Nux Vomica began in Baltimore in 2003. The original line-up was Chris, Dave, Tim, Ben, and Marty. We set out to play melodic and epic metallic crust punk, to have fun doing it, and hopefully offer up some ideas about the world to those who wanted to hear it. The band consists of 3 original members of 'Wake up on Fire' - who were also from Baltimore 2001-2005. Nux Vomica was originally meant to be a chance to rock out and have fun playing more straightforward punk/metal, while WUOF was a more elaborate, genre-bending, doomy, atmospheric project. With our original line-up, we completed one 7" (The Uninspired), one LP/CD (A Civilized World), one 2 week tour of the southern U.S. with 'Wake up on Fire', and 2 full U.S. tours, by 2005.
After Wake Up On Fire's demise (2005), we moved to Portland, OR. (early 2006), and recruited Zack as our new drummer (late 2006). The first thing we did was record six songs we had written with our original drummer (Marty) which would make up our next three releases (The President is Dead EP, split EP with Kakistocracy, and split LP with unreleased WUOF). After all this, we finally had time to start writing again, and we began to incorporate some ideas and sounds from our previous band. The result has been a style and message that is quite a bit different that when we started.mainly longer, more dynamic songs with effects, sampling, percussion, influences from a ton of different genres, and a lyrical approach that reflects the broader moods of the songs. Before splitting ways with our original bassist (Ben), we completed another full U.S. tour and recorded the seven songs that make up our split 10inch with THE MAKAI, and our double LP/CD "Asleep in the Ashes", both out now.
With our old friend and new bassist, Danny, we have now completed a 2 week west coast tour (2/09), a full U.S. tour (6/09) - with our buds 'Squalora' for the first 2 weeks, and a 2 week west coast tour including Tijuana, Mexico, with our friends 'Order of the Vulture' (2/10). We are heading out to Europe in November 2010 and are stoked as hell! (Big Thanks to Agipunk Records/Booking!!) We have also just recorded material for a 7" EP - "Embrace the Cycles" - hopefully to be out by the end of the year.
We are five different people, who enjoy a wide variety of music, and share a broad range of outlooks on life and society.we hope that this comes through in our band, and we are able to create original music people enjoy, and offer ideas people are inspired by. We also strive to up the fucking punx by any means necessary.
RELEASES:
--"The Uninspired" 7" EP Firestarter Records 2005
--"A Civilized World" 12" LP/CD Aborted Society Records 2007
--Split 7" with KAKISTOCRACY Humdinger/To Live a Lie Records 2008
--Split 12" with WAKE UP ON FIRE Aborted Society Records 2008
--"The President is Dead" 7" EP Defector Records 2009
--Split 10" with THE MAKAI Dysphoria Records 2009
--"Asleep in the Ashes" 2XLP/CD Aborted Society Records 2009
--"Embrace the Cycles" 7" EP - ??? - 2010 (hopefully!)
Ex members of Wake up on Fire, 57 Octaves Below, 2am Revolution, Machine Gun Congress, Wax and Wane, Dawn Treader, Ochlocracy, Apache Resistance, Control, Fallujah, Cancer, Stave, Label Me Dead, Free to Die, Cognitive Dissonance, Creed, Stone Temple Pilots, Slipknot, Kid n' Play, and Sonny and Cher.
Current members of Deadpan Pariah, Rohit, Absence of Light, and Rotting Sky. Tim Messing also has a solo project he likes to call "Tim Messing".
Review in Terrorizer:
Nux Vomica
"A Civilized World"
Aborted Society
The cover art signifies everything seductive and objectionable about political crust metal/punk, in a very intimate sense. This romantic view of the self as part of a hunted, outnumbered tribe of rainbow warriors, stumbling among the ruins of the promise of enlightenment and progress, broken foundations, broken hearts, looking around us in a mix of rage and disbelief coupled with the horrible realization that we aren't different. We too are infected. The lyrics prove more subtle than what may be expected, and the music backing it a formidable, passionate, crushing, and suprisingly crisp-sounding metalised crust, which occasionally dares to be melodic and even introspective. And if better days will indeed never be, there is still nobility in wishing to the contrary and giving it a sound.
(7) Avi Pitchon
Nux Vomica - A Civilized World CD
Aborted Society Records
I'm gonna be honest. Since I got this record from Aborted Society, I have listened to it almost every singel day and I have to add that I got this record a while ago. That alone proves that this is a solid record because I grow tired of a record so fast if I listen to it too much and it doesn't have that extra special that makes me go crazy. Anyway, I think where Nux Vomica got me was somewhere between my weakness for Iron Maiden, At the Gates and melancholic bands like Remains of the Day. I'm talking about melodic hardcore punk with an impending metal feel to it. I know you've read that before a thousand times in reviews and descriptions about bands but Nux Vomica has a different approach to these features which I find very refreshing and enjoyable. Ca 31 minutes of piercing guitar leads, devastating vocals, powerfull basslines and insane druming with gloomy acoustic breakdowns. This made it to my "best of 2007" releases. Do yourself a favour and check this band out. Read the lyrics while you indulge in Nux Vomica's debut full length. [Sonny Subvert]
Razorcake 46 review:
NUX VOMICA/KAKISTOCRACY split 7"
Two of the best names in state-side melodic crust come together for one epic battle of a split 7”. I’d like to think that this 7” was so crushing on both sides that there could be no survivors because in typical crust fashion everyone would be annihilated, but I’m going to have to go with Nux Vomica as the victors. Both bands definitely put their all into it, but the charging tempo changes and fierce back up vocals throughout their side of the 7” assured them a small, yet influential, lead to triumph.
-Daryl Gussin
SHOW REVIEW (11/05) from "Words and Stuff":
So as I entered the show room, about 40 or so people were there. Nux Vomica, had just started and as I was a little late, I thought I’ve missed the first band. The first thing I noticed on “stage” was the singer was pounding the percussions. I knew that these guys have a split 7” with Kakistocracy so I didn’t expect them to play that slow sludge/doom metal thing and they don’t. Amazing fast but depressing neocrust punk with lots of metal touches. Their set was so intense that I didn’t even feel like running to the next room to grab a beer! Truly amazing, please check them out, you won’t regret it.
