Artist: Overcast
Label: Edison Recordings
Release Date: December 1997
Rating: 5 Skulls
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Title: Fight Ambition To Kill Artist: Overcast Label: Edison Recordings Release Date: December 1997
Rating: 5 Skulls |
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Reviewed by Equinox:
Overcast were arguably the forefathers of the modern metalcore movement. As far as this reviewer is concerned, there is no room for argument. Without a shadow of a doubt, this band was one of the most influential bands in metal/hardcore history, and were unquestionably THE major force in the development of the current metalcore sound. From the ground-breaking, genre-defining debut Expectational Dilution in 1994 to the further developed and mind-numbingly crushing sound of the 4-song teaser, 1996's Begging For Indifference EP, Overcast perfected the art long before it was accepted and "in style" to be metalcore. As far as the metal timeline is concerned, they were truly ahead of their time, experimenting in heavy music at a time when not too many bands were doing so, and the results were awesome to behold.As 1997 was coming to a close, the band released Fight Ambition To Kill. From the ominous introductory bass passage of the opener "Apocalypse Upon Us" to the very last note of the last track, it's clear that the band was at their songwriting zenith. This album has everything the metalcore fan could want -- the melodic, the menacing and the metal, metal, METAL. Overcast were the masters of somehow combining all of these different elements into smoothly flowing compositions. The diversity of sound here is amazing; at times, Fight Ambition To Kill is the heaviest thing you've ever heard and at other times the most uncomfortably beautiful.
Each and every one of the nine songs here is a standout, and worthy of its own review, but I will focus on a few of my favorites. "Spun" could quite possibly be the crown jewel in the band's musical hoard. This song, in particular, illustrates all of the bands signature traits, and all of the things which make the band so good -- Brian Fair's schizophrenic twin-barreled, spoken/sung vocal delivery (which is still unequalled in the annals of metalcore), the huge sound and crushing yet intelligent dual riffery of guitarists Scott McCooe and Pete Cortese and the pummeling rhythm section of bassist Mike D'Antonio and deceptively technical drummer Jay Fitzgerald. "Spun" starts off with a super-heavy, double-bass-backed riff, then slides into a melodic and dissonant passage, then back again to the aural beating of the first section, with Fair bellowing menacingly all the while. The song then takes another turn, this time towards a faster, more chaotic speedmetal sound, before switching again to a slow, devastating chug. The song is ever developing and ever changing, but not one riff, fill or scream ever sounds out of place, not only with this one song but on the album as a whole.
"YOUR (destructive) SELF" is another metalcore classic, and another track showcasing Overcast at their finest. The groove of the opening riff is undeniable, and it's impossible not to bob your head while listening. Strangely, but in true Overcast fashion, it still maintains all of its heaviness. A distant, wailing guitar heralds the next wave of heaviness, consisting of several more classic, upbeat and brutal guitar parts that only this band could write. Just when you thought it couldn't get any heavier, the band collapses into one of their signature slow and apocalyptic stomps, then an Overcast-tastic, odd-time riff ends the affair."More Metal Than Your Ma's Kettle," besides having one of the greatest song titles ever, truly lives up to its moniker, with a large variety of groovy and downright metalicious riffs and a great mix of faster, mid-paced and slower parts. This song flows effortlessly from speed to speed, from one personality to another that is completely different, yet the song's "theme" remains intact. The ending of this tune is so heavy, I'm sure not even He-Man could lift it.
Overcast were bold enough to even include an instrumental track, letting their one-of-a-kind music speak for itself. "Styrofoam Death-Machine" is a real, full-on instrumental, not a lone acoustic guitar "filler" track. Sure, the song starts and ends with a little dual acoustic guitar action, but the meat of the song is all-out metal and nothing but. The dynamics of this song are simply awesome. The aggressive, faster parts and melodic guitar breaks are intermingled without a hitch. The riffs are inspiring, the drum beats are tasty and the feel is intense. This track truly testifies to the band's uncanny songwriting ability. To top this release off, the band re-recorded and included a few older goodies: "Forecast," a gem from the "Begging For Indifference" EP and the amazing "Seven ft. Grin", which had originally appeared on an earlier split 7".
Alas, Fight Ambition to Kill would be the band's swansong, as they would disband soon after its release, in 1998-- just as the US metalcore movement was beginning to stir. As some of you may already be aware, band members went on to other acts including Shadows Fall and Killswitch Engage, among others, and are still very much involved with the metal scene. As successful as these bands are and promise to be, it is unlikely that anyone will soon forget the contributions Overcast had made to the world of extreme music. Overcast were one of those rare bands that truly left at the top of their game. There is no excuse to not have Fight Ambition to Kill in your library. The best metalcore album ever? Absolutely.
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