We Were Loud Once

Did you know the boys have a second YouTube channel? And on that second channel they have a segment called 'Turn It Or Burn It' where they listen to nu metal bands from the Detox Productions Nu Metal Band List and decide whether or not to add them to the WWLO Spotify playlist? Well, now you do, and today, they are listening to their (much) younger selves and deciding whether or not to turn...

In this episode of We Were Loud Once, Dan and Jeff get into the chaotic, heavy world of one of nu-metal’s most enigmatic bands: Downthesun. Signed to Roadrunner Records and famously backed by Slipknot’s Clown, Downthesun burned incredibly bright and incredibly fast in the early 2000s. They’re breaking down some of the history of the band, and sharing personal experiences and insights regarding the...

In this episode of We Were Loud Once, Dan and Jeff sit down with legendary Coal Chamber drummer Mikey 'Bug' Cox for an incredibly candid and inspiring conversation. Mikey opens up like never before about his recent intense health journey, the battles he fought behind the scenes, and the mindset that pulled him through. Mikey also shares the massive milestones of overcoming those health hur...

Thirty years of Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat.?! Dan and Jeff dive deep into the recent, historic performance by original Slipknot frontman Anders Colsefni and his band, The Crowz, as they celebrate three decades of the record that started it all in Des Moines. Should they take it on the road?

What was it like at the epicenter of the late '90s heavy music explosion? Legendary producer and Ugly Kid Joe guitarist Dave Fortman joins Dan and Jeff to break down the massive shift into nu metal and share stories from his iconic production career. From tearing up the charts on guitar with Ugly Kid Joe to shaping the definitive sonic landscape of the late '90s and 2000s behind the board,...

In this episode of We Were Loud Once, Dan and Jeff dive deep into the evolution of Linkin Park. While Hybrid Theory and Meteora defined a generation and cemented the band as the kings of the late '90s/early '00s heavy music scene, Chester, Mike, and the guys spent the rest of their careers trying to escape a label they never really wanted: Nu Metal. Why was Linkin Park so desperate to dist...

In this episode of We Were Loud Once, Dan and Jeff sit down with the legendary Mikael Johnston of Mephisto Odyssey. Mikael takes us behind the scenes of the late 90s/early 2000s electronic-metal crossover era, specifically detailing his work with the iconic late Wayne Static of Static-X.We dive deep into the creation of the high-octane collaborations "Crash" and "Crash:Reborn". Mikael shares the d...

The definitive A–Z nu metal band list is here c/o Detox! In this episode of We Were Loud Once, Dan and Jeff sit down with Jon Carr to break down his ultimate alphabetical guide to the genre. From the undisputed kings that defined an era to the deepest, most obscure underground gems you probably forgot existed (or never heard of), we’re digging through the crates to see if his list holds up. Trust...

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 th...

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)...

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...

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 interna...

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 M...

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 i...

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 moo...

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 uniqu...

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 cha...

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 the...

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, a...

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 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...

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 (J...

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 f...

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 produc...

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...