OVERKILL - review added 12th February 2010
Album Review: Ironbound (2010)
For fans of: Thrash... and things not really changing that much
New Jersey thrash monsters Overkill are one of the longest surviving bands on the metal scene. They officially started back in 1980, and that makes Ironbound something of a 30th anniversary album. This latest release takes them up to 16 studio albums (including their 1999 covers release, Coverkill). Not a bad total when most rock and metal acts struggle to get into double figures.
The band these days is made up of original members Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth on vocals and D.D. Verni on bass, plus newer boys Dave Linsk and Derek Tailer on guitar, plus Ron Lipnicki on drums. The present line-up has been going for around 5 years.
The sound on Ironbound will be familiar to anyone who has heard older Overkill work. This is a rock-solid thrash album with plenty of hooks, solos, cataclysmic drums and chunky bass work. I haven't heard much of the band's work since the early 1990's. However, there's no doubt this continues the legacy of the albums I know and love.
Full marks must go to Blitz, who really is one of the most unique and underrated singers out there. He is as good as ever on Ironbound - maybe more mature and measured than he used to be, but the all important tonal quality is there in spades. The musicianship is mighty-fine too. Not a lot stands out as blow-you-the-f*ck-away fantastic, but you'd be a fool to criticize any of it.
Best songs? The title track is a stormer, 'Give A Little' is strangely catchy, as is 'Endless War'. 'Killing For A Living' is a beast, and final track 'The SRC' is bloody impressive. The remaining tracks are perfectly respectable, be in no doubt. The average quality on Ironbound is sky high. Okay, for my tastes it doesn't approach their finest work for pure catchiness, and Overkill's underlying aggressiveness isn't as potent as it once was, but this is a great addition to the catalogue and certainly a worthy purchase for thrashers and metal-heads alike.
Check out... The whole of this one, because it ain't 'alf bad.
Track List:
01. The Green And Black
02. Ironbound
03. Bring Me The Night
04. The Goal Is Your Soul
05. Give A Little
06. Endless War
07. The Head And Heart
08. In Vain
09. Killing For A Living
10. The SRC
Label: Nuclear Blast
Artist's website(s): Overkill , MySpace
