Info
- Band(s): Destruktor
- Label(s): Hells Headbangers Records
- Release Format(s): 12" vinyl, Cassette, CD
- Release Year: 2024
- Review Date: January 7, 2025
- Author(s): FelixS
While Destruktor is not exactly at the top of lists of the most obvious Australian bands out of the Extreme Metal spectrum, for me it has always been a band that symbolises on all accounts what that Australian scene stands for. Destruktor’s roots do go as deep back as 1995, but the band’s fairly slow work rate may also not have contributed to the fact that most eyes are still on bands like Bestial Warlust, Sadistik Exekution, Deströyer 666 and Gospel Of The Horns – despite the activity of some of those is even smaller. But although the band takes a slightly different musical angle, an average Destruktor release does sum up well how the typical Australian metal musician views uncompromising and unapologetic sonic bulldozing.
Destruktor’s last sign of life dates back almost a decade, but throughout its entire career, of which the 00’s were definitely the band’s most prolific years, the trio always struck a smashing balance between Black Metal and Thrash Metal with lots of chopping Death Metal riffs. That specific formula has not changed, despite being inactive for a good nine years. In fact, that typical Destruktor-recipe has been further perfected. Not so much in the sense of their catchy yet violent song writing, which retained its remarkable consistency, but even more so in the production in which ‘Indomitable’ is poured. A surprising clear production makes way for those brutal riffs and especially Jahred Mawdsley’s impressive, thundering drum performance.
A similar shift in sound was already observed on the ‘Fuck Christ’ EP by Goat Semen, also released Hells Headbangers Records, and while obviously unrelated, this is a surprising parallel. Both works take on a slightly less raw and muffled and more venomous character, something that the music handles well and even distinguishes itself from the more standard output in their genres. Another solid proof that it is not necessary to build impenetrable walls out of muddy and “cavernous” guitars to sound heavy. In fact, this even proves that combining good riffs and decent song writing makes you much heavier, and, in the process, less goofy too,
In just under 35 minutes, we are treated to exactly what makes the Australians so interesting. Whether there is something in the water or not, the small but interesting scene continues to deliver quality stuff. Some of their peers lean a bit more towards the Death Metal side, others more to Black Metal or have a solid Thrash Metal heart, in finding the centre point between those genres, Destruktor has delivered another strong record. A record that, by the way, has been given a more than appropriate title.
Destruktor
- Country: Australia
- Style: Death Metal, Black Metal
- Links: Facebook, Instagram, Bandcamp, Spotify
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Hells Headbangers Records
- Country: USA
- Style: Black Metal, Death Metal, Thrash Metal, Other
- Links: Homepage, Facebook, Instagram, Bandcamp, Youtube
