Welcome to the third and final part of our Black Sabbath expedition with Rick Bruce from Moonshine Docks and formerly of Coffin Mulch! We dive deep into the tumultuous yet fascinating journey of Sabbath's later years and the cap it off by discussing the often-maligned 'Never Say Die' album. From Ozzy Osbourne's erratic behaviour and his temporary exit, to Sabbath's experimentation with new soundscapes and their revolving door of members throughout the 80s and 90, nothing is off limits. We've got a few hilarious and poignant anecdotes, tackle critical reviews, and even compare Sabbath's work to culinary experiences. Tune in for a spirited debate about one of rock's most controversial albums and find out if 'Never Say Die' deserves its spot in the rock pantheon or the bargain bin.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:05 Black Sabbath Expedition Begins
01:08 Diverging Opinions on Black Sabbath's Evolution
01:41 Ozzy's Departure and Band Dynamics
03:03 Ronnie James Dio Era
10:21 Heaven and Hell Album Discussion
19:44 Mob Rules Album Insights
22:42 Born Again and Beyond
33:40 Headless Cross Era: A Stodgy Comeback
34:47 The Tony Martin Reappraisal
35:31 Tear and Headless Cross: A New Sound
38:57 Dehumanizer: The 80s Band Reunites
43:38 Cross Purposes and the Grunge Era
49:32 Forbidden: The Misstep
56:55 Never Say Die: The Final Ozzy Album
01:12:34 Nosey and the 70s Sound
01:12:50 Sabbath's Unique Riffs and Drumming
01:13:16 Influences and Inspirations
01:14:17 Critiques and Musical Textures
01:15:30 Hard Road and Vocal Performances
01:16:49 Medieval Covers and Side 2
01:19:23 Shockwave and Air Dance
01:24:08 Over to You and Breakout
01:27:04 Swingin' the Chain and Album Conclusion
01:35:14 Final Thoughts and Reflections

Well now. It turns out that 19 albums (technically 20 if you include Heaven & Hell's only album, The Devil You Know) is rather a lot. So our two parter has become a three parter. Whoops.

But we tackle their discography with someone who knows the band inside out - Richard Bruce, from the band Moonshine Docks and formerly of Coffin Mulch. His encyclopedic knowledge of the band stands us in very good stead as we go about the business of talking about the band and their albums in detail.

In this episode we chat about the band's history and then dive into all the Ozzy records, essentially covering all of the band's 1970s output. It's a pretty fascinating journey, and we really enjoyed getting to grips with the "classic" Sabbath material.

Next week - Dio, Gillian, Hughes and Martin all come to the Sabbath party.

Reaction to Aron interview = 13:05
Lyrical duties = 19:29
Ozzy solo charade and cutting folk out of credits = 20:09
the Beatles influence and pre mobile phone tours = 29:26
KIss is the American Slade = 34:27
West Midlands hard music and WC blokes plus G Harrison = 36:55
BUying the wrong Sabbath record = 40:46
Were Sabbath actually very satanic? Crowley, Witchfinder, Devil Rides out = 49:03
Naive lyrics and nursery rhymes = 57:04
Master of Reality defines stoner and doom = 58:16

It's 2025 and we're starting the year off with a bang. Regular fans will know that we always start the year off with a big artist, and there's very few metal bands bigger than Black Sabbath.

This week and next we'll be chatting all about them. Episode one is an in-depth interview with Aron Ward, son of Black Sabbath's original drummer, Bill Ward. Aron discusses his eclectic musical journey, influenced heavily by his father but also carved by his own diverse tastes. He talks about his own projects, such as Olanza, Harpoon, and Repoman, and his approach to DIY music production. Aron provides personal anecdotes from his childhood, touring with Black Sabbath, and learning the harsh realities of the music industry. He also shares his thoughts on various Sabbath albums and his dad's impact on his music career. Tune in for a fascinating chat filled with music history, personal stories, and candid insights.

NEXT WEEK we're bringing in ANOTHER guest to talk about the band, and focus on the record Never Say Die.

00:00 Welcome and Introduction
00:08 Meet Aron Ward
01:46 Aron's Musical Journey
03:22 Growing Up with Black Sabbath
04:35 Influence of Black Sabbath
16:13 DIY Ethos and Industry Insights
20:13 Memories and Reflections
23:56 Favorite Albums and Musical Preferences
26:33 Interviewing Ian McKay: A Shared Experience
26:54 Heaven and Hell: A New Kind of Metal
27:29 Living in Bel Air: Ozzy's Absence
29:50 The Dio Era: A Divisive Time
32:25 Technical Ecstasy: A Beatles Influence
33:56 Never Say Die: A Confusing Time
39:07 The Influence of Sabbath on Modern Bands
45:03 Final Thoughts and Personal Projects

After touching briefly on it in our Finland episode last week, this week we dive headlong into the discography of disorienting and electrifying world of the Finnish band, Oranssi Pazuzu. Known for their unique blend of black metal, psychedelia, krautrock, and electronica, Oranssi Pazuzu have pushed musical boundaries with their immersive and genre-defying style. We break down their discography, contemplate the terrifying beauty of their sound, and revel in the menacing brilliance of their 2020 album, 'Mestarin kynsi'. Expect insights into their influences, a bit of playful banter, and why their music is like a bad trip brilliantly gone wrong. Buckle up, it’s a wild ride!

07:58 Episode 1 recap
09:16 Oranssi Pazuzu intro
12:53 Influences & Comparisons
20:14 10 Influences As Chosen By The Band
29:27 Discography: Muukalainen Puhuu & Kosmonument
38:26 Discography: Valonielu & Värähtelijä
59:58 Discography: Muuntautuja
66:57 Mestarin Kynsi

This week we dive headfirst into the land of heavy metal, Finland. In what originally started off as an episode on the Oranssi Pazuzu album Mestearin Kynsi, we quickly realised that we had a two parter on our hands. So this week, we're using Oranssi Pazuzu as a lens through which to view the Finnish music scene. In the episode, we take a detour through the history and culture of Finland, exploring why this country has the highest ratio of metal bands per capita. We also touch on notable Finnish acts, quirky cultural elements, and the unique musical environment of Tampere. Expect insight, humour, and a bit of chaos as we unpack what's behind Finland's intense love affair with metal.

00:00 Welcome
01:10 Introducing the Topic: Finnish Metal
02:00 The Finnish Music Scene and Culture
05:43 Patreon and Community Announcements
08:49 Deep Dive into Oranssi Pazuzu
20:36 A Brief History of Finland
26:22 Finnish Traditions and Unique Sports
26:58 Famous Finnish Music and Artists
32:21 The Influence of Metal in Finnish Culture
35:03 Doom Metal and Its Finnish Roots
43:26 The Finnish Music Industry and Government Support
54:22 Tampere's Psychedelic Black Metal Scene
01:00:01 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode we explore the eclectic stylings of the band Karate. We break down their shift from post-hardcore roots to embracing jazz influences, focusing on the standout album 'In Place of Real Insight.' And we get there, in the usual fashion, by chatting extensively about their back catalogue. We also theorise that perhaps Karate fans may have split into two camps when they moved the focus almost exclusively to jazz. Our weekly Nexus challenge takes us from Karate to the late John Prescott through a convoluted but fascinating path involving jazz, punk rock, and the peace symbol. Expect deep musical analysis, unexpected links, and a few laughs.

Karate background: 08:05
Chris' Theory on Karate fans: 15:13
Early discography and eponymous debut: 19:18
Bed is in the Ocean, Unsolved & the journey to jazzcore: 29:53
Some Boots & Pockets: 41:20
595 & Make It Fit: 48:20
In Place Of Real Insight: 53:28
Summing up the album: 75:51
The John Prescott Nexus: 80:36

This week our pal Jan Alkema, drummer of the bands The Drum/China Drum and Compulsion returns. This time here's here to discuss the story of Compulsion. We cover the band's history, its ups and downs, and some behind-the-scenes stories. We hear about Jan's journey from joining The Amazing Colossal Men to Compulsion's battle with record labels, relentless touring, and eventual disbandment. Along the way, Jan drops some memorable anecdotes, including a run-in with Dave Grohl, a misadventure with Cradle of Filth, and plenty of backstage dramas. It's a helluva a ride, a candid real and entertaining look at a band that never quite got its due.

9:27 - Compulsion History and Formation
21:20 - The Amazing Colossal Men & in court with Virgin
29:24 - A fresh start and London
34:25 - The early EPs
39:49 - Touring, Elektra and Comforter
48:14 - Demostikon
50:34 - Timings, genres and peers
01:02:11 - The arrival of Britrock
01:06:21 - The Future is Medium
01:12:11 - The beginning of the end
01:17:08 - After the band
01:22:56 - Reissues
01:24:59 - Late trivia and gossip

In this episode, we take a journey back to the 80s to explore Device's only album, '22B3', the choice of this week's guest co-host, our antipodean based pal, Crag!

We delve into the album's rich synth-pop-rock sound and discuss why it remains an underrated gem. The key member of this act is the overlooked, yet all time great pop rock songwriter Holly Knight. She was the mastermind behind many iconic hits from the likes of Tina Turner, Bonnie Tyler, Heart and penned songs for Kiss, Bon Jovi, Cheap Trick, Meatloaf and so many more. On 22b3, she takes centre stage and we use this episode to investigate her influential yet often overlooked contributions.

As we go through each track, we highlight the distinctive 80s production techniques, unique sounds, and memorable melodies. Crag shares insights into the equipment used and provides some industry context, which makes for a fascinating deep dive into 80s music culture. From discussing the album's standout tracks like 'Hanging on a Heart Attack' to exploring the various musical influences and collaborations, this episode is packed with intriguing details and anecdotes.

We also connect the album to wider music histories and trends, giving listeners a thorough understanding of its place in music lore. As always, we wrap up with our Nexus, this time linking Device to Debbie McGee in a surprisingly twisted route through music and pop culture history. If you're a fan of 80s music, keen on unsung musical heroes, or simply love a good musical anecdote, this episode is a nostalgic treat you won't want to miss.
00:00 Introduction and Greetings
01:26 Listener Suggestions and Album Selection
02:56 Patreon and Membership Perks
05:25 Political Commentary and Americana
09:29 Album Discussion: Device - 22B3
16:49 Holly Knight's Career and Contributions
38:13 Paul Engeman and the Band's Background
47:37 Introduction to Marauder and George Tukto
47:52 Technical Credits and Chart Performance
48:33 Musical Equipment and 80s Sound
50:08 Diving into the Tracks
50:43 Track Analysis: Hanging on a Heart Attack
54:43 Track Analysis: Who Says
57:05 Track Analysis: Pieces on the Ground
58:50 Track Analysis: Tough and Tender
01:01:24 Track Analysis: When Love is Good
01:03:39 Track Analysis: Didn't I Read You Right
01:06:04 Track Analysis: Fall Apart, Golden Heart
01:09:10 Track Analysis: I've Got No Room for Your Love
01:11:42 Track Analysis: Who's on the Line
01:14:11 Track Analysis: Sandstone, Cobwebs and Dust
01:16:44 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
01:24:21 Nexus Segment: From Device to Debbie McGee
01:32:20 Closing Remarks and Upcoming Guests