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After 2008’s self explanatory “Let
The Metal Do The Talking”, Swedish traditional metal
exponents Overdrive deliver the most pulsating album of
their career with the pedal to the metal bombast of “Angelmaker”.
This new album sees
Overdrive pummel the listener with their heaviest release
yet. Home to 12 tracks all of which will make any self
respecting metal fan throw the “horns” in appreciation.
With a history dating back over 20 years the line up has
been consistent since their initial formation in 1980,
with the exception of vocalist Per “PerilOz”
Karlsson who came onboard for the bands reformation in
2003. This lengthy combined experience between the band
members makes Overdrive run like a well oiled machine,
locked in, loaded and ready to unleash its metallic grit
to all generations of metal fans. Lyrically the album
deals with a variety of topics, from catholic priests,
vampires and Indians to psychopaths and warnings of our
world going down the drain. While the title track tells
the gruesome story of the Swedish angelmakers. A group
of women who “took care” of illegitimate children
through drowning, suffocation or starvation, being paid
for their services. The last angelmaker was convicted
in the 1920’s, yet still the story is one that shocks.
The work on “Angelmaker” started in late 2008.
Janne Stark (Locomotive Breath / Constancia) started writing
a couple of tracks, “Thriller” and” Angelmaker”,
which set the style and approach. Then Kjelle Jacobsson,
Janne, Per Karlsson and Kenth Ericsson started writing,
each on their own. Demos were made and finally the band
sat down together in February 2010 to select from the
25+ songs that had been written. 18 songs were selected.
Rehearsals began and in May recordings started. With no
hurry and the aim of simply making this the best Overdrive
album ever. The drums were recorded by Johan Blomström
at Studio Sound Palace, while the guitars, bass and vocals
were recorded at various studios. The mixing, by Pelle
Saether (Grand Design/Zello/Zeelion) at Studio Underground
in Västerås started in July and in August the
album was finished. Next the band drafted 10 people to
help evaluate and select the final track listing for the
album which proved to be an eye-opening experience for
the band. In November 2010 the album was mastered and
finished and an extension of the bands deal with Lion
Music was signed. Given their pedigree and reputation
it’s no surprise to hear Overdrive enter the third
decade of their career hitting new heights with “Angelmaker”;
a slice of traditional metal as good as you will hear
in 2011.
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