I remember buying Destruction’s "Infernal Overkill" in the mid 80’s (and also around the same time Sodom’s "Obsessed by Cruelty" and Kreator’s "Pleasure to Kill") at a small local New Jersey record store (sorry, forgot the name) on the Union/Irvington border that specialized in imports and catered to the rising popularity of heavy metal music. Here is also where I discovered the German equivalent to our Overkill, Testament, and Exodus.

Like Testament did with "First Strike Still Deadly", Destruction have taken many classics from their back catalogue and rerecorded them cranking up the power and muscle into these already devastating songs without changing a thing about their original arrangement. ‘Release from Agony’, ‘Mad Butcher’, ‘Invincible Force’, ‘Tormentor’, ‘Reject Emotions’, ‘Bestial Invasion’ and ‘Curse the Gods’ are utter diamonds now without the ruff. The original albums in which these songs first appeared remain classics but I love the new sonic improvement. Now you can feel the music. Thrash anthems are what these songs have become spotlighted by a crushing 2006 production behind to give them an air of needed clarity, and some focus, missing from their original 80’s versions with chainsaw guitars and energetic drums. The title track off "Cracked Brain" is also included, an album that original singer/bassist Schmier was not a part of, and after hearing this version with him on vocals it is easily another gem you can include to the band’s arsenal.

Speaking of Schmier…..his vocal tone here is not as high as it was on the original recordings yet he still makes it a point to include those characteristic high pitched squeals for certain words on songs like ‘Curse the Gods’, ‘Life Without Sense’ and ‘Invincible Force’ which is part of Destruction’s charm along with the technicality behind the music and the catchy riffs.

Along with these classics you also get two newly recorded songs ‘Profanity’ and ‘Deposition (Your Heads Will Roll)’, both which are very much in the spirit of old school Destruction but then again if you purchased the bands last few offerings "Inventor of Evil", "Antichrist", and "Metal Discharge", you already know that this German three piece never stray from their roots to begin with.

Thrash till Death!!!!