Overkill – "Scorched"

Still feeling that fire after all these years

(Guest reviewer: Magnus Jørgensen)

43 years, 20 albums. Never had a mainstream break-through, never had a hit single, but always there. Like a birthmark you grow to be fond of. The pandemic put them on hold, but we all knew they'd be back. Of course they would. Because no one epitomizes the idea of hard-working blue-collar thrash like New Jersey's Overkill.

I've been fond of these guys since I first heard them at age ten in '95, and they've only gotten better with age. Not like a fine wine, mind you; more like that old crate of beer in the back of the basement that saves your night. There when you need 'em.

The 90's and 00's were rough for most thrash bands. And to be fair, Overkill's records did start to feel run-of-the-mill (looking at you, "ReliXIV" and "Immortalis"). Then came 2010 and "Ironbound". Holy shit. I don't think even the band knows just what happened, but that album took Overkill from a solid bunch of steel workers to the finest wrecking crew on the planet. And it's been that way ever since. Who would want an Overkill show to not include newer tracks like "Electric Rattlesnake", "Head of a Pin", "Our Finest Hour" or, indeed, "Ironbound"?

Anyway, enough about the past. Because of the virus, it's been a record four years since the last album (the excellent "The Wings of War"), and even 63-year-old frantic chihuahua-style wailer Bobby Blitz has to fade with age, right?

Apparently not.

Like the band that gave Overkill their name, they'll likely keep going at full speed 'til they're suddenly gone. Enjoy 'em while they're here, because there will be a void when they're not.

Blitz, founder/songwriter/bassist extraordinaire D.D. Verni, longtime guitarists Dave Linsk and Derek Taylor, and drumming juggernaut Jason Bittner are at it again, opening with the scorching (sorry!) title track, another lesson in how to do 6+ minute hard-hitters. It's rock-solid, and we get all of the thrashing power, time changes and NWOBHM-style soloing we need before being launched into the groove party of "Goin' Home". More classic heavy metal vibes here as Linsk's guitar carries the melodies in front of the rhythm battery and a choir of the disenfranchised. We've been in this ring before, and it's a great place to get bloodied.

But as good as the opening punches are, it's the jab-and-cross of "The Surgeon" and "Twist of the Wick" – bells, chants, warts and all – that will send you sprawling against the ropes. The band sounds like a bunch of 20-year olds with 40 years of experience. Bittner's skill and intensity are impressive, even cheekily getting in a blastbeat at the end of "Twist of the Wick". But Blitz is just outrageous. Name me one singer at age 60+ with the energy and power of ol' Blitz. Anyone?

The wonderful mid-tempo shuffler "Wicked Place" sees the cheesy but irresistible main riff leaving Blitz free to enjoy himself. And if that line of "bloodlust, bureaucrat, pop-pop-pop" doesn't bring a smile to your face, you need to see a psychiatrist or an executioner. And then there's "Fever", Blitz' clean singing voice taking us back to Overkill's underrated '90s albums as it builds towards a crushing attack.

Perseverance is a quality in itself; staying true to your craft even more so. And when you can keep making records like this, it's a virtue. No, it's a fucking moral obligation.

To be fair, a few songs are merely glancing blows. "Won't Be Coming Back" is catchy but effortless. And the closing "Bag o' Bones" is fun and all, but unlike earlier silly-but-we-love-'em tracks like "Old School" or "Welcome to the Garden State", it doesn't really strike true.

Still, we're dealing with a slab of steel as solid as they come. If you're not an Overkill connoisseur, it would probably be difficult to distinguish the sound and songwriting on "Scorched" from the previous five albums. And sure, the only thing "Scorched" brings to the table is a load of haymakin' thrash. But isn't that exactly what we need?

Perseverance is a quality in itself; staying true to your craft even more so. And when you can keep making records like this, it's a virtue. No, it's a fucking moral obligation. We need you old fucks. Like the band that gave Overkill their name, they'll likely keep going at full speed 'til they're suddenly gone. Enjoy 'em while they're here, because there will be a void when they're not.

Rating: 5 out of 6

Genre: Thrash metal
Label: Nuclear Blast
Release date 14/04/2023
Producer: Colin Richardson + Chris Clancy et al.

(EDITOR'S NOTE: Formerly a free-time music journalist and vocalist in Danish bands like Panzerchrist and Crocell, these days, guest reviewer Magnus Jørgensen mostly takes care of his kids and haemorrhoids, and sends yours truly texts involving lame puns and Manowar. Also, gets outrageously hammered way early in the evening.)