New York thrash quartet Overkill was formed in 1984 by vocalist Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth and guitarist Bobby Gustafson, also including bassist D.D. Verni and drummer Sid Falck. The band garnered a reputation for brutal, pounding speed and technique, but lacked the musical diversity to compete with heavy hitters like Metallica; still, they built up a strong following in the metal underground with albums like 1985′s Taking Over and 1988′s Under the Influence. Gustafson quit in 1989 following the Years of Decay album, and was replaced by Rob Cannavino and Merritt Gant. The band recorded their most effective and varied album, Horrorscope, in 1991; drummer Tim Mallare took over on 1993′s I Hear Black. Overkill’s final major-label release was 1994′s W.F.O, after which the band moved to CMC International. With a new guitar team of Joe Comeau and Sebastian Marino, Overkill recorded albums like 1996′s The Killing Kind, 1997′s From the Underground…and Below, and 1999′s Necroshine. Also issued in 1999, Coverkill celebrated the band’s influences with renditions of songs by Black Sabbath, Jethro Tull, the Sex Pistols and others. Overkill soldiered on into the year 2000 with Bloodletting and recorded the following tour for a live album. The overwhelming majority of people seem to share a remarkably similar description of the state of New Jersey: the seedy shore town romanticism of Springsteen, the Bon Jovi-era hair catastrophes, gangsters lurking behind every sharp suit, that smell…. But what really lies behind the overused stereotypes is mainly a bust-ass, no-bullshit group of people – and the perfect place for the aggression of heavy metal form to grow and thrive. For the past twenty years, OVERKILL has been at the forefront, bringing that attitude to the world and remaining the most consistently committed to the East Coast metal charge. In March of 2002 in Asbury Park, OVERKILL gave back to the community that launched them with a blistering performance now captured forever in the form of WRECKING EVERYTHING – LIVE. With a set list spanning their entire influential career (including some rarely performed classics), the album is the definitive snapshot of a hometown OVERKILL show. The enthusiasm is boundless, the energy is through the roof and, well, you can almost smell it. WRECKING EVERYTHING – LIVE is also a living testimonial to that two-decade commitment. Formed in 1982 by vocalist Bobby ‘Blitz’ Ellsworth and bassist/composer DD Verni, OVERKILL drew a quick and rabid East Coast following with their first self-titled EP. The supremely unique vocal delivery of Blitz coupled with the bands crushing, frenetic energy was later embraced by headbangers across the globe with the 1985 Megaforce Records debut ‘Feel The Fire’. With a string of classic albums and a heavy world touring schedule, OVERKILL remained at the pinnacle of the thrash metal movement of the ’80s and early ’90s. But when many of their peers began chasing empty trends and losing their edge, OVERKILL never wavered and are one of the last soldiers standing that can still properly deliver a good metal ass kicking – a fact confirmed by a single listen to this new disc. A whiplashed gift to the homestate faithful now exposed to the world, WRECKING EVERYTHING – LIVE is as close to that true Jersey metal experience as most are likely to get. When conquering heroes return home, the results can be magical. Listen, enjoy…and bang your fuckin’ head! Initially rising to international prominence on the leading edge of the 80s thrash metal revolution, OVERKILL have remained a consistently vital force on the hard music landscape. Never compromising or softening their sound for the sake of commercial acceptance, OVERKILL are the ultimate embodiment of the ideals behind real heavy metal: integrity, honesty and a strong-willed drive to follow one’s own path. With a mountain of classic material under their bullet-studded belts, founding members Bobby ‘Blitz’ Ellsworth (vocals) and D.D. Verni (bass) have never rested on their laurels and have always kept an eye on the future…look elsewhere for the ‘oldies metal re-hash’ routine. With KILLBOX 13, their thirteenth album, the boys from Jersey have delivered a modern thrash metal masterpiece that succeeds in both stoking that seminal fire and moving the band into the new century. Tracks like “Damned”, “Crystal Clear”, and “Until I Die” are dynamic examples of why OVERKILL have remained the bottom line when it comes to quality, head-splitting metal of the highest order. Produced by Colin Richardson (credits), KILLBOX 13 proves conclusively that heavy metal sometimes is best left in the hands of the masters.
