OVERKILL thrashes the night away at BBLV

April 10, 2026 – What better way to end a tour than to come to Vegas after the main run? That’s exactly what East coast thrash titans OVERKILL did last week. They just finished up their run on the THRASH OF THE TITANS tour alongside Destruction and Testament. And while I’m bummed that Vegas didn’t get a date of the full tour, I’m always ecstatic to see Overkill. And at Brooklyn Bowl? Please… There’s no other way I’d have spent this night if I’m being perfectly honest.

This show was a bit special, we got to see locals in the opening spots, which isn’t something I see too much for the bigger bands and shows on this stage. Silent Throne and Madzilla had the privilege of opening up the night for us, and it truly was a treat.

Silent Throne

Formerly known as Haddonfield, Silent Throne made their live debut, and if you spoke to them beforehand as I did, the excitement was palpable. Brooklyn Bowl is probably one of the most favorite stages in the valley, and it’s no easy feat to get a spot to perform there. They got the crowd warmed up for us real nice with their fresh take on metalcore and hard rock elements. With a new name, lineup, and brand, these guys are ready to take on the scene head on, and I’m stoked to see where this next chapter of their journey takes them.

Madzilla

I caught Madzilla in February opening for Coroner, and I don’t have too much more to add to my thoughts about them generally speaking. This band is consistently solid and dedicated to their growth, and to the crowd that they call their family. It was great to see them on a bigger stage, with nice lighting, and a more elaborate setup. I’ll stand by my feelings that they absolutely should be on your support list if you’re into thrash. So stop what you’re doing and go do that!

Overkill

Last time I saw Overkill was back in November of 2024, they opened up for King Diamond, and it was one of those nights that was unfortunately just… off. General issues with time and such seemingly put a damper on the overall energy, which is a shame. But they were still fun to watch. Overkill is always fun to watch, though. I’m always absolutely blown away by Bobby Blitz and his energy and determination to deliver solid, enjoyable, and fun performances for the crowd. The dude literally gives every ounce of energy to us, and it is felt. It’s honestly a huge part of why I keep coming back to photograph and cover them. Mine and my husband’s views aren’t too different when it comes to this band, though I do take more of a liking to Overkill than he does. (He’s into black and death metal, so whatever. He can have his opinions as can be seen in the article linked above.)

Being that this was an off the tour show, Overkill delivered a brutal extended setlist when compared to the actual tour setlist. What a fucking treat! The circle pit stayed active the entire set, and the skanking was ever present. This is a regular occurrence at thrash shows, due to the obvious cross over from fans of hardcore that gravitate to thrash metal. It’s pretty fun, and it’s welcome in my eyes. The one thing that I didn’t notice right away, and maybe it’s just because life is crazy these days, but Overkill was down one guitarist this night and had a fill in for bass. For reasons unannounced, Derek Tailer is sitting out on this run, and due to some “old guy shit” per D.D. Verni, his spot is being filled in by Christian Olde Wolbers (Powerflo, ex Vio-lence, ex Beowülf, ex Fear Factory) according to a recent article on Blabbermouth. While it is a bummer to see those two not on the road this time, the performance did not lack in any capacity. Overkill performed as loud and dominating as they have every other time I’ve seen them, and again…. I will keep coming back to see them!

The above Blabbermouth article also discusses the works for a new album coming soon, and all the fun stuff going on with that, and I’m absolutely looking forward to hearing what these guys have got in the chamber for us.

At any rate, check out this extended setlist for the Vegas date, and as the guys say, “We don’t care what you say, FUCK YOU!” (I know the original quote is from The Subhumans, but for me it’s more fun coming from Overkill. Ha.)