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 several projects by The Bunn.

Watch Noise Report clips on YouTube.

Check out Matt's other podcast Loud Lit, including a recent episode on Ozzy Osbourne's book Last Rites.

On the first episode of The Noise Report, Matt and Brian discuss Corrosion of Conformity's 1994 album Deliverance, featuring classic tracks like "Albatross" and "Clean My Wounds."

They dive into more of CoC's history and discography, recall seeing them perform for about 12 people, and recommend other bands you should listen to if you dig Deliverance.

Listen to From Ashes by Bogwife

Check out Matt's other music podcast: Loud Lit

Stop relying on the algorithm for heavy metal recommendations. It can’t give you the personal stories, the passionate debates, or the raw connection of friends sharing a lifelong obsession. It doesn’t have blood — or metal — in its veins. We do.

On the Noise Report, three lifelong metalheads dissect classic albums from heavy hitters like Metallica, Slayer, and Lamb of God. But we don't stop there. We help you build your metal arsenal with lesser known must-listens.

Subscribe to the Noise Report wherever you get your podcasts. Episode 1 releases on April 15, 2026.