|
Overkill: Ironbound Thrash Metal E1 Music, Nuclear Blast Records February 9th, 2010
| |||
|
Review
Ironbound is easily one of the best releases that Overkill has put out in ages, and find the band going back to their Thrash roots, leaving behind much of the Groove influence that they have been pushing lately. This is quite possibly some of the best news for fans of earlier Overkill releases, since it hasn't been since the 1991 effort Horrorscope that the group really pushed the limits of the band. While much of the material released over that time period wasn't bad, it's clear that this acts last release, Immortalis, was a real wake up call due to a number of mixed reviews ranging mostly between poor and mediocre for the band. If it's not from the reviews of the bands previous effort, or efforts, then something else must have really set the band off, as the music on here is great. While not 100% away from the Groove aspect, such as during the guitar solo on the song the title track "Ironbound", there is a very heavy Thrash influence that really kicks the music into overdrive right from the very start. With fist pumping anthems like said title track, the heavy and very catchy "The Green and Black" that will grab you by the balls every second past the introduction of the track, or even the furious "Bring Me the Night" which will make you want to mosh right where you are or cause guaranteed leadfoot behind the wheel, will all cause you to salivate and make you forsake just about everything in the name of all things Overkill and Metal. It's only when "The Goal Is Your Soul" kicks in that your heart stops racing and the album starts to change things up, both in the tempo, as well as during the songs. In comparison to the start of the album, the tracks that follow are much slower, with a few exceptions, even though almost all still have that heavy punch that is expected from the band. "Give a Little" is easily the best because of how catchy and upbeat the music is against a backdrop of music that will give you a "fuck you" commanding feeling. It is in this song, as well as "The Goal Is Your Soul" that the band starts to incorporate some reall mood-altering musical change ups that, honestly, don't do much to compliment the songs. Aside all that, the track "The Head and Heart" is entertaining, but really comes off more as a filler track a good amount of the time outside of the somewhat catchy chorus, making it ultimately just come off as a filler track. Ironbound features plenty of intense Thrash tracks that will have your blood boiling, as well as a few to give your heart a break and show off the band's ability to create songs that are so infectious that they will stay lodged in your skull and beckon you to come back. There really isn't much wrong on this release, but it's enough to keep it from perfection. With what feels almost like experimental change ups in tempo on a few tracks, and only one track that you're going to lose interest in over time, it's a safe bet the Ironbound will be an album that won't be collecting dust in your collection any time soon, and will have all their loyal long time fans praising this sudden positive change in the act. It's just too bad this is not an album filled with pulse pounding Thrash attacks like the start of the album, as well as tracks like "Endless War" and "In Vain", but perhaps on the next release.
|
||||
