Overdrive (band)
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| Overdrive | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Sweden |
| Genre(s) | Heavy Metal |
| Years active | 1980 – 1985 2003 – present |
| Label(s) | Lion Music (2007 – present) |
| Website | www.overdrive.se |
OVERDRIVE is a Swedish heavy metal band.
Contents |
[edit] Biography
Overdrive was formed in 1980 out of the two local bands Paradize (recorded one 7") and Ocean (recorded two 7"'s and an album). The first demo was recorded in December 1980 with the songs "Overdrive" and "20th Century". In 1981 the band recorded the self-financed MLP "Reflexions", that has become a rare collectors-item (only 500 copies were made). The band also recorded the non-LP tracks "Tonight" and "Damnation Angel" for the local compilation "Rockslaget" (SOS 1982). Overdrive played several festivals and concerts, supporting bands like Mercyful Fate, Pretty Maids, Silver Mountain, EF Band, etc.
The band soon became one of the pioneer bands in the growing FVASHM (Firs Wave of Swedish Heavy Metal) and was soon signed by Planet Records who released their debut album "Metal Attack" in 1983. It received rave reviews in magazines like Aardshok, Headbanger, Kick Ass Monthly etc. and sold very well in the European regions.
In 1984 the second album "Swords And Axes" was released and showed an upgrade in sound and song writing. The album was also licenced by Banzai Records in Canada, where it was released in 1985.
In the Spring of 1985 Kenth was replaced by Zoltan Djember (ex. Ocean), and not long after singer Pelle Thuresson left the band. In June the same year the band split.
Janne formed Overheat together with singer Pelle, now on bass. They recruited ex. Mercy/High Voltage-drummer Paul Gustavsson and ex. High Voltage-singer Gernot Iversen and recorded some demos. Kenta and Kjell continued with the band Pride, but also made only demos. Kenta later joined local band E-Type, who appears on a local compilation-CD. Kenth recorded some demos with Area and Interaction.
In 1991 Janne, Pelle and drummer Peter Svensson (ex. Faith, Mercy, Globe and later in Locomotive Breath) recorded two instrumental tracks for the compilations "Guitarheroes Of Sweden" (the track "In The Raw") and "... Part 2" (the track "Short Circuit").
In 1992 Overdrive partly reformed with Janne, Pelle (on bass), Kenta and new singer/guitarist Jörgen Aspring/Miller (ex. Blue Town, E-Type). A demo with the songs "Die For Love", "Mighty Lord", "Back To Basics" and "Lock Of Gold" was recorded in 1993 but no records were made. In 1994 the band was again dissolved. Jörgen, Pelle and Kenta formed Crosseyed Mary, while Janne and Kjell formed Locomotive Breath. In 1995 both Overdrive-albums were re-issued on CD on Rock Treasure. In 1997 the original line-up made a re-union gig 12 years after the split, at the Karlshamn Rock Festival (later Sweden Rock Festival). The gig was recorded both on video and tape. This was however a "one night stand". The recording was later released as "Mission Of Destruction - Live" on Crook'd Records.
Just before the recordings of "Train Of Events", it was mutually decided Kjell would not continue with the band and Locomotive Breath continued as a 4-piece. In 1997 Jörgen left Crosseyed Mary, but returned to the band iun 2003. Locomotive Breath have released three albums; "Train Of Events" (1997) (later ree-issued as "Train Of New Events" in 2002), "Heavy Machinery" (2002) and "Change Of Track" (2006).
In August 2003 Overdrive again reformed with the original line-up, for a show at the Rockslaget festival. The band did another gig in December and was asked to play the Headbanger's Open Air in Itzehoe, Germany, in July 2004. Unfortunately Pelle now decided he wanted to quit. With not many weeks to go, the band luckily found singer Per "PerilOz" Karlsson. Per is also the frontman of the band Unchained. His voice was perfect for the band!
In January 2004 all three Overdrive-releases ("Reflexions", "Metal Attack" and "Swords And Axes" were re-issued on metal For Muthas/High Vaultage Records) with extensive booklets and lots of bonus material.
In May 2006 the band released the new 5-track MCD "Resurrected" (ltd. ed 500) just before their appearance at the Sweden Rock Festival. The band was soon signed by Finnish label Lion Music and late 2007 the band recorded the album "Let The Metal Do The Talking" (Lion Music - January 2008, Soundholic - March 2008). The European version contains a video of "Back On The Hunt" (2006 version) as bonus, while the Japanese version contains remastered versions of the tracks from the "Resurrected" MCD.
[edit] Members
[edit] Current members
- Per "PerilOz" Karlsson - vocals (2004 -)
- Janne Stark - guitars (1980 - )
- Kjell Jacobsson - guitars (1980 - 1985, 2003 -)
- Kenth Eriksson - bass (1980 - 1985, 2003 -)
- Kenta Svensson - drums (1980 - )
[edit] Former members
- Pelle Thuresson - vocals (1980 - 1985), bass (1993 - 1994)
- Zoltan Djember - bass (1985 - 1985)
- Jörgen Miller - guitars, vocals (1992 - 1994)
[edit] Discography
- Reflexions (1982 private - MLP)
- Metal Attack (1983 Planet Records - LP)
- Swords And Axes (1984 Planet Records - LP)
- Swords And Axes (1984 Banzai Records - LP)
- Metal Attack (1995 Rock Treasure - CD)
- Swords And Axes (1995 Rock Treasure - CD)
- Overdrive/20th Century (2000 Stormbringer - 7" Picture disc)
- Mission Of Destruction Live (2001 Crook'd Records - CD)
- Reflexions (2003 Metal For Muthas/High Vaultage - CD)
- Metal Attack (2003 Metal For Muthas/High Vaultage - CD)
- Swords And Axes (2003 Metal For Muthas/High Vaultage - CD)
- Resurrected (2006 private - MCD)
- Let The Metal Do The Talking (2008 Lion Music - CD)
- Let The Metal Do The Talking (2008 Soundholic - CD)
[edit] Compilations
- Rockslaget (1982 SOS - LP)
- Banzai Axe (1984 Banzai - LP)
- Swedish Hard Rock & Heavy Metal (1996 Stark Music - CD)
- Sweden Rock (2007 Sweden Rock - CD)
