Nailbomb are considered one of steel’s nice one-album wonders. The duo, that includes Sepultura/present Soulfly frontman Max Cavalera and Fudge Tunnel singer/guitarist Alex Newport, launched a single studio album, 1994’s cult industrial steel basic Level Clean, earlier than placing the mission on ice.
Thirty years after Level Clean, Max unexpectedly resurrected Nailbomb with a gig in his adopted hometown of Phoenix, Arizona in November 2024. Though Alex Newport was absent, the line-up featured members of Pig Destroyer, Repulsion and one other of Max’s bands, Cavalera Conspiracy. Now he’s bringing Nailbomb to Europe in August, together with a date at Bloodstock on August 8.
“The principle motive is that I simply actually love the Level Clean document,” Max tells Steel Hammer of his causes for relaunching Nailbomb. “It’s considered one of my high 5 information of all time. I realized a lot from making it, that there’s this different approach of constructing music, which is whole freedom.
“It got here from me and Alex simply jamming right here in Arizona,” he continues. “We cherished Ministry and 9 Inch Nails and Younger Gods, however we thought it could possibly be slightly heavier, slightly extra pissed off, so we thought, ‘Let’s make our personal model.’
“We recorded something we wished, how we wished. It was an especially egocentric document, simply doing the stuff that we thought sounded nice and sounded pissed off.”
Whereas Alex Newport isn’t concerned this time round, having gone onto a profitable profession as a producer, Max says his former bandmate has given the brand new model his blessing.
“We’re nonetheless in touch, however largely it’s my spouse, Gloria, who’s in touch with him,’ says Max. “He’s doing nice. It’s truly humorous, he instructed her he’s so glad proper now that he wouldn’t slot in Nailbomb. He’s extraordinarily glad, and I’m glad for him. However he stated, ‘Go forward and do it, they’re nice songs.’”
Nailbomb solely performed simply two exhibits throughout their transient unique run, each in Eindhoven, Holland. The primary was a low-key warm-up gig on the city’s Hollywood membership on June 1, 1995, the second a efficiency on the Dynamo competition two days later, the place the line-up featured members of Biohazard, Worry Manufacturing facility, the Lifeless Kennedys and Neurosis.
“It was a lot enjoyable discovering musician mates that simply wished to jam,” says Max. ‘We created this ensemble, nearly like a noise orchestra, for the Dynamo present.”
Max tells Hammer that the upcoming tour was impressed by the response to the comeback gig final yr.
“We did the present in Phoenix, and it was simply so cool,” he says. “It was, like, ‘It could be a waste to not play this stay.’ The benefit of now’s that you simply’ve received this complete technology of youngsters that wish to see these issues. They wish to expertise this stuff from the Nineties, and it’s wonderful to see the response.
“Level Clean is a nihilistic document. It’s extra related now than once we made it. It suits the occasions we’re residing in like a glove. There’s plenty of uncertainty on the planet proper now, particularly right here within the States. We wish to assume we’re civilised and that our leaders know what they’re doing, however generally I don’t assume that’s the case. The blokes which might be in cost, most of them are morons. It’s fucking scary, however there’s a cool magic within the Nailbomb angle of giving zero fucks. It’s received a real, primal anger.”
Nailbomb’s return prompts the query of whether or not we’ll lastly get a follow-up to Level Clean.
“If it was all fully as much as me, I’d like to do it,” says Max. “Being the sort of individual that I’m, I like working, I like creating music, that is what I used to be placed on this planet to do. However I don’t assume it’s gonna occur as a result of Alex is simply too glad proper now. It’s truly cool that you’ve one cult document that individuals from all walks of life like. So I don’t assume it’s going to occur, however we’ve nonetheless received the stay stuff. To me, Level Clean is an incredible document to play stay. Bloodstock is in for a shock – they’re gonna see some wonderful stuff.”
