
The Metal Monk: The Gift of Brian Keane of Choose Your Power
Endless Metal Podcast - We're constantly listening to metal in all its glorious forms !Show Notes
On this special episode of the Endless Metal podcast, Ben reunites with his very old friend and Boston metal lifer, Brian Keane aka “The Metal Monk.” If you’re interested in a deep history of the Boston metal scene from someone who played gigs at the Rathskeller or more commonly known as “The Rat”—the city’s legendary punk rock club (1974-1997).--as well as dozens of clubs in Boston and the New England region more broadly. We talk about Brian’s latest project Choose Your Power; a realization of his love for big riffs, raging hardcore punk, and huge funk inspired grooves. An active live band that also provides a lyrical outlet for Brian’s ongoing fascination with dystopian technology. We then turn to his origin story that spans playing for decades in bands in and around the Boston scene. So, sit back, find some of that legendary “rat brew,” and enjoy!
More from Endless Metal Podcast - We're constantly listening to metal in all its glorious forms !
Ben and Markisan talk with Eric Searle and Jeremy "Bumpy" Weeks from the Atlanta-based progressive sludge metal, post-hardcore band PALACES! Eric and Bumpy discuss how they got into heavy music, reveal how the sludge scene developed in Atlanta and remember Mastodon's Brett Hinds with a few stories about him over the years. They also chat about injecting science fiction vibes into their music, the joy of making noises, 90s band love and creating their fantastic 3rd full-length album, Sunhunting, with Mastodon's Bill Kelliher, who produced it. Plus, we each select a favorite album that pushed metal to majestic new heights and expanded the structures of heavy music. In other words, albums worthy of a PALACE! Visit https://palacesloud.com/ for music, merch and more from the band.
Ben and Markisan count down their Top 30 Metal Albums released between January and June! In Part 2 of the epic two-part discussion, they rank their Top 10 favorite records at midyear, then share some honorable mentions and a few favorite EPs. Plus, thoughts about what the second half of 2026 might hold for all things metal.
Ben and Markisan count down their Top 30 Metal Albums released between January and June! In this 1st part of an epic two-part discussion, they share their thoughts on how 2026 is shaping up so far, then rank their favorite records, from number 30 to number 11.
Ben, Jeff and Markisan celebrate one of their all-time favorite bands - Neurosis!* They discuss how the music of Neurosis came into their lives and what it has meant to them over the years. They also talk about the recent reformation of the band with former Isis vocalist/guitarist Aaron Turner and how the new record has impacted the metal universe. Then, they dig deep into the extraordinary Neurosis discography, ranking all 12 LPs (with nods to the Sovereign EP and Jarboe collab) and analyzing the riffs, experimentations, emotion, energy and influence of each album. Welcome to Neurosisology, where all structures collapse, mysteries unfold. *Also check out our awesome long-form dialogue from June 22, 2023 with Neurosis's Steve Von Till! THANK YOU to Evoken for allowing us to use a section from their song, The Last of Vitality, as our opening theme song!
This episode we welcome Lindsay, host and creator of The Heavy Metal Journal on YouTube and writer for The Moshville Times! Lindsay talks with Ben and Markisan about how she discovered metal through VH1 music videos in Scotland, what made her fall in love with history and mythology, why The Undertaker was the person she wanted to be most when she grew up, and how her love for sharing cool shiny things turned into one of our favorite metal shows. We also count down the top 3 metal albums that can fire us up on a Monday morning and help us face the work week ahead! Check out The Heavy Metal Journal on YouTube and follow Lindsay's metal adventures on Instagram at @theheavymetaljournal. Check out Ben's 9 hour+ Exploding Alarm Clock Radio Playlist for a jamming and riff heavy hard rock rock and metal Monday morning wake up THANK YOU to Evoken for allowing us to use a section from their song, The Last of Vitality, as our opening theme song!