We Were Loud Once

In this episode of We Were Loud Once, Dan and Jeff sit down with filmmaker and musician Matt Zane (Society 1) to discuss one of the most controversial and mysterious projects in industrial nu metal history: his unauthorized documentary on Wayne Static and Tera Wray Static.Matt opens up about his personal relationship with the late Static-X frontman and his late wife, the creative vision behind the film, and the legal and personal hurdles that has ultimately kept the project from a traditional release. We dive deep into the (typically misunderstood) complexities of Wayne’s final years, and the stories that haven't really been told—until now.

In this episode of We Were Loud Once, Dan and Jeff sit down with James Rietz, the visionary frontman of the industrial nu metal powerhouse, Crossbreed!From the glow-in-the-dark paint to the relentless touring cycles of the early 2000s, James breaks down the history and the future of one of the genre’s most visually and sonically distinct bands. We dive deep into the legendary (or infamous rather) Nothingface tour, the transition to Driven Music Group, and the creative process behind their iconic covers. Plus, James gives us a look into his experiences at Wasteland Weekend and what life looks like in the post-apocalyptic subculture.Also, I didn't edit out language because...no.

This week on We Were Loud Once, Jeff and Dan are still deep into the murky, industrial-metal waters of Cleveland’s own MushroomHead!From their 1993 inception to the modern-day lineup shifts, they aren’t just looking at the music—they’re dissecting the decades of controversy that defined them. They’re breaking down the "mask wars," the revolving door of iconic vocalists, and the internal friction that kept the band in the headlines as much as the charts.Thanks for listening! We appreciate ya!

This week on We Were Loud Once, Jeff and Dan are diving deep into the murky, industrial-metal waters of Cleveland’s own MushroomHead!From their 1993 inception to the modern-day lineup shifts, they aren’t just looking at the music—they’re dissecting the decades of controversy that defined them. They’re breaking down the "mask wars," the revolving door of iconic vocalists, and the internal friction that kept the band in the headlines as much as the charts. Thanks for listening! We appreciate ya!

In this episode of We Were Loud Once, Dan and Jeff dive deep into the vault of Roadrunner Records during its absolute prime: the Nu Metal era. Roadrunner wasn't just a label; it was the engine room for some of the heaviest and most influential sounds of the late '90s and early 2000s. The guys are breaking down how they transitioned from a death metal powerhouse into the home of the "Three Headed Monster" and beyond.   In this episode, they boys get into: The Big Three: The massive impact of Slipknot, Nickelback, and Type O Negative on the label's trajectory. Cult Classics & Deep Cuts: Remembering the rosters that defined the era—from the groove of Sepultura and Soulfly to the industrial edge of Fear Factory and the raw energy of Coal Chamber. The Ross Robinson Factor: How the "Godfather of Nu Metal" helped shape the Roadrunner sound. The Legacy: How the label’s strategy during this period changed the landscape of heavy music forever. and then they held a funeral...

Welcome back to another deep dive on We Were Loud Once! This week, Dan and Jeff are plugging into the neon-blue industrial wasteland of 2001 to revisit a certified cult classic: Crossbreed’s debut masterpiece, Synthetic Division. Crossbreed brought a unique, high-energy fusion of industrial synths straight out of the Florida rave scene and added crushing nu metal riffs that still sounds ahead of its time. The guys are breaking down why this album remains a cornerstone of the underground scene and why every single track on this record earns its place on the track list. You won't just listen to one song, you'll listen to them all...

This week on We Were Loud Once, Jeff and Dan are descending into the shadows, and exploring the "Goth Side" of the Nu-Metal era. While the internet loves to debate if Type O Negative belongs in the Nu-Metal pantheon (and trust us, they try really hard not to go down that rabbit hole), they’re looking at the bigger picture. How did a genre built on "The Jump" and "Caveman Riffs" suddenly get so moody and atmospheric? Soundtracks in the late 90s and early 2000s gave artists a "hall pass" to experiment outside their main album sound. Jonathan Davis and Richard Gibbs created the ultimate blueprint for Goth-adjacent Nu-Metal with the 'Queen of the Damned' soundtrack which set the stage for one of the best selling records of the decade.

In Episode 37, Dan and Jeff sit down to discuss the (at times) heartbreaking and complex most recent updates regarding American Head Charge frontman Cameron Heacock. From the viral Soft White Underbelly interview to the Holiday Kirk-led "Something Beautiful Project," we’re breaking down the current situation in Los Angeles and how the nu metal community is rallying to support one of its most unique icons.

In 1998, the kings of thrash did the unthinkable. Slayer dropped Diabolus in Musica, an album that seemed to swap breakneck speed for downtuned grooves, experimental textures, and a gritty atmosphere that many fans immediately labeled "Nu Metal." But is that a fair assessment, or was it simply Slayer evolving with the times? In this episode of We Were Loud Once, Dan and Jeff dive deep into the chaos of the late '90s. We’re breaking down the impact of tracks like "Bloodline" and "Stain of Mind," comparing it to the other members of the 'Big 4''s releases during that time, and discussing how it paved the way for one of the heaviest records of all time: God Hates Us All.

In this episode of We Were Loud Once, Jeff and Dan get into one of the most persistent theories in the metal world: The Next Generation Takeover. With rumors swirling and the "end of an era" always looming, they explore the possibility of Griffin Taylor and Simon Crahan eventually stepping into the masks of their fathers, Corey and Clown. Is this a logical passing of the torch, or a conspiracy theory that goes against the chaotic spirit of the Nine? Here's something to ponder...The "Ship of Theseus" Argument: If every original member is replaced, is it still Slipknot?

In this episode of We Were Loud Once, Jeff and Dan sit down with Dustin Travels, the voice and force behind Dirtfedd, and most recently Wayne Ryan & The Red Soles. From the cornfields of Nebraska to the national stage, Dirtfedd defined a gritty, unapologetic era of Midwest metal. Dustin pulls back the curtain on the band’s meteoric rise, the intensity of working with M. Shawn "Clown" Crahan, and the raw reality of nu-metal on the Rockstar Mayhem Tour and the very first Knotfest. We’re talking about the brotherhood, the breakdowns, and the volume that never quite left our ears.

In this episode of We Were Loud Once, Dan and Jeff are putting their A&R hats on to assemble their ultimate all-female Nu Metal supergroups. From the vocal powerhouses of the early 2000s to the instrumentalists who defined a generation of heavy music, you'll never guess how different their picks are. Whether you’re here for the nostalgia of Ozzfest or you’re just discovering the depth of women in heavy music, this episode is a deep dive into the talent that shaped—and continues to shape—the genre.

In this episode of We Were Loud Once, Dan and Jeff sit down to discuss the updates surrounding Cameron Heacock, the iconic frontman of American Head Charge. After his recent appearance on the Soft White Underbelly YouTube channel—which revealed he had been living unhoused and battling a fentanyl addiction for years—the nu-metal community has rallied together. We’re diving into the incredible work being done by Holiday Kirk (The Nu-Metal Agenda).

In this episode of We Were Loud Once, Dan and Jeff are discussing the complicated relationship between the Recording Academy and the heavy music scene (or the lack of one altogether). They go deep into this year's Grammy nominees/winners, performances, and why Post Malone needs to do a rock record. Plus, the conversation everyone wants to have: Courtney LaPlante (Spiritbox) vs. Tatiana Shmayluk (Jinjer). The internet says you can't be fans of both...we are and state our case, but let us know your take. They also get into the difference in vibe between Deftones and Turnstile shows. We're assuming that each side of this debate will die on their respective hill...

Is there anything more polarizing than a Disturbed cover? In this episode of We Were Loud Once, Dan and Jeff are diving deep into the world of musical reinterpretations—the good, the bad, and the downright over-produced. They tackle one of the most covered tracks in history: Phil Collins’ "In the Air Tonight." They debate which Nu Metal band (or Nu adjacent) actually captured that legendary drum fill and haunting atmosphere the best, Nonpoint or In This Moment (or Phil himself). If you know someone who did it better than either, drop it in the comments! Then they get into a bit of a heated discussion on why Disturbed’s "The Sound of Silence" (and their subsequent covers) might actually be ruining the art of the cover song. Are they operatic masterpieces or just musical melodrama? (hint: Dan and Jeff aren't fans...).  They then find themselves discussing the first albums they ever bought, mixes of 80's songs, and the mix of people in crowds they've played for.  

In this episode, Jeff and Dan dive deep into the strange case of Mudvayne’s comeback singles, "Hurt People Hurt People" and "Sticks and Stones." After 16 years of silence, the band finally dropped new music in late 2025—but the reception wasn't exactly what they expected. Between fans complaining the tracks sounded like "unpolished demos" and the band themselves being unhappy with the final product, Mudvayne took the unprecedented step of quietly pulling the original Josh Wilbur mixes from streaming platforms and replacing them with brand new versions by longtime collaborator Dave Fortman (Lost and Found, The New Game - also of Ugly Kid Joe fame for those who remember that AMAZING band).  Then they get sidetracked talking about JNCO's and tattoos...because of course they did.

In this episode of We Were Loud Once, we sit down with Jesse Dean, the powerhouse behind the heavy metal band Narcotic Self, to unpack a journey defined by raw grit and zero shortcuts. From the high-stakes pressure of the Battle for Ozzfest auditions to the grueling reality of being a completely self-taught and self-made musician, Jesse opens up about what it actually takes to survive the industry.

The face paint, the theatricality, the "us against the world" mentality—Insane Clown Posse and Nu-Metal were born from the same chaotic energy of the late 90s. But what if the Wicked Clowns went full on nu metal? In this episode of We Were Loud Once, we’re getting into Dan falling for the Violent J pregnancy meme, the Gathering, poop dollars, nu culture crossovers, and the ULTIMATE nu metal super group that, if backing ICP, could potentially create the greatest nu metal record of the century. If the Dark Carnival decided to drop a nu-metal masterpiece today, who would be in that band with them?

In this episode of We Were Loud Once, we’re heading back to the year 2000 to dissect Taproot’s major-label debut, Gift. But you can’t talk about this album without talking about the drama that almost derailed it before it even hit shelves. After Taproot chose to sign with Atlantic Records instead of Durst's Interscope imprint (Flawless), the Limp Bizkit frontman left a legendary, heated message on Stephen Richards' machine.   In this episode, we get into: The Sound of Gift: How Taproot stood out in the crowded Nu-Metal scene with their melodic-yet-aggressive style. The Beef: A play-by-play of the Fred Durst vs. Taproot fallout. Production & Legacy: Working with Ulrich Wild and how tracks like "Again & Again" and "I" defined an era. The "What If": Would Taproot have been bigger under Fred’s wing, or was Atlantic the right move? Thanks for listening!  We appreciate you!

In this episode of We Were Loud Once, Jeff and Dan sit down with Surreal the MC for a deep dive into the roots where hip hop and nu metal collide. We get into how hip hop culture and lyricism shaped the nu metal movement, the importance of groove and rhythm, and why the DJ became a core member of many nu metal bands, not just a background element. From turntables and sampling to live performance energy, Surreal breaks down how these elements helped define a generation of heavy music. Whether you grew up blasting Slipknot, Limp Bizkit, or Linkin Park, this conversation connects the dots between two worlds that changed music forever.

In Episode 24 of WWLO, the guys are talking about one of their favorite nu metal bands of all time, Snot, and the infamous 'toilet incident' during Ozzfest '98. They go down all the rabbit holes and tangents per usual including Dee Snider's Strangeland movie, Rob Halford's solo band Fight, and Jeff sings country(?!).

In this episode, Jeff and Dan get to sit down with one of their old friends, and fellow musician turned podcaster, Michael Clark from the Caught on the Mike Podcast! Lots of talk about nu metal, combat sports, Dan's audition video for Steel Panther, and Michael's incredible podcast. It went long because we knew it was good!

In this episode, Dan and Jeff get into Full Devil Jacket's debut full length record, try and track down Josh Brown, and Jeff gets escorted out of work by the cops...  They also get into how you confuse the hell out of Facebook.  

In Episode 21, we find the guys doing a deep dive into Hed PE's debut and drawing so many parallels between it and Limp Bizkit's Three Dollar Bill Y'all that they get stuck in the rabbit hole with a potential conspiracy theory...and we finally get the story on why Jeff likes Ace of Base so much.

In this episode, the guys dive into what silently killed MTV (spoiler, it was probably us) and the cool $120m Slipknot payday.

In this episode, the guys are talking about Dan's time interning at Immortal Records (the label responsible for Korn, Incubus, and many others), the band Switched's debut record 'Subject to Change', and those stupid AI songs popping up under actual bands Spotify pages.  

The guys wanted to jump on the mic again quick this week to talk about the recent Soft White Underbelly video featuring Cameron Heacock from American Head Charge on YouTube . It had been a number of years since the numetal community saw or heard from Cam, so seeing him in this condition was pretty rough. We recommend you watch the entire video with Cam as it is a testament to the importance of music to our mental and physical health as human beings. If anyone knows of any way to help Cam, please let us know.

In Episode 17, Dan & Jeff talk nu metal Grammy nominations, brands instead of bands, and the nu metal record that ushered in metalcore, Five Pointe O's legendary record 'Untitled'.  No Josey Scott talk this time...but a lot of Jared Leto.  

In this episode, we have the distinguished pleasure to have the 'Thrash Master General' himself, Rick Halverson, on to talk about his experiences being a touring drummer in the band Pro-Pain, how he found himself playing drums for Stephen Pearcy (Ratt), and how he and one of your esteemed co-hosts make up one of the most powerful rhythm sections in heavy metal history. (just kidding, but not really).

In Episode 15, the guys nerd out on the new 40 Below Summer release and talk one of the most influential nu metal albums ever: Machine Head's 'The Burning Red'.

In this episode we sit down with Justin Bonitz from Tallah⁩ to talk about the upcoming tour, the creative process, and new music!  Tallah is an experimental nucore band from Allentown, Pennsylvania. Formed in 2018 by bassist/drummer Max Portnoy, guitarist Derrick Schneider, and vocalist Justin Bonitz, the band has continued to push the boundaries of the genre and tries to revive a lot of the things that made 90s/2000s nu metal so interesting and unique but with a modern and often heavier twist.

In this episode, Dan sits down with Joshua Toomey from Primer 55, The Talk Toomey Podcast, and The David Ellefson Show to talk about his time in Primer 55, his podcast career, and a bit of KISS.... 

In Episode 12, Dan and Jeff explore alternative ways that nu metal musicians (and any musician really) make money. They also surf through some musician's Cameos. You might be surprised how much they charge for those...

In this episode Dan and Jeff get into the impact this sampler made, what the modern day equivalent is, and how you would digest music if Spotify shut down (God forbid)...

Dirtfedd formed in 2002 in Lincoln, Nebraska, quickly gaining a reputation for their aggressive style and wild live shows. In 2006, Slipknot’s M. Shawn “Clown” Crahan took notice, producing their debut album The American Nightmare (2008) on E1 Music/Sopra Evil. Dirtfedd went on to tour nationally, sharing the stage with Slipknot, Korn, Slayer, Deftones, Lamb of God, and many more. They appeared on the Rockstar Mayhem Festival and the first Knotfest in 2012 before disbanding in 2014. In this episode, we chat with Brock Wettstead, drummer of Dirtfedd, about getting signed, what it was like working with Clown in the studio, and being on the Knotfest and Mayhem tours.

Dan and Jeff get into chance run ins with Josey Scott (Saliva), Zoltan Bathory's (Five Finger Death Punch) Las Vegas House, and trends in Nu Metal cover art...

In this episode, Dan and Jeff go (probably) way too deep on whether or not White Zombie's AstroCreep 2000 should be considered Nu Metal. Their conclusion may surprise you...

Jeff and Dan are talking about what it was like to come up as a nu metal band working with some of Slipknot's team. Not one to miss!

Yep, Primer 55... Dan and Jeff 'get loose' on P55's debut.

In Episode 5, Dan and Jeff talk about a little known band called Human Waste Project and their only major label record, E-Lux. 

Jeff and Dan are talking about one of Dan's Top 5 records in Nu Metal: New Killer America from Skrape!

In this episode, Jeff and Dan get into the unlikely 'nu-metalers' The Union Underground, share show experiences with them, and dive deep into their debut record.

In Episode 2 of WWLO, Dan and Jeff tackle American Head Charge's 'The War of Art' (and all the ghostly things that came with it).  

In the debut episode Dan & Jeff dive into what made 40 Below Summer's first major label album so amazing!