Destruction

The fact that Destruction are back with yet another platter of ho-hum ’80s t(h)rash is not surprising. Sporting a Spïnal Tap-like member rotation, these rootin’ Teutons have been plugging away since 1984, along with underground faves Kreator and Sodom, as a sort of German thrash triumvirate. What’s really amazing is that despite a dozen odd releases over two decades — not to forget that founding singer/bassist Marcel Schmier divorced himself from the band for practically half their career — Destruction have chosen not to alter their sound one iota. However, though Metal Discharge sounds about as thrash-happy as did the classic "Mad Butcher” from their debut EP, too many of the songs run together, which quickly renders the album weak and unrealised. "The Ravenous Beast,” the title track, "Fear of the Moment” and "Desecrators of the New Age” are all mere variations on the same chords and the slower "Mortal Remains” and "Historical Force Feed” share similar rhythms. "Rippin’ the Flesh Apart” is interesting, with Morgoth overtones, though the rest of the record seems like filler, albeit with NWOBHM-inspired solos. With their recycled riffs and tired beats, Destruction may still be a hot commodity on their home continent, but across the pond Metal Discharge is more bark than bite.