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intothewellsabyss
Nov 10, 20223 min read

Destruction - Sentence of Death (1984)

FROM THE CRYPTS - CELEBRATING PAST ALBUM RELEASES in the HISTORY of HARD ROCK & HEAVY METAL…



On November 10, 1984 Destruction released their Sentence of Death EP via Steamhammer Records.


It was the bands debut release.



Background:

Inspired by Iron Maiden, Mercyful Fate, Motörhead and Venom, Destruction were formed as Knight of Demon in 1982. The original line-up featured guitarist Mike Sifringer, bassist and vocalist Marcel "Schmier" Schirmer, and drummer Tommy Sandmann. They soon changed their name to Destruction and released a demo titled Bestial Invasion of Hell in 1984. After this the group signed with Steamhammer Records and released Sentence of Death later that year.



The release is more Black Metal oriented than the band's later albums. Destruction's debut EP was the raw and aggressive first vinyl strike of a band that was hungry to be the hardest and fastest Metal band of all, and fans and press still agree that it set a standard. It was the ideal starting point for the band's first album, and as Sentence of Death was a huge success, it convinced Steamhammer to offer the band a proper record deal and the opportunity to release their first full-length album. Destruction are often credited as one of the Big 4 of the German Thrash Metal scene, the others being Kreator, Sodom and Tankard. In addition to helping pioneer Black Metal by containing several elements of what was to become the genre, Destruction was part of the second wave of Thrash Metal in the late 1980s, along with American bands Testament, Sacred Reich, Death Angel and Dark Angel.



Destruction later released their first full-length album titled Infernal Overkill in 1985, followed a year later by Eternal Devastation. The trio then added a second guitarist, Harry Wilkens, and released the EP Mad Butcher (1987), their full-length album Release from Agony in 1988, and then a live recording Live Without Sense in 1989. By the early 1990s, Destruction had enjoyed considerable popularity, both in and outside of their native Germany, having toured relentlessly in Europe and North America and played with such bands as Venom, Slayer, Kreator, Sodom, Celtic Frost, Motörhead, King Diamond, Voivod, Exodus, Testament, Overkill, Death Angel, Possessed, Sacred Reich, The Cro-Mags, Tankard, Flotsam and Jetsam, Artillery, Rage, Coroner, Assassin, Candlemass, Prong, Accu§er, Iron Angel, Wolfsbane and Girlschool.



Critical Reception:

In a review for Metal Forces magazine, Bernard Roe wrote;

“While there can be no doubt that the North Americans win hands down in the Death / Power / Speed Metal stakes, it’s the Germans who are heading the European challenge. Hot on the heels of Living Death, Brainfever and Grave Digger comes the Speed / Black Metal trio Destruction.
After the usual Satanical narrated intro to the album, it’s total Thrash all the way, driven along by some unbelievable speed drumming from Tommy. Bassist and vocalist Schmier has one of those almost cringeable croaks which seem to be the norm with a majority of the demonic bands these days, but it’s lead guitarist Mike who is the true star of this show; unleashing some of the best lead-work ever heard in Black Metal.
Of the five numbers only the disjointed Black Mass falls below standard, while the remainder – Total Desaster, Mad Butcher, Devil’s Soldiers and the awesome Satan’s Vengeance – project an orgy of intense mayhem. Grab a copy now! — Review taken from Metal Forces, Issue 9 (1985)

Note: The reviews shared here are for historical reference. The views and opinions expressed within are not always supported (in full or in part) by Into the Wells. — E.N. Wells



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