.: FuryRocks :: interview :: Destroyer_666__Quality_not_quantity

Published: 17 June 2009

Deströyer 666 - Quality not quantity!

One of my personal favourites is about to finally release some new material. We have had to wait six long years for the successor of their latest full length album Cold Steel... For an Iron Age. Such a long time without anything new at all, not even an EP would mean the death of most bands. Unnecessary to mention that this release, which has been announced for quite some time now, is very highly anticipated and eagerly awaited. I even wondered whether it would really surface. But to cut the chase; Destroyer 666 has come up trumps with one hell of an album that thankfully sounds reassuringly familiar. Which makes it about time to talk ourselves up to date.
Shrapnel, you must admit that six years is an awful long time to have nothing new released. Can we therefore assume that for the time coming your first priority will be Deströyer 666?

Shrapnel: ‘When it comes to releasing music, time frames shouldn’t really come into it. What counts is the quality of the release. I’d rather release an album every six years that crushes your soul then pump out album after album of substandard shite. This stuff lives on when we are dead and buried and I think it’s important to leave our scar on this earth in a positive way. More bands should approach music this way. Quality not quantity.’

Defiance: this word has several meanings if you try and explain it: What interpretation of the word is actually the one we should be looking for? Please elaborate.

‘Defiance is exactly what it means. Making a stand against overwhelming odds. For me it’s a personal defiance against hurdles to get to the point we are now at. Make of it what you will.’

The first song Weapons Of Conquest is a true sea of recognition. It feels like you were trying to make a statement. Al the ingredients of a typical Deströyer 666 song are incorporated. It might just as well have come from the writing sessions of Phoenix Rising. So you didn’t go for changes then?

‘No, this track was written by Matt, Many years after the Phoenix rising recording. I think there is a feel that we have managed to maintain throughout the years, even though the albums all do sound different , there is a common thread between them all. I think you can always tell a d666 album.’

Most of the material sounds quite familiar. Is it really all new stuff or did any old recordings make it onto this album?

‘The music for Defiance was written by Matt and myself. The band was heavily involved with the arrangements but all music was brought to the table by us. It was the first time that the band had operated in this fashion. All the music was new ideas, nothing was left over from previous recording sessions. In –fact we had so many ideas that didn’t quite make it to the album standard… we had plenty of tracks that went into the bin for one reason or another.’

Every record Deströyer 666 has done has always differed slightly from the one previous. As I see it the new album has two faces, both based on speed, aggression and last but not least melody. First you have the songs in your well known style and then there are some that are more midtempo, a lot heavier in the stomach area and a lot more intimidating. Is that the frustration of not doing anything these last couple of years or is it more of a natural progression?

‘We certainly didn’t set out to create an album with a special direction. I don’t think we have ever done that. We write music that gives us that feel that metal should. It probably is a fair thing to say that Defiance is a little more mid paced than the cold steel album….. but the heart of the beast is the same. Yeah the time to create the album was frustrating , but I’d rather take our time and release something we are happy with. This music will live on when we are dead and buried, and to compromise your mark on the world because of deadlines or what’s considered the right time to release your next album , just doesn’t sit well with me.’

The last song Sermon to the Dead is probably the most striking one on the album. It is very melancholic, caused mainly by the clean singing voice. Is it a tribute to Bathory and/or Quorthon?

‘The song has no particular dedication, even though we are all influenced by the mighty Bathory. We used to cover the song ‘Call from the grave’ for many years and I really enjoy his Viking albums. Deströyer in the past has tried experimenting with different vocals, Lone wolf winter and the song trial by fire had clean vocals on them, but I must admit to not really liking them too much. However, I think we managed to get it right with the Sermon to the Dead. The balance works so well and really adds to the magic of the track. ‘

And that clean voice, is that you?

‘Clean voice is Mersus’

If you had to describe this record yourself, how would you go by it?

‘Like a sledge hammer to the face, the feeling of razors being pushed under your toe nails…. It’s metal.’

This line-up has been holding up for some time now, despite the big distances you live apart from each other. Are all the members fully integrated or would you say that Shrapnel and you are really responsible for the typical Deströyer sound?

‘Deströyer is a band with four annoying people contributing to make the beast what it is. The band has certainly moved on from the early days where Keith was very much the driving force, to being a unit that is shaped by all.’

Is the combination of playing in Deströyer 666 and other bands on the side one that is working okay? I mainly refer to Razor of Accam, who released quite a good record on Metal Blade, certainly not the worst label to have…

‘Matt razor is Razor of Occam. He writes all the music, my part in the band is to write the leads. The album Homage to Martyrs was picked up by metal blade and we were certainly very pleased with that. We are all based in London so we can rehearse fairly regularly, where D666 is spread out over three different countries which makes rehearsals difficult and expensive to say the least. I also am involved in writing music for the next album from the Band Adorior…So to say things are busy would be a huge under statement. It’s a bit of a juggling act, but it’s certainly possible to make it all work. It takes some good organisation skills. It’s good to be busy with music, it keeps you ‘match fit’.’

As we are on the subject of extracurricular activities, drummer Mercus also plays in Old. Anything worth mentioning from that camp?

‘No, Mersus helped them for a recording but he is not an active member.’

In the booklet you can see who was responsible for which particular song. Does this mean that Deströyer 666 consists of individuals who deem that an important issue? Especially because this really started out as your creation.

‘As I said above D666 is a band in every essence. It’s slowly morphed into this over the years, from the ‘Violence’ era to the present. It’s taken a lot of pressure off Kk to have others bringing more ideas to the table, and I think that gives the band it’s certain feel. I think people are possibly interested in knowing who writes what. Then again maybe not. I don’t think any of us really have any issues as to who writes what or gets credit for what. That’s really not important. We all worked our asses of for this album, we all know that. Whats important is that the album crushes,’

Before it was mentioned that this new album would house rerecorded songs from previously released Deströyer 666 EP’s. As this one is not, is that still an album we can await?

‘Yeah we have talked about releasing all the 7” on a vinyl with a couple of other tracks also. They are really hard to come by these days and some of the internet prices are really quite ridiculous. It would be good to release it on CD also to allow other people to get their filthy little paws on it.’

A logical move would be to release all those songs on cd, as you won’t reach a lot of people with the EP’s. Or is that something that doesn’t bother you?

‘Doesn’t bother me, see above.’

Personally I feel that you mix the best parts of thrash metal, death metal and black metal. Can you handle the black metal conviction, or is it just the music for you?

‘We are a metal band. We all like lots of different styles of metal and I think this really shows in the music we create. I’m not really sure there is a real black metal conviction? There certainly is music that is very honest, but that’s from all genres. The saying black metal conviction just reeks of a teenagers fantasy world… or a record labels marketing department.’

Live Deströyer 666 really embodies the old and powerful Black Metal feeling, meaning a lot of show, spikes and leather. Carrying the metal torch seems very important for you?‘The spirit is there, the flame burns ….. Just like sheepdog use to sing all those years ago.’Now for a real old school question: who are your all time heroes and which records do you hold in high regard?

‘Judas Priest are a band that really did effect me. The twin guitar attack of Tipton and Downing really opened the door to the marvels and magic of metal. I have listened to their album so many fucking times yet they still give you that feeling, the fist banging .. the fire. They and early slayer and Metallica were the bands that dragged me in and slammed the door regarding music. Another huge influence on me is the fucking mighty Armoured Angel from Australia. Their EP’s are the finest from any band from Australia.’

Are there any new bands that have surprised you at all?

‘Death Spell Omega are a band that do black metal so god damn well. All there stuff is brilliant. I’ve been listening to the new album from the band Code, also the album Gin by Cobalt is great. The new Absu is a really good fucking release. Takes a while to get into but it has some magic on there for sure. There is loads of great new music coming out now. I’m not one of these people who only listen to a certain era of music…… there’s so much to offer.’

As you originate from Australia I imagine that you keep a close eye on the country where the same bands have been on the forefront for years. Are there any new additions that are worth checking out?

‘Nocturnal Graves, great dirty rough death metal with crushing riffs, Cemetery Urn is another band that I like a lot, which has Damo Bloodstrom and Andrew Abominator in it . Great death Metal. Check it out!’

It is a well known fact that the band came to Europe to achieve more. Especially after the release of Phoenix Rising I would have thought the success was ripe for the picking in the case of Deströyer 666. did the move bring you what you hoped and expected?

‘Coming to Europe was a massive eye opener for me. It was and still is a very exciting place to be for music. But I think it makes you more grounded if you have lived in an area where there aren’t concerts all the time. It makes you appreciate it all the more. As for what the band has managed to achieve … yeah it’s amazing what you can do when you put your mind to it. We have always been pretty driven individuals… of course not all the time, but certainly when we get our selves focused we seem to be able to achieve things that back in Australia all those years ago I just would have thought would have been impossible.’

And now, with this new record about to be released, what are the goals you wish to achieve with the band?

‘Keep travelling, keep drinking….. getting to places that we haven’t been to previously. Keep the engine running, write another skull crushing album. World domination.’

You have lived in the Netherlands for quite some time. What did you make of the metal scene in the Benelux?

‘I lived in Haarlem for over a year with S.Bezerker and KK. We had a fucking great time there met some killer people, made some really good friends and fucked some hot chicks. There’s a great scene in the Netherlands, with some serious diehards. There’s so many gigs there… that it was almost a little surreal for us coming from Australia where there really wasn’t that much happening.’

A big part of the Australian population derives from the colonisation of the country. At least, that what we were told in school. We were taught that convicts got the choice between death and Australia. It is then plausible to see the connection between this and the atmosphere that lies all over your music. Have you ever considered researching your family tree?

‘Australia is a harsh place, a harsh environment, harsh beer and even harsher chicks. I think there is a ‘no fucking about’ attitude with a lot of Aussie bands. Maybe this comes from the heritage… or maybe it comes from being a little stir crazy. If you dressed like a fag, acted like some depressed black metal homo… you’d really last about five fucking seconds. You’d last about as long as a snow flake in the desert. As for the family tree stuff, yeah I think it is interesting to know where your blood comes from…… My ancestors come from Germany and Scotland.’