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Riffology: Iconic Rock Albums

Uncover the details behind the most iconic albums ever recorded.

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Discovering The New Order: Testament’s Thrash Evolution testament-the_new_order
17 minutes read
  • Album Deep Dive

Discovering The New Order: Testament’s Thrash Evolution

Neil Johnson 15 July 2024 0
Introduction Sometimes, an album does more than capture a moment in timeโ€”it changes the direction of a...
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The Making of High ‘n’ Dry – Def Leppard’s Breakthrough def_leppard-high_'n'_dry
12 minutes read
  • Album Deep Dive

The Making of High ‘n’ Dry – Def Leppard’s Breakthrough

Neil Johnson 12 July 2024 0
Introduction In the annals of rock history, few albums have managed to encapsulate the raw energy and...
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Dookie: Green Day’s Iconic Punk Rock Revolution CoverArt
11 minutes read
  • Album Deep Dive

Dookie: Green Day’s Iconic Punk Rock Revolution

Neil Johnson 8 July 2024 1
Introduction In the pantheon of influential albums, few have left a mark as indelible as Green Day’s...
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Unleashing Power: Pantera’s Vulgar Display Revolution CoverArt
11 minutes read
  • Album Deep Dive

Unleashing Power: Pantera’s Vulgar Display Revolution

Neil Johnson 1 July 2024 0
Introduction In the annals of heavy metal history, few albums have left as indelible a mark as...
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Unpacking OK Computer: Radiohead’s Sonic Revolution CoverArt_Thumb
15 minutes read
  • Album Deep Dive

Unpacking OK Computer: Radiohead’s Sonic Revolution

Neil Johnson 24 June 2024 0
Introduction In the annals of music history, few albums have had as profound an impact as Radiohead’s...
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New Jersey: Bon Jovi’s Unmatched Rock Legacy coverart-1
16 minutes read
  • Album Deep Dive

New Jersey: Bon Jovi’s Unmatched Rock Legacy

Neil Johnson 10 June 2024 1
Introduction When Bon Jovi released New Jersey in September 1988, they were not just following up a...
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From Rebellion to Radio Hits: The Making of Skid Rowโ€™s Debut 0982e79b6c4143a43b32e0959a33d677.1000x1000x1
16 minutes read
  • Album Deep Dive

From Rebellion to Radio Hits: The Making of Skid Rowโ€™s Debut

Neil Johnson 3 June 2024 0
Introduction Some albums donโ€™t just mark a year; they define an era. Skid Rowโ€™s self-titled debut, released...
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Grace by Jeff Buckley: An Enduring Musical Legacy CoverArt
17 minutes read
  • Album Deep Dive

Grace by Jeff Buckley: An Enduring Musical Legacy

Neil Johnson 27 May 2024 0
Introduction Sometimes, an album emerges that shifts the musical landscape, yet its impact only becomes clear years...
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Unveiling Metallica: The Iconic Black Album’s Legacy Metallica (Remastered 2021)
19 minutes read
  • Album Deep Dive

Unveiling Metallica: The Iconic Black Album’s Legacy

Neil Johnson 19 May 2024 2
Released on August 12, 1991, Metallica, known as "The Black Album," transformed Metallica into global rock icons,...
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Podcast Episodes

Riffology: Iconic Rock Albums Podcast
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 โ€”
Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Motley Crue, Def Leppard,
Iron Maiden, Megadeth, Pink Floyd, Radiohead,
Skunk Anansie, Gojira, Soulfly and the rest.
If itโ€™s 25+ years old, loud and iconic, weโ€™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 โ€œhow did this get approved?โ€ moments.

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

RIFF073 – Prong – Cleansing
byRiffology

When the Sound Guy Becomes the Sound

Hosts: Neil & Chris
Duration: ~98 minutes
Release: 15 December 2025

Episode Description

Before Tommy Victor was crafting some of the heaviest riffs in industrial metal, he was the guy behind the mixing desk at CBGB’s, watching the entire New York hardcore scene unfold in front of him. That perspective, that immersion in raw, uncompromising music, would eventually birth Prong and their 1994 masterpiece, Cleansing.

Neil brings one of his all-time favourite albums to the table, an record he owns on every format imaginable. What emerges is a fascinating exploration of a band that bridged thrash, hardcore, and industrial before those crossovers became commonplace. Critically acclaimed yet commercially underappreciated, Cleansing represented Prong at their creative peak, with Tommy Victor deliberately crafting “heavy metal music you could dance to.”

What You’ll Hear:

  • Tommy Victor’s journey from CBGB’s sound engineer to industrial metal pioneer
  • How Killing Joke members Paul Raven and John Bechdel transformed Prong’s sound
  • The battle with Epic Records over producer Terry Date (Pantera, Soundgarden)
  • Why recording in Seattle and mixing at Jimi Hendrix’s Electric Lady Studios mattered
  • The Beavis and Butthead seal of approval and what it meant for the band
  • How Rude Awakening’s failure derailed what could have been metal superstardom

Featured Tracks & Analysis:

The hosts dig into the bone-dry guitar tone that became Prong’s signature, those deceptively simple “caveman riffs” that prove surprisingly difficult to play. Special attention goes to the breakthrough single “Snap Your Fingers Snap Your Neck,” the track that put Prong on MTV and in every rock pub in the land. The combination of programmed and live drums, the weighty yet direct production, and Tommy’s New Order influences all come under scrutiny.

Tangential Gold:

  • Neil’s elaborate car cleaning rituals and dreams of an ASMR snow foam YouTube channel
  • The Silverstone Lap of Lights Christmas experience
  • A deep dive into how tattoo removal actually works (spoiler: violent lasers)
  • The great debate about sitting down for a wee
  • Chinese “violent fans” and AliExpress shopping during recording

Why This Matters:

Cleansing arrived in 1994, years before industrial metal became a commercial force. Prong were doing the heavy-electronic crossover before Korn, before Static X, before the nu-metal explosion made it profitable. This episode reveals how timing, label politics, and one underwhelming follow-up album separated Prong from the stratospheric success their innovation deserved.

Perfect for: Industrial metal enthusiasts, anyone who loves the New York hardcore scene’s history, and listeners who appreciate bands that were ahead of their time.

You can find us here:

  • Blog: https://riffology.co
  • All Episodes: https://podkit.riffology.co/podcast
  • iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1323-riffology-iconic-rock-alb-176865775
  • Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/riffology-iconic-rock-albums-podcast/id1691556696
  • Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1LIU9mein7QMw346q20nyy
  • X: https://x.com/RiffologyPod
  • Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/riffology.co
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/riffology
  • Email: [email protected]

RIFF073 – Prong – Cleansing
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RIFF073 – Prong – Cleansing
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RIFF072 – Suicidal Tendencies – Lights, Camera, Revolution!
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RIFF071 – L7 – Bricks Are Heavy
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RIFF070 – Bush – Sixteen Stone
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RIFF069 – Pixies – Doolittle
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RIFF068 – Hole – Live Through This
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RIFF067 – Tool – Undertow
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RIFF066 – A Perfect Circle – Mer De Noms
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RIFF065 – Deftones – White Pony
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RIFF064 – Anthrax – Sound of White Noise
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