DESTRUCTION Unleash Relentless Thrash Mastery on Birth Of Malice – Their Most Vital Record in Years

After four decades of laying waste to stages and stereos worldwide, German thrash titans Destruction show no signs of slowing down. Hot off their 40th-anniversary tours across Europe and South America, the legendary Teutonic quartet returns with Birth Of Malice, their 18th studio full-length and perhaps their most venomous and revitalized effort in years. Due out March 7th via Napalm Records, Birth Of Malice is not just another notch on the belt for these veterans—it’s a statement that Destruction are still one of thrash’s deadliest forces.

Opening with the atmospheric title track before detonating into the self-referential blitz of “Destruction,” the band immediately sets the tone for what is an unrelenting 12-track assault. Dual axe-wielders Martin Furia and Damir Eskić carve out razor-sharp riffs with surgical precision, locking in seamlessly with Randy Black’s pummeling drum work and the ever-reliable Schmier, whose trademark snarling vocals and gritty bass anchor the chaos.

What’s immediately striking about Birth Of Malice is its clarity. For a band whose early work was defined by rawness and primal energy, here Destruction leans into a clean, modern production that balances power with precision. Recorded at Little Creek Studio by V.O. Pulver and mixed by Furia himself, the album crackles with vitality without sacrificing the grit and attitude that defines their legacy. Whether it’s the tight gallop of “Cyber Warfare” or the full-throttle carnage of “Dealer of Death,” every instrument hits with lethal force.

Lyrically, Schmier casts a wide net of venom, aiming for humanity’s endless list of transgressions. From the scathing “Greed” and its indictment of selfishness, to the pit-stirring rallying cry of “Scumbag Human Race,” Destruction hasn’t mellowed with age. Instead, they’ve sharpened their knives, delivering anthems that are as socially charged as they are mosh-ready. “A.N.G.S.T.” stands out as one of the groovier cuts, stomping with a swagger that channels paranoia and societal decay, while “No Kings – No Masters” embodies the band’s defiant, rebellious streak in full.

And just when you think the onslaught couldn’t get any more intense, Destruction tip their hats to fellow German metal icons Accept with a riotous cover of “Fast As A Shark,” executed with such authenticity and raw enthusiasm it feels less like homage and more like a reclaiming of thrash’s very roots.

What makes Birth Of Malice remarkable isn’t necessarily innovation—Destruction aren’t rewriting the rules of thrash here. Instead, they’re reminding us why those rules worked so damn well in the first place. There’s an organic, unforced energy across the record that feels contagious. You get the sense this is a band still loving every second of what they do, channeling the same hunger that fueled classics like Infernal Overkill and Eternal Devastation, only now with the experience and musicianship honed over 42 years.

Schmier’s performance, in particular, defies logic. Few vocalists in the genre have kept their edge intact over such a timespan, but his snarls and growls are as venomous as ever. Maybe it’s the cleaner production, maybe it’s his veteran understanding of pacing, but whatever the secret, Schmier sounds utterly locked in, both vocally and lyrically, navigating these songs with the confidence of a man who’s seen it all—and still has plenty left to say.

With Birth Of Malice, Destruction prove, beyond all doubt, that they remain one of thrash metal’s most enduring and essential acts. Where other bands of their era are content to ride the nostalgia wave, Destruction are still writing records that matter, that feel urgent, that make you want to tear down walls and stage dive like it’s 1986. This isn’t just a victory lap; it’s a fresh, fiery slab of thrash that stands toe-to-toe with anything coming out of the new school.

Expect Birth Of Malice to feature prominently in 2025’s year-end lists—and rightfully so. Handle with care because this one is red hot.

“Destruction remind us why thrash worked so damn well in the first place—with zero signs of slowing down.”

“Forty years in, Schmier and crew are still writing records that matter—and Birth Of Malice is red hot proof.”

“This isn’t just a victory lap; it’s a feral, fresh assault that stands toe-to-toe with any modern thrash release.”

Birth Of Malice tracklisting:

1. Birth Of Malice

2. Destruction

3. Cyber Warfare

4. No Kings – No Masters

5. Scumbag Human Race

6. God Of Gore

7. A.N.G.S.T.

8. Dealer Of Death

9. Evil Never Sleeps

10. Chains Of Sorrow

11. Greed

12. Fast As A Shark

DESTRUCTION are:

Schmier  –  Bass, Vocals

Martin Furia –   Guitars

Randy Black  –  Drums

Damir Eskić  –  Guitars