Metal Minutiae

1986, 40 Years on. Part 2...

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 19:00:00 GMT

Phil and Ray continue the discussion of 1986 albums, delving a little deeper and a little wider across what was happening 40 years ago. We can't cover everything, but we do our best to cover most of the highlights

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1986, 40 years on. Part 1...

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 19:00:00 GMT

Metal Minutiae is back for season 3. It is 2026, and Phil and Ray are looking back on 1986 and which albums are turning 40 this year. A year where quite a lot happened in the world of heavy metal. The conversation was a very long one, so the episode has been split into two parts.

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The End of 2025

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 19:00:00 GMT

Phil and Ray return after what has been a very busy second half of the year. Lots to catch up on, lots to talk about, lots of highlights from the year, but also far too much to fit in an hour or so. Please forgive us for the many things we skipped - send through your highlights if you are so inclined

No playlist for this episode. Probably safest bet is for you to just put on some Black Sabbath

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Guest Episode - Essence Festival 2025

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 20:00:00 GMT

Ray chats with Dan Nahum, the organiser of Essence Festival in Canberra, set to be held October 3-5 at The Baso. We discuss what went well last year, what will be different this year, and what some of the highlights might be for the 2025 iteration. There is also a brief guest appearance from Dan from Irreparable who wandered by while we recorded in The Tote beer garden.

Essence:

In the traditions of Canberra's Metal for the Brain and SoundOut, as well as Dark Mofo, Essence is a diverse underground music festival, taking in various metal subgenres (death, black, doom, sludge, and more) as well as other genres: noise, post-punk and post-rock, experimental, industrial, ambient, improvised, and even dark and contemporary takes on traditional music. The bill is from across the Australia and features a mix of impressive live stalwarts, cult artists that perform only rarely, and new and exciting acts. Many have never performed in Canberra before. This year Essence is co-presented by NSW/Qld label Gutter Prince Cabal, and has also added an explicitly visual element in the form of NSW visual artist Greallach.

Links:

Tickets

https://tickets.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/8e1e8ce6-2061-4037-8f12-285520dc45f4

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/essence_festival

Playlist

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6AiuxATeB2UGdNkk16cL6g?si=2ed3ac3ba03847b1

Full band list

Life Cult

Pod People

Diploid

Contaminated

Convulsing

Tir

Growth

Teeth Dreams

Golgothan Remains

Mammon’s Throne

raven

ZCluster

Nontinuum

Bacchus Harsh

Burden Man

Živa

Shay Doe and Jack Napier

Josh Shipton

Oar

Lithik

Bruxist

Knife

Marlēné Claudine Radice

Fukno

Canary Bones

Atavus Infectum

External Organ

Futility

Essentia Vermis Friday night pre-fest:

Destruktor

Aglo

Hebephrenique

Grotesque Bliss

Leaker

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Guest Episode - Aardvark with Ed Vaark

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 20:00:00 GMT

Phil and Ray sit down with Ed from Aardvark to talk about what Aardvark have been up to and also discuss three classic albums important to Ed

Aardvark's coming Sydney show with Bengal Tigers

https://www.factorytheatre.com.au/event/bengal-tigers/

and Flitcraft with Bengal Tigers in Melbourne

https://theleadbeaterhotel.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/c2ae7bdb-3062-410f-bd46-99bef5801c70?Event=219393

No playlist for this episode but be sure to listen to

Accept - Metal Heart

Thin Lizzy - Chinatown

Judas Priest - Screaming for Vengeance

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EPICS

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 20:00:00 GMT

Phil and Ray tackle one of their favourite song types - the heavy metal Epic. Whether it be 7 minutes, or 8 minutes as the cut off, there is nothing small and or lacking in these songs

Episode Playlist

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1DBN0O41gq1MbpAnjZvhvM?si=d72c992502f94ed3

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The Secrets of Steel - Part 2!

Wed, 28 May 2025 20:00:00 GMT

Phil and Ray are back after a bit of a break with even more Secrets of Steel. Finally actually creating a part 2 episode to go along with all those part 1s from last year. Strap yourself in for some classic heavy metal ingredients and be sure to let us know about any excellent examples we missed, because we always want more!

The gigs Ray mentioned are:

Spectral Wounds, with Pestilential Shadows and Golgothan Remains June 13 at Metro Social in Sydney tickets here

The Veil, Lithik, Irreparable, Futility at The Tote July 26 in Melbourne tickets here

Episode playlist here

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Wondering what could have been, or having more than you'll ever want?

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 19:00:00 GMT

Phil and Ray discuss a wide range of bands that either maybe should have stopped, or they are grateful only had a brief period of being productive and grapple with the question, does not wanting more of a band you like make any sense? No, of course not. But we aren't always rational beings.

Upcoming gigs that were mentioned

Hobart March 8 Pestilential Shadows, Permafog, Midnight Odyssey, Portcullis https://tickets.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/a3feb1c4-9aec-4f6c-a347-6c63fa52042c

Melbourne Dethfest March 9 https://tickets.cornerhotel.com/outlet/event/3db93de4-eab1-4c18-84fc-6f7821922a84

Sydney April 12 Destruktor, Pestilential Shadows, AftermatH, Petrol https://allevents.in/marrickville/destruktor-%7C-factory-floor-sydney/200027790152024#

Black Sabbath tickets on sale Feb 14 https://www.livenation.co.uk/show/1561056/back-to-the-beginning/birmingham/2025-07-05

Lots of other things mentioned, I'll try and get a playlist done when I can, but there is a lot covered in this one!

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Guest Episode: Stu McGill from Silent Knight

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 19:00:00 GMT

Phil and Ray are back in 2025 chatting with Stu from Silent Knight, while they are in town as the national support on Hammerfall's Australian tour. Stu was crashing on Ray's floor while he was in town, so we thought we might as well record an episode. This episode did require significant editing as Ray and Stu are brothers, and apparently like to bicker at each other, which is no fun to listen to - just ask Phil.

We cover Iron Saviour, Atlantean Kodex, Dragonland and more. Playlist for the episode is here https://open.spotify.com/playlist/02yzXsb4c2M6DMSnG04WbD?si=b8e2b0d14fe24c81

Check out Silent Knight https://silentknightband.bandcamp.com/

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2024, an excellent year of heavy metal

Mon, 16 Dec 2024 19:00:30 GMT

We cover a lot of things in this one. And it is quite a long episode. It has been a while between episodes and a fair bit has happened in between with Nicko's retirement, Paul Dianno's passing, Solstafir, Opeth and Tribulation all with new albums that have elicited a range of opinions.

Ray mentions that Tarot are playing more shows as part of the album launch tour, but it appears that he may well have made that up. Follow Tarot on socials to stay in the loop though https://www.instagram.com/tarottasmania/

Episode playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1WgRLFi1JQDGefBRW5fKWA?si=cbe4d31705434916

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Jewels of the Crown Part 1: Halloween with Helloween

Mon, 21 Oct 2024 19:00:54 GMT

Its Halloween next week so we thought we'd celebrate with some Helloween and Keep of the Seven Keys Part 1 and Part 2, as the first installment in what is becoming a series of first installments. This one we are calling Jewels of the Crown. Excellent heavy metal albums, that are probably appropriately rated, but we'll talk about them anyway because we love them.

Also discussed:

Austere - Beneath the Threshold and their upcoming Aus tour with Harakiri For the Sky courtesy of Your Mate Bookings https://www.yourmatebookings.com/uncategorized/3318/

Blood Incantation - Absolute Elsewhere https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6N4rLtjPzH0

Grand Magus - Sunraven

Halford - Resurrection

Ray's experience at Essence Festival

Phil talks Glenn Hughes and Black Jesus (separate gigs)

The playlist of things we've been listening to continues to grow and become more and more eclectic, so enjoy that here

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Steel Assassins!

Mon, 30 Sep 2024 20:00:58 GMT

Steel Assassins is almost upon us again. The yearly heavy metal festival held in Sydney by Dave Balfour at Metal Evilution. Get your tickets and be there in Nov 8 and 9 at The Bridge in Sydney

tickets

Episode playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2HK4ImHg24QMEXbE1bbnTI?si=N3dYpGBcR7uROs-9ZBCs7g&pi=a-KvScuGkCT6On

Also discussed

The quite heartwarming story of Phil's introduction to Deep Purple's Burn and the upcoming Glenn Hughes tour
Anthrax's Fistful of Metal being a pretty good amount of metal
The 'big 4' having not great album covers for their first albums
Blacksound Records has a physical location coming site
Silent Knight and Valhalore (apologies for Ray mispronouncing that one, if you had to read his handwriting you'd know why) have been added as the supports for Hammerfall's upcoming Australian tour
Grand Magus - pure heavy metal with a new album Sun Raven coming out Oct 18

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Under the Radar Part 1

Sun, 15 Sep 2024 20:00:09 GMT

Phil and Ray are back and talking about albums they like that they think other people maybe don't like quite enough... or at least don't seem to talk about. Are we wrong? Are people always talking about them and we just live in a bubble that. Or are they terrible albums that people don't talk about for a damn good reason?

Black Sabbath - Dehumanizer

Mercyful Fate - Dead Again

Dissection - Reinkaos

Type O Negative - Dead Again

Also discussed

Phil's Megadeth revisit begins with Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good!
Mood Lifters - the Rush tribute show was in Melbourne
40 Watt Sun - Little Weight is going to be occupying Ray's stereo for a while, giving Warning's Watching From a Distance some respite
Wintersun - Time II
Iron Maiden
Bulletbelt
Melbourne DethFest https://www.facebook.com/melbournedethfest/ line up has been announced. March 9th at the Corner Hotel with Left To Die, Pestilential Shadows, Gutless, Werewolves, Pizza Death, Midnight Odyssey and more
Emu playing in Melbourne Sep 26 at Shotkickers but also playing all across the east coast at the moment
Tarot album launch tour kicking off in December. Playing the Gaso Dec 6 in Melbourne

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Bonus Episode: Iron Maiden

Sun, 08 Sep 2024 20:00:30 GMT

Phil and Ray go and see Iron Maiden in Melbourne on The Future Past Tour. Some nostalgic chat about Iron Maiden before we headed out and then some initial responses directly after the show - audio quality while we are outside the stadium is a bit rough, as I'm sure you'd expect

Also, as a point of correction Nicko McBrain is actually 72 years old.

The Wickerman radio edit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dfDkxHtT9I

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The Secrets of Steel

Mon, 26 Aug 2024 20:00:51 GMT

Ray and Phil return with more Metal Minutiae! Setting aside our differences after last episodes clashing on bands. This time, talking about some of the key elements of heavy metal that we both love. The Secrets of Steel: Alchemical Ingredients for a High Quality Heavy Metal Experience. Part 1. Part 1 of how many? No one knows. They are secrets after all.

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Bonus Episode: Essence Festival

Mon, 12 Aug 2024 21:00:10 GMT

Ray has a chat with Dan Nahum about the upcoming Essence Festival taking place in Canberra September 27 and 28. Recorded at the Espy just before Dan went on stage with Altars so there is a bit noise from trams, traffic, punters nearby, an acoustic artist playing, Pete from Whitehorse joining us briefly... you know how it goes.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/essence_festival?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Tickets: https://tickets.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/cd26dd51-5ece-45d3-83de-56023e28e2d0

Festival Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7shu6UxUMoYz3fnh5oviRP?si=f9efd7a9840c41cf

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Bands We Don't Like That Maybe We Should

Mon, 05 Aug 2024 21:00:49 GMT

Phil and Ray talk about the bands that they feel like they should probably like more or just don't quite get. It turns out that they don't like each others favourite bands. Will this spell the end of the podcast and Phil and Ray's friendship? Doesn't seem like it.

Have a listen to some of the things we've been listening to over the last few months https://open.spotify.com/playlist/51HX07ZcHeIsBpNy9vUJiw?si=db576ccee10c40de

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Ballads in Heavy Metal

Mon, 22 Jul 2024 21:00:54 GMT

Foot Stompers, Bangers, Epics and Ballads. The four types of songs. In this episode Phil and Ray talk about the curious beast that is the heavy metal ballad. Why does such a thing exist when it seems like it is perhaps the antithesis of heavy metal? The answer, because sometimes they are quite good.

Also talked about:

New single from Tribulation, Queen as one of the top 10 non metal bands that heavy metal owes a great deal, and reporting in on a few gigs attended in Melbourne over the previous couple of weeks.

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What is the Best Decade to be a Heavy Metal Fan?

Mon, 08 Jul 2024 21:00:27 GMT

Phil and Ray discuss when the best time to be a heavy metal fan has been throughout history. More is more, or more not more? It is hard to know.

Also talked about

Bands:

Satan, Rotting Christ, Alcest, Death, Iron Maiden (always), Tarot

Gigs:

Ulcerate, Pestilential Shadows, Altars https://www.ulcerate-official.com/#tour
Disentomb, Abramelin + more https://tickets.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/52409958-ac5e-4ccb-bc53-14686581414e
Storm Rider Festival https://tickets.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/f5d1dff9-5e2f-48e1-bc91-54f163d7cbe3
Essence Festival https://tickets.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/cd26dd51-5ece-45d3-83de-56023e28e2d0
Steel Assassins Festival https://www.moshtix.com.au/v2/event/steel-assassins-2024-two-day-pass/168187

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Are Albums Better Than Playlists?

Wed, 26 Jun 2024 22:00:56 GMT

Phil and Ray talk about why we like albums so much and playlists less, but there is a time and place for everything

Albums we mention that we've been listening to lately

Phil:

Tarot - Glimpse of the Dawn https://hcrtarot.bandcamp.com/album/glimpse-of-the-dawn
Freeways - Dark Sky Sanctuary https://dyingvictimsproductions.bandcamp.com/album/dark-sky-sanctuary
Kontact - Full Contact https://dyingvictimsproductions.bandcamp.com/album/full-contact

Ray:

Borknagar - Fall https://open.spotify.com/album/5nK2siMASeGKxTsX9GqY3v
Bruce Dickinson - The Mandrake Project https://open.spotify.com/album/0tN7q7Xmt0qaoGElJ3Gvqy
Woods of Ypres - Grey Skies and Electric Lights https://open.spotify.com/album/0Rap0bS5EZeaKFoma3tjGs

A whole bunch of other albums get talked about throughout the episode, given it is album focused. They should all be easy to find if you don't know them already. This is the clip of Rob Halford being the coolest guy on Earth that is mentioned though https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMVV_HsHcX0

And some really long playlists for your next long drive if you like exactly the same music as Ray does:

rock songs for when people are over https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4tvJfTdxU3rNyb6hT6aDid?si=0f92ae15985a4258
metal playlist for when I don't want to choose things https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4Ona2ZJHnAoUQGuUR1pMsb?si=1223a54322ad4907

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Are Debut Albums the Best Albums?

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 04:23:21 GMT

Episode 1 of the Metal Minutiae Podcast where we talk the myth of the debut album being the best album from bands. There were a couple of teething issues on the audio recording, i.e. Ray messed up. Apologies.

Some key things from the episode for your reference:

Cirith Ungol show

Your Mate Bookings https://www.yourmatebookings.com/
Cirith Ungol https://www.metalblade.com/us/artists/cirith-ungol/
Night Demon https://www.nightdemon.net/
Aardvark https://aardvarkheavymetal.bandcamp.com/
Tarot https://hcrtarot.bandcamp.com/album/glimpse-of-the-dawn

Upcoming Shows

Enforcer Tour Tickets
Hammerfall Tour Tickets
Ulcerate and Pestilential Shadows Tour
Agalloch Tour
Bastardizer The Duke Hotel Enmore June 21 Performing Enforcers of Evil https://bastardizer.bandcamp.com/album/speed-armageddon

Metal Archives for the reviews stats Ray used

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Welcome to Metal Minutiae

Tue, 11 Jun 2024 04:53:42 GMT

Yeah, what the title says. More to come soon, but hey, it is a start

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