Nuclear Daisies release ‘Toad’ video single

Austin’s Nuclear Daisies debut “Toad” – an intricate and ethereal wall of sound that melds the dreamscape qualities of the Cocteau Twins with the endless danceability of The Chemical Brothers. Alex Gehring‘s emotional lyrics recall a tumultuous time in her life when she felt completely helpless, watching someone she loved suffer. The single / video debuted with FLOOD and is the final glimpse into their forthcoming album First Taste of Heaven, which arrives this Friday via Portrayal of Guilt Records.

There’s an obscured beauty and a slithering cool that oozes throughout First Taste of Heaven– It’s raw and driving, powerful and playful, all with direct songwriting that is as revelatory as it is mysterious and compelling. Nuclear Daisies is made up of Texas players Rob Glynn (ex Temple of Angels), Alex Gehring (Ringo Deathstarr) and Robby Williams. Together the three created a record that is literally and figuratively– an eye-opening, DMT-soaked view at a world in chaos– not to mention a new vision for 90’s alternative and big beat for the next generation. 

First Taste of Heaven is about life in all its glory and shroud– a post-apocalyptic journey through celebration, love, heartache, pain, acceptance and finally transcendence– physical, spiritual and even supernatural. And though the creation of the record was based on personal trials and tribulations, it also offered escapism from that same harsh reality in the form of catharsis and healing. 

Nuclear Daisies tracked First Taste of Heaven at Hungry Dog Sound & Studio in Austin, Texas with Williams at the helm over the course of a year. Their inspiration was less obvious – “I’d say it wasn’t specific productions but more specific vibes that we wanted to emulate,” specifies Williams. “We had clear visions of how we wanted certain songs to not only sound, but feel too– very sci-fi and dystopian. One song we wanted to feel like attending the vampire rave from ‘Blade’– tense, pulsing, but also a little bit dangerous. We wanted a different track to feel like the underground rave at the end of the world from ‘The Matrix’ – just sort of this lawless party of no rules at the end of days. There were also times when Alex would be in the booth and we’d say ‘sing it like you’re crying’ or ‘try it like a dead choir member.’ There are a lot of wild influences in there that come from disparate places and not just conventional ideas.”

First Taste of Heaven is droney, cacophonous, and antagonistic yet serene and with melodic pop sensibilities that hook into you and don’t let go. It’s the follow up to their 2022 S/T debut which featured hit single “Heaven In Your Head”. Nuclear Daisies will soon see its reissue via Portrayal of Guilt Records in addition to the release of First Taste of Heaven this Friday.

Pre-Order / Pre-Save First Taste of Heaven

First Taste of Heaven Tracklist:

1 – Honey In The Wound (Official Music Video)
2 – Dandelion Wine (Official Music Video)
3 – Body Turns Blue
4 – Toad
5 – Untitled
6 – Infinite Joy
7 – Doves
8 – Fangs
9 – 333