OVERLORDE was founded in 1985 by John Bunucci and Mark "M.E." Edwards with a desire to play original heavy metal in the vein of Iron Maiden and Judas Priest. Based in New Jersey, the band's style eventually became known as "U.S. Power Metal".

The lineup that played its first show at THE SHOWPLACE in Dover, NJ featured John (nicknamed "Kong" a year later) on bass and lead vocals, M.E. on guitar, and David Wrenn on drums.

Vocalist Pat O'Donnell (ex-Trox) joined on vocals in 1986. Together, the band self-released a 5-song vinyl E.P. in 1987. Pat was replaced by Rod Tyler Loaiza (who later went on to record on Symphony X's debut album) in1988 and a demo was started. But the group disbanded at the start of1989.

In 2000, the band learned that their 1987 E.P. had become highly regarded in the resurgent international metal underground. So John, Mark, and Dave reformed and set about finding the perfect singer. The singer they had always envisioned in the 80's. They found that singer in Bobby "Leather Lungs" Lucas.

Together, they released the full length album RETURN OF THE SNOW GIANT on Greece's SONIC AGE RECORDS in late 2004/early 2005. Containing songs written and performed live in the 80's (with some new lyrics from Bobby), the album was widely hailed as one of the top releases of 2004. So much so that in 2015, Germany's DEAF FOREVER magazine listed it as one of its
"Top 100 U.S. Metal Albums of all time"
alongside albums from Queensrÿche, Savatage, Manowar, Armored Saint, Fates Warning, and Riot.

The band set its sights on a followup to ROTSG. But events led to one delay after another. Bobby and the band parted ways in 2006, with Chris Colfax eventually replacing him. New songs were started in 2007, followed by Bobby's return to the fold in 2008. Everything seemed to be on track as half an album was written and demo'd in one form or another by 2013. Only to see Dave, and later Bobby, leave the band. 

Mark's friend and one time bandmate George Janeira joined on drums in late 2014. Singer George Tsalikis of Zandelle joined in late 2016. A three song demo was completed in mid 2017 and released online in conjunction with a redesigned website.

As 2018 was beginning, bassist and founding member John "Kong" Bunucci left the band for personal reasons.  His replacement was Bobby Devlin, and the band continued working towards the release of its next album.

In June 2019, Bobby Devlin had to bow out. Kong was ready to return to the fold, and did so in July.

Overlorde announced its new record deal with Greece's NO REMORSE RECORDS in May 2023. The new album "Awaken the Fury" will be released December 22, 2023, followed by the reissue of the Overlorde EP (often referred to as their 1987 EP).