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.
Hospitalistische Kinder/Engel der Vernichtung
Einstürzende Neubauten Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Spurenabdrücke... Ja!
Wovon sollte das sein? Komm!
Du sammelst alles auf was Du siehst!
Gut... So!
Vielleicht war das Ungeheuer das
Ja, das kann sein
Vielleicht auch nicht
Keine Hemmungen mehr bis zur Sintflut!
Na und, dann Nagel doch!
Hört ihr heute Laßt euch sagen:
Einen Engel als Beute werden wir erschlagen
Hab' meine Verstand begraben,
meine Seele im Wüstenboden
...und ich will nich länger warten
Bis Gottes unendlicher Hoden
Endlich in Flammen aufgeht
Engel der Vernichtung
Engel der Vernichtung
Eingeschlossen in Schlafsaalträume
Betend zum neuen Engel der immernoch mein Engel ist
Wie ein Schatten über mir schwebend
berauscht am Klang der Waffen
werden mein Engel und ich Gott abschaffen
...und ich will nich länger warten
Bis Gottes unendlicher Hoden
Endlich in Flammen aufgeht
The lyrics of Einstürzende Neubauten's song "Engel Der Vernichtung" explore themes of destruction and chaos, as well as personal and societal frustration. The first stanza sets the tone of the song through a dialogue-like series of phrases. The singer asks "why?", and then responds to their own question with "footprints...yes!". The sense of urgency and intensity builds as the singer demands that everything be collected and the next person present themselves. The use of the personal pronoun "Du" creates a sense of closeness and intimacy, as if the singer is speaking directly to the listener.
The second stanza is even more explicit in its themes of destruction and violence. The phrase "Keine Hemmungen mehr bis zur Sintflut!" can be translated to "No more inhibitions until the flood!", implying that anything goes until the ultimate destruction. The singer encourages the listener to "nail it down", or take action, and declares that they have buried their sanity and soul in the desert. The final lines of the stanza reference God's possible destruction, and the desire for an "Angel of Destruction" who can bring about the end of the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Ja... Warum?
Why? What is the reason for this?
Spurenabdrücke... Ja!
Traces... Yes! (implying excitement or interest)
Wovon sollte das sein? Komm!
What could that be? Come on! (asking for clarification or explanation)
Du sammelst alles auf was Du siehst!
You collect everything that you see! (a possible commentary on consumerism)
Gut... So!
Good... Yes! (expressing approval or satisfaction)
Vielleicht war das Ungeheuer das
Perhaps that was the monster
Ja, das kann sein
Yes, that could be (accepting the previous suggestion)
Vielleicht auch nicht
Perhaps not (suggesting uncertainty or doubt)
Der Nächste bitte!
The next one, please! (line from a hypothetical queue, implying a shift in attention or focus)
Keine Hemmungen mehr bis zur Sintflut!
No more inhibitions until the deluge! (advocating for reckless behavior or being without restraint)
Na und, dann Nagel doch!
So what, then nail it! (encouraging action regardless of consequences)
Hört ihr heute Laßt euch sagen:
Listen, today let me tell you:
Einen Engel als Beute werden wir erschlagen
We will slay an angel as prey (a violent and provocative statement)
Hab' meine Verstand begraben,
I have buried my mind
meine Seele im Wüstenboden
my soul in the desert soil
...und ich will nich länger warten
...and I don't want to wait any longer
Bis Gottes unendlicher Hoden
Until God's infinite testicles
Endlich in Flammen aufgeht
Finally go up in flames (a blasphemous and irreverent phrase)
Engel der Vernichtung
Angel of destruction
Eingeschlossen in Schlafsaalträume
Locked up in dormitory dreams
Betend zum neuen Engel der immernoch mein Engel ist
Praying to the new angel who is still my angel
Wie ein Schatten über mir schwebend
Hovering like a shadow over me
berauscht am Klang der Waffen
Intoxicated by the sound of weapons
werden mein Engel und ich Gott abschaffen
My angel and I will abolish God (a declaration of rebellion or blasphemy)
Contributed by Declan C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.