Truth be told, I don't like Destruction's "essential" 80's output as much as my fellow metalheads do. So, naturally, I was skeptical about this album. If I couldn't appreciate Destruction's 80's output, how could I possibly appreciate this album?

I was actually surprised by how this album made me bang my head. The closest Destruction came to making me bang my head with full force was in 'Cracked Brain' (1989). I was also surprised by the consistency Destruction displayed in this album. All the tracks are good, and there isn't a second of filler. Every riff, every drum beat, and just every second of this album is pure gold.

The production is very clean, similar to most modern thrash. The guitars are sharp and brutal. The drum sound is perhaps a bit loud but suits the "new" Destruction. The bass isn't as audible as it was in Destruction's early material but its still quite audible nonetheless.

Now onto the music itself. All the songs are actually very similar and Destruction don't focus too much on variety. The band seemed content with packing songs with memorable riffs and great lyrics. The first three songs (after the intro) are the immediate standout songs. Destruction pay homage to the thrash metal movement in 'Thrash 'til Death' and also include a reference to Exodus's 'Bonded by Blood'. 'Nailed to the Cross' and 'Dictators of Cruelty' have the best riffs in the entire album.

The best part about the album is the great choruses. The choruses are catchy and brutal at the same time. How cool is that? I was actually screaming the chorus of 'Nailed to the Cross' at the top of my lungs the first time I heard it, and I'm the type of person who refuses to sing along to any chorus.

The lyrics are excellent, the best that Destruction have ever written in my humble opinion. The lyrics (with the exception of 'Thrash 'til Death') deal mainly with the issues of religion, politics and war. Overused topics, yes, but Destruction really outdid themselves. The lyrics are every bit as good as the songs themselves.

There isn't much to say about the album other than what I've already said. I recommend this album to anyone who enjoys a good dose of brutal and catchy thrash.

Rating: 9.7 (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by MegaHassan
11/29/2008 14:43