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OVERKILL – KILLBOX 13
2003 Spitfire Records
Overkill are legendary. I’ve been a fan for a long time. There’s not much I can say that hasn’t already been said, but let’s face it: Overkill are the only American thrash band to maintain the quality and standards that they started with and perfected. Slayer? Anthrax? Megadeth? Metallica? None of those bands are even a shadow of their former greatness. ONLY Overkill stands above the pack now. They have never sacrificed the sound, the intensity, or the METAL! They deserve much respect. They did this with a revolving guitar spot. The band has gone back to two full-time guitarists, and I’m glad. Two guitars just add more sound, and more ideas. Thus, the addition of Derek Tailer on rhythm guitar since the last album, BLOODLETTING. Dave Linsk is the lead guitarist and based on what I’ve read, he was allowed to do mostly whatever he wanted to do on this album. Fear not true-believers, KILLBOX 13 is as good as (or better) than the excellent BLOODLETTING album. This album CRUSHES! The “God-like” sound of Overkill is still kicking with a vengeance.

I think what fuels the Overkill fire the most these days is the intensity of vocalist Bobby ‘Blitz’ Ellsworth. His bout with and triumph over cancer gave him all the ammo he needed to write some poignant lyrics for years. Mostly songs about death and fate are the result, as has been the case for the past several albums. The songs on this new album KILLBOX 13, are mainly about the seven deadly sins, death and fate. (You try to figure out which are which.) This is the first studio album the band has released on Spitfire Records. It was produced by Colin Richardson (Napalm Death, Fear Factory, Machine Head, etc.) My friends, Overkill are in top form. The album opens with “Devil By The Tail,” a riff-chugging monster that goes on for over five minutes. The song includes the famous one-word background shouts that Overkill have perfected so well. Next, the band slams you in the head with “Damned.” Bassist DD Verni shines on this grinder and Blitz pulls out some great “fuck you” lyrics. Man, does he hate somebody. It’s refreshing to hear some angst again. They slow things down on the third track, “No Lights,” which is reminiscent of the I HEAR BLACK album. The excellent “The One” follows. Then comes the slower pace of “Crystal Clear,” which again reminds me of I HEAR BLACK or maybe WFO. The ‘upbeat’ “The Sound of Dying” and “Until I Die” follow. These guys are not optimists! “Struck Down,” “Unholy,” and the pummeling “I Rise” finish the album strongly. Ten songs total, over 50 minutes long. The design and layout of the CD is excellent, once again by the talented Travis Smith.

Blitz’ voice continues to make Overkill stand out from the rest of the pack. He is unique. KILLBOX 13 is a solid album. I really enjoy it. But I’m still waiting for Overkill to make the perfect album. HORRORSCOPE, which Blitz considers to be the band’s shining moment to this day, was damn close. It’s also my favorite Overkill album. KILLBOX 13 won’t replace it, but this album showcases the drive and ambition of a great American band.

DISCOGRAPHY:

FEEL THE FIRE ('85) Atlantic
TAKING OVER ('87) Atlantic
FUCK YOU! (EP) ('88) Atlantic
UNDER THE IINFLUENCE ('88) Atlantic
THE YEARS OF DECAY ('89) Atlantic
HORRORSCOPE (1991) Atlantic
I HEAR BLACK (1993) Atlantic
W.F.O. (1994) Atlantic
WRECKING YOUR NECK (Double Live) (1995) CMC
THE KILLING KIND (1996) CMC
FUCK YOU! AND THEN SOME (1996) Megaforce
FROM THE UNDERGROUND...AND BELOW (1997) CMC
NECROSHINE (1999) CMC
COVERKILL (1999) CMC
BLOODLETTING (2000) Metal-Is
WRECKING EVERTHING- LIVE (2002) Spitfire
WRECKING EVERTHING - Live (DVD) (2002) Spitfire
KILLBOX 13 (2003) Spitfire
Click here to buy KILLBOX 13
Click here for the OVERKILL Home Page!