Nuclear Blast Records — A Metal Buffet of a Roster
We may earn an affiliate commission if you make a purchase after clicking on links from our site. Learn more
Help Support Metal Nerderypatreon.com/metalnerderypodcast🎧 Listen on
🎙 Leave us a voicemail: 980-666-8182
📲 Follow us on the Socials
"Have you ever been to a buffet where you literally try everything?"
"That's basically dating, right? You just grab something you like and give it a taste."
"That was the most profound voicemail I think we've ever had."
"Sometimes, wet's not bad, dude."
"That's what we need — we need the fun factor back!"
About This Episode
Founded by Markus Staiger in Donzdorf, Germany way back in 1987, Nuclear Blast Records has signed a myriad of metal artists over the years from across the full spectrum of subgenres — from hardcore and symphonic metal to industrial metal, thrash metal, and beyond, including some top-tier legacy thrash bands from the 1980s that enjoyed a resurgence in popularity during the 2000s.
Fun fact: Slayer's final studio album, Repentless, is the highest-charting Nuclear Blast release in the United States, hitting Number 4 on the Billboard 200.
In the context of this episode, Metal Nerdery sampled the artist roster from Nuclear Blast Records — and much like dating and buffets, there were some bands we enjoyed more than others, some that were right up our alley and really hit the spot, and some that just weren't our cup of tea. Rest assured that everything sampled was interesting and we learned a few things along the way. Also check out our Combat Records and Megaforce Records episodes for more label-dive content!
Pre-show: "So, it's wet over there? Sometimes wet's not bad, dude…" / A ghost story involving a power surge, a power outage — three times — right before dialing the number. "I just wanna make sure that they know that I know that they know." / This house has an elevator in it. / Lake Matthew has all but dried up. / #sixseven / "I'm gonna keep raw dogging it…" / ***WELCOME BACK TO THE METAL NERDERY PODCAST IN THE BUNKERPOON CENTER FOR METAL EXCELLENCE!!!***
The most profound voicemail ever received: "The Real Reason Metal Disappeared from American Culture in the Late 90's" — submitted via TikTok. "That was the most profound voicemail I think we've ever had." "I'd like to talk philosophy with that dude… I feel like he wears a cowboy hat all the time." Big, girthy, thick, and full voicemails this episode. We've got some long ones.
Killer Be Killed: "How about Killer Be Killed?" "They were like the Damn Yankees of metal." Troy Sanders from Mastodon, Greg Puciato (Dillinger Escape Plan), Max Cavalera, and Dave Elitch (The Mars Volta). #supergroup #Icarus
The Nuclear Blast Roster — What We Sampled
The Damn Yankees of metal — Troy Sanders (Mastodon), Greg Puciato (Dillinger Escape Plan), Max Cavalera, and Dave Elitch (The Mars Volta). A genuine metal supergroup. See also our Heavy Metal Supergroups episode. #Icarus #supergroup
"This looks thrashy… dude, 'cos there's K's in there." Death metal vocals. "Their sound is amazing — you can hear the different guitar tones."
"You thinking death metal (on the vocals)?"
Industrial metal from Finland. "Sounds like Electric Callboy — we'll see…" "That's not satanic dude, that's elitist." "That album cover is pretty weird — they're having a good time." "I wanna know what the name means now."
"This is kinda interesting when we do the rabbit hole." "Shut your mouth… is that the name of the single?" Sounds almost like darkwave.
"Let's get some tits — how about Nightwish?" "Nemo… like the fish?" "It's got piano, Bill's gonna love this." "Like a heavier Evanescence maybe." "She sounds like a vampiress with a beautiful voice." "I kinda like it — it's cool. It sounds like good rainy day, rainy night music."
"Maybe I'll meet a lady and that's like her favorite band and she likes to do kinky stuff to that…"
"I've always heard things about them — I think they were around during the high school days." Formed 1988 — pioneers of the death-doom genre. Check out our 1988 Metal Albums episode for more from that era. "This sounds like darkwave too, doesn't it?" "It's the melody that's throwing him I think." Also appeared in the Stoner Doom Metal Vol. 7 episode.
"Hell yeah — Tango & Thrash?" "Everything is about one of his (Kurt Russell's) movies." Nine songs, nine minutes. "They check all the Gen-X thrash boxes." Go check out our dedicated Municipal Waste episode for the full deep dive!
"So I've heard things about Nails — they're much more heavy but kinda modern." #hardcore "It's got the mix of The (Old) Masquerade from back in the day." "This is interesting — it's like going to a metal buffet and getting a plate."
"It's not Igorrr with E — it is Igorrr with I." Three R's. "It's metal but they've got weird sampling — you've just gotta hear it. It's crazy." "Wait for it… that's wild."
"That's Igorrr with three R's by the way."
"How about some Green Lung? It sounds stonery." "Those album covers… fuzz!" "I was not expecting that." "It almost sounds like video game music — like Castlevania or something." "Reminds me of Ghost — it's like a weirder version of Ghost. It doesn't sound like them, but it reminds me of them."
"Coke lines galore — can you dig it?" "The killer opener with a great intro." "Get some of THAT!" "That sounds almost like black metal in a way — like symphonic black metal. That's badass!" The Teutonic thrash legends still operating at full capacity in 2026. See also our Kreator 80s episode.
"Check her out — uhhh, hey baby…" "What's your guess if you had to wager a bet? Are you thinking 'a lot of melody'?" "I was not expecting that." "Too much melody for you — I knew it was gonna happen."
"How about a cleanser?" Their Instagram handle: @BigAssMFTruck. "Just grab one — Big Ass Beer… Big Ass Dog…" "Wait, this is their demo!?" "Big Ass Truck is like a grungier, more fun Hatebreed." "That's fun — that's the great thing about metal. That's what we need — we need the fun factor back!"
"That's what we need — we need the fun factor back!"
Death metal from Poland — formed 1983. See our 1983 Metal Albums episode for context on what else was happening that year. One of the longest-running death metal acts in history and a Nuclear Blast staple. "Carnal" from their 1997 Nuclear Blast debut represents the band at their most ferocious.
"We haven't done this in a while so we could end it with a Slayer of the episode." Recorded at the same venue as Decade of Aggression — one of Slayer's last shows ever. The between-song Tom Araya banter placed at the END of the song rather than the beginning. "So, you guys ready to have some FUN!? You sure you're ready? Because this is where you need to get off the ride if you need to get off the ride… ARE YOU SURE YOU'RE READY!?" "Make that the intro — this is the best intro ever!" Nuclear Blast's highest-charting US release: Slayer's Repentless at #4 on Billboard 200. A fitting closer.
"Peace, metal, and vag…"
Episode Timestamps
- Episode: Metal Nerdery #360
- Nuclear Blast founded: 1987 — Donzdorf, Germany — by Markus Staiger
- Highest-charting Nuclear Blast US release: Slayer — Repentless (#4 on Billboard 200)
- Bands sampled: 14 — Killer Be Killed, NeckBreakker, Turmion Kätilöt, Pain, Nightwish, Paradise Lost, Municipal Waste, Nails, Igorrr, Green Lung, Kreator, Beyond the Black, Big Ass Truck IE, Vader
- Slayer closer: "War Ensemble" — Live at The Forum, Inglewood CA, 2019
- Most profound voicemail ever received: "The Real Reason Metal Disappeared from American Culture in the Late 90's"
- Episode verdict on Nightwish: "Good rainy day, rainy night music."
- Episode verdict on Big Ass Truck: "We need the fun factor back."
- Spelling note: It's Igorrr — with three R's. Not an E. Three R's.