[8/10] Despite releasing two full-length efforts: 1994’s Expectational Dilution and 1997’s Fight Ambition To Kill and three EP’s: 1992’s Bleed Into One, 1995’s Stirring The Killer and 1996’s Begging For Indifference to some acclaim, Boston-based act Overcast just didn’t have the heart or passion to continue, and inevitably spit up in 1996 after five years together.

But while Overcast didn’t succeed, it’s safe to say that the members’ various projects after the bands demise have well and truly made it, with names such as Shadows Fall (vocalist Brian Fair), Killswitch Engage (bassist Mike D’Antonio) and Seemless (guitarist Pete Cortese) well known within the metal scene.

Although attracting a small but devoted following within their existence, Overcast’s influence and importance has only grown over the years. And after 12 years away, the metalcore founders (who also comprise of Transient/Drive guitarist Scott McCooe and Tunnel Drill drummer Jay Fitzgerald) reunited in 2006, and have finally completed work on a new album in Reborn To Kill Again.

Although billed as a new album, Reborn To Kill Again is in fact a collection of re-recorded tracks from the band’s past, along with a couple of new numbers.

The opening track “Diluting Inertia/Grifter” interestingly enough splices together two older tracks, but proves to be a combination that works exceedingly well. Fair sounds a venomous as ever (if anything sounding a little more old school than he has done in years), while the production (handled by Killswitch Engage guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz) sounds punchier and more powerful than the original recordings ever did.

From here, we are given a mix of both Expectational Dilution with the combined “As A Whole/Two Degrees Below” and Fight Ambition To Kill: “Seven Ft. Grin,” “Filter Of Syntax,” “Spun,” “Your (Destructive) Self,” “Styrofoam Death Machine” and “Apocalypse Upon Us,” along with selected tracks from their various EP releases such as “For Indifference,” “Fates Design” and “Bleed Into One.”

Both the new tracks “Root Bound Apollo” and the title track “Reborn To Kill Again” sound very reminiscent of the older material, and seamlessly blend in perfectly.

While the premise of this album may sound a little redundant, this re-recording makes perfect sense given the scarcity of the original recordings, and all the more enjoyable.Overcast’s reputation may have only grown in the years since their demise, but at least now the band can finally enjoy some well overdue success with Reborn To Kill Again.

www.overcast.cc