Holy Moses is a German thrash metal band. They are well noted for being fro… Read Full Bio ↴Holy Moses is a German thrash metal band. They are well noted for being fronted by Sabina Classen, which is rare for a woman to be a singer in thrash metal, and for being one of the very first German thrash metal bands.

Holy Moses was officially formed in Aachen, Germany in 1980 with Jochen Funders on guitars and vocals, Ramon Bruessler on bass, and drummer Peter Vordenstein. They played their first live show in the town of Stolberg, where they began causing a significant buzz in the heavy metal community for their incredibly heavy, fast, and tight style and various other actions of the band's fanclub. However, this lineup was very short lived, and only lasted about a year, after the band played their first anniversary show by opening for Venom.

A new guitarist was soon found, in Andy Classen, formerly of the band Disaster. A vocalist named Iggy was soon found as well. Iggy was soon fired from the band due to drug problems and musical differences with the band. Andy soon came up with the idea to bring in his girlfriend at the time, Sabina Hertz for the vocals. Originally, Sabina does not want the job and singing in a very throaty and almost demonic sounding style of singing to make sure she does not get in the band. This had an inversive effect, and Ramon (the band's main songwriter at the time) was extremely pleased with the performance of Sabina, and the only permanent member of the band who has appeared on every album to this day finally joins. The band then plays their first shows with Sabina in November of 1981.

Some more lineup changes came after this (including Sabina's brother singing with the band for a few weeks after she temporarily left but then returned), and it also became more progressive and technical ability with heightened musicianship from Classen. With the lineup of Ramon on bass, Sabina on vocals, Andy on guitars, and new drummer Herbert Dreger, the band records their first album Queen Of Siam. Produced by Ralph Hubert of Mekong Delta, the album stands out among its contemporaries for its extremely heavy and tight musicianship and technicality. However, the lineup does not last. Due to a lack of commitment for the band, Dreger is fired and replaced by a then nineteen year old Uli Kusch (later of Helloween) on drums. After that, Ramon, the one original member left in Holy Moses leaves the band to pursue his academic carrier. It is now fully managed by Sabina, and all songs are written by Andy and Sabina, who is married to the guitarist and becomes Sabina Classen (the name she uses to this day).

The band then recorded its next album Finished With The Dogs and received rave reviews by metal critics and music magazines the world over. The album attracted the attention of Warner Brothers Records, one of the biggest record labels in the world. In 1987, Holy Moses strikes up a deal with the label and heads on tour with DRI.

The band only got bigger from there, especially with the recording of the album The New Machine Of Lichtenstein, a highly successful thrash metal concept album. Holy Moses then goes on their biggest tour yet, playing alongside Forbidden and Sacred Reich. Problems with Warner Brothers however make the band leave the label. Also around this time, Uli Kusch leaves the band. Former Living Death drummer Atomic Steif would fill in the band for a while, but would not record anything with them, due to a proposition to join the prominent German thrash metal band Sodom.

In 1992, the band recorded Reborn Dogs. However, after the album was finished recording, they disbanded. Andy, who has become a songwriter and producer, makes an album with the Holy Moses name called "No Matter What the Cause". It causes a severe problem with Andy and Sabina, who later that year get divorced. A few years later, the female vocalist forms Temple Of The Absurd, which releases two albums. However, due to several setbacks, the band breaks up after two albums. Andy and Sabina become friends again and start writing up new music. In 2001, the two reveal that Holy Moses is back.

The first album for the reunion to be recorded was 2002's Disorder Of Order. Though Andy did not actually play on the album, all the songs were written by him. The band then embarked on tour for the rest of that year and most of 2003. Andy then states that he will no longer be able to write songs for Holy Moses, as he has become too involved with producing other band's material. He then selects his friend Michael Henkel to become Holy Moses's new main songwriter. The first album that Hankel has recorded with the band was 2005's "Strength, Will, Passion".

Since 2006 Reckless Tide guitar player Oliver Jaath joined Holy Moses as bass player.

For the first time since 2003, Holy Moses will tour Europe as opening acts for the Florida death metal band Obituary. In 2007, Atomic Steif rejoined the band as a permanent member and will play on Holy Moses's next album.

In 2008 the band did a succesful tour with Obituary and Avatar. Later that year Thomas Neitsch joined the band as permanent bass player and Olli Jaath switched to second guitar. Holy Moses has been confirmed to play in the Wacken Open Air festival in August 2008.

I Bleed
Holy Moses Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I don't wanna be alone is that why I'm coming home
But I lie and killing my soul
My heart is broken into pieces of it all
Everywhere I try to go, I find myself nothing to know

I bleed, I bleed, I bleed
I bleed, I bleed, I bleed, I feel it's eating me
I bleed, I bleed, I bleed

I bleed, I bleed, I bleed, I feel it has to be

I prayed to God, I prayed to Satan
I prayed to God, I prayed to God
I prayed to God, I prayed to Satan
I prayed to God, I prayed to God

I bleed, I bleed, I bleed
I bleed, I bleed, I bleed, I feel it's eating me
I bleed, I bleed, I bleed
I bleed, I bleed, I bleed, I feel it has to be

I bleed, I bleed, I bleed
I bleed, I bleed, I bleed
I bleed, I bleed, I bleed
I bleed, I bleed, I bleed

I bleed, I bleed, I bleed
I bleed, I bleed, I bleed
I bleed, I bleed, I bleed
I feel it's eating me

I will never know but I feel you had to go
You broke my heart when I stand with you
But now my chance has passed me by, passed me by
I will ne'er know if you really changed your mind

I bleed, I bleed, I bleed
I bleed, I bleed, I bleed, I feel it's eating me
I bleed, I bleed, I bleed
I bleed, I bleed, I bleed, I feel it has to be

I bleed, I bleed, I bleed
I prayed to God, I prayed to Satan
I bleed, I bleed, I bleed
I prayed to God, I prayed to God

I bleed, I bleed, I bleed
I prayed to God, I prayed to Satan

I bleed, I bleed, I bleed
I feel it's killing me

Overall Meaning

The song "I Bleed" by Holy Moses is a melancholic reflection of the pain and loneliness that comes with a broken heart. The first verse portrays the conflicted emotions of coming back home to avoid being alone but realizing that it is only causing more harm than good. The singer's heart is shattered in pieces, and they feel lost and disconnected from everything around them. The chorus serves as an outlet for the pain, with the repetition of "I bleed" emphasizing the internal struggle that is eating them up. The chorus could also represent the physical manifestation of the singer's mental and emotional pain.

The second verse takes a spiritual turn with the singer calling out to both God and Satan, unsure of which one to turn to for help. The repetition of praying to God and then to Satan could represent the singer's desperation and confusion in searching for a way to alleviate their pain. The bridge further highlights the painful realization that the chance for reconciliation with a lost love is now gone, leaving the singer with a permanent sense of loss.

Overall, the song is a raw and emotional expression of heartbreak, loss, and desperation. The repetition of "I bleed" invokes a sense of physical pain and agony, while the call for help from both God and Satan represents the singer's feelings of hopelessness and desperation.

Line by Line Meaning

I don't wanna be alone is that why I'm coming home
I feel lonely and I am coming home to overcome it

But I lie and killing my soul
I am lying to myself and it is hurting me

My heart is broken into pieces of it all
My heart is shattered because of everything that has happened

Everywhere I try to go, I find myself nothing to know
I am lost and do not know where to go or what to do

I prayed to God, I prayed to Satan
I am seeking help from both good and bad forces

I will never know but I feel you had to go
I do not know the truth, but I believe you had to leave

You broke my heart when I stand with you
Being with you hurt me deeply

But now my chance has passed me by, passed me by
I missed my opportunity and it is too late now

I will ne'er know if you really changed your mind
I will never find out if you truly changed your thoughts

I bleed, I bleed, I bleed
I am in pain, and it is evident

I feel it's eating me
The pain is consuming me