Overkill – Horrorscope

This sounds really good. I honestly don’t really care about the lack of extras, but I do care that the cover doesn’t look as good as it should. That being said I’m 90% about the sound quality and if you’re like me, get this album.

Just got this in the male. I agree with the sentiments about the sleeve. No inner liner notes, photos, etc. Seems like a pretty lazy release on the outer sleeve with the pixelated artwork. HOWEVER, it sounds pretty darn good. Haven't heard an original, but it sounds light years ahead of the 320 kbps mp3 I have of this album.

Vinyl sounds ok to my ears, but unforgivably low-res artwork (very pixelated) and no liner notes or photos whatsoever except the band photo on the back, whereas the original release had a full booklet. Annoying to see so little effort put into a classic thrash album... particularly given the care Rhino puts into many of their re-releases, like the amazing Cars albums.

Hardly worth $20. Save your money and spend up ($40-$50) for an original.

Matrix: 3 82283-2 SRC+01 *M1 S2 ARC.
Matrix: 3 82283-2 SRC+01 M2S13 ARC.

(U.S.A. 1st press promo album):
Two front stickers: ''When You PLAY IT, SAY IT!'' and ''FEATURING INFECTIOUS HORRORSCOPE 82283-2''. Punch hole in upper right corner of front liner notes. Punch hole through barcode. Initials "DMM" written on back of front liner notes and on face of CD. Matrix: 3 82283-2 SRC+01 M2S2.

Quick poll: Does anyone have a copy of this pressing that doesn't have a click or skip on "Blood Money?" I've had some issues with these Rhino pressings, but I keep hoping they'll get it right for some reason. With that said, some things were done well with this release. The sound quality is solid albeit a tad low in volume. Hearing this on wax will impress those who held onto their original 1991 CD pressing, which sounds flat and terrible. The decision to "brighten" the cover art is offensive, so I'm glad they didn't include a poster or any other cheap frills. Dark music deserves dark art. Long story short: If you hated "Blood Money" and want to hide this in your collection instead of highlighting it, this is the release for you. The rest of us will have to pony up the money for an original.

Solid Overkill album, but NOT their best, as often touted.

Released in 1991, HORRORSCOPE is Overkill’s fifth album of eighteen (as of this writing). It was the band’s first release after the departure of longtime guitarist/songwriter Bobby Gustafson, who was replaced by guitar duo, Merritt Gant and Rob Cannavino, the latter being Gustafson’s former guitar tech. It was also the first album to be solely composed by bassist DD Verni and vocalist Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth. Blitz has said that it’s a special album to him for this reason.

HORRORSCOPE was well-received by Overkill fans and is typically heralded as the band’s best effort just when grunge was taking the crown from 80’s metal. While it’s a competent early 90’s thrash release and arguably rivals their best albums of the 80s, I personally don’t view HORRORSCOPE as their best release. But it IS notable in that it started an important new chapter for the band, proving that they could easily carry on without Gustafson. Moreover, it paved the way for their best output yet – their great mid-90’s period: After the release of the experimental I HEAR BLACK (1993) and the capable W.F.O. (1994), which featured the best anthem ever, “Bastard Nation,” Overkill knocked it out of the ballpark with THE KILLING KIND (1996) and FROM THE UNDERGROUND AND BELOW (1997).

Getting back to HORRORSCOPE, it kicks off with the driving “Coma” followed by the formidable “Infectious” with its groovin’ ‘Hey, hey, hey’ post-chorus (or whatever) and the speed-galloping “Blood Money.” The heavy & doomy title track is another standout with its eerily stunning prologue, followed by the catchy “New Machine,” which is both conventional metal and somehow odd. Then there’s a smokin’ metal cover of Edgar Winter’s “Frankenstein,” eventually closing with the melancholy ballad “Soulitude.”

GRADE: B

Just bought this. Sounds pretty nice albeit a bit of surface noise. I also have the pop sound in 'Blood Money' as others have reported. No printed inner - just a plain paper sleeve. I guess that's what $20 gets you these days. Sad too because I have other Rhino reissues that are super. I'm torn if I should return this and go for an original being as this is my favorite Overkill album.

There is a loud "click" on the song called "Blood Money", I bought two copies at different times and a friend also tested his pressing and it has the same defect. It came off the stamper, no cleaning will take it away.