Saturday 4 June 2016

Destruction - "Under Attack" (Album Review)

 By: Richard Maw

Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 13/05/2016
Label: Nuclear Blast



From the opening title track, this is Destruction firing on all cylinders. The band sound focussed and angry. The production is pleasingly angular and metallic. Drums thrash convincingly (and don't sound identical to all other bands' drums!) as Sifringer and Schmier bring an impressively malevolent sound from their strings. How many records Destruction have left in them is not known, but if this anything to go by, their well is far from dry. Destruction have just made a worthy addition to their discography.  Make it a worthy addition to your record collection.



“Under Attack” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1. Under Attack (6:13)
2. Generation Nevermore (4:04)
3. Dethroned (4:50)
4. Getting Used To The Evil (6:08)
5. Pathogenic (4:27)
6. Elegant Pigs (3:40)
7. Second To None (5:11)
8. Stand Up For What You Deliver (4:20)
9. Conductor Of The Void (4:33)
10. Stigmatized (4:12)

The Review:

Destruction are indisputably thrash royalty. Along with Kreator and Sodom they make up the unholy trinity of Teutonic “thresh meddle.” There are now many records into a long and storied career... can they still cut it?!

Yes. Indeed they can. “Spiritual Genocide” from 2012 was a cracker, even better was “Day Of Reckoning” from 2011. “Under Attack” carries on the sound of those albums; tight, modern, speedy and distinctly Germanic in sound and vibe. Destruction have never had the all out aggression of Kreator, per se, or the crude violence of Sodom, but they have always had an abrasive and cutting sound.

From the opening title track, this is Destruction firing on all cylinders. The band sound focussed and angry. The production is pleasingly angular and metallic. Drums thrash convincingly (and don't sound identical to all other bands' drums!) as Sifringer and Schmier bring an impressively malevolent sound from their strings.

The breakneck tempos continue through “Generation Nevermore”, but the band is not afraid to slow down to rolling tank speed on the likes of “Dethroned” and then ring the changes again. There are nice flourishes to the likes of “Getting Used To The Evil” in the form quiet and loud dynamics, but mainly this is a speed fest. The riffing is razor sharp and sustains the middle of the album nicely- “Second To None”, “Pathogenic” and “Elegant Pigs” are all great thrash tracks from the top drawer.

The cunningly and punningly named “Stand Up For What You Deliver” is a track with a more triplet/galloping feel, which breaks up the record nicely before the frenetic home stretch. The final two tracks deliver a mid tempo assault and a final opening up of the throttle with the closing “Stigmatized” being particularly effective (lovely drum break). Having seen these boys live in 2010 supporting Obituary, I can attest to their aural potency on stage. They translate perfectly from stage to studio and vice versa. Towering vocalist/bassist Schmier also had the best sign off I have heard at a gig: “I'll see you in fucking hell mother fuckers...” And with that, he was gone! How many records Destruction have left in them is not known, but if this anything to go by, their well is far from dry. Destruction have just made a worthy addition to their discography.  Make it a worthy addition to your record collection.

Under Attack” is available now


Band info: facebook