Music >> Artists >> Rock
Formed:
1980 in Old Bridge Township, NJ

Genre:
Rock

Years Active:
'80s, '90s, '00s, '10s






Overkill

Biography

New Jersey thrash quartet Overkill were formed in 1980 by vocalist Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth and guitarist Bobby Gustafson, and also included bassist D.D. Verni and drummer Rat Skates (later replaced by Sid Falck). The band garnered a reputation for brutal, pounding speed and technique, but lacked the musical diversity to compete with heavy hitters like Metallica; still, Overkill built up a strong following in the metal underground with albums like 1985's Taking Over and 1988's Under the Influence. Gustafson quit in 1989 following the Years of Decay album, and was replaced by Rob Cannavino and Merritt Gant. The band recorded its most effective and varied album, Horrorscope, in 1991; drummer Tim Mallare took over on 1993's I Hear Black. Overkill's final major-label release was 1994's W.F.O, after which the band moved to CMC International. With a new guitar team of Joe Comeau and Sebastian Marino, Overkill recorded albums like 1996's The Killing Kind, 1997's From the Underground and Below, and 1999's Necroshine. Also issued in 1999, Coverkill celebrated the band's influences with renditions of songs by Black Sabbath, Jethro Tull, the Sex Pistols, and others.. New Jersey thrash quartet Overkill were formed in 1980 by vocalist Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth and guitarist Bobby Gustafson, and also included bassist D.D. Verni and drummer Rat Skates (later replaced by Sid Falck). The band garnered a reputation for brutal, pounding speed and technique, but lacked the musical diversity to compete with heavy hitters like Metallica; still, Overkill built up a strong following in the metal underground with albums like 1985's Taking Over and 1988's Under the Influence. Gustafson quit in 1989 following the Years of Decay album, and was replaced by Rob Cannavino and Merritt Gant. The band recorded its most effective and varied album, Horrorscope, in 1991; drummer Tim Mallare took over on 1993's I Hear Black. Overkill's final major-label release was 1994's W.F.O, after which the band moved to CMC International. With a new guitar team of Joe Comeau and Sebastian Marino, Overkill recorded albums like 1996's The Killing Kind, 1997's From the Underground and Below, and 1999's Necroshine. Also issued in 1999, Coverkill celebrated the band's influences with renditions of songs by Black Sabbath, Jethro Tull, the Sex Pistols, and others.

Overkill soldiered on into the year 2000 with Bloodletting and recorded the following tour for a live album, 2002's Live from Asbury Park. While on tour for their last two efforts, Ellsworth collapsed on-stage in Germany after suffering a mild stroke. It would prove to be a minor setback, however, as the band continued to not only put out albums, but also to refine its sound, starting with 2003's Killbox 13 and continuing on with 2005's ReliXIV and 2007's Immortalis. In 2010, Overkill really experienced a new resurgence with the release of Ironbound, which even found the band making an appearance on the Billboard charts. They followed up with another album of classic thrash in 2012 with The Electric Age. Ellsworth suffered another health-related setback the following year, having to cancel some tour dates after contracting mild pneumonia. He soon bounced back, however, and, riding their new wave of success, they plunged back into the studio to record another fan-pleasing album of breakneck thrash. Titled White Devil Armory, it was released in July of 2014 through Nuclear Blast.

Top Albums

White Devil Armory (Deluxe Edition), Overkill
1. White Devil ..
The Electric Age, Overkill
2. The Electric..
Ironbound, Overkill
3. Ironbound
The Years of Decay, Overkill
4. The Years of..
Taking Over, Overkill
5. Taking Over
Horrorscope, Overkill
6. Horrorscope
Under the Influence, Overkill
7. Under the In..
Feel the Fire, Overkill
8. Feel the Fir..
I Hear Black, Overkill
9. I Hear Black
F**k You and Then Some, Overkill
10. F**k You and..
W.F.O., Overkill
11. W.F.O.
Immortalis / Live At Wacken, Overkill
12. Immortalis /..
The Electric Age (Deluxe Edition), Overkill
13. The Electric..
Necroshine, Overkill
14. Necroshine
From the Underground and Below, Overkill
15. From the Und..
The Killing Kind, Overkill
16. The Killing ..
From the Underground and Below, Overkill
17. From the Und..
Then and Now, Overkill
18. Then and Now
Wish You Were Dead - Single, Overkill
19. Wish You Wer..
Electric Rattlesnake - Single, Overkill
20. Electric Rat..

Top Songs

NameAlbumTimePrice
1.
Bitter PillWhite Devil Armory (Deluxe ..5:48$1.29
2.
Miss Misery (feat. Mark Tornillo) [B..White Devil Armory (Deluxe ..4:31$1.29
3.
Fight Song (Bonus Track)White Devil Armory (Deluxe ..5:13$1.29
4.
ArmoristWhite Devil Armory (Deluxe ..3:53$1.29
5.
PigWhite Devil Armory (Deluxe ..5:21$1.29
6.
Down To the BoneWhite Devil Armory (Deluxe ..4:04$1.29
7.
In the NameWhite Devil Armory (Deluxe ..6:03$1.29
8.
It's All YoursWhite Devil Armory (Deluxe ..4:26$1.29
9.
King of the Rat BastardsWhite Devil Armory (Deluxe ..4:09$1.29
10.
Another Day To DieWhite Devil Armory (Deluxe ..4:56$1.29
11.
Freedom RingsWhite Devil Armory (Deluxe ..6:52$1.29
12.
Where There's SmokeWhite Devil Armory (Deluxe ..4:20$1.29
13.
XdmWhite Devil Armory (Deluxe ..0:49$1.29
14.
Rotten To the Core (Live)Live At Wacken 2012 (Deluxe..5:22$1.29
15.
Ironbound (Live)Live At Wacken 2012 (Deluxe..6:38$1.29
16.
Electric Rattlesnake (Live)Live At Wacken 2012 (Deluxe..6:13$1.29
17.
Ironbound (Live)Live At Wacken 20126:38$1.29
18.
Little Bit O' MurderFrom the Underground and Be..4:09$0.99
19.
PromisesFrom the Underground and Be..4:49$0.99
20.
Rip n' TearFrom the Underground and Be..4:18$0.99
21.
I'm AlrightFrom the Underground and Be..5:49$0.99
22.
F.U.C.T.From the Underground and Be..4:55$0.99
23.
Half Past DeadFrom the Underground and Be..5:30$0.99
24.
GenocyaFrom the Underground and Be..4:45$0.99
25.
Long Time Dyin'From the Underground and Be..4:53$0.99

Top Music Videos

Hello from the Gutter, Overkill
1. Hello from th...
Bring Me the Night (Director's Cut), Overkill
2. Bring Me the ...
Electric Rattlesnake, Overkill
3. Electric Ratt...


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