When it comes to thrash metal, everybody is always talking about the big four of Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax and Slayer. Of course, these bands are phenomenal and commercially successful as well, but there were a few other bands out there that were banging away in the trenches helping pioneer the thrash metal genre as we know it. So I prefer to use the term the Magnificent Seven instead and include Exodus, Testament, and Overkill on that list. This past Monday night Charlotte played host to one of these “seven” as the New Jersey thrashers Overkill made their way to the Fillmore with a stop on “The Grinding Wheel” Tour.
I’ve always enjoyed the unique sound of Overkill . They possess all the speed necessary in a thrash metal outfit but also throw in a bit of a punk rock attitude as well and I was anxious to hear their live set. The band took the stage a little late at about 10:45 P.M. to a pretty good sized crowd for a Monday night metal show. The stage design featured a center drum riser with lighting rigs to each side emblazoned with Overkill’s “mascot” of sorts, the bat with skull face and devil horns, complete with the requisite smoke and strobe lights. The atmosphere was intense as the band launched into “Mean, Green Killing Machine” off their latest record “The Grinding Wheel.”
As green lights washed over the stage, frontman Bobby ‘Blitz’ Ellsworth whipped the crowd into a frenzy. I’ve been to a lot of shows at The Fillmore and I have to say this was probably the loudest show I have ever been to. If you stepped outside, you could literally hear the metal on the top of the building shaking as the band raised the roof to the thrash metal gods. The reaction to the new songs was amazing as they fit seamlessly in alongside Overkill classics. Bassist D.D. Verni was absolutely all over the stage posing with his bass and running back and forth while guitarists Dave Linsk and Derek Tailer let their fingers do the talking. A highlight of the set was “Feel The Fire” from Overkill’s 1985 debut album as a circle pit erupted on the lower level of the venue. Bobby’s vocals were on point all night although he seemed to run off the stage every chance he got returning just before his next verse was about to begin so I’m not sure if there was a problem or not. If there was, it didn’t affect the performance as he both sounded and looked better than ever. My personal favorite was new song “Goddamn Trouble,” a soon to be thrash classic full of attitude with a great hook and killer guitars. He took a moment to introduce touring drummer Eddy Garcia before the band launched into “Hammerhead” and “Armorist.” Blitz then asked the crowd if they had time for one more song. As one person jokingly yelled out No! Ellsworth said since he had the microphone they were gonna do one more anyway as they closed out their set with the Thin Lizzy cover “Emerald.” After a short break, Overkill returned for a three song encore closing out the night with The Subhumans tune “F*ck You.”
It was a powerful night of metal as Overkill proved they are back and more bad ass than ever. Don’t miss them when they bring their metal mayhem to a town near you.
Set List:
Mean, Green Killing Machine
Rotten To The Core
Electric Rattlesnake
Hello From The Gutter
Goddamn Trouble
Feel The Fire
Nice Day…For a Funeral
Infectious
Our Finest Hour
Hammerhead
Armorist
Emerald (Thin Lizzy Cover)
Encore:
Ironbound
Elimination
F*ck You (Subhumans Cover)
We would like to thank Kristin Torres from Nuclear Blast Records for the credentials to review the show.
