It's just me! I'm talking about the Metallica 40th anniversary celebration, the cover songs released by Metallica post-Garage Inc., filling the Speak N' Destroy audience in on some of what I've been up to the past few months, and the new interviews arriving in 2022!

RIVERS OF NIHIL guitarist Brody Uttley was born in 1991, the year the Black Album was released. He talks about the musical journey that led to his tech-death metal band and production work, with an emphasis on the crucial role of Metallica in his life LISTEN HERE.

THE ACACIA STRAIN guitarist talks Metallica. This guy has his wife's name tattooed on him in the Metallica logo font. A super fun episode. LISTEN.

BYZANTINE vocalist/guitarist Chris "OJ" Ojeda and bassist Ryan Postlethwait talk discovering Metallica; the failure of old-school tab books; high school talent shows; winning a pair of Lars Ulrich's drum sticks in a MetClub contest; meeting the band in a VIP experience; the Metallica monitor mix; each of the Metallica albums; and the story of the "Quarantine Jam" version of "Shortest Straw" featuring OJ, Phil Demmel (ex-Machine Head), Chris Kael (Five Finger Death Punch), and Speak N' Destroy veterans Mike Portnoy (ex-Dream Theater) and Doc Coyle (Bad Wolves). LISTEN HERE.

AMENRA / OATHBREAKER guitarist Lennart Bossu counts Ride the Lightning among the five heavy albums that changed his life. The Belgian musician ranks the Metallica catalog, talks about meeting Kirk Hammett, his favorite riffs, seeing the band live, the spiritual side of post-doom collective Amenra, and more. LISTEN HERE.

ALLUVIAL guitarist Wes Hauch has plenty to say about Metallica. This is a deep dive conversation covering the band's different eras, puzzling and unique tuning choices, and the importance of certain opinions in the fan ecosystem. He even puts on his guitar and explains something by playing a bit of Metallica during the conversation. Hauch's guitar resume includes stints with The Faceless, Black Crown Initiate, and Thy Art Is Murder. Listen HERE.

Guns N' Roses & Metallica! The incredible co-headlining tour, filled with cancelations, a death-defying pyro accident, a riot, the ego ramp, debauchery, and so much more. It's the 30th anniversary of the Black Album this year and a perfect time to revisit 1992's infamous Guns N' Roses/Metallica tour. Andrew Carter and Eric German return to share memories about the gigs. Andrew is ex-Deputy Editor for Terrorizer Magazine, a former band manager, and a longtime attorney in the film business. Eric, part of the major label lawsuits against Napster back in the day, represents huge rock acts, including Five Finger Death Punch, AWOLNATION, Bad Wolves, and Ice Nine Kills. LISTEN.

PATREON EXCLUSIVE! A never-before-heard interview with J.D. Cronise of The Sword, taken from Downey's interview archives. In this chat, we take a deep dive into the band's 2015 album, High Country, and talk about stoner rock, genre restrictions, and yes, a bit of Metallica! Grab it at Patreon.com/SpeakNDestroy

LACUNA COIL singer Cristina Scabbia on the impact of the Black Album, covering Metallica songs with an orchestra, the origin story behind Lacuna Coil, and much more. LISTEN HERE.

TWISTED SISTER frontman Dee Snider once declared Metallica had "a lot of heart, but they’re never going to go anywhere.” In this fun and spirited conversation, Dee reflects on Twisted Sister's feuds with Manowar, Hanoi Rocks, Mr. Mister, and the PMRC; how Metallica ended up headlining over Twisted Sister in Holland in 1984; the role of Kirk Hammett in the Bay Area thrash scene; the importance of Dave Mustaine in early Metallica; the move he borrowed from Sammy Curr in the movie Trick Or Treat; singing “Metal Militia”; the PMRC hearings; Pee-Wee Herman; and more. LISTEN HERE.

WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM drummer and cofounder is talented, intellectual, spiritual, and a consummate Metallica fan. We talk about the band's influence on Aaron and his brother, Nathan; Lars Ulrich behind-the-kit and behind-the-scenes; plotting epic-length songs; and more. Speak N' Destroy podcast theme by Scott Mellinger. Visit the Speak N' Destroy socials and listen to episodes HERE.

PATREON BONUS EPISODE! A brief but engaging and fun chat with Kirk Hammett from my interview archives, recorded in 2012 at a unique event: the Obey Your Master art exhibit opening party in Los Angeles, featuring work by several artists, all inspired by Metallica songs. In attendance at the event were all four members of Metallica, Rick Rubin, Bob Rock, Flea, Bob Lefsetz, Tony Alva (co-owner of Exhibit A Gallery), and members of Slipknot.

BAD WOLVES guitarist Doc Coyle becomes our first three-peat guest! This episode collects highlights from the Speak N' Destroy live takeover of the Knotfest Twitch channel. Downey and Doc talk Black Album box set, Metallica Blacklist, cover songs, movie posters, Twitch streaming, and more. Doc knows a little something about covers: the Bad Wolves version of alt-rock hit "Zombie," by The Cranberries, went platinum, and he's part of The Wedding Band, alongside Kirk Hammett, Robert Trujillo, Whitfield Crane, and Joey Castillo.

BOKASSA frontman Jørn Kaarstad shares the behind-the-scenes story of Metallica's support, including the 2019 Worldwired Tour. "Bokassa are incredibly good. The songs they write, their whole energy and vibe is such a breath of fresh air. When I heard their music, they blew my head off." - Lars Ulrich. LISTEN: linktr.ee/speakndestroy

DARKEST HOUR guitarist Mike Schleibaum talks Metallica! LISTEN: linktr.ee/speakndestroy

EVILE began as a Metallica tribute band! Frontman Ol Drake talks all things Metallica. LISTEN: linktr.ee/speakndestroy

After she wore a Ride the Lightning shirt on TikTok, ZARIA silenced commenters who challenged her to “name a few Metallica songs” by PLAYING METALLICA on guitar. LISTEN to her story: linktr.ee/speakndestroy

BONUS EPISODE! Serj Tankian, from Downey's interview archives. System Of A Down, solo work, the 2012 election, predictions for the future of streaming, and more. Patreon bonus episodes also include archive chats with D. Randall Blythe, Glenn Danzig & Kirk Hammett. patreon.com/speakndestroy

FEAR FACTORY guitarist, cofounder, and band leader Dino Cazares on his upbringing; discovering Metallica; the righthand of James Hetfield; touring with Metallica in 2010; making sandwiches for Dave Mustaine in the early 80s; getting Fear Factory music to Tom Araya in a brick of weed; the history of his band, the search for a new singer, and how Metallica shaped the Fear Factory sound.

HJELVIK. The former singer for KVELERTAK now leads his own band, HJELVIK. He talks about discovering Metallica and heavy metal; growing up in a small Norwegian village, pop. 1000, where he listened to Slipknot while milking cows; meeting James Hetfield at a Kvelertak show; touring with Metallica for eight months; and much more.