OVERKILL – Scorched

The Wrecking Crew is back with its twentieth album Scorched, released on April 14, 2023, on Nuclear Blast Records. Scorched is the follow-up to 2019’s The Wings of War marking the longest gap between records from Overkill (no thanks to Covid). Mixing credits for this album go to Colin Richardson and Chris Clancy, mastering was done by Maro Appelbaum and production was done by Johnny Rod. Artist Travis Smith returns to create the cover art for Scorched. According to Blitz, “We wanted something that said conflict. “It’s funny; when you have conflict, no matter how different the other side feels, you realize you’re exactly the same and that’s kinda what the artwork reflects.”

35 Years of Metal

Throughout their career, Overkill has churned out in-your-face Metal with bludgeoning riffs, DD’s chunk and pound bass, and Blitz’s signature attitude rasp and scowls over 19 albums. Their albums are always consistent with a twist or turn added here and there but always full of attitude (“We Don’t Care What You Say…..FUCK YOU!!!!). Overkill has never been afraid to experiment with its sound. Remember 1993’s I Hear Black which was the year Metal bands experimented with Alternative? Remember the ballad “Promises” on the 1997 album From The Underground and Below?

Scorched

Overkill’s newest offering is a 10-track burner running over fifty-one minutes of Metal. The direction for this album leans more toward Traditional Heavy Metal yet maintains all of Overkill’s signature elements. Blitz and Company also interject Blues and melodic elements into the music as well.

Blitz comments on the album, “Although the record may be a little different, there are still the characteristics that have brought us to this point, and The Surgeon is the track that does that the most. Move it along, Electric Rattlesnake kinda Overkill, ‘thrash with class’ I call it; the thrash that makes us what we are. Although the record may be a little different, there are still the characteristics that have brought us to this point, and The Surgeon is the track that does that the most. Move it along, Electric Rattlesnake kinda Overkill, ‘thrash with class’ I call it; the thrash that makes us what we are.”

“Scorched” and “The Surgeon” is classic Overkill, chunky rhythms transcending into Thrashy blast-beat goodness. “Wicked Place” and “Fever” has an old school Rock’N’Roll feel to the songs with elements reminiscent of Black Sabbath. “Going Home” brings a heavy guitar groove to the intro then transitions to in-your-face Metal. DD Verni and company lay down a heavy groove and attitude in “Bag o’ Bones”. Production on the album is very well done with all of the musicians on the album sounding perfectly balanced and mixed.

Final Thoughts

The writing that went into Scorched pushed Overkill into a wider range of dynamics. Scorched does a much better job of keeping the listener engaged throughout the album compared to The Wings of War. Scorched continues to show the maturity and the avenues that Overkill is not afraid to encounter to keep their sound fresh yet aggressive, in-your-face, and most importantly fist-pumping live.

Tracklisting

1. Scorched
2. Going Home
3. The Surgeon
4. Twist of the Wick
5. Wicked Place
6. Won’t Be Coming Back
7. Fever
8. Harder They Fall
9. Know Her Name
10. Bag O Bones

Album Lineup

Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth – Vocals
D.D. Verni – Bass
Dave Linsk – Lead Guitar
Derek “The Skull” Tailer – Rhythm Guitar
Jason Bittner – Drums