Nuclear Assault - Out Of Order (1991) RESTORED

Nuclear Assault were among thrash metal's most socially aware groups in their careening speed metal riffing. One of the Big Apple's few challengers (along with Anthrax and Overkill) to the Bay Area dominance of all things thrash metal, Nuclear Assault became immediate contenders due to the cumulative sum of its parts – not to mention, their extreme nature and their ability to back it up with solid musicianship. They also remained closer to the world of hardcore than most of their peers, and at their late-'80s peak released some of the most uncompromising (albeit, interesting) thrash metal offerings of the time. Sadly, because they lacked any commercial material, Nuclear Assault would never reach the mainstream acceptance of a Metallica or Megadeth.

C'mon, it is not bad.
If you approach this album with an amused, uncommitted attitude, you'll find it enjoyable, as long as you were a Nuclear Assault fan to begin with. People treat it as a 'Load' or 'Cold Lake' or something, and it's not. It does show a band fragmenting and losing their focus, but at least they didn't crank out another album in the vein of 'Survive' or 'Handle With Care'. What's the value in that? They already made those albums. And they do have two much more dire albums: 'Something Wicked' and whatever that reunion album they did was called.

The old Nuclear Assault raw power is here in many spots: the tense "Sign In Blood"…"Stop Wait Think", which has a textured beginning before blasting off into blistering speed-metal…the double-dealt "Quocustodiat" and "Hypocrisy" offer NA's typical intensity with a dose of off-kilter difference. And what's wrong with "Fashion Junkie"? Mid-paced stuff like this was all over 'Game Over', remember? And 'Game Over' is awesome. "Fashion Junkie" is cool.

There are indeed some weak moments, which drag the album down considerably. "Ballroom Blitz" is one of those tacked-on-at-the-end covers. Completely and utterly worthless. Everyone knows "Doctor Butcher" is stupid. Anthony Bramante should stick to his killer leads and leave the throat to John Connelly. "Too Young To Die" is a bit of a plodder, and "Resurrection" even more so, while "Preaching To The Deaf" is a bit annoying with its "praise the lord" narration. There were a ton of anti-evangelist thrash songs written back in the day, and this is one of the least convincing. Pretty great leads throughout the song though. As for "Save The Planet": very cool song. It's ambitious, thoughtful, textured, melodic. A bit different for them, and a successful diversion.

It's not NA's highest point by any means, but the attempt at stretching into new territories is something that has to be appreciated. This is not essential, but do check it out. Just don't bother with anything after it.

~ Review at metal-archives.com

Tracklist:

01. Sign In Blood
02. Fashion Junkie
03. Too Young To Die
04. Preaching To The Deaf
05. Resurrection
06. Stop Wait Think
07. Doctor Butcher
08. Quocustodiat
09. Hypocrisy
10. Save The Planet
11. Ballroom Blitz [Sweet cover]


Produced by Glenn Evans & Casey McMackin
Recorded & Engineered by Casey McMackin; Assistant engineers: Jay Ryan & John Quinn
all keyboards by Danny Lilker except middle solo on "10". Mastered By Eddy Schreyer.

• John Connelly – vocals, guitar
• Anthony Bramante – lead guitar, backing vocals
• Danny Lilker – bass, backing vocals
• Glenn Evans – drums, percussion, backing vocals

Original Release Date: September 10, 1991
Format: 1st CD press, Original Recording.
Label: Relativity / Under One Flag
Catalog No.: CD FLAG 64