Artist: Destruktor
Title: Nailed
Type: Album
Label: Hells Headbangers Records

The Hells Headbangers label has been releasing “Kvlt” music for a number of years now. This Australian horde has been around for a number of years and finally, strange as it may seem, ‘Nailed’ is their debut album. Lovers of their EP’s will know exactly what to expect and fans of raw, thrashing, black/death bands like Nunslaughter, Church Bizarre (RIP), Destroyer 666 and similar bands will be in their element.

Does it work? Well to be honest upon first listen I got bored of the production, bands are always trying to create a raw sound and it just gets tiresome. But then after a number of further listens, you can get into it more and start to enjoy all things raw. ‘The Epitome’ rips you a new-one, fast as hell 4/4 drumming that sometimes sounds as if it is trying to catch up with rest of the band. But then the rough aggressive vocals come in and mask any misconceptions; the rhythm slows to a suitable head-banging tempo, and then just goes nuts again. Destruktor exhibit some light and shade and have a go at some proper arrangements that sound ever so blackened, and certainly eerie. When the band slows down, there is much better musicianship; I find some of their fast chaotic madness a little too much. ‘Violence Unseen’ now redresses the balance. There is greater emphasis on a group performance rather than individual showmanship and this is where you get the quality. The death metal influences come from Incantation whilst the remainder of the influences scream the stereotypical bullet belt, fist-waiving non-corpse painted black metal band. ‘Spawning the Immortal’ comes to me as the standout track and you have to wait until the end of the CD, apart from ‘Meccademon’ that is, but then many a band save the best till last. The album matures and gets better as it progresses, screams become growls and intensity becomes head exploding. Crank this one up to ten and watch the walls bleed.

Is it worth buying? If you’re a fan of raw blackened death metal then yes. Fans of the aforementioned bands at the beginning of this review will enjoy it, but for a newer fan, try some other artists first otherwise you may not appreciate what Destruktor are all about…and that would be unfair to this band whom have won me over more-so after each listen of this album.

http://www.myspace.com/666destruktor
http://www.hellsheadbangers.com/

Paul Maddison

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