~ 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:
C.C.Custer
Lineup:
Achim Weckermann (vocals)
Hannes Kremer (guitar)
Matt Kremer (bass)
Hardo Scholz (drums)
Band-info:
C.C.Custer released a 7" featuring the 2 trax "Two side child" and "My only soul is Rock'n Roll" on the C.B.R. label and also "Hard man" on that label's compilation "Rock inside", where the band shows it's Hard Rock side with a strong AC/DC touch. None of the songs could be considered something that'd stay in anyone's ears for longer. Just recently discovered was another highly obscure 7" of them entitled "Visions of Rock", featuring 4 Hard Rockers, that you won't forget anymore. Rudi Quade was playing drums and Hannes Kremer besides playing guitars also was "singing" now. Musically it's forgettable Hard Rock just like their debut 7" but the vocals do sound so utterly "cruel" that it really hurts. You can clearly hear in his unemotional voice that he really doesn't wanted to sing those songs at all.Discography:
”2 side child” 7” EP 1984 (C.B.R.)
"Hard man" Comp.-LP Track 1984 (Rock Inside)
"Visions of Rock" 7" EP 1985 (ETA)
Cacumen
Lineup:
Claus Lessmann (vocals)
Karl Ziller (guitar)
Hans Ziller (guitar)
Horst Maier-Thorn (guitar)
Hans Hauptmann (bass)
Hans Forstner (drums)
Band-info:
Cacumen was founded by Hans Ziller (originally his name was Johann) in Ingolstadt, back already in 1972, together with his brother Karl. When Claus Lessmann (vocals) and Hans Forstner (drums, his name originally was Johann as well) joined both in 1978, there was something like the first classic line up of the band ready. After their first selfproduced 7" "Riding away" dating from 1979, Karl Ziller left the band and the remaining Claus Lessmann, Hans Ziller, Horst Maier-Thorn, Hans Hauptmann and Hans Forstner recorded the band's debut album for Rockport Records in May 1981, that simply was entitled "Cacumen". At that time Cacumen could be called the german Kiss, as just like Kiss, these lads was playing a mix of heavier and softer Hard Rock songs. Hans Hauptmann afterwards in 1982 got replaced by Robert Prskalowicz, who played the basslines for the "Bad widow" album and the following "Longing for you" 12" recorded 1984. The band had fully turned into Heavy Metal at that time and was performing not the heaviest Metal of the new german bands, but a sort of a catchy Hard Rock/Metal mix that would become the mark of Cacumen's follower Bonfire. Afterwards Prskalowicz got replaced by Jörg Deisinger (bass) and either Hans Forstner quit in 1985, while ex-Darxon drummer Dominik Hülshorst joined instead. At around that time frame the guys decided to rename the band to Bonfire in 1986 when they just had scored a major deal with the RCA and fully started an assault on their further, quite successful career.Discography:
"Riding away/Wintertale" 7" EP 1979 (selfreleased)
"Cacumen" LP 1981 (Rockport)
"Bad widow" LP 1983 (Boom)
"Longing for you" 12" EP 1984 (Boom)
"1. Rock-Fabrik Festival '84" Comp.-LP Tracks 1984 (Gama)
Cadaver Corpse
Lineup:
Sven Stellwag (vocals)
Andrè Alsleben (guitar)
Gag (bass)
Milos (drums)
Band-info:
Cadaver Corpse was a shortlived Grind/Noisecore act from Leipzig, formed by Andrè Alsleben in the beginning of 1991, that used to publish a number of tapes, EP's and either a Split LP with the band Snuff Your Feet (1994), till they disbanded in 1994 as well. The line up later slightly changed though. Alsleben changed over on bass and Sven Stellwag during 1992 played the drums, since their original drummer Milos was living in the Czech Republic. Andy joined on guitars at that time. Andrè Alsleben also created the projects Klassik in Qual (1992), Brachial Beat Crew (1993) and S.U.F.F. (1996) and was reponsible for organizing Mayhem’s small Eastgermany tour durting autumn 1990.Discography:
"Rehearsal 91" Demo 1991 (selfreleased)
"Trading - Tape '92" Demo 1992 (selfreleased)
"Thrashing East Attack Vol. II" Comp.-MC Tracks 1992 (selfreleased)
"Live Chaos" 7" EP 1992 (Zoro)
"Kothold" Split 7" EP 1992 (Zoro Benefit EP)
"Er war ein Freund von uns" Comp.-Split 7" EP Track 1993 (Zander)
Cahro
Lineup:
Niels Bonnemeier (vocals)
Markus Grube (keyboard, vocals)
Martin Heppner (guitar)
Stefan Pallaske (bass)
Jochen Vetter (drums)
Band-info:
A quite professional sounding and performing Melodic Rock act from Ascheberg, that produced an independent album on the Unit Art label. Sadly the use of keyboards is diluting the sound of the band enormously and turns the whole into a rather poppy mainstream AOR style, that either your grandma would enjoy, while it got airplay. The harder songs like "Loser" or "Think about" are sadly short-handed here, though the use of a distorted guitar fitted these guys quite well. But in the whole, this album is just interesting for people who like bands like Surprises or Mash Mallow.Discography:
"Views" LP 1986 (Unit Art)
Caiman
Lineup:
Detlev Wittenburg (vocals)
Ralf Zeidler (guitar)
Lutz Rödiger (guitar)
Hanjo Papst (bass)
Frank Basner (drums)
Band-info:
Caiman from Erfurt (ex-GDR) was originally founded as Macbeth by Tobias Nehmer, Ralf Zeidler, Hanjo Papst and Frank Fiebach, and soon also Michael Werner (guitar) was found, while Tobias Nehmer left the band already during autumn '85 to form Rochus. But the guys already had organized a very charismatic vocalist, whose name was Detlev Wittenburg and who in future should be responsible for the band's very intelligent and above average lyrics. Hanjo Papst also had to leave in late '85 because of army duties, but Michael Fleischmann joined instead. Macbeth recorded a 4 track Demo and started playing live, which soon caused several stage bans due to the "wrong people" being in the crowd and causing trouble, driven by Macbeth's raw Heavy Metal sound, which soon resulted in Macbeth got completely denied to play live. Due to that fact, Fleischmann left the band in June '86, who in the meanwhile hired ex-Rocksack Carsten Tauchert (bass) and decided to cooperate with the local office of the FDJ (a youth organization), that gained the guys a first live gig after the break in September '86, which though should become the nail to Macbeth's selfmade coffin. After the band got denied any further extra song, the crowd completely raged out, that officials took as reason to deny Macbeth any further gigs, their rehearsal room cancelled and so on. Carsten Tauchert then subsequently applicated to leave the GDR for good and Frank Viehbach joined Prinzz/Blitzz. Michael Werner even was forced to cut his hair and had to join the army. Only Wittenburg and Zeidler remained and started from zero. Hanjo Papst rejoined 1987 after he eventually had returned from the army and new members Lutz Rödiger (guitar) and Frank Basner (drums) also came in, while the band was called to apply the national ministry to talk about the future of Macbeth, which ended in Macbeth changing name to Caiman in May '87 and finally was allowed to play live again. Caiman recorded two more Demo tapes during 1987 and '88, that also featured hard Power Metal in the classic Macbeth style, before Detlev Wittenburg early '88 got jailed for thievery for about 1,5 years. Ralf König (ex-Cosmos) should replace Wittenburg in the meanwhile, but that experience didn't work out so well, so Ralf Zeidler handled the vocals himself and Frank Basner got replaced by Rico Sauermann (ex-White Witch) on the drums, while the band's style during the late 80's seriously inclined into a Thrash direction, similar to Darkness. Autumn '89 Detlev Wittenburg got released from jail, but obviously his will was broken. He rejoined Caiman for two more gigs and eventually hung himself, after several suicidal attempts, during December '89, which also marked the end of Caiman. In spring 1993 the guys tried to reform Caiman and started playing live, but once again got thrown back since Rico Sauermann also committed suicide a bit later on. 2002 Macbeth got revived by some of the old fighters and are still active nowadays. German Democratic Recordings re-released all of the band's Demos on a CD entitled "Zeit der Zeiten" 2006.Discography:
"Demo 1987" (selfreleased)
"Demo 1988" (selfreleased)
Calderone
Lineup:
Zlatko Relic (guitar, vocals)
Peter Osz (guitar)
Jörg Franke (bass)
Chris Mosch (drums)
Band-info:
West Berlin, August 1986, Zlatko Relic (ex-Annex), Peter Osz (ex-Pain, real name Peter Osthues), Jörg Franke (ex-Ballantinez/Black Burn), Chris Mosch (Wotan - real name Chris Speich) met for a jam session and since the chemistry was ok, they formed a band called Crypt, to record a Demo. But since the feedback for that tape turned out positive, the guys decided to leave their recent bands and keep on playing together as Calderone in September. A first promotional 5 track Demo (without booklet) was mailed to magazines during 1986/87 and after another internationally successful Demo tape entitled "Never too young to thrash", that gained them features in all important magazines, Peter Osz went toplay with Askalon in 1988 and got replaced by Marc Papanastasiou (later in Tarot), while the band accepted the offer to produce a 5 track MLP in summer '88 for the indie label Parallel Lines Records. The EP contains quite fast teutonic Speed'n'Thrash stuff, similar to bands such as Living Death and also sold well, especially in Japan. For spring 1989 the band had already planned to release their debut album, but couldn't realize these plans anymore since Calderone split up and the guys went to play with other bands. 1993 Calderone started a second attempt, that only lasted till 1996, but since 2013 Chris Mosh keeps the band going constantly.Discography:
"Calderone" Demo 1986 (selfreleased)
"Never too young to thrash" Demo 1987 (selfreleased)
"Calderone" MLP 1988 (Parallel Lines)
California
Lineup:
Frank Baloniak (drums)
Frank Chmielewski (guitar, bass)
Ulrich Gresch (bass, guitar)
Wolfgang Schindler (keyboard)
Jürgen Bergmann (vocals, guitar)
Band-info:
Though one might think at a first view on the cover of this Herne based band that they might be Punk or NDW stuff, but they are indeed playing Hard Rock with some Kraut Rock influences. There are AC/DC influences audible on the title track, but their slow paced Hard Rock definitely isn't that uninteresting at all coz the guitar tone sounds quite nasty and so do the vocals in places. "Only you, Baby Blue" on the flipside is a dreamy Kraut Rock ballad with proggy touch.Discography:
"Punker" 7" EP 1982 (Count-Down-Promotion)
Call Of The Wild
Lineup:
Band-info:
Untimely 70's-inspired Hard Rock from Bochum, by whom a demo was produced in the early 90's by 'Rock Point' management, but that's about all we know so far. If you have more info, please get in contact.Discography:
Calvary
Lineup:
Dirk Strube (vocals)
Philip Paul (guitar)
Michael Urlaub (guitar)
Bernd Ziegelmayr (bass)
Rob (drums)
Band-info:
Quite unknown local Munich Thrashers who've been around since late 1986, founded by Philip "Pele" Paul, Rob, Michael "Holiday" Urlaub, Bernd Ziegelmayr and Dirk "Struppi" Strube (ex-Sign of Victory) who's been their vocalist since May '87. They recorded a pretty welldone Demo with the title "Bursting from plates" in the same year. The 5 tracks featured a melodic kind of straight forward Thrash Metal, that in places reminds of US bands in the early Striker/Gothic Slam vein with a technical approach and also Power/Thrash parts. But sadly the lads quickly disappeared or in other words nobody really took notice of this promising band at all. Dirk Strube left the band late 1987 and focussed on Rotten Bitch. He was later re-appearing in Unchained Scarlett and Sub-Machine, while Calvary dissolved in 1988. There is also a Live tape known as the "BFP-Demo", recorded from a gig at the FZH Ottobrunn on June 10th 1987.(Thanx to Dirk Strube for the info)
Discography:
"Bursting from plates" Demo 1987 (selfreleased)
"BFP-Demo" Live Tape 1987 (selfreleased)
Camelot
Lineup:
Harry Rein (vocals)
Ronnie Rodney (guitar)
Claus Riedel (bass)
Michael Rokker (drums)
Band-info:
A Hard'n'Heavy band from Wuppertal, that was just active for a short period between summer 1987 and 1988, but recorded their own material independently within 4 days, which was released by Steps Records on a MLP. Sadly these guys sound wasn't that heavy executed and just fluctuating from song to song amoung the Heavy Rock and Melodic Metal styles, in places reminding of Silk'n'Steel. Nevertheless for a local troop the material was solid enough to enter the middle field and I'm sure fans of the melodic stuff will truly enjoy Camelot's EP. According to the band's contact address I bet Ronnie Rodney's real name has been Ronald Schreiber.Discography:
"Stranger in the twilight" MLP 1987 (Steps)
Cameron
Lineup:
Band-info:
A local Pforzheim melodic Heavy Rock act that was actively playing live during 1988. If you got more info, please get in touch.Discography:
Canadyan
Lineup:
Sammy O. Thomas (vocals)
Rainer Heggelke (drums)
Burkhard Göttsch (bass)
Stephan Söth (guitar)
Enrico Rode (guitar)
Band-info:
A Hamburg based melodic Hard Rock band that started back in 1982. Sammy O. Thomas (vocals) completed the band in 1983 and they released their first vinyl in 1984. The 7" features 2 trax combining Hard Rock with melodic Heavy Metal influences that for '84 sounded quite fresh and they kept on playing that style on their LP "Canadyan" released again on Xymax (like the 7") in 1985. The album contains both songs ("In the night" and "Can't stop") of the single too but in re-recorded versions, and in general is driving the melodic Hard Rock rail with Metal edge, while Sammy O. Thomas is doing a pretty good job vocalwise. The album is highly recommended for those who are into the melodic Heavy Rock stuff. Then it became silent around the band but they returned in 1987, having 3 tracks on the local Blizz IIX compilation that showed them a bit more melodic rocking now. Nevertheless, their ballad "Would you sell the world" is a highlight on that sampler.Discography:
”In the night” 7”EP 1984 (Xymax)
”Canadyan” LP 1985 (Xymax)
"Blizz IIX" Comp.-LP 1987 (Deep Cut)
Cancer
Lineup:
Ralph Barthelmess (vocals)
Band-info:
A melodic Heavy Metal band from the wider Stuttgart area, who released a 3 track tape in 1987 and participated at the Rockfabrik Newcomer Festival in late 1989. Cancer's style was influenced by Bonfire, musically and either vocalwise their shouter Ralph Barthelmess sounded close to Bonfire's Claus Lessmann. If you got more info please get in touch.Discography:
"Cancer" Demo 1987 (Andric Stanelle Production)
Candle Flame
Lineup:
Band-info:
A local band from Munich, that to categorize isn’t easy at all. Both tunes they had on the underground sampler “Munich Nightmare Compilation”, namely “Bloodlust” and “Dirty Rock’n’Roller”, are kinda midtempo based, but deliver a rather Power/Thrash inspired sound nevertheless, reminding of all the late 80’s and early 90’s Bay Area stuff when Thrash wasn’t Thrash any longer. Most possibly according to the sound, these songs are taken from any Demo tape of the band.Discography:
“Munich Nightmare Compilation” Comp.-LP Tracks 1991 (Old Toaster)
Canford
Lineup:
Gaby Weihmayer (vocals)
Thomas Burtscher (guitar)
Kuno Schneider (keyboard)
Jochen Tabery (bass)
Ralf Maier (drums)
Band-info:
A female fronted Hard Rock band originating from Türkheim/Bavaria, that was featured with the tracks "Don't turn me on" and "(Without) Warning" on an underground CD sampler 1989. The band was active already back in 1986 (still male fronted), and participated on an international band contest. They already had at least one Demo recorded back in 1986 and recorded another one in 1989. If you got more info, please get in touch.Discography:
"Take This Song - Heart & Heavy Vol. 1" Comp.-CD Tracks 1989 (EMS Eastwood)
Cannon
Lineup:
Matthias Jähnke (vocals)
Walter Müller (guitar)
Oliver Krüger (guitar)
Steve Carrington (bass)
Mats Toralf (drums)
Band-info:
A Metal band formed in Hannover 1986, featuring ex-Magic Lane Steve Carrington and former Attack member Walter Müller. The band only recorded one album, but that one contains quite solid melodic Heavy Metal, somewhere between Accept and the heavier Scorpions. A bit irritating appear the vocals of Matthias Jähnke, because I feel strongly reminded of Ratt whenever he starts singing. But nevertheless, with "Thunder and lightning" you can't do much wrong. The band afterwards survived still till 1996, when they at last split up, but 2003 most of the lads started a comeback.Discography:
"Thunder and lightning" LP/CD 1988 (2XL)
Capital Rose
Lineup:
Xaver Drexler (vocals)
Ralf Neukirchen (guitar)
Horst Breidbach (guitar, keyboard)
Björn Thise (bass)
Holger Bruns (drums)
Band-info:
A Metal band from Bonn that's mainly known from the German Metal Fighters 1 compilation, which features two excellent melodic Power Metal bangers with "Capital Rose" and "Fight for your right". The latter pretty much reminds me of a not so speedy Noisehunter version, but nevertheless the riffing on both numbers was perfect. Dunno why D&S didn't release an album of this troop. This band formed during early 1986 or even late '85, and also published a selftitled 5 track Demo. Btw. Xaver Drexler (later in Forced Entry/STS 8 Mission/Joker) was the vocalist of Capital Rose.Discography:
"Capital Rose" Demo 1986 (selfreleased)
"German Metal Fighters No. I" Comp.-LP Tracks 1987 (D&S)
Capricorn
Lineup:
Adrian Hahn (vocals, bass)
David Hofmann (guitar)
Stefan Arnold (drums)
Band-info:
When Grinder dissolved after the less successful "Nothing is sacred" album in 1991, Adrian Hahn, Stefan Arnold and David Hofmann formed the Power/Thrash band Capricorn in 1992, that though being a Thrash band too, but stylistically hadn't much in common with Grinder at all. Capricorn's style was more rooted in the classic Power/Thrash with several mid 80's Metallica influences and though the band was formed in the early 90's, provided a rather classic 80's Metal sound. After a Demo tape in 1993 they could produce their debut album for Shark Records, which pretty much vanished unrecognized by most of the Thrash fans, which according to the band's dedication to the 80's sound, was rather tragic. 1995 another album ("Inferno") was produced for T&T Records, but the mix of the album couldn't concurrate with the debut album anymore, while either stylistically Capricorn had moved towards a Motörhead influenced speedy Power/Thrash sound with certain modern elements. 1996 the band split up.Discography:
"Demo '93" (selfreleased)
"Capricorn" CD 1993 (Shark)
Capt'n Metal
Lineup:
Jürgen
Jens
Joe
Olaf
Michael
Band-info:
A Metal band from Wolmirstedt/Magdeburg area, that surfaced during the late 80's on the stages of the ex-GDR's locations. During the political change the guys played a tour with Rocket and either some ex-Rocket musicians played in Capt'n Metal. At a later timepoint the guys changed name to "Capt‘ n Hammer und die Raketen". If you got more info, please get in touch.Discography:
Captain
Lineup:
Mathias Ebeling (guitar)
Frank Ebeling (guitar)
Thomas Ebeling (bass)
Band-info:
The band Captain was most probably locals of the Ruhrpott Rock scene. At least we can say that these guys was produced by Ulrich Pösselt and his RA.SH Musikverlag management, who either pressed a less known promotional single with the german sung songs "Schöne Mädchen" and "Träume" in the mid 80's. The foursome featured the 3 Ebeling brothers who later in 1988 also recorded an album with the Klaus Enkmann Band. Surprisingly both tracks should be of high interest for the melodic Hard Rock/AOR faction, as both offer a certain grade of musicality and deliver well produced, catchy and nevertheless vital commercial Heavy Rock.Discography:
"Schöne Mädchen/Träume" Promo 7" EP 1985 (Crime)
Captor
Lineup:
Holger Heinemann (vocals, guitar)
Stephan (guitar)
Urmel (bass)
Olli (drums)
Band-info:
Captor - a raw Death/Thrash band from Witten that formed in 1989 and was active till the early 90's. The band recorded at least 2 Demos, influenced by Sodom and Kreator and also played a few shows in their area. On the second tape they added some more Death Metal influences and additionally went into an improved technical direction as well. If you got more info, please get in touch.Discography:
"Waiting for a new messiah" Demo 1989 (selfreleased)
"Demo II" Demo 1991 (selfreleased)
Caravan
Lineup:
Carsten Knabe (vocals)
Ernst Reuter (guitar)
Thomas Fabian (bass)
Harald Hamann (keyboard)
Bert Wawrzinek (keyboard)
Henry Butschke (drums)
Band-info:
The Rock band Caravan was founded in Dresden in the ex-GDR in 1979 and started playing Genesis coverversions. In the following years the years the line up changed, till Caravan relocated to Berlin and in early 1987 Carsten Knabe found a steady one consisting of Ernst Reuter (guitar), Thomas Fabian (bass), Harald Hamann (keyboard), Bert Wawrzinek (keyboard) and Henry Butschke (drums). Caravan recorded a number songs for the national broadcast service between 1988 and 89, but none of these are of interest of this guide. We just feature the band due to their live repertoire, that included besides Pop/Rock material also cover versions of Europe and Marillion. The band labeled their live program themselves like "from Pop to Heavy Rock". February 1989 the band name got slightly altered to Knabe & die CARAVANe, till the band split up in the early 90's.Discography:
Broadcast Recordings:
"Ohne Worte" (1988)
"Tiger im Käfig" (1989)
"Winter in der Seele" (1989)
"Vergess'ne Wote" (1989)
Carbonized Kids
Lineup:
Band-info:
We just found a short mention of this band from Bremen in an old Mag. The guys was active around 1989, but yet we aren't sure what kind of music they had specialized in. Further info is needed.Discography:
Carcinoma
Lineup:
Frank Liebscher (vocals)
Dirk Koschewa (guitar)
Olaf Klabuhn (bass)
Silvio Gendur (drums)
Band-info:
Carcinoma was a local Annaberg-Buchholz (ex-GDR) based Death Metal band that besides Eminenz and Wodan could be seen as one of the big 3 in that city, that later during the mid 90's would emerge to the venue of the whole Erzgebirge Black Metal scene. The band formed during 1990 still in GDR days and recorded their "Thinking forest" Demo 1991, whose 5 songs was qualitative close to the common underground Death Metal stuff of that time and slightly influenced by Morbid Angel. Silvio Gendur afterwards was replaced by former bassist Olaf Klabuhn on the drums and Rigo Serfert instead became their bassist. With this line up the second tape "Sick of life" was released in 1992, before a change happened inside the band. Falk Lorenz joined on second guitar and ex-Eminenz/Wodan Jan Hubert replaced Frank Liebscher behind the micro. Carcinoma's sound went darker and more Doom/Death based. My Dying Bride influences aren't deniable, though the raw classic Death Metal roots wasn't oppressed either. Their last Demo "Mirror of anguish" was recorded in autumn '92 at the Digan Studio and released 1993, before the guys went separate paths. Koschewa formed Mortal Discipline, Frank Liebscher and Falk Lorenz shortly played in Sharon, before the latter formed Opacity and later went to play with Eminenz.Discography:
"Thinking forest" Demo 1991 (selfreleased)
"Sick of life" Demo 1992 (selfreleased)
"Human sickness" Comp.-MC Track 1992 (Thrashing East Attack Vol. II)
"Mirror of anguish" Demo 1993 (selfreleased)
Cardinal
Lineup:
Sorin Badin (guitar)
Band-info:
A Heavy Metal band from Stuttgart, that was active 1986 and featured the later Samsara and Crystal Maze guitarist Sorin Badin. If you got more info, please get in touch.Discography:
Cardinal Sin
Lineup:
Band-info:
A powerful classic Heavy Metal band from Braunschweig, formed in 1981 as Genocide, with only one Demo released in 1984. Despite delivering power sound on each of the 3 songs their songs had been quite catchy with good melodies and great axework, with especially "Face to face" being a merciless speed banger. If you got more info, please get in touch.Discography:
”Loud ‘n’ quiet” Demo 1984 (selfreleased)
Caress
Lineup:
Coco Laross (vocals)
Jack N. Teichmann (guitar)
Thommy Malbranc (guitar)
Dany Rosberg (bass)
Ossi Fox (drums)
Band-info:
A female fronted Melodic Metal band from Ottersweier, that started 1987 as Dunwich and either released a Demo 1988, before they changed name to Caress and recorded a private MLP in September '89. Not exactly bad sounding, the band was sadly caught in the middle field like f.e. the similar sounding Red Coast or Inherent Sin, without having any outstanding songs on the vinyl. Musically influenced by in places by the pounding Accept and Doro stuff, either the thin voice of Coco Laross couldn't be called "blessed", though she was trying her best. After another Demo 1991, that introduced new members Frank Behle (drums) and Patrick Donninger on guitar to replace Jack Teichmann, the band disbanded 1992.Discography:
"The return of the beast" MLP 1989 (selfreleased)
"Book of dreams" Demo 1991 (selfreleased)
Carissa
Lineup:
Martin Kröher (vocals)
Holger Schroth (guitar)
Band-info:
A local Metal band from the Pirmasens/Kaiserslautern area, that was active during the late 80's. Martin Kröher later in 1991 joined GO 90, a band that Holger Schroth was already member of, and was active in Rough Velvet and Centaron. Further info is needed.Discography:
Carmen
Lineup:
Band-info:
A local Hard Rock band from Dormagen, that was active during the very late 80's. If you got further info, please get in touch.Discography:
Carnifex
Lineup:
Ronny (vocals)
Volkmar Weber (bass)
Robert (drums)
Band-info:
A Noisecore trio from Apolda/Thuringia (ex-GDR) who released a 4 track Reh/Demo in 1991. The band was formed just the same year in June '91, while all of the guys earlier was active in Morbid Talking (probably another Noise act). They called their style themselves "Spastic New Core". I guess that tell's you everything you need to know...Discography:
"Reh. Demo '91" Demo 1991 (selfreleased)
Carpe Diem
Lineup:
Wolfgang Brendjes (vocals, guitar)
Carsten Vilcsko (guitar)
Rainer Ziehn (bass)
Volker Lentzen (drums)
Band-info:
Duisburg locals who released an obscure Split 7" with another german band called Dragon Flight that features the 2 trax "Watch yourself" and "Ghosts of money". Ignore the big written Hard Rock writing on the cover, Carpe Diem (as well as Dragon Flight) are playing Power Metal, that despite of 1992, is free of every modern influences. Carpe Diem even come up with a sound that's closer to the mid 80's, celebrating the Metal to the maximum with 2 midpaced power numbers that will make you asking for more. The band seemed to be active already during the fall of the 80's, and was featured with the song "Sweet Senorita" on the local Duisburg underground compilation "Sounds like Duisburg '93" as well. At a later stage they changed name to Caustic Blood.Discography:
"Böses aus dem Bunker" Split 7"EP 1992 (Impact)
"Sweet Senorita" Comp.-CD Track 1993 (Sounds like Duisburg '93)
Carrie
Lineup:
Annelen Middendorf (vocals)
Wilfried Schneider (guitar)
Oliver Hermanns (guitar)
Jürgen Slavin (bass)
Steffi Melz (keyboards)
Uwe Starck (drums)
Band-info:
I don't know why all the Earthshaker bands had been just shortlived affairs and split after just one album, but with Carrie another one of these bands gets in the line. 1984 after departing from their old band Mad Max, Wilfried Schneider and Uwe Starck tried to realize their own musical concept in Münster and founded the band Carrie. Axel Thubeauville signed the promising band for his Earthshaker label and produced the album "Secrets" in early '86. The material hadn't much in common with the old Mad Max stuff, moreover the lads was feasting in a power rush. Judas Priest ("Defenders of the faith" era) meets (of corpse) Warlock; naturally with a female vocalist you'd have to get compared to Warlock, but Carrie was playing on an equal level, while Annelen's vocals sounded similar to Micki Burkhardt of Plattform. No clue what has been the reason to disband a group still within the same year your album got published, but Carrie split up still in 1986.Discography:
"The assassin" Comp.-LP Track 1985 (Metallic Bunny's Fast Collection)
"Secrets" LP 1986 (Earthshaker)
Carrion
Lineup:
Jörg Paguhl
Band-info:
Heavy Metal band from Lüneburg releasing their 4 track debut demo in late 1985. If you have more info please get in touch.Discography:
Carrion
Lineup:
Thomas Rettke (vocals)
Peter Bilski (guitar)
Ingo Millek (guitar)
Manfred Jordan (bass)
Thorsten Müller (drums)
Band-info:
Carrion was the post-Steeltower band, that Thomas Rettke, Ingo Millek and Thorsten Müller 1987 started in Wolfsburg when Steeltower was history. The old Steeltower pal Manfred Jordan joined them again on bass guitar and Peter Bilski was introduced on guitar. The band didn't last for long, but long enough to produce a 7 track Demo tape in 1987, before they changed name to Heaven's Gate in 1988.Discography:
"Heavy Metal" Demo 1987 (selfreleased)
Casanova
Lineup:
Michael Voss (guitar, vocals)
Stephan Neumeier (guitar)
Jochen Mayer (bass)
Michael Eurich (drums)
Band-info:
A melodic Hard Rock/Glam band from Düsseldorf, that actually was casted by producer Henry Staroste and featured Michael Voss (ex-Hydra), who left Mad Max frustrated in 1987. Further members of the band has been ex-Warlock drummer Michael Eurich, who already played together with Voss in the band What? during '88/89, as well as Jochen Mayer and Stephan Neumeier (ex-Dresden China). There could be a possibility that What? either already was pre-Casanova. The recipe of Casanova was quite easy, take 4 good looking boys with long hair, let them play some melodic catchy Hard Rock songs and girls will spend all their money, that they usually would use to buy shoes, on Casanova albums. And guess what? It worked so well, the guys produced 2 albums that stylistically could be ranged somewhere in the Mr. Big, Fair Warning, Firehouse, Bonfire, Vice or Craaft league. After a break in 1993, Casanova returned 1999 with "Heroes" and "Sway" and either produced one more album 2004 ("All beauty must die").Discography:
"Casanova" LP/CD 1991 (WEA)
"Sticky sweet" 7" EP 1991 (WEA)
"Ride the wings of freedom" MCD 1991 (WEA)
"Inbetween" MCD 1991 (WEA)
"One night stand" LP/CD 1992 (WEA)
"One of these days" MCD 1992 (WEA)
"Heaven can wait" Comp.-CD 1992 (German Rock Project - The Ballad Album)
"Some like it different ... Acoustic" MCD 1993 (WEA)
Cascade
Lineup:
Band-info:
A Thrash Metal band (most probably) from southern Germany, that was active in the very late 80's. If you got more info, please get in touch.Discography:
Castaway
Lineup:
Band-info:
A Metal band that was most probably originating from the Karlsruhe area, as these guys was seen playing live there during 1990/91. Further info is needed.Discography:
Cat-Can
Lineup:
Band-info:
Cat-Can should come from the Saarbrücken area and was featured with the two trax "Count on my mission" and "Turning wheel" on one of the German Metal Fighters compilations. Why they was featured there is a question to me as Cat-Can played just plain Hard Rock with either Rock'n'Roll touch on the first track. And none of both was even listenable for Metal ears. If you got more info, please get in touch.
Catz
Lineup:
Dirk van Hanrath (vocals)
Jens Reulecke (guitar)
Frank Elwart (bass)
Karl-Heinz Bösel (keyboard)
Claus Reinholdt (drums)
Band-info:
A local Hildesheim Hard Rock band, that existed since 1980 and was about to release their debut album in January 1990, which wasn't released at all. Members of the band was Bubi The Schmied (Claus Reinholdt), who left Zed Yago to join Catz in autumn '89, as well as Kalle Bösel (ex-Destiny), a well known musician of the Hannover scene, who later worked with Vice, Zeno, Running Wild and earlier with Fulda's T.N.T. If you got further info, please get in touch.Discography:
Cave Canem
Lineup:
Band-info:
A Metal band from the Munich area, that was actively playing gigs during 1988. If you got more info, please get in touch.Discography:
CC Seven
Lineup:
M. Prätorius
Band-info:
A less known band with less known single and that's even less info known or to find about. The title track starts like a "(I can't get no) Satisfaction" rip off attempt, but with the refrain develops into an ok AOR number. "Nicolette" is just a Rock ballad, a forgettable single. If you got more info, please get in touch.Discography:
"Runnin'/Nicolette" 7"EP 1983 (Crime)
Celtic Breakfast
Lineup:
Yngwie Edvaldsson (vocals, guitar)
Thorsten (drums)
Band-info:
Some of you back in the day might have heard of Celtic Breakfast, as I remember certain people asking for recordings years later within the tapetrader scene. Celtic Breakfast most probably was a fake/fun Thrash band, that I thought it was created by the editors of the german Metal Hammer during 1987 and could be seen as a running gag of that Mag since these clowns provided their readership constantly with "news" of the band and their upcoming album "Forked in fire" during 1987. The album was "planned" to be recorded during mid 1987, and released later that year as well on the imaginary label Diabolic Fart Records on vinyl and CD, including the exclusive non vinyl track "Omelette of death". Their joke was either going that far, that the Metal Hammer provided a contact address of the band and their "fanclub" originating from Eschborn, either T-shirts being available and the MH featured one of the "musicians" to participate on the monthly album review section of the Mag, while at least the "band" was announced to play at the Hardcore Festival '87 together with Cronos Titan and Waterheads. You could find either Demo reviews of their first tape, featuring the songs "Morbid steaks", "Don't burn the toast" and "Diabolic fortz", which might give you a quite detailed impression of their highly serious lyrical message. But be aware Celtic Breakfast could be just an imaginary band, so searching for releases of the guys might end in an eternal odyssey. Further info are needed in this case!"In Nomine Breakfast"
(Thanx to ObsessedByCruelty for additional info)
Discography:
"Celtic Breakfast" Demo 1986 (selfreleased)
"The fatal pancake" Demo 1987 (selfreleased)
Celyphayr
Lineup:
Band-info:
Celyphayr was a shortlived local band from the greater Mannheim area, featuring ex-members of Stained Class. The guys recorded a Demo entitled “Now or never” in 1987, including a melodic sort of Heavy Metal and actively was seen on stage during 1987-89 when Celyphayr already called it a day. If you got more info, please get in touch.Discography:
“Now or never" Demo 1987 (selfreleased)
Cemestry
Lineup:
Band-info:
A (most probably Thrash) Metal band that was originating from the greater Mönchengladbach area and was active during 1987/88. If you got more info, please get in touch.Discography:
Centaur
Lineup:
Rainer Küppers (vocals)
Christian Peters (guitar)
Stefan Lohmann (guitar)
Markus Lenzen (bass)
Christoph Weiß (keyboards)
Reiner Schützler (drums)
Band-info:
A melodic Power Metal band from Duisburg, active since 1988, who emerged from the ashes of the band Splendid and got signed by the No Remorse label, but unlike most of other bands that No Remorse offered initial help for their further career, Centaur wasn't signed by a major label after their debut. "Mob rules the world" provided a lightly to digest Heavy/Power Metal with symphonic yet slightly commercial touch, with influences from both the german and US Metal styles. For the release of "Power world" they changed guitarists, Michael Böing came in for Peters, but soundwise they didn't change any gear down. "Power world" just resumed where "Mob rules the world" started. A few more albums was published till 2009 with members coming and going, and either nowadays these lads are still around.Discography:
"Looking for someone" Demo 1989 (selreleased)
"Mob rules the world" LP/CD 1990 (No Remorse)
"Power world" CD 1993 (Liga)
Centerfold
Lineup:
Stefan Mageney (vocals)
Frank Fricke (guitar)
Martin Demuth (bass)
Knut Spindeldreher (keyboard)
Peter Schellhammer (drums)
Band-info:
A Hard Rock/Metal band from Wuppertal that was active since 1987 and started playing live since early '88. The band's sound was influenced by the american style of Metal, with melodic touch and some vague Dave Lee Roth influences as well. After the guys recorded their well sold debut Demo in 1989, the publisher Warner Chappel afforded the band to professionally record a second 3 track Demo in 1990, featuring the songs "Got together", Don't forget the queen" and "Carry me home". If you got more info, please get in touch.Discography:
Central Power Unit
Lineup:
Andy Wolk (guitar)
Rüdiger Föll (drums)
Wolfgang Tampe (vocals)
Wolfgang Nübling (bass)
Bobby Benz (guitar)
Band-info:
A HM band from Emmendingen-Lahr in the south-west corner of Germany, cobbled together by ex-members from various other local "legends". Guitarist Andreas Wolk and drummer Rüdiger Föll were previously in MP/Metal Priest, singer Wolfgang Tampe came from Lazzer and bassist Wolfgang Nübling were part of a later line-up of Freiburg's oldies Heavy Load. They had their debut gig in Appenweier in the spring of 1990 and their 4-song promo-demo from the same year has been described as no frills, tight but not too exceptional Heavy Metal. More info is needed.Discography:
Promo-demo 1990 (Hippmann Music)
Century
Lineup:
C. Auguscinski
Band-info:
A Metal band from Munich area, active around 1986. Not to be confused with the melodic Hard Rockers Century from Bremen. If you have more info please get in touch.Discography:
Century (Bremen)
Lineup:
Thomas Heuberg (vocals)
Heiner Suhr (guitar)
Frank Koopmann (bass)
Rüdiger Daartz (keyboard)
Klaus Oehmichen (drums)
Band-info:
A Heavy Rock band from Bremen, that was active in the fall of the 80's and produced an independent EP 1990. Musically the guys would fully fit into the bavarian scheme, because their material featured a nice sort of melodic Hard Rock with quite catchy songs, mixing heavy AOR sounds with heavy Hard Rock, like f.e. Magenta or Firefox did. Definitely a recommendation for fans of the melodic stuff.Discography:
"Century" 12" EP 1990 (Sundance Studio)
Cerebral Apoplexy
Lineup:
Thomas Will
Band-info:
Thrash Metal cellarband from Lambsheim, Rheinland-Pfalz, active in the 2nd part of the 80's. Self-proclaimed influences were Metallica, Slayer and Hallows Eve, but no recordings are known. If you have more info, get in contact.Discography:
Cerebral Decay
Lineup:
Band-info:
A progressive Speed Metal band from the Puderbach/Neuwied in the wider Koblenz area, that was active during the late 80's and early 90's. If you got more info, please get in touch.Discography:
Ceylon
Lineup:
Michael Gröper (vocals)
Jörg-Rainer Friede (guitar)
Frank Rusch (guitar)
Band-info:
A Heavy Metal band from Rostock up in the north of the ex-GDR, that was playing during the mid 80’s from 1984-1987, featuring the Crystal guitarist Jörg-Rainer Friede during a short period in 1985/86. Also Michael Gröper (Rosa Rock, Dead Bang) used to sing in Ceylon, who only performed live and didn’t seem to ever have recorded any material. Further info is needed.(Thanx to Jens-Uwe Bernd for info and picture)
Discography:
Cezanne
Lineup:
Hannes Greul (bass, vocals)
Band-info:
A local Pforzheim Hard Rock unit, which was quite well known in their area back in the 80’s, when the band was mainly active as a live band between 1980 and 1990, before they stopped playing. Nowadays 3 of the original 4 members are back again as Cezanne to keep on performing on stage. Further info is welcome.Discography:
Chain Reaction
Lineup:
Band-info:
A Hard Rock/Metal band originating from most probably southern Germany, that was actively playing live during 1988. If you got more info, please get in touch.Discography:
Chain Reaction
Lineup:
Band-info:
A Heavy Rock band from Wolfenbüttel/Braunschweig, that was active during the beginning of the 90's. Further info is needed.Discography:
Chainbreaker
Lineup:
Thommy Helbig (vocals, guitar)
Thomas Reutter (bass)
Ronny Reindl (drums)
Band-info:
Chainbreaker from Nuremberg was active already since 1981, but the first 3 track Demo was recorded not before 1985. Their style was kinda sluggish standard 80's Heavy Metal on the debut, but they later got the curve and released the two other Demos "Kick down" and "Savage days" in 1987/88, that featured speedy 80's Metal with melodic refrains. During 1994 the guys also produced their debut CD "Sex not love" independently. If you got more info, please get in touch.(Thanx to Rumblefist for additional info)
Discography:
"First tape” Demo 1985 (selfreleased)
"Kick down" Demo 1987 (selfreleased)
"Savage days" Demo 1988 (selfreleased)
Chainsaw
Lineup:
Frank von Scheidt (vocals)
Burkhardt Rautenberg (guitar)
Andreas Klimowitsch
Gerd Gutsche (bass)
Arndt Kremer (drums)
Band-info:
A Metal band from Essen, active since around 1984, who got quickly signed by Axel Thubeauville's Bonebreaker label after their raw debut Demo. If you look at certain old Thrash live posters or flyers, these guys shared the stage with the who's who of the german Thrash elite back in the day. Though in the beginning they'd rather prefer to perform a more Power Metal style with Speed/Thrash influences. Just take the outstanding track "Speed limit", so close to Paradox's later sound, it's almost scary. On their only album "Hell's burnin' up" though, Chainsaw featured more of a classic german Power/Speed Metal style, slightly reminding of Tyrant and Vectom, that makes me wondering, why the guys didn't record the song "Speed limit" for the album? On the following Demo "See ya, folks", Chainsaw again delivered a way more earfriendly Thrash style Metal, with Anthrax influences and Mosh parts, that I pretty much ask myself why the LP had to feature a completely different style? Nevermind, just for info, the Demo was spread with two different covers. I guess the original version came with a red colored fold out booklet, while the pic below shows the more common seen version with only a band pic (photo) and not even songtitles printed. Unlike what Metal Archives says, that Demo definitely wasn't dating from 1985. Wether it was recorded 1987 or either in late 1986. The track "Reinheitsgebot" from that tape was featured on the Teutonic Invasion II sampler, so that testifies even more that Demo can't be from 1985. Chainsaw split up around 1989/90, and Arndt Kremer joined the Thrashers Amnesty afterwards.Discography:
"Chainsaw" Demo 1985 (selfreleased)
"Hell's burnin' up!" LP 1985 (Bonebreaker)
"See ya, folks" Demo 1987 (selfreleased)
"Reinheitsgebot" Comp.-LP Track 1988 (Teutonic Invasion Part Two)
Chainsaw Orchestra
Lineup:
Mario Lepschies (vocals)
Enrico Viete (guitar)
Mario Bude (bass)
Sven Schmerschneider (drums)
Band-info:
Chainsaw Orchestra in the beginning started as Thrash band during February 1989, but these guys from Eberswalde-Finow in the ex-GDR more and more added Death Metal influences to their sound during the following 2 years, though, never leaving the old Thrash roots at all. Their first selftitled Demo from 1991 was recorded twice, while the first version suffered by an even worse rehearsal room sound than version number two, recorded just a couple of months later. Despite the early difficulties, the guys ignored all the previous issues and returned with 2 more Demos during 1992, now fully Death Metal dominated, before the last one “Braindead” was recorded in March ’94 with additional guitarist Mirko Blahm. The interest of record labels was restrained, therefore the band managed to produce a CD with tracks of all the Demos entitled “Die Geschichte” on Trauma Records, which was most probably their own label. The only album of the band “Lost” was again privately produced during 1998, featuring Inge on vocals and Robert Martin on guitar replacing Enrico Viete, besides Bude (bass), Schmerschneider (drums) and Blahm of the prior line up. Chainsaw Orchestra disbanded quite soon still withing 1998, despite the album release, but Sven Schmerschneider and Mirko Blahm, tried to restart the band again during 2012 with new musicians.Discography:
"Chainsaw Orchestra" Demo 1991 (selfreleased)
"Nailed to the cross" Demo 1992 (selfreleased)
“Methode of sickness” Demo 1992 (selfreleased)
"Mental case" Comp.-MC Track 1993 (Unseen Para Dies-Demo Selection No.2)
Chainsaw Under Pressure
Lineup:
Chris
Frank
Rainer
Martin
Band-info:
Chainsaw Under Pressure from the Eiffel area (south of Bonn/Cologne) firstly appeared on the underground album "Der Eiffelsampler", published a Demo tape afterwards in 1991 (info needed) and then recorded some more trax in April '91 for a Split LP with the Punk band Pogodas. Though the band is rating their style Hardcore, I'd expand that term to Hard/Grindcore with raw growled vocals. The Chainsaw Under Pressure side of the vinyl features just almost the same stuff that Lethal Aggression and especially Napalm Death used to play on their early albums. Sure, there are moshy Hardcore influences too, but basically these lads fully meet the Crossover requirements. They themselves once mentioned their influences ranging from Discharge, Exploited to Entombed.Discography:
"Der Eiffelsampler" Comp.-LP Tracks 1990 (1 MF)
"Chainsaw Under Pressure/Pogodas" Split LP 1991 (1MF)
Chalice
Lineup:
Heiko Sudars (vocals)
Chico (bass)
Marcus (guitar)
Olix (drums)
Band-info:
A shortlived, but great sounding Power Metal band from Lübeck, featuring ex-Mortox bassplayer Chico and Heiko Sudars (ex-Mephizto/Killdozer/Outrage) who both would form the band Subcutane in 1993. Chalice started sometime in 1989 and released just one Demo tape in 1991, that surprises with pretty good sound and arrangements, before they already disbanded in the early 90's.Discography:
"Lost children" Demo 1991 (selfreleased)
Chalice and Crown
Lineup:
Conny Wanninger (vocals)
Axel Günsch (guitar)
Arnd Köhn (guitar)
Olli Büttner (bass)
Stefan Krück (drums)
Band-info:
Chalice and Crown was formed in 1992 by Arnd Köhn and Stefan Krück in the city of Coburg/Bavaria. They started with a female singer and recorded their first Demo "Night of the crime" right in the same year, featuring 9 songs, somewhere between Speed and midtempo Power Metal including either Epic Metal hints, while Conny Wanninger's voice strongly reminds of Doro Pesch with just a wider voice spectrum. The track "City life" from that Demo was also used for a local compilation CD with the title "Out of the shade - Franken" in 1993. During the fall of '93 Köhn and Krück reformed the band with different musicians, while musically they went slightly heavier and recorded the "Seven sins" Demo in 1995 with newbies Wolfgang Scheler (bass), Nicolai Wachter (vocals) and Thomas Korndörfer (ex-Ender) on guitar, but in 1998 they eventually called it quits. Wolfgang Scheler joined Backslash and initiated Chalice and Crown's return during 2011, while most of the guys of the last line up joined him again except of Arnd Köhn. 2015 they released the album "Confessions".Discography:
"Night of the crime" Demo 1992 (selfreleased)
"City Life" Comp.-CD Track 1993 ("Out of the shade - Franken")
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.
Challenger
Lineup:
Band-info:
A local Metal band originating from Dortmund, that was active during 1988/89. If you got more info, please get in touch.Discography:
Challenger
Lineup:
Ulrich Rohmann (vocals)
Willi Lackmann (bass)
Albert Eckhardt (drums)
Band-info:
A Hard Rock/Metal band from Gelsenkirchen/Gladbeck, that was active during 1982/83. Grave Digger borrowed their members Willi Lackmann (bass) and Albert Eckhardt (drums) early '83 to record a second Demo, that changed everything for them. When Grave Digger split up mid '83, Chris Boltendahl went to sing for Challenger. When Noise offered Grave Digger a record deal, they decided to merge Challenger with ex-Grave Digger members and revived Grave Digger again. The former shouter Ulrich Rohmann later got hired by Lions Breed. Further info is needed.Discography:
Champ
Lineup:
Band-info:
A fem-fronted Hard Rock band from Offenbach (or thereabouts) active on the local live scene in the late 80's/early 90's. If you have more info, please get in contact.Discography:
Champagne
Lineup:
Lars Fischer (vocals, guitar)
Jens Fischer (vocals, guitar)
Frank Jürgens (bass)
Frank Barth (drums)
Band-info:
A Wiesmoor based Heavy Metal band active from 1988-1990 when they found out that there's another Champagne band around so they expanded name to Wild Champagne. All of the 4 guys was active since the mid 80's as Prowler and Frank Jürgens from '87-'88 in a band called Lovehunter either. After the name change, that caused a stylistical change as well, they recorded a first Demo "Password paradise" 1991 and got picked up by West Virginia Records who produced their first CD "From now for ever" in 1992. When West Virginia went bankrupt Rockwerk Records released the second album "Wipe off your tears" the next year and both albums stylistically are the same brew, mixing Hard Rock and Heavy Metal with glammy influences but still keeping the "german touch". The band also released more albums till 2018 when they disbanded. There was no recordings done as Champagne.Discography:
Champagne (Jork)
Lineup:
Jörg Leyding (vocals)
Hucky (guitar)
Heiko Schröder (guitar)
Olly (bass)
AC (drums)
Band-info:
Not to be confused with Champagne from Wiesmoor in the upper north as well, these melodic Hardrockers from Jork, west of Hamburg, were originally formed in January '86 by Jörg Leyding and Thomas Fisher as Lightning. The line-up was completed in June '87 with the addition of Frode Garshol, Andreas Glummert and Jan-Marc Bayer. Their "...Call 6069" Demo was recorded in December '87, described as Y&T-influenced melodic Hard Rock. The norwegian Drummer Frode Garshol went on to Alley Cat in 1988, causing a big conceptional change inside the band, who immediately got renamed to Champagne during late '88 or January '89, with new line up featuring Jörg Leiding (vox), Hucky (guitar), ex- Wild Heart Heiko Schröder (guitar) Olly (bass) and AC on drums. For the end of January '89 a first Demo of Champagne was either announced. If you have more info, please get in contact.Discography:
Chance
Lineup:
Erich Gertscher (guitar, vocals)
Volker Hofmann (bass)
Peter Leuschner (drums, vocals)
Band-info:
A local band from Herzogenaurach, who published a rather unknown, independentely manufactured album with gatefold cover, sometime in the late 80's I guess. There is sadly no year to find, but the lads sound was just typical Hard Rock with almost Biker Rock touch. Here and there either a galopping riff raises the mood, but overall their Hard Rock was more of the lightweight sort.Discography:
"Are you ready ... for love!" LP 198x (selfreleased)
Charan
Lineup:
Andre Vierbücher (guitar)
Dirk Radtke (vocals, guitar)
Gregor Skopal (bass)
Michael Vierbücher (drums)
Band-info:
Charan was a classic old Helloween style Speed Metal band from Gelsenkirchen, which was active during 1984 (as Hardened Steel) till late 1988 and recorded 5 Demo tapes during that time frame. There are also rumours saying a full album recording from 1988 should exist as well, which probably was released as the "Wicked of despair" Demo in 1988. Vocalist Dirk Radtke later was active in the band Mordor (Essen area), who changed name to Dario in 1991 and during 1989 playing drums in “Pride of a Knight”. If you got more info, please get in touch.Discography:
"Persecution mania" Demo 1986 (selfreleased)
"Into the hell" Demo 1986 (selfreleased)
"Immortal in purgatory" Demo 1987 (selfreleased)
"Tales of a blind man" Demo 1987 (selfreleased)
"Wicked of despair" Demo 1988 (selfreleased)
Charger
Lineup:
Jörg Buddruß (vocals)
Tillmann Hlady (guitar)
Thomas Grimmig (guitar)
Rainer Huxhage (bass)
Frank Ullrich (drums)
Band-info:
A Heavy Metal band from Bielefeld that was active since 1982. During the mid 80's you could see advertisements of the band in several Metal Hammer mags, searching for members. The whole undertaking succeeded, as during 1987 the guys recorded a handful of Demos including a "Live Demo 1987" that wasn't sold but sent to promoters. But already in November the band fell apart, because Frank Ullrich (he later joined Mendacious Messiah) and Thomas Grimmig wanted to form an own band (Fairywhite), while Jörg Buddruß quit as well. Only Huxhage and Hlady remained, who immediately recruited both ex-Fortuner members Rüdiger and Jürgen Eilts (guitar & drums), plus ex-Vienna vocalist Thomas Harkau. During March 1988 the new Charger prepared their first album release and already had recorded 8 classic Power Metal bangers for that purpose at the EMS Eastwood Studio in Spenge, but sadly split up before the album could be released. Rainer "Hucky" Huxhage recorded the "Molten Metal" Demo with Stainless Steel in the meanwhile. A bit later on the trax of the Live Demo and unreleased album was officially released on CD in 2017 as "The Madhouse Project" including 3 re-recorded songs from 1988 with new vocalist Thomas Barkau. Originally this should be a new start for Charger, and either the guys found a label to sign them, but split up once again before an album deal could be signed.You can listen to Charger here
Discography:
"Charger" Demo 1987 (selfreleased)
"Live Demo 1987" (unofficial)
"Face to face with death" Demo 1988 (selfreleased)
Chariot
Lineup:
Florian Drumm (vocals)
Band-info:
A Heavy Metal band from Kaiserslautern, that was active between 1984-'87 and either released a 4 track Demo in 1986. The guys also played several live shows in their local area, but when their vocalist Florian Drumm left the band in spring '87 to concentrate on his studies, the rest of the guys decided to merge with the band Superior, who had line up problems at the same time as well. Chariot and Superior members continued under the monicker of Superior from this day forward. Further info is welcome.Discography:
Charisma
Lineup:
Christian Ranzinger (guitar)
Det (guitar)
Piet (drums)
Band-info:
A local oscure Thrash band from East Berlin (ex-GDR), who formed during 1989, but never left the practise room and neither played live gigs at all, since Charisma was lacking of members to complete a full working line up. When bassist/singer Marco Ende then joined in the fall of 1989, the guys changed name straight to Exciting Vision.(Thanx to Det for band info)
Discography:
Charity
Lineup:
Andy Mertens (vocals)
Mike Eckert (guitar)
Mickey Rheinhardt (guitar)
Ronald Eckstein (b)
Michael Handel (drums)
Band-info:
A melodic Heavy Rock band from West Berlin that exists since March 1987 and was playing live there in the fall of the 80's. If you got more info, please get in touch.Discography:
Charley’s War
Lineup:
Mike War (vocals)
Andy plötzer (guitar)
Jens Teuscher (guitar)
Kai Hasse (bass)
David Strempel (drums)
Band-info:
A Hardcore band from West Berlin, that was active since the late mid 80's and at last got their career rolling with the first Demo, released in the fall of the 80's, before 1990 the whole thing started for them. After a 7" on Crucial Response Records the Aggressive Rockproduktionen label published their debut album late 1990 and their second and last album "1000 years of civilisation" was available 1992. These guys sound was heavily impressed by the NYHC style, including the typical Metal edge, which makes Charley's War either interesting for Thrash/Crossover fans, coz these lads seriously didn't hesitate with delivering the Thrash axe at all. For fans of Agnostic Front, Insight or Against The Wall pretty much recommended.Discography:
"Charley's War" Demo 1989 (selfreleased)
"Charley's War/Swamp Terrorist" Split Promo Tape 1990 (Sound Cellar)
"Think about your life" 7" EP 1990 (Crucial Response)
"Time to survive" LP/CD 1990 (Aggressive Rockproduktionen)
"1000 years of civilisation" LP/CD 1992 (Snoop)
Charlie
Lineup:
Jörg Wolf (guitar)
Ina Morgenweck (vocals)
Gerald Sohr (guitar)
Gunter Bünger (bass)
Michael Fromme (drums)
Dirk Riedel (keyboard)
Band-info:
The band Charlie was a female fronted melodic Hard Rock act founded in Dresden (ex-GDR) by Jörg Wolf in early 1986 and they started with playing Rock classics of bigger groups, but the line up changed several times and eventuall the band split up in late 1988. But in 1989 when Ina Morgenweck (ex-Na und) relocated to Berlin she found Michael Jurischk (guitar, ex-PHARAO), Steffen Gnauck (bass), Martin Walter (keyboard) and Peter Kettner on drums. They recorded 3 songs for the east german radio broadcast while one of them "Turn away" (a heavier Hardrocker with good drive) got featured on the Rockbilanz Compilation in 1989. The other 2 being "Ich bin voll Rock 'n' Roll" (1987, with huge Rock 'n' Roll edge) and "Crazy nights" (1989). The band dissolved in 1990 because Ina Morgenweck was going solo on tour with Udo Lindenberg and joined ex-MCB Sebastian Baur's new band Lanz Bulldog in 1991. In 1992 she formed the Lazy Bones together with Sebastian Baur. Michael Jurischk joined the band of ex-Na Und drummer Angela Ullrich in 1990 for a short time and later permanently Plattform.Discography:
„Turn Away“ Comp.-LP Track 1989 (Rockbilanz '89)
Broadcast recordings:
"Ich bin voll Rock 'n' Roll" (1987)
"Crazy nights" (1989)
Charlie's Crew
Lineup:
Hans-Jürgen Ludwig (guitar, vocals)
"Grete" Fischer (guitar, vocals)
Uwe Jahn (bass)
Klaus Gehn (drums)
Band-info:
After leaving MCB in late 1985, Hans-Jürgen "Charlie" Ludwig (ex-Magdeburg) decided to form his own band in Madgeburg (ex-GDR) during 1986. The band could produce a couple of songs during early 1988 and 1989 for the national broadcast service, that though haven't much in common with MCB's Heavy Metal style at all and could be seen as a sort of R'n'R influenced Hard/Classic Rock (the early MCB had that R'n'R touch also). Ludwig still today keeps the band alive, who focussed on a stage program consisting of mainly cover versions nowadays.Discography:
Broadcast Recordings:
"Mit 17" (1988)
"Wenn die Erde brennt" (1988)
"Lass uns leben" (1989)
Charon
Lineup:
Carsten Sprigode (vocals)
Eberhard Feldhahn (bass)
Michael Cars (guitar)
Holger Wilkens (guitar)
Andreas Feldhahn (drums)
Band-info:
A Hamburg based melodic Hard Rock act, that used to block a cool band name, which could have had found use at another place for any heavier band. The band was founded in 1983 by the Feldhahn brothers and soon found a stable line up to record their selftitled debut 1984. Though the "class" of this band never really revealed to my ears, someone at Heavy Metal Records and later even Steamhammer too, thought that Charon would sell a million records. Seriously, the debut album sounds nothing but a 3rd classy Scorpions copycat, simply everything reminds of the Scorpions on that album, apart of Meine's vocals, that they fortunately couldn't copy at all. After that album the band got completely reshuffled, which I do not fully understand at this point. Andrè Martelli (vocals), Jan-Sören Eckert (bass), Oliver T. Paul (guitar), Luther D. Mel (keyboard) and Stephen Heyer (drums) was the names of the new musicians, so wether Oliver T. Paul and Luther D. Mel has been synonyms or there had been noone left of the original group. Naturally musically everything changed as well. The "Made in Aluminum" crew at least used to play softer Heavy Metal now, still slightly Scorpions influences are noticable, but obviously heavier compared to the first effort. Still none of Charon's albums featured material that could break out of the lower middle field. Sören Eckert, Andrè Martelli and Andreas Feldhahn would form the much more exciting studio project Mydra in 1987.
Charon
Lineup:
Andreas Vollert (vocals)
Jens Busch (guitar, bass, vocals, drum programming)
Thomas Schwalowsky (guitar, bass, vocals)
Band-info:
The Thrash band Charon from Potsdam/ex-GDR was the pre-stage of what later would become the progressive Thrash Metal band Defcon. There isn't much known about this band, they seem to have been active since early 1987. Their vocalist Andreas Vollert left the band during autumn '87 and formed his own band Allion, while in June '88 Thomas Schwalowsky and Jens Busch formed the studio project Defcon. If you got more info, please contact us.Discography:
Charon (Chemnitz)
Lineup:
Frank Göpfert (vocals)
Thomas Walther (guitar)
Thomas Steinz (bass)
Uwe Eckert (drums)
Band-info:
Originally the ex-GDR band Charon was founded as Rübezahl 1984 in Karl-Marx-Stadt (now Chemnitz) and started as a Rock band, till Andreas Vlachidis had to join the army and his substitute Thomas Junior (ex-Pent) was responsible that the guys went into a slightly more Hard Rock based direction, by covering songs of Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple. Annegret Morgenstern left to focus more on background things of the band and when Sven Hartmann 1986 had to suffer the same fate like Vlachidis before, Gunter Pasler first and shortly later Thomas Steinz (ex-Frontal) joined on bass guitar. That was the starting shot for Rübezahl's Heavy Metal career, influenced by Accept and Judas Priest tunes. In Autumn '87 Sven Hartmann returned to the band and drummer Bernd Leucht quit his drummer job to get replaced by Uwe Eckert (ex-Frontal). Rübezahl’s live repertoire featured several tunes of Judas Priest, Accept, Deep Purple, UFO, ZZ Top, Motörhead, Samson, Ted Nugent, Led Zeppelin or Black Sabbath. During that time Thomas Junior decided to leave the country and the guys found replacement for him in once again an ex-Frontal member, Thomas Walther on the guitar. While the sound of the band became a bit more Motörhead and Black Sabbath inspired, they changed name to Charon in 1988. Late in '89 guitarist Thomas Walther (later in Doctor Rock) and Thomas Steinz had been the victims of the army, so Heiko Serchen (guitar, ex-Doctor Rock) and Bert Reinhold (bass) came into the band, which caused another change of the musical direction towards a prefered Metallica influenced sound. After several internal issues Charon was disbanded during spring 1990.Discography:
Charterflug Tschad
Lineup:
Max (drums)
Manuel (bass)
Dirk (guitar)
Roland (vocals)
Stoffel (guitar)
Band-info:
A funky Crossover band from Wiesloch playing a horribly modern sounding Groove Metal with Rap and Funk influences. They could place a track on a Split 12" with the bands Noise Filter, Mortify and Metamorphosis, that was sponsored by the local youth center, and not hard to imagine they've been the losers on the vinyl.Discography:
"N'Djamena" Split -12" 1992 (Vertrauen Sie uns wir wissen was wir tun)
Charyzz
Lineup:
Fatma Kharroubi (vocals)
Gary Bonassi (guitar)
Otto M. Schmidt (bass)
Joe Schneider (keyboard)
Thomas Konz (drums)
Band-info:
Charyzz was a female fronted Heavy Rock band from Saarbrücken, playing a commercially influenced US Metal style with hints of early Ozzy, Dio or Dokken. The band was using dominant keyboards, but had with Fatma a frontwoman with quite strong voice volume, who kicked ass. Either the quite excellent guitar riffing might be mentioned separately. The lads released their debut Demo in the late 80's, but afterwards completely changed the line up to return with the 4 track tape "It bites" in spring 1991. If you got more info, please get in touch.Discography:
"Roxx hard" Demo 1989 (selfreleased)
"It bites" Demo 1991 (selfreleased)
Chased Crime
Lineup:
Martin Scherbaum (vocals)
Markus Klemm (guitar)
Mario Drescher (bass)
Ralf Ambrosi (keyboard)
Uwe Pfeiffer (drums)
Band-info:
A classic Heavy Metal band from Heusenstamm in the Offenbach/Frankfurt area, that was formed during 1989 by Uwe Pfeiffer (drums), Mario Drescher (bass), Ralf Ambrosi (keyboards) and Martin Scherbaum (vocals). Their first effort "When there's no sleep" was recorded with guitarist Markus Klemm still within the same year and the Demos "Insanity perpetual" (1990) and "What a senseless waste ... of human life" (1991) subsequently followed, while the band had developed their powerful Metal with keyboards, comparable to Fates Warning, up to an almost professional stage. 1994 the first (mini) album "Transistory" was logical consequence, though besides 2 more Demos in 1997/98, they needed till 2004 to release their next album "Giving names to broken things" and "Disarticalated" in 2009. Chased Crime are still active nowaydays.Discography:
"When there's no sleep" Demo 1989 (selfreleased)
"Insanity perpetual" Demo 1990 (selfreleased)
"What a senseless waste ... of human life" Demo 1991 (selfreleased)
Chaser
Lineup:
Andy Atkins (vocals)
Peter Wolf (guitar)
Mike Gollmer (guitar)
Bernie Ciminski (bass)
Andy Klapstein (drums)
Band-info:
A West Berlin 5-piece formed in '83 and said to have included several ex-Tyrant members, among them Andy Atkins. Melodic Heavy Rock was the name of the game, compared to Brits CHARIOT. The band split up early '86, while Atkins and Wolf formed Machine Head still within the same year. If you have more info, please get in contact.Discography:
"Demo 1984"
Checked
Lineup:
Raphael Pauss (vocals)
Rafael Arto-Haumacher (guitar)
Theo Pauss (bass, keyboard)
Karim Laiguddin (drums)
Band-info:
A melodic Heavy Metal band from Dorsten that participated at the Rockfabrik Newcomer Festival in summer 1989. The fourpiece already released 3 Demo tapes prior to this, featuring a highly US Metal inspired galopping Heavy/Power Metal style on the second one from 1988, occasionally reminding stylisticaly of bands in the vein of Emmy Strut or Slauter Xstroyes, though a bit more straight executed. A 3rd one containing 5 trax and having the title "Behind your eyes" was recorded also during 1988 and distributed with pro-quality. If you got more info, please get in touch.Discography:
"Demo" Demo 1987 (selfreleased)
"Checked" Demo 1988 (selfreleased)
"Behind your eyes" Demo 1988 (selfreleased)
Chelsea
Lineup:
Dirk van Offern (vocals)
Michael Böing (guitar)
Jörg Landsdorfer (keyboard)
Band-info:
A local Hard Rock band from Duisburg, that already recorded a highly appreciated Demo tape (4 trax) back in 1987 and participated on an international band contest the same year. According to certain info, Chelsea's sound was similar to well known US commercial Hard Rock bands like Bon Jovi, while their vocalist strongly reminds of Dio and Gary Barden. The guys returned 3 years later as trio - Dirk van Offern (vocals), Michael Böing (guitar), Jörg Landsdorfer (keyboard) – and recorded their debut LP during early 1990 with session musicians, announced to be available in summer. The same time 4 of the preproduced album trax was spread as a Demo, that either was highly praised by national magazinen, yet the LP never saw the light of day at all. If you got more info, please get in touch.Discography:
Demo 1987 (selfreleased)
Cherokee
Lineup:
Jürgen König
Band-info:
A melodic Hard Rock band from Münster that was musically influenced by Dokken and Nelson and active during the beginning of the 90's. Further info is needed.Discography:
Cherokee
Lineup:
Joe
Christian
Band-info:
Yet another Cherokee band, but despite the other 2 proponents these lads was hailing from Miltenberg in the Würzburg area and played "sophisticated Heavy Metal". We only know they've been active during the earliest 90's and also had a Demo tape available in 1992, so any other info is welcome.Discography:
Cherokee (Neunkirchen)
Lineup:
Frank Stenger
Band-info:
Not to be confused with Cherokee from Münster, these Cherokee was originating from Neunkirchen, near Saarbrücken. There's a Demo available from 1993, that offered quite common sounding Heavy Rock with the required bite still missing. Further info is needed.Discography:
"Demo 1993" (selfreleased)
Cherry
Lineup:
Thomas Becker
Band-info:
A Heavy Rock band from Saarbrücken influenced by american Bands that was active around 1985/86, doing several live gigs. If you have more info please get in touch.Discography:
Cherry Lynn
Lineup:
Chris Augst (guitar)
Michael S. (bass)
Gerhard L. (drums)
Chris Muhl (vocals)
Gunter S. (guitar)
Band-info:
This Herzogenaurach based melodic troop released a pretty cool private 7" that's containing with "Straight thru the heart" a topnotch semi-ballad in the typical Scorpions vein, that even the Scorpions couldn't produce better. "Stay strong" on the other side adopts the Scorpions/Kiss like melodic Hard Rock/Metal style as well, but they are just too good to be called copycats. The guitar solos are outstanding.
Cherubim
Lineup:
Marc Dobat (vocals, guitar)
Hans-Martin Schlenker (guitar)
Matthias Schneider (bass)
Josef Richter (drums)
Band-info:
A White Metal band from Kassel, that started sometime in early 1991. In the beginning the sound of Cherubim was slightly softer than their later Power/Thrash sound. They announced themselves in 1991 as a "Hard'n'Heavy band", searching for a keyboarder. A first Demo should have been recorded during 1992/93 and three other tapes was released between 1995-1999. The band split up in 2001, after independently releasing their "Restrospective" compilation CD (1999), that featured Demo trax recorded from 1993-1997. Further info is needed.Discography:
Chestnutz
Lineup:
Ferdy (vocals)
Roman Friemel (guitar)
Karl (bass)
Steve Pape (drums)
Band-info:
A Hardcore/Punk Metal (or in short form Crossover) band from Dortmund, that was active since the early 80's already under the monicker "Die Männer" and released a Split LP in 1984 with the Dortmund HC/Punk band Rim Shout. A bit later on around 1987 the guys must have changed name to Chestnutz and recorded an independent Punk album in early '88, that was published on Idiots Records. After the vinyl the sound of the Chestnutz got much heavier and the band recorded the "...you want!" Demo in 1989, that featured, just like their 3 tracks on one the two "The Best Of German Metal Newcomer" compilations, a punky form of Heavy and Speed Metal (though they'd probably call it Punk themselves) like in places Dortmund fellows The Idiots did as well incl. a cool cover of AC/DC's "You shook me all night long".Discography:
"Don't talk - eat a chestnut" LP 1988 (Idiots)
”… you want!!!” Demo 1989 (selfreleased)
"The Best Of German Metal Newcomer" Comp.-LP Tracks 1990 (D&S)
"Maggy" Comp.-Track LP/CD 1992 (DesperaDOs Vol.0 - Dortmund History)
"Paranoid" Comp.-Tape Track (Tales From The Crypt)
Chinchilla
Lineup:
Michael Marquardt (vocals)
Jürgen Wursche (guitar)
Udo Gerstenmeyer (guitar)
Ralf Faber (bass)
Achim Krieg (drums)
Band-info:
Under the name Chinchilla it's hard to imagine there could be hiding a Power Metal band, as I'd rather connect such a name with any poser band, but well, some guys got strange ideas. Nevertheless Chinchilla was founded in 1988 by guitarist Udo Gerstenmeyer, Jürgen Wursche (guitar), Michael Marquardt (vocals), Ralf Faber (bass) and drummer Achim Krieg (drums) in Böblingen and debuted with the selfproduced and nowadays hard to find MCD "No mercy tonight" in 1990, that featured a melodic sort of Heavy/Power Metal with strong early Queensryche influences. Unfortunately the band already split up after the release and Udo Gerstenmeyer tried with ex-Letter X vocalist Martin Obermeyer before he disbanded Chinchilla, to revive the band in 1994, when Chinchilla returned with the "Who is who" EP, recorded with a completely new line up. The lads recorded 5 more albums till 2004 with changing line ups and atm seems to be defunct.Discography:
"No mercy tonight" MCD 1990 (selfreleased)
Chiolution
Lineup:
Band-info:
Another mystery band that's only known because D&S decided to produce the trax "Moving circle" and "Jaws of death" for one of their lovely underground compilations. The style was quite varied and melodic, though Chiolution was a classic Heavy Metal nevertheless. But it takes a while till both songs will grow, especially "Moving circle" came up with quite some filigree guitar work. "Jaws of death" starts like an old Heathen's Rage song but quickly develops into a typically german melodic Power/Speed number. Still we need to know where these lads came from, so if you got more info, please get in touch.
Cholera
Lineup:
Goody Fowler (drums)
Mr. Zyn (vocals, bass)
Wolf (guitar)
Band-info:
A Thrash Metal band from Franfurt/Main that later would evolve into the Black/Death Metal band Oblivion. They started in the same year as their only Demo was released and change name in 1991.Discography:
"Fucking society" Demo 1990 (selfreleased)
Chor Chorea
Lineup:
Fred Ullmann (guitar, vocals)
Jens Busch (guitar)
Andreas Bahr (bass)
Sven Schoene (drums)
Band-info:
Chor Chorea is kinda the continuance of the progressive Thrash band Defcon from Potsdam (ex-GDR), who originally started as Charon already around late 1987/88. In June '88 the ex-Charon guys Thomas Schwalowsky and Jens Busch, formed the studio project Defcon. One of the guys was working in the DEFA Studios in Babelsberg and therefore had the possibilty to use the studio internal recording equipment. In August '88 the track "Future cries" was produced by the duo and got aired in the "Tendenz Hard bis Heavy" (THE Heavy Metal radio show of the GDR). Due to the positive reactions, Schwalowsky and Busch recorded one more track ("Get out of the scrape"), that also got airplay. Encouraged by the little success, they prepared their debut Demo in 1989 entitled "Made in GDR", featuring the aforementioned "Future cries" and "Get out of the scrape" plus two more songs ("Escape" and "Defense condition"). The tape got positive reactions worldwide, even Wild Rags was interested to produce an album of the band, but due to the recent political situation that undertaking seemed unfeasible. In January 1990 the guys re-recorded the track "Future cries" plus "Voice of greed" for the national broadcast service with ex-Pharao guitarist Fred "Veit" Ullmann and after Blackout's end, Andreas Bahr (bass) and the ex-Metall/Disaster Area drummer Torsten “Tier” Stahnke both joined Defcon too in 1990. Still within 1990 the guys recorded and produced their debut LP "Suicide", that was eventually published kinda belated in March '91 in a limited edition of 1000 copies. Torsten Stahnke had left the band already in the meanwhile, but Defcon nevertheless started rehearsing for future live gigs. Late 1991 Thomas Schwalowsky then suddenly quit and the rest of the guys renamed the band Chor Chorea. Veit Ullmann, Jens Busch, Andreas Bahr and the new drummer Sven Schoene produced the 2 Techno Thrash Demos “Triumph” (1992) and “Mental maze” (1993), that somehow either reminded of the Depressive Age material, before Sven Schoene ultimately got replaced with Mario Hesse for the recordings of the 3rd tape “Inner stage” back in 1994. The following year also Andreas Bahr quit playing and handed his bass over to Jens Semrau, whom Chor Chorea’s only album “Experience” was recorded with during 1995. Shortly after the guys disappeared until 1998, when Defcon’s compilation CD “Voice of greed” surfaced and a continuation of Defcon was proudly announced for the coming millennium. But nothing further happened at all…Discography:
“Triumph” Demo 1992 (selfreleased)
“Mental maze” Demo 1993 (selfreleased)
“And pain” Comp.-CD Track 1993 (Peace - Eater Vol. III)
Chroming Rose
Lineup:
Harald Leib (vocals)
Matthias Mende (guitar)
Harry Steiner (bass)
Tino Mende (drums)
Band-info:
The story of Chroming Rose started in Senden/Bavaria in 1985 when the brothers Tino and Matthias Mende founded a band called Cromium Rose. The ex-Overdose ("Over the top") bass player Harry Steiner joined them as well as Veto's Harald Leib on vocals. Due to a printing error the band was wrongly announced as Croming Rose on the poster of the Gersthofener Open-Air festival so they kept that name and released their only Demo "Born to destroy" as Croming Rose, offering a neckbreaking Power/Speed Metal much alike the godly Powerlord. After the Demo Gerd Salewski (ex-Stranger "The bell") joined them on vox as well as S.C. Wuller on the second guitar and they got a record deal with Disaster Records who sent them to the Musiclab where they recorded the first album "Garden of Eden" with Harris Johns. Sometime during that phase they must have changed name to Chroming Rose and the EMI got interested in releasing the album since they was searching for a substitute for the cracked deal wih Helloween and resumed the contract of Disaster. They sent Chroming Rose for 7 weeks to Denmark to completely re-record the whole album again and it finally got released as "Louis XIV" under the banner of the EMI Elektrola in 1990. Due to Matthias Mende's alcohol problems he got replaced by Rikki Rieger (ex-Stranger) who was playing on the second version of the album. Chroming Rose's style had slightly changed now, the Helloween influences pretty much rule "Louis XIV", though both bands are equal imo, while Chroming Rose are a bit underrated when it comes to that german twin lead driven melodic Speed Metal style that they also kept on the second album "Garden of Eden" released in 1991. The Helloween comparison here was even more drastical than on the debut as this album was almost completely written by the new guitarists. The bands style either became more melodic and they even entered the charts, becoming very successful, in Japan even the Nr. 1 of the import albums. But with "Pressure", the album # 3 the whole Speed Metal hystery was gone. They changed down 3 gears and started playing modern Power Metal, though still melodic but mainly midpaced stuff. Cornel Schneider had replaced Rieger on guitar and Chroming Rose's star was sinking. In 1994 Gerd Salewski quit the band and Tom Reiners came in. Without Cornel Schneider they still released 2 more albums and disbanded in 2002.Discography:
"Louis XIV" LP/CD/Pic LP 1990 (EMI)
"Louis XIV" MCD/12" EP 1990 (EMI)
"Power and glory" 7"EP 1990 (Disaster)
"Power and glory" Pic 12"EP 1990 (EMI)
"Garden of Eden" LP/CD/Pic LP 1991 (EMI)
"Hell in my eyes" MCD/12" EP 1991 (EMI)
"Time will never change" MCD 1991 (EMI)
"Pressure" LP/CD 1992 (EMI)
Chronical Diarrhoea
Lineup:
Thorsten Benning (vocals)
Ilja (guitar)
Roman Gebauer (bass)
Reiner Henseleit (drums)
Band-info:
Chronical Diarrhoea from Mühlheim/Ruhr was an extreme Crossover act, which was active since the mid 80's and who after an indpendent single 1987, got signed by the former Punk/Hardcore label Nuclear Blast Records, who produced the guys debut album "Salomo says..." the following year. During the first years of their existence Chronical Diarrhoea was performing an absurdly hyperfast grinding Speedcore, most likely comparable to Lethal Aggression, while during their later phase, especially on "The last judgement" album, musically moved into a more Thrash influenced Crossover style, in the vein of D.R.I. on "Crossover". The band disbanded like so many others too in the early 90's.Discography:
"Royal diarrhoea" 7" EP 1987 (Anti-Schelski)
"Salomo says..." LP 1988 (Nuclear Blast)
"Abstract carnage E.P." 7" EP 1990 (Off The Disk)
"The last judgement" LP/CD 1991 (Nuclear Blast)
Chronos
Lineup:
Thomas Pieper (guitar)
Mathias Fetting (guitar)
Uwe Ertelt (vocals)
Andreas Funk (bass)
Jan Holzer (drums)
Band-info:
Formed in 1982 in Bergkamen, east of Dortmund by the young Priest- & Maiden-fans Thomas "Tormentor" Pieper and Mathias Fetting. They did their very first gigs in late '83 under the name Bloody Angels, but by 1984 the band had changed their name to Chronos, with Uwe Ertelt on vocals and Andreas Funk on bass. Drummers seem to have been on a come-&-go basis through the band's career, though the name Jan "Männe" Holzer is mentioned at M-A. At this time they started their Demo-production, beginning with a 3-track affair in 1984, a 9-tracker in 1985 (or possibly the other way round) and finally a 6-track release in 1986, after which the band seem to have disappeared from the scene. Only Uwe showed his head again in early 1987, as vocalist for the more melodic acting Dortmunders Jealousy, that a bit later on would become more or less Pride. Should you want to really dig into their legacy, there's a self-released anthology-CD (CDR?) called "Louder Harder Faster" from 2000, somewhere out there to hunt down. Musically we're talking charming Demo-steel where the fast "S.F.V. die tonight" reminds me of Belgians Warhead while the more traditional Euro-Metal numbers rocks along a la classic Accept/Priest or indeed like the more mid-paced early Running Wild material - i.e. as German as it could possibly get.Discography:
Demo 1984 (selfreleased)
Demo 1985 (selfreleased)
Demo 1986 (selfreleased)
Chrystine
Lineup:
Davor Sertic (guitar)
Werner Dienel (bass)
Ralf Schulz (drums)
Band-info:
A Heavy Metal band from the Stuttgart area, that was founded during early summer of 1987 by ex-Tyran' Pace Davor Sertic and ex-Sinner Ralf Schulz. If you got more info, please get in touch.Discography:
Churchill
Lineup:
Hoffe (bass)
Chacko (guitar)
Band-info:
Metal unknowns from Freiburg. A live recording from 23/5, 1987 exists, and a demo was planned for later the same year, but its existence is yet to be confirmed. If you have more info, please get in contact.Discography:
Circle of Elements
Lineup:
Bernd Brand (vocals)
Joey Bellinger (guitar)
Knut Ehret (drums)
Band-info:
A Doom Metal band in the Solitude Aeternus vein from Biberach, south of Ulm, featuring former Aviary members Bernd Brand and Joey Bellinger. The band only released a Demo CD with the title "Reflections of Kontrast" in 1995, but the material sounds pretty solid nevertheless, eventhough the vocalist in places has had problems, but classic Doom Metal fans could risk an ear here.Discography:
Circle of Sig-Tiu
Lineup:
Josef Maria Klumb (vocals)
Dennis Raymond Plummer (guitar)
Holger Düchting (guitar)
Nikolaus Martin Mertens (bass)
Steffen B. (drums)
Styk Thriller (drums)
Band-info:
The Circle of Sig-Tiu was an apocalyptic Punk Metal troop from Bingen/Sprendlingen, that was founded 1984 and published quite of bunch of vinyls during their short period of existence. Members of the band previously played in the Punk band Aus-98, who either published a single 1983. The bands early releases (especially "Feuer und Asche") still was very (Thrash) Punk/Hardcore influenced, but the guys also adopted influences of the Gothic/Dark Wave scene. They appeared on a number of compilations and singles and published the second album "Signs of time" 1987 on Sonic Records, with Siegfried Grampe on guitar, who replaced Holger Düchting. Then most of the members quit and found substitutes in Hüsseyin Ekzi (bass), Dirk Mohr (drums) and Thomas auf dem Berge (drums) with only Klumb (Jay Kay), Plummer and Grampe remaining. The Metal influenced album "We come in love but not for peace" was recorded in December '87 and published in early '88 on the bassist's own label EXs Records. The sound of the material is quite bizarre. Occult Speed Metal merges with Punk and either some Thrash tunes appear, which doesn't make the LP being an easy to swallow piece of vinyl, though some Crossover fans might find it interesting. Jay Kay disbanded Circle of Sig-Tiu still within 1988 to publish the solo album "And all your glamour will turn into dust", that hadn't much in common with his old band anymore. 1990 Klumb founded the band Gothic band Forthcoming Fire.Discography:
"Feuer und Asche" LP 1985 (Sonic)
"Kulturschock Attacke Vol. I" Comp.-LP Tracks 1986 (Sig-Tiu)
"What's harder than live" Live Tape 1986 (Intelnet)
"Fahnenflucht" Comp.-LP Track 1986 (Wie lange noch?)
"Signs of time" LP 1987 (Sonic)
"Im Namen des Volkes" Comp.-LP Track 1987 (Kulturschock Attacke Vol. II)
"Life is a joke" Comp.-LP Track 1987 (Weird System)
"Signals on Tiusday" 7" EP 1987 ( EXs)
"3. Reich" Split 7" EP Track 1987 (Z Siege)
"We come in love but not for peace" LP 1988 (EXs)
"But every sunday morning" Comp.-LP Track 1990 (1984 The Fourth)
"Golden calf und silent dreams" Comp.-Track 1991 (Noisegate)
Cirrus Mirror
Lineup:
Martin (bass)
Henrik (drums)
Nick (vocals)
Kosta (guitar)
Holger (keyboard)
Band-info:
A melodic Heavy Rock band from the Bochum area who tried to sound modern on their only 7" EP. They used to play a fresh sounding melodic Hard Rock on the title track but these quite poppy keyboards pretty much ruin that aim and let them sound like a Pop band that's wanting to sound "heavy". "Destiny" on the B-side is an AOR ballad that's reminding me of "Knocking on heaven's door" in a way.Discography:
"Another place on fire" 7" EP 1991 (Young Star Music)
Citer
Lineup:
Band-info:
A Hard Rock/Metal band, that was active around 1989/90 and originating most probably from the Hanau/Frankfurt area. The band played live at the local Hanauer Superrock-Festival '90. Further info is welcome.Discography:
Civil War
Lineup:
Roy (vocals)
Birge (guitar)
Rico (guitar)
Mike (bass)
Steffen (drums)
Band-info:
This band was founded in Zschorlau/Saxony around early 1990 (probably even in 1989) and they played a kinda Crossover style mixing Hardcore and Metal influences. As far as I know there was just one tape available, but they were doing several live gigs in the area as well. Steffen earlier also had an own "project" running called I.D.L. (Ich der Lärm - Me the noise) with an own "demo" featuring just him making noise on kitchen pots...Discography:
"Rehearsaltape '91" Demo 1991 (selfreleased)
Claim
Lineup:
Robert Hanke (bass)
Band-info:
A classic Heavy Metal band from Berlin, that was active since at least 1993 and recorded one Demo tape during 1994, simply entitled "4-Song Demo", as a sticker on the tape reveals. The "booklet" features no helpful info at all, and despite having white empty spots everywhere, just features the cover artwork. On the back of the jewel case there's at least a sticker mentioning a certain Robert Hanke, that we know he's been previously member of V2 and Preussen, so perhaps Claim was kinda post-Preussen? Nevertheless, the Demo starts with a faster Iron Maiden like number and later offers 3 x melodic Hard Rock in typical 80's manner, reminding a bit of DIO or Berlin fellows B.O.R.N.'s early stuff. Further info is needed.Discography:
Clairvoyant
Lineup:
Ender Aynaci (vocals)
Christian Ertel (guitar)
Olaf Müller (guitar)
Sascha Eisele (bass)
Kerstin Friele (drums)
Band-info:
A local Hard Rock/Metal band with classic elevator phobia originating from south of Karlsruhe in the southern Baden-Baden area or even far more southerly. We can't say much about Clairvoyant, except that there was a Demo recorded in Winter 1991, that featured 5 tracks in a common 80's style mix of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal tunes with either some Blues influences. What causes ear problems are the out of place vocals of Ender Aynaci, who permanently "sings" against the recent music. Further info is needed.Discography:
”…don’t trust the elevator” Demo 1991 (selfreleased)
Clan Rouge
Lineup:
Band-info:
Obscure alternative Hard Rock band from Bochum with almost Grunge touch, reminding slightly of early Nirvana or something on their single from 1992. Just "Tis notcha day" has a speedy edge, but a rather punky one. Quite odd style, so better be afraid. Besides the 3 track 7" released in red vinyl without PS, Clan Rouge already appeared one year earlier with "Kick" and "Everything is mine" on the local compilation "Rock around Bochum '91". Further info is needed.Discography:
"Rock Around Bochum '91 Spabo 005" Comp.-CD 1991 (Sparkasse Bochum)
"Yes/No" 7" EP 1992 (Olgo)
Clark Kent
Lineup:
Andreas Feickert (vocals)
Tom Becker (guitar)
Axel Düver (bass)
Thorsten Hild (keyboard)
Hans Seelenmeyer (drums)
Sven Seelenmeyer (percussion)
Band-info:
A band from Lüneburg, that was active in the late 80's and won a local contest, whose prize was to get featured with the (Pop) song "Precious little pearl" on a Split 7" with the band Diolen, who've been winners of the Niedersachsen contest. Doesn't matters much as Clark Kent have been just a Rock band, that used to have two Melodic Rock trax on their selfproduced MLP "Sixsongs" from around 1989. The opener "Turn on the radio" I have to admit features quite catchy AOR with heavier guitars, but then the band's other creations except "Living dust" on the B-side, turn into common unbearable Pop/Rock. So better beware...Discography:
"Lüneburger Rockpreis '88/Niedersächsischer Rockpreis '88" Split 7" EP 1988 (with Diolen, Rockwerk)
"Sixsongs" MLP 1989 (Rockwerk)
Clavis
Lineup:
Thomas Schmid (drums)
Band-info:
A Melodic Rock band from Stuttgart, which was active from 1979-1982 and featured Thomas Schmid, who would subsequently found the Prog Rock band Crystal Maze in 1982. If you got more info, please get in touch.Discography:
Claymore
Lineup:
Band-info:
A Freiburg based band, that got a short feature in an old Metal Hammer issue from summer '88, announcing that Claymore are recently recording their debut album at the Frank K. Studio in Witten. No clue what happened with the recordings later, but the announced album was never released. If you got more info, please get in touch.Discography:
Clever & Smart
Lineup:
Stacy B' Stard (vocals)
M. Mauntel (guitar)
Butch Richter (bass)
Florian Altenhein (drums)
Band-info:
A band from Bielefeld, that was featured with the track "Lady of the darkest side" on the local Bielefeld sampler "Down to the top". Musically this band is a little mystery, because the first part makes them sounding like any US Sleaze/Glam band, but then the solo part interrupts the posing and we get a first class Heavy Metal solo offered, before they return to the Sleaze/Glam stuff. If you got more info, please get in touch.Discography:
"Lady of the darkest side" Comp.-LP Track 1989 (Down to the top - Rockmusik aus Bielefeld)
Clondikes
Lineup:
Band-info:
For fuck’s sake, what did they just think that they are doing? If Lemmy would be doing vocals on “Love sis dead", one of their songs on an obscure sampler from the Koblenz area, one would swear that’s a badly produced Motörhead song! The sound in general could be somehow compared to Metallica’s “Helpless" on their “$5.98 EP”. After all the second track “Hunter’s bang” got a slower beat, reminding of Death Angel’s “Thrash Rock” on their late albums, mixing midpaced Power/Thrash with something alternative or what ever to call it. The Clondikes are clearly using a Thrash sound, but without ever being a Thrash Metal unit. Very odd...Discography:
“We care” Comp.-LP Tracks 1992 (Rough Trade)
Cobra
Lineup:
Steffen Bayer (guitar)
Frank Eichhorn (vocals)
Bodo Hildebrand (bass)
Jens Kuge (drums)
Band-info:
When you listen to the known material of Cobra you hardly believe that their main aim was to be posers like their faves Van Halen, Bon Jovi or Ratt. Founded in June '86 in East Berlin (ex-GDR) by ex-Rocket/Mephisto/Vantom (Frank Eichhorn) and ex-Regenbogen (Jens Kuge) members together with Steffen Bauer (ex-Pumphut) and Bodo Hildebrand they pretty quickly got the chance to record songs for the national broadcast service and to appear in a national TV show. These 4 songs became a part of the triple Split LP "Kleeblatt № 22" with 2 other Metal bands MCB and Plattform. But Cobra wasn't much satisfied with the result as the songs appeared too heavy for their own set concept (to be posers). Frank Eichhorn already quit Cobra early 1987 to join Vantom, but returned in summer to eventually leave the band for good late '88. Hildebrandt left in May '88 and Frank Binke grabbed the bass. Cobra started searching for a second guitarist and a keyboarder that they found in Thomas Rosanski (ex-Weissheim/Badboy) and either Badboy's vocalist Michael Kaspar was invited to join the band in November '88, while Amiga planned to release more material of the band like a Quartett single and sent the band again into a studio to record 4 new songs ("We want Rock", "Girls, Girls, Girls", "Nachtboy" and "I'm on fire"). In the meanwhile "Träumer" got a place on the Rockbilanz '88 compilation. But the single got cancelled because Cobra disbanded already in October 1989. All songs remained unreleased. There is also an inofficial Demo recording from 1988 available, featuring 4 songs, as well as several live cuts from 1987 and '88. The track "Take me" from that tape indeed pretty much tends into the US Glam Metal with huge melodic edge sounding more american than most american bands of that era. For fans of Shout, Ozzy, Quiet Riot or Keel it's pretty much a treat.Check out Cobra in TV
Discography:
"Kleeblatt № 22 - Hard & Heavy" Split LP 1987 (Amiga)
"Träumer" Comp.-LP Track 1988 (Rockbilanz '88)
"Demo" Demo 1988 (selfreleased)
Demo Recordings:
“Feuer unterm Eis” (1986)
Coffin
Lineup:
Mark Wichmann (vocals)
Christian Benz (guitar)
Andreas Schwabe (drums)
Band-info:
Local Thrashers from Kiel that formed during 1985, influenced by Exodus, Slayer, Death and the likes. There are a few rehearsal recordings known, but seems the 2 tracker "Provocation the force" was officially up for sale during 1986. On later recordings Coffin sounded slightly like the early Destruction, quite listenable stuff for underground Thrash fans. This trio already split up around 1989. Further info is needed though.Discography:
"Provocation the force" Demo 1986 (selfreleased)
Cogency
Lineup:
Markus Draeger (guitars, vocals)
Markus Reitemeier (guitar)
Stephan Zieler (bass)
Rolf Ittner (drums)
Band-info:
Thrashers from Bochum, featurung ex-Bloody Flesh Rolf Ittner, who originally founded the band under the name of Anger in 1991 and firmed 1 year as Anger to record the Demo "Between depression and anger" 1992. Shortly afterwards the guys changed name to Cogency and recorded their album "The cogency revenge" for D&S. The CD features a quite cool mix of hard Thrash and several mid/late 80's Metallica influences from the Justice/Puppets albums, with vocals ala Sabrina Classen, which is giving the material a Holy Moses touch as well. Soundwise there's is nothing to complain, a fully 80's compatible Thrash album. 2000 the guys changed name back to Anger.Discography:
"The cogency revenge" CD 1993 (D&S)
Collaps
Lineup:
Maju (vocals)
Buju (guitar)
Dirk (guitar)
Hauke (bass)
Jens (drums)
Band-info:
A Hardcore band from Siegen, that was active as Vollrausch since already 1984, and after recording a Demo tape 1985, changed name to Collaps in 1986 to publish some more Demos. The label Double A records took these guys under contract afterwards and produced two singles and one album ("Bacteria") in 1988, that contains fast US american style Hardcore/Crossover with lotsa thrashing parts, stylistically mainly comparable to the D.R.I. stuff of the late mid 80's era.Discography:
"Before the albums" Demo 1986 (selfreleased)
"Germania fuck off" Demo 1986 (selfreleased)
"Not just aggression" 7" EP 1987 (Double A)
"Bacteria" LP 1988 (Double A)
"I burnt the bridge to Hollywood" 7" EP 1990 (Double A)
Colour Trip
Lineup:
Elmar Keineke (vocals)
Matthias Eigner (guitar)
Mark Wolzenburg (guitar)
Fritz Rogge (bass)
Michael Wintzen (drums)
Band-info:
Colour Trip was post-Accessory, a Death Metal band from Hagen, that was active since 1988 and changed name after their debut album "Within your mind" was released in 1991. Colour Trip's sound had nothing in common anymore with Accessory's more Death Metal influenced style and must be counted to the New Metal movement already, as they tried to mix that mid 90's Thrash with Hardcore/Groove elements. Till 2001 Colour Trip recorded 3 more albums before they disbanded.Discography:
"Colour Trip" LP/CD 1993 (Massacre)
Common Grave
Lineup:
Roland Preusker (bass)
Band-info:
An Offenbach Heavy Metal band active in the early 80's, formed by ex-members of other local obscure acts Prisoner and Trace. Roland Preusker later joined Trixx and founded Monroe after Trixx split up in 1985. If you have more info, please get in contact.Discography:
Cona
Lineup:
Band-info:
A local Metal band from most probably the greater Stuttgart area, which was playing live gigs during 1986/87. If you got more info, please get in touch.Discography:
Confused Addiction
Lineup:
Matthias Gerricke (vocals)
Ralph Hoffelner (guitar)
Uwe Überall (guitar)
Heino Möck (bass)
Irold Hodalsky (drums)
Band-info:
I'm not really sure in which drawer I should put this band from Sangerhausen. The band was founded 1989 still in ex-GDR times, but their first sign of existence was a selfproduced EP from 1992. Simultaneously 4 more trax appeared on an obscure Crossover Compilation tape. And here the problems do start, as to allocate these lads a special musical style isn't that easy at all. We got influences of classic Thrash Metal and Hardcore/Skatecore, with rather typical punky touched Hardcore vocals. By labeling them Crossover probably wouldn't be that wrong at all I guess. There is also a 6 track Demo known with the title "Human future", that we according to the featured Anthrax style Thrash, would guess it was released around the same time like the 12" or probably even earlier. After the 12" it took a while till 1997, when the guys returned with 3 more Demo tapes released between '97 and the year 2000.Discography:
"Confused Addiction" MLP 1992 (selfreleased)
"The Spirit Of The 90's Vol. 2" Comp.-MC Tracks 1992
"Human future" Demo 199? (selfreleased)
Conjuration
Lineup:
Torsten Lowin
Band-info:
A selfclaimed Freßcore troop (Eatcore), that originated from Neumarkt, south of Nuremberg and used to have lyrical themes about cakes on their "Bat attack" Demo, that was released sometime in late 1989. According to their own advertisement their style was somewhere in the A.O.K. league, "but more technical".Discography:
"Bat attack" Demo 1989 (selfreleased)
Conqueror
Lineup:
Stevie (drums)
Jürgen (guitar)
Jens Unger (bass)
Mario (vocals)
Band-info:
A quite solid acting ex-GDR Thrash Metal band from Nordhausen/Harz that I can't tell much about as it's just a live cut known from June '89 and that one only features cover versions of Metallica, Agnostic Front, Slayer, Sodom and Carnivore while I personally rank Mario's vocals over the ones of James Hetfield and Tom Araya, who's trying successfully to copy them. I wish they would play some own songs though, because the cover versions do promise that Conqueror would probably have been able to create some nice own thrashing tunes as well. If you have more info please get in touch.Discography:
“Live at Gehege 10/6/1989“ (unofficial)
Conspiracy
Lineup:
Carsten Vitt (vocals)
Sascha Pitsch (guitar)
Daniel Strube (guitar)
Ingo Vernau (bass)
Andreas Kallee (drums)
Band-info:
A local Thrash band from Wildeck-Raßdorf, south of Kassel, that originally formed 1989 as Avenger but soon changed name to Conspiracy and recorded 3 Demo tapes in the early 90's. Around 1993 it seems the band already dissolved, as Andreas Kallee joined Shattered Dream. Further info is needed.Discography:
"Infernal messiah" Demo 1990 (selfreleased
"Beyond mentality" Demo 1991 (selfreleased)
"Mind games" Demo 1992 (selfreleased)
Contagious
Lineup:
Achim Ennenbach (bass)
Stefanie Thelen (vocals)
Axel Plaumann (guitar)
Dennis Ratzek (drums)
Band-info:
A Königswinter based Hard Rock formation with female vocalist that was founded in 1987 and had the first steady line in January '88. After winning a band contest in fall of '88 they produced a Demo tape. If you got more info, please get in touch.Discography:
Contradiction
Lineup:
Oliver Lux (guitar, vocals)
Oliver Kämper (guitar)
Lars Fischbach (bass)
Kai Fischer (drums)
Band-info:
A Thrash Metal foursome from Wuppertal, that formed during 1989 and seemed to be influenced by the US style of that genre. At least their debut "Deadly games" from May '91 reminds a bit of US Thrashers Defiance with also traces of Metallica or Sleepy Hollow. The same power/thrashing scheme with a few silent parts the band celebrated on the second tape "Old demon" from 1992, before the independently produced and interesting CD "Rules of peace" was recorded during 1993 and delivered more Power/Thrash like late 80's Nuclear Assault or Xentrix. The band nowadays is still active and yet has released additional 5 more albums.Discography:
”Deadly games” Demo 1991 (selfreleased)
"Old demon" Demo 1992 (selfreleased)
"Rules of peace" CD 1993 (KS. W Music)
Contrast
Lineup:
Band-info:
A local band that played live at the Woodstock Open Air Festival in Ronshausen (Hessen) in summer 1989. If you got more info, please get in touch.Discography:
Converse
Lineup:
Astrid (vocals)
Jens Neumann
Band-info:
A band from Elsheim, between Mannheim and Mayence, that used to label themselves "Progressive Rock - Hardcorerock" band, while according to certain reviews Converse's Demo tapes, that was recorded between 1988 and '89, feature classic Melodic Rock/AOR with interesting female vocals. The 3rd tape "Out of reach" comes with free sticker and info sheet. If you got more info, please get in touch.Discography:
"Alimentary lifes" Demo 1988 (selfreleased)
"On the run" Demo 1989 (selfreleased)
"Out of reach" Demo 1989 (selfreleased)
Convictors
Lineup:
Fabian Frey (vocals)
Lars Schmink (guitar)
Thomas Eller (bass)
Uwe Fien (drums)
Band-info:
A shortlived DIY style Speed Metal band from Wehr, next to Lörrach on the swiss border, that got initiated during spring 1986 by a bunch of schoolkids who felt themselves influenced by Possessed, Destruction, Slayer, Venom and so on ... and indeed slightly Slayer influences was noticeable on the band's 3 track Demo that the Convictors recorded during December '86 in their rehearsal room. Nevertheless, due to their limited skills the whole got more of a Speed Metal band with punky touch, but the guys could at least play some local gigs during that time, till in early 1988 the spook was definitely over and the lads stopped playing. 2008 3 of the original members reactivated the Convictors once again and yet recorded 2 albums plus an EP.Discography:
”The last judgement” Demo 1986 (selfreleased)
Cop
Lineup:
Gerd Tillmann (vocals)
Jürgen Breforth (guitar)
Ralf Heyne (guitar)
Jürgen Spittka (bass)
Carsten Tischer (drums)
Band-info:
This classic, extremely american sounding Hair Metal band was founded by both ex-Mad Max guitarists Jürgen Breforth and Ralf Heyne during 1989/90 and could support David Lee Roth on his 91'er tour, but wasn't able to score a record deal and therefore changed name to Tanner the next year, while the lads either decided to use german lyrics by now. A bit later on as Tanner they got signed by Mercury Records and released their debut CD "Außer Atem" in September.Discography:
Coprophagist
Lineup:
Oliver Klasen (vocals, bass)
R. Siebel (guitar)
Michael Schwarz (drums, vocals)
Band-info:
Quite a promising Death Metal act if you're into that stuff was the shortlived and 1987 founded project Coprophagist from Bietigheim-Bissingen, that featured members of Atrocity and Belching Beet. There's just one Demo left being witness of their existence but the selftitled tape pretty much belongs to the best and without doubts international sounding Death/Grind releases of german bands back in the day. The balance of the grinding and doomy stuff is phenomenal here and it's a pity the lads didn't bring this band more into detail and produced at least one album. Oliver Klasen and Michael Schwarz (Belching Beet) made it into the upper league with Atrocity the same year and the latter also played with other local Death/Grinders Noise Filter.Discography:
”Coprophagist” Demo 1990 (Masters of Mayhem and Noise)
"Addiction To selfdismemberment" Comp.-CD Track 1991 (Appointment with Fear)
"Addiction To selfdismemberment" Comp.-MC Track 1992 (Defaced Compilation - Volume Two)
"Perversity of a carrion affection" Comp.-MC Track 1992 (Apocalyptic Things 4)
Copyright
Lineup:
Günther Thoemmes (bass,vocals)
Johannes Roesgen (guitar,voc)
Thomas Eulgem (guitar)
Wolfgang Schwarz (drums)
Stu Krechel (keyboard)
Band-info:
A Hard Rock band from Mayen that was founded in 1982. According to their own info they played modern Hard Rock but also live covers of the Rolling Stones, Chuck Berry etc. They released a single privately in 1989, but the poppy drum sound sadly spoils the recording. In a way the term modern Hard Rock might be true, but due to the poppy production AOR/Melodic Rock is hitting the nail better on the head.Discography:
"Our love" 7" EP 1989 (selfreleased)
Coracker
Lineup:
Band-info:
A Hard'n'Heavy band from the Stuttgart area, that has been active during the early 90's and was playing live gigs there in the area. If you got more info, please get in touch.Discography:
Coracko
Lineup:
Dirk Wicke (vocals)
Peter Szigetti (guitar)
Frank Rittel (bass)
Martin Engler (drums)
Band-info:
During autumn 1990 the former Beast/Snakebite/Warlock/Energy/U.D.O. members and true veterans of the german Heavy Metal history Peter Szigetti and Frank Rittel (ex-Thales) was wondering about their musical future plans and therefore started jamming with Dirk Wicke and Martin Engler, which lead into another one of their projects, while Szigetti just ended a short intermezzo in Velvet Viper to give Coracko, that's the name of their new band, a shot. After rehearsing and writing own material for about a year, the guys starting playing live during late '91 and already had several record companies getting in the line one by one for negotiations of future co-operations. In the end Polydor was the band's choice and Coracko recorded their only album "New virus spreads" for that company in 1992, that contained a sort of common US style Hard Rock with modern influences, like these new bands in the vein of Ugly Kid Joe performed, featuring slightly funky undertones ala Van Halen, paired with Szigetti's well known Heavy Metal solos. Frank Rittel left Coracko a bit later on and got replaced by Alex T. Walker-Zigic, but the band dissolved 2 years later nevertheless. Szigetti and Walker-Zigic formed the project Stonewashed afterwards.Discography:
"New virus spreads" CD 1992 (Polydor)
"New virus spreads: Get infected" MCD 1992 (Polydor)
"Overblown roses" Comp.-CD Track 1993 (New Rock (Hard, Heavy And Grunge))
Corban
Lineup:
D. H. Mitzner
Steve Lauer
Band-info:
A band from Lichtenfels/Ebensfeld in Bavaria, that recorded at least one 5 track Demo in 1991. Stylistically they lads could be more on the Hard Rock side, judging by titles like "German Blues" or "Tribute to Jimi". Further info is required.(Thanx to Jürgen Grimm for info, pictures and kind help)
Discography:
"Corban 91" Demo 1991 (selfreleased)
Cornucopia
Lineup:
Wolfgang Thelen (bass)
Kai Schmitz (drums)
Achim Bötcher (vocals)
Sven Wagner (guitar)
Torsten Patz (guitar)
Band-info:
A Hard Rock/Metal act from Andernach founded in March '84, playing live gigs in the area from 1985-86. Achim Bötcher joined Bad Bone on bass in 1986 and the band changed name to Bootleg around June '87. If you got more info, please get in touch.Discography:
Coroners Inquest
Lineup:
Olaf Winterberg
Patrick Patchura (drums)
Band-info:
A Speed/Thrash Metal band originating from the Bielefeld/Melle area, which was active during 1987, musically influenced by Slayer and Megadeth. Patrick Patchura was also playing with the Total Mosh Project. If you got more info, please get in touch.Discography:
Cosmic Ambience
Lineup:
Adrian (vocals)
Gilles (guitar)
Hawke (guitar)
Thomas (bass)
Rotter (drums)
Band-info:
Cosmic Ambience was a Crossover band originating from Hamburg, founded 1991 by Gilles (guitar), Hawke (guitar), Thomas (bass). Until the mid 90's the band was active in the Hamburg Thrash/Hardcore scene and played several gigs throughout Germany as well. During the later 90's the band's sound changed towards a mix of all kinds of elements from Metal, Punk, Funk, HipHop, Wave, Jazz til the band eventually split up 2008.Discography:
Cosmos
Lineup:
Ralf König (vocals, guitar)
Michael Rudolph (guitar)
Hans-Ulrich Wilke (bass)
Andreas König (drums)
Band-info:
Cosmos was founded 1982 in Steinbach-Hallenberg (ex-GDR) by Ralf König but in the beginning the band just covered well known Rock and Blues songs. In 1985 Hans-Ulrich Wilke was "forced" by König to join the band on bass and after he demanded to play more stuff like Motörhead (the only Metal song they had in repertoire) Cosmos turned into a pure Heavy Metal band in 1986. Some of the own songs they wrote was "Heavy Metal pur" and "Walpurgisnacht" but they didn't record any official Demos at all. In Autumn '87 Hans-Ulrich Wilke went to Erfurt to start his studies and this meant the end for Cosmos who had to quit due to demands of the government. Wilke joined the Thrashers Rochus in April '88 while Ralf König went on to sing for Caiman and later joined Power Metallers Hardholz. It could be possible the band was previously firming as Kosmos, since an old Demo tape recently surfaced where the band name was written with a "K". Further info is welcome.Discography:
Countach
Lineup:
Chris Lyne (guitar)
Band-info:
A band from West Berlin, active in the early/mid 80's, featuring the ex-Heartlyne guitarist Chris Lyne. If you got more info, please get in touch.Discography:
Countdown
Lineup:
Reinhard Lehmann (vocals)
Michael Jurischk (guitar)
"Wolle" Zinn (bass)
Dan Uhden (guitar)
Frank Müller (drums)
Band-info:
Countdown was a short lived Heavy Metal band from East Berlin (ex-GDR) that started in late 1983 with Rocco Stellmacher (later in Merlin) being one of the founding members. Reinhard Lehmann (vox) and Michael Jurischk (guitar) both playing with Plattform at that time, was asked by Wolle Zinn to join Countdown and moved to Berlin. In early '84 they started playing first live shows and new members like Dan Uhden (guitar, ex-Metall) and Frank Müller (drums) joined them. Due to the revived Berlin band Regenbogen's permanent need for new members (almost the whole band left the GDR in 1984) there was a steady come and go taking place till Andreas Schwendemann (guitarist of Regenbogen) asked Reinhard Lehmann to merge Countdown and Regenbogen and keep on playing as Regenbogen instead. It was done as it was said and in early 1985 Countdown became a part of Regenbogen with the line up now consisting of Reinhard Lehmann (vox), Andreas Schwendemann (guitar), Michael Jurischk (guitar), Christian Dallmann (bass) and Frank Müller (drums). But the band didn't last too long either as Schwendemann left the GDR in late 1985 as well. After Schwendemann's loss the 4 remaining guys decided to rename the band to Pharao and start something completely new. There are no Countdown recordings known to exist.Discography:
Countdown (Koblenz)
Lineup:
Rolf Kreier (vocals)
Manfred Zimmermann (keyboard)
Wolfgang Lucke (bass)
Winfried Hetger (guitar)
Jörg Schwickerath (drums)
Band-info:
These are the Countdown from Koblenz who've been active since 1979 and released a 7" on Top-Music (probably their own label). The songs are strange and don't fit together because "Sunshine" is a New Wave-ish tune with Hard Rock refrain and incredible poppy drum sound while "London" on the flipside reveals their classic Hard Rock/AOR roots with rough guitars and just the poppy keyboards disturbing a bit. From the band's info they should be more on the Hard Rock side but who knows. They also could place another track on a local sampler in 1986.Discography:
"Sunshine/London" 7"EP 1985 (Top-Music)
"How does it feel" Comp.-LP Track 1986 (Music Live)
Courage (Hannover)
Lineup:
Marco Bröckel (bass)
Nico Herb (drums)
Marco Meyer (guitar)
Arne Röhrs (keyboard)
Lui (Percussion, Synth)
Blubber (vocals)
Band-info:
Not to be confused with the other Courage who released the "Gold and ivory" MLP, these Courage was from Hannover and played a sort of melodic Heavy Rock with permanent keyboards in the background, that remind me more or less of Bon Jovi (the keyboard style). Both songs are of the same kind and not even bad, but it's less recommended for the true Metal faction.Discography:
”Hard days” 7” EP 1991 (selfreleased)
Courage (Hattingen)
Lineup:
Sven Strzyso (vocals)
Uwe Dinsing (bass)
Holger Feist (drums)
Manfred David (guitar)
Andreas Sieling (guitar)
Band-info:
A mysterious band whose vinyl everyone is searching for and that causes sweaty nipples en masse. Not to be confused with the Hannover band of the same name these guys hailed from Hattingen in North Rhine-Westphalia and only released a MLP on the underground label D&S Recording. Their thing was the melodic Heavy Metal and they could easily get compared to similar sounding acts like Fortuner or Nytemare. f.e. Surely an upper league band on the German Metal market. Their superb vocalist Sven Strzyso later joined the Melodic Metallers Rage Heart.
Courage (Norderstedt)
Lineup:
Thomas Will (guitar, vocals)
Frank Hilpert (guitar, vocals)
Karsten Sprigode (vocals, guitar)
Felix Dewald (bass)
Dirk Schumacher (drums)
Band-info:
NWOBHM-sounding HR/HM-act from Norderstedt, north of Hamburg. Formed in 1980 by Thomas Will and Frank Hilpert respectively, Drummer Dirk Schumacher could be found a short while later. A bass player and vocalist joined the band as well, but both left already after 9 months. Courage continued for a while as a trio, when eventually Karsten Sprigode came, handling vocals and guitar (Yes, that's a 3-guitar band right there!). Last member to join had been Felix Dewald on bass during 1982 and this very line up would be stable for at least till mid 1983, when a 4-song Demo was produced, featuring tracks like "Time Will Tell No Lies", "Rockmachine" and "Ariane", offering melodic NWOBHM inspired stuff like Praying Mantis f.e. Karsten left for Charon shortly after the Demo was recorded, but what happened to the rest of the band remains a mystery. If you know more, please get in contact.Discography:
"Demo 1983" (selfreleased)
Coven
Lineup:
Band-info:
A very obscure, early 80's band, possibly from the Frankfurt/Main area, said to have featured members who later came to form Lyvëwyrë. If you have more info, please get in contact.Discography:
Cover Kings
Lineup:
Peter Simon (vocals)
Jan Fuhrmann (guitar, vocals)
Mark Schuster (bass)
Volker Daume (drums)
Band-info:
A cover act from Elmshorn in the wider Hamburg area, that was active from 1988 till 1992 and featured the ex-Battery guitarist Jan Fuhrmann. The Cover Kings only performed Oldies and Rock'n'Roll songs on local stages, but giving them a kinda modern Hard Rock/Metal sound instead. For promotional purpose a Demo was recorded and sent only to promoters.(Thanx to Jan Fuhrmann for info)
Discography:
“Promo Tape" Demo 1989 (unofficial)
Cox-Orange
Lineup:
Weini (vocals)
Tom Henkel (guitar)
Dirk von Suckow (guitar)
Moppel (bass)
Ingo Gumin (drums)
Band-info:
Cox-Orange was a Crossover/Thrash band from Schrobenhausen, active since the late mid 80's. The guys directly debuted with a vinyl single 1989 (released in different vinyl colors), that featured technically quite well executed Hardcore with Metal edge in the vein of the late Mottek or Scarecrow. Though the guys was crossing the border to Thrash Metal quite often, the vocals of Weini still clearly got a punky/HC touch. 1991 the lads produced one more Demo tape featuring Solo on bass and Kai Büschl on guitars, but for their last Demo recorded in April '93, Tom Henkel returned to replace Solo, while Robert Haßfurter was singing. The band split up in the mid 90's.Discography:
"Hypnotized" 7" EP 1989 (Amok)
"Demo '91" (selfreleased)
"Demo '93" (selfreleased)
Craaft
Lineup:
Klaus Luley (guitar, bass, vocals)
Franz Keil (keyboard)
Reinhard Besser (guitar, bass)
Band-info:
Klaus Luley from Frankfurt/Main, formerly member of the Hard Rock band Schloss, joined Hardrockers Tokyo in 1981, but left the group to realize his own musicial vision and therefore formed Craaft in 1983. Together with Franz Keil and ex-Change/Blackjack guitarist Reinhard Besser, he created a new concept and composed songs, that gained a band a major deal with Epic Records. After the same titled debut album was available 1986, the guys supported Queen 1986 on their "A kind of magic" tour and this way got easy access to hundred of thousands people's ears on stage. For the tour the band engaged ex-Cindy Lauper drummer Sandy Genaro and bassist Steve Buslowe (ex-Meat Loaf), who both already appeared on Craaft's debut album. For "Second honeymoon", their big breakthrough and most successful album 1988, guitarist Marcus Schleicher (ex-Robin McAuley/GMT) joined, though just like on the debut, Craaft was working with hired drummers in the studio and on stage. While "Craaft" was still a bit more poppy oriented AOR/Hard Rock, with "Second honeymoon" the lads entered a higher stage within the melodic Hard Rock genre. Wether one is into that commercial style or not, I have to admit that "Second honeymoon" gathered a number of topnotch rockers that either the big sellers couldn't top so easily. In places Craaft's style was sounding similar to the Scorpions, while Luley didn't need to hide behind Klaus Meine at all. Poser stuff or not, "Second honeymoon" marked a international highlight in that commercial Hard Rock business. But then Craaft did a huge logistical mistake, the 3rd album "No tricks - just kicks" wasn't released before 1991, which most probably had cost the band a fortune as with another album of "Second honeymoon's" class, who knows what Craaft could have reached. The czech born guitarist Vitek Spacek had replaced the duo Reinhard Besser/Marcus Schleicher and with Thommy Schneider finally a drummer was part of the band. As expected "No tricks - just kicks" at no minute could repeat the brilliant "Second honeymoon" album, though they still rocked hard in typical manner for that time, but all the big hits was missing. Needless to say that the RCA dropped Craaft afterwards and he band split up in the early 90's.Discography:
"Craaft" LP 1986 (Epic)
"I wanna look in your eyes" 7"/12"/Flexi EP 1986 (Epic)
"You're the best thing in my life" 7"/12" EP 1986 (Epic)
"Hold me" 12" Promo EP 1986 (Epic)
"Second honeymoon" LP/CD 1988 (BMG/RCA)
"Run away" 7"/12" EP 1988 (RCA)
"Jane" 7"/12"/MCD 1988 (RCA)
"Second honeymoon" Promo MCD 1988 (RCA)
"No tricks - just kicks" LP/CD 1991 (RCA)
Crack Buster
Lineup:
Mr. SuperSonic (bass)
Christian Freiberg (guitar)
Christian Auschel (drums)
Toby Scherler (vocals)
Band-info:
A melodic Heavy Metal act from Hannover, not trying to copy the Scorpions. They released 3 Demos since they started in 1990 that all contain the same sort of typical german Metal. On the 3rd tape "Get busted" Ralph relaced Toby Scherler behind the micro and Mr. Supersonic by Roland. His vocals, although he can sing, in places sounded quite adventurous when he tried to hit higher tones. Nevertheless for 1992 they delivered quite a hell lot of true Heavy Metal.Discography:
"Appetizer '90" Demo 1990 (selfreleased)
"PS: never satisfied" Demo 1991 (selfreleased)
”Get busted” Demo 1992 (selfreleased)
Crack Jaw
Lineup:
Stephan Kiegerl (vocals)
Holger Eckstein (guitar)
Jürgen Schulz-Anker (guitar)
Gerrit Eisenmenger (bass)
Markus Klinke (drums)
Band-info:
The band Crack Jaw from Frankfurt/Main is a good example of how you could kill your own career with one blink of an eye, when you decide to lead a band into a direction, that it wasn't predestined for. The band was founded 1980 and the line up didn't change at all during the following years till 1983 when Crack Jaw's first Demo "Heavy Rock" was available. Either the song "Breaking the law" from that tape made it on the "Rockactive I" sampler. All of the 4 Demo songs had been of equal quality, offering a hardrocking Heavy Metal style with rough and fat sound, that almost blew your ears. With that tape, Crack Jaw could be mentioned amoung the hottest unsigned german bands back in the day, and either Steamhammer got the same impression it seems, as the debut album "Nightout" was produced by this label in 1985. But what happened, that Crack Jaw nowadays is just a disregarded side note in history? Well, the answer is easy, Crack Jaw couldn't transfer the early Demo power onto vinyl! Instead they focussed on getting more catchy with the newly written material, while the whole production was simply too soft. In places the band sounds like Cinderella, combined melodic pounding US Style Hard Rock with their former Heavy Metal, which simply did not work at all. You can clearly hear on the album, what's been old and newer creations. After another Demo attempt in 1988, the band split up without further outputs. One of their early guitarists, Bernd Vestweber, joined Frankfurt's Overdose in September '84, while their later guitarist René Knotz went to play with the local band Monroe.Discography:
"Heavy Rock" Demo 1983 (selfreleased)
"Breaking the oath" Comp.-LP Track 1983 (Rockactive I)
"Nightout" LP 1985 (Steamhammer)
"Demo '88" Demo 1988 (selfreleased)
Crash
Lineup:
Band-info:
Most probably just a short lived ex-GDR Hard Rock/Metal act originating from Karl-Marx-Stadt (Chemnitz). The band was seen playing live at the „Pfingsttreffen der Jugend“ am Geyerischen Teich in Ehrenfriedersdorf during 1985 or probably ’86, performing just a very short set of 4 songs, including cover versions of “Fade to black” and “Shout at the devil”.Discography:
Crash n' Burn
Lineup:
William Lennox (vocals)
Frank Becking (guitar)
Gareth Thomas (bass)
Rolf Brendel (drums)
Band-info:
A shortlived Sleaze Rock project from London, featuring the german musicians Frank Becking (ex-The Ramblers/The Stripes/Caprifischer) and the more prominent Rolf Brendel (ex-Nena/The Stripes) plus english guys William Lennox (ex-Days of Sorrow) and Gareth Thomas. At some point the ex-Darxon drummer Ingo Plass was part of the band as well. Crash N' Burn just released one album that was sounding close to the wellknown US Sleaze Rockers of the era like Guns n' Roses and similar acts, merging Hard and Blues Rock with sleazy sounds. Originally Crash N' Burn was previously active as Riff in Hagen/Germany, a band that on the other hand originally got founded as The Riffs back in 1984 by vocalist/guitarist Frank Becking (ex-The Ramblers/The Stripes/Caprifischer), Burkhard Westerhoff and Volker Britz (ex-X-Quadrat), musicians that more or less came from the early 80's NDW corner. Around 1986/87 they shorted name to just Riff and the english born vocalist William Lennox (ex-Days of Sorrow) joined the band, who later got signed by the german RCA label and produced their debut album "Mission love" during 1989. Riff's style was classic Sleaze Rock with mainstream Rock/Blues influences, reminding of bands from the local L.A. Cockrock scene. Around 1990 the guys relocated to London and tried to get their name better known to international medias. In London the guys also produced their second album "Fever", but Volker Britz and Burkhard Westerhoff left Riff shortly after the recordings. Lennox and Becking initially renamed the band to Crash N' Burn and released the album under the new monicker, featuring now ex-Nena drummer Rolf Brendel and Gareth Thomas on bass. After Crash N' Burn's demise Frank Becking shortly joined Nena and later together with William Lennox again was found in the band Dan.Discography:
"Fever" LP/CD 1991 (RCA)
"Crash n' Burn" Promo 12"/MCD 1991 (RCA)
"Hot like fire" 7"/12"/MCD 1991 (RCA)
Craze
Lineup:
C. Stolz (guitar)
Andreas Krüsmann (guitar)
Band-info:
Craze was a young Oldenburg act who released a 5-song demo of mid-paced Heavy Rock in early 1986. Digital drums, plenty of keys and weak vocals says the one review. If you have more info, please get in contact.Discography:
"There was a time" Demo 1986 (selfreleased)
Crazy Elder
Lineup:
Walter Weers
Rainer Laws
Band-info:
A Heavy Metal band from Aachen active around 1986. If you have more info please get in touch.Discography:
Creack Deseaster
Lineup:
Band-info:
A local Thrash band from most probably Bavaria, that was active during 1990/91. Most probably either a Demo should exist as these lads played live during that time as well. Further info is welcome.Discography:
Creature
Lineup:
Alexander Schmitt (vocals)
Marco Clausen (guitar, vocals)
Torsten Janz (guitar, keyboard)
Martin Henke (bass)
Carsten Runge (drums)
Band-info:
A Melodic Metal band in the vein of Bonfire, Zeno or Wishes Burn from Seevetal in the Hamburg area, that is actice since 1982, founded by Marco Clausen, Torsten Janz and Carsten Runge. Their only album was produced 1989 and published independently, but nowadays surfaces just seldomly. Musically this band could be counted to melodic Hard Rock/Heavy Metal faction, while the use of keyboards probably makes them sounding more mainstream, than they indeed have been and giving the album a kinda AOR touch. Creature are still active nowadays and either published the album "Ride the bullet" 2015.Discography:
"Creature" LP 1990 (selfreleased)
Creed
Lineup:
Jessy Baron (vocals)
Udo Libutzki (guitar)
Dittmar Hüge (guitar)
Tihomir Casni (bass)
Klaus Binder (drums)
Band-info:
Creed has been quite special within Germany's Metal scene, coz these guys right from the start used to call themselves a White Metal band. The band was founded 1982 in Böblingen in the greater Stuttgart area as a fourpiece, but right during the recordings of their debut EP 1986, vocalist Jessy Baron joined the group. It's not sure if Baron indeed sung on the EP, as strangely the back sleeve mentions the EP to be recorded 1985 and shows a band pic with only 4 guys, while Dittmar Hüge being mentined the singer. But the insert shows a bandpic mentioning Baron as vocalist, while the recording should be dating from 1986. Most probably the insert was printed after Baron joined? Nevermind, the material on the limited EP (1000 copies made) featured quite listenable powerful Metal, somewhere between Nightprowler and Chainsaw on the speedy trax, and marked a good start, though the guys had problems to sell those vinyls. After another Demo tape 1987, Dittmar Hüge left the guys, but they couldn't find replacement for him due to their highly religious requirements and continued as fourpiece. After a tour through Germany with Bloodgood 1988, the band recorded a 2 track Demo, featuring the songs “In the night" and "Tonight", which was only made for promotional use and not for sale. Klaus Binder also quit and the drum parts of their fullenght "The sign of victory" got recorded by session drummer Stefan Schütz. The album seriously couldn't really tie up to the EP material anymore and features more commercially influnenced Hard Rock/Metal like Stryper, with a very few heavier exceptions. Jessy Baron and Udo Libutzki subsequently had to leave the band late 1990 and got replaced by Thommy Rausz (vox) and Hans Mickel (guitar). Matt Staiger handled the drums, but all these acts of desperation didn't help Creed any further. Lightmare guitarist Andy Gutjahr joined in 1994, as well as drummer Joachim Joos, but Creed eventually split up after another year, in 1995.Discography:
"Creed" MLP 1986 (RSM)
"Demo 1987" (selfreleased)
"The sign of victory" LP/CD 1990 (Pila)
"In the dark" Comp.-Promo MCD Track 1990 (Just be sure it's pure)
Creeping Disaster
Lineup:
Thorsten (vocals)
Benze (guitar, vocals)
Haese (bass)
Matsch (drums)
Band-info:
An extreme Crossover act from Reutlingen, that was active since the mid 80's. During the recordings of their debut 10" EP and after finishing one track, vocalist Thorsten left the band in February '88. Tosch replaced him and sung on the rest of the songs. The material on that EP sounds similar to bands like the Crossover acts Squandered Message or Dresden 45 and features a Metal influenced style of Hardcore/Thrashcore, that could be interesting for openminded Thrashers as well. Sadly on the "Countdown" LP, the band's sound turned by far more punky and therefore it's less interesting for Metalheads.Discography:
"Creeping Disaster" 10" EP 1989 (Positive Destruction)
"Countdown" LP 199x (Hot Yeti)
Crematory
Lineup:
Gerhard Felix Stass (vocals)
Marc Zimmer (bass)
Lothar Först (guitar)
Markus Jüllich (drums)
Band-info:
Crematory is a Gothic/Death Metal band from Mannhein, that was founded in 1991 by the ex-Excess members Markus Jüllich and Lothar Först (ex-Sudden Darkness) together with Marc Zimmer and Gerhard Stass on vocals. Marc Zimmer left the band to co-found the Black Metal band Mystic Circle, while Heinz Steinhäuser (ex-Agoraphobia) replaced him on bass and female keyboarder Katrin Goger was added to lead Crematory's music into a more Gothic Metal oriented direction, as heard on the debut "Transmigration", that though still assimilated influences of Paradise Lost's "Gothic" album, as well as Amorphis and especially greek Horrified. During the first part of the 90's their albums still could be counted to the Death Metal genre, but they drifted away with each album. 1994 "Just dreaming" was published, that still sounded similar to the debut and Crematory released tons of albums up to 2020 when "Unbroken" was available.Discography:
"Demo 1992" (selfreleased)
"Transmigration" LP/CD 1993 (Massacre)
Criminal Justice
Lineup:
Ken Kennedy (vocals)
Ray Falcon (guitar)
Rainer Ulbrich (bass)
Carsten Hamann (drums)
Band-info:
Local West Berlin hopefuls, rated as hot candicate for soon recieving an album deal after their first Demo "Burning the infidel", that received great feedback by the important Metal mags. Criminal Justice was formed 1986 and after the aforementioned Demo from 1988, recorded one more selftitled tape the next year with a slightly different line up. Only vocalist Ken Kennedy, Ray Falcon and Rainer Ulbrich remained of the first team, while Mario Hess (drums) and additional guitarist Marco was added. Also the line up change caused a stylistical change too. When on the straight power/thrashing "Burning the infidel" you couldn't be sure if you actually indeed listen to Criminal Justice and not Metal Church on "The dark", on the second Demo the lads got a bit more progressive and adopted more complicated yet technical Thrash structures, though Ken Kennedy still reminded of David Wayne with every phrase he sung. Criminal Justice failed to get signed, though Noise and Roadrunner Records both had already started negotiations, and disbanded during the beginning of the 90's. Ken Kennedy re-appeared in Forsaken afterwards. Iron Pages Records re-released some songs of both tapes as the "Burning the infidel" LP 2005.Discography:
"Burning the infidel" Demo 1988 (selfreleased)
"Criminal Justice" Demo 1989 (selfreleased)
Crizzy Why’s
Lineup:
Christiane Weyres (vocals, keyboard)
Thomas Diemer (drums)
Patrik Barzen (bass)
Ralf Winkler (guitars)
Band-info:
A female fronted melodic Hard Rock/Metal band from Cologne with a few late 80's Glam Metal influences who's trying to play a kinda Dio-ish style (with success). The band just formed in summer ’88 and went on stage the very first time already 3 months later. Christiane Weyres did a very good job behind the micro. After having had several gigs nationwide, the band was one of the winners of a local Cologne band contest in 1990 and the prize was the appearance of an exclusive song on a Compilation LP, because "Until the night comes", although it's the title of the tape, did not appear on the 2 track Demo featuring "Don't tell me it's over" and "Is it love".Discography:
”Until the night comes” Demo 1990 (selfreleased)
"Until the night comes" Comp.-LP Track 1990 (Die Sieger '90 - Rock De Cologne)
Crocodile Carrie
Lineup:
Christian Teske (vocals)
Thomas Kraneis (guitar)
Dirk Seyffarth (keyboard)
Frank Stegnitz (bass)
Wolfgang Pohl (drums)
Band-info:
A local AOR band of the late 80's with Hard Rock tendencies from Lüdenscheid, that was featured with the excellent song "Live in my life" on the local underground scene sampler "Listen and Dance - The sound of Lüdenscheid". According to the enclosed band info Crocodile Carrie saw themselves influenced by Europe, Journey and Foreigner and indeed, their contribution sounds exactly like a mix of the classic Foreigner sound with a heavy dose of Europe's "The final countdown". Almost a potential hit...Discography:
"Live in my life" Comp.-LP Track 1990 (Listen and Dance - The sound of Lüdenscheid)
Croming Rose
Lineup:
Harald Leib (vocals)
Matthias Mende (guitar)
Harry Steiner (bass)
Tino Mende (drums)
Band-info:
Apparently this band was pre-Chroming Rose before they added an "h". Croming Rose from Senden formed in 1985 as Cromium Rose by Tino and Matthias Mende, featuring the ex-Overdose ("Over the top") member Harry Steiner on bass and Veto's Harald Leib behind the micro. Due to a printing error the band was wrongly announced as Croming Rose at a festival poster so they kept that name and released their only Demo "Born to destroy" which spreads a power that's quite seldom in the german underground, sounding somewhat professional that it indeed was only a question of time when a label would pick them up for an album release. "Born to destroy" contains 5 trax that mainly on the speed parts (And that tape is quite a Speed Metal firework!) go pretty much into the Powerlord direction. After the Demo Gerd Salewski (ex-Stranger "The bell") joined them on vox and they got a record deal. They must have changed the name to Chroming Rose right at that time.Discography:
"Born to destroy" Demo 1988 (selfreleased)
Cromium Rose
Lineup:
Harald Leib (vocals)
Matthias Mende (guitar)
Harry Steiner (bass)
Tino Mende (drums)
Band-info:
Cromium Rose was a Power/Speed Metal troop founded in 1985 in Senden/Bavaria by Tino and Matthias Mende, featuring the ex-Overdose ("Over the top") member Harry Steiner on bass and Veto's Harald Leib behind the micro. Due to a printing error the band was wrongly announced as Croming Rose at a festival poster so they kept that name and released their only Demo "Born to destroy" under the name Croming Rose. After the Demo they changed name to Chroming Rose and released a few albums. As Cromium Rose there are no releases available.Discography:
Cronos Titan
Lineup:
Klaus Lohmaier (vocals, bass)
Fritz Obermayer (guitar)
Günther Sander (guitar)
Stefan Schwarzmann (drums)
Band-info:
Cronos Titan was a Speed Metal band from Erlangen/Bavaria that released 4 Demos since the group was founded in 1985. After the first Demo "Drunk'n'Ready" Stefan Schwarzmann left the band and got replaced by Gareth Lathan. Schwarzmann later would play with the who is who of the german Metal scene like Running Wild, Accept, Helloween or U.D.O. Lathan would stay in the band till their last tape "Final effort" where Christian Medelnik took his part. Fritz Obermayer changed to bass since Lohmaier left a bit earlier and Kai Pasemann became the new guitarero. They also added a female vocalist in Marion Finke for that Demo. Their style on "Final effort" was almost similar to S.D.I.'s last 2 albums, but more rough, unpolished straight forward banging thrashy Speed Metal with quite hellish riffing. Also Marion Finke proved that women could have a right to exist in the Speed/Thrash Metal scene. She's a real screamer. After "Final effort", as if they knew it would be the last attempt to score a record deal, no more recordings got produced. Pasemann just like Klaus Lohmaer went to Paradox and Marion Finke joined the post-Squealer band Silent Strike. Their Demos got re-released on a DLP in 2019 as "The Demo Collection 1985-1989" on Every Cord Counts Records.Discography:
"Drunk'n'Ready“ Demo 1985 (selfreleased)
"Aspirin Damage" Demo 1987 (selfreleased)
"III“ Demo 1988 (selfreleased)
"Final Effort" Demo 1989 (selfreleased)
Cross
Lineup:
Ricolf Krückel (guitar)
Band-info:
A local Metal band from Bonn, active since 1981, during the first period of the 80's, featuring Ricolf Krückel who later joined Shining in early '85 and formed Roxx during 1986. If you got more info, please get in touch.Discography:
Crossroads
Lineup:
Reent Froehlich (vocals)
Stefan Ellerhorst (guitar)
Christian Stöver (guitar)
Axel Ellerhorst (bass)
Franz Schede (keyboard)
Michael Peer Würfel (drums)
Band-info:
Crossroads from Sande in northern Germany, has been a joint venture of ex-Diamond Breaker musicians Axel Ellerhorst, Stefan Ellerhorst, Franz Schede plus the ex-Fact guys Reent Froehlich and Michael Peer Würfel. Originally Michael Köster has been the band's first drummer in 1987, when Crossroads formed, but he didn't stay for long in the band, so Reent Fröhlich probably recalled his ex-Fact bandmate Würfel. Christian Stöver was previously playing with Rave. After a two song Demo 1989, the band got a record deal with Harvest/EMI and recorded their debut "The wild one", which was available in May '91, when Franz Schede already wasn't part of Crossroads anymore. The material on the album could be compared to the usual melodic Hard Rock/Heavy Metal stuff of american embossment, like Firehouse, occassionally even mid 80's Fastway, Bonfire, Vamp etc. Since the album gained a little success, the EMI produced another album entitled "Hype" one year later, that featured ex-Running Wild bassist Jens Becker for Axel Ellerhorst, but couldn't really repeat the success of their debut. Basically the sound of the album appeared a bit dry, while stylistically they tried to dive more into the Hard Rock seas. With Thommy Röben on bass, but without Christian Stöver (who quit 1993) the lads tried one more time with the "Gasolined" CD 1994, but couldn't really get their feet on the ground anymore. 1997 eventually Crossroads split up.Discography:
"Crossroads" Demo 1989 (selfreleased)
"The wild one" LP/CD 1991 (Harvest)
"Borderline" MCD 1991 (EMI)
"Voodoo" Split 7" EP Track 1991 (Free Hot Rock)
"I am what I am" MCD 1991 (Electrola)
"Hype" LP/CD 1992 (Electrola)
Crowd of Isolated
Lineup:
Michael Kammer (vocals)
Peter Gundal (guitar)
Claus Kammer (bass)
Jürgen Thiel (drums)
Band-info:
A 1986 founded Hardcore band from Saarbrücken, that musically often reminds me of the Suicidal Tendencies. These guys used to play a metallic kind of US style Hardcore, that just like mentioned, stylistically reminds of the late 80's Suicidal Tendencies. They combined the rather melodic punky California HC with either that raw thrashing NYC style HC and therefore should just get a short mention here for the openminded Crossover fans. The band split up 1992.Discography:
"Blow up your chains" Demo 1988 (selfreleased)
"Bad actors" 7" EP 1988 (X-Mist)
”I try to tell…” LP 1988 (X-Mist)
"Memories and scars" LP/CD 1990 (X-Mist)
Crows
Lineup:
Bruno Mattukat (vocals)
Jens-Uwe Roschkowski (guitar)
Winfried Hirsch (guitar)
Frank Bankowski (bass)
Bobby Schottkowski (drums)
Band-info:
Crows has been one of Dortmund's first Metal bands ever and mainly is known for permanently providing the band Angel Dust with members. While Angel Dust made it at least to a certain status and fixpoint within the german 80's Speed Metal scene, Crows never had been more than an insider tip, though these guys was active since already 1981. The very first Demo of the band was produced 1985 and featured 5 trax. During 1986 the lads recorded two more promising Demos. But shortly afterwards the line up got a first crack. Stefan Knauer (guitar) and Siggi Kromolka (bass) joined Crows and replaced Frank Bankowski (he co-founded Angel Dust 1984) and Jens-Uwe Roschkowski. Interestingly the sound of Crows during the mid 80's hasn't been much different to Angel Dust's. Quite promising Power Metal with speed elements, technically experienced and played straight to the point should have been enough to score a deal and either Roadrunner tested the band for their Teutonic Invasion sampler, but in the end did not draw the option to produce an album, while Angel Dust in 1986 already could show their debut LP. To record their 88'er Demo the band hired two new guitarists, Bernd Kost and Jochen Kalpein, after ex-Angel Dust Roman Keymer, who played just a short time with the guys, decided to find his fortune in Risk, while the renegade Winfried Hirsch for a short while took Keymer's part in Angel Dust. Both Kost and Kalpein either appeared on "The legions" Demo from 1989, but the big success shouldn't come at all, though the band got respectable reviews within the Metal press. After two more Demos and two more years of hoping for the big bang, Century Media eventually produced the band's debut album "The dying race", which indeed came at least four or even five years too late. Frank Bankowski (bass) had returned to the group after Angel Dust's split, but long time singer Bruno Mattukat had left the band and got replaced by ex-Wolf Spider/Non Iron shouter Leszek Szpigiel. "The dying race", though being a technically solid executed melodic Power Metal album, couldn't concurrate with the band's earlier style and had it's influences more likely in the midpaced Metallica material, than in the speed business. Disillusioned Crows disbanded right within the year of the album release. Schottkowski and Bernd Kost joined the reformed Sodom, while Szpigiel tried with Scanner during the mid 80's.Discography:
"Born to fight" Demo 1985 (selfreleased)
"Hunted dog" Demo 1986 (selfreleased)
"Final fight" Demo 1986 (selfreleased)
"Final Fight" Comp.-LP Track 1987 (Teutonic Invasion Part One)
"Demo '88" Demo 1988 (selfreleased)
"The legions" Demo 1989 (selfreleased)
"Demo '90" Demo 1990 (selfreleased)
"The dying race" LP/CD 1991 (Century Media)
Cruise Missile
Lineup:
Miriam Schmitt (vocals)
Thomas Selzer (guitar)
Stephan Schneider (guitar)
Achim Adamski (bass)
Oliver Roßbruch (drums)
Band-info:
A female fronted Heavy Metal band originating from Wadern-Lockweiler (Saarland), that was active since July '88. Cruise Missile recorded their first Demo already in December 1988, and both trax got entirely featured on the underground compilation "Take This Song - Heart & Heavy Vol. 1" as well, offering straight Heavy Metal with Accept and Warlock influences. Though one more 5 song tape was recorded during the following year, the band didn't move from it's spot and a bit later on in the early 90's evolved into the Death Metal band Bloodsucker.Discography:
"Demo '89" Demo 1989 (selfreleased)
"Take This Song - Heart & Heavy Vol. 1" Comp.CD-Tracks 1989 (EMS Eastwood)
"Fan the flames" Demo 1989 (selfreleased)
Cruisemain
Lineup:
Band-info:
A local band that played live at the Woodstock Open Air Festival in Ronshausen (Hessen) in summer 1989. If you got more info, please get in touch.Discography:
Crusader
Lineup:
Stefan Kühn
Band-info:
A Bremen based Heavy Metal band, that recorded a Demo tape in late 1989 or January '90. If you got more info, please get in touch.Discography:
Crusader (Hamm)
Lineup:
Chris Richter (vocals)
Jan Knobloch (guitar)
Christof Edelkötter (guitar)
Andreas Gomille (bass)
Sebastian Thomas (keyboard)
Uli Hein (drums)
Band-info:
Power Metallers from Hamm in the Dortmund area, active since the beginning of the 90's. This band received overwhelming reviews for both their 2 tapes from 1991/92, yet, they failed to get signed by any label. The guys prefered to play a speedy style of melodic Power Metal with neverending doublebass crossfire, but somehow managed to sound different than the rest, kinda outstanding. All trax of both tapes was re-released in 1997 on a selftitled CDR compilation including another studio track from 1993. The band in 1999 recorded another Demo CDR entitled "Land of the damned", but still no luck for any possible album release. Crusader are still active nowadays but slightly revised name to Cruzader in 2017.Discography:
"Crusader" Demo 1991 (selfreleased)
"Promo Demo 1992" (selfreleased)
Crusader (Nuremberg)
Lineup:
Klaus Beck (vocals)
Oliver Gruber (bass)
Horst Schwarz (drums)
Michael Pech (guitar)
Band-info:
Do not confuse these Crusader with the other band from Wuppertal that was active around the same time. This band was from Nuremberg or the area of Nuremberg, as on their 7" there is a sponsor printed on the sleeve. The 2 tracks featured offer quite hard rocking Metal with easy beats and melody but repeating the same riffs again and again, with a few NWOBHM hints. Nothing groundshaking so to say but solid stuff. The Single should be from around 1984 but a year isn't mentioned anywhere.Discography:
"Rock hard" 7" 198x (Altera Pars)
Crusader (Wuppertal)
Lineup:
Klaus Becker
Band-info:
Heavy Metal band from Wuppertal active around 1985. If you can provide more info please get in touch.Discography:
Crusch Alba
Lineup:
Christian Ebert
Band-info:
A Heavy Metal band from Bergen, Bavaria, formed in 1986 or '87. A 50-minute (!) demo was released in 1988, though it doesn't seem to have been circulated much. The only review we've found describes them as primitive but pretty good, no-frills HM, though perhaps a bit low-budget and repetitive. If you have more info, please get in contact.Discography:
Demo 1988 (selfreleased)
Crying Days
Lineup:
Matthias Ott (guitar, vocals)
Torsten Freiherr (guitar)
Mario Tymek (bass)
Thomas Seber (drums)
Band-info:
A local Metal band from Nuremberg/Hasenbuck, that was active during a short period from 1987-1988. Thomas Seber joined the band Wisdom afterwards. Further info is welcome.Discography:
Crying Thunder
Lineup:
Sven Kracht (bass, vocals)
Torsten Pörtner (guitar)
Sven Göttlicher (drums)
Band-info:
A Heavy Metal trio hailing from North Rhine Westphalia, which was active since 1988 and changed name to Twilight in 1989. If you got more info, please get in touch.Discography:
Crypt
Lineup:
Andy Nowak (guitar, vocals)
Marco Börchers (drums)
Heinz-Peter Heitkamp (bass)
Band-info:
Crypt from Gelsenkirchen released quite a number of Demo's and also had with Oliver Fernickel and Arnd Klink 2 ex-Darkness members in their rows. I don't know all their Demos, but the "Third paroxyzm" tape was quite varied sounding Thrash, that makes it hard to compare the band to others. There are similarities of Metallica, Slayer, Celtic Frost and even Blind Illusion spread over all trax, which might be caused that with "Metal soldiers" they also used to feature re-recorded older songs from previous Demo's here. The production could be better though. This band survived till the mid 90's with Andy Nowak being the only steady member.Discography:
"Death and Glory" Demo 1985 (selfreleased)
"Metal Soldiers" Demo 1986 (selfreleased)
"Third paroxyzm" Demo 1987 (selfreleased)
"Broken Fingers" Demo 1989 (selfreleased)
Crypt
Lineup:
Zlatko Relic (guitar, vocals)
Peter Osz (guitar)
Jörg Franke (bass)
Chris Mosch (drums)
Band-info:
In August 1986 Zlatko Relic, Peter Osz (ex-Pain), Jörg Franke (ex-Ballantinez/Black Burn), Chris Mosch (Wotan) met in West Berlin for a jam session and the idea was born to record a Speed Metal Demo together as Crypt. Originally the project was planned just to be a nine day wonder, but since the feedback for that tape turned out positive, the guys decided to leave their recent bands and keep on playing together as Calderone. If you got more info concearning the Demo (title etc.), please get in touch.Discography:
Cryptic Death
Lineup:
Patrick Stresemann
Band-info:
A Thrash Metal band from Mühlheim/Ruhr, near Duisburg, that was active during 1988 and musically influenced by acts like Messiah and Bloodfeast. If you got more info, please get in touch.Discography:
Cryptic Rays
Lineup:
Hans-Walter
Armin
Band-info:
Cryptic Rays was a melodic Heavy Metal band originating from the Zollernalbkreis (a bit south of Stuttgart), that was active during the mid 80's and played several live gigs in 1986 and ‘87 (f.e. with Dark Haze). If you got more info, please get in touch.Discography:
Crystal
Lineup:
Joachim Funk (vocals)
Jörg Friede (guitar)
Thomas Preißler (guitar)
Frank Maertin (bass)
Detlef Flade (drums)
Band-info:
Founded in 1982, this band from Rostock (ex-GDR) needed till 1985, when finally a steady line up was found with Joachim Funk, Jörg Friede (ex-Ceylon), Thomas Preißler, Frank Maertin and Detlef Flade. After 1986 these lads sound turned way heavier, away from Saxon and Scorpions tunes to a much more Power Metal influenced style with Metallica and Running Wild being the new standards. 1986 they participated on a county contest and got invited to produce a few songs for the local Rostock broadcast house. The 2 trax they recorded in 1988 for the national broadcast service ("Bergringrennen" and "Alles Lüge") are amoungst the better GDR speed driven Metal numbers, offering a similar style like Hardholz's "Asphaltlady" f.e. with a slightly more melodic touch. It's pretty sad they didn't record more material, although Crystal already had been considered to do so in 1989, but Jörg Friede was called to arms and had to quit the band. Since the remaining guys couldn't find a right guitarist, vocalist Joachim Funk quit as well. Now Thomas Preißler tried to take care of the vocals too, but it didn't work so well as expected. They had a last gig in early '89 and then Crystal was history. Frank Maertin resurfaced with Rosa Rock in 1990. All attempts to revive the band with other musicians failed.Discography:
Broadcast Recordings:
"Alles Lüge" (1988)
"Bergringrennen" (1988)
Crystal Breaker
Lineup:
Günter Chrubasik (guitar, vocals)
Oliver Podjaski (guitar)
Phantom (bass)
Marc Lehnen (drums)
Band-info:
A band from Fuldabrück, south of Kassel, that recorded just a 6 track Demo tape back in late summer 1987. Crystal Breaker's style featured a melodic yet rough Speed Metal sound, as the band described it themselves. If you got more info, please get in touch.Discography:
"Metal mission Nr. 1" Demo 1987 (selfreleased)
Crystal Maze
Lineup:
Christoph Arndt (guitar, vocals)
Ferry Bullinger (bass, vocals)
Uwe Frey (keyboard)
Heinz Wallenfels (keyboard)
Thomas Schmid (drums)
Band-info:
A proggy band from Stuttgart, that formed in 1982. Crystal Maze are more or less a classic Prog Rock act and published their debut 1987 independently, while on the "Childhood" 7" from 1990, the Hard Rock had influenced the lads, so both of the trax are wallowing in proggy Hard Rock sound with poppy edge on the flipside track, while the title track itself appears pretty epic. At that time the band was still only consisting of Ferry Bullinger (ex-Indigo), who joined the band 1984, founding member Thomas Schmid (ex-Clavis/Black Ashes/Moving Force/Fairy Tale) and Heinz Wallenfels (ex-Blizzard) who's member of the group since 1987. For the recording sessions of the debut album "Waiting in the spiders web" from 1992, Christoph Arndt returned on guitar and so did Uwe Frey, but Heinz Wallenfels got replaced by Peter Schaub and recorded just additional keyboards. Either the guy's sound got heavier now, Prog Hard Rock/Metal with pompish/epic edge had fully displaced the former poppy influences. The band still published two more albums with "Forever" (1994) and "Lost in crystal maze" (1996), but eventually split up 2001.Discography:
"First move" 12" EP 1987 (selfreleased)
"Childhood" 7" EP 1990 (selfreleased)
"Waiting in the spiders web" CD 1992 (Music is Intelligence)
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.
Cryteria
Lineup:
Roland Schäfer (guitar, vocals)
Achim (guitar)
Matthias (bass)
Ralph Reuß (drums)
Band-info:
Quite a promising Power/Thrash act from Schweinfurt that was active from 1988-1992. They released a quite convincing Demo tape in 1991 with 6 powerthrashing trax that used to adopt some of the late 80's Metallica midpaced power sound and combined them with german Thrash, but controlled Thrash to be exact. Their songs do sound quite varied and never end in senseless Thrash attacks. In places I feel reminded of a less melodic version of Pyracanda's debut. Roland Schäfer later would form the Power/Thrash band Sorrowgate in 1992.Discography:
“End of time“ Demo 1991 (selfreleased)
Cube
Lineup:
Klaus Reimers (vocals, keyboards)
Hartmut Richter (guitar, vocals)
Olaf Lüthje (bass)
Rüdiger Lemke (drums)
Band-info:
The Melodic Rock/AOR band Cube from Neumünster was featured with the track "In the crowd" on the local Neumünster sampler "NMS-Splitter" in 1987. The band was founded in 1986 by ex-members of the local bands Morgentau, Steamer, Skip, and Ragout. If you got more info, please get in touch.
Cum Shots
Lineup:
Christian Bodenstein
Martin Römer
Klaus Gasteier
Band-info:
A Hardcore band from the area around Diez, east of Koblenz, who most probably either recorded one (or more) Demo tape(s) at the fall of the 80's/early 90's, because their song "Big bad Jaguar" was used for the 1989er underground compilation "Rock aus'm Kalk". Musically the Cum Shots offered a type of Crossover, mixing classic Hardcore with Speed Metal influences. After being featured with "Hulk will smash!" on yet another compilation, they once again appeared with "Sunspots" and "Secret agent man" on the "Persistent vision" sampler in 1991. Further info is welcome.Discography:
"Big bad Jaguar" Comp.-LP Track 1989 (Rock aus'm Kalk)
"Hulk will smash!" Comp.-MC Track 1990 (Press the play button and listen!)
"Persistent vision" Comp.-MC Tracks 1991 (Samarx Tapes)
Cuntsuckers
Lineup:
Splitty Nilly (vocals)
Siggi Sixxx (bass)
Mötley Türk (guitar)
S.N.B. (guitar)
Zombie (drums)
Band-info:
A "Hardcore Shit Metal" band from Kiel, as they labeled themselves. The Cuntsuckers released a joke Demo "Attack the toilet", that contained about 70 songs with the aim to produce the heaviest and most perverted "music" ever. I guess you can imagine that it was an early Noisecore act. Siggi Sixxx' real name was Siegfried Schröder.Discography:
"Attack the toilet" Demo 1987 (selfreleased)
Curse
Lineup:
Band-info:
A Heavy Metal band from the greater Tübingen/Stuttgart area, that was active during 1987/88. The band recorded at least one Demo during 1987. If you got more info, please get in touch.Discography:
Cursed
Lineup:
Michael Suldinger (guitar, vocals)
Colin Hughes (guitar)
Joshua Osmanovic (bass)
Dominik Bernath (drums)
Band-info:
A punky Metal band that features the former guitarist of Led Zeppelin's drummer John Bonham's sister Debbie Bonham, Colin Hughes. Cursed was shortly active in the very early 90's and thankfully only published one album called "Rhapsody", that featured awful melodic Punk Metal/Crossover, a quite typical brew for those early 90's. Avoid...Discography:
"Rhapsody" LP/CD 1991 (Vendetta)
Cursus
Lineup:
Band-info:
A local Heavy Metal/Hard Rock band originating from Fulda, that actively played live during the early till the mid 80's. The band never recorded anything officially. Further info is welcome.(Thanx to Andy Süss for the info)
Discography:
Custom Pink
Lineup:
K.P. Texter (vocals)
René Knotz (guitar)
Roland Preusker (bass, keyboard)
Roland Schmidt (drums)
Band-info:
The Offenbach/Frankfurt band Monroe under their new name. The name change happened during very early '88 and either a Demo was planned for the summer of 1988, but its existence is yet unconfirmed. Unfortunately already in March the same year, Rene Knotz and Roland Schmidt had left the band, while Gerold Mann (guitar) and Frank Rotten (drums) got recruited instead. Under the Custom Pink-monicker they claimed to have more of a "catchy partyfeeling", so we're guessing they turned even more sleazy than on their "Roxx Ya Hard"-Demo as Monroe from the year before. The band most probably collapsed already during late '88 or very early '89, as Roland Preusker was seen searching a band to join in February '89. If you have more info, please get in contact.Discography:
Custom Pink
Lineup:
K.P. Texter (vocals)
Band-info:
Please don't confuse these Custom Pink from Frankfurt/Main with the post-Monroe band of the same name that was active during 1988, especially since K.P. Texter was singing in both groups. This Glam Metal act was the first band of K.P. Texter, active during the mid 80's before we went to join Monroe during 1986 and these Custom Pink collapsed a little afterwards. If you got more info, please get in touch.Discography:
Cutaway
Lineup:
Roaring Richie (vocals, keyboards)
Paul Speedmaier (guitar)
Band-info:
The one review we've unearthed with this München 4-piece complains about the music being almost entirely overpowered by the keyboards, to the point where it could hardly be considered HR/HM anymore, while they band announced the 5 track tape to sound in the vein of Dokken, Cinderella and Bon Jovi. If you have more info, please get in contact.Discography:
"Demo 1987"
Cutty Sark
Lineup:
Conny Schmitt (vocals)
Uwe Cossmann (guitar)
Helge Meier (bass)
Michael Schmitt (drums)
Band-info:
A Heavy Metal legend from the early 80's, who imo should have a more respected name among German Metal fans, as these lads stopped much too early for the quality albums that they had delivered. The band was founded already 1976 in Bonn and due to their clever manager Bernd Gelhausen, they made the first big step towards a career inside music business in 1983 themselves and independently produced a limited 4 track MLP, instead of a common Demo tape, at the Dierks Studios, that was published on Gelhausen's own label. As far as I'm concearned 1000 copies was made and all of them should have a number, though I've seen sleeves without number also, so we can expect that there are more than 1000 copies floating around. That logistical maneuver succeeded and the band signed a record deal with Mausoleum Records. The first result of that co-operation was the album "Die tonight", that in contrary to the still hardrocking debut, delivered hard Heavy Metal with occasional Accept/Saxon influences, while "Vultures in the air" was a prime example of mystically touched Epic Metal. But the lads even hadn't reached it's creative peak with that album yet, that would happen with Cutty Sark's last album "Heroes", which was recorded still in November '84. Right with the opener "Firebird" these guys fired up a Heavy Metal inferno par excellence and repeated the same diabolical job with "Invitation to dance", that in the end turned out to be more like an invitation to headbang. It's a miracle to me that with the following financial insolvency of Mausoleum Records, there was no other label to take Cutty Sark under contract. After an 8 months break, Cutty Sark in September 1986 returned to the stage with Holger Sträßer (ex-Stonehenge) and Patrick Stiepel on guitars to replace Uwe Cossmann who was done with the band. But a while later the lads silently split up sometime in 1987 without any further lifesign. 1998 they returned unexpedectly with the "Regeneration" CD, but that regeneration only lasted for one year and they quickly vanished again in the mists of oblivion.Discography:
"Hard Rock Power" MLP 1983 (Bernie Productions)
"Die tonight" LP 1984 (Mausoleum)
"Die tonight" 7" EP 1984 (Corona Music)
"Heroes" LP 1985 (Mausoleum)
Cyborg
Lineup:
Ralf Anweiler (drums)
Michael Lang (vocals, guitar)
Thorsten Gramm (bass)
Mathias Bender (guitar)
Band-info:
Underground Thrashers from Heidelberg with a quite listenable Demo (recorded Dec. '87) that suffers a bit by the low sound. I guess with a more powerful production the result would have become more attractive. But the guys acted solid with a for that time typical Thrash, perhaps reminding me a bit of Sodom's "Persecution mania". As far as I know they quit in 1990, but nowadays reformed again.Discography:
”Death notice” Demo 1988 (selfreleased)
Cyclone
Lineup:
Markus Heger (guitar, vocals)
Jürgen Schuster (guitar)
Klaus Zeitlhofer (keyboard)
Jürgen Halpap (bass)
Thomas Braunmüller (drums)
Band-info:
A Hard Rock band from Meitingen, north of Augsburg, who played a sort of Melodic Rock/AOR and could quickly develop a well respected name within Augsburg’s Rock scene, not just for winning a local Talent Contest, that happened in 1986 at the Morning Star in Meitingen. The guys independently produced their single "A burning fire" in 1986 with the line up Markus Heger (guitar, vocals), Jürgen Schuster (guitar), Klaus Zeitlhofer (keyboard), Jürgen Halpap (bass) and Thomas Braunmüller on drums. The two tracks "A burning fire" and "I want you" both reminded of Saga with a little piece of Europe, and Cyclone got invited to promote it either in Thomas Gottschalk’s (one of the top german entertainers) radio show back in day, broadcasted on BR3. During December ’87 the original band went into the common internal issues connected with Cyclone's further way. Markus Heger wanted to lead the band more into the poppy Europe stuff, while the rest of the guys prefered a way heavier sound. Therefore during January '88 Heger subsequently reformed Cyclone with new musicians, connected with further line up changes. Members of the late 80's has been ex-Exodus Robert Pschorr (guitar, later in Mandrake), Werner Pschorr (keyboard), Erwin Fries (drums) and Michael Egger (guitar). The last known Cyclone line up featured Markus Heger (guitar, vocals), Christian Grunwald (bass), Thomas Jenuwein (keyboard), Oliver Liesegang (electronics) and Richard Durner (drums, vocals). Guitarist Jürgen Schuster after the 87er split joined the band Stratford On Avon and Thomas Braunmüller followed him a bit later on there as well.(Thanx to emosteel for the recommendation)
Discography:
"A burning fire" 7" EP 1986 (selfreleased)
Cyclone
Lineup:
Band-info:
A local Heavy/Speed Metal band from Essen, that was formed in 1990 and was looking for additional members to join during that year. Further info is welcome.Discography:
Cycra
Lineup:
Mike Blim (bass, vocals)
Eddie (guitar, vocals)
Snadges (drums)
Band-info:
Frankenthal's Cycra originally started as Viscid Viscera back in 1983 until 1987, when these guys from the wider Mannheim/Ludwigshafen area, due to certain problems caused by the band's name, decided to pick Cycra instead. As Viscid Viscera the lads already recorded the 2 previous Demos "Daimonion" (1984) and "Age of anxiety" (1985), while as Cycra one more tape with album lenght would follow during 1987, entitled "Possible side-effect: death". Already as Viscid Viscera they advanced to the darlings of certain Metal mags and almost got signed by 2 record companies, but the deals in the end did burst, which is sad, coz Cycra's highly technical Power/Speed Metal with technical/progressive edge knew to appeal, especially since they didn't really sounded that german at all and suddenly already included sound shreds ala Voivod, that a bit later appeared on their "Dimension Hatröss" album. In an interview from 1988 the band was convinced to soon record a second Demo, but it wouldn't come to that anymore. Not sure if they still saw the year 1990, but sooner or later disbanded anyway.Discography:
"Possible side-effect: death" Demo 1987 (selfreleased)
Czakan
Lineup:
Axel Triebel (guitar, vocals)
Oliver Güttinger (guitar)
Frank Schrafft (bass)
Hans-Peter Mötzing (drums)
Band-info:
If you remember that Czakan from Calmbach got a first positive article in a Metal Hammer from early '85, with the mention of some first local successful moments during their short career at that time (the band was founded in mid 1984), it's quite surprising that it took till 1989 when they got a record deal. The guys either had Demo recordings ready in early/mid 1985, that wasn't sold at all, but could be obtained for free, by whoever sent them an empty tape. At that time during 1986 the shortlived label Bregenzer Records announced a Czakan 12" with the title "Heaven" to be available soon, which in the end remained unreleased as the label folded quickly afterwards. 3 years later, introducing a new team consisting of old fellows Oliver Güttinger (guitar), Frank Schrafft (bass) plus Randy Arcachon (drums), Michael Schennach (vocals) and Tommy Fein (keyboard), Czakan's debut album was finally available and their kind of melodic Hard Rock/Metal was well worth to get heard. Just like the Scorpions, Zeno, Vice, Bonfire and similar acts, the Czakan guys tried to copy the US Hair Metal stuff, sometimes heavier, mostly softer, though always keeping a constant level that made their songs appearing catchy nevertheless. The single "Tears" from 1990 either contains with "Stand and deliver" an exclusive (heavy) non album track, so make sure to not miss that one. The band split up in the very early 90's with certain members forming other bands like Red Heat and Backbone Slide.(Thanx to ObsessedByCruelty for the additional info)
Discography:
"Tears in my eyes" Comp.-LP Track 1987 (Rock Meets Metal - Volume II)
"State of confusion" LP/CD 1989 (Intercord)
"Tears" 7" EP 1990 (Intercord)
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:
