New Jersey Thrash Veterans Overkill have been a band of consistency throughout their career. They never shied away like many others during the 90’s (considered a difficult period for Thrash – I remember it well unfortunately). Overkill 100%. What I will say is in addition, Overkill don’t do trends. So whilst their peers have given us some hard hammering thrash monsters in the last year, Overkill have gone elsewhere and done what they want. Perhaps the influences of Colin Richardson once again as a producer, who came on board during the “Killbox 13” era. I read somewhere that the band didn’t want a bombastic audio assault, well, they have certainly given us something a little bit different to what was expected, to me a little bit like the late 90’s output.
If you have heard the pre-release tracks, in particular the title track ‘Scorched’. Then you would not think anything different. Its battering groove, and infectious speed coupled with Blitz’s unique vocal style. It’s over 6-mins long, so the buzz ignited before the solo is a good use of audio engineering, it has impact when it returns to full volume, I like the fact it ends like a live show too. ‘Know Her Name’ is more down to earth thrashing which possesses Overkill’s artistic knack of changing up and tempos with relative ease, a stylistic and profession trait. ‘Goin’ Home’ has the ability to break your neck and displays the awesome powerhouse and backbone of the band in DD Verni’s bass track. The drumming from Jason Bitter is fantastically powerful also. When this chorus hits, the atmosphere created from the vocal lines could have you singing along too almost instantly (almost as mind infecting as a chorus by the Scorpions). Overkill do craft awesome memorable tunes.
‘Won’t Be Comin’ Back’ has some startling dynamics, from the upfront guitar licks. Maybe the band are using different equipment, but the tone of the guitar changes quite a bit and is a lot brighter than what you may consider to be the bands “usual” approach. This track itself, starts more like a Warlord (US) tune, then develops into a thrash monster. Well, ‘Twist of the Wick’ really takes you back to the early days, Blitz is on fire when he belts out “say it’s not over” in a scream reminiscent of “Feel the Fire”. Then comes the changes, there’s a subsequent section where there is “chanting”, monk like, this is swiftly blown away via the riff and solo which comes along in quick succession.
‘The Surgeon’ was another preview track released. This doesn’t necessarily display the variation I am hearing from the full album. There more fast aggressive stuff on LP. ‘Bag o’ Bones’ is a little too groovy for me, I just like my meat and potatoes thrash, so ignore me on this! ‘Fever’ has Blitz “singing”, something I haven’t heard since ‘97’s ‘From the Underground and Below’ (‘Promises’), he sounds like Ozzy here! Tranquillity is smashed apart when the guitars kick in of course. Of a third PR preview track, ‘Wicked Place’ was the final one. On this there is a veritable Sabbath groove (remember Overkill’s cover of ‘Hole in the Sky’ from “Coverkill”?). Diversity in this album is rife and here comes the “cello”!
Harder hitters on this album in summary, include ‘Harder They Fall’, ‘Twist of the Wick’ and ‘Scorched’. Overkill have never needed to ignite their career, perform retrospective album tours and similar, but what they have here is quite diverse. I does in my mind take them back to late 90’s early 00’s, I miss that hard hitting stance of a few albums ago, but this is what it is. Enjoy the mean green killing machine, but expect something slightly different.
(7.5/10 Paul Maddison)
Leave a Reply