The Years of Decay

The Years of Decay is the fourth studio album by New Jersey thrash metal band Overkill, released on 13 October 1989 through Megaforce Records, with Atlantic also credited. It follows Feel the Fire, Taking Over and Under the Influence, and it closes a chapter for the group: it is the last record to feature guitarist Bobby Gustafson, who left or was fired amid a feud with founding members Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth, the vocalist, and bassist D. D. Verni.

It also marks the start of a working relationship with producer Terry Date, who handled the follow-up, Horrorscope, in 1991. That makes it a useful marker in the band's story, sitting between the Gustafson years and what came next. It is regarded as an essential release in thrash metal, and it remains a favourite among collectors of physical media, so it is a good one to track down on vinyl or CD.