Replacing a vocalist in metal is like replacing the engine in a monster truck while it’s still flying through the air. Sometimes the whole thing explodes. Sometimes it lands perfectly and somehow becomes even more dangerous.
This episode of the Influencers of Metal Podcast, Collin and Tom tackle the bands that actually pulled it off.
The guys explore some of metal’s most iconic lineup changes, starting with the eternal civil war inside the Killswitch Engage fanbase: Howard Jones versus Jesse Leach. Was Howard Jones the catalyst that launched the band into mainstream metalcore dominance? Did Jesse Leach bring a more aggressive edge?
The episode also dives into the shocking realization many younger fans have when they discover Bruce Dickinson was NOT the original vocalist of Iron Maiden. Same goes for Rob Halford with Judas Priest and James LaBrie with Dream Theater.
Things get especially passionate when discussing Angela Gossow joining Arch Enemy and helping redefine what extreme metal vocals could sound like in the early 2000s. The guys also touch on Alyssa White-Gluz and the current evolution of the band.
Meanwhile, Tom passionately defends Trivium as Collin cheekily bullies him for it, leading to a hilarious breakdown of how Matt Heafy accidentally became the band’s frontman after originally joining as only a guitarist.
If you’ve ever argued about lineup changes in metal, this episode is basically your Super Bowl.
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