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New York/New Jersey's Overkill are approaching the 35th anniversary of their debut album, Feel the Fire, released back in 1985, and have been the epitome of consistency over that time. The Wings of War is full-length album #19 meaning fans have never had much of wait beyond two years for new music from the band. Speaking of consistency, if you've heard any of the last few albums, you'll know exactly what you are going to get from Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth, D.D. Verni and crew; classic East Coast thrash with Ellsworth's distinctive, leather-lunged shouts and Verni's thundering bass. Bruising riffs pummel your eardrums with every track but are especially savage on cuts like the opener "Last Man Standing" and the joyful homage to the band's home state, "Welcome to the Garden State", this latter song reminding me of earlier "hits" such as "Wrecking Crew" and "Hello from the Gutter" in terms of catchiness. The thing some may take issue with is how much this sounds like every other Overkill record from the last 10 years. You can't fault a band for finding a formula that works and riding the wave (ask Motörhead, AC/DC, etc.) but I just don't hear anything on The Wings of War that would make me automatically take The Electric Age or White Devil Armory out of rotation and replace it with this. Nonetheless, that same consistency makes any Overkill offering a safe bet and this one is sure to please regardless of the metal-fueled activity you are currently engaged in.