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Destruction at The Belasco on April 9th, 2026, by Don Adkins

Destruction hits LA! On April 10th German Metal pioneers Destruction played LA as part of the 2026 Thrash Of the Titans. This tour is like a greatest hits of thrash and features Destruction along with Over Kill & Testament. Seeing this show was a full-circle moment for this photographer as one month earlier while in…

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Destruction hits LA! On April 10th German Metal pioneers Destruction played LA as part of the 2026 Thrash Of the Titans. This tour is like a greatest hits of thrash and features Destruction along with Over Kill & Testament. Seeing this show was a full-circle moment for this photographer as one month earlier while in Estonia I watched the documentary “The Art Of Destruction” which documents the history of this band. This is one of the best rockumentaries I’ve seen. We get the backstory of the band from its beginnings and their challenges and successes then see first-hand the hammer coming down on touring due to the COVID pandemic. We see a band whose touring income comes to a halt and the band struggles with waiting it out or changing career paths. We then see the band pave the way for live shows with social distancing, masks and more. Even for those who aren’t drawn to thrash metal this movie is a great watch.

   So with perfect timing I had the chance to witness this band live here in LA one month later. As the opener Destruction gave the audience a high amperage performance in a career-spanning set of thrash metal anthems in their eight song performance. The experience was like a sledgehammer to the senses, in a really good way with a high energy set that was full of anthemic metal classics. Almost from the beginning there was crowd surfing which then got really interesting for us photographers in the photo pit, shooting the concert while dodging flying bodies! The show was a sellout and all night long the merch line was 100 yards long! I’m not usually a thrash metal fan, but I’ll say this night was epic and one of the highest energy experiences I can remember. Below is a collection of images taken while dodging bodies in the photo pit!

Destruction website:

https://www.destruction.de

The trailer for the Destruction rockumentary “The Art Of Destruction” can be found here:

Written and Photography all rights reserved by Don Adkins

https://www.instagram.com/donadkinsphoto

Musician performing on stage, passionately playing a bass guitar with long hair flowing and vibrant stage lights in the background.
A bassist performing on stage, wearing a sleeveless leather vest and displaying a rock hand gesture. The background features vibrant green lighting and musical instruments.
A metal band performing on stage with bright green lighting, featuring guitarists and a drummer in the background.
A guitarist performing on stage, smiling and playing an electric guitar. The background features colorful stage lights and amplifiers.
Drummer performing on stage with illuminated drums and cymbals in a vibrant lighting setting.
A guitarist performing on stage with long hair, wearing a sleeveless vest with studs and a band t-shirt. The backdrop features a colorful illustration, possibly of a mythical creature, with bright lights illuminating the scene.
A musician performing on stage, raising one arm while playing a bass guitar, surrounded by colorful lighting effects.
Two musicians performing on stage, one playing guitar with a dramatic expression and the other singing in the background. The stage is lit with colorful lights, and there are visual effects in the backdrop.
Two musicians performing on stage with electric guitars, illuminated by colorful stage lights.
Two musicians performing on stage with electric guitars under dramatic lighting.
A musician with long hair and tattoos performs on stage, wearing a spiked vest and holding a microphone, with colorful stage lights in the background.
A lead singer performs passionately on stage with a microphone, surrounded by colorful stage lights and a drum set in the background.
A drummer performing on stage with colorful lighting, surrounded by cymbals and drum set.
Close-up of a musician on stage holding a bass guitar, illuminated by vibrant stage lights, with long hair and a studded vest.
A rock band performing on stage with dramatic lighting and a large backdrop featuring colorful artwork and the band's name, 'Destruction.'
A live heavy metal concert featuring a band performing on stage with dramatic lighting and a large backdrop that reads 'Destruction'. The audience is engaged, with a sea of fans in front of the stage.
A musician with long hair performs passionately on stage, holding a guitar and singing into a microphone, surrounded by colorful stage lights and a drum set in the background.
A rock band performing on stage with various instruments, surrounded by enthusiastic fans in the audience. Colorful stage lights illuminate the scene, and striking artwork is visible on the backdrop.
A lively concert scene featuring a band performing on stage, with a crowd of enthusiastic fans raising their hands and cheering in a dimly lit venue.
A merchandise booth at a music event displaying various band t-shirts and items, while a blonde woman assists a customer.

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