Horrorscope (Overkill album)

Horrorscope
Studio album by Overkill
Released	September 3, 1991[1]
Recorded	March–April 1991
Studio	Carriage House Studios, Stamford, Connecticut
Genre	Thrash metal
Length	53:01
Label	Atlantic, Megaforce
Producer	Overkill, Terry Date, Jon Zazula, Marsha Zazula
Overkill chronology
The Years of Decay (1989) Horrorscope (1991) I Hear Black (1993)

Horrorscope is the fifth studio album by thrash metal band Overkill, released on September 3, 1991 through Atlantic and Megaforce Records. It was the first Overkill album to feature the duo of guitarists Merritt Gant and Rob Cannavino, and the last to be released through Megaforce; although they remained on Atlantic until 1995.

Overview

Following the departure of longtime guitarist and songwriter Bobby Gustafson, who left the band after disagreements with bassist D. D. Verni,^[2][3] Overkill added two new guitarists in Cannavino (who had been Gustafson's guitar technician) and Gant (previously from thrash metal band Faith or Fear). Drummer Sid Falck left the band during the Horrorscope tour in 1992, being replaced by former M.O.D. drummer Tim Mallare.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[4]

AllMusic's Eduardo Rivadavia gave Horrorscope a positive review, awarding it 4.5 stars out of five and stating, "The insecurity felt among Overkill fans by the departure of founding guitarist and key songwriter Bobby Gustafson in 1990 ultimately proved unfounded when the New York thrashers' expanded two-guitar lineup—featuring Rob Cannavino and Merritt Gant—arguably delivered the finest effort of the group's career in 1991's Horrorscope."^[4]

The album reached No. 29 on the U.S. Billboard Heatseekers chart^[5] and as of 2010 remains Overkill's best-selling album of the Nielsen SoundScan era, having sold over 120,000 copies in the U.S.^[6] In a 2013 article by WhatCulture!, the album was ranked fourth on their list of "10 Greatest Thrash Metal Albums of All Time".^[7]

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Overkill,^[8] except where noted. 

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Coma"	5:23
2.	"Infectious"	4:04
3.	"Blood Money"	4:07
4.	"Thanx for Nothin'"	4:07
5.	"Bare Bones"	4:52
6.	"Horrorscope"	5:49
7.	"New Machine"	5:18
8.	"Frankenstein" (Edgar Winter; instrumental)	3:28
9.	"Live Young, Die Free"	4:11
10.	"Nice Day... for a Funeral"	6:17
11.	"Soulitude"	5:25
Total length:		53:01

Personnel

• Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth – lead vocals, production
• Merritt Gant – guitar, background vocals, production
• Rob Cannavino – guitar, acoustic guitar, background vocals, production
• Sid Falck – drums, production
• D.D. Verni – 4 and 8-string bass, background vocals, production
• Terry Date – engineering, production
• Matt Lane – engineering assistance
• Howie Weinberg – mastering
• Jon Zazula – executive production
• Marsha Zazula – executive production

Chart performance

Year	Chart	Position
1991	Billboard Heatseekers	29[5]

References

1. "Overkill - Horrorscope CD". CD Universe. Retrieved 2013-12-31.
2. "Ex-Overkill Axeman Bobby Gustafson Returns To Metal With New Band Response Negative". Metal Rules. May 2003. Retrieved 2014-06-14.
3. David, Leslie (2010-11-15). "Over Kill - Bobby Gustafson". Leslie's metal. Retrieved 2014-06-15.
4. Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Horrorscope - Overkill". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2013-12-31.
5. "Horrorscope - Overkill : Awards". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2013-12-31.
6. "Overkill Frontman To Guest On Tonight's 'Headbangers Ball'". Blabbermouth. 2010-07-19. Retrieved 2014-01-03.
7. Jennings, Christopher (2013-03-18). "10 Greatest Thrash Metal Albums Of All Time". WhatCulture!. Retrieved 2013-12-31.
8. Horrorscope (CD edition liner notes).