"How about a duel to the death, old Judas priest?!"Face it, nerds are "in." Gone are the days of playground wedgies and "four-eyes" jokes. Once horn-rimmed glasses and BlackBerrys became popular, it was clear that nerds had gained the upper hand. The cool kid at school is no longer the football jock, but the guy who spends his evenings composing song hooks on Cubase 4 while watching Family Guy re-runs on Adult Swim. With that in mind, I began to consider how much of my current musical tastes were shaped during my significantly nerdier high school years. Halo, anime, Frank Herbert -- I really let my freak-flag fly. However, without these influences my musical tastes would be far narrower. So, instead of you having to endanger your cool by watching an episode of Ghost In The Shell, I've gone ahead and done the grunt work for you. Here are the musical gems I've found while wading in the deepest of nerdy waters.

Hellsing

Rewatching this anime has recently perked my interest in the Bram Stoker styled vampire. No Twilight. No chick-lit. I mean a true Nosferatu. And it's tough to get more neo-Stoker than Hellsing. It's an anime set in modern day Britain and features an eponymous vampire hunting organization which uses Alucard, a vampire, as its primary weapon against freaks, ghouls, and other unholy misfits. Read his name carefully for a little hint as to how truly authentic this anti-hero is. In summation, a true Nosferatu + mysterious, artificial vampires + a brooding feud between rival Protestant and Catholic led vampire hunting organizations = the perfect gothic setting for some of the darkest jazz/blues/rock music I've heard.

The Paladin, Father Alexander Anderson of Iscariot vs. Alucard of Hellsing -- truly one of the greatest rivalries on television. Their fights make for some pretty badass tracks as well.The Hellsing soundtrack is a two disc compilation composed by Yasushi Ishii; disc one is entitled Raid and the second is Ruins. Tracks include the bluesy, piano and bass driven opening track "World Without Logos," the eclectic and frenetic fight song "Strange Victory Act, Lotus Flower Theme," the somber, acoustic "Pure Dead" and many more. Like any good soundtrack, many of its songs stand strong on their own even without Alucard battling the Paladin, Father Alexander Anderson in the foreground. Some of them are more atmospheric in nature, more suited as background music for a Halloween party. But a fair amount are serious jams. The vast majority are bass and piano driven, with garage rock style drums. Lyrics are either spoken in Japanese or broken English that's so odd and nonsensical that it might as well be Japanese. Some have tried to unlock the meanings behind the cryptic lyrics, but I prefer to listen to them for the smooth, bluesy mystique they add to the songs as a whole.

I'll be honest, these albums aren't ones that can be easily listened to all the way through. Hell, each disc has no fewer than 20 tracks which alone makes continuity tough. Also, Hellsing utilizes many horror elements, so some of the songs can be abrasive at times. They sound appropriate when watching the series but not as much when you're blasting it on your car stereo. However, I'm providing you with samples of the best tracks. These are fairly melodic in a dark and twisted sort of way. They go well with a lone-wolf, cavalier sort of mood and would fit well in a macabre playlist. Enjoy!

Yasushi Ishii - "World Without Logos"

This is the opening track that plays during the title sequence. It establishes the bass and piano as the driving force behind the music in the series. Combined with the fuzzy, bluesy guitar, this track makes for a great jam.

Yasushi Ishii - "Strange Victory Act, Lotus Flower Theme"

Here's your general badass fight track. The forceful bass, simple drums, instrument variety, and organ give the track a quirky edginess that makes it a perfect backdrop for a fight between an insane, blood-lusting vampire and an equally battle-crazed Catholic priest. 

Yasushi Ishii - "If you're going to war, fight with bows, spears and swords!"

This one's a lot of fun. It's more laid back with an indie/garage feel. Like many of the other tracks, it utilizes blues riffs and fuzzy electric guitar to drive the melody.

Yasushi Ishii - "R&R with Saint Dracula"

The harpsichord intro (yeah, you heard me right, harpsichord) builds the tension to a fever-pitch and then abruptly ends, tossing the reins to the guitar, bass, and hi-hat. The bass lines on this track are particularly catchy and make for a thrilling chorus thanks in part to 16th notes on the ride cymbal. 

Yasushi Ishii - "Pure Dead"

The acoustic guitar and handheld rhythm instruments make for a great duo in this laid back, somber track. 

Yasushi Ishii - "I.B.C.J. Siege Rope"

This is without a doubt, the biggest jam on the entire soundtrack and is appropriately saved for the final battle in the series. The prominent electric guitar and syncopated drums add to the epic feel of the song. The funkier bass and delayed guitar effects contribute to the offbeat grandiosity as well. With the help of a funky-ass-hell guitar solo near the end, "Siege Rope" delivers a steady jam all the way to the end!

If you're at all interested, here's the show's title sequence. Check it out if you're so inclined or just pick up the soundtrack.

Up Next -- The Protomen -- Think equal parts rock opera, indie rock, and Megaman. Stay tuned!