Review: Destructor - Forever in Leather | |||||||
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Forever in Leather | |||||||
Label: Auburn Records Year released: 2007 Duration: 47:11 Tracks: 11 Genre: Heavy/Thrash Rating: Review online: November 26, 2007 Reviewed by: Michel Renaud |
Readers' Rating How do you rate this release? Rated 4.25/5 (85%) (16 Votes)
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Review | |||||||
Twenty-two years after their first LP "Maximum Destruction", Destructor have finally released their long anticipated sophomore album. They released two EPs in recent years, but I had almost given up hope on seeing another full-length from the Cleveland thrashers. Well, here it is. Thankfully Destructor did not follow the same path as some of their contemporaries and did not fall into the "oh, let's go with whatever today's trend is" trap, but pretty much stuck to their roots. Of course, the two recent EPs and their live performances (of which I attended two, in 2002 and 2004) did not give the impression that the band was headed in the wrong path, but you can never be sure until "the real deal" is out. In that aspect, "Forever in Leather" is aptly titled, for Destructor have delivered here a nice little collection of old school denim and leather-laced Heavy/Thrash compositions, basically in the same vein as their earlier material and not getting anywhere close to crappy trends, nor trying to be overly experimental with their sound. "Tear Down the Heavens" opens up loud and clear and things don't quiet down much after that - the drums are loud and heavy all the way through, almost running the show, and while the vocalist doesn't have an overpowering voice, he manages to make his way and take his due place in this metallic mayhem. The vocal style has remained the same - clean vocals sung with conviction and a rather aggressive edge, but flowing well into a much more melodic, sometimes almost anthemic style when needed. The guitars sometimes sound a bit thin, but thankfully without affecting the songs too much. As one would expect from Destructor, there's quite a treat of blazing riffs throughout the album, from Speed Metal-like fast riffs, to heavy, face-smashing pounders without forgetting the occasional more melodic passages that barely give the listener a chance to breath before starting into full-Destructor mode again. Do I need to mention a plethora of old school-style wicked solos? Of course not. While Destructor aren't inventing anything here, I don't think anyone was really asking for that. What we got here is a worthy successor to their debut album, with loads of skull-crushing, catchy Heavy/Thrash songs that showcase a good balance of Thrash and aggressive-but-melodic traditional Heavy Metal. As far as I'm concerned, Destructor have lived up to my expectations - I wish I could say the same of some bands who formed around the same time and also came back. Now excuse me, I need to do something about that neck pain. ;) |
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More about Destructor... | |||||||
Review: Blood, Bone, and Fire (reviewed by MetalMike) Review: Blood, Bone, and Fire (reviewed by Michel Renaud) Review: Blood, Bone, and Fire (reviewed by Sargon the Terrible) Review: Decibel Casualties (reviewed by MetalMike) Interview with vocalist and guitarist Dave Overkill on January 5, 2013 (Interviewed by Luxi Lahtinen) Interview with vocalist and guitarist Dave Overkill on January 17, 2016 (Interviewed by Luxi Lahtinen) | |||||||
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