Destruction need not much of an introduction here! Most of you know who they are! German Thrash Metal legends! They've released countless albums full of speed and intensity since the mid 80's and have made a name for themselves in the Metal world. I contacted vocalist/bassist Schmier in February 2003 through E-mail, and this is what he had to say... THRASH 'TIL DEATH!!!!
Interview by Eric
I saw you guys with Kreator in Philadelphia, at the Trocadero on October 15, 2002, and oddly, there wasn't as big a turnout as I expected, yet it didn't seem to alter your performance at all. You guys still thrashed like it was the Apocalypse! Do these kind of shows discourage you, or does it not affect your mindset at all?
No not at all! We are even more motivated when the crowd is smaller or kind of lame in the beginning. Itīs easier when the place is packed and the people are goinī crazy of course. For us it is great challenge to kick some ass under difficult circumstances. Especially when we are not headlining itīs a mission full of tension to impress and GET the audience every fuckinīsingle night. We are warriors of the road ... the live situation is what we all fuckinī love, I hope people can tell...hehehe! Thatīs the fuckinīreason why we are on tour! If we wouldnīt have the FIRE anymore, I would just...STOP!
It's 2003 now, and you guys have been around for something like 20 years. So what bands influence you these days?
Of coarse weīre still into a lot of the 80īs Metal stuff, but there are a lot of great bands out there those days, which we really like. The thing is that an act like DESTRUCTION is pushing itself, we donīt need direct influences anymore, cause we have our own unique style! That doesnīt mean that I close my eyes for new stuff, but the band knows those days, more than ever, what we are able to do and what doesn't fit to our musical progress and direction! You wanna hear some names of band we like? This list would be longer than this interview, so letīs say we still love Punk Rock, NWOBHM and Bay Area Thrash!
Do you think the Metal Scene has changed much since say, 1985? Seems to me it's a lot more anal-retentive these days, and people tend to love their categories a lot more.
I think it depends on the countries! In the south (Europe or America) they adore the "classic" styles, in the states for example itīs all about fashion and in the east of Europe they are totally into the extreme forms. Those days people start to care about the ROOTS of heavy music again, which is the most important thing for the Metal Scene to survive! The categories always have been there! And also the intolerance between all those styles. I think many kids are opening their mind those days for different kinds of guitar music, which I think is a good thing! We need to tolerate all the great various possibilities of our METAL music!
How does the song-writing usually go for Destruction? Do you start out with lyrics first, or what?
No! We always start to jam some cool riffs first! We need the great feeling of monster guitars and skullbreaking beats, then I start to write the words that could fit whit the sound...
What are your thoughts on bands that "take their Satanism seriously"? And what are your beliefs?
If you believe in Satan - you have to believe in GOD, thatīs bible bullshit! We like to play with metaphors in our lyrics, I hate religions and itīs seems no good to me obey any kind of GOD/SATAN! LetÂīs say it this way, if there has to be a God, then itīs my music!
On Destruction's webpage, you called Power Metal "Kindergarten," yet you are into Judas Priest and old Iron Maiden. Wouldn't you consider those "Power Metal," and if not, what is a Power Metal band to you? MAIDEN and PRIEST?
Thatīs NWOBHM my friend! And those acts are the creators of melodic metal without this cheesy attitude!!! I hate those sweet kindergarten melody lines that a lot of the more melodic (Powermetal???) bands use those days! It has nothinī to do with the roots of metal! Thatīs cheap crap! To me METAL has absolutely NOTHINī to do with common, cheesy and nice soundinīmelodies! Do you know what I mean? Those people didnīt get the point! They should start to listen to some real dirty melodic stuff like the old English bands ... they had GREAT melodies without gettinī the hypocrites in our scene! If our musicīs future is like that, then I will shurly start a punk band...hehehe!
What is your favorite country or city to play?
The world has many great places! We still like to go to countries where not too many other metal band been before...like I said itīs a challenge and the Metal revolution is still crowing all over the planet! Even in countries that you could never imagine!
Like what?
China for example! Cool isnīt it!
Have you been to Unstoppable Force Webzine before?
Cool site! You guys support the real shit!
Any last words?
Hey you crazy motherfuckers out there, keep your mind free, don't let them brainwash you! Donīt forget only Metal is real! Hope to see you somewhere on the road on this rotten planet before itīs too late! Cheers!
DISCOGRAPHY
Sentence of Death (1984)
Infernal Overkill (1985)
Eternal Devastation (1986)
Mad Butcher (1987)
Release from agony (1988)
Live without sense (1988/89)
Cracked Brain (1989)
All hell breaks loose (2000)
The Antichrist (2001)
In addition 'Neo-Destruction', (meaning Destruction without Schmier) published three more releases. 'Them not me', 'The least successfull human cannonball' & 'Destruction'. They don't count to the official discography though.
'Neo-Destruction' - Destruction / Mini CD (1994)
'Neo-Destruction' - Them not me / Mini CD (1995)
'Neo-Destruction' - The least successfull human cannonball (1998)
LINKS
