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Deströyer 666

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Deströyer 666
Deströyer 666 at Midgardsblot, 2024 Photo: Birgit Fostervold
Deströyer 666 at Midgardsblot, 2024
Photo: Birgit Fostervold
Background information
OriginMelbourne, Victoria, Australia
GenresBlack metal, thrash metal, war metal
Years active1994–present
LabelsModern Invasion, Merciless, The Ajna Offensive, Season of Mist, Iron Pegasus
MembersK. K. Warslut
Felipe Plaza
Kev Desecrator
Past membersShrapnel
Mersus
Matt Razor
Perracide
R.C.
Websitedestroyer666.uk

Deströyer 666 is an Australian extreme metal band formed in 1994 by vocalist and guitarist K. K. Warslut. The group originated in Melbourne, Australia and by 2001 had relocated to Europe.

History

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K. K. Warslut formed Deströyer 666 following his departure from the black metal band Bestial Warlust. Initially the project was a solo venture but eventually a black-death-thrash metal band was formed in 1994 in Melbourne. The group's debut EP, Violence is the Prince of this World featured Warslut on guitar, bass and vocals, with Matt Skitz (aka Matt Sanders) from Damaged and Criss Volcano from Abominator on drums. The song "The Eternal Glory of War" was later re-recorded for their 2000 album Phoenix Rising.

Following their debut release, Deströyer 666 had a line-up of Warslut; bassist Bullet Eater (aka Phil Gresik, ex-Bestial Warlust, Hobbs' Angel of Death, Mass Confusion); Gospel of the Horns' drummer Howitzer; and guitarist Shrapnel. They recorded the group's first studio album, Unchain the Wolves (1997). Soon after Howitzer was replaced by Deceiver and during 1999 Deströyer 666 recorded Phoenix Rising, though it was not released until more than a year later. K.K. Warslut also joined neo-Nazi metal musician Scott McGuinness, of Fortress fame, in the band Raven's Wing, which released one album, Through the Looking Glass, in 1997.

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 to relocate to Europe. 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.[1] A reissue of the album was scheduled for late 2005 but as of May 2009, it had not appeared. It is supposed to feature all new artwork as well as bonus songs. The next album, Defiance, was released in June 2009. It is their first album where none of the music was composed by Warslut, whereas he has concentrated on the lyrics as usual with the music 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.

In 2010, the group released a compilation album, "To the Devil His Due" which contains all of the tracks previously available only on 7" vinyl EPs. Deströyer 666's lyrical themes deal with blasphemy, nihilism, Nietzsche and warlike subjects.

In August 2012, it was announced that Shrapnel left the band for personal reasons.[2]

Deströyer 666 released their latest album, titled Wildfire, on 26 February 2016.[3]

On 2 December 2022, the group released their sixth studio album, Never Surrender. It was promoted by the single "Guillotine", released that September, whose music video featured footage from anti-lockdown protests that had taken place in their home country.

Notable tours and shows

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Live at Hole in the Sky, Bergen Metal Fest 2007

In 2003, the group undertook an Australian tour that year that culminated in a headlining appearance at the Metal for the Brain festival. Their first North American tour occurred during September and October 2006.[4]

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.

In 2011, they were scheduled to tour with German thrash band Destruction in the United States. However, due to unforeseen circumstances they had to drop out of the tour.

Controversy

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Deströyer 666, particularly lead singer K. K. Warslut, have espoused racist, Islamophobic, misogynistic, and homophobic messages at their concerts. Warslut said that Muslims were "invading” performing in Germany in 2012. During a show at New York City's Saint Vitus in 2016, he led the audience to chant "no pussies" and "no faggots" before calling an Asian attendee a "chink." While performing in Sweden in 2018, Warslut said that women participating in the MeToo movement "need a hard dick" and called them "political cunt suckers."[5] In 2019, a planned tour of Australia and New Zealand was cancelled after the publicizing of some of these incidents.[6][7][8][9] Due to the tour's close proximity to the Christchurch shooting, Anti-Defamation Commission head Dvir Abramovich criticised it.[6]

Members

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Current line-up

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  • K. K. Warslut – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (1994–present), lead guitar (1994–1996, 2020–present), bass (1994–1995)
  • Felipe Plaza – bass, backing vocals (2015–present)
  • Kev Desecrator – drums (2020–present, live 2017, 2018–2020)

Former

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  • Shrapnel – lead guitar (1996–2012)
  • Bullet Eater – bass (1995–1999)
  • Simon Berserker – bass (2000–2003)
  • Matt Razor – bass (2004–2014)
  • Chris Volcano – drums (1994–1995)
  • Skitz Sanders – drums (1995)
  • Ballistic 'Coz' Howitzer – drums (1996–1998)
  • Deceiver – drums (1998–2000), live drums (2018)
  • Eric De Windt – drums (2000–2001)
  • Mersus – drums (2001–2012)
  • Perracide – drums (2012–2017)
  • R.C. – lead guitar (2012–2020), backing vocals (2015–2020)

Discography

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Studio albums
Extended plays
  • Violence Is the Prince of This World (1995)
  • Terror Abraxas (2003)
  • Call of the Wild (2018)
Demo
  • Six Songs with the Devil (1994)
Compilations
  • To the Devil His Due (2011)
Singles
  • Satanic Speed Metal (1998)
  • King of Kings / Lord of the Wild (2000)
  • ...of Wolves, Women & War (2002)

References

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  1. ^ "Deströyer 666 (Ian Shrapnel) – 9/12/2009 :: Metal Obsession". Archived from the original on 27 December 2009. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
  2. ^ Blabbermouth (7 August 2012). "DESTRÖYER 666 Parts Ways With Guitarist". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  3. ^ "New Song Premiere: DESTRÖYER 666's 'Live And Burn'". Blabbermouth.net. 6 January 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  4. ^ Roadrunnerrecords.com Archived 10 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ Kelly, Kim (16 March 2018). "With #KillTheKing, Heavy Metal Is Having Its #MeToo Moment". Vice. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  6. ^ a b Carmody, Broede (24 April 2019). "Destroyer 666 cancels tour after 'racist' past unearthed". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  7. ^ Stockhausen (19 July 2016). "On Threats, Censorship, and Destroyer 666". toiletovhell.com. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  8. ^ Hohnen, Mike (23 April 2019). "Are we really touring Destroyer 666 in Australia? Really?". tonedeaf.thebrag.com. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  9. ^ Hopkins, Blair. "Destroyer 666 Live at St. Vitus". Invisible Oranges. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
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