Review: “Love Overdrive” by Total Maniac
The story goes that back in 2018 members of Nux Vomica, Deathammer and Raw Filth wanted to forge a sound that brought together their mutual love of 80’s Metal with Rock n’ Roll swagger and Punk grit, citing influences in the likes of Motörhead and Venom. A year later they released their first demo as Total Maniac and would go on to share stages with everyone from BAT to Poison Ruin as well as earning the opportunity to play Maryland Deathfest with their 2022 self titled debut album. Recorded by Kevin Bernsten (Full Of Hell, Pig Destroyer, Integrity) at Developing Nations, mastered by Brad Boatright (Obituary, Internal Bleeding, Creeping Death) at Audiosiege and accompanied by artwork from Jamie Rosier (Bludgeoned by Deformity, Vilecrush) their sophomore album is “Love Overdrive“.
Total Maniac call their sound Baltimore Street Metal and promise something that can veer from ripping Thrash to sleazy Hard Rock and from d-beat menace to anthemic choruses, all topped off with wild energy and irreverent humour. On paper that sounds like it could be a car crash waiting to happen but often those who make such statements are simply trying to draw your attention, after all there is no such thing as bad publicity is there?! The motor starts running with title track “Love Overdrive”, a cut that has a very familiar Traditional Heavy Metal riff with a bit of Motörhead flair, the expansive virtuoso solo and motorcycle sounds nice touches. Sure it’s a bit of a cliche but then it’s meant to be and that tongue in cheek humour is all part of the fun. The wheel isn’t going to be reinvented here so “Devil In Plain Sight” is a classic tale that feels like it should be on the sound track to From Dusk till Dawn with Salma Hayek dancing to the riffs and swishing her hair about on the stage in the biker bar. Diamond Dustin’s vocals are a little high pitched towards the end, cracking ever so slightly but that’s all part of the game and the whirlwind of energy created sonically is seriously infectious. Another ripper of a solo is landed with laser guided precision on “Just Another“, this time out a tale of being one of two men seeing the same woman at the same time increasing that sleaze factor. The surprise is that it’s done tastefully, Dustin stopping short of adding a phrase in the chorus to the song title and leaving it you the listeners imagination. “Drinkin’ Our Way To Hell” sounds like an AC/DC song title and is exactly what it says on the tin, the change up to Judas Priest style flaming riffs after the bartender refuses to pour another one a masterstroke.
Infectious riffs and a gang chanted chorus make “Early Grave” a good time and again that air of familiarity in the riff department gives the song an instant appeal while the tongue in cheek humour of the lyrics will keep you coming back for more. Live fast, die young with a rebel yell and don’t go down without a fight. The Black n’ Roll of bands like Sadistic Force rears its ugly head with “Rock ‘N’ Roll“, the bass solo from Ben Martin a nice touch as the 80’s war machine roars into life. Lyrically it’s a walking, talking, living cliche and its meant to be as it gives everyone something to which they can relate before the drug fuelled debauchery of “Set Fire To The Sun” takes hold. This one is anarchy for the sake of it, the non stop riffs from Mike Brown and Nick Etson a pleasure you can’t measure that makes the record such a good time you can’t help but crack a smile about that. If you were expecting a power ballad with “Flatline“, guess again as Total Maniac go hell for leather and burn their bridges and boats with an evil grin, throwing accelerant into the fire before running like the wind. An adrenaline rush of a track from start to finish, it’s one that belongs to a circle pit and these guys will stop at nothing to get it happening. Like a good old fashioned action movie, disengage your brain and enjoy it for what it is! [7.5/10]
Track Listing
“Love Overdrive” by Total Maniac is out 27th March 2026 and is available over at bandcamp
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