Reborn to Kill Again (CD - 2008)

Personnel: Trevor Phipps (vocals).

Audio Mixer: Adam Dutkiewicz.

Going for the glory the second time around, metalcore innovators Overcast--whose members have since gone on to join higher-profile bands--reunited for this best-of/do-over collection. Impassioned, growling vocals, hard-as-nails riffs, and a pounding rhythm section were the original band's hallmarks, and they are captured here with richer production values and the musical rapport of old comrades.

Up until recently, Overcast were a band that had simply ceased to be. An obscure band that existed from 1991 through 1998, the group was undoubtedly best known for two of its members who went on to join up with subsequently renowned metal acts Shadows Fall (singer Brian Fair) and Killswitch Engage (bassist Mike D'Antonio). But the original lineup decided to get back together and re-record some of the band's early material (as well as two tracks that were never released) with much in demand metal producer Adam Dutkiewicz. Issued in 2008 as Reborn to Kill Again, the material reflects your typical thrash metal fare -- pounding drums, holler-styled vocals, and of course, plenty of chug-chugging guitar riffs (as evidenced on such tracks as "Root Bound Apollo" and the title track). Reborn to Kill Again will certainly be of interest to fans of the two aforementioned bands in which Fair and D'Antonio now reside. ~ Greg Prato minimize