DESTRUCTION Parts Ways With Drummer WAWRZYNIEC 'VAAVER' DRAMOWICZ

German thrashers DESTRUCTION have parted ways with their longtime drummer Wawrzyniec "Vaaver" Dramowicz. According to frontman Schmier, Vaaver has decided to leave the group "for family reasons." But while Schmier calls the split with Dramowicz "very sad," the bassist/vocalist is quick to add: "We won't split up and we won't do a farewell tour."

Vaaver, who joined DESTRUCTION in 2010, took some time off from the road in 2015 to be with his family following the birth of his second child. He was temporarily replaced by former PRIMAL FEAR and ANNIHILATOR drummer Randy Black.

Vaaver will continue playing with DESTRUCTION through this March. Black will then once again sit behind the kit for the group until DESTRUCTION decides on a "worthy successor" to Vaaver.

In a 2016 interview with Metal Paths, Schmier stated about Vaaver: "He's a very strong drummer, the best drummer we've ever had. And he's also a very good personality; he fits really good in the band. On the other hand, he's a father and he lives in Poland. So it's a little complicated sometimes when stuff comes together for touring. So I don't know if he's going to be in the band forever. I really hope so. We don't wanna change drummers. It just happens because not everybody is as consistent as we are. A lot of them changed their lives, make decisions they weren't ready for, had jobs, but you have to accept it."

DESTRUCTION last year released a new "best-of-old-school" album, "Thrash Anthems II", via Nuclear Blast. The follow-up to 2007's "Thrash Anthems" once again featured re-recorded versions of some of the band's timeless classics.