Time for some classic thrash metal to start this morning off and what better way than DESTRUCTION Infernal Overkill from 1985. This is the bands second release but first real album and featuring a much sharper performance and clearer sound than the debut (which is to be expected I guess) and the first song “Invincible Force” sets the pace nicely. That pace is blisteringly fast! Some great riffage that comes across like a faster version of Venom and definitely some Slayer influences in there with a much tighter and precise drum sound which starts to propel these guys into the big boy leagues and into a position where the early Slayer Metallica fans will start to take notice. This is the start (Along with early Kreator) of German thrash metal really starting to be taken seriously. The pace continues with “Death Trap” and “The Ritual” there is no letting up here. For something so fast this is very listenable as well. I don’t think you’d need to have been a really extreme metal fan to enjoy this record.
The second side of the album continutes in more or less the same style, perhaps a little slower but the idea of putting a thrash metal instrumental “Thrash Attack” on the album was a great idea. It breaks up the flow of the album and keeps a little variation in proceedings. The second last song “The Antichrist” has a cool galloping slower riff to open up and then… bang! straight into the crushing thrash metal these guys are now known for. The last song has a great opening Slayer style riff but what a great way to finish of an absolute adrenaline rush of an album!
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