I was never much of a Destruction fan back in the day though I dutifully played tracks from albums like Release from Agony and Cracked Brain on my radio show in college. I wasn't any more impressed with the band when I reviewed 2012's Spiritual Genocide a few years back. Now that I'm sitting here listening to Destruction's 14th full-length album, Under Attack, I have to admit I'm liking it a lot. The songwriting is lean and aggressive without losing any punch and Schmier has dialed up just the right amount of nasty for his vocals. There's a good mix of all-out speed and slower grooves with great solos and crushing bass lines. The whole album is a solid ball of Thrash ready to bowl you over with not one weak track and plenty of standouts like "Elegant Pigs" and "Stigmatized." If you wrote off Destruction in the past, Under Attack will make you rethink that decision. A recommended offering from Schmier and company.
