Chaotic, Mayhem, and Groompy return with a heavy and honest new episode of RockMental, kicking things off with a powerful conversation around Jason Newsted’s recent revelation about why he truly left Metallica — and how walking away from something you love can sometimes be the only way to stay alive.

This week’s episode dives deep into addiction, sobriety, and choosing your mental health, even when the cost feels unbearable. The crew explores how Newsted’s decision reframes Metallica’s history, challenges our ideas of strength and loyalty, and mirrors the difficult choices so many people face when survival demands change.

Alongside the discussion, the episode delivers new rock and punk music discovery, spotlighting three under‑the‑radar bands with under 100K monthly listeners who bring raw emotion, confrontation, and resilience across punk, post‑punk, and metalcore. If you’re looking for heavy music that doesn’t shy away from addiction, shame, recovery, and refusing to quit — this episode hits hard.

As always, the conversation blends rock culture, lived mental health experiences, and community, reminding listeners that survival is not weakness — it’s courage.

Listen to this episode on your favorite podcasting platform!