Interview by Brian McLean
Destruction Discharges
Destruction is a legendary three-man German thrash band. They are not a German Nazi thrash band. But to some red, white, and blue-blooded patriotic American metal heads, it’s a matter of opinion.
The backlash of hot and highly opinionated attitudes posted throughout the Internet in mid March of last year were in response to Destruction’s decision to release a cover version of the Exploited’s “**** the USA” as a track on the bonus disc of Metal Discharge, Destruction’s latest CD through Nuclear Blast Records.
Schmier, Destruction’s bassist and front man explains. “When the Iraqi war started we spoke out against the war. So many Americans bashed us on some boards for being a German Nazi band. It really hurt because for me music is the most important thing and politics just ruins it.”
He added, “For me being German, I don’t consider myself being a German, I consider myself a world citizen because I am touring the world. I guess sometimes it’s difficult to speak out.”
The song in question is one of three cover tunes and four unreleased versions of Destruction songs packaged as a bonus disc for the European release of Metal Discharge. Along with the exploited song, there are cover versions of “Killers” by Iron Maiden and “Whiplash” by Metallica as well as unreleased and demo versions of “Bestial Invasion,” “The Butcher Strikes Back,” “Nailed to the Cross,” and “Metal Discharge.”
Schmier says, “One cover is from a British heavy metal band, a British punk band and the other is from Metallica. You can tell our influences. It’s just fun to do it. We don’t want to make a big deal out of it that’s why they are on the bonus CD and not the album.”
When the details of the bonus disc were released in late September, the highly charged opinions and verbal assaults had died down considerably.
The Maiden cover can be found on a European release but Schmier isn’t sure if it’s available in the states. The Metallica song has been issued on a Metallica tribute compilation called Tribute to the Four Horsemen through Nuclear Blast Records.
According to Schmier there won’t be a bonus disc for the American release. Schmier says, “There will definitely be bonus tracks on the American version of the disc but no one knows any details in the German office. The American office will decide what bonus material to put on the American release.”
Unlike All Hell Breaks Loose and Antichrist, the two previously released Destruction albums through Nuclear Blast, Metal Discharge is more of a scaled down effort.
For Destruction, it was time for a change. Even though the results from the previous two albums with the highly respected Peter Tagtgren were great, Destruction didn’t want to get into a recording routine. It was time to go back to their roots.
Schmier hopes fans will enjoy the new album. The album is a step back to the 80’s, a decade some want to forget.
Schmier says, “We didn’t use any computers, no pro tools. We tried to record it as basic as possible to leave the Destruction songs as original as possible.”
Schmier said for the first time Destruction recorded in Switzerland. A demo was done at the studio. Destruction knew what to expect and it was a new challenge. The album was produced by Destruction and a friend of the band named V.O.
Schmier says, “He’s a very good friend of ours. We wanted to have somebody involved that knows the band and what the band is all about. He was the perfect guy. We wanted someone that could capture the sound of Destruction and we didn’t want to waste time.”
Even though the disc was previously available in Europe, Metal Discharge was not available until October 2003 in America, a fact Schmier is not too fond of. He would prefer having the disc released at the same time or one week later but not five or six.
Schmier says, “I don’t like that. I think it’s best to release it at the same time worldwide because the American fans have to wait. Of course you can get some stuff on the Internet but it’s not the same.”
The release of Metal Discharge also marks the recording debut of new drummer Marc Reign who replaced Sven Vormann in 2001.
Reign was already a friend of the band who was introduced to Schmier through another friend.
Schmier says, “When it came time for a new drummer and auditions, I remembered him. There’s not that many cool people you meet on the streets especially when you play music.”
According to Schmier, Reign has a great attitude, is a down to earth guy and he blew all the others away. Schmier added, “He fit perfect with Destruction’s kind of music.”
During the fall, Destruction had plenty of European dates line up to tour in support of ‘Metal Discharge’. There were several shows in Greece and then Destruction teamed up with Dew Scented, Nile, Misery Index, Graveworm, Amon Amarth and Deicide for the Christmas Festival package that ran through mid December.
Destruction wanted to concentrate on the European dates first and then planned on addressing other dates in the Americas for the spring and summer.
Destruction has six dates slated throughout Brazil with plans for shows in Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Costa Rica and Mexico with dates in United States unknown.
Schmier says, “We didn’t know how the schedule was yet and we are looking for a cool package. I think we need a strong metal package to come over again. If we find something that’s interesting, we will go for it.”
He added, “It depends on the demand for the tour. If people would like for us to come we will be there. As you can tell from the last tour, it’s definitely there, the metal scene is growing and growing, it’s great to see. There are a lot of people still appreciating the old school ways which is really great.”
Last year’s tour with Kreator gives evidence to that fact, a tour that Schmier was highly pleased with. According to Schmier, there were a lot more people and some great experiences and the Kreator camp was even impressed with the reactions and great turn out.
Schmier continued, “Metal is big in the big cities and sometimes you play the smaller towns, especially in the conservative parts down south. It’s difficult to play.”
For Schmier, it’s strange to play those shows because of the crowd sizes at the European shows.
Even though Schmier felt like the tour was an overall success, there’s always the possibility for low points or things don’t go as expected. Specifically for Schmier would be one night on the West coast where his second bass guitar was taken from the show.
“My bass got stolen in California and was never recovered. It’s something that I wouldn’t say only happens in America, it happens all over the world.”
He said, “I think it’s sad, if you’re going to a metal show to watch your favorite metal band, you don’t steal the bass guitar or guitar. It’s a matter of respect. You just don’t do that. I was really pissed off for a couple days.”
Besides Schmier’s bass theft, there was another incident. Schmier broke a few bones one day but the tour continued with no canceled dates.
“I broke my hand somewhere down south. I knocked on stuff that was harder than my knuckles. It actually had something to do with the bus driver. The bus driver was quite insane and was making a lot of trouble. That’s how it happened.”
He added, “You have to deal with those things. I have a problem when I put my life into the hands of somebody that really isn’t able and doesn’t care about it. If you’re riding in a bus with a driver that’s insane, it’s quite crazy. I don’t want to have that experience again. I was flipping out.”
While on tour whether in America or in Europe over the last few years, Destruction has had the video camera in the recording mode turned on. The goal for Destruction is to gather footage for what would be necessary for a 20 Years of Destruction DVD. As a possible bonus, a live CD that is only released in Japan at this time would be included with the DVD. The live disc is from the Wacken Festival in Germany.
“I think it’s going to be a handsome piece of metal. We’re collecting and collecting and finally we will be able to bring out a great piece of thrash in German metal history.”
According to Schmier, the anticipated release date of the DVD, ‘Live Discharge - 20 Years of Total Destruction’ was original scheduled for February 2004 but that has since changed.
“It will be up to the American label. The German label will offer it to the American office and then they will decide when they want to release it. It all depends on their release plans.”
As of press time, the new release date for the DVD has now been slated for March 8, 2004 and will contain a bonus live CD called “Alive Devastation’, a Japan only release from 2003.
The delay stems from the amount of footage the band had to work through in order to meet deadline. There will be five hours of Destruction footage from all eras including Schmier the vocalist. Along with all the live footage, behind the scenes and reports from the road, the DVD will have Destruction’s first two ever video clips for “The Ravenous Beast” and Desecrators” as a bonus.
As for ‘Metal Discharge’, the CD has already hit the streets in America as a one-disc package with the bonus tracks attached to the end of the disc.
Schmier says having the bonus tracks on the single disc version takes away from the atmosphere of the ‘Metal Discharge’ and that is because the seven bonus tracks sound different from the ten songs on Discharge.
For those who seek the two disc set with the bonus tracks on a separate disc, fans will need to purchase the CD as an import or locate an online US retailer that stocks the two disc version of ‘Metal Discharge’.
Unfortunately there are some European retail outlets that use the additional disc as a reason to mark up the product as a whole and thus the fans complain to the band. The price increase is something that is a sore subject with Schmier since Destruction wants to give their fans as much music possible for a decent price.
Compliments to Chef Schmier
Schmier is not only a metal music creator and guru; he’s a food and drink connoisseur as well.
Growing up, Schmier’s family was involved in the restaurant business and when he decided to transform a cafe into his own restaurant creation, it was a very easy step. It was at a time when Schmier didn’t have music to contend with his interest.
Schmier’s philosophy to his restaurant is simple.
“What else do you need other than metal in life, you need good food and good drinks.” And that’s how Schmier came about to start his restaurant called Barracuda which is located in Germany in the area of the borders for Germany, France and Switzerland.
Before Barracuda was created, the building was a cafe according to Schmier. Older people would stop by to drink coffee and tea and have pieces of cake. Schmier said that the cafe was totally reconstructed. New rooms were built and a new atmosphere was created.
“It’s been well received. We have a very good quality in the food we serve. There are meat dishes, salads, pasta, all types of food and all reasonably priced. The problem is when I am on tour I have to trust other people. I don’t like that. I am a control freak.”
But when Schmier is home and off tour, the customers are happy. He’s always creating new dishes with ideas that he picks up while he’s out on the road.
Schmier says, “Cooking is like a religion, there’s so many different ways to prepare things.”
Prior to hitting the road for the European tour, Schmier continued to run things at Barracuda but at the same time he was getting fired up for the preparation of not new dishes but servings of ‘Metal Discharge’ when Destruction hit the European festival circuit.
After the smoke settles from the South American dates, Destruction looks forward to visiting North America once again on a cool packaged tour. Destruction would like to be part of a successful tour like their last American visit even if some people think of Destruction as a German Nazi band.
People have different opinions. As Schmier says, “Isn’t it all about the metal?”