While Schmier and Mike, the two-plus decade driving forces behind Destruction, might not have invented evil, as an integral part of the ‘80s German thrash movement, they certainly changed metal forever. While most contemporaries are dead and buried, Destruction continues the path first set forth (and only briefly interrupted by Schmier’s departure, although he maintained in Headhunter) without getting stale. Yes, there are trademark elements on all albums since the reunification, but once more, on Inventor Of Evil, the band examines their sound and looks to go a little further. The intro to ‘Soul Collector’ sees Schmier dabble with growling voiceover, before employing his signature high-pitched rasp for the proper track. From the get-go, the message is speed and ferocity, although there’s a section within ‘The Defiance Will Remain’ that isn’t even thrash. Mike called it his “Rush passage,” very tuneful. The third tune is the most talked about, chocked with nine separate vocalists, from all aspects of metal, including Peter Tagtgren (Hypocrisy/Pain), Shagrath (Dimmu Borgir), Doro and Messiah Marcolin (Candlemass). Aptly enough, it’s entitled ‘Alliance Of Hellhoundz’. The lyrics pay homage to classic album and song titles. ‘No Man’s Land’ continues the onslaught, then, without warning, ‘The Calm Before The Storm’ begins with an acoustic guitar! The guitar continues to be an underpinning as the song becomes more electric, until it’s faded out, only to return (by itself) at the conclusion. ‘Dealer Of Hostility’ and the punky ‘Twist Of Fate’ are full-on aggro, while the more mid-tempo ‘Under Surveillance’ spawns the classic line “It’s a lack of culture that feeds the war machine.” Speaking of mechanization, the ‘Killing Machine’ finale hits on all cylinders, before ending with an acoustic flourish of an outro. The digipak contains two additional tracks, as well as a pair of video clips.