I Hear Black [VINYL]

After reading so many negative reviews of this album, I decided to purchase I Hear Black by Overkill and check it out for myself. Well to say that I was pleasantly surprised is an understatement.The thing I have noticed with thrash metal fans is that they are consistently narrow minded and will put down anything that diverts from the narrow path that they walk on. Well this album Overkill does just that and they do it very well. The music here is a lot more mid tempo than their previous work but that does not mean it is any less solid.I in fact enjoyed this album as much as I did the Overkill classic Horroscope. I can feel the die hards plotting my death as they read this. This is appears to be compared to Metallica's black album and I can see why. Overkill focus more on song writing and slowing down the songs give the bands music time to breathe and that I consider the strong point of I Hear Black. There are moments where the guys in the band show off their musical talents and it is something they couldn't of done playing brain dead hyperactive thrash metal.I am not saying that this record is a must have, but I would definitely recommend checking it out. Unfortunately the production values are quite questionable. The sound is fairly thin (much like the previous albums) and the volume is extremely quiet. I Hear Black (and its predecessors) are in dire need of a remaster to really give the music the treatment that it deserves. There is a lot of great stuff here, check it out and make your own mind up.

Many fans dislike this album as it was so different from Horrorscope (IMO their best work). I have to admit at first I didn't really like it but having given it a chance I think there are quite a few positives.The best way to sum this up is Overkill does Black Sabbath. The songs are slower and heavier, the guitar riffs are quite simple with a lot of groove. Blitz is very melodic & sings a more than previous rather than using his trade mark raspy voice.The down side is the production is a bit cold and flat which is a shame because there is some excellent heavy riffing on display - Weight of the World, Ignorance & Innocence.I think one of Overkills strengths is their ability to stay within the thrash/metal world while exploring different sounds. Obviously not everything they do is a winner but its nice to see a band exploring ways to stay sounding fresh without selling out.Over all I think this album is unjustly underrated, there are some excellent songs and it offers something different to from their earlier releases.

Many Thanks

Glad to see this album is liked by some listeners because its far from bad. Its just that caution is required if you like the really heavy or thrashy Overkill stuff because this album was a change of direction that I personally am pleased Overkill did not continue with.At the time 'I Hear Black' was released the popularity of Thrash Metal had took a bit of a knock thanks to a fad known as Grunge so many of the best thrash bands back then were having to adapt or die. With this in mind it is unfair to knock this album just because it is not to my particular taste of Overkill style because what is on offer is of a high standard playing wise. You will find Overkill fans who loathe this album because it marked a lull in Overkills popularity and sound, this would be justified if Overkill had carried on in the same direction, but of course they didn't as their latest album 'Ironbound' proves (buy it now if you haven't already!). So think of 'I Hear Black' a little like Iron Maiden fans think of 'Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son', good albums both, but most of us are glad the change of direction wasn't permanent.

I PERSONALLY LOVE THIS ALBUM..IT IS ONE OF MY FAVORITES..WITH IT'S SLOWER SABBATH TYPE RIFFING MIXED WITH THE MORE TYPICAL OVERKILL THRASHING..I WOULD PLACE THIS ALBUM IN MY OVERKILL TOP FIVE PLAY LIST..GIVE IT A TRY, YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED !!!!!!