Destroy Boys

Destroy Boys are a punk rock band from Sacramento, California, active since 2015. The group is made up of Alexia Roditis, Violet Mayugba and Narsai Malik. Their sound is also described as garage punk, garage rock, hardcore punk, rock and roll and riot grrrl.

Formation and early releases

The band forms in Sacramento in 2015, initially as an acoustic project led by Roditis and Mayugba. At that stage, Roditis plans to play drums and Mayugba sings and plays guitar. Their name comes from words Mayugba writes on a chalkboard at home during a difficult period in a relationship.

Their debut EP, Mom Jeans, appears digitally in 2015, with Roditis on vocals and Mayugba on acoustic guitar. Soon afterwards, Narsai Malik joins after being impressed by the EP and moving into the group on drums, with Mayugba switching to electric guitar.

On 6 April 2016, they release the EP Grimester through their former label donut warriors, which is their first release with Malik.

Singles and albums

On 4 February 2017, the band releases the singles “Methatonin” and “Gold Medal”. In 2017, Enzo Malaspina of Mt. Eddy briefly joins as bass player, recording on the second album and performing live, with his brother Chris later joining on drums after Malik’s departure.

Their second album, Make Room, comes out in 2018. Singles from the album include “Crybaby”, “Vixen”, “American River” and “Soundproof”. The album is included in Maximumrocknroll’s top 10 albums of 2018.

Roditis begins playing rhythm guitar live around this period. The band also opens for Sons of an Illustrious Father in Chicago and for The Regrettes on their North American Come Through tour. They also play at Uncool Halloween III at the UC Theatre with SWMRS, Bleached, Beach Goons, Mt. Eddy and Small Crush.

In 2020, they release the singles “Fences” and “Honey I’m Home”. Their first release for Hopeless Records is the 2021 single “Muzzle”, which appears on the third LP Open Mouth, Open Heart. Their fourth studio album, Funeral Soundtrack #4, follows in 2024, with “Boyfeel” as the lead single.

Recognition and performances

Destroy Boys receive nominations at the Sacramento Area Music Awards in 2017 in the categories New Artist, Punk/post-punk and Teen. The group is also the highest-voted contestant in Do The Bay’s contest to play Noise Pop Festival in 2018. In 2018, they appear at Submerge magazine’s tenth-anniversary show alongside Sam I Jam, Horseneck and Screature.

Style and influences

The band is commonly placed within punk rock and related garage and hardcore styles. Their influences include Operation Ivy, the Misfits, Dog Party, the Uncool Records roster, Against Me, The Who, The Garden, Sleater-Kinney, Lady Gaga, Mannequin Pussy, Deftones, the Distillers, Black Sabbath and the Police. They also cite Siouxsie Sioux, Brooks Nielsen and Ezra Koenig as key vocal influences.

They are often compared to riot grrrl bands, but the members say they do not want to be categorised that way simply because they are female-fronted.