On disc: Overkill

 
 Feel The Fire
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 Taking Over
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 The Years Of Decay
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 Wrecking Your Neck Live
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 Coverkill
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 Bloodletting
 
- Amir Djawadi -
 
 


 
 Bloodletting
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 Wrecking Everything Live
 
- Amir Djawadi -
 
 


 
 Wrecking Everything Live
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 Wrecking Everything Live (DVD)
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
  


 
 Hello From The Gutter /
The Best Of Overkill
  
- Amir Djawadi -
 
 


 
 ReliXIV
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 Ironbound
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 Ironbound
 
- Umberto Mino -
 
 

Ironbound

(Nuclear Blast - 2010)



 
 

 

They're back once again!!! So many times people and press said that they're dead and Overkill always returned, but this time stronger than ever!!! Oh yeah, people, because Ironbound is really a great album, an album that comes after some not so good releases. This time Bobby 'Blitz' and D.D. Verni offer to us a nice compilation of brilliant thrash songs, with an eye on the 80's thrash sound!!! Personally I wait for an Overkill album like this for years and finally I can listen to songs like Bring Me The Night and Give A Little that shake my brain!!!

I don't know what has happened to Overkill, but I want them to make an album like this always. I hope this new shape of inspiration don't gone away. Songs like In Vain, Ironbound and The Goal Is Your Soul can give some good thrash vibrations to you all!!!

In the end we begin the year 2010 with a nice album of a big band that comes back to their high level!!! Raise your glasses to Overkill!!!! Long live Overkill!!!
 
 










Umberto Mino


  
up 













Ironbound

(Nuclear Blast - 2010)



 
 

 

The New York thrashers are back with Ironbound! The album opens up in an unusual way, slowly and with a long instrumental opening of The Green And Black. But then they speed off! The 8+ minute long opener shows the Americans partly more complex, but also with unexpected speed changes. Even if this one is the longest tracj there are 3 songs with more then 6 minutes running time! The following title track has a lot typical Overkill elements, but also shows them differently - like the guitar solo which isn't a typical one, but followed by a more typical kind of lead guitar part. A bit Motörhead-ish is Bring Me The Night - like Motörhead on speed -, but also some traditional metal can be detected. At Give A Little you'll get some Ramones-like gang shouts, but it's still a typical Overkill track - with twists and turns! At The Head And Heart the opening could have been by some melodic death metal band, but then Bobby 'Blitz' Ellsworth distinguish vocals join in and you know, this is Overkill. Later the return to the heavy part with growls. A real neckbreaker is In Vain! The closer is called The SRC, the song needs almost a minute until the storm off. On the album Overkill show a larger variety incl. tempi changes. No need to mention the technical level, coz after all these years, it's something you expect. Perhaps working with Peter Tägtgren on the mix added the special something...

Overkill deliver an album many won't have expected and show that 30 years after the bands founding they can surprise their fans! Now as they are on Nuclear Blast / E1 Music they have a better distribution - and hopefully get more attention.... Vinyl collectors should watch out for the 180 gram vinyl edition! And the 7", Bring Me The Night EP!
 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
up 













ReliXIV

(Regain Records - 2005)



 
 

 

It's been 20 years since the New York thrashers presented their first piece of music to the metal fans. Now they are back with ReliXIV. Opening with the real heavy and grooving Within Your Eyes the show that they can still thrash, even if in the beginning this one is more mid-tempo. They speed up! No doubt that this is the latest Overkill album. The voice of Bobby 'Blitz' Ellsworth is unique. Sure, they changed thorugh the years. They are still heavy, even if they don't present so many fast neckbreakers any more. The songs are up-tempo, but some have mid-tempo parts which are based on the heavy bass groove of D.D. Verni. Track no. 2 has a title you might not expect from Overkill... It's called Love, but they haven't recorded a ballad! Here they combine the sounds of the old and the new Overkill. Love shows the whole soundscape of the New Yorkers. A catchy heavy rocker is Bats In The Belfry. Aggressive staccato riffing is dominating this one, even if the guitarists Dave Linsk and Derek Tailer have to step a bit back at some parts. If you listen to this one with headphones you can a kind of live impression, coz partly you hear guitars at the right, then the left or from both sides. Cool. Live the catchy refrain will invite the fans to shout and sing along. Back to their own past you go with A Pound Of Flesh. This one could have been at one of their early albums, too. A lot of different tunes. A tribute to The Ramones is Old School! This one is a killer! Not a typical Overkill song, but that wasn't their intention, I guess... But it's pure fun.

To get the full picture listen to: A Pound Of Flesh, Bats In The Belfry, Wheelz and Old School.
 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
up 










Hello From The Gutter / The Best Of Overkill

(Steamhammer - 2002)



 
 

 

Wow, Overkill are on topic everywhere. First a new live album made it into the stores, the band toured Europe - here they came in the headlines, coz at the show in Nörnberg singer Bobby Ellsworth had a minor stroke (latest news: Bobby is feeling well, but has to be careful for awhile and then the new Yorker will head into the studio again) -  and now a double CD of Overkill, a Best Of album  will be released.

On the double CD you'll find a combination of classics from their 20 years history (studio recordings) and 8 live tracks including the cover versions Never Say Die and Overkill.

On the double CD are about 2 dozen Overkill tracks (live: e.g. Coma, Hello From The Gutter and Elimination - studio recordings: e.g. Necro­shine from the same titled 1998 release, Battle, Hammerhead, Bleed Me) as a collection of the different eras of the American thrash metal band.

The overall impression is that this album ain't interesting for long time Overkill fans, coz they will have all the songs on the different releases. For fans who just discovered the band this double album is a good start to get a glimpse and the DCD shall be released as nice prize...
 
 










Amir Djawadi
(translation: Claudia Ehrhardt)


  
up 










Wrecking Everything Live (DVD)

(Eagle Vision - 2002)



 
 

 

The New Yorker power thrasher are around for almost 2 de­cades and have released a dozen studio albums. On vinyl resp. CD they always been quite good, but Overkill is a live band! In 1995 they recorded their first live album - Wrecking Your Neck Live. In March 2002 they played a show in Asbury Park which was recorded for another live album and this time as well for a DVD! The live album is out for awhile and now the DVD gets into the stores. On the first DVD you can find the whole live set incl. 23 tracks! Opening with Necroshine the quintet opens up a firework of music. The next 120 min. time is flying. Songs like Evil Never Dies, Coma, Hello From The Gutter, The Years Of Decay and many more! More about the music on disc #1 you can read at the CD review.

On DVD #2 are almost 100 min. of interviews and behind the scenes material. An in-depth look at the history of the band with funny stories. Interesting for long time fans as well as for the younger ones. It's fun watching.

Something die-hard Overkill fans waited for. Also a good chance for fans of the New Yorkers  - who haven't seen them live yet - to get an impression about their live shows. Personally I would rate that as a must-buy, but I'm infected with the Overkill virus!    ;-)





Track list:

Necroshine
Thunderhead
Evil Never Dies
Deny The Cross
Wrecking Crew
Powersurge
Gasoline Dream
I Hate
Coma
Shred
Hello From The Gutter
Bleed Me
Long Time Dying
It Lives
Battle
Spiritual Void
The Years Of Decay
In Union We Stand
Overkill
Horrorscope
Rotten To The Core
Elimination
Fuck You / War Pigs

 

 






Claudia Ehrhardt


  
up 










Wrecking Everything Live

(Spitfire Records - 2002)



 
 

 

Is there any other band in the metal genre which is more active then Overkill?!? Spontaneously I can't name another one! For more then 20 years the metal legend is alive and kicking. No wear off. To show their countless fans and the rest of the world that they are still alive and kicking, they decided to record another live album. Yes, some might say and expect songs like Wrecking Crew, Hello From The Gutter, Fuck You etc.!! And you're wrong! The thrashers from the American East coast thought it over and decided not to record the old hits again, coz they released a double live CD 6 years ago which had all the hits which been released until that day. So they chose other tracks which was a great idea! They chose Asbury Park to record the live show, a great scenery to record live tracks from every era of the band....  For example Overkill - the Motörhead track which gave  them the name and is from the Feel The Fire album, Battle (of the Killing Kind album) or Thunderhead and Bleed Me of the Bloodletting release. And the result turned out very well! Impressing! You'll hardly find another live album with such an atmosphere. The combination of this live performance and the great fan response which make the listener feel like he's part of it... Like standing in the mosh pit at Ashbury Park. Killer!!!

They chose great songs and built themselves a monument with this live CD. Busy as the Americans always be, they are right now touring in Europe with Blaze and the next studio is around the corner and will be in the stores early 2003, followed by a tour in Europe. That keeps the mates of Bobby 'Blitz' Ellsworth and D.D. Verni young and alive, too busy to get old.... The CD has 13 tracks... Did it happened accidentally? Who knows? Anyway, I can recommend this album to every Overkill fan without doubts and especially to metal freaks who think about going to see them next time live. Make it easy to decide! I'll be there, somewhere in the audience, coz when you experienced it once, you'll be part again and again. Even if I have problems to keep counting...

Beside that the CD shows the current line-up live including the - more or less - new members Derek Tailer and Dave Linsk on guitars.
 
 










Amir Djawadi
(translation: Claudia Ehrhardt)


  
up 










Wrecking Everything Live

(Spitfire Records - 2002)



 
 

 

In 1995 the Americans recorded their first live album called Wrecking Your Neck Live. Now they recorded their second live album which present the last years of their history, but they didn't forget the play some old ones as well. Tracks which didn't made it onto their first one. Wrecking Everything Live was recorded March, 23rd 2002 in Asbury Park, New Jersey.

The band of singer Bobby Ellsworth and bassist D.D. Verni start this on with Necro­shine. The sound is brilliant and so it's like you where there! You can feel the atmosphere. Overkill always were a superb live band and this CD document it! Btw, a DVD will follow!!! On Bloodletting Dave Linsk played all guitars, now Derek Tailer is in the band and this is his first album with Overkill. If you listen to the guitars it seems like they were playing together for years! Tracks like Thunderhead from their latest studio album are live more intense and soon will be in the list of classic Overkill songs! With E.vil N.ever D.ies, I Hate, Shred and The Years Of Decay (great to hear this one again!!!!) they presented songs which the fans haven't heard for years from the power trash kings. But also songs like Bleed Me, Long Time Dyin' and Battle made it onto the set list. And with Overkill they even went back to their first album. I must was In Union We Stand which is already a classic and have to be played!

Wow! A great document of an Overkill live show! They are definitely one of the best live acts! And again they proof that fact! But unfortunately it seems that we all have to wait until the next studio album is out, before the band returns for another tour.... Please come back soon! Coz we suffer from the Overkill virus and only live shows can help! ;-)
 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
up 










Bloodletting

(Steamhammer - 2000)



 
 

 

Another year gone by!? It seems so, coz the thrashers from America released their next album, Overkill put out their yearly release.

Anything new? Well, a line-up change, guitarist Joe Comeau left the band, but it's not the first change on guitars. Joe Comeau left Overkill to join Annihilator as a singer! Comeau will replace singer Randy Rampage. The New Yorkers haven't found a new guitarist in time and so guitarist Dave Linsk had to do all the guitar parts. For the European tour with metal icon Rob Halford which is scheduled for November Joe Comeau will jump in and return to the six-strings just for the tour as we heard... That's for your information, but let's talk about the music! 10 killer tracks in the Overkill way. This band ain't jump on any bandwagon nor need to be innovative, they are a institution in metal and don't care about trends. They do what they want to do, they haven't changed. The vocal parts of Bobby 'Blitz' Ellsworth are pregnant as always and guide you through the tracks. Drummer Tim Mallare speed up and songs like What I'm Missin' and Death Comes Out To Play are fast as the speed of light.

But Overkill can sound different, even if they are heavy and aggressive which Left Hand Man shows. The more reflective guitar sounds give the listener a break and also the following track gives a little break and sounds almost like a ballad until 'Blitz' starts and wake up the listener.

Resume, Overkill is and will always be Overkill and their are keep the quality standard. Nothing to complain but I should mention that I miss another classic Overkiller on this album. No long time until they hit the European roads and it'll be another concert highlight!
 
 










Amir Djawadi
(translation: Claudia Ehrhardt)


  
up 










Bloodletting

(Steamhammer - 2000)



 
 

 

This album was recorded as a quartet, coz guitarist Joe Comeau left to replace singer Randy Rampage in Annihilator, he hasn't been replaced yet. But there will be a new guitarist...

Anyway, in the meantime - during the recordings - Dave Linsk played all guitars. Beside that everything's the same. And the band starts with a hard track called Thunderhead! And on that track Dave Linsk can show his talent and a variety of powerful guitar sounds. Another classic? Perhaps... We will see live. The song Bleed Me shows that the New Yorker power metaller can still play fast, but it also has slower parts. Through the years frontman Bobby Ellsworth get better and has a larger variety, a larger vocal range these days. His voice became a trademark for the Overkill sound. But also D.D. Verni's bass sound is a basic element of their sound, even if Mr. Verni preferred to stay in the back.

The track What I'm Missing is a complex track with breaks and tempi changes, but is still Overkill and fits into more straight songs as well. Like a heavy ballad the track Blown Away starts, but then becomes a heavy rocker. Highlights on this disc are Let It Burn and Left Hand Man. Just listen!

Another great album of the New Yorkers and I can recommend this one to their long time fans as well as to fans of power metal, coz the former thrashers are these days more thrashy power metal. Well done, guys!
 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
up 










Coverkill

(Steamhammer - 2000)



 
 

 

Another studio album of Overkill?  Not long ago Necroshine was released, even if they usually deliver a new output every year, this would be a real quick one. But it's not a regular album, Coverkill is the way of the five-piece to honor their heroes / influences. In the beginning they were just another cover band, later they started writing own songs and the rest is history. As a kind of tradition the band warmed-up in the recording studio playing some cover tunes. Usually the tape was running and so they had quite a few canned.

The last couple of years many tribute albums been released, but Bobby Ellsworth and his companions decided to do their own tribute - Coverkill!

The songs been recorded with the different line-ups and so represent Overkill in every era. Beside that the band was always able to stick to the original and at the same time to add the Overkill sound to the tracks. A real interesting collection of songs and here we go:


Motörhead - Overkill
Sex Pistols - No Feelings
Jethro Tull- Hymn
Black Sabbath - Changes
Deep Purple - Space Truckin'
Kiss - Deuce
Black Sabbath - Never Say Die
Manowar- Death Tone
Black Sabbath - Cornucopia
Judas Priest - Tyrant
Dead Boys - Ain't Nothing To Do
Ramones - I'm Against It

 

 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
up 










Wrecking Your Neck Live

(Edel Records - 1995)



 
 

 

The Overkill way to celebrate their 10th anniversary, coz 10 years ago the EP Overkill started the career of the New Yorkers. A good reason to do a live album and so they decided to do a double CD! The album was recorded on January, 28th 1995 at the Agora Theater in Cleveland, Ohio. They decided to do additional recordings at the show at Bogarts in Cincinnati. A good decision, I guess, coz the album sounds pretty good. The quintet was able to ban the live power and atmosphere of an Overkill live show on disc.

And so the band of Bobby Ellsworth and D.D. Verni put a set list together which included songs from Feel The Fire (their debut album) up to W.F.O. (their last years studio album). And so they started their live documentation with a track from W.F.O. which is Where It Hurts. But a track list you'll find below!

Since Horrorscope the band has two guitarist, a good decision, coz their sound got more powerful. Rob Cannavino and Merritt Gant are well-known by the fans , coz the guys always loved to play live. The last one who came in was drummer Tim Mallare who was presented to the fans first on I Hear Black. A strong line-up which is best live on stage! I can recommend this one to every Overkill fan, especially if you haven't seen them live yet and also to fans of power trash metal.

Beside that the band decided to do a special edition with a 4 track bonus CD! This bonus CD gives the fans the chance to get the Rotten To The Core EP on disc. But it's a limited edition and so be quick to get that one!!!!

Track list: Where It Hurts, Infectious, Coma, Supersonic Hate, Wrecking Crew, Powersurge, The Wait/New High In Lows, Skullkrusher, Spiritual Void, Hello From The Gutter, Anxiety, Elimination, Fast Junkie, World Of Hurt, Gasoline Dream, Rotten To The Core, Horrorscope, Under One, New Machine, Thanx For Nothin', Bastard Nation and Fuck You!
 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
up 










The Years Of Decay

(Megaforce Rec. - 1990)



 
 

 

Another year and another Overkill output. 'Sid' Falck (ex-Battlezone) is still in the band, no line-up change this time.

Last years release Under The Influence couldn't fulfill the expectations which fans and critics had after the release of the first 2 albums of the New Yorker power thrashers. Live they were still strong, alive and kicking. What to expect from this release? The band is back, another good one! Starting with Time To Kill, a heavy tune which is more then 6 minutes, the guys offer a song with breaks and more complex structures then in the past. With Elimination they get faster, a song with screaming guitars and pounding bass. The vocals of Bobby Ellsworth are a little more high pitched then on the 'slow' tunes and again they add a catchy chorus. Will this one become another the next live hit of Overkill? But I Hate is another strong song and I guess almost everybody know that kind of feelings. On Nothing To Die For the band used unusual guitar and bass lines, unusual for this kind of music and surprising for the listener. Perhaps one of the weaker ones, but just in comparison with their killer tracks. Also the band is breaking free from the limitation of 4-minute-tunes! With Playing With Spiders / Skullkrusher they recorded a 10 minute long track! A heavy, slow song where Bobby Ellsworth can show more then just high pitched vocals and screams which later speed up a little. With the title track they have another surprise for the listener! Starting as a kind of ballad they get faster, more heavy after about 3 minutes. Very intense. Something I haven't expected. Wow! And last, but not least E.vil N.ever D.ies! A fast one, even if it starts slowly, but this one is a kind of reminiscence to their early days, but combined with slower parts and a bass solo. Different, but good!

The New Yorkers offer a larger variety these days, other bands stick to their guns and don't obviously develop, but they find a way to combine the thrash of their early days with power metal. These days they do power thrash metal. Got more experimental... The future will show, if this was the right decision.

Recorded last summer at Carriage House Studios in Connecticut the band decided to produce the album together with Terry Date. A good decision. Can't wait to see them live again and hear this killer tracks live!
 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
up 










Taking Over

(Megaforce Rec. - 1987)



 
 

 

Last year the four New Yorkers toured the first time in Europe and presented their speed / thrash metal, now they are back with their 2nd album. Still the same people are in the band and also no musical changes. Opening with Deny The Cross they start full speed ahead, a fast one with screaming guitars and a chorus to sing along. But with the next track they show that they manage to combine fast guitars, pounding bass and drums with a 'big' chorus and a shouter who add high screams once in awhile like on Wrecking Crew. But they are still very heavy when they slow down. Btw, with Fatal If Swallowed they again re-recorded a track from their EP which sounds really heavy, starts more mid-tempo, then gets faster and finally shouter 'Blitz' joins in. On this 'old' track you can hear their influences which are not that obvious in new material. On Powersurge the whole songs is build up on the bass line of D.D. Verni. Definitely a highlight on Taking Over, but not the only one! With In Union We Stand they have a heavy anthem on this album! Live this one will be a killer! This track will be a song for the fans to sing along! Finally I should mention the track Overkill II (The Nightmare Continues) which is more then 7 minutes long and not just for it's length an outstanding one. Starting slowly, words more spoken, then the break and a heavy tune starts and again reminiscences to their influences. But they are on their way to develop the Overkill sound, even if it might take one more album...

As a band signed to Megaforce Records they produced by Megaforce mastermind Johnny Z. who did a good job on this one as well as on their debut. Never change a winning team?!?!
 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
up 










Feel The Fire

(Megaforce Rec. - 1986)



 
 

 

The New York thrashers open the album with Raise The Dead and beside the screaming guitars you hear laughter and than hell breaks loose with hammering drums, pounding bass and the vocals of frontman Bobby 'Blitz' Ellsworth. Existing since the early 80's the band caught first attention with an EP called Rotten To The Core. And that track is on their first album as well, a powerful thrashy song with a killer hook line! The band behind singer Bobby 'Blitz' Ellsworth are guitarist Bobby Gustafson, bassist D.D. Verni and on drums 'Rat' Skates. On the album they present 10 tracks, mid-tempo and up-tempo once, sometimes with breaks and different tempi like on There's No Tomorrow. But the songs get their special touch through the vocals. Ellsworth vocals will become a trademark for the band, I guess. But without the screaming guitars and the rhythm section it wouldn't work out. Another highlight on the album is the track Hammerhead, an up-tempo tune with a great guitar line and interesting solo, fast and catchy. An anthem type of song what I can also say about the title track. The track Overkill is the final track on this album, written by the band who named themselves after a track of Motörhead. Perhaps this song can stand for the band and presents them best...

Check out: Rotten To The Core, Hammerhead and Feel The Fire.
 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
up 





 
           ©2008-2010 by Claudia Ehrhardt • E-Mail: contact@ice-vajal.com