The band's name comes from the Krupp dynasty - one of pre-war Germany´s main industrial families. This name was apparently chosen for its industrial connotations, as the band is strongly anti-Nazi. In some interviews the band stated that Visconti´s movie "The Damned" - a depiction of the fictitious German industrial dynasty of the Essenbecks - was the main inspiration.
Die Krupps's debut EP, 1981's Stahlwerkssymphony, was in the vein of metal-on-metal industrial acts like Einstürzende Neubauten. Their following album, 1982's Volle Kraft Voraus, combined the industrial sound of their debut with electronic rhythms similar to DAF.
In 1984, the group released their first English-language album, Entering the Arena, which combined grand, orchestral arrangements with their trademark metallic percussion and a more conventional synthpop sound.
Doerper left to join Propaganda, and Die Krupps went on hiatus for a few years. In 1989, they collaborated with Nitzer Ebb -- a band their sound had clearly influenced -- to remake Volle Kraft Voraus's "Wahre Arbeit, Wahrer Lohn" as "The Machineries of Joy." The single was a major club hit,and it resparked interest in the band, who followed in 1990 with the now-classic "Germaniac" single.
However, Engler had become interested in American and European heavy metal, and subsequent Die Krupps releases would gradually de-emphasize the band's industrial/electronic origins. A Tribute to Metallica--an album of Metallica cover versions done with only keyboards and samplers--was something of a novelty hit that got the band signed (briefly) to a US major label.
In 1992, Engler reunited with Doerper and added some American heavy metal musicians to the lineup, and Die Krupps began to utilize guitars and more sounds derived from heavy metal music, with the release of their albums I and II--The Final Option.
During this period, the band had many of their tracks remixed by other artists; singles such as "Fatherland", "Metal Machine Music", "To the Hilt", and "Crossfire" were reworked by artists as diverse as The Sisters of Mercy, Einstürzende Neubauten and Biohazard. These remixes proved more successful than the albums from which they were drawn, as they became staples of mid-90s alternative clubs. Many of these remixes are included on the compilations The Final Remixes and Rings of Steel, as well as their mid-90s singles issued by Cleopatra Records. Particularly notable is a 1996 remix EP they shared with Front Line Assembly, on which each group remixed three songs from the other: while Krupps's remixes of FLA were typical of the band's metallic direction, FLA's Krupps remixes surprisingly highlighted how Die Krupps's sound still recalled the band's early electronic work.
By 1996's III--Odyssey of the Mind, the band had almost entirely ditched electronics for a straight metal sound. Following Doerper's second departure and the release of the even more heavily metal-influenced album "Paradise Now" in 1997, the band disbanded.
The band has been well-served by two compilations that highlight their strongest material and the development of the band's sound: Past Forward 1991-1981, released on Mute's Grey Area imprint, is a worthy precis of the band's work up to and including "Germaniac". Cleopatra's Metalmorphosis of Die Krupps covers some of the same ground, but includes highlights from their post-Metallica output. While both compilations share several tracks, they usually choose different mixes.
Die Krupps played a reunion show at Wave Gothic Treffen festival at 2005 for their 25th anniversary.
Expected in fall 2007 are 2 releases to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Die Krupps plus an extra release combining both. The reason to make two different best of albums is because the band wanted to separate its electro years from its metal years. As a result we will get "Too Much History - The Electro Years Vol. 1" and "Too Much History - The Metal Years Vol. 2", both in digipak format. Next to these two releases there is also the 2CD set "Too Much History" combining both previous mentioned best of compilations.
The German electronic pioneers Die Krupps are re-releasing two classic albums "Volle Kraft Voraus" and "I" by the end of August 2008.
May 21st, 2012 - Industrie-Mädchen reached top of the DAC! (i.e. Deutsche Alternative Charts)
Industrie-Mädchen is the title of the new single, which is a cover version of a song by the German punk band S.Y.P.H., a band Ralf Dörper was member of for a few month in 1979, contributing the vocals to one track of their first EP Viel Feind, viel Ehr.
The single is a spin-off of the forthcoming studio album that is due to be released
Robo Sapien
Die Krupps Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My stamina is endless
Modified to outperform
Acceleration the new norm
All senses are advanced
Technology enhanced
Striving for perfection
We are the human race
turning into robo sapien
Come feel my cold embrace
I am the robo sapien
We are the human race
turning into robo sapien
Come feel my cold embrace
We are all robo sapien
The body optimized
Potential maximized
For a clear spirit
there is no limit
We transform ourselves
to improve this race
Trans human machine
Ro-bo-sa-pien
We are the human race
turning into robo sapien
Come feel my cold embrace
I am the robo sapien
We are the human race
turning into robo sapien
Come feel my cold embrace
We are all robo sapien
Ro-bo-sa-pien
Ro-bo-sa-pien
We are the human race
turning into robo sapien
Come feel my cold embrace
I am the robo sapien
We are the human race
turning into robo sapien
Come feel my cold embrace
We are all robo sapien
We are the human race
turning into robo sapien
Come feel my cold embrace
I am the robo sapien
We are the human race
turning into robo sapien
Come feel my cold embrace
We are all robo sapien
The song "Robo Sapien" by Die Krupps discusses the idea of humans merging with technology in order to enhance their capabilities and become more efficient machines, or "robo sapiens." The lyrics speak to the physical modifications that are made in order to achieve this, including relentless muscle work and stamina, advanced senses, and optimized bodies with maximized potential. The song highlights the idea that this merging of man and machine allows for a striving towards perfection, and that it is a new norm.
The chorus repeats the phrase, "We are the human race turning into robo sapien," illustrating the idea that this transformation is happening on a larger scale beyond just the individuals being modified. The repetition of the phrase "come feel my cold embrace" adds an eerie undertone to the song, as it can be interpreted as a warning of what could happen if humans become too reliant on technology and cease to be emotional beings.
Overall, "Robo Sapien" explores the potential implications of human-machine integration, ultimately leaving the listener to ponder the question of whether the benefits outweigh the potential costs.
Line by Line Meaning
These muscles work relentless
My physical strength knows no bounds
My stamina is endless
I have unlimited endurance and can keep going without stopping
Modified to outperform
I have been enhanced and upgraded to exceed all expectations
Acceleration the new norm
My speed is unparalleled and I function at hyper speeds
All senses are advanced
My ability to see, hear, feel, touch, and taste is beyond human levels
Technology enhanced
I have been subjected to technological advancements to operate at peak level
Striving for perfection
My aim is to be perfect in all aspects of my existence
Man is back in action
I am still human, but my abilities surpass those of common man
We are the human race
As humans, we are advancing beyond our natural limitations
turning into robo sapien
Our physical and mental make-up changes as we upgrade ourselves with technology
Come feel my cold embrace
Despite my mechanical enhancements, I still lack human warmth and emotion
I am the robo sapien
I am the pinnacle of technological evolution, created to be the ultimate machine
We are all robo sapien
As we continue to modify ourselves with technology, we become more like machines than humans
The body optimized
My physical form has been refined and tuned to operate at maximum efficiency
Potential maximized
I have reached my full potential and can achieve anything required of me
For a clear spirit
To attain clarity of mind and existence
there is no limit
There is no end to how much technology can enhance our capabilities
We transform ourselves
By upgrading and modifying our existences, we fundamentally change who we are
to improve this race
We do this, ultimately, to improve the human race as a whole
Trans human machine
We have augmented ourselves to the point of blurring the lines between human and machine
Ro-bo-sa-pien
The ultimate goal of our technological evolution is to become the robo sapien
Contributed by Blake H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Luis NR
These muscles work relentless
My stamina is endless
Modified to outperform
Acceleration the new norm
All senses are advanced
Technology enhanced
Striving for perfection
Man is back in action
We are the human race
Turning into robo sapien
Come feel my cold embrace
I am the robo sapien
We are the human race
Turning into robo sapien
Come feel my cold embrace
We are all robo sapien
The body optimized
Potential maximized
For a clear spirit
There is no limit
We transform ourselves
To improve this race
Trans human machine
Ro-bo-sa-pien
We are the human race
Turning into robo sapien
Come feel my cold embrace
I am the robo sapien
We are the human race
Turning into robo sapien
Come feel my cold embrace
We are all robo sapien
Ro-bo-sa-pien
Ro-bo-sa-pien
We are the human race
Turning into robo sapien
Come feel my cold embrace
I am the robo sapien
We are the human race
Turning into robo sapien
Come feel my cold embrace
We are all robo sapien
We are the human race
Turning into robo sapien
Come feel my cold embrace
I am the robo sapien
We are the human race
Turning into robo sapien
Come feel my cold embrace
We are all robo sapien
Alexander Stoyanov
Absolutely amazing, I have always loved Rammstein but these guys are also very good, definitely got a new fan :)
Harry Bosh
Die Krupps (from Düsseldorf) exist since 1980 and they are the pioneers of EBM / Industrial Metal. Die Krupps is US band now.
Check out also the band KMFDM (born in 1984 in Hamburg)! KMFDM is also US band now.
Die Krupps & KMFDM played such Industrial-EBM-Metal Sound in Germany long before RAMMSTEIN came!
RAMMSTEIN exists since 1994.
Manuelsan
Listen to Die Krupps I, II and III. If they had sung those albums in german they would be what Rammstein are (love Rammstein too, they have their own sound too)
Rory N
If i ever get a prostethic limb i'm never gonna stop playing this.
Hyperborean
I got a prostethic hip and femur and is amaz..., not too great at all. 😅
Prying Eyes
See if you can get one with a Bluetooth speaker in it, and blast it from your new arm. It might even be worth it to voluntarily have the other arm amputated, so it's in stereo!
Turbo Pelvis 3000
Well if you have some sort of dental work you can possibly pretend that it's the first steps I guess.
Elirah Infinity
'To The Hilt' has always been a favourite and if I played these two songs in sequence most would find it hard to believe it is both from the same legends. Sending love from Australia
X3MCTZN
My thoughts exactly!
Robert Hagen
Love it. It is classic Die Krupps that has no problem taking on the modern era, or any era, for that matter.. With the history and ability that Die Krupps has, they can probably do pretty much anything, if they haven't done so already.