An integral part of the early-’80s thrash metal movement that spawned acts like Metallica and Anthrax, New Jersey’s OVERKILL garnered a reputation for brutal, pounding speed and technique. Taking their moniker from the 1979 Motörhead album of the same name, an early demo; Power in Black, made waves in the underground tape-trading circuit and caught the attention of Megaforce Records, which issued the band’s full-length studio debut, Feel the Fire, in 1985. High-profile shows alongside luminaries like Slayer and Anthrax followed, and with the American thrash scene in full tilt, Overkill inked a major-label deal with Atlantic, which put out their sophomore effort, 1987’s uncompromising Taking Over. This was followed quickly in 1988 by the equally uncompromising, Under The Influencewhich spawned the MTV hit, ‘Hello From The Gutter’. Continuing their breakneck pace, the band issued the Terry Date -produced Years of Decay the following year in 1989, which saw them pushing their sound in a more epic direction, while maintaining the neck-snapping attack of their debut. Expanding their lineup to a five piece in 1990 they released the brooding and relentlessly heavy Horrorscope, which introduced elements of doom into the mix and would go on to become a defining release and fan favorite. Overkill continued to move toward a more epic Sabbath style on 1993’s I Hear Blackbut switched up again on 1994’s W.F.O. which marked a return to the whiplash-inducing thrash of the past.
Overkill are held in high regard as one of the true greats of the global metal scene, one they dominate to this day. These six albums cemented Overkill in the thrash hall of fame, while contributing to their 16 million record sales, notched up over the last 40 years and are all considered stone cold classics.
All six of these albums are back on vinyl for the first time in over a decade. Half speed mastered for dynamic range and pressed on 180g vinyl. Also available as a CD collectors box.
OVERKILL/SHADOWS FALL‘s drummer Jason Bittner has joined forces with guitarists Felipe Roa (SHADOWS FALL), Bobby Koeble (DEATH), and bassist Steve Di Giorgio (TESTAMENT, DEATH) to record a ‘quarantine jam’ video of DEATH’s “Overactive Imagination”.
Watch the video on Jason Bittner’s Youtube Channel, here:
Jason Bittner wrote also a long accompanying message: “Well there’s a bunch of explaining that goes along with this video and a history of sorts…….after the whole pandemic started, I contacted my longtime friend and former bandmate Felipe Roa (Shadows Fall touring guitarist after Jon joined Anthrax) to see if he wanted to do some “quarantine covers” and I proposed “Wake Up Dead” by Megadeth, and by now you have seen that one. At the time of discussion Felipe asked if I wanted to do a Death tune, knowing that they are one of my all-time fave bands as well as his, and we used to jam Death in soundchecks all the time. Initially my first reaction “ummmm, I don’t know if I want to do that much WORK, hahaha,” but as soon as he said “Overactive Imagination” I was in – I used to jam this song all the time in my formative years but I did wonder if I could still pull it off. After a couple days of shedding and trying to be 25 again, we had a completed drum track, which I even sent to my pals (former Death drummers) Richard Christy and Gene Hoglan for “approval”. Sean already gave me the green light from Heaven. At first we were just going to do it the two of us, but I had a plan. Here’s some crazy trivia – while I attended Berklee College of Music in the 80’s, I played in a band with Bobby Koeble and we actually recorded a few original songs wayyyyyy back in the late 80’s. Bobby later went on to join Death for the Symbolic album and still plays in Death to All. After not speaking for over 30 years I hit up Bobby, reconnected (which I’d been meaning to do for years) and asked him if he wanted to do this tune with us and he said yes right away. He asked who was playing bass and I told him Felipe probably would do that too………unless…….“Unless what? Unless I can get Steve to do it……So the next point was to contact my friend, and one of the greatest bass players out there, Mr. Steve DiGiorgio to see if this could be possible. At first Steve wasn’t’ sure if he could commit due to his many projects, so we actually asked our friend Bill Bodily (Ex- Toxik, Flotsam and Jetsam touring bassist) to do the bass since Steve wasn’t available. In the meantime, I had sent Steve the track after we put Bobby on it just to “make sure” he couldn’t do it. I had a feeling if Bobby committed, Steve would follow. A week later he did send his tracks, so first off THANK YOU to Steve for going above and beyond in such a quick and timely manner, and also to Bill for being our “backup”, sorry it didn’t work out – next time! So there you have it folks, we put a lot of work into this one because we absolutely love this band in every incarnation, and I am proud to say that I am friends with a lot of the people who have played in their ranks so…….so this one goes out to……Terry Butler, James Murphy, Richard Christy, and Gene Hoglan. Lastly, a moment to remember past members Scott Clendenin, my former bandmate and friend Ralph Santolla, my longtime friend and mentor Sean Reinert, and lastly the one and only Chuck Schuldiner for being one of the greatest songwriters to ever grace the Metal world!! Enjoy and share!!”
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Please Note, STEVE DI GIORGIO is available for studio sessions as well as session bassist for tours. For further information, please contact via email: alexalphaomega@gmail.com – robertoalphaomega@gmail.com.
The fretless guru, STEVE DI GIORGIO doesn’t need any longer introductions, as he is widely renowned as a pioneer on the fretless bass in heavy metal music, being the bassist of TESTAMENT, DEATH and SADUS, among others. Within his genre, STEVE DI GIORGIO is respected for his playing skills, versatility and incredible technique. He has more than 40 studio album recordings and over 20 years of touring the world.
ANCIENT VVISDOM‘s Nathan Opposition teamed up with Dan Lorenzo from HADES for the first time musically two years ago. The due released a six song EP on Italy’s Argonauta Records and eleven months later released their follow up Woodshed on Argonauta as well. Opposition handled all the drums and vocals and Lorenzo all the guitars and bass on their first two albums. Their track Son of Man received numerous spins on Sirius/XM.
A year ago VESSEL OF LIGHT played their first ever show (opening for Life of Agony) at a sold out Bowery Ballroom in NYC. They recruited former OVERKILL drummer Ron Lipnicki and former HADES bassist Jimmy Schulman for the performance. Although the four had never been on the same stage together ( let alone the same room) being as Opposition lives in Cleveland and the other three are natives of NY and NJ, the show went off as if they’d been playing together for years.
Lorenzo asked Opposition if he should ask Schulman and Lipnicki to play on what would become their third album and Opposition answered with an emphatic, “Hell yeah”. Over the last six months the band recorded Thy Serpent Rise. Twelve brand new songs that run the gamut from doom to sludge to groove metal. The CDs final mix was done by JROD Productions today. Argonauta informed the band they could release the CD and vinyl in February or March. “We totally appreciate everything Gero from Argonauta has done for us with our first two albums, but I already started writing some of the 4th Vessel of Light album. I just lose my excitement of new music when it has to sit for half a year before the world gets to hear it”, Lorenzo stated. “Because of that we are going to release it ourselves digitally and on CDs November 1st.”
Legendary New Jersey thrashers OVERKILL have released a new trailer for the second part of their »Killfest 2019« tour that kicked off on September 12th in Porto, Portugal. On the tour, they are supported by their German labelmates DESTRUCTION, the US-thrashers FLOTSAM AND JETSAM and the German band REZET. Watch the clip here:
OVERKILL singer Bobby Ellsworth comments: “Here we come again, Wings over Europe, round 2. Again with our good friends DESTRUCTION and FLOTSAM! Was so good the first time, we decided to do it again. So let’s put on the uniform, get in the pit and thrash this thing to the next level!”
DESTRUCTION vocalist & bassist Schmier adds: „Yeah it is time to KILL again! After the fantastic first part of the KILLFEST tour with OVERKILL & FLOTSAM & JETSAM, that was packed and sold out everywhere, we are really excited for the second run! Our new album »Born to Perish« is just out for some weeks and still hot – so we are gonna present you a merciless setlist with classics & new thrash anthems – see you all out there soon!“
See both bands on one of the following shows:
OVERKILL »Killfest 2019 – Part II«
w/ DESTRUCTION, FLOTSAM AND JETSAM, REZET 12.09. P Porto – Hard Club 13.09. E Madrid – La Riviera
14.09. E Barcelona – Salamandra
15.09. F Toulouse – Le Metronum
16.09. F Lyon – CCO Villeurbanne
17.09. D Saarbrücken – Garage
18.09. D Nuremberg – Hirsch
19.09. D Oberhausen – Turbinenhalle
20.09. D Hamburg – Metal Dayz*
20.09. D Kassel – Musiktheater (w/ TRIBUTE KINGS)**
21.09. CZ Jablonec nad Nisou – Eurocentrum
22.09. D Herford – X
23.09. D Wiesbaden – Schlachthof
24.09. B Antwerp – Trix
26.09. TR Istanbul – IF Performance Hall Beşiktaş*
27.09. TR Izmir – SoldOut Performance Hall*
28.09. TR Ankara – Milyon Performance Hall* * OVERKILL only
** DESTRUCTION + FLOTSAM & JETSAM + REZET only
METALHEADS FOREVER, one of the biggest metal entities out there (having today more than 153k members, led by David Maloney) and Alpha Omega’s partner since February 2018, have posted online their May 2019 issue, featured by Alpha Omega’s BILL HUDSON, SURVIVAL IS SUICIDE, SISKA, CRIMSON REIGN alongside ZONDER/WEHRKAMP, OVERKILL, POSSESSED, CRADLE OF FILTH, and many more!
Legendary New Jersey thrashers OVERKILL will unleash their 19th studio record, »The Wings Of War«, on February 22nd, 2019 via Nuclear Blast.
Today, the band launched part five of their multi-part documentary series entitled “Welcome To The Garden States”. In this part, the band talk about the ʺHello From The Gutterʺ music video, & the origins of their symbol: the bat skull. Check it out here:
