episodes of Heavy Metal 101 are regularly released monthly on the 3rd Monday of each month. Thanks for listening!

Underscore credits:

Electric Crown 8-bit, trooper888888888888

1924 version: Al Jolson - California, Here I Come (Isham Jones Orch.)

Testament - Over The Wall (8 Bit) pandoozles

Testament - The Ballad (8-bit) slantyrock

Death/Thrash Metal Riffs - Fight Like Hell // Royalty Free No Copyright MusicWhite Bat Audio

"More Than Meets The Eye" - Testament (8-Bit) Manny Jimenez

"Para Bellum" (excerpt) from Para Bellum (2025)
Testament (used with permission courtesy of Testament/Nuclear Blast)

"Meant to Be" (excerpt) from Para Bellum (2025)
Testament (used with permission courtesy of Testament/Nuclear Blast)

Wherein Eric and John unleash their inner chaotic neutral bard and lawful evil cleric and explore the D&D-laced fantasy world of power metal through bands including: Manowar, Helloween, Hammerfall, Stratovarius, Rhapsody, Nightwish, and more!

Click on the links below for all the music listening/video breaks in this episode:

Listening Break #1:
Manowar- "Hail and Kill" from Kings of Metal (1988)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6zOT3IZ90U

Listening break #2: A Helloween choose your own adventure!
A) "Twilight of the Gods" from Keeper of the Seven Keys Pt. 1 (1987)-⁠ ⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qk-FNnMzVAY
B) "I Want Out" from Keeper of the Seven Keys Pt. 2 (1988)- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMhL9NZ0Kdw

Listening break #3: Blind Guardian "Mirror Mirror" from Nightfall in Middle-Earth (1998)- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNGCvI9dpZY

Listening break #4: Rhapsody "Emerald Sword" from Symphony of Enchanted Lands (1998)- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5kLxQGbRYg

Listening break #5: Nightwish "Sacrament of Wilderness" from Oceanborn (1998)- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGEQ-MEOTQs

Please do consider joining us at our Patreon page! Not only will you gain access to exclusive content, but you'll also get that sense of pure joy that can only come from supporting the world's wackiest, most insightful heavy metal podcast. Link below:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ http://patreon.com/HeavyMetal101⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Visit us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/heavymetal101podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠(you can leave us a voicemail if you're so inclined!)

Contact us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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New episodes of Heavy Metal 101 are always released monthly on the 3rd Monday of each month!

Underscore credits:
Free Fantasy Epic Music (For Videos) - "Short But Strong!" by Savfk 🇮🇹 🇬🇧BreakingCopyright
Dragonforce - Through The Fire And Flames (8 Bit)pandoozles
[Free Music] Dark Fantasy "Prepare Thyself" Royalty Free Music Darren Curtis
Adventure | Alexander Nakarada - CreatorChords
Adventure BeyondAlexander Nakarada - CreatorChords
Shinsei Dawn 🎸 Anime Rock | No Copyright Twitch MusicPanda Beats -
Fast POWER METAL-Walls Around You -(Vlog Free Music)Юрій Голобородько
Europe - The Final Countdown - Virtual Marimba CoverMarimbaLab
Rock The Night - Europe - 8Bit8BitUzz
Pacman Melody | Neoclassical Metal | No Copyright Music By WildebasterXWildebasterX
Very emotional classical guitar song by Fernando Sor | Copyright free
Optimistic & Positive (Free Music) - "ABILITY TO REJOY" by Numall Fix 🇷🇺BreakingCopyright
Viking Music - Ivar the BonelessPawl D Beats
Royalty Free // Epic Fantasy Music "Leaving for Valhalla" by Alexander Nakarada
Germany National Anthem (Olympic Version 2012/2016) | Free Copyright for Youtube
Royalty Free Music || Fantasy Tavern Bard D&D Background Music || Drakenhart - Bard TroupeBlackbirdBard Music
Unyielding Flame – Royalty Free Power Metal | Epic, Melodic, Heroic Instrumental MusicRoyalty Free Audio Vault
Epic Neoclassical Metal Instrumental | Shredding Guitar Symphony
Copyright Free Background Music - Neoclassical Metal Instrumental 🎸Anti Vocal
[Free Music] Dark Fantasy "Prepare Thyself" Royalty Free MusicDarren Curtis Music
Symphonic metal royalty free musicAlec Koff Label
Cinematic Fairy Tale Fantasy by Infraction / Fairy TaleInfraction -
Potentiality - E Minor Power Metal Instrumental (NO COPYRIGHT MUSIC)Jared Elejorde
The Star-Spangled Banner (In a minor key)David Knighten
The Fire Within (Power Metal Instrumental) No Copyright : Free MusicWildebasterX
Adventurous Metal Pirates by Alexander Nakarada [Free Music – Metal No Copyright]FM Free Music -

Wherein Eric and John rekindle their friendship whilst exploring the radiant majest of the holiest of holies that was Slayer from 1988-2001.

Click on the links below for all the music listening/video breaks in this episode:

Listening Break #1:
South of Heaven (1988) Choose Your Own Adventure!
A) "South of Heaven" - ⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74nTzbgDGWM
B) "Behind the Crooked Cross- https://youtu.be/uuIAPU6Gpaw?si=LYjyulyZRllYiSYa

Video Break #1: "War Ensemble" from Seasons in the Abyss (1990)- ⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqnC54vbUbU

Listening break #2: "Stain of Mind" from Diabolus in Musica (1998)- ⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0dqYutGrXk

Listening break #3: "Disciple" from God Hates Us All (2001)- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uN8HgHoCuzI

Please do consider joining us at our Patreon page! Not only will you gain access to exclusive content, but you'll also get that sense of pure joy that can only come from supporting the world's wackiest, most insightful heavy metal podcast. Link below:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ http://patreon.com/HeavyMetal101⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Visit us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/heavymetal101podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠(you can leave us a voicemail if you're so inclined!)

Contact us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Social media:
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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/heavymetal101podcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

New episodes of Heavy Metal 101 are always released monthly on the 3rd Monday of each month!

Underscore credits:
[Horror Music No Copyright]Horror Background Music No Copyright - Non Copyrighted Scary MusicPower Music Factory

Atmospheric Doom Metal - ROYALTY FREE [No copyright Music] poweredBYGDK

Seasons In The Abyss [8 Bit Tribute to Slayer] - 8 Bit Universe

Slayer - South Of Heaven (8 bit) Chiptune Planet

'It's In The Fog' by ‪@DarrenCurtisMusic‬ 🇺🇸 | Horror Music (No Copyright) BreakingCopyright — Royalty Free Music

Death/Thrash Metal Riffs - Fight Like Hell // Royalty Free No Copyright MusicWhite Bat Audio

Slayer - Dittohead 8 Bit Version cjs11227

Late Night Talk Show MusicWaderman - Music for Content Creator

Super Team - No Copyright music | NCS | copyright free music | music for youtubeNO COPYRIGHT MUSIC - NCS

Stain of Mind 8-Bit Arcade - Topic

Christian Music (No Copyright) - "Gregorian Chant" by KevinMacLeod 🇺🇸BreakingCopyright — Royalty Free Music

Slayer - Disciple (8bit Version) fisketruten

Wherein Eric celebrates the holiday season by presenting an informal fireside chat discussing some of the best books ever written about heavy metal in a variety of different categories! This episode is being offered on the main podcast feed as a "Patreon Sneak Peek" for non-members. Please consider signing up to the Heavy Metal 101 Patreon page for just $3/month. Members get access to exclusive content (like this!), as well as the satisfaction of supporting our scrappy little podcast.
⁠patreon.com/HeavyMetal101
(note: a list of all discussed books is available on our Patreon page!)

Wherein Eric battles John, at his very most Johnniest, in a doomed effort to convince him that nü metal can actually be pretty damn cool in the hands of practitioners including Korn, Limp Bizkit, Sevendust, System of a Down, Slipknot, and Deftones.

Click on the links below for all the music listening/video breaks in this episode:

Video Break #1: Comparing and contrasting nü metal with groove metal through two iterations of Machinehead-
A) Nü: "From this Day" from The Burning Red (1999)- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJzeJiHHQOY
B) Groove: "Locust" from Unto the Locust (2011)- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxjeqCd6Zm0

Listening* Break #1: Korn "Blind" from Korn (1994)- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGK00Q7xx-s

*The official YouTube links for each of the "listening break" songs are music videos, so feel free to watch or just listen. Whatever floats your boat!

Listening break #2: Limp Bizkit "Break Stuff" from Significant Other (1999)- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpUYjpKg9KY

Listening break #3: Deftones "Change (In the House of Flies)" from White Pony (2000)- ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPpDyIJdasg

Please do consider joining us at our Patreon page! Not only will you gain access to exclusive content, but you'll also get that sense of pure joy that can only come from supporting the world's wackiest, most insightful heavy metal podcast. Link below:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ http://patreon.com/HeavyMetal101⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Visit us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/heavymetal101podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠(you can leave us a voicemail if you're so inclined!)

Contact us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Social media:
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/HeavyMetal101Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/heavy_101⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/heavymetal101podcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

New episodes of Heavy Metal 101 are always released monthly on the 3rd Monday of each month!

Underscore credits:
Royalty Free Nu Metal Instrumental [ music no copyright ]The 8Floors

Colonel Bogey March free music no copyrightFree Music

Stryper - To Hell With The Devil (8-bit)Joseph Adan Angel

Korn - Blind (8-Bit Version)Walrus

Uplifting & Tropical (Free Music) - "JOURNEY" by Roa 🇯🇵BreakingCopyright — Royalty Free Music

Sacred Light - Choir Music Royalty FreeTalekeeper Music - Royalty Free Music for Video

Funk of Steel [Funk Metal Fusion Instrumental] [Royalty-Free]Guitar Soul Purification and Momirko

8-BITS)KORN-ADIDAS(8-BITS)Scooby Doom 8-bit radio

(8-BITS)KORN-FREAK ON A LEASH (8-BITS COVER)Scooby Doom 8-bit radio

Emotional Sad Piano Music | Touch (Download and Royalty FREE)MATTIA CUPELLI

(8-BITS)LIMP BIZKIT-NOOKIE(8-BITS)Scooby Doom 8-bit radio

(No Copyright) Explainer Video Background Music | Medical Science Corporate Music Royalty FreeRealTunesStudio

Limp Bizkit - Faith (8 bit)Chiptune Planet

Limp Bizkit - Break Stuff 8bit- 8Bit Albums By MegaTallica

8-BIT ARCADE - Rumble Fish (8-Bit Sevendust Emulation)8-Bit Arcade - Official

Sugar [8 Bit Tribute to System of a Down] - 8 Bit Universe8 Bit Universe

Wait And Bleed (8-bit) - Slipknot- 8bitQueen11
(8-BITS)DEFTONES-ELITE(8-BITS)Scooby Doom 8-bit radio

(8-BITS)DEFTONES-7 WORDS(8-BITS COVER)Scooby Doom 8-bit radio

(8-BITS)DEFTONES-BACK TO SCHOOL(8-BITS)Scooby Doom 8-bit radio

Royalty Free Sober Sad Music (For Videos) - "Yearning" by Shane Ivers 🇬🇧BreakingCopyright — Royalty Free Music

Royalty Free Music | Classical | Auld Lang Syne | Copyright Free MusicRoyalty Free Music for You