Destruction
Under Attack
Nuclear Blast Records
2016
Destruction used to be one of the premier European thrash metal bands in the 80s but then again, back in the day you either stood out in a grand way, or you really were deep underground… following a rather rocky exit of their singer/bassist just prior to the 90s and a decade mostly spent in the wilderness before the return of the prodigal Schmier to the fold, which was followed by a couple of really strong albums and then a bunch of “good-uns” with the occasional few good songs, but not quite reaching the same lofty heights of their earlier releases. For better or worse the output of Destruction in the past decade or so consisted of a re-makes album and a number of not exactly career defining attempts, with the past few attempts since they re-signed to Nuclear Blast, being among the least interesting ones this side of the reunion.
“Under Attack” the eight proper studio album of new material, since then is probably a bit closer to the roots, more speedinous and while thrashy, quite melodic… but not applying its aggression all that mindlessly… I’d say a mature effort is not a bad description.
The title track opens the proceedings, rather predictably but “nicely” and is followed by the equally strong “Generation Nevermore” and the more melodic yet equally effective “Dethroned”…
“Getting Used to the Evil” slows down and it’s not exactly a highlight, but it doesn’t prompt you to skip.
“Pathogenic” picks up the tab and tries as well as the pace, but it is not 100% successful in doing so. It’s also a little generic…
“Elegant Pigs” manages to improve on both counts, while it doesn’t exactly match the opening trilogy, in terms of ferocity, sounding a bit like mid-era Megadeth than anything else...
“Second to None” is business as usual and again, it feels a bit like another mini tribute to another US thrash band, than anything else…
“Stand Up for What You Deliver” (?!) is a bit of wordplay and I dunno how clever they think it is, but it sounds like a bad version of the previous.
“Conductor of the Void” doesn’t manage to improve much, with the album really losing way too much ground past the first three songs…
“Stigmatized” hardly manages to round things off, but is a bit better, a bit more focused.
The digipack also features a cover of Venom’s “Black Metal” with Marcel dueting with Krisiun’s Alex, who’s not all that great… as well as another take on “Thrash Attack” from the debut…
Unfortunately, despite the band’s best intentions, Destruction seem unable to dig themselves out of the slump they are in, but on the other hand, they still manage to add a few good songs with each album, which is not condemnable…
“Under Attack” the eight proper studio album of new material, since then is probably a bit closer to the roots, more speedinous and while thrashy, quite melodic… but not applying its aggression all that mindlessly… I’d say a mature effort is not a bad description.
The title track opens the proceedings, rather predictably but “nicely” and is followed by the equally strong “Generation Nevermore” and the more melodic yet equally effective “Dethroned”…
“Getting Used to the Evil” slows down and it’s not exactly a highlight, but it doesn’t prompt you to skip.
“Pathogenic” picks up the tab and tries as well as the pace, but it is not 100% successful in doing so. It’s also a little generic…
“Elegant Pigs” manages to improve on both counts, while it doesn’t exactly match the opening trilogy, in terms of ferocity, sounding a bit like mid-era Megadeth than anything else...
“Second to None” is business as usual and again, it feels a bit like another mini tribute to another US thrash band, than anything else…
“Stand Up for What You Deliver” (?!) is a bit of wordplay and I dunno how clever they think it is, but it sounds like a bad version of the previous.
“Conductor of the Void” doesn’t manage to improve much, with the album really losing way too much ground past the first three songs…
“Stigmatized” hardly manages to round things off, but is a bit better, a bit more focused.
The digipack also features a cover of Venom’s “Black Metal” with Marcel dueting with Krisiun’s Alex, who’s not all that great… as well as another take on “Thrash Attack” from the debut…
Unfortunately, despite the band’s best intentions, Destruction seem unable to dig themselves out of the slump they are in, but on the other hand, they still manage to add a few good songs with each album, which is not condemnable…