Destruction

[sixxswine]

What do you guys know about this band? I have seen ads & articles on this band in BW&BK for the last few months & they have sparked my inteterst.
What are they thrash? And what are some good records of theirs?

 

[diabolical vengeance]

What do you guys know about this band? I have seen ads & articles on this band in BW&BK for the last few months & they have sparked my inteterst.
What are they thrash? And what are some good records of theirs?

They are one of the 3 great German thrash bands from the 80s (along with Kreator and Sodom). They're music has a very dirty and raw edge to it. They're best albums are Infernal Overkil (EP), Sentence of Death, Mad Butcher (EP) and Eternal Devestation. Their later 80s work isn't as good. They've done a comeback and the two albums they've done haven't really struck me as much as their early work. (Although Nailed to the Cross is pretty amusing). The intro riff to Mad Butcher is one of the greatest metal riffs ever.

 

[sixxswine]

Thanks for the info. I'm familiar with Kreator & Sodom. Never heard of Destruction, go figure...

 

[Psychonaut]

I've heard of them but don't have anything by them. Didn't they do an album called The Mad Butcher or something like that? Kreator and Sodom are definately quality stuff, though.

 

[Fangface]

Get Eternal Devastation and Infernal Overkill (which is not an EP) first, you can't go wrong with these thrash classics.

I admit that I like the reunion albums nearly as much as their old stuff too...

 

[DrillSergeant]

What do you guys know about this band?

Folks, this is not meant offensive but so far nobody seemed to be a real fan. So I'll try to help you out by throwing in my knowledge, hehe.

First off, here’s a brief disco:
Sentence Of Death (84, EP)
Infernal Overkill (85, Album)
Eternal Devastaion (86, Album)
Mad Butcher (87, EP)
Release From Agony (88, Album)
Live - Without Sense (89, Live)
Cracked Brain (90, Album)
All Hell Breaks Loose (00, Album)
The Antichrist (01, Album)
Alive Devastation (02, Live)
Metal Discharge (03, Album)

Then we have a short bio:
Destruction are/were indeed one of Germany's Thrash trinity along with Kreator and Sodom. In fact they were the most respected band among these three back in the early days. That's probably because their first two releases, although far from being perfect, had more quality to offer than Endless Pain or In The Sign Of Evil had to. Unfortunately for Destruction this early success vanished more and more when Kreator and Sodom caught up in the following years and easily surpassed them in the late 80s as Destruction suffered some serious internal problems which finally led to Schmier’s (v, b) departure. Two further EPs and another album (with another singer) saw the light of day during the 90s, but these are no longer considered to be real Destruction-records anymore (even by the band itself). Note also that Cracked Brain already didn’t feature Schmier on vocals as he was kicked out during the recording sessions. In 2000 the wait was finally over and their reunion album hit the stores. Was about fuckin’ time, if you ask me!

…and finally some recommendations:
At first I should mention that I’m not a “typical” Destruction fan, as my preferences differ a lot from most fans’ opinions. For example I prefer Eternal Devastation and even Release From Agony over Infernal Overkill. Same with their more recent outputs, as I like All Hell Breaks Loose more than The Antichrist, even if the sound turned out to be a bit too Death Metal-ish for my taste. ’m afraid I can’t tell you anything about Metal Discharge yet, ’cause I haven’t heard that one so far. Maybe someone else can?
Please be aware that most fans will disagree on my recommendations though! Anyway, you can’t do much wrong if you like old school Thrash. No matter with what exactly you start.

P.S.: I don’t know how the sales situation is in your corner of the world but over here in Germany you can get their first four releases in a double CD package as well as the first two albums after their comeback (also in a double CD package) for about 10 Euros each.

 

[Stormwarrior]

Destruction are one of the legendary big three with thrash alongside kreator and sodom. I have most of their stuff. Think im only missing cracked brain and the new one also. By the way what does anyone think to their new album while we are on the subject ?

 

[Dead Winter]

I've met them several times here in Italia, and they are super nice and truly a fan's band. Everything they do is for the music and the fans...they go out of their way to show their appreciation to all the fans...

Destruction will never sell out.

My friend knows them extremely well and she hangs out with them a lot.

As far as the new album goes...it's killer; but you must be a fan of German thrash to appreciate their music, just as with Kreator. German thrash is completely different than American thrash...American thrash is mainly about the hooks, as is evident in albums like Rust in Peace, Persistence of Time, Reign in Blood, etc. Destruction are like exploding watermelons when they play; they are everywhere. Riffs abundant, just pure fucking thrash. They have hooks, but their music is based on the song as a whole, which is a bit different than American thrash. The thing about German thrash is that sometimes unless you know the song really well, you can't really remember what the song sounds like unless you hear it. I could tell you riff for riff what Holy Wars sounds like, but ask me about The Mad Butcher and I'd have to hear it to tell you. German thrash is very cold, while American thrash is somewhat warmer.

 

[King-King]

also checkout Tankard and Asassin

 

[The saYer]

Not Many Destruction Fans! Man, I Love Destruction (n' Kreator)

"oh, They Are The Third Stooge In German Thrash" What Kind Of Reply Is That.

I Am Wearing The Antichrist 2002 Tour Shirt As I Speak!!
I Even Head Of Destruction Before Kreator (i Am Not Saying That Htey Are Better Though, They Are Unique)

 

[The saYer]

Head Was A Typo, I Meant Heard

 

[DrillSergeant]

I Even Heard Of Destruction Before Kreator (i Am Not Saying That Htey Are Better Though, They Are Unique)

Well, you actually can say that they were in the early days. Make that very early (in the case of Kreator). Infernal Overkill is/was indeed much better than Endless Pain or In The Sign Of Evil. That's for sure! ...On the other hand... It doesn't take much to be better than those two, right?

 

[The saYer]

I am reaaaly sorry but I disagree.

endless pain is in somewhere in my top ten list, I don't know where yet.

endless pain is the kind of album that makes me want to quit college and any of my hobbies and start a band. It just has that kind of atmosphere.
Now I feel like cranking it up! FEEL THE ENDLESS PAIN!!!!!

 

[DrillSergeant]

I am reaaaly sorry but I disagree. endless pain is in somewhere in my top ten list, I don't know where yet.

No problem, I'll take it like a man. Nevertheless I find this pretty surprising. Most people I have talked to about this topic so far somewhat smiled at me for even accepting or approving this disc. Especially Americans did. For example I can remember a quote by Borivoj Krgin in which he stated that he has always felt that Americans make better Thrash albums than Europeans do. Besides, even if I actually can enjoy European Thrashers I still think that there are only two real excuses to own Endless Pain: Storm Of The Beast and the mighty Flag Of Hate. But as the latter one appeared in a much better version on the EP of the same name the ice gets rather thin, I guess.

 

[The saYer]

ok, I see you don't like it, but what about tormentor? that one caught a lot of praise in the last concert I went to and also in the dvd.

 

[DrillSergeant]

ok, I see you don't like it, but what about tormentor? that one caught a lot of praise in the last concert I went to and also in the dvd.

I know it has become some kind of fan favourite over the years cause the band finishes every single concert with that song. But ain't that more of a force of habit thing than anything else then?
And there’s a simple reason to keeping it on the setlist. You probably know that as a demo band they called themselves Tormentor, so in some way it’s the band’s anthem. Maybe I’d like it if they re-recorded it just as they did with Flag Of Hate. The DVD version is indeed much better. But I suppose that’ll never happen cause after all these years all those DieHards would crucify the band for desecrating holy ground. And the way I see it, it would probably be redundant as in the meantime they learnt how to write better songs. Thinking about it I can’t help but calling Endless Pain a rip-off. Is it just me or does Total Death sound exactly like Exodus’s Strike Of The Beast?

 

[Fangface]

Thinking about it I can’t help but calling Endless Pain a rip-off. Is it just me or does Total Death sound exactly like Exodus’s Strike Of The Beast?

Both albums were released in 1985 and both songs were written in 83/84, they may sound similar at times but I can't find where the rip-off is.

 

[DrillSergeant]

Both albums were released in 1985 and both songs were written in 83/84, they may sound similar at times but I can't find where the rip-off is.

Not so fast, friend! It’s common knowledge that Bonded By Blood had already been long past due when it finally saw the light of day in mid-85. In fact, it was to be released in mid-84 and tapetraders could sing along to it already a year before it was finally released. Note, that this was at a time when Kreator (Tormentor) had just about 6 own songs that deserved being called such. (you may look that up in the booklet of the Endless Pain re-release). The tracks featured on the Tormentor demos are Armies Of Hell, Bonebreaker, Cry War, Messenger From Burning Hell, Satan´s Day & Tormentor. So Total Death still had to be written yet! I guess, it’s easy now to imagine that the boys let Exodus “influence” them. I mean, Noise Records wanted them to do a full-blown LP and all they could rely on were 4 demo songs. The rest of the 10 Endless Pain tracks still had to be written within just a few weeks!