Die Apokalyptischen Reiter were founded in the middle of ’95 by Eumel (git + vox) and Skelleton (drums & screams). Dr. Pest (keys) and Volk-Man (bs) completed the line-up a few weeks later. From a stand within just five years the band became on of the most spectacular and unusual Metal outfits the world had even seen. Raging hateful blasts combined with beautiful charming piano-tunes, deep growls faced razor-sharp screams, moments of anger and hate but also flashes of sadness, silence and bitter mirth. Always in between love and hate, life and death. What should be more inspiring than life itself?
In May 96 the band banned their first songs on a magnetic tape called ”Firestorm”. A powerful and encouraging ”Here we are!” and a huge success for the band. Within a few weeks they got very massive response from the whole Metal scene. From the beginning DIE APOKALYPTISCHEN REITER had a real band feeling inside, beside rehearsing at home the sessions together in the rehearsal room were essential for finishing songs at all. In April ’97 the band signed a two CD contract with the German based label Ars Metalli. Under the sign of Ars Metalli they recorded and released the debut album ”Soft & Stronger” in December ’98, the 4 track vinyl ”Dshinghis Khan” in August ’98 and the second longplayer ”Allegro Barbaro” in February ’99.
Through the years DIE APOKALYPTISCHEN REITER established and spread the REITERMANIA, they’ve played nearly 100 live shows (except from a self-organised tour through Czechia, Slovakia and Romania and a Germany tour in early 2000 they never joined a bigger tour), the most important was surely the Wacken ’99 ride. End of 1999 the band signed to the Dutch based label Hammerheart. Shortly after signing the contract drummer Skeletton decided to leave the band due to personal reasons. They had the luck to find a new talented wizard on drums shortly after that. Even though Sir G. was just 19 years old, his unbelievable facilities catapulted the band in never expected dimensions. That fact made the song-writing process for the third long-player to big and enjoying challenge. Because the old drummer also handled the screams, Volk-Man took that over, because the band didn’t want to drop this important trademark out of the bands music. Also Dr. Pest joined the force with a few vocal parts.
”All You Need Is Love” is the most exhausting ride the band ever did. Fairly opened to all kinds of music, this 12 new songs show the way of being honest to the own roots but also discovering new horizons. The songs are 100% emotional eruptions, born in mind and soul, transferred through words and harmonies to public. Not only music – pure passion! The album became the most successful in the bands history. Fans and magazines got really crazy, overwhelming “All you need is love” reviews detonated in Reitermania headquarter nearly ever day. The crowd was hot and now they got was they deserved. Together with the legendary US sickos MACABRE the four Reitermaniacs where 3 weeks on the road in Europe through the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Czechia, Austria, Italy and Switzerland. A goddamn great experience.
On their second Wacken gig 2001 (the first one was 1999), the band played in front of 20.000 maniacs. But the band is ready to serve much much more. Metal – heart – passion, that’s the formula you should always have in mind. A new album is ready. The name is the perfect summary for it: "Have a nice trip". If you think, the music of those maniacs is already crazy and weird, prepare yourself for the ultimate unique thunderstorm.
We are the light – you are the light! |
