Destroy Destroy Destroy

Lore & Background

Destroy Destroy Destroy formed in Murfreesboro, Tennessee in February 2003 with rhythm guitarist Jeremiah Scott, vocalist Bryan Kemp, and drummer Andrew Hall. They soon added lead guitarist Way Barrier, bassist Adam Phillips, and keyboardist Brian Shorter, and began playing local shows. Their first performance was in a pizzeria as the opening band for Mastodon. The group self-financed an EP titled Kill or Be Killed in 2003.

Reader's Guide

The band released two studio albums: Devour the Power in 2006 and Battle Sluts in 2009, both on Black Market Activities. Critics described their sound as versatile, incorporating melodic death metal, power metal, symphonic black metal, thrash metal, and viking metal. AllMusic writer Alex Henderson noted that Devour the Power would have been identified as power metal with progressive and black metal elements, while Battle Sluts was described as symphonic black metal with a Viking theme. The band's music employed techniques and styles popular in Scandinavia, blending melody and aggression, and they cited Metallica and Pantera as influences. Despite lineup changes over the years, the band has continued to perform.

Did You Know?

• Destroy Destroy Destroy played their first show in a pizzeria as the opening band for Mastodon.
• The band's musical style has been described with genres including melodic death metal, power metal, symphonic black metal, thrash metal, and viking metal.

Formation & Early Days

Destroy Destroy Destroy traces its roots to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, where in February 2003 a trio of rhythm guitarist Jeremiah Scott, vocalist Bryan Kemp, and drummer Andrew Hall began crafting material together. The project quickly expanded as lead guitarist Way Barrier, bassist Adam Phillips, and keyboardist Brian Shorter joined to complete the full ensemble. Operating on a shoestring budget, the group recorded a self-financed EP called Kill or Be Killed, which served as their initial statement to the local scene. Their debut performance took place in an unlikely venue—a pizzeria—where they opened for the well-known metal act Mastodon. This early gig in a pizza shop, sharing the bill with a band that would go on to massive success, set the tone for a group determined to carve out space in the metal world from a small Tennessee town. The self-funded nature of their first release and the grassroots venue of their first show underscored the DIY ethos that defined their early trajectory before they eventually secured a deal with Black Market Activities.

Musical Style & Genre Blending

Critics have struggled to pin Destroy Destroy Destroy into a single genre box, with descriptions ranging across melodic death metal, power metal, symphonic black metal, thrash, and viking metal. Chad Bowar of About.com captured this eclecticism by noting the band's songs could swing from orchestral, keyboard-heavy passages to brutal blast-beat breakdowns. The Viking influence manifests through spoken-word interludes and lyrical themes centered on battles, mythical creatures, and lost civilizations. Alex Henderson of AllMusic observed that while Devour the Power leaned toward power metal with progressive and thrash elements, Battle Sluts embraced a symphonic black metal framework—though he emphasized the band never pretended to be purists like Gorgoroth or Marduk, keeping melody as a central priority. Despite their Tennessee origins, the group's sound channels techniques from Scandinavian metal traditions, blending Nordic melody with raw aggression. The band has drawn comparisons to Iron Maiden, Queensrÿche, Manowar, Judas Priest, and Dream Theater, while citing Metallica and Pantera among their influences.

Discography & Career Arc

The band's recorded output, while modest in quantity, reflects a clear artistic progression. Their self-financed 2003 EP, Kill or Be Killed, established their identity in the local Tennessee scene. Two studio albums followed through Black Market Activities: Devour the Power in 2006 and Battle Sluts in 2009. The earlier record was characterized as power metal-oriented with progressive, thrash, and black metal elements, while the later album leaned more firmly into symphonic black metal territory with its Viking-themed concept. The three-year gap between albums coincided with significant personnel turnover, particularly in the keyboard and drum seats. Despite the relatively small catalog, the band maintained a consistent identity across releases, with critics noting a through-line of melody, epic arrangements, and atmospheric keyboards that distinguished them from more straightforward metal acts. Their association with Black Market Activities gave them a platform to reach audiences beyond their Tennessee home base.

Lineup Evolution & Core Stability

One of the most striking aspects of Destroy Destroy Destroy's history is the contrast between their revolving peripheral seats and their remarkably stable core. Rhythm guitarist Jeremiah Scott, lead guitarist Way Barrier, and bassist Adam Phillips have been constant members since the band's 2003 inception. In stark contrast, the keyboard position cycled through no fewer than five different players—Alex Gellette, Jessica Lambert, Keith Williams, Courtney Edwards, and finally Brian Shorter, who joined in 2007 and remains. The drum seat saw three occupants before settling: Andrew Hall (2003–2004), Eric W. Brown (2004–2008), David Shaw (2008–2009), and Andrew Core from 2009 onward. Vocalist Bryan Kemp, a founding member, departed in 2009 and was succeeded by Chris Bazor. This pattern of a locked-in guitar and bass foundation with rotating supporting members suggests a band that prioritized the core songwriting relationship while remaining flexible in other roles.