Watch metal band Destruction play their first socially-distanced shows in Switzerland

With coronavirus lockdown restrictions gradually easing across much of Europe, German thrash metal outfit Destruction have performed their first two shows to a socially-distanced audience.

• Read more: A campaign to save hundreds of UK venues from “closing forever” is working, but still needs support

The band played to 250 fans on Friday (July 3) and to an audience of 300 the following night at the Z7 club in Pratteln, Switzerland, a venue which can usually accommodate 1,600 people.

The band live-streamed a part of the show on Facebook, which you can see below, along with other pieces of fan footage.

In an interview with Audio Ink Radio two weeks before the shows, Destruction frontman Schmier discussed the prospect of returning to performing live.

“It feels a little bit surreal,” he said. “Nobody expected this to come back so quick, but we’re in the lucky position to live on the Swiss border, and Switzerland is far ahead of all the other countries and are doing concerts in two weeks…

“And there are very little corona cases, so that will be an interesting experience. Of course, a little weird, also, but we’re looking forward.”

The Destruction vocalist continued: “I think it’s going to feel weird to play a show again, because this is the first time in 20 years that we didn’t play a show in three months. It’s the longest time ever. It’s very exciting, of course. We look forward to playing again, but it’s going to feel a little weird, for sure.”

In London meanwhile, a new socially distanced, immersive music event and venue will launch in London this October as the coronavirus pandemic continues.

One Night Records have announced that the event and venue, deemed ‘Lockdown Town’, will launch this October at a “secret” pop-up location near London Bridge.