As the reader would most likely infer, I receive a lot of new music, and I have for years - quite possibly longer than some reading this or even longer than some of the Metal Temple staff have been alive!  With that being said, it is impossible not to prejudge albums before checking them out.  Don't misunderstand me, I listen to everything I receive.  DESTROYERS OF ALL is a band name that cause me to think they were either going to be great or not so much - I'll get to that.  I was secretly hoping and praying that it was nothing like GWAR, the band that first popped in my head when I looked at the band name for whatever reason.  None of my friends have ever understood why I've never liked GWAR, but due to being way off topic, I digress.  So, I played the first track and it was immediately clear that these guys were not playing around.

This band is from Portugal.  Forgive my ignorance, but the only other band I can think of from Portugal is MOONSPELL.  Therefore, to me, DESTROYERS OF ALL is the best band from Portugal.  "The Vile Manifesto" is their second full-length after debuting with an EP titled "Into the Fire" (nothing to do with DOKKEN).  Forming in 2011, they describe their sound as Death Thrash on their web site; however, if you scroll down, they list Hard Rock, Progressive Metal, and Black Metal as influences as well.

The first song, "Tohu Wa-Bohu" had me initially scratching my head.  All doubt was seriously dispelled after listening for just a few moments.  Out of the gate, they successfully make their presence known with some frantic tremolo-picked riffs that break into a groove.  The next track, "False Idols," begins with a spiraling, dizzying riff that is on the very edge of chaos but they manage to keep it together.  The breakdown - oh, the breakdown, it's been a while since I've made the Metal face like I did when I heard that.  It goes from a syncopated Dimebag-esque riff (think "By Demons Be Driven") into a slow, churning, chromatic, palm-muted riff.  I love the brutality and am so very happy to hear someone nail it again because it has certainly been a while.

Thus far, there have been some pretty outstanding solos.  The influence of Dimebag, Chuck Schuldiner, and Jeff Hanneman is starkly apparent, though he has synthesized his heroes and put his own style into the songs.  "Break the Chains" (another non-DOKKEN tune), the fourth track, opens with a dazzling, fleet-fingered solo.  It is at thirty-two seconds though, where my jaw dropped.  Being someone who started out playing bass, I'm always listening for the low-end, and at that point in the song, the bassist pulls off an incredible bass solo.  Having just a bit of chorus on the bass also makes it really stand out.  It is in this song where the vocals really impressed me as well.  Through most of the material, the singer has utilized a raspy approach similar to Tomas Lindberg of AT THE GATES, but he comes out and really sings on this track sounding eerily similar to an aggressive Chuck Billy.

The drummer flies on the fifth track, "The Elephant's Foot".  Practically the whole song has unrelenting double bass.  There were two other things that stood out to me about this track.  First one of the main riffs has a very classic, double-picked approach, a style I adore and long for more and more as the years go by.  Think of ninety percent of the material from Ozzy's "No Rest for the Wicked".  The other thing that floored me was the breakdown.  It is simple, but it comes from out of nowhere and is totally locked in with the drums.  Again, I made the Metal face.  "Sheol," the seventh track, is also of note.  It is based around a very diminished-sounding riff.  Throughout the song, there is an ample amount of syncopation.  To hear these guys pulling off the complex rhythms and start/stop parts is totally refreshing.

What causes this album to be so impressive, besides the band's evident immense talent, is an excellent production.  Listening to this, one would think they had the budget of a huge, headlining act.  It really is that good.  Their music works because it hits on so many different aspects that make Metal appealing:  technical proficiency, intensity, and groove.  In creating their music, DESTROYERS OF ALL employ a healthy balance of elements so that nothing sounds overindulgent.  They simply know how to mix it up.  The grooves are so intense.  It made me think back on PISSING RAZORS.  All of this is so neatly polished that the band sounds like Metal veterans with the hunger of a young band.  I truly cannot recommend this album enough.  Buy this and windmill until your neck breaks!  Check out the entire album below.