Legendary thrashers Nasty Savage make their long-awaited return with Jeopardy Room, set to release on October 11, 2024, via FHM Records – 20 years after their last album (Psycho Psycho from 2004). Hailing from Florida, the birthplace of death metal, Nasty Savage stays true to their old-school thrash roots, though their influence on the early Florida death metal scene is undeniable. This is underscored by the guest appearances of Obituary’s John and Donald Tardy on the new album. Frontman “Nasty” Ron Galletti is the sole remaining original member, now joined by a new lineup of highly skilled musicians: guitarists Dave Orman and Pete Sykes, bassist Kyle Sokol, and drummer Jim Coker. Aside from Jim, the rest of the band are more recent additions.

I’m pleased to report that Nasty Savage sounds incredible in 2024, and Ron Galletti’s vocals have aged remarkably well. He effortlessly transitions between cleaner, melodic singing and a fierce thrash delivery, even adding a doom vibe on a few tracks. The real standout, however, is the blistering guitar work from Dave and Pete, whose crushing riffs and frenzied solos evoke the intensity of early Slayer and Annihilator records. Kyle’s bass is prominent in the mix, adding depth to the songs while also stepping into the spotlight on a few tracks. Jim’s drumming is relentlessly savage, with his thunderous double bass attacks all over the album. The strong songwriting ties these elements together, resulting in an album that stands shoulder to shoulder with their ’80s classics like Nasty Savage (1985), Indulgence (1987), and Penetration Point (1989).

The album opens with the haunting, melodic guitar-driven intro ‘Invocations,’ setting an ominous tone. The title track, ‘Jeopardy Room’ explodes with ferocious energy, featuring vicious guitar leads and crushing rhythmic riffs, slowing briefly just to deliver a memorable catchy chorus. ‘Brain Washer’ is a thrash metal beast, driven by a killer hook-filled chorus and powerful gang vocals. Combined with relentless guitar solos, it becomes one of the album’s standout tracks – pure, old-school thrash at its finest. The pacing shifts slightly with ‘Southern Fried Homicide,’ which starts with slow, melodic guitars and chant-like vocal layers before unleashing another thrash assault. This one showcases more diverse songwriting, slowing for emotive guitar sections, and delivers another unforgettable chorus, powered by crossover-infused backing vocals.

Another standout track is the incredible ‘Witches Sabbath,’ my personal favorite that originally appeared on Nasty Savage’s Wage of Mayhem demo from 1984. The song brilliantly answers the question: “What do you get when you cross Obituary, Mercyful Fate, and mid-era Trouble?” The highlight of this track is the contrasting vocal styles, with Ron Galletti delivering clean vocals alongside guest John Tardy of Obituary, who adds his signature death metal growls. The song is bookended by eerie organ parts, with Donald Tardy on drums, offering a refreshing shift in style for the album. Following that is ‘Schizoid Platform,’ a dynamic track that alternates between dark, atmospheric moments – both vocally and instrumentally, and full-on thrash assaults that hit with face-melting intensity.

‘Aztec Elegance’ is the album’s longest track and arguably its most ambitious. It begins with acoustic guitar and melodic vocals before diving back into the familiar thrash onslaught. The song showcases excellent, relentless guitar solos and varied tempo shifts, though it might linger a bit too long, overstaying its welcome by 60 to 90 seconds. As for ‘Operation Annihilate,’ the title says it all – it’s a blistering thrash assault packed with an infectious chorus that begs for repeat listens. ‘Blood Syndicate’ keeps the energy high, venturing into crossover-thrash territory, featuring another catchy, memorable chorus strengthened by the supporting gang backing vocals.  The second-to-last track, ‘The 6th Finger,’ is easily one of the best thrash instrumentals I’ve heard in years. It’s 110% full-throttle, in-your-face thrash, only slowing down briefly for some jaw-dropping technical bass and guitar solo trade-offs. All I can say is WOW! The album wraps up with ‘Sainted Devil,’ a track that took me a few listens to fully grasp due to its unconventional vocal delivery and musical direction. However, once it clicks, everything comes together beautifully.

In 2024, Nasty Savage proves they’re still as relevant as ever. Jeopardy Room perfectly captures the essence of the band’s classic ’80s sound while embodying everything I love about old-school thrash metal. I couldn’t stop grinning as I listened from start to finish. The band deserves credit for crafting songs that deliver plenty of twists, turns, and memorable hooks, all without easing up on the thrash throttle. Unlike many “comeback” albums, there’s no attempt to modernize their sound with current musical trends or flashy production techniques. Nasty Savage knows what they do best, and Jeopardy Room delivers exactly what the fans want. This album is an absolute blast—an easy 9/10. Don’t miss it!