UMUR
"Fight to Be Free" is a single release by US thrash metal act Nuclear Assault. The single was released through Relativity Records in 1988 and is a companion release to the band´s 2nd full-length studio album "Survive (1988)". The single features three tracks and a full playing time of 10:06 minutes. The title track and "Equal Rights" are both featured on "Survive (1988)", so it´s only "Stand Up", which at the time of release, was exclusive to this single release. Some reissues of "Survive (1988)" features "Stand Up" as a bonus track, but the original version of the album didn´t.
"Fight to Be Free" is a good representation of what Nuclear Assault were about at this point. The title track features some melodic elements, but is ultimately a hard edged thrasher with aggressive rhythm work, thrashy riffs, rumbling bass, and John Connelly´s distinct sounding voice in front. It´s a bit more varied than what is usual for the band, with it´s instrumental opening, but at the end of the day it´s unmistakably the sound of Nuclear Assault. Both "Equal Rights" and "Stand Up" are hard edged thrash metal tracks. The former features prominent use of riot gang vocals, which works really well for the band.
The whole thing is well produced and well performed too, so upon conclusion "Fight to Be Free" is a high quality release by Nuclear Assault. You can discuss it´s relevance today, and even back then you only got one track which wasn´t featured on "Survive (1988)", but on the other hand you can´t deny the high quality of the material. A 3.5 star (70%) isn´t all wrong.