2/n #Overkill #Metaljourney

Oh wow, I didn't expect such an incredible album. And Feel the Fire is just that!

It reminds me a lot of early Iron Maiden actually. It's a bit of a heavy/speed/thrash hybrid and I am all in for that.

What an awesome album!

🎵 Overkill by Overkill
💿 Feel the Fire, 1985
▶️ https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=9zQBfZHRw70

#TomsMusic

3/n #Overkill #Metaljourney

In 1987 the wrecking crew is back with their sophomore album "Taking Over".

While the album cover is spreading hair metal vibes, the music does not.

THIS.

IS.

THRASH!

🎵 Wrecking Crew by Overkill
💿 Taking Over, 1987
▶️ https://song.link/at/i/300981233

#TomsMusic #ThrashMetal

4/n #Overkill #Metaljourney

Taking Over is #ThrashMetal start to finish. Only the anthem "In Union We Stand" is a bit slower and also my least favourite of the album.

The rest is no nonsense in your face thrash.

I kind of liked their debut a bit more though.

🎵 Electro Violence by Overkill
💿 Taking Over, 1987
▶️ https://song.link/y/gLMxBuie4Rs

Ranking:

1. Feel the Fire
2. Taking Over

#TomsMusic

5/n #Overkill #Metaljourney

On "Under the Influence" from 1988, Overkill says "Hello From the Gutter" 👋

This might be one of the if not the most iconic Overkill song. Not my favourite though, but still a great thrasher.

🎵 Hello From the Gutter by Overkill
💿 Under the Influence, 1988
▶️ https://song.link/y/O_G70-9lAhg

#TomsMusic

6/n #Overkill #Metaljourney and #MittwochMetalMix crossover toot.

If you like sexy riffs and overall awesome guitar work look no further 👇

🎵 End of the Line by Overkill
💿 Under the Influence, 1988
▶️ https://song.link/y/Y1C__IIQREk

#TomsMusic

7/n #Overkill #Metaljourney

Verdict: Under the Influence is a fantastic #ThrashMetal album. Not more, not less.

🎵 Overkill II (Under the Influence) by Overkill
💿 Under the Influence, 1988
▶️ https://song.link/y/qLzliB_il9A

Ranking:

1. Under the Influence
2. Feel the Fire
3. Taking Over

8/n #Overkill #Metaljourney

I guess most old-skool Overkill fans will call "The Years of Decay" the essential Overkill album.

In addition, Elimination is basically THE Overkill song. It's their most played according to #LastFM by a large margin.

It's a banger, but not my favourite.

🎵 Elimination by Overkill
💿 The Years of Decay, 1989
▶️ https://song.link/y/e1sDFdsDZY0

#TomsMusic

9/n #Overkill #Metaljourney

The Years of Decay is Overkill's most listened song and rightfully so. What an epic thrash metal masterpiece.

🎵 Evil Never Dies by Overkill
💿 The Years of Decay, 1989
▶️ https://song.link/y/WgRnRZ_b4AM

I don't know if I like this one or Under the Influence more, so they both shall take my number 1 spot.

Ranking:

1. Under the Influence
1. The Years of Decay
3. Feel the Fire
4. Taking Over

10/n #Overkill #Metaljourney

Happy #ThrashThursday everyone.

I shall continue my journey with Horrorscope, another Overkill classic.

🎵 Infectious by Overkill
💿 Horrorscope, 1991
▶️ https://song.link/y/63cpRu2QnRY

#TomsMusic

11/n #Overkill #Metaljourney

With Horrorscope Overkill enter the 90s and they did a classic 90s turn by merging into groove metal lane.*

I know the album is a classic but if I am brutally honest, there was nothing to hold on to for me. Nothing really got my attention, it was just nicely grooving in the background. Which is ok I guess.

🎵 Infectious by Overkill
💿 Horrorscope, 1991
▶️ https://song.link/y/smFl2DUq1UA

Ranking:

1. Under the Influence
1. The Years of Decay
3. Feel the Fire
4. Horrorscope
5. Taking Over

*this is where it might get interesting for @trendskater

#TomsMusic

12/n #Overkill #Metaljourney

I finally found the time to continue with my current journey and what shall I say... I didn not like "I Hear Black" at all.

This is one of the worse examples of 80s thrash bands changing their syle in the 90s.

🎵 World of Hurt by Overkill
💿 I Hear Black, 1993
▶️ https://song.link/y/5e3VJnWo-zU

Ranking:

1. Under the Influence
1. The Years of Decay
3. Feel the Fire
4. Horrorscope
5. Taking Over
6. I Hear Black

#TomsMusic

13/n #Overkill #Metaljourney

Man... life is throwing curve balls at my Overkill journey but finally, I can continue.

The year is 1994 and Overkill are Wide Fucking Open. It's album no. 7 in only 9 years. Overkill must be the most productive of the iconic 80s thrash metal bands.

🎵 Fast Junkie by Overkill
💿 W.F.O., 1994
▶️ https://song.link/y/JmgGXvNgprM

14/n #Overkill #Metaljourney

W.F.O. was ok, it was back to the roots I guess. But there wasn't much that got my attention. I'd rate it 3 out of 5 if I would still do ratings. It might be a grower though.

🎵 Up To Zero by Overkill
💿 W.F.O., 1994
▶️ https://song.link/y/9kExQGrlOj8

Ranking:

1. Under the Influence
1. The Years of Decay
3. Feel the Fire
4. Horrorscope
5. W.F.O.
6. Taking Over
7. I Hear Black

15/n #Overkill #Metaljourney

Moving on: The Killing Kind is up next.

And it starts with a nice staccato riff.

That's way I like it (baby I don't wanna live forever....)

🎵 Battle by Overkill
💿 The Killing Kind, 1996
▶️ https://song.link/y/7ogy9R9vFGk

#TomsMusic

16/n #Overkill #Metaljourney

Just like W.F.O. "The Killing Kind" is a solid thrash metal album.

There was a slow piano kind of interlude on it... 🤔

And they made a Judas Priest cover which sounds... interesting.

🎵 Tyrant by Overkill
💿 The Killing Kind, 1996
▶️ https://song.link/y/bYvk0-QKSxc

Ranking:

1. Under the Influence
1. The Years of Decay
3. Feel the Fire
4. Horrorscope
5. The Killing Kind
6. W.F.O.
7. Taking Over
8. I Hear Black

17/n #Overkill #Metaljourney

Monday morning, time for some Overkill.

🎵 It Lives by Overkill
💿 From the Underground and Below, 1997
▶️ https://song.link/y/gQnc5bZ0e34

18/n #Overkill #Metaljourney

Ha, I knew Overkill would have a groove metal album in the 90s.
They all do.

🎵 Genocya by Overkill
💿 From the Underground and Below, 1997
▶️ https://song.link/y/nzaxPAiTpq0

@trendskater that's the one you should check out!

#TomsMusic

19/n #Overkill #Metaljourney

WTF is this? A ballad by Overkill???

Urgh...

But.. somehow it is catchy and only half as cheesy as Testament's ballads.

Overall I absolutely liked From the Underground and Below! That's some serious thrash'n'groove 🤘

If you like 90s metal, you'll like this album too.

🎵 Promises by Overkill
💿 From the Underground and Below, 1997
▶️ https://song.link/y/aA26b1aSnP4

Ranking:

1. Under the Influence
1. The Years of Decay
3. Feel the Fire
4. From the Underground and Below
5. Horrorscope
6. The Killing Kind
7. W.F.O.
8. Taking Over
9. I Hear Black

20/n #Overkill #Metaljourney

On "Necroshine", Overkill's 10th studio album they are still riding the groove metal train.
And I am still liking it 🤘

🎵 Forked Tongue Kiss by Overkill
💿 Necroshine, 1999
▶️ https://song.link/y/Xutks-MBbn4

Ranking:

1. Under the Influence
1. The Years of Decay
3. Feel the Fire
4. From the Underground and Below
5. Necroshine
6. Horrorscope
7. The Killing Kind
8. W.F.O.
9. Taking Over
10. I Hear Black

#TomsMusic

21/n #Overkill #Metaljourney

It's the year 2000 and Overkill release their 11th studio album Bloodletting.

And I don't remember that I ever listened to this album but the opener sounds very familiar 🤔

🎵 Thunderhead by Overkill
💿 Bloodletting, 2000
▶️ https://song.link/y/iKwxZXloBSI

#TomsMusic

22/n #Overkill #Metaljourney

So with Bloodletting the thrash is back on the menu! Not that it was ever really gone, but it was in more like travelling in a back seat of the groove metal train.

Bloodletting is great.

Fat riffs
Fat hooks
Fat drums.

Verdict: fat! 🤘

🎵 Can't Kill a Dead Man
💿 Bloodletting, 2000
▶️ https://song.link/y/9z4lro0gmnQ

Ranking:

1. Under the Influence
1. The Years of Decay
3. Feel the Fire
4. From the Underground and Below
5. Bloodletting
6. Necroshine
7. Horrorscope
8. The Killing Kind
9. W.F.O.
10. Taking Over
11. I Hear Black

#TomsMusic

23/n #Overkill #Metaljourney

On Killbox 13 Overkill sounds tight tight tight. It's kind of a thrash/hard rock hybrid but more on the thrashy side.

Tight!

🎵 Struck Down by Overkill
💿 Killbox 13, 2003
▶️ https://song.link/y/Rp4CxiwTtvE

Ranking:

1. Under the Influence
1. The Years of Decay
3. Feel the Fire
4. From the Underground and Below
5. Bloodletting
6. Killbox 13
7. Necroshine
8. Horrorscope
9. The Killing Kind
10. W.F.O.
11. Taking Over
12. I Hear Black

#TomsMusic

24/n #Overkill #Metaljourney

Album 13/20 is called "ReliXIV" and I have questions.

Why was album no 12 called Killbox 13 and album no 13 has 14 in its name? 🤔

🎵 Within Your Eyes by Overkill
💿 ReliXIV, 2005
▶️ https://song.link/y/BqV3SoPbQeQ

#TomsMusic

25/n #Overkill #Metaljourney

Well... this is awesome 🤘

🎵 A Pound of Flesh by Overkill
💿 ReliXIV, 2005
▶️ https://song.link/y/sMgo86ZpFTs

26/n #Overkill #Metaljourney

Well... this was awesome 🤘

🎵 Old School by Overkill
💿 ReliXIV, 2005
▶️ https://song.link/y/V4_MH_GDctg

Ranking:

1. Under the Influence
1. The Years of Decay
3. Feel the Fire
4. ReliXIV
5. From the Underground and Below
6. Bloodletting
7. Killbox 13
8. Necroshine
9. Horrorscope
10. The Killing Kind
11. W.F.O.
12. Taking Over
13. I Hear Black

27/n #Overkill #Metaljourney

2:30am kid throws up
3:30am kid throws up again
4:00am kid throws up again, the dog decides to join in and throws up too
...
7:00am I get up and the dog kicks me in the nuts

Yes, only Overkill can save the day. So here is the next album on my journey, called "Immortalis".

Oh, songlink is also not working today?

*sighs*

🎵 Devils in the Mist by Overkill
💿 Immortalis, 2007
▶️ https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=01iH0HFXFJw

#TomsMusic

27/n #Overkill #Metaljourney

Ok so Immortalis is at least solid. I felt entertained however nothing really grabed my attention.

Except the one song with Lamb of God's Randy Blythe, the album closer and this one 👇

🎵 Hell Is by Overkill
💿 Immortalis, 2007
▶️ https://song.link/y/PHpF1z3rHoA

Ranking:
1 Under the Influence
1 The Years of Decay
3 Feel the Fire
4 ReliXIV
5 From the Underground and Below
6 Bloodletting
7 Killbox 13
8 Necroshine
9 Horrorscope
10 Immortalis
11 The Killing Kind
12 W.F.O.
13 Taking Over
14 I Hear Black

#TomsMusic

28/n #Overkill #Metaljourney

Here comes the first Overkill album I ever listened to.
Here comes my (spoiler alert) favourite Overkill album.
It's a big one.

Here comes Ironbound ⛓️

(I fucking love Ironbound!)

🎵 The Green and Black by Overkill
💿 Ironbound, 2010
▶️ https://song.link/y/kWG8bZ0zgMQ

#TomsMusic

29/n #Overkill #Metaljourney

This spin didn't change the fact that I fucking love Ironbound!

I don't know what it is, but somehow it has a more sophisticated sound to it. I think esp. on tracks 1 and 2 they have surpassed themselves in terms of songwriting.

This is the definite Overkill album, at least for me.

🎵 Killing for a Living by Overkill
💿 Ironbound, 2010
▶️ https://song.link/y/9-9kG9Wu4pY

Ranking:
1 Ironbound
2 Under the Influence
3 The Years of Decay
4 Feel the Fire
5 ReliXIV
6 From the Underground and Below
7 Bloodletting
8 Killbox 13
9 Necroshine
10 Horrorscope
11 Immortalis
12 The Killing Kind
13 W.F.O.
14 Taking Over
15 I Hear Black

30/n #Overkill #Metaljourney

After Ironbound comes The Electric Age and it brings us an Electric Rattlesnake - one of my favourite Overkill songs.

🔌 🪇 🐍

🎵 Electric Rattlesnake by Overkill
💿 The Electric Age, 2012
▶️ https://song.link/y/mvs9uhVTNS4

31/n #Overkill #Metaljourney

So what's there to say about The Electric Age?
It's a solid modern thrasher, not more, not less.
Electric Rattlesnake really stands out, but the rest isn't bad either. You can always put this one on if you need some modern thrash metal.

🎵 Good Night by Overkill
💿 The Electric Age, 2012
▶️ https://song.link/y/2h5kBzZqw3A

Ranking:
1 Ironbound
2 Under the Influence
3 The Years of Decay
4 Feel the Fire
5 ReliXIV
6 From the Underground and Below
7 Bloodletting
8 The Electric Age
9 Killbox 13
10 Necroshine
11 Horrorscope
12 Immortalis
13 The Killing Kind
14 W.F.O.
15 Taking Over
16 I Hear Black

32/n #Overkill #Metaljourney

On to album number 17: White Devil Armory.

It starts with an intro (is that a frist?) followed by an absolute banger 🤘

ARMORY!!!
ARMORY!!!

🎵 Armorist by Overkill
💿 White Devil Armory, 2014
▶️ https://song.link/y/qW5WGaqJXYg

#TomsMusic

33/n #Overkill #Metaljourney

I guess nowadays there's plenty of bitter pills we have to swallow.

But Bitter Pill is also one of my very favourite Overkill songs. It's so damn catchy...

*happily sings along totally ignoring the lyrics*

Blood clot ego shot mentally ill (Bitter pill)
High wire hot fire get some thrills (Bitter pill)
Open up wide take the bitter pill (Bitter pill)

🎵 Bitter Pill by Overkill
💿 White Devil Armory, 2014
▶️ https://song.link/y/EsxVT7xt-Wc

#TomsMusic

34/n #Overkill #Metaljourney

White Devil Armory ends with a fantastic album closer. Overall this album is fantastic and it proves my point that most 80s thrash metal bands peaked between the mid 2000s and 2010s. That's another hill I am willing to die on.

🎵 In the Name by Overkill
💿 White Devil Armory, 2014
▶️ https://song.link/y/5hDMwSU8hk4

Ranking:
Ironbound
Under the Influence
The Years of Decay
Feel the Fire
ReliXIV
White Devil Armory
From the Underground and Below
Bloodletting
The Electric Age
Killbox 13
Necroshine
Horrorscope
Immortalis
The Killing Kind
W.F.O.
Taking Over
I Hear Black

#TomsMusic

35/n #Overkill #Metaljourney

3rd to last album: The Grinding Wheel from 2017

I love the opener because Bobby Blitz absolutely nails the vocals. It's so damn catchy how he stresses the syllables when he rhymes. He's a master on the vocals for sure.

🎵 Mean, Green, Killing Machine by Overkill
💿 The Grinding Wheel, 2017
▶️ https://song.link/y/OFAdLIYk5ws

#TomsMusic

36/n #Overkill #Metaljourney

Overkill delivers high quality thrash metal and The Grinding Wheel is no exception.

Just like a grinding wheel Overkill keeps turning round and round and round....

(that was a reference to the title track and my favourite album closer in case you didn't notice)

🎵 The Grinding Wheel by Overkill
💿 The Grinding Wheel, 2017
▶️ https://song.link/y/AoUKGKzybFI

Ranking:
Ironbound
Under the Influence
The Years of Decay
Feel the Fire
ReliXIV
White Devil Armory
The Grinding Wheel
From the Underground and Below
Bloodletting
The Electric Age
Killbox 13
Necroshine
Horrorscope
Immortalis
The Killing Kind
W.F.O.
Taking Over
I Hear Black

37/n #Overkill #Metaljourney

"Fuck it, this ends today!" Jesus said to his Apostles.
"Fuck yeah!" they chanted back, put on some thrash metal and started a holy moshpit.

Since it is #ThrashThursday I say yes, this metal journey ends today! Only 2 more to go and they are both bangers.

In 2019 Overkill released their 19th studio album called "Wings of War" and it is - spoiler alert - one of my favourites.

🎵 Last Man Standing by Overkill
💿 Wings of War, 2019
▶️ https://song.link/y/ttzxGjx8l8k

#TomsMusic

38/n #Overkill #Metaljourney

Silvio: "Frankly, you got a problem with authority"
Tony: "All due respect, you got no fucking idea what it's like to be number one".

Start a song with a Sopranos quote and I am all yours.

Do states in the US have anthems?
Because this one should be New Jersey's anthems 👇

🎵 Welcome To The Garden State by Overkill
💿 Wings of War, 2019
▶️ https://song.link/y/0Pg8_9c3eUk

#TomsMusic

39/n #Overkill #Metaljourney

Wings of War has a different taste to it. It is very much a thrash metal album but Overkill managed to bring in new elements leaning a tiny bit towards NWOBHM.

And I love it for exactly this.

It's one of their very best and my personal no 2.

Bobby and DD, thank you!

🎵 Hole in My Soul by Overkill
💿 Wings of War, 2019
▶️ https://song.link/y/AFCkzOw-O70

Ranking:
Ironbound
Wings of War
Under the Influence
The Years of Decay
ReliXIV
White Devil Armory
Griding Wheel
Feel the Fire
From the Underground and Below
Bloodletting
The Electric Age
Killbox 13
Necroshine
Horrorscope
Immortalis
The Killing Kind
W.F.O.
Taking Over
I Hear Black

40/n # Overkill #Metaljourney

Here we are, album number 20: "Scorched".

This album was my #ThrashMetal album of the year 2023.
My runner up of the "Old Farts Still Got It" album of the #AlbumOddTheYear2023 awards and my overall no 16 of my 2023 AOTY list.

Let's see how it holds up in direct comparison to their gigantic and high quality back catalogue...

🎵 Scorched by Overkill
💿 Scorched, 2023
▶️ https://song.link/y/64eVO-at7kc

@Kitty I think this was your first Overkill album, right? Do you still hear that Bag o' Bones rattling?

#TomsMusic #ThrashThursday