It was their first release with rhythm guitarist Jeff Duncan and their last album before going on an extended hiatus that would last until 1999.

The songs on this album were written and demoed in 1988 and 1989 with original lead guitarist Dave Prichard (except "Truth Always Hurts"), who died of leukemia in 1990 prior to recording.

Jerden would go on to produce vocalist John Bush's first album with Anthrax, Sound of White Noise in 1993.

[4] In 2003, Metal Blade Records remastered and re-released the album as a three-disc special edition.

In addition to the full 13-song track list, the first disc contains the music videos to "Reign of Fire" and "Last Train Home".