January, 11th, 2025
at Backstage Werk, Munich, Germany
Many years ago while searching for what to see on YouTube I came to the video and song Love Decay by Liv Kristine which features Michelle Darkness, the singer of End of Green. I immediately loved the song and Michelle’s deep voice, so I started listening to his band. You can read my song review of Love Decay here.
I don’t remember the exact point I started listening to Unzucht, but I guess it must have been around when I started studying German in 2019. I wanted to listen to bands that sang in German besides Rammstein, and I discovered BlutEngel, Lord of the Lost, Erdling, and other bands. Since they all have an industrial, dark, gothic sound, I quickly grew fond of them.
I made a bucket list of the bands that I wanted to see playing live when I was in Europe, and of course, End of Green and Unzucht were on that list, too. That’s why when I saw the announcement of their show, I was very excited, and I knew I couldn’t miss it.
The show was to celebrate the 34th anniversary of Backstage Kulturzentrum, a concert venue in Munich.
This was my first time in Germany and I loved it. Munich is beautiful, and the people are super nice. I got to practice my German (mixed with English, at times).
I stayed at a hotel that was a 5-minute walk from the venue. On the day of the concert, when I went to have breakfast, I noticed a lot of people wearing black, 30 or more years of age. So I thought, maybe these people are going to the show. Later, I found out that the bands were staying there, as well.
During that day, I visited some tourist places, and then at 19.20, I went to the venue. The doors were opened at 19.00, and I thought that most of the people were going to be inside at that time. I was wrong. There was a long line to enter, and it was very cold. I gathered patience and stood there until approximately 19.55 when I entered. Unzucht’s show started at 20.00.
In the shows that I have been to in Europe, so far, I noticed that even though the people are super civilized and respectful the entering process to the venues is super slow. I’m always anxious because I don’t want to miss anything. Whereas in Chile (my country, where I’ve been to hundreds of rock shows), usually one would be at their seat or the pit 30 minutes or more before the show starts. Of course, it’s not always a calm entry and sometimes there are delays too, but in general, it’s quicker than here.
Unzucht
They are a dark rock German band formed in 2009 that has released 6 studio albums.
Band Members
- Timm Hindorff – vocals
- Daniel De Clercq – guitar, vocals, programming
- Andreas Puchebuhr – bass
- Toby Fuhrmann – drums
The place was like an open site but with different mini-venues inside and, of course, I had to enter the wrong one. I stood there for about 10 minutes, and it seemed like there also was going to be a concert but in a different style, so I waited for a while and then went outside. That’s when I heard that Unzucht’s Nela was playing in the back (one of my favorite songs). I rushed there. There was a big line but in the other direction and I told the guard that I was there to see the bands, he let me in, and I ran near the stage. To my surprise, the audience was my age, and everyone was super calm, so I slowly placed myself on the first row. There were no barriers, everyone was respectful, and I was there in my happy place. The girls that were behind me were nice, and I had a privileged view of the band. I was below Daniel, their guitar player and I took pictures and videos, and even though I knew all the songs I didn’t know all the lyrics (they sing in German), yet I sang the ones that I knew. And it was amazing.
Nela was the fourth song (so I missed a lot). I hope I’ll see them again so I get to experience the songs that I missed.
The first tracks were Allein, Schwarzes Blut, Ein Wort fliegt wie ein Stein and Nela. Then came Kettenhund and Chamäleon. Their self-titled song Unzucht was a big hit, just like Nur die Ewigkeit and Jenseits der Welt (another one of my favorites).
It was the time for one of my preferred ones on the “heavier side”: Nein. I love it because it has a more aggressive tone. Daniel, the guitarist, sings it, but it has a calmer part in which their former singer Daniel Schulz appears. Now, with their new singer Timm, it also sounds incredible.
They finished with Engel der Vernichtung and Sonnentod and everyone was singing.
I like Unzucht because they have a more industrial, heavier sound. Their lyrics are in German (it helps me in my learning) and they always have something to say. Sometimes they are poetic and more emotional and sometimes more socially critical, heavier, or at least they’re interesting (and I enjoy them all).
Toby, their drummer, reminds me of Pantera’s Vinnie Paul, and he’s always smiling. He and the bassist, Andreas, sounded great.
Daniel, the guitar player, who also sings, has a badass attitude that I find very cool.
Although Timm, their singer, is relatively new, he fits very well with the rest of the band. He has a great voice and stage presence. He seemed like a nice guy (I saw him later when I was buying shirts) and he was signing stuff to a fan.
When they finished their show, around 21.00, Daniel threw the setlist to us, but the girl behind me got it (I asked her to let me take a picture of it). Daniel noticed that, and he threw me his guitar pick (thanks for that). Then the band took a picture with the audience and I appeared there, lol.
… if you’re not familiar with these guys, here’s a song…
Setlist Unzucht:
- Allein
- Schwarzes Blut
- Ein Wort fliegt wie ein Stein
- Nela
- Kettenhund
- Chamäleon
- Unzucht
- Nur die Ewigkeit
- Jenseits der Welt
- Nein
- Engel der Vernichtung
- Sonnentod
———————————————————
End of Green
They are a German gothic metal band formed in 1992. Their lyrics usually deal with depression and loneliness.
Band Members
- Michael Huber (Michelle Darkness) – vocals, guitars
- Michael Setzer – guitar
- Oliver Merkle – guitar
- Andreas Hund – bass
- Matthias Siffermann – drums
The musicians went out and started putting their instruments, cables, and stuff in order, but all were super normal, and down to earth. No one from the audience screamed or something (in Chile, it would be the exact opposite). They were like regular dudes, zero divas (I liked that). I don’t know how it was with Unzucht (for the reasons I explained before, but I guess it was a similar situation).
Michael, one of the guitar players placed in front of me and started checking his cables and sound effects and after a while, he greeted us and said “Ah, Ja! Hallo!” and laughed, and I thought that was so sweet and funny. They were for a while out.
Their show started around 21.30 with Godsick, Melanchoholic, and one of my favorites: Demons (I sang my heart out with that).
Then came 3 hits: Pain Hates Me, Hurter, and Carpathian Gravedancer.
Next: Killhoney, Goodnight Insomnia, and my absolute favorite of them: Tie Me A Rope… While You’re Calling My Name, so I was extremely happy at that moment.
They continued with Dying In Moments, Saviour, and Death of the Weakender. Followed by: Emptiness/Lost Control, Away, Ashes and Gold.
They finished the set with Death in Veins, which they add at the end a bit of Johnny Cash’s Hurt. It was almost 23.00. The audience was super pumped, singing every song. I thought they were going to come up again to sing a couple of tracks (but they did a long setlist, so it was ok).
Even though their lyrics are in English, the singer Michelle Darkness speaks in German and speaks a lot in between songs, and he’s very funny because all the people laugh every time he speaks. My German skills failed miserably in each intervention, I didn’t understand anything he said, except that he told us that Michael, their guitarist, had a baby or something like that.
When they finished, a girl behind me asked for the setlist. I took a picture of it, too.
The whole band was amazing. I enjoyed both presentations very much.
… if you’re not familiar with these guys, here’s a song…
Setlist:
- Godsick
- Melanchoholic
- Demons
- Pain Hates Me
- Hurter
- Carpathian Gravedancer
- Killhoney
- Goodnight Insomnia
- Tie Me A Rope…While You’re Calling My Name
- Dying In Moments
- Saviour
- Death of the Weakender
- Emptiness/Lost Control
- Away
- Ashes and Gold
- Death in Veins
——————————–
After the two bands ended, a DJ took place on stage, and he threw an 80s party, mostly focused on Depeche Mode. Even though the next day I had to wake up very early to take the flight to return to Spain, I decided to stay for a while. I love 80s music, so there I was dancing, lost in my little world.
After a couple of hours, I went to the next venue and there were a lot of people dancing to metalcore, and I was like whaaaat?!!!! I’m in Heaven or what? I stayed for a couple of songs, but it was too late, almost 4 am, so I left.
In the end, I didn’t sleep at all, but my heart was full. I had an amazing time, in Munich as well as at the concert. I didn’t want to leave, yet reality took place and I had to return to Spain, for my studies.
It all happened too fast, I was exhausted, but it was so worth it, and I can’t wait for my next concert to take place…