DOWN TO THE MERROW : EPISODE 8, MESA MKIV, METALLICA, ALIENS, ASTRAL PROJECTION, NAMING SONGS

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[@FilipeSalgueiroo]

That intro song felt like I was listening to some old school Exodus, awesome!!!

[@tuck234]

Vocals def gave off Paul Baloff vibes and the riffs... Mmmm oh so nice! \m/

[@fridge9452]

Need more content with Leon. Maybe a regular series, you guys together make a great duo.

[@omramoryth]

Keith Merrow and Leon praising Metallica, playing thrash metal and discussing multiverses? Oh fuck yeah, this is what I subbed for! Love these kind of content guys, you seem to vibe off of each other really well!

[@seba.makron]

4:40 Ola Englund: It Chugs.. clap 👏

[@TaylorBlack0]

This is the best topic ever.

[@floreavictormihaigeorge6962]

keith's approach to making videos is really refreshing

[@ganglu]

The riffs in Reign In Blood is the basis of just about everything Death Metal. We did a Halloween as Slayer and did Reign in its entirety. If you are a guitarist, try it. You will really appreciate what that album brought to the table and how those riffs stand up to this day.

[@shizzlefohizzle417]

I wanna hear a full version of “the thing that should not be” please! That sounds fucking amazing

[@kreation1747]

Best intro ever lol, nice to hear a bit of thrash.

[@shawnjmaddy]

This is quickly becoming the best series on KZbin!

[@BA99253]

Ahh yes the discovery of Master of Puppets was a game changer back in the day. The way battery led into master was just awesome and really set that record off.

[@micahlawton6919]

Has to be one of the best KZbin series intros ever...the amount of work and fun that went into it at the same time is friggin awesome...

[@CoreyAllgood]

I will pay money to get a full version of a Keith Merrow cover of The Thing That Should Not Be.

[@erickmazur807]

In drop A

[@josuastangl7140]

@@erickmazur807 nah

[@idiotburns]

I discovered MetallicA playing football and we played seek and destroy before games as kids, it was deeply ingrained since age 8/9

[@Godlobber]

As someone who got to live the comment about 1986.... Imagine a little earlier hearing Hell Awaits for the first time when there nothing even remotely like that... anywhere. The whole, for the time, creepy beginning and then bursting in to the heavy intro, and then going in to high gear for the rest of the song. I must admit for the, 14 year old I was at the time, it was pretty life changing.

[@karnwield3200]

I'm happier to see a new Down to the Merrow video than seeing the announcement of Diablo 4. Keep up the good work man.

[@TobyKBTY]

Also ditto on 80's Metallica. Growing up a lot of my exposure to rock and metal started with nu-metal, but one day my brother lent me his Master of Puppets and that first minute of Battery was just mesmerizing, man. Glorious. I guess that's where the full-on metal journey started.

[@XxDavidxXPantera]

My dad actually got the master of puppets CD for christmas the year that I started really getting into metal, and the first song I instantly fell in love with was "the thing that should not be", those fucking beefy ass palm mutes were all I cared about for so long haha

[@truthisbest]

It's funny that Leon mentioned being in to Motley Crue and Poison before being introduced to Metallica. That's exactly who I was listening to when I was introduced. My uncle was like, if you like that shit, wait until you hear this. He played Garage Days Revisted and Justice for me and I was like, WHAT THE FUCK!?! It changed my life forever. I still listen to Justice every now and then and it still blows me away.

[@foxkhine95]

Now i need a full album of Keith Thrash songs, intro was fire.

[@ErikEkholm]

The plasma medal is my favorite toy!!

[@JDWindtPlaysGuitar]

I'm digging this Q&A format in which you answer questions but as part of an interaction with another human being. Grandmaster Keith imparting the wisdom

[@drbombermandude]

Holy Shit I can't like enough for this intro, Anthrax is my Favourite band ever

[@Simula77]

The intro song sounded a lot like Terrible Certainty era Kreator and I was ever so slightly disappointed that you didn’t mention Kreator by name as they were definitely there at the same time pushing the limits of how fast and aggressive metal can be.

[@deathrattleriffs8161]

Omfg the thrash is so thick. It’s so in the vein of a Ghoul riff!!! I love it

[@siets96]

Love watching your vids man! Really like how much time goes in to your videos. 🔥🔥🔥

[@13spiders]

These FAQs are killer. I hope you keep them coming!

[@soundzofnoize8603]

This was a great episode gentlemen thank you!

[@evilst.management8810]

Baloff shenanigans always make me smile.

[@Rivalspin]

Duuuuude that rant about Coven of hags this is exactly what I was thinking this name is perfect for that riff threw me back to Master and Margarita by Bulgakov instantly when Natasha was riding that hog to the coven with Margarita on a broom, fuck yes man

[@hbomb495]

Within the shadow immediately comes to mind when Keith mentions astral projection. Speaking of, new Demisery plz. Duuuuuuuuuuude, Gord and Leon trading off broot vox for days 😍 🔥

[@erickmazur807]

Between the buried and me did a whole album on Astral projection. Parallax 2. Also is that a Dan Henderson reference 😂

[@abyssuserigo]

Man I love this channel even more now.

[@freddydelpozo2407]

Laughing while creating is the key thing to get something good and well done. Down to the Merrow videos are so entertaining, fun to watch.

[@kristijanfistrek9055]

Yes. This is easily one of my favorite guitar channel on KZbin.

[@jasoncrump1886]

My uncle was in the army based in Germany when I was in like 3rd grade he came back to the states with kill em all . It stayed in my back pocket for years and I packed my Walkman everywhere. I remember having master of puppets when I was 12 and had my boombox cranking it walking on the beach when we visited myrtle beach that summer. Like so many of us old school Metallica fans we thought we were the only ones that knew who they were then they blew up. I still love em and was glad when they became a huge metal monster and the world knew about em. Did they sell out? Hell yes they did , everywhere and anywhere in the world they played! Lol

[@jpsasquatch6884]

Love these videos! Don't leave us Keith!

[@EternalAwait]

Hoooooly that intro clip is the best thing I've seen/heard in a while :D

[@rodreyes8436]

I haven’t heard The Thing That Should Not Be in a while. What a song! Thanks for putting it back on my radar. That clean ominous intro into the heavy distorted part brings back great memories from when I was learning to play...

[@thebunn]

You dudes over lunch... It's so rad and loose. Awesome topics. More please.

[@froblivion8284]

Puppets is the one album to bind them all - still sounds as killer now - timeless classic. Great show fellas 🤘🤘🤘🤘👍

[@lestariyumi5854]

Now I know why "Reading the Bones" sounds that way. I've become addicted to it since I listened to for the first time. It's become my company almost everytime I do my work.

[@MartyDadRiffs]

The Thing That Should Not Be was also the track that really put the hook in me. I was 11 when that record came out and it changed all of the shit for me. Leon is also dead on about Slayer being the gateway to death metal.

[@sonicfuker]

Love how this vid was put together. Keep it up Keith!

[@yellowdudewithedibleshorts]

Really liked this sort of deep subject. I think a lot of this ethereal ideas can be felt and heard in your music. Really like all this astral trip/alternative universe stuff. Cool vid dude.

[@oorgasmatron17]

when you guys talked about aliens and noob you took me back to the talks I was making at thirteen! LoL!

[@stefankihlgren7444]

And there is a certain chunk from E standard that kind of gets lost in tuned down guitars. That thump that made every pickstroke feel like a kick in the chest. 💪

[@elidevenny6936]

More and more entertaining. Luv it!

[@satch72]

I'd love to hear more about the type of meditation you do Keith. I know different things work for different people but I enjoy trying different meditation styles.

[@jfo3000]

Agreed!

[@quantumenigma1869]

These vids are top notch. Make them longer dude.

[@richard3854]

You do seem very present. Maintaining clarity like that can make you calm and confident I think and allow ideas to flow better.

[@wcarballeira]

Awesome video Keith and friend. Love the song at the begging as much as the video 🤣

[@majesticpbjcat7707]

Holy fuck! That Thing That Should Not Be cover was fuckin SICK! Hearing that with modern tones was awesome!

[@Djent4life]

That Intro giving me Big Exodus vibes. I borrowed Master of puppets on vinyl from the local public library getting it home and putting on my deck was a moment

[@joerondorf926]

That was Kreator to a key...... Fucking awesome. Old school metal for life!!!!!

[@WesleyKhalil]

Keith Merrow is a musician i've admired for years, and it's really cool and satisfying that as a person, he's as cool as i've imagined. His personality is really close of some of my best friends, and i would love to hang around, talk bs and smoke some shit with him some day. Makes me miss my now distant friends a lot. Great video man!

[@xRiseAgainstx]

Amazing video as always. But where do I get that metronome click sound?? It’s perfect

[@AnaerobicFermentation]

Your talk about astral projection made me think about Lucid dreaming since it's a kind of similar thing. Have you ever had the experience where you become aware in a dream that it was actually a dream and then could do whatever you wanted in it as a result? It's happened to me a few times. It's pretty awesome.

[@steven_marque_official_channel]

I have almost enough time, (& attention span,) to keep up with one KZbin channel. Ola introduced me to yours & I realized today, after coming over to watch the GGD video, that it's enjoyable for someone in my comparitively advanced age group & temperament I first became aware of you for your BBW Duncans & I had a set custom wound. Anyway, I think I'll migrate over & spend my KZbin time here for a while. My Puppets story is nearly as cool. Best wishes for continued success. SM

[@seventhsealhere]

Coven of Hags is a great tune. Fantastic episode guys! 👍

[@thomasmcbee9396]

Hey bro I'm happy ur back bro. Thank u

[@LucasMastropasqua]

Hey Keith love your music and your channel! I just recently subscribed, don’t know why it took me so long, probably just too high lol, anyway my question is about how you approach using noise gates in the signal chain when using a tube head and cabinet with an overdrive up front. Use just one after the OD into the front, in the loop, or do you use something that has multiple ins and outs like the zuul or similar? Also what is your gate of choice? Thanks and keep up this great content!

[@Guithulhu]

Holy crap! Same tape that pulled me out of current metal into the heavy stuff. I remeber frist things out of high school all my guitar buddies were like "you gotta hear this shit!". I didn't like Kill Em All, but Master of Puppets blew me away. Love how you played Thing That Should Not Be. I blew so many car stereo speakers with that one. Heavy as fuck, ground breaking. Best discussion video ever!!!

[@wakjob961]

Got me some 1989 chills/vibes from that intro. In '88...someone handed me a blank cassette with "And Justice For All" on one side, and "So Far, So Good, So What" on the other side. I just assumed "So Far" was Metallica, because those chaotic/complex/metallic sounding riffs & production represented that namesake, and the huge chunky palm muted riffs/songs of "Justice" was just MEGA!... so again I just assumed that was Megadeth. Imagine my confusion later on ;-0

[@derekperry2142]

you guys are killing it best thing on the internet SICK RIFF WORSHIP amazing keep on keeping on

[@joehorvathebe]

Funny you guys were doing The Thing that Should not Be. I have been using that as a warm up exercise lately and forgot how awesome and chuggy it was.

[@craigulatorOne]

I ate a 300mg brownie once and had a NOOBE, instead of a panic attack for once. My consciousness separated from the vessel and I watched myself, like a god would. I was busy-bodying around my house doing chores and yard work for hours and I was viewing it through a third person perspective, literally out of my body and I realized what other people saw of me, what an odd feeling, I was frightened by the whole experience but not panicked, (usually I would be laying in a room somewhere in a cold sweat or sitting in a bathtub with all my clothes on and cold shower pouring down onto me, this time was different though) it was a breakthrough, it was surreality and a measured ego death...it's always good to practice dying.\M/

[@johnnygearjammer]

Dude, you’re absolutely hilarious and you rock!

[@DennisTrovato]

OK, Keith's gotta join Municipal Waste or something xD

[@johnpaul5664]

I can see myself playing bass with you 2 dudes

[@norwardradtke1361]

It’s all in your mind. The problem with that is we were lied to about how small that box is….where does your mind end and the rest of everything else begin?

[@SixString_J5]

Pantera becoming was what cemented me in metal. I bounced back and forth from genres from pop, to grunge, to metal, to rap and around again. In 9th grade I traded my Master P compact disc for Pantera Far beyond driven CD. I popped it in the CD player when I got home and the first track strength beyond strength didn't start with a hook and didn't grab me. 10 seconds in I skipped to track two and duh-nuh-nuh.... duh-nuh-nuh.... duh-nuh.... ......... Dun-dun-squeeel-dun-nuh-nuh...... Dun-dun-squeeel-dun-nuh-NUUUHHHH ( If you know the song you know what I'm saying). Dime grabbed me by the nuts that day. I listened to that CD from 6pm until 2 am on repeat. And I listened to it everyday for weeks. Been a metal head ever since.

[@MetalGuitar911]

DEEB is the mascot of ur channel now 😂😂😂

[@guitardude32787]

let's go over that superior drummer kit

[@Jeffmetal42]

Is gateway metal like when I was struck with a metal bar as a teenager and have since listened to nothing but Last Days of Humanity?

[@jasons.3921]

Wondering what camera you are using to shoot video from your robot vacuum..really enjoy your episodes btw..thank you

[@PedroEvil12]

Merrow video = hit like AF

[@Adam1349]

I'd love to hear both your thoughts on the treatment of violence in metal and it's general use as an defining aesthetic in metal music.

[@jddavison5585]

Astral projection of soft-shell crabs playing Kemper profiles of Mesa Mark IV's for covers of Tiny Tim hits!

[@stefankihlgren7444]

I remember this guy walking down the schoolyard, wearing a bandana and carrying around a boom box with The Unforgiven blasting from it. I was 7 years old and sold right away. Always wanted to hear a Candlemass version of The thing that should not be, btw. 😍

[@jrose92081]

You will know when you are starting to project because you will get a very overwhelming sensation in your head like a freight train is circling. This happened to me briefly and I woke myself up because I was too scared to see it through. Ever since that evening I have been a big believer.

[@tonykaos4450]

Hey Keith, just want to start off by saying your music helped me get through my prison sentence and kept me inspired the whole time. I’m out now and continuing with my own projects. Feels nice to be back in my own studio again. But here’s my question, which drum software do you use, or which is your favourite and why? Thanks man! You’re the man!!

[@michaelseagraves5404]

Do you have a go to warm up scale that you play to start your day playing guitar? Thanks!

[@DennisTrovato]

The ending of Metallica's Battery really showed me, that the skank-beat truly is the superior beat.

[@josephfish6593]

I was 11 the first time I herd Metallica. Some dude rode past me on his bike with a big ass ghettoblaster on his shoulder. One was playing loud AF, and I was instantly hooked.

[@illexploityou]

Seriously, love my recollection of hearing Battery at age 9 in 1993 and just remembering how knarly my bed and room looked after I finished wrestling the demons that awoke in me and never left since. The best live set I ever saw was Metallica in 1998, in Atlanta, and they have always been smart about playing all the good oldies. 1989 in seatle is the best recorded live set, and riff in the dictionary has a photo of Cliff James Kirk and Lars in place of the definition.

[@lucwilson1]

Sick intro song/riffing!!! Yes!!!! Love thrash!

[@shredlabstudios]

Fuck, that was some killer thrash

[@quentinutter5173]

Ayy scoop those mids lol. This is a great vid I never really get into your stuff but the topic the playing the ducking off the topic was great

[@AlexT1212]

Fucking love your vids man, would love to hang out and play guitar! I have a question - Do you have any advice for pushing yourself to finish turning an idea or a riff into a full song? Like, does it come naturally with how to structure them out or do you really have to focus. Also, if you have a smoke does it all go tits up or do riffs start flowing? :D Cheers!

[@brendan00013]

Leon rocking an Outer Heaven tee rules. Love those boys

[@andrewdavis9980]

2 things, 1st thing for me it was Disposable Heroes. The second riff after the intro, that breakdown. That was the OG chug riff for me. 2nd, where are you guys eating? I’ll be in Portland on Monday evening and need something new. Edit, I see where it is now. Fuck that shit too far.

[@NorgGrimm]

Keith @0:56 "Hehehe E string go BRRRRRRRR!"

[@FilipFichoBoshevski]

Damn, im always bummed when I reach the end of the video...I wish they'd be like 1h long! :) Q: What was the best/favorite guitar you've played (other than your Schecters of course)? One love dude, love the content

[@DestroyingTheDevoid]

That's awesome! Metallica was my first favorite band. ...And Justice For All was the first album I ever heard and Master of Puppets was the first album I ever started learning. Cool stuff!

[@mikedixon8830]

Dude sets the standard Merrow is king 👑

[@geraldrauch1701]

great channel keith!!! FYI, the mesa mark IV's were made from 1990 until 2008 (revision A's were 1990-1992 and revision B until 2008)...BEST AMP EVER!!!

[@iamhated1292]

6 minutes in and I'm loving this episode. I was only a few years older when I heard Ride the Lightning... my friend played it for me and I played cool like I just got punched and tried to make like it didn't hurt xD yeah, epic journey since then

[@Rivalspin]

Had chills all over my spine druring this one, my metal story does not have flashy Terminator 2 flashbacks and shit but is still special to me. Metallica was something else back in the day. Still consider S&M one of the best live performances pound for pound ever.

[@mick6084]

Hi Keith! Can you give us some tips on how you setup your guitars, string action, pickup height, trussrod adjustment, etc.?

[@Citizen_J]

Hey Keith, hope all is well. How do you deal with creative differences when writing with other people?