Stream NUCLEAR DUDES’ “Tastes Like Medicine” HERE.
“Tastes Like Medicine” is the latest single from electro powerviolence project NUCLEAR DUDES. The track comes by way of the band’s Skeletal Blasphemy full-length, set for release on November 14th via The Ghost Is Clear Records.
NUCLEAR DUDES is the inventive, anarchic yet sophisticated project of multi-instrumentalist and underground mainstay Jon Weisnewski (Sandrider, Akimbo). Originally conceived as a COVID-19 lockdown hyper hybrid, NUCLEAR DUDES is clever blend of Gary Numan meets Carcass, the project has since grown longer legs to include collaborations and a wider array of influences.
“NUCLEAR DUDES started as ‘something to do’ during the pandemic,” Weisnewski offers. “Turns out it’s real sticky. It’s become a consistent project that is exploring metal/grind, synth, and collaborating with musicians I love and admire.”
Skeletal Blasphemy is perhaps the most focused effort yet under the NUCLEAR DUDES moniker, a rollercoaster team-up with Coady Willis (High On Fire, Melvins, Murder City Devils), one of heavy rock’s most lauded percussionists.
“Coady and I started planning this release in 2023 and both worked on it on the side through 2024,” Weisnewski says. “Coady recorded all the drums at his own studio. I recorded all instruments and vocals at my house or practice space in Seattle, Washington.”
Despite the distance, the material has incredible kinetic energy and a wholeness to it. Coming off as some futuristic hybrid that fans of rhythmic shifting pioneers like DFA 1979 and Lightning Bolt or more experimental Mastodon and new wave fans could all enjoy, Skeletal Blasphemy makes the impossible sound not only concise, but organic and logical. It extends the synth punky and multi-faceted earnestness of the group’s cartoony and disorienting yet potent attack into something even more formidable.
Of the band’s latest single, Weisnewski elaborates, “This song was based on a drum part Coady wrote. It’s a little off time and a lot frantic and reminded me of John Wright’s drumming, so I did my best to channel some Nomeansno, which, yeah, it’s super easy to play like Nomeansno. That’s a smart, easy thing to do. Good job, me, you fucking dingus. The next most smart thing would be to draw attention to that forlorn effort. Really crushing it out here. Anyway, despite all that, I do think it came together nicely and I can listen to it without my face getting hot.”
Writes Everything Is Noise in part, “‘Tastes Like Medicine’ is a ripping good time. It’s a freefall plummet between complementary vortices of fast, grinding helldeath and a soaring, melodic hook, the likes that Weisnewski is so damn good at putting together for Sandrider. Willis’ drumming is indeed off time during the chaotic moments and reels in to pound a sense of lighter, punk-inspired, energetic fun into us along with Weisnewski’s cleanly sung yelled chorus. It sits in the middle of Skeletal Blasphemy… offering a bit of a reprieve from the flanking cybergrind atomization I’ve come to love from this project over the years.”
Nuclear Dudes Sneak Some Grindy Sugar Into “Tastes Like Medicine”
Stream NUCLEAR DUDES’ “Tastes Like Medicine” HERE.
Mixed by Matt Bayles (Giant Squid, Isis) and mastered by Ed Brooks at Resonant Mastering, the album is arriving mere weeks after the previous effort Truth Paste, a grindy, violent, twenty-minute collaboration with vocalist Brandon Nakamura. Unlike Truth Paste. which was self-released and digital only, Skeletal Blasphemy will be released in conjunction with taste makers The Ghost Is Clear Records.
NUCLEAR DUDES’ Skeletal Blasphemy will be released digitally and on limited vinyl (Black – Ltd 300; Blue – Ltd. 100).
Find vinyl preorders at The Ghost Is Clear Records webshop HERE and digital orders at Bandcamp HERE where first single, “Skeletal Blasphemy,” can be streamed.
Skeletal Blasphemy Track Listing:
1. Skeletal Blasphemy
2. Fully Clothed And Still Afraid
3. Antisax
4. Victory Pants
5. Tastes Like Medicine
6. Bat Body
7. These Machines
8. The Octopus
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