Metal Underground.com

Rocking a style that adds a little extra thrash to the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal sound, Damien Thorne's "End Of The Game" would be an ideal listen for fans of early '80s metal — but for one thing. Unfortunately, that one thing is singer Martin DeBourge's vocals, which range from adequate-at-best to grating, depending on the track.

It's unfortunate, too, because the album features excellent guitar work from Ken Manda, whose solos are the high points of tracks like "The Clincher" and "Indulgence." He and bassist Rick Browz really get a chance to show their chops on the superb instrumental "Tarantula," which features Browz heading into Steve Harris territory with a speeding gallop.

There are some excellent riffs as well, like the opener of "You'll Come Around," which channels early Iron Maiden, and the stomp that powers "End Of The Game." The quiet opening of "Not Without A Fight" is also excellent instrumentally — in addition to being the one time the vocals exceed their usual mediocrity.

DeBourge's vocals grate on nearly every track, with a whiny quality that is completely at odds with the instrumentation. The moment he enters the mix on "The Clincher" stops the track dead in its tracks — and (forgive the pun based on the band's name), it's an omen of things to come on nearly every other song. Tracks like "Psychosis" feel like he's stretching for notes barely within his range.

Subpar vocals largely wreck what could have been an excellent slice of early '80s-style metal on Damien Thorne's "End Of The Game." If you can get past that, there's some better-than-average guitar-playing and hooks.