OVERKILL — The Electric Age (review)

OVERKILL — The Electric Age album cover Album · 2012 · Thrash Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4.5/5 ·
UMUR
"The Electric Age" is the 17th full-length studio album by US thrash metal act Overkill. The album was released through Nuclear Blast Records in March 2012. Considering the generally low album sales in these years, it´s a bit surprising that "The Electric Age" debuted at #77 on the Billboard 200, which marks the first time in the band´s career that one of their albums has made it into the top 100 of that chart. Overkill were always in the sup-top when it came to being popular in the thrash metal community (along with a lot of other thrash metal band´s who have stood in the shadow of the "big four"), but they are generally very well respected and widely known as one of the most hard working/relentlessly touring band´s on the scene. 17 albums into their career they seem determined to continue full speed ahead.

If you are familiar with Overkill´s "signature" sound, it´ll be no surprise that "The Electric Age" is thrash metal with some traditional heavy metal leanings. They´ve pretty much stuck to their guns from day one, and minor excursions into groove/alternative metal territory in the nineties have neither ruined their reputation as one of the most consistent acts in thrash metal nor affected the quality of their output too much. It´s been a bit up and down, but they´ve never released a bad album. The riffs on "The Electric Age" are strong and memorable, the drumming powerful, the metallic sounding bass sounds amazing and the caustic and raw vocal delivery by Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth is as powerful and attitude filled as ever. He spices up the raw type vocal delivery with some more melodic vocal lines from time to time, which only further enhances the listening experience and adds to the variation of the album.

Tracks like the opener "Come and Get It", "Electric Rattlesnake" and the powerful closer "Good Night" (which opens with a beautiful classical inspired acoustic guitar piece) are examples of the great energy and inspired songwriting on the album. Overkill don´t break out of the vers/chorus formula too much (although some tracks are more adventurous than others), but they do incorporate both well played guitar solo sections and other little details to keep things interesting.

"The Electric Age" is certain to end up in many thrash metal heads year end lists. It´s an album that might not add much new to the band´s discography in terms of development, but in terms of quality we´re talking one of their stronger releases. A 4 - 4.5 star (85%) rating is fully deserved.
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Time Signature wrote:
more than 2 years ago
It's a fucking awesome album!
Diogenes wrote:
more than 2 years ago
Still waiting on your review of this one, Kim :)
UMUR wrote:
more than 2 years ago
...I guess you really like the album huh! :-)
Time Signature wrote:
more than 2 years ago
The fucking album of the fucking year, for my fucking money!
UMUR wrote:
more than 2 years ago
Killer album!!!
Diogenes wrote:
more than 2 years ago
Knew you'd like it!

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