Speed/Kill/Hate - Acts of Insanity
- Released: 2006
- Label: Escapi Music
- Rating:
If you know anything about me, it’s that I fucking love old school thrash. I’m obviously not one of those stuck-in-the-past thrashers that hasn’t listened to anything new since 1991, but I do have a passion for that sound. There aren’t a lot of good thrash bands still around. Many of them have modified their sound over the years to keep up with the times, but some of them are still turning out good shit. There’s even some new, young bands that have made the style their own, with a modern twist, but overall, good thrash is hard to find.
Speed/Kill/Hate is made up of 3/5 of thrash legends Overkill. Unfortunately, it’s the 3/5 you don’t give a shit about (let’s face it, Blitz and D.D. are Overkill). The brain child of Overkill guitarist Dave Linsk, Speed/Kill/Hate is supposed to be a more aggressive departure from Overkill. Dave and Overkill drummer Tim Mallare got together to demo some songs for Overkill, but the songs went in a different direction from Overkill’s current sound. They were joined by Overkill guitarist Derek Tailer on bass, and Linsk’s former Anger on Anger bandmate Mario on vocals, and the band was complete.
Upon listening to the band’s debut, Acts of Insanity, I’m not quite sure how much of a departure from Overkill this band really is. Admittedly these are nine damn good songs, and they might be a little heavier and faster than the last few Overkill albums. The riffs are all cool, the solos are pretty badass, and the drumming is insane. I really want to like this album, but there’s so much holding it back.
Let’s start with the sound. Linsk uses the exact same guitar tone he uses in Overkill. Look, I get that these songs were originally written for Overkill, but you could’ve gone with a different vibe for the guitars. That, of course, pales in comparison to the offense of Tailer’s bass tone. It is nearly spot-on with D.D. Verni’s classic sound. Double-U Tee Eff, guys. One major difference I can note is Mallare does get to show off his drumming a lot more than he has in recent years with Overkill. Aside from the drumming, and the vocals, there isn’t anything new here. I hate to harp on this shit, but it’s tough to review an album from 3/5 of another well-known band and not criticize it for sounding almost exactly like that band. Perhaps if they had changed the sound of the guitars it would help make this feel like a true side project, but as is it just ain’t working. This just feels like an Overkill record with a different singer.
As for the vocals, Mario is a decent thrash screamer. There’s nothing exceptional or unique about his voice; he sounds like a thousand guys I heard back in the day, but that doesn’t make him bad. I would probably dig his vocals if this album had a different sound to it, but the opening of each song has you expecting to hear Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth’s trademark rasp. Hell, if this had become the latest Overkill album, instead of RelixIV, I’d probably love it.
Despite all of the problems I have with the sound of Acts of Insanity, Speed/Kill/Hate is a solid band. Of course, they’ve had plenty of practice. I would recommend it to thrash fans that like Overkill’s sound, but hate Blitz’s voice. If you’re a big Overkill fan, like me, you’ll probably be a little disappointed.
Reverend Sick | 06/28/2006