The Creator-Destructor Podcast

Devan and Cole of Southern California's SCALP sit down with me for an hour to discuss their incredible debut LP "Domestic Extremity", their writing process, inspirations for the band, plans for the future, and so much more. Get into it!

Part two of Ben & Steve's "Top 5" discussion has arrived! We covered our personal top five hip hop records in the last episode, but this time we go deep on our favorite heavy metal albums of all time. Comment and let us know what you think of our choices!

The podcast is back for a slightly different kind of episode! My long-time friend and bandmate Steve Hoffman (Light This City / Viral) joins me to discuss our Top 5 Hip-Hop Albums of all time! As two headbangers who also have a deep love for hip-hop, this was a super fun conversation, and we go deep!. Enjoy our picks!

Episode 43 has arrived! Philadelphia's own REEF THE LOST CAUZE sits down with me for an hour to talk about his 20 year-long illustrious career in hip-hop, his evolution and growth as an artist, his time in the hip-hop supergroup ARMY OF THE PHAROAHS & the change in the group's sound over the years. Reef explains how he stays motivated and inspired this deep into his career, the progression of his voice and sound on his own albums throughout the years, the insane experience of touring Europe, playing enormous festivals and small basement/bar shows, and finally defines what "success" as an artist, in his own terms.

Episode 42! I got to sit down with the legendary KILLAH PRIEST in his downtown LA apartment to talk about his historic career in hip-hop, starting with appearing on Gravediggaz’ “6 Feet Deep”, and contributing to Ol Dirty Bastard’s “Return to the 36 Chambers” and GZA’s “Liquid Swords” in the mid 90’s. We discuss his feelings on his time with SUNZ OF MAN, his classic debut “Heavy Mental” in 1998, the insanely impressive 40-track “Psychic World of Walter Reed” from 2013, and everything in between, all the way up to this year’s incredible “Rocket to Nebula” LP. We talk about what it’s like touring with Wu-Tang, Ghostface, & GZA, how they decide setlists, what a day on the road is like, and lots more. Hit the link on our profile to watch/listen on YouTube!

Damian Herring, vocalist/guitarist of death metal warriors HORRENDOUS sits down with me to talk about how the band started, how touring and releasing numerous albums have evolved the band's sound and direction, their style of writing/recording, and all that he does as a producer/engineer for Subterranean Watchtower Studios.

Eligio Tapia and Cameron Stucky of the amazing bay area symphonic melodic death metal band CREPUSCLE sit down with me for an hour to talk all things metal, how the band started, the release of "Heavenly Skies", the band's next moves and much more!

Van Labrakis (vocals/guitar) and Pat Crawford (drums) of San Francisco's NITE join me for an hour to talk about their incredible debut LP, "Darkness Silence Mirror Flame", how they came together as a band, plans for their next record, and MUCH more.

EJ Johangten, co-owner of PROSTHETIC RECORDS sits down with me to talk about the ins and outs of running a heavy metal label, how the times have changed in the last 20 years with artists/touring, and much more.

Josef Alfonso and Mike Durt from the almighty SUNAMI sit down with me to talk all things hardcore and their special brand of beatdown.

Taylor Young (producer/engineer) from The Pit Recording Studios and Twitching Tongues/Zous/Nails sits down to talk all things recording, touring, and longevity in hardcore.

The almighty Chris Cresswell from The Flatliners sits down with me to talk Covid's impact on musicians, the evolution of the band's sound, and much more!

Liz Rose joins the podcast for an hour of sound-talk! She discusses what her life is like as female sound engineer for punk/hardcore shows & tours, and what her job entails behind the scenes. Get into it!

Justin Ennis of Ulthar, Vale, and Void Omnia joins the podcast for Episode 33!

We’re back after a few months with another banger episode!  This time I sit down in the apartment with the fellow-Oakland homie Scotty Tankcrimes -  If you don’t know who Scotty is, he’s been plugging away putting out releases on his punk/metal label TANKCRIMES, including artists such as Necrot, Ghoul, Cannabis Corpse, Dystopia, and more.  Scotty is like a sponge that has absorbed a shit-ton of music industry knowledge and wisdom, and it was a real treat to sit down and learn a bit from the master himself.  I’ve always admired Scotty's willingness to have an open discussion on his platforms about the pros/cons of the ways in which bands and labels operate these days. This was a super interesting conversation, mostly because Scotty is a gem!  If you are interested in listening to two Oakland-based heavy metal label guys talk shop for a few hours, please join us.