Grind: [Google def.] reduce (something) to small particles or powder by crushing it.
With the above in mind, it’s little wonder the word was embraced by Overkill frontman Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth and crew as an informer for the sonic creation of the band’s forthcoming new slab, The Grinding Wheel.
Truth be told, “grind” could be adopted by the New Jersey thrash immortals as a valid descriptor for its 30-something year career.
“I've always said that this was the kind of band that would grind it out under any circumstances, so grind seemed like a good catch word to start working with,” Blitz said in a video promoting the new record.
"I think we also like a catch word because it gives you an opportunity when you're writing to always go back to that word as an origin point, as a starting point.
“So something to describe the band grinding it out for 30 years ... we play some of the same venues we played 30 years ago - is that bad? No, it's a good thing; but the reason we get to do it is because we're able to grind through the good times and the bad times.”
To be released on February 10 through Nuclear Blast, the album carries a distinct classic metal vibe, as shown on the first samples, lyric videos for tracks Our Finest Hour and Mean, Green, Killing Machine.
“What I noticed about this record early on was that I thought that this record had more of a classic heavy metal vibe than it did let's say specifically a thrash record,” said Blitz.
“I think the record prior, White Devil Armory (2014) was much more a thrash record than The Grinding Wheel, which comes across as some classic-type metal riffs that are updated, given contemporary value ... I think the inspiration was more classic heavy metal than thrash.”
The Grinding Wheel was produced by the band and mixed by Andy Sneap (Megadeth, Accept, Exodus), and the artwork was created by Travis Smith.
The full tracklist is as follows: Mean, Green, Killing Machine; Goddamn Trouble; Our Finest Hour; Shine On; The Long Road; Let’s All Go To Hades; Come Heavy; Red White And Blue; The Wheel; and The Grinding Wheel.
Check out the first “track-by-track” video below, where the lads discuss a few of the new songs.
Matt Lawrence
My passion is providing news that matters to the community of which I serve. I have been doing so now for more than 25 years and my dedication remains as fresh as it was when starting out in the industry.
My passion is providing news that matters to the community of which I serve. I have been doing so now for more than 25 years and my dedication remains as fresh as it was when starting out in the industry.
