ALBUM REVIEW: Destruction, "Born to Perish"

By: Richard Maw

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 09/08/2019

Label: Nuclear Blast

Another deadly slice of Teutonic thrash.

“Born To Perish” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1. "Born To Perish"
2. "Inspired By Death"
3. "Betrayal"
4. "Rotten"
5. "Filthy Wealth"
6. "Butchered For Life"
7. "Tyrants Of The Netherworld"
8. "We Breed Evil"
9. "Fatal Flight 17"
10. "Ratcatcher"
Bonus:
11. "Hellbound"

The Review:

Destruction blast back, only three years since “Under Attack”, with ten tracks of efficient and cutting thrash metal. Now a four piece, thanks to the addition of Swiss shred-meister Damir Eskic and also the latest man to get behind the kit, Randy Black. Both newcomers put in a storming shift here; Damir really brings his A-game to the solos and Randy's drum performance is thrash circa 2019.

The opener and title track sets the tone here: thrashing drums, punishing leads and Sifringer and Schmier still providing a rock solid and destructive partnership. Sonically, this picks up right where “Under Attack”, “Spiritual Genocide” and “Day of Reckoning” left off: rock solid sound and razor sharp detail between the instruments. It's a long way from “Infernal Devastation” in terms of production values but the spirit of those days is still here.

Where Kreator remain a superb band, their sound has streamlined and become more subtle over the years. The same could be argued of Destruction, but not to the same extent as they remain a punishing and nasty proposition on record- less melody and more muscle. It seems that Schmier got all his melodic leanings out via the German Panzer side project a few years back, as what you get here is nothing less than thrash metal at all times.

The record steamrolls by with “Inspired By Death” and “Betrayal” following the title track with speed, violence and force. “Rotten” switches to the triplet/tanks rolling time feel that the band have used on past releases to good effect and it marks a good dynamic shift for the record. Likewise “Filthy Wealth” is not all out thrash- more like a Motorhead-type pace. It's no less effective and rounds out the first half of the album in style.

The second half of the record opens with the heavy-as-lead “Butchered For Life” (with a quieter mid section). “Tyrants of the Netherworld” is balls out thrash with a wall of guitars only letting up for a tasty drum break towards the end. A storming track! The final triumvirate of “We Breed Evil”, “Fatal Flight 17” and “Ratcatcher” are just as potent with the band applying maximum song writing chops to their speedy assault.

This is another good entry into Destruction's impressive discography. It does not top “Day of Reckoning” as their best album in the last decade, in my opinion, but it is right up there with the others. Another deadly slice of Teutonic thrash.

“Born To Perish” is available HERE

Band info: facebook

ALBUM REVIEW: Accept, “Symphonic Terror: Live at Wacken 2017”

By: Richard Maw

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 23/11/2018

Label: Nuclear Blast

 

Taken for what this is, though, I can say that “Symphonic Terror” is immensely enjoyable and entertaining.  The album represents a unique performance and demonstrates a band at the top of their game

 

“Symphonic Terror: Live at Wacken 2017” CD//DD//LP track listing:

CD 1:
1. Die by the Sword
2. Restless and Wild
3. Koolaid
4. Pandemic
5. Final Journey
6. Night on Bald Mountain
7. Scherzo
8. Romeo and Juliet
9. Pathétique
10. Double Cello Concerto in G Minor
11. Symphony NO. 40 in G Minor

CD 2:
1. Princess of the Dawn
2. Stalingrad
3. Dark Side of My Heart
4. Breaker
5. Shadow Soldiers
6. Dying Breed
7. Fast as a Shark
8. Metal Heart
9. Teutonic Terror
10. Balls to the Wall

The Review:

Accept, as of last week, are now down to one original member- Wolf Hoffman. However, for this unique 2017 concert at Wacken, Peter Baltes was still there on bass- even if Hermann Frank had departed as rhythm guitarist. As has been documented in past reviews, I feel that Mark Tornillo is every bit as good as Udo Dirkschneider and he has now headed up the band for ten years. As the title suggests, this is a full live gig with a difference- the central portion of the performance marries Accept up with a symphony orchestra- which then stays for the latter half of the gig! The first section of the release is a straight ahead metal performance, the middle section features Hoffman with orchestra- utilising his “Headbangers Symphony” solo album as the basis- and the latter half of the record treats the audience to classic Accept songs accompanied by the orchestra.

So, how essential is this? Well, not essential at all. It's a live album with an orchestra attached to two thirds of it. However, that view may be doing this record a disservice. To be sure, the central section is very stirring indeed and is actually successful in combining metal with classical. Its leagues ahead of Metallica's “S & M” effort of nearly 20 (!?) years ago and much more interesting than Deep Purple's misfiring “Concerto for Group and Orchestra”. The latter part of the release is also an interesting experiment- but much more in the vein of Metallica's aforementioned effort.

I could not claim that “Princess of the Dawn” is enhanced by the presence of the orchestra, beyond it being... different and more grandiose. The band wisely chose some of its more theatrical and grand material for the latter half of the gig and it is a thrill to hear “Stalingrad” with classical backing. I think the thing here is that if you like Accept, you will like this record.

I love Accept and they are one of the best live bands I have ever seen. Hearing their songs with a new twist is interesting and a diverting listen. Will this take over on regular rotation from the superb “Restless and Live” record from a year or two back? No. While “Symphonic Terror” does boast the chance to hear some of the tracks from “The Rise of Chaos” in a live setting it is too much of an oddity to usurp a straight ahead live record.

Taken for what this is, though, I can say that “Symphonic Terror” is immensely enjoyable and entertaining. The central orchestral section really works and is testament to Hoffman's ability as a writer and player that it sounds so grand and cinematic. The album represents a unique performance and demonstrates a band at the top of their game. Having released a straight ahead live compendium recently, the band can play around with its sound and put out this album- why not? Recommended to all Accept fans and fans of classical music. For those new to the band, start elsewhere.

“Symphonic Terror: Live At Wacken 2017” is available now



Band info: official || facebook

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

The Sludgelord News: THE BIG TEUTONIC 4 The legacy continues!

German thrash titans KREATOR, SODOM, DESTRUCTION and TANKARD, collectively known as THE BIG TEUTONIC 4, have announced the release of their second prestigious 10" vinyl record. After the huge success of the first release in early 2013, the next output will contain rare cover versions of iconic NWOBHM classics.

The 10” will be available on red vinyl and released via the Nuclear Blast UK Webstore. You can pre-order your copy here: http://bit.ly/BigTeutonicVinyl

The tracklisting reads as follows:

Side A:

KREATOR - Lambs To The Slaughter (RAVEN cover)
SODOM - Don't Walk Away (TANK cover)

Side B:
DESTRUCTION - Princess Of The Night (SAXON cover)
TANKARD - Iron Maiden (IRON MAIDEN cover)

THE BIG TEUTONIC 4 had this to say about the release:

Mille Petrozza, KREATOR: "As teenagers we were die hard fans of RAVEN. This song perfectly reflects the lifestyle back then and was the second cover version we recorded in a studio."

Tom Angelripper, SODOM: "When TANK released The 12“ Single 'Don`t Walk Away' in 1981, it was the first time I got in touch with this awesome band and the title track is still one of my favorite songs. They inspired me to become a die hard metal fan until the rest of my life and keep my own band as a trio ensemble."

Schmier, DESTRUCTION: "Shortly before we formed DESTRUCTION we were all together at a SAXON concert in Switzerland on their "Denim & Leather" tour. 'Princess...' always was on of my all time fave tracks from the british NWOBHM masters - this very unique riff was already the first step into speed metal, by that time we did not know how important this evening was - a night and a song that has definitely influenced us all the way!"

Gerre, TANKARD: "The first two MAIDEN albums are my personal favorites so it's a real honor to me, that our version of 'Iron Maiden' will finally be available on vinyl. It was super fun to record and even Paul Di'Anno once said in an Crossfire interview with Rock Hard magazine that he liked our version. There couldn't be any better accolade and we're very exicted to see THE BIG TEUTONIC 4 continued."

nuclearblast.de/thebigteutonic4

Source: Nuclear Blast UK