Formed in 1982 (under the moniker Knight Of Demon), German thrash pioneers Destruction came to prominence as part of the “Teutonic Big Four” and have a name that inspires deep respect in the thrash community (and Beyond). As such it would be easy for these musical hoodlums to rest upon past glories, yet they’ve constantly refined their sound, toughening with each release and setting the bar higher and higher. Their sixteenth studio album continues their upward trajectory and Birth Of Malice finds a band full of renewed vigour and ready to take on the world once again.
As you’d expect from a band who’ve been in the game for over four decades, Destruction don’t feel the need to arrive with all fists flying (there’s plenty of time for that later), rather opening (and title) track is a beautiful acoustic piece, poetry without words, with which to welcome us to Birth Of Malice. It’s ethereal and otherworldly and means that when the following ‘Destruction’ kicks in, it kicks in frigging hard. There’s a jarring juxtaposition between the two songs and it really is quite startling. Destruction sound like a band reborn and treat us to a traditional thrash rollicking. Guitars squeal and light up the sky like phosphorous flares, the rhythm section locks in tightly to deliver the beats with machine gun rapidity whilst Marcel “Schmier” Schirmer (Bassist and sole original member) has a voice that has aged rather well and delivers his words with a lovely demonic growl. It all adds up to a violent melee and ensures tracks like ‘God Of Gore’ are delivered with the requisite bite.
The great thing about Destruction is they give their fans exactly what they want (except a period in the mid-1990’s when Marcel left the band, an era that’s rightly been disowned) and Birth Of Malice is no exception. In terms of mosh-pit ready anthems, this is an album that serves up a delectable dozen and delivers them with the vitriol they deserve. Like a shoal of piranhas attacking their prey whilst the water around them bubbles red, ‘Evil Never Sleeps’ offers little redemption, but you knew that on the way in. However, don’t label this crew as generic because there’s plenty of variety on offer, yet Destruction know where their strength lies and attack the listener with razor sharp riffs which leave us bloody and bruised.
A neat cover of Accept’s classic ‘Fast As A Shark’ brings the album to cataclysmic conclusion, yet it evidences a dynamic band who are at the top of their game and suggests there’s much more to come from this crew. Here’s to the next 40 years!
- Birth Of Malice is released via Napalm Records on 7th March 2025.
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Track List:
1. Birth Of Malice
2. Destruction
3. Cyber Warfare
4. No Kings – No Masters
5. Scumbag Human Race
6. God Of Gore
7. A.N.G.S.T.
8. Dealer Of Death
9. Evil Never Sleeps
10. Chains Of Sorrow
11. Greed
12. Fast As A Shark
