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?

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