Year: 2020
Total Time: 53:13
Label: Nuclear Blast
If DESTRUCTION, together with SODOM and KREATOR are the Holy Trinity of the German thrash metal, then the “Butchers” here are the Holy Spirit, since, unfortunately as I love them so much, finish the race last and gasping. The other two aforementioned ones have more continuity and quality in their releases, so they have every right to be the “God and the Son”!
After last years “Born to Perish” album and one decade later they decided (either them or the label, don’t confuse me with this stuff) that it is time for a new live album since the much filling DVD “A Savage Symphony: The History Of Annihilation” from 2010. All is great up to now. The “bad” thing is that it is just a simple live CD release, come on guys; just put the same DVD or other nice extra stuff in as well to make us happier, it won’t cost you anything since you’ve already filmed the whole show. Unless in Germany they think that the rest of the planet lives without internet and there is no source to watch live shows like that all day long if they wish.
Anyway, let’s check this release out now, as the title sys, it was recorded live in Germany last summer at the Party.San festival (back when live shows were still happening!) and includes a total of 10 songs, 5 from the first period of the band back in the 80’s and 5 from the more recent years after the millennium. Thy start with the classic intro and “Curse The Gods” hits the speakers so unavoidably the mayhem begins. Nine more tracks follow, all well-known and classic tunes like “Mad Butcher”, “Live Without Sense”, “Born to Perish”, “The Butcher Strikes Back” and the album closes with the supreme classic tune “Bestial Invasion” which last around 6 minutes and of course there is chaos everywhere. The bands performance is in high standards are usually, the sound is very good and warm, making you feel like you are there in person with crowd screams when it’s necessary, Schmier sounds like he is possessed, the guitars and drums are banging ferociously, ok, I think we have something good now!
I don’t think there are more things that someone can say about a live album nowadays. DESTRUCTION is one of my great loves since the late 80’s, seen them live many times and own all discography, but after that DVD from 2010 I believe since they are under a major label too, they should have released something more filling to surpass that one and attract the attention of the fans, living in times that, good or bad, because of the internet the access to events like that is immediate and plenty. It’s out on a digipack CD and various vinyl format, I will definitely grab one of those (vinyl) to keep my collection full, but for sure it’s not going to be used as much as the classic “Live Without Sense” album was spined back in those good old days. I won’t put a grade, all the fans of the band surely should add this to their collection, about the rest, mostly the younger ones, I am pretty sure they will look for something else.
Rating: N/A
Editor: Antonis Livanios
Related Link: DESTRUCTION – Official Page
