Cleveland’s Destructor may not have gained the same level of notoriety as some of the other US heavy metal that started off in the 1980s but ask around in certain circles and you’re likely to hear 1985’s Maximum Destruction mentioned as an album worth giving a listen. The group originally disbanded in 1992 following the tragic death of their bassist in 1988 and record label challenges, but by 1999 they were back in action and have remained active ever since despite some lineup shifts. While their studio output has been fairly spread out, each album has offered a consistent mix of powerful and fast paced riffs that blurred the lines between early heavy metal, speed metal, and thrash. This year’s Blood, Bone, and Fire smartly goes for a concise run of nine songs that rarely let off the gas but are also able to vary things up, making it not only a late year highlight but also one of Destructor’s best efforts.
Blood, Bone, and Fire may not deviate much from what Destructor has written for much of their career, but it represents a distillation of the band’s formula down to its most effective and scorching levels. With the longest track barely cracking the five-minute mark, the songwriting is focused on quick and effective hooks that grab your attention and make you want to hit the repeat button without anything that drags or feels overly repetitive. The title track gives you an idea of what to expect from the bulk of the material, as after a very brief intro it launches right into fast paced riffs and drum work that has a sound somewhere between heavy metal and thrash. It’s blistering and doesn’t let up for a second of its four-minute run, but the leads still have that infectious quality to them. Much of the material is centered on speed, with only a few songs opting for more of a mid-tempo pace, yet there’s a decent amount of variety to how they’re constructed, and I found myself able to tell them apart on repeat listens. Destructor is consistently strong from beginning to end on Blood, Bone, and Fire, although I found myself most drawn to “Storm Upon the World”, “Never Surrender”, and “Heroic Age” as these showcase the type of soaring solos and powerful lead guitar that has always drawn me to this group. Some tweaks to the production also make the instrumentals hit harder than on Decibel Casualties, channeling a similar heavy thrash feel like the most recent Metal Church album.
Dave Overkill has been Destructor’s singer on all their releases, and his powerful and soaring voice has been one of their strongest assets. I’d argue that he’s only seemed to get better with each recording, and that holds true here as he delivers a performance that is intense when it needs to be but also has that anthemic quality to it. Pitch wise Overkill comes off a bit like Saxon’s Biff Byford, though there are some subtle differences throughout Blood, Bone, and Fire. Bassist Tim Hammer also contributes some backing singing, which is noticeable on songs like “Depths of Insanity”, and while there are some moments that are a little rough around the edges it never derails the experience. A lot of the choruses are simple yet effective, and with the way Overkill’s voice soars on them I’ve found many of them stuck in my head for the past week.
On album number five Destructor continues to hit that sweet spot between early thrash and peak 80s heavy metal, emphasizing fast and heavy hitting riffs alongside anthemic choruses that will stick with listeners. It’s not a drastic shift from what the band has done all along, but some production tweaks and the strength of the material from beginning to end makes this album really stand out. Destructor recordings may not be a common occurrence from year to year, but they definitely make each one count. Blood, Bone, and Fire is available from Shadow Kingdom Records.
-Review by Chris Dahlberg