Megaherz

Megaherz, the Neue Deutsche Härte band, originated in Munich in 1993 when vocalist Alexander "Alexx" Wesselsky assembled guitarist Marc Bredtmann, bassist Josef Kalleder, drummer Tobias Trinkl, and keyboardist Christian Scharinger. Their initial demo Sexodus appeared in 1994, and the 1995 follow-up Herzwerk, colored by Nine Inch Nails and Rage Against the Machine influences, attracted Golden Core, which promptly offered a deal. Departures hit in 1996 as Bredtmann, Kalleder, and Trinkl exited; Christian "X-Ti" Bystron replaced the guitarist in 1997, Werner "Wenz" Weninger took over bass that same year, and Frank Gegerle assumed drums in 1998. Scharinger also stepped away, yielding his keyboard chair to Jochen "Noel Pix" Seibert in 1998 and leaving Wesselsky as the lone remaining founder. The band’s first proper album Wer Bist Du? surfaced in 1997 with its Rammstein-like approach, followed by Kopfschuss in 1998 and Himmelfahrt in 2000. After Gegerle departed in 2001, Jürgen Schlachter (ex-Keilerkopf) joined on drums in 2002 while Oliver Pohl (ex-bassist of Twelve After Elf, initially a touring substitute for an ailing Seibert) came aboard on guitar. Their fourth album Herzwerk II arrived later that year. In 2003 further upheaval struck when Pohl exited after one year and both Seibert and Wesselsky left to launch Eisbrecher (which Pohl joined in 2008). Mathias "Jablonski" Elsholz, another Twelve After Elf alumnus, took over vocals, leading to the 2004 release of 5 on S.A.D. Music. Lineup flux continued in 2005 as Elsholz departed, Roland Vencelj entered on guitar, and Schlachter stepped down, allowing Gegerle’s return; Gegerle left again in 2007 and was succeeded by Jürgen "Bam Bam" Wiehler. Alexander "Lex" Wohnhaas joined as vocalist in 2007, enabling the sixth album Heuchler. The roster held steady until 2011, when Vencelj departed and Christoph Klinke replaced him. Götterdämmerung, the seventh album, followed in 2012.