Destruction

Destruction is a German thrash metal band. They are considered one of the "three kings" of the Teutonic thrash metal scene, the others being Kreator and Sodom. The band were originally named "Knight of Demon" but changed their name in 1984.

For most of the 1990s, Destruction were not signed to a major record label and was forced to self-produce their albums, until they signed a contract with Nuclear Blast in the 2000s.

Biography

Destruction was formed as "Knight of Demon" in 1982. The original line-up featured vocalist and bassist Marcel "Schmier" Schirmer, drummer Tommy Sandmann, and guitarist Mike Sifinger. They soon changed their name to "Destruction" and released a demo titled Bestial Invasion of Hell in 1984. After this the group signed with Steamhammer Records and released an EP titled Sentence Of Death later that year.

Destruction released their first full-length album titled Infernal Overkill in 1985, followed by Eternal Devastation in 1986. The trio then added a second guitarist, Harry Wilkens, and released the EP Mad Butcher in 1987, followed by the full length album Release from Agony in 1988, then a live recording Live Without Sense in 1989, and Cracked Brain in 1990. In 1989, Schmier was asked to leave the band due to creative differences, and the group underwent a period of commercial deterioration. During the grunge explosion of the early to mid 1990s, the band lost their record label support and had to self-produce and self-release their own albums.

In 1999, Schmier rejoined, and things began to look up for the band as they signed a record deal with Nuclear Blast. They then released three more albums: All Hell Breaks Loose in 2000, The Antichrist in 2001, and Metal Discharge in 2003. The band would then sign with AFM Records and release Inventor of Evil in 2005. The band's latest album, D.E.V.O.L.U.T.I.O.N., was released in August 2008. In early 2009 Destruction is scheduled to tour around North America. An Australian and New Zealand tour is also a prospect.

Members

Current members
Vocals, Bass: Schmier (1983-1989, 1999-Present)
Guitars: Mike Sifringer (1983-Present)
Drums: Marc Reign (2001-Present)
Former members
Vocals: Andr? Grieder (1990)
Vocals: Thomas Rosenmerkel (1993-1999)
Guitars: Harry Wilkens (1987-1989)
Guitars: Michael "Ano" Piranio (1993-1999)
Drums: Tommy Sandmann (1983-1987)
Drums: Oliver "Olly" Kaiser (1987-1999)
Drums: Sven Vormann (1999-2001)
Guest musicians
Vocals: Peter T?gtgren (2000)

T?gtgren appeared with Schmier on the track Total Desaster 2000 from the All Hell Breaks Loose album.

Vocals: Peter "Biff" Byford (2005)
Vocals: Doro Pesch (2005)
Vocals: Stian "Shagrath" Thorensen (2005)
Vocals: Bj?rn "Speed" Strid (2005)
Vocals: Paul Dianno (2005)
Vocals: Messiah Marcolin (2005)
Vocals: Mark Osegueda (2005)
Vocals: Peter "Peavy" Wagner (2005)
Vocals: Peter T?gtgren (2005)

All of these artists, with Schmier, were featured on the same song, 2005's "The Alliance of Hellhoundz", from the Inventor of Evil album.

Vocals: Peter "Peavy" Wagner (2007)
Vocals: Oddleif Stensland (2007)
Vocals: Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth (2007)
Vocals: Tom "Angelripper" Such (2007)

All of these artists, with Schmier, appeared at the Wacken Open-Air Festival in 2007 on the track The Alliance of Hellhoundz, recorded for the 2009 live album The Curse of The Antichrist: Live In Agony.

Guitar: Ol Drake (live, 2009)

Evile guitarist who played one show, the Caos Emergent Festival in Portugal on September 13, as a replacement for Mike Sifringer who broke two fingers in Belgium at the Vlamrock Festival on August 29.

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Original Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Destruction