New York thrash quartet Overkill was formed in 1984 by vocalist Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth and guitarist Bobby Gustafson, also including bassist D.D. Verni and drummer Sid Falck. The band garnered a reputation for brutal, pounding speed and technique, but lacked the musical diversity to compete with heavy hitters like Metallica; still, they built up a strong following in the metal underground with albums like 1985's Taking Over and 1988's Under the Influence. Gustafson quit in 1989 following the Years of Decay album, and was replaced by Rob Cannavino and Merritt Gant. The band recorded their most effective and varied album, Horrorscope, in 1991; drummer Tim Mallare took over on 1993's I Hear Black. Overkill's final major-label release was 1994's W.F.O, after which the band moved to CMC International. With a new guitar team of Joe Comeau and Sebastian Marino, Overkill recorded albums like 1996's The Killing Kind, 1997's From the Underground...and Below, and 1999's Necroshine. Also issued in 1999, Coverkill celebrated the band's influences with renditions of songs by Black Sabbath, Jethro Tull, the Sex Pistols and others. Overkill soldiered on into the year 2000 with Bloodletting and recorded the following tour for a live album, 2002's Live from Asbury Park.
