OVERDOSE — Século XX (review)

OVERDOSE — Século XX album cover EP · 1990 · Speed Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
UMUR
"Século XX" is an EP release by Brazilian speed metal/heavy metal act Overdose. The EP was released through Cogumelo Records in 1990. "Século XX" features the 3 tracks from the December 1985 "Bestial Devastation / Século XX" split with Sepultura, but adds 4 tracks which results in the total playing time of the EP being 38:24 minutes. "Children of War" are culled from the 1988 "Metal Massacre IX" compilation, "Peace" from the 1987 ...Conscience... album, "Nuclear Winter" from the 1989 "You're Really Big!" album, while nothing is known of the origins of "Força Crescente".

The compositions from the "Bestial Devastation / Século XX" split are speed metal/heavy metal and the lyrics are in Portuguese. They open "Século XX" with the 10:02 minutes long "Anjos do Apocalipse", which is quite powerful and relatively intricate as far as structure goes. Overdose manage to sound sharp, raw, and heavy, but also incorporate melody and blistering lead work, and I hear more than one nod in the music towards an artist like Mercyful Fate, especially when they play solos. The vocals are a combination of singing and more raw barking. Both "Filhos do Mundo" and "Século XX" are also good quality compositions well worth the price of admission. Overdose are a very well playing band and when the songwriting is also intriguing and powerful, it´s the blueprint for a winner.

"Children of War" features english lyrics but is otherwise still in the speed metal/heavy metal style of the 3 preceding tracks, only slightly less raw. "Peace" is a short acoustic instrumental piece which works as an intro to the melodic and epic power metal/heavy metal of "Nuclear Winter" (the band have shed their speed metal influences on this one). The Portuguese lyrics return on "Força Crescente" which is a melodic heavy metal song.

The production values on all material are pretty high for the time and especially considering the pretty low sound quality of many speed metal/thrash metal releases coming out of South America in the 80s. While the main attraction of "Século XX" are arguably the 3 tracks from the "Bestial Devastation / Século XX" split, the remaining material are actually also worth a listen, although Overdose showcase a few different styles, which doesn´t make "Século XX" the most consistent release. The quality is high throughout though and a 3 - 3.5 star (65%) rating is warranted.
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