OVERDRIVE – Angelmaker

Overdrive has kick-started 2011 with a bang as they present a phenomenal new album. This Swedish Classic Metal band has been around for thirty years, and they have definitely saved up their finest work for this album. Angelmaker contains 12 very skilled tracks of powerful and influential metal.

Overdrive’s debut Metal Attack was released in 1983, and a second album Swords And Axes in 1984. Shortly afterwards, the band split up. Overdrive did a few reunion shows in subsequent years, recorded some demos, and went through some line-up changes. By 2006, they finally settled on their current line-up with vocalist Per Karlsson, and began working on the band’s first album in 24 years, Let The Metal Do The Talking. That album was kind of an odd mix of old and new tracks, and was widely received as having a purely “old school” feel.

Angelmaker should be viewed as a fresh start for Overdrive. As with their previous album, there is somewhat of a Classic/Old School Metal presentation. The songs portray many different elements of such legendary bands as Iron Maiden, Scorpions, and Tony Martin-era Black Sabbath. Overdrive has the ability to take all of those classic elements and produce a very modern and renewed sound.

Unfortunately, the album does have a slow start, as the first two tracks “Signs All Over” and “In Gut We Trust” are arguably the weakest on the album. It’s not until the heavy-hitting title track “Angelmaker” that the album really hits high gear. The most notable track on the album is the cover of Frida’s “I Know There’s Something Going On”, which is actually done quite well. Following that song is the Maiden-inspired “Under The Influence”; another very strong track. The highlight of the album is the final track “The Wavebreaker”. This is a ten-minute epic song featuring a very soft and melancholy acoustic introduction, which segues into a very heavy and intense Power Metal piece.

The outstanding vocal talent of Per Karlsson also deserves special mention. His passionate and heartfelt Bruce Dickinson-style vocals provide for a very enjoyable listen throughout the entire album. His rough and strident approach is a perfect fit for this type of music. Some of his best vocals can be heard during the track “On With The Action”, which features a high-pitched, energetic, and enthusiastic performance fully displaying Karlsson’s dynamic range.

Angelmaker as a whole is a pleasurable and delightful listen. Debatably one of the best albums of 2011 already, these guys have figured out what it takes to make a great and powerful Metal album. Overdrive as a band may have early signs of aging in their appearance, but their music is as crisp as any up-and-coming young band out there.