Another early 80s rock band regroup to either try to recapture their youth and have another crack or to milk their own little cash cow one last time. Which it is for Swedish traditional metal band OVERDRIVE will be revealed with a full length new studio release on Lion Music later this year, but their initial reformation was marked by this 5 track limited edition release last year, over years after releases like "Swords and Axes" and "Metal Attack".

Of the five tracks four are re-recordings of old favourites whilst surprisingly "Ride The Fire" is the new track. I say surprisingly as the excellent "Burn In Hell" actually sounds a lot heavier and more modern than the other stuff on here and I would have guessed at this as the new one. Worryingly though there is just too much generic metal lyric on these tracks and that maybe doesn't bode well for the comeback album. For example we're off 'ravaging', 'castle burning' and 'pillaging' in the JUDAS PRIEST-esq "Black Revenge", and 'driving', 'running free' and 'playing heavy metal' in the signature track "Overdrive". I'm happy to put this down to the age of the tracks for this release although must say that "Ride The Fire" falls into the same trap.

Musically I've got no issues with this. It's good traditional heavy metal the way the aformentioned PRIEST, SAXON and any number of nwobhm bands used to play, hell it was even a nice retro touch to have the studded wrist band and the lightning bolt on the cover. I do look forward to the new album also but with the hope that the lyric content has moved with the times a bit as well.

- Leslie

OFFICIAL SITE: www.overdrive.se

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