The nuclear storm has already crossed continents, and its origin—Australia—is a place I’ve always found intriguing. When it comes to Extreme music from that country, I used to consider it a realm ruled by Deströyer 666. That is, until the day I discovered Destruktor—a band that at one time even shared members with them. I’m only just now getting around to writing this review, but these guys are the embodiment of musical warfare. Unrelentingly barbaric, they pursue old-school satanic Black/Death/Thrash with deadly precision. So far, instead of releasing full-length albums, they’ve dropped two EPs—this being the second. What I hear is a storm of violence, ferocity, and mercilessness that never lets up.
Tracklist:
Intro
Fight Like the Devil
Nuclear Storm
Strive to Conquer
Justice Unleashed
This 16-minute Satanic assault may be built on relatively simple structures, but it combines three unholy pillars—Black, Death, and Thrash Metal—into a cohesive and often shape-shifting sonic attack. It’s not just about blending genres; each track offers something unique, drawing from different stylistic wells. If I had to label it, I’d go with something like Blackened Death/Thrash, Thrashy Death/Black Metal, or more generally: War Metal.
From start to finish, the tracks are wrapped in raw, feral riffs. And these riffs aren’t just brutish—they’re surprisingly creative. There are moments that feel like they were ripped straight out of the ‘80s Thrash playbook, and the technical depth shows how far the band’s musicianship has progressed since their first EP. I’ve listened to that one too, and the improvement is noticeable.
The vocals can get truly disgusting—in the best way. They sometimes sink so deep into filth that it feels like the voice is drowning in evil. On some tracks, they stray from Black Metal rasps and instead echo the guttural growls of early Death Metal. Why? Because tracks 2 and 5 feature Jarro on vocals. As for the drumming—it’s absolutely depraved. It’s like he’s locked in some unknown race, constantly relying on blasts and elevating the brutality to absurd levels.
One of the things that drew me to this EP was the fantastic cover art: demonic faces, skulls intertwined with swords, and a horned hand at the bottom—it looks like it was born from the imagination of an artist with serious symbolic depth. I don’t know who came up with the concept, but the visual power is undeniable.
The instrumental intro, which runs a little over two minutes, is surprisingly majestic and epic. After a mournful solo, it ends with a piercing guitar wail. Then Fight Like The Devil erupts with a furious riff, chaotic solos, and the expected barrage of Black Metal blasts. The deep, venomous vocals—loaded with evil intent—make it sound cursed and malevolent. A blistering start in true old-school Black Metal fashion.
Nuclear Storm shifts the structure: now we’re in Thrash/Death territory. The riffs are razor-sharp, and the deep guttural growls scream “Old-School Death Metal.” The main riff is huge, and the echo-laced solo at the beginning floored me. Strive to Conquer maintains that same stormy darkness but introduces more '80s Thrash elements. Vocals become even more throaty and murky—just pure filth. And Justice Unleashed brings the Black Metal reign back in full: buzzing, distorted guitars, and drum blasts that reach speed-limit-breaking territory. It's a sonic onslaught.
Join the hate. Find Destruktor. Hunt them down and get your hands on this EP. If you worship early Sodom, Sarcofago, or Destruction—or even Toxic Holocaust or Darkthrone—this will speak to your primal instincts. Destruktor makes destruction that caters to fans of any of the above, and it’s clearly something they revel in. The EP balances primitive Black/Death/Thrash with a level of digestibility and musical atmosphere that keeps it from becoming generic—and that’s its best trait.