Teutonic thrash pioneers Destruction made a titanic impression when they dropped their Sentence of Death EP on an unsuspecting world way back in 1984. It sounded so much nastier and meaner than anything else, and it resonated with evil menace.1 What followed were three all-time thrash masterpieces (Infernal Overkill, Eternal Devastation, Release from Agony). After that, things got ropey, there was the inevitable breakup, reunion, and run of second-career releases, some better than others. It’s a truism that thrash hasn’t aged all that well as a genre, and Destruction suffered as much as anyone as they tried to keep the fast times rolling uphill. On the plus side, 2022s Diabolical was a welcome return to form bolstered by the high-flying, shreddy guitar work of Damir Eskić and Martín Furia. The same stacked lineup is back for Birth of Malice, so hopes are high for another satisfying platter of Germanic thrash wiolence. Will album number 15 be a winner, winner schnitzel dinner?
I’m pleased to report that the things that made Diabolical work are still present and functioning. Opening cut “Destruction” is the kind of autobiographical tune we’ve heard from metal bands before (mostly Manowar), loaded with references to past albums and songs, with chants of “We’re Destruction!” as the chorus. It sounds super cheesy, but it comes across way better and heavier than you’d expect. The riffs are sharp and reminiscent of old Destruction (and also Brainstorm at points), and the shreddy solos are good fun. A collection of very good thrashers follows. “Cyber Warfare” is an aggressive speedster with goodly amounts of piss and sauerkraut vinegar, and founding vocalist Schmier sounds like his old berserk muppet self. The wild guitar work from Eskić and Furia puts a slick chrome coating over the rapid-fire pacing for a satisfying rip ride. “No Kings, No Masters” is a high point with enough of the old school 80s Destruction sound coursing through its veins to get me excited. It’s fast enough to stimulate the caveman neurons and sufficiently raging and furious to make you want to help someone through a wall.
Other above-average moments include “God of Gore” which screams early days Destruction. This one could have appeared on Eternal Devasation or Release from Agony, so that’s an instant win for me. “Greed” also hits the nostalgia button hard with the distinctive old school Destruction quirks shining through in the riffs and structure. While there are no filler or throw-away cuts, the front half is a bit stronger than the back, and a few cuts like “Dealer of Death” and “Evil Never Sleeps” are a touch too full of classic heavy metal influences. Not that I don’t love traditional metal, but I don’t want it disrupting the aggression and anger in my thrash. At 50 minutes, Birth of Malice actually feels shorter than it is, which is the sign of a good thrash album.2
Destruction always stood apart from other thrashers due to Schmier’s odd vocals and their quirky, offbeat riffing style. Schmier still sounds like a drunk and wounded quail, and Eskić and Furia give you a potent mixture of the band’s classic style and modern ultra-shreddy showmanship. There’s enough of their 80s sound left, and the new-fangled flashy guitar bits don’t generally disrupt the thrashing and bashing. Eskić and Furia are highly skilled players and though they could overdo things with their wanton fretboard molestation, they generally keep things sufficiently in check. Randy Black (ex-Primal Fear, ex-Annhilator) is a skilled drummer and he keeps pace with the manic leads and flashy solos just fine. This lineup is the most talented Destruction ever had, and they’re making me believe they can remain relevant in the modern metal era.
Quality thrash in 2025 is an endangered species, and few of the olde dawgs can still deliver the goods in a convincing way. Destruction will never again see the heights of their heyday, but Birth of Malice has enough meat and venom to satisfy the need for rowdy speed. I hope they can hold this lineup together because it’s got some real sizzle. The world needs more sizzle thrash these days. If you haven’t spun those seminal Destruction albums, get to it, poser face! Then give this a try.
Rating: 3.5/5.0
DR: NA | Format Reviewed: Fucking Stream
Label: Napalm
Websites: destruction.de | destruction.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/destruction
Releases Worldwide: March 7th, 2025
The post Destruction – Birth of Malice Review appeared first on Angry Metal Guy.
