UMUR "Bloodletting" is the 12th full-length studio album by US, New York based thrash metal act Overkill. The album was released through Steamhammer Records in October 1999. It´s the successor to "Necroshine" from 1999. There have been two lineup changes since the release of "Necroshine (1999)" as guitarists Sebastian Marino and Joe Comeau have left the band. Overkill instead added new guitarist Dave Linsk to the lineup and for the first time since the late 80s, they are a four-piece recording unit again.

"Bloodletting" opens with the crushingly heavy and groove laden "Thunderhead" and never looks back from there. Stylistically we´re treated to the usual (usual for this period of the band´s career) combination of old school thrash/heavy metal featuring more than one nod towards groove metal. Some tracks are faster paced and more thrash metal oriented, while some tracks lean more toward the groove side of the band´s sound. Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth sounds as pissed off and filled with a "Fuck You" attitude as ever, and the instrumental part of the music is played with great passion and conviction too. These guys are true professionals and while this is pretty basic vers/chorus structured music, "Bloodletting" is still delivered with the right balance of organic groove and militant precision, to make is as effectful as possible.

"Bloodletting" features a very powerful sounding production, with a heavy metallic tone, which suits the material perfectly. So upon conclusion "Bloodletting" is a quality thrash metal release with groove metal leanings, and to my ears it´s a step up in quality from "Necroshine (1999)". Not all tracks stand out equally much, but on the other hand there´s nothing sub par on the album either, so all in all it´s a great listening experience. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.