The GREAT Heavy Music Podcast

A fun and comical deep-dive into two post-2000 heavy rock/metal releases with Alex Peterson and Phil Collins.

BONUS CONCERT REVIEW - Alex saw Coheed and Cambria and Phil saw Emperor 08/02/2025

BONUS CONCERT REVIEW - Alex saw Coheed and Cambria and Phil saw Emperor Take a listen to a relatively recent concert review for Coheed and Cambria in Ft. Myers, Florida with Mastadon and Periphery that Alex saw and the Wolves in the Throne Room and Emperor show that Phil saw in PA! We hope you have gotten out for some summer shows this year! /episode/index/show/thegreatheavymusicpodcast/id/37647670

Episode 27 - Sum 41 and Witherscape 05/18/2025

Episode 27 - Sum 41 and Witherscape Phil layoued out the Dan Swano classic Witherscape - The Northern Sanctuary and Alex offered up Sum 41 - Chuck. Take a listen and see which one you like more! And as always - support these great bands - /episode/index/show/thegreatheavymusicpodcast/id/36615690

Best Heavy Albums of Q1 - 2025 04/28/2025

Best Heavy Albums of Q1 - 2025 Quarter one of 2025 has BLOWN by and now we have some rankings to dish out! Alex's list: Honorable Mentions: Dawn of Orobouros - Bioluminescence - https://dawnofouroboros.bandcamp.com/album/bioluminescence Drudkh - Shadow Play - https://drudkh.bandcamp.com/album/shadow-play Aversed - Erasure of Color - https://aversed.bandcamp.com/album/erasure-of-color Saor - Amidst the Ruins - List Proper 5 - Judicator - Concord - 4 - Deafheaven - Lonely People with Power - 3 - Dream Theater - Parasomnia - 2 - The Halo Effect - The March of the Unheard - 1 - Coheed and Cambria - The Father of Make Believe - If you want to know Phil's list...well then, turn on the episode and listen!!! But it's also pasted below: Honorable Mentions Deafheaven - Lonely people with power - linked above Majestica - Power Train - Night Flight Orchestra - Give us the Moon - Dynazty - Game of Faces - Nite - Cult of the serpent sun - List Proper 5 Bloody Wood - Nu Delhi - 4 The Halo Effect - March of the Unheard - linked above 3 Faithxtractor - Loathing and the Noose - 2 Spiritworld - Helldorado - https://spiritworldprophet.bandcamp.com/album/helldorado-24-bit-hd-audio 1 Judicator - Concord - linked above /episode/index/show/thegreatheavymusicpodcast/id/36338065

BONUS CONCERT REVIEW - Ensiferum 04/03/2025

BONUS CONCERT REVIEW - Ensiferum What a GREAT heavy band - ENSIFERUM from Finland. Time to hear about how GREAT that damn band is!!!!! /episode/index/show/thegreatheavymusicpodcast/id/35924050

Episode 26 - Kamelot and Archspire 03/30/2025

Episode 26 - Kamelot and Archspire We're back on track and only 3 months into the year! Episode 26 proper Phil reviewed Relentless Mutation by Archspire and Alex reviewed The Black Halo by Kamelot. Be sure to support these two excellent and very different bands at their respective websites - and Two GREAT heavy albums on the GREAT heavy music podcast! Next up, Witherscape's - The Northern Sanctuary and Chuck by Sum 41 /episode/index/show/thegreatheavymusicpodcast/id/35923225

BONUS CONCERT REVIEW - Dark Tranquility, Amorphis and Fires in the Distance 03/29/2025

BONUS CONCERT REVIEW - Dark Tranquility, Amorphis and Fires in the Distance Phil had the great pleasure of seeing Dark Tranquility, Amorphis and Fires in the Distance and now we have the great pleasure of hearing about it! Enjoy and get out and see a show!!! /episode/index/show/thegreatheavymusicpodcast/id/35918085

GreatEST Heavy Albums of 2024 02/13/2025

GreatEST Heavy Albums of 2024 HERE IT IS! The official best heavy albums from 2024 list: Albums of the Year - Alex 1 - Fuerschwanz - Warriors 2 - Bayside - There are worse things than being alive 3 - Wormwood - The Star (song suffer existence might be the best soy) 4 - Blood Incantation - Absolute Elsewhere 5 - Artificial Language - Distant Glow Ep - [articularly rain follows Songs of the Year NOT from the above - Alex 1 - Blind Man by Orden Ogan - The Order of Fear 2 - Hope Shatters by Gaerea - Coma 3 - Winter Storm Vigilantes by Ensiferum - Winter Storm 4 - Der Maulwurf by Kanonenfieber - Die Urkatastrophe 5 - Suicide Today by Unto Others - Never, Neverland Phil's Top five albums of the year 1 - Blood Incantation - Absolute Elsewhere 2 - Kanonenfieber - Die Urkatastrophe 3 - Alcest - Les Chants de l'aurore 4- Iotunn - Kinship 5 - Kvaen - The Formless Fires Phil's Honorable mentions 1 - Amiensus - Reclamation Pt. II 2 - Dvne - Voidkind 3 - Black Sites - The Promised Land? 4 - Ensiferum - Winter Storm 5 - Bayside - There Are Things Worse Than Being Alive Phil's songs of the year le efant della lune by alcest sefarios by amiensus mistland by iotunn levi su lemberg by kanonefieber the message tablet 2 by blood incantation tornet sang by kvaen plaroma by dvne strike with secret fang by nile gideon by black sites good advice by bayside /episode/index/show/thegreatheavymusicpodcast/id/35265015

Best Heavy Albums of Q4 - 2024 12/29/2024

Best Heavy Albums of Q4 - 2024 The lists abound! Quarter 4 tops of the list are here to stay! ALEX - 1 - Blood Incantation - Absolute Elsewhere 2 - IOTUNN - Kinship 3 - Gaerea - Coma 4 - Undeath - More Insane 5 - Vola - Friend of a Phantom HM - Klone - The Unseen HM - Ulver - Liminal Animals HM - Mork Gryning - Fasornas Tid HM - Crippled Black Phoenix - The Wolf Changes Its Fur But Not Its Nature AND Horrific Honorifics Number Two HM - Opeth - The Last Will and Testament HM - Ensiferum - Winter Storm PHIL - 1 - Blood incantation - Absolute Elsewhere 2 - IOTUNN - Kinship 3 - Opeth - The Last Will and Testament 4 - Ensiferum - Winter Storm 5 - VOLA - Friend of a Phantom HM - Devenial Verdict - Blessing of Despair HM - Tribulation - Sub Rosa in Aeternum HM - Night in Gale - Shadowreaper HM - Cardinal Noir - Vitriol /episode/index/show/thegreatheavymusicpodcast/id/34635850

Best Heavy Albums of Q3 - 2024 12/28/2024

Best Heavy Albums of Q3 - 2024 It's list time baby!!!!! And we might be a little late for Q3 of 2024 - but get over it - there is a LOT of great stuff you should be checking out! PHIL's list: HM - Aeons - Ghosts HM - Fleshgod Apocolypse - Opera HM - Kalandra - A Frame of Mind 5 - Unto Others - Never, Neverland 4 - Amiensus - Reclamation Part 2 3 - Nile - The Underwold Awaits Us All 2 - Black Sites - The Promised Land? 1 - Kanonenfieber - Die Urkatastrophe ALEX's list: 1 - Summoning the Lich - Under the Reviled Throne 2 - Dark Tranquility - Endtime Signals 3 - Orden Ogan - The Order Of Fear 4 - Mork - Syv 5 - Wintersun - Time II HM - Leprous - Melodies of Atonement /episode/index/show/thegreatheavymusicpodcast/id/34635840

Pre-2025 70,000 tons of metal cruise and POST-2024 70k wrap up 12/13/2024

Pre-2025 70,000 tons of metal cruise and POST-2024 70k wrap up Da boyz, da boyz, da boyz da boyz da boyz!!!!! A little belated but the boyz reunite nonetheless to talk all things 2024 70,000 tons of metal post-cruise wrap up AND now it's a combo episode because we take a sneak peak into the upcoming 2025 70k cruise! We can't wait and we hope to see you on board! /episode/index/show/thegreatheavymusicpodcast/id/34424320

100th Episode Special! 12/03/2024

100th Episode Special! Well if you like list episodes then you are in for a treat because, this is a big one! In the 100th ever episode of the GREAT heavy music podcast Alex and Phil rank the top five of all the 26 albums each has referred to the other to review since the inception of the show. Can you guess which albums are going to make the top five for Alex and the top five for Phil? What are your top five? Email us your list at /episode/index/show/thegreatheavymusicpodcast/id/34258360

Episode 25 - King Goat and Mithras 10/21/2024

Episode 25 - King Goat and Mithras We are back at it! In this episode take a listen to our reviews of King Goat - Conduit and Mithras - On Strange Loops. Do you agree with Alex's take on the latter? Two UK bands with 2016 releases and very different sounds! Be sure to support these excellent bands! - BE SURE to join us for our next episode - our 100th episode! - where we go through and rank our top-five of the releases we have previously exchanged with each other. It's been a fun ride and we look forward to you joining us for our 100th! /episode/index/show/thegreatheavymusicpodcast/id/33545687

BONUS CONCERT REVIEW - Ayreon 01011001 Live Beneath the Waves 10/12/2024

BONUS CONCERT REVIEW - Ayreon 01011001 Live Beneath the Waves This is it! This is the BIG one! What an INCREDIBLE experience! Thank you to Arjen and ALL of the incredible performers at the first ever Peterson in person Ayreaon show!! We traveled quite a long way and it was worth EVERY MILE! /episode/index/show/thegreatheavymusicpodcast/id/33407077

BONUS CONCERT REVIEW - Southern PA Metal Fest '24 10/10/2024

BONUS CONCERT REVIEW - Southern PA Metal Fest '24 Some gems from the 'fest' were Within Me, Horse Grenade, and Homily. Check 'em out and support these guys - Live version - Homily - /episode/index/show/thegreatheavymusicpodcast/id/33406802

Best Heavy Albums of Q2 - 2024 08/11/2024

Best Heavy Albums of Q2 - 2024 BOOM! Here it is! The best GREAT and HEAVY albums from April, May and June 2024 for you to explore and enjoy. Time is money so feel free to snag the list below and start enjoying the music! Alex's list: 5 - ACOD - Versets Noir 4 - DVNE - Voidkind 3 - Bayside - There are Worse Things Than Being Alive 2 - Wormwood - The Star 1 - Fuerschwanz - Warriors Honorable Mentions - Sgaile - Traverse the Bealeach Unleash the Archers - Phantoma Kvaen - The Formless Fires In Vain - Solemn Sig:Ar:Tyr - Citadel of Stars Cistvaen - At light's demise Seven Spires - A Fortress Called Home Huntsmen - The Dry Land Phil's List: 5 - Unleash the Archers - Phantoma 4 - Vredehammer - God Slayer 3 - Kvaen - The Formless Fire 2 - Hell:ON - Shaman 1 - Alcest - Les Chants de L'aurore Honorable Mentions - Seven Spires - A Fortress Called Home DVNE - Voidkind My Dying Bride - A Mortal Binding /episode/index/show/thegreatheavymusicpodcast/id/32532912

The Ayreon Chronicles - The Theory of Everything 06/16/2024

The Ayreon Chronicles - The Theory of Everything The boys review the 2013 Theory of Everything by metal legend Ayren Lucassen. This album boasts an AMAZING lineup of singers: JB (Grand Magus) as The Teacher Sara Squadrani (Ancient Bards) as The Girl Michael Mills (Toehider) as The Father Cristina Scabbia (Lacuna Coil) as The Mother Tommy Karevik (Kamelot, Seventh Wonder) as The Prodigy Marco Hietala (Nightwish, Tarot) as The Rival John Wetton (Asia, King Crimson) as The Psychiatrist If this is your first experience with the theory of everything - get ready to enjoy! /episode/index/show/thegreatheavymusicpodcast/id/31761437

BONUS CONCERT REVIEW - Bad Religion 06/07/2024

BONUS CONCERT REVIEW - Bad Religion At the amazing Pier 17 in New York City Alex got to see the punk LEGENDS Bad Religion! If you don't know these fellows you've been living under a rock! - Check them out and shout out to the prop-up band Shred Flinstone that tore it down outside of the venue after the show - and - Show those guys some love! /episode/index/show/thegreatheavymusicpodcast/id/31607112

BONUS CONCERT REVIEW - Soen 06/04/2024

BONUS CONCERT REVIEW - Soen Alex had the great fortune of seeing Soen on their Memorial US Tour at LPR in New York City on May 11, 2024. - What a GREAT band! Also - as good fortune would have it - Alex got to experience the EXCELLENT Combo Chimbita on a rando whim. Check out another cool band here - and learn about how Alex fell backward into learning about them! /episode/index/show/thegreatheavymusicpodcast/id/31606777

Best Heavy Albums of Q1 - 2024 04/14/2024

Best Heavy Albums of Q1 - 2024 Phil's list: HM - Madder Mortem - Old eyes, New heart Borknagar - Fall 1 - Ihsahn - Ihsahn 2 - Deception - Daenacteh 3 - Suldusk - Anthesis 4 - Necrowretch - Swords of Dajjal 5 - Devestator - Conjurers of Cruelty Alex's list: HM - Eternal Storm - A Giant Bound to Fall Chapel of Disease - Echoes of Light Dodsrit - Nocturnal Will 1 - Madder Mortem - Old eyes, New heart 2 - Necrophobic - In the Twilight Grey 3 - Suldusk - Anthesis 4 - Judas Priest - Invincible Shield 5 - Sonata Arctica - Clear Cold Beyond /episode/index/show/thegreatheavymusicpodcast/id/30815488

Episode 24 - Amorphis and Disillusion 02/25/2024

Episode 24 - Amorphis and Disillusion Sneak peek - not a spoiler - seems like we have two A+'s on our hands this episode as Phil gave Alex the Skyforger masterpiece by Amorphis and Alex asked Phil to review Ayam by Disillusion. Two radically different sounding albums but both so equally excellent in their own right! Support Amorphis Support Disillusion /episode/index/show/thegreatheavymusicpodcast/id/30094113

BONUS INTERVIEW - BE'LAKOR 01/21/2024

BONUS INTERVIEW - BE'LAKOR Australian Prog Death Metallers Be'lakor, represented by Steve Merry (piano/keys), join the boys to chat about the band's remarkable 20-year career and give us a glimpse of what's to come in the future. From where we sit this band can do NO WRONG!!!!! If you like GREAT heavy music, then you will love Be'lakor! Visit belakorband.com - sign up for their newsletter - and a BIG TIME thank you to Steve for stopping by! /episode/index/show/thegreatheavymusicpodcast/id/29577103

2024 Pre-Departure on 70k recording 01/15/2024

2024 Pre-Departure on 70k recording It's that beautiful time of year again - the air is crisp, we exchange presents, and thank GOD that it's time to go on the heavy metal cruise again!!!!! Join Alex, Phil, Slowskies, Mark, Gabe the babe and KP as they discuss this year's upcoming metal cruise aboard 70000 tons of metal!!!! It's gonna be EPIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! /episode/index/show/thegreatheavymusicpodcast/id/29500613

Best Heavy Albums of 2023 - YEAR END LIST TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 01/01/2024

Best Heavy Albums of 2023 - YEAR END LIST TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Year end list time ladies and gents and 2023 did NOT disappoint! Alex's list is: Albums of the Year - 1 - Kalmah - Kalmah 2 - Fires in the Distance - Air not Meant for Us 3 - Moonlight Sorcery - Horned Lord of the Thorned Castle 4 - Scar Symmetry - The Singularity (Phase II - Xenotaph) 5 - Isole - Aneisidora Top five Songs of the Year that are NOT on the best albums of the year - 1 - Crowne - Super Trooper off of Operation Phoenix 2 - BlackBraid - Moss Covered Bones on the Altar of the moon off of Blackbraid II 3 - Angus McSix - Master of the Universe off of Angus McSix and the Sword of Power 4 - UADA - Crepuscule Natura from the album by the same name 5 - Marduk - Shovel Beats Sceptre off the Memento Mori album Honorable Mention: Vesuvian - Emergence Phil's list is actually pretty good this year, surprisingly, and it is: Albums of the Year - 1 - Kalmah - Kalmah 2 - Fires in the Distance - Air Not Meant for Us 3 - Scar Symmetry - The Singularity (Phase II - Xenotaph) 4 - Cattle Decapitation - Terrasite 5 - Krigsgrav - Fires in the Fall Top five Songs of the Year that are NOT on the best albums of the year - 1 - Sermon - Wake the Silent off the album Of Golden Verse 2 - Sulphur Aeon - Hammer From the Howling Void off of Seven Crowns and Seven Seals 3 - Tomb Mold - Will of Whispers off of The Enduring Spirit 4 - Earthside - But What if We're Wrong off of Let the Truth Speak 5 - Theocracy - Liar, Fool, or Messiah off of Mosaic /episode/index/show/thegreatheavymusicpodcast/id/29286013

Best Heavy Albums of Q4 - 2023 12/31/2023

Best Heavy Albums of Q4 - 2023 Here they are, on the final day of the year - delivering to you sweet listener, the BEST heavy albums of the fourth quarter of 2023. Alex's list is: 5 - Shylmagoghnar - Convergence 4 - Tales - Night Crowned 3 - Vanishing Kids - Miracle of Death 2 - Wayfarer - American Gothic 1 - *Moonlight Sorcery - Horned Lord of the Thorned Castle - *technically released on Sep 28, dont f'ing care. HM - Helga - Wrapped in Mist Phil's list is: 5 - Theocracy - Mosaic 4 - Earthside - Let the Truth Speak 3 - Xoth - Exogalactic 2 - SIGIR - Rainmaker 1 - Wayfarer - American Gothic HM - Panopticon - The Rime of Memory /episode/index/show/thegreatheavymusicpodcast/id/29285923

Episode 23 - Draconian and Istapp 12/10/2023

Episode 23 - Draconian and Istapp In this proper episode of the GREAT Heavy Music Podcast Alex and Phil take a listen to the 2008 stellar doom metal release by the Swedes; Draconian - Turning Season Within and the 2010 black metal release by fellow countrymen Istapp - Blekinge. Which album do you prefer? If you're a Draconian fan - support them And if you prefer Istapp - support them /episode/index/show/thegreatheavymusicpodcast/id/29007303

Best Heavy Albums of Q3 - 2023 10/22/2023

Best Heavy Albums of Q3 - 2023 Another three months have come and gone and some DAMN fine heavy music has gone with it. Alex and Phil pluck out their favorites are give them to you fine people FREE OF CHARGE! Phil and Alex's Honorable Mentions: Voyager - Fearless in Love Mutoid Man - Mutants Spirit Adrift - Ghost at the Gallows Graveyard - 6 Aetherian - At Storm's Edge Blut Aus Nord - Dishamonium - Nahab Urne - A Feast on Sorrow Primordial - How it ends AND NOW - Alex's Top five - (you have to listen to find out the order) _______________________________________ Marduk - Memento Mori UADA - Crepuscule Natura Soen - Memorial Blackbraid - Blackbraid II Fleshvessel - Yearning: Promethean Fates Sealed ______________________________________ PHIL COLLINS' top five below Outer Heaven - Infinite Psychic Depths UADA - Crepuscule Natura Baroness - STONE Tomb Mold - The Enduring Spirit Skalmold - Ydalir _____________________________________ If we missed your favorite - write us at /episode/index/show/thegreatheavymusicpodcast/id/28387472

Episode 22 - He is Legend and Antimatter 10/10/2023

Episode 22 - He is Legend and Antimatter Phil has Alex review "It Hates You" by American rockers He is Legend and Phil takes a deep dive into "The Judas Table" by UK prog metal/rock outfit by the legendary Mick Moss - Antimatter. Next up - The Turning Season within by Draconian and Bleking by Istapp /episode/index/show/thegreatheavymusicpodcast/id/28253237

BONUS INTERVIEW - SOURCE 10/07/2023

BONUS INTERVIEW - SOURCE Dynamic lead singer and guitarist Benjamin Gleason and outstanding drummer Justin Mirarck of the AWESOME prog metal band Source drop by the GREAT heavy music podcast to give us an update on their latest album, upcoming tour and all good things SOURCE! Stay in touch and up to date with the band on They can ( and SHOULD ) be followed on Facebook as well - And instagram - /episode/index/show/thegreatheavymusicpodcast/id/28253189

The Ayreon Chronicles - 01011001 - Disc 2 - "Earth" 08/18/2023

The Ayreon Chronicles - 01011001 - Disc 2 - "Earth" The second and maybe better of the two 01011001 albums? Which track is the highlight for you? Tons of good stuff on this album and if you haven't heard it yet, MAKE A POINT to check it out as soon as possible! /episode/index/show/thegreatheavymusicpodcast/id/27735339

The Ayreon Chronicles - 01011001 - Disc 1 - "Y" 08/12/2023

The Ayreon Chronicles - 01011001 - Disc 1 - "Y" The 2008 release "01011001" was a game-changing album for Arjen and Ayreon. In September of 2023 a live performance of the album will take place in the Netherlands and it is sure to be legendary! What do you think about this masterpiece? /episode/index/show/thegreatheavymusicpodcast/id/27735297

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