By: Richard Maw
Album Type: Boxset
Date Released: 03/12/2021
Label: BMG
The Review:
There
are no less than six albums by Overkill collected in this lavish package. Vinyl, download
or CD; the choice is yours... I've actually forked out for the vinyl release,
but as it is not due for delivery until December these MP3 files serve as a
nice taster of what I'm getting. These six albums represent the start of Overkill's career- and
cover what many would assume to be the band's golden years through the peak of
thrash metal and beyond. However, it does NOT include the Megaforce
classic debut, “Feel The Fire”. That album is readily available
in multiple re-issue vinyl versions, but it does feel like an opportunity
missed... even if the title does specify their major label days only.
For
fans and collectors, this box set is still a must. It has several vinyl
re-presses which are very hard to get hold of; “Years of Decay”, “Horrorscope”,
“I Hear Black” and “W.F.O.” The fact that many fans
may own one or more of these and probably have some kind of copy of “Taking
Over” and “Under The Influence” is neither here nor
there, really. If you want the rest of the albums you are missing, then you buy
the lot. It is also interesting to note that CD issues of “Taking Over”
are like hens teeth- and expensive. So... there are pros for both the vinyl and
CD sets.
I
cannot comment on the presentation here; I only have the MP3s, but I HOPE that
the vinyl reissues come with original sleeves in a box set; only time will
tell. Of the music, well, it's no secret to regular readers of my reviews that
I rate Overkill
highly. Very highly. As in, I think they are the best thrash band EVER. At the
least, they are certainly the most consistent and have had the most longevity.
Their extensive and impressive catalogue knocks all other band's efforts into a
neatly cocked hat. Yes, yes, Overkill
may not have a “Reign In Blood” or a “Master of Puppets”
to their name, but both those bands had less than a decade at the top of their
game. Overkill have been consistently good (and even great) since 1985.
Of
the albums, there is a great deal that can be said. “Taking Over”
is a firm fan favourite, features ludicrous cover art (guns aimed at the
camera, biceps bulging, lurid colours jumping out at you...) and a solid
collection of songs; including a few Overkill classics. Strangely it is not one of my favourite
albums of theirs. Yes, it has “Deny The Cross”, “Wrecking Crew”, “Fatal
If Swallowed”, “Power Surge” and “In Union We Stand” but it
doesn't quite reach the heights of the debut for me. It's a powerful thrash
album from the genre's golden era, but it is not their best. The remastering
here is good- it sounds a little clearer, a little sharper but it still, of
course, sounds like an 80s thrash album done on not much of a budget.
“Under
The Influence”
has “Hell From The Gutter” and a consistent set of songs but for me is
the weakest of their early albums. The production is a little weak, the drums a
little too large and indistinct, the band a little subdued. It's like Overkill with the teeth
and fangs filed down. From there, though, things REALLY take off.
“The
Years of Decay”.
“THE YEARS OF DECAY”. It's immense!! It had the production and
the songs- the remaster makes it sound even more powerful. Terry Date produced
and the sound is a dead ringer for his work, a year later, with Pantera. It's tight,
muscular and clinical and it simply rips. The songs are superb. The first three
tracks are simply metal perfection; “Time To Kill”, “Elimination”,
“I Hate”. It's a hell of an opening. The record also contains a really
doomy track- “Playing With Spiders/Skullkrusher”- that is immensely
heavy and dark. You get
“Evil Never Dies” at the end as well... and the title track and so on.
It's a metal classic and is widely regarded as one of the band's best. Its way
underrated by those who don't know the band and it remains a high point of the
golden thrash era.
“Evil Never Dies” at the end as well... and the title track and so on.
It's a metal classic and is widely regarded as one of the band's best. Its way
underrated by those who don't know the band and it remains a high point of the
golden thrash era.
Incredibly,
the band kept things going with 1990's “Horrorscope”. It's
another classic and even if the original guitar player, Bobby Gustafson, parted
ways with the band (fans still talk about this) Bobby Blitz Ellsworth and DD
Verni simply recruited two guitar players to replace him and wrote a superb set
of songs. Sid Falck plays his best drumming on this one. The whole album is
great; clinical production (probably a little influenced by … “And
Justice For All”, but with the bass left in) and a strong set of songs
and overriding evil vibe make a winning combination. “Coma”, “Blood
Money”, “Thanx For Nothing”, “Infectious...” all killers.
Even the Edgar Winter cover
(Frankenstein) rules. It's such a strong record and my favourite (even above,
gasp, “Years of Decay”) of their earlier work.
The
band thus entered the 1990s on a high and seemed to be on an unstoppable roll.
However... grunge happened, the bottom fell out of the thrash market and Overkill found
themselves frozen out of the Big Four and playing second fiddle to (kind of)
new upstarts like Pantera.
Metallica and
then Megadeth
simply went commercial. Testament
pretty much went MIA after “Souls of Black”. Exodus were nowhere, Anthrax got buried
under record company indifference. Overkill, incredibly, didn't go grunge but they did make
their most leftfield album: “I Hear Black”.
It's
the one oddity in their catalogue, but rest assured it is still metal to the
core.... just with a little more Sabbath flavour. The band slowed down and introduced new
drummer Tim Mallare to the fray. For me, it's one of their best albums. I've
listened to it probably as much as any of their others. Some of the writing is
a little undercooked- that's even admitted by the band- while the production
and mix probably sounded INCREDIBLE on the studio speakers... it sounds tinny
and underpowered on a regular stereo. The separation of instruments is great,
the individual sounds are good, but the bass (on all instruments; guitars,
drums and bass) weight is just not there. Even the remaster- which has improved
it a little- can't save it. What it really needs is a full re-mix.
Strangely,
this makes me love the album a little more; it's imperfect and the sound of a
band trying to survive. “Dreaming In Colombian” is ace. The title track
is heavy. “Spiritual Void” is a Sabbath style groove machine, “Weight
of the World” is speedy and good quality and the album finishes strongly as
well. I'm prepared to forgive misfires like “Shades of Grey” and “Undying”
because the overall vibe of the albums is great. For me, “TYOD”, “Horrorscope”
and “I Hear Black” represent three different aspects of the
band's sound- with a common theme of dark and unsettling compositions at their
core.
After
that, only “W.F.O.” remains of their major label tenure. Again,
it's quirkily produced; tinny and overly bassy (!) but it brings back the speed
that “IHB” lacked. The opener “Where It Hurts” proves that
thrash is back, “Fast Junkie” rams that point down your throat and from
there the albums is absolutely solid. The songs are good and often really
catchy. Inevitably, it sounds a little too influenced by what was big in metal
at the time- in terms of production and the backing vocals- but it stands as a
strong exclamation point to the band's years in the music biz big leagues.
I'd
score all of these albums four stars or above (with the possible exception of “Under
The Influence” which is a strong three for me) and a couple of them
reach the full marks score level. With that being the case, why did Overkill not get much
bigger?! Well, Blitz's voice is an acquired taste- shrieky and gravelly is an
odd combination and it seems to me that they never got the press support that
some other band's were gifted (or paid for). On the plus side, it meant that
the band kept going as a relatively underground proposition with their
integrity intact.
From
here, the band weathered the turbulent mid 90s by simply going independent;
indie labels, booking their own tours and keeping going. It's that blue collar
work ethic that endears them to so many of their fans- me included. They'd go
on to make even better albums (“IRONBOUND”!!!) and worse ones (“ReliXIV”,
“Necroshine”) but they have never slipped below that three star
standard. As an average, the band are running at four stars and these six
albums represent a rock-solid chunk of their discography. I implore you, if
you've never bothered, to check out all six records or at the very least “Years
of Decay” and “Horrorscope”. This is superlative metal
and utterly essential.
