Band:	Overkill
Album:	The Electric Age
Style:	Thrash metal
Release date:	March 2012

01. Come And Get It
02. Electric Rattlesnake
03. Wish You Were Dead
04. Black Daze
05. Save Yourself
06. Drop The Hammer Down
07. 21st Century Man
08. Old Wounds, New Scars
09. All Over But The Shouting
10. Good Night

This is a year when old masters show us how it's done. First, in the death metal enclave, Asphyx showed us how real death metal is supposed to sound, and now it's time for the somehow stale thrash pond full of seemingly fresh fish who stink of plagiarism to be shown the real thrash deal. Overkill, who already swept the thrash scene clean 2 years ago with Ironbound, are back with The Electric Age.

Ironbound was brilliant in its own right, perhaps on a par with Overkill's classics from the 80's and 90's. It was not really feasible to top that release, and The Electric Age doesn't, but it's brilliant as well. Overkill isn't a revivalist band, they don't need to rehash their old ideas, nor do they ride the bandwagon of their old glory. They simply soldier on, starting the fourth decade of their career, still playing their own, unique brand of thrash that sounds like no other band. Hell, they sound angrier, faster and more aggressive than they ever have.

Ever since they started playing thrash, Overkill have had this endearing, energetic, slightly punk-ish vibe. It was already present on their debut, Feel the Fire, and it seems to be alive and kicking almost 30 years later.

The festival of thrash mastery begins with the inspired gallop of "Come and Get It" - over six minutes of juicy, bloody thrash metal steak of the highest quality. Every following song is a testament to Overkill's enduring excellence. Whether it is a dazzling headbanger called "Electric Rattlesnake", or a groovy rocker "Black Daze", the force is there. Mr Ellsworth and Co. have lost none of their potency, and they even acquired some new hues of it. "Drop the Hammer Down" is so super melodic, especially its guitar solos, that even Iron Maiden's guitar trio should feel embarrassed. Not that it'd be hard, seeing how much their last album sucked anyway...

All the Warbringers, Vektors, Toxic Holocausts and other thrash babies of this world may as well sell their guitars and become altar boys, because they are unlikely reach the level of excellence that Overkill seems to have claimed for good with their last 2 albums. Dear Padawans, to the great Overkill bow now you must.