Review Summary: Classic album of crossover thrash
This is one of the best debut album in whole history of thrash metal genre. I add it to ones like "Kill `Em All", "Show No Mercy", "Killing Is My Business...", "Feel the Fire" or "Endless Pain". And it is better than "Fistful of Metal".
I really like debut albums, because they are usually not over-produced, budget for a studio uses to be limited and it makes a band to show what they know and how strong songs they can write. NA succeeded in this point perfectly.
"Game Over" was recorded in this line up: Glenn Evans - Drums, Dan Lilker - Bass, Anthony Bramante - Guitars and John Connelly - Vocals, Guitars.
It starts with absolutely killer instrumental Live, Suffer, Die, which is so quick and uncompromising it takes breath. Right after that you have one of the strongest songs in band`s history "Sin" with catchy refrain and combination of thrash metal riffing and soloing with hc/punk rhythms in verses. Yes, this is real crossover thrash. And it continues in another songs, "Cold Steel" and "Betrayal", which are not losing quality of the opener. Maybe more thrash in general, with some good solos in almost every track, but always with some hc/punk breakdown riffs too.
"Radiation Sickness" is another of my favorites, with perfect bass (as on the whole album). Than we have classic NA thrashcore insanity called Hang the Pope, which maybe prestores Lilker`s grindcore future. Yelling Connely in "After the Holocaust" and decongesting interlude of "Mr. Softee" ends the first side.
"Stranded in Hell" begins the second side in the similar way as the first side tracks, good verses, strong refrain and another guitar solo added. "Nuclear War" with mid-tempo killer riff and high pitched vocal in refrain again. Squeaking solo to the end of the song. Than another crayziness of 30 seconds long "My America" showing band`s patriotism, who would expect that? "Vengeance" is also great one and whole opus ends with "Brain Death", slowly starting longer song with acoustic and than bass intro changing into another riffing race.
How to end this review? All band is perfectly cooperating and instruments are well balanced. Of course, Lilker is special and best known musician from them, but this is no playing on one man. Guitars are creating great and memorable riffs, thrashing and soloing in the right way, drums are exceptional too. Vocal is maybe not perfect but absolutely adequate, giving the band another trademark. And sound is OK.
I`m not giving a five, because even better records from them were to come in next few years.
