Release Date: Out Now!
Record Label: Shadow Kingdom Records
“When we started writing for this next record, we worked as a team to write the best songs we could,” reveals founding vocalist Dave Overkill. “This process included past members Nick Annihilator and Jamie Boulder / Athenar. Jamie approached me and asked if we could write some music together for old times’ sake. [Guitarist] Mark Hellhound contributed two killer songs and co-wrote a third song with Jamie and me. [Bassist] Tim Hammer, who debuted a song on Blood, Bone, and Fire, contributed two songs for Tales of Glory, as well. And Matt Flammable came up with some of the best drum parts of his career.”
It’s not without good reason that Tales of Glory is titled as such: these songs take DESTRUCTOR’s power-thrash closer to more traditional heavy metal as a whole, even dipping into anthemic speed metal, with a view toward making the experience as heroic and HEAVY as possible. With Dave Overkill giving perhaps the performance of his life, DESTRUCTOR succeed in keeping their signature sound whilst expanding its horizons – ones with all guns blazing and swords raised aloft!
It’s not every day that an album released past the 2000s sounds like it belongs in the eighties, but here we are. I’d say it’s pretty obvious that prior experience and the marvels of modern technology make this possible. There are many copycats out there looking to achieve such a sound with reverb and Priest-style guitar sounds, but this is as authentic as it gets. I’m proud to share my review of Destructor’s new album, Tales of Glory
Review
“TALES OF GLORY” What can I say? When you are dealing with genres such as power metal or melodic death metal, it’s absolutely appropriate to add an acoustic intro to set the tone of the record. Tales of Glory does a great job of creating an atmosphere that ultimately builds into the main banger of the record.
“SHADOW MAGIC” This track erupts with an effect similar to what a song like “Fight Fire with Fire” brings to the table. That speed-metal riff comes in and sets everything on fire. It’s a track you’d obviously expect to hear in a live set. It has everything you need: riffs and an epic chorus that a crowd could easily shout. That’s heavy metal at its finest.
“HARBINGER OF DEATH” Another driving track with earworm vocal chants and soaring leads. Harbinger of Death is the literal definition of traditional metal. It doesn’t have that modern polish, but it has that character which most modern releases simply don’t have. This is another highlight of Tales of Glory.
“WOLVES AT YOUR DOOR” We all need a song about wrecking someone in our lives, and “We are the wolves at your door” is a perfect line to encompass that sentiment. Once again, the song is driving and pulled straight out of what people loved about classic metal from yesteryear. Four songs in, and there’s zero room for pumping the brakes.
“DEATH SCREAM” “Death Scream” kind of reminds me of later-era Iron Maiden, but without the song dragging throughout the whole track. It gives you a break and then pump-fakes you back into the speed. The vocals aren’t as strong on this one as on previous tracks, but they don’t have to be. The song achieves exactly what it sets out to do.
“FALL TO YOUR KNEES” Faster riffs and a punkier, thrashier vibe. This one is meant to get the pit going in full force at live shows—I’m certain of that. The vocals don’t have to be memorable, but that drive absolutely is. The solos in this one in particular help drive that nail into the coffin.”
“NEVER TAKE ME ALIVE” The intro lead is perfect. It sets the scene for the rest of the song, and the tempo is brilliantly constructed to fit what the intro puts in place. I have been asking myself this question a lot lately: “How has this not been done already?” Maybe it has, but that doesn’t take away from the magic that was tapped into here.””
“ANSWERS IN BLOOD” Well, just kick my ass right from the very beginning. That’s a hell of a way to start a song. This track is the musical equivalent of a fistfight. It’s aggressive, and it just pushes you in every direction—sonically.
“RISE TO THE CALL” We are back to that later-era Maiden-style intro, but it transitions into a pretty epic solo before going full-force, early-era Maiden with galloping riffs that make you think of the high school world history bookshelf in the back of the room.
“VICTORIOUS WARRIOR” All gas and no brakes. There is no time to end on a slow note—rev that engine and blast off with a thrash anthem. This closer is all guns blazing, and if you’re talking about traditional metal, it’s the perfect way to end a heavy metal record.
Conclusion
Tales of Glory is a record from a band with a rich and long history showing the world they can still put out true heavy metal many years later. This album is fast and aggressive. It’s not the prettiest-sounding record, but that’s not what they were going for; they were going for that grit and rawness you used to find in traditional metal. They master the dissonance and cadences you don’t normally hear, which is what makes this such a great album to listen to in 2026.
