Nuclear Cowboy

Nuclear Cowboy is the record on which John Sykes boldly took in electronic loops and modern textures, trying to update his own hard rock. Released on Mercury Japan in 2000. Sharp riffs and a dense sonic picture lead the way, while the melodies keep his characteristic bluesy allure. Expression that fuses singing and guitar strongly supports the whole record. It turned out to be his last studio album; afterward he shifted his weight to the reformed Thin Lizzy. In December 2024, Sykes died at 65 after an illness. Opinion split sharply at the time, and longtime fans voiced bewilderment. But in the opener “We Will,” the late “I Wish It Would Rain,” “One Way System,” “Arc Angel” and “Nothing Means Nothing,” Sykes's unmistakable melodic sense is alive. It's an album that uses the guitar to raise a song's pressure rather than to show off flashy technique. Closer to the truth is that he wasn't swept along by the times — he simply played the sound he wanted to play then. Heavy, lustrous, and densely inscribed with Sykes's individuality.