Defender of the Riff

63 SHOWS in 65 DAYS: Mike Leon's journey with SKELETONWITCH - Defender of the Riff

Mike Leon remembers the craziest tour he has ever been part of, playing 63 shows in 65 days!

SOULFLY's MIKE LEON's Signature ESP Bass - Defender of the Riff

Soulfly's Mike Leon presents his new signature ESP bass and how unique each one is due to its own finish

Defender Of The Riff - Mike Leon (SOULFLY)

Defender of the Riff - Mike Leon (SOULFLY) [FIRST LOOK]

Today, Daniel Dekay welcomes Soulfly's Bass God Mike Leon to Defender Of The Riff where, after crushing 2 glorious sets at the Headbangers Boat, Mike gives his thoughts on playing at sea, and rolling his ankle on the very first jump of the show.

John Campbell (LAMB OF GOD) - Defender Of The Riff

Lamb Of God's four-stringer John Campbell joins Daniel Dekay on the band's very own Headbangers Boat to discusses the unique floating festival they created, its past and future, and how good it feels to meet friends and fans everywhere on the boat.

GENE HOGLAN - Finding Time to Play Guitar Whilst Being the BEST DRUMMER IN THE WORLD

Gene Hoglan is asked how he had time to get good at guitar whilst already being one of the best drummers in the world. Did you know Gene was also a riff machine?!

Defender of the Riff: Jeremiah Pugh & Connor Grodzicki (VENDED)

Guitarists Jeremiah Pugh (Bass) & Connor Grodzicki from one of metal's hottest prospects, Vended, joins Knotfest host Daniel Dekay live from the 2023 edition of Blue Ridge Rock Fest on Defender of the Riff, the interview & performance show taking a look at what made the musicians who they are today.

3 INCHES OF BLOOD - Shane Clark's MUSICAL UPBRINGING

Shane Clark remembers his childhood, hearing his dad playing the banjo at home with some friends, and how this eventually led to his own musical progression

GENE HOGLAN RIFFING to His Favorite Drum Parts

'The Atomic Clock' Gene Hoglan explains how he had to learn some of his own songs on the guitar so he could solidify his drum parts.

Wayne Lozinak (HATEBREED): Defender Of The Riff

Wayne Lozinak, the legendary shredder for hardcore gods Hatebreed, joins Knotfest host Daniel Dekay at Aftershock Festival '23 for an impromptu episode of Defender of the Riff given that his band weren't even on the bill!

Shane Clark (3 INCHES OF BLOOD) Taking Inspiration From JAMES HETFIELD & KERRY KING

Shane Clark discusses his guitar-picking techniques and how he learned by copying James Hetfield and Kerry King's picking styles, demonstrating it with a 3 Inches Of Blood riff.

TESTAMENT, SLAYER, DEATH - The Great Guitar Heroes GENE HOGLAN Played With

In this segment, Gene Hoglan remembers all the guitar heroes he's had the chance to play with, namedropping some all-time legends of the instrument.

Defender Of The Riff - GENE HOGLAN [First Look]

Everyone's favorite drummer, the legend that is 'The Atomic Clock' Gene Hoglan, joins Daniel Dekay to defend the riff in this new episode featuring an exclusive look at the multi-instrumentalist journeying through his guitar playing

Defender Of The Riff - Gene Hoglan

3 INCHES OF BLOOD Reunited At A WEDDING!

Shane Clark tells the story of how 3 Inches Of Blood started to play music together again after a 10 years hiatus.

Shane Clark (3 INCHES OF BLOOD): Defender Of The Riff

Canadian powerhouse guitarist Shane Clark of 3 Inches Of Blood joins his fellow Canuck Daniel Dekay in an NYC basement before the highly anticipated reunion show.

Cody Chavez (DRAIN): Defender Of The Riff

Daniel & Cody riff together to some of their favorite bands and reminisce over their growing up being introduced to heavy music and first picking up a guitar.

"We Wrote Songs We COULDN'T PLAY" - Morris Kolontyrsky (BLOOD INCANTATION) on Defender Of The Riff

Morris Kolontyrsky of Blood Incantation remembers his teenage guitar buddy with whom he wrote songs they couldn't even play and spending their time off riffing at home.

Defender Of The Riff - Josh Baines (MALEVOLENCE)

In this episode of Defender of the Riff, Knotfest's Daniel Dekay is joined by British metalcore rising stars Malevolence's guitar hero Josh Baines to dive deep into Josh's musical upbringing that started with his parents spinning heavy music at home.

Defender Of The Riff - Alex Skolnick (TESTAMENT)

Thrash metal legends Testament's guitarist Alex Skolnick joins Knotfest host Daniel Dekay live from the 2023 edition of Blue Ridge Rock Fest on Defender of the Riff, the interview & performance show taking a look at what made the musician who they are today.

BLOOD INCANTATION's Mesmerising Guitar Tones - Morris Kolontyrsky on Defender Of The Riff

Morris Kolontyrsky showcases some special tones he incorporates in Blood Incantation's music, and divulges how he's always in the search for more unique sounds.

Morris Kolontyrsky (BLOOD INCANTATION) riffing to IRON MAIDEN - Defender Of The Riff

Morris Kolontyrsky of Blood Incantation riffs to his favorite band Iron Maiden with host and buddy Daniel Dekay.

"My Family Escaped the USSR" - Morris Kolontyrsky (BLOOD INCANTATION) on Defender Of The Riff

Morris Kolontyrsky of Blood Incantation dives back to his childhood, telling the story of a family stricken by war and growing up in a musical household that shaped the musician he is today.

Defender Of The Riff - Morris Kolontyrsky (BLOOD INCANTATION) [FIRST LOOK]

Morris Kolontyrsky of modern death metal pioneers Blood Incantation drops by the studio to riff and chat with Daniel Dekay about his career and upbringing by way of first guitars, family influences and way more.

Defender Of The Riff - Morris Kolontyrsky (Blood Incantation)

Grant Truesdell (UNLEASH THE ARCHERS) On the ORIGINS of UtA Riffs - Defender Of The Riff

Unleash the Archers' Grant Truesdell chats with Daniel Dekay in the studio about where he gets his ideas from to write riffs for the band and demonstrates his process

'You Can Give Any Sh*tty Situation a POSITIVE Meaning' - Grant Truesdell (UNLEASH THE ARCHERS)

UtA's powerhouse shredder Grant Truesdell shares how he comes from a belief that every negative experience can have positive meaning and explains his beginnings to the approach

The Purpose of SHREDDING - Grant Truesdell (UNLEASH THE ARCHERS) on Defender Of The Riff

Unleash the Archer's Grant Truesdell tells Daniel Dekay how in the beginning he was always about showing off his guitar skills and shredding, and what made him realise that sometimes it's better to take a different approach to songwriting

'Dammit' (BLINK-182) by Grant Truesdell (UNLEASH THE ARCHERS) - Defender Of The Riff

On the latest episode of Defender Of The Riff, Grant Truesdell from Unleash The Archers shows off the first riff he ever learned, none other than 'Dammit' from Blink-182

Grant Truesdell's FIRST RIFF for UNLEASH THE ARCHERS - Defender Of The Riff

Grant Truesdell tells the story of joining power-metal behemoths Unleash The Archers and divulges the first riff he ever wrote for the band.

Defender Of The Riff: Grant Truesdell (Unleash The Archers)

Grant Truesdell stops by Defender Of The Riff during Unleash The Archers’ LA tour date to talk about his humble beginnings as a punk rock misfit in Alberta Canada & how seeing Iron Maiden’s Rock In Rio on TV was the life changing catalyst that propelled him into playing heavy metal guitar around the world. This episode not only has many stories spoken in riffs but digs deeper below the surface into the philosophy of how Grant aims to make the most out of every day on this earth.

"I Barely Know Enter Sandman" - Niklas Karlsson (ORBIT CULTURE) on Defender Of The Riff

On the latest episode of Defender Of The Riff, Niklas Karlsson from Orbit Culture divulges why he doesn't like playing covers, as he attempts to remember Metallica's most famous riff!

Niklas Karlsson (ORBIT CULTURE) Breaks down the Riff of 'Vultures of North'

Niklas Karlsson shows Daniel Dekay the storming riff of one of the band's biggest hits 'Vultures of North' and explains how it was composed and helped put together the full song.

Niklas Karlsson (ORBIT CULTURE) - Defender Of The Riff

Nick from Orbit Culture joins Dekay in the studio to dive back into his early love of guitar and how he discovered he had a passion for music, being inspired by the legend that is James Hetfield, but also from a band he saw when he was 14 that made him think: "why not me"?

Blake Ibanez (POWER TRIP / FUGITIVE) Riffing to EXODUS, SLAYER, CRO-MAGS... - Defender Of The Riff

Thrash Metal icon Blake Ibanez (Power Trip / Fugitive) riffs to his young age heroes such as Exodus, Slayer, Cro-Mags and more - Blake dives into how these iconic tunes helped define the player he is today

Blake Ibanez on how POWER TRIP's 'EXECUTIONER'S TAX' was Written - Defender Of The Riff

In this segment, heavy riffer icon Blake Ibanez (Power Trip / Fugitive) reveals how the fan favorite 'Executioner's Tax' was written, mostly coming from drumming fills and some riff ideas that Blake had in the back of his mind.

Defender Of The Riff - Blake Ibanez (POWER TRIP & FUGITIVE)

The RIFFS that helped define IAN D'SA (BILLY TALENT) - Defender Of The Riff

In this new episode of Defender of the Riff, Knotfest's Daniel Dekay is joined by Canadian guitar hero Ian D'Sa from punk rock legends Billy Talent for a guitar-centered conversation covering the path of Ian's musical upbringing.

"𝙋𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨" - Ian D'Sa (BILLY TALENT) on Defender Of The Riff

In this new episode of Defender of the Riff, Knotfest's Daniel Dekay is joined by Canadian guitar hero Ian D'Sa from punk rock legends Billy Talent for a guitar-centered conversation covering the path of Ian's musical upbringing.

IAN D'SA of BILLY TALENT - Defender Of The Riff | FIRST LOOK

In this new episode of Defender of the Riff, Knotfest's Daniel Dekay is joined by Canadian guitar hero Ian D'Sa from punk rock legends Billy Talent for a guitar-centered conversation covering the path of Ian's musical upbringing.

Ian D'Sa of Billy Talent Shares His Love of 80's Spectacle and 90's Guitar Grit

The guitarist and producer reveals how Maiden and Lizzy reeled him in, but Soundgarden and Alice In Chains really hooked him on Defender of the Riff with host Daniel DeKay.

Ian D'Sa (BILLY TALENT) PUNK-ROCK RIFFING with Daniel Dekay

In this new episode of Defender of the Riff, Knotfest's Daniel Dekay is joined by punk rockers Billy Talent's guitar hero Ian D'Sa to dive deep into Ian's musical upbringing, his first and current loves and the journey of Billie Talent.

Defender Of The Riff - Ian D'Sa (BILLY TALENT) @ Aftershock 2023

Derrick Schneider (TALLAH) - Defender of the Riff @ Aftershock '23

On this new episode of Defender of the Riff, Knotfest host Daniel Dekay talks to Derrick Schneider of American nu-metal revivalists Tallah.

Core Classics: Malevolence's Josh Baines Pays Homage To The Guitar Greats That Shaped Him

The guitarist guests on Defender of the Riff to share how he was playing in pubs before he was a teen, how his father's library of Vai, Satriani and Van Halen nurtured him and how he found Malevolence and never looked back.

JOSH BAINES of MALEVOLENCE - Defender of the Riff | FIRST LOOK

In this new episode of Defender of the Riff, Knotfest's Daniel Dekay is joined by British metalcore rising stars Malevolence's guitar hero Josh Baines to dive deep into Josh's musical upbringing that started with his parents spinning heavy music at home.

Defender Of The Riff - Josh Baines (MALEVOLENCE)

Cody Chavez (DRAIN) HARDCORE RIFFING with Daniel Dekay

In this new episode of Defender Of The Riff, Knotfest's Daniel Dekay is joined by hardcore punks Drain's guitar hero Cody Chavez to dive deep into Cody's musical upbringing, his first and current loves and how Drain have become the leading band in the scene they belong to.

Chris Wiseman (CURRENTS) - Defender of the Riff @ Aftershock '23

On this new episode of Defender of the Riff, Knotfest host Daniel Dekay talks to Chris Wiseman of metalcore heavyweights Currents.