Under the Influence (Overkill album)

Under the Influence is the third studio album by thrash metal band Overkill, released on July 5, 1988 through Megaforce Records.[3] This was Overkill's first album to feature drummer Sid Falck, who had replaced Rat Skates when the latter left the band in 1987 during the Taking Over tour.

Under the Influence
Studio album by Overkill
Released	July 5, 1988
Recorded	March–April 1988
Studio	Pyramid Studios, Ithaca, New York
Genre	Thrash metal
Length	47:51
Label	Megaforce
Producer	Overkill, Alex Perialas, Jon Zazula, Marsha Zazula
Overkill chronology
!!!Fuck You!!! (1987) Under the Influence (1988) The Years of Decay (1989)
Singles from Under the Influence
"Hello from the Gutter" Released: 1988[1] "Head First" Released: 1988[2]

Touring and promotion

Overkill toured for six months to promote Under the Influence, touring alongside thrash acts Nuclear Assault, M.O.D., Destruction and Testament. From October to December 1988, the band toured the United States with Slayer and Motörhead, followed by a European tour with Slayer and Nuclear Assault, which took place in January 1989.[3]

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[4]

Jason Anderson at AllMusic awarded Under the Influence three stars out of five, calling it "another confident, if unremarkable Overkill recording", while listing "Overkill III (Under the Influence)", "Shred", "Never Say Never" and "Hello from the Gutter" as highlights.[4] The album reached No. 142 on the U.S. Billboard 200[5] and remained on that chart for thirteen weeks, making it Overkill's longest Billboard run.[6] It is also their third highest-charting album to date,[6] with over 300,000 copies sold worldwide as of 1997.[7]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Bobby Gustafson, D.D. Verni and Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Shred"	4:05
2.	"Never Say Never"	4:58
3.	"Hello from the Gutter"	4:14
4.	"Mad Gone World"	4:31
5.	"Brainfade"	4:08
6.	"Drunken Wisdom"	6:17
7.	"End of the Line"	7:03
8.	"Head First"	6:02
9.	"Overkill III (Under the Influence)"	6:33
Total length:		47:51

Personnel

• Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth – lead vocals
• Bobby Gustafson – guitars, backing vocals
• D.D. Verni – bass, backing vocals
• Sid Falck – drums

Additional personnel

• Overkill – production
• Alex Perialas – engineering, production
• Rob Hunter – engineering assistance
• Michael Wagener – mixing
• Lori Fumar – mixing assistance
• George Marino – mastering
• Jon Zazula – executive production
• Marsha Zazula – executive production

Chart performance

Year	Chart	Position
1988	Billboard 200	142[5]

References

1. "Overkill – Hello From The Gutter". Discogs. Retrieved 2014-06-12.
2. "Overkill – Head First". Discogs. Retrieved 2014-06-12.
3. "Over Kill;". metallipromo.com. Retrieved 2015-12-27.
4. Anderson, Jason. "Under the Influence - Overkill". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 2015-12-28.
5. "Under the Influence - Overkill | Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 2015-12-28.
6. "Overkill - Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 2015-12-28.
7. Nalbandian, Bob (1997). "Interview with Bobby Blitz". HardRadio. Retrieved 2014-01-03.