REVIEWS OF OVERLORDE 2000
Reviews 11-20
Iron Wolf - Terrorizer - The Ultimate Online - Mettle Psychosurgery - Sweet Suffering - Polish Metal Hammer - Moshpit/Legacy - Metal Gateway- Stargazer.it - Metal Union
IRON WOLF NEWSLETTER (FRANCE) Review and translation by: Patrick Lefevre (OFR#180-R) "Overlorde 2000 Overlorde released a mlp in 1987 then disappeared. Thirteen years later they are back and they are on great form. This mcd holds four songs of high quality, "Blackness, "Hell Hath No Fury", "Ogre Wizard", and "Madness "which are pure power/speed metal with rage, energy and madness. Beautiful cocktail, isn't it? Four excellent songs until the hypothesis of a new album becomes true."
TERRORIZER # 89- MAY 2001 Review by: Chris Chantler
"Overlorde released one vinyl EP on their own label in 1987, then split up.Thirteen years later they reform and record this four tracker and, against all odds, it's an utterly smokin' true metal masterclass. The band's stripped-down-single-guitar-set-up has the effect of highlighting just how over polished and polite modern power metal has become; savage melodies strike like lightning bolts and vocals soar and roar out catchy titles like "Ogre Wizard". Fantastic." 9/10 (Note: 9 out of 10 Rating)
THE ULTIMATE ONLINE # 27 http://www.stillonline.be/ Review by: Ronny "The Gr!ndk!ller" Van Huffel
"WOW, heavy metal from the eighties, that's Overlorde. Don't expect trendy heavy metal stuff like all the would-be heavy metal bands from these days. If you listen to this you can hear it, feel it, taste it. This is heavy metal from the eighties not like the eighties. If you are into heavy metal, just forget all the trendy bands from nowadays. Listen once to this and you'll know what heavy metal is and what it must be. The band existed between '85 and '88. And in 2000 the band started again after questions and interviews in Europe. So this is why the band creates heavy metal and doesn't create copies of it. Don't think that heavy metal starts with bands like Hammerfall, Destiny, Rhapsody,.... Overlorde (ovrlrde@aol.com)"
METTLE PSYCHOSURGERY Online http://www.geocities.com/duf_fer Review by: Damian Smolko (OFR#107-R)
FIRST DEMO KICKS BUTT
"FINALLY I got my first demo from a band and lucky for me it was Bobby Lucas's (ex-Seven Witches) new band Overlorde. These guys are no means newcomers to the scene having formed in 85 and putting out a VINYL EP in 87 only to break up later in 88. But they decided to reform in 2000 and landed Bobby Lucas as lead vocalist soon after. After a couple listens to the demo I knew right away I was listening to something special. This is metal the way they used to play it. You would think with Bobby singing it would be Power Metal but its not, this is pure heavy metal plain and simple. Overlorde have their own unique sound for sure. I'm not sure if its the 70's vibe or maybe the almost funkish style but they got a good thing going..
The demo opens up with what I consider the weakest track out of the four, "Blackness". But don't get me wrong, its not a bad song. It holds its own with most of the stuff out on labels today. Its just that the rest of the CD is that good! "Blackness" is a straight forward rocker, nothing more, but it does showcase Kong's bass abilities..Then the Cd moves on to "Hell Hath No Fury". This song is a neck breaker with kickass background vocals for the chorus. Then comes the pride and joy of the CD in my opinion, "Ogre Wizard". It starts out as your typical medieval song but soon becomes a work of art. Fans of Bobby won't believe the vocals he uses for the chorus and the soloing by Edwards is top notch. The last track, "Metallic Madness", is a catchy tune that will haunt you even after the CD player is turned off.
Overall this demo is pretty damn kickass but a really big dicktease cause there are only 4 songs on it....but I guess that's what demos are really suppose to be, huh? The vocals are what you come to expect from Bobby, excellent! The bass is funky and at times really stands out. The guitar is, like I said, top notch. Some of the drum work really gets your attention at times. The production is good. The CD sounds crisp, but I think the drums could have used abit more juice. The only negative comment I can make is the time between a couple of the songs is a bit long and I always look to see if my discman batteries died. But other then that I can't wait to hear more from these guys. For more info or to steal some MP3's check out their homepage." Rating: 61 out of 69.
SWEET SUFFERING Online 'Zine http://www.sweet-suffering.de/ Review by: Ron Lauda (OFR#119-R)
"When I heard Bobby "leather lungs" Lucas (formerly of Seven Witches) had a new project I was pretty excited. He joins Dave Wrenn (drums), John "Kong" Bunucci (bass) and Mark "M.E" Edwards (Flying V) on this 4 song demo of straight ahead pure metal. And it KICKS ASS!!!!!!
The 4 songs "Blackness", "Hell Hath No Fury", "Ogre Wizard" and "Metallic Madness" pound from start to finish with high-pitched vocals and heavy, driving music. These guys are also much in demand in the tribute market with songs on the Queensryche Tribute Vol. II ('Queen Of The Reich') and on a Black Sabbath Tribute ('Die Young'). So in the words of the 'Ogre Wizard' "run oh run oh run you little people" and sign these guys. " 8/10 (note: 8 out of 10 rating)
METAL HAMMER (POLISH EDITION) - FEBRUARY 2001 Review by: Bart Gabriel(OFR#27-P)
" When I received a package with the word "OVERLORDE" in the place where the sender appears, proverbial pissing in my pants almost became a fact. But maybe I will start from the beginning... OVERLORDE came from United States, and together with such bands like LIEGE LORD, OBSESSION, or ATTACKER, they created the first league of the 80's underground Heavy Metal. In 1987 they released a MLP "OVERLORDE" (through their own "Strike Zone" label), but sadly a few years later the band ceased to exist, and the aforementioned release gained cult status between Heavy Metal collectors. It could be nothing special, as many great bands cease to exist and only a few maniacs remember them, but in the case of OVERLORDE the situation was quite different. In the beginning of '99 old fans formed into "Force Recon" fanclub, and started to intice the band to return. They couldn't believe that for more than 10 years so many people remembered them (as I know now Force Recon has almost 100 members), but they started to think about reunion very seriously. And it has happened! In autumn of 2000, the band has recorded a demo, after more than 10 years of clinical death! The Heavy Metal underground hadn't seen such a thing ever before: a band called from the grave by the fans! Actual demo has been recorded in the following line up: Mark Edwards- guitar, Dave Wrenn- drums, John Bunucci- bass and... Bobby Lucas- vocals! Yes, the same one which left Jack Frost's SEVEN WITCHES! I don't need to talk about the incredible level of the new material, but as for the music- I dare to say, that it's a continuation of that legendary release from 1987, such awesome playing strongly based on NWoBHM, but with really dynamic sound. That's what I call Heavy Metal! Be hailed OVERLORDE, welcome back between live ones!"
GERMANY'S MOSHPIT
WEBZINE AND LEGACY MAGAZINE
Review and translation by: Thomas Strater (OFR#115-R)
Visit www.moshpit.de or pick up LEGACY (in-stores 4/19/2001) to read the original German.
"This US-American band swirls a lot of dust in the true metallic underground at the moment, and they get bombed with benevolent reviews. Of course you shouldn't confuse them with the nearly same-named Polish death metal-band, because OVERLORDE prescribed themselves to the truest of the true metal-variants. Say what, true metal? Yes, even I succeeded for years in keeping my classic ´80s origin very clandestine, but now I do my outing: real heavy metal rules! Not those disgusting euro-melody-fantasy-whistles but real, true, wild heavy metal full of feeling. OVERLORDE previously existed years ago (´85, one EP in ´87) and has now joined forces with new singer Bobby "Leather Lungs" Lucas (Ex-Seven Witches), who absolutely justifies his title and classically sings, shouts and screams. With his yells he even sometimes makes it up to the Diamond King´s regions! But also with the normal tunes he is definitely able to convince. He and his companion on Flying V, guitarist Mark "M.E." Edwards, are healthy musical carpenters and create a solid base that without exception is oriented around the glorious times of the beginning ´80s. A thunderous bass and driving drumming mate with those horny, running guitars. From time to time their stuff even reminds me of beatified Maiden-times. If all old men would play such cool music… By the way, concerning the band photo I wouldn't like to meet those guys in the darkness if I didn't know them. At least those gentlemen don't look as if they would hesitate for long. OVERLORDE would be a cool band for the true metal stage in Wacken! Contact, order of the coolest 4-track-CD-demo of the month or join the fan club "Force Recon"
SPAIN'S METAL GATEWAY WEBZINE Review and translation by: José Luis Vicente
Visit http://www.metal-gateway.com and
click on DEMOS to read the original Spanish.
"I was looking forward to listening to this demo from this very veteran band from New
Jersey that has returned to the scene after many years of silence. Overlorde formed in the
middle of the 80's and its only legacy was a self-released EP in 1987, disbanding at the
end of the decade. That record turned them into a cult band in Europe, where during these
years of lethargy the vinyl has been much in demand. This prompted the original members to
create a website to take care of these fans, and ignited the wick for this reunion. The
only new member in the line-up is the sensational vocalist Bobby Lucas (ex--Seven
Witches). The music is a party of pure old-school American power metal (in fact the songs
they have recorded now have been rescued from their previous career) with impressive
tracks that emphasize the incredible voice of Lucas, sharpened to the maximum with
incredible shouts that will make you remember the forgotten greatness of the metal that
the Americans left at their final moment. Only four songs that I do not tire of listening
to time and time again, because they are simply enormous, and I trust will see them well
recorded in an official album in not too long. (8/10) (note: 8 out of 10 point
rating)"
ITALY'S
STARGAZER.IT WEBZINE
Review and translation by: Tonyevol
Visit Stargazer.it to read the review in the original Italian
"Overlorde are a very good metal band coming from NY, that was formed in 1985 by John
"Kong" Bunucci (bass & lead vocals) and by Mark "M.E." Edwards
(guitars & backing vocals), that in these years have published some good albums. But
unfortunately, as it happens very often, in 1988 the band split up due to some line-up
problems and only during the last year, thanks to numerous demands from fans to publish
new material, Overlorde come back on the scene with a new vocalist in the person of Bobby
"Leather Lungs" Lucas (ex-Seven Witches) while John Bunucci still continues to
play bass guitar. And with this line-up the band publish a new four-song demo, titled
Overlorde 2000. And listening to what they have succeeded to produce I'm very happy with
their reunion, because Overlorde shows in the 15 minutes of this album that they haven't
lost the energy they had some years ago, and all the unconditional love that they have for
this music. So therefore songs such as "Blackness" or "Metallic
Madness" will do a massacre of proselytes between all metal maniacs! While songs as
"Ogre Wizard" will conquer all our power metallers. But I'll go on with details
to show to our readers this demo in the best way! The magic given off by the first track
"Blackness" is huge, and for me is the best song of the whole album! Because
this song has fantastic guitars working united to the dark and metallic screamings by the
singer Lucas. Then follows "Hell hath no Fury", a song completely written by
Edwards, that shows to us a band strong and united and also a sound awfully anchored to
the past, before all that is popular nowadays, and when the only words spoken by everyone
were: Heavy Metal! So we come to the next song, "Ogre Wizard" that is the most
power oriented song present on this beautiful demo, but here we are not talking about the
classic Teutonic/Fantasy power metal to which Blind Guardian have accustomed us. No, here
we are talking about uncontaminated power metal made in USA, in fact the first band that I
thought of, listening to this track, are Iced Earth! So as the conclusion of this
beautiful album comes "Metallic Madness", and I think that thee couldn't be a
better song to end this CD. Because we can listen to a real metal song! Beautiful is the
big result of Lucas, that shows to be a singer versatile and full of resources. Remarkable
also the performance showed by all members, that show to have a very good technique and
remarkable songwriting. And when this CD is finished, the temptation to play it again is
very high and irresistible, showing an absolute freshness by the band that doesn't bore
any time you will listen to it! Neither after some listening! Ah....could every album
sound this way! Personally I think that Overlorde doesn't lose anything in comparision
with other more famous bands. In fact the numerous reviews that Overlorde have received
during all these years in world magazines, confirm their huge valour! So you can do
nothing but contact the band and buy this beautiful album!" Vote: 1/1
METAL
UNION FANZINE Review by: Andrew Parrish (OFR#114-R)
"Again, another great demo comes my way via
the USPS. Overlorde carry the metal message long and far with this one, and their heavily
NWOBHM-influenced sound should not go unnoticed in the years to come. I really haven't
heard anything quite like this in recent memory, and that is quite a feat.
The first song on this four-track disc is "Blackness," a unique and innovative
metal tune with a very original riff structure. When the guitar work is combined with the
soaring, clear vocals , the kick-ass lead work, and the killer ending, it unites to form a
sound unlike any modern power metal bands could compare themselves to. This song is the
strongest that I have heard from Overlorde. I could only imagine a whole album full of
material like this! "Hell Hath No Fury" is not quite as interesting, but still a
good tune. It reminds me quickly of Iron Maiden, but has qualities all its own. "Ogre
Wizard" has a vocal melody as infectious as the common cold, and it speaks to the
true metalhead in all of us (and is my second favorite next to "Blackness"). The
last, and similarly strongly built, song on the demo, is "Metallic Madness."
Now, this band has several things going for them. First off, they have their own sound and
identity (as they should after being involved in metal for as long as they have), good
song writing skills, and chops. One thing I really admire and respect in Overlorde,though,
is the effort they have put into packaging their material. They have packaged their demo
in a very classy fashion for a DIY computer-printed job. Hell, if I wasn't so up on
computers I wouldn't know. Also, the fact that they include a fan club flyer in their CDs
is another thing in their favor. The more people on the mailing list the better. And
another thing - great logo! That's the first thing I thought when I looked at the cover.
Overlorde has really outdone themselves here, and I appreciate the effort that they go to
to get their metal out and about with a good name."
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