Unsung Podcast
Music
About
If there was a definitive discography of classic albums, what should be in it? Hosts Mark Fraser and Chris Cusack, plus the occasional guest, discuss and dissect perceived classic albums to decide which albums would make this list. We also interview amazing artists, do genre deep dives and throw a journalistic lens on musical topics you might not know much about.
Episodes
- Are Cabaret Voltaire Britain's Most Pioneering Electronic Act? (Side A) with P6 from Stretchheads, Desalvo and OMO
Cabaret Voltaire are no one thing. Depending on which corner of the internet you found us from, you might know them as the caustic Sheffield noise act who preceded post-punk, the sinister electro-industrial outfit with a penchant for evang…
- Did Hollywood Kill Jóhann Jóhannsson?
This episode explores the life and career of composer Jóhann Jóhannsson, examining his solo albums like IBM 1401 and Fordlandia, his film scores for movies such as Arrival and The Theory of Everything, and the circumstances surrounding his…
- Rock and Roll Killing Machine by Drowningman
This episode of the Unsung Podcast explores the mathcore band Drowningman and their intentionally bad album recorded to terminate a contract with Revelation Records. The discussion expands to include other notable musicians who have tried…
- The Band That Made One Album About the End of the World (Then Disappeared)
This episode of Unsung Podcast details the story of Lift to Experience, a band that released a single, ninety-minute concept album about the apocalypse set in Texas. It covers the album's vision, religious influences, the band's subsequent…
- When Artists Aren't What They Seem - Ghost Bath Musical Catfishing and Hoax Bands - 380
This episode of Unsung Podcast examines the phenomenon of musicians and bands using fabricated identities and hoaxes for commercial advantage, distinguishing between artistic personas and outright deception. It discusses cases including Th…
- Is Insomniac by Green Day an Unsung Classic? (Side B) w/ Rick Bruce from Coffin Mulch/Moondshine Docs - 379
This episode of Unsung Podcast discusses Green Day's extensive discography, focusing on albums from American Idiot to Saviors, and debates whether the band can be classified as punk. The central question explored is whether Green Day's 199…
- Is Insomniac by Green Day an Unsung Classic? (Side A) - 378
Could it be done? Is it possible to call anything Green Day have ever released both unsung AND (crucially, because there's a fair bit of 'meh' in their catalogue) good? Well folks, this week and next we're going to do our very best to find…
- The Life and Times of Charles Bradley - 377
Charles Bradley’s cover of Black Sabbath’s Changes is one that both hosts of this podcast believe could well be the definitive version of the song. And we say that having done three episodes on Black Sabbath — an odyssey that gave us both…
- The Dark Side of David Bowie and 1970s Groupie Culture - 376
Bowie fans have long found ways to make peace with some of the more unsavoury aspects of his character and behaviour during that decade. His Thin White Duke persona highlights what, by his own admission, were “the darkest days” of his life…
- Is The Warrior by Scandal a True Unsung Classic? - 375
We're back after a fairly shambolic three weeks in our lives (redundancy sure does suck) with this slice of fried gold from the 1980s. You've almost certainly heard the lead single from this record. In fact, the question as to who the sing…
- The Spotify Techsodus - Should Artists Really Be Leaving the World's Biggest Streaming Platform? - 374
This week we're diving into why bands like Godspeed You! Black Emperor and King Gizzard are pulling their music from Spotify - and why it probably won't change anything. It's a trickier situation than it seems, but the whole mess starts wi…
- The Mystery of Q Lazzarus - 373
As stated at numerous points in this episode, a lot of the things discussed here can be found in the documentary Goodbye Horses: The Many Lives of Q Lazzarus. We urge you to go check out that film here: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/qlazzarus…
- Is Hulk Hogan's Entrance Music the Best Wrestling Theme Ever? - 372
Everyone knows Hulk Hogan's entrance music, but how many know the fascinating story behind Rick Derringer's "Real American"? With the recent passing of Hulk Hogan, we thought we’d revisit a previous episode and update it with new informati…
- So What's the Deal With Phil Anselmo? - 371
Like us, are you somewhat uncomfortable of about Pantera playing with Metallica? Why exactly might that be? We need to explore what it is about Phil Anselmo that gives people that icky feeling. This week we try to put some meat on the bone…
- The Velvet Sundown: The AI Band Controversy Explained - What Happened and What's Next - 370
You may have seen the AI band The Velvet Sundown pop up in the news recently and thought "well, that's weird". Long-time fans of the pod probably also thought "when are they going to do an episode on that?" Well, here it is! The Velvet Sun…
- Why Do US Maple Sound Like That? w/ Ferruccio Quercetti from CUT - 369
This week we're talking about US Maple. Which is a bit like saying we're talking about having your teeth drilled without anaesthetic. The Chicago quartet spent twelve years making music that deliberately disappointed every expectation you…
- No Wave: The Nihilistic New York Movement That Influenced 40 Years of Music - 368
This week we're diving headfirst into the gloriously pretentious world of No Wave - the three-year New York art scene that somehow managed to influence everything that followed. Chris has somehow convinced Mark and our resident Italian pun…
- Anti-Rock: When Musicians Deliberately Break the Rules w/ Ferruccio Quercetti - 367
This week we're tackling the wonderfully niche concept of anti-rock. Or more specifically, we're trying to work out what the hell it actually is, why Google doesn't seem to know either, and how it connects to everything from Frank Zappa ta…
- Is Emma Ruth Rundle Gothic Rock? - 366
This week we're diving into the wonderfully gloomy world of Emma Ruth Rundle. Or more specifically, we're having a bit of a discussion whether she's actually goth or not, what goth even means, and how it may be broader than some think. Mus…
- When Vessels Traded in Their Guitars for Synthesisers for Their Third Album, Dilate- 365
This week we're talking about the Leeds band Vessels. Or more specifically we're talking about their quite abrupt change from identikit post rock band to something a lot more electronic and a lot more enticing. By their own admission, Vess…
- Kerrang! Hometaping Vol. 2: Refuse Music, Compiled by Casey Chaos - 364
This week Dave returns as we dive into our bag of covermount CDs and unearth a real gem. If you were buying Kerrang! in August 2002, you might remember issue 918 with The Prodigy on the cover. What you definitely remember is the cover-moun…
- Revolutionary Vol. 2 by Immortal Technique w/ Joe from Go Down Fighting, Man Must Side, Shit You May Not Have Seen Podcast - 363
Joe from Shit You May Not Have Seen Podcast/the bands Go Down Fighting and Man Must Die, jois us this week. And his pick is somewhat controversial: Immortal Technique's second album second album Revolutionary Vol. 2. In true unsung style,…
- Chinese Restaurant by Chrisma/Krisma - 362
On this episode we dive deep into the musical history of one of Italy's most fascinating and forward-thinking bands - Krisma (or Chrisma as they were originally known). This husband and wife duo from Milan created music that was light year…
- In Session 12 - Arno Michaelis: Author, Anti-Extremism Activist and Former White Nationalist (Side B) - 361
In part two of our interview Arno Michaelis, we navigate the bizarre intersection of music, ideology, and redemption. If you've ever wondered how extremist movements actually work, this offers some great insight. Arno gives us the inside s…
- In Session 12 - Arno Michaelis: Author, Anti-Extremism Activist and Former White Nationalist (Side A) - 360
This week and next we're joined by a very special guest - Arno Michaelis, author, anti-extremism activist, reformed white nationalist and former singer of the neo-Nazi metal band Centurion. You may have seen Arno recently on YouTube where…
- Otherness by Alexisonfire - 359
We've been a bit of a post-hardcore kick this year, so we thought we'd swing to the commercial end of the spectrum and talk about Alexisonfire. Specifically, Mark has chosen their 2022 comeback album 'Otherness' and we have a bit of a barn…
- The Bad Wife by Julie Christmas - 358
This week, we’re talking about Julie Christmas – a woman whose voice could peel paint off the walls one moment and tuck you into bed the next. Known for her work with Made Out of Babies, Battle of Mice, and her collaboration with Cult of L…
- The Best of Arvo Pärt - 357
This week, we’re going in the exact opposite direction as last week talking about one of the most quietly revolutionary figures in modern music: Arvo Pärt. That's right, we're pivoting HARD from death metal to neoclassical music. Strap in!…
- Whisper Supremacy by Cryptopsy w/ Joe McGlynn from Man Must Die and Go Down Fighting - 356
Once upon a time Man Must Die released two albums on Relapse Records and toured an absolute shit load. I actually remember when they toured with Machine Head, which is a fairly impressive thing for any metal band to achieve. Man Must Die w…
- Fishing for Luckies by The Wildhearts (Side B) - 355
We’re back with the final part of our exploration of The Wildhearts, one of rock’s most truly unpredictable and chaotic bands. If you thought last week’s episode covered all their madness, think again cause we've a TON more stories in this…
- Fishing for Luckies by The Wildhearts (Side A) - 354
The Wildhearts could very well be one of the most chaotic, unpredictable, and underrated British rock bands ever. Ideal for unsung in a lot of ways, really. So this week and next, we'll we’re diving deep into their sound, history, and lega…
- The Fine Art of Original Sin by Ink & Dagger - 353
We love it when we get a chance to talk about very influential bands who are extremely overlooked. It is, after all, the whole reason this podcast exists. And there are few as influential, and overlooked, as Ink & Dagger. Their albums aren…
- Unsong: We Are the World by U.S.A. for Africa (Side B) - 352
Well, here we are again, back in the trenches of musical altruism, digging through the chaos and cocaine fumes of We Are the World . In our final part of this double header, we examine the actual recording process—a night filled with megas…
- Unsong: We are the World by U.S.A. for Africa (Side A) - 351
It’s 2025, and somehow, We Are The World is about to turn 40 years old . Time is a cruel joke. This week and next we'll be taking a deep dive into one of the biggest charity singles ever recorded. You know the one—Michael Jackson, Lionel R…
- Intros #2 with Grant Donaldson (Moni Jitchell, Civil Elegies) - 350
In this episode we are joined by special guest Grant Donaldson from Moni Jitchell and Civil Eleigies, as he dives into some of his early musical influences. From Meatloaf's 'Bat Out of Hell 2' to ACDC's 'Back in Black' and Refused's 'The S…
- Never Say Die! by Black Sabbath w/ Rick Bruce (Moonshine Docks, Coffin Mulch) (Side C) - 349
Welcome to the third and final part of our Black Sabbath expedition with Rick Bruce from Moonshine Docks and formerly of Coffin Mulch! We dive deep into the tumultuous yet fascinating journey of Sabbath's later years and the cap it off by…
- Never Say Die! by Black Sabbath w/ Rick Bruce (Moonshine Docks, Coffin Mulch) (Side B) - 348
Well now. It turns out that 19 albums (technically 20 if you include Heaven & Hell's only album, The Devil You Know) is rather a lot. So our two parter has become a three parter. Whoops. But we tackle their discography with someone who kno…
- Talking Black Sabbath with Aron Ward (Side A) - 347
It's 2025 and we're starting the year off with a bang. Regular fans will know that we always start the year off with a big artist, and there's very few metal bands bigger than Black Sabbath. This week and next we'll be chatting all about t…
- Mestarin kynsi by Oranssi Pazuzu (Side B) - 346
After touching briefly on it in our Finland episode last week, this week we dive headlong into the discography of disorienting and electrifying world of the Finnish band, Oranssi Pazuzu. Known for their unique blend of black metal, psyched…
- Why Is Metal So Popular in Finland? (Oranssi Pazuzu Side A) - 345
This week we dive headfirst into the land of heavy metal, Finland. In what originally started off as an episode on the Oranssi Pazuzu album Mestearin Kynsi, we quickly realised that we had a two parter on our hands. So this week, we're usi…
- In Place of Real Insight by Karate - 344
In this episode we explore the eclectic stylings of the band Karate. We break down their shift from post-hardcore roots to embracing jazz influences, focusing on the standout album 'In Place of Real Insight.' And we get there, in the usual…
- In Session 11 w/ Jan Alkema from Compulsion - 343
This week our pal Jan Alkema, drummer of the bands The Drum/China Drum and Compulsion returns. This time here's here to discuss the story of Compulsion. We cover the band's history, its ups and downs, and some behind-the-scenes stories. We…
- 22b3 by Device w/ Crag - 342
In this episode, we take a journey back to the 80s to explore Device's only album, '22B3', the choice of this week's guest co-host, our antipodean based pal, Crag! We delve into the album's rich synth-pop-rock sound and discuss why it rema…
- After the Storm (DRCC Compilation) - 341
In this episode we dive into a lesser-known compilation from Dundee, 1996, titled 'After the Storm', which was created to raise funds for 18U. We explore the tracks, uncovering a mix of genres from 80s power ballads to 90s dance and countr…
- Punish, Honey by Vessel - 340
In this episode of the Unsung Podcast, we delve into Vessel's 2014 album 'Punish Honey,' a unique blend of electronic music and modern electronica. We provide an overview of Vessel's career, touching on past albums and collaborative effort…
- Romance is Boring by Los Campesinos! w/ David Scott from Moni Jitchell (Side B) - 339
David Scott from Moni Jitchell joins us again this week as we round off our deep dive into the discography of Los Campesinos! We being picking up where we left off last week; in the midst of running through the band's discography. Mark the…
- Romance is Boring by Los Campesinos! w/ David Scott from Moni Jitchell (Side A) - 338
Guest time! In the first of two episodes we chat with David Scott from the band Moni Jitchell about Los Campesinos! and their third album Romance is Boring. In part one we go into a lengthy deep dive around twee pop, the band’s history and…
- Act II: The Father of Death by The Protomen - 337
We've briefly touched on geek rock in the past - Weezer and Laeto spring to mind - but never in any detail. That all changes this week as we look at the genre through the lens of The Protomen. We also chat extensively about the band, their…
- The Crow: Original Soundtrack (Side B) - 336
Last week we spoke about the music of the sequels to The Crow (1994). We also spoke about the new crow film (The Crow (2024)), but we kind of cut it a little short because we didn't talk about the music of the new film. We do that this wee…
- The Music of The Crow (Side A) - 335
Another episode where we're taking direct inspiration from something that we mentioned in an early show, we've decided to do two whole bloody episodes on the music of The Crow film franchise. In episode one we talk about the music from the…