Band's List Thrash Metal Nuclear Assault The Plague

With a title such as this “The Plague”, it was pretty evident that Nuclear Assault were not really interested in writing music to have listeners hold up their lighters and sing along love choruses. After creating an absolute thrash classic “Game Over”, the east coast boys decided to enter the recording studio again to record some left over tracks that they may have been written for the previous LP, and release it in a comparatively shorter package. Result? Well, here’s the deal. Six full length tracks which includes one speed metal instrumental and one unnecessary assault on a glam metal icon given a thrash metal manifestation. The rest of the tracks are gritty thrashers very much akin to some of the lengthier material on the former release.

Production wise there’s not much notable difference between this and its predecessor. In other words, the output is pretty beefy with every instrument being heard with absolute clarity. Connelly’s vocals sound snarly as much as they sound slightly hilarious to say the least. They’re a matter of acquired taste for many, but personally they fit the band’s sound perfectly well. He also happens to handle the six stringer duties along with Anthony Bramante. The young and dynamic bassist Dan Lilker who would go onto to play with several popular heavy metal acts later, shows his talent here and proves why he would go onto become a legend. And what can be said about the man behind the drum kit, Glenn Evans? He could pound that skin as hard as anyone back then.

You want riffs? Bludgeoning and brutal riffs? You’ll find them all here. One of the reasons why Nuclear Assault would go onto become a thrash legend was the riff structures these guys could create. You listen to those riffs once and you’ll be guaranteed of listening to them over and over again and I say this from a personal experience. After the maverick little instrumental beginning comes in the first real lyrical thrasher “Nightmares” with a peach of a main riff that tears away into an instant classic of a song.

Speed is practically present on all the tracks especially the final closer, “Cross Of Iron” which is a brilliant thrasher accentuated by the strong double bass drum work and ultra fast riffing. The only time they go a few notches down on the speed on this EP is the title track where the emphasis is more on melody than raw thrashing. It’s still a very interesting composition nevertheless with strong social and political overtones that speaks of the effects of a nuclear holocaust.

Calling these folks a crossover thrash band would be slightly unfair as they stay into thrash territory for the most part, but that’s a different argument. The fact of the matter is that Nuclear Assault along with Overkill and Anthrax led the east coast thrash juggernaut and this EP played a very important role in forging their sound and lyrical content that would eventually yield two high quality classics in the form of “Survive” and “Handle with Care”. Highly recommended for listeners of old school thrash.