Michael “Mike” Varney is an American record producer and music publisher. He is the founder of the Shrapnel Label Group, which includes Shrapnel Records, Tone Center Records, and Blues Bureau International. He also owns 50% of Magna Carta Records, a New York–based label. Varney is often credited with popularizing the mid-1980s shred guitar boom, and has continuously specialized in producing musicians within the genres of instrumental rock, hard rock, jazz, jazz fusion, blues, blues-rock, progressive metal, and speed metal.
Destruction is a German thrash metal band formed in 1982. They have been credited as one of the "Big Four" of the German thrash metal scene, the others being Kreator, Sodom and Tankard. In addition to helping pioneer black metal, Destruction was part of the second wave of thrash metal in the mid-to-late 1980s, along with American bands Testament, Sacred Reich, Death Angel and Dark Angel. For most of the 1990s, the band was not signed to a record label and was forced to self-produce their albums until they signed a contract with Nuclear Blast in the early 2000s.
Sentence of Death is an EP and the debut release by German thrash metal band Destruction, released on 10 November 1984 by Steamhammer Records.
Mad Butcher is the second EP by German thrash metal band Destruction, released on March 6, 1987. Thomas Sandmannhad left the band and two new members had entered the group: a new drummer, Oliver Kaiser, and a new guitarist, Harry Wilkens. This is the band's first studio recording featuring a four-piece lineup, instead of a trio.
Inventor of Evil is the ninth studio album by German thrash metal band Destruction, released on August 22, 2005.
The Antichrist is the seventh album by German thrash metal band Destruction, released on September 15, 2001 through Nuclear Blast.
Release from Agony is the third studio album by German thrash metal band Destruction, released on December 1, 1987 by Steamhammer/SPV in mainly Europe, and in 1988 by Profile/Rock Hotel Records in North America. This was their last studio album to feature bassist and lead vocalist Marcel "Schmier" Schirmer until he rejoined the band in 1999.
Infernal Overkill is the debut studio album by German thrash metal band Destruction, released on May 24, 1985.
Eternal Devastation is the second full-length album by German thrash metal band Destruction, released on July 12, 1986.
Cracked Brain is the fourth full-length studio album by German thrash metal band Destruction, released on May 1, 1990. It is the band's only album to feature André Grieder of Poltergeist, replacing Marcel "Schmier" Schirmer, who was fired after the initial sessions for the album. Also featured is a cover of The Knack song "My Sharona".
Thrash Anthems is an album released by the German thrash metal band Destruction on January 19, 2007. It is a compilation of re-recordings of old songs and two new songs: "Deposition " and "Profanity".
Them Not Me is an EP by the German thrash metal band Destruction. The period without original vocalist Marcel "Schmier" Schirmer is often called "Neo-Destruction". They released three albums with Thomas Rosenmerkel on vocals: Destruction, Them Not Me and The Least Successful Human Cannonball, although the band does not consider these albums part of their official discography.
The Least Successful Human Cannonball is the fifth studio album by the German thrash metal band Destruction, released in 1998 by Brain Butcher Compact. It was the final album made with Thomas Rosenmerkel on vocals, and the third and last release of the "Neo-Destruction" period of the band. Later on, all recordings made with Rosenmerkel were completely disowned by the band, and as such are no longer considered part of Destruction's official discography.
All Hell Breaks Loose is the sixth studio album by German thrash metal band Destruction, released on 25 April 2000 by Nuclear Blast. It was the first official album released since Cracked Brain in 1990, and the first with Schmier returning to vocals and bass since Release from Agony in 1987. It also marks the return of the band to a three-piece lineup.
Metal Discharge is the eighth full-length album by German thrash metal band Destruction, released on September 22, 2003.
D.E.V.O.L.U.T.I.O.N. is the tenth studio album by German thrash metal band Destruction. The album was released on 29 August 2008 by AFM Records worldwide and Candlelight Records in the United States.
Live Without Sense is the first live album by German thrash metal band Destruction. It was released on January 1, 1989.
Day of Reckoning is the eleventh studio album by German thrash metal band Destruction. It was released on 18 February 2011 in Europe and 8 March 2011 in North America via Nuclear Blast. The first limited edition of the album does not have the band's logo on the booklet while the vinyl version and second pressing of the CD show a red Destruction logo on it.
Spiritual Genocide is the twelfth studio album by German thrash metal band Destruction. It was released as a celebration of the band's 30th anniversary.
Under Attack is the thirteenth studio album by the German thrash metal band Destruction, released on 13 May 2016.
