Deströyer 666
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| Deströyer 666 | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Genre(s) | Black metal Thrash metal |
| Years active | 1994-present |
| Label(s) | Modern Invasion Music Merciless Records AJNA Offensive Season of Mist Iron Pegasus Records |
| Associated acts | Bestial Warlust Hobbs Angel of Death Sinister Gospel of the Horns Razor of Occam Destruktor Nocturnal Graves |
| Members | |
| K.K. Warslut Shrapnel Matt Mersus |
|
Deströyer 666 is a black metal band formed in 1994 by guitarist K.K. Warslut. The group originated in Melbourne, Australia but Warslut is now based in Eindhoven, The Netherlands and the other band members live in Germany and England.
Contents |
[edit] History
Warslut formed the band following his departure from the cult black metal band Bestial Warlust. 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 guitars, bass and vocals, with drums provided by Matt Skitz from Damaged and Criss Volcano from Abominator. This early outing is particularly different from the rest of their output because of its similarities to death metal, and lack of melody (apart from the song "The Eternal Glory of War", which was later re-recorded for the album Phoenix Rising).
Following this release, Warslut took Deströyer 666 to the next level by building 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 that evoked a more melodic but thrashier black metal style. Following this Howitzer was replaced by Deceiver and during 1999 Deströyer 666 recorded Phoenix Rising although this was not released for more than a year. Deceiver is better known as Jarro and was also a member of the Bendigo-based thrash band Destruktor. After leaving Deströyer 666 he formed Nocturnal Graves and runs the underground metal label Apokalyptor Records.
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" that featured drumming by Abyssic Hate's Shane Rout. 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 had a more bombastic and hard-hitting feel than previous releases. The group has since disavowed the cover art, which they claim they never approved. A reissue of the album was scheduled for late 2005 but as of March 2007, 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.
Deströyer 666's lyrical themes deal with warlike and anti-Christian subjects but the band is best known for its metaphorical use of wolves in songs like "Unchain the Wolves", "Lone Wolf Winter", "Sons of Perdition", and "The Calling".
[edit] Recent activity
In late 2003, Berserker was replaced by Matt from Razor of Occam, a London thrash band originally from Melbourne of which Shrapnel is also a member. The group undertook an Australian tour that year that culminated in a headlining appearance at the Metal for the Brain festival.
Deströyer 666's first North American tour occurred during September and October 2006 [1].
JAN 2008 the band announced
"31 JAN.2008 TRANSMISSION VXIII The band has been working on some new songs.Looks like the new album well may be released this year." Taken from the official destroyer 666 website
[edit] Discography
- Six Songs With The Devil (demo) - (1994)
- Violence is the Prince of This World - (1995)
- Unchain the Wolves - (1997)
- Satanic Speed Metal (single) - (1998)
- King of Kings (single) - (2000)
- Phoenix Rising - (2000)
- Cold Steel... for an Iron Age - (2002) (re-issued in 2005)
- ...Of Wolves, Women and War (EP) - (2002)
- Terror Abraxas (EP) - (2003)
