1989

A deep dive into Doolittle by Pixies 61cFjl8EwAL._UF894,1000_QL80_

A deep dive into Doolittle by Pixies

Neil Johnson 27 October 2025

Why Doolittle Matters When Doolittle landed in April 1989, it didn’t just arrive — it detonated. The...

The Making of Alice in Hell by Annihilator 3930_album_art

The Making of Alice in Hell by Annihilator

Neil Johnson 17 April 2025

Alice in Hell by Annihilator: The Story Behind a Thrash Metal Landmark Few albums in metal history...

The Real Thing: Faith No More’s Genre-Defining Album faith_no_more-the_real_thing

The Real Thing: Faith No More’s Genre-Defining Album

Neil Johnson 7 January 2025

Introduction Released on June 20, 1989, The Real Thing by Faith No More marked a pivotal moment...

Pretty Hate Machine: Nine Inch Nails’ Industrial Breakthrough

Neil Johnson 20 October 2024

Pretty Hate Machine, released in 1989, is Nine Inch Nails' groundbreaking debut album that fused industrial rock...

Unveiling ‘Bleach’: Nirvana’s Raw Grunge Debut Bleach

Unveiling ‘Bleach’: Nirvana’s Raw Grunge Debut

Neil Johnson 19 October 2024

Nirvana's debut album, Bleach, released in 1989, significantly influenced the grunge movement despite initial obscurity. This raw...

The Headless Children: W.A.S.P.’s Evolutionary Leap

Neil Johnson 26 September 2024

Introduction Released in April 1989, The Headless Children by W.A.S.P. stands as a pivotal moment in the...

Altars of Madness: Morbid Angel’s Death Metal Revolution

Neil Johnson 25 September 2024

Introduction Released on May 12, 1989, Altars of Madness by Morbid Angel stands as a cornerstone in...

Beneath the Remains: Sepultura’s 1989 Breakthrough, Revisited in Depth

Beneath the Remains: Sepultura’s 1989 Breakthrough, Revisited in Depth

Neil Johnson 28 August 2024

1) A world on the brink: setting the stage for Beneath the Remains (1989) By 1988–1989, extreme...

Alice Cooper’s ‘Trash’: A Glam Metal Revolution

Alice Cooper’s ‘Trash’: A Glam Metal Revolution

Neil Johnson 25 July 2024

Alice Cooper's album "Trash," released on July 25, 1989, marked a pivotal comeback in his career, blending...

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.

Where Skate Punk Grew Up and Got a Grammy Nod

Episode 72 | Suicidal Tendencies, Lights, Camera, Revolution (1990) | Duration: ~84 minutes | Release: 8 December 2025

Episode Description

Neil and Chris dive into one of Neil’s all-time decorating records, a 1990 album that transformed LA’s banned skate punk outcasts into Grammy nominees. Suicidal Tendencies’ fourth studio album represents a pivotal moment where hardcore punk evolved into something more accessible without losing its bite. The hosts explore how Mike Muir’s uncompromising vision shaped a band that would later make him feel they’d sold out, despite creating what many consider their finest work.

This episode traces the journey from Venice Beach gang culture to arena tours with Metallica, examining how producer Mark Dodson (Judas Priest, Anthrax, Prong) brought a thicker, more polished production to ST’s sound while maintaining their confrontational edge. The discussion covers Rob Trujillo’s first full album with the band, Rocky George’s phenomenal lead work, and why Mike Muir ultimately felt mainstream success betrayed everything the band stood for.

What You’ll Hear

Why Neil’s brain automatically plays Suicidal riffs during boring meetings
The story of Neil’s first domain registration, suicidal.org, and its unexpected consequences
How the PMRC parental advisory sticker became a quality guarantee
The evolution from harsh skate punk to Grammy-nominated thrash
Why bands with strong visionary leaders create the tightest records

Featured Tracks & Analysis

You Can’t Bring Me Down: The MTV smash featuring Mike Muir’s legendary spoken-word rant, still recited word-for-word by audiences decades later
Send Me Your Money: A satirical takedown of televangelists that charted in the UK but not the US
Alone: The band’s ballad exploring isolation in crowded rooms, a theme Neil connects with deeply
Lovely: Peak funky ST, addressing censorship with that infectious la-la-la hook

Tangential Gold

The great YouTube intro epidemic and why “hey guys, welcome back” needs to stop
Chris’s confessions about watching horse hoof cleaning videos
Neil’s heated blanket cat situation and an ignored delivery man
Why old Porsches smell better than new cars (and the benzene that might kill Neil)
The essential requirements for nerd club membership, from Hitchhiker’s Guide quotes to Doctor Who opinions

Why This Matters

Lights, Camera, Revolution captures a band at the exact moment when underground credibility collides with commercial potential. It’s the blueprint for countless crossover thrash records that followed, featuring lyrics that remain remarkably relevant, production that still sounds authentic, and performances that define an era. The album’s themes of speaking truth to power, maintaining identity under pressure, and refusing to conform resonate just as strongly today as they did in 1990.

Perfect For

Fans of Prong, Anthrax, and Faith No More who appreciate thrash with melodic sophistication. Anyone curious about the pre-Metallica career of Rob Trujillo. Listeners who want to understand how LA’s most banned band became Grammy nominees. Decorators who need the perfect painting soundtrack.