244 - PEPPER KEENAN: Corrosion of Conformity, Down, Gibson Guitars & New Orleans Sound

Garza sits down in-person with Pepper Keenan. Vocalist & guitar player of heavy metal band CORROSION OF CONFORMITY. Also best known as the guitar player in Down. New album “Good God / Baad Man” out now! https://instagram.com/coccabalSupport the podcast here: https://garzapodcast.myshopify.com00:00 - Opening Jam02:16 - Good God / Baad Man06:23 - C.O.C. Early Days & Joining the Band10:44 - Mississippi to New Orleans12:18 - Stealing His First Guitar14:50 - Living in Paris, France17:11 - First Records17:46 - New Orleans Sound21:28 - Skip James & Mississippi Blues Players25:06 - Pepper’s Gibson SG31:20 - Playing Malcolm Young’s Amp Rig36:46 - Secret to AC/DC Tone40:38 - “Stone the Crow” Riff45:36 - “Jail” Riff49:50 - P90 Pickups51:30 - Recording “Albatross,” Guitars53:39 - Electric Lady Studios55:11 - “Clean My Wounds” Recording Technique1:00:19 - Writing Music, Inspiration1:01:51 - “The Handler”, Tracking New Album1:07:02 - Looking Backwards for Inspiration1:07:58 - Recording ‘Wiseblood’1:11:01 - Vocal Lessons, Warmups1:16:16 - Beavis and Butthead, Down Logo1:20:50 - Pepper’s Iconic Stare1:22:12 - Auditioning for Metallica1:33:40 - Remembering Reed Mullin1:37:16 - Pepper’s Music to Check Out1:41:43 - Garza Jams on the Gibson1:43:16 - Pepper Jams on the 7 String

Garza sits down in-person with Dez Fafara & Davier Pérez from California heavy metal band DEVILDRIVER. Their new album "Strike and Kill” is out now! https://instagram.com/devildriverSupport the podcast here: https://garzapodcast.myshopify.com 00:00 - Strike and Kill02:32 - Jon Miller Re-Joining Devildriver05:48 - 30 Years of Marriage09:30 - Lynn Strait & Snot11:16 - L.A. Nu Metal Scene // Early Days13:28 - Personal Lyrics, Influences & Outlaw Country17:02 - Childhood19:23 - Stand-up Drums & Punk Influence23:45 - Early Jobs25:11 - Moving From Puerto Rico29:43 - Quitting Drinking33:01 - Coal Chamber35:12 - Hot Topic & Nu Metal Fashion42:48 - Superjoint Ritual44:47 - Devildriver After Coal Chamber51:09 - Dez’s Rules for Saving & Investing59:19 - Freemasonry & Charity1:02:41 - NDEs & Tarot Cards1:08:04 - On-Stage vs Off-Stage Mentality1:11:28 - Tour Bus Driver’s Death1:15:08 - Chamber Music & The Haunted Studio1:23:10 - Writing/Recording Strike and Kill1:26:06 - Meditation1:36:19 - Dez’s Health Update1:53:54 - NRG Studios Lore1:59:17 - Rediscovering Love for Devildriver2:02:47 - Dig Your Own Grave Music Video2:04:30 - Future Book!?2:06:33 - Music to Check Out2:11:34 - Philip H. Anselmo2:15:18 - Garza’s Sobriety2:20:16 - New Album, Strike and Kill & Upcoming Shows

Garza sits down in-person with Texas death metal band DEVOURMENT. Their new EP "Pious Impiety” out now! https://instagram.com/devourmentofficialWant more!? Support the podcast here: https://patreon.com/garzapodcast 00:00 - Pious Impiety EP06:00 - Serial Killers & Death Metal Connection09:46 - Behind the Lyrics11:06 - 30 Years of Devourment, Impact & Deep History13:39 - 89.3 KNON // Dave Chaos20:16 - Marvin Getting Into Guitar22:02 - Give Me Pinch Harmonics25:23 - Catalina Wine Mixer27:28 - Dave’s Bass Rig30:14 - Where Brad Was Really Born37:28 - Ruben Loves School41:20 - Advice for Vocalists46:00 - Best Death Metal Album Covers48:46 - Glen Benton & Deicide53:20 - Summer Slaughter59:12 - Marvin’s Solar Guitar1:04:46 - Amps, Tone & Settings1:12:27 - Ruben’s Microphone1:15:22 - Devourment’s 4 Albums to Check Out1:20:48 - Writing for Devourment

Garza is back for a solo episode to talk about playing Hellfest, Warped Tour & finally gives a raccoon update.Check out the merch here: https://garzapodcast.myshopify.com00:00 - Noise Pedal Riff01:40 - Garza’s Hot Take06:45 - Fear of Heights08:30 - Hellfest & Warped Tour D.C.14:20 - Racoon Attack Update21:35 - Devourment Show 23:46 - J Update, Kids & Pets27:04 - Photography29:08 - Q&A: Guitar Playing Exercises44:14 - Q&A: No Time to Bleed CD Card54:09 - Q&A: Getting Starstruck w/ Guests1:01:26 - Upcoming Shows

Garza sits down in-person with Illinois-based metalcore band VCTMS. Their new album "Pain Processing II” out now! https://instagram.com/vctmsilCheck out the merch here: https://garzapodcast.myshopify.com00:00 - Favorite Drinks03:16 - clip my wings06:26 - Meredith Writing Lyrics10:13 - How John Doesn't Get Mad12:34 - Favorite Pokemon15:46 - Power Rangers & Buckethead Myth19:18 - Decade-Plus Journey24:44 - Vol. IV Numb the Ache26:06 - Breakups30:52 - Addiction35:30 - Leaving Bad Relationships45:26 - Streamwood & Cook County, Illinois46:15 - Writing Music Together57:13 - Drumming w/ a Broken Ankle58:43 - Having C.F. (Cystic Fibrosis)1:05:35 - New Found Glory1:07:03 - Leaving College to Tour1:12:47 - Pain Processing II: Gear, Guitars & Tone1:18:13 - Working at Sam Ash1:28:26 - 9 Albums to Check Out

Garza sits down in-person with Canadian death metal band CRYPTOPSY. On tour in UK & Europe July-August 2026! https://instagram.com/cryptopsyofficialCheck out the merch here: https://garzapodcast.myshopify.com00:00 - Flo’s Workouts for Drummers05:50 - Marriage, Relationships & Getting Older06:56 - Christian Getting Into Audio14:09 - Religious Upbringing17:49 - Winning a Juno19:05 - The Unspoken King Backlash26:07 - Taking Ownership of the Band28:35 - Sound Throughout the Years32:02 - As Gomorrah Burns34:40 - Drum Influences40:08 - Drumming Style & Technique42:34 - Tough Love44:11 - Flo Screaming47:47 - The Carpenters49:19 - Matt Joining After Lord Worm53:50 - Self-Producing57:34 - Growing as a Person1:00:08 - Vox&Hops Podcast1:04:28 - Favorite Drummers1:06:45 - 3 Albums to Check Out

Garza sits down in-person with Josh Middleton. Vocalist & guitar player of heavy metal band SYLOSIS. Also known for his mix-ready drum & guitar tones at MDL Tone. Their new album "The New Flesh” out now! https://instagram.com/joshsylosisSupport the podcast here: https://patreon.com/garzapodcast 00:00 - C Sharp vs D Flat02:55 - Starting Sylosis05:06 - First Amp08:21 - Getting Into Audio Production13:02 - Early Jams, Korn & Band Story16:22 - Psychology & Internal Family Systems18:50 - Marriage22:43 - Art, Drawing & Museums27:27 - Writing ‘The New Flesh’32:05 - Architects39:54 - Riff: Lacerations43:19 - Nu Metal Riffs & Ross Robinson49:12 - Self-Producing & Mixing58:21 - Josh’s ESP LTD JM-I1:03:57 - Favorite Riffs & Decapitated1:09:22 - Riff: Garza Plays Josh’s LTD1:12:50 - Mick, Jim & Slipknot Riffs1:14:32 - Warming Up: Guitar vs Vocals1:15:31 - Writing Process1:17:03 - Cult of Luna1:18:36 - The British Way1:25:17 - ESP Guitars1:28:27 - 3 Albums to Check Out1:31:17 - Links & ‘The New Flesh’ Out Now

Don’t forget to support the podcast here: https://patreon.com/garzapodcastGarza here, headbanging at Warped Tour right now. Enjoy the episode!00:00 - 90 Days of Sobriety15:36 - Spending & Saving Money18:02 - First Show Back?20:55 - Children’s Books, Pete the Cat & Imagination26:21 - J Check-In27:53 - Q&A: Self-Discipline39:02 - Systems For Dummies48:29 - Q&A: Best Pantera Album59:07 - ‘Banana Man’ Reaction1:11:35 - Upcoming Shows1:12:34 - Kurt Ballou

Garza sits down in-person with Kurt Ballou. Guitar player from Massachusetts metalcore band CONVERGE. Also known for his recording & production work at GodCity Studios. Their TWO new albums “Love Is Not Enough” & “Hum of Hurt” out now! https://instagram.com/convergeCHUG MERCH: https://garzapodcast.myshopify.com00:00 - High-Pass Filter Explained04:07 - Recording Hi-Hats07:43 - Using AI for Music Production11:29 - Are Studios Important?13:05 - Steve Albini17:00 - Jane Doe20:38 - Learning How to Record Music23:36 - Recording on Tape29:47 - Jane Doe Guitar Tones32:23 - Mesa Racktifier // Helix Stadium36:13 - Guitar Pedal Talk40:28 - Amp Talk43:01 - Hum of Hurt46:46 - Short Albums48:51 - Nails’ Guitar Tone54:52 - Helix Stadium vs Gear Snobs1:06:53 - Amps & Helix Cloning1:11:40 - Tone Rundown1:15:10 - Overcomplicating Riffs1:17:08 - Riff: Axe to Fall // Open Slayer Tuning1:19:14 - Wacky Tuning1:21:00 - Riff: Concubine1:28:58 - Riff: Hell to Pay1:35:22 - Mixing Guitars1:36:49 - God City Instruments1:44:44 - Guitar Rundown1:47:13 - Garza Plays the Craftsman1:49:38 - Brian “Head” Welch1:52:55 - 3 Albums to Check Out1:57:01 - NYHC Hardcore Spectrum

Garza sits down in-person with Cory Emond & Cody DelVecchio. Guitar players from Connecticut metalcore band BOUNDARIES. New album “Yearning: The unbeautiful after” out July 17th! https://instagram.com/boundariesctGet your episodes early, guitar tone & more here: https://patreon.com/garzapodcast00:00 - Mix Controversy07:31 - Writing What You Want10:13 - Green Day Tattoo17:27 - Cory Designing His Guitar23:45 - Straight Edge Shenanigans26:25 - Cody’s Jackson Guitar30:36 - Pedals34:34 - Amps37:16 - Pitch Shift Riffs41:43 - Misery Signals46:52 - Wearing Glasses47:54 - Riff: Darkness Shared50:04 - Riff: Easily Erased50:54 - Alternate Tunings54:18 - Riff Writing Process55:49 - Siren Riffs1:02:28 - Riffs: Misery Signals1:04:07 - Riffs: A Day To Remember1:06:26 - Riffs: Garza Jams on Cody’s Jackson1:08:09 - Riff: I’d Rather Not Say1:12:52 - New Music & Lessons Learned1:16:56 - Bruins & Hockey1:18:03 - Taco Bell Obsession1:22:40 - 6 Albums to Check Out