The Sonic Road Podcast

Backstage with COC: Pepper Keenan, Woody Weatherman & Bobby Landgraf on Good God/Baad Man | Ep. 33

Host Beau sat down backstage at The Roxy at Mahalls in Lakewood, Ohio with Pepper Keenan, Woody Weatherman, and Bobby Landgraf of Corrosion of Conformity hours before their May 10th show for a half-hour deep dive into Good God / Baad Man — out now on Nuclear Blast Records. Topics covered: why the album sounds like a COC greatest hits record and why that was intentional, the heavy underground surge of 2026, how Stanton Moore's drumming caused Pepper to rewrite 60% of his lyrics, the double album concept and why it was fully sequenced before they turned the amps on, the hidden Mississippi writing retreat with no clock and no hotel, recording with no isolation or control room with mattresses against cabinets, Warren Riker replacing John Custer after his severe tinnitus diagnosis, drums and bass tracked live to tape at Dockside Studio in Maurice Louisiana, guitar at Barry Gibb's private studio, the six-foot oil painting by Scott Guion made during the sessions, Bobby Landgraf locking in with Stanton on bass, recording at Electric Lady Studios for Deliverance and Wise Blood with Superunknown engineer Jason Cassaro, human music vs AI, demo tracks and cassette vocals that made the final record, Handcuff County in one live take, Lose Yourself on radio everywhere, Brickman with brushes for the first time on a COC record, shoeboxes of unreleased material and Electric Lady cassette tapes still intact, and plans for Part 2. Good God / Baad Man out now on Nuclear Blast Records. nuclearblast.com | coc.com The Sonic Road Podcast: thesonicroad.com linktr.ee/thesonicroad | @thesonicroad on all platforms. COC: Instagram @coccabal | TikTok @corrosivecabal

Best Rock Albums of 2026 So Far: The Black Crowes, COC, Elder, All Them Witches & More | Ep. 32

Returning guest and Milwaukee author Becky Franzel joins host Beau  to break down the best rock, metal, and alternative albums of 2026  so far — including The Black Crowes' A Pound of Feathers,  Corrosion of Conformity's Good God / Baad Man, Elder's upcoming  Through Zero on Blues Funeral Recordings, All Them Witches' House  of Mirrors, Weedpecker, Handsome Jack's Barn Burners, ABRAMS' Loon,  Fortune Child, Kat Clyde's Mud and Bone, The Black Keys' Peaches,  and more. They also dig into Record Store Day 2026 — the rising costs,  pricing concerns, and how smaller retailers get squeezed out — plus  the ongoing debate around Bandcamp vs. Spotify, singles culture vs.  full albums, the Ticketmaster monopoly, fair pay at indie venues,  and summer touring season. Becky shares updates on her fourth book, Death's Subcontractor  Derrick, and where to find her work. Beau announces a free  Sonic Road newsletter. Find Becky at beckyfranzel.com | @thesonicroad on all platforms.

How ABRAMS Made Their Most Furious Album Yet — Zach Amster Interview | Loon 2026

ABRAMS guitarist and vocalist Zach Amster joins The Sonic Road Podcast to  break down Loon — the Denver heavy rock band's most aggressive and  emotionally raw album yet, out April 17th on Blues Funeral Recordings. 🎵 ABRAMS "Loon" — Out April 17th on Blues Funeral Recordings Order the album here: Blues Funeral Recordings (US orders): https://www.bluesfuneral.com/products/us-orders-abrams-loon-deluxe-vinyl-editions [https://www.bluesfuneral.com/products/us-orders-abrams-loon-deluxe-vinyl-editions] Bandcamp: https://abramsrock.bandcamp.com/album/loon [https://abramsrock.bandcamp.com/album/loon] SPKR Shop (Euro/UK orders): https://en.bluesfuneral.spkr.media [https://en.bluesfuneral.spkr.media/] ABRAMS on Instagram: @abramsrockband 🔔 Subscribe to The Sonic Road Podcast for weekly deep dives into rock and metal: https://linktr.ee/thesonicroad [https://linktr.ee/thesonicroad] 📲 FOLLOW THE SONIC ROAD PODCAST: Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | X → @thesonicroad Loon isn't a polite evolution. It's a gut punch. After a decade of building  one of the American heavy underground's most devoted fanbases — through five  albums and stages shared with Khemmis, King Buffalo, Unsane, and Emma Ruth  Rundle — ABRAMS have made the record that demands your attention. Zach  unpacks every inch of it. 🎸 What's inside this episode: — The sonic fury behind Loon and why it hits harder than anything ABRAMS    has made before — How the band evolved from post-hardcore aggression to the melodic,    crushing heavy rock they play today — Zach's musical DNA: Fugazi, Seattle grunge, Soundgarden, Queens of the    Stone Age, Mark Lanegan, At the Drive-In, Mars Volta & A Perfect Circle — His vocal transformation from screaming to the powerhouse clean singing    on Loon — How COVID changed ABRAMS' writing process forever — Recording 14–15 songs in 14 days — and the tough cuts that didn't make    the album — Gear deep dive: solid-state amp rigs, Ampeg Venture bass, and the tones    behind the wall of sound — The Denver heavy music scene and why it's one of the best underground    communities in the US — Blues Funeral Recordings and why it was the right home for this band — ABRAMS' first-ever European dates, headlined by DesertFest London (May    2026), plus US tour plans If you're into Torche, Cave In, Converge, Hum, Quicksand, Mastodon, or  Baroness — ABRAMS belong at the top of your playlist. Loon is the record  that changes the conversation.

Ewan Currie (The Sheepdogs): Keep Out of the Storm, Live Recording, and Guitar Harmonies

How does a multi-platinum rock band capture their live energy in the studio? Ewan Currie of The Sheepdogs joins The Sonic Road to discuss the making of their new album, Keep Out of the Storm.In this episode, Ewan Currie shares an inside look at the songwriting and production philosophy behind the band's latest release. We explore their decision to record at Taurus with engineer Tom Darcy, utilizing a hybrid analog/digital setup to capture the band "live off the floor.”🎸 VISIT THE OFFICIAL SITE: thesheepdogs.com🔥 SUBSCRIBE TO THE SONIC ROAD PODCAST: https://linktr.ee/thesonicroad?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=a334b972-8bca-4eab-829e-aa1a3eff548eFollow The Sonic Road Podcast on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok & Substack: @thesonicroadTake control of your health with affordable and extensive bloodwork here: https://my.functionhealth.com/signup?code=BMCGRANAHAN10&_saasquatch=BMCGRANAHAN10&d=FHREF25Currie breaks down the intricacies of the Sheepdogs' signature sound—from the dual-lead guitar harmonies to the evolution of their rhythm section following the departure of their longtime drummer. We also discuss the realities of running an independent record label and the mental shift required to stay creative while touring across Canada and Europe.Key Discussion Points:The Songwriting Routine: Why Ewan starts with melody and music before ever touching lyrics.Recording Live Off the Floor: The benefits of tracking as a full band for speed, feel, and authentic rock and roll energy.The Gear & The Room: Merging analog warmth with digital efficiency at Taurus.Guitar Harmonies: Developing the band’s iconic twin-lead sound with Ricky.Independent Business: The motivation behind launching their own label and maintaining creative control.Show Chapters00:00 Podcast Introduction: Ewan Currie (The Sheepdogs)00:30 Finding The Sheepdogs: Origins and Influence01:10 The Songwriting Routine: A Constant Process02:13 Composition: Why Music Comes Before Lyrics03:08 Keep Out of the Storm: Album Title and Imagery04:23 Literary Influences and Almost Famous05:13 Studio Atmosphere at Taurus06:59 Technical Setup: Analog Meets Digital07:40 Recording Strategy: Live Off The Floor09:45 Production: Knowing When to Hit Record11:48 The Rhythm Section: Multiple Drummers Era12:48 Click Track Philosophy in Rock Music13:55 How Drums Influence the Writing Process15:14 Track Breakdown: Favorite Grooves and Shifts16:15 Studio Stories: Levon Helm and The Barn18:04 Ricky’s Influence: Making the First Full LP Together19:26 Mastering Guitar Harmonies and Tone20:51 The Dual Role: Producing While Performing21:58 Production Collaborations: Handsome Jack22:38 Hendrix Easter Eggs and Lyric Secrets24:23 Health and Longevity on the Road27:02 Moving on the Yellow Line: Life in Transit28:45 Themes of Searching for Home29:57 Label Independence: Running Their Own Imprint33:03 Touring Realities vs. Rock Myths35:20 Global Tribe: Crowds in Canada and Europe37:01 Current Listening Picks and Artist Support38:15 Where to Buy Directly and Farewell#thesheepdogs #ewancurrie #thesonicroadpodcast #keepoutofthestorm #newmusic2026 #thesheepdogs2026

The Sheepdogs’ Ewan Currie on Dual Leads and Guitar Harmonies

"It’s such a beautiful sound... I don’t know why more bands don’t do it." Ewan Currie joins The Sonic Road to break down the technical and melodic appeal of the "dual lead" guitar style. While many modern rock acts have moved away from complex arrangements, The Sheepdogs continue to make vocal and guitar harmonies a centerpiece of their songwriting and live shows. Currie cites the Allman Brothers and Thin Lizzy as primary influences on this "sweet" sound, explaining how the layering of two distinct guitar lines creates a unique sonic energy when they "light up" together on stage. In this clip, we explore: * The "Sweet" Sound: Why the Sheepdogs prioritize harmony over standard soloing. * Classic Influences: How 70s icons shaped the band’s melodic framework. * Live Energy: Capturing the dual-lead magic during their 2026 tours across Canada and Europe.