Overkill have always been a thrash band that presents a no nonsense approach to their recorded output, ‘The Electric Age’ sits perfectly alongside their last release ‘Ironbound’ and also many a classic Overkill album like ‘Horroscope’, and even relatively recent releases like ‘Necroshine’ as a full fat, no nonsense thrash milestone. I say milestone, because if their last offering was what many considered a wondrous piece of thrash metal, then this one further solidifies that tag with some of their older influences coming to the modern day, with a fresh brutal approach to boot.
Taking the bull by the horns, vocally, Bobby ‘Blitz’ once again gives a unique, thunderous vocal delivery, man is it angst ridden. You can clearly hear the enthusiasm in the delivery and with stellar thrash classics coming in the form of ‘Electric Rattlesnake’ and the tirade of ‘21st Century Man’. The latter has a groove, a riff that really sets in motion the speed and you are lead into a heads down juggernaut of metal subsequently with a relative ease. With every recent Overkill release, you have a big fat bass sound giving the listener their spine tingling, bar rising moment, and ‘The Electric Age’ continues this positive trait. ‘Old Wounds New Scars’ is a classic Overkill crowd pleasing number and one would assume that this will go down a storm at subsequent supporting shows for this album. The guitar solos follow some of the song melodies, they have done this in recent times I know, but this proves leading musicianship of the highest order. In many places they are in fact absolutely nuts (the guitars), they are shredding and thus genuinely entertaining. If you don’t buy another thrash album this year, you will duly be satisfied with every little intricate piece of music from this tidal wave album.
Overkill are never a band to comprise their music for trends or other social factors, these NJ natives once again bash your brains in with a consistent bar raising album, you do not get many breathing opportunities because ‘The Electric Age’ is fast, furious, and filled with energy sustaining my thoughts that Overkill knows no limit and that they are justifiably infectious. This is the blueprint for classic and indeed modern thrash, if you find this album boring them you need to re-evaluate your hearing, go see a doctor because ‘The Electric Age’ will beat you from pillar to post from start to finish and that my friends is actually a very rewarding experience.
(9.5/10 Paul Maddison)
05/03/2012 at 8:08 pm
Take heed newbie thrash bands the old guys show you how thrash really should be done. Damn fine album from Overkill as always.