Feature: Metal, Meals, and Ministry: A Q&A with Brett Hoag of Metal Mastication
By Seth Metoyer – Heaven’s Metal Magazine,
Some of the best conversations in life don’t happen on stage, in the studio, or even at church. They happen in the kitchen, with something bubbling on the stove and stories being stirred up alongside the sauce.
When I first heard about Metal Mastication, the only heavy metal interview show set in the kitchen (that I’ve heard of), I immediately knew this was something unique. Hosted by Orthodox Christian and culinary metalhead Brett Hoag (drop him a vote on Favorite Chef), Metal Mastication blends faith, food, and loud music in a way that somehow feels both groundbreaking and familiar, as if your favorite band just rolled up to your grandma’s house and started cooking Shepherd’s Pie while talking about God, food, and metal riffs.
What Brett is doing with Metal Mastication is more than just clever, it’s deeply human, spiritually open, and genuinely metal. So, we sat down (figuratively) to talk about the show’s origins, faith in the frying pan, the James Beard Foundation, and why lasagna just might be the secret sauce to evangelism.
Here’s our full Q&A with the Head Masticator himself.
HM: How did the idea for Metal Mastication first come together?
BH: I follow Billy Sheehan on social media, specifically his Facebook. When he is home on a break from touring, he often posts videos of him cooking dinner. Billy is one of the few public personas that handles his own social media. It’s him talking to you, not an aide or an intern. Most people say things like, “That looks great, Billy! What is your tuning on (insert song)?” or, “Wow, looks delicious. Do you still play The Wife?” (his first main bass). Billy is always gracious when answering and will respond with, “Thank you for the kind words. I tune EDFG or whatever” (I’m not a musician, I just totally made that up).
I asked him a straight up cooking question: “How did you finish that sauce? With slices of unsalted butter or a cornstarch and water mixture?” He immediately responded with, “Unsalted butter, of course. How did you know?” I just said, “I cook.” And that started our many conversations about food and cooking that continue to this day. One night I was laying in bed trying to get to sleep when I started thinking about the conversation and how cool it would be to be in the kitchen cooking with Billy, shooting the breeze.
I was sitting on this idea for a while when I had a written interview with Impellitteri (James Pulli and Chris Impellitteri) for Heart of Hollywood Magazine (this was November 21, 2023) at James’ house. When I walked in, his wife was making some eggs for our mutual friend who set up the interview for me, another Christian in the metal genre, Giles Lavery (currently singing for Warlord and Alcatrazz). As I passed the kitchen, I muttered under my breath, “That would be perfect!” James overheard me, to my admonishment, and asked, “Perfect for what?” I sheepishly explained my silly idea and the name of the show to him, and to my surprise, he immediately interrupted me with, “Love the name! Let’s do it!
I make lasagna based on the Goodfellas prison scene sauce for Christmas and hand them out like gift cards.” After the interview with James and Chris I was driving back to my part of L.A. and thinking about all that just happened. I made up my mind right then and there to NOT call James about Metal Mastication. I mean, he is a rock star and who am I? Well, I didn’t have to call him as he called me three times the following week. After the third time, I turned to my wife and said, “Well, I guess we are doing this.”
HM: What were the early challenges of launching something so unique?
BH: Much to my surprise, almost everyone I talk to about Metal Mastication is all into it. Like you and the rest of the staff at Heaven’s Metal Magazine, most people are in love with the concept. I’ve had three or four say no. The best one was from Joel Hoekstra. I asked him at the Metal Hall of Fame induction last year and he looked at me for a second then said, “Cooking??” I started laughing and explained how the cooking part is secondary, it’s really about the conversations that happen around food with friends and family. He thought about it for a minute more then said, “Well, I live in NYC.” So, that was that. James Pulli knows Simon Wright, so we have asked him three or four times to be on, but he adamantly refuses. LOL. He does not do a lot of interviews to begin with and this is no doubt way out of his comfort zone. He is gracious and funny about it, but so far, won’t budge. I haven’t given up!
HM: You’ve mentioned that your Orthodox faith is a big part of the show. Can you tell us more about how that shapes the vibe and conversations on Metal Mastication?
BH: My Orthodoxy is a major part of who I am. My wife and I, and James Pulli when he is on set (he is a devout Roman Catholic), pray before each episode. It shapes the vibe of the show in that I will avoid all negativity. With bands, as you know, there is a lot of that stuff. Our show is upbeat, positive and happy, just like Grandma’s kitchen! I try to keep my language clean, but that is my biggest sin and the Lord knows I struggle. Usually, I can keep it clean or at least to a minimum, but some guests just fire away so to speak. I have asked a few guests about religion, but only if they bring it up beforehand or have mentioned it in the past. I don’t want to make anyone uncomfortable, and faith is a very personal thing. I am also almost constantly praying the Jesus Prayer (“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. Amen”) in my head during downtimes on set. It keeps me focused and more importantly, humble.
HM: Have there been any particularly powerful or unexpected spiritual moments while filming an episode?
BH: That is a great question! Yes, I’ve had that happen. I didn’t realize it had until a fan of the show from Florida contacted me via Facebook and told me that the show with Sean McNabb made them cry. I was like, what? Why? They told me that when he started talking about his journey towards sobriety and how much of a role God played in that, it hit them spot on and they just started crying and praying to God for help. I still get chills when telling that story and am so grateful to God that I was able to play a part in helping a fellow human to become closer to God. Gonzo Sandoval, the drummer of Armored Saint, also opened up about his relationship with God a bit in his episode. While I knew he was a Christian, I didn’t know how much of a factor that was in his life on and off stage (that episode is still being edited).
HM: What have been some of your favorite guest moments so far, whether because of the food, the convo, or the chaos?
BH: The best food so far has been James Pulli’s lasagna, Steve Unger’s Breasts of Fire, and Tony MacAlpine’s pork chops with caramelized bell peppers and onions on top. Julia Lage, the Brazilian bassist from Vixen, also made a delicious Brazilian fish stew (her take on Moqueca) that was extremely delightful! The best conversation was without a doubt with Sean McNabb. He was just so raw, real, and emotional. The funniest part, and there are a lot LOL, was with Graham Bonnet. Graham was on an Impellitteri album and had recently jumped on stage with them in Japan for a few songs, so James got there early to catch up.
My wife and I arrive and start loading in equipment. James and Graham are standing off to the side talking. I am trying to be all professional… then, in the middle of the story he’s telling, Graham starts singing acapella! I stopped cold, turned to him and said, “Sir. I am a fan first and I am trying to be all professional here, but if you are going to break into song, all bets are off and I will FANBOY OUT!!!” He laughed uproariously, clapped me on the back, and proceeded to sing some more. That was an amazing episode and is still being edited. The best part is when some of our guests have graciously agreed to play us out at the end. We’ve had personal concerts, so to speak, from Steve Unger, Robby Lochner (the lost episode), Rob Math, Bjorn Englen, and Michael Olivieri.
HM: You’ve got James Pulli (Impellitteri) on board, and you’re trying to get Stryper and Glenn Rogers involved. Any other dream guests on your radar?
BH: Wendy Dio. I have done a written interview with her for Heart of Hollywood Magazine and she assured me twice yesterday, in front of witnesses LOL, that she would do the show. She is our priority at the moment. I would love Chris Impellitteri on, but even with his 30-year-long bass player as my EP, he won’t. He doesn’t do a lot of interviews to begin with and very much cherishes his privacy. I don’t begrudge him that. Sebastian Bach is also a dream guest for his energy and love of all things metal. Of course, the man who inspired our show, Billy Sheehan, is always at the top of our list.
HM: Have you had any guest who really surprised you in the kitchen, either by being a great cook or a total disaster?
BH: Yes. Shawn Duncan, drummer of Odin, DC4, and L.A. Guns. When I ran into him at NAMM one year and told him about it, he nodded and gave me his contact info. That was about it. A few weeks later, I reach out to him and he calls me and starts telling me he had his own movie catering business, ran his uncle’s restaurant, and on and on. We shot in his backyard, and man, oh man, did that man make a BBQ feast fit for a king! James Pulli has still made the best lasagna sauce to ever grace my lips. Mark Zonder, drummer of Fates Warning, Warlord, and A-Z, assembled a sandwich… ’nuff said. LOL.
HM: Has anyone totally surprised you in the kitchen—either as a great cook or a disaster?
BH: Shawn Duncan from Odin and L.A. Guns blew me away. I thought he was just being polite when he gave me his number. Then he calls and tells me he used to run a catering business and a restaurant! We filmed at his house and he made a BBQ feast fit for royalty.
And then there’s Mark Zonder from Fates Warning… he made a sandwich. ‘Nuff said. LOL.
HM: Why do you think the kitchen is such a great setting for interviews, especially in the metal community?
BH: The kitchen is such a great setting for interviews as it is some place we are all familiar with. We all hang out in our parent’s kitchens, or grandparent’s or friends’ when visiting. My brother and I would solve all the world’s problems while making a midnight sandwich that Blondie’s husband Dagwood would be proud of. Not to be cliched, but the kitchen is a very safe place. As I say in the show, “The best conversations happen around food or in the kitchen with friends and family.” Am I right?
HM: You pray before meals on the show. That’s rare in media. Has that sparked any unexpected reactions?
BH: I was raised Episcopalian and most Episcopalians are very private in their faith. We did convert to Orthodoxy 11 years ago this past Pascha, so I am a bit more open about it, but not that much. LOL. It was the first episode with James Pulli. He dished up the grub and said, “Shall we pray first?” My wife and I were like, yep! We let our guests direct that for the group. Many of them do lead the prayer. If they don’t, I will still cross myself and say our family grace. They have all respected that. I don’t know if it changed how they saw us or me or the show. I just know it hasn’t seemed to bother anyone yet—they have all been understanding and respectful of my faith.
HM: Tell us about Colossal’s Favorite Chef 2025. How did you get involved, and what would winning mean?
BH: Colossal’s Favorite Chef 2025 Competition is a nationwide contest for professional and amateur chefs alike. I found out about it this year from an ad on Facebook. I looked into it and found out that its main goal is to raise funds for the James Beard Foundation. The JBF works for equity and sustainability in kitchens nationwide. This is near and dear to my heart for two reasons. First, while people in a bygone age used to say, “Cooking is the woman’s job,” when I was in junior high kicking major buttski in home ec, I would always say in response, “Huh. Really? Pick any major city on the planet. Now pick a Michelin-starred restaurant in that city. How much do you want to bet that the Executive/Head Chef is male?” We do have many more exemplary female head chefs these days, but it’s still not a real representation of women in society (they do make up 51% of the humans on the planet).
The second reason this charity means so much to me is because of my father. My dad taught me how to cook from two cookbooks: Julia Child, The French Chef, and The James Beard Cookbook he got as a wedding present from his parents in 1963. I use both to this day at least once a month. Cooking, especially with my dad’s books and equipment, is one way I still feel in touch with him. My brother as well, as they are both with God. Winning would open us up to a vast audience of potential guests, viewers, and sponsors.
HM: If you win, what’s next for Metal Mastication?
BH: The winner gets three things: 1. $25K cash, 2. A spread in Taste of Home Magazine, 3. A cooking spot with a celebrity chef on The Food Network. The $25K will allow us to buy a food truck. Imagine, if you will. You are at a metal festival. Stryper is on the bill. You have some time before their set, so you head over to the food trucks for a snack. You see a purple food truck with our logo on it. You’re like, “Metal Mastication?” What is that? You head over and there, behind the counter of the truck, is Michael Sweet (we are imagining so I went for it) slinging slop, jawing with me and the fans, going live and signing swag. After a bit, he heads to the stage and rips your face off! Tell me you just didn’t experience the best festival EVER!
I know that every single one of our guests would be so down for that. What about you, fans? The rest of the winning package would, as I mentioned, hopefully lead to a bigger audience and a sponsor or two so we could buy much needed equipment and hire a full-time film editor. God willing, the big payoff from winning this would be a TV contract or major sponsor contract for YouTube.
HM: What’s your go-to comfort meal when you’re not filming? And what metal album are you spinning while making it?
BH: Hmm. That is another really good question! I would have to say real Shepherd’s Pie. Most people don’t know this, but if you make it with ground beef and not ground lamb, it ain’t Shepherd’s Pie. It’s Cottage Pie. I am half-Irish and I make my mom’s Shepherd’s Pie at least once a month. The secret is the lamb and the gravy made from the lamb grease (don’t forget to brown the flour and make your roux)! I usually listen to Sabbath when I’m cooking.
HM: If you could cook a meal for any metal legend, alive or gone, who would it be, and what would you serve?
BH: Stop with the make me think hard questions! LOL. So many, right? Normally, for a question like this I would immediately respond with Stevie Ray Vaughan. However, as the show has changed my perspective over the years, now I would answer with Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Vinnie Appice. First of all, Black Sabbath has been my favorite band since I first heard them at the age of 11 1/2 in 1978. Tony is my favorite riff master and second favorite soloist (something about Mr. Page’s solos). Now that I’ve interviewed Wendy Dio and I know Ronnie’s favorite meal (Lamb Vindaloo) and how much he loved working with, knowing, and sharing life with the guys in Black Sabbath, I think that would be an exceptionally powerful episode with a few tears and toasts! If I lived through the fanboy aneurysm I would surely have.
HM: What do you hope people take away from Metal Mastication, beyond the food and fun?
BH: That we are all the same. To paraphrase the Bible, “There is nothing new under the sun.” We all eat. We can all make at least mac and cheese or soup. I want our audience to see their “rock stars” as regular people, just a dude/dudette who can wail on the guitar/bass/drums/keyboards or has a God-given set of pipes. And if something our guest says, or something I say, reaches them, resonates with them and affects them in a positive way… that is icing on the cake!
HM: Anything you’d like to say directly to the Heaven’s Metal readers and the Christian metal community?
BH: Firstly, God bless all of you. Secondly, you must, if you haven’t, check out the latest from Impellitteri, War Machine. I’m not saying this because of James Pulli, but it is, in my humble opinion, their best offering to date. Thirdly, please vote for us daily! The quarter-finals end May 22 at 7 PM PDT. We must place first to proceed! Finally, I would ask that in your generosity, you pray for my wife, Claudia. She is undergoing medical treatment at the moment.
Vote: https://favchef.com/2025/brett-hoag
Watch the show: YouTube.com/@Metal_Mastication
Follow: Facebook.com/MetalMastication
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