Destruction is one of the oldest and most active German thrash metal bands to date. Founded in 1982 in Weil am Rhein in southern Baden, it belongs together with Kreator, Sodom and Tankard to the “Big Four” of German thrash metal and worldwide to the spearhead of the genre. With their uncompromising music and energetic live shows, the band has inspired millions of fans worldwide and released an impressive series of albums that are considered classics of the genre.
The documentary “The Art Of Destruction” by Ili Jelusic and Denise Dörner provides a unique glimpse behind the scenes of one of the most successful bands in their genre!
Singer Schmier and guitarist Mike are in their mid-50s, which means their career is slowly coming to an end. But before that happens, they still want to fulfill a dream and play a world tour with Sodom, Kreator and Tankard. However, fate strikes while they are chasing this dream. The film follows Schmier and Mike very closely as their livelihoods are suddenly at stake. After a fateful turn of events, everything is at stake for the band.
Filmmakers Denise and Ili accompanied Schmier and the band for a total of five years. The result is exclusive material that differs from classic, interview-heavy documentaries. The viewer experiences the protagonists in reportage-like scenes and is immersed in the world of Destruction.
The film shows uncompromisingly what it means to be a heavy metal musician, from small, sweaty clubs to huge open-air stages. Singer Schmier is always guided by his convictions.
Directors Note
The story behind: In 2018, we shot an aftermovie for the “Dong Open Air” festival for the online video magazine “Heavy Metal Home TV”. Destruction played at the festival and Denise and I came into contact with Schmier while shooting the aftermovie.
The result is a unique insight into the band’s cosmos and a story about overcoming obstacles in life. After a conversation together, the idea arose to make a film about how Schmier unites the spearhead of German thrash metal for a joint world tour. However, in the course of filming, the story took a dramatic turn in a different direction. Nevertheless, everyone agreed that the film had to continue being shot.
Title: The Art of Destruction
Idea & Direction: Denise Dörner, Ili Jelusic
Cinematography: Ili Jelisuc, Denise Dörner
Additional videographers: Björn von Pey, Daniel Faigle, Michael Ciesla,
Frederik Steinhoff, David Thelen
Editing: Ili Jelusic / HEAVY MEDIA
Post-production: Ili Jelusic / HEAVY MEDIA
Sound Mastering: Joachim Kopka
Cast: Schmier, Mike Sifringer, Randy Black, Damir Eskic, Tom Angelripper – Thomas Such, Martin Furia, Micky, Lena Mischchuk, Zwini, Andreas “Stoney” Stein, Liné Hammett, Matthias August, Jacky Lehmann, V.O. Pulver
Producers: Ili Jelusic (HEAVY MEDIA), Denise Dörner
Year of production: 2025
Genre: Documentary
Country: Germany
Languages: German, English,
Subtitles: German, English,
Length: 71 min.
FSK Age Rating: Suitable for all audiences (approved for solemn holidays)
Aspect ratio / Resolution: 1.85:1 (2K:1998×1080)
DCP / projection mp4: DCI 2K-F Stereo (2.0) / 1080p25 lb185 (Letterboxed)
International titles:
English: The Art of Destruction
Film label: NONFY Documentaries
Distribution: UCM.ONE
Cinema release date: 06.03.2025
About DESTRUCTION
DESTRUCTION was formed in 1982 as Knight of Demon. Marcel “Schmier” Schirmer joined Michael “Mike” Sifringer and Thomas “Tommy” Sandmann as bassist. However, the second guitarist soon left the band. After renaming themselves Destruction, singer Ulf Kühne stayed with the band for a few more months, but was excluded after an argument with Sifringer shortly before the recordings for the “Bestial Invasion of Hell” demo. Schmier then took over the vocals.
The band’s first recordings were made independently of the great US thrash metal pioneers. The inspiration came particularly from Motörhead. Schmier reported that the musicians were “absolute beginners” at the time and were particularly driven by the then already “divine” sounding US bands, who, like them, were getting harder, louder and faster. After the demo “Bestial Invasion of Hell”, the band signed with SPV and released the EP “Sentence of Death” in 1984. The first live performance took place at a Venom club meeting in Sindelfingen, followed by their first official concert on December 1 together with Iron Angel. At the same time as the release of the debut album “Infernal Overkill”, the band toured with Slayer. In 1985, “Eternal Devastation” was released and the band went on tour with Kreator and Rage. Sandmann left the band and was replaced by Oliver Kaiser. Harry Wilkens was also hired as a second guitarist. After the 1987 EP “Mad Butcher”, a tour with Motörhead followed, and then the album “Release from Agony” was released.
In 1989, after a tour with the Swiss members of Celtic Frost, the band broke up. Schmier then formed the band Headhunter, with Jörg Michael on drums, while André Grieder (ex-Poltergeist) replaced him in Destruction. The album “Cracked Brain” was recorded with Grieder, but both projects were not particularly successful at the time and would later be referred to as Neo-Destruction.
Nach einer Tournee mit den Schweizer Mitgliedern von Celtic Frost löste sich die Band 1989 auf. Schmier gründete daraufhin die Band Headhunter mit Jörg Michael am Schlagzeug, während André Grieder (Ex-Poltergeist) ihn bei Destruction ersetzte. Das Album „Cracked Brain“ wurde mit Grieder aufgenommen, aber beide Projekte waren zu dieser Zeit nicht besonders erfolgreich und wurden später als Neo-Destruction bezeichnet.
In October 2001, Sven Vormann left the band due to the intensive touring schedule and his decision to spend more time with his family. He later formed the bands Jesus Chrysler Superskunk (2001-2007) and Abandoned (since 2008). The new drummer Marc Reign (formerly of Orth and Gunjah) joined the band, with whom they subsequently went on tour with Sodom and Kreator, also touring South America.
After their anniversary tour through South America and Europe, Destruction are back with their new album, “Birth Of Malice”, which will be released on Napalm Records on March 7, 2025 – one day after the world premiere of the movie“The Art Of Destruction” at the Cinestar CUBIX cinema on Alexanderplatz in Berlin.
Founder and mastermind Schmier once again dominates the album with his powerful vocals and massive bass, accompanied by the powerful riffs of guitarists Martin Furia and Damir Eskić, while Randy Black relentlessly pounds the drums.
As with its predecessor, “Diabolical” (2022), Destruction returns with its uniquely raw and brutal sound, delivering merciless songs that this time around impress with more diversity and groove.
Twelve songs from the Mad Butcher himself meet a direct and clear sound here, resulting in thrash metal anthems for the next generation!
About the filmmakers Denise Dörner and Ili Jelusic
Denise Dörner was born on 24.12.1981 in Düsseldorf. Although a metalhead since her youth, Denise has a rather conservative career as a banker. One day, Denise met her old childhood friend Ilija in a festival parking lot and spontaneously helped out with an aftermovie as a presenter for a festival film. Nobody could have guessed what would come of it…
Denise Dörner is the producer, director and cinematographer of “The Art of Destruction”.
Ilija “Ili” Jelusic, born on 06.09.1982 in Mettmann, has always had his home in metal and the media. He works for well-known TV productions and has already produced his own films – such as “Gladbeck flips out” – which are available to stream on Amazon and elsewhere. He also founded the YouTube channel “Heavy Metal Home TV” over 15 years ago to stay close to the music industry, especially metal. He also met Denise through this channel.
Ilija “Ili” Jelusic is producer, director, cinematographer and editor of “The Art of Destruction”.
Trailer
The unique music documentary “The Art of Destruction” about the legendary thrash metal band Destruction celebrates its world premiere at Berlin’s CineStar CUBIX at Alexanderplatz on March 6, 2025, one day before the release of the latest album “Birth of Malice” on the metal label Napalm Records. Formed in 1982 in the German town of…
