If you want an album that's live that's doesn't have a poor recording quality, then this one fits within that mindset. It's one of the best live recorded albums that I've ever heard. The bass guitar was the only instrument that wasn't well heard on this recording, the rest of the guitars/drums were superb. Total thrash metal annihilation and Schmier leading the way on vocals. A collection here of unimaginable intensity as well as some of the best Destruction songs are featured on this release. The music is just stunning and the energy of the album is just blatantly intense. Schmier's screams reflect so much of his energy during the 80's.

As a matter of fact, this was the first "metal" album that I was introduced to at the age of 13. When I first heard it, I was blown away. The guitar riffs, Harry's amazing lead guitar work as well as free standing solo work with vocals that were so awesome to me and still I think are the best. This is almost exactly like a studio album, that's how good quality it is. Lead trade-offs between Mike and Harry were just totally inexplicable. The band I think always worked better as a 4-piece, not a 3-piece. Not knocking Mike's capabilities on rhythm, just not leads. From my understanding, Harry used to practice the guitar 15 hours a day!

The order of the songs and execution of them is in the superior category. Guitars seemed to be in standard tuning and the riffs are a collection of down picked frenzies with heavy bar chords foggy, lead harmonies by the guitarists in unison and Olly sounding great behind the set. It sure as heck wasn't rocket science to hear whose leads were whose. Harry gone from the band forever is a sad thing, but at least Destruction is still around even though they've really ran out of ideas. This live performance has so much momentum and unfathomable rhythms that just annihilate simply put.

Destruction's older recordings such as 'Sentence of Death' (1984), 'Infernal Overkill' (1985), 'Eternal Devastation' (1986), 'Mad Butcher' (1987) and 'Release from Agony'(1988) did not have a good recording quality and a lot of the songs that were on this live album were ones featured here. This was right after 'Release from Agony' was recorded which was about 25 years ago. If they could just get their old sound back would be great, but it's highly doubtful from here onwards and it's just something to accept. At least this album will stand alone in metal history and never bore any of you with it's unimaginable intensity.

Have never heard Destruction before? Well, pick this up ASAP because then you will know that this is some really amazing German thrash metal a lot like Sodom. These guys in my opinion are better than Sodom. It wasn't the same when Schmier left the band. But anyway, at least the fans and the longing for Destruction to reform as they once were before was the hope from the metal community. It was enough to convince Schmier that he needs to come back to the band. He did finally rejoin in 2000 to record the album 'All Hell Breaks Loose' and as for Harry, well he's had some guest appearances on later albums. This release is just a gem, embrace it!

Rating: 9½ (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Death8699
08/11/2013 19:31