More - Destructor - review
More - Destructor - review
Tracklist
01. Heart On Fire02. Rocquiem
03. Scream
04. New World
05. Destructor
06. Spirits Of War
07. Immortal
08. My Obsession
09. Wolf Behind Your Eyes
10. More
A review by
AndyMetalFreak March 11, 2026
More is a British heavy metal band that have not had the easiest of careers. They originally formed in 1979 but have altered their line-up numerous times while undergoing 3 separate hiatuses, including between 1985-1998 and 2000-2011. During the early days of their career, they managed to release their debut Warhead (1981) and sophomore Blood & Thunder (1982). However, they were perhaps known more so for touring with Iron Maiden during the Killers tour. They may also be one of the first bands to use the inverted pentagram as their logo, but they are just a regular heavy metal band from the NWOBHM scene and by no means a Satanic-themed act, unlike Venom, who formed at the same time, and notoriously adopted the symbol for a more sinister purpose.
They began work on recording their third album in the mid-2010s, but this came to an abrupt end when guitarist/producer Chris Tsangarides suddenly passed away. In 2022, new vocalist Roman Kańtoch joined ranks alongside original member Barry "Baz" Nicholls and co, but it was to be short-lived as former vocalist Mike Freeland (ex-Praying Mantis) soon rejoined. Together, with this new line-up intact, they set about working on the album once more. The band now release their third full-length album, Destructor, 46 years after its predecessor. This could likely be one of the longest gaps between releases in the history of metal, but it is hopefully a case of 'better late than never'.
Nicholls may be the only member remaining from the golden generation of '80s NWOBHM, but this is a fresh-blooded line-up with the sure intent on continuing its legacy. What's striking about the album is its personal significance; this is because it's the last work of renowned producer Chris Tsangarides shortly before his passing. He clearly left his mark here too, providing a production that's crisp, clear, powerful, and of a high-end modern standard. He never had the chance to see the album's release, but the band have described it as a fitting tribute to their friend and partner. On top of this, the band saw the passing of their founding vocalist Paul Mario Day in 2025 shortly before the release of this album, so it carries significant emotional weight.
The music is straightforward and basic but effective, balancing well-paced and energetic traditional heavy metal with a modern production. The guitars are punchy in sound, with soaring melodic leads and traditional heavy hook-laden riffs that do enough to get you into headbanging action. The rhythm is non-stop adrenaline pumping, with the bass and drums working effectively with each other. The vocals are performed by Freeland with soul and character, with plenty of catchy arena-pleasing choruses, and there's nothing wrong with them throwing the odd few cheesy lyrics in either, as it throws you back into the '80s, when songwriting wasn't so much about being profound and thought-provoking but rather about having a blast.
Destructor essentially throws you back to the very beginning of the great NWOBHM scene, when bands such as Iron Maiden, Satan, and Saxon were young, fresh, and just starting to find their feet before ultimately becoming the iconic bands they are today. The songwriting is perhaps not up to a modern classic standard; the songs are enjoyable and headbangable, containing an abundance of hooks, but maybe not to the point where they'll be remembered in years to come. However, it ticks all the right boxes, and is a good comeback album, on which they sound just as fresh and energizing as they did during their first two releases all those years ago. Obviously a fresh lineup has been a real boost for them, but ironically it's their name More that makes them want to do more of the same, and why not when they can release something to this standard.
Rating breakdown
| Performance: | 8 |
| Songwriting: | 6 |
| Originality: | 4 |
| Production: | 8 |
Written on 11.03.2026 by
Written on 11.03.2026 by
An honest review that you don't necessarily have to agree with. Comments
Comments:
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 Posts: 64433 |
Posts: 64433
Good review, great album ,damn nwobhm is damn rich more good albums
---- I stand whit Ukraine and Israel. They have right to defend own citizens. Stormtroopers of Death - "Speak English or Die"  I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
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