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The Arts of Destruction is the seventh album for Germany's Desaster and, by my account, has hit the nail on the head. The album is crammed with classic 80s proto-Black Metal of the Thrash variety, the kind pioneered by Venom, Bathory and Celtic Frost. To top it off, the musicians in Desaster are quite talented and their performances are much tighter than their heroes. But don't let that put you off. The Arts of Destruction is full of joyfully evil Black Metal. Songs like the title track and "Splendour of the Idols" reek with vicious hate and malicious intent. The music is Thrash-based and only occasionally ramps up to blast beat speeds and this allows the melody to be heard, and Desaster is surprisingly melodic. The song "Possessed and Defiled," an 8+ minute epic, manages to create a dark and creepy atmosphere without resorting to keyboards. Guitarist Infernal uses his instrument masterfully, with just a few effects, to set the tone for the song. With the exception of the instrumental "Intro" and "Outro," which add little of value, The Arts of Destruction kicks ass from start to finish. Recommended.

Additional Information

Also released by Metal Blade Records