Germany’s favorite sons of thrash are back once again with their fifth album (six if you count thrash anthems as an actual album) since their reunions about a decade ago, and they still have it for the most part. The acronym that is the album’s title contains the first letter of each of the ten tracks here, a nice little touch I thought. The music is what you would mostly expect from Destruction 2.0. Mostly fast with a meaty production and a more melodic structure than their older material. The choruses, bridges and verses are what you expect from these guys however
However, Mike asserts himself a lot more on this album than I recall previously. He does this by cranking out solos all over the album that feel like they will never end. There is no problem with the solos themselves but he is clearly overdoing it to the point where it almost feels like they were trying to pad the album out more than anything. They also brought in Vinnie Moore, Gary Holt and Jeff Waters to do some guest solos in the songs “D.evolution” and “U.rge”. When they stop oversoloing they do just fine but after awhile this seems like a guitar based wankfest and I simply cannot abide a good song being ruined by a band member playing as if to say, “Look what I can do!” It’s largely the same record they’ve been making since All Hell Breaks Loose and that doesn’t bother me in the least, Mike just needs to lay off the guitar for a bit and let the album breathe on its own.
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I wanted to like this album, just as I wanted to like Inventor of Evil, but both just come off as lukewarm. I do like the first three “comeback” albums, just as I like the older stuff. I could be wrong, but I’m pretty sure that Destruction’s best days are far behind them.
When it comes to German thrash, none come even close to the mastery of Kreator. Mille is a god.
on Dec 4th, 2008 at 19:39Kreator hold up the best overall and it seems you are kinder to Metal Discharge than I am, though I rather liked Inventor of Evil.
on Dec 4th, 2008 at 20:14Hmm really? Endorama anyone? I love Kreator, but that record is an abomination.
I’ve liked everything these guys have put out excepting the non-Destruction records with that awful “vocalist” which Destruction themselves don’t count as part of their discography. Sure, some records are better than others, but all have quality songs.
on Dec 5th, 2008 at 05:15Inventor Of Evil and the new one are my favorite comeback albums from Destruction. Actually, I think that D.E.V.O.L.U.T.I.O.N. is one of the best thrash albums of the year. It rules from start to finish. No boring moments for me at all.
on Dec 5th, 2008 at 06:03Endorama is why I said overall Cynic. Kreator had a shit period like everyone, their’s was just the shortest, lasting from Renewal to Endorama.
on Dec 5th, 2008 at 09:45I actually like Renewal and Cause for Conflict – not so much Outcast and Endorama. At least Kreator’s “experimental” period wasn’t about selling out – I think it was more about doing something different. Only 2 out of their twelve albums I can truly consider not good. That’s a pretty damn good ratio. Besides that, comparing Kreator when their “on” to Destruction when their “on” – it’s no competition. Hell, I’ll even take Sodom over Destruction.
on Dec 5th, 2008 at 16:36This album is not bad but I agree that it just doesn’t do “it” for me. As far as german thrash goes, I’ll take Sodom anyday over Kreator or Destruction. Hell, I’ll take Sodom over 9/10ths of most metal today….
on Dec 5th, 2008 at 17:30