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5 Excellent - Masterpiece. A classic.
4.5-4 Great - Almost perfect records but there's probably a lacking.
3.5 Good - Most of the record is good, but there may be some filler.
3 Average - Some good songs, some bad ones at about a half/half ratio.
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Band
Overkill
Title
Ironbound
Type
LP/EP
Company
Nuclear Blast
YOR
2010
Style
Thrash
5/18/2010 - Review by: Vinaya Saksena

Overkill
Ironbound

Company: Nuclear Blast
Release: 2010
Genre: Thrash
Reviewer: Vinaya

  • Well-crafted, creative, but simultaneously old-school thrash



  • I honestly never paid much attention to New Jersey/New York area thrash veterans Overkill, and I honestly can't say why. Maybe I had gotten my fill of thrash via my exposure to bigger names like Metallica and Megadeth. Whatever the case, Ironbound had me thinking right from the first spin that I should have paid the band more attention. Long story short, hearing this album prompted me to check out more of the band's material and culminated in myself plus two friends standing crammed into a packed Massachusetts concert hall just weeks ago to witness the local stop of the band's expansive and brutal Killfest package tour.

    Yes, though I readily admit to being an Overkill newbie, Ironbound made an instant impression on me. Right from the opening minute or two of the brilliant and punishing lead track "The Green and Black," it was clear that Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth, D.D. Verni and their latest guitars/drums triumvirate mean business here, and what a mean business it is!

    Those of you already familiar with Overkill's trademark hardcore-influenced semi-melodic, often technical and borderline progressive thrash sound will likely find this album instantly familiar and comfortable, but with a welcome sense of adventure and ambition to it. For those still not hip to the 'Kill, you will immediately notice the intensity, speed and tightness of Overkill's typically busy but groovy mosh material plus Blitz's gritty but full-range vocals which strike a balance between punk roughness and his trademark melodic croak. Behind him, Verni and drummer Ron Lipnicki provide a busy but solid rhythmic backbone for the seemingly endless array of aggressive, busy but solid riffs cranked out by guitarists Dave Linsk and Derek Tailer. Many of these tunes, including "In Vain," the aforementioned "The Green and Black" and the similarly spirited title track boast numerous interesting and welcome breaks of all sorts- slowing down, mellowing out or just changing the tempo amongst their mostly speedy central riffs. Even better, "Bring Me the Night" (what the hell does that mean, anyway?) marries a classic New Wave of British Heavy Metal-inspired riff (think Diamond Head's "Helpless," for example) to the band's tight-as-a-drum mosh pit sensibilities. Really, it is only towards the end of the disc that quality dips much at all ("The Head and Heart" just doesn't do much for me), and even then, only to the point of solid filler rather than pure junk.

    In any case, the end result is a solid, enjoyable listen for those who appreciate well-crafted, creative, but simultaneously old-school thrash. And damn, does the opening trio of tunes translate well live in front of an enthusiastically moshing and surfing crowd!


    • 1 :REVIEW COUNT
      4 :AVE RATING

    ALL REVIEWS FOR: OVERKILL
    TITLE
    DOR
    COMPANY
    REVIEWER DATE MADE RATING
    Hellish Videos
    2005
    Sanctuary Records
    Ken Pierce8/17/2005
    -
    Ironbound
    2010
    Nuclear Blast
    Vinaya Saksena5/18/2010
    4
    Killbox 13
    2003
    Spitfire
    Eric Compton4/10/2003
    -
    RelixIV
    2005
    Spitfire
    Susan Wright4/7/2005
    -
    Taking Over
    1986
    Atlantic
    Anthony Burke7/10/2005
    -
    The Electric Age
    2012
    Nuclear Blast
    Chris Kincaid3/23/2012
    5
    The Grinding Wheel
    2017
    Nuclear Blast
    Eric Compton2/15/2017
    4.5
    The Grinding Wheel
    2017
    Nuclear Blast
    Frank Hill1/17/2017
    4.5
    The Wings Of War
    2019
    Nuclear Blast
    David Loveless2/24/2019
    4.5
    White Devil Armory
    2014
    Eone
    T. Ray Verteramo7/23/2014
    4.5
    Wrecking Everything
    2002
    Spitfire
    Ken Pierce4/1/2005
    -
    Wrecking Everything Live
    2002
    Spitfire
    Ken Pierce4/1/2005
    -

    ALL INTERVIEWS FOR: OVERKILL
    INTERVIEW INTERVIEWER DATE TAGLINE
    DD VerniEric Compton, Stygian Steel1/2/2006


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