DESTRUCTION Frontman: 'The Latino Metalheads Were Unbelievable Once Again'

Long-running German thrashers DESTRUCTION have just returned from their successful tour of Spain and Portugal.

Commented DESTRUCTION bassist/vocalist Marcel "Schmier" Schirmer: "The Latino metalheads were unbelievable once again. This was the first time we have headlinded on the Iberian Peninsula ever! The shows have been crowded and the fans were totally insane. Those were the moshpits of the legends in the '80s or, of course, still in Latin America. Something you barely experience those days in our western (un-)civilization! Fuckin' awesome! I take a bow for the enthusiasm, the straightness and the heart, those fans reflect at the concerts. Any petty bourgeois that thinks metal is dead and gone, should get thrown in one of those moshpits and learn his lesson! Sounds like great fun, right... Now we are looking forward to the next shows and the North American tour. I remember the last show in L.A. was about as sick as it gets. Latino-style big-time!"

As previously reported, AFM Records has set a January 22, 2007 European release date for "Thrash Anthems", a collection of reworked/re-recorded versions of the band's classic tracks (the album will be issued in North America on January 23 via Candlelight Records). The CD was recorded at House of Music Studio in Germany) and Little Creek Studio in Switzerland with almost the same team that worked on the group's "Inventor of Evil" CD: DESTRUCTION's live sound engineers Gerd Krenz, Franky Winkelmann and GURD/POLTERGEIST mastermind VO Pulver. The tracks will be mixed by one of the best metal producers in Europe — Jacob Hansen, the Danish producer and INVOCATOR singer and guitarist.

"Thrash Anthems" track listing:

01. Deposition (Your Heads Will Roll) *
02. Invincible Force
03. Release from Agony
04. Mad Butcher
05. Sign of Fear
06. Death Trap
07. Life Without Sense
08. Total Desaster
09. Bestial Invasion
10. Reject Emotions
11. Tormentor
12. Unconscious Ruins
13. Curse the Gods
14. Cracked Brain
15. Profanity *
16. Eternal Ban (Bonus Track)

*brand new songs

Commented Schmier: "The intention of this album was to give the old classics — many of them still being a big part of our [setlist] — some fresh energy and the aggressive production of today, without losing the 'old-school' atmosphere. Some of the old recordings have a rather poor sound and we didn't wanna do another 'best of' album with those (old recordings) 'cause it has been done before and won't be exciting at all. But after more than 17 years it was time for another 'best of' album."

"This album will feature 13 classics of the pre-reunion era (1984-1990). Some of those songs we haven't played in ages, and the fans have been demanding them in our live set for a long time too. From the dark/punky/thrashy early days to the later technical periods featuring songs from the albums 'Release from Agony' and 'Cracked Brain' (a song that was never before released with Schmier's vocals!)."

As a special bonus there will be two brand new songs on this 70-minute-plus masterpiece — "Deposition (Your Heads Will Roll)" and "Profanity", which the band wrote after returning from their North American tour earlier in the year. The cover art (front, back) will feature the "Mad Butcher" among images of other classic DESTRUCTION covers. The CD will also feature a guest appearance by former DESTRUCTION guitar player Harry Wilkens and Jacob Hansen (INVOCATOR).