Ironbound is the fifteenth full length studio album by American thrash metal band Overkill, which was released on January 29, 2010 in Europe on Nuclear Blast Records and in the U.S. on February 9, 2010 on E1 Music. It is their first studio album in more than two years since the release of Immortalis in the fall of 2007, and their first release on their current labels Nuclear Blast and E1 Music.

Reception

Ironbound was given highly positive reviews with vocalist, Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth, being a main point of critical acclaim. Chad Bowar of About.com states, "What makes Overkill stand out is vocalist Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth, whose high pitched singing is unique and instantly recognizable. He's able to dial it down and sing in a lower range, but can wail when it's required."http A review from Blabbermouth.net says, ""Ironbound" is one of, if not the most ripping collection of tunes this legendary act has laid to tape."

Charts

Credits

* Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth - Lead vocals

* Dave Linsk - Lead guitar, Backing vocals

* Derek Tailer - Rhythm guitar, Backing vocals

* D.D. Verni - Bass, Backing vocals

* Ron Lipnicki - Drums

References

Category:Overkill albums

Category:2010 albums

it:Ironbound

pt:Ironbound

Artist/Band Information

Overkill is an American thrash metal band, formed in 1980 in New Jersey. The band has been active since 1984, releasing 15 studio albums, 2 EPs, 2 live albums and a "covers" album. The band also has a notable mascot (named Chaly), a skeletal bat with a skull-like face, bony wings, and green eyes. It has appeared on most of their album covers. Overkill has gone through many line-up changes, with singer Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth and bassist D.D. Verni remaining as founding members. Along with Anthrax (whose one-time lead guitarist, Dan Spitz, was also an early member of Overkillhttp), the band is one of the most successful East Coast thrash metal bands.

History

Early years (1980–1983)

Overkill - Jalometalli 2008 - 02.JPGthumbuprightVerni gave Ellsworth (pictured) the nickname "Blitz" due to his over the top lifestyle

Overkill was formed in 1980 from the ashes of the punk band "The Lubricunts", featuring Rat Skates and D.D. Verni.

Verni and Skates placed an ad looking for a guitarist and singer which was answered by singer Bobby Ellsworth and the first incarnation of Overkill was formed.

After rejecting several names, including "Virgin Killer", the band finally settled on Overkill.

Early covers, especially those done under the "Virgin Killers" name, were punk songs by The Ramones, The Dead Boys and others. By late 1980, the band had recruited two guitarists, and the setlist was made up of songs by bands such as Motörhead ("Overkill", half of the Ace of Spades album), Judas Priest ('Tyrant' was their closer), and Riot. Along with the new influx of heavy metal covers, the band still played a smattering of punk covers, with extra distortion, intensity, and speed, marking Overkill as one of the first thrash metal bands.

In 1981, guitarists Rich Conte and Bobby Gustafson joined the band.

At this point, the band started writing original songs, including "Grave Robbers" (later renamed "Raise The Dead"),

"Overkill", and "Unleash The Beast (Within)". More songs would follow, including "Death Rider" (1981) and "Rotten To The Core" (1982). In 1983 Conte left and Bobby Gustafson remained as the sole guitarist.

The band became a staple at New York and New Jersey clubs, such as L'Amours.

Verni gave Ellsworth the nickname "Blitz" due to his over-the-top lifestyle, a lifestyle that once earned Ellsworth an ejection from the band for a few days in 1983.

Around this time, the classic green logo was adopted, which Rat Skates specifically designed to stand out on a poster loaded with red and black logos of the other bands on the bill.

Feel the Fire (1983–1986)

In 1983, the lineup of Rat Skates, D.D. Verni, Bobby Gustafson and Bobby Blitz, released the Power In Black demo, a recording that made as much impact in the underground tape trading circuit as demos by up-and-coming Bay area thrash bands like Exodus and Testament.

Power In Black gained the band two compilation appearances, 'Feel The Fire' was included on "New York Metal '84" and 'Death Rider' appeared on volume V of the legendary Metal Massacre series.

The band was also able to secure a small recording deal with Azra/Metal Storm Records that resulted in the 1984 four track EP Overkill, that quickly sold out, instantly pushing the band to the forefront of the fledgling thrash metal movement.

Though it is said that the band never saw any money from the release, the Overkill EP garnered the band massive underground interest, and the attention of Jon Zazula, the owner of Megaforce Records, one of the most prominent independent heavy metal record labels at the time.

Megaforce signed Overkill to a new multi-album record contract and released their full length debut album Feel The Fire in 1985. Hailed by many critics and fans as a thrash metal masterpiece, the album cemented the band's position as one of the driving forces of the east coast thrash movement.

The band spent the better part of 1985 and 1986 touring in support of Feel The Fire, beginning as support act for Megadeth's "Peace Sells" US tour and later in Europe with Anthrax and Agent Steel.

Rise to success (1987–1990)

1987 marked the release of Overkill's second album Taking Over, the first to be released by Megaforce in cooperation with the major label Atlantic Records.

The album featured improved song writing and production and had a somewhat more epic style, showcased in such songs as the anthemic "In Union We Stand".

The song was chosen to be Overkill's first music video, used to promote the band through the booming new medium of music television.

Another European tour followed, this time opening for Helloween.

Late in 1987, the !Fuck You