Recorded April–May 1994 Artist Overkill Producer Overkill | Length 57:38 Release date 15 July 1994 Label Atlantic Records | |
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Released July 15, 1994 (1994-07-15) Studio Ambient Recording Co., Stamford, Connecticut W.F.O.
(1994) Wrecking Your Neck
(1995) Genres Thrash metal, Groove metal Similar Overkill albums, Thrash metal albums | ||
Wfo official video honky
W.F.O. (Wide Fucking Open) is the seventh full-length album by thrash metal band Overkill, released in July 15, 1994 on Atlantic Records. The album contains "hidden songs" on tracks 97 and 98, featuring the band warming up in the studio, playing "Heaven and Hell" by Black Sabbath, "The Ripper" by Judas Priest and "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" by Jimi Hendrix. The instrumental song "R.I.P. (Undone)" was written as a tribute to Criss Oliva, co-founder of the band Savatage, who died nine months before the release of the album.
Contents
W.F.O. is the last Overkill album released by Atlantic Records, who released their previous five albums, and their last album with guitarists Rob Cannavino and Merritt Gant. W.F.O. and I Hear Black were re-released on Wounded Bird Records in 2005.
Reception
AllMusic's Jason Anderson gave the album a positive review, awarding it four stars out of five and stating, "W.F.O. probably represents the formal beginnings of a '90s commercial swoon for the thrash metal band." Anderson then added, "By the time of this 1994 release, the group's popularity might have been waning a little due to rock fashion trends leaning heavily away from thrash or anything that reminded listeners of the '80s. That's not to say that W.F.O. isn't a fine recording. It is probably one of the band's best, and last, thrash juggernauts."
W.F.O. reached number nine on the Billboard Heatseekers chart in 1994, making it Overkill's third-highest chart position (after I Hear Black and Ironbound, which peaked at number three and number four respectively). Unlike many of their previous albums, it did not chart on the Billboard 200.
Track listing
Hidden tracks
Sampling
"The Wait/New High in Lows" samples a quote from the 1993 crime film, Carlito's Way.
Personnel
Songs
1Where It Hurts5:34
2Fast Junkie4:22
3The Wait - New High in Lows5:46