REVIEWS OF OVERLORDE 2000
The first 10 reviews....
The Metal Observer - Metal.it - Eternity/Into The Pit - Wargods of Metal - Heavy Oder Was?! - Metal Heart - Metal Invader -
Unchain the Underground - The Metal Gospel - Last Judgement
THE METAL
OBSERVER Click on on one of the following to see the GERMAN or
ENGLISH
version.
ITALY'S METAL.IT WEBZINE
Review by: Beppe "HM" Diana
(OFR#111-R) Translation by: Leopoldo "LeatherKnight" Puzielli (OFR#79-P)
"At times they return" exclaimed a film some years ago, and with this phrase we
could also summarize the wave of recording from comeback bands that left a trace from some
time ago, see Crimson Glory or Metal Church, as well as national Moon of Steel, and in
this context is framed also the new demo of the American Overlorde. With respect to their
most famous colleagues, Overlorde is only a cult band which made its debut in 1987 with a
worthy EP released by Strike Zone records, at that time a most warlike label.The five
songs of solid American classic metal made hopes for a future brighter, but unfortunately
some problems, because of instability of lineup, brought the band to split prematurely and
unexpectedly. But as we talked about, "at times they return", Overlorde dive
into the fray and does it with a promo of four songs that, in my modest opinion, will be
able to bring them far, very far. The kind proposed by our four warriors is granitic power
metal in dark/epic colours, which draw abundantly on the long American tradition from
eighties, and the repertoire of bands like early Savatage, Liege Lord, Omen and Manilla
Road. The wall of sound made by the American combo is really striking, great is the
contribution supplied by the guitar player Mark Ewards who made almost in an cynical way a
frightening number of riffs devoted to the wildest headbanging of mass. He's well assisted
by a great band, which has its real point of diamond in the deadly screamer Bobby Lucas, a
real human siren. The speakers of your luckless stereo will spew out incandescent metal,
you will be flooded by a storm of wattage mixed to adrenalin at pure state, but the sound
massacre has just begun. The opener "Blackness", which will completely take your
breath away, is a skilful epic/power song in raging and riding coming, while the following
"Hell Hath No Fury" will annihilate you with its bursting and almost wild load.
These two songs show a rough and aggressive band that is far light-years from the
(pseudo)symphonic refinements lately are the fashionable. The Overlorde component which
appeals most is that certain explosive load which never has compromises, which doesn't
allow an easy listening, which comes out well to ridicule most of the classic metal
releases of the last six/seven years, try to listen to "Ogre Wizard" and then
you will understand. For sure this is the demo of the year, so if you love True Metal and
the American 80's scene, if you are not able to do without the albums of Skullview and
Gothic Knights, Overlorde is your cup of tea, and remember "true metal is the power
they defend!!" Vote: 9,5/10 (9.5 out of 10 Points) Visit www.metal.it
to read the review in the original Italian.
ETERNITY and INTO THE PIT Fanzines Review and Translation by: Christian Pl?tz
"YESSS, BROTHER. PRAISE THE LORDE !!!!! Overlorde is
back from 1988 when the band unfortunately disbanded. Hey, but this is not one of those
reunions, trying to make a few bucks by releasing some mediocre shit which never made it
on Vinyl back in the eighties. This 4-Track Promo is an utter KILLER ! A lead vocalist
whose voice would make Bruce Dickinson bow down in humblest devotion. Superb bass-work, to
finish the Maiden comparisons right here. Fierce Riffs, a lot heavier, a lot more based on
U.S Powermetal grounds than the British flagship. But I have to make one thing clear: This
is no retarded retro stuff, sounding like 1984- Oh , no ! This is fresh, new and unspoiled
music written in the new millennium. And if they manage to maintain this quality for a
time-it will last another millennium. They never made it beyond a self-financed EP, they
never lost their teeth, they never earned enough to grow fat and lazy. This is OVERLORDE,
the new Lord of the jungle, he still hath his teeth, and now he is out for YOUR blood !
"
GERMANY'S WARGODS
OF METAL WEBZINE Review by: Steel Commander (OFR#78-P) Translation by:
Michael Kohsiek (OFR#89-P)
Visit
www.truemetal.org/wargods to
read the review in the original German
"Can any of you still remember the name OVERLORDE ? The boys had released an EP in 87
- but I must confess, that before I received this Demo-CD I had never heard something from
them. All right, it doesn't matter - let's head on to "Overlorde 2000"!
Musically, it's beautiful, straight and melodic US METAL !!! Yes, exactly my thing!
Therefore it will surprise nobody that I simply love this 4-Tracker!! Or to express it in
my typical language: KILLER !! The first song is "Blackness" and yeah, it starts
with a scream of the new singer Bobby "Leather Lungs" Lucas (former Seven
Witches)!! No Pussy Poser Scream but a real Metal Scream !!! To be honest I've never liked
Bobby's voice that much when he sang in Seven Witches, but now he really shows everything
that he has to offer!! Oh yes, of course the track has a killer chorus, because US Metal
openers always = killer chorus, ah, what do I say, are KILLER SONGS!! We continue our
march and are heading straight to "Hell Hath No Fury": it's f**kin' awesome!
Turned out well - a good Up Tempo Banger with screams of the finest !! But, argh, the
"Ogre wizard" comes and this one will crush your dick into pieces, ha ha!!!
Definitely the best song of this Four-Tracker!! This chorus, ahhhh... "run, run, run
you little people....".... divine!! Unfortunately, "Metallic Madness" is
not quite on the standard of its predecessors but it's everything else but bad! The
production isn't quite good but it's no problem to listen to the Overlorde efforts - it's
the power that is simply missing a bit but everything else fits!! The presentation is OK,
nice cover, bandphoto, address etc. it was clear that the lyrics are missing, maybe they
are unimportant in these times? All you shall do right now is contact the band!!! As soon
as you have the CD and surf to www.overlorde.com, write something into the guestbook and
then e-mail at ovrlrde@aol.com and join the free Fan club FORCE RECON !!! All HAIL
OVERLORDE !!! (8/10 points)" Note: 8 out of 10 points
GERMANY'S
HEAVY ODER
WAS?! Review by: Oliver Weinsheimer (OFR#88-P) Translation by: Sascha Maurer
(OFR#17-P)
March 2001 Issue, Circulation- 35,000
"After one EP in the year 1987, the Americans of Overlorde report back very
impressively. It took 13 years until we could have hoped for a sign of life from the band.
Compared to the EP, we find decisive news, for on vocals you find none else but Bobby
"Iron Lungs" Lucas (formerly with Seven Witches). Anyone who has heard the two
CDs of Seven Witches knows that this man is pure metal. On the four tracks that this EP
contains he really screams out his iron lungs and never has to hide behind the real
biggies of the metal scene. The Songs "Blackness"(absolutely awesome),
"Hell Hath no Fury", "Ogre Wizard" and "Metallic Madness"
(YESSSS!!!!) are the best I've heard from the US Metal genre in years. They abound in
untamable power and you have to force yourself, while listening to them in the car, not to
start head banging like hell. Get this CD from ww.overlorde.com, you will not repent! -(12
points)" Note: 12 out of 12 points
GERMANY'S METAL HEART
Review and translation by: Michael
Kohsiek (OFR#89-P)
March 2001 Issue, Circulation- 40,000 to 50,000
"Hell YES!!! That is exactly the kind of Heavy Metal that I've missed far too long!
In fifteen minutes and five seconds all the Helloween's, Rhapsody's, and HammerFall's of
this world will be destroyed and degraded to walk-ons. You ask who or what has done this
impossibility? A small, fiddling Four-Piece called Overlorde, who released an EP in 1987
(which is a very rare item by now ) that had been hailed by the True Metal Underground. At
the end of 1999 they decided to continue with, by all appearances, the goal to conquer the
world, recruited Bobby Lucas (Ex-Seven Witches, now also singer of the godlike
Exhibition), and hammered four songs for the eternity on a CDR. Yes, it's that simple.
Overlorde (which majesty can be found in this name!) don't need any keyboards, they have
no huge choirs, no guest musicians, no orchestra and no technical overkill. Only one
screaming guitar, a pumping bass, drums from hell, and a voice that breathes Heavy Metal
are enough to make this critic an uncontrolled, slobbering, mentally ill person (suffering
of an immense dose of Heavy Metal, of course!). Thank you, Overlorde. They Shall Reign
Forever.
Please get in contact with them under www.overlorde.com; Mark Edwards: ovrlrde@aol.com All
Hail To Thee" (c)2001, Michael Kohsiek
In the METAL HEART issue, Michael's Playlist ranks OVERLORDE at # 2, with SAVATAGE at
# 1. But on January 18th, his playlist on SACRED METAL WEBZINE had OVERLORDE 2000 at # 1!
GREECE'S METAL INVADER
Review by: Manos
Koufakis (OFR#12-P) Translation by: Antonis Adamakos (OFR#44-P)
February 2001 Issue, Circulation- 15,000
" Sometimes miracles can happen in our music. If someone had told me a few years ago
that a band like the American OVERLORDE would continue their career after a decade of
silence, I would have never believed it. In 1987 they released their same titled EP
through their own private label STRIKE ZONE RECORDS and anyone who has listened to this
great vinyl, which in parts reminds even of MANILLA ROAD, has been destroyed with the
ultimate tracks like 'Time Machine', 'Masque Of The Red Death' and the hymn of heavy metal
'Snow Giant'. The one and only (until now) release of OVERLORDE is very rare and most of
the times it demands a huge amount of money to be obtained. I propose that you copy this
vinyl on a tape and leave the traders alone. Mark Edwards, the leader and guitar player of
OVERLORDE, has released a demo under the name of BREAKER M.E in the period that we had no
news about his band, while the huge-boded bassist John 'Kong' Bunucci took part in a demo
recording of FINAL PLEA. Due to a series of events that happened and I do not consider
right to be referred in this column, there has been noted an unexpected interest around
the name of OVERLORDE, and 3 of the former members that created 'Overlorde' (guitarist,
bassist, drummer) have decided to return and after auditioning many vocalists they chose
Bobby Lucas, known from his participation in SEVEN WITCHES. Honestly, I was waiting for a
modern PANTERA-hybrid comeback and I was speechless with the quality and the raw power
that characterizes the 4 compositions of their first demo with the new line-up. 'Ogre
Wizard' reminds me the good old times with the characteristic riff of OVERLORDE,
'Blackness', an unreleased track which has been given the appropriate 'lifting', sounds
fresher than ever with the great vocals of Lucas. 'Hell Hath No Fury' is surely a classic
composition and one of the best that OVERLORDE have ever written, and the last track
''Metallic Madness' indicates the title itself. The riffs of Mark Edwards are really Heavy
while the rhythm section of Bunucci/Wrenn will crush your bones. As far as Lucas is
concerned, I think that he has already proved his capabilities, so there is no need for
any further recommendations. I would like to congratulate my friends for this surprising
comeback, staying faithful to the metal tradition and writing remarkable songs that honour
their legendary name that had been built with so much work 13 years ago. Prepare to read
and hear more things about this 4-pieced band from New Jersey in the near future.
Unfortunately, this CD is not available currently to other people except the members of
the fan club, so you have to contact the band in order to find out how you can obtain this
CD. HAIL!"
UNCHAIN THE UNDERGROUND gives OVERLORDE 2000 a 9/10 rating! Click here...
THE METAL GOSPEL reviews OVERLORDE 2000! Read it here...
LAST JUDGEMENT ‘ZINE Review by: Shane Tolle
"I was very excited
to get this! This is an excellent band from the 80`s now fully resurrected to bring forth
some pure f**king METAL! HORNS UP! I love this. 4 songs of balls out very powerful stuff.
The new Overlorde falls somewhere between straight ahead traditional METAL in the vein of
Priest and Maiden and power METAL somewhat akin to old Fates Warning or Mercyful Fate due
to the talent and style of the musicians. The new vocalist is awesome, fully displaying
his wide range on all tracks! Mark`s guitar work never sounded better, the drumming is
solid as all hell, and Kong`s bass work is a twisted mindf**k! The songs are ALL well
rounded and have great hooks, just like the old ones. On the sonic end, the production is
very good. Nice and clear, yet plenty of power! This band is truly back! If you dig trad
Metal you gotta check these guys out! Go read the interview I did with them on this site
if you haven`t already, then go to their website and check out more detailed info
regarding OVERLORDE! Great job guys!
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