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Headhunter - Biography


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1990-

Biography

The man only known as "Schmier" is one of the most popular figures in the European Metal scene. He's not only released Thrash Metal classics like "Mad Butcher", "Release From Agony" and many more throughout the 1980's with his band Destruction. He also pulled the strings in bringing that band back to stages all around the world at the end of the 90's when DESTRUCTION celebrated a furious comeback and became the spearhead of a huge Thrash Metal revival.

Now, having been active with Destruction for another 10 years since then, Schmier celebrates the band HEADHUNTER, the three-piece he started whilst splitting from Destruction, and a band he very much enjoyed being part of before Destruction's welcome reunification; but it's not only Schmier who is responsible.
HEADHUNTER were more into a rough Power Metal sound than into Thrash. Mixing this with their special humour (just listen to the intros of their albums back then-) and a high level musical approach - nothing for douche bags here! Schmuddel (guitar), Schmier (bass) and drum animal Jörg Michael recorded three albums between 1990 and 1994, toured Japan successfully as headliner and played an extensive tour with NWOBHM legends Saxon. But, though HEADHUNTER may have called it a day after the "Rebirth" album, fans of Destruction and the original band continued to pressure the old guys with fan mail and questions in order to get Schmier to re-issue particularly the early, really hard to get albums and maybe even consider a new one?

Well, life's strange sometimes isn't it? Not only did we see HEADHUNTER re-releasing the first three albums "Parody Of Life" (1990), "A Bizarre Gardening Accident" (1992) and "Rebirth" (1994) through AFM Records in 2007; but plans were released that year that would mean a brand new studio album for 2008! With Schmier, Schmuddel and Jörg re-uniting as the band's old and new line-up !! The result of their songwriting sessions is the new release, "Parasite Of Society", a brand new storming Metal attack by HEADHUNTER as it is meant to be. Don't be surprised: the album provides the charismatic sound that the band is famous for, but with an up to date "in your face" resonance. Schmier's vocals are unmistakably him and unique, but are used in a more melodic way than in Destruction, and the guitar is powerful and yet melodic in its own way. The very special sound of the band is back! This is no fly-by-night cash in. Tracks like the powerful, speedy title track or the intense "Remission" will be classics in their own right in time. Cover versions of Judas Priest's "Rapid Fire" and Skid Row's "18 And Life" top off "Parasite Of Society" perfectly and the interest that has already been generated, even before this animal is released, will mean that you'll be seeing a whole load of HEADHUNTER this year. They are already confirmed to perform at the world's most important and prestigious Metal festival: the Wacken Open Air.