We all have to hand it to both Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth and D. D. Verni, they are two guys that have carried the metal flame for
Overkill through years of transition, lineup changes, and numerous record companies that have donned these guys on their roster. The last two men standing have let nothing get in their way when it comes to creating such thrash that broke barriers, adding musicianship that was technical and uncommon in such rough textured ear candy as well as the "fuck you" punk rock attitude that was scarcely heard; but for two decades that has been principal of their success.
Even through the years of major label stature, the band would not succumb to overzealous commercial wrath, although they were known to polish their sound a bit. In the recent years some say that the band has been releasing some of their strongest material yet, and with their fourteenth studio record upon us, the band shows no sign of ever lightening up.
It's the prominence for musical mantra that puts this record in it's place, tracks with the typical staccato riffs such as "
Play the Ace" and "
Loaded Rack" mark the hook laden guitar work amongst the thick backdrop of rhythmic punch. However, cuts such as the doomy jam known as "
Keeper" and the straightforward thrust of "
Wheelz" as well the classic thrash of both "
A Pound of Flesh" and the appropriately titled beer drinking sing-along homage to metal known as "
Old School" offer the release needed to makes
RelixIV such an appropriately energetic record.
It's not only their music, extensive catalog, and an outlasting career that they boast, they have had their sheer share of virtuoso guitarists over the years, not to mention that they also have a bassist (D.D. Verni) that helped set the standard for quick tempo metal bass playing for others to follow, standing alongside the late great Cliff Burton as one of the forefathers of metal bass playing. And of course who can forget the frontman at the helm, "Blitz" Ellsworth for whom the thrash metal stage was made for. Like contemporaries Testament, Slayer, and Death Angel, bands that are still going strong today,
Overkill shows that the high stance of metal is not going to sing a requiem anytime soon.
Written by
Hashman Monday, April 4, 2005
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