Best Vox&hops Podcasts (2025)

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Stockholm syndrome: Why we can't resist Swedish pop (ft. Zara Larsson) 43:29

Play Pause

3d ago43:29

43:29

How does a country of 10 million people dominate the global pop charts? From ABBA's Eurovision breakthrough to Max Martin's methodical hit-making, Sweden has quietly engineered a kind of musical Stockholm Syndrome: we've all become captives to their sound without realizing it. Listen to the crystalline vocal production and deceptively simple chord …

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The music theory behind K Pop Demon Hunters' chart dominance 42:26

8d ago42:26

42:26

It's time. Nate and Charlie break down the K Pop Demonhunters soundtrack to uncover the musical secrets behind its unprecedented success. From West Side Story to Gregorian chant, Phrygian modes to musical theater clichés, we 'll explain why you can't stop listening to the sounds of Huntr/x and Saja Boys. Songs Discussed Huntr/x - How It's Done, Gol…

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The architecture of the album with Djo (Joe Keery live at NYU) 55:11

11d ago55:11

55:11

Halfway through the opening track of Joe Keery's The Crux, a line emerges that sounds like casual conversation: "My dog is at my house again, but I live somewhere else." The song refuses to settle into predictable pop architecture, drifting from whispered confession to baroque strings that recall Pachelbel more than indie rock. Recorded live at NYU…

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Finneas and Ashe want you to start a band 52:09

17d ago52:09

52:09

Everyone should be in a band at some point—and Finneas and Ashe prove why. The Grammy-winning producer and rising singer-songwriter discuss how their friendship evolved into The Favors, a new band debuting their album The Dream on September 19th, 2025. We explore what it means to create as a band, how stepping back from confessional songwriting fre…

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Fleetwood Mac's Missing Link Album Returns After 50 Years 54:25

23d ago54:25

54:25

Fleetwood Mac has had a phenomenal resurgence in recent years, from TikTok viral fame to Broadway plays and streaming TV series inspired by the band. Their growing fandom among a new generation has created demand for the long out-of-print album Buckingham Nicks, the 1973 album by Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks recorded before they joined Fleet…

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The classical rebel who infiltrated pop music 51:35

1M ago51:35

51:35

You've heard those shimmering disco strings in Miley Cyrus's "Flowers," the cinematic arrangements on Phoebe Bridgers' Punisher, and the orchestral flourishes across Taylor Swift's catalog, but you probably didn't know they're all the work of one person: Rob Moose. The violinist and multi-instrumentalist has contributed to nearly 1,000 albums, quie…

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All roads lead to Pharrell: Tyler, Clipse, and Cardi 52:36

1M ago52:36

52:36

The conversation around the new music this summer has been a dour one. Some of the biggest songs in the country right now are downtempo stomp-clap anthems and wistful Cranberries pastiche. Even on this very show, Nate and Charlie have asked: where's the fun? As it turns out, the party (as always) is happening in hip-hop, led by a formidable influen…

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A brief history of terrible lyrics (with Sam Sanders) 43:05

1M ago43:05

43:05

Why do bad lyrics happen to good people? From "suckin' on a chili dog" to "making love to his tonic and gin," even the biggest hits from our favorite artists can feature lyrical turns that make us feel quizzical, offended, or even downright nauseated. With the help of Sam Sanders, brilliant host of The Sam Sanders Show, we plumb the depths of the w…

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Summer Bummer (with Commotion’s Elamin Abdelmahmoud) 37:01

2M ago37:01

37:01

Every music critic seems to agree: 2025 has no true song of summer. Last August, Teddy Swims’s “Lose Control” dominated the charts. This year…Teddy Swims’s “Lose Control” dominates the charts. What’s going on? Why is there no new summer song to unite us in collective listening, and will there ever be again? Elamin Abdelmahmoud, host of the CBC’s da…

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Justin Bieber's Lo-fi Bedroom Swag 43:51

2M ago43:51

43:51

Justin Bieber is back with his seventh studio album: the aptly-titled SWAG. The lo-fi, reverb-laden record is a remarkably candid look inside the world of Bieber, using the palette of both underground pop and 90's R&B to accentuate lyrics about his wife, his struggles, and his "standing on business." Notably, it's his first album post-split with ma…

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How podcasting got its sound ft. Breakmaster Cylinder 46:19

2M ago46:19

46:19

What if the entire sound of modern podcasting can be traced back to a single Grateful Dead song uploaded in 2001? We uncover the musical lineage that connects NPR's classical gravitas to dubstep wobbles, from the very first RSS feed experiment to the mysterious masked composer who's scored over 200 podcast themes and shaped what millions of people …

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Is that new song you like AI? Here’s how you can tell 49:49

2M ago49:49

49:49

The robots have arrived, and they're making protest songs about boots on the ground. When an AI band called The Velvet Sundown fooled over a million Spotify listeners with their psychedelic folk anthems, it raised an unsettling question: have the machines gotten so good we can no longer hear the difference? Charlie puts Nate to the test with a game…

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The Benson Boone-Doggle 32:20

3M ago32:20

32:20

In which we explore the unlikely rise, and surprising backlash against, one Benson Boone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesBy Vulture

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Can Recession Pop predict the market? 32:08

3M ago32:08

32:08

Why does the economy look great on paper but feel terrible in your wallet? There might be a more revealing economic indicator hiding in your Spotify queue. "Recession Pop" first emerged during the Great Recession and exploded into playlists, radio formats, and DJ sets in 2024. From melancholy indie anthems to escapist dance tracks, the songs we gra…

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How Americana helped mainstream country find its soul 35:22

3M ago35:22

35:22

As we've been examining over the course of Country Week, country music has found a larger audience, in part by widening its sonic palette. For the final episode of this series, we take a look at a genre on the outskirts of country – Americana music – and how it's being used to connect to the scene's musical roots. Historically, Americana has emb…

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Country music is Mexican (Fuerza Regida and Grupo Frontera) 32:35

3M ago32:35

32:35

More often than not, country music is seen as an "American" genre – meaning that the music is seen as strictly from the United States. In some ways, that's true; but the genre's iconography, sound, and ethos can actually be traced to the south of the border, in Mexican regional music. The worlds have been more intertwined than you would think, and …

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The Ballad of Lainey Wilson and Jessie Murph 28:25

3M ago28:25

28:25

There's often an unspoken (and deeply misogynistic) rule on country music radio: never play two female artists back to back. In this episode of Switched On Pop's country week, we aim to do just that. Looking at two artists on opposite ends of the country music spectrum – traditionalist Lainey Wilson, and genre-bending Jessie Murph – Nate and Charli…

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The hick hop renaissance (BigXthaPlug and Bailey Zimmerman) 35:39

3M ago35:39

35:39

One of the biggest country hits of the year has been "All The Way," by Texas rapper BigXthaPlug and country rocker Bailey Zimmerman, which peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song is a perfectly mixed cocktail of trap sonics with country melodies, held together by a shared southern drawl between the two artists. As the genre of "country" exp…

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Is Morgan Wallen the problem with country music? 35:50

3M ago35:50

35:50

Country music stands at a crossroads between tradition and evolution, and no artist embodies this tension better than Morgan Wallen. His song "I'm the Problem" opens with beautiful bluegrass guitar before hitting you with hard-hitting 808 basslines, creating a sonic reflection of country's current identity crisis. Wallen has this uncanny ability to…

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"Manchild" and other songs about male incompetence 29:44

3M ago29:44

29:44

Looking for relationship advice? Skip the self-help books and turn to Sabrina Carpenter's latest single "Manchild" instead. This deep dive into the art of musical insults reveals how pop's newest sensation joins a legendary lineage of women artists who've perfected the craft of calling out incompetent men through song. From Dolly Parton's subversiv…

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Harsh Vocals with Dani Filth of Cradle of Filth 35:32

3M ago35:32

35:32

Dani Filth and I have a conversation about being sober, discovering his voice, the future of Harsh Vocals, "The Screaming of the Valkyries" and so much more. Throughout this chat, Dani drank some coffee while I enjoyed Pitch Black North x Cradle of Filth's "Dark Blood" the English breakfast tea. Photo Credit: @nachtfrostvisuals This is a Heavy MTL …

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Frankly, Sinatra still matters (with Seth MacFarlane) 48:26

4M ago48:26

48:26

What if the Chairman of the Board's biggest contribution to music wasn't his voice, but the blueprint he created for modern pop stardom? Frank Sinatra didn't just sing songs: he invented the concept album, injected his full personality into every performance, and created a template for artistic control that today's biggest stars still follow. His i…

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The End with Matt McGachy 7:22

4M ago7:22

7:22

An announcement about the future of Vox&Hops. Photo Credit: Maciej Pieloch This is a Heavy MTL presents Vox&Hops episode! Heavy MTL is Montreal's premier metal promoter. They host one of North America's best Metal Festivals & present countless amazing events during the rest of the year. I am truly honored & extremely excited to have them involved i…

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Is the future of pop...heavy metal?! 45:59

4M ago45:59

45:59

The UK outfit Sleep Token has done what we once thought impossible: Found commercial success playing heavy metal music in 2025 AD. Their fourth studio album, Even in Arcadia, went to number one on the Billboard 200 upon its release, with all ten of its tracks charting on the Hot 100—this despite the fact that the band has been entirely masked and a…

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Anger and Fury with Frost 58:29

4M ago58:29

58:29

Frost and I have a conversation about his first beers, his first shows, evolving as a drummer and the The 1349 official beers which were brewed in partnership with Haandbryggeriet from Drammen in Norway. Throughout this chat, Frost drank some water while I enjoyed Goose Island's "Bourbon County Stout - 2022" the Imperial Stout aged in Bourbon Barre…

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Charli XCX threw this party 4 us 38:38

4M ago38:38

38:38

Five years ago, Charli XCX released the track "party 4 u," a melancholic ode to throwing a function for that one specific person. Now, in 2025, the song has gotten a renewed life – motivated by a foolproof cocktail of TikTok trends, the Billboard Hot 100, and a post-Brat Summer clamor for Charli. It's rare for pop songs like this to get a second wi…

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808: The drum machine that changed music forever (Twenty Thousand Hertz) 27:48

4M ago27:48

27:48

The 808 is arguably the most iconic drum machine ever made. Even if you’ve never heard of it, you’ve definitely heard it. It’s in dozens of hit songs -- from Usher to Marvin Gaye, Talking Heads to The Beastie Boys -- and its sounds have quietly cemented themselves in the cultural lexicon. In this episode, we try to understand how that happened and …

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Māori Metal with Henry de Jong x Lewis de Jong & Tūranga Morgan-Edmonds of Alien Weaponry 33:26

4M ago33:26

33:26

Henry de Jong x Lewis de Jong & Tūranga Morgan-Edmonds of Alien Weaponry & I have a conversation about their first beers, their new album "Te Rā" & their hangover cures. Throughout this chat I enjoyed Bière Boréale's "Osmose" the 7% NEIPA that was brewed with Nelson Sauvin, Motueka & Citra Hops. This is a Heavy MTL presents Vox&Hops episode! Heavy …

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Chartbreakers: Lorde & Drake reboot, Worship Pop, and the shortest song ever 52:27

4M ago52:27

52:27

What happens when worship anthems climb the charts alongside soul revivals and nostalgia-driven comebacks? The May 2025 Billboard charts reveal a fascinating musical landscape where Drake performs a strategic reset after his epic battle with Kendrick, worship-adjacent pop dominates the mainstream, and The Marias reject conventional song structures …

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Drinking Buddies with Fred Calderon of Carnifex 47:29

4M ago47:29

47:29

Fred Calderon of Carnifex & I have a conversation about the Necromanteum Part II tour, his 1st beers, the soundtrack of his youth, his 1st shows, what is up in the world of Carnifex and his hangover cure. Throughout this chat, Fred drank some coffee while I enjoyed Messorem Bracitorium's "Il Était Une Fois : Il Diavolo" the 4.8% Italian Pilsner. Th…

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‘Sinners’ summons the demons of American music 38:53

5M ago38:53

38:53

We rarely cover movies here at Switched On Pop. But after seeing Ryan Coogler's new vampire musical Sinners, we knew we had to make an exception. The movie is an ode to Black music. Throughout its over two hour runtime, the film pays tribute to the blues: nodding to the musicians, instruments, and melodies that make it a foundational genre in the A…

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Modern Old-School Death Metal with Lord Foul of Civerous 44:43

5M ago44:43

44:43

Lord Foul and I have a conversation about his 1st beers, his 1st shows, discovering his voice, dealing with the follow up stress and his hangover cure. Throughout this chat, Lord Foul drank a Coors Light while I enjoyed Bière Boréale x Microbrasserie Jackalhop.'s "Rizpa" the 6.6% Rice NEIPA with Motueka and Strata Hops. This is a Heavy MTL presents…

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Eurovision feast: Poison Cake, Milkshake Man, and Espresso Macchiato (featuring Tommy Cash) 40:53

5M ago40:53

40:53

It's that time of year again: Eurovision Song Contest is upon us. And with the competition comes a tradition at Switched On Pop, where Charlie and Nate look at the songs (and countries) that have the best odds to take home the title. This year, we have an ode to the sauna, soaring operatics, and a feast of food-themed tunes – including the Estonian…

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Put your headphones on for TikTok's Addison Rae 55:02

5M ago55:02

55:02

Despite TikTok defining this decade's music landscape, the app hasn't spawned a bonafide pop superstar – yet. 24-year-old Addison Rae is trying to be the first. She's already had cosigns from Arca, Charli XCX, and Benny Blanco; critical acclaim from outlets like Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, and Elle; and is cultivating a fervent fanbase with a slew of…

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Liquid Therapy with Jason Greenberg of Emo Night Foufs 40:49

5M ago40:49

40:49

Jason Greenberg of Emo Night Foufs & I have a conversation about how he ended up working in the Montreal music scene, discovering his voice and Emo Night Foufs. Throughout this chat, we drank Mellön Brasserie's "Pivo 11°" the 4.5% Czech Lager. This is a Heavy MTL presents Vox&Hops episode! Heavy MTL is Montreal's premier metal promoter. They host o…

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Generation Taylor: Gracie, Maisie, Phoebe (with Jensen McRae) 1:05:29

5M ago1:05:29

1:05:29

Taylor Swift isn't just a world-conquering pop star at the top of her game, her approach to songwriting has also proven massively influential for an up-and-coming generation of singer-songwriters. Gracie Abrams, Maisie Peters, and Phoebe Bridgers—all of whom opened for Swift during her Eras Tour—each owe a debt to Swift's hyperspecific lyrics, mini…

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Music's New Success Model 46:57

5M ago46:57

46:57

Specialized platforms and social media have empowered musicians to tap into niche audiences, igniting a quiet revolution in the music industry. Despite the dominance of viral hits, a new wave of artists, labels and businesses are redefining success by building dedicated fanbases with focused, niche strategies. This conversation, live from SXSW, fea…

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Miley Cyrus goes avant-garde 38:06

6M ago38:06

38:06

Miley Cyrus just released three singles from her ninth studio album, Something Beautiful. Inspired by Pink Floyd's The Wall—specifically the 1982 feature film based on the album—Cyrus is not just sharing new music but a whole visual album, each song accompanied by a music video shot by director Panos Cosmatos. We last heard from Cyrus in 2023 with …

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Chappell Roan is giving country... and hair metal? 31:33

6M ago31:33

31:33

Why was Chappell Roan's band dressed like an 80s hair metal act during her Grammy performance? The answer unlocks the surprising secret behind her #1 country hit "The Giver." This musical detective story connects glam rock aesthetics to modern country through an unexpected lineage involving AC/DC's producer, Shania Twain's revolution, and men who i…

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The Power of Lyrics with John Kevill of Warbringer 38:29

6M ago38:29

38:29

John Kevill of Warbringer & I have a conversation about our upcoming tour together; the "Infernal Bloodshed Over Europe Tour 2025" & his new album "Wrath And Ruin". Throughout this chat, John drank some water while I enjoyed Bière Boréale's "Regard Sur Prague" the 5% Czech / Bohemian lager. This is a Heavy MTL presents Vox&Hops episode! Heavy MTL i…

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Writing The Who’s ‘My Generation' With Pete Townshend 52:12

6M ago52:12

52:12

The Who's "My Generation" wasn't born from inspiration—it was commissioned. In a rare interview, Pete Townshend reveals how six fans at London's Goldhawk Club in 1965 directly asked him to write an anthem for their post-war generation. This conversation uncovers how a simple request transformed into rock's definitive youth statement, complete with …

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Québec Metal with Christophe Gagné of the QC Metal Comic Book 29:56

6M ago29:56

29:56

Christophe Gagné of the QC Metal Comic Book & I have a conversation about the upcoming QC Metal Comic Book which Cryptopsy is a part of. Throughout this chat, we enjoyed Mellön Brasserie's "C'est Tout, C'est Rien" the 5% Rice Lager. This is a Heavy MTL presents Vox&Hops episode! Heavy MTL is Montreal's premier metal promoter. They host one of North…

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Lady Gaga's Monster Return 53:26

6M ago53:26

53:26

In 2022, Lady Gaga embarked on The Chromatica Ball – a stadium tour featuring a stage that Gaga herself referred to as her "museum of brutality." Three years later, this idea of a brutalist enshrining of all things Monster can come to represent her new studio album MAYHEM. Over the course of fourteen tracks, Gaga is "unafraid to reference or not re…

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Bringing the Light with Scott Hoffman & Avinash Mittur of Nite 36:11

7M ago36:11

36:11

Scott Hoffman & Avinash Mittur of Nite & I have a conversation about their first beers, the soundtrack of their youths, their first shows, "Cult of the Serpent Sun", working with Season of Mist and their hangover cure. Throughout this chat, Avi drank some water and Scott drank Levante Brewing Company's "Birra Di Levante" the 4.9% Czech / Bohemian P…

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How Missy Elliott and Timbaland Freaked the World 36:27

7M ago36:27

36:27

When the song “Get Ur Freak On” hit radio in 2001, it set the world of popular music on fire. Missy Elliott and Timbaland’s first crossover hit sounded nothing like the chart-topping bluesy rock of Aerosmith or Lenny Kravitz, or the smooth R&B of Joe or Jagged Edge. It was a song that compelled you to dance - literally, with Missy issuing repeat co…

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Suffering with Dominic Cifarelli of The Chronicles Of Israfel 1:06:30

7M ago1:06:30

1:06:30

Dominic Cifarelli of The Chronicles Of Israfel & I have a conversation about his 1st beer, living with Celiac disease, the soundtrack of his youth, the rise and fall of Pulse Ultra & the birth and evolution of The Chronicles Of Israfel. Throughout this chat, Dom drank Glutenberg's "Stout" while I enjoyed Brasserie Dieu du Ciel's "Sentinelle" the 5%…

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Playing "Hide and Seek" with Imogen Heap 33:11

7M ago33:11

33:11

It may be hard to believe it in this technology-driven day and age, but one of the most pervasive sounds in popular music came about when a computer STOPPED working. In 2005, artist and innovator Imogen Heap released "Hide and Seek," a mysterious and emotional song featuring just her voice and a digital harmonizer. In this episode, Nate and Reanna …

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Bizarro Fiction with Vince Kramer 52:12

7M ago52:12

52:12

Vince Kramer & I have conversation about his 1st beers, becoming a metalhead, getting into writing, Bizarro Fiction, his new book "Let's Kill God" and his hangover cure. Throughout this chat, Vince drank Wayfinder Beer's "Golden Tiger" the 5.3% Czech Amber Lager while I enjoyed Mellön Brasserie's "La Bohème, La Bohème" the 5% Czech / Bohemianlager …

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The Umbrella Effect: How Rihanna’s Breakout Hit Changed Pop Music Forever 35:24

7M ago35:24

35:24

In 2007, a 19-year-old Barbadian pop singer released the lead single off her third album. By doing so, she didn't just give us a timeless, undeniable banger -- she changed the way pop music is made, and became the global superstar that we know Rihanna to be today. In this episode we go back in time to unearth the origins of "Umbrella," and how the …

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Back to Dirty Death Metal with Jonas Bryssling of Retromorphosis 35:39

7M ago35:39

35:39

Jonas Bryssling of Retromorphosis & I have a conversation about his 1st beers, the soundtrack of his youth, his 1st shows, taking a break from Death Metal, Retromorphosis, collaborating with Season of Mist & so much more. Throughout this chat, Jonas drank some water while I enjoyed Brasserie Dieu du Ciel's "Ça Mon Ami, C’est Une Pinte!" the 5% Blon…