It was nearly forty years ago that teenage me learned about the band NASTY SAVAGE from Tampa, Florida, USA for the first time. I heard the song ‘The Morgue’ from their eponymous first album on the radio in 1985 and got swept off my feet. This song was absolutely unique, a Thrash Metal tune that was way more than just Thrash, with a vocalist that could hardly be compared to any other Metal vocalist in those days. I was chuffed to bits when I saw that album in my favourite record store a few days later, took it home and since that day, “Nasty Savage” was one of my favourite albums. Their later releases, “Indulgence” (1987), the EP “Abstract Reality” (1988) and “Penetration Point” (1989) were also fantastic, even though Florida’s finest slightly changed their sound to a more Thrash Metal focused style with a marked preference for abstract riffing. Despite being one of a kind, or because of that, they never gained the success they deserved and called their quits in 1990, being on hiatus when times weren’t good for real Metal. Like many other great Metal bands from the 1980s, they reunited in the new millennium and even recorded a new album called “Psycho Psycho” in 2004 that was disappointing in my ears, as it didn’t really capture the spirit of NASTY SAVAGE. Well, maybe my expectations were too high, so it might have been my personal problem. Dust settled once again on the band and so I was quite surprised to read that they have a new album out after 20 years of silence. Is “Jeopardy Room” the return of the mighty NASTY SAVAGE? It is not, as it is the return of singer “Nasty” Ronnie Galetti with a whole new line-up. Neither the guitar duo Ben Meyer and Dave Austin nor original drummer Curtis Beeson were involved, the latter for very sad reasons, as he lost the battle against cancer a few weeks ago. With this in mind, I listened to “Jeopardy Room” with care, trying not to expect too much. And even though the artwork of the late abstract painter VanDercar, who also provided the art of nearly all old masterpieces of NASTY SAVAGE might raised hopes for a revival of the glorious days of the band, “Jeopardy Room” is a little bit different. I was quite surprised that Nasty Ronnie and his new allies recorded a more than solid, powerful Thrash Metal album that often hints on the glorious past of NASTY SAVAGE. Songs like the title track or ‘Operation Annihilate’ are really good stuff for all those who dig some fine Thrash with class and a special note. Yet “Jeopardy Room” also has some unexpected influences as well, like some more modern elements (‘Blood Syndicate’) or some moments that are reminiscent of Hardcore (‘Brain Washer’). There are two songs that stick out a bit here and really are a little revival of the old days. ‘Witches Sabbath’ is of course destined to do so, as it is already 40 years old and was first featured on the legendary “Wage Of Mayhem” demo tape that created a sensation in the underground back in 1984. Now all the four songs from that demo finally got their album release (even though it’s a pretty cool idea, that ‘Witches Sabbath’ features OBITUARY’s John Tardy on vocals and Donald Tardy on drums, I wished they would have included a pure NASTY SAVAGE version on this album instead and used this version as an additional bonus track only – Frank). The other song that really reminded me of the old times is the virtuosic, fast and furious instrumental ‘The 6th Finger’, that breathes the spirit of the legendary ‘?’ from “Indulgence”. After listening to “Jeopardy Room” a few times, I not only made my peace with this album but I started to enjoy it, even as an old geezer who loves the offerings of NASTY SAVAGE from the 1980s. If you want to check out the return of Nasty Ronnie, visit www.facebook.com/nastysavageofficial or www.facebook.com/fhmetal