Nailbomb is an American heavy metal band formed in 1993 as a side project by Brazilian musician Max Cavalera (then the frontman of Sepultura) and British musician Alex Newport of Fudge Tunnel. They play a combination of primarily industrial metal and thrash metal, with elements of crust punk and sludge metal. The band recorded one studio album, Point Blank, and played a warmup live performance and their only official gig for 29 years at the 1995 Dynamo Open Air Festival two days later, after which the band disbanded. The band reunited for the first time in 29 years in Tempe, Arizona in November 2024.

History

The roots of Nailbomb can be traced back to 1994, when Sepultura were touring behind the previous year’s Chaos A.D. album, with support from Fudge Tunnel. While on tour, Gloria Cavalera’s stepdaughter, Christina, started dating Newport. After the tour, the couple moved to Phoenix near the Cavaleras. Max liked Newport, so the two hung out and soon started jamming. They showed each other how their respective bands played riffs because they loved the sound of their albums, Newport asking how to play the "really fast" thrash riffs on Sepultura's Arise and Max asking how to get the "ultra-heavy" guitar tones on Fudge Tunnel's Hate Songs in E Minor. It was the idea of Cavalera's wife, Gloria, for the two to start a band, to which they were reluctant, saying they were "just messing around", but Gloria insisted.

Nailbomb hosted other musicians to play guest spots, including D.H. Peligro (Dead Kennedys), Max Cavalera's brother Igor Cavalera (Sepultura co-founder), and guitarist Dino Cazares (co-founder and guitarist of Fear Factory).

Band members

Current

  • Max Cavalera – vocals, rhythm guitar, bass, samples (1993–1995, 2024–present)
  • Igor Amadeus Cavalera – vocals, rhythm guitar (2024–present)

Former

  • Alex Newport – vocals, lead guitar, bass, samples (1993–1995)

Session

  • Igor Cavalera – drums
  • Andreas Kisser – lead guitar
  • Dino Cazares – rhythm guitar

Touring members

  • Travis Stone – lead guitar (2024–present)
  • Alex Cha – samples (2024–present)
  • Adam Jarvis – drums (2024–present)

Former touring members

  • Igor Cavalera (Sepultura) – drums (1995)
  • D.H. Peligro (Dead Kennedys) – drums (1995)
  • Evan Seinfeld (Biohazard) – bass (1995)
  • Rhys Fulber – keyboards (1995)
  • Barry C. Schneider – drums (1995)
  • Richie Cavalera (Incite) – rhythm guitar (1995)
  • Michael "Scoot" Gladok – bass (1995)
  • Dave Edwardson (Neurosis) - bass, backing vocals (1995)
  • Christian Olde Wolbers (Fear Factory) – bass (1995)
  • Johny Chow (Stone Sour) – bass (2024)
  • Chris Moore (Repulsion, Vosh) – drums (2025)
  • Demir Soyer (Goetia, Execution Hour) – guitar (2025)

Discography

;Studio albums

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

|-

! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Title

! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Album details

! scope="col" colspan="3" | Peak chart positions

|-

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | UK<br />

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | NLD<br />

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | GER<br />

|-

! scope="row" |Point Blank

|

  • Released: March 8, 1994
  • Label: Roadrunner Records
  • Formats: CD, CS, digital download

|| 62 || 70 || 63

|}

;Live albums

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

|-

! scope="col" | Title

! scope="col" | Album details

|-

! scope="row" |Proud to Commit Commercial Suicide

|

  • Released: October 24, 1995
  • Label: Roadrunner Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download

|-

|}

;Video albums

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

|-

! scope="col" | Title

! scope="col" | Album details

! scope="col" | Sales

|-

! scope="row" |Live at Dynamo

|

  • Released: November 8, 2005
  • Label: Roadrunner Records
  • Formats: DVD

|

  • US: 200+

|-

|}

References

  • Nailbomb guest members and biography at VH1.com