Overkill – Ironbound
If you’re an original thrasher from the 80s and you’re wondering what a twenty-something year old dude is doing reviewing Overkill, I really don’t blame you. The majority of my metal grooming occurred in the late 90s. Although I’ve done my metal-head’s share of background research into the originals of all the sub-genres, Overkill have honestly never been on my radar. For that reason, I’ll try to review Ironbound by shining a light on these long-standing veterans for the younger crowd who might not know them instead of pretending to have a perspective on their whole career.
Overkill have since 1980 (!) been delivering working class thrash and heavy metal. Scene kids in 2009 will probably have trouble understanding them at all, and comparisons to Megadeth, Anthrax, and even Manowar are at best going to summon vague recognition in their minds. Older fans will know that it means straight ahead, sometimes cheesy, but always proud as Hell heavy fucking metal.
A point of particular interest about Overkill is that the vocalist and bass player are the only two original members. Judging by this and the bass-heavy sound on Ironbound, it’s pretty easy to assume that some of these songs are written on bass first. This is a pretty rare and refreshing thing in this sweep picking and tapping guitar dominated era. When the guitars do go into wank mode, it’s always appropriate and ripping.
As Ironbound plays through, it’s pretty clear that Overkill still put as much thought and effort into their music now as they ever did. The love and dedication pretty much drips off every thrashing riff, driving beat, and screeched vocal. The razor-sharp production on the album also shows that the band is not mired in some bygone era of studio technology, but is willingly embracing whatever is available to make them sound current.
In the end, new fans checking out Overkill will be divided between those who have no point of reference to the old school and those who need it in order to keep all the new stuff in perspective. For myself, I fall into the latter category and am proud to raise my horns to this offering of pure metal.
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7 Comments
February 16th, 2010 at 3:45 pm
It's kids like you that have helped destroy rock and metal music as we know it these days. Nice review, BUT LEARN YOUR MUSIC HISTORY!! You have to be aware of the past to move forward. You sound like you have NO CLUE who Overkill is and it shows in your writing. EDUCATE YOURSELF.
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February 16th, 2010 at 7:22 pm
Thanks for the comment and I'm sure Eric appreciates the feedback, but I'm curious…
To say that "kids like [us] have destroyed rock and metal music as we [you] know it" and "you have to be aware of the past to move forward" really speaks volumes.
First of all, don't you think that "kids like us" have really evolved rock and metal to the extremes we see today? To say we have destroyed it is utterly ridiculous. Sure, you have to give MAJOR props to bands like Overkill, Testament, Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, and many others for their contribution to metal music. Just as you could do the same with The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Black Sabbath, Dio, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden and countless others who got those previously mentioned into there perspective genres. Music evolves and will for eternity, whether we like it or not.
But, then you have the bands of today that have taken what those bands did and just added their own "spice," yielding what we see in today's eclectic styles and sounds. I believe the future is WIDE OPEN for rock and metal and we all need to embrace it.
Also, being "aware of the past" has nothing to do with moving forward at all. Maybe you're the opposite and CAN'T LET GO of the past to move towards the future…I'm not sure. Just because someone isn't as into the "old school" as you are DOES NOT make them clueless. Maybe they didn't grow up in the same era you did, making it all a new experience. Whether we like it or not, it does happen. If this album turns a newbie onto Overkill and bands like them, then awesome! That is what music is all about! I'm sure there are bands out there that you've never heard of that Eric might be able to "school" you on. Just sayin'.
But like I said, thank you for your comment, and it's very cool you came and checked out the site. We appreciate it VERY MUCH, so please keep coming back. Discussions are definitely healthy for extreme music like ours.
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February 16th, 2010 at 7:52 pm
I would say that that's the beauty of opinions from people that come from all different eras. They're all directly influenced by the music of their time. You don't need a music history degree to express an opinion.
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June 26th, 2010 at 12:35 am
I've been a huge Overkill fan since Under The Influence was released and I was actually interested to hear what a younger, "new" generation metal fan thought of Overkill. In regards to the 1st poster, Im not sure what the problem is, the review was for the Ironbound album, not Overkill as a band. What has been before, and what else is current now isnt really relevant when reviewing an Overkill album (or indeed any album). What is important is the album itself. As for moving forward, Im more inclined to think that good music is good music. There's no barometer here, no forward or back, just different quality of music. There's great metal from the 70's and bad new stuff (and Vice-Versa).
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June 28th, 2010 at 12:47 am
I just realized I never got around to addressing the first comment on here.
Frankly OLD_SCHOOL, you're making very little sense. I admit in the review that I'm not familiar with Overkill, so I analyze the album for what it's worth today, which is quite a bit since it's awesome, and give it a 4 on 5.
As for ruining the scene… dude I write for a metal review site and play in a signed touring metal band, activities which cost me a lot of time and money. If I'm part of ruining the scene, you'd better get your ass out there and show me what I'm doing wrong.
Anyway, I educated myself as much as I could about Overkill before writing the review, I just didn't have time to listen to their entire back catalog. You should make a portfolio and apply to write for this site, maybe your old school insight will be useful when we get bands like this.
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August 11th, 2010 at 1:39 pm
Good review man!
This CD is growing on me with each listen!
Love it
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March 3rd, 2011 at 4:28 am
There's nothing wrong with ur review man, not just that deep but yes this albums deserves a commanding 4, im also part of the younger metal generation LOL. Even though its already 2011 this album rocks and one thing for sure this one is a grower, the more you listen the more ur head bangs with it, ROK ON!!!!
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