I would say ninety percent of the fans of the current bands (Shadows Fall, Killswitch Engage, Seemless) that the members of Overcast are in weren't even out of diapers when these metalcore rippers were originally in action. While the members have seen significant success with their current musical endeavors, it is the time spent crammed into a van touring the U.S. for little to no money at all with Overcast that they'd likely cherish most.
Reborn to Kill Again features fourteen songs from the band's back catalog, including twelve of which were found on Overcasts two very popular full-length recordings - Expectational Dilusion and Fight Ambition to Kill re-recorded.
The album opens with the combo-track of "Diluting Inertia / Grifter" from Expectational Dilusion. Immediately I am thrown back in time to those days of the 90's
Ah 90's hardcore, how I love thee and all your thundering basslines, chugging riffs, and pounding rhythms. "Root Bound Apollo" is one of the previously unreleased tracks. It's interesting to hear parts of the song that were eventually reused with Shadows Fall. Still, it's a great cut with its thrashy riffs and Brian Fairs bellowing vocals.
From here on out the band launches through nostalgic track after track from the band's back catalog. Amongst the recordings are some of my favorites, "For Indifference" and "Fates Design." Also included is the second of the previously unreleased tracks, "Reborn to Kill Again." Unlike the previous new track, this song is rather odd, it almost sounds like a Quicksand song musically. It would have been interesting to hear where the band would have gone with this direction had they continued.
If there is a fault to found with this recording it is this, the original recordings are still very much available for purchase by the public. I'm not sure on the motivations for this release but it just seems silly to re-record songs that are not only still readily available but also sounded just fine on record. And on the topic of production, the recordings of Reborn to Kill Again are a bit too polished sounding for this sound - perhaps a simple re-mastering of the originals would have sufficed
For the older hardcore kids, now entering their mid-lives, Reborn to Kill Again will be a nice visit down memory lane. They'll quickly recall days of basketball jerseys and Jncos while moshing to bands like Overcast, Integrity, Bloodlet, and Trial. For the younger kids, hopefully this recording turns them onto quality hardcore as opposed to the generic metalcore-by-numbers bands that popularize the market these days.
