Tag: overkill (Page 1 of 2)

Another day, and another Overkill reissue to ponder over. This one is the band’s third album that originally saw the light of day in ’88, and it’s half speed mastered.

Do Overkill make bad records? No, is the answer if you were struggling. They just make slightly less great ones.

This album is chock full of your usual Overkill fare; fast tracks, even faster tracks, and some punk/metal crossover which they do so well. There was a point in time where Metallica, Anthrax, and Overkill seemed to be joined at the hip musically until Metallica and the Thrax went off on a tangent, but Overkill stayed true to the cause.

My favourite tune off of this beast is Hello From The Gutter. A slightly more commercial sounding tune, but it works so well. Great hook and chorus and that punk/ metal crossover riff is so cool.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

Another day and another Overkill reissue. This time it’s a 2024 Church Of Vinyl redo of this 2012 beast of a record.

I think out of all the “thrash” bands, Overkill are the ones that have stayed true to themselves over their 20 album career. And, to come out with something as good as this 16 albums in is a testament to what a great band they are.

I love every freaking groove on this record, and Electric Rattlesnake is one of my favourite Overkill tunes. It has everything: the big thrash groove with matching riff, a killer breakdown and groove change, and big chase to the finish. A true dandruff shaker!

I’m sure the band are big Sabbath fans because there are many nods and references to them, but the song Black Daze has a great old school Sabs vibe. Great packaging on the record as well. When you open up the gatefold, a pop up appears with the logo and skull symbol.

Great band and killer record.

9.5/10 from The Grooveman.

I have to say I’m loving these half speed masters reissues from Overkill. For all the audiophile snobs who say it’s pointless to give metal music the audiophile treatment can do one.

I Hear Black was the Overkill’s sixth release and it came out in ’93 right in headlights of prime time grunge and yet it was one of the band’s best sellers. I’m sure I read somewhere that the title was a nod to Black Sabbath, hence the songs were also inspired by the band.

This album is definitely more groovier than thrash but that was the climate back in the early nineties for metal bands, and I love this album. The title track is worth the price alone. A killer heavy groove with matching riffing that just turns the groove muscle to 10.

The whole album is a killer heavy groovy beat down and I can’t recommend it enough.

9.5/10 from The Grooveman.

Another day, and another Overkill album to invade my day’s listening. This time it’s Immortalis from 2007, which was studio album number 14, and this version is a limited press from Church of Vinyl.

Devils In The Mist opens up the album and thrashes straight all over your face. What It Takes follows and this is my favourite tune. Killer riff and groove, prime time Overkill that will have you bouncing instantly. Play loud for max effect! Skull And Bones follows that groovefest with more chunk and a killer death growl vocal from Randy Blyth, and an epic ending. Classic thrash intro and groove to Shadow Of A Doubt with some killer riffage. Hellish Pride brings Side 1 to an end with a slower choppy riff and groove.

Walk Through Fire kicks off Side 2 with an AC/DC style riff, given the Overkill beefed up chunk fest. I love the intro and groove to Head On. There is almost a hint of funk to the main riff and that shifting of gears into a faster groove is killer. Max speed and max chugga’s are reapplied for Charlie Get Your Gun. Hell Is follows and has a monster intro and is very non-thrash but very metal until the explosion that you know is coming explodes into life. The album closes out with Overkill V…The Brand. An evil sounding single bass note rings out leading to staccato chugs and into max double kick thrash.

Great record by a great band.

9/10 from The Grooveman.