GAME OVER – Claiming Supremacy

5.5/10

GAME OVER - Claiming Supremacy - 5.5/10

5.5/10

Summary

Scarlet Records
Release date: November 17, 2017

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Italy’s Game Over are a four piece Thrash Metal unit influenced by 1980s Bay Area Trash Metal and more current Hardcore scenes. Game Over describes their fourth album as their most mature with furious riffing, anthem choruses, and obscure lyrics spanning topics from history to science fiction. While maturity doesn’t necessarily translate into quality song writing, Game Over demonstrates they can deliver on Claiming Supremacy. The album does contain furious riffing. However, the mix favors the dual guitar/bass onslaught at the expense of the drums and vocals. The rhythm guitar is steady but the lead guitar can be brittle and piercing at times. Even the gurgling bass guitar is clearly audible. The snare drum and cymbals are consistently audible but the rest of the kit is tough to hear. Oddest of all, the raspy lead vocals and Hardcore influenced gang chorus shout outs are mixed below the guitars making it difficult for the listener to understand the lyrics.

The 10 songs include two instrumentals which could easily have been left off. “Shattered Souls”, a mostly acoustic bit of fluff, and the lead track, “Onward To Blackness”, which strives to build tension but ends up sounding like an extended sound check of leftover ideas. “Two Steps In The Shadows” follows and displays a blend of Hardcore and Thrash Metal elements. It starts with machine gun drumming and guitar which are repeated and joined by a variety of bridges and tempo changes giving it depth beyond a typical thrash song. “Last Before The End” and “My Private Nightmare” follow further highlighting furious riffing and a level of complexity inviting a second listen. Most of the remaining tunes aren’t as catchy as the opening trio but “Broken Trails” is notable for the best gang chorus vocals on the album.

Game Over delivers Claiming Supremacy with passion, honesty, and energy. It has enough quality material to recommend for Thrash Metal fans. The unusual “garage” mix may be off-putting to more casual fans who may find it too far off from the norm to fully engage.

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Author

Zac Halter

Zac was a reviewer here at Metal Express Radio, hailing from Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. His interest in heavy music began in the 70s with his father’s Johnny Cash albums. After cousins introduced him to Steppenwolf, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, KISS, Black Sabbath and Deep Purple, Johnny Cash didn’t stand a chance. The 80s were spent in full pursuit of everything Metal: searching for new music at record stores, listening to albums, studying the covers and sleeves, and attending concerts. In the 90s, he preferred Death Metal over Grunge and hosted the Death Metal Juggernaut on WUPX in Marquette, Michigan. It was advertised as the only prime time Death Metal radio show in the country.
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