Time cannot erode the bite of certain riffs – and Nige Rockett knows this better than most. As the guitarist and founding member of Onslaught, from the United Kingdom, he has spent over four decades steering a thrash metal assault that still rips through speakers and skin alike. This year marked forty years since “Power from Hell”, a record that set the foundation for everything that followed and still echoes in the band’s choices today. Revisiting those roots, Nige and his bandmates sought not to replicate the past, but to confront it, to remind listeners why the fire started and why it has never died.
It was after their set at Old Grave Fest 12, organised by the Romanian Thrash Metal Club, in Quantic, Bucharest, Romania, that I met Nige for a conversation about endurance, legacy, and the work that goes into keeping a forty-year-old rage alive on stage and in the studio.
Nige Rockett of Onslaught performing at Old Grave Fest 12, in Quantic [11 October 2025]
© Ștefan Lupașcu
Nige Rockett: Hi, thank you for the interest in our band. I am feeling well, but also tired. It’s been a very long day. I left England at 2 a.m. this morning, flew straight to Bucharest, played the show, and we go straight back tomorrow. No sleep – but we had an amazing time.
The show was fantastic. In fact, every time we come to Romania it’s always special. We love Romania.
What makes Romania special?
Nige Rockett: It’s a very mysterious country.
Why mysterious?
Nige Rockett: I think so because of the whole Dracula thing, you know. But I first came to Romania in, I think, 1996, and it was very, very different back then.
I went to a place called Oradea, on the border in the north-west. It was incredible – but the infrastructure was very basic. There were still a lot of military people around, but it was just really special.
I kind of fell in love with the country after that. Then we came back on tour when the band got together again – around 2007 or 2008, I think.
We did six or seven shows, and it was absolutely crazy. Everything that could happen, happened – all kinds of madness – but so many great memories.
Every time I come to Romania, it’s always fantastic!
Onslaught performing at Old Grave Fest 12, in Quantic [11 October 2025]
© Ștefan Lupașcu
Nige Rockett: Oh, fantastic. I think the last three times we’ve been here, we played this festival – maybe 10 or 11 years ago. Then we came back in 2019. The last four shows we’ve done in Romania have all been festivals, and every single one has been great.
This venue’s really cool, and Old Grave Fest is great too. It’s such a cool venue, yeah… – everything’s been amazing here today. I just want to come back again.
We, too, hope to see you again!
Nige Rockett: It’s only four hours away! I’m actually speaking to someone right now about coming back this time next year.
Fingers crossed! Which song was the most meaningful for you to perform tonight?
Nige Rockett: It’s difficult. I think “Let There Be Death” is probably one of my favourite Onslaught songs.
Why did you pick that one?
Nige Rockett: It just encapsulates everything thrash metal’s about – it’s fast, it’s heavy, and it’s got loads of hooks. We wrote that song in 1985, but it’s still strong today. I love playing it – it’s got so much energy. And you can tell from the crowd – they love it too.
That’s a monster of a track, bursting with power even after all these years. Changing the registry a bit, was there a song that felt particularly demanding for you to play tonight – either physically or emotionally?
Nige Rockett: Well, maybe “Power from Hell”. I’m still recovering from two spinal operations, so I’m not fully fit right now. It’s quite an intense song to play. I’d say I’m at about 70% fitness – so it’s a bit of a challenge, but it still sounds good.
I see – wishing you a swift and full recovery.
Nige Rockett: Thank you. It is a bit annoying to not be able to give 100% on stage all the time.
What does it mean to you to be in Onslaught – personally?
Nige Rockett: It’s my life, basically. It’s been my life since 1982. I’ve had so many amazing memories thanks to it. It’s taken me to 75 different countries.
I love travelling, and it means I can see the world, meet amazing people, play great shows, see beautiful places, and eat great food. It’s a dream come true – I’m very fortunate to be in the position we’re in.
You’ve been there from the very beginning. Was there ever a moment when you thought about quitting?
Nige Rockett: Yeah – a few years ago.
As I said, I had two operations on my spine. My arms stopped working – I couldn’t use them at all. The main nerve that runs from your neck down your arms got crushed. They said it was from too much headbanging over the years – it wore the cartilage away between the bones.
So they had to take one of the bones out of my neck – cut my throat open, take the bone out, chisel it, and put a titanium cage in to stop the compression.
Then I had the same problem in my lower back. It took me three years to recover. I came back this year – three years away from Onslaught. That was tough. It was a real question of, “Do I continue, or do I quit?”
But as soon as I played that first show back – there’s no way I could ever quit.
“There’s no way I could ever quit” – now that is a relief! Let us go a bit through your discography as well, shall we? “Origins of Aggression” came out of the crypt this year. What can you tell our readers about it?
Nige Rockett: Glad you are asking me that. Basically, this album was for the 40th anniversary of “Power from Hell”, our first record. Rather than re-record that album, we wanted to make a tribute – something special for the fans to celebrate those 40 years.
We recorded loads of covers of the songs that inspired us back in the day, plus a few early Onslaught tracks. No new material on this one, but the fans loved it.
It is a bit different from the other recent releases.
Nige Rockett: Yes, it is. We just wanted to go back to the early days – show the fans what inspired us and made us become Onslaught. That was the whole concept: to revisit those roots and celebrate what shaped our sound.
I am also curious about the song “Black Horse of Famine”. What does it represent to you?
Nige Rockett: That was the second song I ever wrote for Onslaught. The first was “Thermonuclear Devastation of the Planet Earth”, which we played tonight – and play at every show, because it’s just so cool.
“Black Horse of Famine” came right after that. I wanted to include it on this album because it’s another great track, and people really seem to like it. We haven’t played it live yet – maybe one day.
We covered the first, and the second track. And I feel that “Angels of Death” deserves some attention, as well.
Nige Rockett: Yes! “Angels of Death” – that’s another early one, written long before Slayer did their “Angel of Death”. It was probably the first song where we started merging the metal side with our punk roots. I love that one too – one of my favourites from “Power from Hell”.
Going a bit back, straight to the album “In Search of Sanity” released in 1989. What can you tell me about this one?
Nige Rockett: Oh, “In Search of Sanity” is my least favourite Onslaught album, to be honest. It was too different. Funny enough, I was just talking to a guy from Grim Reaper about it earlier.
I love the songs, but I don’t like how it was delivered – too polished. It wasn’t Onslaught.
We’ve since re-recorded two tracks from “In Search of Sanity” and they sound amazing – aggressive, heavy, like they should’ve sounded back in 1989. The plan is to re-record the whole album one day in proper Onslaught style.
The fans want it, I’m sure. That record split people at the time – some thought it was too commercial. That wasn’t our intention, it was the label’s push. It did bring in lots of new fans, but it’s still not my favourite.
So which one is?
Nige Rockett: “Generation Antichrist” – the last studio album.
What makes you like it so much?
Nige Rockett: It’s just so angry. I love “The Force” too. In fact, “Generation Antichrist” and “The Force” are neck and neck for me. “Generation Antichrist” has some incredible songs and performances. It was the first with James Perry on drums – he’s amazing.
The whole album just feels perfect to me.
It is a banger, indeed. Distancing ourselves from the discography and digging a bit into the topic of the underground scene. How do you see it today compared to your early days?
Nige Rockett: Interesting topic to talk about. Hm, some places are very different, some are the same. When you go to South America or countries like Romania, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Greece – it feels like the 80s. Mad fans, great atmosphere.
Other places have changed. England’s not so wild anymore – people are calmer, more laid back. They just stand and watch, like hobbits.
But in South America or Eastern Europe, people still go crazy – stage diving, chaos, energy. Some things never change, and that’s great.
Speaking of people… Do you have any fan interactions that really stood out?
Nige Rockett: Loads. One that sticks out was in Chile. We played with Overkill in San José de Maipo. We told the fans to come see us the next night – and they did. But they didn’t buy tickets. They just broke the doors down!
Huge steel doors – completely off the hinges. Police everywhere, total chaos. It was mental. One of the craziest things I’ve ever seen.
Oho! That is something worth remembering and mentioning. To more adventures like that! Hm, speaking of the future, what is next for Onslaught?
Nige Rockett: Australia – for the first time ever. I’m excited – but I hate spiders, and there are lots. I love snakes, crocodiles, but I despise spiders. I need a suit of armour so they can’t get to me. [laughs] But it’s going to be fantastic. Six or seven shows, then Singapore, Thailand, China – an amazing end to the year.
I couldn’t help, but notice the multitude of tattoos you’ve got. Can you share some stories about them?
Nige Rockett: More than glad to do that. Honestly, most were done by a mate when we were younger. He wanted to be a tattooist and used to practise in his kitchen. He some of them – not the best work, but he got better over time.
I love my hand tattoos – someone else did those. The skull tattoo is amazing! But I’m running out of space now – going up my leg next! [laughs]
How do you compare yourself off-stage and on-stage?
Nige Rockett: Not much difference really. On stage, I just can’t move the same way because of my operations. My balance isn’t great, and I’m not allowed to headbang anymore because of my neck.
But I’m still me – still don’t give a fuck. I love music, love the band. It’s an honour to still be doing this after everything I’ve been through the past few years. The fans make it all worth it.
Any life lessons for readers?
Nige Rockett: I’ve always had a different outlook. I was a punk from 13 – didn’t give a fuck about anything, just did what made me happy.
I’d say: follow your dreams, whatever it takes. It was hard in the beginning, but we’ve played 75 countries now – just because I was stubborn enough not to give up.
If you’ve got a dream – follow it.
Great piece of advice! Thank you, once more, for your time!
Nige Rockett: Thank you, too. Really great interview.
Onslaught performing at Old Grave Fest 12, in Quantic [11 October 2025]
© Ștefan Lupașcu
