Thumb
Thumb was a German Rapcore band formed in November 1993 in Gütersloh. Accor… Read Full Bio ↴Thumb was a German Rapcore band formed in November 1993 in Gütersloh. According to the band's official website they appear to have ceased in 2005 into various side projects; Steffen has joined H-Blockx, Jens is in Taetowier Studio, Jan-Hendrik is in Hudson, Claus is in Alternative Allstars and Axel is in Waterdown.
The first home-made tapes were recorded and copied in 1994. Lupe was the last to join the band in October scratching his way to create a new version of Thumb. Record companies began to show an interest and EMI signed a deal in March 1995. Six months later on 14th September Thumb’s debut was in the shops. A new star had entered the crossover arena. Genre-related bands Bad Religion, Dog Eat Dog, Henry Rollins and Foo Fighters kept the band company in the next two years at live gigs in Germany. Then it was time for the five to set to work in January 1997 and write the songs of their second album Exposure.
The album duly appeared on 5th May that year and proved to be a great surprise, because Thumb had changed direction. Thumb’s new sound is sharp-edged and at the same time so earthy that the critics are not the only ones to stand there open-mouthed. They have effortlessly succeeded in escaping the crossover stereotypes. The fans appreciate this move and the ensuing live shows lift Thumb above routine into a success story. Their path even leads them to America where they play in front of nearly 180,000 during the 1998 Vans Warped Tour. They played alongside greats like the Deftones, Bad Religion, NOFX and many more at thirteen shows in three weeks. Needing to recharge their batteries, they take a long break - and very nearly don't return from it.
Preparations for the third album slowly got underway at the start of 2000 but were abruptly interrupted when guitarist Axel Hilgenstöhler left the band half way through the year, the shock was compounded by the band's creative crisis. The band was on the brink of disintegrating, however, they were saved when new guitarist Axel Praiat along with the new blood coursing through the band's veins took things upwards again. Everything written and recorded up to that point was axed. Claus looks back on this phase: "It wasn't just a question of finding a new guitarist who could fill the gap. We wanted to be writing proper songs as an ensemble. In the past three years we have kept trying to do just that, but we never really came up to our own expectations." Their new-found strength virtually gave them wings. Anyone who thought that Thumb had reached the apogee of their creative career with Exposure soon had to think again. Whereas their old crossover companions had by now almost all retreated from the scene the Gütersloh crew were back with a heavyweight crossover/hardcore/alternative steam hammer unequalled in its genre and in its home country.
The new album showed progress. Thumb were coming in through the front door and they hadn't bothered to unlock it either. Beefy, powerful, with plenty of groove, intelligent arrangements and blazing anger in their belly they are forcing their way into the limelight. The sound was very dense. There are many ways to approach it and many small discoveries to be made about it. "Thumb's idea was never basic rock," explains Claus. "We always aimed to go deeper. Of course, we needed the sound to back that up. The first release from the third album, 'Down Like Me', is a typical example which shows that Thumb songs are more than just music to stomp to." 'Down Like Me' literally drives its way through the loudspeakers. PHAT! Steffen pushes the song forward with stoic, primal force, Axel's guitar work is mean and insidious, Jan Hendrik offers a nice soft pillow to cry on, Claus joins in with furious polyphonic arguments, and Lupe strings together chains of nuances to fuse the sound together. All this is crowned with psychedelic sounds within sounds and electronic elements reminiscent of Portishead. This single is a tailor-made opener, but the rest of the songs - this much we can guarantee - are in no way inferior."
The first home-made tapes were recorded and copied in 1994. Lupe was the last to join the band in October scratching his way to create a new version of Thumb. Record companies began to show an interest and EMI signed a deal in March 1995. Six months later on 14th September Thumb’s debut was in the shops. A new star had entered the crossover arena. Genre-related bands Bad Religion, Dog Eat Dog, Henry Rollins and Foo Fighters kept the band company in the next two years at live gigs in Germany. Then it was time for the five to set to work in January 1997 and write the songs of their second album Exposure.
The album duly appeared on 5th May that year and proved to be a great surprise, because Thumb had changed direction. Thumb’s new sound is sharp-edged and at the same time so earthy that the critics are not the only ones to stand there open-mouthed. They have effortlessly succeeded in escaping the crossover stereotypes. The fans appreciate this move and the ensuing live shows lift Thumb above routine into a success story. Their path even leads them to America where they play in front of nearly 180,000 during the 1998 Vans Warped Tour. They played alongside greats like the Deftones, Bad Religion, NOFX and many more at thirteen shows in three weeks. Needing to recharge their batteries, they take a long break - and very nearly don't return from it.
Preparations for the third album slowly got underway at the start of 2000 but were abruptly interrupted when guitarist Axel Hilgenstöhler left the band half way through the year, the shock was compounded by the band's creative crisis. The band was on the brink of disintegrating, however, they were saved when new guitarist Axel Praiat along with the new blood coursing through the band's veins took things upwards again. Everything written and recorded up to that point was axed. Claus looks back on this phase: "It wasn't just a question of finding a new guitarist who could fill the gap. We wanted to be writing proper songs as an ensemble. In the past three years we have kept trying to do just that, but we never really came up to our own expectations." Their new-found strength virtually gave them wings. Anyone who thought that Thumb had reached the apogee of their creative career with Exposure soon had to think again. Whereas their old crossover companions had by now almost all retreated from the scene the Gütersloh crew were back with a heavyweight crossover/hardcore/alternative steam hammer unequalled in its genre and in its home country.
The new album showed progress. Thumb were coming in through the front door and they hadn't bothered to unlock it either. Beefy, powerful, with plenty of groove, intelligent arrangements and blazing anger in their belly they are forcing their way into the limelight. The sound was very dense. There are many ways to approach it and many small discoveries to be made about it. "Thumb's idea was never basic rock," explains Claus. "We always aimed to go deeper. Of course, we needed the sound to back that up. The first release from the third album, 'Down Like Me', is a typical example which shows that Thumb songs are more than just music to stomp to." 'Down Like Me' literally drives its way through the loudspeakers. PHAT! Steffen pushes the song forward with stoic, primal force, Axel's guitar work is mean and insidious, Jan Hendrik offers a nice soft pillow to cry on, Claus joins in with furious polyphonic arguments, and Lupe strings together chains of nuances to fuse the sound together. All this is crowned with psychedelic sounds within sounds and electronic elements reminiscent of Portishead. This single is a tailor-made opener, but the rest of the songs - this much we can guarantee - are in no way inferior."
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Thumb Lyrics
Aside You have a picture of me inside your head, you…
Boredom The air is getting so thick, it's almost making me…
Break Me You´re in me, Just like a bad disease, But I can´t find…
Break My Back They wanted to break my back, wanted to hold me…
Cavemen In Disguise I value live itself in all the sizes and shapes, I…
Confidence You failed so many times it's sad Because one thing you've…
Consumer's Rap-Sody when was the last time you made your own decision,…
Dad And if I never spoke a word again, but this…
Deny I've gotta say I'm not a rapper to the bone,…
Down I would never wanna be lonely, although I'm not alone,…
Down Like Me ev'ry thumb song's a sad song they say.. that's because i'm…
Exposure Gotta know the answer, gotta know the truth, gotta have a…
Fade Away ev´ry day passes by, without a low, without a high.... first…
Fascism Sucks From the distance I can hear the troops marching in…
Fed Up it's like this and like that whenever you can. you…
Haunted I never wanted this in the first place, had I…
Heaven In You If you're fucking with the kids go straight to hell This…
I Don't Wanna Hear It I don't wanna hear it, all you do is talk…
I WANNA KEEP MY HEAD UP Time don't stop for me. Sometimes first, sometimes slow. In …
It Ain't What You See You gave birth to a baby-boy, he's your cutie-pie, never…
Keep it Simple I want to let you know, but I don't know how…
Lie To You You shouldn't believe a word of what I say just…
Migraine You´re like a migraine, eating ev´rything inside... You´re l…
mind my dream I want to let you know, but I don't know how…
More With every corner of my mind With every moment of my…
No More Blood I hate saying it, but I´m saying it, for so…
Plant A Flower Plant a seeds. Rise up. Plant a seeds. Plant a flowers. Whic…
Reality As I take a look around to see everything that's…
Red Alert This is me calling, could someone get the phone, please,…
Remember It could make me wanna sit down and cry, Everything we'll…
Seize The Day Don't know what it is, but I know that it…
Sell Myself I´ve gotta be breaking up with ev`rything I know, If I…
Shorty I see this, in a different light So clear to me,…
Stupid It feels so bad You can't let go Everything seems sad Everyw…
Suck Me Dry I'm caught up in you You're everything I ever do The only…
Thank You As I'm walking along side this road called life through…
This Life If we all stood up to be entirely us entirely…
Upside & Down Watch out...here I go again, I've been gone too long,…
Upside And Down Watch out...here I go again, I've been gone too long,…
Values I wish I could say everything you used to be…
Victim of Your Lies Go get a grip, or you'll slip, 'cause your life…
Youth don´t be mislead, ´cause all the others say... you´re insane…