Reviewed - 08/20/05

Third World Genocide
[SPV Recordings]

I am always a bit wary of bands that make a 'triumphant return' after extended periods of absence. After all, musically speaking, what worked ten years ago does not necessarily work today. And a band that has been out of the recording/touring loop is far more likely to cease evolution than those that release an album every two or three years.

Nuclear Assault has its roots in the very beginnings of thrash metal – founding members John Connelly and Danny Lilker (guitarist/vocalist and bassist, respectively) were both early members of Anthrax, and formed Nuclear Assault in 1985. Along with Overkill and the aforementioned Anthrax, Nuclear Assault proved that the New York thrash scene could meet or beat what was coming out of California at the time. In 1992, Lilker left the band to become a part of another influential metal group, Brutal Truth. Nuclear Assault broke up a year later, but reformed in 2002. "Third World Genocide" is the band's first studio album since 1993's "Something Wicked." And that is a long time for a band to sit out on the game, before trying to get back in again.

Thankfully, "Third World Genocide" does better than most to keep from falling into the trap of retro metal. It comes across as refreshing, contemporary, and elegantly brutal. As far as mid-80's thrash bands are concerned, Nuclear Assault actually show themselves to be one of the more varied bands playing that style today. "Third World Genocide" has all the trappings of old school thrash, and will certainly appeal to that genre's more rabid fans. But at the same time, this is an album fraught with diversity, and that makes it an engaging listening experience for those of us who did not grow up listening to the likes of Exodus or Slayer.

The guitars are low-end, thick and meaty but not as ponderously heavy as those of death metal or other extreme metal genres. Nonetheless, Nuclear Assault possess a heaviness that far outweighs most of their 80's contemporaries. I love the trichotomy of distorted crunch guitar, clean guitar solo, and acoustic guitar in "Price of Freedom." And speaking of solos, they are all over the place here – if you like noodling metal guitar pyrotechnics, you are going to love "Third World Genocide."

As for non-thrash and other novelty songs... "Whine and Cheese" shows that, unlike some metal fans, Nuclear Assault are not afraid to embrace their genre's punk roots. It's a fun tune, to say the least. "The Hockey Song" is a return to the era of less-than-twenty-second thrash epics (heh). And then there is the country-bluegrass "Long Haired Asshole," a tune that undoubtedly must be heard to be believed (it is a rerecording of a song that originally appeared on Connelly's 1991 solo album). I think I would be ten times fonder of thrash on a whole if there were other bands like Nuclear Assault.

There are a few negative points to mention, however. First off is the vocalist – I'm sure Connelly has become a classic metal singer for the ages, but I personally find his high-pitched whine to be on the annoying side. He is certainly an adept guitarist, but his is the variety of voice that grates on my nerves after a while. A subjective point, no doubt, but nonetheless one that affects my overall enjoyment of "Third World Genocide." Diversity aside, about half the songs on this disc are virtually interchangeable – Nuclear Assault are certainly creative, but "Third World Genocide" still doesn't hold up to albums like "Reign in Blood" or "Kill em All" as far as being a captivating listening experience. And even creative thrash can't help but sound like numerous other purveyors of speed metal. Nuclear Assault have their own sound, but at times that is like saying crimson is its own shade of red. There's just not enough to differentiate it from scarlet or vermillion.

I am not normally a fan of thrash (as I'm sure that last sentence shows), other than early Metallica and the occasional Slayer or Testament, but Nuclear Assault have certainly made a positive impression on me. "Third World Genocide" proves that this is a band that can't be put down by anything as insignificant as twelve years between studio albums. Those aspects that I find appealing in bands like Testament or Metallica are present here, much to my enjoyment. Those who might have counted Nuclear Assault as being down for the count should be pleased to know that this New York Quartet is back, and just as talented as ever.