For four decades, OVERKILL have been the trailblazers in producing some of the most signature moments in the world of metal. On April 14th, the New Jersey Thrash legends will bludgeon your ears with their twentieth studio album, entitled “Scorched” via Nuclear Blast Records.
Overkill is vocalist Bobby Blitz, DD Verni on bass, Dave Linsk on guitar, Jason Bittner on drums, and Derek Tailer on guitar. One would be hard-pressed to find a more consistent and prolific band than these Garden State dudes. Through their four decades of existence, they have made a point of releasing a new album every two years, no matter what. Whatever challenges came their way – lineup changes, market shifts, economic crises – they always catered for the fans, in a way that is unparalleled in thrash metal.
“Scorched” Variants
Unfortunately, COVID put a stop to their strategy, and the follow up to 2019’s “The Wings of War” had to wait a bit longer to see the light of day. Luckily, this meant the band had more time on their hands, and they could focus a little more on the songwriting and production this time. And maybe the extra time that they never had came in handy, because the new album is a banger!
The ten new tracks of “Scorched” showcase the different influences of Overkill, in a much more varied way that its predecessor. The heavy blues of “Wicked Place”, the thrashy “Twist of the Wick” and the moody “Fever” are a perfect example of how to explore different avenues without losing sight of one’s own identity. Make no mistake: this is Overkill to their very core, although more nuanced than before. It’s a clear sign of evolution from a band that realized they don’t need to be pounding the pavement at every given opportunity.
Although the band has gone through several lineup changes, two original members have been part of each and every step they took: DD Verni, whose bass lines manage to slip through the cracks of the barrage of guitars, no matter how loud they are; and Bobby Blitz, who created an inimitable singing style. Bobby’s voice remains an unstoppable force, and challenges nature by becoming better as time goes on.
As the spokesman of the band, Bobby sat down with interviewer Rodrigo Altaf to talk about the different aspects of “Scorched”, the budget challenges of touring, the ideal touring lineup and much more. Watch or listen to their entertaining conversation below; and remember that for more interviews and other daily content, Sonic Perspectives is on Facebook, Flipboard, Twitter and YouTube, where you can be notified about new content we publish on a daily basis.
