Dave from Rocket Science just has posted the test pressing of JAG PANZER’s epochal “Ample Destruction” LP. In honor of both his (underappreciated) blog and JAG PANZER, here’s my instant reply.
OVERKILL belonged to the same wave of NWOBHM-inspired U.S. Metal and long before everybody else, OVERKILL coined the Power Metal tag. But unlike JAG PANZER who released their first vinyl in 1983, OVERKILL’s debut didn’t come out until 1984. If my memory doesn’t fail me, it had been in the making for quite some time but the band had problem finding the right label for this. Weird, because OVERKILL had become extremely popular in the underground circus with the “Power in Black” demo and I think that was in 83 still. So in the end, they were on the same label that had also brought us JAG PANZER.
However – the selftitled 12″ destroys everything they ever recorded: Listen to this orgy of riffs! Bobby “Blitz” Elsworth’s vocals might take a bit of time to get used to, but actually his singing adds much to the unique power of OVERKILL. After this 12″, I didn’t really follow the band’s numerous later releases. This had to do with the fact that Hardcore took things completely over in my music world, but it was also due to OVERKILL turning into one of these “trademark” bands. Did I miss something?
All four songs here on are top class Metal with a bit of a “punky” (Motörhead-esque) finish. “Rotten to the Core” became one of the band’s most popular songs and I think it was re-done on a later album. “Fatal if swallowed” has these insane rhythm and riff-changes that make your backbones break. “The Answer” is a heavy and doomy destroyer and the closing “Overkill” reveals even more of that typical horror movie soundtrack inspired song writing. Sounds a bit like coming from a John Carpenter flick, doesn’t it?
1500 made of this. Sold out immediately after release and has ever been kinda hard to get, though eBay made it simpler.
This one goes out, just like Dave’s post, to those who there in the early 80s.
Rotten to the Core.mp3
Fatal if swallowed.mp3
The Answer.mp3
Overkill.mp3
17 Comments
What a great record Erich. The next full length Feel The Fire is a worthy Lp as well. I actually saw Overkill many times in the early-mid eighties at Lamours in Brooklyn, NY. You know after seeing this post I realized what a special period of time it was for heavy metal between 1983 – 1985. Many many classic Lp’s were released in this time period by Slayer, Anthrax,Mercyful Fate, Metallica, Jag Panzer and so on. It was a period of time where it felt like every time I bought a new record that record was heavier than anything that had been released before. It was truly a defining moment in heavy metal history, and a creative zenith for heavy metal in my opinion. .
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hi admin. first off thanks a bunch for the greatest blog ever. I never really noticed over kill nack in the old days but this is a real winner! has this ever been re-issued?
one question. do you know what this is?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=140248828208&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=004
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Jb’s: This is the special version of the 2nd press. 100 copies were made of this two colored wax, they were all totally unique colorwise. Unfortunately sold all my own copies, only kept one gold vinyl 1st press.
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Erich, it looks like the files did not upload for this one.
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None of the links work.
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THis is a great record but I don´t get the liks to work, is it only me?
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They work now. Weird, don’t know what the problem was.
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Yep now they work.
I don´t really remember when I heard Overkill the first time but I guess it was around when they released Taking over and In union we stand started to spin at Monsters of Rock at Sky Channel. I liked them alot back then and still thinks that the old stuff is great. I still regret not going to a show back in the late 90s in the neighbour town here in Sweden when they played with Anvil in a really small place. I don´t think that there were more than 100 people there.
Great that you upload more metal btw.
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Thanks for posting this! Your blog is the best!!
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Damn, James – you’re totally right with this!
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these guys are coming thru Oklahoma soon,hopefuly they’ll play something off this record.Overkill’s newer releases are 50/50 good/bad so this band fits on this blog just fine.
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I just picked these tracks up as it comes with the CD “Fuck You and then some”, and I also got Feel the Fire. Great stuff, I will probably catch them in October when they swing by my area.
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I cant believe how good this is…
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Great !!!
Unfortunately only the left channel works on “Rotten To The Core”
Right?
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Admin Reply:
August 31st, 2010 at 14:28
Funny nobody noticed this before (and neither did I). Don’t know what happened here.
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Will be fixed or originally recorded like this?
Thanks
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actually i did notice that the first song only came out of the left speaker but for some weird reason i just thought it was recorded like that. don’t know why i thought that. great ep by the way. the song overkill is just great.
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Nice recent Repost about Overkill (other band, 1982)
And for this one, “Rotten To The Core†with the two channels
Soon?
Thanks
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Admin Reply:
March 17th, 2011 at 10:42
I checked your email and it appears like you have never donated to keep the blog up running. How about a nice donation soon?
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