The riff is the foundation of heavy music, evolving over several decades and styles. Many of our favorite songs started with a single idea and guitar in hand. Anyone can write a riff, but what makes a good riff? Each week, riff disciples Austin Paulson, Dylan Adams, & Justin Swindle attempt to answer this question by discussing their favorite riffs, how they came to be, and why we still worship them today.
Riff Worship
Claim This Podcastby Austin Paulson, Dylan Adams, and Justin Swindle
4.9(30 reviews)
161 episodes
Updated Daily
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88
Podcast Authority
BetaExcellentBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Quality95
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YouTube85
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Podcast Overview
The riff is the foundation of heavy music, evolving over several decades and styles. Many of our favorite songs started with a single idea and guitar in hand. Anyone can write a riff, but what makes a good riff? Each week, riff disciples Austin Paulson, Dylan Adams, & Justin Swindle attempt to answer this question by discussing their favorite riffs, how they came to be, and why we still worship them today.
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🇺🇲
Publishing Since
4/19/2023
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Recent Episodes
May 28, 2026
#156 - Majority Rule - Emergency Numbers
<p>This week on Riff Worship, we’re diving into the comprehensive history of Washington D.C.’s Majority Rule! From skateboarding and high school Driver’s Ed to their final release, Emergency Numbers, we’ll explore the lineage of one of hardcore's most abrasive and dynamic trios.</p><p>In this episode, we discuss:</p><p>Their first basement demo and early split 7-inches with Positive State, Turbine, and The Blackout Terror.</p><p>Majority Rule’s transition into a three-piece, with Matt Michel and Kevin Lamiell stepping up to the microphone.</p><p>The making of their landmark debut album, Interviews With David Frost, alongside producer Brian McTernan.</p><p>An in-depth breakdown of Emergency Numbers including working with Jim Siegel at The Outpost, Matt Michel’s iconic photography layout, and a guitar/bass gear rundown.</p><p>Why the band gracefully parted ways in 2004, their impactful reunion tours with Pg.99 and City of Caterpillar, and how those shows birthed their current project, NØ MAN!</p><p>Recommendations:</p><p><a href="https://portrayalofguilt.bandcamp.com/album/beginning-of-the-end" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Portrayal of Guilt - …Beginning of the End</a></p><p><a href="https://portrayalofguilt.bandcamp.com/album/devil-music" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Portrayal of Guilt - Devil Music</a></p><p><a href="https://infantisland.bandcamp.com/album/obsidian-wreath" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Infant Island - Obsidian Wreath</a></p><p><a href="https://nomanband.bandcamp.com/track/moan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">NØ MAN - Moan</a></p><p><a href="https://nomanband.bandcamp.com/album/glitter-and-spit" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">NØ MAN - Glitter and Spit</a></p><p>Follow Riff Worship</p><p>Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/riffworshippod/">https://www.instagram.com/riffworshippod/</a></p><p>Twitter: <a href="https://x.com/RiffWorshipPod">https://x.com/RiffWorshipPod</a></p><p>YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@RiffWorshipPod">https://www.youtube.com/@RiffWorshipPod</a></p><p>Check out our Official Playlists:</p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37W4wEyb5ELf2y0YYlhRy2?si=631b8a90067e4876">Riffs on Repeat (Spotify)</a><a href="https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/hits-from-the-crypt/pl.u-8aAVXvauoNWybL"></a></p><p><a href="https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvwGr2qsmQQrsJbS8IPgAvs7Lx45gaVs7&si=XAGEfVe1DEjBfjjJ">Riffs on Repeat (YouTube Music)</a></p><p><a href="https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/hits-from-the-crypt/pl.u-8aAVXvauoNWybL">Hits from the Crypt (Apple)</a></p>
May 21, 2026
#155 - Top 5 Death Metal Albums w/ David Stepanavicius (Atræ Bilis, Fulci Rots)
<p>This week on Riff Worship, we’re diving into one of the most revered and fiercely debated styles in extreme music: Death Metal!</p><p>Special guest David Stepanavicius (Atræ Bilis, Fulci Rots) returns to the show to help us trace the genre’s rapid evolution, highlight defining record labels, and break down our Top 5 Death Metal Albums of All Time.</p><p>From the foundational tape-trading days of Old School Death Metal (OSDM) to the modern purveyors of brutal slam and tech-death, we’ll each share our personal lists and spotlight the essential new bands carrying the torch forward!</p><p>Follow Atræ Bilis</p><p>Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/atraebilis/">https://www.facebook.com/atraebilis/</a></p><p>Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/atraebilis/">https://www.instagram.com/atraebilis/</a></p><p>Follow Fulci Rots</p><p>Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/fulcirots/">https://www.instagram.com/fulcirots/</a></p><p>Website: <a href="https://fulcirots.bigcartel.com/products">https://fulcirots.bigcartel.com/products</a></p><p>Austin's Top 5 Death Metal:</p><p><a href="https://death.bandcamp.com/album/human-deluxe-reissue">Death - Human</a></p><p><a href="https://carcass.bandcamp.com/album/necroticism-descanting-the-insalubrious">Carcass - Necroticism - Descanting the Insalubrious</a></p><p><a href="https://morbid-angel.bandcamp.com/album/gateways-to-annihilation">Morbid Angel - Gateways to Annihilation</a></p><p><a href="https://cattledecapitation.bandcamp.com/album/the-harvest-floor">Cattle Decapitation - The Harvest Floor</a></p><p><a href="https://gorguts.bandcamp.com/album/colored-sands">Gorguts - Colored Sands</a></p><p>Dylan's Top 5 Death Metal:</p><p><a href="https://defeatedsanity.bandcamp.com/album/passages-into-deformity-2">Defeated Sanity - Passages Into Deformity</a></p><p><a href="https://relapsealumni.bandcamp.com/album/suffocation">Suffocation - Suffocation</a></p><p><a href="https://cryptopsyofficial.bandcamp.com/album/none-so-vile">Cryptopsy - None So Vile</a></p><p><a href="https://carcass.bandcamp.com/album/heartwork">Carcass - Heartwork</a></p><p><a href="https://cannibalcorpse.bandcamp.com/album/kill">Cannibal Corpse - Kill</a></p><p>David's Top 5 Death Metal:</p><p><a href="https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nGGlqPjIOHp22yIMz30WyIcUf-5rZCJ_k&si=NtUPWMEEbqTfXb17">Deicide - Legion</a></p><p><a href="https://relapsealumni.bandcamp.com/album/informis-infinitas-inhumanitas">Origin - Informis, Infinitas, Inhumanitas</a></p><p><a href="https://uniqueleaderrecords.bandcamp.com/album/consume-the-forsaken">Disgorge - Consume the Forsaken</a></p><p><a href="https://decapitated.bandcamp.com/album/winds-of-creation">Decapitated - Winds of Creation</a></p><p><a href="https://devourmenttxdm.bandcamp.com/album/molesting-the-decapitated">Devourment - Molesting the Decapitated</a></p><p>Honorable Mentions:</p><p><a href="https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_n_4XS_eshy5ugzJBPm-PKOthuQuB6tqZA&si=EolsIQv_0zFUKXgr">Suffocation - Pierced From Within</a></p><p><a href="https://cannibalcorpse.bandcamp.com/album/tomb-of-the-mutilated">Cannibal Corpse - Tomb Of The Mutilated</a></p><p><a href="https://cannibalcorpse.bandcamp.com/album/the-bleeding">Cannibal Corpse - The Bleeding</a></p><p><a href="https://cannibalcorpse.bandcamp.com/album/bloodthirst">Cannibal Corpse - Bloodthirst</a></p><p><a href="https://brodequin.bandcamp.com/album/festival-of-death">Brodequin - Festival of Death</a></p><p><a href="https://defeatedsanity.bandcamp.com/album/psalms-of-the-moribund">Defeated Sanity - Psalms Of The Moribund</a></p><p><a href="https://mortician.bandcamp.com/album/final-bloodbath-session">Mortician - Final Bloodbath Session</a></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsRQOIfygNM">Gorgasm - Masticate to Dominate</a></p><p><a href="https://hate-eternal.bandcamp.com/album/king-of-all-kings">Hate Eternal - King of All Kings</a></p><p><a href="https://dyingfetus.bandcamp.com/album/destroy-the-opposition">Dying Fetus - Destroy the Opposition</a></p><p><a href="https://uniqueleaderrecords.bandcamp.com/album/and-time-begins">Decrepit Birth - And Time Begins</a></p><p><a href="https://thorrshammersl.bandcamp.com/album/dommedagsnatt">Thorr's Hammer - Dommedagsnatt</a></p><p><a href="https://humanremainsband.bandcamp.com/album/using-sickness-as-a-hero">Human Remains - Using Sickness as a Hero</a></p><p><a href="https://entombedband.bandcamp.com/album/left-hand-path">Entombed - Left Hand Path</a></p><p><a href="https://youtu.be/CeKvlLswXxw?si=LO9b6mUIsxnux1yv">dISEMBOWELMENT - Transcendence Into The Peripheral</a></p><p><a href="https://draggedintosunlight.bandcamp.com/album/hatred-for-mankind-2">Dragged Into Sunlight - Hatred For Mankind</a></p><p><a href="https://cannibalcorpse.bandcamp.com/album/vile">Cannibal Corpse - Vile</a></p><p><a href="https://centurymedia.bandcamp.com/album/whisper-supremacy">Cryptopsy - Whisper Supremacy</a></p><p><a href="https://cephaliccarnage.bandcamp.com/album/xenosapien">Cephalic Carnage - Xenosapien</a></p><p><a href="https://gorguts.bandcamp.com/album/from-wisdom-to-hate">Gorguts - From Wisdom To Hate</a></p><p><a href="https://jobforacowboy.bandcamp.com/album/ruination">Job for a Cowboy - Ruination</a></p><p><a href="https://exhumed.bandcamp.com/album/anatomy-is-destiny-live-in-japan">Exhumed - Anatomy Is Destiny</a></p><p><a href="https://uniqueleaderrecords.bandcamp.com/album/cranial-impalement">Disgorge - Cranial Impalement</a></p><p><a href="https://newstandardelite.bandcamp.com/album/deprecated-deriding-his-creation-1998-2021">Deprecated - Deriding His Creation</a></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JohAktU71fQ">Cynic - Focus</a></p><p><a href="https://immolation.bandcamp.com/album/failures-for-gods">Immolation - Failures for Gods</a></p><p><a href="https://behemoth.bandcamp.com/album/the-apostasy">Behemoth - The Apostasy</a></p><p><a href="https://dyingfetus.bandcamp.com/album/war-of-attrition">Dying Fetus - War of Attrition</a></p><p><a href="https://theblackdahliamurder.bandcamp.com/album/ritual">The Black Dahlia Murder - Ritual</a></p><p><a href="https://dismember.bandcamp.com/album/indecent-obscene">Dismember - Indecent & Obscene</a></p><p><a href="https://nile.bandcamp.com/album/annihilation-of-the-wicked">Nile - Annihilation of the Wicked</a></p><p><a href="https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kfAsD6hQ7e2ThppCoTa0tmZX5UJu442yY&si=BQtOhGiXzI4HaHix">Morbid Angel - Domination</a></p><p><a href="https://hate-eternal.bandcamp.com/album/i-monarch">Hate Eternal - I, Monarch</a></p><p><a href="https://entombedband.bandcamp.com/album/wolverine-blues">Entombed - Wolverine Blues</a></p><p><a href="https://cattledecapitation.bandcamp.com/album/death-atlas">Cattle Decapitation - Death Atlas</a></p><p><a href="https://cattledecapitation.bandcamp.com/album/monolith-of-inhumanity">Cattle Decapitation - Monolith of Inhumanity</a></p><p><a href="https://centurymedia.bandcamp.com/album/fearmonger">Beneath The Massacre - Fearmonger</a></p><p><a href="https://jobforacowboy.bandcamp.com/album/genesis">Job for a Cowboy - Genesis</a></p><p><a href="https://theblackdahliamurder.bandcamp.com/album/deflorate">The Black Dahlia Murder - Deflorate</a></p><p>New Death Metal:</p><p><a href="https://20buckspin.bandcamp.com/album/aumicide">Atræ Bilis - Aumicide</a></p><p><a href="https://sanguisugabogg.bandcamp.com/album/hideous-aftermath-24-bit-hd-audio">Sanguisugabogg - Hideous Aftermath</a></p><p><a href="https://deliquesceau.bandcamp.com/album/saviour-enslaver">Deliquesce - Saviour / Enslaver</a></p><p><a href="https://fitforanautopsy.bandcamp.com/music">Fit For An Autopsy</a></p><p><a href="https://ingested.bandcamp.com/music">Ingested</a></p><p><a href="https://bloodincantation.bandcamp.com/music">Blood Incantation</a></p><p><a href="https://revocationband.bandcamp.com/music">Revocation</a></p><p><a href="https://uniqueleaderrecords.bandcamp.com/album/subjected-to-a-partying">Party Cannon</a></p><p><a href="https://outerheaven.bandcamp.com/music">Outer Heaven</a></p><p><a href="https://everlastingspew.bandcamp.com/album/vigil">Lago - Vigil</a></p><p><a href="https://20buckspin.bandcamp.com/album/song-of-salvation">Dream Unending - Song Of Salvation</a></p><p><a href="https://defacementofficial.bandcamp.com/album/doomed">Defacement - Doomed</a></p><p><a href="https://wretchedblessing.bandcamp.com/album/psychic-barriers-to-entry">Wretched Blessing - Psychic Barriers to Entry</a></p><p><a href="https://nithing.bandcamp.com/album/agonal-hymns">Nithing - Agonal Hymns</a></p><p><a href="https://newstandardelite.bandcamp.com/album/theurgy-emanations-of-unconscious-luminescence">Theurgy - Emanations of Unconscious Luminescence</a></p><p><a href="https://putriditydeathmetal.bandcamp.com/album/ignominious-atonement">Putridity - Ignominious Atonement </a></p><p>Follow Riff Worship</p><p>Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/riffworshippod/">https://www.instagram.com/riffworshippod/</a></p><p>Twitter: <a href="https://x.com/RiffWorshipPod">https://x.com/RiffWorshipPod</a></p><p>YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@RiffWorshipPod">https://www.youtube.com/@RiffWorshipPod</a></p><p>Check out our Official Playlists:</p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37W4wEyb5ELf2y0YYlhRy2?si=631b8a90067e4876">Riffs on Repeat (Spotify)</a><a href="https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/hits-from-the-crypt/pl.u-8aAVXvauoNWybL"></a></p><p><a href="https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvwGr2qsmQQrsJbS8IPgAvs7Lx45gaVs7&si=XAGEfVe1DEjBfjjJ">Riffs on Repeat (YouTube Music)</a></p><p><a href="https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/hits-from-the-crypt/pl.u-8aAVXvauoNWybL">Hits from the Crypt (Apple)</a></p>
May 14, 2026
#154 - Gorguts - Obscura
<p>This week on Riff Worship, we dive deep into the technical and spiritual labyrinth of Gorguts’ 1998 masterpiece, Obscura! Often hailed as one of the most innovative death metal albums of all time, Obscura was a radical departure that redefined the genre's boundaries.</p><p>We trace the band’s journey from their 1989 formation in Sherbrooke, Quebec, through their early days with Roadrunner Records and legendary producer Scott Burns. We’ll explore how being dropped by their label and a four-year hiatus led to a period of intense experimentation and fine-tuning.</p><p>In this episode, we’ll also discuss:</p><p>How gutiarist/vocalist Luc Lemay’s conservatory education in violin and composition influenced the architecture of Gorguts’ songwriting.</p><p>The critical role of late guitarist Steeve Hurdle in pushing the band’s sonic textures and thematic depth.</p><p>Reconnecting with engineer Pierre Rémillard (Cryptopsy, Kataklysm, Voivod) at Studio Victor to capture the album’s raw, natural sound!</p><p>Help Steve Evetts Rebuild His Studio: <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-steve-evetts-rebuild-his-studio" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-steve-evetts-rebuild-his-studio</a></p><p>Recommendations:</p><p><a href="https://humanremainsband.bandcamp.com/album/using-sickness-as-a-hero" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Human Remains - Using Sickness as a Hero</a></p><p><a href="https://spentcase-maggotstomp.bandcamp.com/album/fear-state" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">SPENT CASE - FEAR STATE</a></p><p><a href="https://serpentlordusa.bandcamp.com/album/the-once-forgotten-ways-of-old" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">SERPENT LORD - The Once Forgotten Ways of Old</a></p><p><a href="https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lHsFu6NnwdXAaFPpYLl0tSZvpioJGB_Og&si=0F5Nz4KH0NdYFZgi" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">The Smashing Pumpkins - Adore</a></p><p>Follow Riff Worship</p><p>Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/riffworshippod/">https://www.instagram.com/riffworshippod/</a></p><p>Twitter: <a href="https://x.com/RiffWorshipPod">https://x.com/RiffWorshipPod</a></p><p>YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@RiffWorshipPod">https://www.youtube.com/@RiffWorshipPod</a></p><p>Check out our Official Playlists:</p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37W4wEyb5ELf2y0YYlhRy2?si=631b8a90067e4876">Riffs on Repeat (Spotify)</a><a href="https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/hits-from-the-crypt/pl.u-8aAVXvauoNWybL"></a></p><p><a href="https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvwGr2qsmQQrsJbS8IPgAvs7Lx45gaVs7&si=XAGEfVe1DEjBfjjJ">Riffs on Repeat (YouTube Music)</a></p><p><a href="https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/hits-from-the-crypt/pl.u-8aAVXvauoNWybL">Hits from the Crypt (Apple)</a></p>
161 total episodes available
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