TESTAMENT on “Para Bellum”, “Thrash of the Titans”! DIO, Black Metal, & MORE | MRP #070
The Year of Thrash continues… but first, we descend into darkness.
On t his episode of the Metal Robot Podcast, we take listeners on a guided journey into black metal with three brand-new releases that explore the genre from symphonic storytelling, to atmospheric blackgaze, to raw, traditional frostbitten fury. Whether you're black metal curious or already corpse-painted in spirit, this episode offers a path from accessible to extreme.
Then it’s time to dust off the vinyls in the Essentials Dungeon as Tom tackles one of the most obvious—but still necessary—questions in metal history:
Is Holy Diver by Dio truly essential listening?
(Short answer: Yes. Long answer: Also yes, don’t question it.)
From Ronnie James Dio’s legacy with Black Sabbath to his solo dominance in 1983, this segment breaks down why Holy Diver remains a cornerstone of heavy metal.
And finally, The Year of Thrash gets very real. Tom sits down with Chuck Billy of Testament to talk about the band’s 2025 album Para Bellum, the upcoming “Thrash of the Titans” U.S. tour with Overkill and Destruction, and the growing conversation around 2026 becoming the “Year of Thrash”
From black metal forests to thrash metal arenas, Episode 70 proves metal isn’t aging—it’s evolving.
🎧 Listen now and join the conversation.
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Find dates for the “Thrash of the Titans” U.S. Tour HERE
CREDITS
Written & Directed by: Tom McKay
Produced by: Tom McKay
Podcast Mixed with: Audition CC
Original Music by: Tom McKay
DISCLAIMER: Copyright Exceptions under the Copyright Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. C-42), allowance is made for "fair dealing" for the purposes of criticism or review.
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