In this explosive 95th installment of The Metal Maniacs Podcast, Jay and Modd sit down with one of the Midwest’s loudest and most inventive duos—Bronson Arm—for an unfiltered conversation that dives deep into noise rock, creative process, and the beautiful weirdness of being a two-piece powerhouse.

🔥 Meet the Architects of Controlled Chaos

Blake Francis Bickel – Baritone Guitar, Vocals, Recording, Mastering

Garrett Michael Yates – Drums, Sonic Backbone

Hailing from the underground sludge and noise scenes, Bronson Arm has crafted a sound that’s aggressive, weird, sometimes beautiful, and always undeniably theirs. In this episode, we discuss their origin story, how two people can make enough noise to level a city block, and why their musical chemistry is the secret weapon behind the band’s signature sound.

🎧 Discography Rundown

We go deep into Bronson Arm’s releases, including:

🟪 TOSSER (2021) – A gritty collection of early singles, now available on cassette. Raw and self-recorded, this collection captures the early stages of their sonic identity. Mixed by Robert Cheek (EXEX Audio), mastered by Blake Bickel.

🟪 Self-Titled (Jan 12, 2024) – A genre-jumping journey through sludge, grunge, surf tones, and chaotic noise. Tracks like:

This record saw additional sonic layering from Ike Turner, Disco Behemoth, and Aaron Marko, with mixing by Robert Cheek and mastering again handled by Blake at Dynamic Sound Service.

🟪 Casket Schwagg (May 9, 2025) – Their upcoming full-length is both a politically charged and musically elevated evolution. Tracks like Casket Schwagg, Wrong Energy, and Obscenity in the Milk show the band sharpening their tools and expanding their voice without losing their raw edge. Engineered by Addison Eilers (Analog Time Machine), mixed by Brandon Eggleston, and once again mastered by Blake.

💬 Topics We Dive Into:

Why two members? How that dynamic influences writing, live performance, and creative control.

Their story: What pulled them into music in the first place, and how they found each other.

Writing as a duo: How do you create big, full, experimental records with just two core players? We break down their riff-first approach, vocal layering, and structuring chaos.

Staying creative: How they keep evolving, fight burnout, and find new sonic spaces within their setup.

Guitar tones, live rigs, tunings: Blake nerds out on gear, and we love it.

Drum tone and approach: Garrett’s consistency and groove anchor the noise and provide contrast.

Recording and mastering your own work: Blake’s dual role as musician and mastering engineer.

Signing to Learning Curve Records: How it happened, and how it has shaped their current trajectory.

Advice for emerging experimental bands: What they’ve learned and what they'd tell others blazing a weird path.

💡 Why You Should Listen

Bronson Arm isn’t just another noise rock band—they’re craftsmen of sonic unpredictability, building from the ground up without filler, fluff, or compromise. If you love bands that toe the line between melody and madness, and want to understand what goes into building that from scratch, this is a must-listen episode.

Follow them- linktr.ee/BronsonArm

Mixed By: Robert Cheek / Brandon Eggleston

Mastered By: Blake Bickel @ Dynamic Sound Service

Label: Learning Curve Records

📸 Cover/Promo Photos by: Tim Arrowtop, Blake Bickel

🔊 More at: dynamicsoundservice.com | analogtimemachine

🎙️ The Metal Maniacs Podcast

Episode 95— Hosted by Jay Ingersoll and Modd

📲 Follow us: https://linktr.ee/metalmaniacsmi

🎧 Subscribe & Review on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube & everywhere you mosh.

Welcome back to The Metal Maniacs Podcast, the loudest podcast in the pit, hosted by your riff-obsessed guides Jay Ingersoll and Modd. For Episode 94, we’re throwing ourselves into the hurricane that is thrash metal—a genre born of rebellion, raised on speed, and forged in the fires of punk and NWOBHM.

This is not just a list of greatest hits. This is a deep dive, a dissection, and a love letter to one of the most influential and enduring subgenres in all of heavy metal. If you’ve ever air-guitared to Slayer, circle-pitted to Exodus, or worn out the rewind button on Kill ‘Em All, this one’s for you.

🎸 What is Thrash Metal, Really?

We trace thrash back to its roots—emerging from early '80s aggression, mixing the DIY fury of hardcore punk with the precision and power of heavy metal. We unpack the core characteristics: blistering speed, razor-sharp riffs, shouted vocals, and socially conscious (or straight-up violent) lyrical content.

🏛️ The Big 4 and Beyond

Yeah, we talk Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax—the household names that took thrash from dingy clubs to arenas. But we also go deeper, highlighting cult heroes and regional scenes that made the genre what it is. From Testament, Overkill, and Exodus, to the Teutonic terror of Kreator, Sodom, and Destruction, no thrash stone is left unturned.

🌎 Global Thrash Attack

It wasn’t just an American phenomenon. We cover Brazil’s Sepultura, Germany’s Big 3, Canada’s Annihilator, and the newer waves of thrash revivalists who have helped keep the genre alive well into the 2000s. If it’s fast, pissed, and riff-heavy, we’re talking about it.

🎤 Lyrics, Attitude, and the Spirit of Defiance

Thrash was never just about speed—it was about resistance, anti-authoritarianism, and pushing back against corruption, war, and conformity. We explore how lyrics evolved from tales of violence and chaos to political manifestos and dystopian warnings.

💀 Thrash’s Decline and Rebirth

We tackle the '90s slump when grunge and groove metal threatened to bury thrash—and how the genre clawed its way back, thanks to new bands like Power Trip, Havok, Warbringer, Municipal Waste, and more.

🧠 Why Thrash Still Matters

In a world still riddled with injustice, censorship, and rage, thrash continues to strike a chord. We discuss how the genre’s energy and message remain as vital as ever—and why its legacy is forever stitched into the DNA of modern metal.

Whether you’re a lifelong thrasher or a curious metalhead looking to learn more about this explosive genre, Episode 94 is your gateway to whiplash. So grab your sleeveless denim, warm up that neck, and join us as we celebrate the sound of resistance, riff by riff.

📢 Featured in this episode:

• A genre history breakdown

• Band and album recommendations

• Key tracks for new listeners

• Stories from the scene

• And 100% high-octane thrash energy

🎙️ The Metal Maniacs Podcast

Hosted by: Jay Ingersoll & Modd

📲 Follow us- https://linktr.ee/metalmaniacsmi

💥 Subscribe, share, and leave us a review wherever you rage—Spotify, Apple, YouTube & more

🔥 Keep it metal.

🎙️ ** Heart On Your Sleeve Fest II: Live Recap from Muskegon, MI**

**Hosted by Jay Ingersoll & Modd**

In this high-energy special episode of *The Metal Maniacs Podcast, we take you straight into the chaos, sweat, and pure emotion of the 2nd Annual Heart On Your Sleeve Fest, held in Muskegon, Michigan—a Saturday packed with heavy riffs, heartfelt lyrics, and community-driven catharsis.

Jay and Modd were on the ground, deep in the heart, and front row center to witness one of the most emotionally charged and sonically brutal events of the year. Whether you were there or missed it, this live recap will take you inside the walls of the fest—from the bands that crushed it, to the fans that made it unforgettable.

🖤 **What You’ll Hear in This Episode:**

- A full **recap of the lineup**, standout sets, surprise moments, and crowd reactions

- **Behind-the-scenes vibes** from the venue, merch tables, and green room

- Shoutouts to the **local and regional acts** that went above and beyond

- **Emotional highs and heavy breakdowns**—how the festival blends hardcore, emo, metalcore, and noise

- What makes Heart On Your Sleeve a **must-attend fest in the Midwest**

- Reflections on the **DIY spirit** and the incredible community of fans, artists, and organizers that keep this thing alive

🔥 From first-time performers to fest veterans, this year’s Heart On Your Sleeve brought together some of the **rawest talent** in the Michigan scene and beyond. We break down what makes this fest so **unique, inclusive, and honest**—no ego, no gatekeeping, just loud music and real emotion.

🎸 **Shoutouts to some of the incredible bands who tore it up:**

**Glassfield** • **The Burdens** • **Violet Scum** • **Tunnel of Love** • **RTNR** • **Iron Sharpens Iron** • **Lucius Fox** • **The Ultra Violets** • **Bronson Arm** •

🎧 **If you believe in the power of live music, DIY culture, and the community that forms around heavy sound—this one’s for you.**

🎤 Hosted by Jay Ingersoll & Modd

📲 Follow us https://linktr.ee/metalmaniacsmi

🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube & more