"Touring and playing live is a great experience," starts Ellsworth down the line from Albany, New York where Overkill is stationed currently. The first leg of their U.S. tour begins there for the band's latest (and 9th LP) 'Necroshine'.

"A lot of bands really like playing live, but as the years go on, going out year after year, a lot of bands get sick of this. To tour you really have to want to do it. It's a big commitment."

He continues, "We get such a real emotional feeling on stage. Even before the show starts their is always a big buzz from our fans waiting for us to come on stage and it's that emotional and kinetic energy that comes back to us and motivates us to be explosive on stage."

The band - rounded out by guitarist Joe Comeau, drummer Tim Mallare, bassist D.D. Verni and new guitarist Dave Lynsk - has always geared their music to a live environment. Hence Ellsworth's and the bands love of playing new material live.

"That's the best thing about going on tour," states Ellsworth. "The fact that when we go out and play this tour their will be four or five new songs from 'Necroshine' on the set list.

"Its great to play those songs live too 'cause over the last few months the only time we have played those is when jamming in the studio and tinkering with the songs. We've never played them in front of people to see their reaction. Now we are playing them live and the fans are loving it."

For fans of Overkill, 'Necroshine' is one of their best LPs to date. With a strong guitar edge, pounding rhythms and Ellsworth's searing n' gritty vocal style leading the charge, 'Necroshine' truly delivers a powerfully live feel to the material, a trait that has always been what Overkill brings to their music.

"When we're in the studio working on the music, we have all the time to put on layers of guitar and bring out a certain feel to the music. In a live situation, it's us on stage working off one another. No chance to duplicate guitar chords or redo things. It's the real deal.

He adds, "And to be honest with you, when were on stage cranking out those new numbers they start to take on a real powerful edge to them, making them sound much more stronger live then they do from the studio work. It's great to be able to take those songs to a new level live."

Fifteen years and more than 2,000 shows later is it still fun for Ellsworth and the Overkill gang? "Of course it is. For the hour and half that we are on stage we are always trying to turn the emotional and/or aggressive meter up a bit more from the last time that we were out on the road. And while it hasn't gone up in huge incriments every year, the growth has been gradual and I think our fans can honestly see that Overkill is enjoying where they are."

With Overkill is touring a good portion and spring/summer in Europe, where would Ellsworth like to play overseas? "Belgrade!" he blurts out and then proceeds to laugh out of control.

"Now that would be a memorable show with bombs going off and us just playing like our lives depended on it."