Customer Reviews

I Hear Black

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This was the first Overkill album I ever bought. I heard From The Underground before but didn't get into it because of Bobby's voice. After finding a used copy of I Hear Black at the Wherehouse for 5 bucks, I'd have to say this is the best record I've heard in a long time. I've grown to get used to Bobby's vocals, and downright love the combination of him with the best metal I've heard in years.If you've heard of Overkill and like hard driving metal that is filled with talent, lots of time changes and emotion to spare, pick this up and prepare to get run over. World of Hurt and Spiritual Void are my picks for this album.

This album was about 5 bucks when I bought it, so I thought I couldn't leave the store without getting it.
'I Hear Black' was often criticized for being too "grungy" or not Thrash enough. Though I understand people saying that, I wouldn't say that it's a bad thing. The desperate Heavy Metal of 'World Of Hurt' and the ultra heavy blues of 'Spiritual Void' still are on the OverKill-set today, but the album has other great songs, take 'Dreaming In Columbian' or the sensitive 'Shades Of Grey' for instance.
For the Thrash fans there still are songs like 'Weight Of The World', 'Just Like You' or the Sabbath-like 'Ignorance And Innocence' (which are all at the end of the album).
'I Hear Black' is maybe not what many fans expected from it, but it's the most varied album they released.

The vocals here are matured, and so is the sound. I know for thrashers this is a sell-out, but I know you all tell me to have an open mind. Well here's my open mind. I used to have this album, but never had the courage to play it, and now I have sampled it, and say "This really rocks hard". Mind you it's not classic Overkill like "Taking Over", or "Feel The Fire", but it's still good. Some of the highlights here are: "Dreaming In Colombian", "Spiritual Void", "Feel The Hurt", "Ghost Dance", and "Ignorance and Innocence". They get a little funky with some of these songs I guess they were trying to copy Testament's "The Ritual". Mind you as far as hearing black I would say go to the "Years Of Decay" album, and play "Playing With Spiders/Skullkrusher". That's about the blackest these guys ever got.

i have few of there albums this one happens to be my fave right from the song i hear black which is bout the son of sam killer .to the song shades of grey .and its true you don't hear the metal like this no more .do yourself a favor you want to hear a true metal band pick up this cd by overkill .every metal head needs to have at least one overkill in there collection if not then do get one not pass up overkill they are way to much a superior metal band and i hear black is a excellent album to start with for the new comers to this band.thanks.cya outta here ..

I used to listen to Overkill-I hear black all the time,I had it on cassette when I was a kid( I was in the 5th or 6th grade at the time) and since then it's always been one of my favorite albums of all time,that and The Killing Kind were my absolute favorite.What more is there to say about Overkill?The have awesome guitar and drum work,the vocalist is great, and I must admit Overkill's older albums are great but if you start from their older stuff and work your way up..you'll notice their sound becomes more focused,which is rare for most artists.I highly recommend this classic thrash metal CD!

Well, I've written a lot of Overkill reviews, and I dunno if I have anything new to say. 'I Hear Black' is perhaps there most reviled album, and while it certainly isn't in their upper tier this is still a solid metal album. I imagine it's largely hurt by the fact that it was preceded by their two best albums. Though this does mark the end of classic Overkill this is still a thrash album, more or less. It's got some more groove elements, a seeming Pantera influence, but Overkill has always been good with the groove, and they don't let it get in the way of the rocking too much. Lotsa people hate this album's production, but I think it's an interesting chang of pace. 'Horrorscope' had some very standard metal production, while "I Hear Black' is a bit more unusual, with a fuzzier, more ominous guitar tone and a just generally distant sound making it sound a bit darker. I really like the thin, snappy drum sound too.

As usual, there are no real bad songs here, though it doesn't have as many classics as some of the better Overkill albums. This album is a bit front-stacked, opening with the three strongest cuts. 'Dreaming in Colombian' is one of the fastest, thrashiest things here but it's still got a cool chorus. The title track is one of the slower, more atmospheric songs, but it's got some awesome vocals and still plenty of crushing riffs. 'World of Hurt' is probably my favorite track here, just very fun and driving with a solid collection of riffs. I also particularly like the drumming on this album. 'Weight of the World' is probably the most notable song after this point, and it's just the most pouding piece here, with some really intense drumwork. I also particularly like the power-ballad 'Shades of Grey'. Fairly standard stuff, but well executed.

Yeah, I like this album. Not their best one, but still worth owning, just like everything else they've recorded.

the best and the least recogonized of the great thrash bands.Horroscope I hear black The years of decay are all favorites of mine. also there new album Necroshine is a complete return to form. check them out...

I Hear Black was, IMO, Overkill's first true album. The album when they left the standard thrash formula behind. Where the vocals became just as important as the bass. Where the lyrics became more important then the guitars. This is the album where Overkill grind out their niche in the ever changing world of metal. Where, they plant their flag on the top of that world, taking their place as it's masters. They've come alone way from their FEEL THE FIRE days.

When guitarist Bobby Gustafson departed, Overkill made the wise decision of replacing him with two talented axe men. As a result of this personnel change, the band's compositions began to exhibit some new elements... such as two-part melodies and adventurous lead trade-offs. These changes first became apparent on Overkill's fifth release, "Horrorscope" (arguably the group's finest album). It appeared as though the veteran thrashers were going in a more progressive direction (a trajectory wisely assumed by some death metal musicians, like Chuck Schuldiner).

On "I Hear Black," however, the band amalgamates the groove/thrash elements of Pantera with the grunge style of Alice in Chains. The final product is an album that oscillates between the ferocity of metal and the mundane tedium of contemporary Seattle rock.

Now, don't misunderstand. There are definitely some great tracks on "I Hear Black." "Dreaming in Columbian," "World of Hurt," and the title track are some powerful songs with interesting melodies. Merritt Gant and Rob Cannavino exchange some impressive runs. Bobby Blitz explores a wider range of vocal choices, occasionally shifting to a lower register. D.D.Verni lays down heavy rhythms replete with creative embellishments. "I Hear Black" is certainly a work of substantial merit.

Yet, it becomes evident with this sixth effort that Overkill is somewhat restrained. They fail to fully exploit their newly acquired dual axe attack. Radical though it may sound, the group could have amalgamated its traditional thrash style with the progressive guitar interplay common to bands like Queensryche and Crimson Glory. Overkill come close to breaking new ground with "I Hear Black," but don't stretch far enough.

If you've ever taken a "RISK" through purchasing a "LOAD" of albums, which don't quite exhibit the "X-FAcTOR", then you could continue this "FORCE OF HABIT", or start a new "RITUAL" by getting Overkill's I Hear Black. Overkill's tempo here is often slower than their prior releases. However, the album is still saturated in good old fashioned heavy metal. great guitar sounds and Bobby's vocals are just right for the job at hand. Just the ideal disc to spin, when you are looking to take a breather from headbanging to all those other Overkill discs you own!