Overkill Tickets - Not to Be Confused With 'Urge Overkill'

New York was the breeding ground for some major speed metal as a quartet obsessed with thrash came to be. They were comprised in 1984 with the likes of vocalist Bobby 'Blitz' Ellsworth, guitarist Bobby Gustafson, bass guitarist D.D. Verni and drummer Sid Falck. Following their own style and rage with the guitar, they earned a following in the metal underground for their first album in 1985, and it definitely boiled some blood in the music industry.

Overkill Tickets - The Music of Overkill

That album was called Taking Over. Three years later, the band came out with Under the Influence. It wasn't until 1991, though, that the band really outdid themselves in terms of creativity when they released their Horrorscope album. In 1993, I Hear Black was released, followed by 1994's W.F.O.. It was a tour de force for the band when they signed with CMC International and did a complete lineup change for the release of 1996's The Killing Kind, 1997's From the Underground...and Below, and 1999's Necroshine. True and true, a band that works hard and plays hard.

Overkill Tickets - The Sound and Style of Overkill

And 'plays hard' can be a true understatement, as this band practically defined speed metal, possibly better than Metallica. However, the band didn't have that diverse appeal Metallica had -- but they were still able to manage a strong following in the heavy metal industry. Some would say Overkill were purists in the genre.