Signals From Mars Podcast

Victor M. Ruiz

Details

Signals From Mars has been broadcasting hard rock and heavy metal since 2009 — and the conversation is still going. Every episode is a chance to find something. Maybe it's a band you've never heard of before. Maybe it's a band you've always known about but never got around to checking out. Or maybe it's a band you loved years ago, lost track of, and needed someone to remind you why they mattered. The show covers artist interviews, free-flowing music discussions, monthly album reviews, yearly album countdowns, band countdowns, and our own Signals From Mars Hall of Fame. No clickbait. No politics. No scripted questions. Just honest conversations about music that matters — new, old, and everything in between. Hosted by Victor M. Ruiz. Visit us at signalsfrommars.com Visit us at www.signalsfrommars.com. Linktr.ee/signalsfrommars patreon.com/signalsfrommars

Recent Episodes

OCT 16, 2026
September 2026 Albums Review
Signals From Mars Episode 475 - September 2026 Albums Review What were the best hard rock and heavy metal albums of September 2026? Victor M. Ruiz welcomes Ed Ferguson and Jeremy Weltman for a new releases roundup packed with honest reviews, unexpected discoveries, and some sharply divided opinions. From classic hard rock and NWOBHM to thrash, doom, industrial, grindcore, and extreme metal, the trio separates the essential listens from the disappointments. Anthrax's Cursum Perficio takes center stage: Victor considers it their strongest album since Joey Belladonna's return, but Ed and Jeremy hear things differently. Is this a late-career high point or a step away from the thrash sound fans love? Europe also sparks discussion with Come This Madness, including comparisons to Deep Purple and praise for John Norum's guitar work. The episode explores Green Lung's Necropolitan, President's Blood of Your Empire, Audrey Horne's Achilles, Accept's Teutonic Titans, Airbourne, and new music from Tygers of Pan Tang, Cloven Hoof, and Stabbing Westward. Ed spotlights underground discoveries including XION's When Stars Collide, Task Force Toxicator's Countdown to Death, Deviated Instinct's Scavenger Gospel, and BRAT's Manslayer. Jeremy weighs in on The Bites and melodic hard rock, while the conversation moves from old-school riffs to modern metal production and genre-crossing experiments. With hundreds of releases to consider, the discussion highlights established metal legends alongside emerging bands that deserve more attention. Expect contrasting opinions, hidden gems, and some surprising favorites. Which September 2026 releases deserve repeat listens? Which unexpected album won over the panel? Hear their weekly picks, disagreements, and recommendations, then tell us what made your own list. Keywords: September 2026 album reviews, new metal albums 2026, Anthrax Cursum Perficio review, Europe Come This Madness, heavy metal podcast, hard rock reviews, thrash metal, doom metal, underground metal, Signals From Mars. Thank you to my Patrons for all of their support Steven Sailer Steve Hoeker Jeremy Weltman Mike Jones Brad Dahl Mark Strigl Gabriel Ruiz Metal Dan Johan Ederström Ed Ferguson Anthony Mackey Toni Espin Sean Richmond Corey J Chatelain You can become a Patron for as little as $2 a month. Go to https://patreon.com/signalsfrommars Social Media Links For Signals From Mars YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/signalsfrommars Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/signalsfrommarsofficial/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@signalsfrommars Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/signalsfrommars Follow, like and share!
76 MIN
OCT 9, 2026
AI Music
Signals From Mars Episode 474 - AI Music With Corey J Chatelain Can AI-generated music be creative, original, and meaningful? In Episode 474 of Signals From Mars, Victor M. Ruiz talks with Corey J Chatelain about using artificial intelligence to create and release music, with a heavy focus on hard rock, heavy metal, progressive metal, thrash, djent, songwriting, and experimentation. Corey explains how tools such as Suno helped turn ideas he had carried for years into finished musical projects. The discussion explores AI-assisted songwriting, prompting, lyrics, musical influences, creative control, production, distribution through DistroKid, Spotify releases, copyright concerns, ethics, and whether AI should be viewed as a replacement for musicians or simply another creative tool. The conversation also gets into the practical side of creating AI music: refining prompts, guiding emotional changes within a song, working through multiple generations, correcting vocal pronunciation, shaping lyrics, and trying to make separate projects feel like distinct bands with their own identities. Corey also discusses how AI can open doors for people who understand music creatively but may not have the instrumental ability to perform every idea themselves. The episode touches on projects including Paint Bucket, Pawn, Left Field Philosophers, Elixir Vitae, Giganticide, and Bards of the Forgotten Verses, while examining how AI can blend metal with progressive, folk, orchestral, and Middle Eastern influences. Rather than giving you a verdict on AI music, the conversation looks at how the technology is actually being used and leaves listeners to decide what they think about the future of AI in music. Keywords: AI Music, AI Generated Music, Suno AI, Artificial Intelligence Music, AI Songwriting, Heavy Metal, Hard Rock, Progressive Metal, Thrash Metal, Djent, Music Production, DistroKid, Spotify, Corey J Chatelain, Signals From Mars Thank you to my Patrons for all of their support Steven Sailer Steve Hoeker Jeremy Weltman Mike Jones Brad Dahl Mark Strigl Gabriel Ruiz Chris Vaglio Metal Dan Johan Ederström Ed Ferguson Anthony Mackey Toni Espin Sean Richmond You can become a Patron for as little as $2 a month. Go to https://patreon.com/signalsfrommars Corey J Chatelain / Double C Music Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5QQRPA6lbofim6ybWjGoPl Social Media Links For Signals From Mars YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/signalsfrommars Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/signalsfrommarsofficial/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@signalsfrommars Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/signalsfrommars Follow, like and share! :chatgpt-content-reference{index="0"}
67 MIN
OCT 2, 2026
Guitar Live Albums Countdown
Signals From Mars Episode 473 - Guitar Live Albums What are the greatest live albums when the guitarist completely takes over the performance? In Episode 473 of Signals From Mars, we focus on Guitar Live Albums: records where the guitar playing is so powerful, expressive, technical, or over the top that it becomes one of the main reasons the album stands out. Listeners and friends of the show submitted their ten favorite live albums built around unforgettable guitar performances. We break down the results, discuss what makes a great live guitar record, and look at the impact of legendary solos, extended jams, improvisation, tone, stage energy, and musicians pushing songs far beyond their studio versions. This is not simply a countdown of famous concert records. The focus is on live albums where the guitarist elevates the music and helps define the entire performance. Some players stretch familiar songs into something completely different onstage, while others deliver solos, riffs, dynamics, and improvisation that make the live version essential listening. We also talk about what separates an excellent live album from a truly memorable guitar showcase. Is it technical ability, emotion, sound, spontaneity, chemistry with the band, or the feeling that the guitarist is taking risks in front of an audience? The voting brings together different eras and styles of rock and metal while keeping the spotlight firmly on live guitar playing. This episode is for fans of hard rock, heavy metal, classic rock, guitar heroes, live albums, guitar solos, and unforgettable concert recordings. If you love live records where the guitar feels bigger, louder, and more exciting than the studio version, this episode is built for you. Which live album features your favorite guitar performance? Which guitarist belongs at the top of your own list? Listen to the countdown and compare your choices with the albums that received votes. Keywords: Signals From Mars, Guitar Live Albums, Best Live Albums, Greatest Live Albums, Live Guitar Albums, Guitar Solos, Live Guitar Solos, Greatest Guitarists, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Classic Rock, Rock Podcast, Metal Podcast, Music Podcast, Live Music Thank you to my Patrons for all of their support Steven Sailer Steve Hoeker Jeremy Weltman Mike Jones Brad Dahl Mark Strigl Gabriel Ruiz Chris Vaglio Metal Dan Johan Ederström Ed Ferguson Anthony Mackey Toni Espin Sean Richmond You can become a Patron for as little as $2 a month. Go to https://patreon.com/signalsfrommars Social Media Links For Signals From Mars YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/signalsfrommars Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/signalsfrommarsofficial/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@signalsfrommars Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/signalsfrommars Follow, like and share!
71 MIN
SEP 25, 2026
My Kids Top 5 ACDC
Signals From Mars Episode 472 - My Kids Top 5 AC/DC Roman and Adrian return to Signals From Mars to count down their five favorite AC/DC songs. This episode looks at AC/DC through a younger generation of rock fans who are choosing the songs they actually listen to, connect with and keep coming back to, rather than approaching the band through decades of rankings and fan debates. Victor joins the discussion as they talk about AC/DC classics, deeper cuts, Bon Scott and Brian Johnson-era material, family memories, basketball motivation, gaming, road trips and the songs that have become part of everyday life. Their choices lead into conversations about how younger listeners discover classic rock and hard rock today, why certain AC/DC tracks still connect across generations, and how songs can become tied to specific memories long after their original release. The episode also expands beyond the Top 5 as Victor compares their choices with his own 45-song AC/DC playlist and puts both kids on the spot over which tracks would make their personal collections. That opens the door to more discussion about AC/DC albums, familiar hits, overlooked songs and tracks they may need to revisit. There are no spoilers here for Roman or Adrian's complete rankings. Listen to the episode to hear which AC/DC songs make each Top 5, where their tastes overlap, where they differ, and which unexpected choices make the conversation especially interesting. This is a family rock discussion built around one of hard rock's most influential bands, with AC/DC history, memories, opinions and plenty of classic rock conversation on Signals From Mars Episode 472. Keywords: AC/DC, AC/DC Songs, Best AC/DC Songs, Favorite AC/DC Songs, AC/DC Top 5, Angus Young, Brian Johnson, Bon Scott, Malcolm Young, Back In Black, Highway To Hell, Classic Rock, Hard Rock, Rock And Roll, Rock Podcast, Music Podcast, Signals From Mars, Episode 472 Thank you to my Patrons for all of their support Steven Sailer Steve Hoeker Jeremy Weltman Mike Jones Brad Dahl Mark Strigl Gabriel Ruiz Chris Vaglio Metal Dan Johan Ederström Ed Ferguson Anthony Mackey Toni Espin Sean Richmond You can become a Patron for as little as $2 a month. Go to https://patreon.com/signalsfrommars Social Media Links For Signals From Mars YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/signalsfrommars Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/signalsfrommarsofficial/ X / Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/SignalsFromMars TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@signalsfrommars Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/signalsfrommars Follow, like and share!
39 MIN