Destruction Albums (11)
'D.E.V.O.L.U.T.I.O.N.'
Release Date 8/12/2008
Tracks 10
Label AFM Germany
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What The Critics Say
Back in 1982 -- when Destruction's original lineup was formed in Lörrach, Germany -- a 26th anniversary was probably the last thing on the band's mind. But sure enough, Destruction celebrated their 26th anniversary in 2008, and even though they have had their creative ups and downs along the way, they deserve credit for longevity. This 2008 release, it turns out, is one of Destruction's more consistent efforts. Quite often, these German headbangers have been hell-bent for speed, but D.E.V.O.L.U.T.I.O.N. isn't as speed-obsessed as some of their albums. Speed is definitely an important part of the equation; there is plenty of thrashiness on D.E.V.O.L.U.T.I.O.N. (this is a thrash metal/speed metal band, after all), although the material seldom comes across as speed for the sake of speed or velocity for the sake of velocity. And on D.E.V.O.L.U.T.I.O.N., Destruction's material is mildly technical at times. Nonetheless, this 48-minute CD always manages to sound like a bone fide Destruction album; Destruction's identity remains intact on scorching, balls-to-the-wall items such as "Last Desperate Scream," "Elevator to Hell," "No One Shall Survive," and "Offenders of the Throne." No one can accuse Destruction of maintaining the exact same lineup for 26 consecutive years, but the personnel changes they have had along the way haven't prevented Destruction from continuing to sound like Destruction. While D.E.V.O.L.U.T.I.O.N. falls short of essential, it is certainly decent -- and longtime fans will be happy to see that they can still pack a brutal wallop after 26 moshing years. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
In many cases, it is a waste of time for rock bands to re-record a bunch of older songs they are known for; unless the new studio versions really put a fresh or different spin on something, what is the point? But Thrash Anthems is among rock's more noteworthy albums of re-recordings. This 72-minute CD finds German thrash metal veterans Destruction revisiting 13 songs they recorded in the past, including a lot of favorites from the '80s. "Deposition (Your Heads Will Roll)" and "Profanity" (both respectable) are new songs, but every other track on this album (which was recorded in 2006 and released in the U.S. in early 2007) is a re-recording of previously released tunes -- and serious, longtime Destruction fans will recognize "Bestial Invasion," "Mad Butcher," "Curse the Gods," "Invisible Force," and other favorites that the band's 2006 lineup revisits. Although most of the songs are familiar, Thrash Anthems is not a best-of in the true sense; albums of re-recordings are not really best-ofs, and casual listeners would be better off with a true best-of by Destruction. Thrash Anthems is more appropriate for the truly serious, genuinely hardcore Destruction fans -- the folks who could never be satisfied having just one or two Destruction CDs in their collections -- and those hardcore fans will find that while these re-recordings don't necessarily improve on the original recordings, Thrash Anthems is not a bad listen at all. In many cases, the main difference between the re-recordings and the original versions has to do with the 2006 production; a thicker production style makes many of the songs sound heavier and denser than before, although some longtime fans will miss the rawness of the original versions. Also, it should be noted that lead singer Schmier (who was gone for 11 years but returned in 2000) is heard on some songs that were previously recorded without him. Thrash Anthems is not an essential purchase, but it has enough of an intrigue factor to be worthwhile and enjoyable for die-hard Destruction devotees. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Some bands go through numerous lineup changes yet somehow manage to be consistent, but all too often, bands that are revolving doors are anything but consistent; you never know if they are going to come out with a great album, a mediocre album, or a weak album. That has certainly been the case with Destruction; the German outfit has had more than its share of lineup changes over the years -- and their albums have ranged from excellent to totally forgettable. Released in 2005 -- 23 years after the band's formation -- Inventor of Evil won't go down in history as one of Destruction's essential discs but is still a good, solid addition to their catalog. The material on this 50-minute CD is pure, unadulterated, '80s-style thrash metal -- fast, intense, heavy, and forceful, but not as harsh or unforgiving as a lot of the merciless death metal, grindcore, and metalcore that came out in the '90s and 2000s. Inventor of Evil recalls the sort of albums that, back in the mid-'80s, showed headbangers what could happen when a healthy appreciation of power metal was combined with a healthy appreciation of punk's velocity -- the type of high-velocity aggression that enabled headbangers to form mosh pits and demonstrate that slam dancing wasn't strictly for punk shows. And that punk element is why a thrash disc like Inventor of Evil -- although certainly not innovative or groundbreaking -- doesn't sound quite as dated (by mid-2000s standards) as, say, a power metal revival disc (the type of disc that doesn't have the punk element and tries to sound exactly like Judas Priest or Iron Maiden circa 1979). Inventor of Evil isn't recommended to those who have only a casual interest in Destruction's work, but longtime followers will find it to be an enjoyable demonstration of what they could bring to the mosh pit in 2005. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
'Metal Discharge'
Release Date 10/21/2003
Tracks 17
Label Nuclear Blast
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What The Critics Say
Destruction may be one of the progenitors of the German thrash metal movement of the 1980s, but Metal Discharge -- an awful title that unwittingly and humorously implies a particularly painful symptom of some unnamed, fictional disease -- the group's third album since reforming in 2000, sounds painfully dated and disappointingly one-dimensional. Sure, the toothy riffs come appropriately fast and furious throughout --always one of Destruction's strong points - but every song is a borderline-annoying buzz of double-time tempos, relentlessly busy guitar work and tunelessly barked vocals (backed by gangland-style chants, usually reiterating the song title in a deluge of eyeball-rolling obviousness). Point being, these hyper-thrash polkas get tiresome over the course of 40 minutes, regardless of the professionalism of their presentation, and the poker-faced delivery of multiple clich�s during cheesy cuts such as �Rippin' the Flesh Apart" and �Historical Force Feed" (?) borders on nonsensical. Destruction has certainly built an impenetrable fortress of riffs here, but attempting any kind of siege on Metal Discharge (snicker) seems silly, and a bit pointless. ~ John Serba, All Music Guide
'The Antichrist'
Release Date 9/17/2001
Tracks 11
Label Nuclear Blast
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'Hell Breaks Loose'
Release Date 2/27/2001
Tracks 19
Label King Japan
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'All Hell Breaks Loose'
Release Date 5/23/2000
Tracks 13
Label Nuclear Blast
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