Riffology: Iconic Rock Albums

Exploring Countdown to Extinction: Megadeth’s Defining Album

Countdown To Extinction (1992 Mix Remaster)

Exploring Countdown to Extinction: Megadeth’s Defining Album

Neil Johnson 24 February 2025

"Countdown to Extinction," released on July 14, 1992, by Megadeth, marked a significant evolution in thrash metal....

Metallica’s Garage Inc.: The Story Behind the Covers Album

Metallica’s Garage Inc.: The Story Behind the Covers Album

Neil Johnson 24 February 2025

Introduction In the landscape of heavy metal, few bands have left as indelible a mark as Metallica....

The Story Behind Who’s Next by The Who 8744_album_art

The Story Behind Who’s Next by The Who

Neil Johnson 24 February 2025

Introduction In 1971, The Who released “Who’s Next,” an album that would solidify their place in rock...

The Making of ‘Somewhere in Time’ – Iron Maiden’s Bold Leap 4765_album_art

The Making of ‘Somewhere in Time’ – Iron Maiden’s Bold Leap

Neil Johnson 24 February 2025

Introduction Iron Maiden’s “Somewhere in Time” stands as a landmark in the band’s illustrious discography. Released on...

From Fleetwood Mac to Nirvana: The Iconic History of Sound City Recording Studio Sound-City-2

From Fleetwood Mac to Nirvana: The Iconic History of Sound City Recording Studio

Neil Johnson 22 February 2025

Early Origins and Founding Sound City Recording Studio, nestled in the heart of Van Nuys, Los Angeles,...

The Making of Hooked – Great White’s Timeless Rock Classic

The Making of Hooked – Great White’s Timeless Rock Classic

Neil Johnson 20 February 2025

Introduction Released on 18 February 1991, Hooked by Great White is a seminal album that captured the...

Exploring the Genius of Led Zeppelin’s Physical Graffiti

Exploring the Genius of Led Zeppelin’s Physical Graffiti

Neil Johnson 20 February 2025

Introduction Led Zeppelin’s Physical Graffiti stands as a monumental achievement in rock history. Released in 1975, this...

The Unlikely Success Story of Metallica

Neil Johnson 16 February 2025

The Definitive History of Metallica: From Inception to 2025 Metallica’s journey from a fledgling band in Los...

Inside Slipknot’s Iowa: A Metal Evolution

Inside Slipknot’s Iowa: A Metal Evolution

Neil Johnson 16 February 2025

Introduction Released on August 28, 2001, Iowa by Slipknot is a pivotal album in the heavy metal...

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 Tuning Your Guitar Became Revolutionary

Hosts: Neil & Chris
Duration: ~80 minutes
Release: 24 November 2025

Episode Description

Neil and Chris tackle L7’s breakthrough 1992 album Bricks Are Heavy, the record that proved you could be authentically punk, unapologetically feminist, and radio-friendly all at once. Between discussions of Butch Vig’s game-changing production advice (tune your guitars, every take, every string) and the band’s refusal to make gender their defining characteristic, the hosts explore how this LA quartet carved out their own space in the grunge landscape without ever quite belonging to Seattle.

What emerges is a portrait of an album that’s aged remarkably well, a record that’s both raw and accessible, spiky and melodic. From the MTV-saturated success of “Pretend We’re Dead” to the infamous Reading Festival tampon incident, L7 lived loud and left an indelible mark on anyone who heard them. The hosts compare the album’s production to Hole’s evolution, discuss why it sits perfectly between live-through-this rawness and celebrity-skin polish, and celebrate how Butch Vig captured lightning in a bottle at Sound City studios.

What You’ll Hear:

The Butch Vig production story: how insisting the band tune their guitars before every take transformed their sound without losing the energy
Why this album works as a “gateway” record into heavier music, particularly for female listeners in the early 90s
L7’s approach to feminism: leading by example rather than making it the conversation, and why that mattered
The band’s connections to Nirvana, the grunge scene, and how they fit into (and apart from) the Seattle sound
Chart performance versus cultural impact: why 300,000 US sales doesn’t tell the whole story
Track breakdowns of “Pretend We’re Dead,” “Shitlist,” “One More Thing,” and the album’s dynamic range

Featured Tracks & Analysis:

The hosts dive deep into standout tracks like “One More Thing,” which Chris identifies as a slower, melancholic highlight that showcases the band’s range beyond their faster punk assault. “Shitlist” gets special attention, not as a single but as the song everyone knows from Natural Born Killers, while “Pretend We’re Dead” is examined as the MTV breakthrough that almost didn’t happen. Throughout, Neil and Chris emphasize how Butch Vig’s production sits in that sweet spot: in-tune, heavy, with drums that sound massive thanks to Sound City’s rooms, but never overpolished or losing the band’s essential rawness.

Tangential Gold:

Extended meditation on Frank Turner, Dave Hause (not Dave House), and the folk-hardcore crossover that somehow connects to L7
The tomato puree incident: a terrifying Sainsbury’s encounter involving a large man in motorcycle gear
Amiga gaming memories, Quake sessions at 4am, and IRC chat networks as the soundtrack to teenage life
The Brian Adams and Joe Elliott vocal comparison debate that will anger both fanbases
Bottom-free crowd surfing, Reading Festival bannings, and why the Dillinger Escape Plan are never going back

Why This Matters:

Bricks Are Heavy represents a pivotal moment when punk attitude met professional production and created something that still sounds vital three decades later. The album proved you didn’t need to choose between authenticity and accessibility, between rage and melody. L7’s influence echoes through every female-fronted rock band that followed, not because they made gender the issue, but because they simply showed up, played hard, and refused to compromise.

Perfect for: Anyone who grew up on 90s alternative rock but missed L7 the first time around, fans of Hole and the Pixies looking for the missing link, and listeners who appreciate albums that reward volume while remaining listenable at any level. Also essential for anyone interested in how Butch Vig’s production philosophy shaped an entire era of rock music.