We pulled all the stops for the first ''Creep Show' podcast of 2010. There's background animation, high-tech cameras and clip-on microphones for each panelist and pans and zoom courtesy of a full crew of union employees. It was almost like we were 'That Metal Show' for the day, just without the green room and deluxe catering we imagine they have over there.

But alas, our modernization came at the expense of reconstruction. While our parent company was upgrading our regular podcast studio we got to look all super-professional for the day. Next week, we'll be back at our regular podcast studio, which, having undergone a renovation, will no doubt look cooler than ever. But it won't involve three cameramen, a couple of producers and some production assistants.


Actually, being under the scrutiny of such a large, highly trained team was a little unnerving, especially since our guest artist came down with strep throat and had to cancel at the last minute, leaving us without a musician to interview. Still, we made the best with what we had, and there was plenty to talk about between the panelists, and afterwards we joked around about whether or not the cameras captured out "good sides."

The ''Creep Show' panel for the week featured lead Noisecreep writer Amy Sciarretto, Revolver senior writer and freelance hustler Jon Wiederhorn and Revolver senior editor Kory Grow. We led off the show by talking about the postponement of the American Carnage Tour, which was to feature Slayer, Megadeth and Testament recreating the majority of the European Clash of the Titans lineup from 1990. Sadly, Slayer frontman Tom Araya must undergo back surgery and will be unable to tour for a little while. Slayer and Megadeth hope to reschedule the tour this summer.

The announcement was surely a bummer for thrash fans, but it wasn't nearly as upsetting as the main story of the week, the death of Avenged Sevenfold drummer Jimmy 'The Rev' Sullivan, whose body was discovered at his one on Dec. 28 at the age of 28. We discussed the police investigation into his death and the way it was reported by the media and concluded that there's no way to know exactly what happened until the toxicology reports come back in a couple weeks. Even then, the cause of Sullivan's death may remain a mystery, but the impact of the tragedy will still be just as substantial. Not only was the dude a killer drummer, he was a warm and well-loved human being who will be sorely missed.

Fortunately, not all ''Creep Show' news is of the tragic variety (though lately it seems like it has been). On Jan. 20 the official lineup will be announced for this year's Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival. The panel discussed the acts that are rumored to be playing -- Korn, Rob Zombie, Lamb of God, Hatebreed, Five Finger Death Punch, Winds of Plague and Chimaira -- and made educated guesses about which, if any, will actually appear on the tour. We also talked about last year's lineup and how the Mayhem Fest has taken over from Ozzfest as the premier summer touring metal fest.

Since we were talking tours, we couldn't overlook the fact that Voivod are set to embark on their first North American tour since they played Ozzfest six years ago. We also discussed the possibility of a Soundgarden reunion, and how, while frontman Chris Cornell has been tweeting on Twitter that it's a done deal, Nirvana bassist Chris Novoselic said he has information from a reliable source that it's not gonna happen. The drama continues.

We also talked news of the absurd, the announcement that Poison vocalist Bret Michaels and Sharon Osbourne will take part as cast members in the new season of Donald Trump's 'The Celebrity Apprentice.'

Once we had exhausted the news of the week, we interviewed Grow about the current issue of Revolver, which includes a fascinating, comprehensive oral history of Pantera's landmark 1992 album 'Vulgar Display of Power' to commemorate the five-year anniversary of the death of Pantera guitar legend Dimebag Darrell.

Grow talked about why the magazine opted to celebrate a particular album instead of offering a retrospective of Dime's career, explained how Revolver got accomplished comic book artist Tim Bradstreet to illustrate the album cover for the front of the magazine and showed us the goodie bag of Pantera memorabilia replicas (backstage pass, tour poster, sticker) that comes with each magazine.

Enjoy the podcast. It's easy on the eyes, if heavy on the soul. And rest assured, we'll be back next week in the cramped, cold studio we're happy to call home.

More From Noisecreep