Destruction

Destruction – Under Attack Review

Destruction – Under Attack Review

By Steel Druhm on May 6, 2016 in 2016, German Metal, Nuclear Blast, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Thrash Metal, 27 comments

“It’s comforting to know Law and Order will always be in syndication on some channel somwhere and that a Big Mac will taste the same no matter where you buy it. Likewise it’s reassuring to see the big thrash acts of the 80s steadfastly refusing to go quietly into that good night. Under Attack is Destruction’s 14th full-length of Germanic thrash and as someone who was there at their humble beginnings, it’s pretty cool to see the Mad Butchers still alive and thrashing so late into their bullet-belted old age.” Nothing’s quite as infernal as infernal overkill.

Mefisto – 2.0.1.6 Review

Mefisto – 2.0.1.6 Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on February 26, 2016 in 2016, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Thrash Metal, Vic Records, Heavy Metal, Thrash Metal, 21 comments

“What do you get when the length of time between a band’s demo and their first full-length debut is longer than the entire life of the guy writing about it? This review, that’s what. Next, what do you name your record when you release it sixteen years after we all drained our bathtubs because Y2K ended up not shutting down the municipal water supply? 2.0.1.6, if you’re kvlt Swedish band Mefisto.” Y2K was a ploy by the Illuminati!

Deathhammer – Evil Power [Things You Might Have Missed 2015]

Deathhammer – Evil Power [Things You Might Have Missed 2015]

By Diabolus in Muzaka on December 20, 2015 in 2015, Hells Headbangers Records, Norwegian Metal, Speed Metal, Things You Might Have Missed 2015, Thrash Metal, Speed Metal, Thrash Metal, 15 comments

“If you woke up this morning and realized you wanted to party like it’s 1983-1985 but think the throwback scene is ripe for a vicious culling of posers, have Deathhammer got a record for you: it’s called Evil Power and it’s quite possibly the most ridiculous thing I’ve heard in 2015. Ridiculous = trve.

Suicidal Angels – Divide and Conquer Review

Suicidal Angels – Divide and Conquer Review

By Steel Druhm on January 24, 2014 in 2014, Greek Metal, NoiseArt Records, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Thrash Metal, 3 comments

“Just weeks into 2014 and I’ve fallen off the rethrash wagon for a second time. That’s because long-suffering Greek thrashers Suicidal Angels are back with a fifth album full of music striving to recreate the second wave of Bay Area thrash. Naturally, that means heaps of Exodus, Slayer, Vio-Lence worship and where you stand on that is a wholly personal issue. While I only became aware of these chaps on their past few albums, I’ve never been totally sold on their brand of rethrash. It’s always reasonably enjoyable, competently performed, meat-and-potatoes speed, but there was always a sense of “been there, done that, got punched by the bouncer” about it that left me on the sidelines.” Did you know thrash was as big a part of Greek culture as gyros and big weddings? Me either.

Legion of the Damned – Ravenous Plague Review

Legion of the Damned – Ravenous Plague Review

By Steel Druhm on January 10, 2014 in 2013, Dutch Metal, Napalm Records, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Thrash Metal, 16 comments

“2014 is here and it’s time for the Metal Show to begin anew! And what better way to raise the curtain on the sixth year of AMG than with… retread thrash! Yes, yes, you’ve all had your fill of thrash, re-thrash, retro-thrash and frash, but as long as bands keep spitting this stuff out, we in the reviewing biz have a duty to review it… and it’s a BIG duty!” When the call of duty is heard, Steel Druhm jumps in the skull tank and reviews thrash metal from the Netherlands. Thank him for his service.

Toxic Holocaust – Chemistry of Consciousness Review

Toxic Holocaust – Chemistry of Consciousness Review

By Steel Druhm on October 22, 2013 in 2013, American Metal, Relapse, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Thrash Metal, 9 comments

“Well slap my ass and call me Skippy, the premier name in super-mega, old school, retro, throwback thrash (rethrash for short) is back to teach another post-grad lesson in violence. For those not in the know, that means a new album from Joel Grind’s Toxic Holocaust. Yes folks, things don’t get more painfully stuck in the 80s than the speed churned out by Mr. Grind and if there was ever a man born too late, it’s him. You see, Joel was meant to exist during that original wave of thrash, releasing revolutionary new music to shock the world alongside the likes of Slayer and Exodus. Alas, the Fates turned a mean skein and he was cast forward to this cruel future, where all his best thrashing and bashing is considered tired, recycled and irrelevant by many. Tis quite the shame too, since the man has a true gift for penning genuine 80s thrash and his stuff always has an aura of authenticity that’s lacking in most rethrash.” When I say rethrash, you say Grind!! That was fun, right? But is this album fun? Steel Druhm, a veteran of the rethrash wars, will chime in.

Ultra-Violence – Privilege to Overcome Review

Ultra-Violence – Privilege to Overcome Review

By Steel Druhm on July 31, 2013 in 2013, 3.0, Italian Metal, Punishment 18 Records, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Thrash Metal, 2 comments

“Re-thrashers just keep coming through the floorboards and as with roaches, for every one you see, hundreds more lurk just out of sight. Ultra-Violence is a new bug and they hail from Italy of all places. Their Privilege to Overcome debut doesn’t completely reinvent the thrash wheel, but it does offer a dizzyingly schizoid blend of modern thrash, second wave Bay Area style thrash like Defiance and Faith or Fear, Germanic thrash, crossover hardcore like D.R.I. and modern stuff like Machine Head.” If that doesn’t sound like a thick re-thrash stew, nothing does! Join Steel Druhm as he examines if Ultra-Violence has what it takes to kick the requisite amount of buttcheek.

Sodom – Epitome of Torture Review

Sodom – Epitome of Torture Review

By Steel Druhm on April 24, 2013 in 2.0, 2013, German Metal, Reviews, SPV, Thrash Metal, Thrash Metal, 6 comments

“As a fan of Sodom since my early teens, I’ve developed a certain comfort level with their steadfast refusal to evolve or progress beyond the basic template of 80s Germanic thrash they helped establish along with Kreatorand Destruction. There were always plenty of other bands I could count on to surprise me or throw me for a loop musically, I certainly didn’t need Sodom changing their caveman ways. Of course, when a band releases album after album of essentially the same old school thrash mixed with punk, you can expect some degree of tedium and recycling and I’m never going to bang on these cats for a lack of originality. However, when one of their typically Sodom-esque albums is bad, it’s bad. Epitome of Torture is such an album…” Sodom just keeps rolling on in their skull tank of Germanic design, but even the greats stall out sometimes. Join Steel Druhm as he checks under the hood for problems.