Overkill celebrates their 20th anniversary with a new album, ReliXIV, w hich, given its intensities, is destined to become a metal classic. Overkill has never deprived their audiences of the band’s thrash roots, instead deciding that if it ain’t broke, just make it more intense but keep it original. Overkill has shrugged off all trends in music particularly style changes within thrash designed to keep it current. Overkill plays thrash metal that is raw, angry, and very intense. Their music is easily defined as an adrenaline rush.
There are a few very minor weak points on this CD. In the past, Overkill has employed a heaping load of strong double bass and this album seems to have employed less of it than in past works. But, regardless of this, ReliXIV is clearly Overkill’s strongest album in years.
The first song on the album, “Within Your Eyes”, starts off slow at first then graduates into Overkill’s familiar pound. Here, the double bass that I moaned about earlier plays heavy into the construction of the song. “Love”, (no, not a sappy love song so no need to get nervous) is a song of crunching riffs and embellished by Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth’s uniquely raspy, snarling vocal style. “A Pound of Flesh”, another standout off this album showcases classic Overkill with all the right mix blending into a furious machete of a song while “Old School” delivers a quasi-punk style and sing-along chorus without throwing off the mantle.
“ReliXIV” may very well be the best Overkill album since Horrorscope, itself a top-ten all time metal classic. Overkill is one of those bands that will never go away or follow trends. With ReliXIV, Overkill re-establishes their dominance, delighting old fans and acquiring new fans along the way. Overkill’s new work is clearly one that will be remembered.
Highly Recommended!
