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Class 6(66)
Nuclear Assault: Handle with care
24/06/09 || Trauma
Introduction
I don’t know how big an introduction this band and album deserves, or even needs. The New York thrash band started by ex-Anthrax bassist Danny Lilker and roadie John Connelly. Great vocals, if you like the sound of an eight-year-old singing thrash. A band that knows how to write catchy riffs, they just couldn’t get all that together until this album. When I was a young kid, my father’s idea of babysitting was putting me in front of Mtv while he either worked or played his piano. Over those many years I kept seeing this one video “Critical mass”, and that’s probably why I am reminded of my childhood when I hear the intro riff to that song. That’s a good thing, since my childhood was still enjoyable in those earlier years.
Songwriting
8. Like I said, they got it together on this album. There are two “songs” on here that are just worthless: “Funky noise” and “Mother’s day”. Outside of those two tracks, this album is filled to the brim with catchy hooks and aggressive riffs. Makes me want to pick up my guitar and learn this album track by track.
Production
7. Thrash circa 1989. Randy Burns knows how to turn a knob or fifty and you can hear every instrument. If this was the best the final days of the 80s had to offer, I wouldn’t be going back in time to get this sound, but it certainly doesn’t make this album un-listenable.
Guitars
10. I love every single riff on this album, and the guitar tone. John is a good guitarist and Mr. Bramante plays some good leads. That intro riff to “Critical mass” makes me want to thrash out. Sometimes I wish I came up with a couple of these riffs. If there was one thing that saved John Connelly from his atrocious singing it was his ability to fondle the guitar.
Vocals
4. John Connelly has one of the most annoying, grating voices I’ve ever heard. It doesn’t hurt this album, because honestly I don’t find myself wanting to turn it off. It says something about the quality of the actual material when your singer can be this bad yet the music be as listenable as it is.
Bass
10. Audible and Danny Lilker is a great bassist. I pretty much only know his stuff from this and S.O.D. as I am not familiar with his other projects (hint: I hate grind). I know a 10 score should have more explanation, but I really don’t have a negative thing to say about it.
Drums
8. No complaints here. Glenn Evans is a solid drummer providing a great backbone to the music. He’s by no means perfect, though.
Lyrics
8. Some of the lyrics are socially relevant and provocative at the same time. Other times it’s retarded punk garble (I’m looking at you, “Mother’s day”!!!)
“The biosphere
the place we live
it seems like we don’t give a damn.
All the species
flushed down the tubes
we need another race to rape”
20 years later it’s still the same. If you don’t like environmentally aware lyrics, then to hell with you, you Reagan/Bush era Capitalist. Go die. In an oil spill. Just kidding, we need your tax cuts again.
Cover art
8. Planet Earth with a “Handle With Care” stamp. It looks cool.
Logo
7. I like the logo, but the T at the end of “Assault” is kinda pushing it.
Booklet
6. I couldn’t be bothered to look, but I’m sure it’s nothing interesting.
Overall and ending rant
8.5. This album is a must-have if you’re a thrash fan. Regardless of how terrible the rest of this band’s output is, at least they can rest easy knowing they made a thrash masterpiece. And at 35 minutes total run time, it’s neither over too soon nor boringly long.
- Information
- Released: 1989
- Label: In-Effect
- Website: www.nuclearassault.us
- Band
- John Connelly: vocals, guitars
- Anthony Bramante: guitars
- Danny Lilker: bass
- Glenn Evans: drums
- Tracklist
- 01. New song
- 02. Critical mass
- 03. Inherited hell
- 04. Surgery
- 05. Emergency
- 06. Funky noise
- 07. F# (Wake up)
- 08. When freedom dies
- 09. Search & seizure
- 10. Torture tactics
- 11. Mother’s day
- 12. Trail of tears
