Oomph!

Biography

Oomph! is a German rock band from Wolfsburg, formed in 1989. The band pioneered the Neue Deutsche Härte movement. Their work contains lyrics in both English and German, with a shift towards German exclusively on recent albums (all works from GlaubeLiebeTod×GlaubeLiebeTod24 March 2006 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Gott ist ein Popstar3:552Das letzte Streichholz3:333Träumst Du3:544Die Schlinge3:565Du willst es doch auch3:286Eine Frau spricht im Schlaf3:577Mein Schatz3:388Dreh dich nicht um3:309Land in Sicht4:0810Tanz in den Tod3:2711Ich will deine Seele3:2112Zuviel Liebe kann dich töten3:47 onwards are entirely in German).

Early years (1989–2002)

Oomph! incorporated many styles of music such as metal, industrial, alternative rock, electronica and gothic to create their sound. Their style changed between their self-titled debut, Oomph! (1992), and its successor Sperm (1994). Though they started with very much a dance-laden industrial sound, they quickly moved to a much more heavily guitar-driven metal sound, while still acknowledging their electronic roots. This guitar-driven and electronic accompanied sound inspired numerous musicians, most famously Rammstein, Megaherz, and Eisbrecher, to follow their lead.
Oomph! was signed on Virgin Schallplatten between 1998 and 2001, where they released three albums; the first, Unrein×Unrein27 February 1998 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Mutters Schoß1:122Unsere Rettung5:053Die Maske6:074My Hell5:195Gekreuzigt4:226Zero Endorphine3:077Willst Du mein Leben entern?4:208(Why I’ll Never Be) Clean Again5:299Unrein5:5110Anniversary4:5111Foil4:3212Bastard6:5213Another Disease5:3014Meine Wunden7:15, was released in 1998, which became their debut album on the German Media Control Charts, peaking at No. 37, and the Austrian top 40 at No. 38. A single called "Gekreuzigt×Gekreuzigt23 January 1998 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Gekreuzigt (single version)4:252Gekreuzigt (Naghavi mix)5:093Gekreuzigt (Jelly & Fish edit mix)5:414Gekreuzigt (Haujobb mix)6:47" was released in 1998 to promote Unrein and became the band's debut single on the German charts, peaking at No. 81.
The second Virgin album, Plastik×Plastik11 October 1999 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Das weiße Licht4:012Kennst du mich?4:443Scorn4:014Keine Luft mehr3:595Hunger4:116Nothing Is Real4:007Mein Traum4:348Always3:469Goldenes Herz4:3010I Come Alive4:2311Fieber4:1312My Own Private Prison4:1313Das weiße Licht (Refraction)1:56, was released in 1999 and peaked in Germany at No. 23. The third, Ego, was released in 2001, peaking at No. 21 on the Media Control Charts. This fulfilled their contract with Virgin; the band did not continue with the record company, feeling that it never fully explored their potential. With the benefits of major-label status, Oomph! gained a larger following and toured with labelmates Skunk Anansie in 1999, later opening for Finnish rock band HIM in fall 2001. Tobias "Tobi" Gloge, their first live bassist, was exchanged for Hagen Gödicke in 2002.
In 2002, Oomph! played at the Ozzfest in Germany, alongside Black Label Society, Tool and Ozzy Osbourne on 20 May. The band appeared at the With Full Force Festival on 5 July 2002. On 19 December 2002, Oomph! opened for Apoptygma Berzerk.

Wahrheit oder Pflicht and GlaubeLiebeTod (2004–2007)

In 2004, Oomph! released their first single, "Augen auf!×Augen auf!19 December 2003 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Augen auf! (radio edit)3:242Augen auf! (Freizeichen vs. Oomph! mix)4:35" ("Open your eyes!"), from their eighth album Wahrheit oder Pflicht×Wahrheit oder Pflicht16 February 2004 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Augen auf!3:212Tausend neue Lügen3:573Wenn du weinst4:334Sex hat keine Macht4:195Dein Weg3:296Du spielst Gott4:177Dein Feuer3:498Der Strom3:049Nichts (ist kälter als deine Liebe)4:1410Diesmal wirst du sehn4:0311Tief in dir4:1312Im Licht / Going Down11:16 on a new label, this time on Supersonic Records, part of the Sony BMG group of music companies. It marks their first number one hit in Germany, eventually bringing forth their major commercial breakthrough. The album hit No. 2 on the Media Control Charts.
In June 2004, Oomph! played at two major European music festivals: the Dynamo Open Air Festival on 5 June in the Netherlands, and on 25 June at the Graspop Metal Meeting in Belgium.
"Augen auf!" became part of the FIFA Football 2005 soundtrack. Oomph! appeared for the first time at Wacken Open Air on 4 August 2005.
The band's ninth album, GlaubeLiebeTod×GlaubeLiebeTod24 March 2006 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Gott ist ein Popstar3:552Das letzte Streichholz3:333Träumst Du3:544Die Schlinge3:565Du willst es doch auch3:286Eine Frau spricht im Schlaf3:577Mein Schatz3:388Dreh dich nicht um3:309Land in Sicht4:0810Tanz in den Tod3:2711Ich will deine Seele3:2112Zuviel Liebe kann dich töten3:47 ("FaithLoveDeath"), was released in March 2006, including the controversial single "Gott ist ein Popstar×Gott ist ein Popstar2 May 1995 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1Gott ist ein Popstar3:552Ich will deine Seele3:213Weißt du wie viel Sterne stehen3:414Fragment2:395Gott ist ein Popstar (Transporterraum remix)6:16" ("God is a popstar"), its follow-up "Das letzte Streichholz×Das letzte Streichholz24 April 1995 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Das letzte Streichholz3:382Das letzte Streichholz (SITD remix)5:243Das letzte Streichholz (Naidanow and Dith remix)6:23", "Die Schlinge×Die Schlinge26 October 1998 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Die Schlinge3:572Die Schlinge3:56", and "Träumst du×Träumst du9 February 2006 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1Träumst du3:572Für immer3:423Augen auf! (live)5:154Träumst du (Bounce remix)3:165Träumst du (enhanced video part)?".
In August 2006, Virgin released the compilation album 1998–2001: Best of Virgin Years. It contains tracks from Oomph!'s three Virgin albums as well as a few unreleased tracks. The band distanced itself from this best-of release and asked that fans not buy it, as the band's current label GUN had scheduled a best-of compilation as well.
On 15 June 2006, Oomph! played at the Nova Rock Festival in Austria.
On 1 December 2006, Oomph!'s official best-of album, Delikatessen×Delikatessen1 December 2006 · Album · CompilationSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 19 tracks1Gekreuzigt 20063:352Augen auf!3:213Träumst du3:544Fieber4:105Supernova3:556Brennende Liebe3:467Das letzte Streichholz3:328Das weiße Licht3:599Gott ist ein Popstar3:5410Sex hat keine Macht (single version)3:3811The Power of Love3:5912Die Schlinge3:5313Unsere Rettung5:0314Ich bin Du4:3815Der neue Gott4:4016Niemand4:2117Sex3:0118Wunschkind5:3319Ice-Coffin4:52 (Delicacies) was released under the GUN label. The songs on it were hand-picked by the band itself. It contains tracks from all nine Oomph! albums, B-sides, remixes, and new tracks like "The Power of Love" and "Gekreuzigt×Gekreuzigt23 January 1998 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Gekreuzigt (single version)4:252Gekreuzigt (Naghavi mix)5:093Gekreuzigt (Jelly & Fish edit mix)5:414Gekreuzigt (Haujobb mix)6:47 2006". By 17 November 2006, Oomph! released those two songs in a form of double-single to promote the new compilation release.
On 9 February 2007, the band released their final GlaubeLiebeTod single "Träumst du?", featuring the female vocalist from Die Happy, Marta Jandová. The single peaked at No. 9 on the Media Control Charts. Oomph! performed the song live the same day at the 2007 edition of Bundesvision Song Contest, representing Lower Saxony in the competition, coming in first place.
On 6 July 2007, Oomph! opened for Metallica in Vienna, Austria.
Oomph!'s first DVD was Rohstoff, which contains live footage consisting of 23 songs, most of the videos the band has created, making-of videos, and an exclusive interview. The DVD was released on 20 July 2007.

Monster and Truth or Dare (2008–2010)

A new song called "Wach auf!×Wach auf!14 December 2007 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Wach auf!3:322Wach auf! (Transporterraum remix)4:49" appeared in the film Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem; the single was released on 4 January 2008.
Oomph! made their first appearances at the Rock am Ring and Rock im Park festivals on 6 June 2008.
The band released their tenth album, Monster×Monster20 August 2008 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 18 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11Beim ersten Mal tut’s immer weh4:012Labyrinth4:1436 Fuß tiefer3:324Wer schön sein will muss leiden3:045Die Leiter3:506Lass mich raus4:207Revolution3:558Auf Kurs3:359Bis zum Schluss4:0410In deinen Hüften3:4911Wach auf!3:3112Geborn zu sterben3:4113Brich aus3:40Disc 21Wach auf! (video)3:352Beim ersten Mal tut’s immer weh (video)3:563Wach auf! (making of)6:484Studio Report / Track by Track22:305Fotogalerie, on 22 August 2008, which peaked in the Media Control Charts at No. 8. The album's cover art was designed by a fan who won a contest the band held through their Myspace page. The band's most successful single from the new album is "Labyrinth×Labyrinth5 September 2008 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1Labyrinth4:142Beim ersten Mal tut’s immer weh3:593Unter deiner Haut3:444Ich will dich nie mehr sehn3:405Labyrinth (Agonoize remix)4:21", released in September 2008, which peaked at No. 26 on the Media Control Charts and No. 4 on the DAC Singles charts. The remaining tracks were released as B-sides on the upcoming singles. The first and only was "Sandmann×Sandmann20 February 2009 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Sandmann3:512Sandmann (remix by [:SITD:])4:50", released in February 2009. Monster was reissued in June 2009 to include "Sandmann".
Oomph! opened for Marilyn Manson on 24 June 2009 in Linz, Austria.
The band recorded a version of "Ernten was wir säen" by Die Fantastischen Vier for the 2009 compilation album A Tribute to Die Fantastischen Vier.
On 26 February 2010, the band released their fourth compilation album, Truth or Dare×Truth or Dare26 February 2010 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1Ready or Not (I’m Coming)3:232Burning Desire3:483Song of Death3:544God Is a Popstar3:555Labyrinth4:136The Final Match3:337Crucified3:348Sandman3:499Sex Is Not Enough3:4110Land Ahead4:0811Wake Up!3:3212The Power of Love4:0413True Beauty Is So Painful3:0314The First Time Always Hurts4:0015Dream Here (With Me)3:5516On Course3:36, with their German songs re-recorded in English. From 24 April to 22 October, the band toured Europe to promote the new compilation album.
On 10 September 2010, Oomph! debuted the song "Sieger" ("Winner"), which was written for the ESL Pro Series 17, to a worldwide audience. The song had previously only been heard at the Gamescom 2010 trade fair.

Des Wahnsinns fette Beute and XXV (2011–2018)

Flux announced on 8 October 2011, on the official Oomph! Facebook page, that recording of a new album would be finished by the end of November. Dero also said that after so much time, only 20 tracks would be chosen and then they would select 12 or 14 of the best of them.
The band announced on their official website that their next album is going to be titled Des Wahnsinns fette Beute×Des Wahnsinns fette Beute18 May 2012 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 24 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11Unzerstörbar3:412Zwei Schritte vor4:233Such mich find mich3:314Bis der Spiegel zerbricht3:365Die Geister die ich rief3:076Bonobo4:007Deine Eltern4:048Kleinstadtboy4:029Regen4:1410Kosmonaut4:0111Komm zurück3:1212Aus meiner Haut3:1013Seemannsrose3:1014Unendlich5:1615Fütter mich3:3816Der Tod ist nur ein Herzschlag entfernt4:06Disc 2DVDStudioaufnahmen zu "Des Wahnsinns fette Beute"2:51DVDZweiSchritteNeon0:38DVDGeisterregen1:01DVDSpiegelSeemann2:12DVDBildergalerie1:41DVDZwei Schritte vor (Musikvideo)4:25DVDMaking of Zwei Schritte vor5:24DVDErnten was wir säen (Musikvideo)3:53. The first single, "Zwei Schritte vor×Zwei Schritte vor4 May 2012 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Zwei Schritte vor4:232Such mich find mich3:31", was released on 4 May 2012. The album was released on 18 May 2012.
Oomph! gained two new live members in 2012: Okusa (percussion) and El Friede (keyboards).
The band announced via their official Facebook page on 29 August 2012, that live drummer Leo (Christian Leonhardt) departed the band to take on new musical challenges. His last show with Oomph! was at the KRock U Maibutne Festival in Kherson, Ukraine, on 1 September 2012. Oomph!'s new drummer, Silvestri, was announced on 14 September 2012.
Dero mentioned in an interview with Global Metal Apocalypse on 16 May 2014 that the band had been working on a new album slated for an early 2015 release and that a 2015 UK tour was also planned. The album was released on 31 July 2015, titled XXV.
Oomph! announced via their official Facebook page on 23 May 2014 that they have a new live drummer, Martin Bode, and will perform with the band for the first time in June at the Wave Gotik Treffen Festival.
In September 2015, GlaubLiebeTod attained Gold status after selling more than 100,000 copies in Germany, nine years after its initial release. It was the band's first album to achieve gold and the band's second release to achieve it after their single "Augen auf!×Augen auf!19 December 2003 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Augen auf! (radio edit)3:242Augen auf! (Freizeichen vs. Oomph! mix)4:35". On 5 December, Oomph! announced that they had been nominated for three GMA (Global Metal Apocalypse) awards. GMA Vocalist of the Year 2015 (Dero), GMA Music Video of the Year (Alles aus Liebe), and GMA Album of the Year (XXV).
Oomph! embarked on their European tour in April 2016 to promote XXV. They also performed a concert in Mexico on 3 December 2016, which was their first show in North America since 1993.
The band remained quiet throughout 2017, only going on a small tour in Russia early in the year, Faine Misto fest in Ternopil, Ukraine on 21 July, and Gothic Meets Klassik festival in Leipzig in November.

Ritual and Dero's departure (2018–2021)

Oomph! announced a string of festival appearances for 2018, including Greenfield Festival, Wacken Open Air and the second edition of the Volle Kraft voraus! festival with German band Eisbrecher.
Oomph! signed a worldwide deal with their new record label Napalm in April 2018. They also announced plans to release their 13th studio album in 2019.
On 12 November 2018, Oomph! teased artwork for the new album with the caption "Achtung! Achtung!" (Attention, attention!), as well as another post announcing a number of radio interviews in Berlin and an expected release date for the new album on 18 January 2019. On 13 January, another picture captioned "Seid ihr bereit?" (Are you ready?) was posted. On 15 November, a picture of the album artwork and its title, Ritual×Ritual18 January 2019 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Tausend Mann und ein Befehl4:192Achtung! Achtung!3:383Kein Liebeslied3:374Trümmerkinder4:205Europa4:266Im Namen des Vaters3:577Das Schweigen der Lämmer3:498TRRR - FCKN - HTLR3:339Phönix aus der Asche4:2310Lass’ die Beute frei4:1311Seine Seele4:0912In der Stille der Nacht4:1413Lazarus4:3914TRRR - FCKN - HTLR (Lord of the Lost remix)3:23, was posted. The album's first single, "Kein Liebeslied×Kein Liebeslied30 November 2018 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Kein Liebeslied3:37", was released on 30 November 2018 with an accompanying lyric video.
Ritual was released on 18 January 2019 and went on to become the band's first ever album to debut at No. 1 on the German charts. The band then went on a month-long European tour in March 2019 to support the album.
On 29 September 2021, it was announced that Dero was no longer a part of the band.

New singer and Richter und Henker (2023–present)

On 22 June 2023, the band announced that "A new era for Oomph! is here", and that Daniel "Der" Schulz would be their new singer; their first single and video with Schulz were released on 11 July. The new album Richter und Henker×Richter und Henker8 September 2023 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Wem die Stunde schlägt5:042Richter und Henker4:373Soll das Liebe Sein?4:114Nur ein Mensch4:155Schrei nur Schrei5:086Nichts wird mehr Gut5:227Sag jetzt einfach nichts3:538Es ist nichts, wie es scheint3:329Wo die Angst gewinnt4:3210All die Jahre4:0611Wut3:4612Ein kleines bisschen Glück6:54 will be released on 8 September 2023. Richter und Henker reached No.7 on the German Album Charts in its first week after its release.
On 21 September 2023, the band announced two new live members: Simon Schröder (drums) and Lajos (keyboards, synthesizer, backing vocals), with the former replacing Michael 'Silvestri' Merkert, who recently moved to Canada. Lajos was initially meant to replace Felix Vonk in 2020, but this was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced the band to cancel all remaining tour dates for 2020.
On 2 November 2023, the band embarked on a one-month-long European Tour to support the album. They were accompanied by German electronic metal band Böse Fuchs.
The tour started on 2 November 2023 in Hannover and concluded on 24 November 2023 in Rostock.
On 12 February 2024, Oomph! announced another tour, containing eight tour dates, across Germany to celebrate the band's 35th anniversary. The tour started on 3 October 2024 in Krefeld and concluded on 11 October 2024 in Übach-Palenberg. They were accompanied by German nu metal band Tag My Heart. Additionally, the band also appeared on various festivals across Germany and Luxembourg, including Wacken Open Air and M'era Luna in August, Lordfest in December and Rockharz in July 2024.

Members

Current
Andreas Crap (Thomas Döppner) – lead guitar, keyboards, backing vocals (1989–present)
Robert Flux (Rene Bachmann) – rhythm guitar, samples, bass, backing vocals (1989–present)
Der Schulz (Daniel Schulz) – lead vocals, occasional rhythm guitar (2023–present)
Former
Dero Goi (Stephan Musiol) – lead vocals, studio drums, programming, live percussion (1989–2021)
Live
Hagen Gödicke – bass, backing vocals (2002–present)
Simon Schröder – drums (2023–present)
Lajos – keyboards, synthesizers, backing vocals (2023–present)
Former live
Léo (Christian Leonhardt) – drums (1993–2012)
Tobi (Tobias Gloge) – bass, backing vocals (1993–2002)
Martin Bode – drums (2013–2015)
Silvestri (Michael Merkert) – drums (2012–2013; 2015–2023)
El Friede – keyboards, synthesizers, backing vocals (2012–2015)
Okusa (Patrick Lange) – e-drums, percussion (2012–2018)
Felix Vonk – keyboards, backing vocals (2016–2020)
Timeline