GAME OVER

Face The End

I’ve been a long-time thrash fan ever since the genre’s inception back in the mid-80s. I think it’s safe to say I’ve heard it all, but it’s still an event for me when a new release from Game Over comes along. These Italian thrashers have been kicking it since 2008, carving up an impressive resume of solid thrash albums. It’s 2025, and the sixth album is now upon us with a few changes to the line-up since 2023’s Hellframes. Long-time vocalist Renato Chiccoli is out and replaced by Sofisticator’s Danny Schiavina; plus Leonardo Molinari has joined to take up the bass spot. With the two new members in tow, Game Over turns the page and delivers ten tracks of solid thrash metal.

The intensity dipped a bit with the release of Hellframes, and it was clear Renato’s enthusiasm just wasn’t there like it was in past efforts. Just give a listen to 2017’s Crimes Against Reality and tell me you haven’t heard a better modern thrasher. I bet you would be hard pressed to find an album to rival Crimes, but that’s just my opinion. Regardless, album number six entitled Face The End pushes forward full steam ahead with Danny belting out the tunes and fitting right in. He brings immediacy to the new record, coupled with a fiery delivery when the guitars, bass and drums start to rip hard. A track like ‘Lust For Blood’ is a great example with a quickened tempo and Danny’s booming voice to accentuate the proceedings. Another solid track, ‘Neck Breaking Dance’, infuses a little humour and a catchiness that recalls Fabulous Disaster-era Exodus.

There are several barn-burning tracks like ‘Grip Of Time’ and ‘Lost In Disgrace’. In fact, my seasoned ears detect the opening riff from Megadeth’s ‘In My Darkest Hour’ weaving its way into ‘Lost In Disgrace’ (obviously as a homage only). I would also group a track like ‘Veil Of Insanity’ into the barn-burning category because those chugs are pure earworms. The track is infectious and is followed up with the stellar ‘Gateway To Infinity’ featuring Danny’s higher range on vocals. ‘Tempesta’ slots in at number eight and is a short giallo-horror influenced instrumental that paves the way for the longest track, ‘Crimson Waves’. This number is a Machine Head-inspired ballad that showcases Danny’s range as a vocalist, and thankfully, plays to his strengths. As does the final track, ‘Weaving Fate’, that goes for a crushing gusto of heavy riffs and speeding intensity. Guitarists Alessandro Sansone and Luca Zironi shine here, but Danny’s dynamic range completes it with a cherry on top.

Overall, this is an exciting new direction for Game Over. With the addition of Danny Schiavina on vocals, the band’s sound is invigorated and goes in directions that Renato was unable to take them previously. As a veteran of the thrash scene, I love how Game Over have developed over the years.

You will not be disappointed with Face The End. Believe me when I say there are plenty of hooks and melodic leads to keep those thrash ears satiated.