It’s Not Overkill to See Overkill Twice in a Week
Writingbound moves from an Empire State of mind to the New Jersey throwdown
State pride means a lot, especially with music. Often, it’s because a band represents your reality. You understand the experience on a different level, that they’re a mouthpiece of the people from your region. This is important as well as formative, and lucky for me, New Jersey has many groups to be proud of. Also lucky for me, we love to thrash.
If you’re from here and you dig Overkill, when they’re playing anywhere in The Garden State, you buy a ticket and make the drive. Off 78 or 80 or 95 or the Parkway, who cares. Having not seen them live in a while, I was stoked to hit the Starland Ballroom for the home state throwdown on March 28. The energy at these shows is unstoppable.
Not long after the Thrash of the Titans tour was revealed, Overkill announced three headlining slots between stops of the trek with Testament and Destruction. Setlist hound that I am, I knew these would be opportunities for extra songs, and what do you know?! Albany was the last of the engagements. Only two hours away. So, on the day of, I cruised up the Thruway early enough to avoid traffic and enjoyed the fine spring weather for a few hours.
Green was starting to emerge in The Empire State capital.
Hard to believe that I’d never been in Albany for live music before. It’ll take a mighty effort from whichever outfit I witness next in the city to top Overkill at Empire Live on March 26. This show will be one of the best I attend in 2026.
Due to D.D. Verni’s shoulder issues, former Fear Factory bassist Christian Olde Wolbers has again stepped in to deliver Overkill’s vital bottom end. With rhythm guitarist Derek Tailer on the sideline for unspecified reasons, the band is on the road as a quartet—haven’t done this in more than 20 years, but no matter. Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth and the boys crush in any configuration, a point that would be emphasized a couple of days later.
Scorched’s title track is a killer opener. Wherever “Rotten To The Core” lands in the set, it remains classic to the core. This was my first go-round seeing them with Jeramie Kling in the drum throne: “Bring Me The Night” is a test because of its sheer pace, and he was great. Following “Hello From The Gutter” and a much appreciated “Deny The Cross”, the ensuing handful of songs from “Feel The Fire” through “Horrorscope” made the drive so sweet. And of the final three offerings prior to the encore, “Ironbound” wound up impacting me most, my bias toward the progressive aside. “E.vil N.ever D.ies” has that same exploratory spirit and was the standout once they returned to the stage, traditional closer included.
Nine songs, but Sayreville wasn’t about the quantity or the repetition because the energy at the Starland Ballroom was ridiculous. As usual. The pit, way more active than in Albany. You could feel Garden State attitude, and two moments during the show help define a large portion of the truth about Overkill.
“Deny The Cross” turned into a drums-n-bass exercise with vocals when Dave Linsk’s guitar died before the second verse. He was disappointed—frustrated? pissed?—upon retaking his position at stage left as the cut concluded, but shit happens, and Linsk attacked the lead and rhythm guitar parts both nights with such skill. I felt for him, but in essence, I saw Overkill as a trio. Damn cool, too. Afterward, Blitz noted that plowing ahead and dealing with the hand you’re dealt is the right course of action. This blue-collar mentality means the world to me.
There wasn’t as much crowd surfing as what I’ve lived through at their shows in the past, but the always fun “Elimination” corrected that. A thrash anthem that elevates the pandemonium. Bodies were coming fast and furious, like a school of hammerhead sharks with blood in the water. When you stand as close to the stage as I do, you pay attention to the security guards waiting to catch people as they arrive at the rail. It’s crazy and frenetic and insane, but the kinetic passion that Overkill can extract from us is beautiful and pure…and 100% Jersey certified.
Normally, I’m in a jamband shirt at a thrash show or vice versa. I don’t wear gear of the group I’m going to see, it’s just a thing with me, but Overkill in our home state requires the love. Hello, black hoodie. Which I was proud to rock throughout that glorious night, as well as while strolling out of the venue and across the road to the VFW hall lot where I was parked. It was chilly. No sign of Chaly flapping his wings. No more double middle finger salutes. No more yelling that pair of words beginning with “f” and ending with “u.”
Merely a quiet celebration of the Green and Black to prep for the journey north.
Overkill 03/26/2026 Setlist
Scorched, Rotten To The Core, Bring Me The Night, Hello From The Gutter, Deny The Cross, Feel The Fire, Electric Rattlesnake, Mean Green Killing Machine, Necroshine, Horrorscope, The Surgeon, Ironbound, Elimination
E: In Union We Stand, E.vil N.ever D.ies, Fuck You
Overkill 03/28/2026 Setlist
Scorched, Rotten To The Core, Bring Me The Night, Hello From The Gutter, Deny The Cross, The Surgeon, Ironbound, Elimination, Fuck You