For over 35 years, DESASTER have raged with unrelenting black/thrash fury. With Kill All Idols, the German legends prove their fire still burns, fueled by passion, defiance, and pure Metal devotion.
1.
You’ve been unleashing raw black/thrash chaos since 1989. Looking back over
more than three decades, what keeps the fire of DESASTER burning so intensely
after all these years?
That’s
an easy one to answer: it’s our passion for METAL!
Heavy Metal is our religion and the meaning of life for us. What also keeps the
flame burning is that we’re a real gang – not just musicians coming together
for a project. When we meet at our rehearsal space (which unfortunately only
happens once a month or every other month), it’s more like a family gathering:
we barbecue, drink, smoke, laugh, talk for hours, listen to new stuff or the
old classics, rehearse our live set, and of course, work on new material.
For me,
that’s the best part about being in a band: creating songs and turning all your
emotions, ideas, and inspirations into music.
Another
important thing is that we’re no longer a touring band. We only play one or two
weekend shows a month, which keeps everything fresh and exciting. There’s no
routine – and the audience feels that! They can sense the energy and
spontaneity in every performance.
2. Your
upcoming album Kill All Idols is your tenth studio release. How does this
record reflect where DESASTER is today, both musically and ideologically?
For me,
it was important to unite all the trademarks of DESASTER on our 10th album.
We’ve managed to incorporate elements from all 36 years of our existence into
this new release. The sound is full of variety, but you can always tell it’s
DESASTER – whether it’s a fast Black Metal assault or a crushing mid-tempo
banger.
Over the
years, we’ve developed our sound from album to album, reaching a high level of
originality. Of course, our musical skills have also improved, which has pushed
our songwriting to a new level. But one thing has stayed the same: we’ve never
strayed too far from our roots. We still write straightforward, honest songs
that come straight from the heart – and go straight for your neck!
Lyrically,
we’ve also evolved without losing touch with our origins. In the early days, we
had tracks like “Devil’s Sword,” which dealt with fantasy themes – hell, Satan,
and so on. These days, our vocalist Sataniac prefers to write about the real hell
on earth. So while the lyrics and music still carry the “evil intent” of the
early years, there’s a deeper, more mature layer to it now.
3.
Infernal mentioned that this album includes more diverse elements and even some
punk influences. What inspired you to bring those punk roots more to the
surface this time?
Late at
night during rehearsals, we always end up jamming some old punk classics – and
then our bassist Odin and I go wild with a bit of pogo dancing, where Odin
sometimes crashes into the drum kit, haha!
When we were growing up, the metal scene in our region was closely connected to
the local punk scene, so bands like The Exploited, Slime,
and Toxoplasma were also part of our musical upbringing.
In 2022, we
even released a DIY 7" single with some classic punk covers called "Here
Lies DESASTER". That whole vibe inspired us to write a song in that
style for the new album – and that’s how “They Are the Law” was
born!
4. The
title Kill All Idols is provocative and thought-provoking. Can you elaborate on
how the message of rejecting false leaders and ideologies plays out across the
album?
Well, if
there’s a message, it’s this: don’t follow self-proclaimed leaders –
think for yourself and walk your own path in life! But we’re not here
to preach. In fact, we believe humanity is so far gone that there’s no saving
it.
The human race is on a path to self-destruction – no doubt about it!
5. The
first single, “Towards Oblivion,” is a fierce critique of human arrogance. What
do you hope listeners take away from this song and its apocalyptic message?
I think
everyone can already see what’s going on in the world – and it’s nothing new.
Even thousands of years ago, certain “chosen” ones with more strength, power,
or influence were arrogant enough to feel superior to others – and they
successfully oppressed them.
Nothing has really changed. Only the methods of deception and indoctrination
have become far more insidious.
6.
You've recorded this album in your rehearsal space and worked with Greg
Wilkinson from Autopsy for mixing and mastering. What did this production
process bring out in the sound compared to past releases?
Well, ever
since album No. 7, The Arts of Destruction, we’ve been recording in
our rehearsal space, so this wasn’t a new approach for us. In the past, we
already handed the recorded tracks over to another producer so they could mix
them with completely fresh ears.
This time,
Greg did an outstanding job—we’re absolutely thrilled with the sound. For album
No. 10, we were aiming for something fresh and new, and Greg delivered without
needing much direction. Great guy and a super relaxed collaboration. Cheers!
No, there’s
no overarching concept or storyline behind the songs. But yes, our singer
expresses very personal thoughts and experiences in his lyrics—sometimes a bit
philosophical, but most of the time grounded in everyday topics, like his own
struggle with chronic insomnia.
8.
You’re hitting the road again in 2025 with stops across Europe and the US. How
important is the live ritual for DESASTER, and how do you keep it dangerous and
real on stage after all this time?
After the
creative process of writing new songs in the rehearsal room, the next most
important thing is celebrating the ritual live on stage together with our fans!
Yes—ritual is exactly the right word to describe the live
experience. What could be better than banging and drinking together with the
fans?!
I believe
every real Metal band must be able to bring their music to life on stage. Sure,
you can produce anything you want in a studio—but if you want to be called
a real band, you also have to recreate that same atmosphere
live.
When the
crowd goes absolutely wild—headbanging 'til neck-breaking!—you know you're
doing it right. Our shows are tight and powerful; we truly enjoy playing, and
the fans feel that. The result? A wild, violent, and chaotic atmosphere at
almost every gig.
DESASTER
on stage – CHAOS in front of the stage!
That's how it’s meant to be!
AAARRRGGGHHH!!!
9. With
vinyl variants like "White with Black Smoke" and “Red Black
Splatter,” it’s clear you’ve kept an eye on the collector culture. How do you
balance tradition with evolution when releasing physical media?
Haha, I
think the record company definitely had an eye on the collectors' wallets! For
us, vinyl has always been important—we’re all old-school metal collectors
ourselves.
But in our
opinion, today’s hype around all those colors and versions has gone way over
the top. We tried our best to convince the label not to overdo it this time—it
was just too much with the last album!
10. Many
regard you as one of the purest and most consistent bands in extreme metal. How
do you stay true to your roots without repeating yourselves or becoming a
nostalgia act?
Of course
we're dinosaurs—haha, no doubt about it! But we're totally comfortable with
that. It’s a great feeling to be honored and respected in the worldwide
underground Metal scene. We’re proud of that and send our hails to every fan
around the globe who digs our music!
I think
people have realized that we’re in it purely for METAL. We’ve never sold out or
released uninspired crap. And within our own boundaries, we’ve offered a lot of
musical variety—hopefully without repeating ourselves too much!
11.
Finally, what does Kill All Idols mean to you on a personal level — not just as
a title, but as a statement in today’s increasingly chaotic world?
I really
regret some instances of blind followership in my personal life. In my younger
days, I was too heavily influenced by certain “idols,” which held back my own
personal development.
Of course,
especially as children, we all need role models to grow—but at some point
during adolescence, everyone has to find their own path. I’m glad I managed to
do that and became a critical, self-determined individual who’s no fucking
sheep in the herd!
--
BANG OR BE BANGED !!!
INFERNAL KUSCHKE
Master of the six silver strings of hell
>^..^<
DESASTER (BAND) - DESASTER (German Black/Thrash Metal-Band from Koblenz)
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