How TikTok Hijacked the Future of Music - Nik Nocturnal

Nik Nocturnal is a musician, YouTuber, and content creator. What is happening in modern metal music? The days of thrash and hair metal dominating culture are long gone, and something entirely new has taken their place. So what defines modern metal, why does it sound so different, and how has the internet changed the music industry forever? Expect to learn how big of an impact TikTok plays in shaping the way modern metal songs are written, which songs are the most influential in modern metal, what Nik thinks of AI-generated music, the most overused trends in metal right now, the tension between making art and making “content” in music, the worst thing about being a YouTube musician and much more… - 0:00 How is TikTok Reshaping Metal Music? 8:24 Is Metal Music Better Than Ever? 17:36 Are We Living in a Golden Age of Metal? 25:39 How Pop Culture Is Reviving Metal 28:28 The Best Metal Songs for Nostalgia 34:55 Is Originality Dead in Music? 41:29 Is There Beef in the Metal Genre? 47:02 Who is Slipknot’s New Drummer? 50:22 How Long Have Kilswitch Engage Been Around? 51:05 Why is Metal Becoming Self-Aware? 54:04 How Hit Songs Are Really Made 58:52 Are Bands Being Engineered for Virality? 01:06:49 The Building Blocks of Nik’s Fast Songwriting 01:16:52 The Hidden Costs of Taking a Break 01:27:06 Why Creators Burn Out So Fast 01:35:51 The Power of the “F*ck You” Pivot 01:40:34 Are Streaming Platforms Exploiting Artists? 01:53:44 How Song DNA is Improving Credits 01:56:16 What’s Next For the Alt Music Scene? 02:08:59 Metal Bands You Shouldn’t Miss 02:16:23 Where to Find Nik - Get access to every episode 10 hours before YouTube by subscribing for free on Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2LSimPn or Apple Podcasts - https://apple.co/2MNqIgw Get my free Reading List of 100 life-changing books here - https://chriswillx.com/books/ Try my productivity energy drink Neutonic here - https://neutonic.com/modernwisdom - Get 160+ lab tests for just $365 and save an extra $25 at https://functionhealth.com/modernwisdom Get 10% discount on all Gymshark products at https://gym.sh/modernwisdom (use code MODERNWISDOM10) Get 15% off your first order of my favourite Non-Alcoholic Brew at https://athleticbrewing.com/modernwisdom Get 35% off your first subscription on the best supplements from Momentous at https://livemomentous.com/modernwisdom - Get in touch in the comments below or head to... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriswillx Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/chriswillx Email: https://chriswillx.com/contact/

Chris WilliamsonhostNik Nocturnalguest

May 9, 20262h 18mWatch on YouTube ↗

EPISODE INFO

Released: May 9, 2026
Duration: 2h 18m
Channel: Modern Wisdom
Watch on YouTube: ▶ Open ↗

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

Nik Nocturnal is a musician, YouTuber, and content creator. What is happening in modern metal music? The days of thrash and hair metal dominating culture are long gone, and something entirely new has taken their place. So what defines modern metal, why does it sound so different, and how has the internet changed the music industry forever? Expect to learn how big of an impact TikTok plays in shaping the way modern metal songs are written, which songs are the most influential in modern metal, what Nik thinks of AI-generated music, the most overused trends in metal right now, the tension between making art and making “content” in music, the worst thing about being a YouTube musician and much more… - 0:00 How is TikTok Reshaping Metal Music? 8:24 Is Metal Music Better Than Ever? 17:36 Are We Living in a Golden Age of Metal? 25:39 How Pop Culture Is Reviving Metal 28:28 The Best Metal Songs for Nostalgia 34:55 Is Originality Dead in Music? 41:29 Is There Beef in the Metal Genre? 47:02 Who is Slipknot’s New Drummer? 50:22 How Long Have Kilswitch Engage Been Around? 51:05 Why is Metal Becoming Self-Aware? 54:04 How Hit Songs Are Really Made 58:52 Are Bands Being Engineered for Virality? 01:06:49 The Building Blocks of Nik’s Fast Songwriting 01:16:52 The Hidden Costs of Taking a Break 01:27:06 Why Creators Burn Out So Fast 01:35:51 The Power of the “F*ck You” Pivot 01:40:34 Are Streaming Platforms Exploiting Artists? 01:53:44 How Song DNA is Improving Credits 01:56:16 What’s Next For the Alt Music Scene? 02:08:59 Metal Bands You Shouldn’t Miss 02:16:23 Where to Find Nik - Get access to every episode 10 hours before YouTube by subscribing for free on Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2LSimPn or Apple Podcasts - https://apple.co/2MNqIgw Get my free Reading List of 100 life-changing books here - https://chriswillx.com/books/ Try my productivity energy drink Neutonic here - https://neutonic.com/modernwisdom - Get 160+ lab tests for just $365 and save an extra $25 at https://functionhealth.com/modernwisdom Get 10% discount on all Gymshark products at https://gym.sh/modernwisdom (use code MODERNWISDOM10) Get 15% off your first order of my favourite Non-Alcoholic Brew at https://athleticbrewing.com/modernwisdom Get 35% off your first subscription on the best supplements from Momentous at https://livemomentous.com/modernwisdom - Get in touch in the comments below or head to... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriswillx Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/chriswillx Email: https://chriswillx.com/contact/

SPEAKERS

Chris Williamson
host
Podcaster and interviewer, host of the Modern Wisdom show.
Nik Nocturnal
guest
Canadian metal musician and YouTube creator known for metal commentary and music content as Nik Nocturnal.

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of Modern Wisdom, featuring Chris Williamson and Nik Nocturnal, How TikTok Hijacked the Future of Music - Nik Nocturnal explores tikTok, nostalgia, and virality are rewriting modern metal’s rules TikTok rewards instant “clip moments” (breakdowns, vocal stunts, drops), pushing bands to write around highlight segments rather than full-song replayability.

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