Metal Reviews

Thoughts on White Devil Armory?

At first I wasn't so happy with it, save a few songs. But after repeated listens it clicked and now is one of my top albums of 2014 (go figure). It's not all pure thrash, some definite groovers in there, but they still rock hard and when they thrash they still do it with the best of them.

I will hear some White Devil Armory tracks live in 8 days from now. Excited!

It's a slightly lesser Ironbound/The Electric Age in my opinion which means it's still a great album. I'm still amazed at Overkill's return to form of the last three albums.
What's great about it: it's a tad more varied than his two predecessors.
What's not so great: it doesn't thrash as hard or as convincingly that the two before did.
I'd still rate it around 90 because, well, to put it mildly, Overkill slays and are, hands down, the best thing in thrash metal nowadays.

I agree with Frenchie. Not quite on par with the previous two but still a skull crusher. It definitely grows on you more with each listen. Over the last few records, the band has managed to find a nice balance between the speedier thrash of yesteryear and their more groove centered 90's period. Freedoms Rings and Another Day to Die are my top tracks and hopefully one of them will make it into their live set on their upcoming tour. Horns up, bitches!!

There are a couple of real killers here, but everything doesn't quite rip into me like on Ironbound and Electric Age. Still the best thrash album of the year.

Where There's Smoke has restored my faith in humanity. At least we (human beings) can still write a good thrashing tune.

My roommates probably hate this song by now.

What are peoples thoughts on Immortalis? That album never gets any lover on here, or anywhere. Sure Ironbound made it look childish by comparison, but it is still a solid album with some serious thrashers on there. Just weakened by the production (and that asshole from Lamb of God). Devils In the Mist, Charlie Get Your Gun, Hell Is, Overkill V, all solid solid songs.

It's not bad but, in the same style, I think Killbox 13 is way better.
I'd give it around 65.

Besides WDA, Killbox is my newest Overkill album and I just can't get into it. Much prefer Immortalis.

Really? It clicked with me on the first spin while I still struggle to find ReliXIV and Immortalis to be more than lesser versions of it.

More listens are definitely needed on my end. I've maybe only listened to it 3-4 times in full. Too much groove, I was expecting THRASH. Immoratalis has more THRASH, if you know what I mean.

I agree that Reli isn't so hot. Gets pretty hard on the ears after a few songs.

I remember liking Immortalis more than Killbox but I haven't listened to either in quite awhile. Will have to dig them up and give each a spin before I can comment further.

Speaking of underappreciated Overkill records, From the Underground...And Below gets regrettably little attention as well. Definitely their high point from the mid to late 90's.

I'll take Necroshine and Bloodletting over FTUAB, but it's still a solid album.

I don't think Overkill has ever released a bad album anyway, even I Hear Black is pretty decent.

LOL, I Hear Black was my first Overkill-album

Necroshine and Feel the Fire for me! Quite the difference in styles for my first two albums. Hearing Necroshine live is just crushing...

They've put out some records that are pretty 'meh' but never anything approaching Risk or St. Anger territory. Testament is the only old school American thrash band that comes close to matching their consistency over time. I like Skolnick fine but I wished they would have kept James Murphy and continued in the same vein as The Gathering.

Testament is the most overrated metal band next to Metallica. Their debut was ok... Some cool riffs and solos on the newer stuff, but it's really quite forgettable stuff.

My opinion obviously. Just never got the love for Testament. All sounds the same to me.

I wholeheartedly agree with Devy on Testatment though I quite enjoyed their latest and love their debut.

Back on topic, I think it's time to consider Overkill for what they are: the greatest thrash band that ever was.

Are you referring to thrash or just metal in general? If it's the latter, then that's a pretty bold statement considering the amount of mainstream metalcore hackery that exists today.