~ The German Hard RocK and Heavy Metal Guide ~
History forged in Steel 1978-1993
Yeah I hear what you're saying - Even attempting such a vast project as a "complete" German HR/HM Encyclopedia seem about as futile as ...making a US one? Bah! Long-time Metal collector and Corroseum forum member Prowler spits in the face of Impossible and hereby delivers unto the Metal world the first encyclopedia of the Largest-Yet-Least-Collected Metal-country in the world!
The main idea for this database was born a couple of years ago, when I had found out that in most of the cases, the style descriptions of many German underground bands was completely wrong or there wasn't any info available at all, because the items/bands were too obscure, or that noone had ever heard about them before. The first impulse was to print a book, but that idea was quickly abandoned as while adding known bands to this database, even more, completely unknown releases of even more obscure acts were found.
We also wanted to focus on any kind of heavy music/band that had ever been around from 1978-1993, so that's why we stopped adding releases to the discographys that was released after 1993 in case you might wonder. This database tries to cover every kind of Heavy Kraut Rock/AOR/Melodic Rock/Hard Rock/Crossover and Metal bands of all genres, that were active during that mentioned time range, no matter if these bands ever recorded anything. We are also aware that the list isn't nearly complete, meaning we are open for any kind of suggestions, corrections and help by adding more obscure bands. Especially the local acts are of huge interest, so we might have a short survey of that city/area's underground scene. We know that especially in the Kraut Rock scene there are tons of bands/albums that would most probably meet our requirements, but unfortunately most of these albums are so insanely expensive and rare, that it's impossible to buy all of them just to check out if they might include any possible Hard Rock riffs. We are open for your suggestions, don't worry, your name will be mentioned in the article. To get the site started, we first added the bands with vinyl/CD appearances, while the Demo bands will be added piece by piece in the future as well.
Last but surely not least, a BIG THANK YOU to Dan Edman who made all this possible, by granting me space and technical help. Without his heads up I'd most probably still be dreaming of something like this project.
Browse bands by letter:
Bad Hoven
Lineup:
Band-info:
A Heavy Rock band from Munich that could contribute the 2 trax "Blood + honour" and "Bad boys Boogie" for the Feierwerk Split LP "Rock Feierwerk Sieger 89" with other Munich bands Firefox, Burning Heat and The Comics. "Blood + honour" is ok softer Heavy Metal with nice refrain that reminds me of Knightshade's "Blood and money". But "Bad boys Boogie" sadly is stealing ideas from Mötley Crüe's "Girls girls girls" and clearly ogles with the US Glam/Sleaze scene.
Burning Heat
Lineup:
Band-info:
A Heavy Rock band from Munich that could contribute the 2 trax "So hard" and "Summertime" for the Feierwerk Split LP "Rock Feierwerk Sieger 89" with other Munich bands Firefox, Bad Hoven and The Comics. Both trax are similar in style like the Firefox contributions and their pretty good melodic Hard Rock could be compared to other Munich bands such as Lifeline, Pole Position, Magenta or Europe.
Challenge
Lineup:
Andy Müller (guitar, vocals)
Martin Wiedemann (guitar)
Tommy Keller (bass, vocals)
Lutz Bölkov (keyboard)
Charly Barth (drums)
Band-info:
A band from Munich that could contribute the 2 trax "Night stockers" and "Save the night" for the Feierwerk Split LP " Rock Feierwerk Sieger 85" with other Munich bands Crystalball, Kirov, Nanu and Sweatshop. After you heard "Night stockers", that's a kinda Beach Boys "Surfin' USA" number played in Hard Rock manner, you will start thinking that you're in the wrong movie if you listen the first chords of "Save the night", because it opens in symphonic doublebass driven Power/Speed manner like Russians Magnit f.e. Ofc the song in the second parts turns into melodic Hard Rock again as soon as the first vocal parts do start, but nevertheless the surprise effect was quite exciting. The most interesting band on this album. Their drummer Charly Barth later joined the other Munich bands Magenta and Aiming High.
Crystalball
Lineup:
Arthur Endrös (keyboard)
Volker Haid (guitar)
Thomas Hallmaier (bass)
Matthias Helk (drums)
Heinz Hempl (vocals)
Band-info:
An AOR band from Munich that could contribute the 2 trax "I hope it won't be too late" and "Today" for the Feierwerk Split LP " Rock Feierwerk Sieger 85" with other Munich bands Challenge, Kirov, Nanu and Sweatshop. Both songs are ok Melodic Rock trax without any highlights but having some heavier guitar parts. Sadly the main part of "Today" was way too funky.
Firefox
Lineup:
Michael Schinkel (vocals, guitar)
Ferdinand Jamitzky (keyboard)
Jörg Sotzko (drums)
Thomas Keller (bass)
Band-info:
A Hard Rock band from Munich that could contribute the 2 trax "Rock the night away" and "Hold on" for the Feierwerk Split LP "Rock Feierwerk Sieger 89" with other Munich bands Bad Hoven, Burning Heat and The Comics. Both trax was taken from their 7 track Demo tape that contains even more outstanding songs. Firefox are interesting for the US influenced Melodic Metal/Hard Rock faction who like it melodic and heavy both at same time. Pole Position, Lifeline, Vera Cruz, Burning Heat are all of the same sort and quality. Highly recommended material with awesome vocals.Discography:
"Rock Feierwerk Sieger 89" Comp.-LP Tracks 1989 (Feierwerk)
"Rock the night away" Demo 1990 (selfreleased)
Foollhouse
Lineup:
R. Wolf (vocals)
M. Schenke (guitar)
A. Stahr (keyboard)
M. Schmidt (bass)
I. van Reh (drums)
S. Hein (vocals)
Band-info:
A Hard Rock band from Munich that could contribute the 2 trax "Eyes of a child" and "Love may reign" for the Feierwerk Split LP "Rock Feierwerk Sieger 91" with other Munich bands Das Leben, Earthtribe and Luca & The Groovy Band. Both trax fully integrate in the well known Munich melodic Hard Rock sound that Firefox, Burning Heat and Bad Hoven on the previous issue of this compilation delivered. Good arrangements, rough sounding and well executed stuff.Discography:
"Rock Feierwerk Sieger 91" Comp.-LP Tracks 1991 (Feierwerk)
Hot Stuff
Lineup:
Alex (vocals)
Boris (guitar)
Franz (drums)
Stonie (bass)
Band-info:
A sleazy Hard Rock band from Munich that could contribute the 2 live trax "Wait until tomorrow" and "You can't stop the train" for the Feierwerk Split LP "Hard 'n Heavy Live im Feierwerk" with Mortality, Trick Or Treat and Shotgun M.G. Their sound was totally influenced by all the glammy US Sleaze bands (Guns 'n Roses and co) with even Blues and Southern Rock hints.
Magenta
Lineup:
Christian Deska (vocals, guitar)
Michael Schmackler (guitar, keyboard)
Thomas Lerche (bass)
Dirk Götschelt (drums)
Band-info:
Munich based Heavy Rockers with a melodic sound that in places was leaned on US bands like early Crüe or Cinderella but having it's heavy moments as well. The weak point of the band was the vocalist who sounded partly like Vince Neil and that didn't fit so well to their heavier songs at all. Magenta released a private album in 1989 with the title "Hard Rockin' Phoenix", limited to 1000 copies in red vinyl. One year later they also participated on the "Rock Feierwerk Sieger 90" Split LP with the 2 non album trax "Let it go" and "Shake me" with new members Charly Barth (ex-Challenge) replacing Dirk Götschelt on drums and B. Schillmer on keyboards. Despite the album sound still was well executed Melodic Metal, on these 2 new trax from November '90 the bands sound completely turned into Glam Metal like Mötley Crüe. Charly Barth, Michael Schmackler and Thomas Lerche (also active with Phantom Lord) afterwards resurfaced in the heavier acting Aiming High.Discography:
"Hard Rockin' Phoenix" LP 1989
"Rock Feierwerk Sieger 90" Comp.-LP Tracks 1990 (Feierwerk)
Mortality
Lineup:
Martin Mayrhofer (guitar, vocals)
Jürgen Hausladen
Oliver Pohl (bass)
Jörg Schmaus (drums)
Band-info:
A totally crazy sounding Thrash band from Munich that after their first 2 Demo tapes "Demo '88" and "Prophet's dream" from 1989, could contribute the 2 live trax "BdvzZ" and "Quarantine" for the Feierwerk Split LP "Hard 'n Heavy Live im Feierwerk" with Hot Stuff, Trick Or Treat and Shotgun M.G. The second Demo "Dr. Schnabel" was released 1992 and a third one "Moonface was here..." the next year before they started recording their debut album "Elephant man" in 1993 as well. The album was previously available only as MC and finally got pressed on CD in 1995. Mortality's sound in the beginning was still Thrash Metal rooted, and either on the debut tape Venom/Celtic Frost influenced. But in the fall of the 80's their style changed into an absolutely strange Techno Thrash comparable to Voivod on "Dimension Hatröss" and "Nothingface" but way worse. Nothing really fits together here, Groove parts meets psycho parts meets Thrash meets Funk meets Grunge Rock or whatever one could call that brew. If you think you're a tough guy when it comes to Metal music, you will meet thy masters here. Mortality are hard to bear...Discography:
"Demo '88" (selfreleased)
"Prophet's dream" Demo 1989 (selfreleased)
"Hard 'n Heavy Live im Feierwerk" Comp.LP-Tracks 1991 (Feierwerk)
"Dr. Schnabel" Demo 1992 (selfreleased)
"Moonface was here..." Demo 1993 (selfreleased)
"Journey on a ghostship" Comp.-CD Track 1993 (Peace-Eater Vol. III)
"Elephant man" MC/CD 1993 (Polly)
Peace, Love & Guitars
Lineup:
Gigi (vocals, guitar)
Dave (vocals, guitar)
Bobby (keyboard)
Marcus (bass)
Ron (drums)
Band-info:
A Rock band from Munich that could contribute the 2 trax "Only live once" and "Bad souls" for the Feierwerk Split LP "Rock Feierwerk Sieger 90" with other Munich bands Magenta, C-X and United Crash. The first track is just a Rock number and only "Bad souls" could be called something Hard Rock alike, though it spreads a bluesy sad feeling. Another Demo track called "Reasons" appeared on another Feierwerk Räcords compilation entitled "Radikal Lokal (Für Ein Szene Radio)".Discography:
"Rock Feierwerk Sieger 90" Comp.-LP Tracks 1990 (Feierwerk)
"Reasons" Comp.-DLP Track 1991 (Radikal Lokal (Für Ein Szene Radio))
Screaming Demon
Lineup:
Eberhardt Paduch (vocals)
J. Brennauer (guitar)
K. Brabdmeier (bass)
W. Keller (drums)
Band-info:
A speedy Heavy Metal band from Peiting/Bavaria, that was active since 1982 and recorded their first Demo, incl. 2 songs plus a bass solo, in spring 1987. That tape received quite positive feedback for their melodic speed driven material within the scene, but the band didn't seem to have had the will to carry on, as their vocalist Eberhardt Paduch already one year after the Demo release appeared on swiss Stonefield's debut EP "The eyes of the dawn". Screaming Demon though in 1990 was seen playing live at the Feierwerk in Munich. If you got more info, please get in touch.Discography:
"Demo I" Demo 1987 (selfreleased)
Shotgun M.G.
Lineup:
Anita (vocals)
Zaz (guitar)
Karsten (bass)
Baba (drums)
Band-info:
A female fronted Groove Metal band from Munich that could contribute the 2 live trax "Right of the great" and "Get on the race track" for the Feierwerk Split LP "Hard 'n Heavy Live im Feierwerk" with Mortality, Hot Stuff and Trick Or Treat. Shotgun M.G. was playing a very modern sort of groovy Hard Rock/Metal mostly comparable to bands like Rage Against The Machine etc. "Get on the racetrack" also appeared in a Demo version on another Feierwerk Räcords compilation entitled "Radikal Lokal (Für Ein Szene Radio)".Discography:
"Hard 'n Heavy Live im Feierwerk" Comp.-LP Tracks 1991 (Feierwerk Räcords)
"Get on the racetrack" Comp.-DLP Track 1991 (Radikal Lokal (Für Ein Szene Radio))
Trick Or Treat
Lineup:
Manni (vocals)
Wolfi (guitar)
Armin (guitar)
Andy (bass)
Veit (drums)
Band-info:
A Glam Metal band from Munich that could contribute the 2 live trax "Dirty boys" and "S.O.S." for the Feierwerk Split LP "Hard 'n Heavy Live im Feierwerk" with Mortality, Hot Stuff and Shotgun M.G. Trick Or Treat's sound was equal to certain US Glam acts of the mid 80's or german bands such as Bonfire or Vamp. A very solid presentation nevertheless.
United Crash
Lineup:
H. Zimmermann (vocals)
L. Strugger (guitar)
M. Pillukat (drums)
A. Eberl (guitar)
R. Bernrieder (bass)
Band-info:
A Hard Rock band from Munich that could contribute the 2 trax "Curious dreams" and "Better believe me" for the Feierwerk Split LP "Rock Feierwerk Sieger 90" with other Munich bands Magenta, C-X and Peace, Love & Guitars. The band combined influences from Classic Rock and Hard Rock and had a rather melodic sound guitar driven sound.Discography:
"Rock Feierwerk Sieger 90" Comp.-LP Tracks 1990 (Feierwerk)
No Corroseum-feature would be complete without some proper sampler CDRs!
Straight from Prowler's personal archive we present thee...
download ~Volume West~
download ~Volume East~
(For more obscure German goodies, check out "Teutonic Evasion", the German edition of the Veterans Of The Various-Wars samplers...)
Straight from Prowler's personal archive we present thee...
download ~Volume West~
download ~Volume East~
(For more obscure German goodies, check out "Teutonic Evasion", the German edition of the Veterans Of The Various-Wars samplers...)
Keep exploring the olde German Metal scene on these other sections of The Corroseum:
