Another cold night in Tel Aviv, another week slowly dying away only to welcome another seven day count all over again, however, it was just the right night to celebrate a third decade of eternal devastation, to remember the old days and to crudely Thrash till death, till there will be one left alive on the moshpit floor other than the band playing a few split headed Metalheads. Well, I probably went a bit far there, but this is Thrash Metal ladies and gentleman, and those who don't share the pain, are usually posers. The German DESTRUCTION, for the second time in their vast career, landed in the land that is called holy, for a feast by a bestial invasion. As approached the Reading 3 grounds, I didn't like for a bit of what I saw but I will discuss for a bit later, because you guys, the readers, deserve to know about the music that happened in that glorious occasion. The doors were supposed to open at 20:00, yet it appeared that there weren't enough people to open up and the place or merely because there were others within the venue that came to work later. It happened in 20:45, all ready and waiting for the opening band to show off with its tunes.
 

And the Thrash fest commenced as violent as it could be expected with the local Northern Thrash / Crossover group, DARK SERPENT, taking their places at the stage. Without further a due, with a tiny "Hello" by Uri Shalev, the band's vocalist / guitarist, the band shot its first bullet with the self-titled track from their debut album "M.K.C", pretty nasty stuff with a fistful of wholesome Thrash shred. It was great to notice the raspy vocal style of Shalev along with his bass player, Zahi Berkovich, which even took charge of the mic for several points throughout the setlist. "Siatha De'Shmaya" is a definite band hit, always gruesome played live by this excitedly maniac crew and always presented with a cool joke attached, spreading like a storm wind of fury, a bit Punkish at times, but with a strong Metal flavor. "Defiance" was probably the best song on the list, a Thrash anthem no less, great old school EXODUS of the late 80's with that fine MUNICIPAL WASTE, Yuval Karmer laying down nifty lead guitaring pieces that sounded fabulous. I wasn't surprise with DARK SERPENT covering something of old, as I was use to them playing something of EXODUS, yet I didn't expect a TESTAMENT number, especially a classic like "Into The Pit". Joining force with REIGN OF THE ARCHITECT's growl vocalist, Vidi Dolev, a tremendous tribute was paid to one of the Thrash gods, quality performance, rougher than the original, but it didn't bother. Finishing their set with a new song named "Murderous Circle", which sounded quite promising with a first listen ever; DARK SERPENT cleared the stage, after swinging the first hard punch, for the main support in line.
 

Making an entrance in a dramatically fashion posture with blackened scenery change called "Hymn To The Steel", as expected from one of the few Israeli bands that has been around other than performing within the Israeli districts, HAMMERCULT, on the verge of releasing its new album "Steelcrusher", via the joint German labeling SPV / Sonic Attack, infested the stage with loads of murderous antagonism and steel plated old school temperament. Then, like a buzz saw blade slicing swiftly through my skull, the hellish mayhem ignited with the self-titled tune from the upcoming sophomore album, "Steelcrusher", exploding the soon to be furnace called Reading 3, such vigor and immensely energetic crushing monstrosity rose before me. These guys are tough, I'd tell you that, devastating with Speed / Thrash / Death Metal, crossing from old school and back, demonically but still wild and untamed as they can. "We Are Hammercult", had me thinking of MOTORHEAD, especially after tuning to the riffing, yet HAMMERCULT, especially live, made even punchier and mightier, and skillfully producing a freewheeling pleasing bomb for the masses. This is the band's anthem, and it is great one to hang on to. "Metal Rules Tonight" pursued no less than traditional Speed / Heavy Metal, even with HAMMERCULT extra violent rupturing, could have been a masterful late 80's classic, and you guys will have some of that on the upcoming album. Discussing that song, made me comment that Yakir Shochat at the mic, which swarmed the stage like a wild animal with a mad bull vibe growling and shrieking with high pitched squeaks, was barely hearable in the house due to the only foul aspect of the entire sound engineering, the vocal line. However, it didn't bother his companions to demolish the place up. "Hellbent" took another MOTORHEADish turn, a little Punky, but yet a sick multi charger with an intense guitar solo that was highly noticeable. Sealing their exalted performance for this round with "Stealer Of Souls", HAMMERCULT ended their set to welcome the Teutonic power.
 

It was time to welcome them for the second time, the trio of evil, a member of holy triplet of German Thrash Metal, those that can be reckoned as one of the gods of Thrash Metal worldwide, the unbeatable DESTRUCTION. Letting excitement take its toll, the first chords of the notorious "Curse The Gods" inflamed the minds of the lunatic asylum gazing from below only to be the clarion call for the torturing pleasures of "Thrash Till Death". One thing was certain, no matter age and no matter professionalism, Marcel Schmier hasn't lost his touch as a frontman, nor his high register fiendish shouts. Such oblivious intensity and the true passion for playing traditional German Thrash Metal came to life with even the newer tracks like "Spiritual Genocide" and the bloodied womanizer, "Carnivore", where on both counts that moshpit rally, which became severe and hotheaded minute after minute, showed its respect to the trio playing before them. Another thing that I was positive, while watching, was the fact that Michael Sifringer is virtually a Thrash riff god, time and time again, even while bent down a bit nearly all the time, entrancing with tasty riffs of pure brutality of sheer excellence. "Nailed To The Cross" was an obvious number to be played, causing chaos all around, creating a blood feast beyond proportions. I couldn't ask for more when the meat grinding penetrator, "Mad Butcher", defiled the scene, nothing better when Schmier, Mike and Vaaver destroyed as they proceed to Thrash things up, revamping the old days once again without mercy. Though I was looking to have another glance at the performance of "Metal Discharge", which eventually never came, I was comforted by "Eternal Ban", "Death Trap" and the mid tempo chugger, a proud phrase for any Metalhead, "Life Without Sense", a refined supplement for this old school Thrash head. The former heaved an electric charge through the audience's brains, something uncanny, total madness in a messy mosh dance. Covering VENOM's "Black Metal", showed how DESTRUCTION paid tribute to their own gods, slashing with defining speed vehemence, they had me caught off guard, yet freshly presenting a much stronger version in comparison to the original. Letting the audience have a go at picking the songs was probably not such a decent idea, but being democratic about it, in weird Greek kind of way with people shouting nonsense altogether, made DESTRUCTION to play the Punk classic "Fucking USA", originally by THE EXPLOITED. Yeah, I shouted "Metal Discharge" for a few times, but it didn't stick. Gunning with a spectacular drum solo, the trio lunged at the overwhelmed Reading 3 folks with "Tormentor", being such an amazing spectacle with its quality live playing, and the unholiest shredding greaser "Bestial Invasion", proving the true meaning of real life malevolence. Letting the encore slide for just a few moments and it was all over with "The Butcher Strikes Back", leaving the Reading 3 with a hefty taste for more, then we were all strangers in the night.
 

It was my second time attending to DESTRUCTION live, first time being in Metalist Festival 2005. I had plenty of expectations and those were fulfilled and my hunger for quality Thrash was satisfied. Evil has pierced the boundaries of Tel Aviv once more, bearing its legacy upon those who are worthy to withstand its might. However, I couldn't figure out how approximately 200 attended this show, how the hell did it come to pass? I was bewildered. I wouldn't like to guess the reasons for this shameful poor attendance from a Metal scene that badly has a need for diversity in its foreign acts selection, yet one should wonder and maybe talk about it in a method of a forum or something similar, and pray that DESTRUCTION will be coming back for another round. On that note, I would like to thank ProgStage Productions (Patrick Losinsky and Dorin Mandelbaum) for once again letting Metal Temple to cover one of its productions, you guys served the local Israeli scene with a piece of Metal's history that should have been much appreciated, may there be more Metal history lessons to come.