EP Review: NUCLEAR POWER TRIO – A Clear And Present Rager

Metal Blade Records [ 30.10.20]

Forget G20 summits or G7’S for that matter, where better for three world leaders to meet up but in a recording studio in Colorado. The premise of this EP is that Donald Trump (guitar), Vladimir Putin (bass) and Kim Jong Un (drums) have met up to create five instrumental tracks of such magnitude that the future of the world is assured so long as creative riffs keep flowing.

Opening track ‘Clear And Present Rager’ explodes from the speakers with all the power of a ten megaton bomb. Frantic riffage, lightening basswork and powerhouse drumming are the order of the day. The accompanying video is well worth a You Tube trip if you need some light entertainment.

The fantastically entitled ‘Grab ‘Em By The Pyongyang’ (I believe DT came up with that one!) is up next and proves Mr Trump is making guitar playing great again with some tasty licks and inventive soloing.

Vladimir gets his chance to shine on ‘The Fusion Collusion’, a rock/funk workout with dexterous bass work from the bear riding Russian colossus. He links in perfectly with DT in the mid-section in a collaboration not seen since the last presidential elections (possibly…).

‘Ukraine In The Membrane’, Vlad claims credit for that title, takes things down a little with some delicate acoustic guitar parts, but Kim Jung also gets to stretch his bass pedal with a few complicated rhythm patterns which have all the precision of a North Korean military parade.

That just leaves ‘Mutually Assured Seduction’ to round off the EP in a hail of riffs which find their target with all the accuracy of Intercontinental ballistic missiles.

The three most powerful men in the world may not have actually appeared on the tracks (they may have possibly been portrayed by Nick Schendzielos from Cephalic Carnage, Greg Burgess from Allegaeon and Pete Webber from Havok) but this EP is still a major power to be reckoned with.

If this is the soundtrack to world peace then bring on the olive branch and the white doves! ****

Review by Dave Wilson

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

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Power Plays w/c 28 October 2024

THE RASMUS Rest In Pieces (Better Noise Music)
THE PLAGUE What Else Can I Do (FiXT)
STAR CIRCUS Turn The Tide (indie)
DEFENCES Breathe It In (Long Branch Records)

Featured Albums w/c 28 October 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)