Einstürzende Neubauten is an ever-changing musical entity, originally forme… Read Full Bio ↴Einstürzende Neubauten is an ever-changing musical entity, originally formed in Berlin, Germany, on the 1st April 1980. Neubauten were initially seen as part of the second wave of industrial bands, filling the space left when Throbbing Gristle terminated their mission. Neubauten's early output fit the term "industrial" well, as it (ab)used the sounds of machinery, metal-on-metal, construction-site equipment, and treated tape loops, creating harsh soundscapes and rhythmic textures reminiscent of krautrock. Their inclusion on the record label Some Bizarre, with acts like Foetus, Coil, and Test Dept., consolidated this position as new industrial pioneers.

However, Neubauten soon outgrew the confines of even the broad scope of industrial music. In their 25-plus years, they have produced a dozen studio albums, live records, a remix album and EP, scored theatre pieces, and more.

Lead vocalist Blixa Bargeld is perhaps the best-known member of the group, both for his work with Neubauten and as guitarist for Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. His fellow founding members Alexander Hacke and N.U. Unruh have likewise been active in various musical roles outside the group over the years.

Bassist Mark Chung was a member of the group from 1981 to 1994. He founded the publishing house Freibank Music Publishing to handle business affairs for Neubauten and other groups, and has continued in this role (concurrently serving as a senior vice-president of Sony Music International for nine years). Percussionist FM Einheit, was a member from 1981 to 1995, and has also been active as a solo artist and member of groups such as Gry.

Since 1997 the group has also included guitarist Jochen Arbeit and percussionist Rudi Moser.

Neubauten's most recent work has been available exclusively to subscribers to their online home, www.neubauten.org. Neubauten completed the third incarnation of their online project in November 2007 and were touring Europe in 2008 in support of their latest album Alles Wieder Offen.

Currently Einstürzende Neubauten is celebrating their 30th anniversary with a tour through Europe and the United States. In October/November 2010 the band is releasing Strategies Against Architecture IV, the fourth album in the archival compilation series by Neubauten which collates the band’s output from 2002-2010.

Die Explosion im Festspielhaus
Einstürzende Neubauten Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Urknall Durchbruch Expansion
der Damm gesprengt
über die Bühne geflutet
trunkene Sterne
ein neuer See
der Höhepunkt des Ganzen:
Die Explosion im Festspielhaus
Aberjahrmilliardenwirbel

Myriaden Wonnefeuer
heraus-hineingeschleudert
Milchstraßencumshot
Lavastromejakulat
auf dem Höhepunkt des Ganzen:
Die Explosion im Festspielhaus
Es bleiben
Täler Kurven Mulden
ein Abdruck ihrer Formen
im gamma-Strahlenhintergrund
dazwischen in der Schwärze
verbreiten Botenstoffe
Künder dieses Höhepunkts

von Ganzen nur ein Echo:
Die Explosion im Festspielhaus

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Die Explosion im Festspielhaus" by Einstürzende Neubauten describe a cosmic event, the explosion of a star in a theater. The first line, "Urknall Durchbruch Expansion," refers to the Big Bang, the moment of the universe's creation. This is followed by "der Damm gesprengt," which can be interpreted as the star's explosive energy breaking through boundaries. The next line, "über die Bühne geflutet," describes the stage being flooded with this energy.

The following lines use vivid imagery to paint a picture of the aftermath of the explosion: "trunkene Sterne" (drunken stars), "ein neuer See" (a new lake), "Myriaden Wonnefeuer" (myriad fires of joy), and "Milchstraßencumshot" (Milky Way cumshot). These images suggest a tremendous release of energy and intense pleasure. The repetition of "auf dem Höhepunkt des Ganzen" (at the peak of everything) emphasizes the magnitude of the explosion.

The final lines describe the lasting effects of the explosion. The valleys, curves and hollows left behind by the explosion are imprinted on the gamma-ray background radiation. In the darkness between these formations, messenger substances spread, announcing the peak of the explosion. However, they are merely an echo of the explosion itself.

Line by Line Meaning

Urknall Durchbruch Expansion
The beginning of everything, a breakthrough and an expansion

der Damm gesprengt
The barrier broken

über die Bühne geflutet
The entire stage flooded

trunkene Sterne
Drunken stars

ein neuer See
A new lake created

der Höhepunkt des Ganzen:
The climax of everything:

Die Explosion im Festspielhaus
The explosion at the Festival Hall

Aberjahrmilliardenwirbel
Billions of years of rotation

Myriaden Wonnefeuer
Countless rays of joy

heraus-hineingeschleudert
Thrown out and into

Milchstraßencumshot
Galactic cumshot