Overcast - 'Reborn To Kill Again'

Overcast didn't have a huge amount of success during their existence in the '90s. After they disbanded, their members went on to some very successful bands. Vocalist Brian Fair joined Shadows Fall, bassist Mike D'Antonio formed Killswitch Engage, guitarist Pete Cortese ended up in Seemless, guitarist Scott McCooe played bass for Transient, and drummer Jay Fitzgerald was in several different bands including Tunnel Drill.

A couple years ago the band announced they would be getting back together to re-record some of their classic songs. It took a couple of years for everything to get done, but Reborn To Kill Again is now finished and released.

Overcast were pioneers in the metalcore scene, and although they didn't have a ton of commercial success their influence was definitely felt in metalcore, especially in New England. Ten to fifteen years after their original recordings, the re-recorded songs on Reborn To Kill Again are slightly more polished than they were back then, but there's plenty of rawness.

The CD mixes old school hardcore with metal riffs and solos. There are a million bands that do that now, but back then Overcast was one of the first groups to blend those genres. The catchy metal riffs and angry hardcore attitude were something different, and it's easy to imagine how well those songs were received back then. They've held up well over the years, and still pack a punch.

Fair's vocals are a lot more extreme than his last couple Shadows Fall albums. He screams with a lot of passion and emotion, and there are also cleaner yells but not a lot of gang vocals. It's cool to see musicians go back and revisit their roots, and Reborn To Kill Again is a worthy return.

(released August 19, 2008 on Metal Blade Records)