OVERKILL Singer Explains 'Grinding Wheel' Album Title

September 11, 2016

OVERKILL frontman Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth spoke to Brian Aberback of Patch.com about the band's decision to title its forthcoming album "Grinding Wheel". Blitz said: "When we were looking for a title, when you think in terms of the word 'grind,' you think of something that is relentless and doesn't wear down, whether it be an old stone mill or something metallic where sparks are flying through it. It's about an all-purpose tool through all time. It's a good, quality OVERKILL record."

Blitz also talked about OVERKILL's longevity and why the band continues to make albums more than thirty years into the group's recording career. He said: "When it first happens, getting a record deal and going on tour, you're just happy to get anything. But to have longevity, you have to separate the passion of what it's all about and what the business is.

"I think somewhere in the early '90s, when we saw everything changing, that the grunge stuff was coming in, that there was much less interest from the major labels, we had to start reinventing ourselves. Not musically, but with regards to business, and search out the right deals and the right gigs."

He continued: "We took on self-management. I think that's when I realized, 'Hey, this is actually sustainable.' Maybe that's part of the [New] Jersey hard-work thing. You think, 'There's always a way. Let's figure this thing out.'

"We had the experience to self-manage. We were brought up under good wings. There's the passionate side of being a kid in a metal band and you have to keep that throughout your entire career. You have to think that somewhere inside you, even in your 50s, you're 19 again. But there's another side of yourself that realizes you've got to balance the books."

"Grinding Wheel" is tentatively due in early November via Nuclear Blast. Ellsworth told Alternative Nation about the follow-up to 2014's "White Devil Armory": "At the end of the day, OVERKILL is OVERKILL. Our trademark is that we are always recognizable on every release. For the three decades we have been around, we were always OVERKILL. So, sure, it is a metal record, and like always, it will have sort of a thrash vibe to it with some melody in it."

As previously reported, OVERKILL and NILE will join forces for a U.S. tour in February/March 2017. AMORPHIS will also play a couple of shows toward the end of the trek, but will not be part of the OVERKILL/NILE tour. Exact cities and dates will be announced soon.

Find more on Overkill
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • reddit
  • email

Comments Disclaimer And Information

BLABBERMOUTH.NET uses the Facebook Comments plugin to let people comment on content on the site using their Facebook account. The comments reside on Facebook servers and are not stored on BLABBERMOUTH.NET. To comment on a BLABBERMOUTH.NET story or review, you must be logged in to an active personal account on Facebook. Once you're logged in, you will be able to comment. User comments or postings do not reflect the viewpoint of BLABBERMOUTH.NET and BLABBERMOUTH.NET does not endorse, or guarantee the accuracy of, any user comment. To report spam or any abusive, obscene, defamatory, racist, homophobic or threatening comments, or anything that may violate any applicable laws, use the "Report to Facebook" and "Mark as spam" links that appear next to the comments themselves. To do so, click the downward arrow on the top-right corner of the Facebook comment (the arrow is invisible until you roll over it) and select the appropriate action. You can also send an e-mail to blabbermouthinbox(@)gmail.com with pertinent details. BLABBERMOUTH.NET reserves the right to "hide" comments that may be considered offensive, illegal or inappropriate and to "ban" users that violate the site's Terms Of Service. Hidden comments will still appear to the user and to the user's Facebook friends. If a new comment is published from a "banned" user or contains a blacklisted word, this comment will automatically have limited visibility (the "banned" user's comments will only be visible to the user and the user's Facebook friends).