Biography
Inspired by Iron Maiden, Mercyful Fate, Motörhead and Venom, Destruction were formed as Knight of Demon in 1982. The original line-up featured vocalist and bassist Marcel "Schmier" Schirmer, drummer Tommy Sandmann, and guitarist Mike Sifringer. They soon changed their name to Destruction and released a demo titled Bestial Invasion of Hell in 1984. After this the group signed with Steamhammer Records and released an EP titled Sentence of Death later that year.
Destruction released their first full-length album titled Infernal Overkill in 1985, followed by Eternal Devastation in 1986. The trio then added a second guitarist, Harry Wilkens, and released the EP Mad Butcher in 1987, followed by the full-length album Release from Agony (also released in 1987), then a live recording Live Without Sense in 1989, and Cracked Brain in 1990. In 1989, Schmier left the band and Mike Sifringer continued to release albums under the moniker of "Neo-Destruction".
In 1999, Schmier rejoined, and things began to look up for the band as they signed a record deal with Nuclear Blast. They then released three more albums: All Hell Breaks Loose in 2000, The Antichrist in 2001, and Metal Discharge in 2003. The band would then sign with AFM Records and release Inventor of Evil in 2005. That album was followed two years later by the compilation of re-recorded songs Thrash Anthems (2007), and then a year later by D.E.V.O.L.U.T.I.O.N. (2008). In February 2011, Destruction released Day of Reckoning.
A European tour with Overkill was scheduled for March 2011. Headlining dates in South America and North America were being planned for April and May.
The band's thirteenth studio album, Spiritual Genocide, was released in November 23, 2012. Their next album, Under Attack, was released on May 13, 2016.
Studio albums
Infernal Overkill (1985)
Eternal Devastation (1986)
Release from Agony (1987)
Cracked Brain (1990)
The Least Successful Human Cannonball (1998)
All Hell Breaks Loose (2000)
The Antichrist (2001)
Metal Discharge (2003)
Inventor of Evil (2005)
Thrash Anthems (2007)
D.E.V.O.L.U.T.I.O.N. (2008)
Day of Reckoning (2011)
Spiritual Genocide (2012)
Under Attack (2016)
Nailed To The Cross
Destruction Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Makes you freeze to the bone
The scary final breath
Leaves only cuts in the stone
[Bridge:] Fear the unknown spheres - of death and decay
Incite the superstition - the booty of fear
[Chorus:] Your book of God - a book of lies
Nailed to the cross [x3]
Nailed to the fuckin' cross!
They use fear like the press
In the book of deceit
Kneel down and confess
Weak losers need to retreat
[Repeat bridge]
[Repeat chorus]
The sign of the cross is the sign of war
The holy symbol has been used for more
Since we remember his promotion campaign
Is collecting lost souls for a unholy aim!
Greedy bastards with blood on their hands
Hiding in churches and loosing their stand
Your book of God - a book of lies
Your hero's death - brought us a 1,000 cries!
Nailed to the cross [x7]
Nailed - failed - nailed
Nailed to the cross
Nailed - failed - nailed
Nailed to the fuckin' cross!
The lyrics to Destruction's song Nailed To The Cross speak about questioning and challenging established religious beliefs and the use of fear by those in power to control the masses. The first verse paints a picture of death being a frightening, cold experience that leaves nothing behind but a memory etched into stone. The bridge speaks of the unknown territories of death and decay, and how superstitions about them are often used to manipulate and scare people. The chorus challenges the idea that religious texts are truthful, and instead sees them as a collection of lies. The line "Your hero’s death - brought us a 1,000 cries!" could be a reference to Jesus' crucifixion being seen as a tragedy, but also as a catalyst that led to the spread of Christianity. The repeated phrase "Nailed to the cross" is a clear reference to crucifixion, and a rejection of the idea that this was a heroic or desirable death.
Line by Line Meaning
The cold wind of death
The fear of death consumes and leaves you feeling empty and lifeless.
Makes you freeze to the bone
Death makes you feel cold and still, like you are frozen in time.
The scary final breath
The last breath before dying leaves a sense of fear and uncertainty.
Leaves only cuts in the stone
Death leaves behind only a memory, a mark on history like a cut in stone.
Fear the unknown spheres - of death and decay
Fear of the unknown, that is inevitable death and decay, causes one to seek comfort in superstition.
Incite the superstition - the booty of fear
Fear incites superstition, which is sought after by those who profit off of fear.
Your book of God - a book of lies
The supposed holy book of God is actually just a book of lies meant to control the masses.
Your hero's death - brought us a 1,000 cries!
The death of their so-called hero brought about great suffering and pain.
Nailed to the cross [x3]
The suffering, death, and oppression caused by religion is symbolized by being nailed to a cross, repeated three times for emphasis.
Nailed to the fuckin' cross!
The true brutality and inhumanity of the religious system is expressed with expletives.
They use fear like the press
The powerful use fear to manipulate and control people, much like how the press can sway public opinion.
In the book of deceit
Religious texts are actually deceitful.
Kneel down and confess
The weak are forced to confess and submit to the powerful, continuing the cycle of oppression.
Weak losers need to retreat
The powerful perpetuate the idea that people who are weak or struggling are losers who need to retreat from society.
The sign of the cross is the sign of war
The supposedly holy symbol of the cross has been used throughout history to justify wars and violence.
The holy symbol has been used for more
The cross has historically been used to justify countless atrocities and crimes.
Since we remember his promotion campaign
Since the beginning of religion, people have been using it for their own gain and to promote their own agendas.
Is collecting lost souls for a unholy aim!
The true aim of religion is to manipulate and control people for the benefit of the powerful few.
Greedy bastards with blood on their hands
Those who use religion to manipulate others are not truly holy, but rather greedy and corrupt.
Hiding in churches and loosing their stand
Those who use religion for their own gain hide behind the façade of the church and are losing their grip on power.
Nailed to the cross [x7]
Again, the oppression and suffering caused by religion is symbolized by being nailed to a cross, repeated seven times for emphasis.
Nailed - failed - nailed
The supposed power and holiness of the cross is actually a failure, just like religion itself.
Nailed to the cross
Once again, the true brutality and inhumanity of religion is expressed through this phrase.
Nailed - failed - nailed
Religion continues to fail humanity, despite its supposed power and benevolence.
Nailed to the fuckin' cross!
The phrase is repeated for one final time, emphasizing how truly terrible and damaging religion has been throughout history.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MARCEL SCHIRMER, MICHAEL SIFRINGER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind