As the co-founder and lone remaining original member of British thrash outfit Onslaught, guitarist Nige Rockett has seen and lived it all through three decades, several singers and seven albums of his band.
Although Onslaught has never reached cult status of thrash metal’s Big 4 (Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, Anthrax) or even of a secondary four of Testament, Overkill, Exodus and Death Angel, Rockett’s group is about to unleash a record of anti-religion lyrical imagery that makes Slayer’s 2006 tune “Cult” appear Taylor Swift-ish by comparison.
With blatant statements that make up “Religiousuicide,” one of nine tracks comprising the forthcoming release of seventh album Generation Antichrist on Aug. 7 via AFM Records such as
Sacrament or sacrifice, holier than thou
Anti cult or Antichrist, messiah take a bow
Hanging on the holy cross, they named the preacher twice
Religion takes it up the ass, it’s Jesus fucking Christ
it’s obvious Rockett and Onslaught have taken their message to a whole ‘nother level in 2020. One may have thought that impossible for a band that’s already put out songs such as “66 fucking 6.”
Generation Antichrist is the first album to feature new vocalist Dave Garnett, who took over for veteran singer Sy Keeler after Onslaught’s appearance in 2019 on the 70000 Tons of Metal cruise. Rockett, meanwhile, has also put out Onslaught albums with other singers, including in 1989 with Grim Reaper frontman Steve Grimmett (2019 ATM interview here). In fact, three of Onslaught’s current members — guitarist Wayne Dorman, drummer James Perry and Garnett — have joined the group, which Rockett formed in 1983, within the past three years.
Keeler departed Onslaught in late April, well after Covid-19 struck the world and halted live concerts. So even though he appears in the 2019 video below for “A Perfect Day to Die,” which was dedicated to the late Lemmy Kilmister and Motorhead, Garnett came on board and had three weeks to learn and/or re-record all nine tracks that will appear on Generation Antichrist, including that one. Pre-order the album here.
Track listing:
1. Rise to Power
2. Strike Fast Strike Hard
3. Bow Down To The Clowns
4. Generation Antichrist
5. All Seeing Eye
6. Addicted To The Smell Of Death
7. Empires Fall
8. Religiousuicide
9. A Perfect Day To Die
Rockett, who has also been the architect of Power From Hell (1985), The Force (1986), In Search Of Sanity (1989), Killing Peace (2007), Sounds Of Violence (2011) and 2013’sVI , graciously spoke with Alamo True Metal yesterday about the new record and a variety of other topics from his home in England. Click the sound widget below to hear our entire conversation.
