Formed in 1982 in Weil am Rhein, Germany, originally under the name Knight of Demon, Destruction quickly became one of the cornerstones of German thrash metal — part of the legendary “Big Teutonic 4” alongside Kreator, Sodom, and Tankard. The original trio — Marcel “Schmier” Schirmer (bass/vocals), Mike Sifringer (guitar), and Tommy Sandmann (drums) — recorded the demo Bestial Invasion of Hell in 1984 before releasing the cult EP Sentence of Death the same year 🚀

A meteoric rise: early albums like Infernal Overkill (1985) and Eternal Devastation (1986) established Destruction as one of Europe’s defining thrash forces. The band toured with Slayer and Motörhead and performed at Montreal’s World War III Festival, marking their international breakthrough.

Struggles and resurgence: after Schmier’s departure in 1989 and a creative lull through the 1990s, Destruction roared back to life with his return in 1999. All Hell Breaks Loose (2000) reignited their career, restoring their raw energy and razor-edged aggression. Later releases such as Day of Reckoning (2011), Born to Perish (2019), and Diabolical (2022) reinforced their legacy. In 2025, they celebrated 40 years with the thunderous Birth of Malice and its fierce single “No Kings – No Masters.”

A lasting legacy: Destruction shaped the face of European thrash through blistering speed, punk-infused energy, and uncompromising conviction. The current lineup — Schmier, Randy Black, Damir Eskić, and Martin Furia — carries the torch with unrelenting ferocity.

On MusikMachine, fans can find official embroidered patches inspired by the band’s visual universe — a fitting tribute to four decades of thrash power and melodic chaos within the metal scene 🤘