On this episode of AN OLD SCHOOL ALBUM REVIEW we're looking at OVERT ENEMY..

 

On this episode of AN OLD SCHOOL ALBUM REVIEW we're looking at OVERT ENEMY.. a metal band from Texas that started out as a SLAYER TRIBUTE BAND and has now recorded their own original material.

I spoke with the band a little bit before doing the album review, asking them these questions..
Tunings?
Major accomplishments for 2019?
Major goals for 2020?
Bands you have played with?
A funny story about your band?

Here's what they had to say:

Tunings:
We tune a half step down "Slayer Tuning" except Possession which is half step down Drop D.
 

Overt Enemy deliver pure unfiltered Texas Thrash Metal.
Formed in 2013 Overt Enemy is the perfect storm, a hybrid act that can deliver
razor sharp originals and the best Slayer
tribute show in Texas.
Their distinct performances and potent songs has them well on their way to becoming Texas's go to thrash metal
band. The bands relentless work ethic and the release of two critically acclaimed EP's in 2018 & 2019 has seen Overt
Enemy rapidly rise in popularity across the USA and in over 65 countries
worldwide. Once a one off tribute to late Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman they
now pack venues
& festivals throughout Texas.
2019 was a huge year for Overt Enemy. In collaboration with
"DIY Co-op" label
Confused Records, the band rapidly sold out of the first pressing of their sophomore
EP, 'Possession'
bolstered by the support of their local rock station
KFRQ 94.5FM,
Castledown FM in the UK, Banger TV in Canada, publications like Metal Hanmer,
Power Play
and Metal Injection
as well as dozens of blogs, zines and internet radio
stations worldwide. The EP's 2nd single 'Blood God' was selected as the title track for the
So Cal Cinema Studios film 'Jaws of Los Angeles'. Simultaneously, Overt
Enemy's cover of Slayer fan favorite 'At Dawn They Sleep' has entered regular
rotation on Sirius
XM Liquid Metal
and was selected as one of the stations 'Top 15 Covers of 2019'! With new original music planned for 2020, tour dates being locked in around Texas and a booming social media
presence, Overt Enemy is on track to conquer the Lone Star State while continuing
to build an engaged global fan
base. They have honed their thrash sound into something fresh, thought provoking and crushingly heavy. The
Texas metal scene has always been thirsty for blood and Overt Enemy plan to give it to them!

Bands: We've played with a ton of bands some of the larger bands are: The Accused AD, Sons of Texas, Shattered Sun, Confused, Panteon and Pantera Tribute Band 333.
  

2020 is a "content creation year" for Overt Enemy. Our drummer just had a daughter so we are laying low with the primary goal for 2020 of  writing and recording a ton of new original music for future release,  making more music videos and playing select gigs in major markets around Texas + large festivals.

2020 is a "content creation year" for Overt Enemy. Our drummer just had a daughter so we are laying low with the primary goal for 2020 of  writing and recording a ton of new original music for future release,  making more music videos and playing select gigs in major markets around Texas + large festivals.

The funniest story I can think of is my first gig when I joined the band. Back then we were just doing the Slayer Tribute thing and we opened with either Raining Blood or Angel of Death..I forget which. Anyway we had this gig back in 2016 at a little bar that did live music in an outdoor patio area...Thirsty Monkey I believe. We get setup and start playing the song intro....right as Leo is about to start singing the power gets cut off by the owner. Apparently someone in the crowd was doing something they shouldn't have. Anyway long story long we got cut off 30 seconds into our first gig with our current lineup. We were way to metal for that place anyway 😉

This episode we have as a special guest..
with "FROM ASH TO STONE" guitar player Jeremiah Pogroszewski.. who is hearing OVERT ENEMY for the first time.. let's start with his review...
 

"You can hear SLAYER but it has its own switch."

"They have the same tuning."

"I'm a big fan of when he's singing, but talking.. he's not really singing, but talking."

"It was so alert when it ended, you're waiting for the next thing to show up."

"You're playing what you did before, just a little change up.. now it's fixing to break down, you can tell they're getting ready to come into something."

"You can feel how they're alternating their riffs."

(concerning "BLOOD GOD")
"Good war song."
"Total death metal right off the bat."
"I love the whammy use."
"The whole solo is excellent."
"They are definitely shredding."

(concerning "AT DAWN THEY SLEEP")

"Almost like.. 'am I listening to the original?'"

"If your job was to exactly imitate SLAYER you guys nailed it."

Thank you Jeremiah for taking the time to do this with us.

As always, Deena is with us, here's what she had to say..

"I see a mosh pit happening."

"They have some moves."

"If I wanted a night filled with chaos, this would be it."
"Badass Badass."

"I feel like I shouldn't sit down here, looking for our next fucking party cuz that's what we used to do."

"Reminds me of those 80's bands that would set up and play anywhere."

Jeremy:

POSSESSION:
Good riffing
Explosive start with vocals.
Love the verse riff.
Yelled lyrics but spoken.
Such a great song.
Awesome solo very thrash metal.
Ending is so punishing.

PRAY FOR DEATH:
Love the riff gallup in opening.
Such a scary ambience.
A shotgun blast.
Sounds like 80's thrash.
Awesome breakdown before solo.
Drums are hammering.
Solid ending.

BLOOD GOD:
Great title.
Loved the intro, straight into the lyrics, which are really good.
They nail the sound they're going for.
I just see a whole bunch of people in their battle vests.
Let the blood flow, watch it spill.
This song is a metal masterpiece.
Good lyrics a subject I'm familiar with I get what they're saying.
Awesome solo.

IN THE END WE DIED:
Super creepy intro.
Builds up well.
You get hit by the hammer going into the verse.
Really good vocals.
What a breakdown.
On point solo, good whammy tricks.
Love the ending, WOW!
My favorite.

AT DAWN THEY SLEEP:
As close to the original as you can get without actually being SLAYER.

Bottom line..
Overt Enemy is not fucking around.
We really enjoy doing this review it was an honor, such an amazing band such great songwriting skills.. we definitely recommend OVERT ENEMY.
 

FOR ALL THINGS OVERT ENEMY PLEASE FOLLOW THEM HERE:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJuEBRKD_g-vqnWttf8NvSg

https://www.facebook.com/overtenemy/