By: Anders

Posted: Sep 15, 2005

This American giant is back from the dead, so is it going to be a pleasure or an annoyance to have the speedy hardcore thrashers from Nuclear Assault back among us? If they can live up to their splendid classics and deliver breathtaking and hard hitting metal, as in the mid and late 80ties, its for sure going to kick ass.

The album starts out with the title track and it doesn't take many riffs, before we are put back in time. Heavy and crushing riffs, with a hardcore edge to them. The huge bass, rumbling and keeping the rhythm in check. The thundering and varied drum work and the insane vocals from Connelly all over the place. Often through out the album, this one seems like the natural predecessor to "Handle With Care" from 1989, which was their last good album in my opinion. Even though the tracks aren't as tricky as back in the days, they are more straight forward most of time now, and very catchy. It might be a bit of a disadvantage for the band, that they all have grown to become better musicians and song writers, since it has caused the music to loose some of the craziness. Though there are still some killer screaming guitar solos now and then and Connelly's voice still have the occasional break.

There's a bit of the early insanity left in the music once in a while, there are some speed metal tendencies here and there, there are a lot of good thrashing riffs, even though not all of them sounds too fresh. Nuclear Assault does have some energy and aggression left, though not as much as in the early days. This is not an album that I couldn't live without, its great and pushy that's for sure, though this band has done far better and more interesting albums in the past and it all does sound a bit outwashed at times, and the couple of sarcastic tracks on here, doesn't work to well, especially not 'Long Haired Assholes'. As such a good thrashing record, but it doesn't live up to the legacy of Nuclear Assault!

Rating: 6.5/10

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