Yes – it’s Overkill again! They never get tired of making ripping metal pieces and here is the new one: White Devil Armory. It’s fast, thrashy and got those vocals we all like to roar along with; a modern high class production with the typical Overkill sound. Crunchy Bass, rough and aggressive guitars, plus “Blitz“ who shouts with all his might.
The album contains 11 songs, including an atmospheric intro “Armorist“ - the first single and opener - does a great job representing the speed and mood. Every song has its catchy riffs and vocal lines, so as “PIG“- this one is rolling straight and ends with a breaking headbang-part. That’s where “Down To the Bone“ starts - crashing drums lead into a neck-breaking mid-tempo song. I am talking of a mid-tempo in an Overkill style. “King of the Rat Bastards“ or “Another Day to Die“ might be not the fastest, but they are fast forward through and through. If you like the touch of old-school rock'n'roll then listen to “It's all Yours“ and “In the name“. Those tracks make up a perfect combination of speed metal and classic rock. Shuffle your head, dude!
Now for some negative criticisms; the whole sound is way too modern in my opinion. Everything sounds great, but where is the roughness that gives the album its character? I also miss one extreme atmospheric song, though “Bitter Pill“ is quite moody. I can't get rid of the feeling this album is manufactured to dimension.
Yet “White Devil Armory“ is great to listen to and it’s the f***ing 17th studio album. I think everybody would agree with me when I say: It’s “The big five“, because Overkill never fails and should belong to that kind of category: simply good from the beginning to this present day.
Exx Tom, HMS
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