Shred Sessions Podcast

Death metal, competitive bodybuilding, an absolutely insane guitar collection, and a story that goes much deeper than what you may have seen online.In this massive 3-hour episode of Shred Sessions, Drew sits down with guitarist and competitive bodybuilder Kevin Frasard for an in-depth conversation about his life in music, lifting, working construction, guitars, and YouTube.Kevin takes us all the way back to the beginning, sharing how he first got into playing guitar and what eventually led him into competitive bodybuilding. We dive deep into his love of 90s death metal, the bands and guitarists that shaped his playing, and why that era of extreme metal still has such a huge influence on him today.And, of course, we talk GEAR.Kevin gives us a tour of his extensive collection of B.C. Rich, Jackson and other metal machines, sharing the stories behind some of his favorite instruments and what he looks for in a great death metal guitar.Later in the conversation, we get into a more complicated chapter of Kevin's career: his experiences with SixStringTV and Eisbrecher Guitars. Kevin talks about his relationship with Kaelyn from SixStringTV, being managed as a YouTuber, working with Eisbrecher on a signature guitar, how those relationships developed, and ultimately what happened from his perspective.This is Kevin's opportunity to tell his side of that story in his own words.Support Shred Sessions and order a T Shirt:https://shred-sessions-shop.fourthwall.com/

I finally got to meet and talk to Dallas Toler-Wade, who is a highly requested guitarist here on the Shred Sessions Podcast. This interview was conducted on the patio at The Cobra in Nashville, TN while Narcotic Wasteland was on the "Fentanyl Zombie Apocalypse" tour with Visitant, Vile Light and Blood Coven. This conversation gives fans an inside look at the progression of his sound and creative process. We get into the specifics of his playing style and even address viewer questions regarding the amps and cabinets used during the early Nile records, on Annihilation of the Wicked as well as the recording of At The Gates of Sethu.Dallas was extremely generous with his time and was very open about the questions I asked regarding Nile, addiction and his practice routine. One of my favorite parts of the interview was when Dallas was talking about how some guitarists say: "I only pick up the guitar when I have something to write...STAY OUT OF MY LANE!" He's a true death metal guitar artist and loves playing the instrument as well as the craft and we love him for it! Subscribe for more artist interviews and breakdowns, and let us know in the comments which musician you want to see featured next.0:00 A Deep Dive with Dallas Toller-Wade2:33 Navigating Social Media Censorship6:48 The Origins of Narcotic Wasteland11:56 The Fentanyl Crisis and Modern Addiction14:15 Playing in Nile vs Narcotic Wasteland18:33 Why Dallas left Nile21:18 Dallas' Early Influences and the Bands that Got Him into Extreme Metal24:55 How Dallas met Karl Sanders27:00 Viewer Questions43:19 Advice for the Next Generation

We sat down with Derrick Schneider of Tallah for an in-depth conversation about his journey into one of modern metal’s most chaotic and exciting bands.Derrick takes us all the way back to his Tallah audition, including the wild story of auditioning with a Dream Theater song, and explains what it took to land the gig in the band founded by drummer Max Portnoy.From there, we get into what life in Tallah actually looks like behind the scenes — the practice and preparation required to perform their music, the challenges of translating such intense material to the stage, and what it’s like playing these songs live night after night.Of course, we had to talk GUITAR GEAR.Derrick breaks down his live and studio setup, his experience with Schecter guitars, why he uses the EverTune bridge, and the gear that helps him pull off Tallah’s aggressive, technical sound.But Derrick’s musical life goes much deeper than guitar.Over the years, he’s gone deep into audio engineering, recording, mixing and production, developing the skills to create killer mixes not only for Tallah, but also for other artists and clients. We talk about how he approaches mixing heavy music, what he’s learned from producing his own band, and how becoming an engineer has changed the way he thinks about guitar tone, songwriting and making records.If you're into Tallah, modern metal, guitar gear, Schecter guitars, EverTune, audio engineering, mixing, music production or the realities of being a working metal musician, there’s a ton to dig into here.Hosted by Drew Creal & Christian ColabelliTopics include:• How Derrick Schneider joined Tallah• Auditioning with a Dream Theater song• Playing alongside Max Portnoy• Learning and practicing Tallah's music• Preparing for live shows• Derrick's guitar rig and gear• Schecter guitars• Why Derrick uses EverTune• Recording heavy guitars• Audio engineering and music production• Mixing Tallah• Mixing and producing music for clients• Developing your ear as an audio engineer• The relationship between guitar tone and a great mix• Life as a modern metal musician

Legendary neoclassical shred guitarist Joe Stump joins the Shred Sessions Podcast for an epic two-hour deep dive into the world of high-level guitar playing, neoclassical metal, vintage gear, and a lifetime dedicated to the instrument.Joe takes us inside his new solo record “Lord of the Strings,” dropping October 16th, 2026, and breaks down the guitars, amps, strings, picks, and techniques behind his unmistakable sound.We get deep into Joe's incredible collection of Fender Stratocasters and ESP guitars, including his Custom Shop Strats and 1998 Fender Yngwie Malmsteen Strat. Joe explains why the Stratocaster remains his weapon of choice and talks about the Marshall amps that have powered his tone throughout his career.Of course, this wouldn't be a Joe Stump conversation without talking about shred guitar technique. Joe gives us an inside look at his right-hand picking mechanics, his approach to alternate and economy picking, repeating patterns, scales, and hexatonic concepts. If you're a guitarist interested in the mechanics and vocabulary behind neoclassical shred, there's a ton to dig into here.Joe also reflects on his favorite records, his guitar heroes, seeing Allan Holdsworth with UK opening for Al Di Meola, his years in the East Village, the New York Yankees, and his journey from obsessive guitar student to becoming one of the most respected names in neoclassical guitar.Whether you're into Yngwie Malmsteen, Ritchie Blackmore, Gary Moore, Allan Holdsworth, shred guitar, neoclassical metal, Fender Strats, Marshall amps, or just love hearing great guitar players talk shop, this episode is packed with guitar history and insight.

Serge Droban has quickly become one of the most talked-about guitarists in the YouTube guitar space. The neoclassical shredder known for insane technique, unapologetic opinions, and calling out “fake guitarists” joins me for nearly TWO HOURS on the Shred Sessions Podcast.And yes… we talk about Yngwie Malmsteen.Serge has a fascinating perspective on Yngwie’s career, from the groundbreaking neoclassical guitar playing of his early years to the point where Serge believes the legendary Swedish shredder stopped progressing. We talk Malmsteen Strats, Yngwie’s technique, his influence on generations of guitarists, and the question nobody wants to ask: Did the king of neoclassical shred eventually fall off?But this conversation goes WAY beyond Yngwie.Serge takes us through his entire journey as a guitarist, including touring nationally with a band at only 16 years old, dealing with a serious physical injury, and completely rethinking his approach to guitar technique in pursuit of effortless playing.We go deep into the mechanics and philosophy of high-level guitar playing: sweep picking, picking technique, tension, efficiency, why certain legendary shredders seemingly never lose their abilities, and what separates real technical mastery from simply playing fast.Serge also shares his thoughts on the music of classical virtuosos Frédéric Chopin and Franz Liszt and why their compositions continue to fascinate him. We discuss classical music, neoclassical guitar, musical development, and whether there can actually be an OBJECTIVE standard for determining the quality of music.Then there’s the controversy…Serge’s rise on YouTube has been fueled in part by his willingness to call out questionable and “fake” guitar performances online. We discuss that chapter of his channel, the drama surrounding fake guitar playing on social media, and why Serge ultimately decided he wanted to move beyond it and put the focus back where it belongs: MUSIC.Whether you’re into Yngwie Malmsteen, neoclassical shred guitar, sweep picking, classical music, guitar technique, virtuoso players, or the insanity of modern Guitar YouTube, there’s a LOT to unpack in this episode.Do you agree with Serge about Yngwie Malmsteen? Is there such a thing as objectively good or bad music? And what do you think about the fake guitar controversy?Drop your take in the comments. Let’s hear it.Thanks for watching!Interested in guitar lessons?Serge:https://www.sergedroban.com/Drew:https://lessonswithdrew.com/

Get ready for an in-depth Shred Sessions Podcast with Max Damske, guitarist, songwriter, and founding member of Chicago progressive death metal band Warforged. Over the course of nearly two hours, we dive deep into the creative mind behind one of the most exciting up-and-coming bands in modern progressive metal.Warforged has built a reputation for blending crushing technical death metal with cinematic atmosphere, progressive songwriting, and incredible musicianship. With their newest album arriving through The Artisan Era, home to some of the biggest names in technical death metal, including Inferi, the band offers a new record entitled "The Grove |Almanac."In this conversation, Max discusses his songwriting process, the bands and guitarists that shaped his playing, the music that continues to inspire him, and how Warforged developed its signature sound. We also nerd out over guitar gear, favorite guitars, amplifiers, pedals, recording techniques, and the latest developments in digital amp modeling, including the exciting possibilities of NAM A2 technology.Whether you're a guitarist, songwriter, producer, gear enthusiast, or simply a fan of progressive metal, technical death metal, djent, or modern extreme music, there's something here for you.In this episode:• The story behind Warforged and its musical evolution• Writing progressive and technical death metal• Max's biggest musical influences• Favorite bands, albums, and guitar players• Guitar tone, amps, pedals, and recording• NAM A2 amp modeling and the future of digital guitar technology• Creativity, songwriting, and composing long-form music• Gear talk and plenty of guitar nerd discussions

Brett Stine is a Dallas, TX based guitarist known for playing in Haji's Kitchen as well as the guy that cracked the code for how Allan Holdsworth thinks about scales, harmony and composition. In 2023, "In the Mystery: A Deconstruction of the Harmony, Melody, Compositions and Improvisations of Allan Holdsworth" was released in digital format. Since that time, Brett has updated the book and come out with "In the Mystery Volume 2" which is a compendium of all the scales that Allan Holdsworth used. These books, as well as Brett's Messiaen Etudes books, have proved to be a valuable resource for any guitarist that is looking for fresh ideas and to get inside the world of improvising like Allan Holdsworth did...perhaps to get to the next level and beyond. This exclusive 2 hour conversation with Brett Stine covers Brett's background with music, playing in Haji's Kitchen, jamming with his brother Scott, working with Mike Varney from Shrapnel Records, 9 note scales, Messiaen's Modes of Limited Transposition and so much more!Purchase Brett's Transcriptions and Books:https://www.brettstinemusic.net/Buy Physical Copies from Amazon:In The Mystery Vol 1: https://amzn.to/4en3JmrIn the Mystery Vol 2: https://amzn.to/4vW3A0FMessiaen Etudes: https://amzn.to/4uHg1wjNEW! Messiaen Patterns Vol 1: https://amzn.to/4xx0UIhSupport Shred Sessions:https://shred-sessions-shop.fourthwall.com/

Rusty Cooley is the original online Shred Guitarist. From his early days of YouTube shred videos, to his "Betchya Can't Play This" Guitar World licks, his Chops From Hell lessons and his solo records, Rusty has been an inspiration to every guitarist who tried to push the instrument beyond what it was currently capable of. Rusty is the OG extended range godfather of shred and he's here with us to discuss how he transformed the super strat into a "super shredder strat," partnering with Dean Guitars and then Ormsby Guitars. We also get into discussing his band Outworld and why they broke up as well as a ton of great practice tips and discussions around improving at guitar while trying to raise a family. If you're into extreme guitar playing at all, this episode is for you!Support the show, grab a T-Shirt:https://shred-sessions-shop.fourthwall.com/Rusty's Website:https://rustycooley.com/Lessons with Rusty:[email protected]'s Website:https://lessonswithdrew.com/

Christian Donaldson is the guitarist, mixing engineer and producer for the legendary technical death metal band Cryptopsy. I caught up with Christian on the Decibel Magazine tour with Fulci, Necrot, Blood Monolith and Spirit Adrift on their stop in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I was able to ask Christian about the tour, their newest record "An Insatiable Violence," playing in a band with Flo Mounier and the legacy of the band's 1996 classic "None So Vile." Cryptopsy has remained one of the most respected and chaotic forces in death metal for decades, and Christian Donaldson’s perspective as both guitarist and producer makes this conversation essential viewing for musicians, producers, and metal fans alike.Subscribe for more interviews, guitar lessons, gear breakdowns, and deep dives into the world of death metal and extreme music.

On this episode of the Shred Sessions Podcast, we sit down with legendary guitarist Dave Nassie for a deep 2-hour conversation covering his incredible journey through rock, punk, blues, soul, and heavy music. From performing with bands like No Use for a Name, Infectious Grooves, and Bleeding Through to touring with country star Kip Moore, Dave shares stories from the road, insights into guitar tone, phrasing, songwriting, vintage gear, blues influence, and what it really takes to build a lasting career as a professional guitarist. We also dive into Dave’s current project, Dave Nassie Blues Explosion, his approach to teaching guitar, and the philosophy behind expressive playing and musical storytelling. If you're into guitar tone, classic rock, blues, punk, shredding, session work, or the evolution of modern guitar music, this episode is packed with inspiration and knowledge.Stay in touch with Dave: @DaveNassie  https://www.davenassie.com/Support the show, grab a Shred Sessions Shirt:https://shred-sessions-shop.fourthwall.com/