1970 Archives - Riffology

Paranoid: Black Sabbath’s Defining Heavy Metal Album 4696_album_art

Paranoid: Black Sabbath’s Defining Heavy Metal Album

Neil Johnson 17 January 2025

Introduction Released in 1970, Paranoid by Black Sabbath remains a cornerstone in the world of 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 a lemon gets a perm and a virtuoso refuses to be “just a guitarist”

Hosts: Neil & Chris
Duration: ~73 minutes
Release: Not scheduled

Episode Description

Neil and Chris head back to 1989 for Extreme’s self-titled debut, an album that arrived right on the fault line between peak hair metal and the coming grunge shift. Sparked by Play With Me popping up in Stranger Things (and, more importantly, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure), this one becomes a love letter to a band that was slightly “too late” to fully ride the glam wave, but talented enough to outlast it.

Along the way, they dig into why Nuno Bettencourt sits in that rare tier of guitarists whose playing feels like pure expression, not just technique, and how Extreme’s debut already hints at the funkier, more confident band they would become on Pornograffitti. Expect context, era chat, and a few classic Rifology detours about age, injuries, and the ongoing mystery of missing snacks.

What You’ll Hear:

Why Extreme feel like one of the last great late-80s hard rock breakouts
Nuno’s “virtuoso but musical” approach, and why it never feels like guitar-with-backing
The Boston connection, Aerosmith influence, and comparisons to Van Halen
How the band’s sound and lyrical focus evolved from this debut to Pornograffitti
A quick-fire fact run, including label context (A&M) and chart reality
Next episode reveal, Three Doors Down, The Better Life

Featured Tracks & Analysis:

The conversation spotlights Play With Me as the gateway track, including its classical flourishes and perfect placement alongside the Bill & Ted Beethoven scene. They also touch on standouts like Little Girls, Kid Ego (and Gary Cherone’s later cringe at the lyrics), plus deeper cuts like Teacher’s Pet and Mother as evidence this record is more than a hair-metal snapshot.

Production gets its due too, with Reinhold Mack’s background (including Queen) and how the album’s peak-80s “wet” guitar tones still leave room for structure, dynamics, and the early signs of Extreme’s weirder, more ambitious writing.

Tangential Gold:

The “planning makes it less fun” podcast philosophy
Physio therapy, back pain, and the realities of getting older
The legend of “Pat Badger,” plus kettles, beavers, and accidental rebranding
Why old films feel “slow” now, and what that says about modern pacing
A brief rant about “hey guys, welcome back to the channel”

Why This Matters:

This episode reframes Extreme’s debut as a formative blueprint, a moment where a band tried to fit late-80s expectations while quietly building the identity that would later explode. It’s also a reminder that technical brilliance hits hardest when it serves the song, not the ego.

Perfect for: listeners who love late-80s hard rock, guitar craft that stays musical, and scene-history chat with a few well-timed detours.