Last Updated on January 16, 2026
In this ear-bleeding episode of Beat Motel, Andrew is joined once again by Dan Callis for a deep dive into the heavy, the noisy, and the downright daft corners of modern metal and punk. If you’re here for thoughtful analysis, jog on. This is a celebration of volume, riffs, and the bands that make you question your own taste.
Starting off with tech issues and a healthy dollop of despair at podcasting platforms, our lads quickly launch into a barrage of riffs. Callis brings the chaos with the likes of Big Ass Truck (yes, that’s a real band and no, they’re not subtle), while Andrew goes full nostalgic riff nerd with Pelican.
They dish out praise (and some sass) for local legends Dude Smell, debate whether Babymetal is genius or Eurovision in disguise, and unleash rage at the fascist-flirting metalheads of yore. There’s a surprise orchestral metal pick from Callis (are we feeling okay?), a hilarious tale involving Lamb of God’s Randy Blythe getting locked out, and general beef with Google, Spotify, and algorithmic inshitification.
Tracks from Teeth, Stray from the Path, The Haunted, and Ironstone also make an appearance in what is possibly the least coherent but most entertaining playlist you’ll encounter this month.
If you like your podcasts raw, sarcastic, and filled with two blokes yelling about blast beats and gig etiquette, you’re in for a treat.
### Riffs of the week
#### Callis’s Riff
– Bring me the horizon – Wonderwall
#### Andrew’s Riff
– Dudesmell – Fatal Attraction
### Calliss track choices
1. Big Ass Truck – Big Ass Truck
2. Teeth – Blue and cold
3. Ironstone – Forgive me anew
4. Stray from the path – Fuck them all to hell
### Andrew’s track choices
1. Pelican – Gulch
2. Sylosis/Heriot – The Path
3. The Haunted – Warhead
4. Purified in blood – Primal pulse thunder
Email us – beatmotel@lawsie.com
