Megaherz

Is a 5 man metal band from Germany that plays various sorts of metal.

Megaherz 5 Bio (2004)

After the great waves of success in the years 2001 and 2002, in which the music publications described MEGAHERZ as one of the most important representatives of hard German rock music, and after the band has sold over 100,000 CDs, MEGAHERZ is now back. After two years of preparations and intensive song writing, MEGAHERZ present themselves with their new single and new album – more dynamic, more vivid, and better than ever before.

Mathias Elsholz is the name of the new front man with whom MEGAHERZ are beginning their new musical era with s.a.d. music. With him the band itself has gone through a heart transplant and now beats more emotional and alive than ever. In order to realize their new and ambitious goals, they had none other than Ralph Quick (Die Happy, H-Blockx, etc.) on board as producer. The album "5" was recorded in the Lundgaard-Studios in Denmark. The outcome is an outstanding album that spans all genres of the category "Hard and German" – somewhere between industrial, dark rock, electronica, and "fat grooves". An album that rocks and speeds along, but also one that doesn't ignore the sensitive, down-tempo ballads.

The wait was well worth it – MEGAHERZ are back and are longing to show it to everyone.
Herzwerk II Bio (2002)

Rougher, tougher and more organic: three features which, due to their outstanding stage presence, Munich based rock band Megaherz have always been known for. Along with the thrilling intensity of their fifth album"Herzwerk II" these very features mark a development in style and production. " 'Herzwerk II' is our most uncompromising record to date as the songs are less dominated by electronics," guitarist, songwriter and co-producer Christian "x-ti" Bystron explains their latest work. "Now we use electronics only as an enhancement. This way we were able to create a more lively and less perfectionist sound. In short - the band feeling comes across a lot better." The band he is referring to consists of singer Alexx Wesselsky, bass player Wenz and two new members: guitarist Olli Pohl and drummer Jürgen Schlachter (ex Keilerkopf).

Their fans' frequent requests for a studio production which captures the raw energy of their live shows made Megaherz allow themselves to add more live spirit and natural sound to their songs instead of following the usual perfectionist standards. "We kept being told that we come across a lot livelier and more dynamic on stage, and that the fans really want to hear that sound on our records, too." This new approach has turned out very positively in many ways. The thirteen tracks on the album depict Megaherz as a self-confident and vigorous metal band that truly differs from the much cited 'new German tough metal'. Instead, the band considers their music to be of international texture. "The new material is hip, more American rather than Prussian" says Bystron. "There is no particular musical style. If it had to be categorised, the term 'cross over' in its true sense would come closest."

Only the lyrics and their meaning remain indeed truly German, although the wording has become more metaphoric and more ornate. "The statements remain clear, but the rhetoric is more selective", Alexx Wesselsky describes his lyrics. "The attitude of musical social criticism - particularly apparent with bands like 'Ton Steine Scherben' - should not be completely left to Hip Hop, but also maintained by rock bands." He refers to tracks like "Glas und Tränen" (Glass And Tears) with its obvious political message as well as "I.M. Rumpelstilzchen", which deals with denunciation. On the other hand there is the very personal "An deinem Grab"(At Your Grave): The song poses the question as to who will really be mourning for a person on their last day on earth. And there is "F.F.F.", a German cover version. Have you already managed to trace it back to its famous original? Billy Idol springs to mind . . .

"Herzwerk II" was produced at the "Plan 1" Studio in Munich by Ralf Weigand, one of Germany's most renowned producers. His work with Such A Surge or Sportfreunde Stiller earned him international acclaim. Megaherz took the Weigand tapes and went to New York to have them mastered at the "Sony Mastering Studios" by Vlado Meller (famous for his work for Limp Bizkit, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Rage Against The Machine etc.). The result is a brilliant one in every respect."Herzwerk II" is an outstanding and gripping album: Fans will be able to argue about it, and that is exactly the intention of the band and their music. For, there is one thing Megaherz has always been about, and that is musical whole food for people with brains and sense.
Himmelfahrt Bio (2000)

Megaherz was founded in 1993! Convinced that they could wed hard music with German lyrics, without sounding like "New German Wave" or "Bewildered Krautrock", Alexander v. Weygand and his four former colleagues castoff for new shores! Living in the "Metropolis with a Heart", under the influence of "Megadeth" and the nightmare of the "Wildecker Herzbuben", a German "Folk Music" band, ("Herzilein", a song by the band meaning "little heart") the white & blue ("Weiss-Blau" is the name of the Bavarian Flag) five quickly decided that "Megaherz" was the only proper name for the band, that even today the program is: Hard, But With A Heart! Originating under the unmistakable influence of crossover/grunge/industrial acts like Clawfinger, Alice In Chains, Soundgarden, Nirvana, Nine Inch Nails, Pantera, and Rage Against The Machine the first demo CD "Herzwerk" (A Work of Heart) saw the light of the world in January 1995! Without a doubt "Herzwerk" , probably because of the German lyrics, led the band to initial contact with the radio and TV media. And due to the consistent avoidance of the omnipotent anglo-american text-culture, people noticed that Megaherz actually had something to say. Consequently the band had to be prepared to be understood also! The sudden analysis and discussions of the textual contents that commenced proved them to be right - the time was ripe for rock music with German lyrics - even if the first official Megaherz CD "Wer Bist Du" (approx. 16,000 copies sold) did not appear until 1997!

Under contract since 1996 with the record label "Golden Core" and marketed by ZYX Music GmbH, Megaherz (in the meantime from the original lineup only frontman Alexx v. Weygand remained) had finally found a partner, that believed in them and most importantly did not disturb their creative development! From the beginning Megaherz was always given the chance to bring to press exactly those songs which the band wanted to publish.

In the autumn of 1997 Megaherz toured as support for "Subway To Sally" through the German speaking countries and in 1998 - after several solo performances - one could already marvel at the tremendous live potential of the band on the stages of some of Germany's (and Europe's) largest festivals: Hurricane-, Highfield-, Zillo-, Rhein Culture- and the Danube Island-Festival in Vienna! In many rock clubs around the country, the song "Gott Sein" developed into a hit song and by August 1998 the five jack-of-hearts returned once again to the studio, where they began working on their second CD "Kopfschuss"!

Following the respectable success of "Wer Bist Du", the five likable pistols from Munich expanded their fan base in 1998 with "Kopfschuss" (approx. 25,000 copies sold)! Megaherz titles, such as "Miststück", "Herz Aus Stein" and "Kopfschuss", established themselves in the clubs as dancefloor fillers, while the band unremittingly toured and played with such acts as H-Blockx, Schweisser, HIM, Motörhead, Danzig, Saxon, Extrabreit and many more! In the meantime it was possible for Frank, Wenz, X-tian, Noel Pix and Alexx to be treated by the print, radio, and TV media as an act that was worthy of continual observation and coverage (Hammer, Sonic Seducer, Rock Hard, Musikweek, etc.). The single "Freiflug" earned Megaherz position 7 in the German Alternative Charts (dac) and viva 2 placed the video in their rotation!

Parallel to the development in the national sector, Megaherz can proudly refer to the efforts of the US college radiostations. Even the Australian radiostation Triple-J could not resist transmitting a Megaherz Special through the continental aether (air)!

In May 1999, Alexx v. Weygand and his entourage secluded themselves once again in the studio catacombs of the time-honoured monastic city of Freising in Bavaria to produce their newest work "Himmelfahrt"! An honest, direct, rocking album was intended, that could be translated into a perfect live performance and would offer the fans what they expect from a German speaking band like Megaherz: a clear, understandable message, that everyone can form their own thoughts about. The Megaherz is beating "Hard, But With A Heart" with the power of five hearts! The goal of the Megaherzen has been and still is, though the emotional power of honest rock music to brush aside language and mental barriers and to help the German Hard Rock-Pop of the late 90's to a place of value within the European market so that it, and they, can endure in the third millennium.

Translation By: John A. Funk