| Neue Deutsche Härte |
| Stylistic origins |
Neue Deutsche Welle, industrial metal, alternative metal, groove metal, electronica, techno, EDM, hard rock |
| Cultural origins |
Mid-1990s, Germany |
| Typical instruments |
Electric guitar, bass guitar, drums, vocals, keyboards, synthesizer, sampling |
| Other topics |
Music of Germany
Nu metal |
Neue Deutsche Härte ("New German Hardness", German pronunciation: [nɔʏ.ə dɔʏtʃə hɛʁtə], abbrev: NDH), also known as Die Neue Härte, German electronic metal or dance metal (tanzmetall), is a subgenre of rock music. The term was invented by the German music press after the release of the debut album Herzeleid (1995) by Rammstein.[1]
Characteristics [edit]
It describes a crossover style that is influenced by German rock, industrial metal, alternative metal, groove metal, and hard rock combining it with elements from electronica and techno.[1] The lyrics are generally in German. It uses the basic setup of instruments for metal: electric guitar, bass guitar, drums and vocals, with keyboard, synthesizers and samples. Emphasis is on a demonstration of predominance, by over-pronouncing certain syllables and letters (such as the uvular trill). The vocals are thus dominantly presenting in deep, male, and clean voice.[1] Some bands use screaming and death growls, which is also common, being heard in certain songs by Oomph!, Rammstein, Stahlhammer (literally "Steel Hammer"), Samsas Traum and Megaherz. NDH imagery is often strongly masculine, dark, industrial, and at times sexual and/or military-like, depending on the group and the song. Guitars are tuned low, usually to drop D or C, and are generally heavily distorted. Sometimes the bass tone is equalized to sound more like the sub-bass heard in techno music.
Rammstein, Globe Arena, Stockholm, Sweden, 18 November 2004
History [edit]
The rudiments of the style were established by Oomph! on their second album, Sperm (1994), and by Rammstein with their first album Herzeleid (1995). In those days, Oomph!'s biggest influence were groove metal bands such as Prong, Pantera and Sepultura.[2] Rammstein, which in turn were strongly inspired by the music of Oomph! and Laibach, is the style's most famous and successful practitioner. Neue Deutsche Härte is especially successful in continental Europe; Rammstein have sold nearly four million records in Germany,[3] while accumulating gold and platinum records in Sweden,[4] Austria,[5] Belgium,[6] the Netherlands,[7] Switzerland,[8] Denmark,[9] Norway,[10] Poland,[11][12] Finland and the Czech Republic.[13]
Oomph! achieved a gold record for their 2004 "Augen Auf!" single in Austria and Germany.[14][15] Eisbrecher's 2004 self-titled debut album entered at #13 on the Deutschen Alternative Top 20 Chart, while the group's second album (Antikörper) reached the #85 position on the German main chart.[16][17] Other NDH groups include: Unheilig, Megaherz, Eisbrecher, Die Krupps, Oomph!, Stahlhammer, Stahlmann, Fleischmann, and others.
See also [edit]
References [edit]
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