The long anticipated live debut of Soda’s new band Nox Cult didn’t disappoint. Songs that sounded loose and raw several months ago in rehearsal, now came off as tight and heavy. The positive chemistry between its three players: Soda on guitar/vocals, Fox on bass/vocals and Monkey on drums, added up to a melodic mix of neo-metal punk.  Nox Cult’s heavy beat presented an infectious groove with what boiled down to an assortment of hardcore/metal pop tunes. Their five song set at Blackthorn opened with the moody “Friends and Snakes.”  A driving number from start to finish, it gets you revved up for “Maniacs” which induced major head banging. Soda takes full advantage of his great guitar skills and goes off in the effects department on this kickass number. “Elephant” followed with a brutal assault on the senses. The song, about an elephant held in captivity for 20 years helps segue into perhaps the best moment of Nox Cult’s young set “With Knives”. This gem opens with Soda displaying another crazy guitar effect, turning it into a scratchy, turntable. Despite his pedals going out in the song’s last minute, the mishap actually gave the crowd a chance to witness Nox Cult’s heavy rhythm section. In homage to fate, they should keep it a Fox/Monkey solo since it sounded pretty cool. Either way, the crowd loved it and only great things are on the horizon for this special band.

Here’s a video from the show that Bassist Fox made:

http://youtu.be/KQck0wkXna8?list=PLO-sbzdqAgSILS0K-xzkMfQhx59vNIX8P