Destruction are back with new opus on Napalm Records and these legendary thrashers from Germany are part of Big Three of Teutonic Thrash Metal, along with Kreator and Sodom. I remember that I watched them live for the first time back in 1999 in Austria, place called Oberwart on an open air festival on Saturday afternoon, that being one of their first re union shows. I remember Abbath from Immortal who played later that evening holding old school rudimentary cell phone up almost the whole gig, then I read somewhere that Fenriz was on the line listening to the gig hehe. Anyway, there are 12 songs on this one plus a cover of GBH revealing once again Destruction´s punk hardcore influences back in the eighties when they were spawned. This is also first record without long time guitarist Mike, introducing new guitarist Furia. Founder´s bassist vocalist Schmier´s voice sounds better than ever like he hasn´t aged for a day although he is 55 years old hehe. Besides speed and thrash metal aggression, what I always loved and will love about Teutonic thrash is melody and that dramatic punk hardcore energy in the songs and this record doesn´t lack that. Songs like Diabolical, Hope Dies Last, The Lonely Wolf are superb and I can´t wait to catch these guys somewhere live again. Great record by the legends.
Deathhammer from Norway is the spawn of two individuals called Sergeant Salsten and Sadomancer. From music, vocals to album cover, this opus, fifth full length in band´s history is total old school warfare as the title says. For those who don´t know, Deathhammer play old school mixture of energetic thrash and black metal with some eighties UK hardcore punk thrown in here and there. Think Bathory, think old Destruction and Sodom, Evil Dead, this one is a keeper. This record is full on high energy attack with songs like Return to Sodom/Soldiers of Darkness, Rapid Violence and Crushing the Pearly Gates, making your fist pump in the air, metal heart smile with joy and scream at the top of your lungs along with the lyrics and stomp on your neighbour´s head with speakers to the maximum. This is an excellent album and I recommend all of the opuses of this Norway´s old schoolers.
South America never ceases to amaze with so many unexplored bands and releases coming out every day. Brazil is well known country in underground and extreme metal scene with bands like Sarcofago, Mystifier, Sepultura, Ratos De Porao immediately springing to mind. Headspawn are a trio from Brazil and this is their long awaited live e.p. containing four songs. Headspawn play that street metal, mixture of thrash and groove metal. While listening to the songs I can not avoid comparison to some Sepultura influences in some world ethno crossover parts of the song structures, also harsh thrash metal bands from the country´s rich metal history and glorious bands. Vocals are harsh but not death metal growling, rather more thrash shouting with more growl voice. But, they in a second turn into more powerful melodic clean vocals that create an atmosphere of melody in the midst of carnage. My personal favorites are Satan Goss with that thundering bass parts and switches from thrash to groove, also Worthless Piece Of Shit, a lesson in street metal. Check out this band, you will not be sorry.
KRAYKULLA-WEBZINE 