

The Riffhard Podcast
Riffhard
The Riffhard Podcast, Eyal Levi goes in depth with the best guitarists in metal. These are the conversations you always wished you could hear with your guitar heroes.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 19, 2024 • 1h 3min
HYPOCRISY (Peter Tägtgren) | EP 156
Peter Tägtgren, guitarist of Hypocrisy and Pain, Joins Eyal on the Riffhard podcast.
Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction and Love for Hypocrisy
00:05:59 - Balancing Guitar Playing and Other Responsibilities
00:10:11 - Muscle Cramps and Preventing Injuries on Tour
00:14:29 - The Energy and Impact of Rhythmic Music
00:16:32 - The Evolution of Pain and Hypocrisy
00:20:39 - Starting Another Band
00:24:57 - The Power of the Baritone Guitar
00:33:05 - The Disconnect between Theory and Execution
00:43:11 - Creative Process: Fantasy vs Reality
00:49:39 - The dilemma of choosing bonus songs for albums
00:58:06 - The Personal Nature of Music
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LISTEN ON SPOTIFY AND APPLE:
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WEBSITES:
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http://riffhard.com

Jun 12, 2024 • 48min
EXHUMED (Matt Harvey) | EP 155
Matt Harvey, guitarist of Exhumed, joins Eyal on the Riffhard Podcast.
Chapters:
00:01:29 - A Songwriter's Perspective on Music and Guitar
00:06:08 - Avoiding Traps in Composition
00:07:38 - ACDC Records: Style or Parody?
00:09:10 - The Evolution of Band Branding and the Social Media Age
00:15:04 - The Myth of Creativity
00:21:30 - The Delusion of "I Have Arrived"
00:27:45 - Balancing Act and Emotional Maturity
00:34:09 - The Process of Creating an Album
00:44:57 - Excitement in Writing Music
00:46:29 - Pursuing Opportunities and Maximizing Your Craft
SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE:
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LISTEN ON SPOTIFY AND APPLE:
https://spoti.fi/3orTur3
https://apple.co/3BROI9t
FOLLOW EYAL & RIFFHARD:
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https://www.instagram.com/weriffhard/
WEBSITES:
http://riffhardpodcast.com
http://riffhard.com

Jun 5, 2024 • 1h 3min
MUSIC INDUSTRY MARKETING 101 (Finn Mckenty, Jesse Cannon, Logan Young) | EP 154
Finn Mckenty (Punk Rock MBA), Jesse Cannon (Musformation Growth), and Logan Young join Eyal on the Riffhard podcast.
Chapters:
00:00:00 - The Challenges of Releasing Music in the Streaming Era
00:02:03 - Breaking into the Music Industry on a Budget
00:06:15 - The Importance of Consistency and Growth in Content Creation
00:10:30 - The Importance of Small Tweaks for Algorithmic Success
00:18:51 - The Desperation for Attention in the Music Industry
00:22:47 - Embracing Criticism and Ignoring Reddit Hate
00:26:44 - The Importance of Trying and Listening to Feedback
00:28:44 - Fear of Judgment in the Metal Community
00:32:43 - Metallica's Fearlessness and Risk-Taking
00:34:29 - The Revival of Love for Limp Bizkit
00:38:19 - Three Tips for Content Creation Success
00:51:34 - The Impact of Playlist Placement on Music Streams
00:55:47 - The Benefits of Collaborations and Artist Page Marketing
01:02:34 - Making a Name for Yourself
SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE:
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LISTEN ON SPOTIFY AND APPLE:
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https://apple.co/3BROI9t
FOLLOW EYAL & RIFFHARD:
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WEBSITES:
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http://riffhard.com

May 30, 2024 • 52min
UNLEASH THE ARCHERS (Grant Truesdell) | EP 153
Grant Truesdell, guitarist for Unleash The Archers, joins Eyal on the Riffhard Podcast.
CHAPTERS:
00:03:09 - Power Metal Influences
00:05:15 - Translating Story and Concept into Emotionally Resonant Music
00:07:02 - The Two Camps of Songwriting
00:15:27 - Writing with Vocals in Mind
00:19:03 - Trust and Reliability in Band Members
00:22:42 - The Myth of the Lone Wolf Artist
00:26:13 - The Importance of Being a Good Person
00:29:31 - Making Guitar Practice a Priority
00:31:21 - Don't Wait, Just Start
00:36:14 - The Power of a Morning Routine
00:44:42 - Techniques and Practice Tips
00:47:49 - Three Approaches to Songwriting
SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE:
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LISTEN ON SPOTIFY AND APPLE:
https://spoti.fi/3orTur3
https://apple.co/3BROI9t
FOLLOW EYAL & RIFFHARD:
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WEBSITES:
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http://riffhard.com

May 22, 2024 • 1h 5min
SIX FEET UNDER (Jack Owen) | EP 152
Jack Owen, guitarist of Six Feet Under, joins Eyal on the Riffhard Podcast.
CHAPTERS:
00:01:59 - Album Release and Band Names
00:04:01 - The Art of Writing Lyrics
00:08:35 - The Importance of Contributions in a Band
00:12:49 - Creating Note Patterns for Guitar Riffs
00:14:59 - Categorizing Riffs with a Numbering System
00:19:31 - Making Music with Limited Resources
00:24:04 - Using Finger Rotation for Faster Playing
00:26:04 - The Importance of Daily Practice
00:30:08 - Exploring Cities While on Tour
00:34:11 - Keeping Bands Together: The Importance of Communication
00:38:30 - Crazy Club Stories
00:42:31 - Finding Inspiration in True Crime and Poetry
00:51:06 - Writing Songs for Different Projects
00:55:23 - The Importance of Individuality in Music Production
00:57:30 - Old School Metal Engineers and Studios
01:01:46 - Friendly Competition Among Bands
SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE:
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LISTEN ON SPOTIFY AND APPLE:
https://spoti.fi/3orTur3
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FOLLOW EYAL & RIFFHARD:
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WEBSITES:
http://riffhardpodcast.com
http://riffhard.com

May 15, 2024 • 1h 2min
ALPHA WOLF (Scottie Simpson) | EP 151
Scottie Simpson, guitarist for Alpha Wolf, joins Eyal on the Riffhard Podcast.
CHAPTERS:
00:01:46 - Ice-T's Love for Metal
00:03:52 - The Importance of Rhythm in Guitar Playing
00:08:08 - Finding Inspiration from Different Genres
00:14:39 - The Importance of Consistency in Songwriting
00:19:03 - The Value of Writing "Shitty" Songs
00:23:01 - The Process of Critiquing
00:26:53 - Letting Go of Ideas
00:31:01 - The Benefits of EverTune Guitars
00:40:43 - Making the Choice to Focus on Production
00:47:12 - The Importance of Trying Different Producers
00:49:31 - Avoiding Complacency and Staying Humble and Vigilant
00:51:38 - Writing Fun Songs and Listening to Our Own Music
00:55:33 - The Delusion of Perfect Work
00:57:19 - The Disconnect Between Hard Work and Audience Reception
SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE:
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LISTEN ON SPOTIFY AND APPLE:
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FOLLOW EYAL & RIFFHARD:
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WEBSITES:
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http://riffhard.com

May 9, 2024 • 1h 6min
INGESTED (Sean Hynes) | EP 150
Sean Hynes, guitarist of Ingested, joins the Riffhard podcast.
Chapters:
00:02:15 - Finding Inspiration Through Different Tools
00:04:29 - Learning New Concepts and Taking Lessons
00:06:51 - Choosing The Right Guitar Teacher
00:11:17 - Managing the Low String on an Eight-String Guitar
00:13:48 - Experimenting with Evertune Equipped 8-Strings
00:16:03 - Muting Techniques on an 8-String Guitar
00:18:22 - Dealing with hand pain in guitar playing
00:22:35 - Trusting the Producer's Expertise (Christian Donaldson)
00:31:45 - The Scarcity of Drummers Playing to a Click
00:38:13 - The Challenges of Mixing Monitors
00:42:20 - Committing to a Full-Time Band
00:50:37 - Fighting for Recognition in the UK
00:52:34 - Importance of Rhythm in Lead Playing
00:54:48 - Playing and Singing at the Same Time
00:58:59 - The Hardest Riff on Ingested's New Record
01:03:04 - The Importance of Warming Up
SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE:
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LISTEN ON SPOTIFY AND APPLE:
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FOLLOW EYAL & RIFFHARD:
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WEBSITES:
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http://riffhard.com

May 1, 2024 • 1h 11min
NIGHT VERSES: Why recording yourself sucks, Opeth, AxeFX & more (Nick DePirro)
Nick DePirro, guitarist of Night Verses, joins the Riffhard Podcast.
Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Nick DePirro and his unique style
00:02:00 - Influences and Genre Blend
00:04:43 - Use of Octave Settings in Guitar Playing
00:07:13 - Creative Use of Pitch Effects
00:11:07 - The Switch to Fractal and the Benefits of Modelers
00:16:50 - Pros and cons of recording experiences
00:19:47 - The Risk of Equipment Failure
00:23:46 - Why Are So Many Metal Bands Boring Live?
00:27:50 - Use of Visual Effects
00:33:12 - The Challenges of Recording Yourself
00:37:30 - The Benefits of Being Recorded by Someone Else
00:41:25 - Tips for Recording and Editing Music
00:43:25 - The Importance of Clean Playing in Metal
00:48:42 - Finding Inspiration in Unexpected Places
00:56:39 - The Benefits of Group Collaboration and Starting Points in Songwriting
01:00:39 - The Formula of Song Structure
01:08:04 - Writing Chemistry and New Music
01:09:49 - Releasing Solo Music and Future Plans
SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE:
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LISTEN ON SPOTIFY AND APPLE:
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FOLLOW EYAL & RIFFHARD:
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WEBSITES:
http://riffhardpodcast.com
http://riffhard.com

Apr 25, 2024 • 1h 12min
IMMINENCE (Harald Barrett) | 148
Chapters:
00:02:00 - Imminence's Genre Evolution
00:09:25 - Crafting Arrangements
00:14:45 - Intuitive Songwriting Approaches
00:21:54 - Writing for Authenticity
00:26:33 - Discovering a New Sound
00:40:32 - Embracing Change
00:47:30 - Rhythm's Significance
00:52:38 - Virtuosos and the Essence of Our Songs
00:54:47 - The First Song Harald Learned on Guitar
00:59:17 - First Full US Tour
01:01:17 - Building an American Fanbase
01:08:03 - Rock and Roll Priorities
SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE:
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LISTEN ON SPOTIFY AND APPLE:
https://spoti.fi/3orTur3
https://apple.co/3BROI9t
FOLLOW EYAL & RIFFHARD:
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WEBSITES:
http://riffhardpodcast.com
http://riffhard.com

Apr 17, 2024 • 1h 35min
Ricky Armellino, Chris Kelly | Hillhaven (Living your dreams, Eating eyes, Touring with Metallica)
We're joined by Ricky Armellino (Ice Nine Kills, Hawk) and Chris Kelly (Ex Ice Nine Kills touring guitarist, Alustrium) to discuss the reality of living your dreams, eating eyeballs, and their brand new band Hillhaven.
Chapters:
00:02:54 - Shifting Focus in the Music Industry
00:09:19 - Overcoming Challenges and Changing Definitions of Success
00:12:36 - Being a Musician and its Impact on Others
00:16:01 - The Metallica Economy and Touring with LAMB of God
00:19:04 - Friendships with Rockstars
00:22:16 - Accidental Party with Metallica
00:27:53 - The Importance of Taking Time for Yourself
00:43:41 - Home Renovation Nightmare
00:46:55 - The Struggles of Balancing Work and Personal Life
00:50:29 - Working Out Late at Night and Sleep Issues
00:56:39 - Discussing Language Barrier Frustrations
01:02:38 - Awkward Encounter in Mexico City
01:08:33 - The Disastrous Metal Show
01:11:35 - The Fun of Having Actors on Stage
01:14:47 - The Importance of Rhythm and Orchestration in Songwriting
01:21:37 - Limiting Choices for Creativity
01:25:15 - The Importance of Having a Template
01:31:43 - Learning the First Song on Guitar
SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE:
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LISTEN ON SPOTIFY AND APPLE:
https://spoti.fi/3orTur3
https://apple.co/3BROI9t
FOLLOW EYAL & RIFFHARD:
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https://www.instagram.com/weriffhard/
WEBSITES:
http://riffhardpodcast.com
http://riffhard.com


