It’s the gutsier, uglier, unwieldier alternative to the heavy metal guitar solo: The goddamn heavy metal BASS guitar solo! We have collected 20 beautifully behemoth examples, laid bare for you to ponder. Sightings are rare, but they’re out there…and we love the hell out of them.

Note I:

As noted in the intro of this episode, RR favorites Hammers of Misfortune have a new album out! Info on Overtaker can be found here:https://hammersofmisfortune.bandcamp.com/

Note II:

Please consider donating if you listen to Radical Research often: https://www.paypal.me/rrpodcastWe also have a webstore where you can find shirts, CDs, and books, many of them recently restocked:

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Music cited in order of appearance:

Motorhead, “Keep Us On the Road” (Lemmy Kilmister, Motorhead, 1977)Motorhead, “Stay Clean” (Lemmy Kilmister, Overkill, 1979)

Armored Saint, “Released” (Joey Vera, Delirious Nomad, 1985)

Manowar, “Sting of the Bumblebee” (Joey DeMaio, Kings of Metal, 1988)

Manowar, “Mountains” (Joey DeMaio, Sign of the Hammer, 1984)

Sadus, “Torture” (Steve DiGiorgio, Illusions, 1988)

Death, “The Philosopher” (Steve DiGiorgio, Individual Thought Patterns, 1993)Nasty Savage, “Sin Eater” (Richard Bateman, Penetration Point, 1989)

Darkthrone, “Sempiternal Sepulchrality” (Dag Nilsen, Soulside Journey, 1991)

Kataklysm, “World of Treason” (Maurizio Iacono, Sorcery, 1995)

Stargazer, “Hooves” (Damon Good, Psychic Secretions, 2021)

Martire, “Lucixion” (Damon Good, Brutal Legions of the Apocalypse, 2012)

Necrophagist, “Only Ash Remains” (Stephan Fimmers, Epitaph, 2004)

Rainer Landfermann, “Langsam, Hinters Licht” (Mein Wort in Deiner Dunkelheit, 2019)

Dream Theater, “Metropolis – Part I: The Miracle and the Sleeper” (John Myung, Images and Words, 1992)Canvas Solaris, “Arc-Lite” (Gael Pirlot, Tribute to Coroner, split 7” w/Pharaoh, 2010)

Cynic, “Textures” (Sean Malone, Focus, 1993)

Spiral Architect, “Excessit” (Lars Norberg, A Skeptic’s Universe, 2000)

Corrosion of Conformity, “My Grain” (Mike Dean, Deliverance, 1994)

Metallica, “Orion” (Cliff Burton, Master of Puppets, 1986)

Radical Research is a conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of rock and metal music. This podcast is conceived and conducted by Jeff Wagner and Hunter Ginn. Though we consume music in a variety of ways, we give particular privilege to the immersive, full-album listening experience. Likewise, we believe that tangible music formats help provide the richest, most rewarding immersions and that music, artwork, and song titles cooperate to produce a singular effect on the listener. Great music is worth more than we ever pay for it.