Game Over — Crimes Against Reality
Game Over is an Italian thrash metal band formed in 2008. Crimes Against Reality is the band’s third full-length album, originally released in 2016; the copy that I am listening to for the purpose of this review is the new 2026 remaster. The band as featured on this album includes Luc “Ziro” Zironi on guitar, Anthony “vender” Dantone on drums, Renato “Reno” Chiccoli on bass and vocals and Alessandro “Sanso” Sansone on guitar. Reno and Sanso have since left the band.
The album opens with “What Lies Within”, a short instrumental intro song, before we veer headlong into the first song proper “33 Park Street”, a full-on thrasher with hardcore-style gang vocals on the chorus. It’s a solid start, with killer riffs from the twin-guitar attack of Ziro and Sanso. “Neon Maniacs” is up next and has an old school NWOBHM/ early Metallica feel to it, with some Metallica/ Diamond Head style melodies throughout. This time the two guitarists get to rip some pretty killer lead work too. “With All That is Left” is the next one up, and this one slows the pace down considerably; it’s as close as Game Over get to a ballad on this album before picking up speed around the midpoint. “Astral Matter” picks up the pace again and while not a blisteringly fast song it kicks under way with virtuoso guitar playing before the vocals kick in. This is great melodic thrash metal that reminds me a little bit of Anthrax, with some great gang vocals and Overkill in terms of the playing. “Fugue In D Minor (Allegro Ma Non Troppo)” is a short, silly song based around the infamous classical piece by Bach. This runs straight into “Just A Little Victory”, a faster, thrashier number and one of the tracks that instantly grabbed me. It features more of those classic hardcore-style gang vocals that were prevalent on 33 Park Street. “Gates of Ishtar” is up next, another really good thrashy number, fast, melodic and thoroughly enjoyable. I’ve praised the guitar playing on this album several times already, but I have to say that the musicianship in general is absolutely top drawer from start to finish. The album’s title track is next, and you would be forgiven for thinking this is a lost 80s American thrash record; the influence of bands like Exodus, Overkill, Testament and Anthrax is there to be heard; however, it heads into pastiche territory. They retain a sound all of their own, you can just hear the influence of the aforementioned bands here and there throughout the album. The album’s regular closer is Fix Your Brain, a fast-paced thrasher that would normally bring the album to a close; however, this new remastered edition from Scarlet Records features a bonus live recording of “Neon Maniacs” recorded at Tolminator festival in 2025.
Overall, this is a really good album from a band that I knew very little about before listening to them for the purpose of this review. I am quite surprised, as this is very much right up my street. It’s a really good melodic thrash album with excellent musicianship, great songwriting and excellent production. Yes, you can hear the influence of classic 80s thrash metal, but that’s exactly what I want from my thrash metal. I find it really hard to understand why they aren’t so much more well known than they are. The CD release from Scarlet Records features an excellent lyric booklet and great artwork that sits perfectly alongside the music. Fans of old-school thrash and more modern bands like Power Trip and Vektor should absolutely check this one out.