Kinda makes "Return of the Mad Ax Man" seem somewhat tame, don't you think?

Just in time for the latest installment of the "Destructor's" return, this two on one special featuring the "Mad Butcher" EP and the preceding "Eternal Devastation" LP from back in the mid-80's seems to come at a time that's ripe again for the killing.

And who better than Germany's Destruction, led then and again by the ax-wielding specialist himself, Schmier, to perform his special style of speed metal tenderizing on the soft and fleshy backsides of those devoted followers who haven't yet recovered from the administrative torment they first leveled upon our world of gluttony and excess…

This latest re- installment features no apparent cleansing or digital dynamics, just pure blood and guts the way it always intended to be!

Striking first, the "Mad Butcher," (and who can forget that album cover-even if you never heard of the band, this alone would be worth the price for disgust) in all his demented death-driven glory brings back that truly sickening feeling right in the pit of your gut… you don't need to visualize the carnage taking place all around you; you only need listen to know this is not the place for the sound of mind.

After a wicked cover of The Plasmatics' "The Damned," something they've done surprisingly well over the years from that point forward, the brief but tortuous tour through this life-sized meat grinder concludes with the instrumentally incorrigible "The Last Judgement…"

And then from here, the fun really begins. Schmier's vocals are nothing short of disturbing. Think of all your favorites from the past-Cronos… Warrior… Angelripper… not exactly your all-star cast for the next TV telethon but hey, they get the job done.

Well here's Schmier and his compatriots leading us into "Eternal Devastation," their high-speed death metal massacre through the charred remains of yesterday… And "Curse the Gods!"

Damn them all for subjecting us to this high-pitched horror all over again!

Later to be followed, unsurprisingly by the likes of "Upcoming Devastation," and ending off with "Confused Mind…" where are we now, song seven?

Trust me, it won't take that long to fully absorb the punishing effects of both!

Destruction was and now a decade later, still is, the embodiment of pure power metal, crossing often the borders of Death and Thrash with their traditionally hell-bent notions to deliver only the maximum of extreme noise terror or die trying.

Released by SPV Records

Review by Vinnie Apicella