Nuke & The Living Dead CD Review

*Originally written in 2005*

It’s been a while since I’ve heard anything from a band that call the badlands of Michigan home. Today I received Nuke and The Living Dead’s second cd entitled Dig This! This is the band’s sophomore release, but it’s their first released through Crypt of Blood Records; a label hellbent on making Horror Punk/Rock a household name. NATLD has made quite a name for themselves through constant gigging and swapping shows with various bands no matter the genre. I’m impressed with their ambition to unite bands, fans and music. This is rare to find in an independent band specifically in the Horror Punk scene.

Dig This! is crammed with fifteen tracks that range from Doo-wop, Horror Punk, to Rockabilly. Literally every genre of music is touched upon. The thing that intrigues the most about the band is the lead vocalist, Nuke. I might take shit for this, but he sounds like a mix of Dave Bickler (Survivor) and the King, Elvis Presley. Those who know me best, know this is quite the compliment! Speaking of the King, the band romps all over the Elvis classic, “Devil in Disguise”. At first, I thought it was going to be a traditional cover, then it quickly turned into a raging Punk classic packed with Woah’s and tons of distortion. The low point in the song are the effects that were used on Nuke’s vocals in the beginning of the chorus, the were unnecessary to me. “Drunk On Formaldehyde” is a swift kick in the ass to all bands that think Horror Punk must have Misfits influences as there are none to be found. The next tune to make a big noise is a dark acoustic-based Rockabilly track entitled “Ride On”. Naturally, I was interested due to the the name (AC/DC's famed song "Ride On"). We're far from a cover here. The song is highlighted by the rich and soulful croons of frontman Nuke, the background vocals further add power to his vocals. Much to my delight, the music on this track SLAYS! It’s cool, laid-back music filled with soft guitar passages and a fantastic acoustic lead-break. “I’m Your Monster” is sure to please the Horror-crazed fans, however the mix of the song falls flat. It’s missing a strong back-beat, more bass and less treble would have helped the song. “She Dies” is an instant favorite that features the band’s spooky, Death Rock influences. The song structure is perfect, the keyboards and Nuke’s vocals really stand out. The next track to warm my heart is “Vampire’s First Date”. In all honesty there is nothing about this song that's new, it’s basically “Earth Angel” with different lyrics. Don’t let that sway you one bit though, this is an awesome track! I haven't heard a Doo-wop tune this good since the days of the Platters and The Drifters.

Although I could've done without a few songs on this cd (“Clowny Guy” and “Brew Crew”), this is a solid sophomore release from the bad boys of Michigan. I’m looking for their third release to be their breakout; they’ve grown by leaps and bounds and there's nowhere left to go but up!

~Black Angel