Nuclear Dudes is the solo project of Jon Weisnewski who has a career in video game development but who some may know for his time in heavy metal group Akimbo and most recently the sludge metal band Sandrider which released its most recent album Enveletration in 2023. Nuclear Dudes came about from Weisnewski having time away from the usual band activity during he early period of the 2020 global pandemic and ample creative energy to put into a project that didn’t necessarily require the direct input of other people. The initial album Bad At Sleep (2021) sounded like the soundtrack for a bombastic science fiction action film and at times informed by a sense of humor such as the title to the song “Shitty Terminator.” The name Nuclear Dudes of course hints at a self-awareness clued into the fun of making melodramatic music for fun on your own. 2022’s Gin & Panic continued the blend of extreme metal, industrial music and electronic soundscapes and the name check of actor and director Bill Duke who many may remember for his roles in Commando and Predator for a song title established the nerd level bonafides for the cultural references built into the Nuclear Dudes aesthetic and concept. For the latest album, Boss Blades (2023), Weisnewski brought on board Dave Verellen of Botch fame for guest vocals as well as Irene Barber of Dust Moth for the same. The songs are even more of a manifestation of a sound that suggests science fiction inspirations and the heavy guitar sounds, processed sounds, synth and manipulated vocals brought together the way you will hear upon giving the album a listen should appeal to fans of Godflesh and Author & Punisher.
Listen to our interview with Jon Weisnewski on Bandcamp and follow Nuclear Dudes at the links provided. Nuclear Dudes is performing live for the first time for Rat City Recon at Southgate Roller Rink in Seattle, Washington on Saturday, October 14, 2023.
Queen City Sounds and Art 
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