Customer Reviews

Wrecking Everything: Live

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Anyone who is a fan of Overkill knows that they're at their best live. Anyone who's not yet a fan needs to know that this is the ONLY place to get real metal anymore. Metallica has completely sold out, Megadeth and Slayer lost their focus. Only Overkill continues the tradition. Still, they're not repeating the same things for the past 20 years. They are defining the metal "state of the art".

Over the years the band has kept consistent quality in song writing -- not quite any masterpieces like "Master of Puppets", but not junk like "Reload" either. While their guitarists have come and gone, and the style of the guitars have followed (I preferred the 2-guitar lineup), Blitz has maintained his growling vocals. DD Verni has improved his bass immensely over the years.

Overkill's unaparalleled stage presence is half the reason that this record is so good. Newer songs that hadn't been recorded live give us a new appreciation. The other half is the evolution of their style and DD's skill. Hearing old classics like "In Union We Stand" and "Overkill", and even "The Years of Decay" played in today's context is a treat.

Usually I would complain about 'Another Live Album' but I've been a fan 'Killfan for years and I will take em anyway I can. And besides all of that, this album features songs that were not included on the previous live albums. In fact, if I'm not mistaken ... none of these songs were on the others. In a few months the full length show is going to be released on DVD. I can't wait to snag up that one as well. So, do yourself a favor.. pick this one up. You will not be dissapointed.

"Wrecking everything live" was my introduction to the music and style of US thrash/heavy metal act "Overkill". Having purchased the album upon its release in 2002; the front cover magnetized me and somehow expected a heavy metal holocaust from this live album. And that is exactly what "Wrecking..." delivered.

I guess it would be most appropriate to characterize "Overkill" as Trash metal, yet the material on this live CD, goes beyond this subgenre, holding its own as pure heavy metal magic. How could one forget the incredible bass passages, the twin guitar riff-attack, the thick melodies and of course the vocal attack and swagger of their frontman? The line up features founders vocalist Bobby Blitz Ellsworth, bassist DD Verni, guitarists Dave Linsk and Derek Tyler and drummer Tim Malaire.

Upon any number of plays, one would realize that above all `Overkill' have established their own style in metal and that is precisely what is captured on "Wrecking...". The band masterfully balances rhythm attack with melody, bitterness with swagger and aggression with style. Yes for a Trash metal band, one could be surprised as of how catchy and stylish "Overkill" sound, an attribute very much due to their great front-man; beyond his technical ability, Ellsworth excels in delivering commanding vocal performances, having set the mood of each song by introducing it to the audience.

I can not escape but suggest this album to any fan of heavy metal not only Thrash metal; "Wrecking everything" holds such substance in both performance and composition that should appeal to anyone looking for Heavy-as it gets-Metal.