After their 40th anniversary tour, Destruction is back with their 16th full length album Birth Of Malice. The German thrash metal band debuted in 1982 and have been non-stop ever since - being inspired by Iron Maiden, they have ruled the thrash metal scene for years and they've returned to do it yet again. This twelve track album is packed with plenty of full force German thrash metal for the new generation of thrash fans.
'Birth Of Malice' is a short intro to the album that creates plenty of atmosphere, with an instantly Teutonic vibe being apparent with the mix of strings and building vocals. ‘Destruction’ launches the listener straight into the guts of the album, with devastating drums and descending guitar riffs giving every classic characteristic of thrash metal, exactly as you would expect. This song has the repeating lyric “We’re destruction” which is of course the title of the song AND the name of the band, so adds a slight layer of humour to the song.
The third track ‘Cyber Warfare’ tackles the all-too relevant topic of technology taking over the world, which the music reflects in the intro using electronic and glitch-like sounds. The vocals on this album, produced by Marcel Schmier, are aggressive and clear in tone to perfectly match the tones of the guitars. ‘No King - No Masters’ gives fire to the themes of rebellion as it talks of challenging those in power. This track is fast paced and brutal as it introduces ripping guitar solos in the second half, whereby any listener can envision how a mosh pit to this song would look.
The next track ‘Scumbag Human Race’ follows in the same vein, expressing the doom of the human race. The vocals on this one are more deep and raspy, displaying Schmiers vocal duality. Layered guitars come in later in a monumental building solo that feels suitably epic in scope and scale, before meeting a sudden end with the lyric “Going straight to Hell". ‘God of Gore’ jumps straight into intense riffs and vocals wasting no time getting going. It also switches into a more syncopated drum beat, with a strong bassline giving a bit of separation to the rest of the album. ‘A.N.G.S.T’ follows on and creates a different tone to the rest of the album, being more downbeat and hitting a tempo perfect for headbanging. As the layered vocals and guitar riffs rise and fall together, the song escalates to its climax.
Track number eight ‘Dealer of Death’ continues to comment on the political climate, professing the band's anger with those in power. It follows in line with the rest of the album, featuring shredding guitar solos and booming metal vocals. ‘Evil Never Sleeps’ is a stand out track here, with the riffs being incredibly satisfying from the start - this song also seems to have the best auditory balance of all the songs and includes some more melodic layered vocals that would be perfect to scream along to live. The melodies in the addictive chorus give it an edge against the rest of the album and also separate it musically, as a lot of the other tracks can blend together if listened to in a row.
Nearing the end of the album, the track ‘Chains Of Sorrow’ features the sounds of the titular chains in its intro, as well as a bouncy drum beat to get a crowd moving. The dramatic lyrics are reflected in the fast paced guitars and classic thrash metal drums, using lots of cymbal interplay. ‘Greed’ opens slightly differently to the rest of the album with a drum solo from drummer Randy Black, showcasing his talent throughout the song - having no trouble staying in time whilst delivering intense, fiery beats. The last song is the band's own rendition of ‘Fast As A Shark’, originally released in the year of the band's formation by Accept, another German heavy metal band. The band have really made it their own, putting their own spin on the song to help it match the rest of the album.
Although this album lacks some variety within its tracks, every track is high quality, well produced and a great display of the talent of a band that has been named as one of the big four in German thrash metal. It’s consistent and unwavering, with every track being fast paced, heavy and each having their own special message to the listener. Destruction also have plenty of shows lined up for 2025 following the album release, so be sure to go to their website if you enjoyed this album and keep an eye out for any shows near you!
Score: 7/10
Birth Of Malice will be released on March 7th 2025 via Napalm Records.
Words: Amy Smyth
Photos: Destruction
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