With Overkill hitting Australian audiences with their Grinding Wheels tour later this month, HEAVY caught up with frontman Bobby Blitz to discuss the tour, the formation of the band, and many other interesting topics.

"We're kinda selfish when it comes to the new stuff," Blitz laughed. "We obviously realize that some of the classic, long-standing tunes have to be played but the selfish aspect comes into it and we'll play four songs or so off the new one so... it's not about mailing it in for us. We're still proud of what we do; we still think it has great value; we still try to outdo every record so I think that you're gonna see 25% of the old, 25% or 20% of the new and then some gems that we're gonna play just because we want to."'

Overkill have cemented their reputation among the biggest names in thrash metal despite not quite reaching the lofty heights of some of their peers. Although perhaps not achieving the status they deserve, Blitz says from the outset the band never held delusions of grandeur or success, they were merely happy with the simple things in life that music has to offer.

"I never had a vision," he relayed. "This was always about chicks and beer (laughs). I could give you a long-winded, lying answer if you like (laughs). But let me tell you a funny story. I was in a school called Manhatten College and my father worked very hard to get me there. He put me through preparatory High School and the whole thing and I finally got into this great college - it was a Catholic college in New York City - and in my third year I told my dad I was leaving school because the band got a deal and he looked me right in the face and said is this about girls and drinking beer? And I said no. Twenty-five years later..."

To hear the rest of Blitz's story and more about Overkill, including the bands use by date listen to the interview.