The Noise Report

This week on Noise Report, Matt and Brian tackle one of the most celebrated metal releases of the 2000s: Baroness’s 2009 sophomore achievement, Blue Record . After bursting out of Savannah, Georgia, with the raw power of the Red Album, Baroness returned to deliver a 44-minute suite of intricate, twin-guitar-heavy rock. We break down what makes this album an undeniable masterpiece—from John Dyer Ba...

GO! On this episode, Chris Hemmah joins Matt and Brian to discuss influential Swedish death metal band At the Gates and their powerhouse album Slaughter of the Soul . Chris talks ATG concert memories while the guys explore the band’s lofty goals for this album, their influence on 2000s metal, and Tomas Lindberg’s final vocal performance on last year’s The Ghost of a Future Dead . Need more death m...

Heavy. Dark. Sexy?!? Type O Negative blended lots of sounds and themes throughout their influential career. Brian and Matt discuss The Drab Four's twists and turns - from thrash metal to Playgirl cover shoots - and why 1996's October Rust cemented their goth metal legacy. Featured Tracks: STONEBIRDS - "Sea of Sorrow" and "So Far Away" NOISE REPORT LINKS : thenoisereport.com Watch on YouTube Suppor...

With its volatile recording process, brutal sound, vile lyrics, and terrible timing, Slipknot's second album seemed doomed from the start. Yet, Iowa became a mainstream success and, 25 years later, stands as a landmark in heavy music. Matt and Brian discuss how an album created in pure chaos not only didn't destroy the band but proved to be an absolute Disasterpiece. Plus, what newer bands do 'Kno...

David Garza from Houston, Texas doom metal band Suffering joins The Noise Report to talk about Arise from Sepultura. We agree Sepultura should always be mentioned alongside other thrash giants like Metallica and Slayer, and we explain why in this episode. Just like Max and Iggor Cavalera, David started Suffering with his own brother. He tells us what that’s like, as well as how heavy metal saved h...

Doom metal frontman JD Dureell from Houston heavy hitters Direlands joins the show to discuss NOLA , the instant classic debut from Down. We get into the backstory of this Southern metal supergroup featuring members of Pantera, Crowbar, Eyehategod, and Corrosion of Conformity. Plus, we talk about how the swampy air of New Orleans and Houston produces some “GODDAMN” heavy music and why the Texas sc...

Deftones' lengthy career spans numerous excellent albums, including Adrenaline , White Pony , and Around the Fur . This week, Matt and Brian delve into 2012's Koi No Yokan and explain why this less obvious pick is Deftones' finest work. If you dig Koi No Yokan , the end of the episode provides plenty of recommendations: influences, modern torchbearers, Chino Moreno side projects, and whatever the...

Are Queens of the Stone Age metal? Maybe, maybe not. But screw it ... We love this band and want to share our love witchu! From the ashes of Kyuss rose this hard-to-pin-down band that's had mainstream success while staying kinda weird. Brian and Matt were immediately captivated by "If Only" in the late '90s and have remained QOTSA fans ever since. They reveal their favorite albums and the stories...

Step into the barbed-wire steel cage with us! We talk with Calvin Mathis, aka Ultimo, singer/guitarist for the wrestling-themed hardcore band Tongan Death Grip, about heavy music's many connections to professional wrestling. We discuss early wrestling memories, what makes a great entrance theme, and how Tongan Death Grip uses wrestling references to get their political views across in unique ways....

Megadeth's Rust in Peace is a thrash metal landmark that tackled greed, power, and corruption in a way that feels as relevant today as it did in 1990. Matt and Brian dissect this album's greatness, highlight other Megadeth catalog standouts, and offer recommendations for further listening. They also review the band's final, self-titled album and discuss Dave Mustaine's most frustrating quality. De...

From the ashes of Sleep rose High On Fire, one of the most influential doom metal bands of the 21st century. This episode reflects on the band's sound, lyrical themes, and lasting influence. Matt and Brian cover topics ranging from Matt Pike’s guitar artistry to conspiracy theories to whether you need to be stoned to enjoy stoner rock. We have tons of fun breaking down this consistently powerful m...

Nirvana released Nevermind , and rock music changed overnight, right? Well, that’s only part of the story. They didn’t alter the mainstream landscape alone. They had help from many punk-minded outfits, including Soundgarden. Released just weeks after Nevermind , Badmotorfinger gave metal fans a true alternative to the Auqanet-infused schlock dominating the mainstream. From bulldozing guitar work t...

The Acacia Strain is one of the heaviest and most unrelenting forces in extreme music. Blending elements of hardcore, doom, and deathcore, their music is a brutal soundtrack for anger, frustration, and existential misanthropy. In this episode, Matt and Brian dive deep into this Massachusetts metal act and their iconic 2010 album Wormwood . They touch on their iconic artwork, diverse guest features...

It was damn near impossible to choose just one Lamb of God album for this episode. We went with Sacrament , but we cover plenty of overarching factors that make them one of this century’s best metal acts. From deep lyrics to a perfect groove-to-heaviness ratio to Randy Blythe’s stoic wisdom, there’s a lot to love about Lamb of God. If you’re not already into this band, consider this your motherf_c...

ARRRRE YOOOOU READYYYY?!? From new sounds to the rawest of emotions, Korn introduced the music world to a whole new style. On this Noise Report, Matt and Brian break down what Korn's 1994 debut meant to them as middle schoolers and how this groundbreaking album resonates today. Plus, they deliver band recommendations that Korn fans need to hear. Featured Tracks: Grin - "Fuller" Split Shift - "Wris...

Brian and Matt cover the weird genius of Primus, focusing on Pork Soda , the one with "My Name Is Mud." Les Claypool's distinct vocals and bass virtuosity come together to create music that's unique and eccentric but still heavy and somewhat accessible. Is Primus metal? We're not sure. But we do know it's awesome and worth cracking open some Pork Soda! Featured Tracks: Moron Police - "T-Bag Your G...

Matt, Brian, and friend / fellow metalhead Linda reflect on the monumental Back to the Beginning concert, where the metal world said goodbye to Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne. Then, we discuss our favorite Sabbath albums. This episode is packed with Sabbath fun facts, doomy band recommendations, and Brian's blasphemous(?) takes on what made Sabbath great. Listen for a fun conversation among frien...

Brian and Matt's death metal deep dive continues with Entombed's Morning Star . This Big Four of Swedish Death Metal member and death 'n' roll pioneer has a far-reaching influence worth exploring. The Noise Report covers the deep meanings of Morning Star 's lyrics, Entombed's parallels to Metallica, and why pro wrestlers should use Entombed songs as entrance music. And, from Swedish giants to up-a...

Brian and Matt list their favorite metal albums at the halfway point of 2026. From old favorites like Acacia Strain and Corrosion of Conformity to new discoveries like Volcandra and Frozen Soul, hear their recommendations so you can catch up on what you might have missed. Featured Track: Decent News "Flesh for the Feast" Noise Report Links : thenoisereport.com Watch on YouTube . Rock out to the No...

TREE has been a staple in the hardcore scene for over three decades. As they gear up to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their iconic album "Downsizing the American Dream," vocalist Dave Tree joins The Noise Report to talk about Boston hardcore from the early days to today and the stories behind some of TREE's best-loved songs and album art. Featured Tracks: TREE - "Elephant" | Facebook | Bandcam...

Matt and Brian talk doom and death with Jude Sisk, bassist from Stone Nomads, about why Death's Human stands as a metal milestone. We explore the band’s groundbreaking rhythm section, lyrical depth, and influence on modern metal—plus, Jude shares his personal journey from punk roots to doom metal mastery. Featured Tracks: Stone Nomads - "Lost in the Storm" and "Prophecy" Volcandra - "Maurauders of...

Sometimes you’ve gotta mix your metal with hardcore! Brian explains how Lionheart’s Love Don’t Live Here gets him amped while Matt struggles to look past the “level-one” lyrics. Can they come to a consensus? From Hatebreed to Knocked Loose, the guys discuss hardcore bands they love to scream along to. Throw in a few glory hole jokes, and you’ve got yourself a complete Noise Report episode. Plus, c...

Brian and Matt attempt to uncover why heavy metal workhorses Sevendust aren't as huge as they should be. And, is that even a bad thing? Listen for a discussion on Sevendust's 30+ year career with a focus on their 2001 album Animosity . Plus, that song we've been using as our theme? You deserve to hear the whole thing! Stick around until the end to hear the full "Family Affair" by Western Massachus...

This episode, we get Slaytanic! Brian and Matt explore Slayer's South of Heaven with special guest, sludge metal musician Scott Sokoloski, aka The Bunn. We cover scary album art, the depth of Slayer’s philosophy, and tons more. If you’re a musician or other type of creator, we discuss the challenges of independent music distribution, the differences between Spotify and YouTube, and why The Bunn di...

From shrieks to growls, vocals are part of what makes metal music great. But are they mandatory? Hell no! Brian and Matt argue that metal can be just as powerful without words and offer Pelican's City of Echoes as Exhibit A. They discuss metal's classical roots, instrumental music's timelessness, and other bands for fans of Pelican. This episode's featured track is "Bouquet" by WTLNDS , one of sev...