Destruction

Destruction

Release from Agony (1988)

Profile Records

Rating: 3.25 Pentagrams out of 4

Reviewed by: Jeff Deth

Next to the United States, an argument could easily be made that Germany gave us some of the best thrash bands of all time. Certainly in terms of influence, German bands like Kreator, Sodom and Destruction paved the way for the next generation of extreme death and black metal genres. During the mid to late eighties Destruction was amongst the most extreme metal bands in their brutal speed thrashing attack. They made no bones about how metal they were. They literally covered themselves in bullet belts, spikes and leather. They’re almost the perfect thrash band. They don’t have songs that epitomize thrash or that could be considered essential but they are  consistently very good.

Germany had already made significant contributions to the metal scene prior to thrash but it seems that they truly had a deep connection to this violent, disillusioned and satanic offspring of punk and metal fusion. How from Lörrach, they synthesized all that was emerging in the tiny clubs of the Bay Area amazes me. More so, in relation to Slayer or Exodus. I can’t relate them in many ways to Metallica. Destruction is on the darker fringe. Flirting with Satanic imagery and chaotic horrors of the world and of the mind.

Release from Agony was the bands third full length LP from 1988. It contains everything great about this band. Blazing solo after solo matched by a charging rhythm section and the high-pitched shrieks of Bassist/ vocalist Schmier. Listen to any Black Metal song and you will hear the influence Schimer had as they seem to mimic him all the way. The way he used his voice at the time was something really unique. With the addition of a second guitarist, the solos are as frequent as they are incredible.

Each song delves into some dark and distorted facet of existence. Death, depression, political corruption, war. These are the things in life a band calling themselves Destruction can appreciate. Yes, their worldview  is pretty bleak but they express it with such intensity and speed that it gleefully catapults you straight into the fiery abyss. I’m totally blown away by the technical precision of each song. I listened to the whole album three times in a row just to take it all in. This is a great record all the way through. A perfect reflection of the German movement of thrash metal that spawned countless other bands but of which Destruction stands the tallest.