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LIVE REVIEW of OVERLORDE's UNOFFICAL REUNION SHOW @ MEL'S TAVERN - Shohola, PA
6/8/01
Note: This review was originally posted on the Force Recon Eurpoa web site.
By Al Kikuras
The modest Mel's Tavern in Shohola, PA was host to a night of metallic history on Friday the 8th of June, 2001 when NJ metal legends OVERLORDE took the stage for the first time in 13 years in an un-publicized,
"unofficial" debut performance in preparation for their "official" debut at the 2001 Powermad Festival. It was my honor to be the only FORCE RECON member in attendance at this phenomenal show,
and that honor is compounded by being permitted to share my views on the show with the world!
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Overlorde took to the stage in between sets of local metal cover band, the GASHOUSE GORILLAS, and from the opening siren hail of "Snow Giant," belted forth from the
pipes of new vocalist Bobby "Leather Lungs" Lucas, Overlorde set a new standard for all power metal bands to aspire to in the live arena. A slimmed down John "Kong"
Bunucci (bass), Dave Wrenn (drums) and Mark "M.E." Edwards (Flying V. guitar) played with an intensity that far overshadowed the surprisingly few kinks that can result
from 13 years of time spent away from the stage. The energy of the band was explosive, as if they spent those 13 years locked in a cage, raging at the bars, hungry to
answer the call of true metal. This classic track from their 1987 self-titled EP was the perfect clarion call announcing the rebirth of a band that never really left the minds and
hearts of the loyal legion of fans that eagerly anticipated their return.
Overlorde next blasted into "Hell Hath No Fury" from their 2000 demo CDR release. If there is such a thing as "too much metal" for one stage to handle, Overlorde pushed
that limit with this track, as halfway through the song, the power blew out completely and the band came grinding to a halt. What immediately blew me away was that over the
sound of a crowded bar and Dave Wrenn pounding on the drums, I could STILL hear Bobby Lucas singing clear as day, despite the fact that the PA and microphone were not
working! "Leather Lungs" indeed! In my book, the man has evolved to titanium! The sound crew checked into the problem, switched some power cords and after a short
break power was returned and Overlorde launched once again into "Hell Hath No Fury," only to blow out the power AGAIN! Perhaps they should consider changing the name of
the band from Overlorde to OVERLOAD?? The stage crew went to work and restored power and the show went on with Overlorde treating the audience to 9 more songs of
absolute metal perfection, including classics like "The Masque of the Red Death" off the original EP, "My Disease," the mighty "Metallic Madness" (which closes the 2000
CDR), "Starcastle," and, "Colossus," which may well be the band's finest work to date. With an opening that is the fastest of any Overlorde song to date, "Colossus" is a
testament to all the things that are great about metal. It is catchy and heavy with a good mix of tempos, a killer refrain and phenomenal running bass lines. Overlorde's
music, "new" and old, is manna from heaven capable of feeding the appetite of ravenous metalheads across the world! Other set highlights include the mid-paced heavy
groove of "Trapped By Magic," the awesome "Ogre Wizard," and a burning rendition of Queensryche's "Queen of the Reich" off the soon-to-be-released “Warning Minds
of Raging Empires II” Queensryche tribute album on Siegen Records.
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The band closed the set with the eponymous "Overlorde," bringing to end a historical evening that will forever be burned into the ears and minds of the people at Mel's
Tavern that night that were lucky enough to bear witness to Overlorde's triumphant return to the world of live music. The band are more than ready to take on the world at the
5th Annual Powermad Festival at the Tall Ceders Venue in Baltimore, MD in mid-August. Let the call go forth around the world that Overlorde have arrived once again, and let the metal legions rejoice at their return!
Across the sea amidst the horizon, Overlorde forever binds us!
Go to the official Overlorde web site.
All images © and courtesy of Overlorde.
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