Nuclear Death
Encyclopedia
Nuclear Death was a death metal
band formed in 1986 in Phoenix, Arizona
. They were the first band in the extreme metal genre
with a female vocalist, Lori Bravo
.
Their style was compared to bands like Impetigo
, Blasphemy
, Autopsy
, Deceased
, and Repulsion
.
(vocals
, bass
), Phil Hampson (guitar
), and Joel Whitfield (drums
). Their first demo, Wake Me When I'm Dead, was released later that same year, receiving positive reviews from American
and overseas zines. They were notable as at the time very few death metal artists had female singers. Their second demo, Welcome to the Minds of the Morbid, followed in 1987, on the back of which Nuclear Death signed a contract with Richard Campos from Wild Rags
, a record label
, fanzine
and record dealer in California
.
In 1991, the band released their more controversial work, entitled Carrion for Worm, containing many songs considered to be in bad taste, such as "The Human Seed", "Lurker in the Closet: A 'Fairy' Tale", and "Greenflies". Carrion for Worm featured vocals by Chris Reifert
, singer from popular death metal band Autopsy
, on two songs, "Cathedral of Sleep" and "Vampirism".
On May 23, 1992, Nuclear Death played a notorious concert in Puerto Rico
, with label partners Impetigo
. Later that year they released For Our Dead, a four-track single containing a rerecorded version of 1987's "The Third Antichrist
" from Welcome to the Minds of the Morbid.
After the break-up of Nuclear Death, Lori went on to form a new band, Raped, in 2002. Joel Whitfield joined Eroticide in 1991.
Death metal
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs heavily distorted guitars, tremolo picking, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, minor keys or atonality, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes....
band formed in 1986 in Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
. They were the first band in the extreme metal genre
Extreme metal
Extreme metal is a loosely defined umbrella term for a number of related heavy metal music subgenres that have developed since the early 1980s. The term usually refers to a more abrasive, harsher, underground, non-commercialized style or sound nearly always associated with genres like black metal,...
with a female vocalist, Lori Bravo
Laura Bravo
Laura Bravo, more commonly known as Lori Bravo is an avant garde musician, painter and photographer, from Glendale, Arizona. She was formerly the singer and bassist with death metal pioneers Nuclear Death, but is currently performing with her side project, "Raped"...
.
Their style was compared to bands like Impetigo
Impetigo (band)
Impetigo was an Illinois-based hardcore punk, grindcore, and death metal band. They were among the first bands to use clips from films and other media as intros for their songs...
, Blasphemy
Blasphemy (band)
Blasphemy are a black/death metal band formed in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada in 1984. The band released a demo titled Blood Upon the Altar in 1989 and their debut album, Fallen Angel of Doom, the following year through Wild Rags, a record label they had signed to while touring the United...
, Autopsy
Autopsy (band)
Autopsy is a death metal band, founded in 1987 in the United States by Chris Reifert. They disbanded in 1995, but have reunited as of July 2009.-Biography:...
, Deceased
Deceased (band)
Deceased is a death/thrash metal band from Virginia, that has attained a dedicated, though cult following throughout a lengthy recording and live career. Founded in 1984, by drummer and vocalist King Fowley, the first band to sign Relapse Records, they released four full albums through the label,...
, and Repulsion
Repulsion (band)
Repulsion is an early grindcore / death metal band from Flint, Michigan. They have been called the "most influential grindcore band of all time".-History:...
.
Biography
Nuclear Death were formed on March 23, 1986, by Laura BravoLaura Bravo
Laura Bravo, more commonly known as Lori Bravo is an avant garde musician, painter and photographer, from Glendale, Arizona. She was formerly the singer and bassist with death metal pioneers Nuclear Death, but is currently performing with her side project, "Raped"...
(vocals
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
), Phil Hampson (guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
), and Joel Whitfield (drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
). Their first demo, Wake Me When I'm Dead, was released later that same year, receiving positive reviews from American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and overseas zines. They were notable as at the time very few death metal artists had female singers. Their second demo, Welcome to the Minds of the Morbid, followed in 1987, on the back of which Nuclear Death signed a contract with Richard Campos from Wild Rags
Wild Rags
Wild Rags Records was a record label and store in Montebello, California. It was founded in the 1980s by Ricardo Campos. Though Wild Rags started out releasing music from bands such as Cherry Street, the label would go on to put out influential releases by the likes of Nuclear Death, Impetigo,...
, a record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
, fanzine
Fanzine
A fanzine is a nonprofessional and nonofficial publication produced by fans of a particular cultural phenomenon for the pleasure of others who share their interest...
and record dealer in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
In 1991, the band released their more controversial work, entitled Carrion for Worm, containing many songs considered to be in bad taste, such as "The Human Seed", "Lurker in the Closet: A 'Fairy' Tale", and "Greenflies". Carrion for Worm featured vocals by Chris Reifert
Chris Reifert
Chris Reifert is an American musician, and one of the pioneers of the death/doom genre. Although his music is more death metal than doom metal, he is one of the first musicians that blended the two styles. He played drums on the Death debut album, Scream Bloody Gore...
, singer from popular death metal band Autopsy
Autopsy (band)
Autopsy is a death metal band, founded in 1987 in the United States by Chris Reifert. They disbanded in 1995, but have reunited as of July 2009.-Biography:...
, on two songs, "Cathedral of Sleep" and "Vampirism".
On May 23, 1992, Nuclear Death played a notorious concert in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, with label partners Impetigo
Impetigo (band)
Impetigo was an Illinois-based hardcore punk, grindcore, and death metal band. They were among the first bands to use clips from films and other media as intros for their songs...
. Later that year they released For Our Dead, a four-track single containing a rerecorded version of 1987's "The Third Antichrist
The Third Antichrist
The Third Antichrist is the third full-length album by the Swedish Blackened death metal band Necrophobic. It was recorded and mixed at Sunlight studios in Stockholm, Sweden December 1998 - June 1999, and released by Black Mark Production in October 1999...
" from Welcome to the Minds of the Morbid.
After the break-up of Nuclear Death, Lori went on to form a new band, Raped, in 2002. Joel Whitfield joined Eroticide in 1991.
Band members
- Lori BravoLaura BravoLaura Bravo, more commonly known as Lori Bravo is an avant garde musician, painter and photographer, from Glendale, Arizona. She was formerly the singer and bassist with death metal pioneers Nuclear Death, but is currently performing with her side project, "Raped"...
- vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, and bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Steve CowanSteve CowanSteve Cowan is a Scottish former professional association football player.Cowan began his career with , but followed Alex Ferguson to in 1980. Cowan was a fringe player with Aberdeen for five seasons...
- drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
and bass - Phil Hampson - Guitar
- Joel Whitfield - Drums
Demo cassettes
- 1986 - Wake Me When I'm Dead
- 1987 - Welcome to the Minds of the Morbid
- 1988 - A Simphony of Agony (Reh Tape Records)
- 1988 - Vultures Feeding
Full-length albums
- 1988 - Caveat cassette tapeCompact CassetteThe Compact Cassette, often referred to as audio cassette, cassette tape, cassette, or simply tape, is a magnetic tape sound recording format. It was designed originally for dictation, but improvements in fidelity led the Compact Cassette to supplant the Stereo 8-track cartridge and reel-to-reel...
- 1990 - Bride of Insect LPGramophone recordA gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
(Wild RagsWild RagsWild Rags Records was a record label and store in Montebello, California. It was founded in the 1980s by Ricardo Campos. Though Wild Rags started out releasing music from bands such as Cherry Street, the label would go on to put out influential releases by the likes of Nuclear Death, Impetigo,...
) - 1991 - Carrion for Worm LP (Wild RagsWild RagsWild Rags Records was a record label and store in Montebello, California. It was founded in the 1980s by Ricardo Campos. Though Wild Rags started out releasing music from bands such as Cherry Street, the label would go on to put out influential releases by the likes of Nuclear Death, Impetigo,...
) - 1992 - For Our Dead EPExtended playAn EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
/cassette tape (Wild RagsWild RagsWild Rags Records was a record label and store in Montebello, California. It was founded in the 1980s by Ricardo Campos. Though Wild Rags started out releasing music from bands such as Cherry Street, the label would go on to put out influential releases by the likes of Nuclear Death, Impetigo,...
) - 1992 - All Creatures Great and Eaten cassette tape
- 1996 - The Planet Cachexial CD (Cat's Meow Records)
- 2000 - Harmony Drinks of Me CD (Cat's Meow Records)
Rereleases
- 2000 - Bride of Insect / Carrion for Worm CD (Extremist Records)
- 2002 - For Our Dead / All Creatures Great and Eaten CD (Extremist Records)