Deströyer 666

Band members

Current line-up
- KK Warslut (vocals, guitar)
- Mersus (Chris Menning) (drums)
- Shrapnel (Ian Gray) (guitar)
- Matt Schneemilch (bass)

Former members
- Simon Berserker (bass) (2000 - 2003)
- Erich de Windt (drums) (2000 - 2001)
- Bullet Eater (Phil Gresik (bass) (1996 - 2000)
- Deceiver (drums) (1999)
- Howitzer (drums) (1996 - 1998)

Website

Formed

Melbourne, VIC, 1994

Band information

Deströyer 666 is one of Australia's premier metal acts, although the band has been based in Eindhoven, The Netherlands since 2001. The band began life as a solo excursion for former Bestial Warlust guitarist Warslut, who produced the first album with drum contributions from Criss Volcano of Abominator and Skitz of Damaged. After this the line-up solidified with the addition of bassist Phil "Bullet Eater" Gresik, a veteran of the Melbourne metal scene who has also played in Mass Confusion, Bestial Warlust, and Hobbs' Angel of Death, drummer Howitzer from Gospel of the Horns and Shrapnel on second guitar.

Unchain the Wolves was a stronger effort that strengthened the reputation established by the debut and a strong live presence, as well as a healthy interest from overseas, turned Destroyer 666 into one of the leaders of the local metal scene.

In 2000 Deströyer 666 spent considerable time in Europe. Howitzer had been replaced in the band by Deceiver (Jarro of Destruktor) in the meantime, and the long-awaited third album, Phoenix Rising, which had been recorded in mid-1999 was released in late 2000 on legendary Norwegian label Season of Mist. From this time on, Deströyer 666 became one of the highest-profile Australian metal bands.

Gresik and Deceiver were replaced in 2000 by Simon Berserker and Erich de Windt from Dutch band Prostitute Disfigurement. de Windt was soon replaced by current drummer Mersus in 2001 and the band embarked on their biggest tour to date with Immolation and Deranged, after which Deströyer 666 settled in the Netherlands, a location that provided them with a central location for further European touring. Cold Steel... for an Iron Age was further acclaimed as an excellent example of relentless thrash metal but the artwork proved a sore point as it was never approved by the band.

Late in 2003, with Matt Schneemilch from Shrpanel's other band Razor of Occam replacing Berserker (who has since formed Assaulter), Deströyer 666 returned to Australia, where they undertook a national tour and featured as the main attraction of that year's Metal for the Brain festival. The group then disappeared for some time, re-emerging in mid-2005 with an announcement that a compilation album of tracks from their vinyl EPs may be released, though this has not occurred to date. During September 2006 Deströyer 666 made its first tour of the US. 2007 was a quiet year with the band only playing four select shows; songwriting began on a new album in January 2008. The fourth album Defiance was released in June 2009. In January 2010, Deströyer 666 returned to Australia for a national tour.

Discography

Albums:


1997	Unchain the Wolves	Modern Invasion
2000	Phoenix Rising	Season of Mist
2002	Cold Steel... for an Iron Age	Season of Mist
2009	Defiance	Season of Mist
2010	To the Devil His Due	Season of Mist

EPs:


1995	Violence is the Prince of This World	Modern Invasion
1998	Satanic Speed Metal	Merciless
2002	...of Wolves, Women and War	Satan's Metal
2003	Terror Abraxas	Iron Pegasus