Host, James Cox, the “handicapped” yet unstoppable champion of healing riffs, sits down with a true legend of extreme metal: Jack Owen, founding guitarist of Cannibal Corpse and longtime member of Six Feet Under.

In this conversation Jack opens up about the power of heavy music to combat low moods, shares the song that always pulls him out of a dark spot (classic early‑Metallica), and offers practical advice for aspiring guitarists—from mastering power chords with Kiss and AC/DC to tackling Iron Maiden’s “Phantom of the Opera.”

Listeners also get an inside look at Jack’s gear journey (from Blackheart to Solar), his tour schedule (June 4 – August 11 across North America, Europe and possibly South/Central America), and the new Six Feet Under album “Next to Die”—including its collaborative songwriting split, the fresh artwork, and why the band is leaning into “groovy horror” vibes.

Jack reflects on the evolution of the death‑metal scene, the challenges of streaming royalties, and why physical media still matters to him. He even reveals a lightning‑round of fun facts—the heaviest riff he ever wrote, his favorite Cannibal Corpse record, an underrated guitarist (Jeff Waters), and the surprising truth that before touring he worked in drywall.

Whether you’re a metalhead looking for inspiration, a guitarist wrestling with finger limitations, or simply someone seeking music’s therapeutic punch, this episode delivers a raw, heartfelt, and unforgettable glimpse into the life of a metal pioneer who truly believes that when words fail, the riffs speak. Tune in, crank the volume, and let the music do the healing.

From the tumultuous days as the lead vocalist for the Misfits—where he helped shape landmark albums like American Psycho and Famous Monsters—to his gritty solo projects such as Graves and Gotham Road, Michale Graves opens up about the highs and lows that have defined his career. He talks candidly about battling depression, the pain of being pushed aside by bandmates, the loss of his father, and the relentless search for purpose—all while finding salvation in the very songs that once felt like a burden.

James and Michale dive deep into the creative process: why many of his tracks start on an acoustic guitar, how he balances horror‑themed aesthetics with an underlying message of hope, and the surprising role his Christian faith plays in his music today. They also share behind‑the‑scenes stories—like the bizarre dinosaur‑bone ink on a limited‑edition record—and discuss what makes a perfect, “no‑skip” album.

The conversation wraps up with a sneak peek at Graves’s upcoming “God Bless America” tour, his new EP on Epochal Records, and a heartfelt reminder that, even when words run dry, music remains the most powerful bridge between pain and peace.

Tune in, get inspired, and remember: when words fail, music speaks. 🎧✨

Welcome back to When Words Fail, Music Speaks, the podcast that explores how melody, rhythm, and vibration can mend the mind and body. In today’s episode we’re reunited with a familiar voice from our archives—Dr. Wally Bartfay, the “rock‑in‑the‑lab” professor who retired in August 2024 after a distinguished career at Ontario Tech University’s Faculty of Health Sciences.

Wally isn’t just an academic; he’s a singer‑songwriter who just dropped two new rock tracks, Poison & Desire and Sweet Old‑School Rock & Roll. He’ll walk us through his journey from childhood camp‑fire folk songs that soothed his father’s vascular dementia, to creating a Clinical Demonstration Unit for advanced dementia patients where personalized playlists cut behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSDs) by an astonishing 600 %.

We’ll travel back 40‑60,000 years to the first known instrument—a bear femur with drilled holes—then jump forward to cuneiform musical notation, Chinese characters that equate music with medicine, and ancient Greek deities who ruled both health and harmony. From there, Wally unpacks the modern science of music therapy, binaural‑beat stimulation, and “noise therapy” (white, pink, brown, and gray noise) while revealing why the Earth’s 7.83 Hz Schumann resonance and the universe’s 432 Hz hum can calm our nervous systems.

Along the way we’ll hear vivid case studies: an 80‑year‑old Alzheimer’s patient who rediscovered herself on an upright piano, the surprising attraction of ACDC’s “Thunderstruck” to great‑white sharks, and how acoustic guitars, reverb‑rich by nature, soothe listeners far more than a sterile electric tone.

Finally, Wally shares the personal inspiration behind his latest songs, the creative spark of writing versus listening, and a simple, actionable tip for anyone feeling stuck, anxious, or down: play the song that takes you back to your “happy place” and let the music transport you to a calmer present.

Grab your headphones, tune your mind to 432 Hz, and get ready to hear how science, art, and the ancient heartbeat of the planet converge in the most accessible prescription—music. 🎶