Sentence of Death

This is the debut EP from Destruction. Released on SPV Records in 1984. This one came at a very important time. As the thrash scene in the United States was getting hot with bands like Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax, Germany wanted part of the action. This EP is fantastic! It features 3 rerecorded songs from the Bestial Invasion of Hell demo and 2 new ones. The production is much better as one could expect. And while the rerecorded songs had been tweeked a bit here and there they sound a lot more brutal on the demo. Usually the case as far as demos are concerned.

The two new songs, Black Mass and Devil's Soldiers are pretty good. Black Mass is good but forgetable as it does not feature any innovative riffs or a catchy chorus. Devil's Soldiers is a lost gem in the Destruction catalog. While being very simple and straight to the point it is a very fun listen.

This EP is mandatory for not only Destruction fans but for all fans of the German thrash scene. It has shown that the band was not afraid to progress and try new things. The intro to Total Desaster is a prime example. The vocals are influenced more by metal this time around as Bestial Invasion of Hell demo had a punk vibe to it when it came to the vocals. The innovative riffs and leads by Mike Sifringer are beautiful. This was only the start to what this man could do with a guitar. An intensely aggressive and fun listen is what this EP brings to the table. I enjoyed taking a trip down memory lane while listening to this album and had a great time reviewing it. I hope this helps you.