C O L U M N S

Rusted Metal

Nasty Savage - Nasty Savage

By: Eric Compton & Mojo
Published: Wednesday, January 12, 2005
Who can forget Nasty Ronnie, and the macabre, thrash metal masterpiece released by these metal mad geniuses in 1985? Apparently we have, considering many headbanging fanatics refuse to give these guys their fair shake. Nasty Savage completely revolutionized metal, technically creating the first real death metal release with their self-titled debut on Metal Blade Records.

Nasty Savage is the true power wielders of thrash and a major influence for many bands, whether they admit it or not. They have had a major impact on Jon Schaffer, Metallica, Deceased, and even Overkill both musically and lyrically. Their brand of power-thrash mayhem is widely considered by collectors "in the know" as the innovators of a dark and more lethal sound, with some calling this record death metal. Ronnie's voice is a far cry from the guttural screams evident on the genre's publicly debated "first death metal release", Death's "Scream Bloody Gore" in 1987.

Rivaling only Jag Panzer's '84 album "Ample Destruction" in sheer over the top madness, this chaotic firestorm gallops and crushes just about everything prior to. Sure it borrows some wicked stomps from Sabbath and Priest, but for the most part this is one dangerously powerful record that refuses to display even the smallest hint of weakness. It is balls to the wall from start to finish, with huge crunchy chops, soaring leads, a ballistic battery, and Ronnie's insane wails, a combination of King Diamond (Mercyful Fate), Rob Halford (Judas Priest), and Eric Adams (Manowar). The music is technical at times, but for the most part delivers quality, quick paced hooks that just rip and tear, allowing plenty of time for Ronnie to deliver his ominous, sadistic mid-range, or his falsetto highs. Let's look at some examples...

With an almost frightening opening that leaves you guessing, the raw power of "No Sympathy" kick in and it is a dark, blissful sound. Nasty Ronnie almost uses a spoken word delivery, declaring all the saints to enter the gates of hell, leaving absolutely no sympathy for the weak. The sound continues to pound delivering "Gladiator", allowing those signature vocals to shine again. "Dungeon of Pleasure" showcases terrific guitar work along with an array of solos, add the drums and vocals in the mix, and you have a headbanging classic the entire way through. My favorite cut is the King Diamond styled "The Morgue", with its hair raising horror story telling (perhaps influencing King Diamond on his track "To The Morgue" off of "Spider's Lullabye"). "Metal Knights" is equally destructive, along with the crunchy stop start delivery of "Fear Beyond The Vision", which obviously inspired a host of metal acts.

The record was recorded at Morrisound Studios in Tampa Florida and produced by Jim Morris with collaboration from Nasty Ronnie (vocals), David Austin (lead guitar), Ben Meyer (lead guitar), Fred Dregishcan (bass), and Curtis Beeson (drums). At the time this very well could have been the deadliest, most sonically brutal album ever created. Now, with plenty of production shazam and computer tinkering, every band can seem this heavy. But few can match the power and authority of this Florida wrecking crew.

Mojo - I never had gotten into these guys until recently, and take it from a guy who missed out on a lot of great old school metal, Nasty Savage are the true power of thrash and a major influence for many (Even ripped off by the likes of Jon Schaffer, both musically and lyrically.). This disc has inspired me to go back and revisit yesteryear in heavy metal. In a year that gave us albums by Accept, Slayer, Loudness, Overkill, Anthrax, and many, many more, this album would have to be in my top 5 from 1985, and even on my list of greatest albums of all time. Personally, 10 out of 10, it is raw yet extremely talent oriented, very well produced, and just loaded with emotion. This disc has inspired me to go back and revisit yesteryear in heavy metal. In a year that gave us albums by Accept, Slayer, Loudness, Overkill, Anthrax, and many, many more, my rating of this album would have to be in my top 5 from 1985, and even on my list of greatest albums of all time. Personally, 10 out of 10. It is raw yet extremely talent oriented, very well produced, and just loaded with emotion.

EC - "Easily one of the finest metal albums of the 80s along with classics by Exciter, Anthrax, Bloodlust, Agent Steel, and Jag Panzer. Nasty Savage just completely dominates everything else, displaying a rare internal force to destroy the opposition. Metal for the true headbanger, no keyboards, no silly stomp grooves, and no weakness. This is definitely not for pussies!!




[Other Maximum Metal Columns]

<< back >>





RANDOM ACTS OF METAL
. Lost Horizon. Opeth
. Vehemence. Big Dumb Face
. BloodDuster. Carpathian Forest
. Impellitteri. Twelfth Gate
. Cradle of Filth. Dirty Power
. Solace. Majesty
. Mark Boals. Vaginal Carnage
. Rawhead Rexx. Mortician
. Agoraphobic Nosebleed. Dark Moor
. Masterplan. Metallica
. Angel Dust. Power of Omens
. Carnal Forge. H.I.M.
. Circle of Nero. Endless Time
. Byfist. Agony Divine
. Dragonforce. Wycked Synn
. Curriculum Mortis. Morbid Angel
. Kilfast. Evanesce
. Crystal Eyes. Guardians Of Time
. Vhaldemar. Windseeker
. Stalker. Attacker
. Whitesnake. Krisiun
. Probot. Body Count
. Doro. Fear Factory
. Three Inches of Blood. Black Stone Cherry
. Cryonic Temple. Jaw
. Leash Law. David Shankle Group
. Lonewolf. House of Lords
. Feinstein. Krokus
. Dream Evil. Psychotron
. Annihilator. Silent Force
. Agnostic Front. Anger
. Jackyl. Karmakanic
. Creed. Kinetic
. Cradle To Grave. The Apocalyptic Riders
. Kings X. Loudblast
. Hibria. Soulscar
. Car Bomb. Desire Black
. Angtoria. Chuck Schuldiner
. Backyard Babies. Crimson Moonlight
. Argument Soul. Pure Inc
. Frantic Bleep. Swallow The Sun
. Ignitor. Impiety
. Hatesphere. Raging Speedhorn
. Graveworm. Brand New Sin
. Communic. Slough Feg
. Testament. Goddess Of Desire
. Voyager. Prowler Inc.
. Dam. Gaia
. Nightvision. Fates Warning
. Wetwork. The Scourger
. V:28. Illuminatus
. Casus Belli. Algol3
. Mistress. Spellbound
. Cryogen. Dreamland
. Doomfoxx. Asrai
. Define Divine. Bronx Casket Company
. Zero Down. Vanquished
. Beecher. Machina
. Enforsaken. Totalisti
. Witchery. Tandjent
. Intronaut. Poison
. Phoenix Mourning. Elvenking
. Vreid. Candlemass
. Sun Descends. From the Grave
. Hurt. Jeff Walker und Die Fluffers
. Anata. Wastefall
. Biolich. Sathanas
. Escape The Fate. Centinex
. Stonegard. Omnium Gatherum
. Throne of Katarsis. Madking Ludwig
. Grenouer. Blood of the Black Owl
. Mendeed. Textures
. Katrina Johansson. Rob Zombie
. Antigama. Kruger
. Hearse. Spheric Universe Experience
. Glenn Hughes. Cockpit
. Deceiver. Demonic Symphony
. Trivium. Manilla Road
. SOS. Kreator
. Bible Of The Devil. Alestorm
. Wolfgate. Winterfylleth
. Mustasch. Sister Sin
. Suffocation