#2 Horrorscope (1991)
The follow-up to “The Years of Decay” came in 1991 and included a major lineup change for Overkill. Original guitar player, and lead song-writer, Bobby Gustafson had left the band and was replaced with 2 guitarists – Merritt Gant and Rob Cannavino. This turned the band from a 4 to a 5 piece outfit. Despite the turnover, “Horrorscope” is great example of peak Overkill. As with “The Years of Decay”, if you are a metal fan of any sort, this album is a must own. It is more varied than the prior but just as hard-hitting. Adding a second guitar player also adds another dimension to the group that wasn’t possible previously. I argue that the lyrical content of this album is superior to “The Years of Decay”, especially the title-track “Horrorscope”, which contains one of my all-time favorite lyric sections: Hearing the words and said/rings like a nail to the head/now I can see the stars/I know we have gone too far.
In addition, songs like “New Machine”, “Live Young, Die Free”, and especially “Nice Day…For A Funeral” are some of the most well-crafted and arranged songs the band has ever produced. The only thing holding this album back from being ranked #1 is a vocal performance that takes a step-back from “The Years of Decay”. It is still classic Ellsworth but does not feel quite as effortless as the previous album.
Highlights: Again, you can’t go wrong with any song here, but my personal favorites are “Coma”, “Horrorscope”, “New Machine”, and “Live Young, Die Free”.
#1 The Years of Decay (1989)
Let me emphasis this: if you are a metal fan this album is a must own. Overkill’s 4th studio album, and final with guitarist Bobby Gustafson before a falling out, was 1989’s “The Years of Decay”. The album is a grittier and more polished album than it’s predecessors. From the moment the first track emerges from the silence and Bobby Ellsworth lets out that guttural scream the album is off and running. This record is the perfect combination of musicianship, vocal quality, ferocity, song-writing, inspiration, and production quality. This album is peak Overkill in every sense and includes, arguably, the best vocal performance ever laid down by Ellsworth. When I think about pure and superior Thrash Metal, this album immediately comes to mind. It represents the ideal manifestation of heavy metal.
Highlights: Virtually every song here is dynamic, well-written, interesting, and groundbreaking but if I must choose favorites “Time to Kill“, “Nothing to Die For“, “Playing with Spiders/Skullcrusher“, and “Evil Never Dies” stand-out as some of Overkill’s best work (even though “Elimination” may be the most recognized). I’m just disappointed they didn’t play the album in its entirety for the 30th anniversary in 2019!
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