DESTRUCTOR

DAVE OVERKILL

Destructor from Cleveland, Ohio is a speed/thrash metal band that has been around since the birth of the genre. In 1985 they recorded the "Smash your skulls with power"-demo, a demo that Metal Forces took a liking to and the demo led to a record deal with Auburn Records. Later in 1985 we saw the release of Destructor's debut album Maximum Destruction. The album was a success and it was compared to the early works of Exciter and Slayer. The band kept going but on new years eve of 87/88 Destructor's bassist Dave 'Holocaust' Iannica was murdered and that took a huge toll on the rest of the guys, they kept going for a few more years but in 1992 they decided to disband.

In around 1999 Destructor was reformed by the three original members Matt Flammable, Dave Overkill and Pat Rabid. After two EP's and a split with Nunslaughter Destructor's comeback album was released in 2007, it was a strong old school sounding album but it passed by rather unnoticed for the common metalhead. Since then it has been quiet from the Destructor camp until just a few weeks ago, in late february of 2016 when their third album Back in Bondage was released. I have interviewed Dave Overkill, vocalist, guitarist and original member of Cleveland's own metal gods Destructor.

Destructor - 1986

Your third full-length album Back in Bondage was released a few weeks back, how has the reaction been to your new album?

The reaction has been very positive. The band singed with pure steel records and they have done a fantastic job with promotion. Things are going great.

Is it correct that your new album was going to be titled Decibel Casualties but instead you postponed the idea and re-recorded some of your unreleased songs from the eighties for your new third album? Will there be an album titled Decibel Casualties with new songs or what happened to those plans?

It's complicated. Let be try to sort this out. Back in 1987 we decided to title our second record 'Decibel casualties" but we never finished it due to the passing of our bass player Dave Iannicca and our deal with Island records fell through.

When the band reunited in 1999 we decided to re-record what was to be our second record. There was much unfinished business so we went into the studio, after raising funds, in 2001 to begin recording. At that time we had a licensing deal with the French record label Listenable records but they were not interested in the recordings. The didn't feel the songs were enough like Maximum Destruction. Destructor started to work with Auburn records again but Auburn records wanted to do something new at first to show we were not just a nostalgia band. Destructor recorded Sonic Bullet and then started writing new songs for the record Forever in leather. All this time the recordings from 2001 sat on the shelf. Since so much time had passed the band decided to name the second recordings "Back in Bondage" playing off going back in time and Bondage being the last song on Maximum Destruction. So it was also decided to use the name Decibel Casualties for the a different record. That record will come after Back in Bondage now.

Let's go back in time to 1985, when you released your Smash your skulls with power demo, Bernard Doe of Metal Forces said it was one of the most promising demos of 1985. What was your reaction to their praise?

We were very excited to have the press at that time and to be mentioned in Metal Forces was a big deal for Destructor.

Destructor - Maximum Destruction (1985)

Later in 1985 Destructor album debuted with Maximum Destruction, what do you think of it in retrospect?

That time was really cool. Back in the 1980's bands like Destructor were at the beginning of the Metal scene and those were special times. Now that record is held as an under ground classic and the fact that people remember and hold that record close is really cool.

Did it do well?

The record did well enough to have Roadrunner records want to pick it up and license it in Europe. That was a big deal for the band because now there was European distribution and we reached thousands more fans.

Destructor's bassist Dave 'Holocaust' Iannica was murdered on New Years Eve of 87/88, Can you tell us a little about what happened?

I don't feel the need to talk about that night. It is too difficult to relive.

But you guys kept going with Destructor? Can you tell us about the years after his death? You didn't record any new material but I've read that Destructor's last gig before breaking up was with Overkill in 1992, is that correct?

The band recorded a demo with the songs Smash your skulls with power, Storm of steel and Power Aggression I believe in 1989. Shortly after Matt left the band and It was just Pat Rabid and I remaining. We continued with 2 other members and played a show with Overkill in 2002 but right after we decided to call it quits. Nothing was coming together and the music scene in Cleveland and the U.S. had changed so much that we became very discouraged.

When Destructor was on hiatus, you formed a new band called Space Core, what can you tell us about them?

Space Core was a project that we put together to play a show with HawkWind in 1990. We always enjoyed doing different jams sessions and it was fun and we decided to continue with Spacecore untill 1995. The band was heavy space rock directly influenced by Hawkwind and acid rock.

In the late 90's Destructor reformed, what led up to this comeback?

Frank Stover from the German Magazine contacted me in 1999 and asked if I would do an interview. Destructor and I had no idea there was still interest in what we had done in the 1980's. After the interview. I received mail from all over and interest from all over the world. I call the other members and we had a meeting. It was decided to give this band another shot. Frank Stover deserves the credit.

Your second album Forever in Leather was released in 2007, how was it received by the media and your old fans?

Forever in leather was received very well. That record brought Destructor many show offers and helped solidify our return as a band that was still producing something valid to the heavy metal world.

People tend to compare you guys to Slayer and Exciter, but what bands were you influenced by?

Destructor was influenced by music that came 10 years before us just like Slayer and Exciter. all of the bands from that time were taking hard rock and heavy metal to the next level. The band was never influenced by bands from the same era. We certainly were inspired by other bands making a name for themselves.

What do you guys think of the thrash revival that has been going on for a decade or so? Have you noticed a bigger interest from people in the last couple of years?

The younger bands are doing great and there is in facta revival to heavy metal in general especially in countries where there bands never were able to play before. This is in part due to the modern computer age. Heavy metal has reached so many more people now and Destructor is very grateful for this. Still , to this day, there is continued interest in what this band has to offer.

Destructor live - Photo Jan Lichtenberg

What's the highlight of your career?

The band has not had a "highlight" yet. There is so much more to accomplish but the shows we have played and the fans around the world we have met have been very special and continue to inspire the band to reach further and continue to write music.

Any last words for our readers?

Thank you to all of the fans around the world and to the press that continue to support Destructor. Thanks to Ruuth's Inn - Thrash Metal Webzine (Ruthless Metal) .Destructor will see you soon.

By/Ruthless

(05-04-2016)