Thrash Metal
Nuclear Blast Records
Release Date – April 14th 2023
Line Up:
Bobbly ‘Blitz’ Ellsworth – Vocals
Dave Linsk – Guitar
Derek Tailer – Guitar
D.D Verni – Bass
Jason Bittner – Drums
Tracklist:
1 – Scorched
2 – Goin’ Home
3 – The Surgeon
4 – Twist Of The Wick
5 – Wicked Place
6 – Won’t Be Comin’ Back
7 – Fever
8 – Harder they Fall
9 – Know Her Name
10 – Bag O’ Bones
A new Overkill release is something to rejoice about. Not just a thrash band they have played around with traditional metal and even a bit of doom in the past but here and in the recent past they have pulled it all together and made an album of pounding aggression and melody!
Melodic trills open the title track and are soon joined by some huge chords and Bittner warming up then Linsk and Tailer give us a shit load of crunching riffery along with Verni’s rumbling bass and we’re off with Ellsworth shredding his throat. This lot ain’t messing about! It’s time to bang your head, raise your horns, and pump your fists. This is old school Overkill gutter thrash and sounds as fresh as daisy – right up there in your face. ‘Goin’ Home’ gets a bit darker – not that the title track is light – it stomps and stamps around before we get into a bouncing rhythm that keeps your head banging. ‘The Surgeon’ opens with Verni’s bangin’ bass line then the guitars join in the fun on another classic Overkill style thrasher then things drop down a bit on ‘Twist Of The Wick’ – doomy power chords and melodic lines build the atmosphere before another red hot riff and Verni’s rumbling bottom end gets us off on a galloping mosh inducing banger. ‘Wicked Place’ is another groovy stomper that ends with a cello! ‘Won’t Be Comin’ Back’ brings a touch of Maiden into the mix with some twin melodic lines and that mid-paced galloping bass line. ‘Fever’ is a total departure. Moody and atmospheric Ellsworth sings in his ‘real’ voice but not for long because they open up into some monster metal on the chorus.
Talk about power! The thrash comes back on ‘Harder They Fall’ which is the perfect soundtrack for a punch-up before ‘Know Her Name’ crushes giving you a right battering from Bittner’s pounding rhythm. The final cut ‘Bag O’ Bones’ is a jagged groovy chug fest that has Verni’s bass kicking up the dust and leaves you singing the melody – you’ll probably dance to it too – yes dance!
Another quality release from Overkill. I like how they keep things interesting, yeah, they’ve kept the bludgeoning riffs, face-melting solo’s and pounding rhythms but they offer loads more in the melodies and where the songs go. I’ve said it before – 2023 is going to be a definitive year for metal. Some of the releases so far have been incredible and this is another. Essential!
Written by: Smudge
Ratings: 10/10
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