Life of Defiance
By Mason Beard and Roland Street
Life of DefianceFeb 12, 2021
Your Tips Pay For My Bong Rips: Society's Finest
This week, Roland and Mason sat down to speak to the current lineup of Society's Finest, which includes Josh Ashworth (vocals), Jordan Brady (guitars), Joel Bailey (bass), and Chad Wilburn (drums). We discuss the benefits of the modern internet age, the difficulties of being involved in the Christian music industry, and what the band is presently up to as a whole.
MUSIC:
All tracks from Society's Finest - The Journey So Far
- Monarch
- Dead People
- 1955
- Knife Fight
LINKS:
Society's Finest accounts:
Podcast accounts:
Mason's stuff:
- Mystic Winter
- Symphony of Heaven
- The Thlipsis
- TIMŌRĀTUS
- True American Black Metal (film)
Roland's stuff:
We Heard Horror Stories About You: Stephen Sarro (Tantrum of the Muse, UnTeachers)
Death Comes For Us All: A Tribute To Chuck Schuldiner
In this week's episode, Mason introduces others to speak about their experience with DEATH, the legendary death metal act from Florida. A fantastic band was formed by an amazing human being in Chuck Schuldiner, who passed away on December 13, 2001. Not much to say on this episode. We hope you enjoy. Here is to Chuck.
MUSIC:
All tracks from DEATH, which can all be found at Bandcamp, save for Symbolic.
- Lack of Comprehension
- Symbolic
- Flesh and the Power It Holds
- Painkiller (Judas Priest cover)
- Jealousy
- Scavenger of Human Sorrow
- Living Monstrosity
- Voice of the Soul
- Zero Tolerance
- Altering the Future
- Crystal Mountain
LINKS:
Podcast accounts:
Mason's stuff:
- Mystic Winter
- Symphony of Heaven (this doubles as Logan's)
- The Thlipsis
- TIMŌRĀTUS
- The Bearded Dragon Productions
- The Metal Onslaught Magazine
- True American Black Metal (film)
Roland's stuff:
Tech Talk Ep. 1: Logan Thompson (Symphony of Heaven, Elgibbor, Koronatizor, etc.)
This week, Mason and Roland started a new experimental series for the podcast called "TechTalk", where musicians and artists come on the show and discuss the techniques and technology they use to do what they do. Gear talk is a constant in musician circles and this is a quick and easy way to hear about it from peers and people we're fans of. A shorter episode than normal, but some new ones are coming soon. Promise.
MUSIC:
- Symphony of Heaven - The Ascension of Extinction
- Symphony of Heaven - You Shall Be As Gods
LINKS:
Logan's link
Podcast accounts:
Mason's stuff:
- Mystic Winter
- Symphony of Heaven (this doubles as Logan's)
- The Thlipsis
- TIMŌRĀTUS
- The Bearded Dragon Productions
- The Metal Onslaught Magazine
- True American Black Metal (film)
Roland's stuff:
Staring at my Guitars: Rob Volkoff (Aseity, Life Renewed, I Prayed For An Afterlife, etc.)
This week, Mason spoke to Rob Volkoff of Aseity, I Prayed For An Afterlife, and most recently Life Renewed. The conversation stems over Rob's career and how much time and effort he put into a number of projects including O, House of Jacob, Discerner, and many others. Rob covers his career extensively, talks to Mason about how many mutual connections they have had over the years, and goes deep into the meaning of his latest song, "Vision/Revision".
MUSIC:
- BoughtXBlood - Restoration
- O, House of Jacob - Degradation
- Blessed by the Broken - Ignite
- Aseity - Silent Whispers
- Aseity - Losing Myself
- I Prayed For An Afterlife - One Within
- Life Renewed - Vision/Revision
LINKS:
Podcast accounts:
Mason's stuff:
- Mystic Winter
- Symphony of Heaven
- The Thlipsis
- TIMŌRĀTUS
- The Bearded Dragon Productions
- The Metal Onslaught Magazine
- True American Black Metal (film)
Roland's stuff:
Mixing Evanescene and Veil of Maya: Monica Soe (Aseity)
This week, Mason and Roland sat down to talk to Monica Soe of Aseity about her band, her artwork, and her musical background, hopes, and dreams. Her band has certainly begun to take on a life of its own mixing very well-defined bands together. Give this episode a listen and go follow Monica at the links below!
MUSIC:
- Phinehas - Dark Flag
- Aseity - Losing Myself
- Aseity - Silent Whispers
LINKS:
Monica's links
Podcast accounts:
Mason's stuff:
- Mystic Winter
- Symphony of Heaven
- The Thlipsis
- TIMŌRĀTUS
- The Bearded Dragon Productions
- The Metal Onslaught Magazine
- True American Black Metal (film)
Roland's stuff:
BONUS: Two Truths and a Lie
This week, Roland and Mason play a game. They came up with a fake band name and included them in a list with two existing bands. No music from the bands mentioned will be included in case you want to play along. Hopefully, you do. However, we included bands in a similar genre to each one. Following the game, the two also cover the most absurd band names that exist, according to Rolling Stone. All links below!
MUSIC:
- Chevelle - I Get It
- The Famine - Killing for Sport
- Inhale Exhale - The Impatient Will Suffer
- Vials of Wrath - A Black Bile Bog
- Becoming Saints - Vox Mortem
- Once Nothing - Whiskey Breath
- Candiria - Remove Yourself
- Drottnar - Axiom
- Islander - Cold Speak
- Skald in Veum - Goatwhore
- Know Nothing - Country for Earthlings
- Shamash - Suffering Servant
- Cynic - Evolutionary Sleeper
- Zao - Clawing, Clawing, Never Cutting Through
LINKS:
Podcast accounts:
Mason's stuff:
- Mystic Winter
- Symphony of Heaven
- The Thlipsis
- TIMŌRĀTUS
- The Bearded Dragon Productions
- The Metal Onslaught Magazine
- True American Black Metal (film)
Roland's stuff:
The Drunk Nun: Why We Left...
MUSIC:
Breaking Benjamin - The Diary of Jane
Aseity - Silent Whispers
Spiritbox - Secret Garden
ZAO - Nothing's Form
Twenty One Pilots - Choker
Megadeth - Symphony of Destruction
Megadeth - Sweating Bullets
LINKS:
Podcast accounts:
Mason's stuff:
Mystic Winter
Symphony of Heaven
The Thlipsis
TIMŌRĀTUS
The Bearded Dragon Productions
The Metal Onslaught Magazine
True American Black Metal (film)
Roland's stuff:
YouTube
RSVP (Facebook, Instagram)
Lost in Faith
Street Drummer (YouTube)
Indiana Death Choir: André Chiang (Shamash, Necromanicide)
Mason sat down this week with André Chiang of Shamash and formerly of Necromanicide to talk about a number of things, including both his bands, his deep-rooted love of Jesus Christ, his admiration of Steve Rowe and Mortification, as well as a lot of history with Asia's metal scene. Not to mention a joke about Mason dyeing his beard multiple colors if this episode gets 100 plays in a month. Oh, not to mention the Indiana Death Choir aka Mason and Logan Thompson, both of Symphony of Heaven. Give the episode a listen for context!
MUSIC:
- Whitecross - Holy War
- Mortification - Necromanicide
- Necromanicide - Hate Regime
- Abated Mass of Flesh - Deathcrusher
- Mortification - Nocturnal
- Infectious Maggots - Shapechanger
- Stryper - Soldiers Under Command
- Shamash - At the Throne
- Death - Open Casket
- Shamash - Suffering Servant
LINKS:
Podcast accounts:
Mason's stuff:
- Mystic Winter
- Symphony of Heaven
- The Thlipsis
- TIMŌRĀTUS
- The Bearded Dragon Productions
- The Metal Onslaught Magazine
- True American Black Metal (film)
Roland's stuff:
Traversing the Metal Subgenres
Roland and Mason go on a crazy adventure throughout the genres of metal. Or at least, Wikipedia's list. They go on some weird tangents on some weird genres. It was educational and very odd. Also, not sponsored by Liquid Death.
MUSIC:
- Chevelle - The Red
- Drowning Pool - Bodies
- P.O.D. - Boom
- Tantrum of the Muse - Victoria Has a Secret
- Skald in Veum - Goatwhore
- Cerimonial Sacred - Eleven Thousand Dead
- We Came Out Like Tigers - The Sailors Does Not Pray For Wind, He Learns to Sail
- Goatscorge - Awaiting the Apocalypse
- Living Sacrifice - Organized Lie
- A Hill To Die Upon - Satan Speaks
- Eluveitie - The Call of the Mountains
- Phinehas - Dark Flag
- Heliocentric - God of Empathy
- ZAO - Feed It Pain
LINKS:
Podcast accounts:
Mason's stuff:
- Mystic Winter
- Symphony of Heaven
- The Thlipsis
- TIMŌRĀTUS
- The Bearded Dragon Productions
- The Metal Onslaught Magazine
- True American Black Metal (film)
Roland's stuff:
Circle Back to Limp Bizkit: Underrated or Overrated
In this week of Life of Defiance, Roland and Mason are back and they are playing "Underrated vs. Overrated". They compared bands, musicians, musical aspects, and additional nostalgic paraphernalia. Check it out!
MUSIC:
- Living Sacrifice - The Reaping
- Slipknot - Psychosocial
- EGT - Transformers G1 Theme (Metal Remix)
- Scooby-Doo Theme
- Death - Flesh and the Power It Holds
- August Burns Red - Composure
- Falling in Reverse - Popular Monster
- Testament - Brotherhood of the Snake
- Extol - Open the Gates
- The Devil Wears Prada - You Can't Spell Crap Without "C"
- Living Sacrifice - Your War
- ZAO - Jinba Ittai
- Vials of Wrath - A Black Bile Fog
- Slayer - Angel of Death
- Oceans Ate Alaska - Metamorph
- Shai Hulud - Soley Concentrated on the Negative Aspects of Life
- TIMŌRĀTUS - Best Show
LINKS:
Podcast accounts:
Mason's stuff:
- Mystic Winter
- Symphony of Heaven
- The Thlipsis
- TIMŌRĀTUS
- The Bearded Dragon Productions
- The Metal Onslaught Magazine
- True American Black Metal (film)
Roland's stuff:
We Met the Kidz Bop Kids: Bryce and Reece Maopolski (Brotality)
This week Mason (Roland was unavailable for this episode, so Mason took the interview solo this week) sat down and talked to Bryce and Reece Maopolski of the thrash and groove metal band Brotality! We discussed the band's newest album, Worldwide Desolation, as well as the band's beginnings, big shows they played, and some interesting news about a second album. Also, a story about Kidz Bop? What? Yes, you read that right. Hope you listen to this episode!
MUSIC:
- Brotality - I Am Fire, I Am Death
- Brotality - Spiral Out
- Brotality - Salting the Wound
- Brotality - Hypernova
- Today is the Day - The Descent
- Brotality - Legions Fall
LINKS:
Podcast accounts:
Mason's stuff:
- Mystic Winter
- Symphony of Heaven
- The Thlipsis
- TIMŌRĀTUS
- The Bearded Dragon Productions
- The Metal Onslaught Magazine
- True American Black Metal (film)
Roland's stuff:
Limited Space on this Flat Earth: Spencer Byers
Today, Roland and I sat down with our close friend Spencer Byers. And did it go downhill from there? Conspiracy theories, joking around, and towards the end, Spencer turned the tables on us and wanted to ask us questions about the music industry. Spencer is a guy our age who is wanting to get into it just like us and we're there to support him in this venture. Follow him on Instagram! (Also, if you want a guitar, hit this man up.) Sidenote: Mason's brother Silas makes a cameo appearance. What a weirdo.
MUSIC:
- Captives - Signs
- The Weeknd - Blinding Lights (Roland's pick)
- MGK - Forget Me Too
- A Day to Remember - Mind Reader
- Architects - Black Lungs
- Old Growth - Red Clouds (Mason's Pick)
- Bring Me The Horizon - It Never Ends
- Imminence - Daggers
- Wage War - Who I Am
LINKS:
Podcast accounts:
Mason's stuff:
- Mystic Winter
- Symphony of Heaven
- The Thlipsis (you better go like this page!)
- TIMŌRĀTUS
- The Bearded Dragon Productions
- The Metal Onslaught Magazine
- True American Black Metal (film)
Roland's stuff:
I'm Hype Too: Hyperion Zhang (The Thlipsis, Risen)
Welcome to 2021! It's already been an interesting year, only two weeks in. Anyway, we decided to kick it off with an interview. We talked to Hyperion Zhang of The Thlipsis and Risen, both projects Mason has been involved in at one point or another. Hyperion talks to us about The Thlipsis, his time with Risen, how he and Mason met, upcoming shows, recordings, and the current lineup of the band. On a side note, we also discuss a controversial topic relating to a metal guitarist in the news lately.
MUSIC:
- Metallica - Master of Puppets
- Death - Altering the Future
- The Thlipsis - Darkness Breakout
- Captives - Glass Heart
- Hollow Front - Wearing Thin
- Relics - Static
- Iced Earth - Black Flag
- While She Sleeps - Empire of Silence
LINKS:
Mason's stuff:
- Mystic Winter
- Symphony of Heaven
- The Thlipsis (you better go like this page!)
- TIMŌRĀTUS
- The Bearded Dragon Productions
- The Metal Onslaught Magazine
- True American Black Metal (film)
Roland's stuff:
- YouTube
- Roland Street Video & Photo (Facebook, Instagram)
- Lost in Faith
- Street Drummer (YouTube)
Joey Nogle (Plus Top 3 Movies)
Welcome back, welcome back! Hope you all have a Happy New Year and that you had a Merry Christmas! I'll warn you now but the audio is really rough on this episode, with Roland's mic cutting in and out, and Mason's having a lot of static. However, hopefully, that will not take away from our guest, Joey Nogle! Our country-loving friend Joey has been working on new music, while also teaching his loveable dog Bruce how to pray (more on that later). We also talk about our favorite films. Hurtful words are exchanged in the process as well, but that's normal.
MUSIC:
- Aseity - Losing Myself
- Once Nothing - Columbus Wasn't Looking For America
- Twelve Gauge Valentine - Casket Junkie
- Comrades - Dark Tongues, Pt. II
- Transgressions of the Defiled - Of the Watchers
LINKS:
Mason's stuff:
- Mystic Winter
- Symphony of Heaven
- The Thlipsis
- TIMŌRĀTUS
- The Bearded Dragon Productions
- The Metal Onslaught Magazine
- True American Black Metal (film)
Roland's stuff:
For Those About To Rock
We are back after a few weeks. Trying to give this every two weeks thing a shot. We're busy dudes, what do you want from us? Anyways, we're back this week and we covered five bands each we discovered this year that we found, so 10 in total. Also, toward the end, for whatever reason, we discussed what next year looks like for the music scene and generally for the public. These are simply our opinions and we are trying to be gracious with them.
Huge thanks to Erik Street (for putting up with us) and Monica Soe (for the dope artwork), as well as all the bands we have mentioned for the killer material!
MUSIC:
- Polaris - Pray for Rain
- Brotality - Salting the Wound
- Hollow Front- P.A.N.I.C.
- Ensepluchre - Transcendence
- Captives - Falling Apart
- Shamash - Suffering Servant [EP is available now, this was recorded over a month ago heh]
- Dream State - I Feel It Too
- Then It Ends - Depravity
- Architects - Doomsday
- Luther's Hammer - Yahweh Saves
- Becoming Saints - It All Ends With You
LINKS:
Mason's stuff:
- Mystic Winter
- Symphony of Heaven
- The Thlipsis
- TIMŌRĀTUS
- The Bearded Dragon Productions
- The Metal Onslaught Magazine
- True American Black Metal (film)
Roland's stuff:
Waltteri Mäensivu (TheCoolGuitarGuy)
Down the Port Hole
Yes, that’s two drum puns in a row. May have to capitalize on that. Anyway, this week Mason and Roland go into the mindset of musicians, specifically drummers in this case. Even the mindset of Christian drummers! Or if you want to get even more niche, Christian metal drummers.
Another thank you to Erik Street for working with us on the technical/behind-the-scenes side, as well as Monica Soe for creating the dope artwork!
MUSIC:
- Shamash - Suffering Servant (https://shamashrr.bandcamp.com/)
- Color Crush - Movie Night (https://colorcrush.bandcamp.com/track/movie-night)
- Symphony of Heaven - For Glory (https://symphonyofheaven.bandcamp.com/album/body-of-christ)
LINKS:
Mason's stuff:
- Instagram
- Facebook
- Mystic Winter
- Symphony of Heaven
- The Thlipsis
- TIMŌRĀTUS
- The Bearded Dragon Productions
- The Metal Onslaught Magazine
- True American Black Metal (film)
Roland's stuff:
Two Birds, One Drumstick
Hello! Welcome to the Life of Defiance Podcast, hosted by Mason Beard (Symphony of Heaven, Mystic Winter) and Roland Street (An Infinite Moment, Lost in Faith); a couple of drummers from the Midwest. In this episode the two talk about their upbringings and the bands and musical ventures they have partaken in.
Huge thank you to Erik Street for manning the camera for the video version of this and to Monica Soe of Aseity Graphics (go hire her!) for designing the cover of our podcast.
MUSIC:
- Angel of Sodom - Righteous Kill (https://angelofsodom.bandcamp.com/album/divine-retribution)
- Heliocentric - God of Empathy (https://www.amazon.com/Perpetual-Felicity-Heliocentric/dp/B07ZXKZN58)
LINKS:
Mason's stuff:
- Mystic Winter
- Symphony of Heaven
- The Thlipsis
- TIMŌRĀTUS
- The Bearded Dragon Productions
- The Metal Onslaught Magazine
- True American Black Metal (film)
Roland's stuff:
- YouTube
- Roland Street Video & Photo (Facebook, Instagram)
- Lost in Faith
- Street Drummer (YouTube)