Merritt Gant (born February 18, 1971) is an American guitarist most recognized for his association with the band

Overkill Overkill may refer to: * Overkill (term), the use of excessive force or action to achieve a goal * Surplus killing, when a predator kills more prey than it can eat * Overexploitation, depletion of a natural resource through overharvesting ** Over ...

. Originally from

Millville, New Jersey Millville is a city in Cumberland County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the city's population was 27,491, a decrease of 909 (−3.2%) from the 2010 census count of 28,400, which in turn reflected an in ...

, Gant graduated from

Millville Senior High School Millville Senior High School is a comprehensive community public high school located in Millville, in Cumberland County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, serving students in ninth through twelfth grades as part of Millville Public Schools. The ...

in 1989. In the late 1980s, Gant entered the local music scene with hard rock band Drastic Measures. During Gant's tenure with Drastic Measures, one full-length album and one demo were released. In 1989, Gant was recruited by Chris Bombeke to play guitar with Faith or Fear. However, shortly after doing a series of shows and recording several songs with Faith or Fear, Gant auditioned and was hired to play for the thrash metal band

. In 1990,

held auditions to replace departing guitarist Bobby Gustafson. Gustafson was replaced by two guitarists, Gant and Rob Cannavino . From 1990 to 1995, Gant toured and recorded on the albums '' Horrorscope'', '' I Hear Black'', '' W.F.O.'', and the live album ''

Wrecking Your Neck ''Wrecking Your Neck'' is a 2-disc live album released by the thrash metal band Overkill in 1995. A March 1995 show, once again in Cleveland, Ohio, was recorded for Overkill's first full-length live album and was released in April 1995; with t ...

''. Gant appeared in several music videos featured on MTV, including the thrash metal anthem "Horrorscope." In 1995, Gant and Cannavino both left Overkill. After leaving Overkill, Gant's involvement in the music industry evolved beyond being just a guitar player. Gant currently plays, engineers, and produces music in several bands, including his experimental music project Blood Audio. In 2001, Blood Audio released ''Bludgeoning Timbre'' and in 2003, ''Null Evil''. In 2009, Gant also laid down several guitar tracks for New Jersey band, Dearly Beloved. In addition to being a recording artist, Gant is also a guitar instructor, producer and sound engineer, and an accomplished repairman and restorer of vintage and modern electric and acoustic guitars and other stringed instruments. In June 2009
"Faith or Fear"
released a new album, ''Instruments of Death'', featuring Gant on four previously unreleased tracks recorded in 1990. Since then, he has settled down in southern New Jersey with his two children. He owns & operates a music learning center & recording studio in his hometown. Gant also teaches Audio Engineering at Cumberland County College. He has been a resident of

Maurice River Township, New Jersey Maurice River Township () is the easternmost township in Cumberland County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The township, and all of Cumberland County, is part of the Vineland- Bridgeton metropolitan statistical area for statistical purposes, ...

.Clark, James
"Main Street South Jersey: Millville makes a winning transition"
''

The Press of Atlantic City ''The Press of Atlantic City'' is the fourth-largest daily newspaper in New Jersey. Originally based in Pleasantville, New Jersey, Pleasantville, it is the primary newspaper for southeastern New Jersey and the Jersey Shore. The Designated marke ...

'', May 6, 2013. Accessed February 14, 2023. "Merritt Gant, 42, of Maurice River Township, had been laid off from a job during the recession."

Discography

Studio albums

Overkill * '' Horrorscope'' (1991) * '' I Hear Black'' (1993) * '' W.F.O.'' (1994) * ''

'' (1995) Blood Audio * ''Bludgeoning Timbre'' (2001) * ''Null Evil'' (2003) Faith or Fear * ''Instruments of Death'' (2009)

References

Faith or fear

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Gant, Merritt 1971 births Living people Millville High School (New Jersey) alumni Musicians from Cumberland County, New Jersey People from Maurice River Township, New Jersey People from Millville, New Jersey Overkill (band) members American heavy metal guitarists 21st-century American guitarists