Overkill – The Wings Of War

I have this version but without the patch of the cover

What`s the point with the bonus song?? It`s kind a more quiet than the rest of the songs. Has anybody noticed that??

Still producing quality, quirky metal after 35 years of releasing albums

Released in 2019, THE WINGS OF WAR is the nineteenth album by New Jersey’s prolific Overkill. This is the second recording of their fourth decade of releasing albums (their first disc, FEEL THE FIRE, debuted in 1985).

What I like best about Overkill is their diversity. Yes, they’re a thrash band, but they’re so much more: They’re rooted in traditional metal (e.g. Accept), but mix it with a lot of thrash and generous amounts of speed, punk, doom, power and hard rock. Basically, if you liked their previous album, THE GRINDING WHEEL (2017), you’ll like this one.

Actually, if you liked the trinity before that – IRONBOUND (2010), THE ELECTRIC AGE (2012) and WHITE DEVIL ARMORY (2014) – you’ll appreciate this one. Those three were all kinetic modern thrash releases, but they were similar in approach, and this explains why Blitz referred to them as the father, son and holy ghost of Overkill (lol).

Highlights on THE WINGS OF WAR include the standout “Head of a Pin,” which includes an inconspicuous BOC riff (see if you can spot it), the inspiring “Believe in the Fight” and “A Mother’s Prayer,” The cute & catchy “Welcome to the Garden State,” the nice bass-driven intro of “Distortion” and ensuing Aerosmith “Nobody’s Fault” bent, as well as the sorta experimental “Where Few Dare to Walk," which borrows a vocal harmony from “The Thing that Should Not Be” and happens to be my favorite song on the disc.

As is usual with Overkill, they throw in sections that are hooky and quirky, like the haunting “ooo-ooo” vox on the amusing “Batsh** Crazy.” That’s one of the things I love about Overkill, their penchant for including interesting or peculiar parts to their songs, which offsets the rest of the composition and prevents them from being one-dimensional. The eerie acoustic break in “Shine On” is a good example.

Everything clicks from beginning to end, although the last two tracks are kinda unmemorable IMHO (“Out on the Road-Kill” and “Hole in my Soul”). Overkill don’t have an identity crisis. They know who they are; they know their style and perform it with gusto. This is easily their best album since IMMORTALIS (2007) or even KILLBOX 13 (2003).

GRADE: A-

Due To An Error Of The Record Company My Copy Includes 2 Of The Same Vinyls. There's Only The First Vinyl And The Second One's Missing. So There's 2 Vinyls Of Side A/B And NO Side C/D!!
So Now I'm Asking If There's Someone Who Got The Same Error But With The C/D Sides So Let Me Know And Maybe We Can Swap Them To Get Our Releases Clear.

It's amazing: no matter what band, vinyl color, LP, EP - none of it matters, Nuclear Blast will find a way to disappoint. Every record from NB that I own is defective somehow: mainly warped, sometimes off-center, misprinted song lists on jackets/labels - somehow their records just absolutely have to be screwed in some way...

This album: both records are warped, side A is off-center.

Get your shit together Nuclear Blast!