REVIEWS OF OVERLORDE 2000
Reviews 21 to ....
Temples of Eternity - Hellride Music - Shred Zone - Holy Sword CD-Rom Zine - Metal Flame - Unstoppable Force - Internet@metal/Metalius Magazine - Unstoppable Force - Comando Zine - Guitar 2001 - Snakepit - Scream - WIXQ - ArmNStaci - Heavy Metal Forces
TEMPLES OF ETERNITY Greek 'Zine Issue #7: Review by Dimitris Starakis
"Another wonderful
comeback from a long forgotten U.S. band, which was founded in 1985 and relesed in 1987
its self-titled EP from Strike Zone Records! Thirteen years later, the band has a new
singer named Bob Lucas ( Seven Witches, Exhibition) who came to replace the band's first
vocalist Dave Wrenn (edit: Pat O'Donnell). Their decision was
totally wise, since Bobby is the ideal singer for the band's style : raw, uncompromising
Heavy Metal that is lead by the fine voice of Bobby and songs like the ones that appear in
this Demo can be immediately declared as killer ones.One ideal release for all fans of
U.S. True Heavy Metal that search efforts that really deserve their attention and not
crappy stuff that can be described as 'outstanding' just because it carrier a 'True Metal'
label on it! Overlorderespects the music they serve and that's why the result is fabulous!
I just hope that they can come up with new songs and hopefullya re-release of their 1987
se;f-titled EP. I don't know if this Demo-CD is still available (its price is $5 plus
shipping costs), so contact them at the following address in order to find out......"
HOLY SWORD CD-ROM ZINE Review by Adamakos Antonis (OFR#44-P)
"OVERLORDE return stronger than ever with this demo to remind the unbelievers that love for pure heavy metal will never die! With Bob Lucas on the vocal section and the core made by M. EDWARDS, D.WRENN, S. BUNUCCI always stable, OVERLORDE master-create for one more time. THE INCREDIBLE voice of Lucas is known to all of us and it does not need any special recommendations. BLESSED METAL THROAT!!
The new demo is made of four pieces of unsurpassed US POWER METAL, so addictive that one thinks it came straight out ot the 80's. The OVERLORDE crew are old timers and them and only them would be able to release COLOSSAL songs like BLACKNESS, OGRE WIZARD, HELL HATH NO FURY AND METALLIC MADNESS. Neverending passion, full of volume rhythm section, incredible guitars, and the unbelievable voice of Lucas spreading panic! Rush immediately for this diamond! ALL HAIL FORCE RECON!!!"
(Note: in same issue, also included review of the 1987 EP which follows:)
"THAT'S METAL! U.S POWER METAL REIGNS SUPREME! The first and last (at least up to now) EP of the American OVERLORDE was released in 1987 and this critique is happening in this column due to the chance that this EP may be re-released since the band has been re-united. Here we are dealing with a cult album-LP that friends of the decade of the 80's will love. POWERFUL HEAVY METAL, with thunderous rhythm section, fire hot riffs and weird vocals that match perfectly with the unique musical style of OVERLORDE. Best songs on the EP are SNOW GIANT and the epic self titled hymn OVERLORDE. For more information you can look up the interview that is featured in this magazine."
INTERNET@METAL/METALIUS MAGAZINE Review by Peter Patrick Bigalke
"Overlorde published an E.P. in 1987 which is traded for about the price of a Hyundai today. What the individual musicians did after this release can be read in detail on their homepage. Now 13 years after the release of the legendary debut EP three musicians of the original line-up were joined by Bobby ‘Leather Lungs’ Lucas and are now back again on the US metal scene. If someone might suspect that some ‘boring old farts’ did a reunion just to cash in some fast bucks because of the actual traditional metal revival – he will be totally wrong. As if time stood still, they hail the authentic 80ies US metal sound and refrain from using any modern metal gimmicks. And if I didn't know better, I would think that these four tracks had been recorded in those good old metal days… So anyone who belongs to the late born metal generation and wants to get an impression of the famous ‘Spirit of The eighties’ should get this CD as fast as possible. This is metal for a history lesson and lots of fun at the same time. Drums, bass, vocals and a Flying V, it really doesn't require any more to get absolute bliss, I am really stunned!" Rating -10 of 10 Tombstones
UNSTOPPABLE FORCE SITE/ZINE Review by Chris O'Brien
"I picked this CD up at Powermad this past year, and while I had heard of this band, I never heard them before. So...before they hit stage, I figured "OK...I'll pick this up and give it a listen when I get back to the hotel room" and probably forget about it. Well...it's about six months later and I love this f**king thing. The songs here are well played, well written, and it is really worth the price. "Blackness" kicks it off and from then until the end of "Metallic Madness", you're under this bands spell. My favorite song on this is "Blackness"...but "Hell Have No Fury", "Ogre King", and the aforementioned "Metal Madness" are excellent in their own right. The real standout here is the vocal performance of Bobby Lucas (ex-Seven Witches)...goddamn...what a f**king killer voice this guy has. Easily one of the best voices in power metal today bar none. I have this band linked on our "Band Links" page, so go check it out...you won't be disappointed. Better yet...if you get the chance to see this band live, you owe it to yourself to check them out and get crushed. " Rating-8/10
COMANDO SANTA BRIGIDA ZINE Review by: Sergio "Pitufo" Palacios Translation by: Luis Gonzalez (OFR#138-R)
"Blackness", "Hell Hath No Fury", "Ogre Wizard", and "Metallic Madness" are the four songs on the best demo all year. Old school POWER METAL, the original and good stuff. Do you remember AGENT STEEL? Or the early days of CRIMSON GLORY? In this vein, but much better. To simply say, Overlorde is a great band. John Bunucci always plays arrangements up-front; guitarist Mark Edwards has all that is necessary for a guitar player; the drums of Dave Wrenn don't leave an empty space; and Bobby Lucas (ex SEVEN WITCHES) has a son of a bitch of a voice. It's sharp and high range to the spectacular. We hope this is just a start and they will come out with a complete album, that would be great. To receive this class of material, serves to re-load the batteries, to generate new force and to continue ahead with our humble fanzine." Contact: PO Box 160 Ironia, NJ 07080 USA, ovrlrde@aol.com
GUITAR 2001 Review and translation by: Thomas Caine
"The interesting aspect of this band is that Overlorde reformed some 10 years (after) their original release; incidentally stumbling upon the fact that their early recordings were still being traded and sold in the European underground market. Well, this is a solid new release (4 songs) in the classic metal vein, most reminiscent of Iron maiden, Helloween, and Virgin Steele. You can definitely hear the Steve Harris influence in John "Kong" Bunucci's exceptional bass playing. Guitarist Mark Edwards lays down some ripping leads and vocalist Bobby "Leather Lungs" Lucas is sure to please the melodic and classic metal fans. The songs are performed well and the recording is above average demo quality. The only drawback is the rhythm guitars are thin sounding compared to today's standards. A valiant effort overall. "... www.overlorde.com. TC
SNAKEPIT
#
9, June 2001 Review by: Matt Coe
"Little would people believe that you'd see all these 80's underground power/melodic
metal acts reforming. While I question the integrity/ validity of some reunions, this one
from New Jersey's OVERLORDE excites me and should appeal to all Snakepit readers. These 4
songs feature new vocalist Bobby Lucas (ex SEVEN WITCHES) and his expansive emotional
range carries OVERLORDE to new heights on songs like "Blackness" and "Hell
Hath No Fury". Notice the 70's PRIEST influence from the guitar riffing of Mark
Edwards in my favorite cut- the quicker "Ogre Wizard". The band has carried on
without missing a beat from the EP days- gaining a stronger vocalist and an intense focus
on putting out metal the way it should be played- from within your head and heart and not
for financial trend gain. They'll be signed to some worthy label by 2001 for sure- those
who love traditional true metal with out of this world bass playing need OVERLORDE- may
New Jersey arise again in metal glory."
SCREAM
MAGAZINE #58, April/May 2001 Review by: Leif Kringen
"Bobby Lucas should be a familiar name to at least some of you. He used to work
together with Jack Frost in Seven Witches, and is also involved in a great new progressive
metal outfit called Exhibition which we reviewed on these pages a little while ago.
Besides, Bobby is also the new vocalist in the reincarnation of the mighty OVERLORDE.
Their EP is considered by many as an all-time classic, and now its time for a comeback
with three original members along with Lucas. Fortunately, this is no modern sounding
garbage, the music still has it's roots in the eighties metal-scene. The opener
"Blackness" is a quite slow, but very heavy song, in which Lucas sounds really
impressive. The two next tracks ("Hell Hath No Fury" and "Ogre
Wizard") sound more aggressive, and I have to mention John Bunucci's bass playing on
"HHNF". Great stuff! Hopefully the first full-length from these guys will soon
see the light of day."
WIXQ.COM, website of WIXQ "THE VILLE"
91.7FM, Pennsylvania, USA Review by: WB Henderson 08/15/2001
"When Overlorde disbanded in 1988 due to internal conflicts, with only one
self-released EP to their name, it looked like the end for the New Jersey power metal
band. Then, something almost fairy tale-esque happened: their EP, well-regarded at its
1987 release, steadily grew in popularity in Europe (where the people seem to have their
heads on more straight these days than we Americans), becoming a highly-demanded
collectors item amongst the metal elite. The year 2000 rolled around and the former
members of Overlorde found themselves being contacted about releasing more material. And,
just like that, the band came back together.
The Overlorde 2000 Demo is a sampling of what's to come from the new, revamped Overlorde, four songs of blistering, authentic US power metal. I'd call it "oldschool", but that gives the sense of this being some sort of '80s throwback. No, Overlorde 2000 sounds vital and alive, propelled by the energetic, Maiden-esque rhythm section of John "Kong" Burnucci (bass) and Dave Wrenn (drums) and then thrashed around a bit by guitarist Mark "M.E." Edwards, whose killer soloing style is fairly unique to the ears of this reviewer. Toss in new vocalist, former singer for Seven Witches, Bobby "Leather Lungs" Lucas (who does an outstanding performance on this demo, incidentally), then add in quality songwriting ("Ogre Wizard", in particular, will have even the most cynical amongst us singing along to its chorus) and you've got a recipe for metallic success.
Will
Overlorde become the next Limp Bizkit, infiltrating every American household and the
vocabulary of every pop-radio-fly-by-night-fake-metalhead? No, they're too legit for that.
But, after a long time away, widerspread recognition amongst the true metal crowd is well
within their grasp. Visit their website and download some MP3s - you'll see what I
mean."
ARMNSTACI.COM
Review by: Armand Rosamilia
"I have a confession...when I first received the press kit from Mark "M.E."
Edwards, I was hesitant. Page after page of glowing reviews and a MANOWAR-esque arrogance
had me ready to discount the band and declare them a bunch of retro-80s Heavy Metal
Nobodies just trying to bottle some past lightning that they probably never had to begin
with. I've seen it a million times, and so have you, right? Well, not in the case of
OVERLORDE. Do you dig QUEENSRYCHE? DIO? IRON MAIDEN? Add strong-points of these bands, mix
in some progressive metal fury and stir it up with originality. Bobby Lucas is a powerful
throw-back singer to the glory days of Heavy Metal. With a driving bass attack, bombastic
drums and shredding guitar sound, this band is going to be huge. This four-song demo is a
great tease for the true Metal fan. Hopefully we'll be hearing the full-length assault
from these New Jersey natives. "
HEAVY METAL FORCES: Review by Chris Kelz
"Fans of
old-school U.S. metal will remember Overlorde from the now-classic self-titled EP they
released in 1987. Unfortunately, the band had problems keeping a steady lineup, and
subsequent recordings went unreleased as the band shuffled a few members before vanishing
from the metal scene. Now, more than 10 years later, Overlorde is back with a demo called
simply "Overlorde 2000". Three original members have returned, and with the
addition of vocalist Bobby Lucas (Exhibition,
ex-Seven Witches), the band proves that it's possible to make killer `80s metal in a new
century. Opening tune "Blackness" is an updated version of a song from 1988 and
sets the tone for the entire demo...straight-ahead power, solid riffs, crunching
guitarwork, a tight rhythm section, and soaring vocal lines. All four tunes are quite
good, although my favorites are probably the pounding "Hell Hath No Fury"
(reminds me of Bloodlust during the lead section!) and the brisk "Ogre Wizard".
The band financed and recorded the demo themselves, but the overall sound quality is good.
The rhythm guitar is a bit low in the mix, but Mark's leads cut through with melody and
power. Fans of traditional U.S. metal will enjoy this demo and will demand more music from
the new Overlorde. (And while you're at it, tell `em to release the original EP on CD.)"
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