D.D. Verni, the longtime bassist for Thrash Metal legends Overkill is set to release his second album with his solo band (Verni), entitled Dreadful Company. Verni himself took the time to talk with Metal Express Radio about the upcoming album, working with Jason Bittner and Charlie Benante, being a part of the Thrash Metal scene for over 40 years, and more. Check out the chat below!
Metal Express Radio: Your solo project, Verni, is set to release its second studio album entitled Dreadful Company on July 26th, what can you tell fans about the upcoming release?
Verni: I think anyone who’s a fan of punk rock and metal will be into this. Overkill have done some songs like that in the past, but this is a different approach. Nice to do a record that’s just a lot of fun and a ton of energy and I think that will come across to the fans too.
MER: How was the writing and recording process having this being your second album with this band?
Verni: The first one was more a collection of songs, whereas this one I was specially going with a punk/metal blend. I wanted a lot of sing along choruses and melody and harmonies. Recording was roughly the same, I have a studio here at home and so did most of it here. I sent demos to Jason, and we went back and forth on songs, he has a studio at his house too, so the process was pretty smooth. We do it a similar way with Overkill.
MER: How is it writing as a solo artist as opposed to writing with a band?
Verni: Really not that much different, depending on how your band writes. Overkill is not a jam band; we don’t get in a room and start jamming ideas etc. We did on the first few records, but since then it’s mostly I kinda demo up songs and send ’em out to the guys. Then we get together and flush out the songs, so it works in the room and this was kinda a similar process. We didn’t play but went back and forth with ideas etc.
MER: How was it bringing in Jason Bittner to record the drums?
Verni: It was great. Jason and I work together pretty well by now. He has an idea on what I like, and we have a good language between drums/riffs etc. So if we’re talking about stuff he gets what I am saying. And he just naturally plays with a lot of energy and that was kinda the main point of the songs to me. They needed to jump out of the speakers.
MER: You recently released a single from the album entitled “Lunkhead”, what kind of feedback have you received?
Verni: Pretty great so far. Charlie Benante played the solo on it and I sent it to him when it was done and he was really into it, so that’s always good to hear! It’s only one song and there are a lot to pick from so hopefully there is a good feeling for the whole record. But so far the response has been great.
MER: How would you compare your solo material to your work with Overkill?
Verni: Well, right off the bat Overkill is a lot heavier! I know some people do other projects that kinda sound like their main band, which is not really interesting to me. So everything I do separate from Overkill I try something different. The Bronx Casket records were very different from Overkill and very different from this. I have a Big Band called DD Verni and the Cadillac Band that I just love that is about as far from Overkill as you can get. But all of them have good energy. I think that’s what I try to keep in all my songwriting.
MER: What do you see as plans for yourself after the album is released?
Verni: Who knows haha! I get asked a lot about shows, which would be fun. Since I played most of the stuff on the records I would have to put a band together, which would also be kinda fun. But I’m just gonna do one thing at a time. First get it out there and see what the fans think.
MER: Do you hope to take this band out on tour? If so, would you see yourself headlining or hope to support?
Verni: Well, either is fine by me. But it would need to be the right situation. Anything I do at this point whether it’s Overkill or this needs to be fun. If it’s a hassle and too grinding etc…nah keep it. If it sounds like it’s gonna be fun and be with people I like to hang out with, then hell yeah let’s go.
MER: You’ve been active with the Thrash Metal scene for over forty years, how is it seeing yourself along with so many of your peers still touring and putting out new music?
Verni: It’s pretty great. Festivals are especially where you kind of see people you haven’t seen in a long time or watch a band you haven’t seen in forever and you’re like damn that’s a good band…still! So never thought we would be playing this long but who does. You think Alice Cooper thought he would still be killing it in his 70s…prob not but there he is.
MER: Between your work with Overkill and Verni, what are some of your favorite albums that you have put out?
Verni: Ya know my favorite album is always the next one. Soon as an album buttons up and is out, I’m kinda on to the next thing. I don’t often go back and listen, from time to time I do and I hear like this was cool and that could have been better, but I’m always about the next one.
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