Overkill frontman Bobby ‘Blitz’ Ellsworth recently provided an update on the band’s upcoming album. He shared details about their songwriting progress and recording timeline in an interview with SLAM: Music Survival Guide.
Ellsworth spoke about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the band’s follow-up to their latest album, ‘Scorched’, which came out in April 2023. He also addressed bassist D.D. Verni’s recent shoulder surgery and ongoing recovery.
“We’re 10 songs deep at this point… It’s gonna be a full year,” Ellsworth said. “We’ve gotta, make sure D.D.’s happening to get all this stuff together. If not, I’m sure we’ll make it, and the studio will be fine.”
The singer elaborated on Verni’s playing style and its physical demands.
“When [D.D.] does his other band [DD Verni & The Cadillac Band], it’s totally different than punching holes in the floor because he plays that bass as low as anyone ever in the history of metal,” he continued. “I mean, that shit sits right on shoe tops, and I think it’s probably one of the reasons he has a bad shoulder. But it’s gonna be business as usual. [There’ll] be a ton of new news coming out pretty soon. We’re 10 songs deep. I expect to be recording by January, and let’s see — let’s see what happens from there.”
The band appears to be moving forward with their recording plans despite Verni’s recovery process. This upcoming release represents another milestone in Overkill’s prolific career as they continue their established creative process.
Blabbermouth reported that Verni previously confirmed that he and Ellsworth already had “maybe nine or 10 songs kind of scratched out.” This follows their usual process where Verni demos the music and then hands it off to Blitz to work on vocals before the full band gets involved. This systematic approach has served the New Jersey thrash metal veterans well throughout their extensive discography.
The upcoming album will mark Overkill’s 21st studio release. Blabbermouth noted that the band is targeting a 2026 release date. The recording timeline aligns with Ellsworth’s January expectations, suggesting the band remains on track despite the challenges posed by Verni’s recovery.
Metal Injection confirmed that Overkill has locked in their new drummer Jeramie Kling, who officially joined in August 2024 as the replacement for Jason Bittner. This lineup change ensures the band has a solid foundation as they head into the recording phase for what will be their next chapter.
The band’s commitment to maintaining their signature sound while adapting to lineup changes demonstrates their resilience in the thrash metal scene. With Verni and Ellsworth remaining as the constant creative forces, fans can expect the new album to deliver the aggressive, technical approach that has defined Overkill’s four-decade career.
