Review: “Hellfames” by Game Over

A moment they feared would never come is upon the horizon as after six long years in the wilderness the return of Italian Thrash quartet Game Over is upon us. Armed for the apocalypse, they bring with them a fifth studio album in “Hellfames“, recorded at Raptor Recording Studio (Destrage, Slander, Dufresne) and adorned by artwork from Mario López (Evil Invaders, Toxik, Crystal Viper). A collection of songs which delve into the depths of human existence, exploring pain, fear and our relentless struggles, remarkably it finds the band remaining intact with vocalist and bassist Renato “Reno” Chiccoli, guitarist duo Luca “Zeero” Zironi and Alessandro “Sanso” Sansone alongside Anthony “Vender” Dantone all present and correct…

Soaked in the familiarity of science fiction movies set in a dystopian future and directed by John Carpenter, the swirling “Visions” makes for a haunting 80’s synth introduction that gets obliterated by the all out Thrash attack of “Call of The Siren“. A fleeting yet face melting solo ignites a classic cut with galloping drums and riffs galore that feels as if Game Over have never left 1982, let alone been away for the better part of six years. A nod to the American Thrash scene with obvious influences in not only Megadeth and Death Angel but also the crossover breeds like Cro-Mags, the often over used words Old School apply to these cuts, they all have a familiarity and instant appeal while having enough of a life of their own not to sound done. The choruses are catchy and infectious to the point that you may find yourself singing along by the second play while the riffs will bring you back time and again. Slowing things down a little “Path Of Pain” builds atmosphere before following through with a powerful second half as the serpent gets beheaded with verve and swagger before the Reno urges us to join “The Cult“. Gang chants and an earworm main riff are the backbone of this cautionary tale that has a little bit of tongue in cheek humour to it, which is a nice touch. If you didn’t already know these dudes weren’t American then the acoustic opening half of “Count Your Breaths” is the only moment to give it away, the diction not quite right but giving this one a bit of charm rather than being an issue. All about the build up, the second half finds Zeero and Sanso trading riffs at lightening pace to raise the hairs on the back of the neck before a final chorus fades to black.

“Atonement” feels like Game Over are showing off with a second instrumental that has roots in “The Call of Ktulu” era Metallica. It servers as a moments breathing space before the all out Thrash onslaught of “Deliver Us” which is absolute class. Taking the best elements of the earlier cuts and putting them into one easy to swallow red pill, it means you stay in Wonderland and the band show you how deep the rabbit hole of rose tinted nostalgia can go. They do so with self-confidence and assurance, paying close attention to the finer details to ensure that their ode to Thrash is as close as they could get without growing up in San Francisco in the late 80’s, giving everything a real authenticity. “Synthetic Dreams” adds another seriously infectious moment to the record with a Punk Rock attitude and a few moments that remind of “Smash” era The Offspring. An obvious choice of a single, it leaves you wondering why they kept the cuts that find them firing on all cylinders apart. A mid tempo powerhouse “My World Dies Screaming” lacks some of the flaming Flying V riffs and instead replaces them with a slow burn that echoes the vibes of “Path Of Pain“. Arguably a verse and chorus too long, it would have been better suited to being the final cut on the record, switching places with the title track “Hellframes“. That features a guest appearance from Dome of Fulci and TV-Crimes and approaches eight minutes with a gleeful experimentation, a bass solo, gang chants and dark whispers all making for an outstanding tune to help you breathe more easily… [7/10]

Track Listing

1. Visions (Instrumental)
2. Call of The Siren
3. Path Of Pain
4. The Cult
5. Count Your Breaths
6. Atonement (Instrumental)
7. Deliver Us
8. Synthetic Dreams
9. My World Dies Screaming
10. Hellframes (ft. Dome of Fulci and TV-Crimes)

“Hellfames” by Game Over is out 20th October 2023 via Scarlet Records