By: Anders

Posted: Sep 2, 2005

Who isn't excited to hear new material from the mighty German's in Destruction, I for sure am. Even though I realized the golden 80ties have come to its end and classics like the songs made back then, can't be made nowadays, Destruction still have an tendency to come close, with a couple of hymns on each of their albums.

This album kicks off Destruction style, hard kicking thrash, catchy guitar riffs, which forces your neck to move. Smashing beats with sporadic double bass drum attacks and a powerful bass. On top of that the angry snarl from Schmier, who spews forth his messages to us.

There isn't that much new under the sun from the German's this time around. They are riding along on their well known smashing thrash recipe. Even though the band has done it a 1000 times before, it still sounds fresh and grips the listener. The hooks are placed the right places and make the most songs very recognizable. The straight ahead catchy, but smashing metal is something Destruction knows how to make effective.

The vocals are as always impressive, Schmier is a powerhouse and he screams with his lungs full power, he gets backed up by the band on the song titles and choruses, a good and impressive performance. The guitars are also well performed, Mike pulls off one killer riff after the other and creates a bang-fest. The drumming is also approved, but doesn't differ much from what I had expected.

The production on the album is made by Peter Tägtgren, a long running fan of the band. He has once again made a heavy and punishing sound for the Germans. The sound is really being thrown out of the speakers, the base is solid and heavy and is a good fundament for the music and the instruments and Schmier's scream sounds well.

Destruction has once again made an album that will please a lot of thrash fans out there. There are the normal bashers, and the tracks which become to stale, but overall the feeling after listening to the album, is more than positive. And then we have the all star track 'Alliance Of The Hellhoundz', one of the ultimate hymns to metal. Schimer is on the track backed up by the following horde: Biff (Saxon), Doro, Shagrath (Dimmu Borgir), Speed Strid (Soilwork), Paul Di Anno (ex-Iron Maiden/Killers), Messiah (Candlemass), Mark Osegueda (Death Angel), Peavy (Rage) and Peter Tägtgren (Hypocrisy/Pain), that is quite an impressive guest performance, and the track does kick ass and fulfil the expectations. The album does the same, killer thrash with nerve and energy, Destruction is still going strong!

Rating: 8/10

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