Interview Nox Pulso

Nox Pulso, the Manchester-based band, blends industrial, dance, and metal, drawing inspiration from iconic 90s films. Their sound is a dark, intense journey.

1. Nox Pulso’s sound is inspired by the fictional nightclub scenes in iconic films like Blade, The Matrix, and The Crow. What was it about these films that resonated with you musically, and how did they influence the creation of your unique blend of industrial, dance, and metal?

NP: Hi Lelahel and your readers, thank you for having us! We’re Nox Pulso, from Manchester, UK, and we write heavy guitar, dance music, which we call “New Wave of Industrial Metal”. We were teenagers in the 90’s and at that time, these iconic films had that combination of techno and rock, two tribes which could not co-exist in our worlds at the time. It would literally be dangerous to be wearing a metal t shirt and go to a rave - and vice versa. We wanted to make that impossible blend - 30 years later we can do it.

2. You released three EPs—Frontiers, Snake, and Mercury—along with your debut album Songs from the Wastelands in 2023. Can you walk us through the creative process behind these releases and how each one contributed to the overall evolution of your sound?

NP: It’s a steamroller of creation. We started by covering some of the great artists - Ministry, Gary Numan, Bauhaus, and trying to do our “dance metal” take on them. Somewhere in there we found we have no control over it - there is rage - the need for an exorcism. So the music writes itself.


3. "Night Trap," your December single, secured a spot in the festive fifty slot on the We’re All Aliens show. What was the inspiration behind this track, and how did it feel to see it resonate with both fans and critics alike?

NP: Night Trap was a 90’s video game and one of the victims of the moral panic era, where art and music was to blame for everything - the “parental advisory” stickers on records - where people would ask “what will happen to your children if you let them play this game? Or listen to this record?” -- we ARE the children of that age… and Nox Pulso is exactly what will happen if you let them play that game, or listen to that record!

4. Your music has been featured on Total Rock Radio, Emerging Rock Bands, and Moshville Times, among other platforms. How has the exposure on these stations and blogs impacted your band’s journey, and what has been the most rewarding part of reaching new audiences?

NP: The absolute best thing is being able to speak to people who enjoy our music - for whatever reason. Nox Pulso is not a band for average, everyday listeners: Our listeners are us, and we are them. If it speaks to you, you are one of us. If you seek us out on social media, don’t be shy - we will always respond. That connection to and with our tribe is absolutely paramount.


5. The name ‘Nox Pulso’ translates to ‘Night Beats’ in Latin. How does this name encapsulate the essence of your music, and what role does the concept of ‘night’ play in your thematic and lyrical choices?

NP: These are dark songs for a dark world, for a listener who doesn’t want to be spoon fed shit and told its sugar. Don’t come expecting a happy-go-lucky love song. But Nox Pulso can also translate to something like “nasty rhythm” - which is absolutely what it is, with the distorted break beats and sub bass.

6. With the resurgence of 90’s influenced industrial music, what challenges have you faced in blending nostalgic elements with modern, guitar-driven sounds, and how do you strike the right balance in your tracks?

NP: We love The Prodigy, Ministry, KMFDM, Front242, NiN and the list goes on, so there is always nostalgia there. Where we are a bit different is that we are the children of that world - not a dance producer attempting rock, or a rock band attempting dance - we are both, glued together… and with the guitars turned up as high as they can go.

7. The nightclub scenes in the films you draw inspiration from are visually striking and immersive. How do you translate that cinematic experience into your live performances, and what can fans expect when attending a Nox Pulso show?

NP: Expect raw adrenalin, sweat dripping, eyeball bulging, half-dance-half-mosh and a general danger zone.

8. Your debut album Songs from the Wastelands has been described as a significant milestone for the band. What themes and messages are you exploring in this album, and how do they reflect your experiences as musicians and artists?

NP: The wastelands are an allegory for the real wastelands of our time: If you feel disenfranchised, are angry, see the dark side of life… these songs are a sonic manifestation of your feelings.

9. Given the rapid pace at which you released three EPs and an album in 2023, how do you manage the creative and logistical aspects of producing music at such a prolific rate, and what motivates you to maintain this momentum?

NP: We are the vessel for the rage. It decides. It had a lot to say recently - maybe because the wastelands are so utterly screwed. But once it lights the gas, the flame burns hard and fast.

10. Industrial music often incorporates a wide range of sonic textures and influences. How do you approach the production process to ensure that each element, from electronic beats to heavy guitars, complements the overall atmosphere of your tracks?

NP: We think long and hard about this. It’s always difficult to balance low end and high end. Duncan is the guitarist, and loves fizzy distortion. Matt is the beatmaster and loves deep sub bass. We have a push and a pull, with both a right of veto but also a mutual respect and a sense that neither of us is the ultimate arbiter of taste. If a song would be heavier without guitars - for example the main drop on our song Witch youtu.be/YMI1m2q...TNVoQx well, then the guitars stay off.

11. What role do visuals and aesthetics play in Nox Pulso’s identity, and how important is it for you to create a cohesive visual experience that aligns with the sound and themes of your music?

NP: We focus on storytelling. They aren’t always obvious stories, and part of what you will get if you watch the visual side of the storytelling, is a deeper, alternate perspective than you would get from the songs alone. The visuals contain a lot of easter eggs, best seen in our music videos found on YouTube.

12. Looking ahead, what are your plans for Nox Pulso in the coming year? Are there any new projects, collaborations, or live performances that fans should be excited about?

We’ve got some amazing collaborations on a new project coming up, but at the moment we can’t say too much about it. What we can say, is that we’re working on a new album, and that we have a small mailing list of an inner circle of friends of the band, who’ve reached out or enjoyed our work, who we keep an active line of communication open with - including sharing new stuff before we can share it with the rest of the world. It’s not a Patreon thing- this isn’t about the money for us - it’s about sharing with the tribe. So if you like the sound of that… find us at any of the socials listed at www.noxpulso.com and let us know. We would love to hear from you.