NASTY SAVAGE – Jeopardy Room (2024)

This is not the typical style of music we feature at 0dayrox, but we have a soft spot for NASTY SAVAGE, and the guys are about to release their first album in two decades next Thursday – and it’s darn good.
NASTY SAVAGE are American Thrash Metal, real thrash metal. They are pioneers of the genre although they never surpassed the cult status. Well, we are some of these fans of the band since the ’80s.
NASTY SAVAGE hails from Brandon, Florida, formed in 1983 by vocalist “Nasty” Ronnie Galletti. They were extremely influential in the emergence of the thrash metal scene, and the absolute first one to play the genre in the Sunshine State. After releasing three albums and one EP between 1985 and 1989, they broke up. We love these.
After there had been speculation about a reunion for some time, their last studio album to date, Psycho Psycho, was released in the spring of 2004, and the band played occasional live shows before disbanding for the second time in 2012.
But now they are back again with “Jeopardy Room“, a classic US thrash metal record.

By all means ”Jeopardy Room” does well to replicate the signature dealings of this band at their peaking late 80s accost though the dedicated listener who admired their huge early-days personality. Yes, their first two albums (1985 and 1987) are their best.
This doesn’t stop their efforts from kicking all manner of classic-thrash ass. For the classic thrash metal ear, or, I suppose folks who’ve a marked interest in the Tampa-area heavy metal scenery of a certain era should be well-pleased by the authenticity of this release and its ‘old school’ muscle memory for the riff.

At this point all original members are out besides Galletti and the focus for this album seems to be getting back in touch with their own brand of late 80s directed classic thrash, aggressive yet uncomplicated by modern metal or trends.
They’ve pulled it off pretty well all things considered, you’re basically getting signature Nasty Savage throughout, but with the production amped up here and there, and at least one song (“Witches Sabbath”) re-recorded with a guest spot from John and Donald Tardy providing vocals and drums accordingly as a mid-album highlight.

Up front opener/title track “Jeopardy Room” and the slightly more adventurous “Brain Washer” ride over a brutal thrash clap to the drums and simple riffage but once the chorus hits you’ll get some of their old attitude via the vocals. Currently there’s some bands playing thrash, but not ‘old school’ thrash metal, so, from our perspective hitting a song like “Brain Washer” had us stoked for the sheer authenticity of what these folks are pulling off.
Sure, credit where credit is – Galletti knows the real thing when he hears it – but we figure part of that correct-ass feeling comes from the Jim Morris (via Morrisound Recording Studio) set sound design which we appreciate all the more having listened to bad approximations of that same sound by way of engineers for the last couple of decades.

While there’s new members in the line up the core sound of Nasty Savage is very well represented here. The middle portion of ‘Jeopardy Room‘ will likely be the test for the newcomer if not for the way “Southern Fried Homicide” kicks in but for the slower, extra ‘old school’ keyboard haunted “Witches Sabbath” which has Don Tardy as guest.
The immersive intro to “Aztec Elegance” is pure ’80s thrash, and you have more in the shredding leads all over “Operation Annihilate”, and the sex-moan heavy “Blood Syndicate” all call for some form of attentiveness from the listener. The riffs really all line-up for the kill during the simple but kick ass mosh-ready swing of “The 6th Finger”.

Two decades after the release of their last studio album Nasty Savage is back with a bang. Driven by ‘Nasty’ Ronnie, the band and the album inhales the spirit of the late 80s thrash metal wave without sounding antiquated.
Thrash Metal fans, young and old, should definitely check out this album.

01 – Invocations
02 – Jeopardy Room
03 – Brain Washer
04 – Southern Fried Homicide
05 – Witches Sabbath (feat. John & Donald Tardy of Obituary)
06 – Schizoid Platform
07 – Aztec Elegance
08 – Operation Annihilate
09 – Blood Syndicate
10 – The 6th Finger
11 – Sainted Devil

“Nasty” Ron Galletti – Vocals
Jim Coker – Drums
Dave Orman – Guitars
Pete Sykes – Guitars
Kyle Sokol – Bass
Special guests on “Witches Sabbath“:
Drums – Donald Tardy / Vocals – John Tardy (Obituary)

Pre order:
fhmrecords.bigcartel.com/product/nasty-savage-jeopardy-room