We’ve been living on the road and in the pit! This week on The Heavy Metal Hangover, Rex and Duff are breaking down our thoughts on some killer recent live shows, including the high-octane thrash of Death Angel and the hilarious, riff-heavy spectacle of Steel Panther. If you want to know who still delivers the goods live in 2026, we’ve got your front-row report.

Then, we are shifting gears into the ultimate temple of groove. Rex recently went back to school, relistening to the entire Pantera discography from top to bottom—including the legendary live albums. We’re breaking down how the albums hold up today, the evolution from Cowboys from Hell to Reinventing the Steel, and why their live recordings capture a level of sheer, hostile energy that few bands have ever matched. Crack open a cold one, turn the volume up to 11, and let's get vulgar!

Is the mainstream rock shortage a corporate hit job? This week on The Heavy Metal Hangover, Rex and Duff are dissecting Billy Corgan’s recent statement that rock music was intentionally and purposefully scrubbed from popular culture by the industry powers-that-be. We look at the validity of his claims, debate whether rock was pushed or if it simply walked away, and ask what it means for the future of guitar-driven music.

But if the industry is trying to kill rock, the snobs aren't helping! We close out the show with a lighthearted look at the absolute absurdity of music elitism, using the classic movie High Fidelity as our guide. We laugh at our own inner "Championship Vinyl" clerks, poke fun at the gatekeepers who refuse to let people just enjoy a catchy tune, and remind everyone that at the end of the day, music is supposed to be fun.

In this episode, Rex and Duff are tracking the pulse of modern metal. We start with a deep dive into the absolute best of the newest releases, breaking down the crushing weight of Immolation’s Descent and the relentless thrash energy of Nervosa’s Slave Machine.

Then, the stakes get high as we kick off a new set of "King of the Mountain." We’re putting our personal favorites on the line to see which tracks and live experiences can hold the peak. This leads us into a celebration of the masters of the stage: GWAR and Iron Maiden. We’re discussing the chaos of GWAR’s "Gor-Gor Strikes Back" tour and the massive, career-spanning energy of Maiden’s "Run For Your Lives" world tour as well as why we love some of our favorite tracks by both bands.