Interview: Getting to Know Total Annihilation (Written)

Thrash and death metal band Total Annihilation have been wrecking necks for many years now, and are gearing up to release their new album very soon. In this interview, we get to know them a little better.

1. Hello! Thank you for taking the time to chat to us. First things first, tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got started.

You’re welcome, and thank you for your interest in our music and the opportunity to answer some questions.
Well, it all started back in 2006, when the local scene in Basel City, Switzerland, had dried up. Five thrash metal maniacs joined forces to revive the underground metal culture in their hometown. After releasing three albums and going through a few serious line-up changes, both personally and musically, the band has matured and evolved into what it is today.

We started as a raw thrash metal outfit, but over the years we’ve developed our own unique style of Thrashing Death Metal – shaped by a wide range of influences: furious thrash, Swedish death metal, touches of black metal, and even classic heavy metal harmonies.

Talking about myself (Juergen Schmid / Guitar): it all started pretty classically when I was around ten years old. A friend from school brought Metallica’s Master of Puppets LP, followed by Slayer’s Reign in Blood – which completely blew me away. From that moment on, it was crystal clear to me: I wanted to do this, too.

About six months later, my father bought me my first bass guitar, and I started my first band with some friends in my aunt’s basement. That band lasted not very long – and about a year later, I switched to guitar.

2. Someone comes to you and asks you to sum up what kind of music you play – what do you tell them?

It’s fast, it’s loud, it’s noise only experts know how to appreciate. I’ll never get rich with it – but it’s unbelievably fun.

3. What’s currently keeping you busy? A new album/EP/single release? A new video? Playing live, or planning ahead?

We recently finished production on our upcoming fourth record – and I promise you, it’s gonna be brutal. If you liked “…on Chains of Doom” and the songs from our “Raging Death”- 7”, you can imagine the direction. But we’ll blow you away – because this one goes far beyond anything you’ve imagined.

It’s faster, more brutal, more musical – more Total Annihilation!

Right now, we’re busy preparing all the PR for the release: working on videos, social media content, building new partnerships with companies, and so on.

We also just returned from a one-week tour with Anal Vomit from Peruvian Hell (!), which brought us a lot of new audience and energy. There’s a lot going on at the moment – so I suggest you stay tuned, because I can promise you: there’s a lot of news coming your way!

4. What is about this current period that is particularly exciting for you?

For me personally, it’s the many great people I’ve met and talked to on tour, and the new partnerships we’re entering into. There are so many kind and dedicated people out there – it’s unbelievable.

5. Tell me about the work that has gone into making it a reality and what it means to you.

It’s a shitload of work. Sometimes it feels like running a company in a parallel universe alongside your day job and your relationship.

But it’s great, it’s meaningful, and it’s an investment – because you get so much back from it. For me, it’s the extra fuel that makes me happy and helps me compensate for many of the things I struggle with in “normal” life.

Working for the band’s success – or let’s say, working with the music that means so much to me – helps me keep my mindset open, yet critical, focused, and reflective.

6. Making music and being creative can be a very positive experience and can be very good for the mind. In what way has making music had a positive impact on your mental health?

See above and add some more classic things like anger release, emotional freedom, escape from social prison etc.

7. It can also be incredibly challenging, more so in the modern times. What have been some challenging aspects of making music and how have you overcome them?

I think to find a good balance between beeing professional working musician (sadly this means you have to think and talk about earning money; time schedules, creating content for your partners etc.) and protecting the things you love ( your music, your relationships) is maybe the most challenging aspect.

As a free thinking individual person I always made no compromise on my musical freedom.

If I wake up in the morning and want to write a 3 seconds grindcore outburst of energy so… why not…. and why not releasing it on a record? Do the People like it?

In my role as a songwriter I can`t think about that. Because when I do, I will start to fight against my creativity and my own personal and my bands development.

8. How do you handle the online aspects of being in a band? Having to put out content constantly, promoting across several different social media platforms, and having your success measured in likes and follows?

Yo! It’s 2025 and you have to play the game – so we’re in, doing what we think is good for us and meaningful for the kids out there.

Luckily, we also have some friends who help us a lot, which makes things easier for everyone involved. But still, there’s a lot of extra work to do.

As a songwriter – and as mentioned before – I don’t care about likes.

From the point of view of the kids out there, maybe sitting somewhere in Brazil and being a fan of the band, I totally get their need to stay connected.

It’s great to get some insights or stay in touch:

What are they doing?
Oh, they’re reamping – which amps are they using?
How are they preparing for the tour?
How do they spend their time between the festival shows?

So, all in all, I’d say it’s a good thing to stay connected – but it’s work. And work mostly sucks!
(Especially when compared to quality time – like hanging out with your partner and having a good bottle of wine by the Mediterranean Sea!).

9. How do you make this part of things enjoyable, and fulfilling, for yourself?

Focus on the good things. You can travel to foreign countries far away from all the tourist shit. You can meet a lot of nice and dedicated people everywhere.

And maybe most important – enjoy and celebrate your success and personal growth!
Played a festival in an area you never been before – GREAT!
Played a great show – GREAT!
Signed some records – GREAT!
Your new producer did a killer job and your record sounds heavy as sh** – GREAT!
Your new Pickups sound heavy as hell – GREAT!
And so on.
You just have to see it – it’s there!

10. Speaking directly to listeners – what would you ask they do to help support you?

Come to the shows and fill the front row. The more energy you give, the more you get back!

11. Outside of music, what do you like to do to relax?

This differs from member to member. Most of us enjoy hanging out with our friends and loved ones. We also like traveling, collecting records, riding bikes, fishing, playing PC games, and reading books.

12. Where can people find you?

Where there is Thrash, there is Total Annihilation!

When we are not on the road you have good chances to find us @Irrsinn Bar Basel or somewhere out in the nature of Europe.

Bandcamp | BigCartel | Facebook | Instagram