Italian thrashers Game Over return with a revamped lineup and a powerful new album, Face The End. Blending old-school aggression with eerie atmospheres, they discuss lineup changes, horror influences, and their future.
1. With Danny
on vocals and Leo on bass, Game Over is now a five-piece. How has this lineup
change influenced your sound and dynamics, both in the studio and live?
Ziro: “I think
this lineup is a huge step up for us. Danny has always been a singer and has
taken part in many Thrash Metal projects, so I’m sure that, thanks to his
experience, we’ve reached a higher level of quality. I personally love his
approach to vocal lines because he brings something that I think is lacking in
the Thrash Metal scene nowadays: a more melodic yet still aggressive style. Leo
is a great musician, and he had no problem switching to bass, which makes it
easier for him to focus on playing rather than both playing and singing. (Yeah,
he sang for a couple of months before Danny joined the writing process and
stayed in the background until the album news was revealed.)”
2. “Face The
End” is described as having a dual soul—both a warning about the Western
world’s state and a call for new beginnings.Can you elaborate on the themes
explored in the album?
Ziro: "Sure.
This is a new lineup, and it’s our first time releasing an album together.
We’re thrilled to see what both old and new fans will think about it. At the
same time, some of the themes we explore in our lyrics are inspired by what we
see and feel every day, observing the world around us. And it’s hard to call
this situation the best-case scenario for the so-called Western world and the
world in its entirety actually. And, as always, we try to represent all our
feelings with a horrific - sometime comic - visual vibe, drawing inspiration
from our beloved horror movies."
3. Your music
blends intense thrash with eerie atmospheres inspired by ‘70s and ‘80s horror
films. How do these influences shape your songwriting and the overall mood of
the record?
Ziro: "We
know how we want to sound, and we spend a great amount of time refining every
single element in our songs. As you said, we are huge fans of ’70s, but
especially ’80s, horror movies. We love the colors, the atmospheres, the
soundtracks, and we have always integrated these elements into our
style—starting with graphics and lyrics, and now incorporating eerie
atmospheres into our music, thanks to some friends in the scene who help us
with synthesizers and ideas."
4. You worked
with Simone Mularoni at Domination Studio. What was the recording process like,
and how did he help refine the Game Over sound?
Ziro:
"Simone is a great friend of ours. He recorded our first three albums, and
we felt it was time to return to him because he knows how to deliver our energy
through our songs, crafting our own sound strong and aggressive. He is a true
professional, guiding us to achieve the best possible sound by trying different
combinations to capture everyone’s best performance. Yeah, he’s also a great
motivational coach, though—ahaha!"
5. The cover
art was created by Mario López, known for his work with bands like Skeletal
Remains and Toxik. How does the artwork tie into the themes of “Face The End”?
Ziro: "Mario
has always created all our artwork. I think it’s important to have an artist
who understands your genre and knows how to visually represent your style. We
always give him some hints and references—like the color palette, album title,
lyrics, and concept—and then let him work his magic in his obscure cave, where
anything can happen!"
6. The album
features blistering fast sections, crushing mid-tempos, and catchy breakdowns.
Was there a conscious effort to diversify your songwriting, or did it happen
naturally?
Ziro: "Yes,
there was. We always start with a clear idea in mind for each song we write,
and we almost always know what elements we want in that song to achieve our
goal. I feel like we’ve developed our own approach to songwriting. In our
previous albums (before Hellframes),
we used to write songs by starting with a riff and then trying to find other
riffs that fit with the main one. Now, while riffs are still the foundation of
the song, our process focuses more on figuring out what kind of song that riff
can inspire."
7. You’ve got
a solid festival lineup for 2025, including Lions Metal Fest, Metal Gate Fest,
Tolminator, and Burning Q. What can fans expect from your live performances
with the new lineup?
"Yeah, and there’s
more to come! We all feel like this is the best lineup we’ve ever had. Each one
of us is focused on his own skills and is giving the best. There’s a renewed
energy, and we’re ready to take on any event, from tours to big festivals. Of
course, we’re also preparing a new set that will include many songs from the
new album."
8. Game Over
has often been compared to thrash legends like Exodus, Testament, and
Metallica. What do you take from these bands, and how do you put your own stamp
on the genre?
Ziro: "We
embrace the essence of our genre: heavy, riff-driven songs that still
prioritize the importance of vocals. In my opinion, many Thrash bands today
tend to emulate Slayer or other bands that played an extremely aggressive
version of Thrash Metal. I personally love many of these new bands, but we want
to do something different—something that is entirely our own—even if that means
incorporating a bit of melody into our songs, just like the bands you mentioned
used to do. Metallica, Testament, Exodus and most of the Bay Area Thrash is
full of melodic part and melodic, to us, means something that is heavy but
remains in your head when you listen to it. "
9. You’re
releasing an exclusive limited vinyl edition of “Face The End.” How important
is physical media to you in an era dominated by streaming?
Ziro: "It’s
something for real die-hard fans—those who, like us, still love having a little
piece of the band for themselves. It’s for the collectors and music nerds.
That’s how I see vinyl and physical formats in music today, and I believe
they’re still important because they keep listeners connected to reality. Music
isn’t something intangible—it’s something you can touch."
10. With the
album’s themes of facing challenges and new beginnings, what’s next for Game
Over beyond “Face The End”? Any long-term goals or dream collaborations?
Ziro: "We’re
planning some really exciting shows and tours that we hope to announce soon. We
want to promote this album as much as possible, wherever we can. We also have
some collaborations in the works, and after that, we’ll hit the studio to record
the next chapter, of course."
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