LIVE: OVERKILL, Perth – 4 Mar, 2018

Shane | 6 March 2018 | Reply

LIVE: OVERKILL, Perth – 4 Mar, 2018
The Rosemount, North Perth – Sunday, 4 March, 2018
Reviewed by Karl Infirri

Overkill are a thrash metal band from the east coast of the United States, and many of their fans consider them one of the forefathers of Thrash Metal. A lot of metalheads out there always refer to the ‘Big Four’ when they think of the kings of thrash – Slayer, Metallica, Megadeth and Anthrax, with other acts like Kreator, Exodus and Testament having their name thrown around a lot too. I have heard of all of those bands and seen almost all of them perform – but I hadn’t really heard much of, if any, Overkill before Sunday night’s long weekend show at the Rosemount Hotel.

Cold Fate opened the show with a tight and inspired set. Vocalist Paul Di Scerni was on fire, and the cadence of his vocal melodies were quite impressive. The band was solid and despite the fact I am probably moreso considered a tourist in the world of thrash, I found these guys very entertaining to watch. At times I have a hard time watching local acts perform, but in this instance I thoroughly enjoyed it. Props to the lead guitarist as well, this is one dude with skill!

I had seen Entropy perform once before, opening for Vader and Kreator several months back. Entropy are a little different from the other bands on this bill, which I feel wasn’t a bad thing at all to have some slight variety from straight up thrash to a more groove based style of metal. I thought they performed well and big props to their drummer Jacob Sewell was 100% on point the whole set like a hardcore champion. Great stuff.

Finally at around 10:30, on came Overkill. There’s something about these early ’80s thrash singers that doesn’t age at all. I’m not just talking about the constant unbridled passion vocalist Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth displayed throughout the whole set, but the command the man had over the crowd was to me the most impressive attribute displayed throughout the show. The band as a whole are just consummate professionals that know how to give the performance necessary for their target thrash metalhead audience.

Blitz had the people in the palm of his hand from the get-go, and is quite clearly a performer with charisma and experience that todays artists could learn a thing or two from – bringing a frenetic energy that many frontmen would kill for.

The best way to describe Overkill is relentless. They are relentless in their way of attacking the music – and the stage – like they’re going to war for their people. I was in a daze, it was mesmerising. Am I laying it on too thick here? I think you get it by now: This was one enjoyable show.

After 38 years and 18 studio albums, it’s clear that Overkill still have the same passion for their music than ever, and they brought their A-Game to Perth.

Setlist:
Mean, Green, Killing Machine
Rotten to the Core
Electric Rattlesnake
Hello From the Gutter
In Union We Stand
Goddamn Trouble
Wrecking Crew
I Hate
Horrorscope
Coma
Infectious
Hammerhead

Encore:
Elimination
Fuck You (The Subhumans cover)
Overkill (Motörhead cover)