Destroy!: The young blood of czech metal continues to rise!

The Czech metal scene is witnessing the emergence of more and more young bands proving that heavy music has a bright future ahead. One of them is Destroy!, an energetic group of musicians who have focused on original material, relentless live performances, and an unwavering desire to keep pushing themselves forward ever since their formation. Gradually making their way from club stages into the wider awareness of metal fans, they demonstrate through determination, powerful concerts, and a professional approach that their ambitions reach far beyond where they stand today.

For Rebel Sound, we spoke with founding member and drummer Ondřej Szeliga. Our conversation covered not only the band's beginnings but also how their perspective on songwriting has evolved, how difficult it is to break through in today's era of social media, what it really takes to keep a young metal band running, and why staying true to your own musical direction is so important. We also looked behind the scenes of the preparations for their debut album and discussed plans that could become one of the biggest milestones in DESTROY!'s career so far.

Looking back at your very first recordings and concerts today, what's one thing you'd slap yourselves for, and what do you still consider one of the best decisions you made?

When I look back at our very beginnings, I'd probably slap myself for trying a little too hard at times. We wanted to show everything we were capable of instead of making every part of a song serve the composition as a whole. The same goes for my drumming—I tried to squeeze as many notes as possible into every song. Today I know that sometimes less really is more. On the other hand, from day one we chose to follow our own path. We didn't just play covers; we started writing our own music, and I believe that's exactly what helped us become the band we are today.

Do you feel that young bands today have to be half musicians and half content creators on social media? Which part do you enjoy the least?

Absolutely. Nowadays it's no longer enough just to play well. You have to stay visible, communicate with fans, create videos, and remain active on social media. As a band, we understand that's part of the game, but if I had a choice, I'd much rather spend my time in the rehearsal room or the studio than worrying about algorithms and post reach. Although, to be fair, we often end up laughing our heads off while filming those videos.

What was the first moment that made you realize DESTROY! was no longer just a group of friends rehearsing together, but a real band with genuine potential?

It was probably in the autumn of 2021 when our manager arranged a show with Debustrol literally overnight. We had all admired them as one of the legends of Czech metal. Standing on stage and seeing the audience's positive reactions made all of us realize that we were no longer just a bunch of friends with instruments—we had become a real band.

Is there a song that your fans absolutely love but you personally feel completely differently about?

I think that's actually quite common among musicians and happens to many bands. Personally, as the drummer, I've grown a little tired of playing Kvadratura ženy, even though it's one of our most-streamed songs on Spotify. On the other hand, I absolutely love playing Mladej, blbej, which is ironically one of our least-listened-to tracks.

What does the biggest internal debate look like when you're writing new music—heaviness, melody, lyrics, or something else?

To be honest, we don't really debate it that much. Most of the music is written by our guitarist Šimon, although he sometimes uses riff ideas from our second guitarist Jirka or our bassist Ondra. He sends us a rough demo that he usually puts together in the comfort of his student bedroom. We learn it first, and then we gradually start working on the arrangements. Sometimes I'll change the drum parts, sometimes we'll shorten a bridge, add another chorus, or change the key. It's all a very natural process, and we almost never argue about it.

If you could go back five years with the experience you have today, what would you do differently while building the band?

Five years ago, we were only just getting started, and we didn't even know where we wanted to take DESTROY!. Honestly, that's something you simply can't know at the beginning. However, with today's experience, we would definitely start focusing much earlier on promotion, music videos, and the band's overall presentation. For a long time, we believed that great music would speak for itself. Today we know that's only half the battle.

What's the biggest myth about young metal bands that you'd like to put to rest once and for all?

That we simply show up at the rehearsal room once a week and that's all there is to it. In reality, an incredible amount of work happens behind the scenes—rehearsals, songwriting, recording, communicating with promoters, managing social media, graphic design, and organizing concerts. It's practically a second full-time job. Fortunately, we have a manager who deserves either a halo or, at the very least, a well-earned financial reward. (laughs)

Do you have one principle that you'll never compromise on, even if it meant achieving greater success?

We want to create music that we genuinely enjoy ourselves. Of course, we'd love to reach as many people as possible, but we don't want to change our style simply because it would be easier or more commercially successful. If we release something under the name DESTROY!, every single one of us has to stand behind it.

What inspires you most about the Czech live music scene, and what would you most like to change?

We're genuinely surprised by how many talented young bands are emerging in the Czech Republic. I honestly believe the Czech metal scene is much stronger than many people realize. On the other hand, I'd love to see more opportunities for young bands to perform at larger festivals and events. Everyone has to start somewhere, and those opportunities can make a huge difference in helping a band move forward. Inspiration is everywhere—you just have to look around.

Have there ever been moments when you had to think more like managers than musicians?

Fortunately, we have a manager who handles those kinds of decisions. He's actually our guitarist Šimon's father, but sometimes it feels like he's the father of the whole band. Whenever necessary, he knows exactly how to keep us on the right track. Of course, there are still times when we have to decide things ourselves. For example, when someone offers us a concert on the other side of the country and we already know it simply isn't worth travelling hundreds of kilometres just to play for a schnitzel, a beer, and ten people in the audience. It disappoints us because we love performing live, but sometimes we also have to think realistically from a financial perspective.

If every member of the band had to name the one thing that keeps DESTROY! together, do you think the answers would be the same?

Everyone would probably phrase it a little differently, but I believe we'd all agree on the most important thing our shared goal. We all want DESTROY! to become a successful and respected band. Every member brings something unique to the table, but we all share the same determination to keep moving the band forward.

Which is the greater challenge today: writing a great song or making sure people actually hear it?

Without a doubt, getting it in front of people. There's an unbelievable amount of new music being released every single day, and standing out is becoming harder and harder. Writing a great song is the foundation, but it's just as important to make sure people actually discover it.

Imagine meeting your 2026 selves ten years from now. What would you hope to hear about DESTROY!'s future?

That we're still together, that we're still enjoying what we do, and that we've achieved the dreams we have today. That we've released several albums, are playing major shows for hundreds or even thousands of people, continue to put out new music, and, above all, that we've never lost our passion for creating or stopped being ourselves.

What's the biggest thing coming up for DESTROY! over the next few months, and what should fans definitely keep an eye on?

We have an incredibly exciting period ahead of us. We've recently signed a deal with Smile Music Records, and together we're preparing our very first full-length album. It's by far the biggest and most ambitious project we've ever worked on. We're also planning new music videos, plenty of live shows, and several other projects to support the band. Fans definitely have a lot to look forward to. I truly believe the coming months will become one of the most important chapters in DESTROY!'s journey. Keep following us our best days are still ahead.

Ondřej Szeliga's answers clearly show that behind the name DESTROY! lies far more than a passion for metal. The band is driven by a clear vision, strong teamwork, and a constant determination to improve. Although they remain humble and grounded, their ambitions are anything but small. With a debut album on the way, new music videos in production, and an increasingly busy concert schedule, all signs suggest that we'll be hearing a great deal more about DESTROY! in the years to come.

The Rebel Sound editorial team would like to thank Ondřej for his honest, open, and insightful answers. We wish the entire band endless inspiration, sold-out shows, loyal fans, and every success in bringing their ambitious plans to life. We'll be following their journey closely and hope to meet again in another interview in the near future.