Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 18/7/2014
Label: Nuclear Blast
“White Devil Armory” CD/DD/LP track listing:
1). XDM 0:49
2). Armorist 3:53
3). Down To The Bone 4:04
4). Pig 5:21
5). Bitter Pill 5:48
6). Where There's Smoke 4:20
7). Freedom Rings 6:52
8). Another Day To Die 4:56
9). King Of The Rat Bastards 4:09
10). It's All Yours 4:26
11). In The Name 6:03
Bio:
Founded back in 1980, never having left the path of metal, always
sticking to themselves, doing their thing, and being blessed with THE best
frontman in thrash metal history, OVERKILL can truly be called icons,
legends and most of all: pioneers!
Having influenced generations of bands and sounds over all these years, OVERKILL
are still going amazingly strong, maybe even stronger than ever! After having
signed a contract with the big and longstanding Nuclear Blast family in 2009
and releasing the highly anticipated and critically acclaimed label debut, »Ironbound«
in 2010 followed by »The Electric Age«, Bobby Blitz and the guys
went off again!
Celebrated headlining tours (the renowned “Killfest” tours) all over the
old continent and splendid gigs on mostly all important European festivals in
support of the album put OVERKILL back on the map where they belong – on
top!
Enter 2014, the 34th year of the bands existence marks another
milestone for OVERKILL: the 17th album, »White Devil
Armory« - Blitz himself describing the »The Electric Age« era
had kind of a “rebirth feeling to it”, the new offering can perfectly be
depicted as the raw and wild youth that naturally follows.
Thinking of »The Electric Age« as kind of a “revival” of what OVERKILL
is about, »White Devil Armory« with all the trademarks you love about
this band, refreshing them and adding a modern age feeling, without denying their
roots and sticking to the original sound, is the essence of OVERKILL.
The Band:
Bobby “Blitz”
Ellsworth I Vocals
Dave Link |
Guitar
D.D. Verni | Bass
Derek Tailer I Guitar
D.D. Verni | Bass
Derek Tailer I Guitar
Ron Lipnicki | Drums
Review:
The greatest thrash band of all time? There is a case to
be made for Overkill... No band has been more prolific or consistent, that’s
for sure. Can anyone name a definitively poor Overkill record? I can’t. From
“Feel The Fire” to this, their latest masterpiece, all their records have had
something to offer. They have moved with the times when needed- the 90’s showed
a distinct Pantera influence, for example, and they even slowed down on “I Hear
Black”, but really Overkill have remained a thrash metal band to the (rotten)
core.
Overkill have also been in something of a purple patch
for some time now. I loved “Immortalis”, “Ironbound” and “The Electric Age”, so
it was with some anticipation that I pressed play to listen through “White
Devil Armory.” Effect laden intro “XDM”
sets the stage for “Armorist” (the
advance track, for those that have heard it)- a track which showcases all that
is great about Overkill circa 2014. The drums are re-assuringly fast and
precise, the bass of DD Verni is frenetic and its tone aggressive while the
riffs are both weighty and razor sharp courtesy of Dave Linsk/Derek Tailer
(Linsk has handled all recording duties in the past, I am unsure as to why or
if that is the case this time around).
The production is absolutely ear splitting- precise and powerful.
Bobby Blitz Ellsworth excels himself too. The man is in
his 50’s, has survived cancer and had a stroke on stage (in Germany
“Down To The Bone” keeps the energy high and the hooks catchy while “Pig” changes the pace to moderately
fast, as opposed to flat out. “Bitter
Pill” is more measured and an obvious hook laden single/sampler track
before “Where There’s Smoke”
blasts out your ear drums and shoots your nerves to pieces. The album doesn’t
really let up from there- “King of The
Rat Bastards” is particularly good, but I could not argue with the likes
of “Freedom Rings”, “Another
Day to Die”, “It’s All Yours” or “In The Name” being nominated as greats in the Overkill
catalogue. Make no mistake: this is thrash metal, but there are changes of
pace, hooks and dynamics here that differentiate the record from its
predecessor.
Yep, I reckon Overkill are making their best albums after
over thirty years into a career in the murky waters of metal’s cult bracket. I
would rate “Ironbound” as their greatest (Choice Cuts, coming your way...),
with “Horrorscope,” “Feel the Fire,”
“The Underground and Below,” “Killbox 13” and “The Electric Age” being
other career highlights. The band can do no wrong on stage either- great band,
professional to the last.
So, Overkill are a band with a) a consistent body of work
that is never less than metal b) very regular releases and tours c) a unique
vocalist d) great songs e) great stage craft. The greatest thrash band of all
time? Well... Yes! “White Devil Armory” illustrates this point perfectly.
Brutal, fast, and resolutely defiant. It
is one of their best albums, and that is really saying something. All hail!
Words by: Richard Maw
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