Holy Moses
Encyclopedia
Holy Moses is a German
thrash metal
band. They are well noted for being fronted by Sabina Classen
(it is rare for a woman to be a singer in thrash metal) and for being one of the very first German thrash metal bands.
, and Brüssler (the only original member of Holy Moses remaining), left the band. Both members were replaced by nineteen-year-old Uli Kusch and Andre Chapelier respectively. The following year, Holy Moses released their sophomore effort Finished With the Dogs, which was a much heavier and cleaner-sounding album than its predecessor. The album is a critical success around the world, earning the band a distribution deal through WEA (Warner) and tours of Europe with Angel Dust, Rage
, Steeler
, Paganini, D.R.I. and Holy Terror, finishing with a headlining show in Hamburg.
In 1988, Sabina Classen became the host of a German heavy metal TV show called Mosh alongside journalist Götz Kühnemund. Meanwhile, Holy Moses begins work on their third studio effort. Released in 1989, The New Machine of Liechtenstein is another successful record from the group, with the band playing more heavier and more technical thrash metal than the previous two albums. The band toured with Sacred Reich
and Forbidden
, and performed at the Dynamo Open Air Festival, with second guitarist Reiner Laws added to the line-up. Around this time, Holy Moses severed their ties with WEA as a result of the record company's new staff trying to coerce the band into departing from their thrash metal influences and write more commercial music.
In 1990, Laws quits Holy Moses due to illness and retires to focus his skills as a graphic artist, leaving the band as a four-piece. The band then records World Chaos, released through West Virginia Records, an independent label owned by new band manager Uli Wiehagen. Kusch soon quits the band to join Gamma Ray
, to be replaced by Atomic Steif. This line-up would remain stable for the next two records, Terminal Terror (1991), and Reborn Dogs (1992).
Soon after the release of Reborn Dogs, Sabina Classen left Holy Moses and the band subsequently dissolved. Classen went to form Temple of the Absurd with Warpath
members Schrödey and Ozzy Frese, and drummer Mike Rech.
's Dan Lilker on bass, and hardcore drummer Meff. The album was more hardcore/death metal influenced than the band's previous thrash-oriented efforts, and was not met with substantial success.
In 2002, Holy Moses released Disorder of the Order, their first album with the new line-up. Michael Hankel, guitarist of Erosion
and friend of Andy's, replaced Schubert soon after the album's release, and becomes a main songwriter of the band. The band performed at Wacken Open Air festival in 2004, and after fan demand for another Holy Moses album, the group released Strength Power Will Passion in May the following year. It is the first album without input from Andy Classen. After securing a deal through Wacken Records and a subsequent re-release of the band's material, Feunders and Schmidt leave Holy Moses to be replaced by Thomas Neitsch and a returning Atomic Steif.
The band recorded and released their tenth album Agony of Death in 2008.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
thrash metal
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
band. They are well noted for being fronted by Sabina Classen
Sabina Classen
Sabina Classen is a German thrash metal singer, most known as lead vocalist of Holy Moses and Temple of the Absurd.- Biography :...
(it is rare for a woman to be a singer in thrash metal) and for being one of the very first German thrash metal bands.
Formative years: 1980-1985
Holy Moses were formed in Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia, on October 17, 1980. The band's first line-up was formed by bassist Ramon Brüssler, drummer Peter Vonderstein and guitarist Jochen Fünders during high school, the latter of whom also handled the band's vocals. This line-up played its first live show only four days after its formation, and released a demo titled Black Metal Masters in the same year. Vonderstein and Fünders left the group in 1981, and were replaced by drummer Paul Linzenich, vocalist Iggy, and guitarist Andy Classen from the local group Desaster. In December 1981, Iggy left the group and was replaced by ex-Desaster bassist and girlfriend of Andy, Sabina Classen (nee Hirtz). The band performed their first live show with the new stable line-up in November 1982 and released a string of demo tapes, including Walpurgis Night in 1985, and The Bitch in 1986, and also appeared on the split-album compilation Metallic Bunnys.Success: 1986-1992
In 1986, Holy Moses released their debut album Queen of Siam through independent label Aaarrg, with Herbert Dreger on the drums (Linzenich left shortly before the recording to focus on his university studies). After the release of the record, Dreger was sacked for not showing up to a support show with Agent SteelAgent Steel
Agent Steel is an American speed metal band from Los Angeles, California that was formed in 1984 by singer John Cyriis ,and drummer Chuck Profus. The band released two full length albums, and one EP before disbanding in 1988...
, and Brüssler (the only original member of Holy Moses remaining), left the band. Both members were replaced by nineteen-year-old Uli Kusch and Andre Chapelier respectively. The following year, Holy Moses released their sophomore effort Finished With the Dogs, which was a much heavier and cleaner-sounding album than its predecessor. The album is a critical success around the world, earning the band a distribution deal through WEA (Warner) and tours of Europe with Angel Dust, Rage
Rage
Rage may refer to:* Rage , an intense form of anger- Games :* Rage , a 2011 first-person shooter and racing video game developed by id Software* Rage Software Limited, a defunct game developer...
, Steeler
Steeler
Steeler was an early 1980s American heavy metal band from Nashville. Band members included: Ron Keel on vocals and guitar, Michael Dunigan on lead guitar, Bobby Eva on drums and Tim Morrison on bass. In 1982, they released the single Cold Day in Hell....
, Paganini, D.R.I. and Holy Terror, finishing with a headlining show in Hamburg.
In 1988, Sabina Classen became the host of a German heavy metal TV show called Mosh alongside journalist Götz Kühnemund. Meanwhile, Holy Moses begins work on their third studio effort. Released in 1989, The New Machine of Liechtenstein is another successful record from the group, with the band playing more heavier and more technical thrash metal than the previous two albums. The band toured with Sacred Reich
Sacred Reich
Sacred Reich is a Phoenix, Arizona-based thrash metal band that formed in 1985. Singer/songwriter Phil Rind's interest was in socially conscious and political speed metal. After several records on Metal Blade Records, they signed to Hollywood Records for a short stint, but later returned to Metal...
and Forbidden
Forbidden (band)
Forbidden is a thrash metal band from the San Francisco Bay Area. Formed in 1985 as Forbidden Evil, the group was founded by Russ Anderson and Craig Locicero, who are both permanent members. Since their formation, Forbidden have broken up and reformed twice with numerous line-up changes...
, and performed at the Dynamo Open Air Festival, with second guitarist Reiner Laws added to the line-up. Around this time, Holy Moses severed their ties with WEA as a result of the record company's new staff trying to coerce the band into departing from their thrash metal influences and write more commercial music.
In 1990, Laws quits Holy Moses due to illness and retires to focus his skills as a graphic artist, leaving the band as a four-piece. The band then records World Chaos, released through West Virginia Records, an independent label owned by new band manager Uli Wiehagen. Kusch soon quits the band to join Gamma Ray
Gamma Ray (band)
Gamma Ray is a power metal band from Hamburg, northern Germany, founded and fronted by Kai Hansen after his departure from the German power metal Helloween. Hansen is the current lead vocalist, guitarist as well as the chief songwriter of Gamma Ray. The band is known as one of the most prominent...
, to be replaced by Atomic Steif. This line-up would remain stable for the next two records, Terminal Terror (1991), and Reborn Dogs (1992).
Soon after the release of Reborn Dogs, Sabina Classen left Holy Moses and the band subsequently dissolved. Classen went to form Temple of the Absurd with Warpath
Warpath
Warpath may refer to:* Warpath, a hostile mood in which a person goes at War against one another.*Warpath , a mutant superhero in Marvel Comics*Warpath , a FPS video game by Digital Extremes for the PC and Xbox...
members Schrödey and Ozzy Frese, and drummer Mike Rech.
Hiatus
Two years after the split of Holy Moses, Andy Classen releases a new record under the Holy Moses name titled No Matter What's the Cause. The line-up featured on the album included Classen on guitar and vocals, S.O.D.Stormtroopers of Death
Stormtroopers of Death, better known as S.O.D., was a crossover thrash band formed in New York in 1985. They are commonly credited as being among the first bands to fuse hardcore punk with thrash metal into a style sometimes called "crossover thrash." The song "March of the S.O.D.," from their 1985...
's Dan Lilker on bass, and hardcore drummer Meff. The album was more hardcore/death metal influenced than the band's previous thrash-oriented efforts, and was not met with substantial success.
Reformation: 2000-present
In 1999, during touring for the second Temple of the Absurd album, Sabina Classen collapsed on stage and was hospitalised. The singer fell into a serious illness and suffered a motorcycle crash in 2000. Following this, Temple of the Absurd disband and Sabina begins to work with Andy again with what would eventually become new Holy Moses material. The band is reformed in early 2001 with Franky Brotz and Joern Schubert on guitar, Jochen Fuenders on bass and Julien Schmidt on the drums. The band performs several comeback shows throughout Europe and South Korea, and releases an EP titled Master of Disaster through Century Media. Andy Classen stayed with the band as songwriter.In 2002, Holy Moses released Disorder of the Order, their first album with the new line-up. Michael Hankel, guitarist of Erosion
Erosion
Erosion is when materials are removed from the surface and changed into something else. It only works by hydraulic actions and transport of solids in the natural environment, and leads to the deposition of these materials elsewhere...
and friend of Andy's, replaced Schubert soon after the album's release, and becomes a main songwriter of the band. The band performed at Wacken Open Air festival in 2004, and after fan demand for another Holy Moses album, the group released Strength Power Will Passion in May the following year. It is the first album without input from Andy Classen. After securing a deal through Wacken Records and a subsequent re-release of the band's material, Feunders and Schmidt leave Holy Moses to be replaced by Thomas Neitsch and a returning Atomic Steif.
The band recorded and released their tenth album Agony of Death in 2008.
Demos
- Black Metal Masters (1980)
- Holy Moses (1981)
- Satan's Angel (1982)
- Call Of The Demon (1983)
- Heavy Metal (1983)
- Death Bells (1984)
- Walpurgisnight (1985)
- The Bitch (1986)
Albums
- Queen of SiamQueen of Siam (Holy Moses album)Queen of Siam is the debut album by Holy Moses, released in 1986 on AAARRG Records. It was re-released in 2005 with "Walpurgisnight" demo, recorded in 1984-1985, as bonus tracks...
(1986) - Finished with the DogsFinished with the DogsFinished with the Dogs is the second album by Holy Moses, released in 1987 on AAARRG Records. It was re-released on August 5, 2005 through Armageddon with 4 bonus live tracks.All music and lyrics are by Andy Classen and Sabina Classen.- Track listing :...
(1987) - The New Machine of LiechtensteinThe New Machine of LiechtensteinThe New Machine of Liechtenstein is the third album by Holy Moses, released in 1989 on WEA Records. It was re-released on August 5, 2005 through Armageddon and then in 2007 by Locomotive with 2 bonus live tracks....
(1989) - World Chaos (1990)
- Terminal TerrorTerminal TerrorTerminal Terror is the fifth full-length album release by the german Thrash metal band Holy Moses.-Track listing:...
(1991) - Reborn DogsReborn DogsReborn Dogs is the sixth studio album by the German Thrash metal band Holy Moses, released in 1992. The album was re-issued March 1st, 2006.-Track listing:# "Clash My Soul" - 2:26# "Decapitated Mind" - 3:31# "Welcome to the Real World" - 3:32...
(1992) - Too Drunk to FuckToo Drunk to Fuck (album)Too Drunk to Fuck is a compilation album by the German Thrash metal band Holy Moses, released in 1993.-Track listing:...
(1993) - No Matter What's the CauseNo Matter What's the CauseNo Matter What's the Cause is the seventh full-length studio album by the German Thrash metal band Holy Moses.-Track listing:...
(1994) - Master of Disaster (2001)
- Disorder of the OrderDisorder of the Order- Track listing :...
(2002) - Strength Power Will PassionStrength Power Will PassionStrength Power Will Passion is the ninth studio album by German thrash metal band, Holy Moses. It was released in May, 2005 on Armageddon Music...
(2005) - Agony of DeathAgony of Death- Personnel :*Sabina Classen – vocals, executive producer*Michael Hankel – guitar, producer, mastering, mixing*Oliver Jaath – guitar*Thomas Neitsch – bass*Atomic Steif – drums...
(2008)
Current members
- Sabina ClassenSabina ClassenSabina Classen is a German thrash metal singer, most known as lead vocalist of Holy Moses and Temple of the Absurd.- Biography :...
- Vocals (1981–Present) - Michael HankelMichael HankelMichael Hankel is the current guitarist for Holy Moses. He has been an active member since 2002. From 1987-1992 he has been a Member of German Thrash Metal Band Erosion. He was playing on their first 3 records and an EP released in 1991.-Albums :...
- Guitar (2002–Present) - Oliver Jaath - Guitar (2006–Present)
- Thomas NeitschThomas Neitsch-Biography:Thomas replaced former Holy Moses bassist Ozzy, who in 2006 replaced Alex De Blanco , and has been the Holy Moses bassist ever since.Thomas also plays in a band called Desilence....
- Bass (2006–Present) - Gerd Lücking - Drums (2011-Present)
Vocals
- Jochen Fünders - (1980–1981)
- Iggy - (1981)
- Tom Hirtz - (four weeks in 1984)
- Andy ClassenAndy Classen-Holy Moses:He began his career in 1980 as a guitarist for the German thrash metal band Holy Moses, fronted by his ex-wife Sabina Classen. In 1989 the band bought a house in the village of Borgentreich-Bühne in the vicinity of Warburg, North Rhine-Westphalia...
- (1994)
Guitars
- Jochen Fünders - (1980–1981)
- Jean-Claude - (1981)
- Andy ClassenAndy Classen-Holy Moses:He began his career in 1980 as a guitarist for the German thrash metal band Holy Moses, fronted by his ex-wife Sabina Classen. In 1989 the band bought a house in the village of Borgentreich-Bühne in the vicinity of Warburg, North Rhine-Westphalia...
- (1981–1994) - Georgie Symbos - (1987)
- Thilo HermannThilo HermannThilo Hermann is heavy metal guitarist and songwriter, who recently worked with Grave Digger.-History:...
- (1988) - Rainer Laws - (1988–1990)
- Jörn Schubert - (2000–2002)
- Franky Brotz - (2000–2005)
Bass
- Ramon Brüssler - (1980–1986)
- Andre Chapelier - (1986–1987)
- Johan Susant - (1987)
- Thomas Becker - (1988–1990)
- Ben Schnell - (1990–1992)
- Dan LilkerDan LilkerDan Lilker is a musician from the United States, most known as a bass player, but also guitarist, pianist, drummer and vocalist...
- (1993–1994) - Jochen Fünders - (2000–2001)
- Andreas Libera - (2001–2003)
- Alex De Blanco - (2003–2005)
Drums
- Peter Vonderstein - (1980–1981)
- Paul Linzenich - (1981–1984)
- Snake - (1984–1985)
- Herbert Dreger - (1985–1986)
- Uli KuschUli KuschUlrich Kusch, born 11 March 1967, is a heavy metal drummer. He is best known for playing with Helloween, Gamma Ray, and Masterplan. He is known for his technical style of playing, fast-paced speed metal-like rhythm and capable songwriting abilities.-Biography:...
- (1986–1990) - Meff - (1992–1994)
- Julien Schmidt - (2000–2005)
- Asgard Niels - (2005–2006)
- Atomic Steiff - (1990–1992, 2007–2011)
External links
- Official Holy Moses website
- Official Holy Moses MySpace website
- Official Holy Moses network / fanclub
- Holy Moses at Century MediaCentury Media RecordsCentury Media Records is an Independent record label with offices in the United States, Germany, Australia, France, Italy, Sweden, Finland, and the United Kingdom.- Background :...
- Holy Moses on stage 2008
- show photos 2008
- show photos 2006
- show photos 1990