It’s time for a classic—after all, we don’t dive into those often enough around here. Does Destruction even need an introduction? For the younger crowd, here’s a quick history lesson: after the U.S. had its wave of Thrash, Germany followed suit with its own. The Teutonic version was more aggressive, though over time, it also embraced a more melodic edge. Destruction has seen it all—the highs, the lows, the classic albums (Release from Agony), and the not-so-classic ones (Born to Perish). So, where does Birth of Malice fit into this legacy? Is it going to beat us up at the bar, or will it need a hip replacement? Let’s find out!
Honestly, I didn’t hate Birth of Malice. In fact, I was expecting to dislike it more, but I’ve got a soft spot for old-school Thrash that just never fades. This is the kind of music that makes you want to pick up a guitar (because let’s face it, Thrash isn’t exactly teaching anyone to play bass). It’s interesting how much Destruction and Warbringer have in common these days, both in terms of production and execution. I guess that’s a compliment to these veterans—they still manage to sound youthful. So, expect the usual: bashing riffs, semi-political lyrics, blasting drums, and all the other hallmarks of good Thrash.
What I enjoyed most about this album was the melodic work. There’s a clear effort to give the riffs more texture and a sense of epic grandeur, à la Kreator. There are also almost no interludes, fillers, or weird experimental detours. Birth of Malice is a Thrash album through and through, and it doesn’t pretend to be anything else. It’s like a sandwich—you’ve had it before, but you’ll probably keep coming back because it’s easy, reliable, and satisfies that hunger (unless you hate sandwiches, in which case, you’re probably a very strange person with few friends!).
That said, there’s nothing particularly groundbreaking here. You can put Birth of Malice on, enjoy a few fun tracks, and then move on with your life. It’s similar to many other albums in this style, which is why it might start to feel repetitive by the halfway mark. Innovation isn’t its strong suit. It delivers solid Thrash, but nothing that stands out as remarkable. This is the definition of a safe release, one that will appeal to a specific group of old-school Metalheads or maybe surprise someone who’s never listened to Destruction before.
In the end, the album feels like light fun. Despite its mean-spirited riffs and aggressive attitude, I can’t help but think that if Destruction is aiming to portray brutality and heaviness, the competition has become fierce over the last few decades. Maybe that’s why so much Thrash has branched out into other realms—it’s hard to outmatch Black or Death Metal in the savagery department. Hmm, that’s an interesting thought. Maybe I should write a pretentious essay about it!
Label: Napalm Records
Release date: March 7, 2025
Website: https://www.destruction.de/
Country: Germany
Score: It’s ok, so like 2.5/5.0?
Metal Eclipse Reviews 