Overkill

LIGHT THE MATCH! Setting the scene ablaze, the rough and rowdy OVERKILL have reappeared to bludgeon your ears with their twentieth, that’s right, twentieth studio album: SCORCHED. For four decades their bottom line crazy method of thrash has produced some of the most signature moments in the world of metal. Now in the latter half of their career, all the experience is showing face with SCORCHED as it somehow rings more mature, refined, and embellished with hints of more than just thrash metal. “It’s not aggression for the sake of aggression,” explains vocalist Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth, “there are a lot of different elements on the record. To me, it’s more heavy metal, and less of an outright thrash record. There’s a hell of a lot of melody on it.” Delving into writing right at the onset of 2020’s pandemic provoked not just inspiration, but the ability to move through the album making process with ease and lack of pressure. Taking over two and a half years to reach completion, SCORCHED absorbed a ton of the energy from the ups and downs of the daily grind and contemporary turmoil. “My first stab at these lyrics was excited and amped up. The second phase was a bit more depressing; darker,” describes Blitz. In the end, it reflected a wide spectrum of emotions. “It was a whirlwind. The world said: ‘enough of this bullshit,’ put their foot down, and came out of it. Our record shows that. It’s spinning something that was darker into something brighter.” Artist Travis Smith who has progressed right along with the band for their last several albums, returned to create the SCORCHED artwork. “We wanted something that said conflict,” remarked Blitz. “It’s funny; when you have conflict, no matter how different the other side feels, you realize you’re exactly the same and that’s kinda what the artwork reflects.” Adorning the front of the album are two dueling serpent Chalys hissing at one another amidst a molton pool of flames. “The fire represents the origins of the band. Looking back to Feel The Fire in 1985 and then culminating in 2023 with a title like SCORCHED, we have the same kinda personality, the same kinda drive. Travis is a real artist and is constantly creating new ideas in his brain that align with the evolution of OVERKILL.”