Let’s Start Here…
So a few weeks back, I dropped a couple of old mix tapes, people enjoyed it and so I figured, let’s do it again. Here’s about 54 minutes of only the finest quality jams from the late 70s through the early 2010s. Next time, I’ll do something a bit more modern but until then:
And The Track List:
Tuberculosis - Disfrasandose
The Left - Fuck It
Days Of - Friday
Face Value - Coming Of Age
Kolokol - Solgt
Post Regiment - Jutro
Criminal Damage - The Power Of Fools
Scratch Acid - Monsters
So Much Hate - Du Siene
The Hated - Less Than Nothing
The Stains - Pretty Girls
Yadoaki - Bastards
Fear - I Don’t Care About You
Tragedy - The Ending Fight
Jin’Rik’Sha’ - Blindfold
Lama - Jeesukset
MCD - Puta Cerda
Upstab - Greatins Creatins
Ivy Green - Silent Floor
Grain - Breathe
Funeral Oration - Anyone Can Tell
Effluxus - Swan Song
The Plugz - Satisfied Die
Templars - My Revenge
Talk Is Poison - Talk Is Poison
Now Let’s Go Here - Destruct
By now you all should be more than familiar with Richmond’s Destruct - a ferocious blast of teeth shattering, d-beat fueled raw punk with influences pulled from the deep wells of classic Swedish and Japanese hardcore. This is an older interview which ran in the print edition of Razorblades & Aspirin but given that issue is long sold out, I figure its worth another go online. That said, there are a couple out of date things, they mention a desire to play outside of North America as well their second LP being released, both of which have already come to fruition otherwise, I feel this provides a good insight into what is probably one of the finest bands going these days.
I sensed some initial apprehension about doing an interview - why is that? Patrick mentioned something to the effect of not really being an interview band but wanting to rely on the recordings and the live show to get the point across? I’m curious as to how you feel you do that via the recordings/live show and what you feel the ‘point’ is?
Patrick: I personally don’t find interviews with a lot of contemporary hardcore bands to be particularly interesting. Fanzine editors often ask stock, boring questions: How did the band start? What are your influences? Who are the members? Etc. Most bands are made up of people, who are like other people, who at the end of the day live pretty normal lives. I don’t believe we are exceptional. We aren’t legends who have been around for decades, so we don’t have a long history. I’m not sure if talking with us would be interesting, but since we all know each other and you’re local, we’re into it. Thanks for thinking of us.
The music we make is enough and stands for itself. We play abrasive and raw hardcore (in the style of the bands we all know) with lyrical themes of human injustice, corruption, outcomes and effects of war, etc. If someone wants to know what we are about, listening to our records and seeing us play live is the best representation. For most bands of our niche punk subgenre, I think it’s pure and at its best when it’s devoid of the unnecessary baggage of many other types of music, whether pop or other punk stuff. Despite many older bands often tarnishing their legacies, some things are pure and never seem to age or grow tired. Records like HNSNSN or Another Religion Another War never feel dated because of their timeless musical style and their ever-relevant lyrical message. I am certainly not saying we are timeless, but merely suggesting that I think we strive to emulate some of that sweet spot of hardcore punk, when it was at its best. There are lots of punk records that were made by snotty teenagers that capture a certain brief point of time that were personal to them, when they were just angry, immature, offensive, and they were aimlessly reacting. Stuff I sometimes refer to as “I hate my teacher” music. A lot of those bands were a perfect storm of time and place in my opinion. They grew up, changed, matured, got smarter. There’s nothing wrong with that, I like many of those bands. Most of them did like one or two good records and called it a day. What I’m trying to get at is that the style of hardcore Destruct plays is calculated and intentional. None of us are teenagers anymore that are reacting to their hormones. We all know what we like, and why we like it. We know where we stand and what we are about.
You play a form of hardcore punk that leans sonically more towards Sweden/Japan than USHC, what is it about that sort of stuff that which was appealing? Basically, why Disclose and not Uniform Choice? Was the original idea of the band to play in the manner you do or was it a matter of fucking around?
Patrick: We each like all types of music of many genres, but again, Destruct exists to play raw hardcore punk. I like Uniform Choice (not my favorite straight edge band) but Disclose is one of the sickest bands of all time and will always be more important to us. Sweden and Japan have two of the best scenes in the world. I love USHC, and the other guys do too, but this band is just not directly channeling it. Although, I can’t not mention a few U.S. bands that inspire Destruct somewhat like the Iconoclast, Crucifix, Nausea; stuff like that. In the beginning, the idea was basically to make music directly inspired by Disaster, Doom, Disclose, and Totalitar. In almost 5 years, it hasn’t really changed that much.
Zach: We don’t want to sound like USHC bands. We like Discharge and the Swedish and Japanese freaks that also loved Discharge.
Logan: I agree with Zach and Patrick. Everything has been intentional from the beginning, though I’m sure we’ve done our share of “fucking around.”
Alex: I remember Zach and I were just constantly listening to the Anti-Cimex 7”s and we were like “we need to start a band that’s just straight up fast, with no extra bullshit thrown in there,” and Destruct was born.
Lyrically, your first 12” follows many typical themes of the genre - war is a bad, societal collapse etc. - are the lyrics just window dressing? Why do you feel it’s important to still sing about these things?
Patrick: There is unnecessary violence and injustice in this world, and we like to try to continue bringing attention to it in our own small way, like many of the bands from the past that influence us. I know it’s cliché and probably even silly at this point, but it’s the least we can do and is most fitting usually. We don’t make songs about a lot of personal stuff because that just doesn’t do it for us.
I think topics of war, societal collapse, famine, and pollution are unfortunately ever relevant and have never gone away. We are still living under the threat of nuclear war all the time. I absolutely wish this was not true, but it is. Remember a few years ago when the U.S. president was threatening other countries with his “much bigger (nuclear) button”?? I think we as Americans take it for granted, especially living in the U.S., never actually experiencing total annihilation firsthand or war in our very own homeland, but these acts of violence are still happening all over the world. It never stops. Look at what is happening in Ukraine right now... No one thought that war would come to Europe’s door again in the 21st century and it’s happening. Not to even mention the countless other ongoing military operations and crimes against humanity in other parts of the world. We don't need to go much deeper, or name names, it would be preaching to the choir. Having said that, not all our songs are about war though, sometimes Logan has written about other social topics. I’ve said enough and will let Logan answer this further since he writes most of the lyrics.
Logan: Similar to many peace/anti-war bands of the past and present, Destruct’s message is a warning. The material, psychological, and digital infrastructure of global capital continues to prove itself a nightmare of unresolvable disaster. As these conditions are maintained and proliferated you will surely find a milieu of “warning.”
The first 12” is called ‘Echoes of Life” and the song by the same title has the line “Now the impact is felt” which is also what you have on your stage banner - can you talk about what is meant by that?
Patrick: I came up with those lyrics. It’s about total devastation brought about by mankind’s poor decisions when it comes to treating the earth and ruining its climate and environment. The line in question is supposed to convey something to the sentiment of: now that the damage is done, and everything is dead, we are just left with echoes of life long gone. One thing to make clear is that I’m not blaming any individuals or humanity as a whole. Clearly most of this desolation is long coming and credited to large multinational corporations who have been laying waste to the planet for decades in the name of profit with little regard for much else, and governments who prop them up through bad policy and allow it to happen. I am not disgusted by humanity, and not saying people are bad. It’s kind of challenging to write about these issues sometimes and convey a message clearly and not be misunderstood.
The idea for the banner was adapted from our Echoes LP inner sleeve; it’s the same design. The sleeve says “Now the impact is felt... echoes of life” next to our logo. Grave Mistake put that together because they thought it looked cool for the record and we liked it. Soon after, we were painting a banner for live gigs and thought it would be cohesive to adapt the same design. A lot of our favorite bands have cloth banners with slogans and lyrics on it. Later, I realized there could be a possibility of a misinterpretation of it visually. Some people that see us play may see that and think “Oh this band thinks they’re making an impact?” It’s not about that. It’s just the lyrics of the song, and part of the cohesiveness of our band’s themes. I heard a Lebenden Toten interview a few years ago and they mentioned always trying to have cohesive designs for the different tours/eras/records in their visual presentation as a band, similar to bands like Iron Maiden and KISS. I share that same love for that kind of stuff. That’s why we also have speaker cabinet banners with other Echoes artwork these days as well.
Can Zach/Alex talk a bit about how they take a separate approach to Enforced vs Destruct? Do you write distinct riffs for each band or is it more of try them out and see what works? In general, Destruct is a band that feels more at home in warehouses, punk clubs, house shows, etc. vs Enforced which has done some sizable metal tours - that said, can you see Destruct moving into that metal world (Euro festival circuit, club tours etc.)? Why or why not?
Zach: When I write for Destruct, I’m writing for Destruct, and when I’m writing for Enforced, I’m writing for Enforced. There is no overlap. We are completely different bands with completely different sounds and influences. And no, Destruct will not be moving into the metal world...
A few this or that and why:
Totalitar or Disclose?
Patrick: I have always been more into Disclose but Totalitar are Swedish kings. Once the War Started may be the single best hardcore 7” of the 90’s.
Zach: This is a tough question considering they are two of my favorite HC bands, but if I had to pick, it would probably be Disclose. Disclose is a much bigger influence on my songwriting with Destruct. I don’t think Totalitar really comes through in any of our songs. Maybe someone else would disagree though.
Logan: Disclose
Alex: I also agree this is a tough question. I love the speed and how tight drumming is in Totalitar, but the riffing in Disclose is kind of undefeated.
Grave New World or Massacre Divine?
Patrick: 2002 s/t album, because it sort of sounds like Discharge again.
Zach: Massacre Divine. Both records kind of suck, but they have some riffs. Haha. City of Fear is a rager.
Alex: Gonna second Zach on this one.
Logan: No comment
Varukers or Chaos UK?
Patrick: Hard decision but Chaos U.K all day. I can say that I love every single Chaos U.K record but I don’t think I’d say the same for The Varukers. I love all the Chaos U.K records through the 90’s and on. They’re all fun. I don’t think the others would feel the same way.
Zach: One Struggle One Fight is one of my favorite records, so I’d have to pick Varukers.
Logan: I’m with Patrick. Chaos UK is enigmatic to me. Chipping Sodbury Bonfire Tapes is like my personal Jesus.
Alex: Chaos U.K was one of the first UK bands I really fell in love with, but I find myself listening to Varukers way more these days.
Victims of a Bombraid or Scandinavian Jawbreaker?
Patrick: Unnecessary question. Haha.
Zach: Victims is more of my speed, but Jawbreaker is a perfect album front to back.
Logan: Victims of a Bombraid. I heard this record for the first time when I was teenager and couldn’t fathom it. I think it still has that effect on me. Every Anti-Cimex record is good, but the 7”s are undeniable.
Alex: Scandinavian Jawbreaker is a great record, but Victims is just way more straightforward and crushing to me. Can’t really compare the two honestly.
Future plans? Tours, records, etc.? (Keep in mind people won’t see this until late October/Nov)
Patrick: We have a new 12-track LP entitled Cries the Mocking Mother Nature. It is released via Grave Mistake Records in the U.S. and the Skrammel Records in Sweden. By the time this prints, it might already be out. For mail order, there is a limited version with a bonus single that’s only available with the album. The U.S. version has a flexi 7”, and the Swedish press has a normal 7”. Same bonus tracks for both. Both limited versions come with a fold out poster as well.
A few months after we recorded the Cries LP in 2021, we went into the studio again and tracked four more new songs for an international hardcore compilation LP entitled Screaming Death. The album is made up of four new tracks from each band: Destruct, Scarecrow, Dissekerad, and Rat Cage. That will be out very soon via Skrammel Records and Bunker Punks in the U.S.
We just finished a short tour in Canada for A Varning From Montreal XIV. Right now, we don’t have any other touring plans. There were talks of doing some stuff in Europe a couple years back during the pandemic. Maybe we will do that sooner than later. Scarecrow just went to Europe and had the most amazing tour, so it seems stuff is “back to normal”. We would love to play outside the U.S. at some point. If anyone is interested in having us play noise somewhere, please reach out- destructrichmond@gmail.com
Finally There’s This…
Here’s the mixtape download link for paid subscribers….
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