January 2026 - Riffology

Siamese Dream: Unveiling The Smashing Pumpkins’ Vision The Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream - Original Album Art

Siamese Dream: Unveiling The Smashing Pumpkins’ Vision

Neil Johnson 3 January 2026

The Smashing Pumpkins' Siamese Dream, released in 1993, is a pivotal alternative rock album blending grunge's rawness...

Podcast Episodes

Riffology: Iconic Rock Albums Podcast

Remember when payday meant choosing which CD or vinyl you were blowing it on? Standing in HMV doing the mental maths, convincing yourself two albums was basically essential. Riffology is Neil and Chris chasing that feeling again, one classic record at a time.

This is a show about the albums that raised us —
Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Motley Crue, Def Leppard,
Iron Maiden, Megadeth, Pink Floyd, Radiohead,
Skunk Anansie, Gojira, Soulfly and the rest.
If it’s 25+ years old, loud and iconic, we’re in.

Each episode is two Gen X mates diving into studio sessions, producer chaos and band drama plus the joy of taped-over cassettes, dodgy car stereos and sitting on the floor with a record sleeve.

We nerd out when we should: Albini vs Vig, room-miked vs close-miked,
Neve consoles, dynamic-range disasters and those “how did this get approved?” moments.

If you grew up when albums were events, this is your place. Some weeks it’s an old favourite; other weeks it’s something you abandoned in ’94. Either way, Riffology’s here to talk rubbish, tell stories and remind you why these records mattered.

When Evil Disco Becomes a Genre

Hosts: Neil & Chris
Duration: ~96 minutes
Release: 3 January 2025

Episode Description

Static-X’s 1999 debut Wisconsin Death Trip marked a pivotal moment in industrial metal, blending crushing riffs with techno grooves to create what Wayne Static called “evil disco.” Neil dives deep into his personal connection with this record, recounting a hilarious tale of getting a server rack wedged in a bank lift while this album blasted in the background during his IT days.

The album emerged from a band still finding their sound, influenced by Prong and Fear Factory but carving out something distinctly their own. Warner Brothers’ gamble on signing a heavy band in 1999 paid off, with Wisconsin Death Trip eventually going platinum despite the music industry’s struggles with piracy and the Napster era.

What You’ll Hear:

How Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins helped form Static-X and nearly joined the band
The innovative DIY piezoelectric drum trigger system Koichi Fukuda built for recording
Why the band wanted “Wisconsin Death Trip” as their name but the label said it was too long
The album’s origins from a creepy 1973 book about 1890s rural Wisconsin deaths
How producer Ulrich Wilde stepped in when they couldn’t afford Terry Date
The recent reimagined vinyl release featuring never-before-seen studio footage of Wayne

Featured Tracks & Analysis:

Push It dominated rock clubs of the era, while Love Dump showcases the band’s signature ability to shift from staccato Prong-style riffs into hypnotic rhythmic grooves. The closing track December, written during Wayne’s time in Deep Blue Dream with Billy Corgan, feels distinctly different from the rest of the album. The hosts discuss how the album is full of hidden movie samples, from Planet of the Apes to the 1989 film Begotten.

Tangential Gold:

Neil’s catastrophic server rack incident involving a bank lift, hung-over IT workers, and Paradise Lost on repeat
A spirited debate about AI creating rocket engines versus writing ballads
The Justin Hawkins vs Youngblood feud and why they should just do a song together
Chris’s decorating playlist and why Static-X is perfect for mindful painting
The wild west days of 90s IT before change management forms existed

Why This Matters:

Wisconsin Death Trip arrived at a creative peak for rock music, when bands were genuinely innovating rather than being derivative. The hosts explore how this album, recorded in just four weeks, influenced an entire generation and soundtracked countless video games from Duke Nukem to Brutal Legend. It’s a reminder of what happens when musicians experiment without boundaries.

Perfect for: Industrial metal fans, anyone nostalgic for late-90s rock clubs, IT workers with war stories, and listeners who appreciate albums that still sound fresh 25 years later.