Destruction - Cracked Brain - 12" Vinyl LP Album
- Schmier's absence sparks sonic evolution, a unique chapter in thrash history.

"Cracked Brain," Destruction's distinctive album, defies norms with the absence of iconic vocalist Schmier. Released on a 12" vinyl LP, the record explores uncharted musical realms, showcasing resilience and experimentation. André Grieder's vocals bring a fresh perspective, contributing to a unique sonic identity. Despite commercial differences, the album, embedded in the vinyl resurgence, stands as a testament to Destruction's evolution and artistic exploration in the European metal scene.

This web page has photos of album covers, inner sleeves, record labels together with production details, musicians and track-listing.

Album cover for Destruction’s “Cracked Brain,” featuring a surreal green-hued room with a distressed figure sitting on a piece of furniture, clutching their head. A red, smoke-like entity with demonic faces emerges from a skull-shaped contraption. The chaotic scene includes a glowing TV screen, shadowy figures, and eerie details, evoking themes of madness and horror.

"Cracked Brain" Album Description:

The album "Cracked Brain" by Destruction stands as a distinctive anomaly within the official discography of the renowned German thrash metal band. Released as a 12" vinyl LP album, it marks a departure from the band's typical sound, primarily due to the absence of Schmier, the iconic vocalist who had been a constant presence in their previous works.

The creation history of "Cracked Brain" is intriguing, as it navigates through the challenges posed by the absence of Schmier. His departure from the band led Destruction to venture into uncharted territories in search of a new vocal identity. This change sparked a transformation in the band's musical style, giving rise to a unique and somewhat experimental sound that sets "Cracked Brain" apart from the rest of Destruction's discography.

The decision to release the album on a 12" vinyl LP adds a layer of historical significance to its creation. During the period when "Cracked Brain" was conceived, vinyl records were still a prevalent medium for music consumption. The LP format allowed for a particular sonic richness and a tangible connection between the listener and the music. In the European metal scene, especially, vinyl held a special place, contributing to the overall experience of engaging with the music.

The absence of Schmier on vocals could have been perceived as a risky move, considering his integral role in shaping Destruction's sonic identity. However, this change also opened doors to exploration and experimentation. The band enlisted the vocal talents of André Grieder (Poltergeist Band) to fill the void, and the result was a different vocal approach that added a new dimension to Destruction's musical expression.

"Cracked Brain" was not only a departure in terms of vocals but also showcased a shift in the overall musical direction of the band. The album incorporated elements of traditional heavy metal and even ventured into melodic territories, showcasing Destruction's willingness to evolve and adapt.

Music Genre:

Teutonic (German) Thrash Metal

Album Production Information:

Producers: Guy Bidmead, Sifringer, Wilkens, Kaiser

Guy Bidmead is a legendary producer and sound engineer whose work in heavy metal during the 1980s helped define the genre’s sonic landscape. Known for his technical mastery, he brought clarity and power to albums by iconic bands like Exciter, Coroner, and Destruction. Read his story

Album cover art/painting: Andreas Marschall

Andreas Marschall, a master of metal album cover art, shaped the visual identity of bands like Blind Guardian, Sodom, and Destruction with his dark, intricate illustrations. His signature style blends haunting fantasy with raw intensity, making his artwork an essential part of 80s and 90s metal culture. Read all about Andreas

Günther Pauler - Mastering Engineer

Record Label: Steamhammer SPV 008-76191

Packaging:

This album includes the original custom inner sleeve with album details, complete lyrics of all songs by and photos.

Media Format:

12" Vinyl Full-Length Stereo Long-Play Gramophone Record
Album weight: 230 gram

Year and Country:

1990 Made in Germany

Band Members and Musicians on: Destruction Cracked Brain

André Grieder - Lead Vocals
Mike Sifringer - Guitars, Bass
Harry Wilkens- Guitars, Bass
Oliver Kaiser - Drums

Complete Track Listing of: "Cracked Brain"

The Songs/tracks on "Cracked Brain" are

Side One:

Cracked Brain
Frustrated
S E D
Time Must End
My Sharona

Side Two:

Rippin You Off Blind
Die a Day Before You Are Born
No Need To Justify
When Your Mind was Free

Album Cover Photo Gallery of: Destruction Cracked Brain

Photo of "Cracked Brain" Album's Front Cover

High Resolution Photo #1 DESTRUCTION Cracked Brain — The album cover for Destruction’s “Cracked Brain” is a vivid, surreal piece of art with a distinctly sinister tone. The colour palette is dominated by shades of green, which creates an eerie, unsettling atmosphere. At the centre, a distressed figure sits on a piece of furniture, clutching their head in despair. They are surrounded by chaotic and nightmarish imagery, such as a red, smoke-like entity emerging from a bizarre skull-shaped contraption, transforming into grotesque demonic faces.

In the background, the room is dimly lit and cluttered, with ominous details such as a shadowy figure lurking near the door, strange shapes on the walls, and a television screen glowing with an eerie face. The album title, Cracked Brain, appears on the left in jagged, distressed typography, while the band’s name, Destruction, is in bold red lettering on the top right.

The artwork conveys themes of madness, torment, and the supernatural, fitting the thrash metal sound and dark themes Destruction is known for.

Photo of "Cracked Brain" Album's Back Cover

Back cover of Destruction’s “Cracked Brain” album, featuring green-toned images of band members Harry Wilkens (guitar), Mike Sifringer (guitar), and Oliver Kaiser (drums) in shard-like frames. Harry holds a guitar with an intense look, Mike appears stoic with long curly hair, and Oliver leans casually with sunglasses. Notably, vocalist André Grieder is absent from the imagery, despite his role on the album. The design includes production credits and a fragmented aesthetic.

The back cover of Destruction’s “Cracked Brain” features a green-toned design consistent with the eerie aesthetic of the front cover. The primary visual elements include three individual photographs of band members arranged in jagged, shard-like frames, suggesting fragmentation and chaos.

Harry Wilkens is on the left, holding a guitar with a confident and intense expression, wearing a sleeveless top and a necklace.

Mike Sifringer is in the centre, with his signature long, curly hair and a stoic, focused look, wearing a black shirt with the band’s logo.

Oliver Kaiser is on the right, casually posed with sunglasses, his arms crossed while resting on a drum or similar object, exuding a relaxed yet cool vibe.

Notably, André Grieder, the vocalist for this album, is absent from the back cover imagery, which highlights a curious omission given his role in the recording. The rest of the cover includes production credits and band acknowledgements. The absence of Grieder’s photo may hint at his status as a temporary member during this period.

Photo of "Cracked Brain" Album's Inner Sleeve

High Resolution Photo #3 DESTRUCTION Cracked Brain

Close-up Photo of "Cracked Brain" Record Label

High Resolution Photo #4 DESTRUCTION Cracked Brain

Note: The images on this page are photos of the actual album. Slight differences in color may exist due to the use of the camera's flash. Images can be zoomed in/out ( eg pinch with your fingers on a tablet or smartphone ).