| Feel the Fire | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 15, 1985 [1] | |||
| Recorded | 1985 | |||
| Studio | Pyramid Studios, Ithaca, New York | |||
| Genre | Thrash metal | |||
| Length | 40:14 | |||
| Label | Megaforce | |||
| Producer | Carl Canedy | |||
| Overkill chronology | ||||
| ||||
Feel the Fire is the debut studio album by American thrash metal band Overkill, released on October 15, 1985 [1] through Megaforce Records.
The final track, "Sonic Reducer", is a cover of a 1977 song by punk rock band Dead Boys; it was not included on the vinyl [2] or cassette [3] versions of the album, and on some CD reissues it was instead placed between "Second Son" and "Hammerhead". [4] "Rotten to the Core" has been a mainstay of the band's live setlist since 1984. [5]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [6] |
Feel the Fire received a positive review from AllMusic's Alex Henderson, who awarded the album three stars out of five, saying that it "made quite a splash within the heavy metal community and listenership", and "possessed all the blistering riffs and complete abandonment fans would learn to expect from Overkill." Henderson then finished his review, saying that Feel the Fire "solidified a loyal fan base that would grow steadily as the band expanded their sound and catalog through the mid- and late '80s. The classic original band lineup of Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth on vocals, Bobby Gustafson on guitars, Rat Skates on drums, and bassist D.D. Verni sounds surprisingly accomplished on this major-label debut, giving tight performances and ultimately helping (along with fellow second-wave thrash bands like Flotsam and Jetsam and a myriad of Bay-Area metal outfits) define a generation of spastic, but impressive second wave of aggressive thrash metal." [6]
Feel the Fire did not initially reach the Billboard 200 charts or become a commercial success. Based on the moderate success of Feel the Fire, Overkill signed a recording contract with Atlantic Records in 1986, although they would still remain on Megaforce until Horrorscope (1991).
Overkill spent most of 1985 and 1986 on tour for Feel the Fire, supporting such bands as Carnivore, S.O.D., Blessed Death, Nuclear Assault, Liege Lord, Black Flag, Venom, Anthrax and D.R.I. [1] In 1986, Overkill was part of two major tours; they supported Anthrax and Agent Steel on the Spreading the Disease tour in Europe, and opened for Slayer on the Reign in Blood tour in the United States. [1]
All tracks are written by Overkill, except where noted
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Raise the Dead" | 4:18 |
| 2. | "Rotten to the Core" | 5:00 |
| 3. | "There's No Tomorrow" | 3:23 |
| 4. | "Second Son" | 3:54 |
| 5. | "Hammerhead" | 4:01 |
| 6. | "Feel the Fire" | 5:52 |
| 7. | "Blood and Iron" | 2:40 |
| 8. | "Kill at Command" | 4:48 |
| 9. | "Overkill" | 3:27 |
| 10. | "Sonic Reducer" (David Thomas, Cheetah Chrome) | 2:51 |
| Total length: | 40:14 | |
Technical
Overkill is an American thrash metal band, formed in 1980 in New Jersey. They have gone through many lineup changes, leaving bassist D.D. Verni and lead vocalist Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth as the only remaining original members. The band's current lineup includes Verni, Ellsworth, Dave Linsk on lead guitar, Derek Tailer on rhythm guitar, and Jeramie Kling as a touring drummer. Along with Nuclear Assault and Anthrax, the latter of whom would feature one-time Overkill lead guitarist Dan Spitz, the band is one of the most successful East Coast thrash metal bands, and they are often called "the Motörhead of thrash metal", based on their unique playing style, which was influenced by punk rock and the new wave of British heavy metal (NWOBHM). The band has a notable mascot named "Chaly" who has appeared on many of their album covers.
The Years of Decay is the fourth studio album by thrash metal band Overkill, released on October 13, 1989 through Atlantic and Megaforce Records. It is the last Overkill album to feature guitarist Bobby Gustafson, who either left or was fired by the band amid a feud between himself and its founding members Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth (vocalist) and D. D. Verni (bassist). The Years of Decay was also the first of two Overkill albums produced by Terry Date, who took on the same role for their follow-up album Horrorscope (1991).
Under the Influence is the third studio album by thrash metal band Overkill, released on July 5, 1988 through Megaforce Records and Atlantic Records. This was Overkill's first album to feature drummer Sid Falck, who had replaced Rat Skates when the latter left the band in 1987 during the Taking Over tour.
Horrorscope is the fifth studio album by thrash metal band Overkill, released on September 3, 1991, through Atlantic and Megaforce Records. It was the first Overkill album to feature the duo of guitarists Merritt Gant and Rob Cannavino, and the last to be released through Megaforce, although they remained on Atlantic until 1995. Like its predecessor, The Years of Decay (1989), Horrorscope was produced by Terry Date.
Taking Over is the second studio album by thrash metal band Overkill, released in March 1987 through Atlantic and Megaforce Records. The album is Overkill's last to feature drummer Rat Skates, who left the band later in 1987 and was replaced by Sid Falck. It was also the first to be released through Atlantic, who would release all of the band's albums up to W.F.O. (1994).
I Hear Black is the sixth studio album by American thrash metal band Overkill, released on March 9, 1993, by Atlantic Records. It was the band's first to feature drummer Tim Mallare.
The Killing Kind is the eighth studio album released by thrash metal band Overkill in 1996. It was the first album to feature new guitarists Joe Comeau and Sebastian Marino, and was released on CMC International, whereas their previous studio albums were released by either Megaforce or Atlantic Records.
Fuck You and Then Some is a 1996 reissue of the Overkill EPs Overkill (1985) and !!!Fuck You!!! (1987), combined with bonus live tracks, including a cover of Black Sabbath's "Hole in the Sky". The cover of this compilation album is the same as !!!Fuck You!!! with the addition of "And Then Some" to the title.
From the Underground and Below is the ninth studio album by the thrash metal band Overkill released in 1997 by CMC International. Two cover songs were recorded during these sessions: "No Feelings" by Sex Pistols and "Space Truckin'" by Deep Purple. Lead singer Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth considers From the Underground and Below to be one of his favorite Overkill albums.
Necroshine is the tenth studio album by thrash metal band Overkill released on February 23, 1999, on CMC International records.
Bloodletting is the eleventh studio album by American thrash metal band Overkill, released on October 24, 2000, by Metal-Is. It is the first after the departure of guitarists Joe Comeau and Sebastian Marino and the addition of Dave Linsk. Bloodletting also marked the first and only time since 1989's The Years of Decay that Overkill had recorded together as a four-piece.
Wrecking Everything is a 2002 live album by thrash metal band Overkill which is the counterpart to Wrecking Everything – An Evening in Asbury Park VHS/DVD. Recorded at The Paramount, Asbury Park, New Jersey on March 23, 2002. As of 2006, the album had sold over 5,300 copies and according to Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth, the VHS/DVD has sold around 15,000–20,000 copies in the U.S.
Killbox 13 is the 12th studio album by thrash metal band Overkill, released in 2003. It is the first album with rhythm guitarist Derek Tailer. The name stems from the fact that the band considers this to be their thirteenth release because they include the Overkill EP as their first, or that they had released the covers album Coverkill, which would have been their eleventh studio album. "Well, it is the thirteenth, but it's only really the thirteenth for people who followed the band. There was an EP called Overkill back in '84...", said Bobby Ellsworth.
ReliXIV is the 13th studio album by American thrash metal band Overkill, released in spring 2005. The reason the Roman numeral 14 is included in the title is because the band includes the Overkill EP in their lineup of studio albums, which would make this album the 14th by their chronology. It can also be because Overkill released the covers album Coverkill, which would have been their eleventh studio album. While this diction left it unclear how the title was to be pronounced, Blitz just mentioned it as "Relics" when announcing songs from the album on stage. The album produced the popular "Old School", which has been played at every Overkill show since it was first released. As of late 2007, ReliXIV sold over 16,000 copies in the U.S.
Power in Black is the first demo from American thrash metal band Overkill in 1983, although some songs had been recorded previously, such as "The Beast Within". Three of the songs from this demo were re-recorded for Overkill's debut Feel the Fire, while "The Beast Within" and "Death Rider" have never been re-recorded on future albums.
Overkill is the first EP recorded by thrash metal band Overkill released in 1985 on Azra/Metal Storm records. It is also considered by the band as their "first album", making their debut Feel the Fire their second record and so forth. Released only on vinyl, the EP has been seen as a rare collector's item amongst Overkill fans, and all tracks are included on the !!!Fuck You!!! And Then Some compilation.
Rat Skates is an American filmmaker, writer and musician. He is most widely known as a director of music documentaries and his contributions to the thrash metal genre as a founding member and the original drummer of Overkill.
Carlo "D.D." Verni is an American musician, best known as a founding member, bassist and songwriter of the thrash metal band Overkill. He and vocalist Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth are the only two original members who have remained with the band throughout its entire history. In addition to his work with Overkill, Verni has recorded four albums with his side project the Bronx Casket Co. and released several solo projects. He is also the composer of The Bronx Casket Co.... A New Musical.
Robert Wayne Gustafson is an American musician, best known as the former guitarist of the New Jersey–based thrash metal band Overkill from 1982 until his split with the band in 1990. He was also the rhythm guitarist for thrash metal band Vio-lence from 2020 until 2022.
