Overkill have cancelled their upcoming UK/European dates. The band commented:
“Due to unforeseen circumstances we are sorry to announce that we are having to cancel our UK/Ireland and Essen Dates. We will hopefully be able to make it up for those shows in 2023.”
During a recent interview with Hardrock Haven, Overkill bassist D.D. Verni talked a bit about the band’s new album. According to him, the effort will be “a little bit more doomy.”
Verni said the following:
“All the drums are done. All the guitars are done. I still have to do the bass. Blitz [Bobby Ellsworth, OVERKILL singer] has gotta get to his vocals. But I had almost all of it written when we went out on the tour before COVID, ’cause that’s where we were in our cycle. So I had to have my part — the music for the record — pretty much done. I had two songs left that I had to do when I got back home. ‘Cause that’s where we needed to be, ’cause the record was supposed to come out in the fall of that year or whenever. But then we were, like, ‘We’ve got a little extra time.’ And then we had more extra time.”
“It was funny, because usually I’ll kind of demo up everything at home, all the songs, and I’ll send it out to the guys, and then they’ll learn the stuff from the demo and then we’ll get together and play. [And then we’ll decide] ‘Maybe it should be faster or slower’ — we kind of noodle around till it feels good in the room. But we weren’t able to do that ’cause of COVID. But now that it’s taken so long, we could have done that. So, I don’t know exactly… This one’s still gonna be a bit of an odd record ’cause it was kind of done all remotely — everything. We’re gonna put out a record of songs that we’ve not one single time stood in a room and played together.”
He also added the following about the musical direction:
“Compared to the other ones… It’s hard to say. It’s maybe got a little bit more SABBATH-y kind of parts in it, a little bit more doomy.
I know Colin Richardson’s gonna mix it. Poor Colin. We thought we were gonna do it, and then we pushed him off, and then we pushed him off again, and then we pushed him off again. An we said, ‘You know what? We’ll call you when we’re ready.’ So whenever that’s gonna be, we’ll call him again. But we’re psyched about that ’cause he’s just great. He’s a great mixer and a great producer. So if nothing else, it’ll sound great.”
[via Blabbermouth]
During a recent interview with 69 Faces Of Rock, Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth offered an update on the new Overkill album. According to him, the band are tentatively planning to release the effort in April 2023.
Ellsworth said the following:
“We didn’t record all the parts yet. We like to keep it as fresh as possible. The drums are done; the guitars are done. D.D. [Verni] and I need to sit down and finalize a few things. We’re looking for an April 2023 release, followed by a European tour.”
He also added the following about the record’s musical direction:
“It’s gonna be hard to figure it out for me until it actually takes shape. It seems a little bit more eclectic for us. It’s riff driven, not rhythm driven. The songs will contain two or three different riffs throughout it — the main [riff] and then two that are kind of secondary riffs, which I think is a little bit unique for us, to be singing over something like that. Heavy, of course. I mean, there’s some sledgehammer stuff on it — that kind of big, thick groove. I think the other side of it is that it shows kind of experienced speed, would be the word. Some of them just take off.”
[via Blabbermouth]
Overkill guitarist Dave Linsk will be missing the band’s spring tour due to “personal reasons.” During his absence, Phil Demmel (Vio-lence, ex-Machine Head) will be filling in.
Frontman Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth told the Chicago Tribune the following:
“We’ve used Phil in the past when we’ve had issues. We’re prepared. We’re ready. It’s not about the strength of the individual but about the strength of the unit. We found that out with Phil when he stepped in. It’s just nice to be able to do what you do whether you’re the concertgoer or whether you’re the concert performer. Let’s get back to normal. Let’s do what we do best. Let’s have a little bit of fun.”
Tour Dates (with Prong):
03/03 Poughkeepsie, NY – The Chance
03/04 Worcester, MA – The Palladium
03/05 Pittsburgh, PA – Jergels
03/06 Cleveland, OH – House Of Blues
03/07 Columbus, OH – The King Of Clubs
03/08 Detroit, MI – Harpo’s
03/09 Ft. Wayne, IN – Piere’s
03/10 Chicago, IL – Concord
03/11 Cincinnati, OH – Bogart’s
03/12 Asheville, NC – Orange Peel
03/13 Orlando, FL – House Of Blues
03/14 Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Revolution
03/16 Silver Springs, MD – The Fillmore
03/17 New Haven, CT – Toad’s Place
03/18 New York, NY – Palladium
03/19 Stroudsburg, PA – Sherman Theatre
During an interview with Blabbermouth, Phil Demmel (Vio-lence, ex-Machine Head) discussed his work as a fill-in guitarist. For those unaware, the musician has filled in for a number of heavy hitters in recent years including Slayer in 2018, Overkill last year, and Lamb Of God this year.
Demmel said the following:
“The SLAYER thing happened within 24 hours of me quitting MACHINE HEAD. I think [SLAYER drummer] Paul Bostaph’s girlfriend knew that MACHINE HEAD was done and knew that I was home, so they reached out for that. As the urban legend goes [laughs], I had three hours to learn 19 songs. It was pretty successful; a fill-in trip, one of the higher-profile things you can imagine — SLAYER on their final world tour. I filled in for my buddies in NONPOINT, too. The OVERKILL gig was more about me and Bobby [Ellsworth, vocals] doing the BPMD record together [2020’s ‘American Made’]. We’re familiar and I got the rep of being able to learn songs pretty quick. The METAL ALLEGIANCE, guys, too. I’ll play 25 songs with them in a night. It’s one of those quirky things where I can learn songs pretty quickly and I can pick them up pretty quick.”
“I was pretty confident with the OVERKILL songs. We had three good rehearsals. I didn’t rehearse with SLAYER at all. I played two songs at a soundcheck. [Laughs] ‘Okay, we’re good!’ It’s like, ‘Fuck!’ OVERKILL, we had a couple of days of rehearsal. I had two and a half, three weeks to prepare for that. I felt pretty strong with that.”
“The LAMB OF GOD gig, that was a big deal. They had approached me before their MEGADETH States tour last summer and wanted me to learn both parts, Mark [Morton] and Willie’s, just in case one got sick, they didn’t want to cancel their tour. That’s where I am: I’m their bullpen guy when one of them can’t make the shows, I’m ready to go. It’s such a high-profile band. I didn’t want to go out there and blow it. I wanted the band to sound good. I wanted to keep that pride in what they are and not have a drop-off. Willie and I play differently. There’s different vibrato in our left-hand and pinkies. I didn’t want there to be a drop-off. I wanted people to be not-bummed that he wasn’t there. And that’s not a slag on Willie. If I went to see one of my favorite bands, let’s say QUEENSRŸCHE. I want to see [Chris] DeGarmo, I want to see Michael Wilton. No slight against the other dudes, but they better fucking bring it if they’re not going to be out there.”
Overkill have announced a March headlining tour. Prong will serve as support. Here’s the dates:
03/03 Poughkeepsie, NY – The Chance
03/04 Worcester, MA – The Palladium
03/05 Pittsburgh, PA – Jergels
03/06 Cleveland, OH – House Of Blues
03/07 Columbus, OH – The King Of Clubs
03/08 Detroit, MI – Harpo’s
03/09 Ft. Wayne, IN – Piere’s
03/10 Chicago, IL – Concord
03/11 Cincinnati, OH – Bogart’s
03/12 Asheville, NC – Orange Peel
03/13 Orlando, FL – House Of Blues
03/14 Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Revolution
03/16 Silver Springs, MD – The Fillmore
03/17 New Haven, CT – Toad’s Place
03/18 New York, NY – Palladium
03/19 Stroudsburg, PA – Sherman Theatre
Overkill have revealed that guitarist Dave Linsk will be sitting out their November 13 show at The Wellmont Theater in Montclair, NJ. During his absence, Phil Demmel (Vio-lence, ex-Machine Head) will be filling in.
Frontman Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth commented:
“We had a few issues getting this rescheduled show together. But to hell with the issues, we all have problems. And wouldn’t you know it, our bro and yours Phil Demmel to the rescue. The show must and will go on. See you at the Welmomt Jersey…”
Demmel continued:
“So excited to jam with my bros in Overkill in New Jersey. I’m neck-deep in learning the parts and expect a raging show.”
Drummer Jason Bittner added:
“Even though I am disappointed that our very own Dave Linsk can not participate in this show, I am more than psyched and confident that my longtime friend Phil Demmel will get the job done for us. We have a long history together playing a bunch of NAMM events and have toured together in the past, so this should be a lot of fun.”
Overkill will be releasing a new box set titled “The Atlantic Years 1986 – 1994“ on October 29. The set is available to pre-order on CD and vinyl and it will feature the following records: “Taking Over,“ “Under The Influence,“ “The Years Of Decay,“ “Horroscope,“ “I Hear Black,“ and “W.F.O.“
During a recent appearance on SiriusXM’s “Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk,” D.D. Verni offered an update on the new Overkill album. According to him, the band will “probably start mixing [the effort] in the fall.”
Verni said the following:
“We’re still recording. The record’s done, for the most part, but we’re still recording — still some bass, still some vocals, a good amount of that to be done. We’ll probably start mixing in the fall, is what I would think — something like that. And we have Colin Richardson set up to mix the record. He’s done a few records for us in the past, and we’re psyched about it. He’s done a ton of stuff — SLIPKNOT, MACHINE HEAD… Just a great mix guy. So we’re psyched to get him back on board.”
He continued when asked about release plans:
“We’re probably looking at a record and tour… Like everybody, we’ve had tours all around the time [of the pandemic] that we just keep canceling and moving. So the newest moving one is to be out in the States in March, with the record, and then after that in Europe end of April into May. That’s currently what’s on the books. But as the months go by, as it gets better, as it gets worse — who the hell knows? That’s the current plan.”
[via Blabbermouth]
Overkill have officially announced the rescheduled date for their show at The Wellmont Theater in Montclair, New Jersey. The event, which is now being called “609 F!!kin’ Days Later,” will take place on November 13 and it will also feature Demolition Hammer and Sworn Enemy.
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