DESTRUCTION Frontman Recaps Trip To Japan, China

German thrash metal veterans DESTRUCTION are currently putting together a double live album, to be released sometime this summer. More information will be made available soon.

In other news, DESTRUCTION vocalist/bassist Marcel "Schmier" Schirmer has issued the following recap of the band's recent trip to Japan and China:

"Worldwide economic crisis there or here — thrash metal is an underground phenomenon and its worldwide status is more established than we've ever dared to imagine! After all those years, it is STILL a big privilege for us to travel the world!

"We have started this tour in September in Latin America and now we have travelled, months later, once around the whole globe. Australia and Israel and some shows in December in the East will mark the final round of the best and longest tour DESTRUCTION ever did!

"Of course, the impressions from Japan and China are most recent and still spinning in my head!

"Japan is unbeatable! Perfectionism and enthusiasm combined with Asian kindness and a culture I can only admire. I would even say every Japan stay is an impressive experience of life for me! To sum up, the world could still learn a lot from Nippon, I think. This becomes more conscious every time if I have the luck to return to the land of the rising sun!

"But, of course, the question of the last days was, HOW was CHINA? Now I can only say, that the experiment to play in a country in which heavy metal fans were not really tolerated 'till recently was very interesting and a real success. The club was sold out and we were not arrested!

"Seriously: the National Republic has surprised me! You can feel the country is socially and economically upheavaling. People seemed ready for new impressions and more freedom. The fans had to wait so long for us; that's maybe why the concert was a highlight of this jubilee tour! The Bejing show was hotter than hell, maybe this was the hottest gig in our history, that's why we had to break off our 100-minute concert shortly before the end. But again this is an another story... maybe we shouldn't have eaten those fuckin' spicy frogs ...hehe!

"I think it's time to start working on my book in the next dark winter months! In these 25 years so much unbelievable shit has happened, I have to nail it down before I start to forget... 'Warstories From The Road' or 'The Truth About Thrash Metal'? Hahaha... I think I will find a the suitable title these days!

"Thanks to all worldwide fans for the fantastic time. I hope we will experience some more crazy years together!"

DESTRUCTION recently completed the "D.E.V.O.L.U.T.I.O.N. - 25 Years Of Total Destruction" North American trek with KRISIUN and MANTIC RITUAL.

"D.E.V.O.L.U.T.I.O.N.", the new album from DESTRUCTION, last year entered the Media Control chart in the band's home country at position No. 65. The CD was released on August 22, 2008 via AFM Records and features guest appearances by Gary Holt (EXODUS),Jeff Waters (ANNIHILATOR) and Vinnie Moore (UFO).

Robert Williams of Metal-Rules.com conducted an interview with Schmier on March 31, 2009 in San Antonio, Texas. Watch the 20-minute chat below.