On this special edition of RAMP, Matt discusses the current RUSH Fifty-Somthing Tour with Rush aficionado Dr. Reynaldo Rojo Mendoza. Rey attended two RUSH shows in Mexico City in June 2026, while Matt attended two shows in Chicago in July. We talk setlists, performances, and of course, the incredible Annika Niles. This episode contains a few spoilers about the shows, so if you're planning on seeing RUSH in 2026, you may want to listen to this episode after you've attended the concert! Our thanks to Dr. Rojo Mendoza for once again taking the time to contribute to the podcast!

When Metallica released LOAD and RELOAD in 1996 & 1997, there was great controversy, particularly from long-time die-hard fans of their early work. There were myriad accusations that the band sold out, that they were chasing trends, and that they had betrayed their fans. Their look was dramatically different, their album art, even their music videos signaled a departure from what had come before, and more importantly, a departure from what Metallica fans expected. Court and Matt attempt to take a fresh and more objective look at these albums on this episode of RAMP.

This week Matt is flying solo and telling the story of Dokken in the late-90s and 2000s. This was a challenging time for the band, but despite changing tastes in music culture, the fickle record industry, grunge, and multiple lineups, Don Dokken and company managed to produce some of the band's best music! Sadly, this era of the band is often overlooked. We take a break-neck tour of the band's history and catalog over the last 3 decades plus. Let's get rockin' with some more Dokken!

The RAMP are Rockin' with Dokken! In this is episode of RAMP, Court and Matt get cerebral and discuss confirmation bias in rock and metal -- The subjectivity in loving what we love and wanting others to share our taste in music. What underpins this behavior? The Profs try to unpack it. Then, a long-overdue handling of one of the great bands of the 1980s -- DOKKEN. Were Dokken just another hair band? Did they need the look and flash to achieve commercial success? Could they have been as successful without the Aqua Net and outfits? Episode one will cover the classic era of the band through 1997, while episode two will cover the Reb Beach and Jon Levin years. As always, we thank you for downloading, listening, and supporting the show!

2026 is a BANGER year for new rock and metal music so far. Matt and Court talk the triumphant return of RUSH with Annika Niles, and celebrate the long-awaited release of Joe Holmes' new record!!! The Profs also discuss new offerings from Armored Saint, Spread Eagle, Evanescence, Geoff Tate/Operation Mindcrime, Elegant Weapons, Green Lung, Anthrax and Blue Medusa! Then, Matt introduces Court and the listeners to Maphra and her hit cover of "Doomed" (from Bring me the Horizon) that has over 25 million views on Youtube in just 4 months! This incredible young performer is not to be missed! Finally, the gents discuss legacy bands that tour without any (or few) original members. Should these bands still be touring as Foreigner or Kansas when there are no original members in the band? Fans are paying top prices to see what is essentially a cover band. In the midst of the discussion, Court goes on a diatribe about how much he hates Lynyrd Skynyrd (clearly some kind of deep-seated trauma growing up in Mississippi where he was fed a steady diet of southern rock). Matt comes to Skynyrd's defense, making the case that they were an incredibly talented band, and attempting to retain our southern listener base in the U.S. CRANK UP SOME FREE BIRD!

The Profs chat recent rock and metal news, and they examine the Scorpions' records from 1984's "Love at First Sting" to 2022's "Rock Believer." Dr. Lewis takes the lead on this one! We thank all our listeners for taking the time to download and listen. We appreciate you!

It's time to ROCK YOU LIKE A HURRICANE! Undeniably the greatest hard rock/metal band in German history, the Scorpions heralded career spans 60 years! Few bands have made a greater impact on the history of modern rock/metal music than the Scorps. The Profs look at the early history of the band as it coalesced in postwar West Germany and how Rudolph Schenker, Klaus Meine, Uli Jon Roth, Michael Schenker, Herman Rarebell, Francis Buchholz and Matthias Jabs sought to reshape the world's perception of Germany and Germans. Court and Matt examine postwar German history, the band's early albums and touring, and their rise to fame (and controversy) in the 1970s and 80s. Part one of two episodes. As always, we are so grateful to our listeners who download, listen and recommend the show to others! Thank you!

Court and Matt are back with their admittedly fragmentary best of 2025 concerts and albums. The Profs also discuss recent rock and metal news, and the state of the genre in 2026. Megadeth, Anthrax, Queensryche, Accept, Ratt, Slaughter, L.A. Guns, Iron Maiden, Ghost, Helloween, Ozzy, Wings of Steel, Alice Cooper, KISS, Phantom Spell, VV and Peter Criss were all topics covered, and more! Look for new episodes coming soon!