Most people would struggle to imagine a human voice being loud enough to rival the roar of a jet engine, but that is exactly what Australian town crier Joseph McGrail-Bateup has achieved. The 58-year-old from Canberra recently set the Guinness World Record for the loudest shout by a male after reaching an astonishing 122.4 decibels, a sound level comparable to a jet aircraft taking off at close range. According to Guinness World Records and the Associated Press, his record-breaking shout surpassed a mark that had stood for more than three decades and demonstrated just how powerful the human voice can be.
How loud was Joseph McGrail-Bateup’s record-breaking shout?
McGrail-Bateup’s shout measured 122.4 decibels when he yelled the word “now” during an officially monitored attempt in Canberra. The sound level is comparable to that of a jet taking off, a chainsaw or an ambulance siren heard at close range. Guinness World Records recognised the feat as the loudest shout by a male, making him the current holder of the title.Noise experts warn that prolonged exposure to sounds above 85 decibels can gradually damage hearing. At around 120 decibels, sound reaches the threshold where it can become painful and may cause immediate hearing damage, particularly at close range. Although McGrail-Bateup’s record-breaking shout lasted only a brief moment, someone standing nearby without hearing protection could be at risk of hearing injury.
Breaking a record that stood for more than 30 years
McGrail-Bateup surpassed the previous record of 121.7 decibels, which was set in 1994 by Northern Irish schoolteacher Annalisa Flanagan. During her record attempt, Flanagan shouted the word “quiet”. Guinness now recognises McGrail-Bateup as the loudest male shouter, while Flanagan continues to hold the record for the loudest female shout.
Who is Joseph McGrail-Bateup?
Away from record attempts, McGrail-Bateup works as an air conditioner technician and serves as Canberra’s honorary town crier, a role he has held since 2017. Town criers traditionally announce important news and public events using exceptionally powerful voices, making the role an ideal match for someone capable of producing such extraordinary volume.Before setting the world record, he had already gained recognition in Australian town crier competitions, where projecting his voice clearly across large crowds was an essential part of the job.
How the record was achieved
The record attempt took place on 2 May 2026 inside a Canberra radio studio. Guinness World Records required the shout to be measured using professional sound-monitoring equipment under controlled conditions, with independent witnesses present throughout the attempt.McGrail-Bateup reportedly needed seven attempts before producing the winning shout. Afterwards, he said he temporarily lost his voice for several days, highlighting the physical demands of producing such an intense sound.Generating a sound above 120 decibels using only the human voice is exceptionally rare. It requires remarkable breath control, vocal technique and projection while avoiding injury to the vocal cords. McGrail-Bateup’s achievement demonstrates the extraordinary limits of human vocal power, even though it is not something experts recommend attempting without professional supervision.
Not his first Guinness World Record
This is not McGrail-Bateup’s first appearance in the Guinness World Records book. In 2019, he held the record for the fastest time for an archer to shoot 10 arrows. Although that record was later broken, he has said he is pleased to have earned another Guinness title and would not mind if someone eventually surpassed his latest achievement as well.
