Destroyer 666
Encyclopedia
Deströyer 666 is a black
/death
/thrash metal
band formed in 1994 by guitarist
K.K. Warslut. The group originated in Melbourne, Australia however moved to Europe
.
. The project was a solo venture at first but eventually evolved into a proper band. The group's debut EP, Violence is the Prince of this World featured Warslut on guitar, bass
and vocals, with Matt Skitz from Damaged
and Criss Volcano from Abominator
on drums
. The song "The Eternal Glory of War" was later re-recorded for the album Phoenix Rising.
Following this release, Deströyer 666 got a full line-up that included bassist Bullet Eater (aka Phil Gresik, ex-Bestial Warlust, Hobbs' Angel of Death
and Mass Confusion), Gospel of the Horns
drummer Howitzer and guitarist Shrapnel. With these members the band recorded its first album, Unchain the Wolves. Following this Howitzer was replaced by Deceiver and during 1999 Deströyer 666 recorded Phoenix Rising, though it was not released until more than a year later.
During 2000, Deströyer 666 toured Europe
extensively. Dutch drummer Erich de Windt of Sinister
and Prostitute Disfigurement joined the band after the recording of the EP King of Kings. Gresik left to be replaced by Simon Berserker. Phoenix Rising was released by Season of Mist
in November. De Windt was replaced by German drummer Mersus in 2001 and Deströyer 666 toured through Europe again with Immolation
and Deranged, after which the band left Australia for good. Warslut settled in Eindhoven in the Netherlands and Shrapnel began living in London
.
The 2002 album Cold Steel... for an Iron Age featured cover art, which the band has since disavowed, claiming they never approved it. A reissue of the album was scheduled for late 2005 but as of May 2009, this has still not come to light. It is supposed to feature all new artwork as well as bonus songs. The group is also working on a new LP
containing all of the songs previously released only on 7" vinyl EPs.
The latest album, titled Defiance
, was released in June 2009. This album is remarkable in Deströyer 666 lore as it is the first album where none of the music has been written by Warslut, whereas he has concentrated on the lyrics as usual and the music has all been composed by Shrapnel and Matt Razor.
The album has been very well received by both fans and critics to keep Deströyer 666 well in the bracket of the cult act they have become.
Deströyer 666's lyrical themes have always dealt with blasphemy, nihilism, Nietzsche and warlike subjects.
festival. Their first North America
n tour occurred during September and October 2006.
Starting from the first of January 2010, Deströyer 666 returned to their homeland in Australia, first playing Screamfest and then extensively touring the country, including Tasmania. They had not played the continent since 2004.
2010 saw further touring and noteworthy live appearances. They were a highlight at Norway's Inferno Festival in March and followed on a very busy and successful year with a US tour alongside Enthroned and a lengthy European jaunt with Watain.
On September 9th, 2010 Destroyer 666 confirmed that the band will return to their lairs to refuel, regain and compose the next album SIEGE
.
In 2011 they were scheduled to tour with german thrash legends Destruction
in the United States, however due to unforeseen circumstances, they had to drop off the tour.
Black metal
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structure....
/death
Death metal
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs heavily distorted guitars, tremolo picking, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, minor keys or atonality, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes....
/thrash metal
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
band formed in 1994 by guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
K.K. Warslut. The group originated in Melbourne, Australia however moved to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
History
Warslut formed the band following his departure from the black metal band Bestial WarlustBestial Warlust
Bestial Warlust was a underground cult death metal band formed in Melbourne, Australia in 1993.- Biography :The band was first formed under the name Corpse Molestation and at the time played death metal with five demos and one demo compilation under the name. Their lyrical themes involved death,...
. The project was a solo venture at first but eventually evolved into a proper band. The group's debut EP, Violence is the Prince of this World featured Warslut on guitar, bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
and vocals, with Matt Skitz from Damaged
Damaged (band)
Damaged was an Australian deathgrind band from Ballarat in Victoria, Australia, active from 1989 to 2004.-History:The band was formed by drummer Matt "Skitz" Sanders...
and Criss Volcano from Abominator
Abominator
Abominator is an Australian black/death metal band formed in Melbourne, Australia 1994. Their lyrics commonly deal with war and spirituality. They have been compared to Angelcorpse and Morbid Angel.-History:...
on drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
. The song "The Eternal Glory of War" was later re-recorded for the album Phoenix Rising.
Following this release, Deströyer 666 got a full line-up that included bassist Bullet Eater (aka Phil Gresik, ex-Bestial Warlust, Hobbs' Angel of Death
Hobbs' Angel of Death
Hobbs' Angel of Death are an Australian thrash metal band that began in 1987 in Melbourne, and are one of the first Australian groups to perform in that genre. They released two studio albums, Hobb's Angel of Death and Inheritance before disbanding in 1996...
and Mass Confusion), Gospel of the Horns
Gospel of the Horns
Gospel of the Horns is a black metal band that was formed in 1993 by guitarist Shane Transvaal D & Mark Howitzer. Originating from Brisbane, Australia, the band released 2 EP's and 2 full-length albums.- History :...
drummer Howitzer and guitarist Shrapnel. With these members the band recorded its first album, Unchain the Wolves. Following this Howitzer was replaced by Deceiver and during 1999 Deströyer 666 recorded Phoenix Rising, though it was not released until more than a year later.
During 2000, Deströyer 666 toured Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
extensively. Dutch drummer Erich de Windt of Sinister
Sinister (band)
Sinister is a death metal band from Rotterdam, the Netherlands, assembled in 1988, disassembled in 2003, and reassembled in 2005 by Adrie Kloosterwaard on vocals and Alex Paul on guitar...
and Prostitute Disfigurement joined the band after the recording of the EP King of Kings. Gresik left to be replaced by Simon Berserker. Phoenix Rising was released by Season of Mist
Season of Mist
Season of Mist is a record label and record distributor with subsidiaries in France and the United States. The record label was founded in 1996 by Michael S. Berberian in Marseille, France. From the start releasing black metal, pagan metal and death metal records, the label moved on to releasing...
in November. De Windt was replaced by German drummer Mersus in 2001 and Deströyer 666 toured through Europe again with Immolation
Immolation (band)
-History:The band formed in May 1986 by Andrew Sakowicz and Dave Wilkinson under the name Rigor Mortis . The name was changed to Immolation in April 1988, after the Warriors of Doom demo which was recorded as Rigor Mortis and Demo I which was recorded as Immolation...
and Deranged, after which the band left Australia for good. Warslut settled in Eindhoven in the Netherlands and Shrapnel began living in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
The 2002 album Cold Steel... for an Iron Age featured cover art, which the band has since disavowed, claiming they never approved it. A reissue of the album was scheduled for late 2005 but as of May 2009, this has still not come to light. It is supposed to feature all new artwork as well as bonus songs. The group is also working on a new LP
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
containing all of the songs previously released only on 7" vinyl EPs.
The latest album, titled Defiance
Defiance (Deströyer 666 album)
- Track listing :# Weapons of Conquest - 03:03# I Am Not Deceived - 04:37# Blood For Blood - 05:14# The Barricades Are Breaking - 03:38# A Stand Defiant - 04:46# The Path to Conflict - 04:37# A Thousand Plagues - 04:24# Human All Too Human - 06:04...
, was released in June 2009. This album is remarkable in Deströyer 666 lore as it is the first album where none of the music has been written by Warslut, whereas he has concentrated on the lyrics as usual and the music has all been composed by Shrapnel and Matt Razor.
The album has been very well received by both fans and critics to keep Deströyer 666 well in the bracket of the cult act they have become.
Deströyer 666's lyrical themes have always dealt with blasphemy, nihilism, Nietzsche and warlike subjects.
Notable tours and shows
In 2003, the group undertook an Australian tour that year that culminated in a headlining appearance at the Metal for the BrainMetal for the Brain
Metal for the Brain was Australia's largest heavy metal music festival. The event was held in Canberra annually, usually towards the end of the year, and featured Australian bands almost exclusively...
festival. Their first North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
n tour occurred during September and October 2006.
Starting from the first of January 2010, Deströyer 666 returned to their homeland in Australia, first playing Screamfest and then extensively touring the country, including Tasmania. They had not played the continent since 2004.
2010 saw further touring and noteworthy live appearances. They were a highlight at Norway's Inferno Festival in March and followed on a very busy and successful year with a US tour alongside Enthroned and a lengthy European jaunt with Watain.
On September 9th, 2010 Destroyer 666 confirmed that the band will return to their lairs to refuel, regain and compose the next album SIEGE
SIEGE
Clayton James Cubitt, a.k.a. SIEGE, is an art photographer. He was quoted in a newspaper article about mohawks, and his podcast porn has been favourably received on sfgate.com. His inclusion of photographs of pornographic model Justine Joli in a published collection led Barneys to refuse to sell...
.
In 2011 they were scheduled to tour with german thrash legends Destruction
Destruction
Destruction may refer to:* Destruction Bay, Yukon, Canada* Destruction , a German thrash metal band* Destruction , one of the Endless in Neil Gaiman's comic book series The Sandman...
in the United States, however due to unforeseen circumstances, they had to drop off the tour.
Discography
- Unchain the Wolves - (1997)
- Phoenix Rising - (2000)
- Cold Steel... for an Iron Age - (2002) (re-issued in 2005)
- DefianceDefiance (Deströyer 666 album)- Track listing :# Weapons of Conquest - 03:03# I Am Not Deceived - 04:37# Blood For Blood - 05:14# The Barricades Are Breaking - 03:38# A Stand Defiant - 04:46# The Path to Conflict - 04:37# A Thousand Plagues - 04:24# Human All Too Human - 06:04...
- (2009) - To The Devil His Due - (2011)
- SEIGE - (TBD)