In 1996, EMI decided to place Die Allergie under contract with their industrial sublabel, Spin Records. After an intensive 2 years of working together, the band decided to go their own way and leave Spin Records, which dissolved a short time later anyway.
In the beginning of 1998, the band released their self-produced MCD, "Demokratie", which was well received by fans and press alike, and resulted in many labels showing an interest in the band. It takes time to do something well, so Die Allergie took plenty of time to examine the numerous offers in depth. In July of 1998, the decision was made in favor of Rise Up, a sublabel of Last Episode Productions founded especially for Die Allergie.
Rise Up offered the up and coming quintet act, through keyboarder Danny Böhm, every possibility to resume their own path. In February of 1999, the label released Die Allergie's second album, "Dunkelgraue Lieder für das Nächste Jahrtausend", which, through aggressively ironic lyrics and the brutal, painfilled dark wall of music, held a mirror up to humanity showing the ugly face of daily reality. 10,000 copies were sold across Europe.
In the beginning of 2000, the band spent 3 months in the Roth Recordings Studio in order to produce their album "Virus III" under the direction of Dieter Roth. Musically, the band had lost none of their hardness, and the song material also appeared more mature and tighter than ever before. Various journalists showed euphoric "allergic" reactions based on the band's studio report in March 2000.
After the recording of "Virus III", bassist Markus Knapp (ex-Atrocity) left the band due to personal reasons. Die Allergie found a new comrade in arms with Jan Beckmann, but due to his professional career, he had to leave a short time later. Markus Knapp decided to take the bass in hand once again with Die Allergie, and he has been a solid component of the band ever since.
Die Allergie parted ways with Rise Up because the sales numbers of "Virus III" did not meet the expectations that the label had imagined. The band also felt that they did not have full support from the label which should have recognized that "Virus III" was a first class album from the start!
The singer, Albi, was arrested by the police due to false evidence and sat in jail until September 2001. Because he had drug problems at this time, he had to go through a drug rehab program which he successfully completed.
The members close to Albi were unsettled and brought to a halt. No one quite knew what would happen next. Once again, they found themselves without a label or tour. Once it was known how long they would be without a front man, they decided to use the time as creatively as possible in order to have some new songs to work on after his return. Albi is again walking free and clean!
In their lyrics, Die Allergie deals with the deviancies that exist in all of us such as egotism, megalomania, greed, obsession, and destructive urges even as far as necrophilia. Musically, Die Allergie is hard to categorize. The wide range goes from Pantera or Pro Pain (with whom Die Allergie completed a successful 4-week European tour in the Spring of 1999, along with Temple of the Absurd) to Fear Factory and Crowbar, through all shades of the extreme, without allowing themselves to fit into a definitive classification. The term Industrial Metal-Core is the most fitting category that comes straight to mind.
Armageddon
Die Allergie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Im saal, des dritten königriechs
Wird gnadenlos geglaubt, pariert
Nächstenliebe steht nicht auf dem
Progamm
Ich bin dein schwärzester alptraum
Denn ich hab dich erkannt
Seuche - Jehovas
Zucht und ordnung
Für euer totes paradies
Es stinkt nach lüge im garten eden
Du drehst dich am spiess
Deiner kranken phantasien
Schizophren und suizid
Solang du mich nicht missionierst
Hast du mein mitgefühl
Seuche - Jehovas
Du bist so voller selbstsucht
Du bist so voller zorn
Drum schlägst du deine kinder
Quälst sie mit gideon
Und mit der torheit nadel
Und garn aus blanker wut
Nähst du der kinder neugier
Augen und ohren zu
Dein ekliger narzismum
Der nach auserwähltheit giert
Der tötet all mein mitleid
Drum klingel nicht bei mir
Seuche - Jehovas
In Die Allergie's song Armageddon, the lyrics talk about the damaging effects of religious extremism and the indoctrination of children. The opening lines describe someone who is arrogant and mentally isolated in the third kingdom, which is likely a reference to the Kingdom of God. The person in question blindly follows their beliefs, without any compassion for others. The singer states that they are the person's worst nightmare because they see through their actions and understand the harm they're causing.
The chorus mentions Jehovah's disease, which is likely a reference to the destructive effects of religious extremism. The following verses criticize the strict discipline and fulfillment of rigid rules in the name of reaching paradise. The Garden of Eden is referenced, but this time it's described as a dead paradise that smells of lies. The singer implies that those who blindly follow their beliefs have twisted and sick fantasies that they take out on their own children. They sew their children's eyes and ears shut to stop them from being curious, and they are full of self-serving anger and narcissism. The singer warns the listener not to come knocking on their door unless they want to be exposed and ridiculed.
Die Allergie's song Armageddon is a powerful message against religious extremism and the indoctrination of children. The lyrics condemn those who blindly follow their beliefs, regardless of the harm caused through their actions. Through their words, Die Allergie warns against the dangers of such thinking and reminds us of the importance of compassion, free thinking, and empathy.
Line by Line Meaning
Arrogant, und geistig völlig isoliert
Proud and completely mentally separated
Im saal, des dritten königriechs
In the hall of the third kingdom
Wird gnadenlos geglaubt, pariert
Believed ruthlessly, obeyed
Nächstenliebe steht nicht auf dem Progamm
Love for neighbors is not on the agenda
Ich bin dein schwärzester alptraum
I am your darkest nightmare
Denn ich hab dich erkannt
Because I have recognized you
Seuche - Jehovas
Plague - Jehovah's
Zucht und ordnung
Discipline and order
Für euer totes paradies
For your dead paradise
Es stinkt nach lüge im garten eden
It smells like a lie in the garden of Eden
Du drehst dich am spiess
You're turning on the spit
Deiner kranken phantasien
Of your sick fantasies
Schizophren und suizid
Schizophrenic and suicidal
Solang du mich nicht missionierst
As long as you don't proselytize me
Hast du mein mitgefühl
You have my sympathy
Seuche - Jehovas
Plague - Jehovah's
Du bist so voller selbstsucht
You are so full of selfishness
Du bist so voller zorn
You are so full of anger
Drum schlägst du deine kinder
So you beat your children
Quälst sie mit gideon
Torture them with Gideon
Und mit der torheit nadel
And with the fool's needle
Und garn aus blanker wut
And thread from pure anger
Nähst du der kinder neugier
Sew the children's curiosity
Augen und ohren zu
Eyes and ears closed
Dein ekliger narzismus
Your disgusting narcissism
Der nach auserwähltheit giert
Which craves for chosenness
Der tötet all mein mitleid
That kills all my pity
Drum klingel nicht bei mir
So don't ring my bell
Seuche - Jehovas
Plague - Jehovah's
Contributed by Austin E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.