DESTRUCTION is a 4-Piece Thrash Metal band from Weil Am Rhein, Germany. If you don't know DESTRUCTION by now, you obviously don't know much about Thrash Metal. These are giants in the genre and part of Teutonic Thrash Metal movement, pretty much at the same time as the American movement in the early 80's. This is their fourth live album after a career spanning almost 4 decades.

From the early 80's on they've been the leading figures of Germany's thrash metal scene, shaping an entire genre that soon should spread all over Europe and inspiring countless young combos that eagerly followed their lead: THE BIG TEUTONIC 4! KREATOR, TANKARD, DESTRUCTION and SODOM - by now household names in metal - have relentlessly worked their way up from the underground to international fame, without ever losing their passion, truthfulness or integrity. That's why their popularity has remained unabated and their songs remain pure, even after three decades in business. They remain close to their roots without going far off compared to some of their American counterparts.

This is already their fourth live album and was filmed during the ''Born to Perish'' tour back in 2019. I do not believe they came here to Montreal during that particular tour but I had the privilege to see them back in  2007 with INTO ETERNITY and there was SODOM on the bill but they got stuck at the border (again!). So I would have had two of the four Big 4 Four but I digress. I sparsely listened to the last album to be honest so I was a bit out of the loop for anything from DESTRUCTION. This live album does only contain two tracks off the new album and the rest is pretty much a Best of from their 35+ years of monumental onslaught.

The new songs are a mixed-bag to be honest. There really hasn't been much progression (musically) with DESTRUCTION for a long while and other than the outstanding ''All Hell Breaks Loose'' and ''The Antichrist'' albums. Nothing really stands out and it's very much bland. Persay, it's not all bad but we are way off from their awesome 80's albums. I have to admit that their two new songs actually sound better live than on CD, the crowd does have a lot to do with it.

Any fan of the band will know exactly what to expect when I say that, but for any newcomers reading who want to delve into DESTRUCTION's back catalogue; what's on offer here is slightly chaotic European thrash metal, primarily at breakneck speeds, chock full of angular melodies and rough vocal delivery. It's not really changed since the new millennium, and I'm not really complaining. They still deliver constant albums yet the last few ones have been decent at best so I was glad they dived into making another live album.

The production is fine, not great. This was an outdoors show and the overall sound quality is iffy at times. The sound is not as crisp as it should be and indoor shows do contain the overall atmosphere much better than something out in the fields. I still love going to see outdoor shows and the feeling is so much different than a live venue but the overall production could have been ways better and better handled.

It's no frills, in your face Thrash Metal goodness from one of the very best bands to ever do it. It's an intense ride and just long enough to get your attention. You don't need a 80 minute Live Thrash Metal album, and clocking at 53 minutes it's a perfect way to get your blood pumping and your head banging. Put this on your big TV or your stereo and it feels like you are there and that's better than nothing during these trying times.