Old thrash metal bands seem to be doing okay these days in Germany. Along with similar bands like Sodom, Kreator and Tankard, Destruction seems to be doing quite well. After a hiatus of 10 years, frontman Schmier and original guitarist Mike sorted out their personal differences and decided to reform Destruction. They recruited drummer Sven (now replaced by Marc) and began to perform live and write new songs.

This was in 1999, between then and now they already have two albums under their belt and Metal Discharge will be their third (If you count all their albums this will be their official 10th). I`m unfamiliar with their other work so I judge this album unbiased towards their past.

What Destruction delivers on Metal Discharge is pure German thrash metal, brought with the honest conviction that metal is here to stay forever. Already close to 30 years in existence of which Schmier and co. experienced 20 years, there will always be a market for honest well played metal. Off course the biggest fan base lies in Germany where this type of music still sells massive amounts but judging the fact that Destruction will play the X-mass festivals all across Europe this December, Germany isn`t the only country which still appreciates them.

I cannot say they changed their musical direction because, like I already said, I don`t know their musical past but I think the starting point has been and always will be thrash metal with a heavy emphasis on riffing and sing-along choruses. In my opinion things could be a bit more diverse as the tracks tend to look-alike. Originality is a word not frequently used in context with Destruction but within the boundaries of their style they have still left enough space to write interesting tracks. Thrash metal will never be my favorite style of metal but I must say I found myself humming the “Ripping The Flesh Apart” chorus again and again (“Rrrrrripping the flessshh apppaarrrttt!!!!!”). At least they have one person banging his head at the X-mass festival…
Destruction website