Although everybody seems to have a different account of who came first in the world of New York/New Jersey area thrash metal, it seems certain that New Jersey’s Overkill have stayed around the longest, and have never let their fans down by remaining musically consistent and true to their roots for an impressive 35 years with an unprecedented 18 studio albums under their belts.
Recently, the band released new track ‘Our Finest Hour’, you can enjoy an impression of the mighty thrash inferno with the new lyric video and prepare to bang your heads even wilder in 2017. Watch the video below;
You can now pre-order the ‘The Grinding Wheel’ on the links below:
Limited Edition Digipack CD, CD, Double Gatefold Vinyl
Limited Edition Double Gatefold Green & Splatter Vinyl
Digital Album – order and get the track ‘Our Finest Hour’ instantly
The Grinding Wheel was produced by the band and mixed by Andy Sneap (Testament, Exodus, Accept). The artwork was created again by Travis Smith (Nevermore, Opeth, Soilwork, Death…). Check out the cover art below;
Tracklisting for ‘The Grinding Wheel’:
1. Mean Green Killing Machine
2. Goddamn Trouble
3. Our Finest Hour
4. Shine On
5. The Long Road
6. Let’s All Go To Hades
7. Come Heavy
8. Red White And Blue
9. The Wheel
10. The Grinding Wheel
The massive contribution to thrash by heavy metal partners in crime Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth and bassist D.D. Verni (who cofounded Overkill the same year Ronald Reagan was elected President) is undeniable and remains unchallenged by those in the know. Overkill were formed about one year before Slayer and Anthrax and a couple of years ahead of Metallica, with all of the aforementioned bands pushing forward a new style of music drawing from NWOBHM, hard rock and punk.
Through much hard work and a slew of infamous live performances at New York area clubs like L’Amours, Overkill established a reputation as a blue-collar, working man’s metal band. After the band released a self-financed EP in 1984, Overkill broke onto the scene in 1985 with ‘Feel The Fire’, a crushing thrash assault. The self-proclaimed ‘Wrecking Crew’ – originally consisting of vocalist Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth, bassist D.D. Verni, guitarist Bobby Gustafson, and drummer Rat Skates – were on a tear, borrowing heavily from punk rock roots while adding a venomous metal crunch that allowed them to compete favourably with peers like Testament, Anthrax, and Megadeth. The guys have been part of the Nuclear Blast family now since 2009 and are one of the most successful East Coast thrash bands in history.
Oran O’Beirne
© OVERDRIVE.IE 2016
