Customer Reviews

Plague & Game Over

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If Survive were in print, then I would recommend that Nuclear Assault CD over this one, but that's not to say Game Over/The Plague is not worth owning. This is late 80's style thrash with a definite hardcore punk aspect to it. Short songs, simple riffs, nearly continuous double bass pedals going. Everything is infused with the nuclear apocalypse imagery that you find in so much 80s metal. The songs are mostly very simple and short, and the lyrics often make me chuckle while listening. A great example is "Radiation Sickness", in which the band screams over and over again, "Die--Slow--Death". Many songs, like "Hang the Pope", are obviously deliberately humorous, but it's hard to tell with many other tunes if they're joking or not. A look at the song titles tells the tale: Sin, Betrayal, Vengeance, Justice, The Plague, Brain Death, Nightmares, and Stranded in Hell. You gotta love this stuff. Lyrically, Nuclear Assault reminds me a lot of bands like At War and Laaz Rockit. It almost makes you miss the unique brand of cold war apocalypse fear that gripped American culture in the late 80s after that TV movie "The Day After".

All of these tunes are great, even if many of them rely on somewhat weak riffs. Anthony Bramante is no slouch, but he's no Scott Ian either. If you are interested in 80s thrash, then you have to check out some Nuclear Assault, especially if you are already into bands like Anthrax, Testament, and S.O.D. A few other reviewers have commented on the production quality of these songs, but I do not have a problem with it. Could it be better? Sure. Are they up to today's super-slick standards? No. But the production is solid, clean, and full.

"Game Over" came out in 1986, a cornerstone year for the thrash genre. SLAYER, MEGADETH, METALLICA, DARK ANGEL, KREATOR, FLOTSAM & JETSAM, DESTRUCTION, all released their creative peaks during 1986 and NUCLEAR ASSAULT is no exception. With John Connelly (Guitar/Vocals) and Dan Lilker (Bass) coming from an earlier version of ANTHRAX and S.O.D. (in Lilke's case) it's no surprise this album sounds very close to what those bands had done. The hardcore punk elements are evident in songs such as "Hang The Pope", with its blast beats and S.O.D. type of humor, but other songs like "Sin", "Betrayal" and "Stranded in Hell" are more in the traditional thrash vein, with fast, technical guitar playing and double bass drumming. The production sounds very clear and powerful, but the guitars lack the punch of future releases (they sound as if they had very little distortion...hard to believe from ex-ANTHRAX members!). It's sad to see such a worthy album released as a "two in one" package. Granted, on this CD you get "The Plague", the band's next mini album after "Game Over", and a good mini album it is, but the CD's artwork and bargain packaging is truly disappointing. If anything, this abum should have been released ALONG with the band's debut EP, which came out some months before "Game Over". I would have given "Game Over/The Plague" 5 stars, but, as I said before, the packaging really diminishes the greatness of these 2 thrash gems. If you're not bother by this, you'll do no wrong in having this in your metal collection.

The cassette of Game Over had a track called Lesbians which isn't here. I think these two releases should be on two separate discs. They should issue Game Over with the bonus tracks "Final Flight" and "Demolition" which were on the Brain Death 12". The Plague should get its own disc with maybe some archival bonus tracks. The music is great though.

One of the things I really like about Nuclear Assault is that they come across as a fun loving bunch as well as just all out metal maniacs. They have covered the theme from Happy Days, which was a total hoot. It's not on this CD but it is a good example of the way these guys approach their music. There is a song on here that is a classic example of why I love these guys. You Figure It Out is probably the greatest explanation of the recording industry as a whole that I have ever heard put into words. Not to mention that the entire premise of the song is a total swerve. Starts out just raging, thrashing metal. About 1 minute into it you get a blues spot. This is when the fun begins. All in all Nuclear Assault has been overlooked and just written off. There is way more going on with these guys than meets the eye. Their music is fun and they are all great musicians. The guitar is light years beyond than anything Metallica has ever put out. The drumming is better than most. The bass lines are great as well. I cannot stress enough that Nuclear Assault is vital listening for anyone who truly enjoys thrash. They prove that thrash is not just Slayer and Testament type lyrics and feel. Nuclear Assault was in a league all their own.

"game over" is one of the best thrash albums of 86. this says a lot considering "reign in blood","master of puppets"&"peace sells..."all came out the same year.nuclear assault were all seasoned pros by the time of their debut having played w/ various other outfits & forging their sound in the nyc underground scene. every song on "game over" is a classic(in my book),but "brain death" is a masterpeice.a more than suitable ending for this cd....but now...theres more...the 6 song ep"the plague" which shines on its own as a full fledged second assault.together as one!!!??? what can i say ?..shock & awe!!!

I really don't know how many Thrash/Speed Metal bands tried to stretch and see how far they could take the great genre. But if there was the main band that did so, it would be Nuclear Assault. Nuclear Assault were just like a bunch of fun-loving, comic book-obssessed, skateboarding punks with long hair who like to Thrash and just have fun. They never took themselves seriously as you can see on the songs such as "Mr. Softee Theme" and "You Figure It Out" (Believe me, once you have, you'll know why they put that as the song title!). This is one of Nuclear Assault's best albums next to it's follw-up "Handle With Care". Just another example as I mentioned earlier about not taking themselves seriously, they made a song called "Funky Noise" and it was nothing but Red Hot Chili Pepper-like Funk Rock. How many Thrash/Speed Metal bands did that? And on another note I really don't know who exactly keeps on pressing the old Combat version of this split, but whoever is, keep on pressing them! The one thing that stands out about this album is the production. I admit, I am a huge Nuclear Assault fan but the production of this release does irritate me sometimes whenever I'm listening to it in my Discman player. Other than the bad production, the song-writing, great lyrics, and musicianship makes up for it and make it a classic moment in 80's Thrash/Speed Metal history. Get Nuclear Assault's, headbang, and have a laugh!

When I first started listening to thrash (1985) Nuclear Assault was definately one of the pioneers. Their debut album "Game Over" was fast and intense with an almost punk feel to it. It was ideal for skate boarders and thrashers. Even though I think the production is not great, the album's songs are still strong. I just keep wondering what they would sound like remade in a modern studio with an updated production - probably intensity at it's best.......enjoy!

GREAT COLLECTION OF TWO OF NUCLEAR ASSAULTS FINER OUTPUTS. GAME OVER WAS (AND STILL IS) ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVORITE METAL/THRASH/HARDCORE CROSSOVER ALBUMS. I REMEMBER WHEN THIS ALBUM WAS ORIGINALLY RELEASED IN THE MID-80'S I COULDN'T STOP PLAYING. HOWEVER, THIS RELEASE MYSTERIOUSLY OMITS THE EVER SO POPULAR TRACK "LESBIANS". WHAT GIVES? IT CAN'T BE MORE CONTROVERSIAL THAN SAY "HANG THE POPE" OR THE ODE TO VINCE NEIL'S DRUNK DRIVING MURDER,...(LISTED AS "YOU FIGURE IT OUT)!

This album is one of the best thrash CDs I've ever heard! And with two releases on one CD (19 tracks at about one hour), it is really worth it! Save for one annoying track, every song on this release is killer thrash that is also very accessible. Metal fans who have not dived into thrash will probably find this album a good way to start. Like the name of the band, the lyrics to most these tracks are filled with images of war, death, and destruction. The only selection I have to skip is "Hang the Pope" which is a lot of screaming gibberish. I've read the monotonous lyrics, but it actually sounds more like the vocalist is screaming "butterball, butterball, butterball, butterball." It is very annoying but only lasts for 43 seconds. On the other hand, the best track is definitely "The Plague." Thrash beautifully done. A lot of non-thrash fans will like this one. "(You Figure It Out)" is a fun track where the band have their say against their critics: "You know, we're probably gonna get a lot of slack for putting a blues part on a thrash album...You know for those people who criticize our [stuff] who have never gone to a recording studio..." A collage of tiny photos of the band and lyrics are included in the CD booklet. This one is a definite buy.

By the time New York's Nuclear Assault had recorded 1986's "Game Over", they were veterans of the New York metal scene. A scene pretty much ruled by Anthrax and to a lesser extent Overkill.

Nuclear Assault had an original sound: uncompromising Thrash with Hardcore overtones that few others in the genre imitated. This sound was quite refreshing for the time since everyone was either a Metallica, Slayer, or Possessed rip-off. The production is a little dry, but the music makes up for it by several score.

Unlike other bands of the time the Danny Lilker's bass can be heard throughout, and the vocals of John Connelly are mid-range (not high or throaty) and are very clean. Evans drumming booms along in the Thrash/Hardcore style the music demands. N.A. also had a sense of humor in an almost humorless genre. Tracks like "Hang the Pope" and "Mr. Softee Theme" -especially if you remember the Mr. Softee commercials- are hilarious.

If your new to the band this is a pretty good place to start. "Survive" and "Handle With Care" are a lot better albums, but this one is still in print and is the most accessible of their albums.