ITP V.023 REVIEW: OVERKILL: "SCORCHED"

 

BAND: OVERKILL (NEW JERSEY, U.S.A.)

GENRE: THRASH METAL

LABEL: NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS

 RELEASE DATE:4/14/2023

TITLE: "SCORCHED"

   PREVIOUS RELEASES (CATALOG): 

. "THE WINGS OF WAR", 2/22/2019 via NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS. 

"LAST MAN STANDING" (EP), 12/28/2018 via LEGACY MAGAZINE. 

"LIVE IN OVERHOUSEN", 5/18/2018 via NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS.

"THE GRINDING WHEEL", 2/10/2017 via . NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS.

"WHITE DEVIL ARMORY", 7/18/2014 via  NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS.

"THE ELECTRIC AGE", 3/30/2012 via  NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS. 

"IRON BOUND", 1/29/2010 via  NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS. 

"LIVE AT WACKEN OPEN AIR" (VIDEO),via  2/5/2008 BODOG. 

"IMMORTALIS", 10/7/2007 via BODOG. . 

"RELIXIV", 3/22/2005 via SPITFIRE RECORDS. 

"KILLBOX 13", 3/25/2003 via SPITFIRE RECORDS. 

"BLOODLETTING", 10/24/2000 via STEAMHAMMER. 

"NECROSHINE", 2/23/1999 via STEAMHAMMER. 

"FROM THE UNDERGROUND AND BELOW", 9/30/1997 via STEAMHAMMER. 

"THE KILLING KIND", 3/5/1996 via CMC INTERNATIONAL RECORDS. 

"WRECK YOUR NECK" (LIVE ALBUM), 4/1995 CONCRETE. 

"WFO", 7/14/1994 via ATLANTIC RECORDS. 

"I HEAR BLACK", 3/9/1993 via ATLANTIC RECORDS. 

"HORRORSCOPE", 9/3/1991 via MEGAFORCE RECORDS. 

"THE YEARS OF DECAY", 10/13/1989 via MEGAFORCE RECORDS. 

 "UNDER THE INFLUENCE", 7/5/1988 via MEGAFORCE RECORDS. 

"!!!FUCK YOU!!!< (EP), 7/1987 via CAROLINE RECORDS. 

"TAKING OVER", 3/1987 via MEGAFORCE RECORDS. 

"FEEL THE FIRE", 10/15/1985 via  MEGAFORCE RECORDS.

BEST RELEASE(S):  "FEEL THE FIRE" (1985), "TAKING OVER" (1987), ."UNDER THE INFLUENCE" (1988),"SCORCHED" (2023,  HORRORSCHOPE (1991), IRONBOUND (2010), "WHITE DEVIL ARMORY" (2014)

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OVERKILL: "SCORCHED" TRACK LISTING; 

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" 

ITP RATING:**** 1/2 (four and a half out of 5 stars)

PRODUCTION: *****

SONGWRITING: ****

PERFORMANCE:**** 1/2

 New Jersey's OVERKILL are one of those bands that have seemed to exist forever. OVERKILL debuted during the 80's and was one of the first thrash bands on the legendary MEGAFORCE RECORDS label. 

OVERKILL have proven to be resilient in this ever changing world and music industry.Both Indestructible, and incomparable OVERKILL are still going strong. Many record labels later, including at one time during the 90's, major label ATLANTIC RECORDS, OVERKILL are still releasing quality metal. 

Playing underdog to other 80's thrash contemporaries, OVERKILL never got as big as METALLICA or as influential as SLAYER. 

After years of continued touring, OVERKILL seemed to have found a loyal fan base as a cult thrash metal act. 

 . . 

So how did OVERKILL buck so many musical trends and survive well into the new millennium? 

So here ITP V.023 has the new OVERKILL release "SCORCHED" on tap to review.
OVERKILL'S "SCORCHED" kicks off with the title track, seething for staters with a technical riff. "Way down deep in the fire", screams BOBBY "BLITZ" as the track takes off with simple, but definitive riffing.. "SCORCHED" is a true thrash rager. 

OVERKILL'S . "GOIN' HOME" is a barn burner of a track with a catchy chorus, great vocals,  melodic guitars and good riffing. 

 OVERKILL'S "THE SURGEON" , is another fast, upbeat thrash rager with excellent drumming from JASON BITTNER. OVERKILL slow down to a mid pace in the middle of  "THE SURGEON" before going back to full on thrash. 

 OVERKILL'S "TWIST OF THE WICK"  features great drumming, good riffing and good vocals with a spooky mid senction."TWIST OF THE WICK" is moshable, hum able, but most of all HEAVY.. 

OVERKILL'S   "WICKED PLACE" features a bluesy main riff propelled by an overall good band groove and great musicianship. Great track! 

OVERKILL'S ."WON'T BE COMIN' BACK" is pure old school thrash, with a dash of melodic guitar. The middle of "WON'T BE COMIN' BACK" features some excellent guitar and bass interplay. 

OVERKILL'S "FEVER" kicks off with a slow ominous intro before seguing into a hard and heavy rager. "FEVER" is a totally moshable track within the realms of the heavy parts.Mid way through "FEVER", the bands switches to a bluesy riff and when the band kicks in, it's soo heavy. 

OVERKILL'S  "HARDER THEY FALL" is s full on rager that should provoke mosh pits at shows. A bluesy riff mixed with thrash and gnag back up vocals propels  "HARDER THEY FALL"... 

OVERKILL'S "KNOW HER NAME" features definitive thrash riffing with funny, morbid lyrics.."KNOW HER NAME" mid track breakdown is pretty good too. 

OVERKILL'S "SCORCHED" closes with "BAG 'O BONES" features a catchy, definitive riff, good vocals, "shake your bones" indeed..

.OVERKILL'S "SCORCHED" is exactly that, a true RAGER and SCORCHER. Every track on OVERKILL'S "SCORCHED" is compelling featuring excellent musicianship and good songwriting. 

The mix, mastering and overall production on OVERKILL'S "SCORCHED" is perfect. 

20 albums into OVERKILL'S career and the bands is still relentless and relevant. 

Noting OVERKILL'S first week chart positions, the band still has a loyal following teetering past cult status, into the mainstream as the band is more popular than ever.  

OVERKILL age finer than wine as you should pick up "SCORCHED", one of the most insightful releases of the year. .  

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ITP RATING:**** 1/2 (four and a half out of 5 stars)

PRODUCTION: *****

SONGWRITING: ****

PERFORMANCE:**** 1/2

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OVERKILL: "SCORCHED": .  .

. . https://spak-individualthoughtpatterns.blogspot.com/2023/04/overkill-streaming-new-release-scorched.html

 

ITP V.023 REVIEW: OVERKILL: "SCORCHED" by INDIVIDUAL THOUGHT PATTERNS V.023 (THERESA GETELES) is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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