UMUR "Handle With Care" is the 3rd full-length studio album by US thrash metal act Nuclear Assault. The album was released through In-effect (a shortlived sister label to Relativity Records) in November 1989. It´s the successor to "Survive" from 1988. While Nuclear Assault weren´t the most commercially successful thrash metal act of their time, "Survive (1988)" and "Handle With Care" both earned them a strong following and the late 80s are probably considered their peak by most listeners.

While "Survive (1988)" was a strong release, it was still at times a bit unfocused. "Handle With Care" is overall a much more focused and mature album when reviewing the songwriting, and a more varied release too. Sure we still get short "spoof" songs like "Funky Noise" and "Mother's Day", which admittedly disrupt the flow of the album a bit, but the rest of the material on the album is very consistent in style and quality. Heavy- and faster-paced thrash metal riffs, powerful organic drumming, a high in the mix distorted bass, and John Connelly´s raw piercing vocals in front. That´s the sound of Nuclear Assault. As mentioned the quality of the material is consistent, but I´d still like to mention tracks like "New Song", "Critical Mass" (that chorus riff is absolutely amazing), "Inherited Hell", "Trail of Tears", and "F# (Wake Up)" as highlights.

Lyrics about fear of nuclear war, environmental issues, animal rights, and political corruption, always gave Nuclear Assault a pretty serious profile, but they are the type of act who understand that such heavy topics are best swallowed if there is room for the occasional humourous moment, so while the above mentioned "spoof" songs aren´t exactly what I perceive as great art, they perfectly balance out the more serious part of the album. The approach is not completely unlike the approach of contemporary artists like Anthrax and Sacred Reich.

"Handle With Care" features a powerful, raw, and detailed sound production, which suits the material well, and upon conclusion "Handle With Care" is just the right step in the development of the band´s sound, and overall a high quality thrash metal release. While the quality is high throughout, the greatest asset of "Handle With Care" is actually that Nuclear Assault have a unique sound. It´s not that they use elements that are unusual for thrash metal, but how they combine those elements and of course Connelly´s distinct sounding voice. A 4 star (80%) rating is deserved.

Warthur Launching more aggression in 35 minutes that some bands manage in 70, Nuclear Assault's Handle With Care doesn't go full crossover thrash, but it flirts with it even more than the preceding album did, with a confrontational vocal delivery from John Connelly that wouldn't be out of place on a Black Flag album. Mixing longer pieces with shorter, tighter numbers, this combines thrash and hardcore song structures with the brutally thrashy guitar solos of Anthony Bramante, along with lyrics that remain relevant to this day. If you want to do anti-authoritarian political thrash, you want to be listening carefully to these guys.

siLLy puPPy HANDLE WITH CARE is the third album by ex-Anthrax bassist Danny Lilker and his punk-infused aggressive thrash band NUCLEAR ASSAULT. This album was their most successful although they never really attained mass popularity compared with the other huge acts of the day. The band gained a lot of recognition and exposure by touring extensively and even landed a spot with Slayer.

Although this band doesn't really bring a lot new to the thrash sound, it does however bring a fury and aggression into the mix that picks up where Lilker's contributions on Anthrax's “Fistful Of Metal” left off. The riffs are nothing out of the ordinary and like many bands of this type the songs tend to sound similar but all is performed well and packs a punch with a particular hats of to Glenn Evans and his outstanding drumming skills.

Like many extreme metal bands often it boils down to the vocals as to if you like it or not and John Connelly's high-pitched screaming may be the make-or-break-it deal for you with this band. I actually find I like this crossover thrash sound and the vocals as well. Nothing new under the sun here but a satisfying straight-on assault of aggression that sustains the pace throughout the entirety of the album and delivers in what it sets out to achieve, namely make extremely melodic yet brutal thrash metal.

Kingcrimsonprog Nuclear Assault are one of Thrash Metals true geniuses but unfortunately never garnered the sort of lasting legacy that other great Thrash bands like either the Big Four, Exodus or Testament did.

Their 1986 debut album Game Over is as good as any Thrash album that gets called a timeless classic, their 1988 album Survive improved upon the formula by mixing in some more variety and then came this album, Handle With Care. Their third full-length studio album.

Handle With Care is essentially the fastest, hardest and most extreme Nuclear Assault album. The level of energy is really high, the quality of musicianship is high and the production value is comparatively high when stood against their rawer debut album and also The Plauge EP. Handle with Care is a monster full of high speed drumming, technical riffing, rattling bass and John's traditional high pitched vocal wail.

Standout songs include the ultra-catchy 'Critical Mass' and 'The New Song' which will have you singing along and the final track is an atmospheric epic which proves that the band are more than just speed. That, and there are still a few joke tracks and wry ironic lyrics among the otherwise tasteful and well written Thrash.

Overall, if you like Thrash Metal but don't yet know Nuclear Assault you should consider checking them out right away. If you already like the band, this third album is highly, highly Recommended.