One of the best-known, if not the premier, metal bands in Brazil, Overdose had actually released several discs during the eight years prior to
Progress of Decadence -- the group's first record to receive international distribution. Like
Sepultura's successful international offerings, this 1994 release combines a smattering of Brazilian percussion with metal -- a formula Overdose helped to develop. Songs like "Straight to the Point" demonstrate plenty of musical dexterity as guitarists Claudio David and Sergio Cichovicz, drummer Eddie Weber, and bassist Andre Marcio contort staccato riffs and odd-time counterpoint. Vocalist R.Z. grinds through anti-capitalist rants without the aid of melody, but with guts and conviction. David's soloing has a post-
Van Halen '80s quality that borders on cliché, but, with just this one exception, the record has a highly original flavor. There are no song highlights as Overdose seems to prefer a riff-pasting approach to songwriting that produces technically interesting, but indistinguishable tracks. Despite its shortcomings,
Progress of Decadence still displays musical muscle not only equal to
Sepultura, but the heaviest of American and European metal outfits as well. ~ Vincent Jeffries