DESTRUCTION, DEBAUCHERY, SACRED TO DEATH

The butcher strikes back

01.12.2008 Berlin (GER)

I like DESTRUCTION. I liked this band always, so nobody should to be surprised, that the occasion to see again in action three warriors of German thrash metal classic was a very nice accent to spend the evening of the first day of December exactly with them. The high quality of sounds playing by Schmier, Mike and Marc especially at live version leaves no doubt regards of domination in the metal world, so their visit in Berlin, being by this opportunity my fifth meeting with them brought to me the same time very positive impressions.

God, sometimes I wonder myself how long will be they able yet to destroy by their music everything around, all the more because in this year the band celebrates exactly the 25th birthday! It’s unbelievable, that for DESTRUCTION time stops dead, letting to record the next crushing albums. But there’s nothing in it only to do it – the most important is to recorded the albums presenting a high standard, but this is the band, that always had a talent, so every kind of fear is in this case The jubilee of quarter-age existing was crowned not only by the releasing a new study album named “D.E.V.O.L.U.T.I.O.N”, but by the European tour too, bringing the thrash metal massacre to the chosen cities and towns, thus to the capital of Germany, of course.

The concert announced originally in the smaller part of Columbia complex – Columbia Club – was transferred a one day before into the other venue, namely into not so big as this known Berliner show place, but the same comfortable club called Kato, located in Berliner quarter Kreuzberg. I don’t know, or the deciding influence on this fact had a presale of tickets, but being sincerely that’s absolutely normal – would it be sensible to rent so big space for about only 120 persons? Anyway, I thought that in due of all circumstances the support of countrymen for DESTRUCTION should be more visible than usually, but as you see, I was entirely wrong. But OK, let to write about the event. Two groups supporting the German legend – SCARED TO DEATH and DEBAUCHERY – I watched from the distance. I don’t want to say unscrupulously about them as was it a total shit, but their musical offer had nothing within, what could to make me satisfied. First of them, playing a thrash mixed with death metal element presented nothing spectacular, although the second brought a solid dose of death metal with very bloody image of musicians. In spite of those facts it wasn’t however something, making by me the exaggerating ecstasy, so my confession about the total admiring would be simply insincere. The other fact was of course my presence those evening only for DESTRUCTION, so let’s go! In this place I could to write in point of fact very short, that they did what they had to do – they killed! And it would be everything, he, he! I will write however something more, so don’t worry! I was always a full of respect for the bands playing their music at live version only with one guitar, but being conscious, that thrash metal is not so complicated art of noise, the proposal of Germans checks itself in these conditions very great. The thing about can’t to forget is of course the immortal image of Schmier and Mike. Can you imagine their show without of bullets, iron and leather? No way! The most important is of course the spectacle playing by them, so during the whole show including both the new tracks as well as the leading hymns only the one was guaranteed – the true music orgasm. The intro of “Soul Collector” opened the portals to thrash metal hell and then everyone standing in front of the stage, together with me of course, was sucked in into his deepest abyss. Which way? “Bestial Invasion”, as the next the title track of the latest album “D.E.V.O.L.U.T.I.O.N” and again two of classics: “Eternal Ban”, “Life Without Sense”. The return to the closer times: “Urge The Greed Of Gain”, the title track of “Metal Discharge” and again one of classics – “Death Trap”. Wonderful! The gig of DESTRUCTION was divided into three parts, so the second of them began the next intro and one moment later the loud-speakers vomited with the sounds of “Thrash Till Death”. Following this way everyone had a pleasure to hear the very neat mix of “Antichrist”, “Release From Agony” and “Last Desperate Scream”. Drum solo of Marc preceded the next hit of DESTRUCTION, anyway one of my most favourite songs from whole discography of this band – “Tormentor”. Yeah, yeah, yeah!!! What else? “Damned”, “Cracked Brain”, “Reject” and “Mad Butcher Strikes Back” as the other tracks of this part. The new intro informs however, that – as we knows it from the films – to be continued, so this way the third part of show was begun. This time composed of three, but how heavy elements: “Curse The Gods”, “Nailed To The Cross” and “Mad Butcher”. Schmier, tired and all of a sweat looked however very happy, but how can to be differently, when the reaction of the audience was enthusiastic? This way everything is over, so the musicians saying to the people “goodbye” left the stage. But moment, please, guys! I suppose, that something was from you forgotten. That’s not only my opinion anyway, cause the screams of the crowd can be a good confirmation of this fact. What’s that? Ha, ha! Without of this track the show of DESTRUCTION would be like a bread without butter, a castle without ghosts, a husband without his wife – “Total Desaster”. What can to add here in this place? Nothing. A piece of cult and nothing more. But that must to be the definitive end. The guys of DESTRUCTION are only the men of flesh and blood, so even they had limited possibilities of murdering by the sounds every evening. Nothing changes however my respect to them and the opinion, that having so big potential of fury and aggression, gathering consequently during those 25 years, the next jubilee will be celebrated probably too. 30 years of existence? 40? 50? It’s very difficult to foresee, but whatever will happen – long live DESTRUCTION!