Nuclear Crayons

Nuclear Crayons were a Washington DC-based noise punk group active from 1981 to 1985, founded by Lynch Lavoison and Darin "Flame" Drake. The band pioneered an abrasive, experimental sound that blended punk aggression with industrial noise elements, notably incorporating drum machines into their early material. Their debut 1982 EP on Lavoison's independent label Outside Records—featuring tracks like "Outsider," "Teenage Suicide," and "Political Punk"—earned critical recognition from influential figures in the underground music scene, including Dead Kennedys' Jello Biafra, who praised their distinctive and "disturbing" sonic approach.

The Nuclear Crayons' DIY ethos and willingness to experiment with electronic rhythm sections positioned them as innovators within the DC underground music movement. Though operating outside the established Dischord Records circle, their limited-run releases became sought-after artifacts of the early 1980s noise and industrial underground, influencing the post-punk and experimental electronic scenes that would emerge from the region.