I Hear Black is the sixth studio album by thrash metal

Thrash metal

Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...

 band Overkill

Overkill (band)

Overkill is an American thrash metal band, formed in 1980 in New Jersey. They have gone through many line-up changes, with singer Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth and bassist D.D. Verni remaining from the original lineup. Along with Anthrax , the band is one of the most successful East Coast thrash metal...

 in 1993 on Atlantic Records

Atlantic Records

Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...

. It was the band's first to feature drummer Tim Mallare.

Overview

Produced by Alex Perialas

Alex Perialas

Alex Perialas is an American audio engineer, mixer, and record producer, best known for his extensive work during the "golden age" of thrash metal in the mid–1980s to early–1990s...

 (Anthrax

Anthrax (band)

Anthrax is an American heavy metal band from New York City, formed in 1981. Founded by guitarists Scott Ian and Danny Lilker, the band has since released ten studio albums and 20 singles, and an EP featuring Public Enemy. The band was one of the most popular of the 1980s thrash metal scene...

, Testament

Testament (band)

Testament is an American metal band from Berkeley, California, formed in 1983. They are often credited as one of the most popular bands of the 1980s thrash metal scene...

), I Hear Black was the first Overkill album released directly through Atlantic Records

Atlantic Records

Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...

. The album once again presented a change in style for the band, from the up-tempo thrash

Thrash metal

Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...

 of Horrorscope

Horrorscope (Overkill album)

Horrorscope is the fifth studio album by American thrash metal band Overkill. Released in 1991 on Atlantic Records, it was their first album to feature the guitar duo of Merritt Gant and Rob Cannavino.-Overview:...

to a more doom metal style. The result was a metal album which had a much darker feel to it. A music video was shot for "Spiritual Void" but failed to receive substantial airplay. The European leg of the 1993 "World of Hurt Tour" featured Savatage

Savatage

Savatage is an American heavy metal band founded by the brothers Jon and Criss Oliva in 1978 at Astro Skate in Tarpon Springs, Florida.-Early days :...

 as a support act.

I Hear Black proved to be Overkill's most successful album to date, as it got their highest ever chart position, debuting at #22 on the Billboard 200

Billboard 200

The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...

 charts.

This album and W.F.O.

W.F.O.

W.F.O. is the seventh full-length album by thrash metal band Overkill, released in September 1994 on Atlantic Records. The album contains a "hidden songs" on tracks 97 and 98, featuring the band warming up in the studio, playing "Heaven and Hell" by Black Sabbath, and "The Ripper" by Judas...

were re-released on Wounded Bird Records in 2005.

Track listing

• All tracks written by Overkill
  Overkill (band)
  Overkill is an American thrash metal band, formed in 1980 in New Jersey. They have gone through many line-up changes, with singer Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth and bassist D.D. Verni remaining from the original lineup. Along with Anthrax , the band is one of the most successful East Coast thrash metal...
  
  

1. "Dreaming in Columbian" – 4:00
2. "I Hear Black" – 5:37
3. "World of Hurt" – 5:19
4. "Feed My Head" – 5:36
5. "Shades of Grey" – 5:19
6. "Spiritual Void" – 5:13
7. "Ghost Dance" – 1:46
8. "Weight of the World" – 4:07
9. "Ignorance and Innocence" – 5:00
10. "Undying" – 5:25
11. "Just Like You" – 4:13
12. "Killogy" - Japan Bonus Track

Personnel

• D.D. Verni – Bass
• Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth – Vocals
• Merritt Gant
  Merritt Gant
  Merritt Gant is a guitarist originally from Millville, New Jersey. Gant is most recognized for his association with the band Overkill....
  
   – Guitars
• Rob Cannavino – Guitars
• Tim Mallare – Drums

• Recorded at Pyramid Sound, Ithaca, New York
  Ithaca, New York
  The city of Ithaca, is a city in upstate New York and the county seat of Tompkins County, as well as the largest community in the Ithaca-Tompkins County metropolitan area...
  
  , USA
• Produced by Alex Perialas
  Alex Perialas
  Alex Perialas is an American audio engineer, mixer, and record producer, best known for his extensive work during the "golden age" of thrash metal in the mid–1980s to early–1990s...
  
   and Overkill
  Overkill (band)
  Overkill is an American thrash metal band, formed in 1980 in New Jersey. They have gone through many line-up changes, with singer Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth and bassist D.D. Verni remaining from the original lineup. Along with Anthrax , the band is one of the most successful East Coast thrash metal...
  
  
• Engineered by Rob Hunter and Alex Perialas
  Alex Perialas
  Alex Perialas is an American audio engineer, mixer, and record producer, best known for his extensive work during the "golden age" of thrash metal in the mid–1980s to early–1990s...
  
  
• Mastered by Tom Coyne at Hit Factory