OVERLORDE „Return of the Snow Giant”

Overlorde is has produced an album that grips you upon first listen and is instantly satisfying. The music harkens back to the days when monsterous bands such as Helstar and Grim Reaper roamed the earth. Bobby Lucas' vocal delivery comes across sounding like a mixture of James Rivera, and Geoff Tate with a sinister swagger of vocal prowess. His nickname “Leather Lungs” is obvious here!

Beyond the vocals, this CD is replet with some killer guitar delivered by Mark Edwards, playing a Flying V and making it sound like the weapon it should be, Edwards technique is obvious throughout especially during the long lost but not forgotten solos in metal music! The heavy driving rythym section of John “Kong” Bunucci on the bass and Dave Wrenn pounding out the band heartbeat on the drums keep the music extremely tight with just the right amount of
flash and balls! This album once again recalls the glory era of American power metal hearkening back to the likes of the legendary Virgin Steele.

OVERLORDE started out in 1985 with Bunucci and Edwards and joining them shortly thereafter, Dave Wrenn and lo and behold this “Power Metal” band was born. They recorded and released a 5-song self-titled EP in 1987 on their very own independent label, Strike Zone Records, which ultimately received glowing reviews worldwide from those lucky enought to get their hands on a copy. Regretfully the band disbanded in 1988 with members working on other side projects until late '99 when there seemed to be a renewed interest in the band as the EP started getting a large cult following. Luckily the three founding members had stayed in touch over the years, and a formal meeting was held in 2000 to discuss a reunion. They brought in former SEVEN WITCHES vocalist Bobby “Leather Lungs” Lucas and the band recorded a demo entitled “Overlorde 2000” which went on to receive even more attention from the metal hordes! Then garnering exposure on a few compilation CDs and live performances such as the 2001 Powermad V Metal Fest and 2002 Classic Metal Fest. All of whiched lead the band to finally achieving its ultimate goal… signing a record deal with Greece's Sonic Age Records, and ultimately releasing “Return Of The Snow Giant”.

OVERLORDE music is best described as U.S. power metal with an 80's feel, a very traditional metal sound. To me this is what metal music is really all about, when it was just “Heavy Metal”, not death, black, grind, power etc.

“Return Of The Snow Giant” is a fanstasic album from the first track to the last. No boring wanking, lots of cool guitar solos, a real thick rhythm section, and excellent vocals makes “Return Of The Snow Giant” a welcomed release in a musical environment of mediocrity.

“Return Of The Snow Giant” is a an album that literally smokes from front to back without a bunch of self serving nonsense thrown in as filler. Overlorde has produced an all time classic heavy metal album with this release!

note: 9/10

Tracklist

01. And The Battle Begins…
02. Snow Giant
03. Hell Hath No Fury
04. Starcastle
05. When He Comes
06. Metallic Madness
07. Blackness
08. Ogre Wizard
09. Mark Of The Wolf
10. My Disease
11. Trapped By Magic
12. Colossus (Island Of The Cyclops)
13. Overlorde

Line-up

Bobby “Leather Lungs” Lucas: Vocals
John “Kong” Bunucci: Bass and Backing Vocals
Dave Wrenn: Drums
Mark “M.E.” Edwards: Flying V and Backing Vocals “