W.F.O.

About

Unlike its peers, Overkill had no trouble adapting to the rapid stylistic changes of the '90s; in fact, the band used changing trends as an excuse to reconnect with its roots. 1994’s <i>W.F.O.</i> was Overkill's most punk-influenced album since its very first release. Songs like “Fast Junkie,” “Where It Hurts," and “They Eat Their Young” have as much in common with Bad Brains and <i>Let There Be Rock</i>–era AC/DC as they do Metallica. It was clear that Overkill had at least temporarily abandoned the alt-rock experiments of <i>I Hear Black</i> in favor of a renewed campaign of ferocity. Thanks to the double-stacked guitars of Merritt Grant and Rob Cannavino, a song like “What’s Your Problem” is at once stealthy and bombastic. As the band rekindles its youthful anger, singer Bobby Ellsworth sounds grittier than ever. His voice shows a new edge on “Supersonic Hate” and “Up to Zero,” with the operatic yelps of the '80s replaced by a guttural growl. Stripped-down, lean, and right to the point, <i>W.F.O.</i> shows why Overkill remained one of the genre’s most respected outfits, even at a time when thrash itself was in danger of extinction.

via Apple Music

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