Overkill

Coverkill (CMC)
by Martin Popoff

All my writer buds are carving this thing, and I guess if you ascribe a harsh standard to something that’s easy to do competently, Coverkill is not that interesting a record. First, the song choice: Motorhead’s “Overkill” is really starting to grate my nerves as the years rumble on. Also, too much Sabbath, “Cornucopia” being bloodthirsty enough, “Never Say Die” just rushed and dull, and “Changes” – why? Sex Pistols’ “No Feelings” is over-covered and over-rated, as is “Deuce” from Kiss. The positives: Priest’s “Tyrant” (nice rhythm change-ups), Deep Purple’s “Space Truckin’,” the informative and personal liner notes, and ain’t it fun to hear the Dead Boys continuing to get ther due (although this version of “Ain’t Nothin’ To Do” is weak). Closes with a demo-quality ’88 recording of a typically uneventful Ramones song which exposes the second grave fault of this admittedly casual affair: Its uneven sound quality, most of these songs being funtime wankery from various album recording sessions. Cross polinate these faults and you’re left with about three presentations worthy of Overkill’s long, loud experience in the biz. If you’re going to make an easy crowd-pleaser like this, boys, there’s a whole deeper, dig-down gut-check you gotta make.