Nuclear Assault
Encyclopedia
Nuclear Assault is an American thrash metal
/crossover thrash
band formed in 1984.
's debut album Fistful of Metal
, bass player Danny Lilker, a founding member of the group, was fired by the band. He decided to pursue a more aggressive style of music and formed Nuclear Assault with guitarist/vocalist John Connelly
, who had been involved in an early version of Anthrax. They were joined by guitarist Mike Bogush and drummer Scott Duboys (later of Cities, Cycle Sluts From Hell
and Warrior Soul
). They then recorded the first of two demos
, which included the songs Stranded in Hell, The Plague, and Hang the Pope.
The group's first live performance was at the Union Jack in South River
, New Jersey in late 1984. Guitarist Mike Bogush was later replaced by Anthony Bramante. Bramante's first live performance with the group was at L'Amour
in Brooklyn
, New York
in April 1985. Shortly after the performance, Duboys left the band and was replaced by powerhouse drummer Glenn Evans formerly of New Jersey based band T.T. Quick.
The second demo "Live Suffer Die" was recorded and the band began touring the United States consistently. The band signed a multi-album contract with Combat Records
and after recording the Game Over album in April 1986, the band secured a European tour with Agent Steel
and Atomkraft
. Later, feeling constrained by their contract with Combat, the band signed with I.R.S. Records
and recorded Survive
in 1988. The album reached number 145 on the US Billboard 200
chart and Nuclear Assault set off on a 180-day world tour in the United States and Europe; first as an opening
for Slayer
and later headlining with British group Acid Reign
as a support act. The next album, 1989's Handle with Care
, would see the band at their commercial peak, hitting the US chart at number 126, and peaking in the UK Albums Chart
at #60, with more touring, including a trip to Japan and a U.S. tour opening for Testament and Savatage. The band released their first live album, Live at the Hammersmith Odeon
, in 1990, but internal troubles were causing problems for the band.
Constant touring and recording was taking its toll on the band, and there was a rumor that the band might split. The recording of Out of Order was problematic. Lead songwriter John Connelly
was conspicuously absent from the recording process. He only sang on five of the songs and played the guitar on one (Quocustodiat his only full writing credit), leaving Evans and Lilker to do most of the recording alone. After the release of Out of Order bassist Lilker left to start the band Brutal Truth
in 1990. The band enlisted Scott Metaxas on bass and toured across the United States and Europe before longstanding guitarist Anthony Bramante left the band. In 1993, the band released one more album, entitled Something Wicked doing one last European tour with guitarist Dave DiPietro before breaking up in 1995.
Nuclear Assault later reunited for one concert in 1997 (put on by Eric Paone of 'Candy Striper Death Orgy' in New Hampshire
) before parting ways a second time. Then, two more shows the following year with Eric Paone on bass guitar in New England. They reformed once again in 2002 to record a live album entitled Alive Again
followed by several European tours, first with Testament
and Death Angel
, then with Exodus
and Agent Steel
. A new studio album entitled Third World Genocide
followed in 2005, with yet more touring, including a South American tour with Death Angel
.
They made a guest appearance at the Maryland Deathfest
on May 25, 2008.
Nuclear Assault are still active and appeared at the Metal Merchants Festival in Oslo
, Norway
, in January 2011.
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
/crossover thrash
Crossover thrash
__FORCETOC__Crossover thrash, often abbreviated to crossover, is a form of thrash metal that contains more hardcore punk elements than standard thrash. The genre lies on a continuum between heavy metal and punk rock...
band formed in 1984.
History
After the release of AnthraxAnthrax (band)
Anthrax is an American heavy metal band from New York City, formed in 1981. Founded by guitarists Scott Ian and Danny Lilker, the band has since released ten studio albums and 20 singles, and an EP featuring Public Enemy. The band was one of the most popular of the 1980s thrash metal scene...
's debut album Fistful of Metal
Fistful of Metal
-Personnel:*Neil Turbin – Vocals*Dan Spitz – Lead guitar*Scott Ian – Rhythm guitar*Danny Lilker – Bass*Charlie Benante – Drums...
, bass player Danny Lilker, a founding member of the group, was fired by the band. He decided to pursue a more aggressive style of music and formed Nuclear Assault with guitarist/vocalist John Connelly
John Connelly (musician)
John Connelly is the front man, guitarist and principal composer of Nuclear Assault, a thrash metal band from New York. His voice is known for being aggressive but with high notes.-Anthrax 1981:...
, who had been involved in an early version of Anthrax. They were joined by guitarist Mike Bogush and drummer Scott Duboys (later of Cities, Cycle Sluts From Hell
Cycle Sluts From Hell
The Cycle Sluts from Hell were an American heavy metal band from the late 1980s to early 1990s. They were only together briefly but are remembered for their name....
and Warrior Soul
Warrior Soul
Warrior Soul is an American hard rock band formed by lead singer Kory Clarke, guitarist Cliff St. Croix , later replaced by John Ricco, later replaced by Alex, a Scotsman living in New York City , and guitarist Chris Moffett. Then Peter Jay Tsudis...
). They then recorded the first of two demos
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
, which included the songs Stranded in Hell, The Plague, and Hang the Pope.
The group's first live performance was at the Union Jack in South River
South River
-In the United States:*Delaware River, referred to as the South River in colonial times*Georgia**South River **South River *Iowa**South River , a tributary of the Des Moines River*Maryland...
, New Jersey in late 1984. Guitarist Mike Bogush was later replaced by Anthony Bramante. Bramante's first live performance with the group was at L'Amour
L'amour (venue)
L'amour was a musical venue in Brooklyn, New York, run by Mike and George Parente, which opened in 1981 and closed in February 2004. L'amour was promoted as the "Rock Capitol of Brooklyn". It is commonly pronounced "La-Morz" by patrons. The venue was known as a familiar venue for some of rock...
in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in April 1985. Shortly after the performance, Duboys left the band and was replaced by powerhouse drummer Glenn Evans formerly of New Jersey based band T.T. Quick.
The second demo "Live Suffer Die" was recorded and the band began touring the United States consistently. The band signed a multi-album contract with Combat Records
Combat Records
Combat Records was an independent record label from New York City. The label was home to predominantly metal and punk rock acts including Megadeth, Circle Jerks, Nuclear Assault, Death, Dead Brain Cells, Possessed, Crumbsuckers, Agnostic Front, Agent Steel, Dark Angel, Heathen, Zoetrope and...
and after recording the Game Over album in April 1986, the band secured a European tour with Agent Steel
Agent Steel
Agent Steel is an American speed metal band from Los Angeles, California that was formed in 1984 by singer John Cyriis ,and drummer Chuck Profus. The band released two full length albums, and one EP before disbanding in 1988...
and Atomkraft
Atomkraft
Atomkraft are an English heavy/speed metal band who were part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. They formed in 1979 and disbanded 1988. Their "Total Metal" approach is somewhere between fellow NWOBHM bands such as Motörhead and Venom, punk rock bands such as The Dickies, and early...
. Later, feeling constrained by their contract with Combat, the band signed with I.R.S. Records
I.R.S. Records
I.R.S. Records was a record label, started in the United States in 1979 by Miles Copeland III along with Jay Boberg and Carl Grasso. Miles was also the manager of Wishbone Ash, The Police, and later, Sting, as well as other bands. I.R.S. was the sister label of Copeland's Illegal Records .I.R.S...
and recorded Survive
Survive (Nuclear Assault album)
Survive is an album by Nuclear Assault released in 1988 on vinyl, compact disc and cassette. As of 2010, it has yet to be reissued on CD, unlike Nuclear Assault's other albums."Good Times Bad Times" is a Led Zeppelin cover.-Track listing:...
in 1988. The album reached number 145 on the US Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
chart and Nuclear Assault set off on a 180-day world tour in the United States and Europe; first as an opening
Opening act
An opening act or warm-up act is an entertainer or entertainment act that performs at a concert before the featured entertainer...
for Slayer
Slayer
Slayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release, Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts, along with Metallica, Megadeth and...
and later headlining with British group Acid Reign
Acid Reign
-Early career :Acid Reign were formed by Mark Ramsey Wharton , Ian Gangwer , Howard "H" Smith , and future Cathedral member Gary "Gaz" Jennings . Second guitarist Kevin Papworth joined in 1987....
as a support act. The next album, 1989's Handle with Care
Handle with Care (Nuclear Assault album)
-Personnel:*Dan Lilker - Bass*John Connelly - Guitar/Vocals*Glenn Evans - Drums*Anthony Bramante - Lead Guitar-Anecdotes:The sentence "The svastika is calling you" which is heard at the very end of the song Torture Tactics, is taken from the movie The Blues Brothers...
, would see the band at their commercial peak, hitting the US chart at number 126, and peaking in the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
at #60, with more touring, including a trip to Japan and a U.S. tour opening for Testament and Savatage. The band released their first live album, Live at the Hammersmith Odeon
Live at the Hammersmith Odeon (Nuclear Assault album)
Live at the Hammersmith Odeon is a live album by Thrash metal band Nuclear Assault, released in 1992. This is the straight audio copy of Nuclear Assault's video Handle With Care, but some tracks were excluded from the compact disc version.-Track listing:...
, in 1990, but internal troubles were causing problems for the band.
Constant touring and recording was taking its toll on the band, and there was a rumor that the band might split. The recording of Out of Order was problematic. Lead songwriter John Connelly
John Connelly (musician)
John Connelly is the front man, guitarist and principal composer of Nuclear Assault, a thrash metal band from New York. His voice is known for being aggressive but with high notes.-Anthrax 1981:...
was conspicuously absent from the recording process. He only sang on five of the songs and played the guitar on one (Quocustodiat his only full writing credit), leaving Evans and Lilker to do most of the recording alone. After the release of Out of Order bassist Lilker left to start the band Brutal Truth
Brutal Truth
Brutal Truth is an American grindcore band from New York City, formed by ex-Anthrax, Nuclear Assault, and Stormtroopers Of Death bass guitarist Dan Lilker in 1990. The group disbanded in 1999, but reformed in 2006 and continue to release new music.-History:...
in 1990. The band enlisted Scott Metaxas on bass and toured across the United States and Europe before longstanding guitarist Anthony Bramante left the band. In 1993, the band released one more album, entitled Something Wicked doing one last European tour with guitarist Dave DiPietro before breaking up in 1995.
Nuclear Assault later reunited for one concert in 1997 (put on by Eric Paone of 'Candy Striper Death Orgy' in New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
) before parting ways a second time. Then, two more shows the following year with Eric Paone on bass guitar in New England. They reformed once again in 2002 to record a live album entitled Alive Again
Alive Again (Nuclear Assault album)
Alive Again is a live album by Nuclear Assault released in 2003.-Track listing:# "Rise from the Ashes"# "Brainwashed"# "F#"# "New Song"# "Critical Mass"# "Sin"# "Betrayal"# "Radiation Sickness"# "Game Over"# "Butt Fuck"# "Trail of Tears"...
followed by several European tours, first with Testament
Testament (band)
Testament is an American metal band from Berkeley, California, formed in 1983. They are often credited as one of the most popular bands of the 1980s thrash metal scene...
and Death Angel
Death Angel
Death Angel is a Filipino-American thrash metal band from Concord, California, initially active from 1982 to 1991 and again since 2001. Death Angel has released six studio albums, two demo tapes, one box set and two live albums....
, then with Exodus
Exodus (band)
Exodus is an American thrash metal band formed in 1980 in Richmond, California. Spanning a career of over 30 years, Exodus has gone through numerous lineup changes, two extended hiatuses, and the deaths of two former band members. Guitarist Gary Holt remains the only constant member of the band,...
and Agent Steel
Agent Steel
Agent Steel is an American speed metal band from Los Angeles, California that was formed in 1984 by singer John Cyriis ,and drummer Chuck Profus. The band released two full length albums, and one EP before disbanding in 1988...
. A new studio album entitled Third World Genocide
Third World Genocide
Third World Genocide is the sixth album by Nuclear Assault released in 2005. It is their first studio album since their 2002 reuniting. It was 12 years since their last studio album.-Track listing:# "Third World Genocide"– 3:37...
followed in 2005, with yet more touring, including a South American tour with Death Angel
Death Angel
Death Angel is a Filipino-American thrash metal band from Concord, California, initially active from 1982 to 1991 and again since 2001. Death Angel has released six studio albums, two demo tapes, one box set and two live albums....
.
They made a guest appearance at the Maryland Deathfest
Maryland Deathfest
Maryland Deathfest is an annual extreme music festival held in or near Baltimore, Maryland, USA. The festival mostly features death metal and grindcore bands. It has always occurred during Memorial Day weekend each year....
on May 25, 2008.
Nuclear Assault are still active and appeared at the Metal Merchants Festival in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, in January 2011.
Studio albums
- 1986: Game Over
- 1988: SurviveSurvive (Nuclear Assault album)Survive is an album by Nuclear Assault released in 1988 on vinyl, compact disc and cassette. As of 2010, it has yet to be reissued on CD, unlike Nuclear Assault's other albums."Good Times Bad Times" is a Led Zeppelin cover.-Track listing:...
- 1989: Handle With CareHandle with Care (Nuclear Assault album)-Personnel:*Dan Lilker - Bass*John Connelly - Guitar/Vocals*Glenn Evans - Drums*Anthony Bramante - Lead Guitar-Anecdotes:The sentence "The svastika is calling you" which is heard at the very end of the song Torture Tactics, is taken from the movie The Blues Brothers...
- 1991: Out of Order
- 1993: Something Wicked
- 2005: Third World GenocideThird World GenocideThird World Genocide is the sixth album by Nuclear Assault released in 2005. It is their first studio album since their 2002 reuniting. It was 12 years since their last studio album.-Track listing:# "Third World Genocide"– 3:37...
EPs
- 1986: Brain DeathBrain Death (EP)Brain Death was an EP released by thrash metal band Nuclear Assault.-Track listing:# "Brain Death"# "Final Flight"# "Demolition"...
- 1987: The PlagueThe Plague (EP)- Personnel :Performers*John Connelly – guitar, vocals*Anthony Bramante – guitar*Dan Lilker – bass*Glenn Evans – drums, cover conceptProduction*Casey McMakin – engineer*Randy Burns – assistant engineer, producer*Steve Sinclair – executive producer...
- 1988: Good Times, Bad Times
- 1988: Fight to be FreeFight to be Free"Fight to be Free" is a single by Nuclear Assault released in 1988.-Track listing:# "Fight to be Free"# "Equal Rights"# "Stand Up"...
(Single)
Live albums
- 1992: Live at the Hammersmith OdeonLive at the Hammersmith Odeon (Nuclear Assault album)Live at the Hammersmith Odeon is a live album by Thrash metal band Nuclear Assault, released in 1992. This is the straight audio copy of Nuclear Assault's video Handle With Care, but some tracks were excluded from the compact disc version.-Track listing:...
- 2003: Alive AgainAlive Again (Nuclear Assault album)Alive Again is a live album by Nuclear Assault released in 2003.-Track listing:# "Rise from the Ashes"# "Brainwashed"# "F#"# "New Song"# "Critical Mass"# "Sin"# "Betrayal"# "Radiation Sickness"# "Game Over"# "Butt Fuck"# "Trail of Tears"...
VHS/DVDs
- 1989: Handle With Care European Tour '89Handle With Care NA videoHandle With Care European Tour '89 is a live video released by Nuclear Assault in 1989. The video is a recording of a concert at the Hammersmith Odeon, London, 4.10.1989.-Track listing:# "F# "# "When Freedom Dies"# "Rise from the Ashes"...
(VHS) - 1991: Radiation Sickness (VHS, Re-released on DVD in 2007)
- 2006: Louder Harder Faster DVD
Music videos
- Brainwashed
- Critical Mass
- Long-Haired Asshole
- Price of Freedom
- Trail of Tears
- Something Wicked
Members
- Dan LilkerDan LilkerDan Lilker is a musician from the United States, most known as a bass player, but also guitarist, pianist, drummer and vocalist...
- bass - John ConnellyJohn Connelly (musician)John Connelly is the front man, guitarist and principal composer of Nuclear Assault, a thrash metal band from New York. His voice is known for being aggressive but with high notes.-Anthrax 1981:...
- vocals/guitar - Scott Harrington - guitar
- Glenn Evans - drums
Former members
- Mike Bogush - guitar (1984)
- Scott Duboys - drums (1984)
- Anthony Bramante - guitar (1985–1991, 2001–2002)
- Dave DiPietro - guitar (1993)
- Scott Metaxas - Bass (1993)
- Eric Paone - bass (1998)
- Eric Burke - guitar (2002–2004)
- Karl Kochran - guitar
- Dave DiPietro - guitar
External links
- Nuclear Assault – official website