In a recent interview to “Fantasm’s” Corey Gorechrist Overkill‘s Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth talked about 2019’s album “The Wings Of War,” which will be released on February 22nd via Nuclear Blast, among many other things.
Bobby said:
“I never knew I’d be able to count that high, but I think it was never a long-sided plan. The plans were all cut into 19 pieces at this point and what I mean by that, is that if you suppose you make the best of opportunity number 18 and 19 will show itself.”
On how new drummer Jason Bittner (ex-Shadows Fall, Flotsam And Jetsam) impacted “The Wings Of War”:
“I like the fact that Jason changed the chemistry. We embraced it. We became part of it. I found Dave [Linsk, guitar] being more melodic. I found myself being more melodic. I found the songs taking on this ‘old is new again’ vibe. If you put all that together, it becomes one entity. I really noticed the change between the last record and this one: ‘Wow, it seems like the template we’ve been using for the last four or five records has finally broken.'”
On lead single “Last Man Standing”:
“That, to me, was a no-brainer for the first single. I think it shows that, again, the change that brought Jason. I think we wanted to show all is well in our home. This is Thrash 101. It was another shot between the eyes. It’s an opener by trade. What I mean by that, we knew that was the opener as soon as it was written. I’ve always loved the way Overkill doesn’t knock politely on the door, but kicks it in with both booms and says ‘We’re here. Where’s the keg?’ [Laughs]”
On second single “Head Of A Pin”:
“I love the diversity in this. It almost lends itself to an old Black Sabbath feel. Then, it goes into this whole personality of brutality. It’s not that old thing, but it almost sounds like surgical precision with regard to the beat and how that old-school type of riff fits over it. Lyrically, I always find from album-to-album, it’s a great opportunity to write lyrics. I dispose of things that are driving me f*cking crazy in my life. Once I get them out on the paper and can physically read it, sing it, I finally confessed it and have it eliminated as a problem. Obviously, I do it from a very abstract point of view to not make it boring. But, the point is that is what this song meant to me. Like, ‘Oh, I get it now.’ Hopefully somebody else there will get it too.”
