NUCLEAR WINTER - Wild Side by Mötley Crüe (Track Premiere)

If you aren't familiar with a certain tendency of Zimbabwean one-man outfit Nuclear Winter to drop unexpected cover tracks, now is an excellent time to familiarize yerself. Last year, we were pleased to premiere two such covers--first, a rendition of Haddaway's 
​immortal "What Is Love," and second, a bombastic ode to Toto's beyond-immortal "Africa." While obviously a little goofy given the implicit nature of a metal band covering beloved/hated 80's tunes, we nonetheless found these singles quite refreshing and entertaining. As such, we slumbering peasantry jumped at the chance to premiere a third Nuclear Winter cover. This time around, things get a little grimy: Mötley Crüe are the topic o' conversation. The World's (self-reported) Most Notorious Rock Band aren't in the house per se, but Nuclear Winter do a fine job at depicting their outrageous general persona. 

​Without further ado: welcome, dear readers, to the, erm, wild side. Check out "Wild Side" below!

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Industrial melodic death metal is admittedly an intriguing vehicle for party-ready hard rock, but so long as you nail that iconic driving riff and earwormy chorus, you're gold. Here, Nuclear Winter's sole occupant, Gary Stautmeister, delivers the snarling sneer that one expects--nay, demands--from a Crüe ​cöver. The song chugs along in fairly faithful recreation, with, of course, a little extra heft by benefit of its metallic leanings. This recalls Mötley Crüe if they came to prominence in the industrial boom of the early aughts. The juxtaposition, for all its intrinsic weirdness, sits pretty damn well.

​Much like Nuclear Winter's previous covers, this track isn't attached to anything larger--it is a single with no responsibilities or expectations placed upon it. As such, it has license to simply be what it is: a fun cover of a fun track. Despite what the naysayers may (unconvincingly) argue, we're allowed to have fun when it comes to playing and appreciating metal. In this spirit, Nuclear Winter's spree of good-humored covers is a prime exemplar of kicking back and creating fun music for the hell of it. It's an honorable mission, and one that the Sleeping Village will continue to endorse, regardless of source material. Needless to say: when the next unexpected cover arrives, we'll be ready.

Nuclear Winter - Wild Side (Motley Crue Tribute) is available as a free download from MMD Records, so what do you have to lose? 

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