Destruction

Biography

Destruction is a German thrash metal band formed in 1982. They have been credited as one of the "Big Four" of the German thrash metal scene, alongside Kreator, Sodom and Tankard.
In addition to pioneering black metal, Destruction was part of the second wave of thrash metal in the mid-to-late-1980s, along with US bands Testament, Sacred Reich, Death Angel and Dark Angel. Eduardo Rivadavia of AllMusic stated that the band "fell under the spell of the emergent New Wave of British Heavy Metal as classic metal met the D.I.Y. ethos of punk rock, then evolved into thrash metal."
For most of the 1990s, the band was not signed to a record label and self-produced their albums until they signing with Nuclear Blast in the early 2000s.
Destruction's early releases are considered thrash metal classics. Some journalists consider them to be among the greatest thrash metal bands of all time.

History

The band was formed in Weil am Rhein as Knight of Demon in 1982, inspired by Iron Maiden, Mercyful Fate, Motörhead and Venom. The line-up featured singer Ulf Kühne, Mike Sifringer on guitar, bassist Marcel "Schmier" Schirmer, and drummer Tommy Sandmann. Kühne was fired due to personal conflicts with Sifringer, and Schirmer took over vocals. They were known as Destruction and released the demo Bestial Invasion of Hell on 10 August 1984. After this, the group signed with Steamhammer Records and released the EP Sentence of Death×Sentence of Death3 September 1984 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracksA1Intro1:14A2Total Desaster4:06A3Black Mass4:00B1Mad Butcher3:31B2Satan’s Vengeance3:16B3Devil’s Soldiers3:26 on 10 November.
Destruction's first studio album, Infernal Overkill×Infernal Overkill24 May 1985 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracksA1Invincible Force4:20A2Death Trap5:49A3The Ritual5:11A4Tormentor5:06B1Bestial Invasion4:36B2Thrash Attack2:55B3Antichrist3:44B4Black Death7:41, was released in 1985, followed a year later by Eternal Devastation. Second guitarist Harry Wilkens joined the band, and Sandmann was replaced by Oliver Kaiser. They recorded the EP Mad Butcher×Mad Butcher1986 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Mad Butcher5:012The Damned3:543Reject Emotions6:494The Last Judgement3:11 and their third studio album, Release from Agony×Release From Agony1 December 1987 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1Beyond Eternity1:112Release From Agony4:443Dissatisfied Existence4:304Sign of Fear6:465Unconscious Ruins4:276Incriminated5:227Our Oppression4:498Survive to Die5:31 (both released in 1987), as well as the band's first live album, Live Without Sense (1989). During this time, Destruction enjoyed worldwide popularity, touring Europe and North America, and sharing the stage with Venom, Slayer, Kreator, Sodom, Celtic Frost, Motörhead, King Diamond, Voivod, Exodus, Testament, Overkill, Death Angel, Possessed, Sacred Reich, The Cro-Mags, Tankard, Flotsam and Jetsam, Artillery, Rage, Coroner, Assassin, Candlemass, Prong, Accu§er, Iron Angel, Wolfsbane and Girlschool.
During the initial recording sessions of their fourth studio album, Cracked Brain×Cracked Brain1 June 1990 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Cracked Brain3:362Frustrated3:323S E D3:324Time Must End5:565My Sharona3:106Rippin’ You Off Blind5:287Die a Day Before You’re Born4:208No Need to Justify4:499When Your Mind Was Free4:38, Schirmer was fired from the band and replaced by Poltergeist vocalist André Grieder, the only album with him. The album was released in 1990. Guitarist Mike Sifringer remained and continued to release material under the moniker of "Neo-Destruction", featuring vocalist Thomas Rosenmerkel, second guitarist Michael Piranio, bassist Christian Engler and drummer Oliver Kaiser. The first recording was the self-titled Destruction EP in 1994, followed a year later by the Them Not Me×Them Not Me9 June 1995 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1Scratch the Skin3:402Live to Start Again3:043Bright Side of Leprosy4:014Push Me Off the Windowsill4:065Mole0:406Mentally Handicapped Enterprise4:06 EP, and the band's fifth studio album, The Least Successful Human Cannonball×The Least Successful Human Cannonball1998 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Formless, Faceless, Nameless4:272Tick on a Tree5:003263 Dead Popes3:094Cellar Soul5:475God Gifted4:306Autoaggression3:467Hofffmannn’s Helll4:448Brother of Cain4:559A Fake Transition1:3310Continental Drift I2:5311Continental Drift II3:41, in 1998.
In 1999, the line-up was disassembled and Schirmer rejoined with the addition of drummer Sven Vormann, returning Destruction as a trio. They signed with Nuclear Blast and released three albums: All Hell Breaks Loose×All Hell Breaks Loose30 May 2000 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Intro0:432The Final Curtain4:273Machinery of Lies3:424Tears of Blood4:035Devastation of Your Soul4:106The Butcher Strikes Back3:087World Domination of Pain4:058X-Treme Measures4:549All Hell Breaks Loose5:4010Total Desaster 20003:0711Visual Prostitution3:5012Kingdom of Damnation3:37 in 2000, The Antichrist×The Antichrist27 August 2001 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Days of Confusion0:512Thrash ’Til Death4:263Nailed to the Cross3:494Dictators of Cruelty4:345Bullets From Hell5:096Strangulated Pride3:297Meet Your Destiny4:058Creations of the Underworld3:569Godfather of Slander4:1110Let Your Mind Rot4:1711The Heretic3:4412Curse the Gods5:26 in 2001, and Metal Discharge×Metal Discharge22 September 2003 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1The Ravenous Beast3:092Metal Discharge3:273Rippin’ the Flesh Apart5:024Fear of the Moment3:345Mortal Remains4:116Desecrators of the New Age3:427Historical Force Feed3:368Savage Symphony of Terror3:519Made to Be Broken3:4510Vendetta4:53 in 2003, with Marc Reign replacing Vormann. The second live album, Alive Devastation×Alive Devastation26 March 2002 · Album · LiveSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Intro - Curse the Gods6:132Nailed to the Cross4:403Eternal Ban3:034Machinery of Lies3:595Bullets From Hell4:576Tears of Blood4:197Life Without Sense8:088Thrash Till Death4:139Mad Butcher3:4610The Bucher Strikes Back3:3211Intro - Total Desaster4:0512Invincible Force7:3913Bestial Invasion5:56, was released on 26 March 2003, followed by the live DVD Live Discharge: 20 Years of Total Destruction on 4 March 2004. They appeared at the Wacken Open Air music festival in August of 2002. Reign was temporarily arrested on 24 May 2004 following the band's performance in Brescia, due to the stage accessories, which were confiscated as a result. Destruction signed with AFM Records and released Inventor of Evil on 22 August 2005. It was followed by the compilation album Thrash Anthems×Thrash Anthems2006 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1Bestial Invasion4:382Profanity5:573Release From Agony4:354Mad Butcher3:455Reject Emotions5:536Death Trap4:537Cracked Brain3:458Life Without Sense6:219Total Desaster3:2710Deposition (Your Heads Will Roll)5:1111Invincible Force3:4512Sign of Fear6:3613Tormentor3:5714Unconscious Ruins4:1815Curse the Gods5:1516Eternal Ban3:14 on 19 January 2007, featuring re-recorded material. They returned to Wacken in 2007. The next studio album, D.E.V.O.L.U.T.I.O.N.×D.E.V.O.L.U.T.I.O.N.July 2008 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Devolution5:292Elevator to Hell5:383Vicious Circle - The 7 Seven Deadly Sins4:424Offenders of the Throne4:165Last Desperate Scream3:596Urge (The Greed of Gain)4:427The Violation of Morality4:368Inner Indulgence4:469Odyssey of Frustration5:2810No One Shall Survive4:26, was released on 29 August 2008. The third live album, The Curse of the Antichrist: Live in Agony, was released 25 September 2009, followed by the second DVD release A Savage Symphony - The History of Annihilation on 29 January 2010.
Drummer Marc Reign left the band in 2010 and was replaced by Polish drummer Wawrzyniec "Vaaver" Dramowicz. On 18 February 2011, the eleventh studio album, Day of Reckoning×Day of Reckoning18 February 2011 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1The Price3:402Hate Is My Fuel4:243Armageddonizer4:094Devil's Advocate4:185Day of Reckoning3:586Sorcerer of Black Magic4:257Misfit4:278The Demon Is God5:119Church of Disgust4:0610Destroyer or Creator3:1011Sheep of the Regime4:5912Stand Up and Shout3:18, was released. The band's twelfth studio album, Spiritual Genocide×Spiritual Genocide23 November 2012 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Exordium1:022Cyanide3:233Spiritual Genocide3:394Renegades4:015City of Doom4:016No Signs of Repentance3:247To Dust You Will Decay4:218Legacy of the Past4:509Carnivore4:2810Riot Squad4:1211Under Violent Sledge4:09, was released on 23 November 2012. Their next album, Under Attack×Under Attack13 May 2016 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Under Attack6:132Generation Nevermore4:043Dethroned4:504Getting Used to the Evil6:085Pathogenic4:276Elegant Pigs3:407Second to None5:118Stand Up for What You Deliver4:209Conductor of the Void4:3310Stigmatized4:1211Black Metal3:1412Thrash Attack2:58, was released on 13 May 2016. Through an exclusive PledgeMusic campaign, Destruction released the sequel album to Thrash Anthems, Thrash Anthems II×Thrash Anthems II18 July 2017 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Confused Mind5:512Black Mass4:003Frontbeast2:014Dissatisfied Existence4:345United by Hatred4:376The Ritual4:407Black Death6:408The Antichrist3:129Confound Games4:5210Ripping You Off Blind5:3111Satan's Vengeance3:2312Holiday in Cambodia4:07 on 18 July 2017, featuring more re-recordings of classic songs.

On 23 January 2018, Vaaver left Destruction "for family reasons", according to Schirmer. He took time off in 2015 to be with his family following the birth of his second child. Randy Black temporarily replaced him until the band found a "worthy successor". He was later announced as the band's new drummer. On 28 February 2019, Swiss guitarist Damir Eskic joined the band. This line-up recorded the fourteenth studio album, Born to Perish×Born to Perish9 August 2019 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Born to Perish5:202Inspired by Death4:163Betrayal4:064Rotten4:055Filthy Wealth4:026Butchered for Life6:437Tyrants of the Netherworld3:418We Breed Evil5:179Fatal Flight 174:2810Ratcatcher4:0311Hellbound3:39, released on 9 August 2019. It is rooted in their traditional thrash metal and received good reviews. The fifth live album, Born to Thrash, was released on 8 May 2020.
On 16 July 2021, Destruction performed at the Area 53 Festival in Leoben without guitarist Mike Sifringer. Schirmer explained in a Facebook post that Sifringer had not answered his emails and questioned his status, and that there was a problem that led to the decision to continue without him, and would release a statement planned for 19 August. Sifringer's departure was confirmed that day, and he was replaced by Martin Furia, followed by the release of the single "State of Apathy×State of Apathy19 August 2021 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1State of Apathy3:46", featuring the band's first recording with Furia. On 13 August, the sixth live album, Live Attack×Live Attack13 August 2021 · Album · LiveSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 46 tracks · 3 discsDisc 11Born to Perish6:362Death Trap5:543Nailed to the Cross3:484Armageddonizer4:185Tormentor4:286Rotten5:097Mad Butcher5:418Reject Emotions6:009Thrash Till Death6:3310Betrayal4:1411Sign of Fear6:3512Damir's Shred1:4713Inspired by Death4:34Disc 21Release From Agony5:502Life Without Sense5:143Antichrist3:394Invincible Force2:455Under Attack7:016Bestial Invasion5:127The Butcher Strikes Back3:518Curse the Gods7:439Total Desaster6:53Disc 31Born to Perish2Death Trap3Nailed to the Cross4Armageddonizer5Tormentor6Rotten7Mad Butcher8Reject Emotions9Thrash Till Death10Betrayal11Sign of Fear12Damir's Shred13Inspired by Death14Release From Agony15Life Without Sense16Antichrist17Invincible Force18Under Attack19Bestial Invasion20The Butcher Strikes Back21Curse the Gods22Total Desaster23Preshow24Aftershow, was released. On 16 December, a music video for the title track from fourteenth studio album, Diabolical×Diabolical8 April 2022 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Under the Spell1:132Diabolical4:093No Faith in Humanity4:174Repent Your Sins4:095Hope Dies Last3:356The Last of a Dying Breed4:107State of Apathy3:468Tormented Soul4:469Servant of the Beast3:4910The Lonely Wolf3:5511Ghost From the Past3:0412Whoreification4:0013City Baby Attacked by Rats2:29, was released. The album was released on 8 April 2022 to celebrate the band's 40th anniversary.
Destruction toured in 2023. On 31 July 2023, it was announced that Destruction (along with Kreator, Sodom and Tankard) were on the bill for the Klash of the Ruhrpott festival, which took place on 20 July 2024 at Amphitheater Gelsenkirchen in Gelsenkirchen, making it the first time that all of "Big Teutonic Four" bands performed together.
On 6 June 2024, the band released the single "No Kings - No Masters×No Kings - No Masters6 June 2024 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1No Kings - No Masters4:14", in anticipation of their sixteenth studio album, Birth of Malice×Birth of Malice5 March 2025 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Birth of Malice1:002Destruction5:233Cyber Warfare4:244No Kings - No Masters4:115Scumbag Human Race4:176God of Gore4:117A.N.G.S.T.5:098Dealer of Death4:569Evil Never Sleeps4:2810Chains of Sorrow4:1211Greed5:0012Fast as a Shark3:28, released on 7 March 2025. The band supported the album with a world tour, which included a European leg with Testament, Obituary and Nervosa, and a U.S. tour with Testament and Overkill. The band performed at the Hell's Heroes music festival in Houston in March 2026. They also played Maryland Deathfest that year, playing material from Infernal Overkill.

Band members

Current

Marcel "Schmier" Schirmer – bass (1982–1989, 1999–present), lead vocals (1984–1989, 1999–present)
Randy Black – drums (2018–present)
Damir Eskic – lead guitar, backing vocals (2019–present)
Martin Furia – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2021–present)
Former

Mike Sifringer – rhythm guitar (1982–1989, 1990–2021), lead guitar (1982–1987, 1999–2019), bass (1989–1993)
Tommy Sandmann – drums (1982–1987)
Ulf Kühne – vocals (1982–1984)
Oliver "Olly" Kaiser – drums (1987–1999)
Harry Wilkens – lead guitar (1987–1990)
André Grieder – lead vocals (1989–1990)
Thomas Rosenmerkel – vocals (1993–1999)
Michael "Ano" Piranio – lead guitar (1993–1999)
Christian Engler – bass (1993–1999)
Sven Vormann – drums (1999–2001)
Marc Reign – drums, backing vocals (2001–2010)
Wawrzyniec "Vaaver" Dramowicz – drums, backing vocals (2010–2018)