Album review : NUCLEAR ASSAULT – Radiation Sickness

Cherry Red/Dissonance [Release date : 13.10.23]

Despite multiple break ups over the years, US Thrash Metal band, Nuclear Assault continued touring into the new millennium, only hanging their boots up last year.

The band, formed by ex Anthrax bassist, Dan Lilker, and singer / guitarist, John Connoly in 1984, were quickly termed “the most aggressive Thrash Metal band ever”, which in itself explained their departure from Anthrax.

Originally available only in VHS form (and then DVD), Radiation Sickness is a recording of the band’s last gig on their 1987 UK tour, early in their career, supporting Slayer.
At long last, it’s now available on CD.

The bulk of the material comes from the band’s debut album, Game Over (1986), with a few from their succeeding EP, The Plague (1987), released to coincide with the tour.

As is the way with many thrash metal bands, the lyrics of the band’s songs are loaded with social commentary. ‘Nuclear War’, ‘Justice’ and ‘After The Holocaust’ are as much reflections on a world which seems reconciled to having lost its grip on sanity, as they are remorseless assaults on our sensory perceptions.

The darkly humorous ‘Buttfuck’ is a barbed observation on the “lenient” sentence enjoyed by Motley Crue’s Vince Neil, who was found responsible for a fatal car crash in 1984.

Speed is the key. The whole set – especially ‘Betrayal’ and ‘Vengeance’ – is performed with such vigorous animal intensity that the audience must have finished the gig bathed in sweat. And that’s the real “charm” of live music…rawness, realism and dependence on real talent.

There was no subsequent commercial breakthrough for Nuclear Assault, and any Thrash Metal fan will most likely have already discovered the band.

If not . . . ***1/2

Review by Brian McGowan

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

Next session: Sunday 19 January

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 1 December 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 3 December 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)