Die Apokalyptischen Reiter
The Horsemen of the Apocalypse are a German band that was founded in 1995 in Weimar in Thuringia. The group has achieved a high reputation both in the German metal scene in their home as well as in some Eastern European countries. The band's music is a mix of Black, Death, Thrash and Power Metal and rock and folk.
Band History
In the summer of 1995, Daniel " Eumel " Täumel and " Skelleton " founded The Horsemen of the Apocalypse. A few weeks later met Mark " Dr. Plague " Szakul and Volkmar " Volk-Man " Weber added to the group. Published in 1996, the four members of the demo tape Firestorm and completed the first concerts in Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania. Several labels expressed interest, and in 1997 the band signed a deal with Ars Metalli Records. In December 1997, the debut album Soft & Stronger the 1,000 piece limited edition four- song vinyl record Genghis Khan, which was sold out within a few days appeared, eight months later.
Published in 1999 The Horsemen of the Apocalypse, the second album Allegro Barbaro at Ars Metalli Records, but the record deal announced shortly thereafter because of discrepancies. Through the now high profile in Germany and Eastern Europe, it quickly received a new contract with the Dutch label Hammerheart Records. At the same time left Skelleton founding member of the band. Volkmar " Volk-Man " Weber took out the screeching vocals skelletons while was won for the drums Georg " Sir G. " Lenhardt as a new member.
In April of the same year they acquired for their online presence, domain reitermania.de (tab = short for the band 's name, μανία Manía = the frenzy ). The name caught on among fans, the term " Reiter Maniacs " for the followers of the band was coined.
In 2000, singer " Eumel " changed his nickname to " Fox" and The Horsemen of the Apocalypse were given for their third album, a bigger budget. With producer Andy Classen they took on in stage finally All You Need Is Love in the Stage One Studio. The album was a commercial success and nominated in numerous magazines for disc of the month. Numerous appearances at festivals - including the Wacken Open Air - and a multi-week European tour with the U.S. band Macabre followed.
The year 2001, the group spent mostly on tour, whereafter the year 2002 brought some setbacks. Both Sir G. Fuchs and suffered from health problems. Fox could finally live no longer play guitar. Therefore, it was the fifth member of the group Pitrone, committed as a guitarist. Another episodic member at that time was the guitarist Dirk " Mr. Schmidt " Schmidt, who left the band in 2002. Also in 2002, changed the Horsemen of the Apocalypse to Nuclear Blast Records.
In March 2003 appeared, again with producer Andy Classen, the next album Have a Nice Trip, which was able to achieve a place in the German LP charts. Another European tour with Testament and Death Angel, festival appearances at Wacken Open Air, Summer Breeze and With Full Force and a Christmas tour with Subway to Sally followed.
In February / March 2004 The apocalyptic riders went first headlining tour. Then the work began on the next album. Samurai was created with the help of producer Tue Madsen at Antfarm Studio in Denmark. For the presentation of the new album in the fall of organized The Horsemen of the Apocalypse numerous publication performances throughout Germany.
Followed in 2005 by the next headlining tour with the Finnish band Turisas as the opening act. In the summer of 2005 came the apocalyptic riders again at several festivals.
Once in May 2006 Peace be with you appeared as an EP and DVD, finally the album Riders on the Storm was released on 25 August 2006, which could get on the German album charts at number 31. In September, the riders came together with Týr and hematoma in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
A tour in the spring of 2007 with five other bands, including with Finntroll, which was advertised under the title "Earth Shaker Roadshock Tour" failed due to problems with the organizer Metallysee. After eight dates were already completed, had to be canceled seven concerts. This has been reflected in the fall of 2007 as part of a tour. On 1 February 2008, the live DVD was released mania, which, among other performances by the band at Wacken Open Air 2007 and the Party San Open Air 2007, a "Special Old School Show", in which only works up to and including All You Need is Love were played, contains. The DVD premieres were held in five selected cinemas place in Germany, in each of the band members for the purpose of autographs, etc., were present.
On 18 March 2008 the band announced the separation of guitarist Pitrone. As a replacement lady was found Cat -Man.
The album light appeared on 29 August 2008 with Nuclear Blast. Already on 27 June 2008 appeared with the EP The way a foretaste of that. In March 2009, Lady Cat -Man by Ady was that so far as a guitar technician, the band supported, replaced. In September 2009, the band announced the Paganfest tour with Alestorm, Ex Deo, Korpiklaani, Swashbuckle and Unleashed.
For spring 2011, the band announced the release of the new album morality and madness, which was released on February 25, and a headlining tour with Turisas and Akrea as support to. End of the year they released their first Best Of The Greatest Of The Best and it was a Christmas Tour announced that soon but had to be canceled out, and instead had to be replaced by a tour in the spring of 2012.
In April 2012 they launched their The Greatest of the Best European tour together with Emil Bulls, Kontrust and Malrun as special guests. They performed, among others in May at the SWR Barrosela Metal Fest in Portugal. At Christmas, followed in December the Eisheilige - nights tour with Russkaya, Fejd and the headliner and host of the tour Subway To Sally.
2013 play rider in January on the 70,000 Tons of Metal cruise ship and at the Wacken festival from 01.- 03. August.
Expected to be on 30 May 2014, the album will be released Tief.Tiefer.
- Picture Gallery of appearance on the '' Wacken Open Air '' on 3 August 2007
Volk-Man (Bass)
Dr. Pest ( Keyboard)
Sir G. (drums)
Pitrone (guitar)
Music style
Early in her career, the band Melodic Death Metal played mostly with English-only, short and largely improvised lyrics. The singing was mostly guttural, many songs contained keyboard voices that harpsichords and flutes were modeled. Already on Allegro Barbaro 's second album, some clean vocals was used, there were some quieter sections. With All You Need Is Love, the band introduced first German texts that were clearly narrative than on the previous albums. On Have a Nice Trip, finally, the clear voices predominate, as well as the German texts clearly in the piece Reitermania dive alongside German verses also on in English and choruses in Russian and Finnish. Also on Samurai and Riders on the Storm German texts were mostly set to music. The guttural vocals were rarely used. While the keyboard voices played short, concise and inspired by folk themes mainly on the earlier albums, the synthesizers were used on the later albums more frequently for flat string parts and short effects. Also piano parts are common.
Note the influences of Latin American and Spanish music, the Baila conmigo Tonight and the latter even be in Spanish, evident in songs like Give me. Ajar Also on Arabic music motifs appear in plays such longing, Fatima or Surrender to.