Album of the Week 14-2023: OverKill – Scorched
Veteran thrash metal bands are in a curious position when it comes to new material. Their audiences don’t expect them to be as impressed by a new album as they were by their classic releases. It just needs to be good enough to keep the tour bus rolling for a few more years and if it produces one or two new setlist staples, that would be a nice bonus. OverKill apparently never got that memo. Their twenty-first century albums ‘Killbox 13’, ‘Ironbound’ and ‘White Devil Armory’ are all among their best work. ‘Scorched’ might just be as well, as it is their most dynamic album in a long time.
In a way, those who have followed OverKill for a while know exactly what to expect. Their blend of thrash metal riffs and punky aggression made them the quintessential East Coast thrash metal band and the clear nods to Black Sabbath that have been a part of the band’s sound since the nineties – completely changing the tone of the song halfway through, occasional doomy riffs – are as prominent as ever. ‘Scorched’ is just made an above-average album due to how this framework is colored in this time around, with a slightly incresed emphasis on traditional heavy metal elements and a more lively sonic approach.
What definitely helps ‘Scorched’ sound as good as it does is the fact that the sound is notably more organic than the norm for modern OverKill albums. Jason Bittner’s drums actually sound like a person hitting the skins of a drum kit and the guitars are notably less compressed. This allows the music to occasionally take on an almost rock ‘n’ roll-ish vibe, despite the unbridled thrash energy that is heard here. The solo section of the opening title track even feels uncharacteristically loose and jam-heavy for such a tight metal band. And what about the subtle percussion in the crushing doom track ‘Fever’?
OverKill’s best latter-day albums always contain songs that should become classics. ‘Scorched’ has ‘Won’t Be Comin’ Back’, which almost feels like a blend of classic OverKill and Accept. It has surprisingly beautiful melodies, a driving rhythm, Bobby ‘Blitz’ Ellsworth sings like a man half his age and the song just gave me goosebumps. If it’s ripping thrash you’re after, ‘Harder They Fall’ and especially the incredible ‘Twist of the Wick’ have got you covered. The way the latter toys with time feel is just awesome. ‘Know Her Name’ is paced less frantically, but is one of the more interestingly-structured songs on the album.
The simple fact that ‘Scorched’ is significantly better than it needs to be says all you need to know about OverKill’s sense of quality control. It is easily down their best album since ‘White Devil Armory’, possibly since ‘Ironbound’. You could say that it’s just OverKill doing what they do best, but that would seriously be underselling the lively energy and the improved songwriting on the album. Several songs on here deserve to be part of the band’s setlist from now on. ‘Scorched’ serves as evidence of why OverKill has such a loyal fanbase: they consistently deliver and sometimes even more than that. This is one of those times.
Recommended tracks: ‘Won’t Be Comin’ Back’, ‘Twist of the Wick’, ‘Know Her Name’
Kevy Metal 
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