WELL BASICALLY WE PLUG OUR BALLS IN AND TURN UP TO 11
22.08.09 - 02 Academy Bristol - Surface Unsigned Regional Finals Showcase
For those who've been too busy playing Dungeons and Dragons to notice, they specialise in a Bonzo Dog Doodah style of metal with plus five guitar histrionics and a proclivity for deranged Mcluskyisms. Super, and the guitarist's makeover makes him look a lot like Wiley Wiggins.
(Words by Peter Griffiths)
19.07.09 - The Fiddlers, Bristol - Semi-Final Showcase
It'd be easy to dismiss Doctor Nut as some Warhammer-adoring, Sunday afternoon Mock Battle-fighting, Medieval-Metal novelty (and Christ, bass player Brave Sir Nivag(!) bears more than a passing resemblance to the dwarves who they oft reference ion their songs), but it'd do little to explain Doctor Nut's, well, greatness. It's prog, Jim, but not as we know it, taking in the bonkers, mad hatter ambition of Focus and Primus' wackoid lack of care for the pop handbook, and is the most original, masterly and often hilarious twenty minute barrage Surface Unsigned has seen this year.
(Words by Dan Imperial and Robbie Edward.)
08.08.09 - Cheese & Grain, Frome - SG BOTB
At the heart of the song 10 Billion, by the night's last finalists Doctor Nut, there exists a wise old owl who destroys silly little emo kids with his hyper-intelligence. Well, I'm proud to say Doctor Nut has left this so-called music journalist defeated and lost for words.
On reviewing the previous heat I foolishly tried to find the words, saying "Doctor Nut deliciously fuse together anthemic punk with black-hearted death metal alongside classic prog rock and baroque", but I'm afraid I only scratched the surface. In my opinion their music is genius and it's nailed to perfection live.
There is a freshness and uniqueness to Doctor Nut which is so utterly exciting that once you have caught the band live you want to immediately see and hear them again... And believe me, the next time you do you'll pick up on totally fresh sound which you simply missed first time around.
I liken the Dr Nut experience to the gum Violet Beauregarde chews in Roald Dahl's novel Charlie And The Chocolate Factory. The character gets her comeuppance when she ignores Wonka's advice not to try the three-course dinner flavoured candy ... Dr Nut is the musical equivalent to that piece of gum.
Listen to tracks 10 Billion or Elves And Wizards and you will experience never-ending textures and delights. While you might not turn blue and expand like a balloon, you'll find that the most insanely catchy tunes are stuck inside your skull.
That is the beauty about the hyper-intelligent Doctor Nut ... silly little music journalists need to pigeonhole bands – a concept which Doctor Nut has single-handedly destroyed.
(Words by Dan Biggane, Somerset Guardian)
20.06.09 - Paulton Rovers - SG Battle of the Bands Semi-Final
One trio already making a name for itself is the rather wonderful Doctor Nut. In the five years of Battle of the Bands I can honestly say, hand on my heart, I have never come across a band like them: innovative, unique and utterly brilliant, Doctor Nut deliciously fuse together anthemic punk with black-hearted death metal alongside classic prog rock and baroque to create songs that are bursting with infectious lyrics and melodies which remain happily trapped in your head for weeks ... The delights of 10 Billion and Elves And Wizards need to be seen and heard to be believed.
The lyrics and delivery puts a smile on the audience's face while the music has them dancing like court jesters before they're new found kings. It's Dr Seuss meets Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody via Dungeons and Dragons coupled with the wonderful hard-riffage of the Wildhearts.
As for the Owls, well that's another story. All you need to know is seeing Doctor Nut is an absolute pleasure and a real hoot.
(Words by Dan Biggane/Somerset Guardian.)
12.02.09 - The Cooler, Bristol - Stage 1 Showcase
Despite Crimson Sky’s resistance, we do get songs about Wizards tonight, in the form of Doctor Nut’s deranged music hall metal. I’m really loathed to call this comedy for fear of tarnishing it, but they do a frenzied Primus/Zappa one joke act that had people laughing and headbanging in equal measure tonight. If they played it straight they might come off like a hard rock Residents.
(Words by Peter Griffiths)
