Ampocalypse | Riff Wood on Butterfly in Black and White & Giving Gen Z & Alpha the Keys to the World

<p>In this episode of Ampocalypse, Damian FitzGerald is joined by Hyrum Russon, Carson Groves and Asher “Shredder” Winegar of Riff Wood to talk about the band’s journey from childhood friends making music together to touring internationally and preparing to release their new album, <em>Butterfly in Black and White</em>.</p><p>Hyrum, Carson and Shredder discuss how their musical influences have evolved, the experience of working with legendary producer Rob Cavallo, whose credits include Green Day, My Chemical Romance and Paramore, and the role social media has played in helping Riff Wood reach audiences around the world. They also share their thoughts on AI in music, why genuine connections with fans remain more important than chasing numbers, and how their new material represents the next stage in the band’s growth. With songs for a third album already beginning to take shape, they also explain why the full album experience still matters in an industry increasingly driven by singles and viral moments.</p><p>Then it’s time for the Ampocalypse. With Gen Z and Gen Alpha left to inherit and rebuild society, Hyrum, Carson and Shredder are handed the chance to redesign education, decide what survives from social media and introduce some new rules for the world they’re creating. Along the way, there’s room for creativity, kindness, misinformation, responsibility and, perhaps most importantly, fixing school lunches.</p><p><br></p><p>🤘 Like, share and subscribe to Ampocalypse, tell us what you would change if you were rebuilding society from scratch, and let us know what Ampocalypse you’d like to hear next.</p><p><br></p><p>#Ampocalypse #RiffWood #ButterflyInBlackAndWhite #RobCavallo #RockPodcast</p><p><br></p><p>Videographer: Damian FitzGerald</p><p>Editor: Damian FitzGerald</p><p>Producer: Damian FitzGerald</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Chapters</strong></p><p>00:00 Introduction to Riff Wood and their new album</p><p>02:00 Touring across North America and the UK</p><p>03:53 Experiences in the UK and favourite cities</p><p>08:00 Musical influences and growth over the years</p><p>08:59 Discovery by Rob Cavallo via TikTok</p><p>12:59 Thoughts on AI in music and promotion</p><p>17:54 Future plans and new album insights</p><p>26:59 Apocalyptic scenario: a world led by Gen Z and Alpha</p><p>36:53 Rules for a new society and final thoughts</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Social links</strong></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Follow Riff Wood:</strong></p><p>Website</p><p><a href="https://