Jimmy Kay from Canada’s The Metal Voice recently spoke to OverKill Singer Bobby ‘Blitz’ Ellsworth about the bands upcoming 20th studio album ‘Scorched’, which will be released April 14, 2023 via Nuclear Blast.
Bobby Blitz said this about the new album,” We used Colin Richardson (producer) again. This is his fourth project with us. He’s a friend. We trust the guy. He did a record for us from soup to nuts called ‘Killbox 13’ (2003).
He then spoke about the musical direction of “Scorched”, saying: “It’s eclectic. It’s diverse. It’s got different dynamics and characteristics. How do you make that in an OVERKILL record? It’s traditional heavy metal. It’s got mellow sections. It’s got groove. It’s got thrash. It’s got rock and roll. It’s got blues. It’s, like, all over the fucking map. But you have to sew those pieces together and then take the whole thing and try to make it — you know, put your brand on it. And I think that that’s what we succeeded in doing. And what’s directly responsible is the amount of time that we had.”
Blitz then was asked to define the new album in a few words he replied, ‘Scorched is where we’ve been and what we are.”
VESSEL OF LIGHT‘s Dan Lorenzo posted online a video for ‘The Cursed’, featuring Bobby Blitz, filmed from their LaMour -reunion. The video was created by Jason Stewart. ‘The Cursed’ is taken from ‘Room Full of Sinners’ 2007 album. Watch it below.
Dan Lorenzo on the video: “Bobby Blitz and I released THE CURSED Room Full of Sinners in 2007 with Mike Cristi on drums and Job The Raver on bass. This footage is from a LaMour reunion ( not at LaMour) where we jumped on stage and played 4-5 songs. Photos are from our only real show at the Highline Ballroom in NYC.”
Recent VESSEL OF LIGHT -news
Just recently, California’s Nomad Eel Records released VESSEL OF LIGHT’s single ‘Torture King’ (from their new release ‘Last Ride’). The B-side is a cover of Jimi Hendrix’s ‘Foxy Lady’ unavailable elsewhere. The 7″ is lathe cut and hand numbered. Artwork designed by vocalist Nathan Opposition. Torture King is the band’s latest video and single.
The most refined of VESSEL OF LIGHT’s releases, Last Ride, released October 23, 2020, via Nomad Eel Records, is rife with depth, harmonies, the trademark riffs and guitar sound of guitarist Dan Lorenzo while also maintaining a familiar feel. Like the haunting first single and title track from Last Ride, “There’s No Escape” has a sinister lyrical theme, keeping in line with the darker subjects that permeate this record.
Founded in 2017 by Lorenzo, best known for his work with seminal New Jersey bands Hades and Non-Fiction, and Cleveland based Opposition, the duo released two albums, Vessel of Light and Woodshed, with Italian label Argonauta Records before introducing former Overkill drummer Ron Lipnicki and former Hades bassist Jimmy Schulman into the fold for the recording of a third album, Thy Serpent Rise. It wasn’t until VESSEL OF LIGHT’s first live show before a sold-out crowd at New York City’s Bowery Ballroom with Life of Agony that vocalist and the band’s new drummer and bassist finally met, merely hours before the quartet hit the stage.
The time has come! Shortly following the recent announcement of their signing with Napalm Records, BPMD – the new juggernaut featuring heavy metal icons Bobby Blitz (Overkill) on vocals, drummer Mike Portnoy (The Winery Dogs, Sons of Apollo), bassist Mark Menghi (Metal Allegiance) and guitarist Phil Demmel (Vio-lence, ex-Machine Head) – are thrilled to announce new details regarding their debut album.
BPMD will release their upcoming full-length, American Made, on June 12, 2020 via Napalm Records. The 10-track homage to some of rock music’s greatest treasures is turbocharged by the experience and enthusiasm of its four creators, and its first single, “Toys In The Attic”– an Aerosmith classic just begging for a heavy reimagining – is only the first boisterous sliver of proof.
The “Toys In The Attic” video was directed by Victor Borachuk / JupiterReturn, with art direction and motion design by Natália Tanus and Leonardo Gill. Watch the brand new video for the track below!
Frontman Bobby Blitz says about “Toys In The Attic”: “I remember waaaaaaaaaaay back when Overkill formed, we were cutting our teeth on covers as I was finding my way around the mic. The Aerosmith covers were right in my wheelhouse, so when Mike [Portnoy] picked ‘Toys’ to cover, I was like… ‘Hell Yea’!”
Guitarist Phil Demmel adds about recording the track: “It was tricky because Aerosmith have two guitarists, Joe Perry and Brad Whitford, playing different things. So, as one guitar player, I had to pick a medium place between the two that sounded good. I thrashed it up a little by adding a lot of down picking and some gallops and triplets.”
Watch the brand new video and listen to BPMD’s “Toys In The Attic”HERE
It’s evident within the initial seconds of BPMD’s American Made, as the legendary Bobby Blitz chants the introductory lyrics to Ted Nugent’s “Wang Dang Sweet Poontang” in his signature skyscraper-high howl, that he and his equally iconic bandmates are here to have a damn good time. Featuring 10 unforgettable rock classics reimagined as heavy bangers, American Made is a party on wax. Tracks such as the raucous “Toys in the Attic” (Aerosmith) and rager-ready “Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers” (ZZ Top) prove that BPMD not only manages to capture the essence of each original track on the album, but skillfully transforms each classic into an unforgettable metallic anthem for a new age. The seasoned quartet flex their musical muscles on renowned classics such as “Saturday Night Special” (Lynyrd Skynyrd), “We’re an American Band” (Grand Funk Railroad) and “Walk Away” (James Gang), and introduce a whole new heavy generation to deeper cuts like blues standard “Evil” (Cactus/Willie Dixon) and “Never In My Life” (Mountain). Channeling nostalgia while maintaining a fresh attitude, American Made is a summer soundtrack for all ages.
Bassist Mark Menghi remarks on BPMD’s origins: “Last summer, right after the Fourth of July, I was sitting in my backyard. I was listening to a bunch of ‘70s stuff and Lynyrd Skynyrd‘s ‘Saturday Night Special’ came on. I said, ‘Man, I would love to play that song,’ and my eight-year-old son turned to me and said, ‘You should do a record of all these songs, Dad.’ And I was like, ‘Hmmm? Yeah, why not!?!’”
After connecting over their mutual love for the classics and forming their current line-up, the members of BPMD traveled to drummer Mike Portnoy’s home studio in Pennsylvania and set up shop. Since the whole concept of the band was born the night Menghi was listening to “Saturday Night Special”,BPMD were determined to record the song for the album. Beyond that, each musician picked two ‘70s rock tracks and everyone had to learn them!
Menghi chose “Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers” in addition to “Saturday Night Special”. Blitz’s choices were a little more obscure – “Never in My Life” replete with cowbell and a blazing repeated blues lick, and Cactus’ version of “Evil”, a fiercely Zeppelin-like take on an old Willie Dixon song. For his tracks, Demmel picked “D.O.A.” and had a blast channeling his inner Eddie Van Halen, and took a deep dive with “Tattoo Vampire”. Recalling the days when Ted Nugent was more of a bad boy than a gunslinger, Portnoy picked “Wang Dang Sweet Poontang”, in additon to “Toys In the Attic”.
Menghi, who also co-produced American Made, adds: “We didn’t go into it trying to make everything metal, we just wanted to play the way we play and this is what you get… we’ve all been influenced by a wide variety of bands including Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden and Metallica. So, of course, we’re going to attack the songs a little harder than guys that didn’t grow up on heavy music.”
Blitz adds: “We made sure we did high-quality versions of these songs and gave them all a little twist. I think there’s a place for that in the music world today. There’s something really great about nostalgia, especially if it’s reimagined.”
American Made was mixed and mastered by Mark Lewis, also known for his work with Metal Allegiance (featuring Mark Menghi), as well as artists such as DevilDriver, Trivium, and many others.
American Made Tracklist:
1. Wang Dang Sweet Poontang
2. Toys in the Attic
3. Evil
4. Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers
5. Saturday Night Special
6. Tattoo Vampire
7. D.O.A.
8. Walk Away
9. Never in My Life
10. We’re an American Band
American Made will be available in the following formats:
– 1-CD Jewel Case
– 1-LP Gatefold Black
– 1-LP Gatefold Red/White/Blue Splatter (NPR Mailorder exclusive)
– American Made T-Shirt + Jewel Case Bundle (NPR Mailorder exclusive)
– American Made T-Shirt + Vinyl Black Bundle (NPR Mailorder exclusive / North America ONLY)
– American Made T-Shirt + Vinyl Red/White/Blue Splatter Bundle (NPR Mailorder exclusive / North America ONLY)
– Digital Album
They’ve been teasing their formation and the arrival of new music for months, and now the wait is nearly over! BPMD – the new heavy metal juggernaut featuring icons Bobby Blitz (Overkill) on vocals, drummer Mike Portnoy (The Winery Dogs, Sons of Apollo), bassist Mark Menghi (Metal Allegiance) and guitarist Phil Demmel (Vio-lence, ex-Machine Head) – is pleased to announce that they have signed a worldwide contract with Napalm Records, joining the label’s growing roster of premier talent.
The members of BPMD first came together in the summer of 2019 with one goal in mind: to pay homage to some of their favorite classic rock tunes, give them their own heavy twist, and to have a blast doing it. We all could use a bit of fun, and that’s what BPMD is here to provide – a party on wax performed by some of the greatest musical talents in the world!
BPMD will officially announce the release of this music – arriving in the form of their first full-length album – very soon. Stay tuned for more details and music, coming soon!
BPMD bassist Mark Menghi says: “We’re super excited about our first BPMD record. Last summer, I was inspired and came up with this crazy idea and here we are, not even a year later, and it’ll see the light of day in these very trying times. The planet needs something to feel good about, and I 100% whole-heartedly believe these tunes will do the trick. Buckle up and make way for BPMD…”
BPMD frontman Bobby Blitz drops a few more hints: “The BPMD sessions were very fun. They took us all back to our roots and even pre-roots. As it developed, we all realized it was something special, as did Napalm Records, with one listen!”
BPMD will make their performance debut at Bulldozer Bash 5 in Old Bridge, NJ on Saturday, May 30! The event, which will take place at Old Bridge Elks Lodge, is a benefit show to raise funds for the Old Bridge Militia Foundation, a 100% non-profit 501 C3 charity foundation. Show details will be announced soon, but for now, visit https://oldbridgemilitia.org.
Keep your eyes (and ears) at the ready – new music from BPMD is just around the corner.
In 2009 brothers and Internet radio DJs Turbo and Jay Scorpion(both of whom have Spinal Muscular Atrophy) decided to take their love of rock and metal music, support from the rock and metal community, and desire to find a cure for Muscular Dystrophy and turned it into Rock Against Dystrophy.
The purpose of Rock Against Dystrophy is raise to money and awareness about Muscular Dystrophy by holding benefit concerts featuring local area rock and metal bands and the occasional rock and metal star in the New York and New Jersey area with proceeds going to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
In 2013 Rock Against Dystrophy held its first ever All Star show at Crossroads and then at Dingbatz last year. The support from the rock and metal community for RAD continues to grow and 2016 has the show moving again.
On Sunday, August 21st 2016 the Rock Against Dystrophy All Star Edition 2016 benefit concert will be at The Headliner in Neptune, New Jersey. The show will have TattooTony return to MC the event. The benefit will feature performances by High Octane, Broken Past, New Day Dawn, a special set from New Jersey’s metal legends T.T. Quick and will wrap up with a performance from the RAD All Stars.
Returning to lead the RAD All Stars are Mark Tornillo (T.T. Quick / Accept) and Bobby Blitz (Overkill) and joining them are Chris Caffery (Savatage / Trans Siberian Orchestra), David DiPetro (T.T. Quick), Bob Pantella (Monster Magnet / The Atomic Bitchwax), Danny Watts (BulletBoys), Kenny Dubman and Scott Metaxas (Prophet) with more still to be announced.
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 