You have the coolest uncle ever! He's a thrash Godfather and due more credit! I'm hoping we can interview him soon and let him fill in some history himself. Thanks for checking it out!
He's a HUGE influence on me! When I Hear Black came out, it totally blew me away. I bought it because it had a cool cover and became a fan ever since. That would be so awesome to have him as an uncle.
Dude! I ve seen your uncle play numerous times At Hammerjacks in Baltimore ( yeah it was a long time ago!) Outsidexof his talent, what kind of a man is he? Not too much detail, but is he the cool uncle, the uncle all the little ones flock too, etc? I gotta know. Never had the opprtunity to meet any of the guys, i would ve loved it. To this day my favorite band. DD and the Blitz just have something that stands the test of time. Damn near 50 and still listening to thrash, which is the only metal style i think.
My Uncle is the funny one that is always joking and definitely the one that I still flock too. I live near him so I get to see him a lot and he always gives me candy :)
His sound more than anything else was what drew me to overkill when I was a kid. It's on the high end but at the same time is full-on bass havoc that punches through everything.
It is a pretty cool bass. I've heard other make the same comment about the big4. I guess it has to do with popularity and not just pure ability. Thanks for the comment and watching!
Overkill probably sits at the very bottom of the totem pole that is thrash. Definitely make the least amount of money out of the big four, including testament, exodus, death angel.
@@RodneyMcG I met DD a few times over the years, and All I can say is............ Cool dude. Ive met them several times over the decades, they are STILL doin it man!! My overkill fandom begins with Hello from the Gutter, still have the shirt! Horrorscope, I hear black WFO the Gant/ Cannavino era was just the best. I was at the recording of Wrecking Your Neck Live 1995 Cleveland Agora... Talked with Merritt after that 120 plus min show.......... DD's bass sound was just stellar, and I will NEVER forget Skullkrusher @ that show........... WOW
It was DD, and Frank from Anthrax, and Greg from Testament that inspired me to make the Klonk Jr and Klonk Pro overdrive pedals. Definitely a Darkglass sound before Darkglass.
@@RodneyMcG , a lot of D D's tone is in EQ'ing bright tone, and brand new strings definitely helped. A bit of upper mid boost either from a pedal or further EQ'ing, also is required. I play a jazz bass and chased that tone for a while. Darkglass came out with their B7K and I got really close with that. As an electronics nerd I tore that pedal apart, reverse engineered it, and made the Klonk pedals so I could hit that tone for my own personal recordings. But yeah, D D was what inspired me, and definitely on Drunken Wisdom.
Correct on all counts. That's really cool that you know your sound well enough that you are willing to get that deep into your gear. Love that! I like the dark glass stuff, but I've been more at home with the tech 21 dug pedal. It's worked pretty well for me and lets me get that Vernie style grind with an added layer of deep bass behind it. We're pretty fortunate to have so much good gear finally available for bassists these days. And yeah, drunken wisdom is a spiritual experience for metal bassists!
@@RodneyMcG Not to spam you with music, but here are two tracks I wrote and recorded all the instruments for and can see that I was really trying to chase that DD Sound: www.reverbnation.com/erikvincent/song/24170052-thrash-track-1 www.reverbnation.com/erikvincent/song/24170056-thrash-track-2
The WFO album is epic. He used a product called PING. I’ve looked for one for year but never had any luck. That tone cuts through with the best of Overkills catalog. 🤘🏻
DD Verni is one of my influences on the Bass Guitar and yes... I listen to OverKill still... all the time... nearly daily. These guys have been such a staple in the metal world and they have left a huge mark.
@@RodneyMcG Glad I stumbled across it. Check out the Low Freaks page on Facebook. Big time Bass Players and regular fanatics use it daily. It'll be good for your channel.
HELL YEAH! I cycle through their catalogue weekly. He plays every style from speed picking to slap funk. The best tone in metal! One of my favorite songs for Overkill bass is Blown Away. I repeat the beginning of that song about 3 or 4 times before I listen to it, lol. WRECKING CREW FOR LIFE🤘🤘🤘
@@metal_helm go check out his solo band Soften the Glare. March of the Cephalopods will tune your ear brother. Trust me. It isn't metal, it's something all its own, but it's unreal what he can make his bass do.
Alotta 1k, with a decent amount of 60-400hz. Another reason why I only use EMG pickups as well. He's in my top 3 metal bassist influences, & why I play bass. I love that you recognize D.D.'s "clank" tone as original and influential as it was/is. I love that you put this out, thank you!!!
Proud to call D.D. a friend for over 20 years. He and Blitz and the rest of the band deserve so much more acclaim in then they receive from the music industry!!
Really makes me think of the bass sound from famous legendary NYC band, Sick of It All (1986). This clank sound is synonymous with punk/metal (especially the early days) but I guess not as common within metal. “Potential for a Fall” is a prime example of this bass sound.
You should do an episode on B War from Marduk. Although he’s not with them anymore his style of bass playing is PHENOMENAL!!! Anyone who can play along to blast beats with their fingers like him deserves an episode imo.
Agreed, D.D.’s tone is by far one of the most influential to this day. (You’re welcome modern metal players). As for his widow copy bass, it’s a custom made by Justin Sain guitars, he also did singlecut LP type (almost Fernandes style) guitar for Dave Linsk as well.
You’re welcome mate, I’m not even a bass player but I am a massive Overkill fan and have always loved his tone. Just a dominant force in their music and not to mention he’s a solid songwriter as well.
Ok, since watching this I’ve gone on a massive Overkill binge/bender. Given they are usually in heavy rotation for me (especially Horrorscope), I just went through a ton of their old stuff. I’d forgotten how monumental and timeless End of the line was. It’s worth noting also that although D.D. is a pick player he certainly does not fit the stigma of one who plays bass like someone who picks up a bass because they couldn’t play guitar. Sure, he is a songwriter and holds rhythm’s every bit as well if not better than any rhythm guitar player but anyone who listens closely to Overkill’s music will notice that D.D. will play passing notes and fills in between rhythms. Perfect example is the chorus in Elimination, there’s notes going on in the background which are way more than just the single chord strikes from the guitar. And D.D. does this in a lot of their music but will rein it in and not overdo it and yet will maintain his dominant stance to suit their music. And their are times when it’s all him (Feeding frenzy) but it’s not every song, so he knows when to step out and when to pull it back in. So in short he is an actual bassist and not someone who just follows along with the guitar like so many others. As for who else I’d like to see on here, I’d say probably Greg Christian because I’ve always thought he was criminally underrated, Alex Webster because as well as being awesome at his craft I’m of the opinion he opened the door for a lot a bass players to be more prominent in death metal and as a result we see some ridiculously amazing bassists in death metal (Origin, Dying Fetus, Brain Drill etc.). Maybe Land Phil from Municipal Waste cos he is a pick player as well but some of the speed picking stuff I’ve heard him do is crazy in itself and I’ve always thought that speed picking a bass would be more difficult than guitar as guitarists get the luxury of palm muting and thinner strings. Joey Demaio from Manowar can do it but look at his instruments so of course he’d be able to. However, that said I’m keen to see who else ends up on this series, new sub and I’m not even a bass player 👍
@@hbomb495 Fantastic comment. Thanks for sub, glad to have ya aboard! I would have to agree with all of your Thoughts on DDs work. I'm glad your getting something out of the series even though you aren't a bassist. I wanted these to be interesting to anyone really into metal bands in total. Christian and Webster are already coming up. Good choices. Haven't thought of Phil, i'll look into it. DeMaio wouldn't be a fulll episode, but i'm likely to include him on a show about all about bassists that lean into guitar territory. Thanks for a great post and ideas!
Great piece. I'ts good to see DD getting the recognition of the first episode. Not only a great bass player, but it's rare that the bass player is THE main songwriter in the band. Hail the clank!
DD is definitely the man! His songwriting contributions are not to be underestimated as well, I agree totally. Thanks for checking it out and stopping in on the comments. All hail the Clank!
DD also destroys that stigma that 'good' bassists play with fingers. He broke that pile of nonsense right in two with his playing. Unforgiving, just dominates.
Also I noticed this in his bass technique while playing. I used to think he did all downstrokes, but after relistening to all of Years of Decay and Under the Influence and watching live show footage; that is not the case. He uses quite a bit of alternate picking for those fast 16th notes. Very present in songs like "Coma" or "Deny the Cross". He also plays with his bass swung low which I think helps into his jackhammer like attack on bass. His attack is so powerful and fast that his alternate picking sounds non distinguishable from his downstrokes which is bloody amazing even in songs when it's a straight drive. He also uses Dunlop 1mm picks (The blue ones) which also furthers into helping him have meat to his attack. Really- I think D.D. Verni, Greg Christian, Dave Ellefson, and Frank Bello are literal thrash metal bass gods. Right behind Cliff Burton
I was like you when I heard D.D. on that album, I was like “woah!!!” Awesome tone. But that was 1988 and I’d already heard Bello on ATL a year earlier (which was before D.D.’s sound changed… on record at least) so although subtly different, it could be argued that Bello invented ‘clank’ on that album… or just to be even more controversial, the producer on ATL did - Eddie Kramer. Bello admits that in an interview.
DD Verni of Overkill and Steve Harris of IRON MAIDEN have incredible bass tones and styles 2 of my favorites, been clankin Bass guitar myself for 39 years now 🔥🤘🔥
Always loved DD's bass tone....I used his tone as a sort of "baseline" that slowly evolved to the tone I use now ....on a side note the tune "Nothing to Die For" was a great tune to work with while I was learning because the intro bass track is panned hard right, so all I'd have to do is turn the balance to the right and it essentially "soloed" the bass track so I could play along.
@@RodneyMcG I'm not exactly the best bass teacher, but I have an enthusiastic student who wants to learn metal bass......guess who I'm pointing him toward
Great!!! Finally someone gives the credit Overkill has been gaining over the years! D.D. is a beast on the stage! I would like to hear a part II mentioning W.F.O. FANTASTIC album with a magnificent loud bass that not many appreciate. That'd be awesome!
My first intro to Overkill was the song Powersurge on a compilation cassette called 'Rising Metal' - late 80s. My one speaker Magnavox couldn't handle it, haha
D D was my biggest influence on the bass, along with Burton. I heard D D first, so I give him THE credit. I was absolutely blown away by his tone, and his presence. He DEMANDS to be heard! Love this guy, and overkill!
They had a an amazing signature sound to begin with on the demo and feel the fire, then they took the Anthrax and Metallica thrash type riffs and incorporated that staccato mechanistic sound into their own and in a sense gave themselves a second signature sound. Iron bound is a Union of the two styles of song writing and vocals of the their first album, which works well. That first album is untouchable, which says a lot because they continue to put out epic music
I was at that show. Asbury park NJ. Some old theater. Actually im in the pic on the back of the cover. Its blurred. And i think its called "wrecking everything live".
Back in 92 I had the privilege of opening up for Overkill. I spoke with DD before the show and he was an excellent human being. Very nice guy. We spoke about amplifiers and you are correct, at the time he was using Peavey cabinets and ADA processing. He also had an ADA 210 stashed under the drum riser. Great video, thank you.
Some recommendations for basses to check out before buying one: 1. Schecter Stiletto $600(ish)? 2. Sterling SUBray $300-350 3. Dean Metalman $250 4. Harley Benton (budget pick) under $100 and up
thank you thank you thank you. DD gets no mention anywhere for his contribution to metal. been my fav bassist since i heard hello form the gutter way back
Way underrated for what he has brought to the genre and his importance to the thrash era and they kept going when everyone broke up, changed or left the music business
I loved this video. I love Overkill. They've been my favorite thrash band since the 90's. DD's sound has been a big part of that. I'm not a musician, just a fan, but I love listening to him play.
I became a fan of Overkill about the time they released Necroshine . I bought their live DVD ( I wasn't bassist yet ) and all I could think was how perfect the bass lines and that clanky / snappy sound just blew my mind ! You can get that effect finger style as well but the fact he uses a pick gives him a sharper attack . Which fits Overkill perfectly . When it comes American Thrash Metal bands . None have as been nearly as consistent as OVERKILL . Dropping new albums ever 2 or 3 years . Never truly changed their style . Just got gradually way better at what they do !
I am so happy you started this series. I found your channel because I had recently got into EMGs, saw your demo, and eventually got my own Spector Euro with EMGs. Then I saw all the other stuff you did and just really dug the down-to-earth yet reverent take on metal music. For some reason it took me some forty years of life to care about Eighties metal, but now that I'm catching up, I am really digging it. Thanks for the new music recommendations, and I can't wait for the rest of the series. 🙂
You got it! dd has stood out for years!best rolling riffs always through in the mix even after all the band member changes he still holds his power!long live Overkill lol!
I really hope DD Verni does a Loudwire interview or just a bass playthrough of some of his stuff and tell us how he gets his tone, what he uses, and sone history
Hey Rodney, I saw Overkill and DD Verni last night. I got to hear his bass tone during soundcheck and I thought of your video when I heard the clank! I took a selfie with the lead singer of Death Angel out on the street after the show and shook hands with their bassist. Keep up the good vids man.
Overkill and Death Angel?!! That's a savage line up! Glad you got to check them out, and I appreciate the kind words! I met The Death Angel singer Mark at the last NAMM show, and many drinks were had! REALLY great guy, and I think one of the most under rated vocalists in metal. Thanks for the show report.
Thanks for this killer video!! DD is a huge influence for me! Very under rated in his playing and his tone! it's about time he gets some of the respect he deserves!
@@RodneyMcG DD Verni is the reason I even started thinking about tone, I've been chasing that clank ever since I heard Under the Influence! Great video, thanks again brother!
first time I heard Overkill almost 26 years ago. I think I was around 13 and DD Verni's tone is what got me to love the bass and to listen to Overkill.
DD Verni is a fucking beast. He always tore through the mix and his basslines were tenacious. When he comes in on a track it makes the hair on my neck stand up. One of the greats. BTW,its not "clank",although his attack is brutal. Most metal guitarists scoop the mids so bass players use that frequency range to be heard and not muddy up the riffs. There is a "clank* factor but there is more going on with DD's tone.
I saw Overkill at L'AMOUR Rock capitol in Brooklyn NY several times ( 80' - 90') era as in other clubs in New Jersey and always thought how underated DD Verni was he always called my attenction of how " in your face " his bass playing is , now you expained it all , i was like : its the bass , the it pick ups or the rig or a comb. of all , of course the "clank " , thanks for the insights .
Took me a while to get used to his tone but without it Overkill loses that special something that set them apart, not unlike Blitz's vocal. Both are the reason why Overkill sound unlike anything or anyone else.
I had my music teacher in High School listen to "Head First" in 1989. He is still the most talented bass player I know, he told me about Jaco, Will Lee, Fusion Jazz, Odd Time Signatures - people and things way outside my interests. When he heard that song he said "It sounds like the guy is using a quarter for a pick!"
I have the MB-1 Bass Preamp and he has a couple of signature presets that come factory loaded. They sound great and DD is definitely a pioneer in hard rock and metal. Great video, thank you!
After DD left BC Rich he had a company called KXK making his Widow copies and now has moved on to another company here in Jersey called Justin Sane . DD was playing BC Rich basses during the Taking Over tour .
"Power in Black" really should count as their first foray into making music for people even though it wasn't a full-length record. I'm sure you know most of us East-Coast Metalheads from the Old days knew about that cassette-tape demo when it was making the tape trading rounds very soon after folks obtained copies in the early 80s🤘💀🤘
Thank you for this video. I am an Over Kill fan since the "The Years of Decay" era and seeing that somebody making a video of DD Verni's bass playing style made my day. P.S: If you could do a Joey DeMaio video it would make me happy. Since he is not only underrated but also mocked because of his stage presence and the over the top lyrics. But no one can deny that he has a very distinguishable sound and style.
Oh hell yeah! I’ll never forget seeing Overkill in 87 & 88. They sounded soooo good and DD’s bass is the secret sauce. Very few bands could even compare to their live sound. I’m talking bass PUNCHING you in the chest! Long live DD!
I picked this tone up from Shihad's first album, the grindy clank in it was awesome as. Running a RockIt amp and GK cab at the moment and it pulls this kind of tone perfectly.
I agree about DD Verni, being pretty much the originator of this particular bass tone. I started chasing after this tone after hearing Rotten To The Core, back in the day. My bandmates thought I was fucking crazy chasing after such a tone that they'd never really heard before. But, you HAVE TO understand the times back in the day. The strict rule for us bass players was, the cleaner, the better. That was the end goal back then, PERIOD. No ifs,ands, or buts about it. But, they got it after just one listen with that tone sitting in the mix. But, there was a problem. Back in the day, there really was no effects pedal that you could cop at the local brick 'n mortar. Especially here in the southern WV coalfields. And, the dirty pedals designed for 6-string simply sucked all the lows out of your bass tone. And, that was a big no buenõ. So, I did the next best thing. I got rid of my old school Acoustic 370 rig, and moved on to a GK RB400, and sit it on top of my newly-acquired Ampeg SVT 8x10 cab that I'd copped for an ounce of primo WV homegrown. Lol. After that, the secret to getting in 'the ballpark' of ripping off DD's tone was also becoming proficient playing with a pick, and the real pain in the ass part, financially, was CONSTANTLY keeping a fresh set of Rotosound strings on my EMG-loaded MIJ Fender J-Bass Special, week in, and week out. At over $30 a pop back then, that was a real mountain to climb for a 17 year-old playing in a bar band. So, it is possible to somewhat cop that tone, along with big funds for fresh stainless rounds, but, the most important part, to me, always seemed to be in your technique in your pick attack. Awesome video, approved by subscriber #666 🤘🤘🤘
It’s great to see DD finally get some attention! You should do one on Ron Broder(Royce) from Coroner! They aren’t quite as popular here as they are in Europe but his technique and playing are scary good. Can’t wait to see more of these. 🤘🤘
This video was great. It sounds like a big part was him realizing to boost the mids in the area where the guitars are scooped which makes it fill out the mix. Another thing is with a tone like that you can't fake it at all. You hit a wrong note when the bass is buried in the mix it hardly matters, but with a tine like that you have to be spot on.
I love that idea. I have to put out some feelers and see if i can get in touch. Pretty sure i'll have interviews with some of the upcoming artists. Thanks for watching!
Absolutely love this channel. If we’re going back to innovators of metal bass tone, Blacky from Voivod, easily had one of the best live metal bass tones I’ve ever heard.
Overkill is literally the only thrash band I like. First song I heard by them a few years after I got into metal as teenager was Ironbound then fell in love with the rest of their music. It’s funny because I genuinely dislike thrash, but there’s just something different about em, can’t really place it though.
You right when Under the Influence came out there was like wow that bass sounds killer, love Overkill 85-95 era, best band that decade
3 года назад+1
A bassist I might think that could be featured is the 'Yes' band one. And the song name is 'Tempus Fugit', filmed at the eighties' beginning. The 'Saga' band and their 'Don't Be Late' has a fabulous bass line too.
I’m honestly incredibly proud of my uncle, it makes me very happy to see people appreciating him.
You have the coolest uncle ever! He's a thrash Godfather and due more credit! I'm hoping we can interview him soon and let him fill in some history himself. Thanks for checking it out!
He's a HUGE influence on me! When I Hear Black came out, it totally blew me away. I bought it because it had a cool cover and became a fan ever since. That would be so awesome to have him as an uncle.
Dude! I ve seen your uncle play numerous times At Hammerjacks in Baltimore ( yeah it was a long time ago!) Outsidexof his talent, what kind of a man is he? Not too much detail, but is he the cool uncle, the uncle all the little ones flock too, etc? I gotta know. Never had the opprtunity to meet any of the guys, i would ve loved it. To this day my favorite band. DD and the Blitz just have something that stands the test of time. Damn near 50 and still listening to thrash, which is the only metal style i think.
My Uncle is the funny one that is always joking and definitely the one that I still flock too. I live near him so I get to see him a lot and he always gives me candy :)
He is also so much like my dad, same sense of humor, they both like teasing me (I’m the youngest) and my uncle hates grapes, for no reason.
A bass tone in metal that cuts through really makes the entire mix heavier!
Correct
Clank is love, Clank is life
His sound more than anything else was what drew me to overkill when I was a kid. It's on the high end but at the same time is full-on bass havoc that punches through everything.
That it does!
The b.c rich black widow is such a cool bass. Overkill shouldve been in the big four rather than anthrax though.
It is a pretty cool bass. I've heard other make the same comment about the big4. I guess it has to do with popularity and not just pure ability. Thanks for the comment and watching!
Overkill probably sits at the very bottom of the totem pole that is thrash. Definitely make the least amount of money out of the big four, including testament, exodus, death angel.
The Super 7
Metallica
Megadeth
Slayer
Anthrax
Overkill
Exodus
Testament
@@RodneyMcG I met DD a few times over the years, and All I can say is............ Cool dude. Ive met them several times over the decades, they are STILL doin it man!!
My overkill fandom begins with Hello from the Gutter, still have the shirt! Horrorscope, I hear black WFO the Gant/ Cannavino era was just the best. I was at the recording of Wrecking Your Neck Live 1995 Cleveland Agora... Talked with Merritt after that 120 plus min show.......... DD's bass sound was just stellar, and I will NEVER forget Skullkrusher @ that show........... WOW
@@nategin9009 Who cares who made the most money. Death Angel, Overkill, Testament, Kreator, THE REAL Big Four
It was DD, and Frank from Anthrax, and Greg from Testament that inspired me to make the Klonk Jr and Klonk Pro overdrive pedals. Definitely a Darkglass sound before Darkglass.
They were true pioneers , no doubt about it. I also covered Frank Bello in episode 2 if you haven't seen it. Thanks for watching and for the comment!
@@RodneyMcG , a lot of D D's tone is in EQ'ing bright tone, and brand new strings definitely helped. A bit of upper mid boost either from a pedal or further EQ'ing, also is required. I play a jazz bass and chased that tone for a while. Darkglass came out with their B7K and I got really close with that. As an electronics nerd I tore that pedal apart, reverse engineered it, and made the Klonk pedals so I could hit that tone for my own personal recordings. But yeah, D D was what inspired me, and definitely on Drunken Wisdom.
Correct on all counts. That's really cool that you know your sound well enough that you are willing to get that deep into your gear. Love that! I like the dark glass stuff, but I've been more at home with the tech 21 dug pedal. It's worked pretty well for me and lets me get that Vernie style grind with an added layer of deep bass behind it. We're pretty fortunate to have so much good gear finally available for bassists these days. And yeah, drunken wisdom is a spiritual experience for metal bassists!
@@RodneyMcG Not to spam you with music, but here are two tracks I wrote and recorded all the instruments for and can see that I was really trying to chase that DD Sound:
www.reverbnation.com/erikvincent/song/24170052-thrash-track-1
www.reverbnation.com/erikvincent/song/24170056-thrash-track-2
I totally hear that! Nice work!
Tone/production of the drum kit literally had to evolve over time to match his bass tone. Very cool!
The WFO album is epic. He used a product called PING.
I’ve looked for one for year but never had any luck.
That tone cuts through with the best of Overkills catalog. 🤘🏻
DD is criminally underrated.. Fantastic tone, how to bring the mids right to the front and crush with tone.. Awesome work!
Thanks for watching! Glad you enjoyed it
I've never heard another bass player like him. The power is outstanding.
DD Verni is one of my influences on the Bass Guitar and yes... I listen to OverKill still... all the time... nearly daily. These guys have been such a staple in the metal world and they have left a huge mark.
No doubt about it. They have flown the flag from day one and never wavered. Thanks for checking it out!
@@RodneyMcG Glad I stumbled across it. Check out the Low Freaks page on Facebook. Big time Bass Players and regular fanatics use it daily. It'll be good for your channel.
I'll check it out, thanks!
HELL YEAH! I cycle through their catalogue weekly. He plays every style from speed picking to slap funk. The best tone in metal! One of my favorite songs for Overkill bass is Blown Away. I repeat the beginning of that song about 3 or 4 times before I listen to it, lol. WRECKING CREW FOR LIFE🤘🤘🤘
One of the most consistent and underrated bands in metal.
you could have stopped right after this episode, because there is no one more unique to metal than DD. great episode.
You're probably right!Thanks for watching.
I mean Ryan Martinie is unfortunately overlooked too often. There is no one like him in bass period... Much less metal.
@@A_Stereotypical_Heretic I don't know him other than the one mudvayne song, but his basss riff and sound DOES stand out.
@@metal_helm go check out his solo band Soften the Glare. March of the Cephalopods will tune your ear brother. Trust me. It isn't metal, it's something all its own, but it's unreal what he can make his bass do.
Finally!
DD Verni's tone is epic! Was a HUGE influence on me growing up in the 80s. Much love to him!
Alotta 1k, with a decent amount of 60-400hz. Another reason why I only use EMG pickups as well.
He's in my top 3 metal bassist influences, & why I play bass. I love that you recognize D.D.'s "clank" tone as original and influential as it was/is.
I love that you put this out, thank you!!!
Proud to call D.D. a friend for over 20 years. He and Blitz and the rest of the band deserve so much more acclaim in then they receive from the music industry!!
He is an absolute beast and an icon. I'd love to have him on the channel some time.
Awesome work, I'm really happy to see someone appreciate DD and his tone. Some really good, deep info as well. Subscribed!
Thanks for the kind words and the sub! DD is a beast, no doubt. More coming soon.
WFO had a huge impact on me as a kid and was the main reason to pick up a bass.
The bass on WFO is fantastic. One of my favorites because of the mix.
Awesome! You should do one on Ron Broder from Coroner. So much talent. Sooooooo underrated.
Hmm, hadn't thought about him for a while. I'll put him on the list!
Really makes me think of the bass sound from famous legendary NYC band, Sick of It All (1986). This clank sound is synonymous with punk/metal (especially the early days) but I guess not as common within metal. “Potential for a Fall” is a prime example of this bass sound.
whenever i talk about great metal bassists DD is first on my list of "this dude will blow your mind"
He's an under credited master. Thanks for watching!
His tone sounds like he is beating his bass with a Hammer! I wouldn't change it for the world. great Video.
Hahaha! Great description! Thanks for checking it out. More episodes coming this week.
You might say " I wouldn't stop the decay " .
You should do an episode on B War from Marduk. Although he’s not with them anymore his style of bass playing is PHENOMENAL!!! Anyone who can play along to blast beats with their fingers like him deserves an episode imo.
Agreed, D.D.’s tone is by far one of the most influential to this day. (You’re welcome modern metal players).
As for his widow copy bass, it’s a custom made by Justin Sain guitars, he also did singlecut LP type (almost Fernandes style) guitar for Dave Linsk as well.
Awesome detective work! thanks for checking it out and filling in the info on his bass
You’re welcome mate, I’m not even a bass player but I am a massive Overkill fan and have always loved his tone. Just a dominant force in their music and not to mention he’s a solid songwriter as well.
@@hbomb495 ^^^^Truth!
Ok, since watching this I’ve gone on a massive Overkill binge/bender. Given they are usually in heavy rotation for me (especially Horrorscope), I just went through a ton of their old stuff. I’d forgotten how monumental and timeless End of the line was.
It’s worth noting also that although D.D. is a pick player he certainly does not fit the stigma of one who plays bass like someone who picks up a bass because they couldn’t play guitar. Sure, he is a songwriter and holds rhythm’s every bit as well if not better than any rhythm guitar player but anyone who listens closely to Overkill’s music will notice that D.D. will play passing notes and fills in between rhythms.
Perfect example is the chorus in Elimination, there’s notes going on in the background which are way more than just the single chord strikes from the guitar. And D.D. does this in a lot of their music but will rein it in and not overdo it and yet will maintain his dominant stance to suit their music.
And their are times when it’s all him (Feeding frenzy) but it’s not every song, so he knows when to step out and when to pull it back in.
So in short he is an actual bassist and not someone who just follows along with the guitar like so many others.
As for who else I’d like to see on here, I’d say probably Greg Christian because I’ve always thought he was criminally underrated, Alex Webster because as well as being awesome at his craft I’m of the opinion he opened the door for a lot a bass players to be more prominent in death metal and as a result we see some ridiculously amazing bassists in death metal (Origin, Dying Fetus, Brain Drill etc.).
Maybe Land Phil from Municipal Waste cos he is a pick player as well but some of the speed picking stuff I’ve heard him do is crazy in itself and I’ve always thought that speed picking a bass would be more difficult than guitar as guitarists get the luxury of palm muting and thinner strings. Joey Demaio from Manowar can do it but look at his instruments so of course he’d be able to.
However, that said I’m keen to see who else ends up on this series, new sub and I’m not even a bass player 👍
@@hbomb495 Fantastic comment. Thanks for sub, glad to have ya aboard! I would have to agree with all of your Thoughts on DDs work. I'm glad your getting something out of the series even though you aren't a bassist. I wanted these to be interesting to anyone really into metal bands in total. Christian and Webster are already coming up. Good choices. Haven't thought of Phil, i'll look into it. DeMaio wouldn't be a fulll episode, but i'm likely to include him on a show about all about bassists that lean into guitar territory. Thanks for a great post and ideas!
This was the moment when D.D. Verni found the high mid and high end knobs on the amp.
#truth!! Thanks for checking out the video.
@@RodneyMcG
Oh, I'll sure check the other vids, because I like your work. Keep on doing what you do.
@@kongandbasses8732 Much appreciated!
Yes!!!
Late to the party but glad I found this. You hit the nail square on the head. Good to see him get this recognition.
He used a Rickenbacker in the first two albums, then he switched to BC Rich, first an Ironbird bass and later Widow basses with 4 and 8 strings.
Correct!
Great piece. I'ts good to see DD getting the recognition of the first episode. Not only a great bass player, but it's rare that the bass player is THE main songwriter in the band. Hail the clank!
DD is definitely the man! His songwriting contributions are not to be underestimated as well, I agree totally. Thanks for checking it out and stopping in on the comments. All hail the Clank!
DD also destroys that stigma that 'good' bassists play with fingers. He broke that pile of nonsense right in two with his playing. Unforgiving, just dominates.
Would be amazing to see David Vincent on here. His groove, massive fat sound, and precision are really unique
I've seen Overkill about 10 times and each time, DD stood out like a bass boss.
Also I noticed this in his bass technique while playing. I used to think he did all downstrokes, but after relistening to all of Years of Decay and Under the Influence and watching live show footage; that is not the case. He uses quite a bit of alternate picking for those fast 16th notes. Very present in songs like "Coma" or "Deny the Cross". He also plays with his bass swung low which I think helps into his jackhammer like attack on bass. His attack is so powerful and fast that his alternate picking sounds non distinguishable from his downstrokes which is bloody amazing even in songs when it's a straight drive. He also uses Dunlop 1mm picks (The blue ones) which also furthers into helping him have meat to his attack. Really- I think D.D. Verni, Greg Christian, Dave Ellefson, and Frank Bello are literal thrash metal bass gods. Right behind Cliff Burton
Very important bassist. Thanks for your views and video.
Thank you for watching!
I was like you when I heard D.D. on that album, I was like “woah!!!” Awesome tone. But that was 1988 and I’d already heard Bello on ATL a year earlier (which was before D.D.’s sound changed… on record at least) so although subtly different, it could be argued that Bello invented ‘clank’ on that album… or just to be even more controversial, the producer on ATL did - Eddie Kramer. Bello admits that in an interview.
Finally someone good on RUclips. DD is awesome he's up there with Cliff Steve Harris Geezer. Overkill is great
Agreed on all points! Thanks for the kind words and comment!
DD Verni of Overkill and Steve Harris of IRON MAIDEN have incredible bass tones and styles 2 of my favorites, been clankin Bass guitar myself for 39 years now 🔥🤘🔥
I just started listening to Overkill, and I love the bass tone. Honestly the first pick tone I actually legit love.
Innovator for sure
my favorite thrash metal bass player from my favorite thrash metal band, love that bass tone its his personal signature
Always loved DD's bass tone....I used his tone as a sort of "baseline" that slowly evolved to the tone I use now
....on a side note the tune "Nothing to Die For" was a great tune to work with while I was learning because the intro bass track is panned hard right, so all I'd have to do is turn the balance to the right and it essentially "soloed" the bass track so I could play along.
That's a great note about Nothing To Die For! I never realized that! Thanks for the ti and for watching!
@@RodneyMcG I'm not exactly the best bass teacher, but I have an enthusiastic student who wants to learn metal bass......guess who I'm pointing him toward
@@shippeykiyay1 That's some high praise, much appreciated, and thanks again for checking out the series!
I love DD Verni. One thing is for sure. Overkill never lacked bass on their releases unlike some other “metallic” bands.
Great!!! Finally someone gives the credit Overkill has been gaining over the years! D.D. is a beast on the stage! I would like to hear a part II mentioning W.F.O. FANTASTIC album with a magnificent loud bass that not many appreciate. That'd be awesome!
I have a number of other bassists to cover, but maybe a recap in the future would be a good idea. Thanks for checking it out and the input!
W.F.O. was probably the album where he is at his loudest for sure.
This is why DD was one of my all time fav bassist.
My first intro to Overkill was the song Powersurge on a compilation cassette called 'Rising Metal' - late 80s. My one speaker Magnavox couldn't handle it, haha
D D was my biggest influence on the bass, along with Burton. I heard D D first, so I give him THE credit. I was absolutely blown away by his tone, and his presence. He DEMANDS to be heard! Love this guy, and overkill!
They had a an amazing signature sound to begin with on the demo and feel the fire, then they took the Anthrax and Metallica thrash type riffs and incorporated that staccato mechanistic sound into their own and in a sense gave themselves a second signature sound. Iron bound is a Union of the two styles of song writing and vocals of the their first album, which works well. That first album is untouchable, which says a lot because they continue to put out epic music
"I dont know even if I liked it at first" me with everything in metal when I was young
DD influenced my bass tones for my entire life. Thank you so much ❤
Try to hear the live double album "wrecking your neck" the bass sounds great all over the album
That's a great one! DD crushes all over it!
I was at that show. Asbury park NJ. Some old theater. Actually im in the pic on the back of the cover. Its blurred. And i think its called "wrecking everything live".
Back in 92 I had the privilege of opening up for Overkill. I spoke with DD before the show and he was an excellent human being. Very nice guy. We spoke about amplifiers and you are correct, at the time he was using Peavey cabinets and ADA processing. He also had an ADA 210 stashed under the drum riser. Great video, thank you.
I remember when he had the ADA! Must have been a real blast getting to play with them. Thanks for watching!
@@RodneyMcG Indeed, MB-1 preamp.
What band did u play in? What kind of Peavey cabinets did he use? 8x10?
D.D. is amazing never heard something like this. I really want to buy a bass now.
DO IT!
Some recommendations for basses to check out before buying one:
1. Schecter Stiletto $600(ish)?
2. Sterling SUBray $300-350
3. Dean Metalman $250
4. Harley Benton (budget pick) under $100 and up
This is awesome!
Please do one for Jean-Yves Thériault (Blacky) from Voivod!
That's a great one i hadn't thought of. I'll add him to the list!
@@RodneyMcG Sadly, Voivod never got the attention they deserved. Dimension Hatröss is one of my all-time favorite albums!
I would agree. They are one of those bands that had cult status, but never got to a larger audience.
Blacky tone = Liberatore bass with Rotosounds. Marshall jcm 800 super lead with a power soak
Yes Blacky! Good call.
im a old school guitarist but i remember when D.D just turned into an effin monster over night! Legend!
thank you thank you thank you. DD gets no mention anywhere for his contribution to metal. been my fav bassist since i heard hello form the gutter way back
He's definitely an underrated monster of Bass. Thanks for checking out the video!
He plays with a pick and overkill never let the bass get buried 🤟🏻🤟🏻
Way underrated for what he has brought to the genre and his importance to the thrash era and they kept going when everyone broke up, changed or left the music business
I loved this video. I love Overkill. They've been my favorite thrash band since the 90's. DD's sound has been a big part of that. I'm not a musician, just a fan, but I love listening to him play.
He is a truly under rated monster. Thanks for checking it out
I became a fan of Overkill about the time they released Necroshine . I bought their live DVD ( I wasn't bassist yet ) and all I could think was how perfect the bass lines and that clanky / snappy sound just blew my mind ! You can get that effect finger style as well but the fact he uses a pick gives him a sharper attack . Which fits Overkill perfectly . When it comes American Thrash Metal bands . None have as been nearly as consistent as OVERKILL . Dropping new albums ever 2 or 3 years . Never truly changed their style . Just got gradually way better at what they do !
Defintely way under credited
Same, early in my bass playing days
I am so happy you started this series. I found your channel because I had recently got into EMGs, saw your demo, and eventually got my own Spector Euro with EMGs. Then I saw all the other stuff you did and just really dug the down-to-earth yet reverent take on metal music. For some reason it took me some forty years of life to care about Eighties metal, but now that I'm catching up, I am really digging it. Thanks for the new music recommendations, and I can't wait for the rest of the series. 🙂
You got it! dd has stood out for years!best rolling riffs always through in the mix even after all the band member changes he still holds his power!long live Overkill lol!
I really hope DD Verni does a Loudwire interview or just a bass playthrough of some of his stuff and tell us how he gets his tone, what he uses, and sone history
I've reached out about an interview, but no luck so far.
Probably hi beam strings, cranked mids, a pinch of distortion, and it seems standard tuning all the way down.
DD is the man. The bass on WFO is the ultimate.
Hey Rodney, I saw Overkill and DD Verni last night. I got to hear his bass tone during soundcheck and I thought of your video when I heard the clank! I took a selfie with the lead singer of Death Angel out on the street after the show and shook hands with their bassist. Keep up the good vids man.
Overkill and Death Angel?!! That's a savage line up! Glad you got to check them out, and I appreciate the kind words! I met The Death Angel singer Mark at the last NAMM show, and many drinks were had! REALLY great guy, and I think one of the most under rated vocalists in metal. Thanks for the show report.
Thanks for this killer video!! DD is a huge influence for me! Very under rated in his playing and his tone! it's about time he gets some of the respect he deserves!
Thanks for watching, man! He's never really gotten his due. Totally under served.
@@RodneyMcG DD Verni is the reason I even started thinking about tone, I've been chasing that clank ever since I heard Under the Influence! Great video, thanks again brother!
first time I heard Overkill almost 26 years ago. I think I was around 13 and DD Verni's tone is what got me to love the bass and to listen to Overkill.
DD Verni is a fucking beast. He always tore through the mix and his basslines were tenacious. When he comes in on a track it makes the hair on my neck stand up. One of the greats.
BTW,its not "clank",although his attack is brutal. Most metal guitarists scoop the mids so bass players use that frequency range to be heard and not muddy up the riffs. There is a "clank* factor but there is more going on with DD's tone.
I saw Overkill at L'AMOUR Rock capitol in Brooklyn NY several times ( 80' - 90') era as in other clubs in New Jersey and always thought how underated DD Verni was he always called my attenction of how " in your face " his bass playing is , now you expained it all , i was like : its the bass , the it pick ups or the rig or a comb. of all , of course the "clank " , thanks for the insights .
Wow. What luck to be alive ro catch that era in that place.
Overkill was known to be a staple there, I hear it was pandemonium when they played.
Took me a while to get used to his tone but without it Overkill loses that special something that set them apart, not unlike Blitz's vocal. Both are the reason why Overkill sound unlike anything or anyone else.
It hit me hard in the face too. Then it really grew on me. They are metal giants, no doubt.
Except national suicide . Who sound suspiciously like an Italian overkill .try the song I'm not a zombie anymore
One of my favourite Bass Player.I realy love the Bass Tone !..Amazing Player!
Didn't know the term for this sound, but definitely noticed this sound on Overkill albums.
I had my music teacher in High School listen to "Head First" in 1989. He is still the most talented bass player I know, he told me about Jaco, Will Lee, Fusion Jazz, Odd Time Signatures - people and things way outside my interests. When he heard that song he said "It sounds like the guy is using a quarter for a pick!"
Ha! He has a point!
Didn’t know clank was the term for what I was hearing as a young metal head. I’m 50 now and my bass and gear goes CLANK!
Head first is by far my favorite overkill song I just love that riff
YES! Bass Domination all over that beginning section!
@@RodneyMcG I love when the chorus riff comes in the song it's just so metal
The whole under the influence album is a metal classic
@@RodneyMcG absolutely probably my favorite of Overkills albums
@@skylarlunaaphroditeparadis4991 Agreed
I've got a live Overkill DVD and D.D.'s bass tone is mega.
I have the MB-1 Bass Preamp and he has a couple of signature presets that come factory loaded. They sound great and DD is definitely a pioneer in hard rock and metal. Great video, thank you!
Awesome vid! So great to see D.D. get some love. You have a new sub!
Thanks Scott, I appreciate that! Next one coming up shortly
Its that" High tension, powerline,
transmission tower " sound
Is how I describe it . Love it!!!
After DD left BC Rich he had a company called KXK making his Widow copies and now has moved on to another company here in Jersey called Justin Sane . DD was playing BC Rich basses during the Taking Over tour .
Good info! Thanks!
Rodney McG No problem !! 🤘🤘
"Power in Black" really should count as their first foray into making music for people even though it wasn't a full-length record. I'm sure you know most of us East-Coast Metalheads from the Old days knew about that cassette-tape demo when it was making the tape trading rounds very soon after folks obtained copies in the early 80s🤘💀🤘
Thank you for this video. I am an Over Kill fan since the "The Years of Decay" era and seeing that somebody making a video of DD Verni's bass playing style made my day.
P.S: If you could do a Joey DeMaio video it would make me happy. Since he is not only underrated but also mocked because of his stage presence and the over the top lyrics. But no one can deny that he has a very distinguishable sound and style.
I'm really glad you enjoyed the video! I'll definitely see what I can do on Joey. Thanks for watching!
Oh hell yeah! I’ll never forget seeing Overkill in 87 & 88. They sounded soooo good and DD’s bass is the secret sauce. Very few bands could even compare to their live sound. I’m talking bass PUNCHING you in the chest! Long live DD!
Killer Video!! I haven’t listened to Overkill in years but now I totally have to go back and listen again!!!
Thanks a lot, Tim! Glad I could inspire some great Overkill nostalgia!
I picked this tone up from Shihad's first album, the grindy clank in it was awesome as. Running a RockIt amp and GK cab at the moment and it pulls this kind of tone perfectly.
I agree about DD Verni, being pretty much the originator of this particular bass tone. I started chasing after this tone after hearing Rotten To The Core, back in the day. My bandmates thought I was fucking crazy chasing after such a tone that they'd never really heard before. But, you HAVE TO understand the times back in the day. The strict rule for us bass players was, the cleaner, the better. That was the end goal back then, PERIOD. No ifs,ands, or buts about it. But, they got it after just one listen with that tone sitting in the mix. But, there was a problem. Back in the day, there really was no effects pedal that you could cop at the local brick 'n mortar. Especially here in the southern WV coalfields. And, the dirty pedals designed for 6-string simply sucked all the lows out of your bass tone. And, that was a big no buenõ. So, I did the next best thing. I got rid of my old school Acoustic 370 rig, and moved on to a GK RB400, and sit it on top of my newly-acquired Ampeg SVT 8x10 cab that I'd copped for an ounce of primo WV homegrown. Lol. After that, the secret to getting in 'the ballpark' of ripping off DD's tone was also becoming proficient playing with a pick, and the real pain in the ass part, financially, was CONSTANTLY keeping a fresh set of Rotosound strings on my EMG-loaded MIJ Fender J-Bass Special, week in, and week out. At over $30 a pop back then, that was a real mountain to climb for a 17 year-old playing in a bar band. So, it is possible to somewhat cop that tone, along with big funds for fresh stainless rounds, but, the most important part, to me, always seemed to be in your technique in your pick attack. Awesome video, approved by subscriber #666 🤘🤘🤘
We have a lot of common experience! thanks for the awesome comment and checking out the video!
Been an Overkill fan since I was a kid and heard their first album....They never disappoint....
DD is why I started saying bass
He inspired a lot of great players. Thanks for watching!
It’s great to see DD finally get some attention! You should do one on Ron Broder(Royce) from Coroner! They aren’t quite as popular here as they are in Europe but his technique and playing are scary good. Can’t wait to see more of these. 🤘🤘
I'll definitely go back and revisit him, good suggestion. Glad you're enjoying the shows and, thanks for watching. More coming soon!
This video was great. It sounds like a big part was him realizing to boost the mids in the area where the guitars are scooped which makes it fill out the mix. Another thing is with a tone like that you can't fake it at all. You hit a wrong note when the bass is buried in the mix it hardly matters, but with a tine like that you have to be spot on.
No doubt, you want to be up front, gotta have your business handled! Thanks for watching!
100% agree !!!! Years Of Decay case in point. Klaus Fluoride is an excellent pick player too.
Years of Decay is a Killer! Thanks for watching!
Awesome episode! How about an interview with DD?
I love that idea. I have to put out some feelers and see if i can get in touch. Pretty sure i'll have interviews with some of the upcoming artists. Thanks for watching!
Well ask and you never know! Can't wait to watch your other videos, thanks for making them.
@@geekynewz That's the truth! I appreciate you checking the videos out, lots more on the way!
Today is D.D's birthday...Luckly watched this clip...Overkill was the first and only band I could hear the bass sound in my vinyl era..lol
Raise a glass for the beast from the east!
Absolutely love this channel. If we’re going back to innovators of metal bass tone, Blacky from Voivod, easily had one of the best live metal bass tones I’ve ever heard.
This is awesome! Looking forward to more videos 🤘🏼🖤
Thanks Ashley! Lots more coming!
I have love D.D. since I heard my first Overkill. Probably either Head First or Powersurge. Thanks for this.
Both classics!
On W.F.O. is where he really took this tone to the next level.
Dude you deserve A LOT more views
I appreciate that. Hopefully it picks up. Thanks for watching!
Great review and thanks for showing respect to a true Bass innovator DD Verni.
Thanks for the kind words and giving it a watch!
DD is a pioneer out NJ of all places, 🤘
Great video makes me want to play Bass again.
Glad to see people appreciate D.D.👍☺
He's definitely due more acclaim then he gets. Thanks for checking it out!
Overkill is literally the only thrash band I like. First song I heard by them a few years after I got into metal as teenager was Ironbound then fell in love with the rest of their music. It’s funny because I genuinely dislike thrash, but there’s just something different about em, can’t really place it though.
You right when Under the Influence came out there was like wow that bass sounds killer, love Overkill 85-95 era, best band that decade
A bassist I might think that could be featured is the 'Yes' band one. And the song name is 'Tempus Fugit', filmed at the eighties' beginning.
The 'Saga' band and their 'Don't Be Late' has a fabulous bass line too.