Tankard - Disco Destroyer (1998)

*First pressing. 

Contains 13 tracks total.

Country: Germany
Language: English
Genre: Thrash Metal
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© 1998 Century Media
Review by "J P" for Metal-Rules.com
Editors Note: Metal-Rules.com was founded in 1995 as a forward thinking site. Our goal is, and always has been, to support Real Metal. The decision was made that very rarely do we ever go back and review an album from before 1995. Does the world really need another CD review of Master Of Puppets, Powerslave or Screaming For Vengeance? We don’t think so. We have always supported what is happening now.
Starting in January, 2014, as we head towards the 20th Anniversary of Metal-Rules.com, we are looking back and filling in a few gaps in the review database. We want to complete the post-1995 review catalogue of some of the bands that we have supported since 1995, when very few, if any websites were supporting real Metal. It’s fun to go back and revisit some of these albums that we did not review when they were first released. Enjoy!
I just love the cover art of this album. It reminds me of the Anvil album, ABSOLUTELY NO ALTERNATIVE where an Anvil is crushing a radio. I enjoy when Metal bands take shots at musical genres that are the enemies of Metal, like disco and alternative.
DISCO DESTROYER is the bands eighth album and the first of two albums in a short-lived deal with Century Media Records. The band sort of limped out of the end of the century and this was to be the last album featuring original guitarist, Andy B. Although considered by many to be an improvement over the bands self-titled album, most critics, again myself included feel this was the band at a lower point in their career.
The album is still thrash however and cannot be easily discounted because it may not be as good as other pieces in their catalogue. The pace is still fast with a simple thrash beat for most of the songs and decent guitar tone as well. The whole albums rips along with almost every tune in the three to four minute range, simple arrangements that get to the point. The only exception is the last cut, the joke title track. Gerre’s raspy voice is perhaps a bit lower as he doesn’t quite have the manic edge or energy on his delivery for some of the songs. Lyrically, the album is probably the bands darkest with songs about abuse, suicide, posers, serial killers and Armageddon. In fact I think this is the only Tankard album with a party themed drinking song! The album includes a redone version of a song about killing posers called ‘Death By Whips’ which originally appeared on an old demo. Maybe they wanted to try a bit more of a serious direction and frankly, it may not have worked. The band said, ‘We have to give the people what they want!’ and came roaring back with KINGS OF BEER.
DISCO DESTROYER may have been (despite the funny album title and art) might have been the bands attempt to position themselves as a more serious thrash band. It a decent album, but one I find myself returning to less.

tags: tankard, disco destroyer, 1998, flac,