Artist: Destruction
Title: Birth Of Malice
Label: Nuclear Blast
Cat #: NPR1333DP
Release Year: 2025
Duration: Album
Format: CD
Packaging Type: Digipak

Birth of Malice is the sixteenth studio album by the German thrash metal band Destruction.

Founder Schmier once again combines his dual vocal/bass attack with crashing riffs from dual battle axe masters Martin Furia and Damir Eskić, while Randy Black blasts his drums to new heights. As witnessed on their previous thrash-fest Diabolical (2022), Destruction returned with their uniquely raw and brutal sound, delivering merciless songs with a touch more variety and groove this time. All twelve songs straight from the butchers hit with a direct and clear sound - resulting in addictive metal anthems for the next generation of thrashers! Their newest onslaught is opened by the brutal “Destruction” with a luring intro transforming into a true thrashing hymn with razor sharp guitars honoring the band’s 40+ year legacy, where mastermind Schmier reflects on the old days. Like the title Birth Of Malice suggests, lyrically Schmier delves deep in human errors - like selfish behaviour on “Greed” and “Evil Never Sleeps”, while stomping “A.N.G.S.T.” delivers shredding guitar solos and flirts with our paranoid instinct, criticizing evil forces who prey on the weaknesses of others. A clear statement is made with carnage on “Scumbag Human Race”, exploring the mistakes mankind makes and pushing authorities in its memorable chorus “I will count your days!”. The same rebellious attitude can be witnessed on the banging “No Kings – No Masters”. On the album, Destruction also shifts to futuristic topics, like the unconscious influence of technology and new forms of war on “Cyber Warfare”. To close this brutal tour de force on a positive note, the thrashing legends celebrate their strong allyship with metal colleagues Accept, by presenting their own version of classic neckbreaker “Fast As A Shark”.

All of these heavy topics are combined in the brutal cover artwork, designed by talented Hungarian artist Gyula Havancsák, known for his works for bands like Accept, Kreator and Blind Guardian. Birth Of Malice was recorded at Switzerland’s Little Creek Studio by V.O.Pulver and guitarist Martin Furia mixed and mastered the masterpiece at The Black Mancave in Hannover, Germany.

Destruction mark themselves once again as a tight metal machine, switching between ruthless thrash and pounding melodic moments, proving they are more than ready to slaughter again on this new album, and at their upcoming shows worldwide!"

Recommended if you like: Kreator, Sodom, Tankard, Exodus, Exhumer, Heathen, Death Angel, Slayer, Overkill, Razor, Onslaught

Track Listing:
01 Birth Of Malice
02 Destruction
03 Cyber Warfare
04 No Kings – No Masters
05 Scumbag Human Race
06 God Of Gore
07 A.N.G.S.T
08 Dealer Of Death
09 Evil Never Sleeps
10 Chains Of Sorrow
11 Greed
12 Fast As A Shark