Don’t be misled, however, to believe that this is a mindless exercise in head-banging. Destruction have perfected the art of mixing nuance, intelligence, and insightfulness into music that’s brutal, aggressive, confrontational, and sometimes crass. This album is a fine example of the band doing their business-as-usual best.
Schmier Fink and crew have been solidly dependable and consistent for most of the 21st century, following periods of hiatus and uncertainty. This album, like so many of their others, serves up a no-frills set of fast-paced heatseekers, blending percussive riffs and harmonized higher string melodies, all backing up Schmier’s trademark raw-throated vocals.
Destruction have long been hailed as one Germany’s Big 3 of Thrash, along with Kreator and Sodom, but their prestige has only grown as they’ve persisted into elder statesmen. Their approach is still basically the same as it was in the 80s, when they started, but it’s evolved, matured. That development is evident on “Diabolical.” Lyrically, they’ve leaned even more heavily into social commentary, with a bit less Thrash Metal flag-waving.
It’s a momentous year - - 2022 marks Destruction’s 40th anniversary; “Diabolical” is their 15th album. As a whole, it is a slightly above average entry in the Destruction canon. It’s not quite as excellent as its predecessor, “Born to Perish,” their 2001 “The Antichrist,” or their debut trilogy, “Infernal Overkill,” “Eternal Devastation,” and “Release From Agony” - - but it’s still a worthy addition to their legacy.
Highlight tracks: “Ghost From the Past,” “No Faith in Humanity,” “Diabolical,” “State of Apathy.”
