Overkill "Taking Over"

Taking Over is the second studio album by thrash metal band Overkill, released in March 1987 through Atlantic and Megaforce Records. The album is Overkill's last to feature drummer Rat Skates, who left the band later in 1987 and was replaced by Sid Falck. It was also the first to be released through Atlantic, who would release all of the band's albums up to W.F.O. (1994).

Overkill toured for less than a year to promote Taking Over. In March–April 1987 they opened for Helloween on their Keeper of the Seven Keys Part I tour in Europe, and supported Megadeth on their Peace Sells... but Who's Buying? tour in May–June. Overkill then headlined their own shows in July–August, with Testament opening.

"Wrecking Crew" and "In Union We Stand" have been played live at almost every Overkill show to date, with the former being considered one of the band's signature songs, as well as being the title of their official website (wreckingcrew.com).

John Book at AllMusic gave Taking Over four stars out of five, saying "This New York band got a lot of attention with this album, although looking back at it, the vocals of Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth are somewhat dreadful compared to how they sound now." The album was Overkill's first to chart on the U.S. Billboard 200, reaching No. 191 and remaining on that chart for a week; it remains the band's second lowest chart position to date. In 2005, Taking Over was ranked No. 450 in Rock Hard magazine's book of The 500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums of All Time.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Overkill.

1. "Deny the Cross" 4:43
2. "Wrecking Crew" 4:32
3. "Fear His Name" 5:24
4. "Use Your Head" 4:19
5. "Fatal if Swallowed" 6:45
6. "Powersurge" 4:36
7. "In Union We Stand" 4:26
8. "Electro-Violence" 3:45
9. "Overkill II (The Nightmare Continues)" 7:07

Total length: 45:37

Trivia:

- The album peaked at #191 on the Billboard 200.

Co-released Megaforce Records & Atlantic Records.

On the CD the catalog number appears without the leading 7.

Music video:

- In Union We Stand

Recording information:

Co-produced by Overkill.

Recorded and mixed at: Pyramid Sound, Ithaca, N.Y. Sept.-Dec. 1986.

Mastered at: Frankford Wayne.