Artist: Overkill
Label: Spitfire Records
Release Date: 3/25/03
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Title: Killbox 13 Artist: Overkill Label: Spitfire Records Release Date: 3/25/03 |
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Abyss's Review:
Overkill have come out with a solid, uncompromising album... again. Oooh, there's a big fucking surprise. One would be hard pressed to name a band that has been so consistent over so long a career. Overkill's 13th album, Killbox 13, keeps the bar raised chin high. Produced by veteran Colin Richardson (Napalm Death, Machine Head, and most importantly, Carcass), this new album is an album that preserves its old-school values, but refrains from being a throwback.
"While there is no doubt that this is an Overkill album, it does seem a little more far-reaching than their last few records, a fact that would cause trepidation in many a fan if it were not pulled off so well." Of course, Overkill have remained a thrash band at their core, but this album sees them playing around with their expected formula a little bit. I hear a lot of I Hear Black in this record, both in songwriting and presentation, but despite this, it continues seamlessly along the evolutionary line they've spent the past two decades mapping out. That aforementioned record is considered by many of the Overkill faithful to be one of their weaker albums, but it's always been a favorite of mine. That being said, it's important for the average fan to be tolerant of the many time and sound changes that abound on this album. While there is no doubt that this is an Overkill album, it does seem a little more far-reaching than their last few records, a fact that would cause trepidation in many a fan if it were not pulled off so well. Let's face it, the average OK fan is happy with things the way they are. You might say that the average OK fan is okay with OK (sorry... really, I am).
My favorite part of this album is that it reminds the average metal listener that it's okay to write songs that contain more than two riffs. I'd use the cliché 'return to riff' when discussing this album if it weren't for the fact that this band has never strayed away from that concept, and they've been deservedly rewarded with one of the most loyal fan bases in music. The guitars are all over the map, at times a blunt battering ram, at times an eardrum piercing needle, and at times fluid, outstretching tendrils. Each song is a determined animal, full of thought and purpose. I've oft been surprised by Overkill's ability to be so consistently solid in the riff department, especially considering how variable those positions in the band have been over the years, and this album is no different. Blitz' vocals continue to show no age, remaining the sonic equivalent of razorwire, slicing and shredding their way into your brain while you have only your own sadistic grin to anesthetize you.
"The guitars are all over the map, at times a blunt battering ram, at times an eardrum piercing needle, and at times fluid, outstretching tendrils." Overkill remain the most respectable band in music and have come out with a gem. Finally the term 'veteran band' can be used to describe a seasoned band that can act as role model rather than one that is irrelevant and out of touch. So, if you haven't got the point yet, pick this one up. One word review: Outstanding.
Death's Review:
Simply stated, in a word, veteran New Jersey thrasher Overkill are back to "shred" with a new five-skull studio album, 'Killbox 13' - their, ahem, thirteenth album. If you are an Overkill fan and have stayed with the band through the years, there is no doubt that this album will meet if not exceed your every expectation. This score is more than a mere "lifetime achievement award" for the band, although such sentiment is surely inseparable from my objective feelings. But when, after all these years, Overkill can bust out with awesome "brand new for 2003" tracks like the dynamic and catchy "Crystal Clear" (a "Skullcrusher," "Horrorscope," and "Spiritual Void" -combo for the 21st Century), or "It's Over" and "Struck Down" (both with subtle, yet fresh-sounding twists on the more traditional Overkill formula), it reveals a band who knows why they are good and is still together for no other reason than the simple fact that they are still fully able to craft killer new tunes.
"If you are an Overkill fan and have stayed with the band through the years, there is no doubt that this album will meet if not exceed your every expectation." One listen to the opening rumble of D.D. Verni's bass ("Devil By the Tail") should tell you that this is an Overkill record; one listen to these killer new tracks should be enough to show you the power of this lineup, the proficiencies of this particular two-guitar lineup (Dave Linsk and Derek Tailer) (e.g., "Until I Die"), who are already playing together at a high level of precision and style (gotta love the guitar tones too - like the change-up riff that comes in at the 2:46 mark of "Devil By the Tail" [Mallare also shreds Lombardo style there and on the riffs that follow through the end] or the slow, "National Acrobat" -sounding opening harmonized slow solo on "It's Over," [by the way, am I the only one who wants them to say "Time to Kill" at the end of this one?] as well as the toggle-switch hammer-on chords and the background squeals buried low in the mix under the chorus), and the unique power of Blitz's vocals (the aforementioned "It's Over," and "Crystal Clear" are definite highlights).
My only complaint about this new Overkill album? There's no day-glo green on the album cover!!! What the fuck is up with that? Chaly's there though, this time appearing in silver-coated metallic ferocity. Musically, like many Overkill records, after only a few listens you begin to picture a few of these tracks rising above the rest to become staples of future live sets. And like Overkill records past, one can only expect that as good as this is, we're all gonna like this stuff even better once Overkill blows through town on the new tour. Songs like "The One" and "Crystal Clear" have some of the heaviest, thrashiest riffs we have heard from Overkill in a long time (I love the riffing that starts at 3:10 of "The One" - this stuff is going to sound killer live!!!). That's almost the only proper way to judge new Overkill albums these days - by how many songs an album can contribute to future set lists. This one's got easily got three or four new Overkill classics, and the rest of the material is far from filler. That said, does Overkill even play L.A. or the west coast of the U.S. at all? Like, ever? Hmmm. I sure hope so. I'm insanely jealous of any of you who will be seeing this new material live in a couple of weeks at New Jersey's Metal Meltdown 5. I'll be cruising the Caribbean with Hel, so it's all good, but you'll be seeing Overkill, so . . .
"My only complaint about this new Overkill album? There's no day-glo green on the album cover!!! What the fuck is up with that?" In the end, this simply awesome stuff. No, it is not necessarily (or really at all) cutting edge. Like I said, it simply "shreds." With Overkill, isn't that the way it should be?
Hel's Review:
Yeah, I know what you're thinking, "Oh boy, here we go again. Hel's just going to go on and on about how great she thinks Overkill is." Surprise! You're absolutely right! I'm nothing if not predictable in my love and loyalty to Overkill. And, once again, they have made my point quite eloquently for me. All you need do is pick up Killbox 13 to see how right I am.
"Overkill has never once deviated from their particular path of destruction."
"That's so fucking metal. Carry on, men." Overkill has never once deviated from their particular path of destruction. They have always maintained a steady course of heaviness to who-knows-where, and quite honestly, I hope we never get there, for the journey has been such a blast so far, I never want it to end. And, fortunately for me, judging by this, their 13th studio album, the end is, blissfully, nowhere in sight.
My love of this band is well chronicled, and I hope this is yet another chapter in a very, very long book, Gradually, as time marches on, my favorites in all things seem to be dropping away, one by one. Thus far, Overkill has remained a steady bright spot, and I have full confidence that they will remain as such for as long as they possibly can. That's so fucking metal. Carry on, men.
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