1986

Master of Puppets: Unraveling the greatest metal album ever recorded… metallica-master_of_puppets_(remastered)

Master of Puppets: Unraveling the greatest metal album ever recorded…

Neil Johnson 18 January 2026

Released on March 3, 1986, Metallica's Master of Puppets is a seminal thrash metal album recognized for...

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...

The Making of Slippery When Wet – Bon Jovi’s Breakthrough

Neil Johnson 12 November 2024

In 1986, Bon Jovi's "Slippery When Wet" marked a pivotal moment in rock music, launching the band...

The Making of Lifes Rich Pageant – R.E.M.’s Evolution

Neil Johnson 30 October 2024

Released on July 28, 1986, R.E.M.'s "Lifes Rich Pageant" marked a pivotal shift in their sound toward...

The Ultimate Sin: Ozzy Osbourne’s Glam Metal Triumph

Neil Johnson 30 September 2024

Introduction Released in the mid-1980s, Ozzy Osbourne’s The Ultimate Sin represents a pivotal moment in the evolution...

Reign In Blood: Slayer’s Game-Changing Album Explored slayer-reign_in_blood

Reign In Blood: Slayer’s Game-Changing Album Explored

Neil Johnson 11 August 2024

Introduction Every so often, an album comes along that doesn’t just push boundaries but rips them apart....

Unveiling Megadeth’s Peace Sells: A Thrash Metal Revolution megadeth-peace_sells...but_who's_buying?_(expanded_edition_-_remastered)

Unveiling Megadeth’s Peace Sells: A Thrash Metal Revolution

Neil Johnson 10 August 2024

Megadeth's "Peace Sells...But Who's Buying?", released on September 25, 1986, is a landmark thrash metal album that...

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.